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Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 84 – No. 13 | December 2-8, 2020

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President-Elect Biden Names All-Women Senior Communications Staff

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

It isn’t often a politician running for office keeps his campaign promise.

Since defeating Donald Trump, Joe Biden has so far lived up to his promise of a diverse senior staff and cabinet.

The Democrat, who openly has recognized the critical role African Americans and women played in helping him to garner a record of more than 80 million votes, on Monday, November 30, 2020, named an-all women senior communications staff – including three Black women.

On Monday, Darrell Blocker appeared on his way to being nomJoe Biden inated by Biden as the nation’s first African American CIA director.

“I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women. These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better,” Biden said in a statement.

Symone Sanders, an African American and a senior Biden campaign adviser will serve as a senior adviser and chief spokesperson for the vice president.

Ashley Etienne, an African American and senior adviser on the Biden campaign, will serve as communications director for Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris.

Karine Jean-Pierre, a senior adviser on the Biden campaign who later served as chief of staff to Harris and who is also Black, will serve as principal deputy press secretary.

Former Barack Obama White House communications director Jen Psaki will serve as press secretary, while Kate Bedingfield, who served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for the campaign, will be White House communications director.

Pili Tobar, who served as the communications director for coalitions on the campaign, will serve as deputy White House communications director.

Additionally, Biden was said to learn toward a nomination of Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo to serve as Deputy Treasury Secretary.

If confirmed, Adeyemo, the current president of the Obama Foundation in Chicago, would be the first Black person to hold that powerful position.

The Biden/Harris team has also selected

See COMMUNICATIONS

STAFF page A2

WHAT’S INSIDE

In The Weeds:

Detroit City Council Approves Recreational Marijuana Sales, Community Responds

By Sherri Kolade

The Detroit City Council on Nov. 25 voted yes for an ordinance that will now permit recreational marijuana sales made by adults. Social equity components tied to the ordinance will also yield favorable results for Detroit residents interested in entering this high-profit industry. The Council approved the motion 9-0.

Councilman James Tate led the charge on this legislation that champions a social equity program (SEP) which guarantees that no less than 50% of all license types will be awarded to Detroit Legacy applicants, according to the city website.

To be considered a “Legacy Detroiter” applicants must have lived in the city for 15 of the last 30 years including the past year; have lived in the city for 13 of the last 30 years including the last year and qualify as low-income or have lived in the city for 10 of the last 30 years including the past year and have a marijuana conviction. The ordinance will be featured as an amendment to the Detroit City Code.

Tate said during the meeting that this ordinance has been in discussion for the last two years.

“We have a provision where we worked on the social equity portion of the ordinance that focused on ensuring that Detroiters have not just an opportunity into the industry but really identifying ways to make sure that they are a success for those legacy Detroiters,” Tate said, adding that he’s seen around the country where people who live in a city benefiting from a marijuana industry are “frozen out” and are unable to participate for various reasons, including financial ones.

According to the city, passing this ordinance grants licensing for these state-approved categories: • Adult-use retailer establishment • Grower • Processor • Safety compliance facility • Temporary marijuana event • Microbusiness • Designated consumption lounge • Secure transporter

Tate added that while the city has not been able to “wave a magic wand” to remove financial burdens for entrepreneurs looking to enter the industry, huge strides have been made including mirroring the state of Michigan by reducing application fees.

“Based upon you living in [a] disproportionately impacted community like Detroit you can receive up to a 75 percent discount for your licensing application here,” Tate said, adding that he listened to colleagues and others in the industry to make this local industry more equitable. “I think the most important [thing is] making sure we have space provided for those previously incarcerated for marijuana-related convictions … lastly [we] included elements for community engagement that also helped strengthen this ordinance … [so the] community [has more understanding] on what is coming to their neighborhoods.”

City Council President Brenda Jones thanked Tate for his hard work and said that ensuring equity has been a high priority and “very important” to her.

Detroit resident Mitzi Ruddock attended the virtual meeting and spoke during the public comment section in favor of the vote.

Ruddock, who has a past marijuana conviction, is also the founder of Detroit-based Black Cannabis Access [BCA] which provides a pathway for those disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Ruddock told the council that “cannabis has saved my life” from a mental health and economical perspective. In a follow-up interview with the Chronicle, she said giving Black people a pathway into this industry and breaking down the process of marijuana licensing into “bite-size pieces” is what BCA is all about.

“We [the Black community] have a lot of challenges and barriers that are preventing us from being in this industry from the ownership [side] of things Black Cannabis Access is committed to ensuring we participate greater especially in communities where we are the majority,” Ruddock said.

“We must have these businesses that look like us. “[It is] imperative we get our shot at this billion-dollar industry; no other industry is going to provide us with these opportunities that the cannabis industry will.”

Ruddock, who has been in this industry since 1997, said that as a community educator she is doing the work

See RECREATIONAL

MARIJUANA SALES page A2

Relief On The Horizon: Michigan Strategic Fund Board Announces Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative With COVID-19 still raging in the community [and world], small, eligible businesses in Michigan could see a glimmer of hope after a special Michigan Strategic Fund [MSF] Board meeting on November 30 approved a Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative.

Detroit Business Owner Inspires Youth to Plant Financial Seeds to Grow a Wealth Mindset Money. A5

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Lansing-based MSF was created by P.A. 270 of 1984 and had a broad authority to promote economic development and create jobs, according to their website www.michiganbusiness.org.

The Initiative will use federal CARES Act funding to provide $10 million in grants to meet the critical needs of Michigan small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus, according to a media release. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15; up to $15,000 is also eligible per applicant on a first-come, first-serve basis.

During a media call, several MSF officials discussed the impact this Initiative will have on local businesses during the pandemic, which has placed many businesses in financial straits before the three-week statewide pause, slated to end December 8.

Lansing-based Michigan Economic Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Mark Burton said that as the pandemic is rising to “extremely worrying” levels during the winter season, it is essential to work with the tools available across the state to support small businesses and “persevere.”

“Last week we launched a support local campaign statewide to encourage Michiganders to shop, eat, travel locally this winter to provide our small businesses support they need to combat the adverse effects of

See SMALL

BUSINESS RELIEF page A2

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December 2-8, 2020

Recreational Marijuana Sales From page A-1 that is necessary to fill in the gaps when others won’t. “[There are] so many gaps of us getting [into this] industry -- it is unbelievable how [the industry is] not taking care of Black and Brown people,” she said.

Perfecting Church Pastor Marvin Winans spoke against the usage of marijuana during the meeting.

“The Bible says that if you sow to the wind you shall reap the whirlwind,” Winans said. “And I think I’m ashamed of Councilman Tate because we had these discussions and all I can say is that I will be here when the smoke settles and the dust clears. And I pray that we have a better idea to bring the city back than weed.”

Former Fox 2 Detroit Anchor Anqunette “Q” Sarfoh co-founder of BotaniQ, the provisioning center, and dispensary in Detroit [resold and renamed] sees it a bit differently. She is an advocate for the safe use of marijuana for health reasons after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2013.

“This is an opportunity to build generational wealth and successful businesses run by people who live in and care about the community,” she said adding that as a recreational user, it gives people the opportunity to explore different options to relax, unwind and address medical issues.

While not a legacy Detroiter she is an advocate.

“I’m always glad to see communities opt-in and draft legislation to make sure the industry works for both the residents and the business owners,” Sarfoh said.

Former Detroit Lion Rob Sims, the co-founder of the Michigan-based cannabis company Primitive Group, said during the meeting that he supports the ordinance and feels Detroit is trying to “do the right thing” from the social equity perspective.

“I am for this ordinance for a lot of different reasons,” he said. “I’m looking forward to touching more people in the city of Detroit with our medicine.”

Detroit-based and Black-owned dispensary Motor City Kush representatives are looking forward to the recreational component being added to their establishment, which opened in 2018.

Manager Jennifer Demers said that the new recreational component will bring new business to all dispensaries.

“More customers, new customers,” Demers said, adding that the recreational market will bring more people who maybe haven’t tapped

COVID-19,” Burton said, adding that the Initiative is mainly targeted at restaurants, bars, movie theaters, meeting facilities, indoor recreation facilities, and other similar venues. “We continue to prioritize getting critically needed relief into the hands of those small businesses that need it most.”

Burton added that having already delivered 19 programs to support more than 18,500 businesses and help retain nearly 150,000 jobs across the state, this program continues on that track record.

“We’re working to get this relief out as quickly as possible,” Burton said.

Ten regions are grouped by counties with Region 10 including Oakland, Macomb, Wayne with an allotment of $3.55 million.

According to a press release, grant funds will assist eligible small businesses directly impacted

by COVID-19 to meet urgent working capital needs, including payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, and utility expenses.

Burton said these federal CARES Act dollars were distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Michigan Community Development Block Grant program.

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Display: 12 p.m. Friday Former Fox 2 Detroit Anchor Anqunette “Q” Sarfoh co-founder of BotaniQ. into this market and they are interested. “And they have questions and they have ailments that need to be treated.”

Demers added that maybe some people can’t afford the upfront state fee of a medical card so they will opt for a recreational card.

“They don’t have to renew their card every couple of years,” she said adding that the impact won’t be noticeable for the next couple of months. “It’s not just a simple flip of the switch [there will be] lots of training … [it’s] a learning curve but an exciting venture into the next step. I know that our owner is very proud to be a Black-owned dispensary in the city of Detroit.”

Councilman James Tate was joined in late October with Mayor Mike Duggan and members of the community as Tate announced his proposed amendment to the Detroit City Code to allow adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in Detroit.

The ordinance also states that at least $1 million generated yearly from licensing sales can go toward various adult-use social equity initiatives, the release added, and a portion of adult-use sales taxes will also fund substance use prevention programming for youth, according to the city’s marijuana ordinance.

