Royal Oak artisan to be featured at Ford Arts, Beats & Eats
Are small black businesses too black for the ‘new’ Detroit?
See page B-1
See page C-1
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michiganchronicle.com
Volume 78 – Number 50
Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2015
WHAT’S INSIDE
Accused activist setting the record straight
Touching Communities. Touching Lives.™ A PUBLICATION OF MGM GRAND DETROIT
August 2015 Cover photo by Len Katz
United in celebration of a rich musical heritage: The Detroit Jazz Festival will roar Labor Day weekend! By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle
Our city will forever be known as the home of the Motown sound, but long before Berry Gordy and company began churning out hits, jazz was king in Detroit. “Detroit has always done a wonderful job of keeping the great tradition of jazz going,” said Sherman Branch, Continue on page 3
Inside This Issue • Detroit Jazz Festival serves up enticing musical menu for our entire region. • 2015 Life Remodeled project revitalizes Osborn neighborhood, with help from MGM Grand Detroit volunteers • MGM Grand Detroit partners with the Horatio Williams Foundation to create a magical day for Detroit youth at Cedar Point. • And much more!
Black comic book convention (Page A-3)
By Qwest 7 THE CHICAGO DEFENDER
Although the subject does not come up often, many African Americans are very much into reading and studying comic books. With that in mind, the Midwest Ethnic Convention for Comics and Arts is presenting a big event in metro Detroit.
Shaun King, the Black Lives Matter activist accused of lying about his race, spent last week repairing damage done by conservative bloggers who claim he lied about his race and being the victim of a racially motivated attack.
Monica Morgan photos
Farrakhan: ‘Justice or Else’ march just the beginning
Michigan Chronicle, Real Times Media additions (Page A-5)
In Detroit, Nation of Islam leader meets with young artists prior to main event
Daniel A. Washington, a Wayne State University graduate, has joined the staff of the Michigan Chronicle as web editor and reporter. Britta Lee, who graduated from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, is now regional content editor for Real Times Media.
By Freddie Allen NNPA SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
In a wide-ranging conference call on Monday with the black press, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said the upcoming “Justice or Else” rally set for October 10 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March is just the beginning of the movement.
Juilian Bond remembered (Page B-4)
Later, on Monday evening, Farrakhan held a special meeting at the Book Cadillac Hotel downtown with a packed ballroom crowd of more than 200 artists, including rappers, poets, writers and musicians. Among those in attendance were such well-known Detroit artists as Jessica Care Moore, Amp Fiddler and rapper Trick Trick.
Jesse Jackon, who worked with him on many occasions, described Julian Bond as “a leader of exceptional clarity,” having “the strong mind and courage needed to break strong chains.”
Farrakhan delivered his “Justice or Else” address in Detroit on Tuesday night at Fellowship Chapel.
“Every single person who knows me beyond Twitter, beyond trending topics and hit pieces, knows I have never lied about my race,” King wrote on Twitter. The response was one of more than 30 messages Shaun King the 35-year-old activist tweeted to his 170,000 followers. According to the New York Times, King’s response stemmed from references made by bloggers regarding police reports on the incident, which King described as his brutal beating by a white mob. The March 1, 1995 report has King’s race marked as white and describes his injuries from the attack as minor. The report goes on to identify only one other student as being involved in the incident. In a telephone interview with the Times, the investigating detective for the case, Keith Broughton, admitted that although he hadn’t asked King about his race, he filled out the form based on observing King’s light skin and white mother. The activist mentioned his mother’s race and father, who is black, while alluding to the death of Michael Brown as the reason for his passionate to help people.
can paint the picture of what’s happening in the ’hood, which is why Minister Farrakhan wanted to meet with them. It’s the journalists who are supposed to write about the atrocities that are happening in the neighborhood and alert people of what’s happening
The Times noted King’s mention of six witnesses he interviewed that were put forth by the school’s principal, including a teacher who broke up the fight. From the interviews, King said all the witnesses described the incident as a one-on-one altercation. The report was ultimately picked up by the Daily Caller and published Wednesday, Aug. 20, on the conservative media site Breitbart.
See FARRAKHAN page A-4
See KING page A-4
Minister Farrakhan and Youth Minister Troy Muhammad. “It’s always through the artists that the pulse of the people can be measured,” said T. Pharoah Muhammad, of Muhammad’s Mosque #1,who was in attendance at the event which had not been broadcast in advance to the general public. “It’s always the artists that
On the lighter side…
BET family reunites (Page D-1) In Washington, D.C., former employees of BET (Black Entertainment Television) got together for two evenings of fun and memories. Detroit’s own Donnie Simpson used the occasion to announce his return to radio.
THE FUNNY SIDE OF MOTOWN
By Steve Holsey
There is so much more to the Motown story than is generally known. A lot of “funny stuff” happened and a lot of “weird stuff” as well.
For example…
On one occasion, Diana Ross, according to Berry Gordy’s executive assistant at the time, was being difficult, having what
might be called “diva tantrums.” Well, Gordy went to her suite, made mad Motown love to her, and the queen of Motown chilled right out. Speaking of Ross, she once got a beatdown in front of “just everybody,” including Betty LaVette and Martha Reeves, at the 20 Grand. She had been having an affair with Brian Holland, of the legendary Hol-
of the group members ordered filet mignon, cut his dinner roll in half, inserted his steak, then ate it like a hamburger.
When Motown signed DeBarge, the family group from Grand Rapids, they were very young and very inexperienced — in life, let alone etiquette. The Motown record promotion man took the group to a very nice (and expensive) restaurant. One
A young female singer — we’re protecting her identity — who had won a Motown recording contract as a result of placing first in a talent show presented by a local black radio station, made a promotional visit to that
See MOTOWN page A-4
Look inside this week’s
LIVING
WELL
$1.00
land-Dozier-Holland team that wrote nearly all of the Supremes’ hits, and his wife, Sharon, wasn’t having it.
Magazine
and discover what people are talking about.
Why Do Kids Need Sports Physicals Why Do Kids Need Sports Physicals Decrease in Vaccinations Brings Back Crippling Diseases Block Cyberbullying
Decrease in Vaccinations Brings Back Crippling Diseases
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REGIONAL NEWS Macomb UHY Advisors MI, Inc. earns MBPA ‘Best & Brightest Company’ honor for 12th straight year UHY Advisors MI, Inc. has been voted by the Michigan Business & Professional Association (MPBA) as one of 2015’s best and brightest companies to work for in Metropolitan Detroit for the 12th year in a row! Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach can be bestowed this honor. 101 companies that have demonstrated exceptional commitment will be honored by the MBPA Thursday Sept. 17 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance, downtown Detroit. The winning companies also compete for 11 elite awards, one granted for each category. Also, an overall winner that has excelled in all categories will be honored with a “Best of the Best Overall” award. The elite award winners will be revealed during The Winners’ Award Reception. “We are honored to recognize the efforts of this year’s ‘Best and Brightest’ companies. These companies have created impressive organizational value and business results through their policies and Best Practices in human resource management. This award has become a designation sought after by hundreds of Metropolitan Detroit area companies and is a powerful recruitment tool in the drive to attract and retain exceptional employees,” said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of MBPA. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program of the Michigan Business and Professional Association that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. It is presented annually in several markets including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, and Nationally. Nominations are now being accepted for 2016. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.
Oakland No tobacco products sold to minors in inspections For the first time ever, Oakland County retailers did not sell any tobacco products to youth during recent undercover inspections, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today. The Oakland County Health Division conducted the annual inspection in collaboration with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and local substance abuse coalitions to ensure that tobacco products are not sold to underage youth. “Our prevention efforts are keeping tobacco out of the hands of our children,” Patterson said. “Not only does it take our partners in the undercover inspections, but also the cooperation of our retailers. Kudos to both for successfullyw keeping these harmful products away from minors.” The Health Division conducts compliance checks yearly to determine whether retailers are willing to sell tobacco products to minors. These checks are based on the federally-mandated Synar Amendment that requires states to prohibit the sale and distribution of tobacco products to minors and conduct
random, unannounced inspections each year. Youth volunteers attempt to purchase tobacco from various gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, bars, and tobacco specialty retail shops. “Our community coalitions, local law enforcement, and the Health Division should be proud that we lead the state of Michigan in this accomplishment,” said Kathy Forzley, Health Division manager/health officer. “Every day, 3,800 kids smoke a cigarette for the first time, and many of them become regular smokers by age 18. Tobacco use starts primarily during adolescence and ease of access of these products may contribute to initial use.”
Page A-2
Wayne County September 2015 Auction When property taxes are not paid, foreclosure and auction are required by law. While unfortunate, this creates opportunity. Thousands of properties are available including residential and commercial structures, and vacant following: September 10th. Please understand that many of these properties will not be available in the now. Winning bidders will be required to pay the 2015 summer taxes in addition to the bid amount before a deed is issued. New state law will not allow participation by anyone who owes taxes or has blight violations on other properties. If you wish to bid on a property you lost to foreclosure you must pay the greater of the winning bid or the outstanding taxes, fees, and interest. For further information, contact us at 313-224-2864 or WCTauction@waynecounty.com. Now is the time to invest in Wayne County!
Julie Brenner, director of the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, said that local businesses play a significant role in the efforts to keep tobacco away from minors. “Educating retailers to check identification and providing tools for staff training is key to keeping youth tobacco-free,” she said.
Raymond J. Wojtowicz Wayne County Treasurer
In previous years, the Health Division has achieved great success during these undercover inspections with low rates of tobacco sales to minors. For upto-date public health information, visit www.oakgov. com/health or find Public Health Oakland on Facebook and Twitter @publichealthOC.
Oakland County using Facial Recognition Technology to return lost dogs Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center is the first shelter in Michigan to utilize a new, high tech tool to help return dogs to their owners, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today. The Finding Rover app and website uses facial recognition technology to identify lost dogs with 98 percent accuracy. “Oakland County is nationally recognized as a leader in implementing technology to improve how we operate,” Patterson said. “The Finding Rover app is just one more example of our commitment.” Here’s how it works. Using a smartphone, a pet owner takes a front-facing shot of their dog that includes a clear view of the eyes and nose. They are the two most important features in facial recognition technology. Then, the pet owner uploads the photo to the Finding Rover app or website. Once approved, Finding Rover keeps the photo in its database. If a person finds a lost dog, he or she can take a photo in the same manner and upload it to the Finding Rover app or website. Finding Rover then scans its database for a match. If there is a match, Finding Rover notifies the owner who can then call the person who found their pet to arrange a pickup. As of August, Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center staff will register every dog that enters the shelter on Finding Rover. The Center’s staff will scan Finding Rover for matches. Finding Rover members can also look at every dog in the shelter when attempting to find their lost pet. “Finding Rover will revolutionize how we return lost dogs to their owners,” said Bob Gatt, manager of Oakland County Animal Control Division. “We really encourage every dog owner to upload a photo of their dog to this free app. ”In addition, the Center’s adoptable dogs will also be on Finding Rover.
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“Now it is easier than ever to search for your missing dog or adopt a new family member,” Gatt said.
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Finding Rover is free and available to anyone using an iPhone or Android product or a personal computer. It’s simple to register using Facebook or email. For more information, go to www.findingrover.com.
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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2015 Page A-3
Black comic artists convention coming to Detroit By Kim Eggleston
Black folks like comics too, a lot
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE FROM METROMODE
interact with the creators of books they love.” “Comics positivity and diversity is on the rise, and I am proud to see Detroit on the leading edge of that movement,” says Merritt.
The face of comic books is changing. This fall in Detroit, two new conventions will bring the work of women and people of color to the forefront of the industry.
Liddy says a couple of things make Detroit a perfect home to new artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors like a comic con.
First up in September, MECCAcon, the Midwest Ethnic Convention for Comics and Arts, returns for its second year in Detroit. Organizer Maia Crown Williams has a clear vision for what she hopes to achieve now and in the future withMECCAcon. With a long history of helping organize other Detroit-area comic cons, Williams says it was time to branch off on her own and create an event that really drew on Detroit talent.
