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Volume 79 – Number 43

Community benefits ordinance could turn away developers from Detroit Well-intentioned ordinance could do more harm than good

By Mike Aaron Business Manager, Construction Craft Laborers of Michigan Local 1191

Detroit has seen some hard times. Over several decades, I’ve watched my members lose their jobs and neighbors lose their homes. For so many families, finding a good job meant leaving the city we all love. At that time, the idea of businesses bringing good-paying jobs back to Detroit seemed like a pipe dream.

However, over the past few

OPINION

U.S. Rep, John Conyers (left), Rev. Wendell Anthony, president, Detroit Branch NAACP, and Michael J. Steinberg, Esq., legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. – Roz Edward photo

John Conyers and the voting privilege

years what so many thought was impossible is finally happening.

Companies are moving to Detroit, bringing thousands Mike Aaron of jobs with them. Within the past two years, more than 1400 manufacturing jobs have been created in Detroit.

The City of Detroit’s website outlines the details of some of the most recent developments negotiated by the Mayor’s Office and approved by City Council. Companies like Sakhti Automotive are turning buildings such as the old Southwestern High School into manufacturing and training facilities. Sakhti is hiring 650 people, many of them returning members of our community.

In addition, urban agriculture projects like Recovery Park are creating nearly 180 permanent jobs and employing people who have had difficulty finding jobs in the past. Among those jobs, nearly 60 percent have to go to Detroiters. The men and women in the skilled trades are working again thanks to the boom in construction that this growth has created.

The results are undeniable.

Since this past January, 6,000 more Detroiters have found jobs and our unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in a decade.

Our mayor and our city council are doing exactly what we elected

By Roz Edward

NAACP; Michael J. Steinberg, Esq., legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan; and Ari Berman, senior contributing writer for The Nation magazine. Conyers sought to address problems and solutions with current Michigan voting laws including the elimination of early voting and same day registration.

Managing Editor

“We can protect the foundation stone of our democracy, for which so many marched across this bridge and that is the right to vote. Fifty years after Selma there are laws across this country designed to make it harder for people to vote. As we speak, more such laws are being proposed. Meanwhile, the Voting Rights Act, the culmination of so much blood, so much sweat and tears, the product of so much sacrifice in the face of wanton violence — the Voting Rights Act stands weakened.

The Voting Rights Act was one of the crowning achievements of our democracy.” — President Barack Obama With voting rights back in the national spotlight — nearly as much as it was 50 years ago —the provisions guaranteed by the VRA are under attack by political forces committed to maintaining an exclusive status quo through the enactment of voter suppression laws.

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Dean of the House of U.S. Representatives and a co-sponsor of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965, is again immersed in a fierce fight to preserve voting rights and restore its protections. Affectionately known as “the Dean,” Conyers hosted a voting rights forum in Detroit recently, following the third anniversary of the 2013 Supreme Court Shelby County v. Holder decision which stripped away critical provisions

of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court struck a devastating blow to the VRA with the Shelby decision, which eliminates Section 4 of the Voting Right Act, which required states and jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to preclear election changes with the Department of Justice.

“Voter suppression tactics in 2016 are spreading like a virus in our body politic. In the first presidential primaries since the Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the VRA and opened the floodgates for passage of voter suppression laws in states, the impacts are already evident.

Whereas voting rights were ascendant in 1966, voter suppression tactics are spreading in 2016. Whereas Congress was moving in the right direction in 1966, in 2016, it’s often conspicuously absent,” said Conyers.

Joined by a panel of prominent political activists including Rev. Wendell Anthony, President, Detroit Branch

In response to Shelby County, many states have enacted — or are in the process of enacting — harsh “second generation” obstacles to voting rights, such as restrictive voter ID laws, limits on early voting and voter registration, and bans on voting for ex-felons. Most of these measures have a disproportionate impact on minorities, seniors, young people and other historically disadvantaged individuals.

“To address these serious problems, I have introduced or co-sponsored several measures that will restore the vitality and effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act. I am the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act, which, in response to Shelby County, would update the coverage formula that defines which jurisdictions are subject to the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance provision. …

And, I have co-sponsored the Voter Empowerment Act, which modernizes our voting system by mandating the implementation of national standards for early voting, online registration and voting technology,” said Conyers.

Conyers is also a co-sponsor for

See VOTING

PRIVILEGE page A-4

See ORDINANCE page A-4

WHAT’S INSIDE A tribute fit for a Prince (Page D-1) At the recent BET Awards, Sheila E., a longtime friend and associate of Prince, gave a performance that was nothing less than amazing, as exciting as it was heartfelt.

$1.00

Detroit artists want stake in community development

By Sidnee King and Tatyana Hopkins

defend themselves. The work is part of a series, “Not Good, But Well-Behaved,” which addresses how society handles inconvenient truths.

The Wall of 100 Makers made its debut at Detroit’s Masonic Temple during Start-Up week in May. The interactive art installation generated buzz among viewers and artists.

Working out of a studio in Highland Park, Campbell has delved into Detroit’s art community.

He expressed the contrast between the atmospheres of his hometown, New York, and Detroit.

“I work in the art world and go to the local, national and international art openings all the time.

All the openings nowadays lack soul,” said one viewer. “I love the Wall of 100 Makers because you can feel the humans resonating in this room. You can feel the community.”

The wall, which holds the work of 60 artists, currently sits on display in the Tech Town office of Civilla, a firm that designs innovative projects to provide solutions to social issues. Its 18-by-13 inch windows were designed to mimic the industrial factories of Detroit, and the various works of art it holds were designed to

“It’s interesting to move to a new place and feel comfortable in a way I haven’t felt before. People are a lot more supportive here,” said Campbell.

Mike Moceri (left), Mandisa Smith and Scott Campbell, Wall of 100 Makers contributors reflect the diverse communities in Detroit.

Artists represent Native American, African American, African, Arab, Latino and Armenian communities. Each artist used materials from wood, metal, textile, light-

ing, and even sound to address a wider range of social issues.

Scott Campbell, 32, is a mixed media artist tackling social and political issues through his work.

Having recently moved to the city in January,

Campbell is working to make an impact that is respectful of the already established communities of Detroit.

His piece in the wall, “Pearl’s Box,” is a representation of the way people keep secrets to

Mandisa Smith, 62, is a long-standing member of this community. A Detroit native, Smith is seasoned in the city’s art world and is working to ensure that its future reflects the accomplishments of the past. The former jewelry designer worked with fiber and copper in her untitled piece in the wall, which she thinks is

See ARTIST page A-4

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July 6-12, 2016

Page A-2

THAW receives $50k grant to provide energy assistance to Detroit families Michigan Chronicle Reports

The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) has been awarded a $50K Legacy Grant from the Skillman Foundation to assist in THAW’s mission to keep families healthy, safe and warm.

Judge Thomas is at the podium. From left: Attorney Rita White, Attorney Delphia Simpson, Lieutenant Deric Gress, Judge Kirk Tabbey, Sargeant Thomas Hickey, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department’s Director of Community Engagement Derrick Jackson – Corban McCoy photo

What to do when stopped by the police

By Robyn McCoy The Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association, Mentor 2 Youth and the Wash­ tenaw County Sheriff’s

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Department co-spon­ sored a presentation on “Black Youth Matter and All Youth Matter: What To Do When Stopped by the Police” recently at Washt­

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enaw Community College.

The event featured pre­ sentations from Wash­ tenaw County Sheriff’s Department’s, Director of Community Engagement, Derrick Jackson and criminal defense attorney Rita White on “What to Do When Stopped by the Po­ lice.”

Later, there was a pan­ el discussion on the same topic with the following panelists: Washtenaw County Interim Public Defender Delphia Simp­ son, Way Academy 10th grader Melvin Lilly, Ser­ geant Thomas Hickey of the City of Ann Arbor Police Department, Lieu­ tenant Deric Gress, ad­ ministrative lieutenant and second in command of the Ypsilanti Police Department, Judge Kirk Tabbey of the 14A-2 Dis­ trict Court of Ypsilanti, Michigan and Judge Deb­

orah Thomas of the Third Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan.

This program was the seventh of its kind, planned, organized and facilitated by Attorney Robyn L. McCoy. For this event, Attorney Mc­ Coy enlisted the help of Emmanuel Jones, Ex­ ecutive Director of Men­ tor 2 Youth and Michael Henry, Co-Founder ofthe Michigan Black Agenda.

On March 15, 2015, At­ torney McCoy and Em­ manuel Jones met with representatives from the local police, the local clergy, educators from Eastern Michigan Univer­ sity and local youth for the purposes of planning the event and discussing ways of promoting posi­ tive interactions between Black Youth and the Po­ lice.

The one-year grant will provide energy assistance to families with children from five schools districts in Skillman Good Neigh­ borhoods, including: Chadsey/Condon, Vernor, Cody/Rouge, Brightmoor and Osborn. THAW will continue its partnership with the Michigan Depart­ ment of Health and Hu­ man Services, community organizations and elected officials to help identify eligible families.

“The Heat and Warmth Fund is pleased to con­ tinue our partnership with the Skillman Foun­ dation to assist Detroit families,” said Saunteel Jenkins, CEO of THAW. “Heat, water and electrici­ ty are essential to provid­ ing a healthy, stable envi­ ronment for children and families. Without these critical services every­ thing from health to ed­ ucation is negatively im­

pacted in the home. That is why partnerships like this are vital to the future of Detroit communities, its children and families.”

With support of the Skillman Foundation, for more than 12 years, THAW has provided $180K in energy assistance to 207 families with children in the Skillman-targeted neighborhoods.

“Too many Detroit children face barriers to achieving their full po­ tential,” said Tonya Allen, president and CEO of the Skillman Foundation.

“Bright young minds pop­ ulate our neighborhoods; We can’t afford to allow the traps of poverty to hold them back. Organi­ zations like THAW help stabilize households so families can focus on reaching a bright future.”

THAW partners with utility providers to help bring families utility bills to current or zero status and restore heating and electricity within their homes. Eligible families must have an income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guide­ lines.

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July 6-12, 2016

Page A-3

Henry Ford officially a leader in stroke care Michigan Chronicle Reports

A pioneer in stroke treatment and research, Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital has officially solidified its position as a national leader in stroke care. The Joint Commission has awarded the hospital its Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, the highest designation of its kind.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized among this elite group of providers,” said John Popovich, M.D., CEO of Henry Ford.

“Henry Ford has long been a statewide and national leader in neuroscience, and this designation has given us a unique opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients.”

The hospital underwent a rigorous review of 200 care standards. The new designation means any stroke patient across the entire Henry Ford Health System has access to the most advanced technology and specialized treatment, available day or night, 365 days a year, and a uniquely educated and highly trained team prepared to act at a moment’s notice.

Panayiotis Mitsias, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Henry Ford Hospital, said that’s the essence behind the Ford Acute Stroke Treatment Team (FAST) team.

“We know that when it comes to stroke care, time matters.

The FAST team can rapidly diagnose a patient at any Henry Ford emergency department and determine in minutes if they need to be flown to Henry Ford Hospital for advanced surgical or catheter-based treatments.”

One of those treatments involves the use of a tiny catheter that travels directly into the brain, effectively stopping a stroke as it’s happening.

“One of the most common causes of stroke is a blood clot that blocks the normal flow of blood to the brain. This interruption of blood flow cuts off the brain’s oxygen supply, the brain literally begins to die,” said Max Kole, M.D., a neurointerventionalist at Henry Ford Hospital.

“These endovascular techniques with catheters are capable of dissolving and retrieving the occlusive clots and restoring the normal blood flow in seconds. When you combine this advanced treatment with the multidisciplinary resources and clinical experience we already have, Henry Ford Hospital is truly the best place for patients to be.”

Among those resources is the drug commonly known as tPA. Administered within the first four-and-a-half hours of a stroke onset, it also targets those clots and improves blood flow. Henry Ford was instrumental in developing it, serving as the national coordinating center and one of the primary sites for the clinical trials. The results appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and changed the way hospitals cared for stroke patients nationwide.

Mitsias said the goal from the very beginning was twofold.

“We wanted to build a stroke program that focused not only on the best patient care, but also the essential research that shapes that care. This certification is the culmination of more than twenty years of dedication to that mission,” Mitsias explained.

“By achieving this advanced certification, Henry Ford Hospital has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of its patients with a complex stroke condition,” said Dr. Mark R. Chassin, president of The Joint Commission.

“Certification is a voluntary process and The Joint Commission commends Henry Ford for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate the standard of its care for the community it serves.”

Nearly 800,000 people suffer strokes annually in the U.S. It is the leading preventable cause of disability and the fifth leading cause of death nationwide. Henry Ford Hospital is the only certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center in Wayne County and one of only a few in the state of Michigan.

Alisha Dixon photo

Detroiters rebuilding Detroit

By Alisha Dixon

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan along with representatives from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Detroit and the Detroit City Council announced plans for new developments in Detroit’s’ historic Paradise Valley. The press conference was held at Beatrice Buck Paradise Valley Park in the heart of the new Paradise Valley Cultural & Entertainment District. The $52 million project, the mayor said, will benefit Detroiters, not just developers. “We will do it in a way that will honor and revive the rich cultural history of Paradise Valley and ideally we would have significant business opportunities and ownership opportunities for longtime Detroiters through an open and competitive bid process,” said Duggan. The effort he said is simply “Detroiters rebuilding Detroit.”

Moddie Turay, executive vice president of Real Estate of the DEGC, said the threeyear project consists of redevelopments of five buildings and four parking lots for commercial and residential use and the development and maintenance of public spaces like Beatrice Buck Paradise Valley Park. Fifteen development bids were submitted for consideration and five Detroit-based developers were chosen.

Rainy Hamilton, Jr., president of the Hamilton Development Corporation, will invest $7.5 million to develop the Randolph Centre Building at 1435 Randolph.

Hamilton said this development includes improvements to the Detroit Seafood Market, the creation of retail spaces, a jazz club and jazz alley.

Patricia Cole of the 311 E. Grand River, LLC said her group will develop the Harmonie Club Hotel, a boutique hotel, at 311 E. Grand River. Cole and her group will invest $13.6 million for the hotel and said she is excited to contribute to new developments in the city of Detroit. “It gives me an incredibly proud feeling to be a part of the history of Detroit. I never imagined that. It was never a part of my master plan, but when we complete this building, my name is going to be on the space that it stands,” said Cole. In addition to its 25-30 rooms, the Harmonie Club Hotel will have a theater for performances and events.

Ismail Houmani of La Casa Properties, LLC will redevelop 1502 Randolph, the current home of La Casa Cigars and Lounge. Houmani said this $1.47 million development will consist of renovations to its current space and the addition of 1,600 square feet of new residential space. “I started this business seven years ago in the depths of a recession an have been open continuously since. I am excited to welcome all the other developments and the new retail, restaurant and entertainment it will bring to the neighborhood,” Houmani said.

Hiram Jackson and the Paradise Valley Real Estate Holdings II, LLC will invest $27 million to develop 1468, 1480 and 1496 Randolph. This 85,000 square foot

development will be called Hastings Place and will house the Michigan Chronicle, retail and office spaces, residential space and 150 parking spaces. Jackson said, “Seventeen percent of the residential space will be affordable to make sure that it’s inclusive to all residents. We cannot be satisfied until every resident in this town is benefiting from the growth and prosperity of the Detroit we see today.”

Dennis W. Archer, Jr., Esq. and Gotham Capital Partners will develop Harmonie

Pointe at 1407 and 1427 Randolph. Harmonie Pointe will house restaurants and office spaces. Archer said Detroit residents will have the opportunity to benefit from this development. “We’ve committed to make 20 percent of our equity available to the general public. This is about the community and people feeling like they can invest and own a building in downtown Detroit whether they are a schoolteacher, a UPS delivery truck driver or janitor,” said Archer.

Chief Craig, Mayor Duggan break ground on new 8th Precinct building Police Chief James Craig, Mayor Mike Duggan, City Council members and community representatives broke ground on the Detroit Police Department’s new 8th Precinct station, which will be located at 21555 West McNichols Road near Grand River.

Construction of the new $7.3 million facility, which will house 126 department members, will begin immediately and is expected to open this time next year. When the new precinct opens, it will end more than a decade of time, which residents in the area have lived without a dedicated precinct.

In 2005, the 8th Precinct closed its doors to merge with the Sixth Precinct as a part of a larger citywide District model. As a result of the merger, the 8th Precinct currently operates 4.4 miles outside of its precinct’s boundaries, increasing travel and response times, said Craig. As the city’s finances stabilized, the chief began breaking the larger districts back into smaller neighborhood-focused precincts.

“The reopening of the 8th Precinct will complete our transition back to smaller, more neighborhood-focused patrol areas,” said Craig. “This is important because it will allow for improved response times, as well as better community engagement and partnerships.”

The new precinct will include two buildings. The primary precinct building will be housed in a building that once served as a high school annex and later became a school for special needs children. The building remained operational until it closed in September 2013.

The project also will repurpose the historic former Redford branch of the

Detroit Public Library system (1925-71).

The building will be restored and serve as a Detroit Police and community outreach facility. The building will house the Eighth Precinct’s Neighborhood Police Officers, and provide space to host monthly community meetings and events, as well as serve as an overflow for future graduation ceremonies.

“This project is a great example of the city and community coming together,” said Duggan. “It was clear how important the old library building is to this neighborhood and Councilman James Tate was instrumental in making sure it was preserved.”

Jenkins Construction, a Detroit-based minority-owned company, will be the lead contractor on the $7.3 million project. Among the features of the new facility will be: • Site paving and parking is being renovated to allow for (85) parking spaces with LED lighting (33 public, 52 secured).

• New 350 KW generator to fully power the entire facility • New 2,000 sq. ft. multipurpose room for Community Outreach (Old Redford Library).

• Existing 200 plus seat auditorium to hold DPD Police Academy Graduations & Community Outreach (Adult Wellness Building).

• New men and women’s locker rooms • New fitness center • IOU, Spec Ops, police precinct offices The new Eighth Precinct to be open and in operation by June 2017.

Civil rights leaders laud plan to help troubled borrowers stay in homes

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s Distressed Asset Stabilization Program that will help borrowers stay in their homes and support neighborhood recovery.

Under the program, HUD will require third party buyers of FHA’s non-performing loans to include principal reduction as part of their loan modification programs.

This change builds on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s recent efforts in this area.

Human Rights, the NAACP and the Center for Responsible Lending, offered the following comments.

Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau director and senior vice president for advocacy: “African American homeownership is now less than 42 percent, while the national average is nearly 64 percent. The economic recovery will not be complete until those who have been left out are brought in. In some places, concentrated and continuing foreclosures still destabilize entire neighborhoods. By affording troubled borrowers the opportunity to remain in their homes, these changes by HUD will help families and communities.”

Also, HUD will create more favorable pricing for nonprofit organizations in the loan auctions. Additional and related data will also be provided.

