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Volume 76 – Number 46

July 24-30, 2013

michiganchronicle.com

CITYVOTE A Community Voter Information Guide to the City of Detroit’s August 6 Primary Election

In this week’s edition, the Michigan Chronicle’s special voters guide, “CITYVOTE.” And be sure to vote on Aug. 6.

BANKRUPTCY Detroit’s financial reckoning is here

WHAT’S INSIDE Mayor candidates discusss their qualifications (Page A-3) Mike Duggan and Fred Durhal Jr. both believe they are the right man to become the next mayor of Detroit, at one of the most crucial and complex times in the city’s history.

They explain the whys and wherefores of their candidacies.

Belle Isle Summer Saturdays kicks off (Page A-5) The Belle Isle Conservancy, in partnership with the Detroit Recreation Department, is launching a new program, Belle Isle Summer Saturdays (BLISS, to bring new energy to one of metro Detroit’s most popular parks.

Meijer opens its doors and its heart to Detroit (Page B-1) Meijer Co-CEO Mark Murray hopes Detroit residents will embrace his company’s commitment to offer the best products, prices and people in the market today.

Comerica Bank expands annual Shred Day (Page C-1) On a recent Saturday, Comerica Bank teamed up with Iron Mountain Incorporated and CBS Detroit to host its sixth annual free community Shred Day to help metro Detroiters fight against identity theft. The response was overwhelming.

GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER and Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr announced last week that the city is in chapter 9 bankruptcy, making Detroit the largest municipality in U.S. history to file for bankruptcy. – Andre Smith photos

By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR

M

ichigan Gov. Rick Snyder took an unprecedented move last week, authorizing Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr to place the state’s largest city into chapter 9 bankruptcy protection.

In doing so, Detroit became the largest municipality in U.S. history to file Bankole Thompson for bankruptcy, a move that has wide-ranging ramifications in the face of assurances that this is the best solution for the city.

At issue right now is the legitimacy of the bankruptcy filing by Orr who is being accused by pensioners and creditors of not negotiating in good faith in addressing the city’s $18 billion legacy debt.

Gilbert vows stronger support for Detroit

By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR

BANKOLE THOMPSON (right), editor of the Michigan Chronicle, sits down with Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder during an exclusive interview after the announcement of Detroit’s chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Federal Judge Steven Rhodes, who has been selected to hear the bankruptcy case, will hold a hearing this week on the good faith negotiation claim. Orr and Snyder vehemently denied the accusations this week in my sit-down interview with both men following their announcement of the chapter 9 filing. They both

insisted that the bankruptcy move is to salvage Detroit from its economic crisis.

“We’ve gotten here after 60 years and how many times, if you look back, could you say something should have been done,” Snyder said. “I just want to make it crystal clear

See BANKRUPTCY page A-4

As local and national political leaders as well as pundits take shots at who and what is to blame for the bankruptcy of a major American city like Detroit, the business leadership in the city is pledging stronger support of the Motor City following news that Detroit filed for bankruptDan Gilbert cy on July 18, becoming the largest municipality in U.S. history to seek chapter 9 protection.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr

See GILBERT page A-4

Obama pushes bipartisan student loan deal: A win for students

Nick Cannon: A man of many talents (Page D-1)

“Helping more of our young people afford college should be at the forefront of American’s agenda. It shouldn’t be a Democratic or a Republican issue.” — President Barack Obama, University of Colorado-Boulder, April 24, 2012

cal undergraduate $1,500 over the life of those loans.

The plan allows borrowers to benefit from the low interest rates currently available in the marketplace and guarantees that borrowers are able to lock in these rates over the life of The Obama administra- their loans. In the future, fixed tion has called on Congress to rates would be determined swiftly pass a bipartisan com- each year by market condipromise to keep student loan tions, helping ensure that borinterest rates low this year. rowers’ rates are more in line The bipartisan compromise, with the government’s own which is similar to a plan pro- cost of borrowing, while capposed by the president in the ping how high rates can rise. spring, will cut rates on all new The plan also represents a reloans this year and save a typiSee LOANS page A-4

Actor, television host, rapper, comedian, radio host. Nick Cannon does it all.

“The only people who achieve goals are the ones who go after them and don’t take no for an answer,” he said.

MARVIN BEATTY, Detroit developer and civic leader, discusses Meijer opening its first store in Detroit and why it is crucial for African-American developers to be engaged in the economic revitalization of the city. – Andre Smith photo

Beatty speaks out on Meijer’s Detroit commitment

By Donald James SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

$1.00

Of late, there have been countless news stories emanating from Detroit that have focused on the city’s bankruptcy and other municipal woes. However, all news stories about the city are not doom

and gloom. On Thursday, July 25, Meijer made great news by cutting the ribbon on its first Detroit store, much to the delight of Detroiters, who for decades, have been shut out of national retail shopping within the city limits.

See A3 for story.

Interview with Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan.

See page A-3.

Interview with Fred Durhal Jr., candidate for Detroit mayor.

See page A-3.

Read special interview with Mark Murray, co-CEO, Meijer.

See page C-1.

news

July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page A-2

Regional Roundup Education Achievement Authority unveils enrollment campaign Recently, the Education Achieve­ment Authority of Michigan (EAA) unveiled a new school enrollment campaign emphasizing the tremendous academic growth students achieved during its first year of operation and underscoring the opportunities for success the new system offers to every student.

The campaign features actual Education Achievement Authority students proclaiming that thanks to the education they are receiving and the environment at EAA schools, “I can soar.”

The concept was developed by Lowe Campbell Ewald working in cooperation with the Education Achieve-

ment Authority and the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation (MEEF) and features students currently enrolled in EAA schools.

“The ads underscore the fact that the Education Achievement Authority is a different system for a better outcome and that we will not continue to educate students in the traditional way,” said Chancellor John Wm. Covington. “In the Education Achievement Authority we tailor the education of each child to their own unique and diverse needs. In these ads you’ll see different sets of wings, different sizes, and different colors, which is symbolic of the fact that we have moved education delivery away

Governor explains Detroit bankruptcy filing

Tough step will revive city buried in $18 billion debt and unfunded liabilities Gov. Rick Snyder authorized Detroit’s emergency manager to seek federal bankruptcy protection for the city, saying it was the only viable option to provide the 700,000 people of Detroit with the public services they need and to restore the city.

“The fiscal realities confronting Detroit have been ignored for too long.

I’m making this tough decision so the people of Detroit will have the basic services they deserve and so we can start to put Detroit on a solid financial footing that will allow it to grow and prosper in the future,” the governor said. “This is a difficult step, but the only viable option to address a problem that has been six decades in the making.”

Gov. Snyder rowing money to pay its bills for nearly a decade.

Bankruptcy is the only feasible option to fix the city’s finances and do what is right for the 700,000 people of Detroit,” Snyder said.

Detroit has more than $18 billion in debt and unfunded liabilities and doesn’t have the revenues to meet those obligations and provide an adequate level of services to its people, who pay the highest taxes per capita in Michigan. The city’s debt level is unsustainable. Currently, 38 cents of every city dollar goes toward debt repayment, legacy costs and other obligations.

By 2017 that figure is expected to reach 65 cents per dollar.

“We want to create an environment that attracts more families, young professionals and job providers to Detroit. That will be a win for Detroit and a win for Michigan. Michigan is the comeback state and we need our state’s largest city to be healthy and strong to keep the comeback going strong.”

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The enrollment effort will utilize broadcast and print advertising as well as mailings directed to households with

Lowe Campbell Ewald became involved in the EAA’s mission upon learning about its unique approach via the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation.

The agency agreed to do the creative work on a pro bono basis as it learned more about the system’s ground breaking work in developing a new type of educational system. MEEF is underwriting the broadcasting and printing needs of the campaign. No public funds have been involved in preparing or disseminating the advertisements.

“At the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan it’s our goal to give every student their own set of wings and inspire them to believe they can soar and be the best that they

can be,” Covington said.

“The Education Achievement Authority is a different way and it’s working. That’s the message we want to get to every parent and student.”

Education Achievement Authority schools are creative, innovative learning environments that provide students a quality education. They offer struggling students the opportunity to catch up to their peers around the state and receive the education they need to succeed in college or a career after high school.

The system opened in September 2012 with 15 of Detroit’s lowest-achieving schools, which were identified by the Michigan Department of Education as schools with the greatest need.

Education Achievement Authority teach-

ers tailor their instruction to the needs of each individual student.

Students are tested to determine their individual level of educational achievement and then a program is designed for each student to help them achieve their maximum potential based on their academic progress, interests and needs.

The system enables each student to proceed at his or her own pace.

Assessments are administered four times a year to help teachers tailor student learning plans according to their academic needs. By the third testing period completed in early May, more than half of EAA students tested had learned twice as much as what students learn in a typical year. Students had a combined growth rate of 53 percent.

TO: ALL ELIGIBLE DISABLED VOTERS Federal Public Law 98-435 requires that polling places be accessible to disabled voters.

If a polling location is not disabled accessible, this law allows the assignment of an alternate polling place. However, several polling places which were previously inaccessible are now accessible to disabled voters.

Disabled voters with an inaccessible polling place are eligible to vote without notice at the:

The governor noted Orr’s restructuring plan for the city calls for investing $1.25 billion over 10 years in core services, primarily police and fire protection, trash pickup and street lighting.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Mark Simon, chief creative officer at Lowe Campbell Ewald, said the firm became involved because “upon learning about the Education Achievement Authority and the importance of their mission, we knew we had to help. We toured the schools, met some amazing kids and experienced firsthand this innovative approach to education. Everyone associated with the Education Achievement Authority is so passionate about what they’re trying to accomplish. Their cause became our cause. We want to do everything we can to help these children succeed.”

school age children.

Disabled voters are entitled to vote at the polls within the precinct where possible. Pollworkers are obligated to provide whatever assistance is needed to facilitate the voting process.

Snyder’s decision allowed Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr to make a filing under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy law. Orr filed for Chapter 9 protection today shortly after receiving authorization from the governor. Chapter 9 protects financially distressed municipalities from creditors while their debts are resolved under the direction of a bankruptcy judge.

“The simple fact is Detroit is in a financial crisis. The city is insolvent and has been bor

from a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

“Fixing the city’s finances will allow for investments in key areas that will improve the quality of life for Detroiters and encourage growth and investment in the city,” Snyder said.

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NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2013 POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF DETROIT, COUNTY OF WAYNE, STATE OF MICHIGAN: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON THE ABOVE DATE, A PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN EVERY PRECINCT OF THE CITY OF DETROIT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:

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news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page A-3

Prime Politics All The Politics That Matter to You

Duggan: ‘I can turn Detroit Durhal says experience in around financially’ government matters for Detroit’s next mayor Continued from A-1

For more than three decades, the name Mike Duggan has been a fixture throughout Southeast Michigan. including Detroit and Wayne County. He is a former Wayne County prosecutor, and was the former president and CEO of the Detroit Medical Center for almost a decade. Some have called the University of Michigan Law School graduate perhaps this region’s most successful turnaround specialist. Now,he wants to turn around Detroit as its next mayor.

Duggan stopped by the Michigan Chronicle office recently to discuss his mayoral vision and plans for city of Detroit.

Donald James conducted this part of the interview.

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE: Detroit finds itself at perhaps its lowest point in the city’s 312-year history. Why do you want the job of mayor?

MIKE DUGGAN: I’ve worked in the city of Detroit every day for the last 32 years. For the last nine, I ran the Detroit Medical Center, the largest employer in the city. While DMC was growing, I saw that the city was falling apart. I thought the city needed a mayor that has successfully dealt with financial crisis. I have that ability to turn things around financially. As you look at Detroit today, everything starts with being able to manage its finances. We have to get stronger financially in order to add additional police officers and firefighters. I really love the city of Detroit and I love its people. I feel that I can help turn the city around as its next mayor.

MC: How would you reduce crime in the city?

MD: First of all, we need to cut police response time. We’ve been giving a lot of lip service to it, but have not executed it. We also still have officers in stations dispatching patrol cars. Kevyn Orr’s last report stated that we have more than 50 police officers filling out payroll. We must put every available police officer on the street and we must improve the efficiency of every officer that’s on the street. Also, one agency does not bring down crime. We need to get the whole system working together in a more concerted effort. We can bring crime down, but we must make better use of the resources that we have. It’s not all about getting more money, more people, more resources. A lot of it is about having better leadership.

MC: What’s your plan for creating jobs for Detroiters?

MD: We need to be honest about the future of our jobs. We are not going to come back with auto plants and 5,000 jobs. We will get this economy to come back when lots of entrepreneurs and artistically inclined people in a dense area feed off each other and create new businesses. We need to make Detroit an entrepreneurial city and I want to build the entrepreneurial class from this community.

MC: Historically, write-in candidates for mayor in major American cities have not been successful. Why do you feel that your campaign will be successful?

MD: Write-in victories are very difficult. However, the optic scan system that Detroit uses is actually the easiest voting system in America to write in. The problem is that there are no instructions on the ballot to tell you how.

The voter sees that blank box and he or she has no idea of why it’s there. Our challenge is that every single voter that we get will have to be educated before he or she sets foot in the voting booth. It’s tough, but we are optimistic.

MC: The city is currently under the control of emergency manager Kevyn Orr. Can you be an effective mayor for the people of Detroit with the limited power that he chooses to give?

MD; As long as the emergency manager is here, neither I nor anyone else in the city has any rights. So we shouldn’t be under any illusion about that. The

Mayoral candidate Fred Durhal Jr., armed with 35 years of leadership in government, is in his third term as state representative. He believes that Detroiters deserve far more than they are getting with the current administration and says, as the next mayor of the Motor City, he will deliver far better services to the people of Detroit. Durhal stopped by the Michigan Chronicle’s office recently to talk about his vision and plans for a stronger Detroit. Chronicle writer Donald James conducted the interview.

Mike Duggan question is, who can most effectively move the emergency manager out at the earliest date? I have 100 people working on a plan that will be released in a couple of weeks that shows how we transition out from an emergency manager, back to elected leadership. It is my intention, right after the November election, to go to the governor with the community and business leaders who have supported me and say to the governor that the city has an elected mayor with a strong turnaround history and a strong turnaround team and plan. I will say that it’s time to thank Kevyn Orr for his service and send him back to Washington, D.C. MC: If the city files for bankruptcy, would that drastically alter your plans as mayor? (Note: This question was asked just a few hours before the city actually filed for bankruptcy.)

MD: Yes, it will. But what it will change is this. As the law is structured now, it’s very likely that the emergency manager will be running the city under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge. If I get elected I’m going to attempt to persuade the governor, or the bankruptcy judge, to move the emergency manager out and replace the emergency manager with me. I believe that if we are in bankruptcy, it’s all that more important that the mayor is in charge. I hope that we won’t go into bankruptcy…I don’t think that it’s necessary, but if we are in bankruptcy when I’m elected, I’m going to do all that I can to ask the judge to make me responsible for operating the city so that we balance the interest of creditors with the long-term interest and needs of our citizens.

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE: Why do you want to be the next mayor of Detroit, and what separates you from the other mayoral candidates?

FRED DURHAL: I grew up in Detroit and I don’t like what I see regarding the management of the city. I can make that judgment because I once served under the greatest mayor that Detroit ever had, Coleman A. Young. What I see in this city has not been good for the people of Detroit. I know that I have leadership characteristics that are good. My experience base is very broad. I’m the only candidate in this race that has participated in four levels of government: city, county, federal and state. I’ve worked in two branches of government: the executive and legislative.

So I totally understand government.

I know how it works when it’s running well. I also understand how to fix it when the wheels come off. I have 35 years of experience in government, and I’m the only candidate in this race that has this type of broad experience and credentials.

“There’s a lot of focus

on developing downtown and Midtown, which is fantastic.

However, we need to have that focus all over town.”

MC: What’s your opinion of the emergency management law and how would you work with the current EM if elected?

FD: I was one of the first legislators who was opposed to the emergency manager stature when they came out with Public Act 4. I, along with Jessie Jackson, John Conyers and others, MC: There are those who have called went to Benton Harbor and protested you an outsider and a carpetbagger. the emergency manager in that city. I’ve Talk a little bit about your connection to been to Pontiac and Ecorse as well to Detroit, and how do you respond to what protest. I’m against the law. some opponents and their supporters However, the man (Kevyn Orr) is here are saying? now.

MD: I was born in Detroit. As a young A court will ultimately determine the boy, I lived on Stansbury near Franklin constitutionality of the emergency manand Schaefer on the west side. My famager. While that process is happening, ily moved to Livonia when I was about we still have to run the city. As mayor, five, but I went to high school at CathoI want to do what needs to be done to lic Central in Detroit when it was on W. straighten this city out.

Outer Drive. I took the DSR bus to high school every day. I was in high school However, I will be doing everything I in Detroit when Coleman A. Young was can to shorten the emergency manager’s elected mayor. My wife was born in Hut- stay in Detroit. zel Hospital; she lived in Detroit until MC: What would be the impact on she was 13. My mom was a nurse at Re- Detroit if it went into bankruptcy? (Note: ceiving Hospital. My grandfather had a This question was asked several days real estate office on Mack in Detroit. My before Detroit’s EM filed chapter 9 bankgreat-grandmother was one of the first ruptcy.) female entrepreneurs in this city. She owned a dry goods shop on Michigan FD: It would have a dramatic impact, Avenue in the 1880s. So my family is not only on the city, but on the county and state. The credit ratings for all deeply rooted in this city. of these entities will hit rock bottom.

I’ve worked every day in this city for There would be a loss of control of how the last 32 years. I’ve been honest with to straighten out the city’s problems beevery group of voters that I’ve met with. cause it will be decided by the federal I’ve asked them to see if my ties and my court. love for Detroit are sufficient enough for them to vote for me. I’ve asked them to Bankruptcy is not a desirable situasee if I can identify with their problems tion for Detroit. It will prolong the rein this city. I hope that on August 6, covery of the city. In fact, it’s probably a people will see that my ties and love for poison pill to the city and state of MichDetroit are sufficient enough and that I igan. can identify with and fix the problems of MC: Why did you file a lawsuit against Detroiters.

Gov. Snyder as it relates to building a

Fred Durhal Jr. second bridge to Canada?

FD: My lawsuit was of a constitutional argument that the governor violated separation of power. The governor, as the executive branch of government, cannot take on the responsibility of the legislature. The governor breached the constitution of the state of Michigan by deciding to go around the legislature.

I thought that he was wrong and played against the legislature. We went to court. An Ingham County judge ruled in favor of the governor. However, I still feel that the governor was wrong.

MC: How do you plan to improve Detroit neighborhoods?

FD: There’s a lot of focus on developing downtown and Midtown, which is fantastic. However, we need to have that focus all over town. We need to focus on the development of neighborhoods around Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road We need to focus on developing neighborhoods around Clairmont, Dexter, Grand River, Joy Road and around East and West Grand Boulevard.

We need to have strong, beautiful and safe neighborhoods all over the city. I will have a very aggressive approach to taking abandoned homes down and making our neighborhoods vibrant again.

MC: What’s your view on improving public safety in Detroit?

FD: I will end 12-hour shifts for our police officers. I will open up police precincts where they are open for our citizens, 24-hours a day, and seven-days a week. I want to take the two officers in patrol cars, split them up and give them separate patrol cars to flood the streets.

People need to see the police patrolling our city to feel safe.

Safety, however, has to be more than a feeling; it has to be reality. I want the maximum number of officers possible patrolling the streets of Detroit.

MC: Do you think that Detroit could become a city of destination for tourists?

FD: As mayor, I will sit with the editorial boards of our local newspapers, as well as our convention bureau and the Pure Michigan people to work out how we are going to advertise and market Detroit. I don’t think enough of that has been done.

We have to make sure that the positive things about our city get out to the nation and world through our media outlets.

There are plenty of great reasons why tourists should come to our great city. We just have to do a better of job of marketing and advertising what’s great about coming to Detroit.

Marvin Beatty speaks out

Continued from A-1

Located on Eight Mile Rd. and Woodward Ave. on the city’s north edge, the new 215,000 square-foot-store will anchor a massive shopping center called Gateway Marketplace.

The 350,000 square-foot shopping complex will also feature a K&G Fashion Superstore, Marshalls, Petco, and has commitments of occupancy from other national outlets, inclusive of PNC Bank, Dots, Five Below, SVS Optical, Payless ShoeSource, Wingstop, Subway, and more.

While there are plenty of smiling faces connected to the historic grand opening of Meijer in Detroit, perhaps the biggest smile belongs to businessman Marvin W. Beatty, who gave leadership to the developers of the Meijer project.

Beatty’s partners, under the auspices of Gateway Partners, include Ricardo Solomon, Elliott Hall and Bernie Schrott.

“This represents the first opportunity in many years for Detroiters to get not just one national retailer, but many retailers,” said Beatty. “The opportunity to witness the grand opening is exciting as we stuck to our plan, with no disrespect to local retailers, to go after much needed national retailers and convince them to come to Detroit.”

Beatty said that Gateway Marketplace, when totally occupied, will generate approximately 900 jobs, with Meijer hiring around 500 employees.

“During this difficult economic time, that’s huge,” Beatty said. “To Meijer’s credit, they have taken a very aggressive position to make sure that Detroiters get most of the jobs. Many of the other outlets in the complex, and the ones coming, are looking to do the same. It’s extremely important that jobs for Detroiters become a big part of the success story of Gateway Marketplace.”

Beatty, a Detroit native, is also part of another development and investment

group called Magic Plus. Beatty, former Los Angeles Laker superstar-turned-super-entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and developer Joel Ferguson are currently looking to develop the old State Fair complex that is physically connected to the new Gateway Marketplace.

“We are in the process of finishing up negotiation with the state of Michigan to develop that 160-acre-site,” Beatty said.

“Once we are successful in the negotiations with the state, we intend to develop the land and bring national retail stores, office space, entertainment establishments, restaurants, housing, green space and a lot more, which will really give a whole revitalization to that entire area.”

Beatty is accustomed to gravitating to successful business ventures. He was one of the original owners of Greektown Casino. He now serves as the entity’s vice president of community & public relations.

“I think the big part of the legacy that I may have in this community is having been a part of creating a considerable amount of jobs for people in a brand new industry (gaming) in this city,” Beatty said.

“From the very inception of Greektown, going back to 1996 when a ballot initiative was passed, I’ve been a part of it.”

While Beatty could live in any highscale community in the United States, he loves Detroit.

“I can’t say that I love the city and live somewhere else, although some other people do just that,” said Beatty, who also spent more than two decades as a Detroit firefighter, and ultimately was appointed to serve as deputy fire commissioner by Mayor Coleman A. Young.

“Detroit has its issues and has a high-level of stress, but I truly love living here.”

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013 Page A-4

Gilbert asked a federal judge last week to put the city into bankruptcy protection.

And already the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Alice M. Batchelder, has chosen prominent Detroit federal bankruptcy judge Steven Rhodes to oversee the case.

Business leaders are pledging to stand by Detroit in this tough economic time despite what some national reviews have already said.

Dan Gilbert, founder and CEO of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans who has bought more than 18 buildings downtown and relocated thousands of his employees to Detroit, called the chapter 9 filing the first step toward a better and brighter tomorrow for Detroit.

Bankruptcy that I’m going to take responsibility for this action. I think it’s too bad that it’s taken this long to fundamentally solve this problem. That’s why I take it seriously.

“Every single day that passed without doing this, Detroit would just go downhill even more.

Let’s use the bankruptcy court mechanisms because there are no other options to address the debt question. And this is our chance to talk about better services for the citizens.”

This is a serious gamble for both Snyder and Orr, especially after e-mails this week surfaced showing that bankruptcy was the initial thought at the time of Orr’s hiring.

That made union leaders fire back saying there was a rush to bankruptcy instead of a good faith negotiations with labor and all other parties involved.

And because there is no precedent in this region, or anywhere else in the country, for this kind of massive financial restructuring, the consequences remain unknown, albeit a federal judge holds the answer to all of this.

“My concern is not the politics of this situation, not the public relations. My concern is for the 700,000 people here in the city,” Snyder fired back. “They are not getting what they deserve in terms of services. They are my customers. They hired me to do the job along with 9 million Michiganders. By giving them better results we can also say Detroit is going to be a great place again.”

At the very core of this proceeding now playing out in the public domain is the fate of retirees whose benefits could be slashed either in half or almost totally to satisfy creditors.