“I think that Detroit has always been a very entrepreneurial place. It’s a super diverse region and there is a ton of talent in the area. We’re a very DIY place, we can be pretty open-minded, and there are a lot of people willing to get their hands dirty. I’m really excited about all the indie cons happening in the area, including Kids Read Comics and MECCAcon,” she says.
“Detroit is very big on art, very nationally and globally known. So I wanted it to be more than just comic books; art, and music, and film,” she says. And it is: the schedule includes a DJ performance, a concert, and an indie film festival curated by award-winning filmmaker Ka’ramuu Kush.
MECCAcon takes place this year at a split venue: a performance night and concert showcasing music will take place Friday, Sept. 18, at the MBAD African Bead Museum in Detroit, and the comic convention will take place throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Detroit Public Library. Tickets are $6 and available online here.
She also wanted to see a convention atmosphere that was welcoming to everyone, especially families, and highly inclusive of creators of color and women. “It is my mission to make sure that children know that all heroes do not look the same, that many actually look just like them,” says Williams.
The guest lineup includes Shawn Alleyne, Jason Reeves, N. Steven Harris, Anthony Piper, Regine Sawyer, Delia Gable, Sheena Howard, Jiba Anderson, the Black Science Fiction Society and Bill Campbell. Workshops and panels include sessions on storytelling, comic book writing, illustration, dynamic anatomy, and steampunk.
A young person walking down the aisles at MECCAcon is going to get that message loud and clear, thanks to a long lineup of artists and creators of color making independent comics with characters of color One of those creators is Jiba Molei Anderson, a Detroit-born artist and writer now living and working in Chicago. He’s the creator behind “The Horsemen” and the CEO of Griot Enterprises, and says he was on board with MECCAcon right away. He’ll also be running a panel on the “Complexion of Comics,” talking about what creators of color in the industry are doing right now. “MECCAcon is a wonderful thing. It’s something Detroit needs; it’s something the independent comic book scene needs; and something that independent creators of color need as well,” says Anderson. While there’s been a lot of press in the comic book world about the lack of creators of color working in comics, that question usually focuses on the big companies, DC and Marvel. Once you get down to the independent scene, Anderson says, there’s absolutely no lack at all. “There’s an erroneous complaint about hiring creators of color and writers of color. The argument always is, ‘We can’t find those people, do they even exist?’” he says. “We’ve always been around. In the last 30 years there’s been a huge upswell in creators of color.” Yet, at a lot of comic cons, if there’s even a discussion about people of color in comics, it’s
Maia Crown Williams often just one lonely person on a panel. “What cons like MECCACon do is shine a spotlight on this work that’s being done on the fringes — and some of these people on the fringes are doing amazing work, fantastic work,” says Anderson. “We’ve been here, we’re staying here, and you will recognize us. We will not be denied.” To support that work, he is creating an alliance of independent creators of color called the Blaxis. Anderson is currently the publisher behind a new project for the Blaxis, a series of four quarterly volumes of “4 Pages 16 Bars,” a “Heavy Metal”-style mixtape of creative work from comics creators and musicians of color. The second volume comes out this fall. (“4 Pages 16 Bars” is currently running an Indiegogo campaign for additional funding.) “The future is actually quite bright. Really, it’s not even the future. It’s our past, and it’s our present,” Anderson says, nodding to three influential 1990s creative forces in black comics: “Brother Man,” “Milestone Media” and “Tribe” by Detroit native Todd Johnson. “Those three were huge, and really influenced me personally to create Griot Enterprises and The Horsemen. It just spawned a whole generation of creators, and now, with all those people already creating comics, the future looks very bright,” he says. Planned for November in Dearborn, the second new convention coming to town is ComiqueCon. It has a differ-
Jiba Molei Anderson ent mission than MECCAcon, but it’s still about uncovering lesser-heard voices in comics. All of the artists and creators participating in ComiqueCon are women. ComiqueCon organizer Chelsea Liddy says that’s on purpose, to highlight and address the issue of gender inequality in comics. “I kept seeing ‘women in comics’ panels at major conventions and I just started thinking that what women had to say about working in comics could take up an entire convention. I did a little research and discovered there is no comic convention dedicated to solely promoting women in comics. There are awesome things happening, like GeekGirlCon in Seattle, but no conventions specifically for women in comics,” she says. “Also, we’re still so behind when it comes to gender equality in the comic arts -- if you look at most conventions’ exhibitors, they’re still heavily skewed towards men.” She enlisted the help of local arts and comics folks to get ComiqueCon going, and drew the attention of women creators across comics, from the high-profile to the local-indie, for a crowdfunding campaign to get the convention started. Dearborn was chosen as the location because of its growing arts scene and Liddy’s connection to the Arab American National Museum (she works for its parent organization, ACCESS) and its event space. Around the same time as ComiqueCon, the Artspace art-
ist lofts in the former Dearborn City Hall should be finished, an exciting development for local artists and creators, says Liddy. One of the other local partners who stepped up was Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, owned by Katie and Dan Merritt, who have worked on many initiatives to highlight women in comics, and to celebrate women comic readers, says Liddy. Green Brain is providing work space for the organizers, helping get a retailer-exclusive variant cover going for a fundraiser, and helping out with advice wherever they can. “Throughout its history our shop has always supported indie comics. We strongly believe that there is more to comics than mainstream superhero books and that a wider comics reading audience can be achieved by supporting a wider range of books,” says Katie Merritt. Like creators of color, women creators have been making their own paths in comics for a long time, and Merritt says these days, social media and online publishing are connecting those formerly-hard-to-find creators to fans more easily. “Detroit has hordes of comic fans who love the diversity that indie comics provide and love attending shows that showcase it,” she says. “While female comic creators have been around since comics have been around, now more than ever they have been garnering a lot of attention through social media, and fans want to meet and
ComiqueCon takes place Nov. 7 at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn. Guests include Leyla Abdelrazaq, Nancy A. Collins, Marguerite Dabaie, Alex de Campi, Nicole Georges, Mikki Kendall, Mairghread Scott, and Marguerite Sauvage. More information can be found on the event’s website. This year is clearly only the beginning for the organizers of both cons. “I really hope for a successful first year, which will determine if this will be an annual undertaking. It’s wait and see, as far as I’m concerned -- but I expect an amazing first show. We’re going to try our best to make that happen,” says Liddy. “I think that when we work together, we can really make change.” Williams envisions MECCAcon becoming a major comic con in Detroit and wants to extend the events to four days in the future. The long-term goal, however, is that the event become a mainstay of the comics culture. “I want people to give more recognition to black comics and ethnic-oriented comics, and eventually my goal is that we don’t have to call it that anymore. We can just call it comics,” she says. Kim Eggleston is a freelance writer and editor in Marquette, Michigan. Follow her on Twitter @magdalen13. All photos by David Lewinski Photography. Photo of Jiba Molei Anderson courtesy of Jiba Molei Anderson.
Improved services attract more Arab Americans to Detroit, but challenges remain Arab Detroiters weigh in on the progress (Second of two parts)
By Ali Harb Fahman Ali Wasel, 30, has bought two homes near Warren and Southfield from the Detroit Land Bank. He said there is a robust Arab American community in the area and more people are moving in. “Everything is great,” he said. “The neighborhood is safe. We have no complaints.” Khodor Hamade currently lives with his family in a rental home near Warren Avenue, west of Greenfield Road. But soon he will move into his own house, which is undergoing repairs, a few blocks away. Hamade bought the new home from the city for about $14,000 in an auction. “The area is much safer than it was two years ago,” he said. “There has been a 180-degree turnaround. That’s why I was encouraged to buy. We can’t afford a home in Dearborn. The home here was an opportunity.” Hamade added that there is a stigma associated with living in Detroit, but it doesn’t bother him. “When I told my brother I’m
ture,” he said. “I have only been here for a year and half, so I was happy to live among Arab Americans.”
renting a house in Detroit, he gasped,” Hamade said. “Even today, when I tell people I live here, their facial expressions change. People are scared of Detroit. But I’ve been here for years. Nobody has ever harmed me.”
Mona Ali, the deputy manager of District Seven in the Department of Neighborhoods, said the city is a welcoming place for everybody. Ali said the city is distributing multilingual flyers and reaching out to the mosques and Arab American organizations to encourage community members to take advantage of the Land Bank auctions.
Khader Abu Khader, a Palestinian American handyman who has been living in the city for eight years, said the neighborhoods are getting better. “The city is trying,” he said. “They are installing new water meters and gas meters. You can see more police cars around.”
A row of well-kept homes in Warrendale.
Abu Khader said the occupancy level in his neighborhood has increased drastically over the past few years.
But these lines are blurred in western Detroit, where each block is home to families of several different backgrounds.
“But there are still a lot of problems,” he added. “The farther you are from the suburbs, things become less safe. I have friends who own homes, but they are having a hard time finding renters.”
Rabih Haidar, a real estate investor who owns 16 homes on the west side of Detroit, emphasized the growing diversity in the neighborhoods.
Growing diversity “Metro Detroit suffers hyper segregation,” community activist Dawud Walid told the Arab American News last year. He argued that ethnic communities in Southeast Michigan are separated by de facto geographical
demarcation lines.
“A Yemeni family lives here,” he said pointing to a house in Warrendale. “A Black family lives here. A White family here. A Lebanese family here. A Latino family here.” Mohammad Amri, a recent immigrant from Yemen who bought a house from the Land Bank last year, said he was
partly drawn to Detroit because of the growing Arab presence. “This an area with a great fu-
“Everybody seems very interested,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity for them to get involved and it’s being received well.”
About this series New Michigan Media (NMM) is a collaboration between the five largest minority media in SE Michigan (The Arab American News, The Latino Press, The Michigan Chronicle, The Michigan Korean Weekly, and The Jewish News) with a combined estimated circulation of 120,000 weekly. NMM is also a founding partner of The Detroit Journalism Cooperative (DJC). Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Renaissance Journalism’s Michigan Reporting Initiative and the Ford Foundation, the DJC aims to report about and create community engagement opportunities in Detroit and its post-bankruptcy recovery. Each article in the series appears in all the NMM member newspapers, and is posted on the DJC website. This article is from The Arab-American News. The DJC is a unique collaboration between important media outlets of the region, and includes The Center for Michigan’s Bridge Magazine, Detroit Public Television, Michigan Public Radio, WDET and New Michigan Media.
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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Motown
Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2015 Page A-4 From page A-1
station. The program director said to her bluntly, “You’ll get a lot of airplay if you’ll be my woman.” Marvin Gaye proved that he really was a “stubborn kind of fellow” when Motown acquired another male vocalist, J.J. Barnes, who sounded similar. Gaye kicked up such a fuss that nothing Barnes recorded was ever released. Mary Wilson was doing a book signing for “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,” at a mall bookstore. A singer from Motown’s early years who wasn’t doing well slipped her a note that said, “Could you let me have $500 until we see each other again?” (She declined.)