In a joint statement, stan- Wade Henderson, president dard-bearers with the Leader- and CEO of The Leadership ship Conference for Civil and Conference on Civil and Human Rights:

“HUD has made a positive and progressive step forward for the housing market with these changes. We urge the agency to carefully implement its newly announced policies. Allowing principal reduction for certain homeowners and encouraging greater nonprofit access to nonperforming loan auctions represents a significant step forward for homeowners and communities.

“We also specifically call for further consideration of how even more communities, particularly those that have yet to benefit from the economic recovery, can also be helped.

More than half of the $2 trillion lost in property values during the foreclosure crisis was borne by consumers of color. That burden has been carried much too long and deserves to be lifted.”

Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending: “Although the housing market continues to improve overall, many homeowners still struggle with their mortgage and owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. Communities of color, low-wealth borrowers, and families and communities with modest means acutely feel these challenges.

“The three-pronged approach of improving the handling of nonperforming FHA loans, working with nonprofits to stabilize neighborhoods, and granting principal reduction, will help both struggling borrowers and neighborhoods. Housing policies should focus on helping to keep families in their homes and reduce the community costs of foreclosures.”

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Voting privilege the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which makes comprehensive improvements to the Voting Rights Act. Conyers is the lead sponsor on the Democracy Restoration Act, H.R. 1459, which creates a national standard for the restoration of voting rights for ex-offenders who have paid their debt to society.

Voting rights activists are pushing for measures that will make it easier for Michiganders to vote, with a strong focus on absentee voting.

“I think it’s a shame that no-reason absentee voting has not become law in Michigan,” said Michael J. Steinberg.

Hillary Clinton speaks candidly with Kai EL’Zabar, executive editor of the Chicago Defender. — Worsom Robinson/Chicago Defender photo

Hillary Clinton up close

By Kai EL’Zabar

Executive Editor The Chicago Defender

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to Chicago on her Midwest campaign jaunt to address the Women’s International Luncheon at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition 45th Annual Convention. After the luncheon, the Chicago Defender sat down, up close and personal, with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to get greater insight into her vision for a better America.

“I have an old-fashioned belief that if you run for president, you should tell people what you’re going to do,” Clinton said as she revved up. “Listen, the next president of the United States can have the opportunity to select one, two, three Supreme Court justices, and we don’t want that president to be Donald Trump.”

Backstage, Clinton said she has a personal commitment to working with the black press and all local press. However, she has noticed in particular the assumption of some in various parts of the country where she has traveled that it is assumed that the black press will show up.

“And that’s not always the case, so we want to make sure that we make the effort to reach out, and not only during the campaign, but even in the White House,” Clinton said. “I see the black press playing an active role in getting our message out directly to its readers, participating in the various activities such as today’s luncheon, and making sure that it has access as well as being included in the advertising buy.”

Hillary Clinton has made it clear that she will continue the initiatives that President Barack Obama implemented and work to enhance affordable health care. She credits the president with saving America from another national economic disaster, having inherited the worst financial crisis in American history since the Great Depression. And he’s done so much more than he is given credit for, she said, and she plans to continue support of those efforts.

When asked about the black, Latino and LGBTQ communities, Clinton said she has plans to address the issues that disproportionately affect each of those underserved communities, and you can go to her website and read exactly what her vision is. She provided additional insight, adding that, “we need more good jobs with rising incomes, because we’re just not seeing enough of them. There aren’t enough employment opportunities in Chicago’s underserved communities.”

It’s clear that Clinton recognizes the disparities that plague the marginalized.

“We need to make sure that there are some big, bold programs like infrastructure, like clean, renewable energy, like advanced manufacturing, that are within the reach of those people who need those jobs and (that should) have the chance to compete for them,” she proposed, noting that over the last 10 to 15 years Americans have seen a lot of the jobs in the country that are not within reach of those who live in the most distressed urban or rural areas.

Clinton said she wants to make jobs available first. Second, she wants make

Hillary Clinton addresses the Women’s International Luncheon at the Rainbow PUSH 45th Annual Convention in Chicago.

— Worsom Robinson/Chicago Defender photo

high quality education more accessible.

She was adamant about the need for the United States to do better at preparing our youngest children to go to school and supporting them throughout their academic careers.

“There are a lot of ways we can do that. I am committed to working with communities, churches and educational systems to try to figure out how,” she said. “But parents and grandparents have to be supported in doing the most important job of raising the next generation of children, and we need to do all that we can to see to it that we do that.”

Clinton spoke about her vision to restore “schools that people believe in, that they are passionate about, and we have that in a lot of places and I know that you don’t have that in Chicago.”

She continued, “We need diversionary programs so that we’re not suspending and expelling five, six, seven and eight year old kids who are acting out. We have a terrible disciplinary divide where kids, who are either having problems or are just acting like normal kids, are being suspended if they’re African American or Latino and white kids doing the same thing aren’t. That starts the whole cradle to prison pipeline.”

In her effort to end that cradle-to-prison pipeline, Clinton envisions doing more to intervene in helping young children be successful, including after-school support intervention programs.

“We just need a big wraparound, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ attitude about how we’re going to help our kids,” she said.

For the older youth, Clinton said she recognizes that oftentimes teenagers don’t have opportunities to direct their energy in positive directions and how easy it is for them to be misdirected, often leading to gang affiliation or some other form of violence or destructive behavior.

“The policing issue is an essential, necessary step to be resolved, and then we have to figure out what more can we do to keep people safe,” she said.

Clinton also pointed out that she promised the parents who have lost their children to gun violence that she would do everything she can to change the gun laws.

If she becomes the first female president of the United States, she will break the highest glass ceiling in the world and with that in mind, she would also bring a cognizant reality of setting a precedent for women in the workplace.

“We also have to raise the minimum wage.” she added. “Right now, twothirds of minimum-wage workers are women. And that’s a poverty wage. And I have met women working two and three minimum-wage jobs just to keep their heads above water, to keep their house and to keep their kids in day care, take whatever it may be.”

Clinton said she also wants to help more minorities and women start businesses.

“I want to see how we can help improve the process, to get faster credit, helping them to get the support they need, to understand to write a business plan…how to deal with the stress of being a business owner.

House Bill 4724, or no-reason absentee voting, would allow a registered voter who doesn't otherwise qualify for an absentee ballot to obtain one by visiting his or her local clerk, filling out an application and showing a state identification card. Currently, a registered voter may only obtain an absentee ballot if they are age 60 or above, unable to vote without assistance at the polls, expecting to be out of town on Election Day, in jail awaiting arraignment or trial, or unable to vote due for religious reasons.

“Michigan, in my view, is one of the most backward states in the country when it comes to voting rights. Michigan is the state that passed the emergency manager law and disenfranchised more than half the African Americans in this state and their ability to actively vote.

That led to such national disasters as the Flint Water crisis,” said Steinberg.

Current voting practices are designed to establish barriers to voting and to preclude minority voters from equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. This year, voting rights advocates are rightfully rushing to address the short-term barriers to the ballot box

Artist a “great concept.” She is curious about texture and light and the way materials incorporate with one another.

Smith sees Detroit’s development as a “two-edged sword.” She worries that the expansion of opportunities may mean displacement for communities like hers, a reason why she opened Detroit Fiber Works on Livernois. Smith wants to preserve a sense of community. She holds free fiber art workshops for underserved communities. She said this is “public art by the public.”

Mike Moceri, a 24-year-old Detroit native and wall contributor, recently returned to the city after spending six years in Chicago for school. Moceri’s piece, “SUE,” is a 3-D scanned replica of the world’s largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, with the same name, housed at the Chicago Field Museum. Moceri took 60 to 80 photographs of the original fossil and spent hours digitally sculpting an image that could be 3-D printed.

Moceri is also the founder of a tech start-up, MakerOS, a business management software tool that aids in sales automation, project tracking, payment processing and automatic quoting for

Saving community newspapers in the age of Facebook

By Denise Rolark-Barnes and Benjamin F. Chavis Hundreds of newspapers have disappeared in the last 15 years and readership is on the decline. No newspaper is immune from the migration of readership to online platforms, dwindling ad revenues, fragmented audiences and reduced attention spans.

Even nationally-recognized newspapers with celebrated histories like the New York Times and the Washington Post have retrenched in the face of these mounting economic pressures.

Many regional and community newspapers, including some members of the historic black press, are barely hanging on.

The ramifications of this can be profound. Local publications have long served as the glue that binds communities together. They have served as the microphone for voices that would otherwise be marginalized and the spotlight on the stories that seldom make it onto the front pages of major newspapers and magazines. For African American communities, the publications that make up the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) have served as that voice across the nation.

Yet, we are being told that the silver lining is that journalism isn’t disappearing, and won’t be anytime soon. Rather, it has just moved to an electronic form.

Not only that, there are also more opportunities to tell more stories and express more opinions than ever before. Some have said that we should not mourn the loss of the local newspaper and that we should instead explore the myriad possibilities offered by the new media. Or so goes the mantra.

In reality, this upbeat vision obscures the threat that new media poses to community journalism. And that threat is coming from a most unlikely place — the popular social media platforms that so many of us love. Chief among them is Facebook.

Denise Rolark-Barnes is chairperson of the NNPA. Benjamin F. Chavis is president and CEO of the NNPA.

July 6-12, 2016

Page A-4

From page A-1 — getting people the required IDs, ensuring the presence of adequate polling sites, and protecting people from being purged from voter rolls.

For the first time since the signing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, voters are facing a presidential election this November where the Voting Rights Act will not be in full effect.

“We need more than individual resolve to overcome the systemic injustice of voter suppression. We need a broadbased movement for legislative change.

Many voter-ID laws — which 36 states have now enacted in varying forms — will have their first test in the 2016 general election,” said Conyers. “I implore my colleagues to come together to protect not only all of our citizens’ right to vote, but to safeguard democracy itself."

Voters in Michigan are eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 election if they are registered by Oct. 9 When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, it was recognized as the most important legislative act in history and the lynchpin of a democratic society.

Johnson, in his final civil rights speech (ironically at another civil rights symposium in 1972), warned that getting the legislation passed would not be enough.

“Black Americans are voting now, but let me say quickly that not enough are voting,” he said. “We have to come up with some kind of plan or incentive to perfect our democracy by seeing that more of our people do vote … And if our efforts continue, and if our will is strong, and if our hearts are right, and if courage remains our constant companion, then, my fellow Americans, I am confident we shall overcome.”

From page A-1 3-D printing services and other advanced manufacturing businesses. He would like to apply the development of 3-D printing technology to historic preservation. He said his work is an ode to pop art, but also an opportunity to appreciate and preserve a historic structure.

“I’ve gone around to find public works and sculptures to digitize them. If those were to be destroyed, there would be no record of them,” said Moceri. “You would have pictures, but you wouldn’t be able to appreciate them like you would a 3-D model.”

Organizers Rachael Carson and Romina Hausmann were fellows with Civilla when they took on the project.

The pair envisioned the Wall of 100 Makers as a method connection.

Hausmann explained the wall’s purpose in connecting artists and viewers, saying, “We wanted people to touch and play with the art, kind of breaking these barriers between the viewer and the art.

It’s sort of a metaphor for some of the communities here.”

For the wall’s first exhibition, Carson and Hausmann were able to secure 60 makers in four and a half weeks. Carson said they were looking for artists who would find value in the wall’s purpose.

“All of the people are in very different stages of their career. Some of them may not consider themselves artists or designers, others are well known around the world. They all have different materials, but they’re connecting in this common cause,” Carson said.

Carson and Hausmann are happy with the turnout for Detroit’s Wall of 100 Makers and look forward to expanding.

“We would love to build another Wall of 100 Makers in another city,” they said.

Ordinance From page A-1

them to do. They’re bringing jobs and opportunities to Detroit and our recovery is just beginning. Still, it’s important to note that despite our growth, Detroit still has the highest unemployment rate of any major city in America.

We must continue to attract more companies to Detroit and create more jobs for all Detroiters. However, the socalled community benefits ordinance forced on the ballot by a group of petitioners threatens to end all that. The name sounds as if this new law will benefit our community, but if you read it closely, you’ll see it will likely do the opposite.

The ordinance, as drafted, forces developers to negotiate with a group of people who either live in the census tract or the tract nearby. There’s nothing blocking people with conflicts of interest from steering negotiations and no limit on how long negotiations can last or what can be demanded. Our city officials aren’t even allowed to be part of the process. We all know there have been some companies in the past that didn’t live up to their end of the bargain. We should continue to hold our mayor and city council accountable for ensuring that any businesses that do not live up to their agreement face strict penalties.

This ordinance may be well intended, but, in its current form, creates a process so unclear and chaotic that it will drive companies and jobs away from Detroit. We deserve community benefits. We also deserve an ordinance that will create jobs, not force them into the suburbs. I urge Detroit City Council to send the petitioners back to the drawing board and hope they deliver an ordinance that will truly benefit Detroit.

Let’s keep our city moving forward.

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page A-5

DPS interim superintendent’s advisory council presented Phase 1 of new district’s academic plan SPIRIT Awards Chair Diane Sypien, Education Leader Awardee Dr. Gloria House and Rho Sigma Foundation President Dr. Frances Jackson

The Rho Sigma Foundation Board

Rho Sigma Foundation SPIRIT Awards Salutes Community Leaders with SPIRIT Awards The Rho Sigma Foundation (RSF) SPIRIT Awards gala on Saturday, June 25, at MRCC Banquet & Convention Center was a grand occasion acknowledging the contributions of outstanding individuals reflecting the goals and objectives of the foundation.

RSF focuses on aligning and expanding the community service efforts of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. to directly impact the needs of Detroit citizens with a specific emphasis on youth, women and education programming. Core areas and signature projects include Community Involvement: Family Swim Day – Water Safety Clinic, Education: Project Sigmas Urging Reading Excellence (S.U.R.E.), Improvement of Youth: Youth Symposium and Welfare of Women Project CRADLE Care.

SPIRIT Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations — either the profit or notfor-profit sector — who impact the lives of metropolitan Detroit residents. The award winners are leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession; provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community, and actively assist individuals in achieving their full leadership potential.

The 2016 RSF SPIRIT Award winners were Community Sustainer Awardee: Families on the Move, Inc. founder and president Veda Thompson, Education Leader Awardee: University of

SPIRIT Awards Chair ­Diane Sypien, Community Sustainer AwardeeVeda Thompkins and Rho Sigma Foundation President Dr. Frances Jackson

Detroit Public Schools Interim Superintendent Alycia Meriweather held a public meeting at Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School along with the District’s 15 committee Academic Advisory Council.

The council is comprised of more than 150 employees, staff, and parents who committed their time to develop recommendations for a long-term pathway forward for the new district.

Meriweather also issued a call for the community to join Phase II which will be the development of the actual plan, which will require input from all stakeholders. Each committee presented in their respective category from curriculum development to wraparound services for students and their families.

Among the recommendations from the 15 committees include: • Redesigning the elementary curriculum to include cross-curricular and integrated thematic units that address the standards for the core subject areas; • Providing literacy intervention kindergarten through grade 12. Implement a process to identify at-risk students by first grade, district-wide;

SPIRIT Awards Gala Chair Ulonda Davis and Education Leader awardee Dr. Gloria House (seated) Michigan, Dearborn Professor of Humanities and African American Studies Dr. Gloria House, Health Visionary Awardee: Crystal Home Healthcare Chairman and CEO plus Modest Foundation founder Robert McPherson and Youth Supporter Awardee: Teen HYPE Co-Founder: Ambra Redrick.

“I can see why all of you were selected to be honored,” said RSF President Dr. Frances Jackson. “Let’s not just say thank you, let’s help them do the work that they do.”

For additional information about the RSF or RSF SPIRIT Awards, visit Rho Sigma Foundation/Facebook or call 313.757.3052.

Rho Sigma Foundation President Dr. Frances Jackson and Health Visionary Awardee Robert McPherson with SPIRIT Awards Chair Diane Sypien

• Implementing an appropriately staffed Focus/In-school Suspension Room to provide students with reflection time along with out of class instruction; • Making wraparound services available to all students with the recommended staff to student ratios to provide individualized intervention services, assessments and resources: • Developing capacity within the District to maximize the potential of each employee and, • Restructuring the district’s attendance, promotion/retention, and behavior policies.

SPIRIT Awards Chair Diane Sypien, Youth Supporter awardee Ambra Redrick and Rho Sigma FoundationT:10” President Dr. Frances Jackson S:9.5”

“I am greatly encouraged by the recommendations from the council. People were excited to be able to participate in the initial stages of information gathering, conversation, and collaboration in an effort to advise the development of the new Academic Plan,” said Meriweather.

Detroit Public Schools Interim Superintendent Alycia Meriweather “More than 150 people have invested time and resources in creating a foundation that will enable our students to excel academically and be prepared for their futures. As we move to Phase II, we welcome additional community stakeholders to join in our Academic Plan development process. We believe that one of the only ways for the new District to be successful is through collaboration, as well as constructive criticism. We are committed to improvement.”

The 15 committees are: school planning (building utilization, expansions, closures), grading schools, culture/climate, promotion, attendance and behavior policies, innovation, literacy, career technical education, wrap-around services, parent and community, capacity building, accountability, curriculum and instruction, and educational programs (after-school, arts, blended learning).

Committees were charged with collecting current research articles on their topic/issue, identifying best practice models from other cities and districts, and engaging in dialogue around the specific needs for the Detroit Public Schools Community District moving forward. The recommendations will provide the appendix for the District’s new Academic Plan. Phase II will be the development of the actual plan, which will require input from all stakeholders. Please send an email to academic.excellence@detroitk12.org if you are interested in participating in Phase II, or if you would be willing to provide feedback on the plan as it is developed.

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Page A-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • July 6-12, 2016

hey detroit, the bus is coming.

Explore XQ: The Super School Bus and find out how we can better prepare students for college, career and life.

To learn more, visit XQsuperschool.org.

SECTION B

COMMUNITY Powered by Real Times Media

michiganchronicle.com

July 6-12, 2016

Church Labor Summit sponsors DPS Appreciation Day

By V. Lonnie Peek, Jr. Recently, several churches that are members of the Church Labor Summit visited DPS schools and sponsored a variety of expressions of appreciation for what their staffs do for our children and our city.

The Church Labor Summit was formed in 2013 as part of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Anniversary March celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic march in Detroit. As a part of that celebration, a series of Voices for Action workshops took place. One of the themes raised was the need for the church community and labor to rekindle the relationships they had in the ’60s and ’70s.

Jimmy Settles, vice president of UAW-Ford, served as a co-chair of the commemoration, along with Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP. After the Voices for Action workshops, Settles convened more than 50 Detroit-area churches and 15 unions and formed the Church Labor Sum-

mit. Over the years the summit has been involved in a series of activities that positively impact Detroit.