“If you are talking about the retiree portion of this proposal of unsecured creditors, it does represent the largest portion of that $11.9 billion,” Orr said. “The reality for retirees is only the unfunded portion of the liability. There are only two retirement funds — general services and police and fire. They have assets at their disposal.”

Orr said the issue is the unfunded portion of the retirement funds to deal with the bankruptcy.

“Rest assured that for the rest of 2013 it will be the status quo in the city and employees and retirees. We have to try to come up with a solution for those unfunded portions of the police and fire funds,” Orr explained. “There will be concessions that need to be made, but where is the alternative? They’ve

already been made for decades. We are borrowing from the pension fund, deferring pension contributions.”

He said the city is where it is today “because in 2005 the city borrowed $1.5 billion that was supposed to correct the problem. Then in 2009 they were in default because they couldn’t make those payments. We pledged our casino revenue and kicked that can down the road.”

Orr said despite the opposition, no one is coming up with a solution because the hole is too deep.

But union leaders disagree.

Al Garrett, president of AFSCME Local 25, during a Monday news conference denied there was any financial crisis.

“It’s not a financial crisis. It’s a moral crisis,” Garrett said. “We thought there would be a good faith effort to negotiate.”

Orr said he is unfazed by the challenge.

“That’s why there is an eligibility requirement.

We think very strongly there is only one conclusion: bankruptcy,” Orr said.

Can the federal government help as it did with the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler?

The White House only said it is monitoring the situation in Detroit and subsequent reports stated that Orr has been frustrated by Washington’s lack of involvement in this monumental action taken in Detroit last week.

Certainly, we do not expect Detroit to be given a blank check from the White House or a bailout as it did for General Motors and Chrysler.

But some form of concrete and realistic help is needed from Washington to save a major American city that was at one time the pride of the world.

The White House cannot stand by and watch. It should be involved in this process no matter how it feels about a Republican administration in Lansing driving this economic motion in Detroit.

Every auditor general’s report for the last decade has shown that Detroit has been spending more than it can afford. And that did not make services to hard-pressed taxpayers and those invested in this city any better.

In the real world, Detroit’s sorry financial state did not start with the filing of bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy was only a matter of time.

Could it have been avoided? A federal court decision in the wake of e-mails this week show-

From page A-1 ing that there was concerted effort in the corridors of power to push bankruptcy with Orr’s appointment will decide whether this moment in history could have been addressed another way.

There is going to be a lot of pain because thousands of retirees who are not responsible for the actions of politicians and public officials charged with the public trust will have to pay the bitter price. All of their life’s financial worth embodied in their pension benefits stand to disappear by the stroke of a judge’s pen.

But the bitter lesson in this is the election of good faith leaders who will serve Detroit diligently and honestly. The city will do much better if it never returns to the types of administrations that have too often served this city.

“The financial condition the city finds itself in was years, if not decades, in the making. Bankruptcy will be painful for many individuals and organizations but together we will get through it and come out stronger on the other side,” Gilbert said.

“It’s important that we ignore the noise that this filing will surely bring.

Many forecasted the end for GM and Chrysler when they declared bankruptcy just a short few years ago.

Today, GM and Chrysler are thriving. Detroit will thrive again as well and sooner than most think.”

Gilbert said just as the auto companies reinvented the way they do business, so will Detroit.

“Once our financial challenges are behind us, the city, region and state will have a clean slate to operate with a philosophy and strategy that works for its citizens, businesses and the entire community,” Gilbert said. “We are all in.

We are more committed than ever to Detroit and the opportunities downtown. Detroit’s best days are ahead.”

Sandy Baruah, CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, agreed with

From page A-1 Gilbert that the chapter 9 filing is necessary.

“Bankruptcy is the bold step needed to finally address Detroit’s financial problems in a meaningful and sustainable way. While nobody welcomes the concept of bankruptcy, it is necessary to solve the longterm structural financial challenges of this historic city,” Baruah said. “This decision puts the city on a path to achieve its most essential function — pro-

cy,” the DIA said. “As a municipal bankruptcy of this size is unprecedented, the DIA will continue to carefully monitor the situation, fully confident that the emergency manager, the governor and the courts will act in the best interest of the city, the public and the museum.”

The DIA said it remains committed to its earlier position that the “Detroit Institute of Arts and the City of Detroit

“The financial condition the city finds itself in was years, if not decades, in the making. Bankruptcy will be painful for many individuals and organizations but together we will get through it and come out stronger on the other side...

It’s important that we ignore the noise that this filing will surely bring. Many forecasted the end for GM and Chrysler when they declared bankruptcy just a short few years ago. Today, GM and Chrysler are thriving. Detroit will thrive again as well and sooner than most think.”

–D an Gilbert, founder and CEO of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans viding Detroiters the services they deserve — and sets the stage for a growing, vibrant Detroit. The private sector is thriving and businesses continue to invest in Detroit. Addressing Detroit’s financial instability is the final barrier to robust growth.”

The Detroit Institute of Arts, the assets of which have been mentioned as possibly facing liquidation in a bankruptcy filing, issued a statement expressing disappointment that Orr has decided to enter chapter 9.

“Like so many with deep roots in this city, the Detroit Institute of Arts is disappointed that the emergency manager determined it was necessary to file for bankrupt-

hold the DIA’s collection in trust for the public and we stand by our charge to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of all Michigan residents.”

However, Judge Ray Reynolds Graves, a former federal bankruptcy judge, said in an interview with this writer that protection of the DIA’s assets depends on what takes place in bankruptcy court.

“In chapter 9 all kinds of contracts get broken and breached to free the entities from burden. But the person who suffers the breach has the right to file a claim,” Graves said.

E-mail bthompson@ michronicle.com

“The retirees are going to take a cut in federal bankruptcy court. But how deep the cut is depends on how much money is left to pay creditors. This is like a giant chess game,” said former federal bankruptcy judge Ray Reynolds Graves.

If the creditors, some of whom are general obligation bond holders, are required to be paid 100 percent, are not satisfied with the cuts, they can point to the Detroit Institute of Arts, Belle Isle, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and other city owned assets as possibly being for sale to satisfy the billions the city owes them.

Orr has an obligation to negotiate in good faith according to Graves, because a federal judge could dismiss chapter 9 because the emergency manager did not negotiate in good faith.

And Judge Rhodes will decide this week if in fact Orr negotiated in good faith.

Bankole Thompson is editor of the Michigan Chronicle and the author of the forthcoming book “Rising From the Ashes: Engaging Detroit’s Future With Courage.” His book “Obama and Black Loyalty,” published in 2010, follows his recent book, “Obama and Christian Loyalty” with an epilogue

by Bob Weiner, former White House spokesman.

Thompson is a political news analyst at WDET101.9FM (NPR affiliate) and a member of the weekly “Obama Watch” Sunday evening roundtable on WLIB-1190AM New York and simulcast in New Jersey and Connecticut. E-mail bthompson@michronicle.com or visit his personal page at www.bankolethompson. com.

Loans jection of proposals designed to raise student rates in order to reduce the deficit.

Lower Interest Rates Now: Under the compromise plan, nearly 11 million borrowers will see their interest rates decrease on new loans. About 8.8 million undergraduate borrowers will see their rates on new loans drop from 6.8 to 3.86 percent, and about 1.5 million Graduate Unsubsidized Stafford borrowers will see their rates drop on new loans from 6.8 percent to 5.41 percent. And over 1 million GradPLUS and Parent PLUS borrowers will see their rates on new loans drop from 7.9 percent to 6.41 percent — the first reduction in years.

Over $1,500 in Savings for a Typical Undergraduate: Under the compromise plan, a typical undergraduate borrower who borrows $6,922 will save about $1,545 over the life of those loans. A graduate borrower who borrows $25,666 will save $2,913 over the life of those loans and the average parent borrowing $17,980 working hard to support their child’s college education will feel the relief of $2,066 in savings on the loans they take out next year. Beyond saving money on their student loans, students and families will have the added protection of student loan interest rate caps in case market rates in the future become too high.

Protections Against High Rates: The

From page A-1 plan caps how high student loan interest rates can rise—a key provision pushed by Senate Democrats — giving students protection against future economic conditions. Undergraduate loans are capped at 8.25 percent, graduate loans at 9.5 percent, and PLUS loans at 10.5 percent. These loans also include fixed interest rates over the life of the loan, protecting students from the risk that rates will fluctuate over time and providing certainty for borrowers.

A Fiscally Responsible Solution for the Road Ahead on College Affordability: The compromise plan rejects calls to raise student rates to reduce the deficit, while keeping the federal student loan programs on secure footing for the future. It also keeps the focus on the work ahead needed to tackle broader issues affecting college affordability for American families by ensuring we have the necessary resources available to keep investing in other critical higher education programs such as the Pell Grant program. Already, President Obama has made historic investments in college affordability through the expansion of the Pell Grant program, student loan reform and the creation of the American Opportunity Tax Credit. This compromise solution represents an important next step, as the Administration continues to work with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to tackle rising college tuitions and unaffordable debt.

news

July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page A-5

Belle Isle Summer Saturdays (BLISS) kicks off and offers fun for all

The Belle Isle Conservancy, in partnership with the Detroit Recreation Department, is launching a new program, Belle Isle Summer Saturdays (BLISS) to bring new energy to one of metro Detroit’s most popular parks. BLISS will take place on August 17 and September 21 (third Saturday of the month during the summer).

In addition to enjoying all that Belle Isle already offers on Saturdays, visitors will have opportunities to attend yoga classes, enjoy tours of the island, rent kayaks and bikes, purchase food from food trucks, adopt rescued dogs and much more. All programming is being undertaken in partnership with Detroit area non-profits, small businesses, corporations, community groups and individuals.

The “Beauty of Belle Isle Art Contest” kicked off on July 20. Detroiters were asked to submit artwork (photos, drawings, sculptures, etc.) Winners will receive cash prizes. Works of art will be on display at the finale event on September 21.

In efforts to transform the island, several existing volunteer groups have

combined to form the Belle Isle Conservancy (BIC). The Conservancy has begun to mobilize resources to reinvest in the park and provide a positive experience for thousands of park users who return year after year.

Michele Hodges, president of the Belle Isle Conservancy, said, “BLISS is a great opportunity for metro Detroit residents to experience this beautiful landmark and really enjoy Belle Isle.

Many activities like these take place in other parks across the country and we’re happy to be able to create this experience for Detroiters.”

The Belle Isle Summer Series is made possible by the generous support of The GM Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. Additional partners include Project for Public Spaces, D: Hive, Detroit River Sports, Detroit Bus Company, Detroit Dog Rescue, Arts & Scraps, WDET, and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

Attendees should visit the information tent, located at the Belle Isle Aquarium, for brochures, maps, and full details. BLISS hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Albom, DRMM, others work to improve Brightmoor

GM Foundation’s ‘Summer in the D’ helps kids The General Motors Foundation has pledged more than $380,000 to keep local youth nourished, learning and active all summer long as part of its second annual “Summer in the D” initiative.

movement along with a nutrition education for kids (ages 8-11), families and caretakers in a more strategic manner.

For more information, call (313) 2277946.

“We are committed to supporting activities designed to make summer a time of both fun and learning,” said Vivian Pickard, president, GM Foundation.

Detroit PAL Program: In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs, serving more than 10,000 participants. For more information, call (313) 833-1600 or visit http://www.detroitpal.org.

“The slate of activities we help to fund provides our local youth with engaging experiences that incorporate reading, science, technology, engineering math, the arts and more.”

The GM Foundation’s “Summer in the D” includes support for the following: Forgotten Harvest – Million Meal Challenge for Kids: This initiative is designed to fight child hunger and increase the distribution of nutritious fresh food to vulnerable tri-county Detroit children during the summer when they lose access to school breakfast and lunch programs. For more information, visit http://forgottenharvest.org/.

Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront (July 11 – August 16): A summer literacy program presented by the General Motors Foundation in partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. This interactive, family-oriented program is designed to promote literacy throughout Southeastern Michigan and engage children ages 3 to 10, and their families, in the re-energized Detroit Riverfront.

Program highlights include free books, local celebrity readers, live interactive family friendly entertainment, arts & crafts, free rides on the Cullen Family Carousel and more. For more information, visit http://www.detroitriverfront.org.adsf The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – Literacy and Libraries for All: Upon visiting the museum, students from Title I schools can receive free books to build a personal library.

The program also provides incentives for ongoing participation by allowing students to tailor their reading lists to suit their own interests, by providing free tickets to special workshops and by offering special prizes for meeting personal goals. Families are encouraged to engage in take-home and on-site opportunities as well. For more information, visit http://TheWright.org.

Danialle Karmanos Work It Out (DKWIO): This summer, DKWIO will conduct a 10-week yoga and nutrition programs to help education and prevent childhood obesity and promote optimum health in mind, body and spirit.

Certified yoga instructors will lead one-hour sessions that incorporate

First Book – The Stories for All Project: The GM Foundation supports a sustainable solution to expand the market for diversity in children’s literature to help kids become strong readers and identify with stories featuring heroes and experiences they can relate to. For more information, visit http://www.firstbook.org/.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan – Early Literacy Hospital Strategy enables metro Detroit hospitals to offer new mothers guidance on the benefits of starting a daily, 15-minute reading habit with newborns. Mothers can sign up to receive a book each month, as well as a DVD that shares tips on pre-literacy activities for children, newborns to age five.

To date, the program has provided key literacy kits to more than 500 families in return for a commitment to read to their children each day. It also connects parents with 65 Early Learning Centers, providing them with child care education and community services.

For more information, visit http://www. liveunitedsem.org/.

Lasky Recreation Center: This Detroit-based center is a great place for youth and families to be active and learn all year long. The center offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for kids up to age 18, including crafts, basketball, boxing, disc and mini-golfing and more. Lasky’s renovation was completed in 2012 through a grant from the GM Foundation. For more information, call (313) 628-2030.

In addition to these programs, the GM Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the Detroit Historical Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Opera House, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Science Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Music Hall.

These institutions offer plenty of activities for Michigan residents to enjoy this summer.

For more information regarding the GM Foundation’s support of the community, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

More than 200 volunteers will come to­­gether to seed 500+ vacant lots with wildflowers in attempts to raise neighborhood awareness On August 10, Mitch Albom and the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries [DRMM] will join forces with the Detroit Blight Authority and Bill Pulte to help beautify more than 500 vacant lots in the Brightmoor neighborhood in Detroit.

Carrying on from the successful 100 Houses events, which Albom and DRMM debuted and organized in 2012, the organizations will come together as part of the Detroit Blight Authority’s second blight elimination project.

The lots, which rest in an unsafe area of the city and span 14 city blocks, will be seeded with wildflowers by more than 200 volunteers. By partnering with Mitch Albom and DRMM, Pulte hopes to attract volunteers from all over metro-Detroit, and possibly the entire state, and raise awareness about blight elimination and its ability to improve safety and the quality of life in the City.

“We’re trying to put

forth a model for the rest of the City in terms of how blight elimination should be done,” said Pulte in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. “It makes sense to do it in a concentrated, effective manner. Focus in on an area, leverage the cost savings of doing it in a specific area and find areas that can benefit from it.”

Pulte and the Detroit Blight Authority began removing blighted structures, debris, trash and brush in the Brightmoor area in early June. It is part of a 5-step plan that Pulte and the Detroit Blight Authority have embarked on to eradicate blight from the City of Detroit. The project on Aug. 10 will be one of the last efforts in the Brightmoor area to remove and eliminate blight.

“Bill’s project is very similar to what we began with the 100 Houses project last year,” said Albom.

“By working together and encouraging people from all over to come out and volunteer their time to help rejuvenate Detroit neighborhoods, the community will be greatly impacted and we will begin to see real results. We’re very excited to help in every way we can.”

Financing.

Volunteers will begin gathering at 9 a.m. on Aug. 10 for onsite checkin at Outer-Drive Burgess Park, located on W. Outer Drive in between Burgess and Chapel streets. Starbucks will be providing free coffee during morning registration, and the first 150 volunteers to check-in will receive a free Blight Elimination t-shirt. The event will conclude at noon with a free lunch provided by the Blight Authority.

Volunteers should dress comfortably and w e a t h e r- a p p r o p r i a t e .

Work gloves are recommended for every volunteer to bring, and all volunteers must be wearing closed-toed shoes in order to participate. Volunteers will be divided into 30 teams to tackle the 500+ lots. Onsite security will be patrolling the area.

To register to volunteer for the event, go online at http://drmm.org/ volunteerevent.htm and register under the project name “Blight Elimination – 100 Houses Event.” For more information, contact Rachael Williams, director of Volunteer Services for the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, at 313-993-4700, ext. 4715, or e-mail her at RWilliams@drmm.org.

The American Dream.

At Talmer Bank and Trust, our mortgage process is personalized, customized and most of all, trouble free. Let us help you find the home loan that fits your lifestyle and your dreams!

‘Fatherhood legislation’ to promote best interests of children Representatives Danny K. Davis and André Carson held a news conference recently at the capitol of Springfield, Illinois to announce the introduction of the Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2013.

The proposed legislation would provide multiple approaches needed to promote the best interests of children and create opportunities for fathers to sustain their engagement and closeness with their children and families.

Among the most important, the elimination of government barriers to healthy relationships and

healthy marriages., the promotion of cooperative parenting, the fostering of economic stability and provision of incentives to non-custodial parents to fulfill financial and emotional support, they said.

“While several successful fatherhood and family programs address these problems, they cannot by themselves respond adequately to the trend toward single-parent homes,” said Rep. Davis.

“What is needed to reverse this trend and support children, parents and families is a national wealth-building program with a social infrastructure to support father-

hood.” — From the Chicago Defender.

Headquarters: 2301 West Big Beaver Road | Suite 525 | Troy, MI 48084 800.922.5308 | Telephone Banking: 800.405.9997 www.talmerbank.com

NOTICE TO DETROIT ELECTORS

The Detroit Department of Elections will conduct a Public Accuracy Test on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. at 2978 W. Grand Blvd. The automatic tabulating equipment to be used for the compilation of ballots at the Primary Election of August 6, 2013 will be tested.

The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to record and count the votes cast at the election meet the requirement of law.

JANICE M. WINFREY City Clerk

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page A-6

New splash park to open in Palmer Park

Detroit’s Palmer Park will soon be the new home for a state-of-the art Splash Park, thanks to the generosity of Lear Corporation and support from the City of Detroit. Construction is proceeding quickly and water should be flowing by mid-August, providing welcome relief from the heat for children of all ages.

which has been closed for many years, after vandals removed all mechanical infrastructure for the pool. The site of the Palmer Park pool is now a large excavated hole, which has been drained, and will be filled with a stable material, followed by the construction of the splash park.

Palmer Park was chosen by the City of Detroit Recreation Department as the location for the second splash park in the city to be built by Lear. The new Palmer Park Splash Park will be motion-censored and will be programmed to turn on at 10 am and automatically shut off at 10 pm when Palmer Park closes.

“Through Mayor Bing’s fundraising efforts to support recreation and parks, LEAR Corporation continues to invest in the community. The partnership between PFPP and the city has proven beneficial as we see wonderful projects such as the new splash park and playscape at Palmer Park. These enhancements will provide additional recreational opportunities for all generations,” stated Alicia Minter, director of the City of Detroit Recreation Department.

Construction at the site of the former pool began in Palmer Park on July 15.

The City of Detroit suggested Palmer Park primarily because the People For

In the near future, the City of Detroit

Detroit headquartered Strategic Staffing Solutions opens office in Latvia Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3), a global IT and business services company, has opened an office in Riga, Latvia, to service its customers in the region and expand its growth in Europe. This is the company’s fourth European office and 26th branch location internationally.

The new office is located at Torna iela 4, Riga, LV-1050. Mantas Paskevicius, country manager in Lithuania, and Jeff Nelson, S3 vice president located in Richmond, VA, will oversee the operation.S3 has staffed the office with local talent and support from Lithuania.

“Our customers have asked us to expand our capabilities in Eastern Europe and Latvia is a perfect place for S3 to grow in that part of the world,” said Denise Kurowski, executive vice president and lead executive on the Eastern Europe project.

“It gives us an important

base to enhance our services and grow our business with current and potential customers in the region.”

continue to develop and produce high profitability goods and services, and create new, well-paying jobs.”

Latvia has emerged as a regional financial and commercial center in the Baltic Sea region and became part of the European Union in 2004, which are key elements in its future expansion. It growth in the financial and commercial services sectors dovetails with the industries S3 serves.

In addition, S3 will seek philanthropic ways to help and enhance the Riga community. Strategic Staffing Solutions values the communities it serves and requires all branch locations to participate in local community activities.

”We believe in getting in on the ground floor of new opportunities and Latvia is absolutely one of those opportunities,” Kurowski said. “It is well-positioned to achieve economic stabilization and regain robust levels of economic growth over the next few years. S3 is committed to being part of that progress. Our aim is to provide services and solutions to our current and potential customers in the region so they can

Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) is an international, woman-owned, $200-million-plus IT services company based in Detroit. It provides IT consulting, customized project solutions, vendor management programs and an executive search service to financial institutions, energy companies, telecommunications, government agencies and retail and health care entities worldwide.

Palmer Park (PFPP), a non-profit 501(C) (3) entity, has adopted the park and has collaborated with the city and community to revitalize this treasured recreation and nature site. PFPP has launched extensive recreational programming this summer, offering baseball (in partnership with the Legends League), organized weekly bike rides, tai chi and yoga classes, and tennis lessons for children and adults (in partnership with the US Tennis Association).

PFPP applauds the efforts of Lear Corporation and the City of Detroit for donating time, effort and funds to build the Splash Park. “The splash park will provide a safe, fun and creative play atmosphere for families, and will encourage more people to enjoy this wonderful park. The People for Palmer Park is extremely grateful to Lear Corporation and the City of Detroit for selecting palmer Park,” stated Rochelle Lento, President of PFPP. Lear has also committed to building a new picnic shelter and renovating the former pool house into a community center.

The splash park will replace the non-functional pool in Palmer Park,

also has plans to construct a new playscape in the area adjacent to the pool.

The People for Palmer Park has been working with the General Services Department on design, siting, selection of the proposed structure and more.

“We fully intend to support the playscape by redesigning the landscaping, adding park benches and bike racks to the area surrounding the playscape with privately donated funds,” said Sarah James, PFPP board member and fundraising chair.

Palmer Park is located between McNichols (Six Mile Road) and Seven Mile Road, and just west of Woodward Avenue in Detroit. The splash park and playground will be located on Merrill Plaisance, which intersects with Woodward Avenue just north of McNichols and borders part of the southern periphery of the park.

These new additions are important contributions as PFPP strives to make Palmer Park a destination site for healthy living and recreation, as well as a protected nature reserve.

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July 24-30, 2013

Comerica and Iron Mountain opened the gates early this year because a line of more than 70 cars had formed before Shred Day’s 9 a.m. start time.

HOMEFRONT Comerica Bank Expands Annual

Shred Day

to Collect Food for Metro Detroiters in Need

I

Volunteers dump boxes and bags full of old invoices, bank statements, medical records and other sensitive documents into secure collection bins to be shredded by Iron Mountain’s mobile shredders.

t’s the heart of summer and you’re hosting family barbecues, pool parties and other get-togethers but your kitchen table is full of old bills, invoices and bank statements. Spring cleaning has passed but you just couldn’t bring yourself to throw these sensitive documents in the trash. What if a dumpster diver digs through your garbage can? Or an identity thief steals your sensitive personal information?

According to Javelin Strategy & Research’s most recent identity fraud report, more than 12 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2012. That’s one victim every three seconds.

On a recent Saturday, Comerica Bank teamed up with Iron Mountain Incorporated and CBS Detroit to host its sixth annual free community Shred Day to help metro Detroiters fight against identity theft. This year’s event, held at Comerica Bank’s Livonia Operations Center, offered community members the same shredding and recycling services as years past but expanded to include a food collection benefitting Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

“Nobody wants to think about identity theft and many believe it could never happen to them,” said Linda Forte, senior vice president of Business Affairs, Comerica Bank.

“It’s our hope that Shred Day not only helps prevent identity theft but raises awareness of its seriousness.”

Comerica called for metro Detroiters’ old invoices, bank statements, medical records and other important documents to be shredded and the community responded.

In the end, nearly 1,400 cars passed through, dropping off more than 74,100 pounds of paper that was shredded.