Pharoah Muhammad
Farrakhan
so these things can be addressed. Artists have always been necessary for the movement. The young people listen to the artists. They may not listen to the elders so much, but they listen to the artists. If you can put the right word into the youth’s minds and hearts, then you can reach them. Minister Farrakhan said that this generation is the best to have been born in because they are completely fearless.” Youth Minister Troy Muhammad added that Farrakhan was “trying to inspire activism in our young people.” Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA and the national director of the 1995 Million Man March, moderated the call, fielding pooled questions from dozens of publishers and editors from black newspapers across the country. Farrakhan said that walking down the steps of the United States Capitol building and seeing black men standing together, shoulder-to-shoulder all the Brother Marcus way down to the Washington Monument and over to the Lincoln Memorial was his most memorable experience from the Million Man March on October 16, 1995. The minister said the men went home and recommitted themselves to their families and wives, others registered to vote, and gang members left their weapons at home. Critics, however, charged that little long-lasting follow-up was done on the local level. Farrakhan said those who benefit from white supremacy fear the power of unified blacks, Latinos and all minority people and have continued to work against that unity since the 1995 march. Farrakhan also noted that since the Million Man March, the black community is not as strong as it should be, so the struggle for “Justice or Else” must take place on two fronts. “We cannot go to Washington, appeal to our government to intercede to see that Black men and women tried in their courts get justice in accordance with the law, and leave our communities in shambles with us killing one another,” said Farrakhan. “We as men and women must take responsibility for our community and rid our community of fratricidal conflict and that strengthens us as we go to our government to demand justice.” Farrakhan said he thanked God for the women who ignited the Black Lives Matter movement. “We honor the young ladies that fashioned that cry and all who have joined on but no one can rob the young sisters of the honor that God used them to say something that caught on and today Black lives do matter,” he said. “Let’s go to work in our communities to make sure that all of our people fall in love with their blackness and say, ‘black lives matter’ and black love will make sure that black lives matter.” The truth matters, too. The United States Park Police (USPP) estimates that of 400,000 attendants at the original march wildly contradicted the estimated count provided by march organizers, which was roughly 1.5 million. Working with Boston University, the Park Service later revised its estimate to 837,214 — more than twice the original estimate. With a 20 percent margin of error, the size of the crowd could
King News of the story triggered instant reaction on social media, where King became the top trending topic on Twitter. King continued to state his case in a second message, tweeting, “Out of LOVE for my family, I’ve never gone public with my racial story because it’s hurtful, scandalous, and it’s my story.” In addition to the police report, Breitbart and the Daily Caller posted copies of what they said was King’s birth certificate, which listed as his father a man who is white. Referencing the attack, the Times stated that it occurred when King was a 15-year-old freshman at Woodford
From page A-1 have been 655,000 to 1.1 million men, according to Farouk El-Baz, director of Boston University’s Center for Remote Sensing. Even the lowest revised estimate was more than twice the size of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Following the controversy over the number of people attending the Million Man March, Congress prohibited the Park Service from making official estimates. Unlike the Million Man March that primarily focused on the empowerment of men of color, the call for “Justice or Else” is meant to address the struggle for justice for blacks, Native Americans, Latinos, women, military veterans and poor whites, everyone who feels deprived in America.
Motown had no intention of letting the Spinners join the A-list roster, despite their talent. To keep some money coming group members had to accept non-artist jobs, such as being chauffeurs for other Motown acts. The SpinMary Wells ners didn’t get their props until they signed with Atlantic Records. Maxine Powell, who operated Motown’s finishing school, offering instruction in poise, etiquette and grooming, said many if not most of the artists were “rude, crude and from the projects.” (Diana Ross was one of her best students.) After one of numerous skirmishes, Martha Reeves once chased Diana Ross into a phone booth. She called Berry Gordy who told Reeves to leave her alone, regardless of the fact that Ross was the instigator. Years later, Reeves stated, “I was going to fight her.” I truly love Diana Ross, but here’s
Berry Gordy and Diana Ross one more. Mary Wells. Former Motown artist, was doing a show at Hart Plaza shortly after the airing of “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.” Backstage after the show, Wells was telling a girlfriend about Diana Ross being “high” at the taping. The girlfriend noticed yours truly, and then in a hushed tone warned Wells that there was reporter standing right behind her. Wells paused for no more than three seconds and said defiantly, “Well, she was!” Gladys Knight & the Pips only signed with Motown because Knight was outvoted by the Pips. The Contours, in their heyday, were known for their acrobatic dance routines, doing songs such as their classic “Do You Love Me?” During a show decades later, the Contours, much older now, were performing and the show was going great. One original member, caught up in the spirit of the moment, decided to do a split like in the old days. He went down but couldn’t get back up. EMS had to be called.
“Even though our struggles may be different, justice is what we seek for all,” said Farrakhan. The minister also praised Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work Muhammad during the last years of his life that revolved around economic equality, unionization and labor rights, and land ownership. Farrakhan pointed out that Blacks were largely shut out of the prosperity enjoyed by white settlers following the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862. Blacks weren’t considered citizens in 1862, a key eligibility requirement that prevented them from claiming any of the millions of acres of free land west of the Mississippi River granted to white settlers by the United States government. “We have to have land, brothers and sisters, as a basis for economic development,” said Farrakhan, proposing a legislative agenda that would promote land ownership in the black community. Farrakhan encouraged black business owners to advertise in the black press and buy subscriptions to community newspapers, and that part of the estimated $1.1 trillion in annual buying power wielded by the black community be used to build hospitals, factories and to support black colleges. He also lamented the anger and frustration that young people have expressed across the nation and that uncontrolled and misdirected anger can lead to great destruction. “We don’t have a lot of time, but we can turn the anger of our community into production,” the minister continued, adding that young people will be more than eager to live productive lives rather than lives of crime and suffering and savage behavior if properly guided. As the presidential election approaches, Minister Farrakhan warned blacks against casting their votes foolishly and continuing to vote for the Democratic Party that could and should do more for the black community. He added that he doesn’t see himself voting for Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) or Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). He made no mention of Willie Wilson, the black Chicago businessman who is also running for president as a Democrat. “The black vote is a powerful vote,” said Farrakhan. “But unless any of these candidates that are running for president of the United States speak to the need for justice for those that are deprived, why should we give them our vote?” Additional reporting by Keith A. Owens, Michigan Chronicle senior editor.
Half of African Americans say police have treated them unfairly FROM THE TRI-STATE DEFENDER
“And he kept calling me ‘nigger.’
WASHINGTON — A majority of African Americans in the United States — more than three out of 5 five — say they or a family member have personal experience with being treated unfairly by the police, and their race is the reason.
It’s been like this for a long time. It’s just now that everybody starting to record it and stuff, it’s just hitting the spotlight. Most Caucasians think it’s just starting to go on when it’s been like this.”
Half of African-Americans respondents, including six in ten African American men, said they personally had been treated unfairly by police because of their race, compared with 3 percent of whites. Another 15 percent said they knew of a family member who had been treated unfairly by the police because of their race. This information, from a survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, came as the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo., approached its first anniversary and the nation continues to grapple with police-related deaths of African Americans.
County High School in Versailles, Ky. King described the physical effect of the attack in a Facebook post, writing that he had been beaten so severely that he missed more than a year of school and had several operations and counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder.
White Americans who live in more diverse communities, where census data show at least 25 percent of the population is non-white, were more likely than other whites to say police in their communities mistreat minorities, 58 percent to 42 percent. And they’re more likely to see the police as too quick to use deadly force, 42 percent to 29 percent.
“Sadly, several popular conservative websites are saying I made the whole thing up in an attempt to discredit my work to end police brutality in our country,” he wrote.
Larry Washington, 30, of Merrillville, Ind., described his encounter with a white police officer when he was arrested for theft in Burbank, Ill., as a teenager.
Two people who said they saw it happen, a band teacher and a former fellow student, backed King’s version of the attack.
“When I got to the police station, the officer who arrested me told me that I looked like I wanted to do something about it,” Washington said, adding,
From page A-1
The AP-NORC poll also showed: More than two-thirds of African Americans — 71 percent — think police are treated too leniently by the criminal justice system when they hurt or kill people. A third of whites say police are getting away with it, while nearly half – 46 percent – say the police are treated fairly by the criminal justice system. Sixty-two percent of whites said a major reason why police violence happens is that civilians confront the police, rather than cooperate, when they are stopped. Three out of four African Americans said it is because the consequences of police misconduct are minimal, and few officers are prosecuted for excessive use of force. More than seven in ten African Americans identified problems with race relations, along with poor police-community relations, as major reasons for police violence. Nearly three out of four whites think race has nothing to do with how police in their communities decide to use deadly force. Among African Americans, 71 percent thought police were more likely to use deadly force against African American people in their communities, and 85 percent said the same thing applied generally across the country. Fifty-eight percent of whites thought race had nothing to do with police decisions in most communities on use of deadly force.
news
Daniel A. Washington joins Michigan Chronicle team Daniel A. Washington is a recent Wayne State University graduate. During his time at WSU, he was a member of Wayne State’s Journalism Institute for Media Diversity and wrote for the university’s student newspaper, the South End, and held several corporate internships.
Page A-5
985 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207 (313) 625-7200, (313) 625-7213, 7215 (fax)
INVITATION TO BID Bid Package No. 4
Paradise Valley Real Estate Holdings, LLC 1452 Randolph Street Detroit, Michigan 48226
Washington is the owner and founder of an art appreciation company, art. is original creativity. The company is expected to service students in DPS and other surrounding school districts.
Jenkins Construction, Inc. is the Construction Manager for the 17,500 sq. ft. renovation and historic restoration of the new Corporate Headquarters for Real Time Media located in Paradise Valley.
Washington joins the Chronicle staff as a web editor and reporter.
Daniel A. Washington
Britta Lee joins Real Times Media as regional content editor
This package includes the following trades: 4A – Demolition 4I – HVAC 4B – Concrete 4J - Plumbing 4C – Masonry 4K – Fire Protection 4D – Steel 4L – Electrical 4E – Rough Carpentry 4F – Roofing 4G – Door and Hardware 4H – Elevator Bids Due Date Sealed bids are due Thursday, September 10, 2015 @ 2:00 P.M. delivered to Jenkins office. Pre-Bid Meeting A Pre Bid meeting will be held at the site with a walk-thru immediately to follow on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.; for all whom would to attend parking in this area is paid parking only.
Britta Lee is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She is also a recent alumna of Specs Howard School of Media Arts. She began her career as a writer at the Michigan Chronicle and has since expanded into the field of television reporting, digital media and video production. She previously served as a television news reporter for Upper Michigan’s WLUC-TV 6 and recently returned to Detroit. In her new role as the regional content editor for Real Times Media, Lee reports on national news and trending topics affecting the urban community.
August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Bid Documents The Information for Bidders, Bid Form, Contract Plans, Specifications, Bid Bond, Performance and Payment Bond, and other contract documents may be examined at the following: Available on our website site: www.jenkinsconstruction.com Bid documents are available for purchase at: Hernandez Blueprinting 1401 Vermont Detroit, Michigan 48216 (313) 962-2900
Britta Lee
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND BID REQUIRMENTS This project is being funded in whole or in part by the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). All federal CDBG requirements will apply to the contract. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 & Order No. 11375 which prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex, or National origin. Bidders must comply with Title VI if the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and 40 CFR 33.240. Bidders must also make positive efforts to use small and minorityowned business and to offer employment, training and contracting opportunities in accordance with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Attention of bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract. The owner reserves the right to waive any irregularities, or to reject any or all bids. No bidder may withdraw his bid within (30) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.
Before the 6 day revitalization.
Black Family Development, Inc. Design Team.
After the 6 day revitalization.
The Kresge Foundation Supports the Osborn Community
T
he Kresge Foundation, under their Innovative Project Grant, funded Black Family Development, Inc. (BFDI) $150,000 to work in collaboration with community residents to transform the physical appearance of the Osborn Community (zip code 48205). The mission of The Kresge Foundation is “To promote human progress.” Kresge advances its mission by: creating access and opportunity in underserved communities; improving the health of low-income people; supporting artistic expression; increasing college achievement; advancing methods for addressing global climate change; and assisting in the revitalization of Black Family Development, Inc. volunteer team. Detroit. BFDI’s mission is “To strengthen and enhance the lives of children, youth and There is still work to be done and BFDI, in collaboration families through partnerships that support safe, nurtur- with Detroit Future City, is working over the next year to transform open spaces in the community into beautifully ing, vibrant homes and communities.” The Kresge Foundation funding allowed the pur- designed landscape to meet the needs of children and chase of equipment, tools and supplies needed to local residents. The initial six day clean-up campaign complete the six-day (August 3 – 8, 2015) major clean- now expands over the next year with the goals of: deup and fix-up campaign. In collaboration with Life Re- velopment of short- and long-term, block-by-block land modeled, Osborn neighborhood block clubs and asso- use plans for the Osborn neighborhood; creation of a ciations, Osborn Neighborhood Alliance (ONA), Black plan to reuse the equipment and tools purchased for the Family Development, Inc., MGM Grand Detroit, District clean-up event for future neighborhood use, including 3 City Councilman, District 3 Department of Neighbor- developing entrepreneurs for the landscaping business; hoods, and many other organizations and foundations, and, purchase of vacant side lots by residents through the Osborn community has a vibrant, clean, fresh look. the Detroit Land Bank Authority side lot program for on-
going maintenance and beautification. BFDI’s work with Osborn residents and ONA will also support the development of short- and long-term, blockby-block land use plans as described in the Detroit Future City Framework. BFDI salutes the generous support of The Kresge Foundation in helping to advance the physical development and quality of life strategies in the Osborn Community. “The energy, commitment, and support of more than 9,500 volunteers, with the largest pool of volunteers as residents of the community, is a great start to this year long commitment to continue the revitalization of the Osborn community’s physical improvement and important neighborhood strategic development in the Osborn area,” states Alice G. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Black Family Development, Inc.