“We felt that it would be very appropriate now that we let our DPS schools know that we appreciate them and all the work they do in educating our children. DPS gets a lot of negative press, and we wanted to do something positive,” said Settles.

Therefore, several of the church members of the summit put together appreciation initiatives that they would present to the schools, their principals and staff. It was called DPS Appreciation Day. On that day, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, led by Pastor Tellis Chapman, provided dinner to staff members of Turning Point Academy. New Bethel Baptist Church, led by Pastor Robert Smith, provided dinners to staff of Durfee Elementary School. Tabernacle Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Spruill, provided cakes, cookies and dinner to the

staff of Sampson-Webber School.

New Calvary Baptist Church, under the leadership of First Lady Eunice Peek, provided baskets of popcorn and good cheer to the staff of Carleton Elementary School. International Gospel Center’s Pastor Marvin Miles provided cheese and crackers, trays and flowers to the staff of Mark Twain School.

All of the staffs of these schools showed great appreciation for these efforts. This was a pilot that will now allow the summit to develop relationships with each of its church members and the local schools.

“This effort accomplished its objective of showing appreciation.

We now want to develop a closer relationship with our churches and our schools, for these are two cornerstone institutions in our community,” said Settles.

For further information on the Church Labor Summit, contact eBusiness Strategies, Program Managers, 313-874-0043.

The Greening of Detroit hires nearly 200 Detroit high school students

By AJ Williams

members from last year. “Working for The Greening made me realize that I need to take more pride in my neighborhood.”

Another young man said, “After watering so many trees this summer, I have a new appreciation for nature.”

Another 186 young people in Detroit are earning paychecks and learning life lessons this summer. The Greening of Detroit’s youth employment program, created in 1998, continues to evolve and provide a growing list of enrichment and learning opportunities for its Green Corps members.

The ultimate goal of the youth employment program is to provide young people with opportunities for work, career development, and to nurture a sense of environmental stewardship.

The Green Corps program has collectively employed more than 1,800 Detroit youth since its inception. By maintaining thousands of trees across the city, Corps members are investing energy and time in their communities. These youth also beautify parks and participate in conservation projects that benefit Detroit residents.

In addition, Green Corps members spend time learning about agriculture and farming at The Greening’s farm gardens and Detroit Public Schools’ gardens. This year, some of the returning Green Corps members can earn a Farm Stand Certification. These students will be trained by The Greening’s Ur-

“We want our youth employees to not only earn a paycheck and learn about job responsibility, we want to impassion them to become true ambassadors and stewards of the environment,” said Devon Buskin, director of More-Workforce Development. ban Agriculture staff using a youth Farm Stand curriculum created by Michigan State University, and volunteering at the farm stand at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy on Wednesday afternoons throughout the eight-week program.

They will learn all aspects of operating the stand. Enrichment and life-skill training is a program priority. Green Corps members participate in conservation and environmental stewardship projects, financial literacy training, conflict resolution and management training, ca-

reer and college fairs that focus on green careers, and visit several state parks to kayak, hike, swim and learn and explore the great outdoors.

The program impacts the youth in multiple ways. According to a pair of of Green Corps

The Green Corps youth work in teams and are mentored and supervised by Crew Leaders, many of whom are college students or former Green Corps members.

For more information visit www.greeningofdetroit.com.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page B-2

Cornerstone Schools announces expansion for 25th year

By Tatyana Hopkins In recognition of its 25th anniversary, Cornerstone Schools announced the launch of a $50 million campaign, expansion to 5,000 students, and a renewed vision of excellence.

The announcement followed the completion of a two-year self-study to identify weaknesses and create consistent standards among the educational group’s various campuses.

Cornerstone Schools currently serves 2,800 students in Detroit with one private K-12 school, three k-8 charter schools and one charter high school.

Findings in the study have produced Cornerstone’s new initiatives including the creation of the Cornerstone Education Group (CEG), a turnaround task force to support Cornerstone’s underperforming schools, a goal of enrollment growth to 5,000 students over the next three years and a $50 million fundraising campaign to support Cornerstone’s work.

“We’re putting a stake in the ground,” said Reid Gough, CEO of CEG. “We’re going to grow and educate 5,000 children in Detroit and hold ourselves accountable for excellent outcomes in all of our schools.”

This year, 90 percent of Cornerstone’s Leadership and Business High School’s graduating class will attend college and have collectively been awarded $3.5 million in scholarships. Graduates of the Cornerstone private school have attended Harvard University,

Howard University, Morehouse College, the University of Michigan and others.

$3 million through the two-day event that will include a dinner and a golfing tournament.

The non-profit educational enterprise hopes to meet its fundraising goal through its 2016 Turning Point Invitational. The first Turning Point fundraiser celebrated the 50th anniversary of Arnold Palmer’s victory in the U.S. Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Detroit in 2004. It raised $8 million.

“We already have over $20 million in commitments lined up,” said Tony Early, chair and CEO of PG&E Corporation and a co-chair of the Turning Point Invitational, of Cornerstone’s $50 million fundraising campaign.

“I am pleased that Jack

This year, they hope to raise

This year, Jack Nicklaus and Harold “Red” Poling will be honored at the dinner.

Nicklaus, (and) a number of champion golfers (are) coming to Michigan in August with a goal to raise $3 million to educate Detroit students at Cornerstone Schools,” said Clark Durant, co-founder of Cornerstone Schools.

nior tours.

Nicklaus has won 120 professional tournaments, including a record 18 majors. He has also won the most major championships on the PGA TOUR Champions and is the only golfer to have completed the career “grand slam” on regular and se-

“I applaud the work of the countless people, now and over the last 25 years, who have made the Cornerstone Schools an inspiring story, and I look forward to its future,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Other major champions have agreed to participate in the event, including Mark O’Meara, Tom Lehman and Jerry Pate.

Cornerstone began with 167 students in 1991.

Eastside Community Network turns 30 Eastside Community Network (ECN), formerly the Warren/Conner Development Coalition’s longest running program, Youth on the Edge of Greatness (YOE), has turned 30 this year.

It is a substance abuse preventive program licensed through the State of Michigan. The purpose of YOE is to develop leadership in youth through education, activism and service. Its focus is to involve youth in environmental sustainability through training, projects and entrepreneurship toward developing the knowledge, skills and understanding Detroit youth need to become effective future leaders within their communities and the city.

YOE is currently get-

ting ready to launch this year’s iteration of its free summer camp for middle school youth.

YOE’s summer program is a daily six-week camp experience where youth leave empowered with skills that are immediately marketable. Components of camp in addition to substance abuse prevention are computer programming, cultural enrichment, self-esteem, college and job preparation and entrepreneurship. This year the YOE youth will be running a fresh cut flower business, tending to their gardens and vending at various farmers markets throughout the city.

“YOE is a proven program where young people develop new skills and relationships that help pro-

Buckman graduated from the YOE program when she was a teenager with a 30-year track record.

Martell Pettaway is a graduating senior from Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School and is an All American football star signed to West Virginia University.

pel them on a path to success. The things I learned in the program have directly shaped the way I think about service to

our community infinitely. YOE has been the difference in young people becoming leaders in our community versus los-

ing them to the streets,” said Sharlonda Buckman, CEO of the Detroit Parent Network and YOE alumna.

“YOE has been one of the most influential programs that I’ve ever completed. The program provided me with many life essential skills that I still use today. The greatest example I have is that it taught me how to be a team player. That’s worked out well for me,” said Pettaway.

To learn more, call 313-331-3499 or visit www.ecn-detroit.org.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page B-3

Human Rights Campaign shows support for ‘common sense’ gun control

By Victoria Jones NNPA/DTU Journalism Fellow The Washington Informer

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a civil rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization for the LGBTQ community, showed support for the victims of the Orlando massacre by posting photos of the victims with their names and ages in each window of their downtown Washington, D.C. office. In huge block letters a sign read, “We are Orlando.”

Just outside their building, the organization hung a wreath and a board where supporters posted messages of love, solidarity and condolences for the victims of the tragedy and their families.

Residents and visitors to Washington, D.C. also expressed their unity with the victims and their families through donations, marches and candlelight vigils. Emmanuel Kamonyo, who is originally from Rwanda and currently working in Nairobi, came to the HRC headquarters to share his feelings about the tragedy.

“I support equality. I support non-discrimination,” said Kamonyo. “It’s a terrible event, so I came by to give my support and to sign something.”

Joe Solmonese, a Washington, D.C. resident and a member of the LGBTQ community, said the HRC memorial is an extraordinary and incredible tribute to the victims and the strength and the power of the community in Orlando, Fla., in Washington, D.C. and the world.

“This is beyond emotional. The amount of

The Human Rights Campaign displayed the memorial for the victims of the Orlando massacre from June 17 to June 20. (Victoria Jones/NNPA/DTU) love that people have shown in such a hateful, evil situation has been unbelievable,” said Joanna Osterhout, an Orlando resident and a LGBTQ member. “It’s really been emotional and empowering, and it makes you want to fight the injustice that was done, not just for the 49 individuals and the 53 that were injured, but for anyone who has not stood up for it.”

Denise Murray, who is also an Orlando resident and a member of the LGBTQ community, said that she was very honored and touched to be in Washington, D.C. and see the support for the victims of the tragedy of Orlando.

“We came on this trip to support our team, the Orlando Pride, with our supportive group the Crown, and the city has embraced us and really helped us with our mourning process, so we are very grateful,” said

Murray. “Our hearts are forever touched by the compassion that we have seen here in D.C. for our city.”

The June 12 Orlando massacre at Pulse nightclub left 49 people dead and 53 injured. The club was considered a safe space for the LGBTQ community.

Three days after the shooting, Senate Democrats started a surprise filibuster holding any legislation hostage until the issue of gun safety reform was addressed. According to the Associated Press, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) started the filibuster at about 11:20 a.m. on June 15. Murphy tweeted before he began speaking that he would stay on the floor as long as necessary and prevent legislators from bringing any other issues to the floor for as long as he could continue talking.

According to AP, Murphy referenced Congress’

More than 35,000 kids and 1,600 volunteers expected to attend Metro Detroit Youth Day Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD) organizers expect more than 35,000 youths, 1,600 volunteers and 350 community partners at the 34th annual youth-centric event from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at Belle Isle’s athletic fields.

“Metro Detroit Youth Day is about people and organizations working together to make a good impression on the kids, show them we care and provide them a fun day filled with supervised, constructive activities,” said Ed Deeb, founder and chairman of Metro Detroit Youth Day; and founder of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association. “We want safe schools free of crime and bullying. Youth Day will have a wide range of activities emphasizing sportsmanship, education, fair play and leadership. It’s a great way to focus their energy in a positive manner.”

More than one million children have participated in Metro Detroit Youth Day over the years including Detroit native Bruce Ross who says attending the inaugural Metro Detroit Youth Day in 1981 was his turning point.

“Metro Detroit Youth Day saved my life,” said Ross. “I was at a crossroads where I could have easily turned to crime or drugs, but at that first Youth Day I saw people of all races showing respect and love to me and the other kids. Mr. Deeb introduced me to my boyhood hero, Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney. From that point forward, I knew I wanted to lead a positive life and I’ve never looked back.”

Ross went on to graduate from Pershing High School and became a first-generation college graduate, earning a degree from Wayne State University. He was also recently named as a member of the board of directors for Metro Detroit Youth Day and is working with Youth Day and The Michigan Appreciation Foundation on opportunities for youth in Detroit and throughout the state.

This year, MDYD will continue its tradition as the region’s largest single-day youth event by providing sports clinics, education stations, entertainment and workshops for students focused on anti-crime, anti-bullying, health and wellness, entrepreneurship and a free lunch.

SPORTS Area youth will test their skills and explore new interests at sports clinics including martial arts, boxing, golf, track and field, soccer, lacrosse, bowling, football, basketball, and more.

A partnership with the NFL Alumni Detroit Chapter and the Gridiron Institute will bring former Detroit Lion Ron Rice and other NFL players to Belle Isle to offer fundamental skill drills, instruction and games to future football stars.

Wayne State University football players

will also be on hand to assist and sign autographs.

The Detroit Pistons will also host a basketball clinic including appearances from several Pistons personalities, legends and entertainment teams.

EDUCATION The Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation, MDYD’s parent organization, will recognize area high school students for community and academic achievement and award more than 102 scholarships to deserving students who submitted an application and essay for consideration. With the generous support of MDYD sponsors, Michigan’s colleges and universities, companies, organizations and the general public MDYD has awarded more than 1,200 scholarships since 1991.

The education area also features MDYD’s College Row, chaired by John Ambrose of Michigan State University, which provides an opportunity for students to visit with and learn more about Michigan’s colleges and universities. This year’s lineup includes: Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.

“Our goal is to inspire our youth to do the most good, help our youth and provide more meaning to their lives and service to our communities, and go to college, graduate, and become our future leaders in Michigan,” Deeb said.

The Education and Exhibit areas will include opportunities for the kids to interact with organizations including: Arts & Scraps, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, Crime Stoppers of Michigan, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit PAL, Detroit Public Schools Foundation and more.

ENTERTAINMENT The morning will begin the opening ceremony with a procession led for safe schools led by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, Crime Stoppers of Michigan and Boy Scouts of America. In addition, Martha Reeves will perform the national anthem and several youngsters will sing and dance for a chance at prizes on the Pepsi Stage during the 10th annual Youth Day Idol Contest.

For more information or to register to attend Metro Detroit Youth Day, visit http://www.metrodetroityouthday.org/ register.html or call (586) 393-8801.

failure to pass any legislation in the aftermath of Sandy Hook during his speech.

“For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn’t just painful to us, it’s unconscionable,” he said.

The filibuster lasted for nearly 15 hours and ended after Republican Party leaders reportedly agreed to allow votes on two proposed gun control measures. The measures considered a ban people on the government’s terrorist watch list from obtaining gun licenses and whether to expand background checks to gun shows and Internet sales.

The gunman, Omar

Mateen, was investigated by the FBI twice and cleared of suspected ties to terrorists before he purchased the guns that he used during the massacre.

Earlier in the week, Democrats, led by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) staged a historic sit-in on the House floor at the U.S. Capitol to protest the lack of progress on legislation that would address gun show loopholes and measures that would prevent people that landed on “no-fly” lists from buying guns and ammunition.

Rep. Lewis said lawmakers must return after the July 4t break, “more determined than ever before,” according to CNN. com.

“We are going to win,” said Lewis after the sit-in had ended, CNN.com reported. “The fight is not over. This is just one step of when we come back here on July 5. We’re going to continue to push, to pull, to stand up, and if necessary, to sit down.”

In the aftermath of the Orlando shootings, the HRC released a policy position statement that favored gun control legislation.

HRC Communications Director Jay Brown said, “We are endorsing common sense gun safety prevention measures and we recognize anti-LGBTQ hate is real and it’s made even more deadly with the unsafe access to guns by people who shouldn’t have them.”

Meijer expands online shopping service in Detroit With another four Detroit area stores unveiling Meijer Curbside in the past few weeks, Meijer is continuing a big push this summer to increase locations that allow customers to shop online and enjoy the convenience of picking up their groceries curbside without leaving their vehicles.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer just added its Rochester Hills, Brighton, Fort Gratiot and Lapeer supercenters as Meijer Curbside locations and plans on completing its southeastern Michigan plan in October, bringing the total number of stores offering the popular shopping option in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas to 14. By year’s end, Meijer Curbside will be offered at 33 stores in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, including multiple locations in Lansing, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.

“The way customers shop for food continues to change and our efforts to expand the number of stores where Meijer Curbside is offered is one more way we are bringing more convenience to our customers,” said Michael Ross, vice president of Digital Shopping and Customer Marketing. “Providing an all-encompassing service that offers grocery, health and beauty and general merchandise items, and allows customers to pick up orders in as little as a few hours is a game changer for many of our shoppers.”

Since launching the program at its Canton and Ann Arbor stores last year, Ross said that popular demand in Detroit has seen the number of orders more than double in the weeks following most store launches, and expects that number will eventually grow to 100 per day at some stores.

He said more than 80 percent of weekly orders come from repeat customers, which demonstrates how quickly the shopping option of picking up their groceries curbside is gaining popularity especially among busy parents and millennials.

The Meijer Curbside program enlists 15 specially-trained team members at each store to hand select every item in a customer’s order, choose best available produce and meats, and shop according to special instructions and personal preferences. Orders are shopped prior to pick-up and dedicated refrigerators and freezers are used to keep grocery items fresh.

Customers shop for more than 80,000 of the most commonly shopped grocery and general merchandise, including health and beauty products, pet food, toys, Keurigs and Fitbits, and place orders online at Meijer.com/Curbside.

Then customers select a preferred pick-up time between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. For orders, customers can schedule pick-up in about three hours. Orders can be

placed up to five days in advance.

As a busy schoolteacher, Utica resident Melissa Wolfe said the last thing she and her husband want to do at the end of a long week is to go grocery shopping. But that’s how she used to spend her Saturdays, until she tried Meijer Curbside at the Auburn Hills Meijer in April. Ever since, she and husband John have been enthusiastic repeat customers.

“Balancing full work weeks and weekly grocery shopping has never been easier,” she said. “Curbside saves us at least two to three hours every weekend, and because we both have full-time jobs that demand a lot of our time during the week, our weekend hours are precious to us. We now put our weekly shopping list together throughout the week, sleep a little later on weekends and choose a pick-up time to get our groceries and pet food.

For us, going grocery shopping is no longer a chore and we both get to sleep a little later and avoid long checkout lines on Saturdays.”

For shoppers at the newly added Rochester Hills, Brighton, and Fort Gratiot stores, Meijer Curbside will be offered free through July 31. Following the initial phase, the service cost varies between $4.95 and $6.95 per order, depending on store.

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JAYE!

Your real estate expert My name is Jaye Sanders and I’m excited about answering your real estate questions. I’m a third generation Detroiter, a proud Spartan and real estate expert with over $10 million in real estate sales.

I welcome your questions.

Willie Brake

Contact me at:

JustAskJaye@gmail.com or call (248) 298-5000.

Dear Ms. Original Detroiter: The Detroit City Council approved a $495 annual fee in Palmer Woods, a $250 fee for Sherwood Forests households and a $400 fee for residents of the Detroit Golf Club. The monies collected will be used to pay for additional security, snow removal and other amenities that would be voted on by the residents of the community. If you decide not to pay the fee, your property taxes will become delinquent. Wayne County has specific rules regarding delinquent property taxes and after mulitple years of non-payment you could face foreclosure. Therefore, if the fee creates a hardship, I suggest that you apply for the Detroit hardship property tax exemption. The purpose of the fee is to create a more pleasant living experience, not to cause you a hardship. There are several programs like StepForward Michigan and the hardship property tax exemption to assist you with paying your property taxes.

