Michigan Chronicle Digital Daily 3.31.21

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Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 84 – No. 30 | March 31 - April 6, 2021

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The Gilbert Fund Announces $500 Million To Detroit Residents

Part 3 of a Three-Part Series

The

COVID-19

President and CEO of Quicken Loans Dan Gilbert, alongside wife Jennifer, and several partners announced a $500 million dollar contribution to the citizens of Detroit to help relieve some of their financial worries.

Pandemic: One Year Later -

The multi-million dollar contribution will go towards helping thousands of Detroit homeowners pay property taxes in the fight to keep families in their homes. To stretch over a ten-year time frame, the funds will go towards several community programs to enhance financial stability and keep residents stay in Wayne county.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The Gilbert Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Quicken Loans conglomerate will donate $350 million dollars and the Rocket Community Fund will add an additional $150 million dollars to further the economic commitment to Detroiters.

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

“Everyone deserves to achieve the American dream of homeownership, and that includes the ability to sustainably and permanently enjoy the home you make for yourself, your family and your loved ones,” says Dan Gilbert. “The greatest resource of any community is its people, and we are honored to be able to invest in removing this tax burden, which will build a stronger foundation for Detroit families to thrive.”

The first $15 million dollars will be used to completely wipe out back property taxes for low-income residents of Detroit. Targeting 20,000 homeowners, the Detroit Tax Relief Fund will help to keep residents in their home giving them the opportunity to focus on and invest in their community.

Mayor Mike Duggan was also on hand to share his support for the program. Giving accolades to Dan Gilbert’s vision, the city’s mayor shared Gilbert has been able to help 1,100 tenants become homeowners before the $500 million-dollar initiative. With one on four Detroit properties foreclosed upon, the mayor expressed his excitement for Detroiters and this new plan to end property tax issues for thousands.

“This is an extraordinary day for the city of Detroit. A major step forward on the strategy to break the cycle of generational poverty in the city and for 20,000 people,” Mayor

See DONATION page A2

WHAT’S INSIDE

When will it end? When will Detroit, the state of Michigan, America, and the world take commanding control and eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic? When will everyday life return to some semblance of normalcy? And is a “return to normalcy” even possible after the deadly coronavirus has wreaked havoc on every sector of society for the last 12 months?

Since the reclassification of COVID19, from an epidemic to a pandemic in the United States on March 11, 2020, an ever-climbing number of family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers and others have either contracted COVID-19, been hospitalized or have died from the virus.

In addition to the dreadful human side of the virus, nationwide businesses, industries, institutions and other entities have experienced some form of disruption, loss of workforce and shutdowns during periods of the pandemic. Nothing was exempt, not houses of worship, schools at every level, small and large businesses, sports and entertainment events or the hospitality sector.

While at times the pandemic has painted a picture of permanent doom and gloom, there is a ray of light and scientific pathway out of the pandemic based on adults, and ultimately teens and children in all 50 states, receiving one of three vaccines approved to date: Pfizer (two shots), Moderna (two shots), and Johnson & Johnson (one-shot). The vaccines have been authorized for use by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization with others still under trial.

In Detroit, two giant COVID-19 vaccination sites have been set up to administer shots in arms: TCF Center, to accommodate Detroiters 50-years of age and older who meet other requirements, and Ford Field for any eligible person living or

working in Detroit. In addition, according to the City of Detroit’s website, designated churches and community centers across town are administering vaccinations through what’s being called “Community Saturdays.” Appointments must be made in advance of receiving vaccinations at any of the sites.

Getting vaccinated in Detroit and other American cities should get a boost, following President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, which he signed on March 11. The bill provides funding to further fight the coronavirus in the country, including $10 billion for distributing vaccines in high risk and hard-hit communities. And $48 billion is targeted for testing and contact tracing across the country.

While Detroiters rapidly race to receive vaccinations, the coronavirus is running its own race at an alarming pace.

“The positivity rate has doubled in the past ten days,” Denise Fair, chief public health officer for Detroit’s Health Department, said at a March 22, 2021, COVID19 briefing. “Our numbers are going in the wrong direction. In terms of our hospitalizations, they are also increasing. Just a few weeks ago, we were at 69 hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19, and now we are up to 91.

The biggest proportion of these cases is among 20- to 29-year-olds, followed by 50- to 59-year-olds.”

Fair said the rising numbers are concerning, but she also offered good news.

“We are seeing a reduction in the proportion of cases in Detroiters aged 60 to 69,” Fair said. “What that means is the vaccination effort that we are putting forward in the city of Detroit is working, and we cannot stop this momentum.”

“We are now closing in on 200,000 vaccines in Detroit,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “You’re getting no reports of people having bad effects with the vaccines. But there are tragic consequences for those who don’t get them. And this

is going to continue to be the case. It’s important that you reach out to people who have been skeptical and accompany them, take them in to be vaccinated because you may be saving their lives.”

Duggan acknowledges that some African American residents of Detroit may be hesitant about being vaccinated because of historical distrust of the healthcare industry in general, rooted in the belief of systemic racism against Black people.

To study and improve the delivery of health disparities in minority communities in Michigan, especially Detroit, Gov. Whitmer created The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities through her Executive Order 2020-55 in April of 2020.

Chaired by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan’s first African American to hold the office, the Task Force on Racial Disparities has achieved positive results.

And the nation has taken notice.

“Strong leadership, sustainable infrastructure, accurate data, and targeted strategies are keys to addressing racial disparities and inequities during COVID19 and beyond,” said Andrea Thoumi, a member of the National Governors Association Center For Best Practices. “The Michigan Task Force has made substantial progress in addressing COVID-19 disparities and making lasting structural changes.”

Gilchrist urges African Americans and other underserved racial populations to get vaccinations when it’s time.

As Detroiters continue to be vaccinated, parents and guardians across the city are concerned about their children returning to in-person learning at public, charter and private schools, with safety being an overriding factor. Teachers, administrators and staff are also concerned about returning to classrooms and what safety precautions are being taken.

To help schools get back to in-person

See ONE

The Evolution of Black Women in Politics

By Megan Kirk

What to Know About Your Student Loan Debt Money. A5

$1.00

YEAR LATER page A2

Black women have staked their claim in many male-dominated arenas with politics slowly but surely becoming a female saturated industry.

With the recent election of the first woman of color to the second most powerful seat in the country, Vice President Kamala Harris is showing Black women everywhere that glass ceilings are meant to check your reflection before shattering it. As Black women continue to rise in the ranks, seats at decision-making tables are starting to consider women, women’s choices and women’s voices.

Historically, women like Fannie Lou Hamer helped to shape politics for Black women. A voting and women’s rights advocate, Hamer

Mary Sheffield

Alisha Bell

was also extremely active in the civil rights movement and went on to help co-found and serve as vice chair of the Freedom Democratic Party, and in 1964 represented the organization at the Democratic National Convention. Further, extending her hand to all women, not just African Amer-

icans, Hamer went on to cofound the National Women’s Political Caucus established to help all women get elected to public office.

She was unsuccessful in her runs for the United State Congress in 1964 and, later, the Mississippi State Senate, but Hamer helped lead hun-

dreds in the south to the polls and registered Black communities to vote during a time when racist whites put practices in place to forbid voting from African Americans. In her famed 1964 speech alongside Malcolm X at a rally in the Williams Institutional CME Church in New York, Hamer expressed her disdain with asking for freedoms given under the constitution. The speech, in part, includes an infamous line associated with the civil rights activists: “And you can always hear this long sob story: ‘You know it takes time.’ For three hundred years, we’ve given them time. And I’ve been tired so long, now I am sick and tired of being sick and tired, and we want a change.”

Along with Hamer, Black

See BLACK

WOMEN page A2

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March 31 - April 6, 2021

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One Year Later

From page A-1

learning, President Biden announced on March 24 that the government will send $81 billion immediately to all 50 states for their school districts to reopen safely.

Biden’s recent coronavirus relief bill signed into law also earmarks $122 billion for K-12 schools.

On February 24 of this year, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) reopened its learning centers, followed by all District schools reopening for in-person learning on March 8. According to Chrystal Wilson, assistant superintendent of communications for DPSCD, about 9,000 students have been attending regularly, with about 500 teachers returning.

Non-returning students continue to learn through virtual platforms. In a district with approximately 50,000 students and 3,000 teachers there are plans to increase the number of returning students and teachers. Vaccinations for teachers is a significant part of the plan.

“We are working with our teachers, and we are confident they will come back to in-person learning,” said Wilson, “The vaccine is available to all DPSCD teachers.

And there is a teacher incentive negotiated by Superintendent Vitti through the teachers union, where teachers can earn an additional $3,000 in hazard pay. The District is working with Mayor Duggan’s administration, which is doing a great job of providing vaccine opportunities for educators.”

Citywide, there are also concerns centered on getting Detroit’s economy back on track. According to a comprehensive economic report prepared by several of Michigan’s top universities, the unemployment rate rose from 8.8 percent in 2019 to 20 percent in 2020.

Nicole Sherard-Freeman, group executive of Jobs, Economy & Detroit At Work for the city of Detroit, has her hands on the pulse of Detroit’s

Donation From page A-1

Duggan says.

Formally, many Detroit residents qualified for Detroit’s Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program, but due to lack of knowledge, residents who have been hit hard by property taxes did not apply. During a 2019 canvas of the city’s homeowners, Rocket Community Fund uncovered over 90 percent of Detroiters were eligible for the HPTAP program. Now, with a surging amount of penalties, fees and interest, Detroiters have found themselves in debt and at risk of foreclosure.

“Big problems require even bigger solutions that address the symptoms as well as the systems that have contributed to the challenges Detroit continues to face,” says Jennifer Gilbert, co-founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation and founder of several successful Detroit-based companies. “We look forward to working with existing and future partners to drive systemic change in Detroit.”

One-third of homeowners across the city face problems with paying property taxes forcing some residents to abandon the homes they have established for their families. Adding to the city’s blight issue, poverty increases, high crime rates, and homelessness, foreclosures are not in the best interest of Detroit’s growing economic future.

“It’s not the properties we cared about. It’s the

economy, and she is optimistic about its rebound.

“When the pandemic hit last March, the resident employment rate was a little over 230,000, which was an all-time high for Detroit residents employed, followed by an all-time low of just over 160,000 residents employed,” said Sherard-Freeman.

“By December, the resident employment rate had bounced back to just over 215,000. So we are coming back, but we are not out of the woods because we don’t know what the long-term impact of the pandemic will be.”

Sherard-Freeman is not sitting around in hope mode, as she continues to proactively attract major companies to Detroit. For such companies and businesses already in the city, she looks to broker opportunities for Detroiters to be the first choice for available jobs.

Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) is a classic example of her success in giving Detroiters first opportunities at job openings. There are now about 3,000 Detroiters who Stellantis/Fiat Chrysler has hired.

According to Sherard-Freeman, at least five other major companies made similar pledges of first choice hiring opportunities.

She is also working to boost the local economy through the power of the 60-000plus Black and Brown small businesses in the city which collectively she calls “one of the largest job generators.”

Detroit’s Black and Brown small businesses are expected to be helped by Biden’s $1.9 trillion Rescue America Plan. And the Biden administration is in the early stages of assembling a $3 trillion package to invest in the country’s infrastructure in areas like roads, bridges, rail lines, electrical vehicle charging stations and cellular networks, all of which the president feels will generate millions of jobs for Americans.

While Detroiters and other Americans are cau-

people,” says Dan Gilbert.

Working to distribute funds, Wayne Metro Community Action Agency will help facilitate and qualify low-income families for the program.

Moving forward, The Gilbert Family Foundation will work hand-inhand with residents who took part in the Detroit Tax Relief Fund to determine future programs to assist the city’s hardest hit communities. With an overwhelmingly large African American population, Detroit’s Black community has faced its fair share of systemic racism and financial instability across various sectors.

Now, with this commitment, residents will see the playing field begin to level.

“This unparalleled commitment builds off of the work we have done over the past several years and scales it in a way that will allow us to continue addressing issues that have been facing Detroiters for generations alongside the Gilbert Family Foundation,” says Laura Grannemann, Vice President of the Rocket Community Fund. “This impactful announcement comes with a promise of a brighter future and a deepened commitment to Detroit.

For residents looking to check their eligibility for the Detroit Tax Relief Fund, HPTAP or the state’s Pay As You Stay Program, which works in conjunction with HPTAP, are encouraged to call Wayne Metro at 313-2440274 or visit their website.

tiously optimistic about the pathways to the other side of the pandemic, many questions hopefully will be answered, such as how effective are the vaccines and how long will they last? Will people be required to get other vaccines to protect against COVID-19 variants? How long will people have to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings?

How will healthcare and insurance companies deal with COVID-19 long-haulers who continue to experience the virus’s associative symptoms? And how will people mentally deal with the aftermath of the devastating pandemic?

“We’re going to need to be patient with our-

selves and others as we process what we’ve all been through,” said Michelle Riba, a psychiatrist and professor at the University of Michigan. “It’s important to understand peoples’ individual needs and recognize that many people are still grieving.”

Yet, optimism is being voiced from the mayor’s office.

“People are tired of COVID-19; everybody feels that way,” Duggan said. “We are not that far from the end. We are at a point now where we can break the back of COVID19 once and for all with the vaccination effort. I believe the city can be completely open again by this summer, but we have to have our vaccinations.”

Black Women

From page A-1

women like Shirley Chisholm began to make their rise in the political ranks. In 1968, Chisholm, already a politician and educator, became the first Black woman to be elected in the United States Congress and represented New York’s 12th congressional district for seven full terms. Chisholm further broke barriers when she became the first Black woman to run for the Democratic party’s nomination to become a candidate for President of the United States in 1972.

“We always knew we had a story to tell. We always knew that we belonged. We know that we have a position, and we have a right to be here, and we can contribute greatly to policy,” says Alisha Bell, chair for the Wayne County Commission. “We are the grassroots. We have a story that is unique, and we know we have something to give back to society and thank God we aren’t afraid to do that.”

On the shoulders of those who came before them, women such as Stacey Abrams, led thousands of Black people in Georgia to become registered to vote in the 2020 presidential election helping to cause a political upset and flipping the traditionally red state blue, can shine and make their mark. Along with Stacey Abrams, Black women in the political realm include mayors such as Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta and Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, who also represents the country’s LGBT+ community, former Ohio congresswoman Marcia Fudge, who was appointed by the Biden Administration as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the first Black woman to lead that position in more than 40 years. Refocusing the party to its originality, Black women are shifting the narrative for traditional democrats.

“Often times in the Democratic party, Black women have pushed the Democratic party back to focusing on family issues and issues that matter to individuals,” says Jonathan Kinloch, Wayne County Commissioner, District 2, and the Chair for the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization.