For further information about
Black Family Development, Inc., please contact 313.758.0150, or visit our website, www.blackfamilydevelopment.org
Page A-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
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August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
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Photos by Jason Flowers
SECTION B
COMMUNITY
Austen Brantley
Royal Oak artisan to be featured at Ford Arts, Beats & Eats By Jason Flowers
on the Acoustic/Cultural stage.
MANAGING EDITOR
Even though Brantley didn’t attend art school, he says he learned how to market himself when he was struggling looking for ways to succeed. He says art shows became that ticket for him to market his work.
Austen Brantley, a 19-year-old sculptor will be featured at the 18th annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-7, in Royal Oak.
“I realized that while others were in school for fine arts, they didn’t know who to market themselves,” Brantley says.
Brantley says he was raised to wait for opportunity, but that was wrong. “I have come to understand that, in order to create one’s own success, one must not wait passively for an opportunity to present itself, but rather actively seek and become that opportunity,” Brantley says. Brantley will be featured in one of the nation’s premier juried art shows, the Juried Fine Art Show, which will be a highlight of this year’s festival, with top artists from the across the continent vying for cash awards totaling $7,500. The Juried Show will showcase art in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, digital art, drawing, fabric/fiber/leather, glass, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metal, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood. Artists will come from all over
The 19-year-old artisan says his artist inspirations are classical and modern sculptors like Henry Moore, August Rodin and renaissance artists like Michelangelo.
North America, including Canada and Mexico, to display, share and sell their work. Festival patrons have the opportunity to peruse original works at more
than 135 artist booth spaces. A live demonstration of an original sculpture created by Brantley will take place Friday, September 4 at 1:15 p.m.
Ford Arts, Beats & Eats will entertain thousands of visitors from across the region with its outstanding music line-up, stellar arts programming, mouthwatering selection of food, and a number of new attractions. From the chart-topping musical headliners, the stunning artwork of all mediums, to the succulent dishes from some of the best restaurants throughout the state, this event will be one of the most diverse and exciting weekends of the year.
Cornerstone Schools brings LPGA stars for annual fundraiser Cornerstone Schools presents its 11th annual Turning Point Invitational featuring Ladies Professional Golf Association’s high-profiled golfers to play to raise money in scholarships for Detroit children to attend its schools. The event is set for Aug. 31 at the Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms. This event will provide an opportunity for current and future preschool through high school students to receive an excellent Cornerstone education while helping them learn vocals, violin and piano. Additionally, each attendees will have an opportunity to golf with an LPGA player. To learne how you can participate visit www. cornerstoneschools.org.
Cheyenne Woods
Sadena Parks
community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
Page B-2
Photos by Monica Morgan
From left, Shaka Senghor, Big Sean, Shawn Wilson and Dave Bing
Men of Courage share compelling stories By Jason Flowers
economically and professionally diverse group of 50 men ages 20-70 from the Detroit area.
Ford Motor Company Fund brought together former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Grammy® nominated singer Big Sean to celebrate the stories of 50 Black men at a day long forum, Men of Courage.
Co-moderated by Ford Motor Company Fund’s Shawn H. Wilson and MIT Lab Fellow, author, and motivational speaker Shaka Senghor, Men of Courage participants will continue the conversation and add the voices of future participants through a private, online community as Men of Courage travels to other cities.
MANAGING EDITOR
The event, designed to embrace storytelling, build leadership, intergenerational connectedness and redefine existing narrative among black males in America, was presented by the Ford Motor Company Fund, in conjunction with Bing Youth Institute and the Sean Anderson Foundation. Men of Courage joined together an
Event organizers say this event is important because storytelling is being rediscovered as a powerful tool for selfdiscovery, correcting misperceptions and sparking positive social change.
participants Jarvis Brown and Two Men of Courage program ring stories Reginald Turner are shown sha
Shawn Wilson, mana ger, multicultural co mmunity engageme for Ford Motor Co. nt Fund, addresses the audience of program participants
The Detroit Public Schools Difference New Career Academy Program where students can earn a high school diploma, associate’s degree, trade skill certification and paid internship New K-8 sports leagues with basketball, flag football, baseball, track & field, soccer, golf and more New Customer Service 72-hour resolution guarantee New Parent University and other new/expanded parent programs at the district’s 8 Parent Resource Centers New Arts/Music enrichment at every elementary-middle school 21 Community Schools offering extended hours and a range of expanded services High school Medical Pathways
Over 200 free, high-quality PreK classrooms across the district Safe and secure buildings with a fully deputized police force Transportation, free healthy breakfast and lunch Eight different languages More latchkey services
$138 million in scholarships and grants for 2014 grads Scholar Athlete Programs through the Detroit Public School League Safe Routes to School initiative with DPSPD and community volunteers to ensure safe walking and bus routes each morning and afternoon
OPEN DOORS DAY! SATURDAY, AUG. 29 10 A.M. –1 P.M. (313) 240-4377 | detroitk12.org/enroll
community
August 29
September 2
PRAISE IN THE PARK
A collaborative community outreach event offering free food, clothing, school supplies, train rides, bouncers and more.
August 29
September 4-7
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERIES AT SOUTHFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Nardin Park Grand River Ave. and West Chicago, Detroit
For more information call 313.350.4890.
August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
7:30 a.m. Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce 24300 Southfield Road Suite 101 Southfield Our Business Development Series are workshops designed to provide a balanced learning environment for networking and education exchange bundled in 90 engaging minutes. Each interactive workshop is sponsored and presented by industry experts who share the latest business news and information that can affect your day-to-day business operations.
Page B-3
September 11
ARTS, BEATS & EATS
WOMAN 2 WOMAN AT KICK-THE CENTER IN DETROIT
Downtown Royal Oak (On and near Washington St.) For many, it’s the most anticipated festival of the summer. AB&E has grown a lot through the years but has maintained its simple, classic roots. Tons of great live music (local and otherwise), a labytinth of food stands and enough art to inspire a city. For more information call 248.334.4600 or www.artsbeatseats.com
KICK-The Center 41 Burroughs St. Suite 109 Detroit Woman 2 Woman is a monthly program designed to create the bridge between generations of women of color, in order to forge a solid sisterhood. Sisterhoods that we can rely on, heal with and be vulnerable among through conversation, activities and building relationships. For more information call 313.784.7121 or visit www.lgbtdetroit.org.
September 4-7
Cost: Free for Chamber members; $10 for non-members
September 12
For more information call 248.557.6661.
September 2 ABANDONED WITH LIFE ART AND EAT EXHIBIT AT DETROIT CLOTHING CIRCLE IN DETROIT THE EXCHANGE STREET FAIR AND FLEA MARKET AT THE EASTERN IN DETROIT
6:00 p.m. Detroit Clothing Circle 3980 Second Avenue Detroit
BLACK MOTHERS’ BREASTFEEDING SUMMIT AT CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM 1 p.m. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 315 E. Warren Ave. Detroit Black Breastfeeding Week Celebration: Lift Every Baby ... So Strong. So Us.
A part of the revitalization of Detroit is understanding what we can do to help restore the foundation and structure that has endured years of neglect and abandonment. The night will include words from guest speaker art.is original creativity founder Daniel A. Washington, a silent auction of 10 exclusive 1-of-1 art.is original creativity art pieces, as well as light refreshments. Reserve your spot with the password “abandonedwithlife” to the link below. Cost: Free For more information call 313.522.6816 or view event details online at www.eventbrite. com/e/abandoned-with-life-exhibittickets-17869480096
For more information call 800.313.6141.
9 a.m. The Eastern 3434 Russell St. Detroit DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL Several blocks of downtoen Detroit. from Hart Plaza to campus Martius Park Downtown Detroit One of several events originally designed to expose music lovers to the city, the jazz fest totally exemplifies the vibrancy, variety and music of Detroit. The lineup is made up of entertainers from around the globe, but features some smokin’ local jazz. For more information call 313.447.1248 or www.detroitjazzfest.com
DMC summer jobs program puts Detroit students on health care career path The Detroit Medical Center’s (DMC) Project Genesis summer jobs program has introduced more than 800 Detroit Public Schools’ students to health care career opportunities since 2006, and more than 150 students, alumni and hospital leaders recently celebrated the program’s milestone achievement of 10 successful years. Each year, approximately 100 students are chosen to participate in the program from among 500 applications. The Project Genesis work program provides students with on-the-job training in a variety of clinical and non-clinical health care jobs across DMC facilities. Students also receive ongoing mentorship and participate in weekly career exploration workshops. The continued growth of Detroit’s business sector depends on companies being able to find workers with the necessary skills to fill job vacancies. The DMC is no exception. It must continue to attract skilled talent in a multitude of health care categories. Investing in Project Genesis helps prepare Detroit’s youth for jobs today, and the growth sectors of tomorrow. “Project Genesis is beneficial for our city, our hospital and our youth,” said Joe Mullany, CEO of the Detroit Medical Center. “The students gain experience from their summer work at the DMC. The community gains engaged and contributing youth, and the DMC accesses and develops some of the best and brightest students from the Detroit Public Schools system who will hopefully, consider joining the DMC workforce in the future.” More than 20 Project Genesis alumni currently work in the DMC system, which is Detroit’s largest employer. Former DPS students have held jobs at the DMC ranging from registered nurses, physical therapists, emergency room technicians, pharmacy technicians and research assistants, to name a few. Jocelyn Rice, a graduate of Cass Technical High School and a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient, began her Project Genesis experience as a high school junior. Her work experience in the DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan has inspired Jocelyn to continue her education in the field of neuroscience and work with adults and children recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injuries. Now 18, Jocelyn plans to attend the Univer-
Local artisans, live entertainment and good food are on deck at The Exchange, a new monthly flea market and street fair in the historic Eastern Market district. Peruse the wares of more than 20 local crafters and artisans, hang out on the lawn and hear live music. Refuel at one of three food trucks or the full bar with proceeds to benefit Street Democracy, a Detroit-based program that provides legal services to the impoverished and homeless. Cost: Free. For more information call 313.914.1104 or visit www.theeasterndetroit.com.
Over 500 metro Detroit kids to receive back-toschool supplies
Jocelyn Rice delivers a riveting speech in front of 150 students, alumni and hospital leaders during Project Genesis’ milestone event. sity of Michigan - Ann Arbor where she will begin her studies this fall entering the pre-med track and majoring in neuroscience. “I’ve always been interested in the brain--in understanding what makes people who they are, and what gives them the strength to overcome their obstacles,” said Jocelyn. “Here at RIM, I see all types of patients--amputees, stroke victims and brain injury patients. They all desire to be anywhere but in rehab. But when they realize that to get back to the life they had before their accident they have to work harder, I see a lightbulb shine in their eyes. Their lightbulb is mine as well. Their desire to push harder inspires me to work just as hard to continue my education and become the physician capable of treating them.” Gov. Rick Snyder has created the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development with its efforts focused on connecting highly skilled Michigan talent with in-demand jobs. The Detroit Medical Center is complementing those efforts, on a more local level, by assisting DPS students in acquiring employment skills in their chosen areas of interest and aligning them with health care professionals who provide mentorship and skills training. Project Genesis invests in Detroit’s youth and supports them in obtaining meaningful health care job experience. In turn, the students gain skills they can apply in college and in future work opportunities. “The collaboration established 10 years ago by the Detroit Medical
Center with Detroit Public Schools continues to develop bright, young individuals who bring fresh ideas, new perspectives and a desire to give back to their home communities,” Mullany said. Brenda Vasconcelos-Ramirez, a Cass Technical High School graduate and current Project Genesis participant, learned about Project Genesis from her high school counselor. She will attend the University of Michigan this fall and hopes to work in health care administration. Brenda spent her early childhood in a rural village in southern Mexico, where the nearest hospitals were four hours away and doctor visits were rare. Brenda recalls always believing she would one day become a doctor. “Project Genesis has been a life-changing experience and has allowed me to grow professionally,” Brenda said. “In addition, the responsiveness of the DMC staff to my questions regarding career goals really helped shape my future career path. I discovered a myriad of career opportunities that I could not have imagined - all thanks to Project Genesis.” Project Genesis serves as a pipeline for Detroit Medical Center to mentor and retain students who seek a health career including those jobs where there are current state and national worker shortages such as in the areas of primary care and specialty physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians and technology professionals. DMC remains committed to the Project Genesis summer employment program and looks forward to working with students from the Detroit Public Schools in the coming years.