Shred Day participants didn’t have to worry about their

See SHRED DAY page B-2

Stephanie Melnick, food drives manager at Gleaners, takes a break from collecting nonperishable food items to pose with a volunteer at the sixth annual Comerica Shred Day.

We Must Make a Difference in Infant Mortality in Detroit Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH & EQUITY AND CHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER, HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM

Detroit’s babies die at nearly 15 per 1000 live births – among the highest in the nation, and worse than many developing countries. This means that every year, about 200 infants die before reaching their first birthday. The numbers are even more devastating for African-American babies in Detroit who have an infant mortality rate of 15.9 compared to 5.6 for white babies.

In response to these appalling statistics, the Detroit Regional Infant Mortality Reduction Task Force initiated a comprehensive system of care to reach at-risk women and link them to safety-net resources.

The Task Force, which I chair, is a public-private partnership of Detroit’s major health systems, including the Detroit Medical Center, Henry Ford Health System, Oakwood Healthcare System and St. John Providence Health System, as well as public health, academic and community partners.

Common causes of infant death in Detroit are related to premature births, low-birth weight, and unsafe sleep practices. Some conditions that worsen these causes include: inadequate prenatal care, unintended pregnancy, a mother who did not graduate from high school, and other social

Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom (far right), Chair of the Infant Mortality Task Force and Sr. VP of Community Health & Equity and Chief Wellness Officer at Henry Ford Health System, joins participants committed to reducing infant mortality at a local expo. challenges. Improving some of these conditions is critical to improving infant survival.

The Task Force is connecting these at-risk women to community resources through community health workers (mentors); educating doctors, nurses, and social workers on the health impact of life’s difficult circumstances; and mounting an innovative social media campaign.

On July 13, the first “Real Moms of Detroit Expo” was held at the Matrix Center in the Osborn neighborhood in northeast Detroit.

Sponsored by Women-Inspired Neighborhood (WIN) Network: Detroit, it is one of three events taking place in the neighborhoods that the network serves, including Brightmoor and Chadsey-Condon (Southwest). Additional expos are planned for Chadsey-Condon in August and Brightmoor in September.

The expos are about celebrating women with pampering while simultaneously connecting them with needed local resources, cooking demonstrations, a discussion with women’s health experts, activities for kids, and mentoring men through “barbershop discussions.”

WIN Network: Detroit connects women to resources that address their immediate needs so they can focus on their health and that of their families. The network employs community health workers to work with African-American women between the ages of 18 and 34. Through personal approaches coupled with social media tools, they offer women support and connection to local resources. Many of the WIN Network participants are going back to school, finding stable housing and securing employment opportunities. These connections make it more feasible for women to feel empowered and refocus on their ultimate goals of having healthy families. There have been no infant deaths among the participating families.

WIN Network: Detroit is part of the Task

A young participant enjoys the day.

Force’s Sew Up the Safety Net for Women and Children program. Funding partners in addition to the four health systems include: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and PNC Foundation.

For more information on WIN Network: Detroit and future events, please call (313) 8744581, email info@winnetworkdetroit.org or visit www.winnetworkdetroit.org.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page B-2

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Index up again in April Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index increased in April, up 1.3 points to a level of 122.4. The April index reading is 50 points, or 70 percent, above the index cyclical low of 72.1. The index averaged 114 for all of 2012, 11 points above the index average for 2011. March’s index reading was revised up from 119.9 to 121.1.

“Our Michigan Index has shown consistent gains over the first four months of 2013, reflecting improved labor market conditions, strong vehicle production and improved housing market conditions within the state,” said Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica Bank. “The ongoing economic expansion within the U.S., accomRobert A. Dye panied by increasing consumer wealth and improving consumer confidence, points to favorable conditions for the state’s key auto industry for the remainder of the year.”

Shred Day

From page B-2

their paper waste polluting the environment or ending up in landfills because Iron Mountain transported all shredded material to paper mills to be turned into pulp for recycled paper.

This year, Comerica decided to expand its commitment to the community by capitalizing on the popularity of Shred Day and asking metro Detroiters to bring donations of nonperishable food items when dropping off their sensitive documents.

Turning out to be the right move, Gleaners volunteers collected more than 3,050 pounds of assorted food and nearly $2,300 in donations which will provide more than 9,400 meals to the hungry in Southeast Michigan.

“Based on the popularity of previous years, we knew the need for identity theft education and prevention was there Fitting in with Comerica’s and so we offered shredding team-oriented culture, Shred services again,” said Forte.

“But this year we decided to Day was made possible by the fill another need by encourag- nearly 40 volunteers from deing Shred Day visitors to drop partments throughout the bank, off food donations benefitting including Business Affairs, CorCommunications, CorGleaners, UNI_CBP_3037_Heloc_MC.pdf and the amount of porate 1 3/15/13 10:06 AM support we received was truly porate Legal, Corporate Secuinspiring.” rity, Fraud Services, Marketing

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of seven variables, as follows: nonfarm payrolls, exports, sales tax revenues, hotel occupancy rates, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, building permits, and motor vehicle production. All data are seasonally adjusted, as necessary, and indexed to a base year of 2008. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

and Records Retention.

“Shred Day is not only popular in the communities we serve but has garnered support internally. Our colleagues look forward each year to helping people protect their identity through this special one-day event,” said Forte.

Community Shred Day was established in 2008 by Comerica Bank-Michigan with the help of Iron Mountain. With its Michigan Market success catching the eye of national leadership, Shred Day has since been replicated in Dallas, San Jose and Houston.

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Community

May - August The Detroit Public Library Celebrates the 70th Anniversary Lecture Series.

6 p.m.

Detroit Public Library.

5201 Woodward Ave. The E. Azalia Hackley Collection is part of the Library’s Special Collections Department. This lecture, titled “Don Cornelius: Riding the Soul Train,” will celebrate the contributions this iconic figure and his famous television show had on the music industry. This lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information call (313) 481- 1397

June - September Detroit Rolling on the River Festival and Summer Concert Series, Erma Henderson Park, adjacent to Whittier Park. The festival will highlight local entertainment, some of the city’s best restaurant and community resource information for adults.

This event is free and open to the community.

For more information email detroitrollingontheriver@gmail.com

July 13, 27, 30

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

a five-mile walk down the RiverWalk, up the Dequindre Cut, and back.

July 24 Nelson Mandela Day 6:30 p.m.

Fellowship Chapel 7707 W. Outer Drive Interfaith religion representatives, labor, students and the multicultural community will gather to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday.

For more information call (313) 347-2820

Karmanos Cancer Institute Celebrates Cancer Survivor Week The Karmanos Cancer Institute kicks off Cancer Survivor Week with a lecture from author Teresa Kilpatrick, “So You Survived Cancer.”

She will speak about cancer survivorship and what to expect after treatment ends.

For a list of events, visit www.karmanos. org or call (313) 576- 9288. All events are free and open to all cancer survivors and their families.

July 27 Walkathon For Marriage And Family

Noon – 5 pm Brightmoor Community Center 14451 Burt Road, Detroit

9 a.m.

Detroit Riverfront

For more information, call (734) 253-2053

For more information, call (313) 2888076 or visit MRCWalk@MIMarriage.org.

Golfing For Scholarships

Family Fun and Fitness Day

Proceeds from the 87th annual golf outing will go towards college scholarships benefiting the Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation. More than 200 golfers are expected to participate

Links of Nov Golf Club

Belle Isle Presented by Detroit Parent Network, this annual event teaches parents how to stay fit and have fun with their kids. There will be activities for all ages. No charge.

For more information and tickets, call (586) 393-8800.

Scan and Enjoy The Michigan Chronicle

August 16 - 18

July 28 Second Baptist Church of Detroit celebrates pastor’s 25th year

The 31st African World Festival 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

2 p.m.

Hotel St. Regis

Charles Wright Museum 315 E. Warren Detroit

Pastor Kevin M. Turman’s 25th pastoral year will be celebrated at an anniversary banquet. Tickets are $50. The guest preacher at the 10:30 a.m. service will be Bishop John M. Borders III, senior pastor at Boston’s Morningstar Baptist Church.

This three day festival will be celebrated once again on the grounds of the Wright Museum with performances, poetry, arts and crafts, African drumming and dance, hundreds of vendors, ethnic foods, and events for all ages, including an expanded Watoto Village for the youngest among us!

For tickets or more information call (313) 961-0920

For more information visit www.thewright.org

August 3

The Marriage Resource Center (MRC), a non-profit community-based organization, in association with other organizations and individuals, is presenting its 4th Annual Walkathon For Marriage and Family. Participants will start on the Rivard Plaza, then take

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August 8

For more information, call (313) 832-0617

July 24 - 27

Anti-Dog Fighting Rally

Detroit Corps is hosting a series of anti-dog fighting rallies in Detroit communities affected by this illegal and brutal activity.

July 24 - 30, 2013

ARISE Detroit! 7th Annual Neighborhoods Day All Day Event ARISE Detroit! invites community organizations throughout the City of Detroit to participate by helping to clean up. Volunteers are needed.

For more information visit www.arisedetroit.org or call (313) 592- 1955.

August 21 Wayne County Youth and Senior Safety Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Belle Isle Casino Enjoy a fun day of food, music and important information to keep children and seniors safe, healthy and happy.

For more information call (313) 224-0614

Email Your Upcoming Events to events@michronicle.com Michigan Chronicle presents:

ACHIEVE! 2013 Fall School Choice Guide

400+ Schools

Fall Into Greatness!

Complete District Listing

Look out for the fall edition of ACHIEVE! August 7, 2013 For advertising and sponsorship opportunities call 313.963.5522

Hiram E. Jackson Publisher

A Real Times Newspaper 479 Ledyard – Detroit, MI 48201

(313) 963-5522 Fax 963-8788 e-mail:chronicle4@aol.com

JACKIE BERG Chief Marketing Officer BANKOLE THOMPSON Senior Editor SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011 JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997 LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

July 24-30, 2013

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‘Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago’

By President Barack Obama First of all, I want to make sure that,

once again, I send my thoughts and prayers, as well as Michelle’s, to the family of Trayvon Martin, and to remark on the incredible grace and dignity with which they’ve dealt with the entire situation.

The second thing I want to say is to reiterate what I said on Sunday, which is there’s going to be a lot of arguments about the legal issues in the case. I’ll let all the legal analysts and talking heads address those issues. The judge conducted the trial in a professional manner. The prosecution and the defense made their arguments. The juries were properly instructed that in a case such as this reasonable doubt was relevant, and they rendered a verdict. And once the jury has spoken, that’s how our system works.

You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago. And when you think about why, in the African American community at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it’s important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.

President Obama fic stops and the race of the person who was stopped. But the other thing was it resourced us training police departments across the state on how to think about potential racial bias and ways to further professionalize what they were doing.

And initially, the police departments across the state were resistant, but actually they came to recognize that if it was done in a fair, straightforward way that it would allow them to do their jobs better and communities would have more confidence in them and, in turn, be more helpful in applying the law. And obviously, law enforcement has got a very tough job.

I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to There are very few African American see if it -- if they are designed in such a men in this country who haven’t had the way that they may encourage the kinds experience of being followed when they of altercations and confrontations and were shopping in a department store. tragedies that we saw in the Florida That includes me. There are very few case, rather than diffuse potential alterAfrican American men who haven’t had cations. the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the I know that there’s been commendoors of cars. That happens to me -- at tary about the fact that the “stand your least before I was a senator. There are ground” laws in Florida were not used very few African Americans who haven’t as a defense in the case. On the other had the experience of getting on an ele- hand, if we’re sending a message as a sovator and a woman clutching her purse ciety in our communities that someone nervously and holding her breath until who is armed potentially has the right she had a chance to get off. That hap- to use those firearms even if there’s a way for them to exit from a situation, is pens often. that really going to be contributing to And I don’t want to exaggerate this, the kind of peace and security and order but those sets of experiences inform that we’d like to see? how the African American community interprets what happened one night in And for those who resist that idea Florida. And it’s inescapable for people that we should think about something to bring those experiences to bear. The like these “stand your ground” laws, I’d African American community is also just ask people to consider, if Trayvon knowledgeable that there is a history Martin was of age and armed, could he of racial disparities in the application have stood his ground on that sidewalk? of our criminal laws -- everything from And do we actually think that he would the death penalty to enforcement of our have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimdrug laws. And that ends up having an merman who had followed him in a car impact in terms of how people interpret because he felt threatened? And if the answer to that question is at least amthe case. biguous, then it seems to me that we Now, this isn’t to say that the African might want to examine those kinds of American community is naïve about the laws. fact that African American young men are disproportionately involved in the Number three. we need to spend criminal justice system; that they’re some time in thinking about how do we disproportionately both victims and per- bolster and reinforce our African Amerpetrators of violence. It’s not to make ican boys. And this is something that excuses for that fact -- although black Michelle and I talk a lot about. There folks do interpret the reasons for that in are a lot of kids out there who need help a historical context. They understand who are getting a lot of negative reinthat some of the violence that takes forcement. place in poor black neighborhoods I’m not naïve about the prospects of around the country is born out of a very some grand, new federal program. I’m violent past in this country, and that the not sure that that’s what we’re talking poverty and dysfunction that we see in about here. But I do recognize that as those communities can be traced to a president, I’ve got some convening powvery difficult history. er, and there are a lot of good programs And so the fact that sometimes that’s unacknowledged adds to the frustration.

And the fact that a lot of African American boys are painted with a broad brush and the excuse is given, well, there are these statistics out there that show that African American boys are more violent -- using that as an excuse to then see sons treated differently causes pain.

Where do we take this? How do we learn some lessons from this and move in a positive direction? I think it’s understandable that there have been demonstrations and vigils and protests, and some of that stuff is just going to have to work its way through, as long as it remains nonviolent.

I know that Eric Holder is reviewing what happened down there, but I think it’s important for people to have some clear expectations here. Traditionally, these are issues of state and local government, the criminal code. And law enforcement is traditionally done at the state and local levels, not at the federal levels. That doesn’t mean, though, that as a nation we can’t do some things that I think would be productive.

Number one, precisely because law enforcement is often determined at the state and local level, I think it would be productive for the Justice Department, governors, mayors to work with law enforcement about training at the state and local levels in order to reduce the kind of mistrust in the system that sometimes currently exists.

When I was in Illinois, I passed racial profiling legislation, and it did two simple things. One, it collected data on traf-

that are being done across the country on this front.

And then, finally, I think it’s going to be important for all of us to do some soul-searching. There has been talk about should we convene a conversation on race. I haven’t seen that be particularly productive when politicians try to organize conversations. They end up being stilted and politicized, and folks are locked into the positions they already have. On the other hand, in families and churches and workplaces, there’s the possibility that people are a little bit more honest, and at least you ask yourself your own questions about, am I wringing as much bias out of myself as I can? Am I judging people as much as I can, based on not the color of their skin, but the content of their character?

That would, I think, be an appropriate exercise in the wake of this tragedy.

Detroit’s bankruptcy means this year may represent our most important election

By Cynthia S. Pasky Longtime Michigan Chronicle publisher Sam Logan taught me lots of things. One of the most important lessons I ever learned from him was that in all aspects of life, whether business, political, social or personal, its about communication and education.

to inspire others and are committed to Detroit. They must also be able hire a staff with the same attributes. Leading the right staff is essential.

They must also be versatile. The people we elect will have to do the most important jobs we have in society — health, education, safety and welfare.

With that in mind I S. Pasky

Like doctors and nursthought with everything Cynthia going on in our city right now I would es who heal the sick, they must help reach out through the Michigan Chroni- heal Detroit. cle to talk about why this year’s mayoral Like teachers, they must help eduand city council election is so important cate our citizens and businesses as well to Detroit, and our future. as the nation and the world about De There will be those who say this elec- troit’s potential. tion is irrelevant because of the bank- Like police officers and firefighters, ruptcy. They couldn’t be more wrong. they must fight to ensure our city is safe This may be one of the most important and secure. elections we have ever had in Detroit.

Who we choose for mayor and for city Like welfare workers and care givers, council will set the tone for our city’s fu- they must ensure all Detroit’s residents ture, and ultimately, the new business are cared for and given the services they need. model for Detroit.

We need people leading our city who That will take regional cooperation will speak for our citizens and ensure and neighborhood collaboration and Detroit is clean, safe and inviting for tremendous listening and leadership everyone in every neighborhood. They skills. must be able to put personal issues aside and work with and reach out to Kevyn Orr in his position as emergency financial manager and all those involved in the bankruptcy proceeding.

Detroit and all of its communities need leaders who can lead the people and all Detroit communities to form a new business model for our city. They need to provide an environment that They need to help move Detroit makes business and people come to the through the bankruptcy process as city or continue to stay Detroit. And, quickly as possible. It cannot drag out. they must be willing to nurture them Our future depends on it. Dragging this with the only reward being the success out could easily make our city irrelevant of seeing them become strong, active in the eyes of new business and in our members of the Detroit community. efforts to attract more talented people to The future of Detroit is truly in the our city. hands of us, the voters. Please do your And, most of all, they must be able part on August 6 in the primary and to step up to the plate when our city again in November. Please take time to emerges from bankruptcy. In short, they understand the process. This year is must be catalysts for change and for cre- complicated with a write-in candidate. If ating a new business model for our city. you choose that option make sure you write in the name and fill in the circle.

We need Detroiters to do that.

As always, Sam was right. It is all We need leaders, not politicians. The about education and communication. political process is simply a way for us Thank you, Sam. to vote for the leaders of our choice.

Cynthia S. Pasky is the founder, So how do we find them? We look for president and CEO of Strategic Staffing individuals who are honest, have the Solutions (S3), a Detroit-headquartered ability to delegate, can communicate, global IT and business services compahave a sense of humor, have a positive ny, and chair of the Downtown Detroit attitude, are inclusive, have the ability Partnership.

Is annexation the solution for Detroit’s recovery?

By Rogelio Landin The Mackinac Policy Conference has come and gone and, in concurrence with the Governor, no one has presented a viable recovery plan for Detroit. Everyone is concentrated on who is and/or who has the best debt management credentials and strategy. It has been stated that Detroit has “no choice.”

I respectfully disagree. Detroit does have a choice. It can choose to pursue a growth management strategy proven successful in many other cities, supported by their states. The best examples can be found in North Carolina and Texas. Yes, annexation. When the governor made the decision to appoint an emergency manager for Detroit, he pointed to the de-population of the city as the pri And let me just leave you with a fi- mary driver for the circumstances that nal thought that, as difficult and chal- now define it. If so, then it should follow lenging as this whole episode has been that re-population should be the primafor a lot of people, I don’t want us to ry solution. All efforts, initiatives and lose sight that things are getting better. strategies should support this objective.

Each successive generation seems to be Annexation is the answer to the “Where making progress in changing attitudes do we get the revenue” question. when it comes to race. It doesn’t mean Quite simply, Michigan has 180 diswe’re in a post-racial society. tressed communities, 33 including Flint, And so we have to be vigilant and we Pontiac, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, have to work on these issues. But we Ann Arbor and Monroe, all within a should also have confidence that kids one hour radius of Detroit. Distressed these days, I think, have more sense communities require a minimum poputhan we did back then, and certainly lation of 10,000 to qualify. At a minimore than our parents did or our grand- mum we’re looking at 330,000 people parents did; and that along this long, added to Detroit’s 770,000, puts us at difficult journey, we’re becoming a more a million one hundred thousand (actuperfect union — not a perfect union, but al number would be more). This would a more perfect union. reposition Detroit for an increase in its

federal revenue sharing at an estimated $250 million increase per year. This, at no cost to the state, in fact a substantial savings.

At the very least this saves the state the expense of additional EM’s for 25 of the 33 cities, a conservative estimate of $25 million dollars ($50 million if you factor school district EM’s). None of these communities on their own or collectively have the capacity to generate these additional revenues on their own. The plan permits them to retain their identities and the increased funding would be prorated back to each community based on their proportionate percentage of population. This also elevates Detroit back to a class A school district. The benefits of this advantage would also extend to the respective participating school districts.

Given the “urgency of now,” the consideration of annexation and its potential to offset the need for bankruptcy and other recommendations adverse to municipal workers, contractors and their families, compounded by the loss of revenues attributable to the respective economic multipliers, I agree: “Detroit can’t wait!”

The governor should move to assess the viability of annexation, not only for Detroit, but for the entire region and by extension, the state.

Rogelio Landin, an education advocate, is a civic leader in the Michigan Hispanic community and the CEO of Performance Books LLC.

news

Daily bread: Ensuring Nutrition through Meet UP and Eat UP

By Loretta V. Davis, MSA, President/CEO, Institute for Population Health Summer vacation is

usually thought to be a fun and carefree time for school-aged children.

However, for those who rely on school-based free or reduced lunch programs as a main source of food and daily nutrition, summer could easily mean limited meals and growling tummies.

Nationwide, one in five children suffer from hunger. Based on information gathered by Gleaners Community Food Bank, last year in Wayne County, 462,203 people were living below poverty, leaving a total of 350,987 meals missed each day.

According to the Southeastern Michigan Hunger Study, 73% of households with children are food insecure, and 65% of children in our region participate in the School Lunch Program.

Many families in Sout­ heast Michigan continue to struggle economically, and food security is at an all-time low. In fact, Detroit has the highest number of children living in areas of concentrated poverty. The impact of food insecurity can be devastating to children and a community. When a child is hungry, or skips meals due to a lack of ac-

July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

partnered with churches, the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Centers, community-based organizations, and arts and sports programs to become sites in the community where children can be fed. The IPH’s Meet UP and Eat UP program has the capacity to serve over 2,000 meals per day at 32 local lunch sites.

The program serves lunch daily from 12-1 p.m. through Aug. 30.

Lunches include one serving each of milk/ dairy, meat, grain/bread, fruit and a vegetable. To help children learn proper nutrition and expand their food choices, they are able to choose from a variety of fruits and vegetables, breads and wraps.

Loretta V. Davis cess to suffcient food, he or she is not getting the proper nutrition for physical and mental development. This impacts how a child learns, grows and develops. Without school lunch programs, many of our children would not only go hungry, but also miss out on their potential to learn, grow and thrive.

Summer vacation should mark a time of fun and growth.

We must make sure our children are fed and properly equipped to continue their learning and development even when school is out.

To make sure our kids maintain proper nutrition during the summer months, the Institute of Population Health (IPH) started the Meet UP and Eat UP program that provides free lunch to children and disabled adults.

It will provide lunches to children up to 18 years of age and special needs adults up to 26 years of age at sites throughout Detroit.

For more information about locations and times for the Summer Food Service Program and Meet UP and Eat UP, contact the IPH at 313-324-9482.

You can also access information on our website at www.ipophealth.org, or visit the IPH at 1151 Taylor Street, in Detroit.

As a part of the federal Summer Food Service Program, the IPH has

WMU, WCCCD add additional options with reverse transfer agreement New Agreement Provides Ability for Students to Merge Credits to Receive Associates Degree; Creates Greater Pathway to Complete Bachelor’s Degree A new agreement between Wayne County Community College District and Western Michigan University will allow students to combine credits earned at WCCCD with those earned at WMU towards the rewarding of an associate’s degree.

Under the terms of the reverse transfer agreement, transfer students who have earned at least 15 credits at WCCCD can apply for an associate degree using the credits they earn at WMU. For students who leave WCCCD without earning enough credits for an associate degree, this will allow them to add an important credential to their resume. That credential is then available to them if they enter the workforce before completing their bachelor’s degree.

The agreement expands the relationship between WCCCD and WMU. The two institutions in February signed an agreement that will allow WCCCD students to seamlessly transfer to WMU to complete their bachelor’s degrees at a WCCCD Wayne County campus.

The presidents of both schools say the agreement serves as an additional opportunity to solidify the already strong relationship between the two schools.

AWARD STUDENTS Natalie Tolbert (left), Ariel Walker, Iresha Spears, Elayne Elloitt, Andrews Dickers, Charles Hurt, Guadalupe Salzar Lacie Parham and Juan Lopez

Urban Solutions presents $10,500 to local students The nonprofit Urban Solutions, Inc., recently presented $10,500.00 in scholarships and book awards to graduating high school seniors.

This marks the 31st year for the Pressley Green Scholarship which started this effort because Green believed in young people and sent many to college.

and Dr. Robertson.