The ordinance allows for the allocation of 75 total licenses for retail establishments, commonly known as dispensaries. There are

Small Business Relief From page A-1

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WEEK’S BEST LOTTERY

From an equity component, Small Business Program Manager Suzanne Perreault said during the call that their team is working with their communications and marketing team to “spread the word” about this.

“To make sure businesses are aware of this opportunity, something we are very conscious of,” Perreault said of ensuring Black and women-owned businesses have a fair shot at the funding.

Burton agreed.

“I think as we have learned throughout this process minority-owned, women-owned [businesses] have been disproportionately impacted,” he said, adding that the state legislature required a minimum of 30 percent of funds going to these businesses to restart grants in the summer. “We continue recognizing the importance of the issue of the disproportionate impact.”

To qualify for grant support, businesses must meet eligibility criteria including but not limited to: • Being a business in one of the targeted industries • Must comply with all state and local orders related to COVID-19, including, but not limited, to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

45 medical marijuana facilities in Detroit; they are eligible to receive a license, but “not less than 50% of licenses are to be awarded to [legacy] Detroiters”, as outlined in the ordinance.

Tate told the Chronicle that with at least 80 percent of the city being African American, he recognizes that the industry has not been “welcoming” to people of color.

Statistics don’t lie either locally-only four percent of the 45 marijuana-based retail establishments are owned by Detroiters in the city of Detroit. “[That] gives you understanding of how dire the situation is if there is no government intervention,” Tate said, adding that it is important to educate and help residents obtain access to capital and real estate.

Tate added that regarding negative comments about the proposal, there are a number of Detroiters who live in the city of Detroit looking forward to the opportunity to enter into the industry and have comfort of knowing this brand new industry “will work on behalf of Detroiters and work for the city of Detroit.”

For more information about the adult-use marijuana ordinance or the social equity program component, reach out to councilmembertate@detroitmi.gov or go to https:// www.jamestated1.com.

Lindsay Keener contributed to this report.

• Be a for-profit entity (i.e., a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC) • Have a physical establishment in the Michigan County of Application and is not a home-based business • Provide goods or services to multiple clients or customers • Be current, or in a payment plan, on all local, state, and federal taxes due through 1/1/2020 • Have an active and valid state license(s)/registration(s), if applicable • Is not an adverse party to litigation involving the state or municipality • Business or Business owner has not filed for bankruptcy in the last ten years.

• Can identify a need for payroll, rent or mortgage payments, and utility expenses necessary to continue/restart business operations relative to the total grant amount • Had annual gross revenues in 2019 greater than $25,000 • Has at least two employees, including the owner(s) • Has fewer than 50 employees (including full-time, part-time, and owner(s) on a world-wide basis) The timeframe in which the eligible expenses can be counted is now from November 18 to April 30.

For the full list of requirements and more information visit www. michiganbusiness.org

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Communications Staff From page A-1 Cecilia Rouse to lead the Council of Economic Advisers.

This appointment would make Rouse the first woman of color to chair the council.

In what could be another historic nomination, many believe that Biden is set to name Darrell Blocker the first African American CIA director.

Blocker has spent about 30 years at the CIA, so experience isn’t a question. He started as an analyst with the Air Force before joining the CIA, taking on various undercover assignments.

“My clandestine activities were enhanced by being viewed as a singer, because who would ever think that one could be both?’ Blocker told ABC News in a 2019 interview.

“That is a leap too far for most, and I honestly feel that it kept me safer by being in plain sight.”

Biden and Harris also announced they are forming a Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) to organize activities surrounding their swearing-in on January 20, 2021, announcing the initial senior leadership team who will lead PIC and unveiling its online presence.

The selections, which include two African Americans, and all individuals of color include: Tony Allen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer The President of Delaware State University (DSU), one of the nation’s premiere public Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Before being appointed President, Dr. Allen served as Executive Vice

President and Provost at DSU and previously led Bank of America’s corporate reputation group.

He is also the Founding President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and co-Founder of Public Allies Delaware.

In the 90’s, Allen worked in then-Senator Biden’s office as a Special Assistant and Speechwriter.

Maju Varghese, Executive Director Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris campaign from the primaries through the general, overseeing the campaign’s day-to-day operations and leading the entire campaign through an unprecedented shift to remote working.

Varghese previously served in the Obama White House in various roles, including Assistant to the President for Management and Administration and Deputy Director of Advance.

He has also worked as the Chief Operating Officer at The Hub Project and a Senior Advisor at the law firm Dentons.

Erin Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Wilson served as the Biden-Harris campaign’s National Political Director throughout the primary and general elections, the senior staff member responsible for relationships with hundreds of elected officials and leaders across the country.

Previously, Wilson was a senior aide in Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey’s office, most recently serving as his State Director and Senior Advisor to his 2018 reelection. She is also a Hillary for America and Democratic National Committee alumna.

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Kresge Grants Support 20 Detroit Efforts in Fight For Racial Justice More than $8 million for Detroit organizations is part of $30 million in Kresge commitments to racial justice grants across nation The Kresge Foundation today announced more than $8 million in new grant commitments over the next three years to support racial justice in its hometown. This brings funding to 20 organizations and institutions of varied sizes and ages, that range from frontline activism to strengthening economies in neighborhoods of color to supporting small businesses owned by people of color.

The grants are part of a sweeping pledge to advance Kresge’s long-term support of racial justice and opportunity with a commitment of $30 million in new grants to organizations working nationally, as well as to place-based organizations in New Orleans, Memphis, Fresno and Detroit. These are mostly threeyear, no-strings-attached grants for general operating support.

Additional grants totaling several million dollars are pending for Detroit organizations with an announcement expected in early 2021.

“These are the organizations that are working deeply in our neighborhoods.

They’re working on the ground to bring greater equity and justice for our community,” said Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of Kresge’s Detroit Program, in regard to the hometown grants in particular. “These are organizations with representative leadership, that are primarily led by people of color.

And these are organizations that need greater access to grants and capital, to long-term equitable support.”

“Since 2007, we’ve had the opportunity to work alongside numerous partners and organizations to ensure greater opportunity in the city of Detroit, particularly its neighborhoods,” said Jackson, noting the year Kresge began its specific focus on revitalization of the city where it was founded in 1924.

“The Black Lives Matter movement makes crystal clear the stakes of justice in our community and in our nation,” Jackson added.

“This is the time where we’re going to meet the movement, to deepen our investments related to racial equity and racial justice in the city of Detroit. The expansion of opportunity that we seek cannot come without racial and economic justice. We must redouble our commitment to provide the next generation a more equitable city.”

Speaking to the importance of the investments in Detroit and the other focus cities, Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson said, “Place is where the dynamics of accountability are possible, where issues of race and justice and injustice are so clearly manifest that you can name them and spot them.”

“In Detroit,” said Jackson, “the grantees span a range of unique histories and strategies that converge in the cause of advancing equity and racial justice within the city, from working on the ground for the support of African American entrepreneurs to improving community safety with a through-line of community self-determination. The impact of these organizations will be far greater than the simple sum of their efforts.”

Among the largest grants are $1.5 million for Detroit Future City, which last year sharpened its focus on racial justice with

Helping Detroit Students

Stay Connected: New Initiative To Bring Internet Access to Community

By Megan Kirk As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the nation, both children and adults are forced to spend more time at home. As more jobs mandate working from home and the influx of students engaging in virtual learning, access to the internet has become essential for everyday function. The Michigan Moonshot Initiative, an effort by the Merit Network, makes access to high-speed internet available to the state’s most hard-hit communities. With the help of the Toyota USA Foundation and Cisco, the Merit Network is bringing free WiFi to over 50 community locations to the residents of Inkster, Flint, Washtenaw County, and Detroit.

According to the United States Census Bureau, there are close to 83,000 homes in the district with no internet access; the Detroit Public School System has the highest number of households in the state without access. Followed by the Flint School District, with just over 14,000 households unable to access the internet, students across Michigan face new difficulties in their schoolwork.

Alongside DPS and Flint School District, 57 percent of K-12 students in Washtenaw County do not have access to high-speed Wi-Fi. “For thousands of students across the state of Michigan, the pandemic has introduced new challenges

See RACIAL JUSTICE page A-4

or highlighted existing ones,” says Charlotte Bewersdorff, Merit Network’s Vice President for Community Engagement. “We expect this to help both rural and urban communities access the internet for basic informational needs tied to living, learning and working.”

Intending to bridge the digital gap, the Michigan Moonshot Initiative looks to improve access to education, provide telehealth and encourage economic growth using data and mapping, policy and funding, as well as education and resources. While unable to provide private residential broadband access, the initiative will work to bring together residents and organizations to create relationships and connections across the state.

“It is our responsibility as business leaders to step up and mobilize the tools and innovations at our disposal to help curtail the growing disparities in our communities caused by the digital divide,” says Nick Michaelides, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Public Sector at Cisco. “We are proud to launch this initiative alongside Merit and Toyota to help ensure equity of access, and to power an inclusive future for all Michiganders.”

The program is made possible through grants; the initiative will give community organizations the tools to expand their existing Wi-Fi connections, making them accessible

outside their buildings. The Detroit Public Library will broaden its network access to stretch outside nine of its sites during regular business hours. In addition to Michigan, the Toyota USA Foundation is working to continue its COVID-19 relief projects in 13 other states such as Missouri and Maryland.

“As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our nation, Toyota is proud to partner with Michigan Moonshot and Cisco to expand free Wi-Fi to Southeast Michigan area schools, libraries and community gathering locations to provide an immediate solution to this urgent issue of access,” said Chris Reynolds, chief administrative officer, Toyota Motor North America.

Secured by Cisco’s cloud security technology, the initiative is a part of the organization’s Country Digital Acceleration program. Known as a leader in technology, Cisco looks to secure sharable data and provide new internet possibilities. Through the Michigan Moonshot program, the initiative hopes to continue to bring together communities by reducing the impacts of lack of internet access.