I would strongly suggest that all residents paying this fee find out more about how the money will be allocated? Who is responsible for spending the money? What happens if there is a surplus of funds? Get involved in your homeowner association(s) and become informed about where your funds are being spent. Go to your home owner association meetings and vote! Run for a Board of Directors’ position or other leadership role and be apart of making your community better. No one likes paying more “fees” or taxes, but everyone wants to live in a desireable, safe community with good amenities. There is some good news...property values are up Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest and the Detroit Golf Community.

Send your questions to justaskjaye@gmail.com or call me at 248-298-5000.

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(313) 963-5522 e-mail:newsdesk@michronicle.com July 6-12, 2016

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CATHY NEDD Associate Publisher KEITH A. OWENS Senior Editor SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011

JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997 LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

What Clinton must learn from the Brexit vote

By Jesse Jackson

Brexit — the stunning British vote to leave the European Union — is a clear and dramatic rebuke of the country’s political and economic elites.

A majority voted to leave even though the heads of the United Kingdom’s two major parties, more than a thousand corporate and bank CEOs, legions of economists, the leaders of Europe and the United States, and the heads of the international financial organizations all Jesse L. Jackson warned of dire consequences if they did not vote to remain.

For Americans, one question is whether this result has implications for the 2016 presidential campaign. Political sea changes tend to cross national boundaries. Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 tracked the rise of Margaret Thatcher to power in Great Britain. Bill Clinton’s New Democrats were mirrored

by Tony Blair’s New Labour Party. So does Brexit presage the rise of Donald Trump in the United States?

The Leave campaign slogan — “Take back control” — is mirrored by Trump’s “Make America great again.” The same economic insecurities, the sense of the system being rigged, the racial fears and the anger at immigrants that fueled the Leave campaign have elevated Trump’s candidacy.

Like Trump, the Leave campaign expressed its scorn for experts and politicians. Like Trump, the campaign told a clear story to voters about how they got in the fix they are in, and who is to blame.

In Britain, the vote divided along the lines of education, class and age.

The better educated, more affluent and younger voted to stay. The less educated, less affluent and older voted to get out. Those campaigning to leave made appeals based on sovereignty, race and nativism.

expertise are universally acknowledged.

But she is the candidate of the status quo at a time when people are looking for change.

Our political and economic elites tend to be in denial. They profit from globalization, take pride in the exercise of American power abroad, live in affluent communities, and often are closer to their international peers than to their poorer neighbors. They don’t see the America that has been ravaged by our ruinous trade policies.

They avoid the killing streets of our impoverished urban neighborhoods.

They were shaken by the Great Recession but largely have recovered. They don’t see that most Americans have lost ground over the course of this century.

They simply don’t understand the scope of their failure to make this system work for working people — for the majority of Americans.

The Brexit vote showed that it is not enough to scorn the lies, exaggerations and divisive racial appeals of a demagogue. The Remain vote in Britain was explicitly a status quo vote — the EU isn’t great, it seemed to say, but it is what we’ve got and our elites and experts say change would be catastrophic.

But when people feel that the elites have failed them, that the system has been rigged to favor the few, that things are getting worse, not better, the invocation of authority in defense of the status quo loses force.

People want to know what you will do to make things better. You’ve got to be able to tell a more convincing story that explains how we got where we are, who is to blame and what can be done about it. This is a lesson that Clinton surely understands.

The Brexit vote also reveals the comparative strength of the Democratic coalition here in the United States. Young people in Britain voted overwhelmingly against leaving; young people here will not vote for Trump. Minorities and immigrants — a much smaller portion of the population in Britain — voted against leaving; minorities here will not vote for Trump’s racist politics.

They campaigned against unaccountable bureaucrats and disdainful elites who rigged the system against working people. What surprised pollsters was the strong turnout by non-college educated, older working people, who lined up to register their discontent.

The question is only whether the young and minorities will turn out in large numbers or whether, uninspired, they will stay home in large numbers.

Turning them out also requires a campaign that gives them hope for a change, not simply a promise of more of the same.

There is a clear warning here for Hillary Clinton. She is the quintessential establishment candidate, having been in Washington for the last 25 years. She has presented herself as a continuation of the Obama years. Her experience and

Brexit is a warning. There will be a reckoning. A divisive demagogue like Trump can profit in such times, but the politics of inclusion can beat the politics of division — but only by offering people a new deal that gives them hope.

What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur

By Armstrong Williams NNPA News Wire Columnist

Time is one of those magical dimensions of the human experience. At certain instances it seems like there is not enough of it. And at others, it seems like the moment lasts forever. The intellectual and emotional experience in the passage of time is one of those unique aspects about being human that sets us as a species apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Since were are blessed with that perception we should engage it and contemplate ways in which to make time an ally in our quest for personal and societal growth. One of the interesting things for me, looking back over Armstrong Williams the past decade or so, is how quickly our business has grown. And yet, as I look back, it seems that a lot has remained the same.

I still get up at the same time almost every morning. I rise well before the sun, usually starting off my day at around 4:30 in the morning with a prayer and call to my folks in South Carolina. I then arrive at the gym just before five a.m., and work out for about an hour before arriving at my office at precisely 7 o’clock. The end of my day is similarly bounded. It is exceedingly rare that I get in bed any later than 9 p.m.

And so as I look back on my work life, it is apparent that while our business has expanded and we have been able to manage an increasingly complex organization, we aren’t necessarily spending more time doing it. Time has gone from being our enemy in the early stages of running a company, to being our friend today.

Why is that?

In some respects, it comes down to how we conceive of ourselves in the

marketplace. If you consider yourself an employee, you are looking at time as a finite resource. You expect to arrive at work on time, to leave on time, and be paid on time. You essentially are tying your income to a fixed, linear relationship with time.

But entrepreneurs view time much, much differently. For one thing, the entrepreneur’s perception of time is not linear, it is pivotal. For example, as an entrepreneur I am willing to spend a lot of my time not directly earning income. I spend it building relationships with key allies and future business associates. I give time to worthy causes and public issues that I support.

And yet I see these activities as worthy investments of time because of the potentially outsized payoffs in the future. Two hours on the tennis court or having dinner with a key ally could potentially lead to opportunities to make millions in the future.

This is admittedly a difficult concept for many people with the employee mindset to grasp, let alone put into practice. The reason for that is that the entrepreneurial mindset exposes us to uncertainty. There is no guideline or formula or time-table that dictates when an idea or a relationship will bear fruit.

That can be frightening to some people. But my entrepreneurial mindset is guided by a deep faith and belief in the laws of creation. I know for a fact that if you sow, you shall reap. I believe that in life there are definite seasons, and that the pattern is inexorable. The spring precedes the summer, which precedes the fall and the winter. In the spring one plants, and in the fall one harvests. In the winter, one relies for sustenance upon the storehouse of goods harvested in the fall that grew from the seeds planted in the spring.

No longer can one rely on working the same job for one’s whole career. People need to become more entrepreneurial these days to survive. But what they don’t often realize is that doing so requires using mental and psychological tools that may be unfamiliar to them.

Quote of the Week:

No person can maximize the American Dream on the minimum wage.”

— Benjamin Todd Jealous

John Lewis: One of a kind

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA News Wire Columnist

I have always had enormous admiration for Congressman John Lewis (DGa.) and that admiration increased exponentially when I watched him led dozens of his congressional colleagues to sit-in on the floor of Congress to force a vote on gun control.

As the supercilious Paul Ryan called for “decorum” (where is the decorum in a man walking into a nightclub with an automatic weapon and gunning 49 people down), determined Democrats disrupt- Julianne Malveaux ed proceedings in the House of Representatives. I say, “Right on!”

Congressman Lewis tweeted, “Sometimes you have to get in the way. You have to make some noise by speaking up and speaking out against injustice & inaction.” He is frustrated, as are many voters, about the fact that Congress has failed to take a position on background checks and the availability of assault weapons. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is equally frustrated, saying, “Moments of silence aren’t substitute for the action needed on gun violence.”

Republicans have attempted to deflect, suggesting that the focus should be on ISIS and terrorism, not gun violence. But the Newtown, Conn., shooter was not a terrorist connected to ISIS. Indeed, troubled White men have perpetrated many of our recent mass shootings with access to guns, not ISIS loyal terrorists.

No matter. Can’t Congress walk and chew gum at the same time? Can’t they focus both on ISIS and on our out-ofcontrol gun culture?

Nobody is talking about repealing the Second Amendment (though that might not be a bad idea). Still, the “right to bear arms” does not mean the unfettered right to bear all kinds of arms. Nobody needs an automatic weapon. And anyone deemed dangerous or mentally ill should never be allowed to purchase a gun.

The National Rifle Association (NRA)

is an irresponsible organization that elevates the right for any random citizen to own and bear arms over the right of other citizens to survive. Members of Congress need to cut the cord from that organization. Voters need to back them up.

One might think the congressional sit-in has yielded few results. House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the plug on C-SPAN coverage and dismissed the sitin as a “stunt.” Still, responding to the fact that 90 percent of Americans support background checks those who sat in showed enormous courage.

Taking advantage of social media, they broadcast their sit-in using Periscope, reminding Ryan that he might control C-SPAN, but he doesn’t control all broadcast.

Ryan was insulting and condescending in calling the sit-in a “stunt,” and he reminded me of the many reasons I so admire Congressman John Lewis. Was the Atlanta Congressman’s skull fractured in a “stunt” in 1965 on Bloody Sunday, when his civil rights activity caused rabid Whites to attack him?

Lewis pulled no stunt, he stood for what he believed in then. He is standing, firmly in his belief now, and using the time-honored tactic of protest to bring attention to the important cause of gun control.

Congressman Lewis and his colleagues were not successful in forcing votes on gun control. But they were successful in shutting the House down.

Speaker Ryan was forced to adjourn Congress before he planned to, and Republicans sulked off like thieves in the night.

Democrats held the floor hours after the Republicans scurried away, like hungry rats. No vote was forced, but a point was made.

People should urge their representatives to take an appropriate vote to reduce access to guns, especially for those on a “no fly” list. People should also give Congressman John Lewis a “shout out” and appreciation for his leadership.

He has taken the tactics of the 60s and taken them into the 21st century.

He has reminded us that “stunts” have their purpose. His unassailable moral courage is admirable.

Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for your activism in the 1960s and now. You are much appreciated.

Trump, Republicans confuse outreach efforts with pandering Raynard Jackson NNPA News Wire Columnist

As long as the Republican Party continues to be dominated by the same ol’, same ol’ white male staffers, consultants, and aides, they will continue to alienate the black community.

As long as the Republican Party continues to “showcase” blacks that have absolutely no connection to the black community, have no understanding of communications, or no understanding of political strate- Raynard Jackson gy, i.e. Stacey Dash, they will continue to be rejected.

I discussed these issues in my column two weeks ago. So I was totally mortified at the comments of Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, as reported by Buzzfeed last week (one day after his removal from the campaign).

According to Buzzfeed, “Lewandowski was asked about the campaign’s failure to return phone calls from prospective volunteers, and also about Trump’s plans to win over minority voters. On the second point, Lewandowski said he made the decision that the campaign would not launch outreach initiatives “pandering” to specific ethnic groups, because Trump’s message was aimed broadly at the entire country, he argued.

If I hear one more Republican claim the Republican Party should not engage in “identity politics” or what they wrongly refer to as “pandering,” I am going to scream. This is one of the most idiotic notions I have ever heard and is a major reason the party has such a difficult time attracting Blacks and other minorities.

Let me first start by defining “identity politics.” IP is simply recognizing that various constituent or demograph-

ic groups exist and that they should be identified as such, and that a relevant strategy to target them based on their group profile should also be created.

Many Republicans think the world should be colorblind, that we are all Americans, and that all of our issues are the same. Well, adhering to this view, there should be no males or females, no blacks or whites, no unions or nonunions and no Christians or Muslims.

We’re all just humans.

The Democrats go way overboard in the other direction where everything is separated into various groups. This totally dilutes what being American is all about. But to simply recognize the differences within our country is just plain common sense, not un-American.

So, while Corey was denouncing “pandering,” the very next day Trump met with over nine hundred evangelicals. Is that not pandering? Oh, my bad, it’s only pandering when it involves Blacks or Hispanics. If it involves evangelicals, veterans, or the border patrol union, it’s called campaigning.

Memo to Republicans: if you don’t or can’t see that you have no blacks on your staff and very few engaged with the party, then there is a problem. Either you are colorblind or simply blind to people of color. In either scenario, there is a huge problem.

What’s even more idiotic is to see many black Republicans subscribe to this foolish colorblind notion, i.e., the aforementioned Stacey Dash. These are the type of blacks that Republicans want to highlight all over the media, because they reinforce the party’s preconceived ignorance and apathy towards the Black community.

So to my Republicans who have this perverted notion of identity politics when it comes to blacks, please learn to appreciate market segmentation and market demographics and how to exploit them to sell your message to those who have of late been totally repulsed by your foolish notion of colorblindness.

Colorblindness has left the Republican Party in a color-bind.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page B-5

Love conquers all

Melanie Williams, owner of PR Guru and her fiancé, Damond Bowers, entrepreneur and business owner, announce they are tying the knot on Sept. 11, 2016. The date, which our nation will never forget, is also the date these two had their first date.

“My fiancé and I have faced so many tragic twists and turns in our lives and overcame them together that we wanted to show our families the true meaning of the power of love,” said Williams.

The future Mr. and Mrs. Bowers’ wedding

theme is a beautiful old fashioned love story, coordinating with colors “blush and bashful” from the movie “Steel Magnolias” and navy blue.

“Our love is our own. It's like an old school record that you play over and over again,” said Bowers The wedding ceremony and reception will take place at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe. After exchanging nuptials, the newlyweds leave for Venice, Italy and Santorini, Greece.

Southfield Festival of Hope

It’s time again for the Southfield Festival of Hope (SFOH), Thursday through Sunday, July 7-10 on the grounds of Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield.

In celebration of its sixth year, the SFOH is doing something new on opening day, from 2 to 10 p.m., you don’t want to miss, with free admission, Dollar Dayz with $1 pizza, cotton candy, hot dogs, snow cones, soda and popcorn. Fun for family and friends in a safe environment. The event continues to be supported by the City of Southfield and the Southfield Police Department.

This year’s theme is “Community Forward,” showing the rich diversity of the community and engaging many ethnic groups in this wonderful event.

Other days and times are: Friday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free except for 5 p.m. and after on Friday and Saturday when unescorted 21-year and under persons will be charged $5.00 in exchange for a coupon which can be used for food, games or rides.

Be an early bird and get $16 discounted tickets for all-day rides through July 6, onsite its $22. There is also an outreach for sponsors to underwrite free rides for disadvantaged youngsters. A portion of the ride proceeds will be donated to the Methodist Children’s Home Society.

More Information and advance tickets for rides can be purchased at www. southfieldfestivalofhope.org.

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CANNOT BE USED ON DEALS OF THE DAY OR SPECIALS Excludes ALL: cosmetics/fragrances, Deals of the Day, Doorbusters/web busters, electrics/electronics, Everyday Values (EDV), furniture/mattresses, Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, rugs, specials, super buys, All-Clad, Breville, Dyson, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Marc Jacobs, Michele watches, New Era, Nike on Field, Sam Edelman, Samsung watches, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, Theory, Tumi, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wüsthof, athletic clothing, shoes & accessories; Dallas Cowboys merchandise, designer jewelry, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, select licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, tech watches; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: baby gear, kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA, Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.

ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 7/8-7/9/2016.

OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible. N6060012 50801_N6060012L.indd 1

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Page B-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • July 6-12, 2016

SUMME R C E LE BRATION X XXIV PLEASE SCAN FOR WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER

O N B E L L E IS L E W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 13 , 2016 Time: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM B e g in Yo u r P la n s a n d P re p a ra tio n s T O D AY Children 8-15 years of age. • For further information or sponsorship, Contact the Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation

To Register Youth or for Information Phone 586-393-8801 • Fax 586-393-8804 Or Visit www.metrodetroityouthday.org

BUSINESS

SECTION C

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July 6-12, 2016

michiganchronicle.com

Finding employment with training and dedication Success Spotlight:

LaChrista Banks Hard work, dedication and a positive attitude were essential qualities LaChrista Banks, an 18-year old single mother, had when she entered the P.A.T.H. (Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope.) program.

P.A.T.H. is a federally-funded program run jointly by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with other community organizations.

P.A.T.H. helps those like LaChrista discover their barriers to employment, and then works with the individual directly to help them overcome their obstacles.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen chef,Jay Brown and Brother Jerry Smith go over the day's menu amidst new kitchen equipment donated through a makeover by DTE Energy and DNV GL.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen receives energy-efficiency makeover from DTE Energy

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

LaChrista Banks LaChrista joined the P.A.T.H. program while living in a homeless shelter with her one-year-old daughter as she attended the Abcott Institute of Medical Training. During her time at Abcott, she participated in its Patient Care Technician Combo program which ran 22 weeks. Through her hard work at Abcott, she received certification for CAN (Certified Addiction Nutritionist), HHA (Home Health Aid), and PCT (Patient Care Technician), all of which help align LaChrista with her promising career aspirations.

After her certification, LaChrista began interviewing for positions in the medical field, but was unable to find one. For help in her job search, she turned to the Midwest Careers Institute (MCI), a DESC partner which offers services for P.A.T.H. participants, where she started working with employment specialist, Worlee Dennis.

“LaChrista came to us at MCI during a hard time. She has been through, and is still going through, many stressful stages in her life,” said Worlee. “Still, she has the drive in her soul to better herself; the eagerness in her heart to achieve. She was open to my suggestions and the process to become marketable.”

Worlee and MCI provided LaChrista

See BANKS Page C-2

Since 1929, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen has been perhaps Detroit’s most ardent and consistent non-profit organization for preparing and serving three full course meals, six days a week for men, women and children in need.

Based on approximately 300,000 free meals served each year (1,500 per day), a strong case can be made that no other food service entity in metro Detroit has prepared and served more meals than the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

With the constant and massive usage of electricity and gas to power equipment and appliances to prepare daily meals (except Sunday), as well as to maintain two facilities geared to consistently feed the needy, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen has seen its share of high energy and utility costs. Yet, help has arrived for the organization’s main facility that feeds everyone — no questions asked — in need of meals.

In an effort to assist the non-profit organization to become more energy-efficient and lower its utility bills, DTE Energy and DNV GL have teamed to save the Capuchin Soup Kitchen nearly 20 percent on its annual energy cost. On Friday morning, June 30, executives and managers from both DTE Energy and DNV GL were on hand at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Conner Avenue facility on the city’s east side, to describe their partnership as well as cost-saving measures.