As schools get ready to reopen, about 550 metro Detroit school kids will receive new backpacks filled with school supplies from Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), a nonprofit that has been empowering the poor and the homeless in the area since 1909. The school items will be given to needy kids at the following metro Detroit venues and dates:
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Lighthouse Outreach Center (a DRMM facility) 28571 Gratiot Ave, Roseville Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2015 DRMM, 138 Stimson Street, Detroit Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2015 Dearborn Track Club Ford Field, 22051 Cherry Hill St, Dearborn Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. DRMM president and CEO, Dr. Chad Audi, described its back-to-school giveaways as “an important annual tradition that puts smiles on the faces of school boys and girls and their parents, and lets them know people here in metro Detroit really care.” He stressed the need to lighten the burdens of low-income parents and guardians who value the education and future of their kids, adding that “helping neighbors in need is always a noble thing to do, especially when done in a way that promotes their dignity.”
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(313) 963-5522 e-mail:newsdesk@michronicle.com August 26 - Sept. 1, 2015
HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher
Quote of the week:
CATHY NEDD Associate Publisher KEITH A. OWENS Senior Editor
“This is a tough game. You can’t be intimidated, you can’t be frightened, and as far as I am concerned, the Tea Party can go straight to hell.”
SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011 JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997 LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989
Julian Bond was a leader of strength, character By Jesse Jackson The news that Julian Bond passed away saddened me deeply. America has lost a true and still vital champion for justice. President Barack Obama, hailing Bond as a hero and a friend, noted that “Julian Bond helped change this country for the better. And what better way to be remembered than that.” At a very young age, Bond helped forge the emerging Civil Rights Movement, and was in many ways a founding father of the New South that we now see still in formation. In 1957, as Jesse Jackson a student at Morehouse, son of a college president, varsity swimmer, head of the literary magazine, intern for Time magazine, he was on the path to success. But the success he chose was to make history, not money. He was arrested after organizing some of the first student demonstrations to desegregate Atlanta’s lunch counters, parks and theaters. Realizing that young people could take risks too costly for adults with families, at 20, he helped found SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He became its secretary and head of its communications in part because he was seen as organized, levelheaded and eloquent. Julian was ahead of most in the movement for understanding the big picture. He realized that civil rights could not be achieved without economic rights, and that economic rights would not advance if America kept throwing resources and lives into war abroad. He became an early and outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. After the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, Julian led voter registration drives. At the remarkable age of 25, he was elected to the Georgia State House. The sitting legislators demanded that he repudiate his opposition to the Vietnam War. When he refused, they refused to seat him. Three times his constituents re-elected him, three times the House denied him his seat. Finally the Supreme Court ruled their actions unconstitutional. In January 1967, Bond took his seat, and served in the House and Senate for the next two decades. By that time he was a national hero
for having stood on principle even at the cost of his political career. In the embittered 1968 Chicago Democratic Presidential Convention, Bond led an insurgent Georgia delegation and was called upon to second the nomination of Eugene McCarthy for president. With the convention floor in bedlam and demonstrations raging outside the hall, Bond was nominated as vice president, a symbolic nomination (he was only 27 and the constitutionally required age is 35) “about the wave of the future.” Bond served as legislator, scholar, teacher and leader. He was a founder and early president of the Southern Poverty Law Center. He taught at the University of Virginia and lectured widely, receiving over 30 honorary degrees. He chaired the NAACP for 12 years until 2010. He had experienced first-hand the slight and shackles of segregation and organized to end them. He knew firsthand the suppression of the right to vote and helped build a movement to challenge that. To his final years, his intelligence, clarity and passion continued to instruct. He understood that, as he put it, “America is race,” from the founders to the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement to Treyvon Martin, Michael Brown and Sandra Bland. He knew that Barack Obama’s election and re-election was a measure of the progress that had been made but “didn’t herald a post-civil rights America. … It couldn’t eliminate structural inequity or racist attitudes,” he said, even suggesting Obama’s election fomented such attitudes. “Obama,” he said, “is to the Tea Party as the moon is to werewolves.” To his final days, he urged people into motion, knowing that only when people mobilized and acted could anything change. “We look back and see giant leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King,” he taught, but the Civil Rights Movement was “a people’s movement. It produced leaders of its own; but it relied not on the noted but the nameless, not on the famous but the faceless. It didn’t wait for commands from afar to begin a campaign against injustice. It saw wrong and acted against it; it saw evil and brought it down.” Julian Bond was a leader of exceptional clarity. He had the strong mind and courage needed to break strong chains. He made a dramatic contribution with his life and he will be deeply missed.
Campaign to rollback consumer protection in auto financing By Charlene Crowell When it comes to public policy, most citizens tend to think in terms of what government can accomplish on their behalf. Multiple civil rights laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act are but a few such examples. There is also another side to public policy reforms: attempts to rollback or take away regulations that are often favored by industry and championed on Capitol Hill by paid lobbyists. Just last week, a U.S. House committee moved a bill that will stop the Consumer Financial Protec- Charlene Crowell tion Bureau (CFPB) from taking action against discriminatory practices in auto lending. This legislative development is an example of how Washington often responds to industry and its lobbyists. The proposed rollback in consumer protection in auto financing has the support of more than 170 Members of Congress, including a number of Democrats. H.R. 1737, co-sponsored by House Members Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) and Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado), recently passed in the House Financial Services Committee.
aim at a specific practice in auto lending. Auto dealers get bonuses from lenders for selling consumers a higher interest rate than that for which they qualify. These bonuses add up to billions of dollars in added dealer compensation. On top of these lucrative deals, this practice is completely hidden from consumers. Research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) found that consumers who took out loans in 2009 paid $25.8 billion in more interest over the lives of their loans – all because of dealer interest rate markups. For the past two decades, this lending practice has resulted in a series of lawsuits and more recent enforcement actions that all alleged discrimination resulting from this practice. The data from these lawsuits and related enforcement actions consistently show that borrowers of color pay higher interest rates than White borrowers, solely because of this dealer kickback. Recent CFPB enforcement actions total more than $176 million in fines and restitution to consumers. By utilizing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), CFPB has taken steps that no regulator to date has taken to end discrimination in auto lending.
H.R. 1737 would require the CFPB to drop guidance it issued in 2013 that called for auto lenders to comply with anti-discrimination laws. The bill would also require the Bureau to gather public comment before issuing any other guidance related to auto lending. Supporters say it is simply about proper process.
Fortunately, just as a coalition of interests pushed for and won passage of reforms that created CFPB, several consumer and civil rights groups are now simultaneously pursuing preservation of the Bureau’s pro-consumer actions. A late July letter sent to the entire 435-member House of Representatives on behalf of the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza. Americans for Financial Reform, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and other organizations, reminded lawmakers of the history and scale of discriminatory auto lending finance.
No – it is not. The bill would condone discrimination in auto lending. All of its supporters should be ashamed.
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. ing.org.
So what does this legislation do?
The 2013 CFPB guidance took direct
— Rep. Maxine Waters
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Trump’s Trump Card: The Conservative Mob By Lee A. Daniels The fate of the Republican Party’s presidential sweepstakes at the moment is being controlled by two political Frankensteins – both of them of the GOP’s own creation. One, of course, is Donald Trump, the wealthy demagogue who is leading the crowded GOP primary field precisely because he doesn’t have any “platform” except crowing Lee A. Daniels that he’ll dominate anyone at home and abroad who disagrees with him and be cruel to the downtrodden. The GOP’s second Frankenstein consists of Trump’s supporters among the Republican Party voters, who are also uninterested in the complexities of foreign or domestic policy issues and just want to dominate everyone else who is not like them. Besides his wealth, they’re Trump’s trump card against the GOP party regulars because, like him, they have no loyalty to the Republican Party as an institution, or to the actual ideas of American conservatism. And forget all that excuse-making about their being “angry” at the difficulties besetting American society. The plain truth is that these people want their intolerance stoked. For all their railing against “Wall Street,” they always choose to take out their anger on the easy targets –Americans of color and those with fewer resources. They want to let their bent for selfishness and callousness show, and Trump is speaking them. As I indicated, Trump and his supporters didn’t just appear out of nowhere. They’re a creation of the GOP’s own contempt for the inclusiveness and complexity of today’s American society and of the traditional political processes
that have produced that result. That’s what the GOP actions of the Obama Years mean: the Republicans’ more than 50 attempts in Congress to try to block Obamacare, despite their knowing every single time they wouldn’t succeed. The GOP’s constructing an extensive campaign in states controlled by GOP legislatures to block Democratic-leaning voters access to the ballot box. Its engineering the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United ruling that destroyed limits on contributions to political campaigns – to enable the wealthy to undermine the one-person-one-vote foundation of American democracy. One could go on down a long list of policy issues, including gay rights, climate change, the crisis of undocumented immigration, re-establishing relations with Cuba, and fighting the global terror war. In each instance, one finds the reflexive, no-compromise opposition of the Republicans. Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-wining economist and New York Times columnist, among others, several years ago attributed that stance to a “widening wonk gap – the G.O.P.’s near-complete lack of expertise on anything substantive,” as well as its growing electoral dependence on white fundamentalist evangelical Protestants. Now, the success of Trump’s style of bluster and verbal crudeness among the GOP base goes beyond the wonk gap. He’s turned a segment of the GOP base into a mob. That achievement has stood out in sharp relief since the GOP debate of August 7 when Fox News’ host Megyn Kelly’s questioning of Trump’s past misogynistic comments provoked his now infamous “blood” remarks against her. That violence of language — which bespeaks a profound, uncontrollable irrationality — is the behavior of a mob.
Julian Bond: A dedicated life of service By George E. Curry Horace Julian Bond was born Jan. 14, 1940 in Nashville, Tenn. into a family of privilege. His father, Horace Mann Bond, was a noted educator who served as president of Fort Valley State University in Georgia, where such notables as W.E.B. DuBois and Paul Robeson were frequent guests. During their formative years, most Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), estab- George E. Curry lished during the Reconstruction Era to provide higher education for formerly enslaved African Americans, were headed by Whites. Bond’s father was the first Black president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, his alma mater. His mother, Julia, was a librarian. Young Julian was sent off to George School, a private Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia, and later enrolled in Morehouse College. At Morehouse, Bond chose a life of activism that would become the hallmark of his life. This is significant because many Blacks born into a life of privilege distanced themselves from the nascent Civil Rights Movement. I remember how incensed I became when Condoleezza Rice boasted in a Washington Post interview that “My parents were very strategic. I was going to be so well prepared, and I was going to do all of these things that were revered in white society so well, that I would be armored somehow from racism…” Referring to Rev. John W. Rice, Jr., she said, “My father was not a march-inthe-street preacher. He saw no reason to put children at risk. He would never put his own child at risk.” Julian Bond’s father, who had more blue blood credentials than Rev. Rice, obviously instilled a different set of values in him. Bond dropped out of Morehouse College to join the Civil Rights Movement, first as co-founder of the Atlanta Student
Movement that organized local sit-ins on the heels of the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, N.C. He was also a co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). It was in his capacity as communications director of SNCC that I first met Julian Bond during the summer of 1966, after I had completed my freshman year of college. I spent that summer as a volunteer in the Atlanta headquarters, watching him interact with the media and carefully polishing SNCC’s national image. In SNCC, Julian was not a key organizer, as some stories have suggested. The organization had legions of field organizers who became legends in the movement, including Bob Moses, Cleveland Sellers and Courtland Cox. Julian’s role was to communicate SNCC’s message to the media – and he did that well. The incident that catapulted Bond to international fame was his opposition to the Vietnam War. Dr. King did not publicly turn against the Vietnam War until his speech at Riverside Church in New York on April 4, 1967, exactly a year before his assassination. In 1965, Julian was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Shortly before he was scheduled to take office, he endorsed a statement by SNCC opposing the Vietnam War. The Georgia House accused Bond of treason and refused to seat him. A federal appeals court upheld the decision. But on Dec. 5, 1966, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld his right to free speech or ordered Georgia to seat him. Bond spent two decades in the state House and Senate. In one of at least four tweets Lewis sent after Bond’s death, he said, “We went through a difficult period during our campaign for Congress in 1986, but many years ago we emerged even closer.” Though he never ran for public office again, Julian Bond found other paths to public service, serving as board chairman of the NAACP for 11 years, being co-founder and a trustee of the Southern Poverty Law Center, hosting “America’s Black Forum” television program, teaching, and in demand on the lecture circuit.
community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
August 26-Sept. 1, 2015 Page B-5
Daughter of Gordy, Ross speaks to metro Detroit youth By Donald James
when you truly know who you are you can walk the necessary road to help get you back on track,” she said. “But you have to know who you really are as a person before you can really know who you are as an artist because true art comes from within.”