The scholarships and book awards are made possible by funds raised

by Urban Solutions, Inc. and sponsors committed to the cause. Sommers Schwartz, P.C., The family of Herman B. Howard, the Bennie Grier, Esq. family, Joel and Delta Gibson, the Technician Scholarship Award, the Judge Alex J. Allen, Jr. family, Betty and Vincent Little

Make your vote count!

mitment to students,” said WMU President John M. Dunn said. “It is one more signal to our students that our focus is squarely on them and what will maximize their future options.” This signing marks the ninth reverse transfer agreement WMU has signed.

Two others are in process.

the college’s service district. WCCCD’s University Center in Harper Woods is located at 19305 Vernier Road. WMU is offering courses there and also has office and advising space at WCCCD’s Northwest Campus on West Outer Drive in Detroit.

In February, the two schools signed an agreement that will allow WMU to offer advanced classes at WCCCD’s University Center in Harper Woods.

The initial WMU offerings will be courses that lead to a bachelor’s degree in university studies as part of a “two-plus-two” arrangement. The program will see WCCCD students complete their associate degree and then transfer seamlessly to WMU for the final two years of study. The WMU courses will be a combination of online and face-to-face courses.

ATTORNEY

Future plans call for even more opportunities for Southeast Michigan traditional and nontraditional students to enroll in WMU degree programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

WMU opened a regional location in Royal Oak in 2010 to serve as a base of operations for its Detroit-area activities.

Wayne County Community College District has five campuses and was established in 1967 to serve some 2.3 million people who live within

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“We’re thrilled to further develop our partnership with WMU and provide additional options for students who are seeking a better life through higher education,” said WCCCD Chancellor Curtis L. Ivery. “This partnership is an excellent example of the type of cooperation in higher education that directly benefits our students and increases their opportunities to complete a four-year degree.”

“This reverse transfer agreement works to strengthen our joint com-

Advertise 313-963-5522

URBAN LEAGUE OF DETROIT & SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN MONDAY, AUGUST 19,

This year, the $1000.00 scholarships went to Charles Hurt, Antara Afrin, J”Nel Stephen-Dantzler and Elayne Elloitt, Antoine Crews, Iresha Spears and Andrew Dicker.

The $500.00 book awards went to Guadalupe Salazar, Ariel Walker and Lacie Parham, Natalie Tolbert, Donte’ Verrill-Huffman, Juan Lopez and Jazmine Graves.

The event took place at the Detroit Athletic Club.

The guest speaker was 2008 recipient Ana Colon Diaz.

visit www.urbansolutionsinc.org.

For more information about Urban Solutions,

Page B-5

2013

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“On the Course for Academic Achievement”

…A few of the

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2-1-1 On The Go! develops relationships with those in need and direct service providers to help alleviate homelessness.

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www.michronicle.com

VOLUME 74 – Number 26

March 9-15, 2011

479 Ledyard • Detroit MI 48201

Read Less, Pay More

mubarak played religion card (A-2)

Home repair Program (B-1):

The Final Five Elite High School Football Players were recently lauded for their Athletic and Scholastic Excellence at the 20th Annual Franklin D. Watkins Awards held at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles.

new tax credits (c-6): A new 25 percent state Small Business Investment Tax Credit, designed to encourage investments in start-up and early-stage Michigan technology companies, is aiming to help Michigan entrepreneurs secure capital and reduce risks associated with a new business or novel technology.

The motortown Revue (d-1): The Motortown Revue, the legendary shows that toured the nation by bus for almost the entirety of the ’60s, is recalled by someone who never missed a revue and, like so many other Motown fans, cherishes the memory.

PEPSI_S1_No_Bkgd_4C

Our readers take center stage on national issues

Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR

The current state of the Detroit Public Schools is a mockery of Brown v Board of Education and it exposes the deep inequities in education.

Just because your child is not enrolled in the Detroit Public Schools does not mean you shouldn’t be concerned about the fate of the district before it heads toward implosion.

COMMENTARY

like Detroit where a national reading report card places the city at number 56 out of the 75 largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. surveyed. That means literacy is shamefully low in the city and we are doing little or nothing to change the deplorable situation.

The latest study conducted by Central Connecticut State University, according to Data Driven Detroit, ranks the “culture and resources for reading” and it examines not wheth-

Your ability to get the

Bankole Thompson best education

for your child should not be based on geography, income or ethnicity but, rather, on the simple principle that every child regardless of their background should have an empowering education that equips them for a brighter future. Each child should have access to a meaningful education that would not leave them trailing behind in the dust children in Japan, India, China and other countries move ahead.

But that is not the case in places

er people can read, but whether they actually do read.

Following his series of sit-down interviews with President Obama, and his successful 2010 interview-based book “Obama and Black Loyalty Vol. 1,” editor Bankole Thompson is upping the ante with the start of a new special report “White House XChange” March 30. The report will deal with issues tied to Detroit and Michigan that the Obama administration is tackling. It will introduce readers to issues raised in White House media conference calls. The report will invite our readers to weigh in on the debate about what the Obama administration is doing by having their opinions and views reflected in the report.

Detroit’s 56th place in the 2010 study is the same spot it occupied in a similar report in 2005. The highest rank the city got was 50th in 2007.

Washington, D.C., was rated the most well-read city in the nation and following that were Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, St. Paul, Denver, Portland, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Boston.

Its is also noteworthy that these cities are among the most admired places in the nation and they have, in fact, become meccas for those seeking greener pastures. When young people are making the exodus from the state, more than likely they are moving to one of the cities mentioned in this report.

There is no possible way we can bank on attracting young families to the city if basic amenities like recreational centers are not available on a full scale.

When the educational system does not have the public confidence

See edunomics page A-4

Jim Murray

Accelerating the speed of business growth AT&T commits $19 billion to support area business growth Area businesses sloshing through Michigan’s sluggish economic recovery will soon receive much-needed infrastructure support, thanks to global communications leader AT&T’s network improvement plans announced last week.

The improvements — to expand backhaul, enable 4G speeds, increase mobile broadband capacity and upgrade hundreds of cell sites — are predicted to accelerate the pace of area business growth.

Why invest now?

Gov. Snyder keynotes Pancakes & Politics Gov. Rick Snyder kicked off the Michigan Chronicle’s Pancakes & Politics season at the Detroit Athletic Club on March 3 with a candid conversation built around reinventing Michigan. At left, Snyder chats with Curtis Ivery, Wayne County Community College Chancellor, Betty Brooks, community leader, and Shaun Wilson, Vice President, Director of Client and Community Relations, PNC Bank, and Ric DeVore, Regional President, PNC Bank. See page C-7 for photo highlights.

“We feel very confident about Detroit’s economic recovery,” stated Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan.

“As a consequence, we’re committed to making sizeable investments in this

See AT&T page A-4

WCCCD is largest urban community college, with record enrollment numbers Daylight Saving BEGINS on

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Curtis Ivery

Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) is the largest urban community college in Michigan, with record enrollment numbers for the spring 2011 semester.

Nearly 32,000 students registered for credit classes at all five of the District locations and online. Additionally, the District expects more than 40,000 non-credit students to register as well for a total of nearly 72,000 served in all programs.

WCCCD, the multi-campus district serving 32 communities in Southeast Michigan, has seen exponential growth as degree and certificate programs have been expanded, infrastructure improved, and

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These cities are not only a paragon of a reading culture, they also offer other incentives that we are not offering in this city.

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2013

“On the Course for Academic Achievement”

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak portrayed himself as a paradigm of stability in a country he once described as a “powder keg” of sectarian unrest. Yet far from promoting stability, his regime may have actually been the source of much of the religious strife.

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Mariners Inn recently announced the promotion of David Sampson to the position of chief executive officer. He has been with Mariners Inn since 2002 and held several positions.

Rebuilding Together Detroit (RTD) is seeking applications from low-income homeowners in Southwest Detroit who are in need of minor home repair assistance.

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investments in students, services and technologies increased.

“In this economy, post secondary education and training is the ticket to competing in today’s changing workforce.

Access to higher education-especially community colleges--is critical,” said Dr. Curtis Ivery, chancellor. “WCCCD is an integral economic and social catalyst to the health and welfare of this region and state.”

A recent economic impact study reported that WCCCD’s students generate more than $122 million in taxable income annually to the region and state. Every dollar that is invested in WCCCD returns

$22.80 in benefits to all Michigan residents.

Having been recognized as one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation and the largest urban community college in Michigan, WCCCD was forced to cap enrollment during the spring 2010 semester. This year, under the direction of Dr. Ivery, WCCCD lifted the enrollment cap to make certain that no student was turned away in spite of WCCCD’s funding challenges.

WCCCD gives students the opportunity to train in emerging technology and high demand fields, allowing them to become competent professionals helping to position the

state for vibrant growth and a strong economic future.

Community colleges across the nation face difficult decisions in a climate of limited resources. The commitment of WCCCD in assuring that the doors to educational opportunities remain open is a direct result of the determination of faculty, staff and administrators.

“Our students and all those we serve need us to work as hard as we can for them. If we can’t be the difference between success and a future of limited options, we are not living up to the mission and vision of this institution,” said Dr. Ivery.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page B-6

Buckets of Rain’s urban gardens seek to feed those in need

By Patrick Keating CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

The non-profit Buckets of Rain works to create sustainable gardens in support of local soup kitchens.

Founder Chris Skellenger said that for past few years Buckets of Rain has worked in Africa and Central America, but friends and associates urged him to take a look at what was going on in the Detroit area.

“I’d read about it, but I’d had no idea,” he said, adding that Buckets of Rain made appointments to talk to the larger rescue missions in the area.

The organization now works with Detroit Rescue Mission and Cass Community Social Services. Their crops go to those organizations.

Women’s Day services at Greater Ebenezer Ministries

“Between them they have several soup kitchens that can certainly use some fresh food,” Skellenger said.

This past spring, Buckets of Rain started construction of a garden in the parking lot across the street from S.A.Y. Detroit Family Health Clinic.

“The parking lot is owned by the Rescue Mission,” Skellenger said. “They said ‘go for it.’ So we cleaned it up and it’s the size of a football field. And we’re about 25 percent built.”

He means that literally, because they have to build the raised beds, fill them with soil and run the irrigation.

“Our first stop, when we deliver food, is right across the street,” Skellenger said. “And then we go to several other kitchens as well.”

So far, they have about 4,000 linear feet of vegetables growing, and that they’re adding about four or five rows every week.

The garden experienced a bumper crop, with perhaps 100 heads of lettuce and 50 lbs. of green beans on July 10.

So they put out signs and spread the word through the neighborhood.

“We gave away probably 60 to 75 bags of food to the neighbors,” he said. “But, obviously, because we’re only 25 percent built right now, we can’t do that all the time. Our first customer has to be the soup kitchens.”

He also said they’ll teach anyone who’ll listen how to build a raised bed on a used pallet, and farm above ground.

Skellenger believes humans have lost the ability to grow their own food.

“It’s not passed on from generation to generation anymore,” he said. “And it’s hard. People don’t want to work that hard. So, unless we put it in raised beds, it’s probably not going to work. It’s going to get ignored.”

Skellenger admitted that putting the gardens in raised beds means more work for Buckets of Rain, but said he wants to make it as little work for beginning gardeners as possible.

Buckets of Rain builds 3 x 6 wood beds out of recycled pallets provided by the auto industry. Skellenger said they cost $1.00 apiece to build them.

“We’ve sent a few of those out into the neighborhoods,” he said, adding that they also give away excess seedlings.

“And in the future, when we’re not so consumed with building, and more on growing, we’ll have more excess of everything,” he said. “I can’t wait till next year.”

Skellenger called the garden under construction the “mothership,” saying it’ll probably be one of the biggest in metro Detroit.

He also believes it’s a good idea to spread the gardens around.

“Instead of having one 30,000 square foot one here, like we’ll have, it may be better to have 10 3,000 square footers,”

he said. “So that every time you turn your heard, every time you go around the block you go, “Oh, wow! There’s another one of those urban gardens.’”

The 30,000 square foot “mothership” garden is located at 211 Glendale in Highland Park, between Third and Hamilton.

“We may get it completely built this year, so we can immediately start farming that next spring,” Skellenger said, adding that they get 40 used parts containers from the auto industry, per week.

Because the garden consists of raised beds only, that’s the limit that they can expand.

Buckets of Rain also supports a C.1,500 square foot garden about two and a half blocks down Glendale, between Second and Woodward. Skellenger described it more as a “help yourself garden.”

“And then we’re starting to put one in at the Highland Park Renaissance Academy,” he said. “We’ve got about five rows or so there.”

He’s not sure of the exact address of the other garden on Glendale, guessing it’s either 50 or 55.

“There’s no real addresses on this street anymore,” he said. “Most of the houses are gone.”

The nature of women has always been diverse. They’ve always proved to be a powerful force through their contributions.

Their diversity and ability to join their gifts and talents has long been a notable and stablizing entity for the church.

Greater Ebenezer Ministries 2013 Women’s Day Committee has come together with the objective of unifying the diversity of powerful women of God. This is with

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Skellenger said the Renaissance Academy Garden has the potential to go up to 20,000 square feet, but because it’s not very visible or in the middle of a neighborhood, Buckets of Rain is holding off on that one until they see whether a better location pops up.

September 25-27th

They’d like as much foot traffic by these gardens as possible.

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Buckets of Rain’s goals over the next year or two include providing the missions with an increasing amount of food each year.

“I think maybe this year we’re going to get them 100,000 servings,” he said.

Over the next four to five years, the goal is to do one million servings per season.

“To do that, we need 10 of these football field-sized urban gardens,” Skellenger said, adding that it’s doable.

According to Skellenger, the two most important products of urban gardening might be that people in the community have started to come together at the 211 Glendale garden, and that Buckets of Rain cleared about 50 yards of small invasive trees and vines and other blight in order to build the garden.

For more information or to volunteer, call Chris Skellenger at 231-883-7213 or visit www.bucketsofrain.org

the leadership of First Lady Mother Ella Mae Murphy and the chairlady, Sister Wanda Marshall.

Together with a selected committee, endeavoring to showcase women as “gems,” lively and living stones in the kingdom of god; with their individual gifts and talents that have been in preparation for a time such as this, declaring every woman beautiful, valuable precious, beloved and celerbrated.

From Wednesday through Friday, July 24-26, at 6 p.m. nightly, Greater Ebenezer would like to invite all to their Women”s

Day services, concluding Sunday, July 28, 11 a.m. These services will be held at the church, located at 18751 Fenkell.

Schedule:

July 24, Sister Chelsea Ross; July 25, Minister Gly­nis Shannon; July 26, Elder La­ kei­sha Berry; July 28, Elder Carla Reese.

Come and celerbrate the majestic glories of God with His “diverse and powerful women, gems in the kingdom.”

For more information, please call (313) 273-3606.

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July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page B-7

Pastor W.L. Bonner: $45 million empire built by prayer At a time when jobs are scarce, money is tight and lives are turned upside down, one man proves God is still working miracles. Pastor William L. Bonner always loved to build. Something about his hands being in the cement while bringing to life an impossible design always made him happy.

At the age of 14, God called him to preach and he never stopped preaching or building. Arriving in New York City at age 21, he met Bishop R.C. Lawson, his father in the gospel. Lawson challenged the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., to “Add Thou To It” and Pastor Bonner has been adding to it at every opportunity.

While other pastors dream and cut the ribbons in front of their churches, Pastor Bonner dreams, designs, takes off his preaching robe, puts on his hard hat and builds the church. He has with God’s help expanded the growth of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ to over 500 churches around the world. In the United States at the young age of 92, Pastor Bonner pastors five churches, all of which are community blessing empires.

Many ask the secret of his success and he simply answers, “ P r a y e r. ” He prays at 4 every morning and at 7:30 every night.

William L. Bonner Sometimes he prays all night long depending on how God leads him.

His prayers and personal labor have built the $10 million empire in New York City, consisting of Greater Refuge Temple, the R.C. Lawson Building and the Mother Carrie Lawson Retirement Home. He built the $9 million empire in Detroit which is composed of Solomon’s Temple, W.L. Bonner Cultural Center, Library of Pentecostal History and the Royal Palace Mall.

Jackson, Miss., is home to a $5 million empire with Refuge of Jackson, Family Life Center and the Royal Palace Mall. The nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is a $1 million church empire.

The crown jewel is the $20 million empire in Columbia, S.C., with Refuge of Columbia Church, Family Life Center, Fully Accredited W.L. Bonner Bible College with R.C. Lawson Library, Student Dormitories, Retirement Complex, breathtaking Bonner’s Lake and the soon to be completed Wessenger Project.

This project will have apartments, private lakefront homes and a 250 room luxury hotel, the only complex of its kind in any Christian organization.

Come and see the fruit of the $45 million empire built by prayer that is still growing! The 94th Annual International Convocation of the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., will convene in Detroit from Wednesday through Sunday, July 24-28. Services will be held nightly at Cobo Hall and during the day at Detroit Renaissance Marriott Hotel with a concert featuring the Clark Sisters on Saturday night.

Call 313.893.1230 or visit www. cooljc.org for a complete list of services and events.

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Sunday, August 25, 2013 Doors open at 5 PM Program 6 PM

Church seeks new pastor “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” (Psalm 127:1)

summary of relevant ministry, professional, and educational experience.

New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Highland Park, established in 1952, is seeking a spirit-filled candidate, called of God, to fill the position of full-time pastor and to serve as the spiritual leader of its congregation.

New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church is in need of a pastor who will be responsible to God and the church, will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach the Bible, provide Christian leadership in all areas of the church, and engage in pastoral care of the congregation.

Also, the pastor is to be responsible for the overall leadership of the day-today operations of the church, services, membership and promoting the spiritual interests and growth of the church.

Copy of ministerial license and ordination certificate Four recommendation letters (at least two clergy) Please submit the initial candidate package by mail to: New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church

Pastoral Search Team

13100 Woodward Ave.

Highland Park, MI 48203

The minimum qualifications for the new pastoral position are as follows: Bachelor’s degree consisting of a strong concentration in Theology/Biblical Studies.

Any candidate package postmarked after September 30, 2013, will not be considered.

Must be ordained.

Five years of pastoral experience.

For additional information/questions, please contact the church office at (313) 869-0190 or via e-mail at www. newmtmoriah@sbcglobal.net.

A New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church application which can be found on the Michigan Chronicle Praise Connect website, praiseconnect. com.

A current résumé which includes a

J.J. Hairston of Chicago, IL and Youthful Praise

Copy of degree(s)

The deadline for all information to be postmarked or submitted is September 30, 2013.

All interested and qualified persons must submit an initial candidate package consisting of copies of the following information:

Pastor Shirley Caesar The Clark Sisters Dorinda, Jackie, Karen and Twinkie.

All information submitted will be treated as confidential. Additional information may be requested and/or required. Final candidates must consent to a reference check, criminal history background check, drug test and credit and financial history review.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

COMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY

Comerica Java & Jazz season comes to a close

July 24-30, 2013

Page B-8

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT Rashida Bradley Life would not be as fulfilling for Rashida Bradley if she were not able to volunteer. Bradley, vice president and banking center manager of Comerica’s McNichols-Meyers banking center in Detroit, has been volunteering since she was young and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Metro Detroiters were swinging and swaying as the 2013 Comerica Java and Jazz concert series came to a close with a performance by the new musical Detroit has long known as project Sin been Heilo. a great jazz town. Celebrating its Guitarists Wayne 13th season, Comerica Java & Jazz continues the tradition of providing Gerard Sean series a monthly afterand work concert showcases some of Detroit’s 2013 that Blackman joined finest creative talent.

Rick Beamon in wrapping up the season with their new sound Comerica Jazzjazz • July 16, 6:00 p.m. that was fusedJava with &Latin, and rock.

“Volunteering is not a chore or an obligation for me,” said Bradley. “Volunteering comes naturally. I think of it as an essential part of life. Doing what I can to give back to the community is just part of who I am.”

Detroit Public Library – Main Library

5201 Woodward Avenue, 48202 This was the 13th yearDetroit, that MI world-renowned jazz musicians have traveled to Detroit Sin Hielo for this free music for to enjoy free of charge.

Sin Hielo is a new musical Other artists this year included Ahead, projectStraight that starts with guitar giants Wayne Gerard & Sean The Mike Jellick Quartet and Straight Ahead were two of the featured the B. Williams Experiment, Saxappeal and the Blackman, along with the performers during the 2013 Comerica Java and Jazz series.

Mike Jellick Quartet. accomplished artistry of Rick Beamon to round out the collective. Based in Detroit, Sin Hielo has created a new sound fused with Latin, jazz, and rock.

Blackman is a powerful, acoustic nylon-string world music guitarist. Gerard is an electric guitarist jazz virtuoso and Rick Beamon is known as one of the best in the business for playing jaw-dropping percussion. The Sin Hielo project quickly caught fire all around Detroit and beyond. The band’s Spanish name represents both the new hot sound and the sexy clientele that has jumped on the band’s touring party vardo. We invite you to come out and join the fun in July as Sin Hielo brings the party to the Detroit Public Library for Comerica Java & Jazz.

Bradley, a Michigan State University alumna, credits her experience as a sister of Zeta Phi Beta for making her the volunteer she is today. Even now she continues to volunteer with her sorority for the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt A Highway program, March of Dimes and a myriad of other fundraising and volunteer efforts.

Rashida Bradley Joining Comerica in 2000, Bradley has had the opportunity to continue her community service through the Comerica Cares program.

“I was happily surprised when I heard about volunteering during Comerica’s Management Trainee program. I felt at home knowing that Comerica colleagues value teamwork and community involvement,” said Bradley.

As part of her early career training, Bradley volunteered at The Parade Company by painting floats for Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. When Comerica partnered with Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to educating students about success in a global economy, she taught elementary students the basics of being financially responsible and how a city’s economy works. She also volunteered for Comerica’s Youth Savings program at Renaissance High School, sharing information about creating a budget and the importance of maintaining a savings account.

Beyond work, Bradley is on the go supporting causes she finds important. For three years she served on the board of the Jefferson East Business Association, whose focus is on improving the corridor between I-375 and Alter Road. She also volunteered with the Warren/Conner Development Coalition to support local business and neighborhood revitalization. Most recently, she participated in the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Summer Stroll for Epilepsy at the Detroit Zoo.

Junior Achievement Finance Park

Motor City Pride

Comerica Cares volunteers from the Business Finance Mentor program share their skills with students from Pershing High School, teach- Comerica Cares volunteers were ing financial literacy and basic budgeting to help develop these future busy greeting visitors and participants at this year’s Motor City Pride Parade. leaders.

Comerica Cares Volunteers Patricia McCann and Rashida Bradley show off their kitchen skills with a beautifully decorated fruit salad that was served to families at the Ronald McDonald House Shelter during Comerica’s fifth annual National Day of Service.

What motivates you to volunteer?

“Knowing that I am improving somebody’s life is my biggest motivator. I have the resources to volunteer so I feel it is the least I can do for Detroit. Last holiday season I volunteered at the Eastside Holiday Village, making cards and angels for people who were in area hospitals. It’s inspirational knowing something as genuine as a handmade card makes a positive impact in somebody’s life.”

How did you get started?

“My mother has always been a volunteer and she would take me volunteering with her when I was young. I recall handing out cups of water and orange slices to Detroit Free Press Marathon runners. I even made phone calls at the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon, raising money for the United Negro College Fund. When I began my career with Comerica, it felt natural to get started with Comerica Cares because it’s what I enjoy.”

Which experience has impacted you the most?

Batting for Kids Financial Services Roundtable Awards Comerica Bank 2012 Community Leadership Award Judy Chapa (left), vice president, Community Services, Financial Services Roundtable, presents the 2012 Community Service Leadership Award to Linda Forte, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, Comerica Incorporated, during the recent Community Service Honorary Congressional Host Committee reception on Capitol Hill.

“In 1998, my family experienced a situation that led us to Ronald McDonald House in Detroit. To this day, I remember how helpful and supportive the organization was to my family. When the opportunity to volunteer with my co-workers at Ronald McDonald House arose, I jumped at the chance to help families in predicaments similar to what my own went through. The experience was very personal to me because I knew exactly what those families were feeling and they were so appreciative of the support.”

Loretta Smith, Michigan Community Reinvestment Act manager for Comerica Bank, with a few of the hundreds of participants in Don Bosco Hall’s 12th Annual Baseball Challenge at Comerica Where are you going from here?

Park. Comerica is a longtime sponsor of this baseball competi“I intend to keep volunteering by participating in walks for causes and helping with other Detroit-based events. I particularly tion, which includes baseball demonstration clinics.

enjoy offering insights to organizations focused on community redevelopment. Also, I recently trained for the National Kidney Foundation Body Works program and I’m in the early stages of organizing community workshops that promote healthy family eating and activity habits.”