The announcement included details surrounding DNV GL’s donation of state-of-the-arts, energy-efficiency equipment to the Capuchin Soup Kitch-

en. Donations included an oven, numerous fryers, a dishwasher, natural gas water heaters, and refrigeration enhancement. It was also announced that DNV GL changed the dining and kitchen areas over to energy and cost-saving LED lighting. All changes, according to the DTE Energy and DNV GL officials in attendance, are expected to save the Capuchin Soup Kitchen more the $4,000 each year on its energy costs. DNV GL has promised to remotely measure and verify energy savings resulting from upgrades.

global leading company in energy, maritime, oil and gas solutions. “We identified the Capuchin Soup Kitchen as an ideal candidate because its kitchen is in constant use. Therefore, we saw great opportunities to help the organization save on its energy bills and turn savings into providing more help for the Detroit-area community.”

“We looked at quite a few organizations that we could have chosen for this project,” said Kevin Dunbar, assistant operations manager for DNV GL, a

“We know that upgrading equipment and improving one’s building to increase See CAPUCHIN Page C-2

The Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s energy makeover took three-month to complete, but did not disrupt the organization’s daily mission of serving three daily meals to people in need.

Chevrolet DTU fellows share experience, learn from black publishers at NNPA convention Recently, as part of General Motors’ (GM) sponsorship of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Chevrolet sent two fellows from its Discover the Unexpected (DTU) program to NNPA’s annual convention in Houston, Texas, June 21-25. The fellows participated in the convention’s Youth Day at Texas Southern University, sharing their experiences gained from the DTU program.

The goal of DTU is to provide the fellows the opportunity to receive hands-on experience, networking opportunities and recognition for delivering stories that most embody discovering the unexpected. Chevrolet is providing each fellow with a stipend and each fellowship team an all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu for use during their reporting assignments to help them discover great news stories and digital/social media content.

These fellows were selected by a panel of NNPA publishers and editors and Howard University faculty and have been paired with an NNPA professional advisor in teams of two.

Each team will have the opportunity to intern for an NNPA member newspaper and report on issues of interest in their communities, issues that are often ignored or unnoticed.

“DTU is critically important to feed the pipeline of the

General Motors executives Eric Peterson (left) and Mark Rainey (second from right) pose with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr. (second from left), NNPA Chair Denise Rolark-Barnes and NNPA Convention Committee Chair Terry Jones following remarks at a Chevrolet sponsored reception during the NNPA Annual Convention in Houston, Texas. next generation of black publishers and media leaders and we believe this new initiative strengthens our long-term partnership with Chevrolet,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA. GM has supported the NNPA for nearly 30 years, which has helped the organization grow its membership to more than 200 publications. GM’s support has made possible a plethora of benefits for its members, which

includes access to conferences and education partnerships that ultimately gives voice to its 30 million NNPA subscribers.

“This new partnership represents the next phase in the relationship between Chevrolet and the NNPA, allowing our Chevrolet brand to help shape and support the next generation of black journalists and publishers,” said Michelle Alexander, General Motor’s diversity marketing manager. “These

Chevrolet DTU journalism fellows McKenzie Marshall (left) and Briahnna Brown (right) join NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr. following their presentation to NNPA’s Youth Day at the 2016 NNPA Annual Convention.

young, aspiring journalists had the opportunity to get hands-on experience and guidance from the leading publishers in our communities.”

The inaugural class of DTU journalism fellows are Brandi Montgomery, Brelaun Douglas, Briahnna Brown, McKenzie Marshall, Tatyana Hopkins, Sidnee King, Victoria Jones and Rushawn Walters. Brown, who attended the convention with Marshall, both interning

with the Chicago Defender, discussed how the fellowship has impacted her development as an aspiring journalist.

“I am grateful to both Chevrolet and the NNPA for my opportunity with DTU, which has enabled me to take lessons from the experience and professionalism of the top minority publishers in the country to tell stories that are often overlooked in the communities I represent,” said Brown.

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page C-2

Detroiter writes book for entrepreneurs Warren S. Galloway, Jr., owner of Warren Galloway & Associates LLC, has more than 14 years of executive-level banking and 15 years of small business experience working in many capacities with nonprofit groups, individuals, and businesses. Galloway has served in key positions at some of the largest national and regional financial institutions in the United States — among them E*TRADE Bank, Charter One Bank (now known as Citizens Bank), Standard Federal Bank (now known as Bank of America), and NBD Bank (now known as Chase Bank) — holding a number of posts in Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, Community Reinvestment, Community Development, Personal and Mortgage Lending, Investments, Small Business Lending, and Retail Branch Operations.

Women Who Wine helps identify aspiring business women

By AJ Williams Many of today’s female entrepreneurs are so successful that it is easy to assume high-profile businesspeople are the only women who are making a difference.

However, there are women who are building their brand not to help themselves, but to inspire others.

Founder Ci’era Blankenship of Women Who Wine Detroit began the idea of developing a women’s organization “that would not require a woman to be powerful, but determined,” said Blankenship, “determined to retrace her steps into becoming a woman who’s ready to embark on a new journey of defining her capabilities.”

Blankenship works on the executive board with two Detroit-based women entrepreneurs who are steadfast behind the brand’s mission.

Women Who Wine Detroit is a women’s organization that brings like-minded women together to assist with female entrepreneurial endeavors.

The organization has hosted three sold-out events, which includes the reoccurring summer series, Winning Women Wednesday, held at House of Pure Vin for women to network, engage in wine tasting and participate in Each event also allows the organization to donate a percentage of its proceeds to a local non-profit.

The organization has developed three successful start-up brands as a result of the organizations efforts since it’s start in early March of 2016.

On July 9, 2016, at 7:00 pm, Women Who Wine Detroit will host its fourth event, “Elevate,” at the Madison Rooftop in downtown Detroit.

This event will include women business owners and sponsors from metro Detroit and beyond. Participants include OPI Products and Regal Event Planning of Detroit.

For more Information on the organization, visit www.womenwhowinedetroit.com.

Capuchin

From page C-1

energy-efficiency can cut costs,” said Ken Randazzo, DTE energy partnership manager. “That’s why DTE is proud to partner with DNV GL in order to help the Capuchin Soup Kitchen save energy and lower utility bills. There’s no other utility company in the country that’s offering this type and level of energy and cost saving program to food service providers.”

While the Capuchin Soup Kitchen is the recipient of this unique partnership with DTE Energy and DNV GL, representatives from both companies believe restaurant businesses in DTE’s service areas can also benefit.

According to the National Restaurant Association, the Michigan restaurant business is projected to grow by at least five percent this year, with the city of Detroit experiencing a restaurant boom predicted to provide many jobs and positively impact the local economy. DTE’s executives revealed that the company has almost 30 incentives/programs that address food service and refrigeration needs, as well as lighting, heating and cooling equipment.

DTE purports its energy efficiency programs will collectively save participating customers close to $600 million long term.

Banks with interview techniques, resume assistance and leads at potentially interested companies. One lead turned into an interview at the WC Turner Living Center, where only days later she was offered a full-time position as a caregiver, which she started on May 28, 2016.

LaChrista is now working forty hours a week and taking care of her daughter- all while maintaining a cheerful outlook and life style. She plans to further her career by continuing

Galloway earned a B.S. in Marketing/Business Administration from Central Michigan University, as well as a J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. After completing his education, he became a community advocate, working to rebuild urban and rural communities by utilizing funds from financial institutions, government, businesses, foundations, private individuals, and his own personal resources.

Economic and financial empowerment, youth and social activism, affordable home ownership, leadership training and fundraising, small business lending, and entrepreneurship have become the staples of his leadership role in the community. He also provides Independent living skills and small business guidance consulting assistance to individuals with disabilities.

In 2005, Galloway decided to utilize his expertise from the financial services industry and nonprofit community to establish Warren Galloway & Associates LLC. This company provides small business consulting services directly to government entities, nonprofits, private companies, the disabled, and individuals who are committed to rebuilding their communities, promoting self-employment, and developing independent living skills. Two of his biggest clients are State of Michigan agencies Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Bureau of Services for Blind Persons. MGalloway is a strong advocate of micro-lending and has taken the lead in promoting it as an important resource for small businesses throughout Michigan. He has brought together some of the best and brightest

ganizations to know that our incentive programs can help them in the same ways as the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.”

“We think this program will help restaurant operators become more energy-efficient and reduce their operating costs,” said Randazzo. “We believe that restaurant operators will increase their profit margin and expand their businesses.

Therefore, we want the restaurant community, the entire business community, and non-profit or-

“It has been a real joy to participate in this program,” said Smith. “Everyone involved has been really great to work with.

I like that we didn’t miss a beat while getting new equipment and the entire energy and cost-saving makeover. This makeover will really help us. With the equipment that we had, there were constant breakdowns and repair costs. So it’s really nice for our staff to have this state-of-the art and energy-efficient equipment.

It’s a morale booster that will help us better serve the men, women and children in need of our daily meals.”

From page C-1 her studies and eventually pursuing a doctoral degree in medicine.

“Being in the P.A.T.H. program changed me,” said LaChrista. “I’m more of an independent working person now compared to before. It feels really good.”

If you’re currently a jobseeker, DESC may be able assist you too.

Please contact them at 313-962-WORK or online at http://www.descmiworks.com

“Mexicantown is the authentic heart of the Mexican culture in southeast Michigan,” said SDBA President Kathy Wendler. “We are thrilled that this meaningful program will help reinvigorate the local business community and serve as a platform to reintroduce the wonderful events and activities that showcase this amazing community. Importantly, the program also will help us welcome the many new businesses moving into the Mexicantown area.”

Brother Jerry Smith, director of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, is greatly appreciative that his organization was chosen for new energy-efficient equipment and incentive programs that will significantly lower utility bills.

For more information regarding DTE’s energy-efficient equipment program(s) for businesses, log on to www.dteenergy.com. For more information on DNV GL, visit www.dnvgl.com/energy.

To learn more about the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and its array of services, log on to www.cskdetroit. org.

professional talent under Warren Galloway & Associates LLC, all of whom are committed to providing top-notch consulting services and independent living skills seminars to businesses and individuals in need of these services.

Recently, Galloway co-founded the HR Talent Group a nationwide permanent and contract staffing firm, to work closely with small and large companies looking to fulfill their job placement needs with the highest quality candidates. In addition, he became an adjunct professor of business at Baker College in Clinton Township, Michigan and a Project Manager with TechTown Detroit SWOT City program.

Private companies, government agencies, nonprofit communities, small businesses, and individuals throughout metropolitan Detroit and the surrounding areas of Michigan have benefited from Warren Galloway & Associates LLC’s ability to obtain grants, financial contributions, mortgage loans, small business and commercial loans, board of director support, assistance in the development and rehabilitation of housing, and many other initiatives. Galloway is serious about his professional commitment to revitalizing our communities and assisting individuals with and without disabilities. Warren Galloway and Associates LLC go beyond talk, demonstrating its founder’s steadfastness and dedication through real and measurable action.

SDBA and Mexicantown Community Development revive Main Street Program The Southwest Detroit Business Association and the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation (MCDC) today announced the reactivation of the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities (MHC) Main Street Program. The program, which is funded by two LISC Building Sustainable Communities Early Action Grants, will support the Mexicantown brand by engaging businesses, community organizations and residents within the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities Commercial District.

“Now that the project is complete, DTE and DNV GL are working with Capuchin officials to use the Conner location as a demonstration site for showcasing the latest in energy-efficient cooking and lighting equipment,” according to a written statement issued by DTE. “We want to host energy seminars and host tours there.”

Warren S. Galloway, Jr.

The initial Main Street Program objectives will include creating a printed and digital marketing brochure with a detailed map and listing of all businesses, nonprofit organizations and cultural events in the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities Commercial District. The SDBA also will plan and orchestrate a variety of activities to build and engage the local community, which will include securing feedback for the revitalization of the viaduct on W. Vernor Hwy. between Mexicantown and Corktown as well as other proposed projects in the area.

Detroit LISC has invested more than $30 million in community development projects in Southwest Detroit and recently provided a $25,000 grant to fund eight Early Action Projects in the neighborhoods of Corktown, Mexicantown and the Hubbard Communities in Southwest Detroit as part of a year-long Quality of Life planning process to be concluded this summer.

“LISC is pleased to provide startup funding for the reactivation of the Main Street Program in Southwest Detroit,” said Detroit LISC Executive Director

Tahirih Ziegler. ‘The promotion of the unique Mexicantown brand is critical to strengthening the commercial corridors along W. Vernor and Bagley Avenues which are important contributors to Detroit’s regional economy,’ she continued.

A panel of local business and community leaders will serve as the MHC Main Street Program Advisory Group and other working committees to provide strategic guidance for the program.

The members include: MCDC Board Member Ray Lozano, SDBA President Kathy Wendler and Business and Property Owner, Mexicantown Bakery and Armando’s Restaurant, Omar Hernandez. The boundaries for the Mexicantown-Hubbard Communities Commercial District are W. Vernor Hwy. from Clark St. to 18th St., and Bagley Ave. from 24th St. to 16th St. "Mexicantown Community Development Corporation is excited to collaborate with SDBA in the revitalization of the Main Street Program, which in its inception proved to be very valuable to existing businesses,” said MCDC Board Chair Fern Espino. “This program will bring much neglected attention to the vibrancy, robustness and positive energy of this destination place called Mexicantown— its unique businesses, restaurants, bakeries and diverse communities all working together for the benefit of all. Onward to success with the revitalization of the Main Street Program in Mexicantown!”

The MHC Main Street Program was active from 2002-2008 under the Detroit Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (ONCR) Program.

ONCR was a collaborative effort between government, foundations, community organizations and the private sector as a catalyst for improvement of Detroit’s commercial strips.

MHC was a designated by ONRC as a Re$tore Detroit Program to receive grants and technical assistance to hire commercial revitalization professionals, create cultural events, promote the area, improve facades and recruit and revitalize new businesses. Then in 2005, MHC was designated a Main Street Program under the National Main Street Center guidelines where it received grants.

For more information about the MHC Main Street program, contact SDBA Director of Business District Development and Façade Improvement Manager Myrna Segura-Beltchenko at (313) 8420986 or myrnas@southwestdetroit.com.

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page C-3

Advocate for minority car dealers promotes diversity

By Avis Thomas-Lester

ter’s organization.

Ford had 63 black dealerships out of 3,238, GM had 49 out of 4,245, Fiat Chrysler had 27 of 2,385, Nissan had 21 of 1,077, and Toyota had 14 of 1,245.

Urban News Service

Damon Lester’s phone typically starts ringing at 7:30 a.m., and it keeps ringing until after 10:00 p.m.

Since taking the wheel of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers in 2006, Lester has become the face of the group that advocates for dealership owners of color.

As he celebrates 10 years as president, Lester, the father of two sons, is proud of his association’s success in pushing diversity to the forefront of the auto industry’s agenda.

“It’s in their best interests to adopt diversity as a business imperative because they want to increase their market share,” Lester said. “It makes good business sense.”

By 9:00 o’clock on a recent morning, he had spoken to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration executive, a congressional staffer, a dealer and a prospective dealership buyer.

“Mine is definitely a 24-hour-a-day job,” said Lester (no relation to this writer). “Of the 18,000 new automobile dealerships in the United States, only 1,128 are owned by an ethnic minority. People of color buy 30 percent of the cars in this country, but own only about 6 percent of the car dealerships. So, there’s a lot to be done.”

Based in Largo, Maryland, the association was founded in 1980 to promote “diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the automotive industry,” according to its website.

The organization lobbied then-President Jimmy Carter to assist minority dealers in the wake of the 1979 government bailout of Chrysler.

“Damon is very passionate and dedicated about representing NAMAD and all of its dealer members, vendor and manufacturer partners,” said Jenell R. Ross, president of the Bob Ross Auto Group in Dayton, Ohio.

Lester, 43, wasn’t particularly interested in the auto trade before he joined the association’s staff in 2002.

Born and raised an only child in West Philadelphia, Lester studied

Damon Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, and several of its board members met with President Obama at the White House in 2009. Lester sits two seats left of the president.

— White House photo hard, played sports and sang in the First United Baptist Church’s children’s choir. He commuted by rail 90 minutes each way to Archbishop John Carroll High School, in the upscale suburb of Radnor, Pennsylvania, where he became familiar with wealth.

“I knew I wanted it for myself,” Lester said.

He worked part time at the Super Fresh grocery store in tony Wynnewood, where customers included members of the Philadelphia 76ers and singer Patti LaBelle. He enjoyed meeting celebrities.

Lester majored in accounting at Temple University.

His first accounting job was with black-owned Milligan & Company, LLC, in Philadelphia. Three years later, he moved to Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman in Bethesda, Maryland, which audited the minority dealers’ association.

Lester joined the association in 2002 as vice president of operations.

He became president in 2006, just before dealers

Damon Lester, left, testifies before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Photo: U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

got stung by the 20072008 economic slowdown.

“His whole focus was trying to save as many members as possible from losing their dealerships,” said Jose Pozos, a past chairman of the association and owner of car outlets in Texas and Louisiana.

As the industry stalled, manufacturers shuttered economically challenged retailers. Thirty percent of minority dealerships folded, according to Pozos.

“They would give you a financial buyout and thought you should be happy,” Pozos said. “But the dealers weren’t into it for that. They were into it for the entrepreneurship, the family legacy and the American Dream.”

As the economy reeled in June 2009, Lester asked for his board to visit Valerie Jarrett, President Obama’s chief of staff, to discuss the financial fate of minority dealers. Obama attended. The group asked Obama to order the Small Business

Administration to lend directly to minority dealers, as Carter did.

“The president listened to us, but in the end he didn’t give us what we were asking for,” Lester said. “But we were able to enter into a memorandum of understanding with General Motors,” to address dealers’ financial concerns.

Todd Bullard, the association’s attorney, said the agreement included binding arbitration and wind-down payments of up to $1 million for dealers who lost their stores.

Dealers’ fortunes have improved. About 17.5 million new cars were sold last year. Dealers expect to match or exceed that in 2016, Lester said.

He is trying to add members. The number of minority-owned dealerships peaked at 1,805 in 2005, dropped to 1,156 in 2007 and bottomed out at 873 in 2011. On Dec. 31, America had 1,128 minority dealerships: 552 Hispanic-owned stores, 264 owned by blacks, and 215 Asian-owned dealerships, according to Les-

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page C-4

State’s destruction of DPS now approaching final stage

By Dr. John Telford

Detroit’s first Black Tattoo Art and Music Expo

By AJ Williams Tattoo art is a cultural practice that can be traced back through human history for thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptians to Polynesian Indians and from Wall Street to Main Street, tattoos are becoming more common and much more respected as art for the body.

According to recent

Breathe Beauty Bar to open in downtown Detroit

By Tatiana Simone A one-stop beauty destination is headed to downtown Detroit. Transforming the way pampering is done in the city, Breathe B e a u ty Bar, a chic, fun boutique spa, will Vivica A. Fox open for business at 10 a.m. on July 9 with guest host actress Vivica A. Fox. Breathe Beauty Bar, located at 1420 Washington Blvd., supported

by Detroit Development Fund, Michigan Women’s Foundation and Tech Town’s Retail Boot Camp, will provide all-natural spa services and products in a bar-like setting with a juice bar.