In the past, taking on positions of power seemed to be more common for Black women. As Black men typically shied away from causing political uproar for fear of retribution, Black women took to the streets and made political statements to advance their gender and their race.

“It was always viewed that Black women, for the most part, would be out supporting men. The social justice, the issues that affected the Black family, the household and the freedoms of Black folks, Black women have always been there. They have been the framework

and the backbone,” says Kinloch. “It was fewer women back then who took on leaderships roles because it was thought men would be in charge, as time went on, it was the women who motivated the men.”

As Black women have continued to evolve and establish themselves as a force in politics, it is not without trial and tribulations. Only making up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population, Black women are the minority amongst minorities.

Though small in representation, Black women are continuing to envelop themselves in a career serving the people and propelling the race forward.

“Growing up in the church and accompanying my father and grandfather during protests and

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organizing efforts fighting against racial, social and economic injustices in Detroit and around the Nation, I gained a healthy understanding of my individual responsibility and duty to serve God through serving his people,” says Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore. “Even though I am a legacy community leader, my flame was truly ignited by being out in our communities seeing the needs of people and what it would take to make a difference in Detroit. I knew I wanted to be a part the change that Detroit needed so I stepped up to the job.”

In Detroit, Black women have a rich history in politics. Almost single-handedly helping to win the 2020 Presidential election, Black female voters dominated the polls. The road ahead is still laced with trials, but with Black women at

the helm, it will be sure to be filled with triumphs as well.

“In order to continue to move forward and achieve new milestones in Detroit and beyond, Black women have to stay the course. We must continue to fight for progressive policies around areas like affordable housing, fair wages, social equity and criminal justice reform. We must also stay active in our communities so that we are current on the changing needs and issues people face,” says Sheffield.

With the strength of ancestors deep in their bones, Black women have proven to be masters in the home, office or board room. Taking up space, enhancing the voice of not only Black women, but Black lives and doing it unapologetically is helping Black women lay the foundation for future generations.

AAA is proud to celebrate the AAA School Safety Patrol Program centennial.

AAA is proud to celebrate the AAA School Safety Patrol Program’s centennial.

Since 1920, patrollers across the world have provided school-aged children an extra sense of safety and security as they travel to and from school. From traffic safety for grade schoolers, to travel, banking and insurance, all the way to retirement planning, we’re here for you. So you can do more and worry less. It’s who we are.

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| March 31 - April 6, 2021

Roots.

michiganchronicle.com

Dr. William F. Pickard Donates $300,000 to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Contribution will Fund Eight Scholarships for Students from Michigan and The Bahamas In February of this year, the Government of The Bahamas appointed the first ever honorary consul in Detroit -- entrepreneur, author and philanthropist William F. Pickard, Ph.D., executive chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management. His official duties, according to the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is to represent the interests of the government in Detroit as well as acting as a liaison with the Government when its citizens in Detroit are in trouble or when they are facing misfortune.

After a discussion with long-time friend and Governor-General of The Bahamas Cornelius A. Smith, Dr. Pickard is going one step further and instituting the Cornelius A. Smith and William F. Pickard, Ph.D., Friendship and Alliance Scholarship at the noted Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniWilliam F. Pickard versity (FAMU).

The scholarship will be awarded to eight students who are pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Most of the agricultural land in The Bahamas is owned by the government which has worked tirelessly to build sustainable agricultural and farming methods to meet the needs of the citizens of the Bahamas, lessen the need for imports and, ultimately, decrease dependence on the tourism industry.

“Education was always a priority in my home growing up,” said Dr. Pickard.

“As my career moved from social work to entrepreneurship it became part of my mission to make educational opportunities available to those who followed.

This scholarship also dovetails perfectly with my new duties as honorary consul for The Bahamas.”

Applicant must be graduating high school seniors or college freshman or sophomore transfer students interested in obtaining a degree in the field of agriculture. Eight students will be chosen for the one-year tuition only scholarship. Applicants must reside in the islands and surrounding areas of Freeport, Bahamas, and in Detroit, Michigan, or the surrounding metro Detroit area. They will be able to reapply each year. The scholarship will receive an endowment of $300,000 over a three-year period.

Detroit natives Gil and Renèe Beavers, both 53, simply love love and are inspiring other couples along their journey in their book, “Rich Relationships Refuge: Oneness Code Workbook.” Photos provided by Gil and Renèe Beavers

A Durable Love:

Two Couples Author Books, Inspire Others on Love and Relationships

By Sherri Kolade

“I am truly honored to be part of this effort to increase educational prospects for Bahamians around the world,” said Governor-General of The Bahamas Cornelius A. Smith. “Not only will the students receive an outstanding education at a first class Historically Black College, but they will also, hopefully, bring those skills home and help increase sustainable agriculture in our country.”

Students will be able to access the application by contacting Dorma McGruder @ (313) 849-3556 or email: millionairemakingmoves@yahoo.com.

Deadline for completed applications is April 14, 2021, Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Dean of the School of Business and Industry and the Executive Director of the FAMU Foundation, said “We are honored to be chosen as the steward of the Cornelius A. Smith and William F. Pickard, Ph.D., Friendship and Alliance Scholarship.

Our ranking as the top public HBCU for the second year in a row along with our award-winning faculty allows us to not

See SCHOLARSHIP page A-4

Couple Justin Black and Alexis Black want to ­encourage readers through their book, “The Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love,” on how to overcome obstacles.

She’s a westside girl. He’s an eastside guy.

They met when 14 years old during a summer camp in the city and the Detroit natives Gil and Renèe Beavers, both 53, have been inseparable ever since. They even decided early on as teens to combine whatever little money they had at the time, and sharing has continued to be a healthy aspect of their relationship. The two have a story to tell about the type of love they have, a love that holds them together during every stage of their lives.

“We dated at 18 and got married when we were 21,” she said.

“We have a very [strong story], our first commitment to each other was on Belle Isle at one of the piers -- that is when we committed to choosing love over money.”

Gil Beavers said that was when they didn’t have anything but their commitment to each other was still life-changing.

And after being married for over three decades, the joy-filled couple with the megawatt smiles want to help other couples explore how to build better love stories of their own in their new book, “Rich Relationships Refuge: Oneness Code Workbook.”

The book asks hard but necessary questions to push couples toward restoration and richer relationships.

The duo also has a weekly podcast series, “Rich Relationships,” that airs Monday nights at 7 p.m. (CST) and empowers people with the tools, principles and community needed to “unpack ourselves,” the past and former ideas associated with how relationships should be.

The couple, who have a 29-year-old daughter based in Atlanta, now live in their “new tiny home on wheels” and are spreading the word about their uplifting work and how their relationship is made stronger every day after nearly 40 years of friendship and love, along with their love for God. Right now, they are stationed in Montgomery, Ala. The Beavers have been featured on CBS, NBC, TBN, Atlanta Live, HOT 108 FM, the Huffington Post, and LV & Sheen Magazine, and more.

See DURABLE LOVE page A-4

A Man of Faith and Food:

Southfield Resident Conquers Hardships with a Helping of God and a Side of Grace

By Sherri Kolade His dark-colored couch holds miscellaneous papers in a neat pile on one side. On the other end is an oversized, wooden crucifix and two large, intricate grey balloons.

Once out of bed, Anzley Morrell III, 71, starts his morning off at that couch in the living room of his Southfield home in quiet reflection, prayer and deep gratitude. He ends his day there the same way, too.

Those balloons (miraculously still holding up from last fall) were a gift from Morrell’s pastor’s wife after he lost his wife, Carolyn Morrell, 67, to COVD-19 last spring.

“We did nothing without each other,” he said of Anzley Morrell III, 71, holds a jar of his popular Butch’s Chowthe bond he and his bold and beloved wife shared.

Chow. Photo provided by Anzley Morrell

Also situated near those balloons is a picture of his wife who left notes to herself he later found describing how she was grateful to have married the love of her life. They shared a life together since May 29, 1982.

“Every morning and every evening I say a prayer, then I [look at] a picture of my wife. I look at her, and I tell her I love her.”

He added that his pastor’s wife makes balloons, which she gave to him after he lost his wife.

“I tell her they’re still on my couch. [I say] ‘First Lady when is this going to deflate?’” Morrell said.

“When it deflates, I can throw it away,” he told The Michigan Chronicle in an interview where he shared some of his fondest memories and challenging moments.

See FAITH AND FOOD page A-4

Page A-4 • michiganchronicle.com •

Faith and Food From page A-3

Morrell said that his church family at Central Baptist Church in westside Detroit rallied around him and other church members who grieved losing loved ones to COVID-19. And Morrell (a trustee at his church) and his family reciprocate the love back a big way by serving in different capacities.

Morrell, a man with a gentle, booming voice and quick laugh, not only dealt with the blow of losing his wife but the loss of his oldest son, Anzley IV, who died at 39 years old six months before his wife’s death from an aortic rupture.

He was an assistant coach at Denby High School.

“Almost six months to the day when my wife died,” he said of his son’s death.

“Very, very heartbreaking for me. I almost lost my faith. I had a lot of questions about everything but God kept me strong and He’s got me still here.”

After he prays in the morning, Morrell thoughtfully goes about his day, which includes plans on how to improve his popular family relish business, Butch’s Chow-Chow -- something he almost gave up on.

But the father to three other adult children, numerous grandchildren, and with a community behind him, still has ambitions to pursue.

Morrell, who used to drive a SMART bus and was a Detroit sanitation worker for 20 years, dug even deeper into his faith and began to put his house in order to re-evaluate what’s important.

His faith centered him to get back to one of the things he loved doing: cooking. Throughout Morrell’s marriage, he was primarily the cook of the family. The ex-Marine also cooked on his captain’s ship when he served in Vietnam. His wife would cook, too, for the family when he worked late some nights, which he recalled in the interview lightheartedly.

“Our kids would look in the pot and say, ‘Why did you let mommy cook?’” he said, adding that she was just trying to help. He added that he lovingly told her next time to wait until he got home to cook.

Durable Love From page A-3

Renèe Beavers said what inspired them to write their book is over 15 years when they’ve worked with couples, they started seeing the same relationship concerns.

“The workbook is designed [so that] instead of you getting to know the author it is really [about] getting to know the reader,” she said, adding that it sparks conversations for couples.

Her husband said that they came from homes where his parents were divorced and his wife’s mother was never married.

“We knew we wanted to be married but didn’t know quite how to do that,” she said, adding that they began to write down things they wanted to model and apply to their own marriage. “We realized this is just a framework. People can apply it to their own lives.”

For more information on the podcast, mobile app, and book visit richrelationshipsus.com.

In March of 2020, Justin Black was studying abroad while Alexis Black was working remotely in South Africa when they were emergency evacuated due to the coronavirus. While quarantining the young couple stayed in an RV posted outside of Alexis’ parent’s house where they began the journey of creating “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love,” and became bestselling authors just months later.

The bubbly duo decided it was time to tie the knot amid COVID-19 after being engaged for over two years Shortly after their wedding, Justin joined his wife as a Western Michigan University (WMU) alumni and part of the three percent of foster youth that graduate college, they noted. At WMU, the Blacks were Seita Scholars for foster youth in higher education.

Alexis Black is a recent graduate with dual degrees, a BBA and BA in Entrepreneurship and Global and International Studies, respectively. She set the record for the number of study abroad programs completed at her university – eight programs spanning across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Justin Black graduated with a BA in Public Relations and African Studies in July 2020.

He completed five study abroad programs as well as two summer programs in Washington, DC. The Blacks attribute the purchase of their first home in December to the sales of their book. Since launching November 9, the Blacks have sold over 4,000 copies while collaborating with numerous youth-serving organizations, foster care programs and other outlets where they train and develop staff to interact with youth who’ve experienced trauma.

The memoir, published by Global Perspectives Publishing, follows the journey of the two as foster kids overcoming neglect and abuse before finding each other and learning how to create a pathway they never knew. “The Redefining Normal” book was also named a #1 Amazon bestseller in three categories and is available through Amazon, the Kalamazoo Library system, and local bookstores throughout Michigan. For more information and to order, visit https://

March 31 - April 6, 2021

“She didn’t deny it, she laughed,” he said.

His cooking skills paid off because his wife’s parents and grandparents (from Sylvester, Ga.) had a family recipe for a well-beloved southern staple, an all-natural product called chow-chow, a relish mixture of nine vegetables.

Her family gave Morrell the recipe after her grandmother knew him for a couple of years and saw that he was an okay guy.

“I was talking with her grandmother and she said, ‘I’m going to give you a family secret -- we’ve been making this in our family for 200 years,’” Morrell, who was not familiar with chow-chow beforehand, said.

His family recipe includes vegetables like cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, pepper, turmeric, and other spices “that make the family secret,” Morrell, who plans to pass on his business to his daughter (who manages a bakery in Detroit), said.

Anzley Morrell III and his wife, Carolyn Morrell, who passed from COVD-19 last His grandmother-in-law showed him spring. Photo provided by Anzley Morrell

and his wife how to make it almost 40 years ago. The then-residents of Detroit started a backyard garden for the chowchow ingredients at their home on Lindsay Street and 8 Mile Road when they first married.

“We were selling it primarily just to friends and church members -- we belonged to a large church at the time,” he said, adding that everybody waited once a year when their crops were harvested.

They made just enough for private sales.

“We use very little sugar, apple cider vinegar and we make a brine where it sits in the brine for a day,” he said, adding that the ingredients get rinsed off and the final product is sold in 16-ounce jars (in mild, medium and hot varieties) at the Eastern Market and on his website, https://butchschowchow.net/.

“Whenever I come in, they look for Butch’s Chow-Chow,” he said of patrons at the Eastern Market. He added that the relish can be added to practically anything including greens and cornbread, black-eyed peas and more. “Now I’m coming out with a new variation.”

Morrell is also looking at expanding his brand and marketing it to an even bigger audience and even in stores. www.re-definingnormal.com/.

In April 2020, Justin, a Detroit native, and Alexis, a Flint native, founded the ROSE (Rising Over Societal Expectations) Empowerment Group. The organization’s mission is to establish sustainability in communities through group economics, building healthy relationships and seeking value in local resources and networks.

“Some would compare it slightly to pickle relish,” he said, adding that he’s gotten children who wouldn’t touch vegetables to eat it. “My daughter loves it in deviled eggs.”

His pastor, the Rev. Robert Bolden, who tasted the chow-chow, along with members of the congregation at different church events, would agree.

“Brother Morrell, he’s been a member of our church for quite some time,” he said, adding that he and his family play a “pretty significant role” in the church and God “fortified” Morrell after his loss.

This spring, if not sooner, Morrell said that he also plans to sell Butch’s Chow-Chow in person and at the Eastern Market, where it’s become a huge hit, and at other markets.