For more information, to become involved or to find a local broadband access point in Flint, Inkster, Washtenaw County, or in the city of Detroit, residents are encouraged to visit MichiganMoonshot.org/CommunityWiFi.

QuanTez Pressley Installed as Lead Pastor of Third New Hope Baptist Church

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

In 1999, thirteen-year-old QuanTez Pressley heard a powerful sermon that would have a profound impact on his young life. The sermon was titled “Enlarging My Territory” and was preached at Second Timothy Missionary Baptist Church’s revival by Dr. E.L. Branch, senior pastor of Third New Hope Baptist Church on the city’s west side. At the time, Pressley was a junior deacon at Second Timothy, located on Detroit’s east side.

“In the middle part of that sermon,” recalled Pressley. “I was taken aback by Pastor Branch’s ability to interrogate the scripture and make profound truths simply understood. I said at that moment that I wanted to be just like him when I grow up.”

Two decades later, Pressley’s “territory has been enlarged,” after the 34-year-old was recently installed as lead pastor of Third New Hope (TNH), succeeding his boyhood influencer, Dr. Branch, who retired December 31, 2019 after serving 42 years as TNH’s senior pastor.

The installation service was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, some TNH leaders, members of the clergy around the city, family and friends of Pressley were in the sanctuary to witness and celebrate the new era of leadership at Third New Hope. However, all who were present practiced strict COVID protocol for the indoor gathering.

Dr. E.L. Branch (left) and Lead Pastor QuanTez Pressley (right)

Dr. Branch delivered a powerful in-person installation sermon, as Pressley and his wife, First Lady Aishah Pressley, looked on in awe of what the ceremony meant to their lives, the future of Third New Hope, the greater community and beyond.

The live streamed installation service, held the last weekend of October under the spiritual banner theme, “Celebrating What God Has Done!” included a musical celebration, a tag-team pre-installation sermon by J.C. Howard, senior pastor, House of Hope Macon (Macon, Georgia) and Willie D. Francois III, senior pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church (Pleasantville, New Jersey). The installation weekend also included a personal biographical video profile of Pressley.

While Pressley’s road from junior deacon at Second Timothy Baptist to lead pastor of Third New Hope was 21 years in the making, his steps to ministry began auspiciously as a youngster.

“When I was a young kid, people called me ‘Rev. Wannabe’ and when I preached my first sermon at 14, they called me ‘Rev. Gonnabe,’ ” Pressley said with a laugh. “After preaching that first sermon, I recognized that ministry was indeed a destined call that God had on my life.”

Pressley, who was born and raised in Detroit, learned that even with God’s calling, there are winding roads and barriers that one must navigate and overcome to reach goals. After graduating from Renaissance High School with honors, Pressley attended Morehouse College, where he majored in religion, with a minor in political science. At Morehouse, Pressley was appointed chief of staff for the Student Government Association, appointed student advisor to Morehouse’s president, sang in the college’s storied glee club, and pledged Omega Psi Phi. As he advanced through his college years, Pressley said his focus in religion shifted.

See PASTOR QUANTEZ PRESSLEY page A-4

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Voice ofof the the Voice Community Community your atat your fingertips fingertips.

Pastor Quantez Pressley From page A-3 “Towards my senior year in college, I became a bit disenchanted with church life,” he said. “I found myself trying to find other ways to explore gifts that God had given me.

I started to engage in politics. I figured at a certain point that would be the lane that God would place me in.”

After graduating from Morehouse, Pressley returned to Detroit, where he served as chief of staff for the Detroit City Council President. Pressley subsequently worked as state director of Community Schools, overseeing more than 200 community schools in Michigan.

In 2010, Pressley reintroduced himself to Dr. Branch at a fall revival held at Third New Hope on Detroit’s west side. The two men formed a “mentee-mentor” relationship, which led to Pressley becoming TNH’s youth pastor. In

From page A-3 the creation of the Center for Equity, Engagement and Research. The New Economy Initiative will receive $1.25 million to build a network to undergird small businesses in key commercial corridors, with an emphasis on small businesses owned by people of color. Michigan Justice Fund, a collaborative fund that supports community-driven solutions to criminal justice reform, will receive $1 million.

The national organization Enterprise Community Partners will receive $684,500 for a fund to support approximately two dozen community development organizations in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network will receive $500,000 for its planned Detroit Food Commons, a complex planned for the North End, to include a cooperatively owned grocery store, an incubator kitchen for culinary artists and food entrepreneurs, a café and community gathering space.

The $8.2 million in grants range from $1.5 million to $150,000 and bring support to multiple generations of Detroit’s activist and civic organizations. The groups receiving support include the city’s chapter of the NAACP, one of the oldest chapters (founded 1912) of the nation’s oldest civil rights organization (founded 1909). They include New Detroit (founded in the wake of Detroit’s 1967 rebellion), ACCESS (the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services founded in 1971), American Citizens for Justice (founded in 1983, in the wake of the fatal, racially motivated beating of Chinese American Vincent Chin a year earlier), through to the LIVE6 Alliance (formed in 2014) and FORCE Detroit (founded in 2017).

For the Detroit NAACP Branch, Kresge’s support comes at a time when the key word is “perseverance,” said Kamilia Landrum, executive director: “Perseverance in the midst of a pandemic that is greatly impacting our members and the Detroit community.”

“It has not been an easy task, but we remained

2015, Dr. Branch was influential in Pressley’s decision to attend Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (Columbia University).

After graduating with a master’s degree in divinity and Christian social ethics, Pressley returned to Detroit and was appointed associate pastor of Third New Hope under Dr. Branch.

When Dr. Branch retired on the last day of 2019, Pressley, after a series of church members’ input and votes, became lead pastor on January 1, 2020.

“We had initially planned for the installation to take place on the last Sunday in May of this year,” Pressley said. “But once the COVID pandemic took hold in March and all the experts agreed this pandemic might be with us until the end of 2021, we thought it was no longer reasonable for us to delay the installation.”

Pressley is pleased with how the

transition of pastors at Third New Hope has gone.

“Some would presume that to follow someone like Dr. Branch, who has been senior pastor of a church for over four decades, would be intimidating, if not overwhelming,” said Pressley. “But actually the opposite is true in the sense that there is no other person that I could have imagined engaging in this transition with other than Dr. E.L. Branch.”

“There are many things that I see as great attributes in Lead Pastor Pressley,” said Dr. Branch, who is now pastor emeritus at TNH and leads E.L. Branch Ministries based in Chicago. “He has initiative, drive and the ability to take on and overcome challenges. He has done a remarkable job at Third New Hope, especially considering how he has led the church in the COVID-19 pandemic. I prayed about the direction that I wanted to go and sought God’s will as to who would follow me at Third New Hope. Lead Pastor QuanTez Pressley is the one that the Lord had in mind.”

Racial Justice 20 Detroit grantees* in today’s announcement ACCESS American Citizens for Justice American Civil Liberties Union Black Family Development Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Inc Detroit Branch of NAACP (Tides Foundation) Detroit Equity Report (Wayne State University) Detroit Future City (Detroit Strategic Framework, Inc.) Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation Detroit Justice Center DLIVE (Metro Solutions, Inc.) Enterprise Community Partners FORCE Detroit (Faith in Action) Live6 Alliance Michigan Justice Fund (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Mothering Justice New Detroit, Inc. New Economy Initiative (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) Theaster Gates Studio (working with Marygrove Conservancy) * Groups in parentheses are fiscal agents for grantees or larger organizations in which units carrying out grant work are embedded. vigilant in our ongoing quest for social justice and equality,” she added, ticking off a list of recent efforts, from leading the charge for Detroit Public Schools Community District students to receive tablets for virtual learning, to voter registration (“Take Your Soles To The Polls”), to pushing CEOs at major corporations to expand diversity and equity initiatives.

Jackson emphasized that the grants announced by the foundation today reinforce one another, from the national organizations funded down to grassroots organizations in Detroit and the other cities.

Some $7 million [Note correction from earlier draft] is being committed to national racial justice grantees to lend their expertise to local organizations in a host of important areas such as: policymaking, power building, legal assistance,

data gathering and analysis, community organizing and strategic communications. Those grantees include the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), comprising the ecosystem of organizations leading today’s modern racial justice movement, and the Black-Led Movement Fund (BLMF), the primary grantmaking vehicle by which philanthropy can learn about and invest in on-the-ground racial justice nonprofit organizers.

At the grassroots in Detroit, there are activists like Alia Harvey-Quinn, founder of FORCE Detroit -- which stands for Faithfully Organizing Resources for Community Empowerment.

FORCE Detroit convenes the Live Free Coalition of interfaith, grassroots and public sector leaders who are committed to having hard conversations about complex community issues from water shutoffs to regional transportation to violence prevention.

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FORCE Detroit also emphasizes leadership development and advocacy for youth leaders of color.

The other day she spoke of the importance of connecting grassroots leaders and their “powerful stories” to relevant data to make the case for their priorities.

Sharing her own stories about the work that “dropped into my spirit,” Harvey-Quinn recalled some years ago leading a Friday-night poetry workshop for teens, good kids in one of Detroit’s worst neighborhoods. She recalled the heart-rending confession of one 15-yearold, the elder male among four children whose mother worked part-time at McDonald’s. The discussion topic of was fear, and this was his: “He was afraid of who he became when he had to rob to help his mom pay the rent.”

For Harvey-Quinn, seeing the toll of systemic racism and inequality closeup is motivation to work for change, for a Detroit where a 15-yearold doesn’t feel that bind, where no one needs to be afraid of him, where he need not be afraid of himself.

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A5

| December 2-8, 2020

Money.

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‘I Knew There Was a Need:’

Detroit Business Owner Inspires Youth to Plant Financial Seeds to Grow a Wealth Mindset There’s a difference between making bank and having your hard-earned dollars work for you through financial investment.