For more information on how Comerica volunteers are giving back to our community, visit

www.facebook.com/ComericaCares.

Comerica recognized by Innovations for Learning Innovations for Learning’s TutorMate program recognized Comerica with its 2012-2013 TutorMate Partnership Award for the Detroit region.

Every year Innovations for

Military Comfort Kit Drive Comerica Cares volunteers recently sorted through a small sampling of the numerous donated items collected by Comerica colleagues across Michigan. The items will be used to build comfort kits with the American Red Cross. The kits will be donated to troops being deployed, homeless veterans and the local VA, as available.

Comerica’s Michael Cheatham (center) had a chance to meet Detroit Lions Nate Burleson (left) and Stephen Tulloch before a softball game to benefit the players’ charities.

Stephen Tulloch and Nate Burleson host Celebrity Softball Game The Stephen Tulloch Foundation and Nate Burleson’s CATCH Foundation teamed up for the 4th Annual Celebrity Softball Game. The event was held to raise funds for underprivileged children in metro Detroit. During the event Comerica colleague Michael Cheatham participated as a player on the Burleson Team. The annual softball game raised $6,500 for the players’ charities.

Learning recognizes a partner in each of their regions that has excelled in the recruitment, participation and dedication of their tutors and their collaborative support.

Business Powered by Real Times Media

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July 24-30, 2013

michiganchronicle.com

Ken Dallafior BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan

Considerations for an aging workforce

By Ken Dallafior

Notice anything different about your employees lately? How about this: They’re getting older. Or, as an OSHA panel discussion on issues in an aging workforce put it, more “chronologically gifted.”

Consider these data points from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: In the past decade, the number of seniors in the labor force has grown nearly 60 percent.

By 2018, the number of 65-plus workers is projected to climb from 6.5 million today to 11 million.

By 2020 one quarter of the U.S. workforce will be 55 or older compared to 12 percent in 1990.

The aging of the Baby Boomer generation – about 80 million people who were born between 1946 and 1964 – has serious business implications. Yet, according to a recent Washington Post article, human resources experts, workers and executives from a range of industries say businesses are largely unprepared to accommodate an aging workforce or to cope with its eventual retirement.

So what exactly does this trend mean to a small business owner?

And, more importantly, what should you be doing to minimize any adverse effects on your business?

The first step is to understand both the benefits and drawbacks of older workers. Since finding and retaining qualified workers is always a challenge, experienced employees are priceless assets for any company, especially those with young employees who need mentoring and on-the-job training.

“For a small business, losing even one seasoned knowledge worker affects them competitively,” said Milan Yager, executive vice president of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). “These business owners want to ensure that seasoned workers convey their knowledge, or even continue working longer if possible.”

Older workers are also more highly engaged and absent less often than young workers, according to the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College.

The major disadvantage of an aging workforce is obvious: Higher medical and disability costs. One study found that these costs increase an estimated 25 percent for employees between the ages of 40 to 50 and 35 percent for those 50 to 60. Such rising expenses, however, are not inevitable. In fact, age is less a factor in health care costs than the presence of such risk factors as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and diabetes!

Business owners also may have to adapt the workplace to accommodate older workers’ decreased mobility or physical disabilities. These employees often want more flexible schedules and require retraining on new technologies that are second nature to their younger cohorts.

Despite some of these downside factors, most businesses prefer to not lose the knowledge, expertise and skills of their older employees.

Here are some things you might want to consider as you prepare for the graying of your workforce.

Offer older workers more flexibility regarding when, where and how many hours they work. Telecommuting, for example, might be suitable for some a few days a week.

Remind employees that, by delaying retirement, they have more years to grow their savings, fewer years of retirement to provide for and bigger Social Security checks.

Develop plans and strategies to transfer the knowledge and skills of experienced workers to younger employees.

Create formal programs to retain older workers and offer some the opportunity to retain health benefits via phased retirement.

Implement and promote wellness programs to give these employees a valued benefit and lower your (and their) healthcare costs.

Editor’s note: Ken Dallafior is senior vice president, Group Business and Corporate Marketing. at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM).

A fresh approach

Meijer opens its doors and its heart to Detroit

By Jackie Berg

“When shoppers step inside the store, the first thing that they will see is our fresh produce section filled with Michigan-grown products and what is now the largest array of produce ever offered at any Meijer location.”

Fresh thinking. That’s what is in the offing as Meijer prepares to open its first store in Detroit this week. The Michigan Chronicle got an opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at the retailer in a series of interviews with its Co-CEO Mark Murray and members of his management team to learn more about this big-hearted company with high hopes for future investment in the city of Detroit.

Murray hopes Detroit residents will embrace Meijer’s commitment to offer the best products, prices and people in the market today.

The simple premise has big implications in Detroit.

Local People

– Mark Murray, Co-CEO, Mejier

Finding quality job candidates to fill the 500 available job openings at its Detroit store location was not a problem, according to Murray, a recognized champion of diversity credited for advancing diversity efforts at on the campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU) during his tenure as its president.

ble for the growth and development of the 500 employees at its Detroit location.

The two hope that the Detroit employees who start with Meijer stay with Meijer.

“Although we never like to lose good people, we are cognizant that our ability to mentor and train employees leads to higher-level opportunities both within and outside of our organization and are proud of our role in helping motivate and train future leaders regardless their career path,” Murray said.

The majority of employees at Meijer’s newest store have deep roots in the community in which they will serve, and bright hopes for advancement in the high-growth company. That’s important to Murray.

Understanding that diverse candidates with strong retail backgrounds are in high demand here in Michigan and as well as across the U.S., Murray hopes that employees at Meijer’s Detroit store and other locations are able to use their early job experience as a springboard to higher level posts within the Meijer organization.

“We’re growing rapidly,” said Murray, who cites that exponential advancement opportunities exist for candidates who qualify for Meijer’s Retail Leadership Development program.

“People drive our company’s growth and are an integral part of our success story,” Murray said. “That’s why Detroit Store Director Adrian Lewis, one of the best of our best, will be at the helm of our newest location.”

Lewis, the former director of retail

Local Products

“So much of what we do is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle for our shoppers – whether it’s helping them to live better or to feel better.”

– Hank Meijer, Co-Chairman and CEO, Meijer services of Meijer’s southern region with 25 years experience in retail and big box locations, trained and is now responsi-

Meijer is a big believer in buying local.

The Michigan-based business is a major supporter of Michigan State University’s Michigan Product Center, which helps Michigan entrepreneurs develop and commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in agriculture, natural resources and bioeconomy.

The majority of Meijer’s Michigan-made products are purchased from the center, as well as from farmers and suppliers located throughout the state.

One exciting product available at the Detroit store is the State Fair Pale Ale, a distinctive craft beer produced by DeSee meijer page C-2

Detroit, tourism and Michigan’s comeback

By Michael Finney President and CEO Michigan Economic Development Corporation

As the Pure Michigan commercial illustrates, there’s no better place to experience a real city than in the Motor City.

Enjoy morning strolls along the Detroit River. Or, walk among the vibrant colors of a bustling open air market.

In the afternoon, take in a rousing ball game. Or, immerse yourself in world-class cuisine.

And, whether it’s a sizzling night of dancing or a cool, mellow night of jazz – Detroit’s mornings and afternoons are just as exciting as its nights.

We all need to get away from the norm. Because an all-day, all-night adventure in Detroit is Pure Michigan.

It’s no coincidence that Detroit’s dynamism, a record

Michael Finney year for the state’s travel industry, and Michigan’s comeback are happening simultaneously. The three are all deeply interconnected.

Bold reforms to Michigan’s

business climate including lower taxes, elimination of burdensome regulations and a balanced state budget are contributing to the best comeback story in the nation.

Our economy is a 10-year high. We’ve added more than 200,000 jobs and our unemployment rate has dropped to 8.4 percent from 14.2 percent.

Personal income in Michigan was up 3.5 percent in 2012, matching the national average.

nomic driver supporting approximately 200,000 jobs.

In 2012, it saw $13.3 billion spent on leisure travel, the most in history. Last year, 18.8 million hotel rooms were occupied; the highest level since the data has been tracked.

Strong growth in a number of industries is contributing to our comeback. We are the number one state for creating new manufacturing jobs.

Chrysler, Ford, and GM are enjoying their best sales in five years. We are the fastest growing state for venture capital investments.

Stories like Detroit making the list of the nation’s “best recoveries” after the Great Recession, a number five ranking for tech jobs, plans for a new 45-block entertainment and sports district, or how advertisers are jumping at the chance to document Detroit’s cultural transformation.

And, Michigan’s travel industry had a record-setting year in 2012.

The state’s $17.7 billion travel industry is a key eco-

There is a new energy happening in Detroit. While it is true the city has challenges, a scan of the headlines each day will return a fair share of positive stories.

It’s that cultural transformation that is drawing new entrepreneurs, businesses, artists and young professionSee comeback page C-2

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page C-2

Awards Judge Craig Strong receives Man of the Year Humanitarian Award The Hollywood & Vine Recovery Center’s Care for Kids Program hosts starstudded event in honor of community leaders The honorable Craig Strong was presented with the Man of the Year Humanitarian Award at the Care for Kids Celebrity Benefit hosted by The Hollywood & Vine Recovery Center at Club Avalon Hollywood. Befitting the well-respected and well-known Judge Strong from the Wayne County Circuit Court Criminal Division, entertainment industry stars Freda Payne, the Main Ingredient, Lenny Williams and Cuba Gooding, Sr., performed their popular hits and paid tribute to Judge Strong’s work in the community throughout the country.

Meijer Co-CEO Mark Murray is a recognized champion of diversity credited for advancing diversity efforts on the campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU) during his tenure as its president.– Photo courtesy of GVSU

Meijer

Judge Strong became an officer of

From page C-1 the Wolverine Bar Association and its

troit’s own Atwater Brewery to honor the Michigan State Fair.

Fresh produce, which is often locally grown and produced, is a leading contributor to Meijer’s high customer loyalty rates. And Detroit shoppers will find plenty of it at Meijer’s newest location.

“When shoppers step inside the store, the first thing that they will see is our fresh produce section filled with Michigan-grown products and what is now the largest array of produce ever offered at any Meijer location,” said Murray, who notes that the center store location is a first for Meijer, which customarily features side floor produce sections.

Shoppers will discover that Meijer has paid close attention to local preferences throughout its store, as evidenced by its expanded health and beauty section and product selection.

Judge Craig S. Strong was appointed referee in the Traffic & Ordinance Division of Detroit’s Recorder’s Court at age 30. Later that year he was elected judge of the Detroit Recorder’s Court, the youngest to serve in this capacity. He was re-elected four times and serves as a judge in the Wayne County Circuit Court Criminal Division.

also

Meijer partner food pantries across the Midwest since the program began in November 2008.

Local Health Health and well-being are central to Meijer’s core values and is evidenced by senior level commitment to free programs and services that help maintain community wellness.

“So much of what we do is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle for our shoppers – whether it’s helping them to live better or to feel better,” said Hank Meijer, co-chairman and CEO of Meijer. “Our Healthy Living and Wellness programs include everything from diabetes screenings and in-store food demos to prescription drug programs, immunizations

big on partnerships, as evidenced by the recent addition of Secretary of State (SOS) service hubs in two Meijer stores in Lincoln Park and Grand Rapids. The hubs are garnering rave reviews from customers who appreciate the ease of access, according to Murray.

Local Giving Meijer is committed to hunger relief and supports both food banks and food pantries throughout the Midwest through its food rescue and Simply Give programs.

As a part of its grand opening of the Meijer store on West Eight Mile Road in Detroit, Meijer will host a special oneday offer for the start of its fall Simply Give campaign, according to a company spokesperson. On July 28 only, Meijer will triple match all Simply Give donations made at the West Eight Mile Road Meijer store, with all donations benefitting the Storehouse of Hope Food Pantry.

The premise of Meijer’s program is simple: to replenish the shelves of nearly 200 food pantries in the retailer’s five-state region by encouraging customers to purchase $10 Meijer Food Pantry Donation cards, which are converted into Meijer gift cards given to local food pantries.

“That means that for every $10 donation card purchase, Meijer will give $30 to the program, resulting in a donation of $40 that day,” said Murray.

To date, the program has generated nearly $6 million, or an estimated 36 million meals for

and meal planning. And represent one more way Meijer can help our customers build healthier lifestyles while saving them money.”

Free in-store services include access to clinical-services pharmacists, who are also certified diabetes specialists. A dedicated consultation room will be available for customers who wish to meet with specialists committed to helping them avoid or help manage diabetes.

The complimentary consultation service does not require an appointment, according to Frank Guglielmi, spokesman for the Grand Rapids-based company. Like every Meijer pharmacy, the Detroit location also will fill prescriptions for certain prescribed medications at no cost, including certain prescribed antibiotics, prenatal vitamins, metformin and atorvastatin calcium, the generic substitute for Lipitor.

The nearly question-free program does not require the release of personal information nor any additional purchase.

“We don’t know how many people would not have gotten needed medication and left a pressing health condition unaddressed without this program,” said Murray.

“We just know that it has helped.”

Since its inception in 2006, the Meijer free prescription program has filled more than 14 million free prescriptions, saving Meijer customers nearly $200 million.

Local Partnerships The 203-store chain is

As part of the National Bar Association’s delegation to South Africa, Strong met with Black lawyers from many countries to develop an International Bar Association. He is a retired commander in the United States Navy Reserve. During a five-year tour in the Navy Marine Corp Trial Judiciary, he was the only African-American judge presiding over special courts marshal.

A Detroit police hub, where officers can stop in to do reports, shares the same building as the Meijer convenience store and gas station in the deA 33-degree Prince Hall Mason, he is velopment that is already a lifetime member of the NAACP, Charles open.

H. Wright Museum of African American Meijer has also worked History, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., with Huntington Bank and the Navy Reserve Officer Associato bring in store service tion. branches with extended Being active in numerous civic orgahours and services to its nizations, he has served on the board Michigan stores. of the Charles H. Wright Museum of AfLocal Investment rican American History, the largest of Meijer’s $20 million in- its type in the United States, and was a founding board member of the International African World Festive. He founded and still chairs the Black History Month membership drive, which has generated thousands of new members to help keep the doors of the museum open. He has also served on the boards of the Westside Citizens for the Retarded and the Black United Fund of Michigan.

On July 28 only, Meijer will triple match all Simply Give donations made at the West Eight Mile Road Meijer store, with all donations benefitting the Storehouse of Hope Food Pantry.

“We pay attention to unique local preferences and make every attempt to deliver the type of products our customers want,” said Murray, who emphasized that Meijer is constantly seeking to purchase its products from locally owned vendors who can service its customers need.

youngest president at age 30. He later became one of the founding members of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan and served as president. He has also served on the National Bar Association Board of Governors, and is former chair of the Judicial Council.

vestment in the Gateway Marketplace development near the old State Fairgrounds speaks to the company’s commitment to Detroit.

“It doesn’t just represent a grocery store but a major retail development,” Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said in a company statement.

“We are personally committed to the success of this location and the transformation of Detroit and hope that with this opening, our first urban store in Detroit, we will become a part of Detroit’s renewal and return to prosperity,” Murray said.

“I am confident that we will see Detroit return to a population of one million or more and, as important, that Detroiters are going to witness the expanded commitment of companies like Meijer, who will be visibly supporting continued investment in this market, stemming the tide of out-migration and attracting more people to this great city.”

“We absolutely firmly believe in Detroit,” he concluded on the eve of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which is expected to draw Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan).

Editor’s Note: The Detroit Meijer store, at Eight Mile and Woodward Avenue, will officially open on Thursday, July 25. Other retailers going into the 350,000-squarefoot development include Marshalls, Petco, K&G Fashion Superstore, Dots, McDonald’s and a PNC Bank.

Believing in world peace and justice, the judge participates in the US State Department sponsored International Visitors Leadership Program and routinely hosts its visitors. This year he has shared his experiences and insights with delegations from France and Azerbaijan.

Judge Strong received his Bachelor’s degree from Howard University and his Jurist Doctor Degree from Detroit College of Law, now Michigan State School of Law. “For years Judge Strong has been working to improve the lives of youth,” said Dr. Gloria Montgomery, founder of Hollywood-based Care for Kids and a native of Detroit. “When 19 inner city

Craig Strong and Al Bell. boys from Detroit were recruited to form a scout unit, he singlehandedly within one week raised enough money to purchase 125 uniforms.”

Mistress of ceremonies Luenell, a comedian and actress, entertained the sold-out audience and referred to Judge Strong as the best dressed judge in the country. U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters presented the award to Strong.

“Judge Strong believes in the importance of appearance and works with the Jackets for Jobs program teaching young men how to dress appropriately for the occasion,” said Waters. “I have visited Judge Strong’s home and his closet is a masterpiece filled with custom suits.”

Under the Hollywood & Vine Recovery Center is The Care For Kids program, an affordable substance-abuse treatment center for children from age 7 to 19. Having experienced the drug haven streets of Detroit, Dr. Gloria Montgomery, PhD, and Joan Wendorf, CMS, moved to California and founded non-profit organization to make the world a better place and bring light into the darkness.

They have been an active asset to society for over 45 years.

“I enjoy traveling and speaking at schools and before youth groups across the country, in Canada, Europe, Germany, South Africa, and throughout the Caribbean Islands,” said Judge Strong.

In Southern California, he has spoken at Dorsey High School, the Marcus Garvey Academy, and distributes toys for Christmas at churches and community centers.

The recipient of numerous proclamations and awards, Judge Strong is the official ambassador of Steve Harvey’s Neighborhood Awards (formerly the Hoodie Awards), which takes place annually in Las Vegas. He has made appearances on several television shows as well as done guest spots in five motion picture productions. He was cast as a judge in the ABC series “Detroit 187.”

An Honorary Award was presented to recording industry legend Al Bell. From chairman of Stax Records, and subsequently president of Motown, Bell is recognized as being responsible for helping to shape the American music scene for over 40 years. Now chairman/chief executive officer of Al Bell Presents, an Intellectual Property Management Company that has established a new paradigm for the recorded music, broadcast music, and entertainment industries.

For more information, visit http:// www.hollywoodandvinerecoverycenter. com.

Comeback From page C-1

als back to the city in droves. In fact, Detroit’s distinct diversity draws 19 million visitors downtown every year to enjoy world-class museums, music venues, festivals, and championship sports.

To accommodate visitors, metro Detroit has 45,000 hotel rooms all within a 30-minute drive of downtown.

The city recently increased the number of downtown hotel rooms by 54 percent with the addition of the new Westin Book Cadillac, the PickFort Shelby, and the three new 400room casino hotels.

The Pure Michigan travel campaign has been an important tool to help drive and promote Michigan’s comeback.

Last year, the campaign had its biggest impact ever. It attracted 3.8 million out-of-state visitors who spent a record $1.1 billion at Michigan businesses.

Demonstrating the importance of Detroit to Pure Michigan and the state’s overall travel industry, two new Pure Michigan ads featuring the city will soon hit the airwaves.

Detroit’s resurgence, Michigan’s comeback, and a thriving tourism industry indicate a natural symbiotic relationship between communities, Michiganders, visitors and industries.

We are all Pure Michigan.

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July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page C-3

Open for business: Detroit Region

Aerotropolis Development Corporation The Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation (ADC) announced it has hired a CEO, has completed a strategic marketing and organizational plan, and is rebranding itself as VantagePort.

Verna McDaniel, Washtenaw County administrator and interim ADC chair, said, “It took us longer than we had hoped but we’re pleased to have a highly qualified CEO dedicated to leading our efforts. We conducted a

public search, received over 60 applications and after a complete review, we are confident that Tim Keyes is the best candidate to accomplish what we want done. Tim is very familiar with the Aerotropolis as he has been

AGENT SPOTLIGHT

engaged to some degree with our work from the beginning, which will enable him to jump start the initiative and re-energize our efforts.”

“The Aerotropolis is a major driver of economic development in Wayne County and the state of Michigan as a whole,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.

An ardent supporter of the concept from the beginning, Ficano added, “I am happy to see someone who has been involved in the project since day one, be named CEO. I have no doubt that Tim will be able to jump right in and continue to move the Detroit Region Aerotropolis forward. We look forward to working with Tim to make this happen.”

The ADC Board worked with Applied Storytelling, a brand management firm, to select the VantagePort name.

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VantagePort hired Greyhill Advisors, a global site selection and economic development consulting firm, to prepare a strategic plan for the organization.

The Greyhill report will be used as a guide for VantagePort’s next steps.

Some of the recommendations include: Implementing a marketing and business development program, incorporating the new name Identifying business targets by industry sector Creating a formalized land development program Developing the brand and value proposition and related materials These recommendations will be executed by the newly hired CEO, Keyes, who said, “I am honored and excited to be a part of moving this vision for Southeast Mich-

Verna McDaniel, Washtenaw County administrator. igan forward. With our new VantagePort brand and our strategic marketing and organizational plan, I’m ready to hit the ground running.

“I look forward to working with our many partners to achieve success.”

“The development of the Aerotropolis was identified as a key component in accelerating growth in Southeast Michigan in Business Leaders for Michigan’s New Michigan strategy and in Detroit Renaissance’s Road to Renaissance initiative,” said Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan.

“We have tremendous assets we can leverage to grow our state’s economy, including a world class airport, surrounding land available for development, a unique geographic location and a skilled workforce. Now that we have a CEO of Tim’s caliber in place, we can move with lightning speed to implement this effort.”

Wayne County Executive Ficano had long envisioned an Aerotropolis

Tim Keyes for the Detroit Region and the Detroit Region Aerotropolis was a part of the Detroit Renaissance (now Business Leaders for Michigan) Road to Renaissance strategy to help grow the economy for the entire Detroit region. The goal was to develop the area between and surrounding Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports into a global logistics hub for the movement of people, products and information.

Over the long term, the Aerotropolis is projected to attract more than 60,000 jobs to the region and more than $10 billion of additional annual economic activity with an aggressive business attraction effort.

Members of the ADC include Wayne County, Washtenaw County, Belleville, Huron Township, City of Romulus, City of Taylor, Van Buren Township, City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Wayne County Airport Authority, Business Leaders for Michigan and DTE Energy.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

Page C-4

Real Times Media forms strategic digital partnership Interactive One’s growing business division will provide technology, marketing, and editorial support for the Real Times newspaper brand digital platform

Covenant House Michigan receives $25,000 from Walmart Foundation Covenant House Michigan (CHM) has received a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to assist with its “Moving Homeless Youth to Self-Sufficiency Through Job Training, Placement and Retention” program.

The grant – which was given to the non-profit organization through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program – will work to fund the job training programs, which include assisting homeless youth in building a resume, learning interviewing skills, finding and applying for jobs and maintaining success in the workplace.

“The Walmart Foundation grant is going to aid Covenant House Michigan in continuing our mission to provide homeless youth with basic necessities while offering tools such as job training, placement and retention to achieve future independence and success,” said Melissa Golpe, marketing and public relations director, Covenant House Michigan.

“The program has seen success in teaching youth the necessary skills they need to find and maintain a job, and this grant will fund the success of many young people to come.”

The grant was presented to Covenant House Michigan during a check presentation ceremony held today at the CHM offices located at 2959 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. in Detroit.

Covenant House Michigan was established in 1997 to redirect young adults onto a path toward meaningful and successful adulthood. The faithbased nonprofit organization provides hope to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth ages 13-22 by providing shelter, educational and vocational programs, and other support services to help overcome hurdles such as homelessness, unemployment, inadequate education, violence, drugs and gangs.

“The Walmart Foundation is very proud to be supporting Covenant House Michigan, and remains committed to helping those in need in the communities where we serve,” said Bernie Dave, market manager, Walmart. “Through this grant, we are hopeful that young adults in the city of Detroit and surrounding areas will benefit from the job training program and start on a path toward success.”

The

contribution

to

Covenant House was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Michigan State Giving Program. Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. Last year in Michigan, Walmart, Sam’s Club locations and the Walmart Foundation awarded more than $25 million to local organizations.

To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application.

Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

For more information please visit http://www. covenanthousemi.org.

Real Times Media (RTM), a multimedia company focused on urban news and entertainment which includes the nation’s largest African American-owned newspaper and digital media operation, has signed on as the latest partner of Interactive One Studios, a division of Interactive One, which assists external brands with developing highly profitable digital businesses through world-class sales, platform, content and distribution services.