“It can really ransack your life, but I’m grateful to see how he has endured and really his whole family. They didn’t just talk the talk of faith … they walked the walk and I do believe his faith has been strengthened and he has been fortified in his faith now more than he ever has been,” Bolden said.

“I’ll be there without a doubt,” he said, adding that his wife used to sell the chow-chow at other farmer’s markets, too, alongside him and separately to cover more ground. “In the morning she would go to the Royal Oak market and I would go to Eastern on Saturdays.”

For more information on Butch’s Chow-Chow or purchase it visit https:// butchschowchow.net/.

Morrell said that he and his family, despite it all, are blessed.

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On Thursday, February 25, Alexis Black will be speaking at Voices of Kalamazoo: Ensemble Author Event. Hosted on Zoom, broadcast live to bookstore media feeds, and recorded for future audiences, it will feature local authors across genres and topics, all providing a glimpse into their books and the reason behind writing them. More information at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/138349167083.

“Justin and I decided to write a book as a way to get closer together before we got married in August since we didn’t have that many healthy examples of a relationship with us both coming from foster care. After starting the process, we saw that this was much bigger than us - we [can] impact millions while encouraging others to heal, break generational patterns while redefining their normal.

Now, we are continuing the conversation through workshops, presentations, and keynotes across the country,” she said.

Justin said that writing about something they knew came naturally to them.

“Both of us grew up in foster care with a warped … and unhealthy perspective from what we’ve seen from our parents, [and our] family dynamic,” he said adding that the abnormal was normal to them until they became adults “and had to figure so many things out.”

He told The Michigan Chronicle that in moving forward it is important to recognize the unhealthy aspect of relationships by doing self-assessments. “A lot of people don’t understand situations they are in and are unaware of unhealthy sides.”

Alexis said that she and her husband are also busy running multiple businesses and trying to give back at the same time to “pay it forward.” The book and their businesses are their way to encourage and help others along the way by showing them that God can help anyone overcome.

“It is our way of juxtaposing that this is what the world tells us we will be versus what God says we will be,” she said, adding that so many young people have gone through what they’ve gone through. “We are not unique. The only thing unique is we found out a way to make it work for us. This is why we wrote this. All those ugly tears and all those days we wanted to give up -- this is our story.”

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A5

Money.

| March 31 - April 6, 2021

michiganchronicle.com

Millennial Money

What to Know About Your Student Loan Debt

By Jordan Woods When the ceremony of college graduation subsides, many millennials face more than just the burden of finding a new job — hello student loan debt.

Studies show some millennials have an average of over $28,000 in outstanding student loans by college end.

Breathing Room These are interesting times for those holding student loan debt. The Biden Administration announced that pandemic relief for about 41 million federal student loan borrowers will be extended under the CARES Act. The extension will give most federal student loan borrowers additional bill-paying breathing room through October 1, 2021.

With the forbearance, student loan payments and the interest on your loan amount automatically stop. But remember, while you have a little breathing room, this is only temporary, not forgiveness of the loan. Your debt will be waiting for you when repayment resumes in October.

If you have been fortunate enough to have steady income through this crisis, there are real benefits to keep track of your payments and get ahead of the game, once loan bills are due again.

The Business of

Black Beauty: Why More Black Women Aren’t Represented

By Megan Kirk

Repayment Options The overall sum can be daunting, but there are several repayment options that can make it easier while maintaining financial progression.

Some of these options include: ■ Standard Repayment – with this option, you pay a fixed monthly amount and pay off the loan in 10 years (or less).

■ Graduated Repayment – Starts with a lower monthly payment amount and then gradually increases the payment amount every two years.

■ Extended Repayment – Stretches loan payments from the standard repayment period up to 25 years.

Additionally, if you have multiple federal loans, you could always look into consolidating so that you can make one single payment each month that covers all of them.

There are more options that the government offers, which you can review here, but your approach should remain the same: choose the best repayment plan that considers both your short and long term financial picture, minimizes interest, and will

See STUDENT

LOAN DEBT page A6

Actor and comedian Chris Rock released a film in 2009 centered around Black women and the beauty industry.

Taking a closer look at the relationship between Black women and their hair, the film “Good Hair” uncovered truths about the significant role Black women play in the multibillion-dollar industry.

It also helped to highlight the versatility of Black hair and why Black women dominate the hair and beauty business.

In 2019, Essence magazine reported that African Americans spend $1.2 trillion each year on hair and that number is expected to rise to $1.5 billion in 2021. In the ethnic beauty market, Black consumers spent a collective $54 million of the total $63 million spent in 2017. With such a heavy financial impact, why aren’t more African Americans dominating in ownership.

Asian stakeholders serve as the key demographic in beauty supply ownership and the business of Black hair.

Hoping to help shatter the low number of Black owners in the beauty game, in December 2020 Gloria Smith and Tara Smith opened one of the city’s few Black woman-owned beauty supply stores, Total Glamour Beauty Supply, located in Southfield.

“The fact that the industry itself, Black people contribute $2.3 billion in hair care products alone. With that being said, we only own about 4,000 stores across the nation,” says Tara.

Though unrelated, Tara and Gloria formed a sisterhood. With almost 40 years of engineering experience, the duo

met at General Motors during their tenure with the company. The now co-owners embarked on the entrepreneurial journey for two different reasons: ownership and a genuine love of hair.

“I’ve loved hair since I was about five years old when I moved to Michigan. I went to cosmetology school. I did work as a stylist in a shop. I had to find other ways to support this passion,” says Gloria.

For Tara, a claim to the neighborhood and a true interest in becoming an entrepreneur helped to shape the decision to open a beauty supply store for Black women.

“When you own a store in your community, you’re vested in the community,” Tara says.

On the heels of pioneer Madame C.J. Walker, who created hair care products and became history’s first Black female self-made millionaire, Black women have continued to make strides in the hair care industry. Though low in representation, Black women are slowing beginning to stake their claim. With more women embracing their natural hair and shopping for products especially made for Black hair, women are shifting the narrative on hair and its biggest players.

A licensed cosmetologist and natural hair stylist at Studio Lush in Southfield, Julisa Anderson has over 14 years invested in the hair care and beauty industry. Although she does not own the shop, she believes the road to ownership is oftentimes laced with obstacles meant to serve as stumbling blocks for Black entrepreneurs.

“A lot of Black women don’t have the knowledge to [start a business] because entrepreneurship is a huge systematic problem,” Anderson says.

Access to starter funds, products and financial support all work together to keep Black ownership to a minimum.

In business, branding a self-funded business means complete ownership, but also financial hardships. In addition to providing a service, the emergence of new businesses also means new jobs for the neighborhood.

“We are one of those businesses who are self-funded and we wanted to provide something for ourselves and our community,” Tara says.

Black women, trendsetters in their own right, have helped to create, redefine and recreate iconic hair styles, fashion moments and other looks synonymous with Black culture. Deemed “ghetto,” high fashion institutions have frowned upon Black trends and corporate America has implemented rules and regulations to keep Black hair in check, only to be duplicated, renamed by the masses and praised.

“We created it. It’s in us. We see things. We envision things. We create the style,” says Gloria. “Our creativity, we have to think outside the box because how we present ourselves was looked down upon because we weren’t wearing it [Black hair] straight. Now, we embrace it more and major product lines are creating products that work with our hair.”

As more big brands and corporations

See BLACK

BEAUTY page A6

Apple Developer Academy Slated to Open Soon in Detroit

By Sherri Kolade Making more equitable opportunities a priority for those who need it in Detroit isn’t just lofty ideas and wishful thinking -- it’s becoming a reality in the tech world being made possible through Apple.

Later this year the company will open an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit — the first of its kind in the country. Combined with Detroit’s vibrant Black entrepreneur and developer community (with over 50,000 Black-owned businesses according to US Census data) it’s a placement with possibility. The academy is designed to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators and coders, cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly growing iOS app economy.

Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University, Apple Developer Academy courses will be open to all learners across Detroit, regardless of their academic background or whether they have any previous coding experience.

Hailee Bryant-Roye, an early-childhood education major at Tennessee State University, has been able to pursue new teaching and learning opportunities with Apple’s Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create curricula offered through the company’s collaboration with TSU. She’ll have access to additional programming, mentorship and internship opportunities through the Propel Center. Images courtesy of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative

economy careers and looking to better

understand what it means to be a developer. The other is the full academy program, an intensive 10- to 12-month program that will help aspiring developers build the skills needed to par-

Jared Bailey, a senior at Morehouse College, has integrated Apple’s coding and creativity curricula into his public health and community service work as part of the school’s partThe Apple Developer Academy will nership with Apple, a collaboration that is ex- offer two programs in Detroit. One is a panding further with the launch of the Propel 30-day introductory program designed Center. Images courtesy of Apple’s Racial Equity for learners who are considering app and Justice Initiative

ticipate in the iOS app economy, and even start their own businesses. Apple expects the academy’s programming to reach close to 1,000 students each

See APPLE

ACADEMY page A6

Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com • March 31 - April 6, 2021

Why You Should Get Tested For COVID-19 Today The past year has been incredibly difficult for our community.

COVID-19 has taken a tremendous toll on each of us, with many losing jobs, losing time with our families, and worst of all, losing loved ones. Even as we see hopeful signs as the vaccine rolls out, ongoing COVID-19 testing remains critical to keep our community safe.

Black Americans comprise 13% of the US population.

Yet, more than half of all COVID-19 cases—and almost 60% of related deaths—occurred in US cities with large Black populations. All too often, Black people are tested for COVID-19 only after they catch it and go to a hospital with symptoms that have become difficult or impossible to treat. A Quest Diagnostics survey showed 72% of Black Americans have either delayed or avoided getting a diagnostic COVID-19 test even when they believed they needed one. Such reluctance carries a high price. By the time a Black American is hospitalized, the disease has often progressed to where no therapy can stop it.

Student Loan Debt From page A-5 keep you from going into default on your loans.

Repayment plans can be changed in the case you find one that better suits you later on; this often occurs for those with loans that are eventually going to be eligible for forgiveness.

Resources The federal government’s loan simulator is a great tool to use when calculating the monetary costs of one repayment plan versus another. The question then becomes how the costs of each plan ranks for you in terms of the other implications it will have on your finances.

A consultation with an impartial financial counselor, such as Greenpath, can resolve any questions you have about how to decide and enact what’s best for you.

They can help you get a full picture of your credit. If you’re looking to finance a new car or acquire a business loan, you have to consider how your level of debt, repayment plan, and history of on time payment is going to look to potential creditors.

Certified student loan counselors

Apple Academy From page A-5

year with a curriculum that covers coding, design, marketing and professional skills.

Jeff Grabill, associate provost for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at Michigan State University, said though details can’t be discussed when the Academy will open, it will be soon.

“We hope to be able to announce [the date] even sooner,” he said, adding that MSU’s been playing a big role in the Academy planting roots in the city.

“MSU has a primary role in bringing the Academy to Detroit based on a few years of working with Apple on educational projects. It is my hope that the Academy opens up new pathways for MSU to educate the people of the state of Michigan along with new and unique opportunities for MSU students as well.”

Grabill told The Michigan Chronicle that the equity issues are “fundamental” to why there will be an Academy in Detroit.

“The investment on the part of Apple is part of their larger equity-focused initiatives. For MSU as well, this is an effort to be more inclusive as an institution, and both MSU and Apple have high expectations for equity-focused outcomes for the Academy. It is a priority,” he said.

“We’re grateful for the partnership this opportunity brings to Michigan,” said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. “Apple is the perfect partner for us to help educate and prepare a diverse generation of coders, tech leaders and entrepreneurs, and Detroit — Michigan’s innovative technology and premier urban hub — is the right location for this academy. There is tremendous potential for this project moving forward and we’re excited to get started.”

The Academy is part of Apple’s announcement in January about a set of major new projects as part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color. These multidimensional projects include the Propel Center, a first-of-itskind global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Academy. The Academy is also aimed to support coding and tech education for students in Detroit; and venture capital funding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Together, Apple’s REJI commitments aim to expand opportunities for communities of color across the country and to help build the next generation of diverse leaders, according to the company.

“We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world — and these new projects send a clear signal of Apple’s enduring commitment,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re launching REJI’s latest

can also understand repayment options for private student loans.

When Life Happens Ideally we’d choose repayment plans, pay everything off early, and go on our merry way, but life doesn’t always work like that. When life happens, lenders will work with you to stay current and reduce the burden of your debt.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your lender. Avoidance may cause your loans to fall into default and mess up your credit; better alternatives include deferment or forbearance.

Deferment lets you temporarily suspend making your student loan payments without interest accruing, while forbearance allows you to do this WITH interest accruing. Still, even suspension of payment with interest is better than withheld tax refunds or being sued by debt collectors, both of which are possibilities that come with defaulting on federal and private student loans, respectively. Consult your individual lender on your specific circumstances. You’ll be surprised at how willing most of them to work with you.

By understanding your repayment options, considering your priorities, and being proactive when life happens, it is my hope that you’ll come to view your student loans as a marker of achievement, as opposed to a sign of defeat. initiatives with partners across a broad range of industries and backgrounds — from students to teachers, developers to entrepreneurs, and community organizers to justice advocates — working together to empower communities that have borne the brunt of racism and discrimination for far too long. We are honored to help bring this vision to bear and to match our words and actions to the values of equity and inclusion we have always prized at Apple.”

Last June, Apple announced REJI in the wake of protests around the world following the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and countless others.

The initiative builds on Apple’s work to advance racial equity in education, the economy and the criminal justice system and is led by Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson.

“Every individual deserves equal access to opportunity regardless of skin color or zip code,” said Jackson. “For too long, communities of color have faced gross injustices and institutional barriers to their pursuit of the American dream, and we are proud to lend our voices and resources to build new engines of opportunity that empower, inspire, and create meaningful change.”

MSU will host the first Apple Developer Academy in North America. A few Apple Developer Academies exist worldwide; presently, locations are in Brazil, Italy and Indonesia.

The Apple Developer Academy with MSU will be open to all Michiganders.

There will be a competitive application process designed to create diverse cohorts of students, according to MSU. MSU is working on logistics related to opening the Academy and will release details related to location and the first cohort as they are finalized.

For more information visit https:// msutoday.msu.edu and search “Apple.”

Black Beauty From page A-5

get on board with the multibillion-dollar business, gaining the acceptance of the community is the next hurdle. A huge stigma in Black communities is the lack of support for Black-owned businesses.

While support from outsiders can be limited, support from others within the community is also a hurdle in claiming a rightful piece of the pie.

“It’s important for us to stick together. Black people don’t have the same opportunities as other races,” Anderson says. “Black people always have to go the extra mile to see the fruits of our labor. We’ve always had to work hard for ours.”

The business of Black hair and beauty, currently, leaves little space for ownership. However, as more Black beauty enthusiasts emerge, the gap will have the opportunity to close allowing for more space for the true pioneers of hair.