The latter is what savvy Detroit business owner Tasha Danielle, 34, hopes to instill in the hundreds of young people she meets through her company, Financial Garden. The millennial’s six-year-old financial literacy business (for kindergarten-12th graders) is a curriculum-based program that teaches students about money smarts while “planting financial seeds” of growth for adults and parents, too, according to her website, https://financialgarden.com.

“No one talked to (students) about money,” Danielle said of her encounters with students in schools, and at her church, where she Tasha Danielle tutored math. “Whenever I would use any reference to financial literacy, or banking, I was met with a deer in headlights look. That is when I had the idea to write a curriculum. I knew there was a need.”

In her late 20s Danielle created Financial Garden’s customizable curriculum, she described as “impactful” that is designed to be taught weekly during the school year.

Financial Garden has six areas of seed planting: • Emotions and money • Banking basics • Entrepreneurship • Budgeting • Investing basics • Debt fundamentals The business also offers professional development opportunities for educators, and highlights “Amina’s Bracelets: A Kidpreneur Story,” written by Danielle that follows the fictitious life of Amina, 9, who is disappointed when her parents won’t purchase her a tablet. Children learn along the way how Amina’s parents help her earn money through entrepreneurship. A fun mission, “10K With Amina,” is also in the works with Financial Garden to teach 10,000 kids “kidpreneurship.”

Danielle wants them to learn (by Dec. 31) how to save, invest, and budget with Amina as she starts her business. Join the challenge today: https://financialgarden.com/product/aminas-bracelets/.

Former Detroit resident Ahmya Carter, 13 of California, already has a head start.

Carter’s mother purchased Danielle’s book, which inspired her and her friend to create a candy-selling business, which they will open once COVID-19 settles down.

“Me and my friend were kind of irritated because we were tired of having no money and we always wanted new things,” Carter said, adding that the book helped her find ways to make a profit. “Entrepreneurship is actually one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. Start young and grow from there.”

Danielle credits her grandmother for instilling in her long ago the importance of owing no one.

See INVESTMENT page A6

Olympia Development, Cinnaire Solutions and City of Detroit Partner To Explore Affordable Housing in Detroit Olympia Development of Michigan, the City of Detroit and Cinnaire Solutions jointly announced a partnership created to explore new affordable housing options in The District Detroit. Brought together by their shared goal of community-minded development, this public-private collaboration will work to address the need for increased affordable housing in Detroit.

“We are optimistic and excited for Detroit’s future and are planning community-minded development that will help to meet the city’s housing needs while bringing new and vibrant opportunities to The District Detroit,” said Keith Bradford, Vice President of Olympia Development of Michigan. “Cinnaire Solutions is a trusted partner with the resources to advance vulnerable communities, and we are pleased to partner with them to move this important work forward with the city.”

Any redevelopment option which may move forward through this partnership would include the commitment to retain and provide rent protections for the existing residents, at or very near their current

all current tenants in newly renovated buildings,” said Donald Rencher, Director of Housing and Revitalization at City of Detroit. “I’d like to recognize Cinnaire Solutions and Olympia Development of Michigan for working with us toward our mutual goal of bringing more affordable housing and historic renovation to this community.”

Donald Rencher

Rian Barnhill

rental rates. During the proposed renovation of the Henry Street apartments, those residents would be temporarily relocated on the same block for the duration of construction.

potential revitalization of seven, 1920s-era historic buildings on a single city block bounded by Henry Street, Cass Avenue, 2nd Street, and the I-75 service drive. With public support, the proposed redevelopment will help to energize the local economy and support the City of Detroit’s neighborhood revitalization strategy, while providing green spaces and the creation of construction and permanent jobs for Detroiters.

“Affordable housing is highly important in the City of Detroit,” said Rian Barnhill, Olympia Development’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Relations. “As we proceed, and continue to engage with the community, we are committed to providing current Henry Street residents, stakeholders and officials with regular updates.”

The partnership’s first effort will be to explore the

“This partnership embodies what we are looking for from our community-minded developers because it would preserve the affordable rent levels for

“Cinnaire is committed to make meaningful impact in Detroit neighborhoods,” said Christopher Laurent, Cinnaire Solutions president. Cinnaire Solutions is the development subsidiary of Cinnaire, a Lansing-based Community Development Financial Institution. “For over a decade, we have worked to support, energize and revitalize healthy neighborhoods here. Our parent organization, Cinnaire, has done so for nearly 27 years.

Likewise, Olympia Development has made a commitment to increasing the city’s affordable housing supply and continuing to support the local economy.

This partnership will bring together our respective expertise and resources to further enhance this resilient city, making downtown accessible to all Detroiters”

Working From Home For The Holidays: Tips To Stay Productive And Employed ers From Slacking During Holidays

The holiday season brings families together, but it also means added distractions for the many people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trust, don’t micromanage. Some businesses go so far as screen- or mouse-tracking software on company-provided devices to check in on their workforce. But Spraggs says that type of micromanaging can be counterproductive as employees feel distrusted and overly pressured. “Such a management practice during the holidays comes across worse,” she says. “Managers can find less intrusive ways to help employees stay on track. Set targets and measure results, preferably using online dashboards with status reports. This makes it easy for employees to earn your trust. The more you trust those who have earned it, and don’t hound them, the more they will produce.”

How can remote workers keep their focus sharp and their productivity high while noise and interruptions surround them? And what can businesses do to ensure their employees aren’t slacking and projects are on track?

“Working from home creates a different psychological vibe from the all-business environment of a brick-and-mortar office setting, and that feeling is magnified during the holidays,” says Cynthia Spraggs (www.virtira.com), a veteran of working remotely, author of How To Work From Home And Actually Get SH*T Done, and CEO of Virtira, a completely virtual company that helps other businesses work virtually.

Have daily check-ins. Remote managers should establish either a daily oneon-one call or team call with their employees. In the holiday season, Spraggs says, extra efforts should be made in communication to compensate for people taking time off and getting projects completed. “A regular routine of calls provides a forum for the employees to consult with the manager and each other,” Spraggs says, “and the manager can track performance in real time.”

“The holidays bring new challenges to getting work done efficiently at home, and at the same time, employers have concerns about how the holidays can affect workers’ productivity in a home setting. It can cause tension between managers and employees.”

Spraggs offers tips to employees and employers about working from home productively during the holidays: How WFH employees can overcome holiday distractions

a holiday atmosphere, in order to focus on the work tasks ahead. Develop a routine, such as reading or exercise, that warms up your brain.”

Create a mental commute and brain warm-up. A morning routine can help clear the mind and prepare for the working mindset. “The drive to the office used to create a mental separation between home life and work life and give the worker space and time to prepare for the day,” Spraggs says. “A similar separation time is vital at home, especially in

Create must-do lists. The holidays are filled with gift lists, parties, family obligations, baking plans, and other tasks that aren’t usually on the everyday agenda. “When these distractions make it difficult to focus,” Spraggs says, “it helps to start the day with a list of work tasks that must be completed that day.

Prioritizing them makes it more likely

they’ll get done, even if your mind does veer off into visions of sugar plums.”

Keep your office space a quiet place, and show everyone the door.

“Establishing a clear boundary is a must,” Spraggs says. “I strongly advise you to put a door between you and the rest of the household, and keep it shut.

Otherwise, the home holiday cheer will break your concentration as people and pets stream in.”

How Employers Can Keep WFH Work-

Set holiday goals and rewards. “Your quarterly goals can be augmented by special holiday goals and rewards for meeting them,” Spraggs says. “These dangled carrots incentivize working diligently at home during the holidays and give them a bonus. Making it fun and competitive, the productivity goes up.”

“It’s all about discipline and knowing how to protect the work side of your home from the fun side during the holidays,” Spraggs says.

Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com • December 2-8, 2020

First Independence Bank’s Second Longest Serving Employee, Alberta Pearson Retired After 30 Years of Service Spending three decades with one to impact our culture in so many posicompany nowadays can be perceived tive ways going forward. We thank Alberas rare. Alberta Pearson, senior vice ta and we wish her the best in this new president administration and corporate season of her life,” said Kelly. secretary of First Independence Bank Ms. Pearson began her career contriproudly touted this accomplishment. butions 30 years ago as an administraHer career at the Detroit headquartered tive assistant and progressed to become banking institution spanned 30 years the corporate secretary. In 2018, she before recently retiring. was promoted to senior Pearson leaves a legacy vice president of adminisas the second longest-servtration. ing employee at the bank.

“Every now and then The first longest-serving we are blessed with an exemployee is the late Don ample of dedication, comDavis. He purchased First mitment and determinaIndependence Bank in tion during the good and 1980 after transitioning the bad. Alberta Pearson from a prominent music has been that example for career. The Grammy Award 30 years at First Indepenwinning producer led the dence Bank. She is more bank successfully until his than a Banker. She really untimely death in 2014. has been an anchor. HoldWhile at First Indepening it down and keeping us dence Bank, Alberta Pear- Alberta Pearson focused on our mission. son’s primary focus was She will be missed but nevHuman Resources, Administration, and er forgotten. It has been said that your Corporate Matters. She was also the worth is not what you have, but who you acting Branch Administrator where she are. Thank you Alberta Pearson for alwas responsible for overseeing the retail ways being who you are,” says Rev. Dr. branch network of the bank. She was Wendell Anthony, president, Detroit also responsible for ensuring the integ- Branch NAACP and pastor, Fellowship rity of the Bank’s corporate governance Chapel. framework. This included ensuring A virtual retirement event (closed) is compliance with statutory and regulato- being planned to honor her years of dedry requirements, and implementing de- icated service. cisions made by the Board of Directors.

First Independence Bank has been “Alberta’s graciousness yet firm hand in operation for 50 years. In a recent has been a guiding rudder within First ratings report, the bank is a five-star Independence for 30 years,” said Ken- ranked financial institution according neth Kelly, chairman & CEO, First Inde- to BAUERFINANCIAL™, which conducts pendence Bank. “We all know that she independent institution rating and rewill be missed. Her spirit will continue porting since 1983.