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Singer and actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick was in Detroit recently to address approximately 30 teens (14 to 18 years of age), who were participants in the second annual Motown EDU Summer Camp, held at Don Bosco Hall Youthville in Detroit. The Motown Museum and General Motors partnered to present the camp. Kendrick’s parents are Berry Gordy, Jr., Motown Records founder and former president, and legendary singer and actress Diana Ross, iconic pop/ R&B singer and actress. Kendrick talked to the youth about developing and sharpening interpersonal skills, including decision-making, problem solving, setting and reaching goals, dealing with peer pressure, and more. The students are all interested in pursuing careers in instrumental music, singing, songwriting and related areas. “Art is bigger and more important than brand,” Kendrick told the young people. “There’s a lot of talent in the world, lots
Rhonda Ross Kendrick lives in New York with her husband, Rodney Kendrick, a jazz composer and pianist. They have two children. She considers herself a musical storyteller, influenced by Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Shirley Horn and Billie Holiday.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick of people can sing, but when you connect with what you want to say as an artist, it will fill you heart with joy and purpose and will give you the motivation to get better every day.” Kendrick, who specializes in jazz vocalizing, also talked about life in general. “Life has ups and downs but
“I love all of these women,” said Kendrick. “However, I’m doing me right now. My husband convinced me that I don’t have to be a carbon copy of anyone, just be who I am.” While Kendrick could rely on her famous parents for valuable industry connections, she refuses to ask. “I guard my individuality and self-fullment as an artist,” she said. “If I were to make that call to my parents to help me with connections, people would
come to me with their ideas about how Berry Gordy and Diana Ross’ daughter should be singing and should be sounding and what I should look like. I don’t want that to happen because it would stop my fulfilment as an artist.
livered one day after Motown artist KEM gave a similar talk. He spoke to the campers about how to succeed in the entertainment industry, but stressed the importance of making good personal decisions along the way.
“I’m not willing to live like that. I’m going to wake up every day and not just build my career, but explore and find myself, just like any other artist.”
Created and operated by the Motown Museum, Motown EDU Summer Camp was opened to a limited number of Detroit area high school students, all aspiring to become artists in the music industry.
Additionally to her singing career, Ross has had acting roles on the NBC soap opera “Another World,” “Dream to Fly” on Showtime, and the miniseries “The Temptations.” She has also directed two stage productions, Adrienne Kennedy’s “The Owl Answers” and August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson.” “I like what Rhonda Ross (Kendrick) is doing and what she said about making it on her own,” said camper Gregory Cook, Jr., 15, a junior at University of Detroit Jesuit. “I like that she is being true to herself, her art, and not asking for favors.” Kendrick’s message was de-
“This camp offers encouragement and inspiration for kids to pursue entrepreneurship — which was a critical aspect of the Motown story — as a viable path for their futures,” said Robin Terry, Motown Museum CEO. “It allows us to reinforce our mission to protect and preserve the Motown legacy, while providing an educational platform to emerging talent in our community. Our goal is to spark the creative spirit that was the cornerstone of Motown while developing an understanding of the skills required to own and run a successful business.”
Cornerstone Leadership & Business High School continues CEO Speakers’ Program By Donald James
phen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, among others.
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
While the sessions have been helpful for the students, Kidder would like to see more diversity in the program’s pool of participants.
With the goal of providing students with a greater insight and understanding of the world of business and smart career choices, Cornerstone Leadership & Business High School will continue its CEO Speakers’ Program for the upcoming school year.
“We are looking for people that have stories of success that are inspiring,” said Kidder. “We would love to have more women speakers, and since our student base is primarily African American, we would love to have more African Americans executives take part. Actually, we just want a good mix of people that have interesting and good cultural backgrounds.”
According to Mona Kidder, Cornerstone Leadership & Business High School’s internship coordinator, the school’s speakers’ program help students to learn the fundamentals of business, viable career pathways and various roles of great leadership from some of the region’s top professionals. “Students discover and learn about each executive’s journey to success through personal stories and wisdom shared,” Kidder said. “Each session this year will feature one guest speaker with an allotted time of one hour. There is a short time reserved for questions from students and for students to interact with the speaker at the end of each session.” The monthly CEO Speakers’ Program sessions take place each Thursday evening from 5 to 6 p.m. at Cornerstone’s
Nevada Campus, located at 6861 E. Nevada on the city’s east side. The sessions for the 2015-16 school year will be October 15, November 12, January 14, February 18 and April 14. Since the inception of the program, the speakers have included William Cesarek, CFO, The Magni Group; Dr. Antoine Garibaldi, CEO, University of Detroit Mercy; Mark Murray, president, Meijer, Inc.; and D. Scott DeRue, associate dean of Executive Education, Ste-
Live on through your life story By Paul Bridgewater Writing your own obituary is a popular exercise in many journalism and English classes. Professors often believe it’s a way to get students to focus on future goals and envision what their lives will become.
So why not write your own obituary while you’re still among the living? One thing’s for sure, we all are going to die. Writing your own obituary is a national trend, and Legacy.com publishes hundreds of “selfie obits” in newspapers across the country each day. Maybe you’re a funny person and want to reflect that. Ken Akers wrote this for the Charlotte Observer: “Ken Akers kicked the bucket on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at his home in Charlotte, N.C. He was old. So old he remembered black and white television, gas for 10 cents a gallon and Mickey Mantle’s rookie season…Akers was a hopeless romantic and a hapless husband. He was married twice. Neither marriage produced any children or any particularly fond memories.” Maybe you would rather be inspirational. The late Martha Jimmar Christmas, who recruited more than 3,000 students from St. Louis to attend Alabama A & M University, wrote a beautiful obituary that ran in the Florence Times Daily: “At the age of 12, I was baptized in the southern African-American tradition. In a creek with clear water running over rocks, birds singing flying overhead and beautiful shade trees as saints stood on the bank praising God.” If you decide to write your own obituary, here’s how to get started: • Read obituaries. Newspapers or obit websites are great places to get an idea how you want yours to flow. Visit a funeral home and ask for a
In August 2011, Cornerstone Leadership & Business High School celebrated its grand opening. Students can take advantage of a dual degree program with
Cornerstone graduated its first class of seniors in June 2015. Collectively, the graduating class accumulated more than $2.1 million in college scholarships. Kidder summed up the CEO Speakers’ Program as being one more outstanding element of Cornerstone’s curriculum. “It’s a great program and an enhancement to our high school,” she said. “The program helps to keep students grounded and on the right track to career goals. In addition to the students learning about the journey of success in the business and professional world, they also learn about the importance of developing skills in their personal lives.” For more information about Cornerstone Leadership & Business High School’s CEO Speakers’ Program, volunteering as a speaker or enrollment at the high school, which begins Monday, August 31, log on to www.cornerstoneschools.org or call 313.892.1860.
‘Good soil’: The overlooked aspect of school reform By Rod Paige
What will people say about you when you make your transition to the afterlife? You may want to be remembered for making the best peach cobbler and beating almost anyone at chess. You would hate if someone wrote, as we too often see, that you accepted Christ at an early age. You may want people to know you actually were 10 and your mother pressured you to do it, but they may too engulfed by grief to recall.
Under the auspices of Cornerstone Schools Association, Cornerstone represents a group of privately funded schools that offers a progressive education to students (Pre K-12) in an urban setting, based on a Data Driven Decision Model. At the core of this model, measurable progress determines the effectiveness of student achievement and teacher performance in the grand scheme of education.
Northwood University by taking such classes as micro and macroeconomics. Additionally, they can take classes for college credit at University of Detroit Mercy.
Paul Bridgewater template they often give families to help them write obituaries. • Tell people about yourself. Think of this as a short autobiography that will share your full name, maiden name, nickname or what people called you. Share where and when you were born, when you were married and your spouse’s name. Tell who died before you, schools you attended, military service, where you worked and positions held and organizations to which you belonged. Remember your accomplishments and how you enjoyed spending your time. • Where would you like to be remembered? Writing your own obit is a good exercise for your end-of-life planning. Do for yourself instead of leaving it to others, and it’s comforting to know it will be done your way. If your arrangements already are made, you can fill in what you already know such as details about your service, burial or cremation. Do you want flowers? If you would rather have monetary donations than flowers, say that. Mention if you want them to go to family or to a charity. Don’t forget to share. Give copies to friends and family members to include in the memory book, and send to newspapers and websites. Paul Bridgewater is president and CEO of Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) and hosts “The Senior Solution” on WCHB Newstalk 1200AM, Saturdays at 10 a.m. DAAA is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207. The phone number is (313) 446.4444. The website is www. detroitseniorsolution.com.
The importance of the home and community role in student learning has for years been shouted by a small but unwavering group of researchers and reform advocates. But even so, the home and community role in student learning is still largely viewed as a marginal appendage to school-based education reform efforts, rather than a significant aspect of overall student learning. In an email to Jim Windham, president of the Texas Institute for Education Reform, surgeon Dr. Eric Chang-Tung expressed a view of the significance of home and community’s role in student learning which may offer a new way of viewing its significance. He wrote, “While successful education delivery is the goal, I personally believe that the substrate (individual student) is more of a problem than the delivery platform (teacher). I believe that a successful education requires both controlling the teaching platform but also addressing the substrate. There needs to be as much effort spent on the student substrate and environment as the teaching platform. This is missing from the current equation.” While the term “substrate” is seldom found in education jargon, it is a fixture in the lexis of biochemistry, materials science and engineering, biology, chemistry, geology and other scientific fields. A search for definitions produces phrases such as “the surface or mate-
Rod Paige rial on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment,” or “the earthly material in which an organism lives, or the surface or medium on which an organism grows or is attached.” From a biological point of view, we can easily see the relevance of the term. For instance, it is widely understood that the quality of plants grown in one’s garden is significantly affected by the quality of the garden’s soil — the plant’s substrate. A gardener knows well that plants grown in a poor environment with inadequate moisture, a deficiency of proper nutrients, and poorly cultivated soil, will not achieve the quality of production desired, no matter how carefully the gardener tends to the plants themselves. For this reason, the gardener not only nurtures the plants by providing proper pruning, appropriate spacing, removal of weeds, and protection from pests, but also goes to great lengths to improve the soil in which the plants live, grow or obtain their nourishment. In other words, the gardener cares both for the plants and their substrate.