People in crisis often lack the information and resources to find a way out. To change this, Choose Healthy Life, United Way of New York City, and Quest Diagnostics are hosting COVID-19 testing and educational events in our local communities and in partnership with our churches.

When trusted community leaders, including Black clergy, work with health experts to provide testing resources and much-needed support for those who test positive, it can have long-lasting, positive impacts on our community.

“We’re bringing people together to teach about this pandemic,” said Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, Senior Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, and co-chair of Choose Healthy Life. “The African-American church was the first place where we could get together and talk and learn. People come here because this is the most trusted institution in our community.

The clergy have to be examples, and so, we got tested, and we encourage the community to get tested.”

Events at local churches will enable people in our community to get their questions answered, while providing opportunities to get tested. This will help prevent the spread of COVID-19, provide guidance about quarantine, and help those who do test positive get access to care.

Testing Matters: It Can Save Lives “It’s critical that we remain vigilant in 2021,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, President and CEO of the National Action Network, and co-chair of Choose Healthy Life. “As faith leaders, we are stepping up to provide critical testing and resources to help our communities fight back against the virus.”

Once you’ve been tested, even if you show no symptoms, you can be properly diagnosed. If you test negative, that’s great!

If you test positive, you can get treated sooner and more effectively. Your friends, families and coworkers can be notified and can quarantine if necessary.

This helps stop COVID-19’s spread. It’s simple, easy and free—and it could save your life.

Testing will occur in the coming months at Choose Healthy Life churches and local health centers in Atlanta, Detroit, Newark, New York, Washington, DC, and other US cities. At each event, local health navigators will share important testing and vaccine information with community members. Learn more at ChooseHealthyLife.org.

“This virus is actually making people afraid to get tested. They don’t want to know. They think, ‘What am I going to do? Am I going to have to quarantine? If I get sick, it’s out of my control.’ It’s really a scary proposition. That’s why we’re seeing so many Black people who are not getting tested until they’re at the hospital,” said Sheena Wright, President & CEO of United Way of New York City, and the implementation partner for Choose Healthy Life. “We’ve been besieged with death, fear, concern, and sickness, and this is a beacon of light in the dark, where people can come and be treated. There is hope at the end of this very long tunnel,” added Wright.

So please take action. Get tested.

Your participation can help save the lives of thousands of Black Americans.

Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III preparing to receive his COVID-19 test. Dr. Butts has served as pastor at the Abyssinian Baptist Church for over 30 years, and is co-chair of the National Black Clergy Leadership Health Council.

Rev. Al Sharpton, co-chair of the Choose Healthy Life National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council, demonstrates the ease and necessity of COVID-19 testing to help address the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 in Black communities.

This event, held at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on Jan. 25, is the first of hundreds of planned COVID-19 testing events at Black churches across the US, a partnership of Choose Healthy Life, Quest Diagnostics, and the United Way.

A community member is tested for COVID-19 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on Jan. 25. Hundreds of events like this one will take place in Black communities across the US, a partnership of Choose Healthy Life, Quest Diagnostics, and the United Way.

March 31 - April 6, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-7

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ALWAYS OPEN FOR MICHIGAN BUSINESSES. As we move through 2021, Michigan businesses will continue to adapt. And the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will be here, helping to connect businesses to new resources, meet new partners and access the additional capital they need from the start. If your business needs support to reach its new potential, the MEDC is available to help in any way we can.

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City ity.. Life ife.. Style.

B1 | March 31 - April 6, 2021

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

40 Under 40 Celebrates Triumphs Over Trials

Alfred Ashu, Dennis Veal II, Aliyah Sabree, Candice Bowman, Dr. Sabrina Claude, McGahee, Kimberly Dobine, Delaurian Burton, Tamika Reeves, Larry Spruill Jr., Dezmond Gray

By Lindsay Keener The Michigan Chronicle, with a strong dedication to its community and its achievements, have continued to highlight the groundbreaking work of Detroiters well into the new year through 40 Under 40.

Tamika Reeves, Eze Ejelonu, Dr. Latoya Thompson

Reginald Brown, Tarshena Armstrong, Charles Muse

Created to highlight professionals who have inspired others by their thorough vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and community service participation, the Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 Awards places a special focus on Detroit’s rising emerging talent.

Among Detroit’s most honorable millennials, 40 Under 40 honorees make impactful contributions in Southeastern Michigan by way of their respective careers and service to the community.

Throughout the years, awardees have spanned professions as leaders in law, education, medicine and finance. Others are in business, corporate affairs, non-profit and government sectors.

Awardees also pave the way as experts in journalism, fashion, music and the arts.

The seventh consecutive year holding the 40 Under 40 Awards was not without challenges due to COVID-19.

However, the celebration continued, albeit differently than planned. On March 14th, the Michigan Chronicle hosted an intimate mixer for the 2020 class at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, offering the awardees the once-delayed chance to network and toast with their fellow 2020 40 Under 40 cohort.

Chayla Beason, Robert Reaves, Patricia Perry

The 2020 40 Under 40 virtual induction ceremony is set to take place on April 1, 2021.

HONOREES Sharifa Alcendor

Senior Consultant; System Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Henry Ford Health System Sharifa Alcendor has dedicated herself to ensuring the voices of underrepresented populations are heard in healthcare. With over 14 years of progressive experience in healthcare leadership, Sharifa has developed several innovative approaches to addressing social determinants of health barriers for patients and communities.

This includes developing the FindMICare.org low-cost care directory with the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, creating the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) Patient Care Management & Assistance office to serve uninsured and underinsured patients, and launching a medical respite housing program for homeless and housing insecure patients to decompress hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2018, Sharifa has led the operation of HFHS’ Office of System Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is working to develop and implement the office’s 3-year strategic plan system wide. In 2020 alone, HFHS has been recognized by DiversityInc, Forbes, the American Hospital Association and the Human Rights Campaign for creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Sharifa, originally from Pennsylvania, earned her bachelor’s degrees in biology and economics from Denison University and her master’s degree in health administration from The Ohio State University.

Tarshena Armstrong Business Planning Manager for Chairman & CEO General Motors

Tarshena Armstrong was named Business Planning Manager for General Motors’ Chairman & CEO in October 2020. In this role, she works directly with Mary Barra, GM’s Chairman & CEO to implement best practices and learning plans to meet business objectives. Additionally, she’s responsible for leading portfolio studies and other project assignments within the Global Portfolio Planning organization.

Previously, she served as Business Planner, Buick and GMC Sales, Service and Marketing.

Armstrong has demonstrated professional excellence within the Automotive industry. She’s held several critical regional assignments including supporting the Buick & GMC Dealer Network and its execution of the first-ever Black Friday Select Model 20% incentive program.

Armstrong joined the GM family in 2007 as a marketing intern with the Service Parts Operations (CCA) as an associate analyst with ACDelco & Goodwrench.

Early this year, Armstrong was featured in Working Mother’s Magazine representing GM as the Best Companies for Multicultural Women. She also participated in GM’s Bootcamp – a initiatives for high-potential women; to maximize their presence and impact.

A native of Flint, Mich., Armstrong holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University, with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.

Kimberly Dobine, Tamika Reeves, Delaurian Burton, Aliyah Sabree, Candice Bowman

Alfred Ashu

Assistant Corporation Counsel City of Detroit Law Alfred Ashu was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Alfred currently serves as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit’s Law Department where he has successfully represented the City of Detroit, its agencies and employees in various legal matters as well as in affirmative and defensive civil litigation.

Alfred is also actively involved in the entertainment industry where he serves both as an advocate and creative, with his work being nationally recognized by The Recording Academy. Alfred aims to contribute and help steer the revitalization of Detroit.

Tanisha Leonard, Reginald Brown, Tarshena Armstrong, Charles Muse

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • March 31 - April 6, 2021

Pierre Batton

Vice President of Small Business Services Detroit Economic Growth Corporation Pierre Batton is a community and economic development maven with over ten years of experience leading initiatives and programs that intersect the areas of work force development, entrepreneurship, housing and economic mobility. In his current role as Vice President of Small Business Services at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Batton oversees the City of Detroit’s small business development efforts. His 21-person team is responsible for advancing and implementing effective strategies through programs and services that grow and strengthen Detroit’s small business community in equitable and inclusive ways. Batton is no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and mobilizing partners and resources when times get tough. Most recently he led the City of Detroit’s COVID-19 small business grant efforts including creating and implementing two emergency grant programs to disburse $11 million dollars in aid to Detroit small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Batton has an impressive and extensive educational background, including a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan with a specialization in social finance. Pierre resides in Detroit with his wife Brianna Batton.

Chayla Beason

Director of Medicare Advantage Coordination of Care program.

Blue Cross Blue Shieldof Michigan Chayla Beason is a Southwest Detroit native, who came from very humble beginnings. She attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Detroit and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology from University of Detroit Mercy and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Walsh College. At the age of 29, Chayla started her own business providing opportunities to over 40 contractors & employees, managing over 1,400 properties in Michigan for various banks.

As a young entrepreneur with a strong belief in giving back, Chayla also mentored other young entrepreneurs, contributed start-up capital to several entrepreneurs and shared her knowledge as a keynote speaker at various engagements. Recognized for her tenacity, demand for excellence, business acumen and ability to deliver results, Chayla has also made a name for herself in the health care industry. She has been offered several executive level positions in the healthcare industry and has held several upper leadership positions within Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where as a Director, she currently leads Medicare Advantage Coordination of Care program.

Kyra Bolden State Rep.

State Rep. Kyra Bolden is serving her first term representing Michigan’s 35th House District, which includes the communities of Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin. Bolden also serves as Assistant Leader for the House Democrats.

A graduate of Southfield Public Schools, Bolden received her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and went on to attend the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, Bolden became a civil litigation attorney. She is also an active member of her community, serving as a member of the National Congress of Black Women-Oakland County, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and as a commissioner of the Total Living Commission for the city of Southfield.

As a lifelong resident of Southfield, Bolden is committed to serve the people of the 35th House District at the Capitol in Lansing by fighting for high-quality jobs, criminal justice reform, and a world-class education system.

Candice Bowman

Managing Partner EQUALSIGN Candice Bowman is a marketer, communicator and catalyst for organizations and brands and served for the previous four years as the National Director of Business Development for PR and integrated marketing firm Lambert & Co. focusing on Detroit, New York and key financial markets. In late 2019, Candice launched EQUALSIGN, an equity & inclusion consultancy focused on diverse board development for public companies and private equity firms, ESG and diversity consulting, strategic audience engagement, and culture-driven marketing and communications. As Managing Partner, Candice is responsible for client service initiatives and the long-term vision of the firm, in addition to heading the strategic account teams on several of EQUALSIGN’s publicly traded, privately held, education and non-profit clients. Candice is an engaged advocate for building inclusive communities, systems and business models for organizations with a focus on equity as the bottom-line impact. Candice serves on the board of directors for the Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Junior Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University and a professional certification in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University.

Kai Bowman

Executive Director for Development City of Detroit Mayor’s Office Kai Bowman serves as the Executive Director for Development in the Mayor’s Office. In this role he’s negotiated over $35M in community benefits as part of $2.5B FCA plant expansion deal generating 5k new jobs. In addition to this work, he serves as co chair for Mayor’s Equity Council Entrepreneurship committee and worked on mitigation strategies for Detroit small businesses in response to COVID-19.

Kai has extensive experience working and living abroad with Whirlpool as a member of their Global Leader Program and the United Service Organization as a Director in support of US troops during both wars. At Whirlpool, he was responsible for $185M overseeing 12 national accounts.

Kai earned his BA from the University of Michigan (2002), MS in Finance and Development from NYU (2006) and MBA in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Indiana University (2014).

Kai believes that his purpose in life is to take his personal and professional experiences and impart those on the next generation. To that end, he’s founded a nonprofit called Goes Global (www.goesglobal.org), a youth development and global exploration program.

Reginald Brown

Marketing Insight’s Analyst Crain’s Detroit Business Reggie Brown is a multifaceted professional, specializing in marketing and communications, with over a decade of experience working with brands in healthcare, automotive, and education. Currently, Reggie serves as the Outreach Director of Detroit Homecoming, a program designed to engage and enlist the efforts of ex-pat and native Detroiters in initiatives to support the city, he is the point of contact for ex-pat communication and opportunity development. He also serves as the Marketing Insight’s Analyst at Crain’s Detroit Business, the multi-media publication which birthed the Detroit Homecoming yearly program.

Reggie is a Detroit native and proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where he played football and earn a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. Reggie also diversifies not only his investments but his energy and focus. Aside from some real-estate, he consults small businesses looking for marketing and brand resources as well as being a successful day-trader in the forex industry.

DeLaurian Burton

Founder The DeLaurian Enterprise DeLaurian is an Entrepreneur, Digital Strategist & founder of The DeLaurian Enterprise.

The DeLaurian Enterprise is a multimedia house of Brand & Social Media Strategy, Content Production, Entertainment & Empowerment.

As Chief Experience & Creative Director, she helps companies from global corporations to small businesses create authentic, strategic digital marketing campaigns & visual content.

Her company has served Fortune 500 clients, Beauty, QSR, Beverage, Automotive, Retail, Government, Fashion & Media industries. DeLaurian’s strategic work has contributed to over $3MM in client revenue in the past 4 years.

With a 15 year career in Advertising, Marketing & Corporate Communications, DeLaurian has helped bring your favorite brands commercial & marketing efforts to life while building her brand in front of the camera as a Recording Artist & highly sought after content creator with digital views of over a million.

In 2018, she turned a lifelong passion for fashion into an avenue to serve women with affordable style by creating an online Thrift Boutique inspired by Sex & The City, titled Sex & The Thrifty.

An esteemed empowerment speaker, DeLaurian’s talks push people, especially women, to walk in the fullness of themselves.

Stephanie Byrd

Co-Owner Flood’s Bar and Grille, The Garden Theater, The Block Native Detroiter Stephanie Byrd, is the co-owner of Flood’s Bar and Grille in Detroit’s Greektown community, The Garden Theater, and The Block - a casual, gastropub-style dining restaurant on Woodward Avenue between Selden and West Alexandrine streets in Midtown.

Stephanie is a graduate of Mercy High school (Farmington Hills), she studied at Howard University in (Washington, D.C.), where she earned her Bachelors degree in marketing and communications. In addition she also attended Johns Hopkins University where she earned her Masters degree in communication and media studies.

After college Stephanie moved back to Washington D.C. for most of her 20s working in marketing at H&R Block, and XM Radio. In 2013, she moved back to Detroit to join her family’s restaurant business.