Investment From page A-5

“My peers didn’t have the same money mindset as me,” she said. “They said, ‘Everyone has debt.’ My grandmother taught me about money. She taught me to refinance my goals. I knew I could pay (my student loan) debt off full throttle.”

And she did. Danielle eliminated $80,000 of debt before the age of 30. Before COVID-19, Danielle went into partnership with local school districts and libraries, teaching the value of a dollar in person — now her program is online for safety precautions.

“Everything shifted for me,” Danielle said of her business. “I don’t think anybody saw it coming. I pretty much had to re-pivot and market toward parents and figure out how to do this all online.”

Keeping You Informed Away or at Home.

The certified public accountant did just that and expanded her company, which now helps parents become more involved in educating their children with online lessons, which include games and age-appropriate activities that are about 60 minutes long. Danielle encourages others (in particular Black business owners) struggling during the pandemic to think about how they could move their business online, where it makes sense. She also encourages them to find grants and other financial resources to bolster their business. Danielle took her own advice and recently won a $15,000 business grant from Essence and PineSol. “There are a lot of business grants available for minorities and black women,” she said. “Just be aware of what’s going on.”

For more information go to https://financialgarden.com.

The Most Important Factor in Your Family’s Education is

YOU Give your family the best chance for success by supporting their education at home and at school.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, sticking to a schedule, partnering with teachers and administrators, utilizing culturally sensitive best practices, and tapping into local resources are just a few of the ways that you can support distance learning at home and keep your family on track for educational success.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION © 2020 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

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Viewpoint Michigan Chronicle

A Real Times Media Newspaper

HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011

December 2-8, 2020 | Page A-7

Be Smart, Stay Safe This Holiday Season

By Warren C. Evans Wayne County Executive

The holidays are now upon us once again, and many of us in Wayne County are conditioned to look forward to what we always do this time of year: partaking in annual traditions, enjoying much needed rest from work, and spending time with friends and family.

Unfortunately, this holiday season will look a bit different due to the ongoing public health crisis. It’s critically important that each of us do our part and continue taking Warren Evans precautions to keep ourselves and loved ones safe. The last thing we want is to take unnecessary risks now only to face much darker days in late December and into the New Year.

This has been a tough time for all of us — many of our family members and neighbors are out of work, small businesses are hurting, and everyone from our young people to our seniors is anxious to return to “normal.” The reality is that Wayne County alone has lost more than 3,000 lives at the hands of this deadly virus. We must all be vigilant and look out for one another before more lives are needlessly lost.

I urge you to continue following public health guidance from the Governor, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We must continue to show our respect for everyone’s health and safety by wearing a mask when out in public settings; avoiding unnecessary trips out to keep frontline workers healthy; observing physical distancing to stay at least 6ft apart from others;

and of course, as always, washing our hands often and well. We cannot become lax on these best practices just because we’re tired of them. The lives of those we love are on the line.

I urge residents to be smart about the very real consequences of going over to a relative’s house for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other social gatherings. Traditional crowded meals indoors are not safe and should be avoided with those not in your household.

Consider “meeting” up with your loved ones on Google Meet or Zoom to eat “together” or enjoy a game of trivia virtually with one another. Another option is heading to your backyard or a public park, bundling up as we Michiganders are known to do, to have a physically-distanced gathering safely. While these alternatives aren’t the same as past years, we want to make sure all of our loved ones can enjoy celebrations next year and beyond.

Our local small businesses also need our continued support through these trying times. I urge you to do any holiday shopping locally with the small businesses right in our community. Doing so boosts our local businesses, and by extension our neighbors, and will help keep them afloat throughout this crisis and for years to come.

Our community has what it takes to get through challenging periods. Our spirit did not waiver during the Great Recession or through crises. Wayne County is a community of perseverance — one that does not despair in the face of adversity but confronts challenges with innovation and optimism. That is how we will pull through this crisis also.

We will get through these trying times, and I appreciate your continued sacrifice and vigilance to keep all of our residents safe. I know this past year and what’s ahead has not been easy, but together we can get through this and rebuild even better than we were before. Thank you for doing your part.

The Power of Trust and Truth

By Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., Director National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute and Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., Director National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities COVID-19 has killed more than 230,000 people in the U.S., and the death toll continues to rise at a rate of about 1,000 per day. We know, however, that families and communities don’t count their losses in thousands or hundreds; they count them one-by-one – a father, a teacher, a sister, a friend, a nurse, a son, a Tribal elder, a church member. And these losses hurt.

But some communities feel the impact of COVID-19 more than others. Latinos, along with African Americans and American Indians, account for more than half of all COVID-related cases, even though they represent just a third of the population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these groups require hospitalization at a rate about five times higher than whites, due to the severity of their illnesses or lack of early access to health care.

And the mortality outcomes reflect this as well: Latinos and American Indians die at 1.5 times the rate of whites, and African Americans, at 2.4 times the rate.

As scientists and NIH colleagues with more than 60 years of combined research experience in health disparities, we are not surprised by these discouraging statistics. But these awful numbers also feel deeply personal: they represent our friends, our family, our loved ones, too, as our roots are in these very communities—Philadelphia’s African American neighborhoods, Miami’s Cuban immigrant diaspora.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has simply shone a spotlight on health disparities that have long affected underrepresented communities like ours.

We know, for example, that obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are more prevalent among people of color. If you have any of these conditions and contract COVID-19 you run a much higher risk for severe complications and death.

But biology and behavior are just part of the picture. Where we work, whether we have access to quality health care, what we eat, and other socio-economic conditions also drive health disparities.

As we grapple with the effects of these health inequities on our daily lives, we can take simple public health measures to help prevent the immediate spread of this disease, starting with wearing a mask, washing our hands, and maintaining six feet of distance from others. But that won’t be enough to end the pandemic in communities of color.

As the leaders of two public health research agencies, we know we can’t just devise solutions from Washington, D.C. We must also work with those who are most trusted, respected, and closest to these hard-hit communities. Through joint local efforts, we believe we can ensure that the best, most accurate information reaches these communities, and that they are informed about, and included in, diverse research studies essential for developing safe, effective treatments, and vaccines for all. That is why the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a $12 million award to support teams in 11 states to establish the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities.

This Alliance has already brought together community- and faith-based organizations, doctors, patients, researchers, community advocates and minority-serving educational institutions.

For weeks, from Sacramento, California to Jackson, Mississippi, we have been listening carefully—to concerns, fears, very practical questions, and ideas. Our sincere hope is that, working together, we will find ways to overcome COVID-19 in a manner that takes into account the history, cultural differences, and unique input and needs of the people it affects most.

How do we do this? We start by offering reliable and easily understood information based on science, by dispelling myths, and by explaining the importance of research. CEAL is working with trusted members in communities like yours to ensure access to information that can be shared through virtual town halls, infographics, animated videos, and in many other ways – like social media posts.

Importantly, we also will be encouraging participation in research studies designed to stamp out COVID-19 in high-risk communities. That’s because clinical trials, the fundamental part of the scientific process, show whether new medicines and vaccines are effective at protecting you against disease. When a drug gets approved and your doctor prescribes it for you, you are not wrong to wonder whether it has been tested and shown to work — and especially shown to work for people like you.

This is why it is so important for research studies to include people from all races, genders, ages, socio-economic classes and more. We simply need to learn who is likely to benefit the most from any given treatment. In other words, we can’t develop effective drugs and vaccines to conquer COVID-19 in communities of color without the active participation of the people who live there.

We strongly believe that when done right, inclusive research leads to solutions that get us where we need to be. We already have safeguards in place to ensure historic wrongs are not repeated, and that safe and ethical standards are practiced consistently. The Food and Drug Administration, review boards, and expert panels at the NIH—indeed, each institution and company conducting medical research—rigorously review every phase of a clinical trial, from before it begins until after it ends. These review boards include not just scientists, doctors, and experts, but also community advocates who keep a watchful eye on the process.

While these factors are critical to ending this public health emergency, we must keep our eyes on an even bigger prize—a nation without the disturbing health inequities that compromise the health of our whole society. As clinicians who have cared for countless patients of color, as mentors who have supported underrepresented groups, and as members of communities where each one teaches one, we fully understand the power of community to make a difference in the long fight against this conquerable problem.

AJ WILLIAMS Managing Editor

JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997

LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

CONTACT US 1452 Randolph • Detroit, MI 48226 • (313) 963-8100 e-mail: newsdesk@michronicle.com

Healing During The Holidays

By Dr. Samuel White, III, Academic Dean

The holidays can be a very stressful time, especially for those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day are promoted to be a festive time of love, peace, and joy. Unfortunately, for many people the memory of a deceased loved one can create feelings of sadness, loneliness, disappointment and anxiety.

Moreover, COVID 19 has not only stolen the lives of our loved ones, it has drastically changed the holiday season.

The empty seat at the Thanksgiving table, the lack of laughter on Christmas and acute loneliness of the New Year’s Eve are painful reminders of the death of our loved ones. The holidays will never be the same and many dread their arrival, however, the following Holiday Healing Tips will help you cope with your grief.

Dr. Samuel White, III TIP ONE: Take off the “holiday mask” and express your grief. It can be extremely stressful to pretend to be happy when you are not. A major part of the healing process is recognizing, embracing and expressing your grief. Do not hold back the tears. Crying can be very therapeutic. Dr. William Frey II discovered that the chemical found in tears can function as an analgesic. Crying can reduce the intensity of emotions by about 40%. The best thing you can do for yourself is to cry and share your feelings. “Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow,” states Rita Shiano TIP TWO: Take time to remember, reflect and talk about your deceased loved one. “Grief is the process of remembering and not forgetting, “states, Laurie Van Damme, RN. If it’s possible visit the grave site, look at a picture album, talk about the “good ole days,” listen to their favorite music, eat their favorite food, reflect on one a keepsake, write a letter to them or journal your thoughts and feelings.