“Partnering with Interactive One Studios presents a tremendous opportunity for the Real Times Media digital platform,” said Hiram E. Jackson, CEO, Real Times Media. “For the past few years our company has had a laser focus on transitioning our traditionally print business model into a more robust digital platform. We’ve been able to make significant headway on our own; however, this partnership with iOne Studios will certainly help us to reach new levels of success.”

Under the terms of the partnership, Real Times Media will migrate its Atlanta Daily World (www.AtlantaDailyWorld.

com), Chicago Defender (www.ChicagoDefender.com), Michigan Chronicle (www.MichiganChronicle.com), Memphis Tri-State Defender (www.TSDMemphis.com) and New Pittsburgh Courier (www.NewPittsburghCourier.com) websites to Interactive One’s proprietary content and mobile platforms. The transition will benefit the Real Times Media brands through increased audience reach, world-class advertising, media management and operations, guaranteed uptimes and tech support, and a unique set of features and functions that have made the channels within the Interactive One network a leader in the space.

“Real Times Media and its newspapers have a rich tradition and deep community relationships,” said Alfred C. Liggins III, CEO of Radio One, Inc., the parent company of Interactive One. “That tradition, those relationships and the power of digital, which is the great equalizer for traditional Black and new urban audiences, put them on firm footing for a bright future.”

Real Times Media is the latest addition to the Interactive One roster of partners, which includes Russell Simmons’ GlobalGrind.com, NBC News’ theGrio. com and Tom Joyner’s BlackAmericaWeb.com,, among others.

Airport to launch conversion in parking structures Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) will replace all 6,050 lighting fixtures in both parking structures and increase the number of fixtures by 19% while still saving 66% on its annual electric bill by switching to light-emitting diode (LED) lights.

the McNamara Terminal Parking Structure will be replaced with the LED fixtures operating at a maximum of 60 watts as well.

The project, approved by the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) Board this month, will replace the 1,200 existing 210-watt metal halide fixtures in the Blue Deck with 2,400 re-positioned 80-watt LED fixtures.

The anticipated annual reduction of energy consumption by more than 7,345,000 kilowatt hours in combination with reduced labor and material costs will save WCAA approximately $1.2 million (at current electric rates) every year.

The LED fixtures will be set at a maximum of 60 watts. All 4,800 existing 210-watt fixtures in

The project, competitively bid and awarded to Michigan-based Rauhorn Electric, Inc., is expected to cost $6.2 million.

The existing lights need to be replaced on average once every 13

months whereas the new Cooper LED lights are guaranteed to meet minimum lighting levels for ten years. The Authority may also be eligible for DTE Energy efficiency incentives.

“This project will produce multiple desirable outcomes,” said WCAA CEO Tom Naughton. “It will improve the lighting in our parking facilities, reduce energy consumption, save on maintenance costs and shrink our carbon footprint.”

In addition to the new fixtures, the project incorporates Smart Light Controls in both parking structures.

Nominate Your Favorite Artiste To RECOGNIZING

Artists & Educators In addition to the many business executives, community and government leaders who annually inspire the readers of Who’s Who in Black Detroit, the 2013 edition of Who’s Who will pay special tribute to artists, entertainers and 100 Top Educators in our community.

If you are a business executive, community leader, government leader, accomplished artist, entertainer, or educator Nominate yourself, or someone you know.

Email their headshot and 180 word bio to detroit@whoswhopublishing.com Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are available.

Call Cathy Nedd, Associate Publisher

(313) 963-8100

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Wayne County’s economy is doing better than most think

resurgence, beating U.S. employment growth rate in each of the past three years, the private non-manufacturing sector has also exceeded the average U.S. rate in two out of the past three years. All of the efforts to bring “knowledge economy” jobs to Wayne County and the city of Detroit may be beginning to bear fruit. It is however, a very skimpy harvest so far – we have a long, long way to go before Detroit and Wayne County look like other major urban areas.

By Donald Grimes

There has been an unrelenting dose of bad news in local newspapers and on national television about the city of Detroit’s financial difficulties, but one measure of business establishment employment in Wayne County is showing relatively healthy growth.

And if the city of Detroit gets its financial problems under control, there is reason to believe that Wayne County and the city of Detroit will look a lot better, economically speaking, in a few years.

The job losses during the Great Recession, and the job gains during the economic recovery in both Wayne County and the U.S. overall are reflected in the table shown (Comparable employment data are not available for sub-county units like the city of Detroit so we need to look at countywide employment trends.)

The recession began in December 2007, and officially ended in June of 2009, although job losses continued for a few more months.

Thus, I am measuring the recession from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2009.

During 2008, private sector employment declined by 5.5 percent, and in 2009 by an additional 7.5 percent, so that over the two-year period private sector employment declined by 81,118.

Private sector employment in the county grew by 1.6 percent during 2010 (fourth quarter 2009 to the fourth quarter of 2010), exceeding the U.S. growth rate of 1.1 percent. During 2011, private sector employment increased by 4.3 percent in Wayne County, absolutely trouncing employment gains in the U.S. of 1.9 percent, although no one seemed to have noticed how good the county’s job recovery was in 2011. During 2012, employment growth in the county slowed to 1.9 percent, slightly trailing U.S. employment growth of 2.3 percent.

Over the three-year period from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the fourth quarter of 2012, private sector employment in Wayne County increased by 44,855 or 8 percent compared to 5.4 percent in the U.S. overall. So over the three-year job recovery period, private sector employment has grown substantially faster in Wayne County than in the U.S. overall. Where is the headline

Indeed, even if this recent employment growth continues it will take years for Wayne County to regain all of the jobs lost in the Great Recession. Furthermore, the county will probably never regain most of the jobs lost prior to 2007. There is still a lot of economic pain in the city and county and we cannot forget that.

Donald Grimes trumpeting this good news?

Perhaps more remarkable is that when you look at a different data

“So over the

three-year job recovery period, private sector employment has grown substantially faster in Wayne County than in the U.S. overall. Where is the headline trumpeting this good news?”

Most importantly, the good news this data tell does not mitigate the hard and painful actions the city of Detroit and other local governments in Wayne County must take to deal with their budget shortfalls.

Government employment in Wayne County has declined drastically in each of the past five years, and yet local government financial crisis has only gotten worse.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr is correct in saying that the city of Detroit (and by extension other local governments) needs to stop or at least substantially slow down the cuts in government services. That means that most of the financial adjustment must come from creditors, both bondholders and retirees.

set generated by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis that looks at annual average employment back to 1969, you can see that Wayne County’s private sector wage and salary employment performance never exceeded the U.S., until 2010.

But the data indicate that the prospects for employment growth in the private sector in Wayne County, relative to the U.S., are the best they have been in over 40 years.

Thus, once the local government financial problems are brought under control, Wayne County’s economy could have a much brighter future.

Not in a single year before 2010 did private sector employment grow faster or decline less in Wayne than in the United States overall. Yet Wayne has beaten the U.S. in two out of the last three years, and is only slightly trailing the U.S. in the most recent year.

Donald Grimes, a senior research area specialist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy. This guest commentary originally appeared on Bridge magazine, an editorial partner of the Michigan Chronicle.

July 24-30, 2013

Page C-5

Detroit files bankruptcy, what does this mean for me?

By Ethan Dunn That is the question we are all asking after we learned that Kevyn Orr filed an emergency bankruptcy petition. Detroiters are very concerned about what this means for them personally and for their businesses. Many residents won’t feel the effect of this bankruptcy – at least not right away. In a chapter 9 bankruptcy, which is the only type that a municipality can file, the bankruptcy court only has the power to a) decide whether the city is eligible to file, b) confirm or deny the city’s plan of reorganization, c) approve of the city assuming or rejecting certain contracts and leases, and d) under the right circumstances, dismiss the bankruptcy case.

Given the limited power of the court, there is no need to think that a bankruptcy judge will be running our government. Our elected officials (and the city’s emergency financial manager, Mr. Orr) will keep political and governmental control. Citizens can expect that grass will be cut, garbage will be picked up and our fire and police departments will continue to keep our citizens safe.

However, as the bankruptcy progresses, there is the potential for a slowdown in some departments that rely heavily on outside vendors who are not employed by the City of Detroit. These vendors may refuse to provide goods or services unless they are paid immediately. However, it is likely that Mayor Bing and Mr. Orr have considered this possibility and have a plan.

What we should undoubtedly expect almost immediately is a fight between the city and its creditors as to whether Detroit is even eligible to file this bankruptcy. The Ingham County judge’s

ruling last Friday that the bankruptcy is unconstitutional was just the start. Millions of dollars will be spent by the city’s pension boards, unions, and the city’s largest creditors to try and stop the bankruptcy before it even starts. So why file to begin with? When we are facing a deficit of more than $18 billion, the millions spent are a small price to pay for the potential upside for the City as a whole.

Assume for a moment that the bankruptcy court rules that Detroit is eligible to file this bankruptcy. That is when the real work begins and it is critical that the rights of our individuals and small business owners are protected.

We are in the midst of a historical event that will have a significant impact on the city of Detroit and all of its stakeholders.

The bankruptcy has been filed, so we don’t have the option of looking back.

While there is no doubt that this process may be painful, especially for our retirees, unions and residents who do business in the city, Detroit can come out of this stronger, wiser and with more efficient city services that all of us deserve.

In the end, this bankruptcy case could be exactly what we needed to return us to a place of prominence among American cities. As a practicing bankruptcy attorney, I know that the thought of bankruptcy makes you feel like this is the end of our city – that we should give up and turn off the lights. But we are resilient and we will rise above the naysayers, like we always do. We are Detroit.

We can.

Ethan Dunn is a partner at the law firm Maxwell Dunn, PLC. He is a resident of Detroit.

Our Children Deserve THE BEST! While the manufacturing sector has led Wayne County’s economic

Dan Quissenbery

President, Michigan Association of Public School Administrators

Tonya Allen

Chief Operating Officer, Skillman Foundation

Dr. Curtis Ivery

Chancellor, Wayne County Community College District

Sharlonda Buckman Executive Director, Detroit Parent Network

Education Town Hall Meeting Join us on, Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Our Children Deserve the Best: Join us for a town hall meeting-style conversation about the urgent need to educate our children now.

Leaders, educators, parents and even students themselves, must rally to take advantage of the options available to educate our children from cradle to career.

When: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:00 p.m.

Where: Wayne County Community College Downtown Campus 801 West Fort Street Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Chronicle Senior Editor Bankole Thompson Moderator

Join the conversation on #MCEdSummit

For more information call the Michigan Chronicle at (313) 963-5522

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Jult 24-30, 2013

Page C-6

Full circle moment: One man’s journey with the Michigan Chronicle

By William L. Toples

Members of the Cobo Center Regional Authority and NAIAS Executive Committee in 2012 celebrate signing of a five-year contract extension.

Moving forward: Detroit bankruptcy won’t impact auto show

By Rod Alberts, Executive Director, North American International Auto Show The Detroit chapter 9 bankruptcy has been anticipated for some time and will have no impact on the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The bankruptcy filing was a good decision, given the state of affairs of the city over the past decade, and will give Detroit an opportunity to move forward by relieving the city of a legacy of liabilities, giving it a fresh start. That was the sole purpose. The direction by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was the right one and will help Detroit turn the corner. Although surprising to many, it was a bold and positive move.

Cobo Center is independent of the city and is managed and operated by a regional authority, so no funding from the city is needed for Cobo. The NAIAS is also an independent organization and will not be impacted in our operation or funding, although we do work with all the city municipalities in the region, including the City of Detroit, and will continue to do so.

An interesting aspect of this, too, is the fact that we are soon to complete the third and final stage of the $300 million renovation of Cobo this coming

year. Again, this is because Cobo Center is managed by a regional authority and is funded accordingly with regional and state funds.

The city bankruptcy will have no effect on the show’s ability to provide the venue that the world automakers have come to expect, and the event that each year brings more than $350 million in economic impact to the southeastern Michigan region.

We will continue, as planned, to work side-by-side with international auto manufacturers, which continue to rely on Detroit’s stage to make their worldwide product introductions.

The North American International Auto Show is now in its 26th year as an international event. The NAIAS is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, providing unparalleled access to the automotive products, people and ideas that matter most — up close and in one place. Administered by Executive Director Rod Alberts, the NAIAS is one of the largest media events in North America, and the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world.

Remember to VOTE

As a young man growing up in the city of Detroit and in a house that stressed achievement, it was early in life that I began to work outside of my home. Having an older sister that also started her work life early on, I became the second in the family down this path of learning. School work never took a back seat to this new work life. In fact, the work served as a supplement to education in the early years.

The first job I took in the neighborhood on the lower east side on Kitchener Street, just east of Conner Avenue and north of the Detroit River, was delivering the Michigan Chronicle and Jet magazine. I quickly developed a route and a host of customers who often shared their wisdom with me and encouraged me as I stopped to deliver and collect the money for these important publications in the Black community – publications far more important than I realized at the time. I was rewarded four cents for each Michigan Chronicle and five cents for each Jet magazine I delivered. My customers became so supportive of me that they often tipped me equal to the cost of the product.

My work experience and delivery route for the Michigan Chronicle began in 1959 at the tender age of eight and I remember it as though it was yesterday.

I remember the lessons and the encouragement from my customers. I recall the pride of having something that belonged to me and the desire to service in an unparalleled manner. It was only a paper route but it may as well have been CEO for what it meant to me. I will never forget that experience that lasted for about a year.

Since that time, I have experienced the challenges and satisfactions of life.

The challenges have included the loss of my brother who went home to be with the Lord at the age of 21, and the trials associated with being a young African American man attempting to be successful in life. The satisfactions have been to see my remaining siblings and high school friends grow and have families of their own and to have a spouse of nearly 36 years and a daughter graduate Wayne State University Law School, and a mother who is celebrating 82 years of life as I prepare this article.

I have had modest success as a graduate of the University of Detroit and being employed as director in Service

William L. Toples Operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Throughout my professional career which spans nearly 37 years (30 at BCBSM), I have always felt compelled to ensure that people within my corporate and personal life were treated fairly and with respect and were given an equal chance. It is a responsibility that I have never dodged and a calling that I have gratefully accepted.

As I conclude, it is important to mention that 53 years after delivering the Michigan Chronicle, I had no idea that I would receive the newspaper’s Men of Excellence award in 2012. As I accepted the award, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my start with delivering the Michigan Chronicle so many years ago, sometimes on very cold mornings, but that was part of the invaluable training.

It’s very interesting how paths intersect more than once in life. I am sincerely proud of what the Michigan Chronicle did for me in my early development and extend my fondest wish to this sterling beacon of light for continued success in its mission to inform the world.

a

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Ladies Awards Ceremony

Saturday, September 14, 2013 11:00 a.m.

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 400 Renaissance Dr. W • Detroit, MI 48243

Go online to www.MichiganChronicle.com to purchase you tickets today!

Individual Tickets: $65

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July 24-30, 2013

Reflections

By Steve Holsey

The soul of the matter

At the time of this writing, Robin Thicke is No. 1 on the national R&B charts with his song “Blurred Lines.” Shortly before that, Jason Timberlake was in the top spot with the album “The 20/20 Experience.” Eminem has been in that position as well.

These and other White artists who have done well on the R&B charts and on urban radio are accepted because they are working in a music genre that comes natural to them, almost second nature.

Robin Thicke

George Michael

Therefore it comes across as authentic and is subsequently widely accepted in the Black community.

Among the other White artists who have found their way to high positions on the national R&B charts over the years are Teena Marie, Amy Winehouse, the Righteous Brothers, Daryl Hall & John Oates, George Michael, Gino Vannelli, Lisa Stansfield, Michael McDonald, Simply Red and Bobby Caldwell.

Soul comes from the heart, and if R&B is the genre and the artist is non-Black, so be it.

YOU HAVE probably heard by now that Halle Berry and actor Olivier Martinez got married in France recently, which is where he was born.

Well, we hope this marriage is successful.

Martinez, by the way, beat up Berry’s previous boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubrey, who is Olivier Martinez and Halle the father of her Berry. daughter. (She and Martinez are expecting a son.)

Berry’s previous relationships and marriages that ended in disaster were with dentist John Ronan, pro-baseball player David Justice and singer Eric Benét. (There were probably others.)

It can’t always be the fault of the men.

JERMAINE JACKSON produced music for Whitney Houston in the early days of her career, and they also recorded as a duo. But according famed songstress Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mom, there was more to it than that.

“Jermaine Jackson was trying to Whitney Houston and step out of the Jermaine Jackson (1985). shadow of his superstar brother, Michael,” said Houston. “He turned out to be interested in Nippy (Whitney) for more than just her singing talent.

“Jermaine was a nice enough guy, but he was married, so I wasn’t thrilled when Nippy went out with him a couple of times. She was always a big fan of Michael Jackson, so maybe that had something to do with it.”

Other sources say Jackson and Houston were “secret lovers.”

QUESTLOVE (real name: Ahmir Thompson) is best known as the drummer/bandleader with the Roots, currently the house band on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” and as a record producer.

Now he has written a book titled “Mo’ Meta Questlove Blues: The World According to Questlove.” He talks about his interesting life, and also has much to say about the artists and the records that have greatly affected him throughout life.

But was does “meta” mean? One online definition described it as “a term used to characterize something that is self-referential.”

Hmmm…not sure if I fully understand that.

NO ONE was as good as Luther Vandross when he was with us in the physical realm, and no one has come along Luther Vandross who is even half as good since, although there have been and are a lot of good singers.

See Reflections Page D-3

Nick Cannon A man of many talents

By Jason Donovan Nick Cannon’s middle name is Scott, but based on his talent and the diversity of his achievements, it would be appropriate for it to be “Versatility.”

Actor, television host, rapper, comedian, radio host and maybe he has skills in areas the public doesn’t know about yet.

Cannon is one of those people who seemed destined to make it in show business.

Most likely, he didn’t think much, if at all, about pursuing a career in any other field.

And then there was the question of making it (“or not,” for some people), but that is a matter of being “singularly focused.”

Perhaps megastar/ icon Diana Ross said it best. She stated that failure never crossed her mind as a child.

She was going to be a success in show business as a singer — and that was that.

Nick Cannon can relate.

“YOU HAVE to be vigorous,” he said.

“That’s the only way you are going to make it. Everybody has dreams and everybody has goals, but the only people who achieve them are the ones who go after them and don’t take no for an answer.”

There is also a huge amount to be said for being in the right location.

“If you want to be in the automo-

tive business, you go to Detroit, and you figure it out,” Cannon said. “And if you want to be in entertainment, go to where it’s at. Go to Hollywood. Go to New York.”

And he vividly recalled, “I was 16 years old, driving to LA (from San Diego) and sleeping in my car, just trying to make it happen.”

Nicholas Cannon had started rapping at the age of 8, but got his first break as a stand-up comedian when he was 11. His father, James Cannon, a motivational televangelist, had a cable access program and was able to get his eager son on it.

His next break involved Nickelodeon, the basic cable and satellite TV network whose target audience is pre-teens and teens. The network’s studio audiences needed to be “warmed up” before its shows began, and Cannon was hired.

THINGS MOVED along nicely from that point, and Cannon was enjoying the building momentum.

From 2005 to 2007, he hosted as well as performed on an MTV sketch comedy program titled “Wild ’N Out.” He taped his own stand-up comedy special in 2011, recorded live in Palms Springs, titled “Mr. Showbiz.” An ambitious title, for sure, but it reflected the focus of how he wanted to display his talents and the level of success he intended to reach.

See NICK CANNON Page D-3

lifestyle

EAT

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Editor’s Note It is human nature to admire beauty around us, such as being awestruck when we see a painting, or read a beautiful poem, or listen to soothing music.

We commonly associate art in terms of a painting or a sculpture we see in a museum or an art gallery, but art is everywhere around us in many forms and adds significant value

to our lives.

This week take some time to express your feelings through any medium of art. It could be abstract, realistic, naturalistic, conceptual or inspirational.

Just make it your own.

Artfully yours,

PLAY Rian J. Barnhill

Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts in Artist Village Detroit, Aug. 3

This year’s line-up includes wide variety of acts

It’s summer…time for carefree, fun-filled days and casual entertaining.

So whether you’re picnic-bound, heading to a bring-a-dish potluck, or simply dining al fresco on the deck, antipasto pasta salad is the perfect choice.

Start with cooked al dente, then toss with a medley of mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers and fresh basil. Reduced-fat provolone cheese and light salami round out the Italian-inspired ingredients.

Dressed with a simple homemade Dijon-garlic-oregano vinaigrette, it’s a winner, and ready to serve in under an hour.

Sidewalk’s mission is to promote visual and performing arts in Detroit by transforming public, unique and under-used property into non-traditional performance venues. Sidewalk stimulates pedestrian traffic and engagement in unique metro Detroit places by repurposing space for live visual and performing arts. Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts is an annual event that promotes place-making and creative use of space in Detroit.

secret for adding a flavor boost — she briefly marinates the mushrooms and artichoke hearts in a small amount of the vinaigrette while the remainder of the salad is being assembled.

For the best flavor and texture, prepare the salad the same day you plan to serve it. Buon appetito!

Antipasto Pasta Salad Preparation time: 30 minutes Serves: 6-8 1/2 box Dreamfields Penne Rigate 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms 1 8-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed, drained and quartered 4 slices reduced-fat provolone cheese 2 ounces sliced light Italian salami 1/2 cup sliced roasted red peppers 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves Basil sprig, optional Dressing: 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Companies are rolling out hot new technology to keep you connected, organized and entertained. Yet, many create pet peeves. Whether you are hanging out at home or travelling on vacation, here’s a round-up of tech gadget must-haves that get rid of top gadget pet peeves.

Highlights include Kresge Award winners Hardcore Detroit and Passalaqua

18th annual Ribs and R&B Music Festival AUG. 9-11

Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit to host newly renamed event

“Ribbers from across the United States will make Detroit the epicenter of the barbecue world,” said Johnnie Washington, producer of the event.

“This is Detroit’s most anticipated event of the summer.”

On Sunday, Aug. 11, chefs will smoke, grill and season ribs to perfection during the Rib Cook Off. This year, 15 grillers will compete for the Best Ribs and Best Sauce titles. Each winner will receive a trophy.

Musical headliners for the festival are Loose Ends, the Mary Jane Girls and Enchantment. More than 30 acts performing during the weekend. There will also be tributes to the late Bobby Rogers of the Miracles and the late Rick James

At 10 a.m. Sunday, El Bethel Church

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water until completely cooled; drain again. Place in large bowl; set aside.

For dressing, whisk together dressing ingredients in small bowl.

Place mushrooms in medium microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high 1 minute, or until mushrooms begin to soften. Uncover; pour off any liquid.

Add artichoke hearts to mushrooms; toss with 2 tablespoons dressing and set aside.

Stack provolone slices; cut into eighths to form triangles. Stack salami slices; cut into quarters.

Add to pasta along with red peppers.

Stack basil leaves; roll up and slice into very thin strips. Top pasta salad with basil, marinated mushrooms and artichokes. Whisk dressing again; add to salad and lightly toss. Garnish with basil sprig, if desired.

Must-have gadgets designed to eliminate pet peeves

Detroit is internationally renowned for its unique architecture and rich artist heritage. Sidewalk will present the work of a diverse collection of dance companies, theater troupes, musicians and visual artists who are making non-traditional and avant-garde work specifically informed by the landscape and culture of the city.

There will be lots of great food and music in downtown Detroit when the 18th annual Ribs and R&B Music Festival is presented Aug. 9-11 in Hart Plaza.

The event was formerly known as the Ribs ’n’ Soul Festival.

1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

SHOP

Plus, Koch shares her

celebrating hip hop; Parangoles Playhouse, a tribute to Brazilian and urban wearable art installed in the “Art Alley”; movement and poetry collaboration between poetess Jessica Care Moore and modern dance company Jungle Statement; pop-up Shakespeare performances from Magenta Giraffe Theater Company; and experimental jazz by Sean Blackmen’s Sin Hielo.

Page D-2

Summer’s perfect pasta salads

“Brimming with the ingredients and flavors of an Italian antipasto platter, this crowd-pleaser is both hearty and healthy.” says Marlene Koch, R.D., author of the New York Times bestseller “Eat More of What You Love.”

Koch created this colorful, flavorful recipe with summertime and easy entertaining in mind.