Stephanie has a busy community and civic engagement life active as a minority small business advocate for campaign with the Joe Biden-Harris for president campaign. She also volunteers her time, talents and treasures with Alternatives for Girls, and she is a co-founding collaborator of Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good - an initiative that helped feed the food insecure and Detroit homeless shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her leisure time Stephanie likes to travel, wellness/fitness activities, reading, and gardening.

Knox Cameron

Manager DTE’s Renewable Sales organization Knox W. Cameron is currently Manager for DTE’s Renewable Sales organization, where he is responsible for developing and executing the sales strategy for MIGreenPower, the second largest voluntary wind and solar utility program in the country. During his 11-plus year career at the company, he has served in a variety of roles including Sales, Marketing, Operations Project Management. Cameron is an industry leader with considerable experience designing, launching and managing utility programs.?

Cameron’s professional affiliations include serving on the American Wind Energy of America’s DE&I Task Force and as a board member for the Association for Energy Professionals. He has also chaired DTE’s employee resource group for African-American employees.

Cameron was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. He currently resides in Ann Arbor, Mich. with his wife and two children. Cameron has a passion for soccer, playing the sport both on the collegiate level and as professional with the Cleveland Crew.

Cameron has an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Matthew Carter

Vice President USI Insurance Services All roads lead back to South East Michigan for Inkster native Matthew Carter. After his graduation, he proudly served as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army. Having been fortunate enough to have travelled the world with the Army, he returned to the area with a renewed passion for community betterment. Since his return, he has worked tirelessly to give back to the region that he calls home. He has volunteered with multiple non-profits around the area. In 2017, Matthew served on the executive team of the New Leaders Council - Detroit Chapter. A University of Michigan – Dearborn alumni, Matthew has built a solid reputation for himself as a professional in the business community. Having nearly a decade of experience in the insurance industry, he has achieved a tremendous amount of success, rapidly rising through the ranks within USI Insurance Services, the nation’s largest privately held insurance brokerage. Due to his success with small businesses across the region, he was recently promoted to Vice President. He will now be working with middle market organizations with national exposures.

Jewel Chapman

Director of Workforce Development and Education Focus: HOPE Jewel Chapman is an educational and business leader, a certified Global Career Development Facilitator, and Focus: HOPE’s current director of Workforce Development and Education, where she’s bolstered Metro Detroit’s workforce with thousands of the region’s most deserving and previously untapped talents. A key leader of Focus: HOPE’s half-century strategic plan implementation, she’s overseen dramatic increase in student enrollments and job placement as well as the securing of $4.7 million in new funding.

Chapman is a devoted contributor to her family, community, and work, creating change by drawing out the best in others. Her umbrella approach to leadership is celebrated by team members and peers as she operates to offer coverage for her organization, its people, their shared work and the unique needs of the people they serve.

Chapman holds an MA in Education from Central Michigan University and a BS in Business Administration from Wayne State University; is a member of the Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy Class of 2020 and sits on the Board of Directors for Encourage Me I’m Young (EMIY), Inc..

Kimberly Dobine

Owner Posh and Popular LLC

Kimberly M. Dobine is the experiential visionary, purpose-driven event producer, moderator, online boutique owner, and lifestyle brand curator redefining what it means to be popular in her daily strides. An impact architect in her own right, Kimberly is an executor of all things womanhood, media, style, and beauty as owner of Posh and Popular LLC, and founder of the Fashion and Beauty Summit and the P.O.S.H and Popular Foundation. An unapologetic trailblazer of elaborative experiences, Kimberly operates from a limitless mindset to consistently unite and celebrate her fellow women of Detroit and beyond. It’s through her diverse endeavors that Kimberly consciously crafts new ways to nurture beautiful moments in the lives of others and exemplifies popularity through genuine connections. Working with top brands and Fortune 500 companies like General Motors, Lincoln, Amazon Detroit, Miss Jessie’s, Mielle Organics, and countless more, Kimberly M. Dobine has solidified herself as a marketing, events, and female empowerment expert who flawlessly creates and nurtures relationships through brand partnerships to aid in the support of her work to empower businesswomen and creatives in Fashion and Beauty.

March 31 - April 6, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-3

Eze Ejelonu

Kristen Howard

Eze Ejelonu is currently President of BND (Best Network Design and Associates, LLC). BND is an electrical union contractor that specializes in providing low voltage, security/access control, networking solutions and ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) services. Their customer base targets medium to large size commercial customers which include municipal, state and federal agencies. BND’S growth and sustainability can be heavily contributed to Eze’s leadership and hunger for success. Despite the 2020 global pandemic, BND has been able to secure millions of dollars’ worth of contracts. A few notable contracts include the new Wayne County Criminal Justice Center development and the Detroit Real-Time Crime Center expansion project.

Eze is also heavily involved in the community. In 2012, Eze co-founded Mission to Feed 3000.

Going into its 9th year, the program has grown to over 400 volunteers consistently. The program prepares and distributes 3000 plus meals to the less fortunate in Wayne County, Macomb County, Oakland County and Genesee County during the Christmas holiday. The initiative extends its efforts by adopting 50 plus families while providing each family with food, clothes, school supplies and scholarships. Mission to Feed 3000 is channeled through the Clarence E. Phillips Ascend Foundation. Notable sponsors include Walgreens, YAZAKI, Forgotten Harvest, Chik-Fil-A and Wal-Mart.

In addition to his community efforts, Eze has been involved in numerous speaking engagements at Detroit & Pontiac Public Schools. Not only does Eze inspire the youth, he reaches back to provide resources and guidance to his peers and former athletes who decide to travel down the path of entrepreneurship and investments.

Kristen is a natural leader and born communicator. As the Chief of Staff for Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), she has been tasked with revitalizing and restarting core bodies of work. She leads the district’s marketing, enrollment, lobbying, government affairs and community engagement efforts, Board relations, policy development, equity and civil rights compliance and training, and employee misconduct and investigations teams. In every instance, Kristen will find a path to get things done – even when that means creating new paths.

As an experienced turnaround professional, her work focuses on rebuilding systems and processes. Kristen is an outgoing, team player and loves recruiting and developing talent. Prior to joining DPSCD, Kristen started her career as financial restructuring attorney at a major corporate law firm in Washington, D.C. and continued that work locally, at Clark Hill PLC.

President Best Network Design and Associates, LLC

Ariel Ellis

Film Director Woodward Original Ariel Ellis is an emerging Film Director at Woodward Original.

She has directed commercials and social impact content for brands including Crown Royal, Pepsi, Rocket Mortgage, and Huntington Bank.

As a young girl, Ariel could quote every line from her favorite films. She always knew she wanted to be a director but had no idea how to make those dreams a reality. Despite her early film obsession, Ariel began her storytelling career as a journalist.

Since exchanging her byline for a writer/director credit, she has created stories that celebrate the heterogeneity of Black life in Detroit. Her goal now is for another young girl to see her work and know that she too can craft her own story.

Thank you for tuning into our Roundtable! We appreciate your viewership, please share this video with your networks and leave your comments/ questions below for the Q&A with our distinguished panel!

James Feagin

Director of Entrepreneurship Rocket Community Fund An urban practitioner with a passion for inclusive economic development, James’s client roster includes New Economy Initiative, Rock Ventures, the Knight Foundation, Wayne State University and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. He has contributed to programs as NEIdeas, Motor City Match, Detroit Demo Day, the Knight Cities Challenge, and Detroit Revitalization Fellows. These efforts have helped redefine Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, shift the flow of capital, diversify the region’s talent pool, and create a more connected city.

James was a 2017 Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, and also served as the inaugural Entrepreneur-In-Residence for Ford Motor Company Fund’s FREC City, an economic mobility hub stationed in a Detroit Public School on Detroit’s Eastside.

With a proven ability to think “from the boardroom to the barbershop,” James enjoys sharing Detroit’s innovation success, and lessons learned, with other cities. In 2019, he served as a technical expert for the Equitable Economic Development Fellowship, a collaborative effort led by National League of Cities, Policy Link, and Urban Land Institute.

In October 2020, James accepted the role of Director, Entrepreneurship for the Rocket Community Fund.

Dezmond Gray

Area Manager Fiat Chrysler Automotive

Dezmond Gray was born & raised on the east side of Detroit, Michigan. He is a product of the Detroit Public School system.

After graduating from Cass Technical High School, he headed to Western Michigan University on a full athletic scholarship where he earned two degrees, in Business Management and Marketing.

After a short Professional football career, Dezmond went on to pursue a career in automotive manufacturing. He quickly climbed the ranks, displaying exceptional leadership and a continuous improvement mindset. He’s earned several awards and recognition in quality, cost savings, and safety.

In addition to his full time work, Dezmond has many philanthropic activities. He is an active member in his Church and mentors youth in the city of Detroit. Dezmond is also a football coach at Denby High School, and was awarded 2019 coach of the year, after leading his team to the City championship and State Semi Finals.

In any avenue, Dezmond is a pillar in the community and gives back to the very city who has molded him into the man he is today.

Antonio Green

President James H. Cole Legacy Foundation Antonio Green is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Bowling Green State University, Green decided to pursue his passion of helping others in the ir greatest time of need and continue his family’s legacy of funeral service by attending the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. In 2007, he received his license in Mortuary Science from the state of Michigan.

Green plays an active role in the Detroit community by volunteering with many organizations, and through his involvement with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and by serving as vice president of the West Grand Blvd Collaborative.

The James H. Cole Home for Funerals was founded by James H. Cole, Sr. in 1919, and more than 100 years later his great grandson, Antonio Green, continues his legacy in the metropolitan Detroit community.

Green recently spearheaded the business’ centennial celebration, and serves as the President of the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation.

Dr. Stephanie Hawkes

Assistant Director for the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement Wayne State University Dr. Stephanie Hawkes serves as the Assistant Director for the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement at Wayne State University (WSU). In her role, she develops campus-wide programming and educational opportunities centered on multiculturalism, with an emphasis on addressing issues of equity and inclusion.

Dr. Hawkes grew up on the East side of Detroit and is a proud product of the Detroit Public School system. As a first-generation college student, her interests lie in academic support, specifically around initiatives that assist marginalized and underserved students be successful in college. Outside of her work with OMSE, she serves as a mentor for women of color, teaches a First Year Seminar Course, co-chair’s the WSU Inclusive Excellence Committee, and serves on two WSU Social Justice Action Teams tasked with examining internal policies, procedures and practices to identify bias throughout the WSU campus.

In addition to her work at WSU, Dr. Hawkes stays active in professional organizations by presenting at local and national conferences and has served in leadership roles in local organizations, including the Michigan Tutorial Association, ACPA-Michigan, and NACADA Region 5.

Chief of Staff Detroit Public Schools Community District

Jordon Jackson General Manager Prestige Cadillac

Jordon Jackson, a multifaceted individual; Jack-of-all-trades, master of some. After working for several years in the rapidly growing Georgia film industry, Jordon rejoined the automotive industry in his hometown, Detroit, MI. Jordon previously attended Savannah College of Art and Design where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television Producing and Directing. Before that he received a Bachelors in Business Administration Management at Morehouse College. As an executive manager at Jackson Asset Management (JAM), Jordon primarily serves as General Manager of Prestige Cadillac in Warren, MI. While the dealership occupies a considerable amount of his time, Jordon makes it a priority to continue pursuing his other passion, amongst other endeavors, by overseeing all creative content production for the JAM family of companies. He regularly engages with Prestige Auto Provides, the philanthropic extension of the JAM companies, mentoring local youth from College Prep, Jack and Jill and We Black Golfers organizations to name a few. Outside of work, Jordon is an avid golfer, basketball player, SCUBA diver and music lover.

Iman Jefferson

External Communications Director General Motors An award-winning communications strategist with expertise in bridging corporate and consumer worlds, Iman Jefferson leads General Motors’ east region communications for Buick, GMC and Cadillac. She plays a pivotal role in developing strategic messaging and storytelling opportunities for these iconic brands. Previously at GM, Iman led communications for Maven Car Sharing and Urban Mobility efforts.

Prior to joining GM, Iman worked in a variety of roles including managing external and internal communications efforts for U.S. Cellular, The Martin-Brower Company as well as stints with several advertising and public relations agencies in Chicago where her client roster included national campaigns with brands such as McDonald’s, Tropicana, HanesBrands. In addition to her public relations background, Iman holds a degree from Lincoln University in Missouri in journalism. She began her career as a journalist, with her work appearing in outlets including The Chicago Tribune, Black Enterprise, Heart & Soul and others. In her spare time, she enjoys serving as a mentor to many rising women of color in the field of communications.

LaTrice McClendon

Senior Vice President and Director of Community Relations TCF Bank LaTrice McClendon is dedicated Detroit leader. In her current role, she serves as the Senior Vice President and Director of Community Relations for TCF Bank. She has the distinc t honor of overseeing the TCF Foundation which gives supports to non profit organizations throughout the Midwest. She is not new to supporting and serving communities as she has led initiatives in Detroit for many years. Working as a District Manager here in the city of Detroit under Mayor Mike Duggan, she has served and met the request of many residents and leaders in the City. Latrice is truly a servant leader and you can often find her out in the community volunteering or helping in a quiet but impactful way. Her impact can be seen in different neighborhoods as she has been instrumental in securing playground equipment, park benches, and many other items to support Detroiters. Latrice McClendon is a graduate of Cass Technical High School and a proud resident of the City.

Jazmine Williams McCoy

Director for Diversity and Inclusion Rock Ventures

Jazmine Williams McCoy is a native Detroiter who serves as the Director for Diversity and Inclusion at Rock Ventures serving Quicken Loans and the Family of companies. She shaped the framework for the Team Member Resource Network (TMRN) Program, Quicken Loans’ version of Employee Resource Groups, and currently leads the Team’s engagement efforts.

Jazmine joined the Quicken Loans Family of companies after 7 years of working in higher education in housing and residence life, as well as in the diversity and inclusion space. In 2017, Jazmine began her career with Quicken Loans when she joined the talent development team, before moving to Program Manager of Diversity and Inclusion in 2018, Team Leader in early 2020, and Director later that same year.

Jazmine holds both a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in Communication and a master’s degree from Saint Louis University in Communication Research. Jazmine enjoys spending her free time traveling and being with her friends and family.

Dr. Sabrina Claude McGahee

Superintendent of Schools Old Redford Academy School District

Dr. Sabrina Claude McGahee has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Old Redford Academy School District since July 1, 2019. Dr. McGahee’s philosophy centers on educational equity as the lever to better student outcomes. Her personal commitment to leading for social justice drives her work to improve academic, health and wellness, and social-emotional learning outcomes for students in Detroit.

Dr. McGahee’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. She holds two Masters degrees, one in school administration from Columbia University and in adult education from Central Michigan University. She holds an Education Specialist and Doctorate degree in educational leadership from Argosy University.