TIP THREE: You do not have to relive the past by doing the same holiday rituals. Feel free to change rituals, and traditions to honor the deceased. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays. Do what feels comfortable for you and your family. Light a candle, create a special wreath, talk about them at family gatherings, put a Christmas ornament on the tree or give a gift to a needy person in their memory.

TIP FOUR: Do not hesitate to rely on your emotional support system. “We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to,” writes Brene Brown. Do not hesitate to rely on empathetic family members, friends, clergy, and therapist or attend a Grief Support Group.

TIP FIVE: Use your spiritual or religious support coping skills. Mindfulness exercises, mediations, reading comforting scriptures, religious literature, worship, and especially prayer is good for the heart and soul. Healing comes when we pray to God and share our grief. Soren Kiekegaard is right, “Prayer does not change God, but changes him who prays.”

TIP SIX: We experience healing when we heal the wounds of others. “We are all wounded healers,” says Carl Jung. As you transcend your loss and comfort others, you will experience comfort. The more we give, the more we receive. Volunteer your time at a shelter, nursing home, be a tutor or mentor a child.

Give a gift in memory of your deceased loved one. It is truly “more blessed to give than receive.”

TIP SEVEN: In spite of your loss, you have the freedom to choose how you will respond to the Holidays. You can choose joy over sorrow and hope over despair. “Everything can be taken from man but one thing: the last of the human freedomsto choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way,” states, Viktor Frankl. Despite, how you feel, you can choose how you will respond to the Holidays. You do not have to do what others do or wallow in the pit of sadness and despair. You can rise up and still enjoy your family, friends and the holidays. Abraham Lincoln is right, “People are as happy as they want to be.”

TIP EIGHT: Your loved one is not with you physically, but they are with you spiritually. Mitch Albom says, “Death ends a life, not a relationship.” The Spirit of your loved one lives within your heart and mind. They have left you a legacy of memories, wisdom and experiences that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Celebrate the life they lived and still lives with you.

TIP NINE: “The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention,” states Anthony J. D’Angelo. Pamper yourself with a bubble bath, manicure, massage, pedicure, listen to your favorite music, get plenty of rest, go to movies, go for a walk, buy yourself some flowers, take yourself out to dinner, go shopping, exercise daily, eat healthy, or plan a trip.

Love yourself. You cannot love and respect anyone, unless you love and respect yourself. Do not be afraid to say, “No” to others and “Yes” to yourself. The greatest gift you can give your family and friends is yourself, therefore, take care of yourself.

Dr. Samuel White, III, Academic Dean, ETS Author of Healing During the Holidays

A holistic approach to address COVID-19 learning loss With the school year now under- toring (and teaching) happens when way, students, families, and schools academics are coupled with an emcontinue to navigate the unique chal- phasis on building relationships that lenges brought on by the pandemic, attend to students’ social and emosuch as the use of new technolo- tional needs. gy, lack of social connections with At City Year, this is the approach peers, and the challenges we take with students. parents face balancing Our 116 AmeriCorps their work demands with members serve as stusupporting their child’s dent success coaches for distance learning. students in 11 Detroit While it certainly Public School Commulooks like we will face nity District schools. We these challenges for an provide one-on-one and extended period of time, small group tutoring to many will be solved once students in math and it’s safe for everyone to English throughout the return to school. The school year. In addition, problem of learning loss, because the AmeriCorps however, is one that we Andrew Stein members serve full-time, will feel for years to come and we there is particular focus on building need to mitigate now. connections with students that help Many people are familiar with increase their sense of belonging in “summer learning loss” – the aca- the learning environment. demic slide students experience as A recent study of our program by a result of the summer break. Sim- the Everyone Graduates Center at ilarly, it’s expected that many stu- Johns Hopkins University, funded by dents have experienced – or will ex- the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, perience – “COVID-19 learning loss,” reinforces this holistic approach. The potentially losing a year or more of study found a statistically significant academic progress. Unfortunately, and consistent relationship between these effects almost always dispro- students’ social-emotional skills and portionately impact students of col- academic outcomes. In fact, the more or attending systemically under-re- time students spent with City Year, sourced school districts like Detroit. greater were the improvements in soNot surprisingly, the demand for cial, emotional, academic, and attentutors these days is through the dance outcomes. The improvements roof. Tutoring can be a helpful way are significant, with the study showto catch students up. The challenge, ing that making gains in social-emoof course, is that not every family tional skills is similar to gaining an can afford a private tutor. Even more entire school year of achievement importantly, the most effective tu- growth in math or English.

Heading into this school year, with most students opting for distance learning, a major concern facing organizations like ours was how to connect with students from a distance. We felt limited in so many ways. We aren’t outside of the building every morning to give high-fives and hugs as students walk in.

While it’s easy to focus on what can’t be done, it’s important that we not lose sight of the creative opportunities distance learning offers to build meaningful connections with students. For example, breakout rooms are a great tool to provide students with individualized attention and differentiated instruction, free from the distractions of the larger class. Morning announcements can be a platform to share motion graphics and incorporate audio and video in a way a PA system doesn’t allow.

Creating Bitmoji classrooms allows students to experience creativity and a visual change-of-pace.

These types of activities aren’t a total substitute for the connections that are forged with students in-person, but they cannot be overlooked either. They make students feel connected, safe, and like they belong at school—even if they’re sitting miles away behind a computer. If we can ensure students continue to feel this way, it will only help us make up the academic ground that has been lost as a result of the pandemic.

Andrew Stein is vice president and executive director of City Year Detroit

Page A-8 • michiganchronicle.com •

December 2-8, 2020

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WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM?

A five-part discussion hosted

by Carlos Watson.

Join the inaugural conversation on positively resetting the American Dream, together. #realtalk

Aida Rodriguez Producer, Stand-Up Comedian

Jalen Rose Athlete, Commentator

Carlos Watson Host

Jasmine Davis Trans Activist

Eddie Glaude Jr. Princeton Professor

John Kasich Former Governor of Ohio

Angela Duckworth Professor

12.08.20 ozy.com/realtalk

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City ity.. Life ife.. Style.

B1 | December 2-8, 2020

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

After- H(ours)

Access Equity and Opportunity in a 24-Hour Economy

By Adrian Tonon, Jabari Jefferson and Andre Reed Photo Lil Monsterr Public spaces and venues are the convener of people. How can we curate spaces to not only entertain and inspire visually, but also serve as a catalyst or a pathway to mental health, jobs and other resources that have the potential to uplift communities. Meet four leaders from the non profit and social work sector who are championing awareness and tangible opportunity.

Royce 59 / Artist / Ryan Montgomery Foundation The Ryan Montgomery Foundation first social initiative is to help facilitate the outreach of mental health therapy to the under-privileged and those who are the most at-risk, and lacking the adequate resources to get treatment. In some instances, this is the difference between life or death.

We offer FREE care coordination ensuring access to quality mental health treatment. We partnered with NAMI, Michigan (The National Alliance On Mental Illness), and CNS Healthcare, both based in Detroit. We are bridging those who are in need of not only the tools to become healthier mentally, but also the awareness that seeking mental health assistance does not come with a weak or negative stigma.

It is crucial for companies to intentionally implement sustainable community programs that give individuals and families awareness, then access to resources and opportunities needed to achieve their fullest potential. Currently you can call 1.833.

Royce59 and receive free mental health assistance.

A Collective Cultural Woosah: Therapy in Black Community Brings Another Level of Healing, Resilience

By Sherri Kolade Sometime last spring or summer is when she knew she needed help.

That was when Detroiter Malikah Garner, 32, wife and mother of two young boys, had had enough of carrying the invisible weight of motherhood, family, unresolved childhood pain, cultural expectations and her career solely on her petite (but resilient) shoulders. So Garner sought out the help of a therapist last summer to unburden some of life’s heavy loads.

“I knew this [was] getting way too intense for me when it was really hard to get out of bed,” Garner told the Michigan Chronicle during a Zoom call from her home where her children could be heard playing in the background. “[I] had to lay there for a while [and] really coach myself to get ready and get out for the day.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kevin Fischer / Executive Director / National AlliContact: Everything Evrod Entertainment ance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Phone: 313-222-0570 NAMI Michigan and its affiliates are dedicated to Email: Info@EvrodCassimy.com

the improvement of the quality of life for persons, families and others, who are affected by mental illness, including children with serious emotional disorders, through support, education, advocacy and research. NAMI provides mental health education, support leadership and advocacy at no cost to participants.

The busy stay-at-home mother’s days last year looked a bit different. She worked previously as a project manager for a heavy-duty auto manufacturer and increasingly became stressed at a toxic work situation and at home where she helped run the household with her husband while rearing their then threeand seven-year-old sons.

“At work is when I began to go to the bathroom to decompress or I would have to ‘run to my car’ to get something,” she said using air quotes. “Really, I was going to cry.”

Evrod Cassimy Releases New Christmas EP

The usually bubbly Garner (who her husband says doesn’t have a serious bone in her body) noticed the need to take frequent moments to “escape the reality” of life around her and she had constant negative thoughts.

At NAMI, we believe a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization (or Alliance) is one where all em“I was like, OK this is getting pretty bad… everyployees, volunteers and members -- regardless of genthing felt overwhelming,” sheNow

said. “I am a lightheartDETROIT, MI- “A Cassimy Kinda Christmas” Available Everywhere der, race, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, ed person and I was very emotional and constantly in age, sexual orientation, education, disability, veteran a triggering state.” status or other dimension of diversity-- feel valued After the yearAsthat we’veAmerican all beenmale, through it’s safe Luckily, to say the holidays can’t come soon and respected. an African a father Garner sought therapy and connected

with a local therapist in July last year. Her journey to find the right therapist who looked like Garner didn’t come that easy, though. She had been looking for a Black therapist since 2018; previously she found a white woman and later a Black male therapist but nothing clicked until 2019 when she met her current counselor who is also Black.