She suggests pairing it with grilling favorites such as chicken or pork, or simply serving it as a meal on its own.

On Aug. 3, Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts, an outdoor celebration of site-specific performance and installation art, will fill the courtyards, sidewalks, storefronts and gardens in and around Artist Village Detroit (17340 Lahser) with engaging site-specific work from 3 to 9 p.m. Sidewalk celebrates the architecture, culture and artistry of Detroit places through site-specific performance and installation.

July 17-23, 2013

with Pastor Glass will present a service followed by a Gospel Showcase starring Gospel Divas until 3 p.m. R&B and jazz will be performed from 4 p.m. until midnight on two stages. The event also will feature a health expo, an art fair, an African village, a business expo and a Kids Zone. Preferred seating and VIP tickets are available for both Saturday and Sunday shows.

“We work hard to provide our guests with exceptional entertainment and an experience for the entire family,” said Washington. “We expect this year’s festival to draw more than 250,000 people over the weekend.”

For vendor information and how to become an Ambassador sponsor, call 1-800-794-7503 or visit www.ribsrnbjazzfest.com The family friendly event is free Friday and Saturday and until 2 p.m. On Sunday, a $3 admission will be charged after 2 p.m. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to midnight each day.

tion fee and an annual service fee.

Deadzones while driving? zFORCE

Hate dropped calls or those dreaded dead zones? The zForce YX240 signal booster by zBoost captures outside signals and amplifies it on the inside of your car. The result is increased reliability and an improved signal for voice and data and no more dropped calls. The zForce works with your cell phone or smartphone, such as iPhone, Android or BlackBerry. Priced at $99 to $129, the device comes with a cradle for handsfree operation and promises to extend battery life. Check out www.wi-ex.com for more information.

Needing a pen and paper?

SKY WIFI SMARTPEN

Calls going straight to voicemail? zBOOST SOHO Nothing is more annoying than dropping or missing a call because of a weak signal. zBoost SOHO cell phone signal booster kit increases signal up to 3000 square feet, making it perfect for your home or office. Priced at $399, yet available and heavily discounted at most e-tailers, the device supports multiple users simultaneously with increased voice and data transmission. Check it out at www.wi-ex.com.

Lost luggage?

TRAKDOT Anyone who has ever lost luggage or simply wondered what happens to their bag after leaving it at the check-in counter will want this gadget available at www. trakdot.com. The device, priced at $50, constantly monitors the cellular network to determine its city location. It sleeps while in flight but wakes up and e-mails your cell phone when it lands.

Tuck it into your checked luggage and know immediately if your luggage landed in the same city. It also sends a friendly greeting when you are within 30 feet of your luggage — very handy for finding your black wheeled bag among all the others. There is a small one-time activa-

This $200 high-tech pen records everything you write and hear then automatically transfers it wirelessly to your tablet, laptop or smartphone. The 4GB smartpen can hold more than 400 hours of audio and thousands of pages of notes. It can also give you the answer to any addition, subtraction, multiplication or division problem you write down.

Livescribe smartpens do require the use of special paper printed with a unique pattern of tiny microdots. This tiny pattern acts like a map for the smartpen, allowing it to capture the exact location of everything you write or draw. Learn more at www.livescribe.com.

Trying to see pics, docs or videos on someone else’s phone?

POCKET PROJECTOR Compact, portable and rechargeable, the HDMI Pocket Projector takes you from business presentations to game time with friends to family movie night.

Priced at $300, it connects to most smartphones, tablets, computers, video players, game consoles and digital cameras. It delivers an incredibly sharp, clear image up to 60 inches diagonal on any flat surface. So, those movies you have stored on your smartphone can be viewed by the whole family at once. Find out more at www.brookstone.com.

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013 Page D-3

29TH ANNUAL

SAM LOGAN MICHIGAN CHRONICLE GOLF TOURNAMENT Fast Freddy

Ortheia Barnes

Downtown Tony Brown

Motor City Legends annual White Party Cruise

Every summer hundreds of fun-seekers board the Detroit Princess Riverboat for the White Party Cruise, presented by ATAC International and the Detroit Princess Riverboat. It is also a birthday celebration for singer Gino Washington.

The

seventh

annual

cruise will take place on Sunday, July 28. Boarding time is 9 p.m. The cruise is from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The music, a combination of old school and new school, will be provided by D.J. Tone G. Entertaining cruisers this year will be Down-

town Tony Brown, Fast Freddy, the Shades of Blue, Leilani, Ortheia Barnes and Cash McCall.

There will also be a dance contest.

SATURDAY • JULY 27, 2013 At

Rouge Golf Course

GOLF COURSE

11701 Burt Rd, Detroit, MI 48228 Rob Johnson, Course General Manager

CHAMPIONSHIP, 1ST 2ND, & 3RD Golf Cart, Refreshments, Etc.

The cost is $40 which includes refreshments.

For ticket information, call (818) 391-6332 or (517) 627-2154.

Nick Cannon

SENIOR MUST BE 62 & OLDER SUPER SENIOR 70 UP

From page D-1

“Wild N’ Out” was revived in late 2012 by MTV2. He also made comedy recordings, such as “Nick Cannon” and “Stages.”

START 8:00 A.M.

Proceeds to benefit the Sam Logan Foundation

nal twins, a boy, Moroccan, and a girl, Monroe.

NICK CANNON proved to be a polished, amiable and likable host, so much so that he was retained as host for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth seasons.

THE FOLLOWING year, Cannon had a series of health challenges, including blood clots in his lungs, mild kidney failure and a disease called lupus nephritis, the reason for his kidney issues.

His films include “Drumline,” “Men in Black II,” “Garfield: The Movie,” “Love Don’t Cost,” “Underclassmen” and “Shall We Dance?”

Far less serious, but also worth noting, is a feud Cannon had with Eminem who had dated Mariah Carey before she knew Cannon. The Eninem/ Carey break-up was not pleasant.

In the spring of 2011, Carey and Cannon became the parents of frater-

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The show was created, in a sense, to give “American Idol” a run for its money, but “America’s Got Talent” also had to compete with another newcomer, “The X Factor.”

It was major news when, on April 30, 2008, Cannon was married to superstar songstress Mariah Carey, who is eight and a half years older than he. They had only been dating for six weeks and there had been no announcement.

HURRY! Limited Number First Come, First Served!

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However, Cannon reached a whole new audience — including people, generally older, who may not have been familiar with his previous work — when he began hosting the hugely popular talent search program “America’s Got Talent,” in its fourth season, that airs on NBC.

He won an NAACP Image Award in 2012 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for his work in the comedy TV series “Up All Night,” in a recurring role.

4 FLIGHTS

More recently, Cannon clashed on national televison with comedian Kevin Hart, prompted by a negative joke Hart had made about Carey.

Hopefully, all parties involved will be able to eventually rise above the conflict, which is not important in the greater scheme of things.

It would not be illogical to assume that greater things are yet to come from Nick Cannon. — Steve Holsey contributed to this story.

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MOTOR CITY ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

.CHENE PARK: Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank, July 28; Rahsaan Patterson, Kindred & the Family Soul, July 31; D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Aug. 4; Will Downing, Maurissa Rose, Aug. 7; Three Dog Night, Aug. 8; Ramsey Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aug. 14; Toni Braxton, Aug. 17; Sergio Mendes, Aug. 21; Keyshia Cole, Lyfe Jennings, K’Michelle, Aug. 24; Michael McDonald, Toto, Aug. Tyrese 25. For tickets, call the Chene Park box office at 313.393.7128 or visit www.cheneparkdetroit.com. Tickets are also sold at Ticketmaster locations.

Reflections

But Vandross was in a class of his own, and he fully deserved every one of those eight Grammy Awards.

It will be interesting to see if Queen Latifah does well with her talk show, “The Queen Latifah Show,” which debuts this fall. There are so many talk shows on the air already, and so many that were introduced in the past that didn’t make it.

However, Latifah has such a charming personality that it might be enough to enable her to succeed.

Chris Brown’s middle name should be “Trouble,” the latest being rear ending a woman, and then reportedly not having a valid driver’s license or proof of insurance. As had been well publicized, probation from a previous well-known incident was revoked, and he could get jail time.

One of my co-workers said, “He’s misbehaved long enough.”

Rolling Stone magazine recently posted a feature written by Andy Greene titled “The 10 Most Annoying Movie Star Behaviors.” One of them was “Casting Your Real-Life Children,” with a focus on Will and Jada-Pinkett Smith and their kids, Jaden and Willow.

With tongue partly in cheek, Greene said, “You’d think he (Smith) would realize that early fame has destroyed many childhoods. Before his kids were out of middle school, they were recording bubblegum rap songs and appearing alongside him in movies. “’After Earth’ was created by Smith

INDIA.ARIE, Sound Board at Motor City Casino, Nov. 17. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

“OLDIES AND MORE” BYOB parties for older adults, St. George Cathedral Cultural Center, 18405 W. Nine Mile Road, Friday, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23, Sept. 13, Se–t. 27.

Call Bobby Green at 313.530.2933 for more information.

DIANA ROSS, Sound Board at Motor City Casino, Aug. 25. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

MITCH RYDER, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Aug. 15. For ticket information visit royaloakmusictheatre.com.

From page D-1 largely as a vehicle to showcase his teenage son, Jaden. He was so blinded by the desire to turn Jaden into a superstar that he didn’t realize the movie sucked.

“There’s a simple lesson here: Don’t cast your kids. You have no idea how much their presence warps your creative judgment.”

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that six women have been “Peaches” in the history of the famous duo Peaches & Herb.

MEMORIES: “Baby I Need Your Loving” (the Four Tops), “Woman’s Gotta Have It” (Bobby Womack), “Star Love” (Cheryl Lynn), “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” (Marvin Gaye), “Memory Lane” (Minnie Riperton), “Let Me Make Love to You” (the O’Jays), “Tired of Being Alone” (Al Green), “Choosing Up on You” (the Dramatics), “Love or Let Me Be Lonely” (the Friends of Distinction), “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes).

BLESSINGS to Mishelle Yvette Kennedy, Misha Helvey, Erica Alexander, Cheryl Johnson, Duana Watkins, Cor­ nelius Fortune, Dorothy West, Aretha Watkins, Deena Dunham, Marcus Amick, Montez Miller and Dina Peace.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from filmmaker Michael Moore: “You don’t exist to be anyone’s personal garbage dump.”

Let the music play!

Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND EMMETT/FURLA FILMS PRESENT A MARC PLATT PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH OASIS VENTURES ENTERTAINMENT LTD/ENVISION ENTERTAINMENT/HERRICK ENTERTAI NMENT/ BOOM! STUDIOS A BALTASAR KORMAKUR´ FILM DENZEL WASHINMUSICGTONMARK WAHLBERG“2 GUNS”CO- PAULA PATTONBILL PAXTON JAMES MARSDEN FRED WARD AND EDWARD JAMES OLMOS BY CLINTON SHORTER PRODUCERS BRANDON GRIMES JEFF RICE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS BRANDT ANDERSEN JEFFREY STOTT MOTAZ M. NABULSI JOSHUA SKURLA MARK DAMON PRODUCED

BY MARC PLATT RANDALL EMMETT NORTON HERRICK ADAM SIEGEL GEORGE FURLA ROSS RICHIE ANDREW COSBY ´ BASED GRAPHIC SCREENPLAY DIRECTED ON THE BOOM! STUDIOS NOVELS BY STEVEN GRANT

BY BLAKE MASTERS BY BALTASAR KORMAKUR A UNIVERSAL RELEASE © 2013 GEORGIA FILM FUND FIFTEEN, LLC AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

Memories

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Make Long-Term Care Plans Before They Are Needed

The best time to make decisions regarding long-term care is well before it’s needed. An unexpected illness or injury may force you or a loved one into making hasty decisions.

Long-term care is a set of services and supports for people who are unable to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

ADLs are self-care activities, such as getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing, dressing, eating, and bowel and bladder management. About 70 percent of people turning 65 can expect to need some kind of long-term care services as they age.

Experts encourage everyone over age 50 to take the time, while you have it, to research options and make important choices.

Long-term care planning means developing a personal strategy now for how things should be handled later when you or a loved one is in need of care. Important considerations include the following: Staying In Charge An important part of long-term care planning is outlining how you would like things to be handled. Expressing preferences clearly about how any declines in ADLs should be handled, what financial resources are available, and who should provide needed care is a good way to retain control. All adults over age 18 should execute legal documents that appoint one or more individuals to make health care and financial decisions for them in the event they become unable to make decisions for themselves. Adults who lose the ability to make decisions before executing these documents must have the court system appoint someone to make decisions for them. An attorney can also prepare an advance care directive, which is a set of written instructions detailing what medical care you want or do not want.

Housing Those who would prefer to stay at home for as long as possible should make a plan to do so, and consider making modifications as needed. Home modifications are often intended to allow maximum self-care, and to help avoid a fall. Avoiding a fall can help delay or avoid the need for long-term care. Typical modifications include widening doorways, adding wheelchair ramps, improving lighting, mounting stairway chair lifts, installing medical alert systems and adding handrails or safety grips. An important consideration for anyone planning to stay home is to ensure the bathroom can be used safely. Ideally, your residence should maximize your ability to continue performing ADLs, and help you avoid a fall.

Primary Care Maintaining a good relationship with a primary care physician is key. Regular check-ups can lead to early diagnosis of any physical, mental or emotional decline. Be honest and open about symptoms, daily habits or changes in appetite. Be sure to have the primary care physician review all medications. Ongoing medication management is an important part of staying healthy and avoiding a fall.

Family Care Unpaid family members are the most common source of longterm care help. But, they may not be able to provide all the care you need, or be there every hour of the day. If you intend to rely on family members for long-term care services be sure to involve them in your long-term care planning. Make sure they are willing and able to be caregivers for you.

Paid Care As part of your long-term care plan, look into caregiving services in your area, including in-home care providers and elder daycare centers. Find out about elder shuttles, meals on wheels and other low-cost services offered in your community.

Several types of housing come with support services for people who cannot fully take care of themselves due to aging and/or disability.

—Public housing is available for low-to-moderate income elderly and persons with disabilities.

—Assisted living homes are group living settings that offer housing in addition to assistance with ADLs and other services, such as meals. Generally, they do not provide medical care.

—Continuing care retirement communities provide a range of housing options, including independent living units, assisted living and nursing homes, all on the same campus.

—Nursing facilities, or nursing homes, are the most service-intensive housing option, providing skilled nursing services and therapies as needed.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the different types of facilities available in your area. Ask family and friends for any recommendations they may have and take advantage of information available on the Internet. Visit www.longtermcare.gov to find out more information about each type of facility and costs associated with long-term care. Your local Area Agency on Aging office also offers a list of resources available to the elderly in your area.

Having your long-term care plan squared away and clear, so there are no misunderstandings or second-guessing, can be the greatest gift you can give to your loved ones, and yourself.

For more information, visit www.longtermcare.gov.

Page D-4

qObituariesq

Evelyn Murrie Burines

Stanley D. Williams

Evelyn Murrie-Burines was born the fourth child to the late Henrene Robinson Murrie and Tommie Murrie on November 23, 1951 in Highland Park.

She passed away peacefully at home after a short illness.

She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and knew that God’s grace sustained her.

Having lost her mother at the age of 12, she and her two sisters assumed matriarchal roles, watching over one another and their brothers to keep the family intact.

Their love and support was unwavering.

Mrs. Murrie-Burines graduated from Southeastern High School in Detroit in 1970. On September 19, 2001, she married Reginald Burines of Detroit and he gave her the love and security she always gave to others. Together, they enjoyed music, concerts, dancing and creating culinary delights. They were devoted to each other and his appreciation and understanding allowed her family and close girlfriends to share in her precious last moments.

Her son, Jason, and his three daughters were most important in her life. She looked forward to being with her granddaughters and always said their laughter, love and smiles made her day.

She was like a second mother to her nephews, Daryl Murrie and Kwasi Dwamena, and her niece, Deborah Murrie-Lowe.

Affectionately called “Tee-Tee,” she loved and was loved by all of her nephews and nieces. She was also caregiver to her Uncle Freddie, whom she loved dearly.

A selfless woman, Mrs. Murrie-Burines’ approach to life was to be honest and direct. She was thoughtful, sharing, caring and loving. She would say to those around her, “If you can help somebody, and you don’t, you know you are wrong, especially if you can help.” To her it was important to be that person who helped others preserve their dignity.

Her stellar career in property management spanned 27 years.

In 1989, she formed EJM & Associates to provide real estate management and marketing consultant services to property agencies and real estate investors. She also developed the City of Detroit’s HOME Tenant based Rental Assistance Program, coordinated the10-Year Plan to Ending Homelessness and created a Policy Board of Stakeholders to address local homeless issues. Her experience, skills and professionalism made her sought after by major government and corporate entities such as the State of Michigan, Amurcon Management Co., Continental Wingate Management and McKinley Client Services, Inc. Evelyn Murrie-Burines leaves to celebrate her life her loving husband Reginald; son, Jason Allan, granddaughters, Briana Naomi and twins Alaya Rachel and Alana Rozelle; stepdaughter, Brandi Webster-Drew, grandsons, Darion and Deonte III; sisters, Patricia Ann Murray-Grace, Shirley Annette, Charity and Tonetta; and brothers, Tommie Jr. and Gregory; (a third brother, Dennis, preceded her in death); one uncle, Freddie Murray, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Services for Stanley Durham Williams Sr. were held Saturday, June 8, at Renaissance Unity Church in Warren.

Officiating was the Rev. Ric Beattie.

Mr. Williams, a skilled tradesman and stalwart UAW member, died suddenly Friday, May 31, at the age of 70.

Born Dec. 4, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio, he entered military service after graduating from high school. He spent 18 months in Vietnam and 12 years in the Army Reserves.

A strong believer in the importance of educating oneself and learning new things, he earned certificates from REX Electronic and Motech Automotive schools, and attended Wayne County Community College and Wayne State University. He was a skilled tradesman and strong UAW member.

A political advocate, Mr. Williams joined the Black Panthers Party in the early 1970s. He was an avid chess player and intensely interested in holistic health. Although not religious, he had a spirituality that encompassed love and understanding of his fellowman and, above all, his family.

Mr. Williams’ surviving family includes his wife of 38 years, Sheila Hardy-Williams, and their children, Stanley Jr., Dawn Williams and Littrell Williams-Inner; children from a previous marriage, Anita, Perry and Jasmine Williams; eight grandchildren, Tina and Phillips Ely, Tahmer Perry, Jasmine, Najee and Marion Williams, and Autumn and Summer Inner; three great-grandchildren, two sisters, Lois Williams and Rosita Franklin; a brother, Fred Franklin, and many other relatives.

Burial was at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. Final arrangements were by Swanson Funeral Home.

q

Over Age 50?

July 24 - 30, 2013

q

Ellen Marie Logan A celebration of the life of Ellen Marie Logan was held Monday, June 17, at Sacred Heart Church. Officiating was Father Norman Thomas.

Mrs. Thomas, an exemplary student, career professional, community and civic leader, wife and matriarch, passed away June 10 in her home following a three-year battle with cancer. The end of her earthly journey came just five weeks after her 66th birthday.

Born Ellen Marie Morgan May 3, 1947, in Detroit, she attended Sherrill Elementary School and graduated from Mackenzie High School at the age of 16, excelling in all of her classes. In 1970 she married Chester L. Logan and they became the parents of four children. She received her bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor College in 1984 and master’s from Central Michigan University in 1993.

Mrs. Logan’s occupational record began as a gift wrapper at J.L. Hudson’s followed by a employment at Michigan Bell Telephone Co. and a brief position at Recorder’s Court. Her first retirement, as an eighth-level purchasing manager, was from a 25-year employment at General Motors. Her second was in 2010 as a manager at Delta Airlines after being recognized as Employee of the Year. In 2010 she joined Zonta International Inc. and served as its president from 2008-10.

An enthusiastic member and supporter of the Old News Boys/Goodfellows and a Golden Heritage member of the NAACP, she was a devoted member of Good Shepard Catholic Church and dedicated to assisting other members and the community. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed gardening and traveling.

Mrs. Logan is survived by her husband of 42 years, Chester L. Logan; children, Sheila Gosbey, Leonard Logan and twins Kerry Buffington and and Kimberly Blackwell; grandsons, Cheldon Logan and twins Moses and Markus Blackwell; siblings, Anthony, Theodore and Gwendolyn Morgan; aunt, Phyllis Spann, and cousin, Carol Lewis, with whom she a sisterly bond, and many other relatives.

Interment was at Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Swanson Funeral Home.

Walter A. Boykin, Sr.

Pearline Kennedy Riggs Services for Pearline Kennedy Riggs were held Tuesday, June 11, at Pure in Heart Missionary Baptist Church. Officiating was Pastor Julius C. Eason.

Mrs. Riggs, a retired educator, succumbed Friday, June 7, to a sudden illness at William Beaumont Hospital.

She was 79.

Born Oct. 17, 1933, in Meridian, Miss., she received her formal education in the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Miller High School in 1954. She married the late John Morris Riggs Sr. in 1957 and they enjoyed the marriage and three children until his passing in 1992.

Mrs. Riggs was employed by the DPS as a coordinator for the School Breakfast/Lunch Program before transferring to the Early Childhood Education Department as a teaching assistant at Nichols Elementary, Joy Middle and Durfee Pre-K-Elementary-Middle schools, where she retired in 1999 from more than 35 years of service.

Mrs. Riggs was a member of People’s Missionary Baptist Church before moving to Pure in Heart Church where during her 43-year membership she served on the Usher Board and Music ministries.

Her survivors include her three children, John Jr., Paulette and Donna Jean Riggs; brother, Roosevelt Kennedy; three grandchildren, Johnathan, Michael and Francesca Riggs; two great-grandchildren, Tyree Riggs and Mark Harris Jr.; the Pure in Heart Church family and many other relatives and friends.

Entombnent was at Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery-East.

Arrangements were by Swanson Funeral Home Inc.

Shawn L. Addison Services for Shawn Lamarr Addison were held Thursday, June 6, at Love Joy COGIC with Supt. Willie Walker Jr. officiating.

Mr. Addison, a dedicated husband and father, passed away Monday, May 27, nine days before his 43rd birthday and the date of his burial.

A native Detroiter, he was born June 6, 1970, to Theresa Addison (Pennamon) and Charles Davis. He attended the Detroit Public Schools and later went on to obtain his GED. Included 3 He was baptized at an early age at New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Highland Park. “Buff,” as he was affectionately called by family and friends, was an inquisitive child who often took things apart and tried to put them back together.

In 2002 Mr. Addison married April Jones and they had two children. He doted on his children and enjoyed spending time with them, attending school activities, going on field trips and playing ball with his son. His favorite pastimes included listening to music, watching movies and sports, and cooking In addition to his wife, April, and children, Tenia Monet and Jalen Lamar Addison, he is survived by his parents, Charles Davis and Theresa and Bobby Pennamon; sisters, Denerra Lee, Tamika Pennamon and Angela Johnson; nephews, Anthony Taylor Jr., Ivan Mosley and Jemel Johnson; nieces, Amaya Taylor and Arielle Johnson, and other relatives. He is also survived by a special friend, Carmen Walker, and special cousin, Anthony Addison.

Burial was at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements were by Swanson Funeral Home Inc.

Scan and Enjoy

Services for Walter Andrew Boykin Sr. were held Wednesday, June 5, at Outer Drive Faith Lutheran Church with the Rev. Eddie Morales officiating.

Mr. Boykin died Friday, May 31, at the age of 87.

Born April 5, 1926, in Memphis, Tenn., he attended the Memphis Public Schools and went on to excel in football at Lane College. After completing his college years and relocated to Detroit. In 1962 he met and married his wife Berdena and they had two children, Walter Andrew II and Michelle Loris.

Mr. Boykin was employed at Chrysler Corp. and later at General Dynamics Land Systems for approximately 40 years.

An active member of Outer Drive Faith Lutheran, he served in many ro les and carried out various duties.

In addition to his wife, Berdena, and children, Walter II and Michelle, he is survived by in-law Velma Boykin and Carl Norwood; children godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Nichols and Howard Martin, and many other relatives.

Burial was at Great Lakes Cemety in Holly. Handling arrangements was Swanson Funeral Home Inc.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

before the City Council of Detroit. Advertisements for bids and contracts for purchases by the City of Detroit appear daily in the Detroit Legal News. Copies are available at the City County Bldg. and at 2001 W. Lafayette, Detroit.