Dr. McGahee is a graduate of the AASA National Urban Superintendents Academy and fellowship recipient of the Principal’s Academy at Columbia University, the Institute for Urban Superintendents at Harvard University, and Teach for America. In 2018, she was awarded the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Outstanding IGR Alumna award for her personal and professional commitment to promoting social justice. She was recently recognized as an ASCD Emerging Leader.

Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com • March 31 - April 6, 2021

Charles Muse

Bruce Simpson

Assistant Program Engineering Manager – Autonomous General Motors

Ombudsman City of Detroit

Charles Muse was named assistant program engineering manager – Autonomous in August 2019. In this role, he’s responsible for leading two revolutionary technologies needed to execute validation and service of fully autonomous vehicles, managing a $20M budget alongside very complex deliverables.

Previously, Muse achieved and surpassed the aerodynamics criteria set forth on the company’s crossover vehicles, improving vehicle energy performance (C02 & fuel economy). This includes many vehicles such as the Chevy Blazer, Cadillac XT5, Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia.

Muse joined the GM family in 2011 and has excelled in various assignments, each growing in scope and responsibility. He has held positions across multiple functions and commodities including Global Noise & Vibration, Chassis, Energy & Aerodynamics, Engineering Operations, Design & Release Engineering, as well as Autonomous and Electrified Vehicle Engineering.

In 2019, Muse mentored a group of young aspiring journalists participating in the Discover the Unexpected scholarship and journalism fellowship program, a collaboration between Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

A native of Chicago’s Southside, Muse holds a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering from The Ohio State University and is licensed as a private pilot.

At the age of 32 Bruce Simpson made history by being appointed the youngest Ombudsman for the City of Detroit.

Since then, he has shown his dedication to working with residents and community groups to ensure city agencies are providing tax paid services, to improve their quality of life.

Bruce believes “Everything in my training has led me to conduct myself in the most humble and respectful manner as I carry out my duties on behalf of Detroit residents.”

Simpson learned early on from his grandmother, the Honorable Barbara Rose Collins, how important it is to be an advocate for people.

Dan Ngoyi

Vice President, Talent Acquisition Rock Central Dan joined Quicken Loans in February of 2013 and is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition for Rock Central. In his role, he leads a team that works on identifying, interviewing, and placing a diverse slate of candidates within the Rock Family of Companies. His teams work on development of talent brand, strategy and execution for 30+ companies within the family. Dan’s passion for talent stems from his unique cultural background and his lifelong mission to make an impact with others. Dan is also passionate about diversity and inclusion and has spoken at events nationwide to help bring incredible talent to Detroit. As the leader of the Talent Acquisition team, Dan focuses on strategic recruiting efforts both internally and externally- with an emphasis on talent at college campuses and throughout community organizations. Dan is an avid golfer and reader who cites Steve Jamison’s “Wooden on Leadership” as one of his favorite books.

Callana Ollie

Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network Callana, a Detroit native, serves as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN). During her tenure, she has completely reshaped the organization’s legal department, optimizing its use of technology and creating efficiencies to manage DWIHN’s provider network. She advises DWIHN’s executive leadership and Board of Directors on various legal issues, including current national opioid litigation.

Callana received her Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Michigan State University and Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. Prior to her role at DWIHN, Callana served as Technology Counsel for Ford Motor Company, Associate Attorney at AAA, and Corporate Counsel at Strategic Staffing Solutions.

Throughout her career, Callana has demonstrated her commitment to the community and youth through mentorship and service; which includes supporting the pipeline programs provided by Just the Beginning Foundation and serving as the co-chair of the Wolverine Bar Association’s Scholarship Committee.

Patricia Perry

Assistant Principal Cass Technical High School Patricia Perry is on the leadership team at the legendary Cass Technical High School in Detroit. She has been an educator for nearly fifteen years. After graduating from Bowling Green State University, which she attended on a full academic scholarship, Patricia started teaching high school math throughout metro Detroit.

Six years ago, her career brought her to Cass Tech as a math instructional specialist where her incredible talent quickly earned her a promotion to her current role as assistant principal. Patricia holds not only a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics from BGSU, but also a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership and Policy, both from Oakland University. Patricia’s talent lies in her ability to collaborate with her team. Her focus is always on putting kids’ needs first and she ensures that her team’s work keeps that at the center of all that they do. She knows learning math is not every student’s strength, but Patricia makes sure that learning math is always within every student’s reach.

Robert Reaves

Director of Accreditation Wayne State University School of Medicine Robert Reaves, MBA (age 31) - is Director of Accreditation at the nation’s largest medical school, the Wayne State University School of Medicine – a 150-year-old institution that produces 40% of doctors in the State of Michigan. The work that Reaves does has a direct impact on 1,200 medical students, six hospital affiliates and health outcomes in Detroit — the city where he was born and raised. Since beginning his work with the School of Medicine in 2016, Reaves has successfully collaborated with top leaders to develop and execute strategies to drive operational improvements, educational quality, and institutional effectiveness.

In addition to his efforts on behalf of the university, Reaves is a results-oriented community leader. He is currently President of the WSU Alumni Association Board of Directors; Chair of Strategic Planning at Ronald McDonald House Charities Detroit; and an Ambassador to the Michigan Opera Theatre. His volunteer work involves fundraising, strategic planning, and community outreach to help provide disadvantaged youth with access to cultural arts; scholarships to lower socioeconomic students; and housing to families with sick children receiving treatment at local hospitals.

Tamika Reeves

Clinical Therapist/Founder Transition Family Services Tamika Reeves is a Licensed Clinical Therapist, serial entrepreneur, wife, and mother of three beautiful children. She is the founder of Transition Family Services, a private practice counseling facility in Southfield Michigan. Her practice has provided mental health counseling to over 200 individuals in the Metropolitan Detroit area. She is the founder of Protecting My Peace LLC, a company focused on delivering the message of prioritizing peace and self-care. Tamika has over 13 years of experience working in the field of mental health and throughout that time she developed a passion for assisting underserved individuals in the city of Detroit. As a native of Detroit, she is dedicated to giving back to the city that raised her. Tamika loves using her platform as a public speaker to educate others on the importance of mental health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and women’s health. She is currently developing a network that will connect Therapists of color with those seeking minority providers. Tamika’s goal is to continue to serve her community as a mentor, mental health advocate, role model and vessel of change.

Aliyah Sabree Judge 36th District Court

Aliyah Sabree is a judge at the 36th District Court and presides over the traffic/criminal division. She is an executive team member and an integral part of the day-to-day operations.

Prior to her current position, Aliyah was Associate General Counsel for the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department. In 2014, Sabree served as the Mayor of Detroit’s Liaison to City Council. She was responsible for lobbying the Administration’s legislative priorities. Prior to the Mayor’s Office, Sabree was the attorney for the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners.

Judge Sabree began her career with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. She earned her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and her B.S. in Biology from Youngstown State University while on a full basketball scholarship.

In her spare time, she mentors young women, volunteers for Detroit non-profit organizations, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Judge Sabree has spoken on dozens of panels internationally in an effort to eliminate mass incarceration. She believes in imposing practical, fair, and effective sentences as an alternative to incarceration.

Born and raised in Detroit, over his political career, he continues to garner the support and ear of citizens; going into communities and resolving their complaints.

Bruce is a member of the following organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity Incorporated, United States Ombudsman Association, DTE Community Advisory Board, the Municipal League of Cities and the Governmental Financial Officers Association.

As a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Bruce earned his Bachelor’s Degree as a History major, and Political Science minor.

Larry Spruill Jr.

News Reporter WDIV-TV Local 4 Detroit Larry Spruill Jr. joined WDIV-TV Local 4 in Detroit as a News Reporter in January 2018.

Since then, he has covered several large stories such as the Dayton Mass Shooting, Aretha Franklin’s Funeral. He was also one of the lead reporters while covering COVID-19 and the protests addressing racial equality in Detroit.

Before coming to Detroit, he worked at WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, making a name for himself there also, covering breaking news stories and the weather. When Hurricane Irma came blowing through Florida, he was one of the lead reporters working around the clock.

Prior to WJAX, Spruill also worked for WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia and WGXA-TV in Macon, Georgia. He started his career at WMAZ-TV in Macon, Georgia.

He grew up as a military kid because his father is a Retired Chief of the United States Air Force. He’s traveled to many countries but went to high school and college in Georgia and graduated from Valdosta State University, in Valdosta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media.

Spruill enjoys food, music and working out. He’s a licensed minister and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Cortnie Squirewell

Executive Director of Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Cortnie Squirewell is the Executive Director of Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and is responsible for innovating the typical Boys & Girls Clubs model by developing an impact partner strategy, career pathway program for teens, designing an Esports lab, and establishing a virtual club model to keep youth connected during the global pandemic. Prior to her current role, she was responsible for creating a community needs assessment and developing a community visioning model for Ford Motor Company Fund. This information was instrumental in the selection process of programs and partners for one of Ford’s own distinctive Resource and Engagement Center east location. Squirewell started her career as an educator in Detroit, where she instructed and served as a design thinking trainer and coach. She also co-developed curriculums for the Sean Anderson Foundation, Ford STEAM Lab, and Spin Electric Scooter. Cortnie is currently a board member of Detroit Enterprise Academy and BUF connect of Michigan. Squirewell was born and raised in Detroit and earned her Leadership and Education Specialist degree from Oakland University.

Dr. LaToya Thompson

Senior Sports Physical Therapist The Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan-DMC Dr. LaToya M. Thompson is a physical therapist specializing in treatment of sport injuries. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Oakland University.

Dr. Thompson has a diverse clinical background that includes research and development of rehabilitation and injury prevention programs for youth sports and sport specific training protocols for elite collegiate and professional athletes. She is widely known for her community involvement and training in the medical arena across the country.

She is the Co-Owner of The Upperow-a luxury cut and sew brand founded in Detroit, Opulence Wine-Napa Valley, CA. and founder of Elite Rehab and Fitness. She currently serves as Senior Sports Physical Therapist at The Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan-DMC. A heart for service, Dr. Thompson serves as a board member of Project Life, Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Dr. Thompson is a devoted wife to Anthony II and loving mother to her three children: Anthony III, Aiden, and Ava.

Dennis Veal II

Assistant Principal Martin Luther King High School Dennis Veal II, a native East Side Detroiter is currently serving the community as the Assistant Principal at Martin Luther King High School, He is a proud Husband and a Father of two. As a Cass Tech 2003 graduate, Veal matriculated through higher Education receiving a Bachelors of Science from Eastern Michigan University and later a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix. From humble beginnings Veal has served in almost every capacity in Education on all levels, K-12, from Teachers aide, Substitute Teacher, Basketball coach, Mentor, Teacher and now finally as an administrator. As a History Teacher, Veal was awarded the Teacher of the Year Honor at Southeastern High School in 2017-18 and received the Detroit Pistons Game Changer award for community impact and outstanding leadership the following school year. Veal is passionate about education and closing the communication gap between generations.

Mr. Veal is a proponent of the Afrocentric centered curriculum. He believes that knowledge of self and the true placement of the successes of African people in World History leads to increased academic achievement.

Dr. Lauren Walker

Co-Owner and Medical Director Colonial Veterinary Clinic Dr. Lauren Elyse Walker has been a small animal veterinarian in the metropolitan Detroit area for 10 years. A native of Detroit, she is a graduate of Cass Technical High School.

Lauren obtained her B.S. in Biochemistry and B.A. in French from Michigan State University. She then went on to the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After a brief time in a mixed-animal practice in western Michigan, Lauren returned to the Detroit area to focus on small animal companion medicine. In 2018, she became the co-owner and medical director of Colonial Veterinary Clinic. She has a passion for feline medicine and dentistry. Lauren is a member of the National Association for Black Veterinarians and the Black DVM Network.

She is committed to mentoring aspiring Black veterinarians and exposing them to the many opportunities available in the field.

March 31 - April 6, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

SZA is teaming up with TAZO and American Forests to stand up for climate justice and help create a more sustainable and equitable future.

Photo provided by TAZO Tree Corps

We Got the Tea:

By Sherri Kolade

SZA, TAZO Tea Link up to Hire Detroiters for Urban Forestry

sibility” of theirs once a tree is planted to maintain it over the next three years by watering, pruning, securing the tree and more. “Making sure it survives for those roots to take hold in the ground.”

Buskin said that the SZA and TAZO partnership with The Greening is “huge.”

“It is great news to be offered to work with TAZO, American Forests, and [more],” Buskin said. “We are firm believers of collaboration … knowing urban forestry is key to survival, it is a win-win.”

The TAZO Tree Corps’ new urban forestry workforce will train and employ local fellows from low-income communities to plant and care for trees in the neighborhoods that need them the most. Targeting five cities, the project is launching this spring in Detroit, Minneapolis and the San Francisco Bay area. In 2022, the corps will expand to Richmond and the Bronx.

unemployment.

“The climate crisis is no longer a future problem Imagine something as majestic -- yet simple -- as – it’s here now and BIPOC communities are dispropora tree being planted in the city of Detroit. Over time, tionately at risk,” said Laraine Miller, president, Unileits roots stretch deep into the packed soil of neighver Tea Americas, which owns TAZO. “Climate change borhoods, parks and other urban landscapes -- while is not only an environmental issue but also a human those who planted them (and others who benefit) are rights issue, so we’re getting started by focusing on growing, too. the racial injustices that must be addressed to make Through urban forestry, forests in urban settings meaningful progress within the climate crisis.” like Detroit are making an impact. According to Amer“By partnering with TAZO to create the TAZO Tree ican Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservaCorps, we are taking a major step forward in American tion organization in the United States, over 140 milForests’ path to achieve Tree Equity,” said Jad Daley, lion acres of America’s forests are located in cities and CEO and president of American Forests. “We are buildtowns, and these trees provide important benefits for ing a national movement to ensure that every neighhumans and improved habitats for urban wildlife. borhood can experience the healing power of trees Trees in urban landscapes are so critical that othwhile also helping create green jobs that benefit people ers like artist SZA and the TAZO tea company recentin socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.” ly joined forces to help urban cities across In each of the five cities, the TAZO Tree America get in on urban forestry. Through Corps will select five fellows who will take a new program, TAZO Tree Corps, they are part in two to three weeks of paid urban forlooking to hire and educate people, especialestry training before transitioning into fullly from Black communities, on how to add time employment with The Davey Tree Expert trees to their neighborhoods.

Company, a nationwide tree-planting and That’s because low-income communities care business. Tree Corps members will also and Black, Indigenous and People of Color be trained in climate justice advocacy. As (BIPOC) communities typically have fewer part of the program, grassroots tree groups trees than wealthier, predominantly white, in each area will provide a range of support neighborhoods. These inequities – and the services, such as helping Tree Corps fellows resulting disparities in essential health and navigate barriers to retention like transportaeconomic benefits trees provide – have intion and childcare. spired the two to team up to address climate Many cities currently have a shortage of justice. The launch of TAZO Tree Corps feapeople qualified to care for trees and the need tures a paid, locally hired workforce that will is expected to grow. Urban forestry will see a use tree planting and maintenance to help 10 percent increase in job openings for encombat climate change and create new jobs try-level positions through 2028, according in economically disadvantaged neighborto the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many hoods and communities of color, according to the company.