“I launched my all-natural line of products in 2011, and they were a hit,” said Monica Lynn Brown, Breathe Beauty Bar founder and owner.

“When I thought about what I wanted to do next with the Breathe brand, I knew I wanted to bring something different to Detroit and provide an experience for my clients.”

The Breathe Spa & Beauty Collection is in high demand with a list of notable clients, including radio personalities Mason, CoCo and Angie Starr, rapper and actress Yolanda (Yo-Yo) Whitaker, “Sunday Best” sixth-season winner Tasha Page-Lockhart and “Preachers of Detroit” cast member, Rev. Don Shelby.

The product line that was created out of necessity due to Brown’s daughter’s severe eczema, provides a soothing, hydrating, moisturizing and healing effect. The full line consists of body butter, sugar scrub, lotion, bubble bath, body wash, body spray, soap, deodorant, soy candle lotion and hand sanitizer.

Breathe Beauty Bar offers an assortment of services, including manicures, pedicures, facials, makeup, brow, lashes and massages. Party packages and membership packages also are available.

On July 8, media professionals, state officials and VIP guests are invited to enjoy “Breathe in the City,” a private red carpet, ribbon-cutting ceremony, where there will be spa treatments, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and Breathe spa products.

On July 9, the public is welcome to come and exhale with discounted grand opening mini services, starting at $10, as well as complimentary hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.

Join the party by visiting breathebeautybardetroit.com. Follow Breathe Beauty Bar socially on Instagram at @Breathe_ BeautyBar.

research, roughly 20 percent of all Americans have a tattoo. Among African Americans, tattoos are so popular that they are celebrated on Black Ink, the highly-rated television show on VH1. The celebration of tattoo art will come to Detroit on Sunday, July 17, with the Detroit Black Tattoo, Art, and Music Expo at shed 5 in Eastern Market.

“Many of the Expo’ s participants have shared with me their personal stories about how school arts programs provided them with an outlet from their daily struggles and essentially saved their lives,” said Detroit City Council member James Tate. (District 1) who serves as the inaugural ambassador for the event and emphasizes its importance. “Expo organizers plan to use the high-energy event to showcase the diverse talent of professional as well as up-and-coming local artists in Detroit.”

The Detroit Black Tattoo, Art, and Music Expo will also feature an appearance by Sebastian Murphy of Detroit Ink, who was a finalist on the Spike TV Tattoo Competition “Inkmaster.”

“Our purpose is to promote positivity and non-violence by using tattoos, art and music as an alternative to negative activity and media,” he said.

Event founders Jason Phillips and Michael Burnett are tattoo enthusiasts and longtime supporters of local artists and businesses.

They have partnered with Redeem Detroit, a non-profit organization that aims to revitalize neighborhoods in the city of Detroit.

Redeem Detroit trains at-risk youth, homeless veterans, and returning citizens in vocational and job readiness skills.

The first of its kind in the country, the Detroit Black Tattoo, Art, and Music Expo will feature tattoo services, a fine art exhibit curated by the National Conference of Artists (Detroit Chapter), as well as live entertainment from local musicians and spoken word artists. Nationally-recognized graffiti artist Sintex will be painting onsite. With “Detroit Love” as its theme, free cover-ups of gang affiliated tattoos giving many young Detroiters the gift of art as a fresh start.

The Detroit Black Tattoo, Art, and Music Expo is sponsored in part by Sailor Jerry Rum. For tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities for the Detroit Black Tattoo, Art, and Music Expo, contact Redeem Detroit at 313-288-9871 or visit blacktattooartandmusicexpo.com.

The deck has been stacked against Detroiters, our children, our elected school board, and its appointed superintendent ever since the entirely unwarranted state takeover of the Detroit Public Schools in 1999. That takeover was step one of a suspected legislative and corporate conspiracy to destroy the venerable DPS (founded in 1842) in order to convert our Dr. John Telford city to one ultimately served by only for-profit charter schools unaccountable to the community.

In 1999, DPS enjoyed a surplus of $114 million and its student test scores were at the state midpoint and rising under the talented fiscal and academic management of then-superintendent Eddie Green. At the time, the district ranked as the best in the nation among urban districts with a majority of students on free or reduced-cost lunch programs.

Detroit voters, always supportive of their schools, had approved a millage of $1.5 billion to renovate buildings in need of repair and to replace a few of the older ones. Then-governor John Engler and his cohorts in and out of Lansing were virtually salivating over the resultant lucrative contracts to be let.

Now, 17 years later, the district is a billion dollars in debt and the test scores have plummeted to become the worst in America, except for those of the 15 schools in the Educational Achievement Authority, which are even worse.

The EAA is the state-created “reform” district consisting of schools the governor's appointed emergency manager pirated from DPS in 2012 in a clear conflict of interest, since he managed one district and sat on the board of the other.

Perfectly good schools that were simply in need of maintenance and minor repairs were demolished or closed and replaced with ones that cost far more than they should have, and no forensic audit has been conducted to uncover the concomitant kickbacks and other theft.

Class sizes have skyrocketed. A

state-of-the-art school serving physically and mentally challenged students and one that taught students to pilot aircraft have been closed, and hundreds of low-performing and unmonitored charter schools that reject special-needs students pockmark the city.

During this long takeover era, that now will evidently extend into the coming decade, DPS and EAA administrators have been caught stealing. A former DPS superintendent who became superintendent in Chicago has gone to prison for bilking taxpayers there. A former city council president has been convicted of sexual misconduct with a DPS student.

Legislation has now been enacted which would permit Detroit’s public school administrators to hire uncertified teachers and to confiscate Detroit taxpayers’ assets de facto under Public Act 436, the disenfranchising replacement law for PA 4, the emergency management law that the state’s voters rejected in 2012.

This legislation also phases out DPS itself, replacing it with a “new” and inadequately funded school system ironically titled the Detroit Community School District, whose leaders have no coherent plan to restore student scores to their 1999 levels. Thus, the Jim Crowist plot engendered back in 1999 by the unwarranted DPS takeover has finally been fulfilled.

None of these abuses would have occurred had the current democratically elected school board — recently (and possibly permanently) dissolved now by legislative and executive fiat — been allowed to perform its due diligence unrestricted by the unwarranted DPS takeover.

Indeed, the litany of atrocities perpetrated by that 1999 takeover is far too lengthy for this writer to recount completely here. Suffice it to say that the only way the once predominant DPS can even begin to be made whole again is for the state legislators to restore the democratically elected DPS board to full and immediate power and repay the billion dollars that the state’s appointed DPS overseers squandered and stole.

In the meantime, state and federal lawsuits initiated by this good DPS board, its duly appointed superintendent (namely, me), and a small group of parents continue to demand long overdue reparations on behalf of Detroit’s untold thousands of cheated and miseducated schoolchildren.

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business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

June 29 - July 5, 2016

Page C-5

New COO named at United Way United Way for Southeastern Michigan has announced Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp as its new chief operating officer (COO). Heidelberg-Yopp brings a broad background in leadership including senior vice president culture, community and diversity for Compuware, and vice president of business affairs for MTV Networks.

In her new role as COO effective July 1, Heidelberg-Yopp focuses on improving operational performance and implementing organizational-wide initiatives to increase efficiencies across United Way. She fills the role previously vacated earlier this year in March by Kristen Holt.

Heidelberg-Yopp joined the organization as vice president of college and career pathways earlier this year, to lead the transition of United Way’s

Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp

high school work utilizing the Linked Learning model. She will continue oversight of that work as the organization begins an active search for a suitable candidate to fill her previous role.

“Tanya brings a unique set of leadership skills coupled with a background rooted in this community, and these attributes will be instrumental in helping to drive the mission of this organization,” stated Herman Gray, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “Her selection as COO is enthusiastically supported by the United Way Board, and we are pleased that she has taken on this new responsibility to further impact the lives of families we serve throughout Greater Detroit.”

The native Detroiter graduated from Syracuse University, where she received her B.S. in Telecommunications

Management. Heidelberg-Yopp also earned a juris doctor degree from New York University of Law, and she completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.

Heidelberg-Yopp has been included on a number of influential lists such as Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40,” Ebony magazine’s “Women at the Top of the Entertainment Business, and Black Enterprise’s “Top 50 Power Brokers in the Entertainment Industry.” She has also been inducted into the National Association of Minorities Cable Hall of Fame, has received the Chancellor's Citation from Syracuse University for Excellence in Business, the Thurgood Marshall Award of Excellence, as well as a Women of Excellence Award from the Michigan Chronicle.

Duggan is perhaps America’s greatest mayor,…But is he enough to save Detroit’s neighborhoods?

By Herb Strather Let’s face it, Detroiters, never did we imagine that Detroit would be bouncing back so fast.

Change is everywhere, from newly repaired streetlights to accelerated demolitions to rapid road repairs. In addition, there is new construction and booming values downtown, in Midtown, Corktown, East Jefferson, and the Woodward corridor.

This is an exciting time for Detroiters. After years of challenges, we now have a front row seat on what effective management is all about.

The mayor is now tackling the schools and our most precious asset, our children. I must admit that I became emotional listening to his speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference and the plans that he has for our schools. For those who have not heard it, you must listen to it. He fights for Detroit like a bulldog!

The main question this article addresses is whether or not Mayor Duggan alone can save Detroit’s neighborhoods?

The answer is no. How can anyone save a neighborhood without the citizens’ engagement? The mayor can roll out as many great programs as possible, but if Detroi-

ters don’t take action, how is it possible to properly redevelop the neighborhoods?

Detroit’s neighborhoods should be something that we can appreciate with beautiful homes that have curbside appeal, rather than transients and boarded up houses on every single block.

Wake up, Detroiters! If we do not take control of our blocks and neighborhoods, others will do it for us. We are on the verge of ending up with investors all over the world owning us. I have a twoyear old daughter that is growing up in Detroit. I do not want her to one day ask me, “What happened to our city, Daddy?”

The question becomes, “Why aren’t we engaged? Consider this: City of Detroit employees can buy real estate for 50 percent of any winning bid from the Land Bank.

I wonder how many have taken advantage of this opportunity. On the average, the appraised market values are less than half of what they were 10 years ago, yet rents are back 100 percent and demand is off the hook. Just ask any realtor.

Let’s join forces and redevelop our neighborhoods!

Herbert Strather is a real estate developer and teacher.

Ford returns for 2016 Essence Festival Michigan Chronicle Reports

This year marked Ford Motor Company's eighth consecutive year as exclusive automotive sponsor of the Essence Festival, which kicked off June 30 in New Orleans. Festival-goers had the chance to win keys to a brand new 2017 Ford Fusion when they signed up to test drive the latest lineup of Ford vehicles.

Attendees who signed up to test drive a Ford vehicle and opt-in to MyFord Magazine received a $750 bonus

cash offer on the purchase of a new Ford vehicle. Both Ford Warriors in Pink and Ford Credit were at the festival, ending July 4 weekend as well, providing information on breast cancer awareness and financial preparedness.

Now in its 22nd year, the Essence Festival continues to be a cultural celebration mixing empowerment and music into one fun-filled weekend.

The festival gives Ford the opportunity to demonstrate the company's Go Further brand promise and showcase

its latest vehicle lineup while interacting with consumers in New Orleans.

“Ford continues to support Essence in events like the festival because of our commitment to the African American community,” said Raj Register, manager, Ford multicultural communications. “It’s exciting to have the Ford GT on hand this year, especially coming off its recent win at Le Mans."

To learn more about the company's newest products, log on to www.ford.com.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE SHOW BUSINESS Reflections

By Steve Holsey

Now that’s how it’s done There is a major difference between just performing and putting on a show that leaves an excited audience awestruck and with a big smile on every face. Such was the case with Sheila E.’s Prince tribute at the recent BET Awards.

The

singer-drummer-percussionist was on fire, pulling out all the stops, giving everything she had for an artist she deeply admired and was closely associated with.

This was entertainment in the truest sense of the word. SheiSheila E. la is also to be commended for moving and dancing so well at the age of 58. And Jerome Benton (from the Time) added still more fun to the mix.

“I chose songs I was already doing in my shows that Prince and I had collaborated on and written together,” she said. “I wanted to build up to end with ‘Baby I’m a Star.’”

MONTELL JORDAN, starting in 1995, had a string of major national hits, including “This is How We Do It” (No. 1 for seven weeks!), “Get it On… Tonite” and “Let’s Ride.”

But he left the secular music scene in 2010 to fully im- Montell Jordan merse himself in a worship ministry in Norcross, Georgia.

However, like Al Green before him, he is again singing some of his non-gospel hits, as he explained, to introduce his fans to the new Montell Jordan.

That’s all well and good, but he also has a new book and the bad grammar in the title is an embarrassment. The title is “Becoming Unfamous: The Journey of How We Do It to How He Do It.” People are still talking about Mariah Carey and guest John Legend during one of her shows in Las Vegas.

While she was singing her hit “Touch My Body,” he hopped onto a prop bed wearing a red blindfold. Legend’s wife, model Chrissy Teigen, didn’t get mad.

In fact, she got a big kick out of it.

SHIRLEY CAESAR, the gospel legend who has been doing her thing since the 1950s, was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Great, but it seems that she should have gotten one Shirley Caesar sooner.

Caesar’s voice is unique and she has over 20 albums to her credit and has won 11 Grammy Awards. For a soulful treat, listen to Caesar’s duet with former Destiny Child member Michelle Williams on “Steal Away to Jesus,” featured on “Heart to Yours,” one of Williams’ gospel albums.

The Academy Award-winning Jennifer Hudson has just signed a ­ contract with Epic Records, and her first album will be executive produced by two of the giants in the industry, L.A. Reid and Clive Davis.

“I couldn’t be more excited to embark on Jennifer Hudson this new chapter with two of the most prolific musical legends of this generation,” said Hudson. “There is no doubt that this is just the beginning of a very special collaboration and I know that the results will be something unforgettable.

I’m looking forward to sharing new music very soon.”

No doubt you’ve heard about Kanye West’s video for his new song, “Famous,” featuring look-alikes of celebrities he has been associated with in one way or another, plus himself and wife Kim Kardashian — all in bed

See Reflections Page D-2

THE CLASSIC Spinners lineup. Clockwise from left, Henry Fambrough, Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson, Billy Henderson and Philippé Wynne.

THE SPINNERS

By Steve Holsey

Everything changed when, at the suggestion of Aretha Franklin, the Spinners signed with the company she recorded for, Atlantic Records, in 1972 when their Motown contract expired. At Atlantic, it was a completely different situation.

There is an adage that goes, “It’s always darkest before the storm.”

The Spinners knew all about that because, despite their talent, experience and a few hit records — most notably “It’s a Shame” in 1970 — the Motown Record Corp. hierarchy was such that the group could never go beyond “third tier” status, alongside the Elgins, the Monitors, the Velve­ lettes and the Contours.

They said they were told that their lead singer, Bobby Smith, was “not strong enough,” even though “I’ll Always Love You” made the national Top 10 and “Truly Yours” found its way into the Top 20. The latter was backed with another great song, “Where is that Girl?”

While the Temptations, the Supremes, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles were playing the Copacabana in New York City, the Spinners were headlining at Ben’s High Chaparral in Detroit.

To provide for themselves and their families, the usually discouraged Spin-

There, the Spinners were a priority, and the guys were most appreciative of the interest, the promotion and the non-stop hits that elevated them to star status.

By the time the Spinners got to Atlantic, there had been a personnel change that would prove to be significant. G.C. Cameron stepped out and the effervescent Philippé Wynne stepped in.

ners — Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough, Bobby Smith, Billy Henderson and G.C. Cameron — made a few bucks doing other things for Motown/Hitsville, including chauffeuring and working in the shipping department.

Before G.C. Cameron, there was C.P. Spencer (who later joined the Originals), Chico Edwards, George Dixon and James Edwards.

Cameron had contractual obligations to Motown and therefore could not make the move to Atlantic, although he had the satisfaction of having sung lead on “It’s a Shame” as well as the Top 20 follow-up, “We’ll Have it Made.”

Many of the Spinners’ hits during their Atlantic period are recognized as soul classics, including “I’ll Be Around,” “Mighty Love,” “Sadie,” “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” “They

See THE SPINNERS Page D-2

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

MOTOR CITY ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

ASHANTI, Sound Board at Motor City Casino, Aug. 20.

Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

TONY BENNETT, Fox Theatre, Aug. 12. Tickets on sale at the Fox Theatre box office and Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

BOY GEORGE and Culture Club, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, July 17. For more information, call 248.377.0100.

BOYZ II MEN, En Vogue, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 7.

Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

“BRING IT LIVE,” featuring Miss D & her Dancing Dolls, Fox Theatre, Saturday, July 9.

Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

CHENE PARK Amphitheatre: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sweet Honey in the Rock, July 10; Patrice Rushen, Yancey, July 13; New Edition, July 15; Spyro Gyra, July 20; Sheila E, Tower of Power, July 22; Eric Benét, July 27; Diana Ross,

Karen Clark Sheard

Fred Hammond

July 30; S.O.S. Band, Brothers Johnson, Aug. 3; Regina Belle, Gary Taylor, Aug. 10; Will Downing, Lynn Marie, Aug. 17; Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Aug. 27. For more information, visit cheneparkdetroit. com.

CONCERT OF COLORS, Midtown, free of charge, featuring the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue, the Mighty Sparrow, the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and many others representing music from many parts of the world, July 14-17. For more information, visit www.concertofcolors.com.

DARYL HALL and JOHN OATES, DTE Energy Music Theatre, July 18. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call

Ashanti

1.800.745.3000.

DETROIT Paradise Valley Music Festival Weekend, Hart Plaza, July 15-17, featuring Pieces of a Dream, Howard Hewett, Ronnie Laws, Thornetta Davis and many others, over 30 acts total. Also, Saturday Night White Party. For more information, call 1.800.794.7503.

DRAKE, Future, Joe Louis Arena, Aug. 16. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

GINA’S Jazz & Soul, Friday-Saturday, ongoing, 17410 E. Warren. For more information, call 313.469.1732.

FRED HAMMOND, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton

137 890 725 180 273 900 068 7345 1867 120 22 32 19 27 8 3

JAZZ ON the Ave Tuesday, every Tuesday through Aug. 16, The Whitney. For more information, call 313.832.5700.

ZIGGY MARLEY, Fox Theatre, Sept. 29. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

NAS, Jeezy, Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, Sunday, July 10.

SNOOP DOGG, Wiz Khalifa, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 12. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

SEAL, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, Aug. 31. For more information, call 248.377.0100.

KANYE WEST, Joe Louis Arena, Sept. 28. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

The Spinners

PICKS 781 514 638 309 847

& New Breed, Karen Clark Sheard, Regina Belle, Casey Janice Hobbs, Fox Theatre, Oct. 21. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

DARIUS RUCKER, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 25.

Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

SWV is an acronym for Sisters With Voices, and SWV proved it many times in the ’90s with hits like “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here/Human Nature,” “Weak” and “You’re the One.” The group disbanded and later re-formed. They were among those providing entertainment at Detroit River Days. — Barbara Orto photo

37

WEEK’S BEST LOTTERY

Ziggy Marley

PITBULL, Prince Royce, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 9.

Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

‘Sisters With Voices’

July 6-12, 2016 Page D-2

THE WHISPERS, Sound Board at Motor City Casino, July 23. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

$5,000 Cash Awards/Prizes $185 (Green fees, Meals Sat. and Sun., plus Hospitality) Non-Golf Fee $50

Contact Joe Williams # 313.575.3243

Marriot Resort

1275 Huron Street Ypsilanti, MI 48197 P: 734-487-2000 www.eaglecrestresort.com Motor City Eagle Golf Tournament rate-$129./night.

From page D-1

Just Can’t Stop It (Games People Play),” “Love Don’t Love Nobody,” “The Rubberband Man” and “Could it be I’m Falling in Love?”

Famed producer/writer Thom Bell saw enormous commercial potential in the Spinners and immediately utilized some of the industry’s best and most prolific songwriters to provide the material that would take the Spinners to the next level and beyond.

Things were going great, but friction developed in the group because of Philippé Wynne’s expanding ego. In fact, he wanted the group’s name changed to “Philippé Wynne & the Spinners” or “The Spinners featuring Philippé Wynne.” The other four members made it clear to him that this would never happen.

Wynne exited the Spinners in 1977, launching a solo career that proved to be only mildly successful, and was replaced by John Edwards, a fine singer who was recommended by wives of the Spinners who had seen him perform in a Detroit nightclub.

Edwards had huge shoes to fill, not unlike Billy Griffin replacing Smokey Robinson in the Miracles and Jean Terrell replacing Diana Ross in the Supremes.

By this time, the Spinners’ “hot years” were past although their concert schedule remained full and they landed two national Top 10 hits, “Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl” and “Cupid/I’ve Loved You for a Long Time.”

They had four other Top 30 hits during that era — “Right or Wrong,” “Now That You’re Mine Again,” “Magic in the Moonlight” and “If You Wanna Do a Dance,” none of which are well-remembered today.

The Spinners started out as the Domingoes, having grown up together just

outside of Detroit although they are considered “Detroit’s own.” They landed their first hit, “That’s What Girls are Made For,” in 1961. Reaching No. 5 on the national charts, it was on the Tri-Phi label, whose president, Harvey Fuqua, had sung with the Moonglows, one of the most prominent groups of 1950s doo-wop. It was Fuqua who discovered the Spinners.

Not long after, Motown purchased Tri-Phi, and Fuqua became a Motown producer as well as head of the company’s Artist Development Department.

The Spinners were now Motown artists as were Jr. Walker & the All Stars and Shorty Long.

The Spinners’ first Motown single was “Sweet Thing” in late 1964, a great song that received a substantial amount of airplay in and around Detroit and in other Midwestern cities but did not have much national impact.

For a nearly complete overview of the Spinners’ long recording career, the three-disc box set titled “The Chrome Collection” is highly recommended.

Today, the only original Spinner still performing with the group is the last-surviving Henry Fambrough.

Reflections together sleeping and barely covered.

Like him or not, West sure knows how to stir up controversy and market himself.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that in addition to singing jazz in clubs and elsewhere, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, daughter of Diana Ross and Berry Gordy, is president of Ross Realty International, a real estate brokerage in New York.

MEMORIES: “Zoom” (the Commodores), “It’s You That I Need” (Enchantment), “Dare Me” (the Pointer Sisters), “A Mother for My Children” (the Whispers), “Can I Get a Witness?” (Marvin Gaye), “Shackin’ Up” (Barbara Mason), “Better Days” (Dianne Reeves), “Up the

From page D-1 Ladder to the Roof” (the Supremes), “Stop to Love” (Luther Vandross), “No Pain, No Gain” (Betty Wright).

BLESSINGS to Janaya Black, Rocky Black, Krafus Walker, Gwen Kendrick, Robert McTyre, Carmella McTyre, Von Harrell, Nat Morris, R.J. Watkins and Jill Day-Foley.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Michael Jordan: “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

Let the music play!

Steve Holsey can be reached at svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.

© 2015 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, JULY 8 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page D-3

Toni Braxton, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Charles Tillman among honorees at McDonald’s 365Black Awards A number of notable celebrities, community leaders and entertainers descended on the city of New Orleans once again to attend the 13th Annual McDonald’s 365Black Awards, held today at the New Orleans Theater in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. They were joined by spectators who converged to salute this year’s recipients of the distinguished awards, including Grammy Award-winning artist Toni Braxton; football cornerback Charles Tillman; award-winning actress Wendy Raquel Robinson; educator and historian Lonnie Bunch; and McDonald’s owner/operator Larry Triplett.

Additionally, teen philanthropist Lauren Seroyer and teen social-entrepreneur Donovan Smith were recognized alongside this lineup with the third McDonald’s 365Black Community Choice Youth Award, facilitated by Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

McDonald’s 365Black Awards are given annually to salute outstanding individuals who are committed to making positive contributions that strengthen the African-American community. The program

Wilson and Guordan Banks, as well as music producer Sean Garrett and comedian/philanthropist Ricky Smith.

Actor, comedian and popular internet personality King Bach brought his large social media following along to the event, posting photos from the signature gold carpet prior to the ceremony.

Toni Braxton

Charles Tillman

Wendy Raquel Robinson

launched in 2003 as an extension of the company’s 365Black platform, created to celebrate the pride, heritage and achievements of African-Americans year-round. Held in conjunction with ESSENCE Festival™ presented by Coca-Cola®, the event was hosted by actor Lance Gross and actress/singer Amber Riley.

ality television co-stars The Braxton Sisters performed a show-stopping tribute to their sister, Lifetime Achievement honoree, Toni Braxton. Vocal powerhouse Kelly Price, along with recording artists Kenny Lattimore, V. Bozeman and Eric Benet joined the sisters in the esteemed accolade to Toni. Anthony Hamilton and the Hamiltones, Chrisette Michele, Ro

James and Canton Jones led the other crowd-moving performances at the awards.

Singing siblings and re-

Actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ta’Rhonda Jones, Erica Ash and Gabrielle Dennis, along with actors Cornelius Smith Jr., Ronreaco Lee and Jay Ellis, were among this year’s presenters. Other celebrities in attendance included recording artists Jordin Sparks, Avery

“We salute this year’s honorees for all of their achievements and for positively contributing to their communities,” said William Rhodes, McDonald’s U.S. marketing director. “It is important to acknowledge people who are making a real difference. We at McDonald’s are proud to be able to honor this group with this form of recognition. We hope it inspires them and others to continue to make positive impact.”

Those who missed the live awards ceremony can share in the experience by watching the broadcast on BET® Networks and CENTRIC later this summer. Additionally, consumers can follow @365Black on Twitter for commentary on the awards and join the conversation using #365BlackAwards.

Ed Gordon begins production, Bounce TV’s first primetime news magazine show Bounce TV announced today that production has commenced on Ed Gordon, the network's first entry into the primetime news magazine format, and the show's premiere date has been scheduled for Tues. Sept. 13 at 10 p.m.

EST. Multiple award-winning and well-respected television journalist Ed Gordon will produce and host the series of one-hour specials in which he'll sit down for revealing interviews with top headline makers, entertainers and pop cultural figures. Ed Gordon will also include investigative pieces, celebrity profiles, current event segments and human interest feature stories.

Ed Gordon

"From President Obama to Louis Farrakhan, from Beyoncé to O.J. Simpson, Ed is a trusted confidante of African-American newsmakers who define our culture. His insightful reporting

and courageous storytelling make him the perfect journalist to shepherd our first news magazine show," said Ri-Karlo Handy, Senior Vice President of Original Programming for Bounce TV. Gordon commented, "We are going to produce the kind of program I have always wanted to do. We'll provide perspective and give our audience a more complete picture of the major issues.

I'll be able to talk one-on-one with the day's newsmakers and celebrities and get them to open up. That's always a challenge and something the audience has come to expect from me. At the same time, we will also tell a wide variety of stories that are rarely presented on television. I'm extremely excited about our new show and thrilled to be joining Bounce TV." Gordon has been a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes, The Today

Show and Dateline NBC, the host of "News and Notes with Ed Gordon" on NPR, anchorman for BET and is a weekly contributor to the national Steve Harvey Radio Show. He is also the recipient of an NAACP Image Award, as well as the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young. For more information, visit BounceTV.com.

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July 6-12, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE ANNOUNCEMENTS

PERSONAL SERVICES

HELP WANTED

MRS. LINN

Page D-4

HELP WANTED ! ! !

CAE!Engineer!

Warren,!MI,!General!Motors!Company.!Engr! &improve!vehicle!front!&rear!end!structural! components!such!as!front!&rear!bumper! systems,!plastic!energy!absorbers,!&fascias! performing!complex!analytical!Finite!Element!

Analysis!(FEA)!simulations!using!NonELinear!

(FEA)!tools!such!as!LS!Dyna,!Nastran,!

Optistruct,!&Ncode,!ensuring!component! compliance!with!FMVSS!49!CFR!Part!581!

Bumper!Standard!Low!Speed!Impact,!N&V,! durability,!reliability,!fatigue,!&crashworthiness! standards.!Improve!structural!designs!using!

DOE!&DFSS!to!determine!dynamic!&transient! response!of!vehicle!structure.!Master,!

Mechanical!Engineering!or!Automotive!

Engineering.!12!mos!exp!as!Engineer!in!job! offered.!Mail!resume!to!Alicia!ScottEWears,!

GM!Global!Mobility,!300!Renaissance!Center,!

Mail!Code!482EC32ED44,!Detroit,!MI!48265,!

Ref#2427.! !

The City of Ferndale is creating an eligibility list for

BORN GIFTED READER The 7th Daughter without asking you a single word. I will tell you what you want to know. Tell your present, past and future. Tell you who your friends and enemies are.

Why you’re so unlucky. If your loved one is true or false.I will advise you all problems of life, such as love, marriage, business and health, etc. Why suffer, you can be free from all troubles. I guarantee Sucess where others failed. I am superior to any other reader you have seen.

Don’t let distance keep you away from Health and Happiness. Hrs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily and Sunday.

Police Ofcer Fireghter

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS City of Detroit July 6, 2016 City of Detroit Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan, 48226

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFQs for Manufactured Differentials for New Flyer Rehab Buses for 3 Years with 2-1 Year Options, Control No. 16-2177. RFQ forms may be obtained beginning on June 22, 2016 from www.mitn.info. RFQs are due by 3:00 PM ET, July 27, 2016.

HELP WANTED Seeking

PAYROLL ANALYST/ BENEFIT ACCOUNT MANAGER AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Payroll Department

Support the Payroll Manager in the control and coordination of the university payroll and benefits records and processes. Responsible for the reconciliation of all payroll and benefit accounts as they pertain to university payroll records, university finance fund ledger totals and vendor statements. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Minimum three years’ experience accounting principles and procedures. Refer to online posting for additional requirements. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

See on line positing for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by July 12, 2016.

Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu !

Senior'Software'Manual'' and'Performance'Test'Engineer' General!Motors!Company,!Detroit,!MI.!Design,! dvlp!&implement!functional!automation! &performance!test!scripts!in!integrated!test! environ!for!OnStar!apps!such!as!Global! advisor,!Vehicle!Communication!Services,!

Vehicle!Diagnostic!Upload,!&OnStar!Cloud!

Back!Office!sys,!using!LoadRunner,!Python,!

Java!scripting,!Jmeter,!QTP,!Putty!&Rest!

Postman.!Configure!hardwr!&evaluate! performance!of!integrated!components!such! as!CSM,!HMI,!clusters,!amplifiers!&tuners! using!embedded!tools!such!as!ATT,!DPS!&VM Spy.!Enhance!the!test!scripts!using!citrix!OEM! &Java!protocol.!Master,!Computer!Science!or!

Information!Systems.!6!mos!exp!as!Systems!

Analyst!or!Sr!Systems!Analyst!designing,! dvlping!&implementing!performance!test! scripts!in!integrated!environ!for!Cloud!apps! such!as!Back!Office!sys,!using!LoadRunner,!

Python,!Java!scripting,!Apache!Jmeter,!Putty,! &Rest!Postman.!Mail!resume!to!Alicia!ScottM Wears,!GM!Global!Mobility,!300!Renaissance!

Center,!Mail!Code!482MC32MD44,!Detroit,!MI! 48265,!Ref#2201! !

!

Control Systems Engineer Pontiac, MI, General Motors Company.

Design, dvlp, maintain &test Motor Controls Soft in C language, for hybrid &electric propulsion sys inverters. Dvlp, test &support soft in Assy language for controller boards &electrical hardwr such as inverter &motors using diagnostics, electrical signals &physical data. Verify &validate production release soft for controller boards. Work as part of a diverse team of professionals supporting component dvlpmt &subsys &vehicle integration. Perform simulation of soft operation in a virtual prototype environ. Support testing, dvlpmt, &calibration in lab &dynamometer facilities.

Provide independent review &verification of soft written by others. Master, Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. 6 mos exp as Software Engineer dvlpg, testing &supporting soft in Assy language for controller boards &electrical hardwr using diagnostics, electrical signals &physical data, verifying &validating production release soft for controller boards. Mail resume to Alicia Scott-Wears, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, Mail Code 482-C32D44, Detroit, MI 48265, Ref#50. !

Safety!CAE!Integration!Engineer! !!

Warren,!MI,!General!Motors!Company.!

Engineer!psgr!vehicles!for!crashworthiness! &safety!of!advanced!structure!concepts!using! simulation!capabilities!of!non@linear!finite! element!analysis!codes!such!as!LS@DYNA! &pre/post!processors!such!as!Oasys/Primer,!

Animator,!ANSA,!Altair!Hyperworks,!

Unigraphics!(NX),!TeamCenter!tools!&DFSS! (Design!for!Six!Sigma)!principles!to!determine! dynamic!&transient!response!on!the!vehicle! structure!for!global!programs.!Leverage!

Computer!Aided!Engineering!(CAE)!to!lead! the!design!for!crashworthiness!while! balancing!applicable!global!safety!reqmts! such!as!US@New!Car!Assessment!Program!

(NCAP),!Insurance!Institute!of!Highway!Safety!

(IIHS),!Euro!NCAP,!Research!council!of!

Automotive!Repairs!(RCAR)!&Federal!Motor!

Vehicle!Safety!Standards!(FMVSS)!

208/210/214/216a/301!for!frontal,!side!&rear! impact.!Interpret!crash!acceleration!pulse! &intrusions!to!determine!methodologies!to! reduce!occupant!injuries.!Dvlp!IIHS!Small!

Overlap!energy!absorption!&vehicle!deflection! strategies!to!achieve!IIHS!“GOOD”!rating.!

Generate!viable!solutions!on!fuel!sys! protection!in!front!crash!events.!Master,!

Mechanical!or!Automotive!Engineering.!1!yr! exp!as!Engineer!engrg!psgr!vehicles!for! crashworthiness!&safety!of!advanced! structure!concepts!using!non@linear!finite! element!analysis!codes!such!as!LS@DYNA! &pre/post!processors!such!as!ANSA,!Altair!

Hyperworks,!NX,!TeamCenter!tools,!&DFSS! principles,!to!determine!dynamic!&transient! response!on!the!vehicle!structure!for!global! programs,!to!meet!FMVSS! 208/210/214/216a/301!for!frontal,!side!&rear! impact.!Mail!resume!to!Alicia!Scott@Wears,!

GM!Global!Mobility,!300!Renaissance!Center,!

Mail!Code!482@C32@D44,!Detroit,!MI!48265,!

Ref#2195.!

Michael E. Duggan, Mayor Planning & Development Department Suite 808 Maurice Cox, Director

Housing & Revitalization Department Suite 908 Arthur Jemison, Director

Fitzgerald: Housing Developer The City of Detroit in partnership with the Detroit Land Bank Authority is seeking proposals from qualified developers to acquire a bundle of publicly-owned residential lots and structures in the Fitzgerald neighborhood in northwest Detroit. This project is part of a strategy to transform the neighborhood into a “Blight-Free Quarter Square Mile” where the City is supporting efforts to revitalize every vacant public parcel. The chosen developer will be expected to demolish structures that are beyond repair and redevelop salvageable ones to create affordable housing options (either for-rent or for-sale). In addition, the developer will serve as a land steward over parcels within the acquired bundle that remain undeveloped in the near term by installing and maintaining a professionally-designed, distinguished landscape strategy on them in exchange for reserving rights to their future development potential.

The City of Detroit issued this Request for Proposals (RFP) on Friday, July 1, 2016. Interested parties may access the RFP at www.detroitmi.gov/fitzgerald or www.detroitmi.gov/How-Do-I/ Housing-and-Revitalization-RFPs. Questions about the RFP and submissions can be sent electronically to Fitzgerald-Housing@detroitmi.gov.

Fitzgerald: Productive Landscape Developer The City of Detroit in partnership with the Detroit Land Bank Authority is seeking proposals from qualified entities interested in the opportunity to transform vacant parcels within the Fitzgerald neighborhood in northwest Detroit into economically self-sustaining, productive landscapes.

This project is part of a strategy to transform the neighborhood into a “Blight-Free Quarter Square Mile” where the City is supporting efforts to revitalize every vacant public parcel.

The City will consider proposals for landscapes that include a number of innovative uses, including but not limited to: urban agriculture, plant nurseries, tree farms, biofuels, storm water management, alternative energy generation, floodwater protection, heat island mitigation, and other land-based uses that do not adversely impact adjacent residents.

The City of Detroit issued this Request for Proposals (RFP) on Friday, July 1, 2016. Interested parties may access the RFP at www.detroitmi.gov/fitzgerald or www.detroitmi.gov/How-Do-I/ Housing-and-Revitalization-RFPs. Questions about the RFP and submissions can be sent electronically to Fitzgerald-Landscape@detroitmi.gov.

HELP WANTED Seeking

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TUTORING CENTER AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Tutoring Center

Support the expansion of the Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program and assist with technology initiatives for both peer tutoring and SI. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Background in teaching/instructing preferably in a postsecondary setting. Experience with online formats, specifically Moodle & e-space and working in an academic support center. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements.

First consideration will be given to those who apply by July 12, 2016.

Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu PART TIME JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DESCRIPTION CATEGORY: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher River Rouge Housing Commission seeks experienced Section 8 Coordinator. The primary function of this position is competent administration of HUD’s regulations governing the Section 8 program for applicants, voucher holders and landlords.