Garner, who is also a mommy ambassador for the local Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association [BMBFA] said that she experienced a bit of postpartum depression after her first child, and learning to heal from that, along with other life struggles along the way, was something she unpacked. She also had to unlearn years of unintentional conditioning that taught her that going to therapy was for other people outside of her cultural community.

“Previously, that was not something that I thought was available to me or something that I needed,” Garner said, adding that she was first exposed to the tangible concept of going to therapy while in college when her fellow white counterparts in her cheerleading group casually mentioned it. “Mental health support was not something discussed in my family or community. It is not something I heard at school … or in the city as a teenager.”

As her long box braids swung down past her shoulders, gently danced with each gesture, Garner’s conversation flowed with ease as she talked about these weighty topics, including the idea that therapy can be “foreign” to the older Black community-- as it was to her own mother when she told her she was in therapy.

“They were in survival mode, I get it,” Garner said of previous generations who might not have the capacity to always self-evaluate, or the bandwidth, or finances, to seek out mental health resources beyond the church pew, small talk or weekend beauty/barber shop intimate conversations. “But then when it comes to the younger generation we are further removed from historical trauma: American chattel slavery. And

See THERAPY Page B-2 enough.

That was H(OURS) the inspiration TV News Anchor, Evrod Cassimy’s new See AFTER Page behind B-2 Christmas EP. “It’s been a hard year for everyone. From racial unrest to my own personal battle with the coronavirus, I was ready to get back in “A the studio and write songsChristmas” that Cassimy Kinda Available Everywhere Now bring us all together. Nothing brings After the year that we’ve all EP includes four songs, featuring on Nov. 2 and along with other people together better been through it’s safe to than say the Christmas classics and original songs on the EP, “Have Yourself A the holidays can’t come soon Christmas music from Cassimy Merry Little Christmas” and “The holidays.”

Evrod Cassimy Releases New Christmas EP

enough. That was the inspira- himself. “My wife and I are extion behind TV News Anchor, pecting our third child, a girl. I Appropriately Cassimy Kinda Evrod Cassimy’stitled new “A Christwanted to write Christmas songs mas EP. “It’s been a hard that celebrated this exciting moChristmas,” his new EPyear includes four for everyone. From racial unrest ment in my life and captures the songs, featuring to my own personal Christmas battle with classics true spirit of Christmas. These the I was readymusic to songs andcoronavirus, original Christmas fromwill help get you in the holget back in the studio and write iday Cassimy himself. “My wife and I spirit are while you put up your songs that bring us all together. Christmas tree and begin your expecting ourpeople third child, I Nothing brings togethera girl.

Christmas shopping.” better than the holidays.” wanted to write Christmas songs thatLights” a Cassimy orig“Xmas Appropriately “A Casinal, in premiered exclusively on celebrated thistitled exciting moment simy Kinda Christmas,” his new Detroit radio 98.7 FM The Breeze

my life and captures the true spirit of Christmas. These songs will help get you in the holiday spirit while you put

First Noel.” They can be heard on Detroit radio throughout the Christmas season.

“A Cassimy Kinda Christmas” was released on Nov. 1, 2020 and is available on all digital outlets.

For more information, please visit www.EvrodCassimy.com.

Evrod Cassimy is the morning anchor for Local 4 News Today and can be seen on WDIV from 4:30-7am Monday through Friday.

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • December 2-8, 2020

After H(ours) From page B-1 who’s son faced the stigma of living with a mental illness and unfortunately died by suicide, I know first hand the value of diversity, equity and inclusion in mental health for caregivers, professionals and people in need of service. Since becoming Executive Director of NAMI Michigan in 2014 the diversity of our organization, and those seeking mental health services has grown significantly, and we are committed to continued inclusion.

From a behavioral health prospective I think it incredibly important that businesses get involved in the mental health movement. Mental illness is a medical diagnosis, not a weakness of character. “STIGMA” is the leading barrier that prevents people from seeking the care they need, which leads to better outcomes for everyone.

COVID 19 has significantly impacted the behavioral health of so many. Businesses need to join the mental health movement, not only as employers, but also in the community, demonstrating the importance of addressing our behavioral health to normalize this issue and eliminate the stigma.

Raven Scott / Detroit at Work Detroit at Work highlights any supportive services needed in preparing for and obtaining a job from transportation, child care, obtaining a license, GED/High School equivalency support, job training programs, clothing, interview prep skills.

We also assist in HOW Detroiters can obtain that help.

find work during the pandemic.

We provided call center support for Detroiters needed help filing unemployment and supported thousands. The main difference will be that our eight Career Centers will all be open as they were prior to the pandemic and Workforce One will be back in public spaces and in the neighborhoods. We will have more in-person support, but our support did not waiver during the pandemic.

Gina Cavaliere / Chief Community Impact Officer and BIZ Director / Downtown Detroit Partnership The mission of the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) is to advance Detroit by driving engagement, development and programs that benefit businesses, residents and visitors throughout the Downtown’s urban core.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership strengthens and supports Downtown Detroit through strategic initiatives and programs that evolve with the changing needs of the com-

munity. DDP convenes business, philanthropic and government partners to ensure that efforts in the creation of a vibrant urban core for Detroit are balanced and all perspectives are considered. DDP and the BIZ are committed to maintaining a welcoming Downtown for everyone, supporting accessibility and opportunities for all.

DDP’s three topline goals all promote equity and opportunity for all Detroiters: DDP serves as Downtown’s convener and balanced voice, steward of place and promoter of equity and inclusion.

DDP’s role as Convener and Balanced Voice: DDP serves as a lead convener of collaborative organizations and stakeholders who seek positive outcomes for Detroit’s future, focusing on strategic and balanced outcomes that position Downtown for sustainable growth, while advancing the greater good of the city. DDP promotes programs, amenities and citizen experiences that raise awareness and

DAW never stopped our efforts even with the pandemic hit. We immediately shifted our support to on-line, call center and when available appointment only in person support. We created “Ready to Hire” jobs to help Detroiters that needed to

m o:

th

ople ow to

be

DDP’s role as Steward of Place: DDP is a leader in developing the mission and vision for Downtown Detroit as a place, streamlining and driving the planning and implementation of catalytic master plans, projects and initiatives. DDP serves as a leader in response to growing demand for investment, public-private placemaking projects and consistent data collection and dissemination.

DDP’s role as Promoter of Equity and Inclusion: Throughout all areas of practice and programming, DDP creates policies and best practices that include all residents, cultures, income levels and personal and professional backgrounds as people engage in the Detroit experience, both Downtown and citywide.

Consumer behavior has changed drastically during the pandemic, and a return to

Therapy we have more resources and we’re just further removed from the experience of this idea that Black people don’t go to therapy or that it is for white people.

We build on the previous generation and learn and grow.”

Denise Johnson, a Detroit-based licensed master social worker, said that the “time has passed” that Black Americans or Black people were hesitant about seeking out services for mental health.

Johnson said it is especially true in today’s climate with the pandemic, racial unrest, economic and societal woes, relationship issues and a bevy of other problems which are now intensified.

“A lot of Blacks had to be laid off [or] take lower paying jobs -- those are the things happening,” the therapist of 25 years said. “Everything factors into what goes on. You have anxiety for social injustice; things like that and you have to keep on functioning with that anxiety, [which is] high among Blacks right now.”

Most of Johnson’s clients are local and Black, and she said many times they seek out

pre-pandemic habits anytime soon is unlikely. Shopping and patronizing restaurants, especially in person, now requires extra effort. Small businesses are relying on customer loyalty to survive.

Businesses must understand the values of the community and create a welcoming environment for customers. In 2021 we intend to offer hospitality and customer service training to Downtown restaurants and retailers similar to that undergone by the BIZ Ambassadors. The goal is for Downtown to build on its reputation for being a place that is welcoming and vibrant for all who visit, work and live in Detroit.

As we navigated and pivoted through this pandemic most performance stages and the gig economy have continued to suffer tremendously since March 2020. Join us for the fifth series to hear from four industry leaders who are championing to save and sustain our music venues, and gig economy. want to keep their family going; they are willing to do the work.”

Garner, who goes to a different local therapist, said that as a product of a single-mom household she unearthed a lot of her experiences growing up and how that plays a role in how she relates with her own family. She put in the work with her therapist and learned that she doesn’t have to do it all, nor should she.

From page B-1

T TRACING VES. CT US ALL, ER THE CALL. We support all Detroiters seeking workforce support and our mission and focus remains the same. In spring and summer 2021 we plan on working with our partners to make our touring jobs bus Workforce 1 present at popular public spaces where many young and impressionable Detroiters convene to enjoy the amenities Detroit has to offer. We want to bring the resources and opportunities to them.

galvanize expectations around creating a Downtown for everyone.

Black therapists like herself, because of a certain relatability.

“I think there is a bond [that] you understand what might be going on like with social injustice. You can connect right away,” she said.

A number of Johnson’s clients see her to talk about handling relationship issues, communication differences and parenting.

“I think the only struggle with parenting at this particular time is people finding it difficult to keep their children home,” she said. “There is a lot of depression and anxiety around that and trying to work or find work. And the computers … [it] looks like children are not handling it as well as anticipated.”

She added on a larger scale,

she sees Black America trying to come together more, especially with the younger Black generation.

“I think they’re setting the tone for what’s to come among Black America,” she said, in terms of voting and participating more in democracy.

“They’re handling it in a different way than their parents and grandparents,” adding that the younger generation is also more open to getting mental help if needed. “I think as far as mental health is concerned I think it’s the realization of how important mental health is -- not something you have to be ashamed of. The clients that see me, they are resilient. They want to be able to handle what’s going on, they want to keep their relationships going. They

“Because of therapy oftentimes you are not aware of why you’re doing what you’re doing,” she said. “Most of us are on autopilot. That is one of the beautiful things about getting further in my mental health journey. You can… evaluate what you are doing and show up as what you really want to be and not who you are forced to be or programmed or what you thought you had to be. I try not to carry it all and sometimes that also means advocating for myself in the household.”