Similarly, providing a high quality education for students requires not only effective schools, great teaching and parental choice, but also attention to the substrate in which students live and grow and from which they obtain their nourishment. Achieving this nation’s public school education goals will require attention to students’ school environment, but to their home and community environments as well. The education literature is brimming with research and expert opinions supporting the concept that students’ home and community play a major role in their academic learning. Research confirms that students are far more likely to be successful in school when their parents constantly express and exhibit the importance of education; check homework; have regular contact with teachers and school administration; attend school events; and have regular discussions with their children about school programs, activities and classes. Students who are fortunate enough to live in a home and community environment that consistently supports their educational learning have a heightened potential for academic success because they are rooted in good soil. It is time to make a much more concerted effort to ensure that all children have the high-quality substrate they need to be successful. Rod Paige served as U.S. secretary of education from 2001 through 2005.
Page B-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
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Are small black businesses too black for the ‘new’
Detroit? One business owner speaks out
By Keith A. Owens SENIOR EDITOR
Darnell Small was never late on his rent. He never caused any sort of disturbance, nor is there any record of any sort of major disturbance ever having taken place in or near his establishment. The only alterations Small ever made to the Tangerine, the name of his former business that was located in Rivertown next to Atwater Brewery, were the permissible sort where he made noticeable improvements to a property that was in pretty bad shape when he first signed the lease in 2010. Small had a respectable older adult-aged clientele that reportedly didn’t cause any problems for the residents or nearby businesses.
“I’m just a regular businessman who’s been gentrified out and been displaced.”
Before things started to go haywire, Tangerine was a seemingly nice club in a nice part of town where nice people often went to relax and have a good time. The club was often packed, the parking lot was full and bookings were plentiful. Business was good, and Darnell Small had no reason to think that wouldn’t continue. He figured if you take care of your business, do the right things, then there was no reason for worry. He knew about fellow business owners who let themselves get behind, or who weren’t paying attention to the bottom line, and then got caught. It was a shame, but they couldn’t really complain too loudly when they left the door open on themselves.
— Darnell Small
Today, Darnell Small is unemployed. Right now he is sitting on a sofa in a modest apartment in Beverly Hills calmly recounting the details of how things came to be this way. His business is gone, and Small is trying to figure out what comes next as he comes to terms with what he believes was an intentional and focused effort to shove him out of his property to make room for a neighboring business that he notes doesn’t exactly cater to the same clientele as Tangerine once did. “I’m just a regular businessman who’s been gentrified out and been displaced,” said Small. The question some black Detroit business owners are beginning to ask themselves is whether or not their interests are being considered at all as this “new” Detroit begins to grow and evolve. Are they even a part of the plan? Some point to areas such as Harmonie Park/Paradise Valley, where the Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media will soon be calling home, as evidence of a focused effort to provide opportunities for black business growth. Others, such as newly-hired Planning and Development Director Maurice Cox, emphasize the importance of encouraging the development of black neighborhood businesses as an integral part of neighborhood revitalization throughout the rest of Detroit that isn’t the center of gravity that has become Midtown or downtown.
“According to a 2002 report entitled ‘African American Downtown Detroit Building Owners Survey,’ released in January of that year by the Investment Task Group of Robert C. Polk & Raymond F. Parker, survey report consultants, there were 16 black-owned buildings in downtown Detroit at that time.” However, “today, in 2015, that number has dropped by more than 75 percent.” The sheer percentage drop in black-owned buildings downtown isn’t necessarily proof of discriminatory intent, but it can’t help but raise the question. City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield has
taken on the issue of protecting minority businesses in Detroit who she believes are the collateral victims of discrimination and gentrification by issuing a council resolution encouraging policies that promote the inclusion of small minority businesses in Detroit’s revitalization. On August 2, Sheffield was featured on an “American Black Journal” panel discussing the issue of how small black businesses are being discriminated against, hosted by Stephen Henderson, that also included Eric Williams of the Wayne State Law Center and Darnell Small.
But to Darnell Small, and other business owners like him, these good intentions and plans don’t help their particular circumstances much. The question is whether Small’s story is an anomaly or part of a much more widespread and disturbing pattern. In the July 15, 2015 edition of this newspaper, it was reported that:
And early in July, Bert’s Marketplace, one of Detroit’s most long-standing jazz clubs and a cherished cultural institution, held a large fundraiser as one part of a strategy to keep Bert’s from being auctioned off, but in the end Bert Dearing’s highly publicized battle did not wind up in his favor and he did indeed lose the property to auction in late July, although it will be more than a year before he actually must vacate the premises. Unlike Small, Dearing did fall behind in his rental payments for a period due to health issues, which some say made his protests invalid. But the loss of such an important part of the city’s cultural history is a painfully high cost to pay for a brief delinquency,
See TOO
BLACK page A-4
‘Shut out the noise when managing your wealth’ By Dennis A. Johnson, CFA Investors have recently heard countless hours of media programming and Wall Street investment reports discussing the implications of the decision by the People’s Bank of China to let the value of the country’s currency be determined more by market forces. Generally speaking all of the commentary was negative. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 212 points on the day this policy decision was announced and the yield on the 10-year Treasury Note declined to approximately 2.10%; maybe even slightly lower. The thinking was that China’s economy is in severe trouble, China’s government is exporting deflation and all of this information puts the decision by the Fed to raise shortterm interest rates on hold. When the financial markets closed on Friday, August 14, 2015, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.6% higher than
the closing level the previous week. Interest rates closed higher than the previous week’s close with the 10-year Treasury yielding 2.196% versus 2.173% on August 7.
interesting and relevant conversation concerns the pros and cons of investing in oil and energy stocks as a means of long-term risk management through portfolio diversification. That’s either a strategic or tacIt’s also worth noting that tical investment decision there was a lot of “noise” that should take into conrecently concerning energy sideration the long-term prices fluctuating up and wealth management goals down. The Energy sector and objectives for each was the best performing client. Whether the price of sector in the S&P 500 the oil is $41 or $43 per barrel week of Aug. 10, posting a Dennis A. Johnson during a one week period return of 3.1% versus 0.6% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average of time does not strike me as being an and 0.7% for the S&P 500. The price of oil important consideration when making is down 55% during the last 12 months these types of investment decisions. and Energy stocks have declined 27% and underperformed the S&P 500 by 35%3 during the same period. I think the word is out on oil and many investors have already gotten out of the commodity and energy stocks. Maybe the more
The moral of this story is that investors should take risk into consideration, but the key is to differentiate between risk and noise. Both come with the investment decision making process, but knowing which one to pay attention to
and which one to ignore -- “noise” -- is critical. Shut out the noise. Dennis A. Johnson, CFA is chief investment officer for Comerica Asset Management Group Comerica’s Wealth Management team consists of various divisions of Comerica Bank, Comerica Bank and Trust, National Association, and also subsidiaries of Comerica Bank. The views expressed are those of the author at the time of writing and are subject to change without notice. We do not assume any liability for losses that may result from the reliance by any person upon any such information or opinions. This material has been distributed for general educational/informational purposes only, and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation for any particular security, strategy or investment product, or as personalized investment advice.
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Too Black The Tangerine Lounge, first opened in 2010 at 237 Joseph Campau in Detroit’s Rivertown neighborhood, was not the same sort of cultural institution as Bert’s, but it was nevertheless a very popular spot that was frequently packed. According to the terms of his initial fiveyear lease, which expired on June 30 of this year, Small had the option of renewing his lease for another five years until 2020 provided that he did not violate the terms of the initial agreement. And that may well have happened if not for the new landlord — a landlord whom Small says wanted Tangerine’s location for his own business next door. When Small declined the first rather embarrassing offer of $5,000 to purchase the property, and all subsequent offers up to $20,000 — which he still considered an insult — that’s when the war began. Court records show that Small was ordered to be evicted from his property in September 2014, and that his appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction on March 31, 2015. Small said he had been charged with destruction of property and non-payment of rent, neither of which was true. He had never been late on his rent, and the only changes he
made to his property were cosmetic improvements to make it more appealing, something for which he had received approval from the previous landlord. So Small hired another lawyer, and this time a judge agreed with Small that he had been illegally evicted and on May 20, Small was awarded back his property by Judge Brian Sullivan. But even after the favorable ruling he had trouble getting his keys returned to him so that he could operate his business. Throughout the entire struggle, Small said the lights were removed from in front of his property, making it pitch black at night, and “No Parking” signs suddenly appeared in front of the Tangerine as well. He was told he could no longer have live music nor could patrons be allowed to dance. The lengthy periods of time when he was forced to close proved extremely costly, he believes purposely so, because “they were trying to tie it up. They needed me to default on my rent.”
Professional Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Omosalewa Itauma, M.D., M.P.H will join the medical team as the new doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We are extremely pleased that Dr. Itauma is joining our medical staff. She is an excellent obstetrician who will capture the heart of our community. Her experience and skills are a strong addition to our talented team of worldclass physicians,” said Robin M. Cole, president and chief executive officer. Bringing extensive experience to her new position, Dr. Itauma offers services for routine obstetrics, family planning, annual gynecologic exams, contraception and women’s health. “My devotion to my patients has only enhanced my life thus far, and I expect that incredible feeling to continue with Professional Medical Center,” said Dr. Itauma.
Small finally relinquished the property at the end of May. What comes next is something he has not yet figured out. Court appointed receiver Thomas Ryan, whom Small says was responsible for much of the harassment he experienced, did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
Dr. Itauma completed her residency at the Detroit Medical Center and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She is a licensed physician in the state of Michigan in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She attended Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria.
Jimmie Paul’s Hands on Boxing Gym
Dr. Itauma is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Harper University Hospital/Hutzel Women’s Hospital and Sinai-Grace Hospital. She
By Princess Hayes
is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society of Breast Disease. Professional Medical Center offers five multi-specialty medical practices to patients in their surrounding communities. PMC’s board-certified doctors provide medical care to all members of the family including seniors in areas of primary care, pediatrics, internal medicine and family practice. Professional Medical Center is a healthcare advocates for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, childhood obesity and diabetes. For more information, please visit www.professionalmedicalcenter.org.
For more information, call 313.598.4619 or email teamhandson@ gmail.com.
At the early age of 13, Paul discovered his passion for boxing. He began training with Jack Farmer at Lasky Recreation Center two years later. Two weeks into training, he won a Junior Olympic Tournament. A year later he began working with the famous trainer, Emanuel Steward from Kronk’s Gym.
But Paul went on to win an International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) world lightweight title in 1985. He finished
Dr. Omosalewa Itauma
where anyone can come and watch the boxers work out. Boys and girls ages 9 and up can join Jimmie Paul’s Hands on Boxing Gym for $25 a month.
For those who are not familiar with Detroit’s famed boxer Jimmie Paul, let me take a moment to introduce him to you. He is one of the great lightweight world champions who hails from Detroit.
After graduating from Pershing High School, Paul began what would become a successful amateur boxing career. Known as “The Ringmaster” he was the No. 1 boxer in his division on the 1980 Olympic team. However, he and his team never competed due to the United States boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
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New OB/GYN physician joins Professional Medical Center
From page C-1
even if technically correct on the merits.
Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2015
Jimmie Paul with a professional record of 33-6 with 24 KOs. The former IBF champion was at one point the No. 4 best fighter pound for pound in all weight classes. Paul retired in 1999 and ventured into real estate. In 2014, he opened the Jimmie Paul’s Hands on Boxing Gym located on E. Seven Mile Road. He wanted to give back to his city as well as the
boxing game. He also wanted to help inner city children who share the same dream as he did as a young teen. He currently has 32 amateurs and 12 professional boxers who compete around the world. He is also training one of Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns’ sons, Ronald Hearns. There is free open gym on Tuesdays
Jimmie Paul’s Hand On Gym will be showcasing his fighters at the MotorCity Boxing Fight Night. The event takes place this Friday, August 28, at Decarlo’s Banquet and Convention Center located on E. Ten Mile Rd. There will be five amateurs and five professional boxers competing, all from Jimmie Paul’s Hand’s On Boxing Gym. Doors open at 7 pm and fights start at 8 pm. General admission tickets are $45, VIP tickets are $75 and executive tickets are $100. Text 21777 and type the word FIGHT to purchase tickets or pick them up at Jimmie Paul’s Hands On Boxing Gym located at 5620 E. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit. You can follow Jimmie Paul’s Hands on Boxing Gym on Facebook at Jimmie Paul’s Hands On Boxing Gym and on Instagram at teamhandson.