Dedicated volunteers of The Greening of Detroit prepare to plant a tree in of those jobs will be for planting, trimming Devon Buskin, Workforce Development di- the Brightmoor neighborhood last November. Photo courtesy of The ­Greening and pruning trees. Nearly 25 percent of the people who will fill these jobs will likely be rector of The Greening of Detroit, an urban of Detroit’s Facebook page self-employed, so this type of opportunity forestry program, told The Michigan Chronican set the stage for entrepreneurship, imcle that the project is working with The Greening’s own “I can’t tell you how many children I’ve met in the efforts to plant and reforest Detroit. Since 1989, the or- urban community, from all different colors of Black proved economic mobility and a better quality of life. ganization has planted over 130,000 trees throughout and Brown, that really just are not comfortable being “The TAZO Tree Corps will help us turn this work the City of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. in nature,” the 30-year-old SZA told BAZAAR.com in into new economic opportunity for people from disThe Greening operates with two program areas: an interview, “I think the biggest takeaway from this proportionately impacted communities,” said Sarah green infrastructure and workforce development. is that quality of life and racism are so directly con- Anderson, American Forests’ director of Career Pathways, a program designed to get more people from Green infrastructure focuses on environmental educa- nected.” tion, reforestation in the city, tree planting and more.

American Forests’ urban work focuses on achieving socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds into Numerous programs focus on youth employment, Tree Equity, a vision for all people in every community urban forestry careers. “We hope to replicate this comand the introduction of green-collar career pathways to receive the benefits that trees provide, regardless of prehensive approach in cities nationwide and help crethrough science, urban forestry and the environment. income, race or location. To determine which neigh- ate healthier neighborhoods and increase career opThe organization’s tree planting initiative involves borhoods need trees the most, they have also devel- portunities in communities with the most need.” volunteers, community residents and others who plant oped the Tree Equity Score, a tool based on several For more information visit https://www.americanfortrees. factors, including a neighborhood’s tree cover, income, ests.org/about-us/tazo/. For more information on The “These are all volunteers that have come to help race and employment. The same neighborhoods with Greening of Detroit visit https://www.greeningofdetroit. step up,” Buskin said, adding that it is a “big respon- the highest need for trees also tend to have the highest com/.

Spring Cleaning for the

Mind, Body

By Megan Kirk

and Soul

Spring is here and it is time to whip more than your home into shape. The pandemic has forced a full year of lockdown and some spring cleaning is definitely in order. But don’t stop there – also tune up your mind and body. Whether it is a new wardrobe, a fresh mani and pedi or hitting the gym, getting back on track for warmer weather is sure to get even the stormiest mood in the spring spirit.

For those looking to get into shape and lose those extra quarantine pounds, G.I.V.E. Fitness located near Mt. Elliott Park

in Downtown Detroit is a Black-owned gym that specializes in more than just hitting the weights. With nutrition counseling, personal training and group classes, fitness goals are right around the corner. With an additional location in Ferndale, summer bodies are being created just in time for COVID restrictions to be lifted.

For a more relaxing experience, facials can help restore your skin’s natural glow found. Skinphorea Facial Bar in Royal Oak offers facials, skincare and laser hair removal for everything from legs to those more sensitive spaces. Whether you’re serviced on the main floor or whisked away to

a private space for treatments, patrons will leave with a sun-kissed glow ready to rival the spring sun.

How about a sweet treat? No, not chocolate, but sugar. Yes, sugar! If laser hair removal seems out of reach, consider using sugar for the next wax job. The Sugar Parlor in Berkley is Metro Detroit’s first sugaring hair removal studio. With a homemade sugar recipe, guests will be able to enjoy a smooth hairless experience. Sugaring everything from facial hair to leg hair, the team at The Sugar Parlor are all licensed and offer an array of services to fit any grooming need.

Manicures and pedicures are a warm weather must-have. However, finding a trusted shop post-pandemic can prove to be a daunting task. Head to Toe Nail Salon on the west side of Detroit on Joy Road is a one-stop shop for all your nail needs. You can get glam nails, treasure or ombré sets, making your nails the talk of the town. Also offering lash and eyebrow services, Head to Toe Nail Salon can complete the entire look for spring.

Hair salons have also been shuttered because of the pandemic. While many ladies have had to spend almost a year slaying their own styles, professionals can now step in and care for hair. The Living Room Hair Lounge hosts a team of Black women stylists ready to help all hair textures. Located in Ferndale, the Hair Lounge offers

services for every beauty queen from short pixie cuts to long flowing tresses. For those looking to become a stylist, perfect their craft or learn to do more with their own hair, classes are also available to teach you how to achieve those picture-perfect hairstyles.

Looking to find some zen? The past year has been stressful and unpredictable to say the least. To find your inner chi and balance, Essential Hot Yoga located on Livernois between Outer Drive and 8 Mile Road on the city’s west side, offers private and semi-private classes. Instructors will guide you through the different poses while in a balmy room set to keep temperatures high. Instructors are certified bikram teachers and offer 90-minute sessions and 26/2 classes.

There is possibly nothing better than closing the pandemic out with a massage. With all the stress of the past year, a massage could be just what the doctor ordered. Loose Massage Therapy Plus offers sessions for 30 minutes, one hour, 90 minute or two hours to help relax muscles and ease tension. The massage parlor also offers group massages, first-time customer discounts and even lunch break session that’ll add an extra pep to the work day.

Using these Black-owned businesses coming out of quarantine will be a smooth transition into the warmer weather. Get ready to spring back into action while looking and feeling your absolute best.

Page B-6

• michiganchronicle.com • March 31 - April 6, 2021

www.michiganchronicle.com

March 31 - April 6, 2021

• michiganchronicle.com •

Working together to create

jobs for our community At Bank of America, we continue to invest in our local communities to help create jobs and fuel economic opportunity.

We’re doing this by collaborating with other companies, identifying needs and working with skill-building partners.

This effort also includes our recent $25 million investment in 21 higher education institutions including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions.

Our shared focus is on education, reskilling and up-skilling to build a pipeline of talent — and on increased commitment to hiring by major employers across our local area.

Here’s how we’re helping to accelerate job creation in our community:

Here in Detroit, my teammates and I are excited to be a part of creating more opportunities for members of our community.

Partnering with the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to advance local goals

What would you like the power to do?®

Supporting organizations that are expanding access to skill building programs and resources, including: • Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) • Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan • Detroit Means Business

Matt Elliott Detroit Market President

To learn more, please visit bankofamerica.com/community

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Page B-7

Page B-8 • michiganchronicle.com • March 31 - April 6, 2021

Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

‘Essential’ takes on a whole new meaning with COVID.

Get vaccinated when it’s your turn.

I’m an essential worker, because everyone needs food. You know what’s essential for me? Not getting COVID. And it’s a virus that keeps changing.

Vaccines are here. But until enough of us are vaccinated, we still need to mask up, stay 6 feet apart, and avoid crowds.

Whenever I see that, there’s a smile behind my mask.

Learn more at cdc.gov/coronavirus

Classifieds

March 31 - April 6, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-9

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP WANTED

Detroit Community Schools 12675 Burt Road Detroit, MI 48223 Telephone: (313) 535-3570

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan – Chief Deputy of Operations Vacancy Announcement

Student Enrollment Application Detroit Community Schools, a Michigan public school academy, is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Enrollment application packages may be picked up at the DCS Main Office between the hours of 8:00 AM and11:30 AM, Monday through Friday.

DCS will be hosting three (3) on-site Open House events between May 2021 and August 2021. The specific dates and hours of these extended enrollment events will be announced on the DCS website: www.detcomschools.org. Likewise, additional extended hours may be added as needed and announced on the DCS website.

at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov.

Located in Detroit, a senior-level, professional, managerial position that oversees the day-to-day operation and administration of the Court Operations Unit.

EOE

SeekingAssistant SeekingMedical Office Seeking AssistantIIII OFFICE ASSISTANT III at Oakland Oakland University at University

ATGraham OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Financial Aid Health Center

School ofclerical Medicine To coordinate processing in fora Coordinate thethe clinical processing a specialized function by performing a clinic by performing a variety Tomedical provide specialized office assistance, variety of multi-step processes according of multi-step processes according to a coordinating to a specifiedprocedural framework of business procedures, or specified framework of procedures and regulations and precedents; and to serve service activities for a complex program regulations, to serve as an informationas involving an informational source.

Minimum area processing, implementing, al Qualifications: source within theschool clinicgraduation in addition ANNOUNCEMENTS High or advising on, and specialized toanmaintaining the reporting role asof aeducation medical equivalent combination subject matter.

Qualifications: and experience.

Four Minimum years general assistant in the Minimum clinic.

QualREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL office work including some experience ifications: High School or High school graduation orgraduation an equivalent prioritizingcombination work and ofmeeting The Suburban Mobility Authority for combination anin equivalent educaofThis education and experience. deadlines is a full time,years’ clericalRegional Transportation (SMART) tion and progressively experience.

Three exFour years responsible office technical position.

Salary is $42,193.00 is soliciting RFP for No. 21-3338 for perience as a medical assistant or in annually.

See online posting for experience, including direct experience in TPA Worker’s Comp. RFP forms may a additional directly related field with experience position requirements.

First office coordination, i.e., prioritizing work be obtained beginning March 31, 2021 inconsideration medical officewill clerical functions.

Exbe given to those assignments, workand flowobtainto meet from http://www.mitn.info. RFP is perience inmaintaining venipuncture who apply by April 9, 2021.

Must apply due by 3:00 PM ET, April 21, 2021. deadlines. is a full time, clerical-technical ing information including onbasic line This to:patient https://jobs.oakland.edu blood Salary pressure, electrocardiograph position. is $43,718.00 annually. measurements urine specimens.

See online postingand for additional position This is a part-time clerical-technical poREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL requirements.

First consideration will be sition, working Monday-Friday, 10:00 The Suburban Mobility Authority for given to those who apply by March 23, a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 30 hours per week.

Regional Transportation (SMART) 2020.

Salary is $30,973.00 annually. See is soliciting RFQ for No. 21-3288 for Must apply posting onlineSkilled to:Seeking https://jobs.oakland.edu online for additional Seeking Trades VIposi–II Lake Erie Transit Portable Bus Washer.

Seeking Medical Assistant tion requirements.

Must apply online OFFICE ASSISTANT III Heating Plant at RFQ forms may be obtained at Oakland University to: https://jobs.oakland.edu beginning March 31, 2021 from ATGraham OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Oakland University Health Center http://www.mitn.info. RFQ is due by School of Medicine Plant Maintenance Coordinate the clinical processing in a 3:00 PM ET, April 13, 2021.

The successful will assistance, 2col. x 4.75 clinic bycandidate performing abecome variety Tomedical provide specialized office of a skilled trade’s team responsible ofpart multi-step processes according to a or coordinating procedural business for the Central Heating (CHP) and specified framework of Plant procedures and REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL service activities for a complex program campus-wide maintenance activities. regulations, to serve as an informationindividualprocessing, will be called upon to The Suburban Mobility Authority for areaThis involving implementing, al perform source awithin addition varietythe of clinic tasks in associated Regional Transportation (SMART) advising on, and reporting specialized towith maintaining theand roleoperating as a medical maintaining CHP, is soliciting RFQ for No. 21-3351 for subject Qualifications: High matter.

Temperature Hot Minimum Water (HTHW) assistant in the Minimum clinic.

QualDell Monitors. RFQ forms may be distribution system, HVAC,or ifications: Schoolbuilding High school High graduation orgraduation an equivalent obtained beginning March 31, 2021 various mechanical / plumbing / anand equivalent combination ofexperience. educaofcontrol education and from http://www.mitn.info. RFQ is due combination electrical/ systems.

Minimum tion and experience.

Three years’ exFourQualifications: High years progressively responsible office by 3:00 PM ET, April 13, 2021. school graduation, perience a medical or in endorsedas trade school orassistant anexperience equivalent experience, including direct in a combination directly related with experience of field education.

Proof of office coordination, i.e., prioritizing work infour medical clerical functions.

Exyearsoffice of experience operating PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED assignments, workand flow to meet perience inmaintaining venipuncture heating plants, power houses or obtainboiler rooms with pressure steam and/ deadlines. ishigh a full time, clerical-technical ing basicThis patient information including Account Manager - OEM or High Temperature Hot Water (HTHW) blood pressure, electrocardiograph position.

Salary is $43,718.00 annually. in Troy, MI: negotiate product pricing and operations. Individual mustspecimens. possess measurements and additional urine related contracts and agreements insuring See aonline valid posting current for City of Detroitposition high a profitable return to the company; seek This is a part-time clerical-technical popressure boiler license.will A be Firstoperator’s consideration out new opportunities at the customer with requirements. sition, working Monday-Friday, 10:00 Valid Michigan vehicle operator’s license existing products or new products for given to those who apply by March 23, a.m. p.m., 30 acceptable hours per toweek. and–a 5:00 driving record the continued business growth; provide input 2020.

Salary is are $30,973.00 annually.

See university required. Salary is $29.11 of current market conditions to corporate per hour/$32.74 afteradditional 90 days. posiSee Must apply online to: https://jobs.oakland.edu online posting for forecasting for the purpose of meeting online posting for additional position business plan objectives and budgets; tion requirements.

Must apply online Must apply on line to: among other duties. BS+3 yrs experience to:requirements. https://jobs.oakland.edu

Applications received in excess of available seats will be placed on the 2021 -2022 Wait List until a lottery is scheduled.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Cellco

Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to build a 26.3-foot pole utility telecommunications pole at the approx. vicinity of 2201 West Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, MI 48201. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Brennan, b.booker@ trileaf.com, 1515 Des Peres Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63131, 314-997-6111.

Cellco Partnership and its con-

trolled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate new equipment on an existing 40-foot Metal Light Pole Communications Tower at the approx. vicinity of 5603 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, MI 48202. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Alisia Hassler, a.hassler@trileaf.com, 1515 Des Peres Rd., Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63131, 314-997-6111.

PRO DECLARATION

Declaration in the Nature: NOTICE OF CLAIM

This is active and constructive public notice of claim/interest by Nathan Burns, whose address is 2720 Fenkell St. STE 83332, Detroit, Michigan 48238-3332; for property description:

S GLENDALE LOT 44 LATHRUPS DEXTER BOULEVARD SUB L32 P15 PLATS, WCR 12/217 41.25 X 121.56.