If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

To learn more about contact tracing, visit

MICHIGAN.GOV/CONTAINCOVID CONTACT TRACING SAVESCOVID-19 LIVES. Hotline at or call the Michigan PROTECT US ALL, 888-535-6136.

ANSWER THE CALL. If you test positive for COVID-19, someone from the Health Department will call you privately to:

To learn more about contact tracing, visit

Ask how you are feeling.

or call the Michigan COVID-19 Hotline at

Ask about people you were in close contact with recently.

Connect you to testing and helpful resources.

COVID-19 and call the people Stop the spread of COVID-19, you have recently been around to let them know to get tested and watch for symptoms.

Your name and personal information will not be shared with anyone.

MICHIGAN.GOV/CONTAINCOVID 888-535-6136.

December 2-8, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com •

No one should have to face this pandemic alone.

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In their faces, you may see your mother. Your grandfather.

Your neighbor. If you have the heart of a caregiver, someone needs you. Due to this pandemic, there is a critical shortage of caregivers. Whether you have a few hours a week to spare to pick up groceries or make meals, or can give care full-time, earn income while making a difference.

Register at ConnectToCareJobs.com.

IT’S TIME FOR YOUR NEXT STEP. LET’S TAKE IT TOGETHER. IT’S TIME FOR YOUR NEXT STEP.

The world has changed, but your drive to succeed has not. As you prepare

for the next step inIT your academic journey, Wayne State University is LET’S TAKE TOGETHER. The world has to changed, butyou your excel. drive to succeed has not. As you prepare committed helping for the next step in your academic journey, Wayne State University is We’ve created a number of resources designed to support your committed to helping you excel.

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Page B-3

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From allows online events that connect youcampus with faculty and anywhere, staff to a virtual tour that allows youthat to experience campushas from we’re excited to show you all Wayne State toanywhere, offer. Our test-optional admission to show you all that Wayne State has to offer. Our test-optional admission pathway allows you to apply without submitting an ACT or SAT score, and pathway allows you to apply without submitting an ACT or SAT score, and our numerous scholarship programs — like merit awards and the Heart of our numerous scholarship programs — like merit awards and the Heart of DetroitTuition Tuition Pledge — continue our commitment to making a college Detroit Pledge — continue our commitment to making a college education affordable for all.for all. education affordable Take a virtual tour at wayne.edu/tour and apply at wayne.edu/apply.

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We strategically purchase natural gas and store it to ensure that affordable, reliable energy is available to you 24/7, 365 days a year.

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Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com • December 2-8, 2020

7 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange (StatePoint) It may take a little extra time and creativity, but a holiday cookie exchange can be held virtually and it’s worth the effort according to experts.

“There’s a famous quote, ‘If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’

It’s so true for me as I find great joy in developing easy, flavorful recipes,” says Cindy Gilbert, McCormick Test Kitchen chef.

“My friends have come to me for years requesting tips and tricks, and over 20 years ago, they anointed me the annual holiday cookie exchange leader. This past year has been challenging, but I knew I wanted to keep the tradition alive while following social distancing guidelines.”

Here are Gilbert’s top seven tips on hosting your own virtual cookie exchange, along with her favorite delicious McCormick cookie picks.

1. Keep the virtual guest list small and local. Your family and friends’ safety is the most important thing, and no one wants to bake a ton of cookies.

Aim for five to 10 people.

Gingerbread Men Cookies – No winter holiday is complete without gingerbread men.

They’re cute and can be decorated with raisins, cinnamon red-hot candies or royal icing.

2. Invite cookie enthusiasts.

Invite people who enjoy being in the kitchen and welcome sharing their recipe secrets!

Tell them they’re going to be sharing the story behind their choice.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies – This tasty recipe crinkles from the confectioners’ sugar, and the deep chocolate red color and taste add up to a cookie you’ll be proud to share.

3. Package cookies in separate portions. Ask participants to package each serving in individual containers or resealable bags of six cookies per serving.

Easy Lemon Cookie Truffles – This is a perfect no-bake option. Lemon extract adds a bright citrus flavor to this easy four-ingredient treat that starts with store-bought sugar cookies.

4. Arrange the exchange.

About an hour before the vir-

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) McCormick tual get-together, set up a table outside, in a cul-de-sac or school parking lot. Everyone can take turns grabbing their cookies quickly and safely. Or, arrange no contact porch dropoffs during a set time.

Holiday Meringue Cookies – These deliciously airy, light, and low-fat meringue cookies are the perfect confection for any holiday celebration. Add your favorite food coloring for a festive twist.

5. Request the recipes. Ask guests to provide a recipe card in their individual packages, or as the host, you can compile the recipes and share through email.

Double Ginger Gingersnaps – A personal favorite of Gilbert’s, these are a ginger lover’s dream! Ground ginger and crystallized ginger make the flavor pop on these cookies, which are crispy on the outside and chewy inside.

6. Share stories via video conference. Many guests like to tell the stories behind their cookies. By scheduling time to connect, you’ll likely hear some heartwarming or hilarious anecdotes and maybe even some helpful tidbits.

Sugar Cookie Thumbprints with Spiced Jam – Inspired by a bakery treat, this holiday twist on a classic uses cinna-

mon or ginger-spiced jam.

7. Have fun. Take time to ask how everyone has been and give them a chance to share what other traditions they’re planning this year. While the party is about cookies, it’s also about connecting, having fun and picking up a few new recipes to try.

Pecan Cookie Balls – These buttery melt-in-your-mouth

cookies, also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes, make a great addition to any holiday cookie exchange.

Find these recipes and more by visiting McCormick.com/ CookieExchange.

With a little creativity and the perfect cookie recipe, you can reinvent your favorite baking traditions for a safe and festive holiday season.

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LIFE STYLE

and Life Meets

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Classifieds

December 2-8, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STERLING HEIGHTS HOUSING COMMISSION Accepting Applications for the

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Waiting List to the first 200 Applicants On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

The HCV Waiting List will close once 200 online submissions are received.

Apply Online ONLY at http://www.shhcvp.com Paper Applications will not be available.

Please do not call or visit Sterling Heights Housing Commission or the City of Sterling Heights offices.

The application will not be available.

Income Guidelines Apply

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DO THE

FIVE

Help stop coronavirus

Help stop coronavirus 1 HANDS Wash them often 2 ELBOW Cough into it 3 FACE Don't touch it 4 SPACE Keep safe distance 5 HOME Stay if you can

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting proposals for Executive Search – General Manager. Solicitation forms for RFP Control No. 21-3121 may be obtained beginning November 30, 2020 from http://www.mitn.info.

Responses to RFP 21-33121 are due December 18, 2020, 3:00 PM, EST.

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED Senior Design Release Engineer – Integrated Center Stack (ICS) Warren, MI, General Motors. Engr, dvlp &release global gasoline &BEV psgr vehicle ICS, incldg audio controls, displays, Front / Rear HVAC Faceplates, Multi-Functional Controllers, &IP Clusters, using IBM DOORS/RTC, Tc Vismockup, E2, ECM, Vescom, &Soft Parts Release tools.

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(StatePoint) Unfortunately, many Americans will be unable to celebrate the holidays with their extended family and friends in person this year, making it all the more important to boost holiday cheer at home. Here are few festive ideas for getting into the holiday spirit during this socially distant season.

• Don’t skip out on the decorations: You may not be hosting any houseguests, gatherings or big meals, but this shouldn’t be the year to skip out on the full-scale decorating you typically enjoy. Lights, trees, garlands, stockings and wreaths can evoke favorite memories of past seasons and invite hope for future ones all season long. You can even set up a video conference to enjoy the camaraderie of decorating with far-off loved ones.

Researcher - Battery System Processing Warren, MI, General Motors. Use complex nondestructive &postmortem characterization tools incldg X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer, Secondary-Ion Mass Spectrometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Ion Milling, Focus Ion Beam Milling, integrate experimental phenomenon to fundamental understanding, identify battery failure mode &potential mfg defects, &provide technical expertise to projects, teams &grps.

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Boosting Holiday Cheer at Home During a Socially Distant Season

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• Deck the halls with music.

Add a digital piano to your holiday-scape to help elevate the mood with Christmas carols and other seasonal tunes. Consider Casio’s line of PX-S console digital pianos, which have a striking design that fit any room, décor and mood. A glossy top panel and unibody case evoke a luxurious acoustic grand in a sleek case that’s barely larger than the keys themselves. Integrated Bluetooth audio lets you connect your device wirelessly to the PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Sinenkiy / iStock via Getty musical keyboard, so you can play Images Plus all your favorite holiday music through its powerful stereo amplification system.

• Add favorite aromas: Now that you have the sights and sounds of the season covered, don’t forget its delicious scents. Your nose will know the holidays have arrived when you bake that first batch of gingerbread cookies or light candles in scents like evergreen and peppermint. You can even try simmering a pot of water and add aromatic ingredients to it such as cloves, cinnamon sticks and rosemary.

• Send season’s greetings: Set aside an afternoon to compose and send holiday cards. This end-of-year tradition allows you to reconnect with the people you care about most and can help lend the season a touch of normalcy.

While you may not be making your usual visit to relatives or throwing your annual bash, there are many creative ways to make the most of the season and create happy memories for years to come.

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• michiganchronicle.com • December 2-8, 2020

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the

When the holidays come around and the snow begins to fall, we appreciate the beauty of a Michigan winter and the fun of the Michigan Lottery.

And while we value your business, we value your safety even more. So this holiday, let’s work together to protect the health of us all. Have a happy and safe holiday.

Knowing your limits is always the best bet. Call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline for confidential help at 1-800-270-7117.