WCAA DETROIT METRO AIRPORT RSVP BUS. DIV. (734) 942-3566 Business.Diversity@wcaa.us Solicitation info available at: www.mitn.info ACDBE Outreach Forum McNamara Food & Beverage Conc. Opp. Overview Romulus Marriott 7/30/13 9 AM-12:30 PM Detroit St. Regis Hotel 7/31/13 5:30-8:30 PM

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Detroit Public Library Commission is seeking sealed competitive Requests for Proposal for the Installation of Rubber Floor Tiles at the Redford Branch of the Detroit Public Library located at 21200 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48219.

Bid documents may be obtained from the Purchasing office located at 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, 48202, 313-481-1325. They may also be obtained from the Detroit Public Library website at detroitpubliclibrary.org.

There is a mandatory sign in and walk through at the Redford Branch site, July 29, 2013 PROMPLY at 9:00 AM. Sealed documents are to be returned to the Purchasing office no later than Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 2:30PM (Detroit Michigan Time). No late, fax, e-mail or any other utilization of an electronic method to respond to this request will be accepted.

PC-793 SPECIALIZED PROCESS AND FACILITIES EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AT VARIOUS WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WATER BOOSTER STATIONS, SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS AND OTHER RELATED FACILITIES

ADVERTISEMENT

1.Bids – The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) will receive sealed Bids for the Work delivered to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Contracts and Grants Division, Rm. #1510, Detroit, Michigan 48226, until 2:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, August 15, 2013_, when all Bids duly received will be opened publicly and read aloud. Bidders should arrive in a timely manner.

2.Project Description - The Work, PC-793, includes, but is not necessarily limited to furnishing, on an as-needed basis, for a period of three (3) years, the materials, equipment and specialized work force labor to perform miscellaneous major and minor improvements and maintenance projects at the DWSD water booster and sanitary lift stations, administrative facilities, (main office-service/payment centers), maintenance facilities, water treatment plants, various water mains/sewer repair locations, and all other DWSD facilities, as detailed in Exhibit A, General Description of Work and Project in the Agreement. For further requirements of work, please refer to Exhibit I - Specifications in the bid document.

The successful bidder may also be required to (a) furnish materials, as yet unspecified, (b) provide on a lease or rental basis the usage of heavy construction equipment and vehicles, (c) secure the services of various specialty subcontractors, and (d) provide machine shop support services.

The site is located at 6425 Huber Street, Detroit, Michigan.

3.Bidding Documents - Beginning Friday, July 19, 2013, Sets of Bidding Documents will be available on the DWSD website at www. dwsd.org . A hard copy of the Bid Document may be obtained from the DWSD Contracts Section, 1504 Water Board Building, 735 Randolph, Detroit, MI 48226 on Business Days between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Copies may be obtained upon the payment of $100.00 per set, in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners (which will not be refunded).

Bidding Documents will be shipped only if the requesting party assumes responsibility for all related charges.

4.Bid Security – Each Bid shall enclose Bid Security, as specified in the Instructions to Bidders (and Section 00310, Bid Bond), in the amount of five percent (5%) of the Bidder’s Bid. 5. Pre-Bid Conference and Site Tour - A pre-bid conference will be held at 1606 Water Board Building, 735 Randolph, Detroit, MI 48226, on Thursday, July 25, 2013, at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. A site tour will not be held. For information on the pre-bid conference call Daniel Edwards at (313) 964-9471. Addenda may be issued, in response to issues raised at the pre-bid conference or as the DWSD and/or Contracting Officer may otherwise consider necessary.

6.Local Contracting Requirements – Local requirements applicable to this contract are reproduced in their entirety and available for review on the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s website: www.dwsd.org. Potential Bidders are specifically directed to review requirements of this contract before submitting their bid. Note: Prevailing Wage Rates must be updated and paid each year by the contractor and subcontractors for the duration of the contract.

7.Contract Times – The Contract Times are specified in Exhibit A, General Description of Work and Project. The associated liquidated damages are specified in Article IV, Paragraph 4.02 of the Agreement.

8.Award – Subject to any agreed extension of the period for holding Bids, Bids shall be open for acceptance by the DWSD for 180 days after the date of Bid opening. In addition, the DWSD expressly reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, waive any non-conformances, to issue post-Bid Addenda and re-Bid the Work without readvertising, to re-advertise for Bids, to withhold the award for any reason the DWSD determines and/or to take any other appropriate action.

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NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND PUBLIC HEARING

Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Notice of Public Hearing Addressing the Proposed Closure of Runway 14-32 at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan Wayne County Airport Authority has completed, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved for public distribution, a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Closure of Runway 14-32 at Willow Run Airport (YIP). The Draft EA describes the alternatives considered and the probable economic, social, and environmental effects of the proposed project. The Draft EA is available for review at the following locations: • Willow Run Airport Administration Office (801 Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti) • Jacobsen/Daniels Associates (121 S. Pearl St., Ypsilanti) • Fred C. Fischer Library (167 Fourth St., Belleville) • Ypsilanti District Library (229 West Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti) • Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti) • www.wcaa.us The Wayne County Airport Authority will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed project at the Willow Run Airport, Hangar 1, located at 801 Willow Run Airport, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in the third floor conference room, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on August 21, 2013. The Hearing will be a formal open house format, allowing citizens to stop by anytime between from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with information about the proposed project and answer questions about the environmental, economic, and social effects of the proposed project currently scheduled.

ARCADE AUCTION 300+ coin operated arcade games, pinball’s, redemption, etc. Assets of ROLLERAMA AUCTION on site July 27th, 10am ROLLERAMA 6995 Grand Rover Road Brighton, MI info: www. superauctions.com or 714-329-1373

Mr. Ernest Gubry Environmental Specialist Federal Aviation Administration Detroit Airports District Office 11677 South Wayne Road. Suite 107 Romulus, MI 48174 E-mail: ernest.gubry@faa.gov Reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired will be provided upon three (3) days notice to Kristy Exner, Wayne County Airport Authority at (734) 247-2223 or by e-mail to kristy.exner@wcaa.us

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EVENTS COORDINATOR at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY School of Nursing

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis in writing or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Three years experience in project and/or event planning & coordination. Ability to compose correspondence, prepare written reports, work on multiple projects with competing priorities & timelines. Interact professionally with external donors & constituents. Excellent organization & analytical skills. Ability to communicate effectively with others. Salary is up to the high $30’s annually.

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Seeking

FINANCIAL AID SYSTEMS MANAGER at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Financial Aid Department

WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Athletics Department

This position will be responsible and IN THE MATTOR OF ) accountable for establishing, administratR. P. ) JU-2008-33 ing and maintaining an educationally and T. P. ) JU-2008-34 fiscally sound, highly competitive, national T. P. ) JU-2008-35 program and performing those duties NOTICE OF SUMMONS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

You are hereby notified that the above-styled action seeking the termination of parental rights was filed June 20, 2011, and that by reason of an Order of Service of Summons by Publication entered by the Court on the 17th day of June, 2013, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Karen S. Benefield, Attorney at Law, L.L.C. , attorney for Dr. James Poe, Jr. and Bertha Poe, whose address is 115 West Broad Street, Eufaula, Alabama 36027, an Answer to the Petition within 30 days of the date of July 31, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Theresa Daniel, Judge of said Court.

This the 17th day of June, 2013.

Rashawn Harris Bullock County Circuit Clerk Union Springs, Alabama

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313-963-5522

Seeking

Will lead, analyze, plan, test, and implement technical solutions through the management of multiple databases. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems or a related field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Three or more years’ experience in information technology. This is a full time position. Salary is up to the mid $50’s annually.

Refer to online posting for additional requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by July 30, 2013.

Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

Rashawn Harris Bullock County Circuit Clerk Seeking Union Springs, Alabama

TO: Raykeane Armand Collins Respondent named therein

CANADA DRUG CENTER IS YOUR CHOICE for safe

The City of Garden City is accepting applications for full-time Firefighter eligible. list until COB, 8/9/13. Employment. applications (Police & Fire), the job description, requirements list and detailed announcement available at www.gardencitymi.org or by contacting the H.R. Office at 6000 Middlebelt Rd., Garden City, MI, 734-793-1640.

Applications must be submitted in person to the H.R. Office.

You are hereby notified that the above-styled action seeking the termination of parental rights was filed June 20, 2011, and that by reason of an Order of Service of Summons by Publication entered by the Court on the 17th day of June, 2013, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Karen S. Benefield, Attorney at Law, L.L.C. , attorney for Dr. James Poe, Jr. and Bertha Poe, whose address is 115 West Broad Street, Eufaula, Alabama 36027, an Answer to the Petition within 30 days of the date of July 31, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Theresa Daniel, Judge of said Court.

1-877-253-6495 MEDICAL

FIREFIGHTER

IN THE MATTOR OF ) R. P. ) JU-2008-33 T. P. ) JU-2008-34 T. P. ) JU-2008-35

EDUCATION

MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES

General Motors Co. seeks a CAE Engineer for its Warren, MI facility, to interface with key vehicle development personnel to compile and calibrate specifications for vehicle chassis tuning; construct, run, and interpret CAE Math Models of passenger vehicles used to predict loads from road and powertrain input to the structure, among other duties. Min. BS and 5 yrs experience. Please send resumes to: GM Co., Resume Processing, Ref. #4240015, 300 Renaissance Center, Mail Code 482-C32D46, Detroit, MI 48265-3000

Written comments or questions on the proposed project will be accepted through Friday, September 6, 2013 and may be sent to:

NOTICE OF SUMMONS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

AUCTION

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HELP WANTED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTICE OF HEARINGS REGARDING MATTERS TO COME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SECTION 00030

July 24 - 30, 2013

HELP WANTED Seeking

TECHNICAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY School of Nursing

This position will advise the leadership on strategic direction, management and policy issues related to information technology for the School of Nursing. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or closely related filed. Five years of experience with information systems and packaged solution support in project coordination, program design, development, testing, maintenance, data integration between systems and quality control. Salary is up to the low $60’s annually. Refer to online posting for additional minimum qualifications.

Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

customarily performed by a head soccer coach of a university.

Minimum qualifications require a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Minimum five years of soccer coaching experience.

Experience with NCAA Division I Rules and Regulations.

Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by June 31, 2013.

Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

NOTICE APPLICATION FOR POLICE OFFICER The CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON ACT 78 POLICE & FIRE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION will be testing for the position of POLICE OFFICER to create an Eligibility List for future employment opportunities, beginning JULY 15, 2013.

To apply and schedule a test for this position, go to the website https://www.empco.net/ testing/ and follow the instructions. There is a fee to take the examination, but results of this one test will be accepted by all participating police departments in Michigan. You must apply and pass the test by 4:00 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013.

Detailed qualifications are available on our website at www.clintontownship-mi.gov SALARY: $ 45,838 - $68,903 Excellent working conditions, fringe benefits, opportunity for advancement.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP POLICE & FIRE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION John Russi, Chairman Raymond Glime, Commissioner David Meldrum, Commissioner Kim Meltzer, Secretary

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

JULY IS JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AWARENESS MONTH

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 24-30, 2013

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The Queen’s Community Workers, Inc.

35th Annual Academic Achievement Awards celebration, saluting global achievers and leaders ‘The Queen’s Legacy Continues’ The Queen’s Community Workers, Inc. (TQCW) celebrated its 35th Annual Academic Achievement Awards Program at St. John’s Banquet & Conference Center of Southfield on Saturday, June 22. Over 25 recipients, in grades K-12 and in college received Academic Achievement Awards for their accomplishments throughout the 2012-2013 school year. The 2013 Middle School Graduates were Je Toi Green (Advanced Technology Academy) and Kylynn Hodges (Advanced Technology Academy). The college graduate was Everett P. Whitaker, South University (bachelor’s degree in criminal justice).

T.O.F.M. Copyright 2010 C

The audience was dazzled by performances from violinists Elise and Kayla Moore, and the Home of Love Praise Dancers. Guest Speakers Ariel Middlebrook (Wayne State University), La Myra Stevenson (University of Michigan-Dear-

born) and Angelique White (Central Michigan University) shared their college experiences as freshmen with the 2013 recipients and provided them with words of encouragement and inspiration. Guest speaker Ola “New Life” Walker talked about the importance of continuing education at any age. All were blessed with words of inspiration sent from Fisherman Louise “Weezie” Marsh, Fishermen Willie and Dolores “Goddas” Stevenson (TOFM Las Vegas Chapter), Fisherman Carrie “Christ Disciple” Sewell of Arizona. There were also expressions of love, support and encouragement from Fisherman Robert “Uncle Bob” Martin of Detroit.

Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott presented special tributes to MGM Grand Detroit (2013 Corporate Sponsor) and TQCW. The 2013 Educational Investors received special recog-

Sandra “Lil’ Queen” Steinberg (MGM Grand Detroit) and Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott.

nition for their generous contributions to the TQCW scholarship fund. Greetings on behalf of MGM Grand Detroit were given by Sandra “Lil’ Queen’ Steinberg (Member-Partners Detroit, LLC, V.P.QCW-S). The mistress of ceremonies was “Lady Caroline” Marie Phillips. Musical selections were provided by Tyrone “The Crowned One” Jennings. Programs were by Dee-Kay’s Designs and Apple Printing, The photographer was Rogers Wm. Foster. The 2013 Educational Investors banner was by Charles and Gwen Gipson. Floral arrangements were by Mother Charlotte “Divine Hope” Jackson.

erman Earl “Doc” Savage, senior pastor and executive director, Fisherman Robert “Uncle Bob” Martin, Fisherman Louise “Weezie” Marsh and Fisherman Dolores “Goddas” Stevenson, representing TOFM Las Vegas Chapter; Barbara J. Mahaffey (co-chairperson), Devara K. Hodges (co-chairperson), Everett P. Whitaker (co-chairperson), “Lady Caroline” Marie Phillips, Debra Bell, Ola “New Life” Walker, Tyrone “The Crowned One” Jennings and Anthony “Divine Chef” Middlebrook. Members at large: Florence Mills, “DOZ Love” Willo D. Holloway.

The TQCW leader captain is Victory “360 Degrees” Johnson; secretary, Melinda “Sparkle’ Harper; Advisory Board members, Debra Bell and Sherryl “Samaritan” Branson. The members of TQCW Scholarship Committee are Fish-

The Academic Achievement Awards Program was made possible by donations from MGM Grand Detroit, the Order of the Fishermen Ministry members, friends and the business community.

Debra Bell, Victory “360 Degrees” Johnson, Sherryl “Samaritan” Branson and Melinda “Sparkle” Harper.

Violinists Kayla and Elise Moore.

Brittany Morton, Kayla Moore, Diamond Minor, Elise Moore and Destiny Minor.

2013 award recipients Jalen Watson, Thurman Moore and Malcolm DeShields.

Malachi Hamilton is not pictured.

The Home of Love Praise Dancers.

Frederick Morton, E’dina Mainor and Justin Watson, award recipients.

Malliah Moore (top left), Je Toi Green, Jaleah Green and Kylynn Hodges. Nyah Hodges (bottom left), A’brielle Morton and Shakera Harris-Savage. Hailey Stewart is not pictured.

College students Maya Brown (top left), Everett P. Whitaker (college grad) and LaMyra Stevenson. Seated are Ariel Middlebrook (left) Angelique White. Tykea Underwood is not pictured.

Florence Mills (standing left), “Lady Caroline” Marie Phillips and Devara K. Hodges and Debra Bell. Seated from left: Tyrone “The Crowned One” Jennings, Barbara J. Mahaffey, Ola “New Life” Walker and Fisherman Robert “Uncle Bob” Martin.

Anthony “Divine Chef” Middlebrook is not pictured.

Charlotte Watson (top left), Katrina Watson, Nathaniel DeShields, Yvonne Hampton and Malcolm DeShields. In front (from left) are Jalen Watson, Betty Mosby, Justin Watson, Lenora “Lady Lucy” Watson and Sabrina DeShields.

lifestyle

Detroit school receives $10,000 donation to purchase student uniforms The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to announce that Bethune Elementary/Middle School in Detroit is the recipient of a $10,000 donation from Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) and its partner, S.A.Y. Detroit.

The purpose of the generous donation is to ensure that all students attending Bethune have a new school uniform to wear to classes for the 2013-2014 school year.

The announcement was made at a school assembly before Bethune students, teachers and staff on Monday, July 22.

“Research tells us students have better attendance records in schools where the children wear uniforms,” said Maura Corrigan, DHS director.

“Improving school attendance is one of the missions of our Pathways to Potential program. This generous donation will

July 24-30, 2013

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

help us toward achieving that goal.”

Currently, more than 800 students attend Bethune, a member school of the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) and also a DHS Pathways to Potential school with an on-site success coach.

“It is essential that we remove barriers that hinder our students’ progress,” said Antoinette Pearson, principal at Bethune. “To some, providing uniforms seems simplistic but lack of uniforms impacts attendance, discipline and achievement. We are so grateful for this wonderful donation.”

The Dress Them For Success program began as a recent grassroots project by DHS employees to personally assist students and client families who were struggling to provide uniforms in the urban core school dis-

tricts.

That effort, which raised more than $10,000 initially through donations by DHS employees, has now expanded with outreach by former State Sen. Bill Hardiman to include partners like Detroit Rescue Ministries.

Advertise Lottery P i c k s in the 465 365 114 125 Michigan 576 814 104 121 Chronicle Week’s Best

313-9635522

“It’s through the generosity of our donors that we are able to donate this $10,000 to provide school uniforms for these children.” said Dr. Chad Audi, president of DRMM. Those donors include the S.A.Y. Detroit charitable group, founded by noted author, columnist and broadcaster Mitch Albom.

For more information on the Department of Human Services and Pathways, please visit www. michigan.gov/dhs For more information on Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and its partners, please visit www.drmm.org

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STAR CHART July 24th Leo Season (July 23 – August 22) Symbol: The Lion Ruling Planet: The Sun – center of our universe Element: Fire – passionate, dynamic, active Quality: Fixed Mission: Hunting for a Lion Queen Famous Leos: President Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Usain Bolt, Michael Ealy and Halle Berry

may prove to be of assistance. There may be public recognition for past efforts and hard work.

Love probability: %78 Lucky Numbers: 28, 41, 27, 14, 39, 36

Capricorn A sense of struggle or of being overwhelmed by obstacles and blockages is likely to characterize this period. Be patient and don’t demand too much of yourself at this time. Work quietly and steadily.

Love probability: 62% Lucky Numbers: 32, 11, 6, 5, 23, 33

Aquarius You may be able to enjoy and value your own life situation today or feel especially kind towards a friend or loved one. Someone may compliment you on your tastes or belongings.

Compliment them back and start up the conversation, you may have more in common than you thought.

Love probability: 95% Lucky Numbers: 35, 32, 1, 31, 9, 19

Pisces Barack Obama

Leo You’ve spread yourself pretty thin this week at work. Your heart is in the right place but you may simply not have the energy to support the workload you’ve planned today. Don’t over do it--tomorrow is another day, and unrushed work is usually far better than work done under pressure anyway.

Summer Youth Bereavement Activities – ‘Moving On’ Every day can mean a step toward “Moving On” through a healthy grieving process. It is vital to have positive tools and activities available to complete this process. The grieving process, “Moving On,” may differ from one individual to another. The death or separation of a loved one doesn’t always comply with an individual’s timeliness to prepare for the loss and/or to say good-bye. Fitzgerald (‘94) states that the suddenness and possible violence of the death can affect the grieving process.

On the other hand, youth, children and adolescent process of grieving is complicated, generally by their lack of understanding of life and death.

The Wishing Well Program focuses on the emotional feelings, thoughts, sorrow, deep sadness experience as the result of the loss of a loved one, such as, parent(s) facing long-term incarceration; a seventeen year old brother gunned down on the front lawn; an uncle who was stabbed and shot in his kitchen doorway; a baby sibling that was “returned to heaven” after three weeks of her birth; three young males left without a mother due to domestic violence; a grandson who lost a grandmother struggles with his grief and efforts to comfort his mother. Each of these traumatic situations lat-

er can present as painful and unresolved grief feelings and responses to death and separation issues. A youth’s reaction in the school setting may be inclusive of daydreaming, poor academic performance, acting out behavior, conflict and fighting with peers, angry outbursts toward authoritative figures and moodiness. Therefore, it is very important to recognize and provide interventions that can address a healthy grieving process in all areas of a child’s life.

Wishing Well, at the end of the school year and during the Summer months, engages children that have experienced traumatic loss outside of the walls of the school building and classroom to life in the community and society in general by implementing positive grief counseling programming and activities that feed into their educational experience, growth and positive exposure to their own life goal(s), dreams and opportunities which can allow them to “Move On.” This summer, Wishing Well participated in a full pre-safety travel activity to a Westside Police Station (The Northwest Police Precinct); two local entrepreneurs (Local Connection, Owner Chase Majors; 1917 Bistro Restaurant) in the University District neigh-

borhood, followed by a healthy lunch at Noni’s Family Restaurant. The children and some family members were able to learn great safety awareness tips and to interact positively with helping professionals in the community; to visit and thank local business and restaurant owners that have helped to fund Wishing Well activities throughout the year. This activity was followed by a June 25, 2013 Amtrak Trip To Chicago for a visit to the Chicago Mall Museum Plaza.

Additionally, the art and educational atmosphere, interaction with others on the Amtrak trip; exposure to different careers, professionals and other volunteers, like Christopher Bryant who lives in Chicago, arranged for an adjustment in his work schedule to meet, greet and shop for treats for the children, are all unforgettable experiences and a big step toward “Moving On.” The children confirmed that both activities were “awesome and enjoyable.”

The Wishing Well Mission, along with its volunteers and administrative consultant (Dr. Robert Bryant), are pacing the way for the children and families involved in the program for “Moving On” in a positive direction, thus lessening the pain of grieving without support.

Love probability: 54% Lucky Numbers: 47, 25, 39, 45, 2, 19

Virgo Agreements, contracts, and joining your efforts with others will work out very much to your advantage this week. A friend or person in authority may offer to help or present an opportunity, which will benefit you now or in the future. Also, you will reap rewards later for the generosity and aid you extend to others at this time.

Love probability: 6% Lucky Numbers: 29, 47, 33, 42, 4, 8

Libra Important gatherings ensure that you will not turn down that important invitation just now. You may have to travel some distance to be part of the “cool” set but the rewards will be worth the effort.

Love probability: 39% Lucky Numbers: 18, 33, 31, 27, 23, 3

Scorpio You are receptive to beauty at this time and want to be surrounded with harmony, beauty, and kindness. Also, you feel tender and gentle toward others, and you want to please or to be of service to them in some way.

Love probability: 52% Lucky Numbers: 31, 39, 21, 9, 42, 28

Sagittarius Gains or advancements may result from good organizing ability and a willingness to carry out responsibilities and duties without hesitation. Government officials, those in authority, a parent, or friends with pragmatic attitudes

You can develop some new ideas and projects today that will be carried out in the near future. However, you should plan carefully and logically, so you won’t have to make endless revisions to your plans in the future. Don’t be hasty or things may backfire.

Love probability: 55% Lucky Numbers: 25, 24, 28, 37, 23, 47

Aries A great time for being with people and giving something of yourself and talents to others. You want to be seen and noticed. You receive appreciation and a positive response, and possibly an opportunity or personal contact which will be quite beneficial.

Love probability: 100% Lucky Numbers: 4, 28, 38, 19, 14, 20

Taurus A tax or legal matter may be getting you all bothered. There are ways around it if you use a little creative thinking. Someone in the know has a better legal handle on these issues and you should be approaching them to help you find your way out of the woods.

Love probability: 61% Lucky Numbers: 15, 44, 19, 38, 10, 49

Gemini Though you may want some inspiring challenge in your affinity with friends this week, don’t push your views too strongly. You don’t need to be over the top to make a good impression.

Two people may be competing for your affection or consideration at the moment.

Love probability: 81% Lucky Numbers: 35, 43, 39, 14, 23, 16

Cancer Experimentation with various alternatives now leads to the choice of a single path that both conserves your inner resources and brings you dividends in the process. Put aside time-wasting diversions and go with what -- and who -- really make you feel alive and glowing.

Love probability: 92% Lucky Numbers: 33, 2, 22, 8, 42, 12

Page D-8 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • July 24-30, 2013

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