Situated in the city of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan Territory If this is not challenged by a lawfully qualified party having a lawful claim, lien, debt, or other equitable interest or any in a court of law within thirty (30) days from the date of this public notice then the above described property shall be considered henceforth claimed by Nathan Burns and all future claims against this land shall be forever waived.

or MS+1. 100% work-fromhome/telecommuting role, applicant may live anywhere in the United States.

Domestic and international travel required up to 50% of time. Send resume to H. Boden-Carr, Dayco Products LLC, 1650 Research Drive, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48083. No phone calls please.

Classified

PERSONAL SERVICES PERSONAL SERVICES

Help is here you have tried the rest now it’s time to try the Best My Work Is GUARANTEED you will see RESULTS within 72 Hours

Stop Suffering and Start Living A Better Life Louisiana Rootman Bro Harris will tell you everything without you telling me anything Better HEALTH, MONEY, LOVE, PEACE, and HAPPINESS will be yours

BLESSED BE. Get the HELP you Need TODAY Call (313)341-0145 or Write Bro Harris P.O. Box 21765 Detriot, MI 48221

HELP WANTED ANNOUNCEMENTS

Legal Notice George Washington Carver Academy Attention: Employee Leasing Companies The George Washington Carver Academy is requesting proposals Join Our Team for employee leasing services.

Walker-Miller Energy Services is hiring!

Several Positions Arerepresentatives Ready to be filled by submit Extraordinary Individuals!

Vendors and/or their may proposals to: Customer Experience Center Representative – Detroit, MI George Washington Carver AcademyMI Administrative Assistant – Detroit, c/o Provision Business Solutions Direct Installer – Detroit, MI Attention: Mrs. Alma Hollins Direct – Lansing, 17336Installer W. 12 Mile – Suite 200MI Southfield, MI 48076 Accounts Payable Specialist – Detroit, MI Senior Accountant II – Detroit, MI The George Washington Carver Academy Board of Education IT Manager – Detroit, MI reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals or to IT Helpdesk II – Detroit, MI district. accept the proposal that isTechnician in the best interest of the school Business Development Manager – Detroit, MI All proposals must be submitted between 9:00 a.m.

Marketing Manager – Detroit, MIand 1:00 p.m. on April 1, 2020. RFPs may be requested from Alma Hollins at Program Manager – Philadelphia, PA (248) 440-7318 or at alma@provision4solutions.com.

All proposals Outreach Lead envelope – Philadelphia, PA to George should be delivered in a sealed and addressed For a full list of qualifications please and visit be https://wmenergy.com/careers-2/ Washington Carver Academy clearly marked: Employee Leasing Proposal. **Please note the location of the position when applying.** PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY | MICHIGAN CHRONICLE 313 963-5522 DETROIT WATER AND SEWERAGE DEPARTMENT NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT FY21 DRINKING WATER REVOLVING FUND (DWRF) PROJECT

https://jobs.oakland.edu.

Published Every Wednesday

2col. x 4.75

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) goir / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Don’t Be a Fool This April 1:

Celebrate ‘4/01(k) Day’ Instead

(StatePoint) April Fool’s Day is just around the corner. Even in today’s socially-distanced environment, people are sure to attempt a few pranks to mark the day. As in normal years, the majority will be silly, some will be hilarious, while others will fall flat.

This year, try something different and celebrate 4/01(k) Day instead. To mark the occasion, Lincoln Financial Group is encouraging savers to test their knowledge on three common misconceptions about saving for retirement revealed in a recent survey of U.S. employees by Lincoln Financial and CivicScience: • True or False: “Saving enough to meet the employer match is enough to keep me on track for a comfortable retirement.” This one is (most likely) false! An employer match (if offered) is a good place to start, but if you really want to make sure you have enough of a nest egg to retire when and how you want, a good rule of thumb is to save at least 10 to 15 percent of your salary.

• True or False: “Paying down my student loan debt as quickly as possible is more important than saving for my retirement.” This can be true…or false, depending on your situation.

While you should not delay saving for retirement, it’s a good idea to speak with a financial professional to determine how to strategize paying off debt while also planning for your future. You can also use free tools like the debt calculator found at LincolnFinancial.com to help you make a plan for paying off debt.

• True or False: “I’ve thought about moving money from an old employer’s 401(k) into my current employer’s 401(k), but it seems like it would be too much of a hassle.” This one is false! While it is important to consider all options of your 401(k) platform prior to making a decision, the process for a rollover is typically very easy and brings multiple benefits. Instead of tracking investment selections, performance or statements for multiple accounts, for example, you’ll only have to monitor a single account.

313 963-5522 Please visit our website for more THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE classified ads.

“While there are certainly still some misconceptions when it comes to saving for the future, the majority of those surveyed understand the importance of not delaying saving for later in their careers,” said Aaron Moore, senior vice president, Retirement Plan Client Engagement, Lincoln FiMarch Page C-5 nancial Group.

“This 18-24, is cause2020 for celebration, as delaying saving for retirement can have a significant impact on future savings. This is another reawww.michiganchronicle.com son why we are focused on working with employANNOUNCEMENTS PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL ers to educate their employees so they can achieve HELP WANTED HELP WANTED the retirement they envision.”

DETROIT WATER AND SEWERAGE DEPARTMENT NOTICE

Voice of the Community at your fingertips.

PUBLIC HEARING – PROPOSED RATES For Fiscal Year 2020-21

Notice is hereby given that the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Detroit Police Department 7th Precinct located at 3501 Chene Street Detroit, MI 48207.

Weston Preparatory Academy, A Tuition-Free Public School Academy

Announces its Open Enrollment period for the 2020-2021 school year for grades K-8. Applications may be picked up at the school, 22930 Chippewa, Detroit, MI 48219, www.westondetroit.com (313)387-6038, during Open Enrollment period April 14, 2020 through April 30, 2020 during school hours as well as April 16th from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and April 18th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

If enrollment applications exceed the number of available spaces, a random selection drawing will be held at Weston Preparatory Academy on May 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

Functional Safety Validation Engineer

Senior Design Engineer

Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp test procedures Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LLC &test scripts for psgr vehicle ADAS features on seeks a Senior Design Engineer, in test bench &in vehicle. Execute Fault Injection Troy, MI to perform engineering analysis Tests using dSPACE MicroAutoBox, to test necessary for the production design, &validate fail-safe action of Active Safety (AS) application and testing of features incldg Lane Keep Assist, Low Speed axle/suspension components and Collision Mitigation Braking , Lane Centering systems, among other duties.

Control, Hands-on Lane Following (HoLF), FSRACC, Automatic Park Assist, &Collision Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Eng. Imminent Braking, using MATLAB, Simulink, and two years of experience in the job INCA, VehicleSpy tools, &neoVI FIRE HW. Dvlp offered or related. International and scripts using ATT Suite. Dvlp test procedures for domestic travel required, as needed, up existing &upcoming AS features such as HoLF to 30%. Send resume to: Sarah &Super Cruise. Dvlp MATLAB &Simulink models Trautmann, Meritor, Resume using dSPACE RTI blocksets &interface them w/ ControlDesk projects for CAN, LIN &Automotive Processing/JO#10518804, Ethernet communication protocols. Bachelor, 2135 West Maple Road, Troy, MI Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive Engrg, or 48084. related. 12 mos exp as Engineer, dvlpg test you’re procedures &testing scripts for psgrIfvehicle ADASlooking for more ways to celebrate features on test bench &in vehicle. Mail resume to help Commissioning set yourself upEngineer for a II Controls Ref#4933, GM Global Mobility, 3004/01(k) Ren. Center,Day – and MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265. financially secure future – here are three tips

Tips to keep your celebration going

(Grand Rapids, MI), responsible for

to keep in mind:utilizing controls subsystem installation, commissioning test procedures and

Check your checklists account. might hardware sound simforItcontrols and software (PLC), HMI’s and SCADA; New Boston, MI, Brose North America.

Plan, ple, but logging in regularly (try for at leastand providing support for subsystem supervise &lead New Boston Plant (NBO) Mfg once a quarter)electrical can help ensureinterface you’retesting, on Technology Welding grp, incldg tools, equipment, installation, processes, projects, programs, personnel, training, and startup, among other track with your savings goal.

Be sure to use investment, &tooling &eqpmt suppliers, to assure duties. BS & 0 years exp. Education or high volume mfg of mechatronic seatthe sysscalculators (1st, and projection toolsthe your re- and experience must include: design 2nd, &3rd row) rails (upper &lower), side panels, implementation of System PLC Code, tirement plan offers. base structures, pivoting recliner structures, Team Leader - Mfg, 1.

controls networks, and integrated backrests, loadthroughs, &center consoles.

Manage, supervise, lead &mentor NBO 2. internal Update (or motion create) a goal. you controllers; and When hardware and mfg workforce -Welding Engrs, Welding Lab software applications for LabVIEW have a goal to work towards, research shows Supv, Shift Leaders, technicians, toolmaker, platforms. Domestic and international interns/apprentices, technicians, fastening PROFESSIONAL you’ll be more likely to increase contritravel required 50-70%your of time.

Send speclts, &external personnel. Plan, design, dvlp, HELP WANTED resume to Leigh Baker (Code butions, and therefore, increase your CCE sav-assure plant documentation, &in charge of GRMI), TGW Systems, 3001 Orchard assuring employee training in industrial joining ings. technologies; welding tooling &fixtures Vista Dr. SE, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, mechanical designs &concepts; mechatronics Senior Software Developer MI 49546. No phone calls please.

3.

Meet with a professional. If your emtechnologies; laser &standard laser welding Connected Core Apps EOE. technologies; programming of disk lasers ployer offers retirement consultants, schedGeneral Motors, Detroit, MI. Dvlp, unit test, (Yttrium, Aluminum, Garnet lasers) &diode lasers, debug, execute, validate, &publish psgr vehicle incldg parameter configurations; ABB robotic ule a meeting, or consider speaking with a Infotainment Calibration U.S. &global mobile &in vehicle customer facing programming, handling &remote laser welding, Domain Lead you uncore apps in Android OS, to ensure secure app financial professional, who can help fiber optics programming, automated &robotic exp, &to provide services (Terms &Conditions Motors, Detroit, MI. Engr, dvlp, release PLC; PLC &tooling simulation. 24 mos exp as derstand the fullGeneral picture of your savings and Privacy Statements, voice recognition (VR), infotainment low radio calibrations, test, &verify Welding Technologist, Engr or Team Leader, or Bluetooth &Bluetooth Low Energy, maps, smart psgr vehicle infotainment low radio calibration related, supervising, leading, or in charge of plant where to focus your efforts. trailering, Smart Connect, &AppShop) &user michiganchronicle.com welding processes &eqpmt, w/ industrial joining domain using Calibration definition tool (CalDef), interfaces for Android Auto &CarPlay, &improved technologies incldg laser welding syss for For more resources, tools and calculators, Teamcenter, VehicleSpy, IBM RTC, DPS, E2, Vehicle to Back Office &Vehicle to Mobile automotive seat or door syss for OEM customer, Engrg Change Request sys tools. Determine visit LincolnFinancial.com/retirement. commun. for vehicle infotainment sys &mobile or related. Mail resume to Ref#41121, Human program specific calibration reqmts using Product phones, in Java &Android languages, in Agile Resources, 3933 Automation Ave, Auburn Hills, Program Content charts &devise infotainment methodology, using Git, Junit, Gerrit, Bitbucket, MI 48326. (low radio) calibration to fulfil vehicleto A comfortable financial futurestrategies is something Jenkins CI, Artifactory, Android Studio, TFS, packages &trim reqmts of N./S. America, &GM Gherkin, MS Project Management, SONAR, celebrate. So this April 1, take stock of your retireInt’l Region. Create calibrations using CalDef in Visual Studio, &Atom tools. Dvlp VR &in vehicle ment savings, starting withw/your 401(k). Standards accordance Global Infotainment map apps, &implement RESTful web-services.

Senior Industrial Engineer Dvlp SW apps using regression testing, UAT dos, GMW Engrg standards &Corporate Testing &production build testing to deliver Guidelines incldg AM/FM frequency reqmts for Warren, MI, General Motors. Analyze, create effective products. Bachelor, Computer Science, each country &region. Test &verify HMI workstation designs, rebalance, &coach Computer Engrg, Electrical Engrg, or related. 60 functionality w/ psgr vehicle low radios incldg operations using Standard Time &Data Systems mos exp as Developer, System Designer, touchscreen displays &button assemblies. Create (STDS) for GenV, High Feature, 10 spd Consultant or Engineer, gathering reqmts, calibration archives for fleet vehicles using DPS transmission, &GMT-T1 Cmpnts Launch

Voice of the Community at your fingertips michiganchronicle.com

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Page B-10 • michiganchronicle.com • March 24-30, 2021

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra refuses to sit down with Black Owned Media Companies Mary Barra, Why??? We were seriously offended watching you stand on stage, after the death of George Floyd, saying, “Black Lives Matter,” when you have refused to acknowledge us and you have consistently, over time and after multiple requests, refused to take a meeting with the largest Black Owned Media companies in America. Mary, the very definition of systemic racism is when you are ignored, excluded and you don’t have true economic inclusion.

General Motors spends billions of dollars in advertising and less than 0.5% goes to Black Owned Media (not to be confused with Black Targeted Media). This is horrendous, considering that we as African Americans make up approximately 14% of the population in America and we spend billions buying your vehicles.

Mary, you have asked us to meet with your Chief Marketing Officer, Deborah Wahl. We have absolutely no interest in that because when Deborah was Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s, in our opinion, Black Owned Media was, once again, severely neglected, minimized and discriminated against. To be clear, Black Owned Media and not minority owned media, because minority includes white women and large corporations like General Motors can hide behind and tout their minority records while continuing not to do business with Black Owned Media companies.

Mary, true leaders must lean in and personally address the real issues in our society and in business. We are publicly asking you to stop the systemic racism

by General Motors against Black Owned Media companies. We are requesting a one hour Zoom meeting with you and several of your key board members and us, the largest Black Owned Media companies in America, so we can resolve this very important issue and have a long-term partnership that’s mutually beneficial for General Motors and the African American consumers. Mary, we and others firmly believe that if you continue to hold the position that Black Owned Media doesn’t deserve meaningful economic inclusion and we are not worth meeting with, then you should resign, effective immediately.

Byron Allen

Earl “Butch” Graves Jr.

Founder, Chairman & CEO – Allen Media Group, LLC

President & CEO – Black Enterprise

Roland Martin

Ice Cube

CEO – Nu Vision Media, Inc.

BIG3, Cubevision, CWBA

Todd F. Brown, PMP

Junior Bridgeman

Don Jackson

Founder – Urban Edge Networks HBCU League Pass

Ebony Media

Founder, Chairman & CEO – Central City Productions