The staff person works on qualification, annual and interim recertification, communications to tenants and landlords, reporting to HUD, and performance compliance. This position will be required to train additional staff.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should have demonstrated work experience as a Section 8 Housing Coordinator or Section 8 Housing Specialist. Applicants should have excellent communications and critical thinking skills, ability to work independently, and experience with a variety of populations, including lowincome individuals and families. A College Degree in Public Administration, Social Sciences or Business is desirable.

START DATE: July 12, 2016 SALARY: Salary commensurate with experience.

LOCATION: River Rouge Housing Commission, 180 Visger Rd., River Rouge, MI 48218 INSTRUCTIONS: Resume and cover letter required by mail at the above address, or by email to llong@riverrougehousing.com.

No phone calls please.

Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, Sec. 3 Employer

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HELP WANTED Grand Circus Detroit LLC has available positions of Lead Java & .NET Instructor in Detroit, MI. Position requires a Master’s degree in Computer Science & 12 months experience as a Technical Trainer. Position also requires: Exp. must include 12 mos. of exp. training adult students in Java and .NET. Job duties: Lead instruction of boot camp curriculum in information technology (software development) for adults. Develop curricula in both Java & .NET. Track, support, & challenge student progress. Qualified applicants should send resume & verification of reqs. to Kim Driscoll, Director of Learning, Grand Circus Detroit LLC, 1570 Woodward Ave., Ste. 300, Detroit, MI 48226. !

Test/Validation-Engineer!

Warren,!MI.!General!Motors!Company.!

Validate!multiple!active!safety!features!

(Ultrasonic!Park!Assist,!Advanced!Park!

Assist,!Night!Vision!Sys!&Motorized!Seat!

Belt).!Dvlpmt!&execution!of!Electrical!

Subsys/Sys!Test!Programs!at!bench!level!on! new!safety!critical!features.!Generate! &release!test!procedures!based!on!GM!SSTS! reqmts.!Dvlp!test!methods!&models!to!test! new!safety!critical!cmpts!&features.!Automate! test!scripts!&work!with!HIL!(Hardwear!in!Loop)! set!ups!to!execute!test!cases!in!a!closed!loop! model!environ!using!DSpace,!ControlDesk,!

ModelDesk!&MotionDesk,!with!execution!of! test!cases!on!bench!&vehicle.!Capture! &Analyze!GMLAN!data!to!troubleshoot!issues.!

Review!of!sys!reqmts!&Interaction!with!Sys! Engr!to!understand!reqmts!&to!drive!changes! in!test!plan.!Bachelor,!Electrical!or!Electronics!

Engineering.!1!yr!exp!as!Technical!Lead!or!

Test!Engineer!dvlpg!&executing!Electrical!

Subsys/Sys!Test!Programs!at!bench!level!on! new!safety!critical!or!powertrain!control! module!features!of!electric!vehicle!features,! incldg!generation!&release!of!test!procedures! based!on!systems!reqmts,!automating!test! scripts!&working!with!HIL!set!ups!to!execute! test!cases!in!a!closed!loop!model!environ! using!DSpace,!&execution!of!test!cases!on! bench!&vehicle.!Mail!resume!to!Alicia!ScottT Wears,!GM!Global!Mobility,!300!Renaissance!

Center,!Mail!Code!482TC32TD44,!Detroit,!MI! 48265,!Ref#33241.!

Finance'Manager,'' Fleet'&'Commercial' !

General!Motors!Company,!Detroit,!MI.!

Establish!&manage!retail!pricing!of!used! vehicles!derived!from!fleet!(rental!&company! cars)!&off!lease!returns,!dvlp!detailed!financial! analysis!(sensitivity!analysis)!&business! modeling!&assuring!execution!of!in!depth! vehicle!VIN!data!mining.!Manage!automotive! inventory,!project!investment,!&monitoring!of! targets!achievement.!CoEdvlp,!improve,! manage!&control!user!interface!pricing!tool! (price!engine!tool)!through!external!partner,!

Kelly!Blue!Book!(KBB),!to!manage!&control! commodity!pricing!related!to!30,000+!used! vehicles!weekly!taking!into!consideration! variables!such!as!mileage,!damage!condition,! brand,!model!year,!vehicle!options!content,! reconditioning!&whole!value.!Seek!creative! approaches!to!maximize!company!&General!

Motors!Financial!(GMF)!vehicle!revenue! &optimize!GM!profitability!through!multiple! sales!channels!&product!use!types!such!as! rental!returns,!company!cars,!&offElease.!

Work!with!various!stakeholders!(Technical! accounting,!Sales!Ops,!Remarketing!division! &GMF!Financial)!to!ensure!program!is! compliant!with!GM!IT!systems!reqmt! &accounted!properly!(GAAP!compliant).!

Bachelor,!Business!Administration!or!

Accounting.!1!yr!exp!as!Sr!Financial!Analyst! or!Finance!Manager!managing!and/or! analyzing!automotive!inventory!or!product! cost!book,!project!investment,!&monitoring! targets!achievementY!with!dvlpmt!of!financial! analysis!(sensitivity!analysis),!business! modeling!&execution!of!data!miningY! &estimating!financial!risk!incldg!forecasting! impact!due!to!automot!industry!changes.!Mail! resume!to!Alicia!ScottEWears,!GM!Global!

Mobility,!300!Renaissance!Center,!Mail!Code!

482EC32ED44,!Detroit,!MI!48265,!Ref#1060.'

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CITY OF WESTLAND PARKS & RECREATION/FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR POSITION The City of Westland seeks experienced individual for this executive level position.

Qualified individual is responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising programs, facilities and equipment of City including City Hall, Ice Arena, Golf Course, recreational, historical and cultural amenities and several parks.

Successful candidate will innovate and expand program offerings, manage staff, volunteers and vendors, provide financial oversight and policy development.

Position requires excellent business management skills including verbal and written communication skills and ability to insure marketing and profitability of operations. Individual will have flexible schedule which may exceed 40 hours per week including weekends, nights and holidays. Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree and five years prior experience in leisure, facilities or hospitality, business or similar management. Salary range: $63K-78K; City offers competitive compensation package. Please submit resume, 5 references and compensation requirements to Cindy C. King, Personnel Director, City of Westland, 36300 Warren Road, Westland, MI 48185-2298; or email to cking@cityofwestland.com. Position open until filled. EOE

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LEAD SYSTEMS ENGINEER / IT ARCHITECT AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

UTS Technical Support

This position will lead and coordinate all aspects of systems engineering, architecture, and administration.

Assist in providing technical solutions and project coordination for the university, with assigned scope for systems engineering and technical architecture, including virtualization, storage, access identity directory, and data center. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or closely related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Eight or more years of experience in the arenas of enterprise technical architecture, design and integration, IT system management and administration.

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Accepted Detroit wom an showers De infants with troit love

L.A. Reid

Famed pro ducer-wr iter tells all

See pag e B-1 POWERE

D BY REA

Volume

L TIMES

See pag e D-1

MEDIA

79 – Num

ber 28

WHAT’S INS IDE

Assistin urban sch g ools (Page A-3 ) Michigan

michiganch

ronicle.com March 23-2 9, 201

6 U.S. Confe of Mayors rence stand with Flint s Mayor We aver

citizens are surprising ly supportive of using state resou to support rces Schools. Detroit Public Democra ts tend to be more that Repu supportive blicans — is not surp which rising.

Michigan Chronicle Reports

Wayne Health Cen ter (Page B-1 )

Wayne tive Warr County Execuen C. Evans partners with health care providers to open new Wayne Heal th Center

Small bus in big clout iness equals Detroit

By Keith A. Owens

Senior Editor

U.S. Conf erence and Exec of Mayo and formutive Director Tom rs CEO Franklin er Atlanta Mayo Cochran Flint Mayostood in solid r Shirley arity with r Karen a recen Weav t City Hall press conferen er during ce at where she al and state called for Flint assistanc feder the Conf e. eren As part ce’s supp also relea of ort, to Cong sed a new bipar Cochran ress and tisan lette from more the Whit r the coun than 150 mayo e House try rs around urgin Flint in the after g resources crisis. for math of the wate r As the democrati mayor cally elect of Flint , Karen the full ed Weav faith and colleague confiden er has s ce from of her try. On their secoaround the coun Cochran, nd visit to Flint perts are Franklin, and , a team of providing exsupport to Mayo r

10,000 The narra black tive for in the dinin businesses,” comes to quite some local estab g room of one he said, while to be had,Detroit is that time when there and that it tively new lishments, Theof many of his sitting that are the majo are very few jobs black-own Crab Hous favorite rity and Ever are not truly successfu ed resta e, a relagreen that l in this of businesses urant near And whenthose owned opened 7 Mile

by Afric city right now Indeed, in 2009 concernin you look at . nearly two a Huffington the dom an Americans. g Detr Post story inant head is overw years ago oit’s revit the helm what’s wond ingly on Detralization, the lines tuallsame thing, focu in July of 2014 published sing on y black focus said muc oit’s down erful in is exactly the business ering the recognizeMidtown — neith town and es in Detr fact that it is h a more acd as er of whic oit know it revitalization, than 80 even thou that are powby most h restauran percent the blackest parts of the news gh you’d of “Stories never to be concts, the hottest black town. The coverage. that claim ing, revit graphical entrated in one nightspots, all latest Flint May entre alizin g and even preneurs are or Karen primarily cally sidel area. Black folks relatively smal seem – Andre buildon whit l geoBlack desig Smith photo Weaver are bein er and e profe saving Detroit guys get ined in a rigge g syste new d fashion fromner reinvents Weaver thats palpa transplants ssionals, often focus signed byto play first strin game while the matias she impl frames to g on an them for white to reco journalist ble and frust to the city, youngfur. emen open field them. a trend ver rating for s and That’s the public healt Flint’s infrats her plan readers leaving deblacks criticized locals. When more popu City Coun h, and econ structure, out paper’s the Time omy. public edito of its Cork The Flint ingberry, cil President lar narrative, s for versity anyway.

Pro Tem water crisi r addresse town story, top prior in not that however, begs the s d regretted a follow-up, to differ. George Cushof Mayo ity for The U.S. has been a and the the lack of dinot inclu business there aren’t enou Stron Conferen rs (A write since the ding gly. It’s more recen r gh succ January ce seems to es in Detroit, Conf t Times a black-owned said she ing view but rathe essful black care. business story take ington, Winter Meeting erence’s .) r that nobo .

DC, s a “Conserva wider-ran Flint Mayo where newl in Washdy “It’s not gtively in difficult about the r Karen Weavy elected owner to Detroit to find chall er spok spea we have a k with, enges in than 32,0 black busi This year’ over thou her city. e 00 in the Immediat ness s city, acco gh. There are ely follo & Politics first Pancakes Winter more wing rding Meet forum quick the USCM to U.S. Cens See SMA ing in ference evolved into LL BUSINESS ly Janu us a direct Baltimoreof Mayors Pres ary, Conpage A-4 and hone iden Mayo st ings-Blak r Stephani t and of what is assessment ta Mayo e asked that form e Rawlproblem precisely the r al expe Shirley Franklin, er Atlanwith rt on wate Public Scho Detroit a nationUSCM CEO r investmen ols and what can and , and Tom Coch and Executive must be ran co-le Direc done about it.

Flint in early Febr d a mission tor to uary.

The Conf supported erence of Mayo Mayo rs also r Weaver tified befor as she tese Cong Weaver recently ress, and Mayo Winter Leadersh attended USCM r nearly 45 ip Meet ing wher’s mayors of her e stood in He is one efforts supp to health of crisis that solve a serioort stars of rap, the greatest term us has both but has since and Flint resid long-term impa shortbecome ents. cts for From left: The U.S. better Crab Hous Conferen is the and V. Lonn ce of Mayo known as official e co-owner nonp zation of ie Peek. rs s Eric and a highly cities with artisan organiDamon 30,000 populatio English, or more skilled ns C 1 .

C. Grangs ton Bullard (Page C-1 )

The Michigan Chronicle Pancakes & Politics straight talk (Page C-6 )

479 Ledyard • Detroit, MI 48201 LL Cool J raps again (Page D-1 )

praise connection

July 6-12, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page D-5

Second Baptist’s Suzie Clore turns 100

By Tatyana Hopkins

For more than four decades, Clore worked as a nurse supervisor at the Herman Kiefer Hospital in Detroit.

Suzie Bernice Clore celebrated her 100th birthday last week with nearly 100 friends and family at the Roselawn Street home of her sister, Elaine Jenkins, 89.

She had no children and married the late Siedel Clore in 1954.

The long-term Detroit resident has served faithfully a member of Second Baptist Church of Detroit for 68 years.

Second Baptist pastor, Kevin Turman joined the church mother to celebrate the landmark occasion. Clore is also a member of the Silver Leaf Club and the Nurse’s Guild.

“She practiced good eating habits,” said Jenkins, Clore’s only surviving sibling.

Clore was born in Virginia on June 24, 1916. One of five children, Clore has spent much of her life traveling abroad and throughout the United States.

Karen Clark Sheard (left), Dorinda Clark-Cole and Jacky Clark Chisholm

Detroit’s own Clark Sisters awarded at Essence Festival

By Nicole Black Detroit’s own multi-Grammy Award winning Clark Sisters were honored at this year’s Essence Festival in New Orleans. Daughters of the legendary Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Jacky Clark Chisolm, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard are known across this country as the dynamic trailblazing contemporary gospel group known for hits such as “You Brought Sunshine (Into My Life),” “My Redeemer Liveth,” “Is My Living in Vain?” and many others.

The celebrated group was honored at an all-star tribute from daughter and

niece Kierra Sheard, Ke-Ke Wyatt, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Alexis Spight, Candy West Kelly Price and Detroit’s own CeCe Winans.

The Clark Sisters are recognized as royalty in the world of gospel music.

Karen Clark Sheard, who is also first lady of the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, believes there just might be another Clark Sisters reunion album.

Their music has touched so many lives, including secular artists such as Missy Elliott, Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige, to name a few.

Gospel artist Tye Tribbett headlines benefit concert On Friday, July 22, at 8:00 pm, Grammy-nominated gospel artist Tye Tribbett will take the stage at the Detroit Opera House for the i Thirst Relief for Flint benefit concert. The concert is being presented by One Hundred Fold Enterprise, in an effort to raise money for the Shelter of Flint.

Though Flint is no longer a daily news topic, Flint residents are still in need of help. A large number of water crisis victims are now homeless, and have resorted to living in shelters, until they’re able to once again regain independence and live on their own. This concert will help with that.

“Housing is the most basic of needs that plays a role in family well-being. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live in safe, affordable housing,” said Anne Grantner, president and CEO of Shelter of Flint.

The concert will also feature comedian and cohost on Yolanda Adams’ morning show, Marcus D. Wiley, LaShell Renee, winner of the Oprah Music Challenge, and vocalist for the Detroit Pistons, as well as a host of local artists. This is not an event to miss, an uplifting evening of music, comedy, spoken word and more, all while benefiting a very important cause.

Are you hosting a concert or faith-friendly event?

Are you celebrating an anniversary or special occasion?

PROMOTE IT HERE!

PRAISE CONNECT Are you hosting a concert or faithContact us at: event?

313.963.5522 friendly

“I have always had a passion for helping children and people that haven't been blessed to have the same fortune as I had.

Many people are thirsting for positive outcomes in our community, for our children so they can have a better childhood. But, sometimes they just need help. This is how i Thirst came into fruition. This is me giving back to a community that has given so much to me,” said Gabriel Norwood, CEO and event founder of One Hundred Fold Enterprise and i Thirst Relief.

A portion of the concert proceeds will be do-

Unity Baptist Church Annual Women’s Day “Christian Women cherishing God’s Word” (Psalms 119:11) The Women of Unity Baptist celebrate their Annual Women’s Day at Unity Baptist Church, located at 7500 Rev. Valmon D. Stotts Blvd. (Tireman Ave.) Guest speaker for 8 am service is Sister LaDonna Colvin. Guest speaker for the 11 am service is Sister Marian Pledger. Songs and praises will be rendered by Unity’s Women’s Choir, directress Eunice Wade; accompanied by Robert Anderson. Chairperson, Valerie Stotts-Morgan.

Rev. Dr. Lee C. Winfrey Sr., Pastor. Dr. Dorgan J. Needom, minister of music. The public is invited to this joyous celebration.

ground, providing better nutritional food options and providing transportation vans for shelter residents. The goal is to raise $100,000.

Tickets are now available at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ithirst.

Tye Tribbett nated to the Shelter of Flint. These proceeds will help with projects including upgrading the play-

If you have any questions, please contact Gabriel Norwood at gwood1028@yahoo.com or 248-469-5666.

Opralee Adams Beatty

Services for Opralee Adams Beatty were held on Saturday, June 18, at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams officiating. Mrs. Beatty passed away on June 8, 2016.

Opralee Beatty’s spiritual background began with her devoted Christian parents, Frank and Virginia Adams. A Central High School graduate, she later enrolled at the Detroit Institute of Commerce and subsequently became a switchboard operator at the Michigan Credit Union League. She later served in Consulting Services, Human Resources, Finance and Administration. She worked her way up to vice president of Policy Maker Relations/Corporate Activities, and later enrolled at the University of Detroit for additional coursework in business and computer science.

Left to cherish the memory of Opralee Adams Beatty are her daughter, Carmyn Brown, from her marriage to Bob Brown; a sister, Beverly Thomas; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Joseph Rafael Lloyd

Services for Joseph Rafael Lloyd were held on Thursday, June 23, at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams officiating. Mr. Lloyd passed away on June 15, 2016.

Joseph Rafael Lloyd was born on April 22, 1959 in Detroit to Joseph R. Lloyd and Geraldine Morton Lloyd. He graduated from Cass Tech High School and earned an associate’s degree in computer science from Wayne County Community College. He worked as an appliance repair operator for Sears and later became self-employed, owning two used appliance stores.

Cherishing the memory of Joseph Rafael Lloyd are his sisters, Diane Morton Hall, Sharon, Sweatt, Karen Clemons, Jo-Ann Coverson and Jetta Walker; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Grand Lawn Cemetery.

Pearlie Moore

Services for Pearlie Moore were held on Tuesday, June 28, at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams officiating.

Mrs. Moore passed away on June 18, 2006.

Pearlie Moore was born on Aug 6, 1917 in Kemper County, Mississippi to Nezzie and Johnny Prince. The family moved to Memphis where she grew up and started her married life, and later moved to Detroit where she raised 13 children. She worked as a seamstress and enjoyed gardening.

Mrs. Moore’s memory is being cherished by her children, LV, John, Benjamin, Rebecca, Mary, Pearl, Catherine, Johnnie Mae, Helen and Debra; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Detroit Memorial Park.

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

July 6-12, 2016

Page D-6

Sounds of summer come to Chene Park, River Days – Photos by Monica Morgan –