SOMETIMES, OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS.
OTHER TIMES, IT ROLLS. We were curious, why do people always have to “go” to the bank? Why can’t the bank come to them? That’s why, since 2004, the Fifth Third eBus has visited neighborhoods in a dozen states. It’s where you can get answers about mortgages, credit reports, and smart money management. After all, if a bank just sits there, where is it taking you? If you’ve got questions, or even want to apply for a job with us, we’re rolling your way.
Aug. 27, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Carstens Academy of Aquatic Science, Detroit Aug. 29, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Mason Academy, Detroit
Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC.
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Prudential Financial and Who’s Who Publishing partner to launch Wealth and Wisdom Speakers Series Real Times Media subsidiary, Who’s Who Publishing Company, the premier platform for celebrating African American achievement, announces that it has partnered with Prudential Financial, Inc. to launch Titans of Industry: A Wealth and Wisdom Speakers Series. Geared towards the growing affluent African American professional market, the moderated panel discussions will be comprised of some of the country’s top African American leaders from a variety of industries and will focus on pathways to professional success, attaining and maintaining financial security, and creating sustainable generational wealth. “With a proven commitment to financial education initiatives within the African American community and their signature series research on multicultural markets, Prudential makes the perfect partner for the Titans of Industry Wealth and Wisdom Series,” said Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media. “The learnings Prudential brings to the table will have an immeasurable impact on the quality of content we’ll deliver through these powerful panels.” The tour kicks off in Detroit in September and will includes stops in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston and Washington, D.C. through 2016. “Prudential is always seeking to deepen our relationships in the communities we serve. We believe one of the most important first steps is to start the conversation,” said Mammen Verghis, vice president, multicultural marketing,
PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2015, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management.
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Wealth and Wisdom Series is an important forum to share information
In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century.
that helps power the ambitions of people who are looking to
For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
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”
themselves and their loved ones. for Prudential. “The Titans of Industry Wealth and Wisdom Series is an important forum to share information that helps power the ambitions of people who are looking to create a healthy financial future for themselves and their loved ones.” In addition to the live tour stops, a Titans of Industry Web series will be online at www.thetitansexperience.com. And in addition to content from the panel discussions, the online destination will highlight a variety of financial education tools and research as well as other lifestyle information focused on
travel, technology and family for affluent professionals. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:
Founded in 1989, Who’s Who Publishing Company is the premier platform for celebrating African American achievement. Who’s Who is a part of the Real Times Media family of companies which also includes the nation’s largest African American owned and operated news organization and RTM Digital Studios, an archival image licensing arm which is home to historical photos, articles and other artifacts from the past 100 years of African American history.
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Bipartisan criminal justice reform advances in America By Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Whenever I have an opportunity to rejoin the transformational activities of the civil rights organization that was founded and led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am always eager to participate. Such was the case recently in Baton Rouge, La., on July 23, 2015. The occasion was the 57th National Convention of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during a panel on criminal justice reform. In my younger days, I was the statewide youth coordinator for Dr. King and SCLC in my home state of North Carolina. I learned firsthand how to organize and mobilize effectively following the living example of Dr. King. I only mention this because one of my enduring memories about Martin Luther King Jr. was his ability to see the social change benefits of encouraging coalition-building across partisan political and racial lines. Principles of multiracial and bipartisan coalition-building are important to any movement that seeks to reform or change the status quo. I had no reluctance, therefore, to join a panel discussion during the SCLC convention on a topic that is dear to my heart, soul and spirit – “Uniting for Progress and Opportunity: Bipartisan Efforts to Reform the Criminal Justice System.” I was pleased to join my fellow panelists: attorney Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice president of Koch Industries; attorney Norman Reimer, executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL); and noted Capitol Hill journalist Lauren Victoria Burke. The panel was moderated by Curley M. Dossman Jr., president of Georgia-Pacific Foundation. According to Mark Holden, “The criminal justice system as it is set up today is a major impediment to opportunity for disadvantaged and poor people. There is a two-tiered system where if you’re rich and guilty you get a better deal than if you’re poor and innocent.” Holden is accurate, and I agree with his principled position. Holden is a Libertarian and I am a Democrat, but we are now working together to build an effective, bipartisan national criminal justice reform movement across America. If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would be at the forefront of this movement. The “land of the free” has now become “the land of the imprisoned.” Today, there are simply too many people in prison in the United States. Although we are only 5 percent of the world’s population, our nation holds 25 percent of the world’s prisoners, who are disproportionately people of color and people of poverty. There is, however, good news. A growing number of major companies and national organizations are now following the lead of Koch Industries and the Charles Koch Institute by bonding together on the issue of criminal justice reform, including Apple, Starbucks, Walmart, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NACDL, SCLC, NAACP, Coalition for Public Safety, and the Center for American Progress. In its report from the SCLC convention, Rolling Out magazine stated, “Along with Apple, the computer juggernaut, Koch Industries is a leader in removing prior convictions from stopping individuals from receiving a fair chance at employment. These two
Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. companies are at the front of a movement to “remove the box” (the “have you ever been convicted of a felony” box) on employment applications by implementing that change themselves.” Yet there is more good news. There is progress now in the U.S. Congress on this important issue. Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) have introduced the bipartisan SAFE Justice Act. The acronym SAFE stands for Safe, Accountable, Fair and Effective. According to Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, and Mark Holden in a timely article they co-authored for Politico, “. . . the legislation is an important step in addressing America’s ballooning, costly and ultimately unfair federal sentencing and corrections system, which needlessly throws away lives and decimates entire communities.” We support the SAFE Justice Act, and you should let your members of Congress know that this bipartisan bill should be enacted without delay. It is ironic, but a welcomed reality to see the advances that are currently being accomplished on the issue of criminal justice reform. We must be vigilant, principled and persistent in order to achieve the goal of effective reform. Recently, I visited the headquarters of the Charles Koch Institute (CKI) in Arlington, Va. When you are building a social, a political or an economic change movement, it is also important, from my perspective, to get to know something about the integrity and commitments of the people who you are working with to achieve the mutually desired change. I was impressed by the diligence of the diverse team of scholars and staff I met with at the institute. I took a selfie with Dr. Richard Fink, president of the Charles Koch Institute. I have that photograph posted in my office at the National Newspaper Publishers Association in Washington, D.C. Actually we took the photo together in front of large poster of another one my freedom movement heroes, Frederick Douglass, which is prominently displayed outside the entrance to Dr. Fink’s CKI office. There is a very relevant quote from Frederick Douglass that serves as the caption of the poster. It states, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.” Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).
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August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
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Celebrate Grandparents Day with AARP at Charles H. Wright Museum
By Lisa Whitmore Davis
Grandparents play such a rich and meaningful role in the lives of our families. They are mentors, caregivers and advisers. They share wisdom, love and experience. Many grandparents go a step further – they are raising their grandchildren. To celebrate this vital contribution to our social fabric, AARP Michigan and the Women’s Committee Auxiliary at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will team up to offer Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 13, the date of the national holiday. Grandparents Day is a unique opportunity to honor what grandparents mean to us, and for grandparents and parents to bring their children to a fulfilling event that allows them to learn and play together in a safe and fun environment. LaNesha DeBardelaben, Vice President of Assessment & Community Engagement at Wright Museum, says: “The Wright Museum is delighted to partner with AARP and our Women’s Committee Auxiliary to offer a daylong variety of enjoyable, family-based activities, celebrat-
ing the special roles that grandparents play in the lives of not only their kin, but in our communities as well. “Within the African American cultural tradition, grandparents have long symbolized the compassionate wisdom that inspires the young to live better lives. We are excited about this year’s Grandparents Day at the Wright Museum. The theme, ‘Grandparents are Golden’, nicely fits within the museum’s 50th anniversary yearlong celebration.” The free event runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Museum, located at 315 East Warren Ave., Detroit. Activities include free tours of the Museum, reading and story time with local authors, arts and crafts, dancing, face painting and old school games such as jacks, hopscotch and Double Dutch. The event also features the AARP Health and Wellness Zone, which includes health screenings and resources for all ages.
BE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR
Refreshments will be served and valet parking will be provided for $5.
HEALTH CARE
Register for the free event by calling 1-877-926-8300.
The McKinney Foundation promotes a culture of health and wellness during
Under a sun drenched sky, exhibitors, speakers and other health and wellness experts used interactive seminars, screenings and other educational tools to promote a culture of healthy living and wellness at the McKinney Foundation’s 6th annual “Celebrating a Healthier Detroit” Expo Wednesday (Aug. 5) at William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor in Detroit. More than 50 health and wellness experts emphasized prevention techniques for an array of diet and lifestyle conditions including: childhood obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma and depression. Despite making inroads on the problem of childhood obesity, Michigan ranked among the top 15 states in the nation for adult obesity according to a 2013 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report. With the gleaming De-
troit River serving as a backdrop, the day commenced with a Family Fun Run. Other activities included games for kids, aerobic exercise and healthy cooking demonstrations, health seminars from doctors with Henry Ford Health System and an inspiring message from Dr. Eddie M. Connor, Jr. on the importance of practicing emotional health. In addition, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, State Rep. LaTanya Garrett and Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland encouraged the crowd of more than 500 people to make health and wellness habits part of their daily lives.
“The problem of obesity in Michigan and nationally is particularly acute for communities of color,” said Tiah E. McKinney, Executive Director, McKinney Foundation. “We believe our 6th annual “Celebrating a Healthier Detroit” Expo continued
Choose the Medicare-Medicaid plan that cares for you.
to build on our mission of promoting health equity in metro Detroit,” she added. “We are already preparing for next year’s event, slated for August 10, 2016, at Milliken State Park,” McKinney concluded.
1-877-684-3271 (TTY 711)
The growing popularity and mission of The McKinney Foundation (TMF) has garnered the support of major corporations including The Detroit Pistons, The Detroit Red Wings, Coca Cola Company, Detroit Medical Center-Children’s Hospital (KIPP), Molina Healthcare, Blue Cross Complete, Henry Ford Health Systems, Wayne County Community College District, BUF of Michigan, AFPD, Walgreens, U.S. Ice Company, and many others.
7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
www.amerihealthcaritasvipcareplus.com To enroll in AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care Plus and other options for your health care, call Michigan ENROLLS at 1-800-975-7630 (TTY: 1-888-263-5897). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care Plus is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Michigan Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. We are in Macomb and Wayne counties.
More information on the history and mission of the McKinney Foundation can be found on the organization’s website, www. mckinneyfoundation.org.
All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
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WE’RE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST Each year, The Michigan Chronicle recognizes 40 professionals under 40 who are creating a movement within their professional field, personal lives, and community connections. Nominations will be taken until August 31, 2015. Candidates are considered from all professional and creative backgrounds. All chosen honorees will be notified and honored at our annual awards ceremony.
NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY! SUBMIT NOMINATION BY VISITING:
www.michronicleonline.com/2015/08/03/40-under-40-nomination/
ENTRY FORM Name of nominee: _____________________________________________ Address of Nominee: ____________________________________________ Email of Nominee: _______________________________________________ Phone Number of nominee: _______________________________________ Company of Nominee: ___________________________________________ Reason you feel this person deserves to be Michigan Chronicle’s 40 under 40: ______________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Name of Nominator: _____________________________________________ Phone number of Nominator: ______________________________________ Email of Nominator: _______________________________________________
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Reflections By Steve Holsey
Gratitude called for
In the summer of 1976, during the glory days of disco, the Bee Gees had anexciting, fast-paced, strongly black influenced hit, “You Should be Dancing.” It frequently crosses my mind how grateful white America should be for the presence of African Americans. Our contributions, though frequently uncredited, have been and continue to be monumental in almost every field — fashion, education, language, inventions, attitude and so many more. Nowhere is the black influence more evident than in music. Rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz, blues, hip-hop…it’s a long story. Without black people, the American musical landscape would be dry. Indeed, rock and roll simply would not exist were it not for the music made by African Americans.
Joe Clair and Debbie Lee.
Lori Kearse, Donnie Simpson and Montez Miller.
BET still going strong
…and the ‘family reunion’ was one to remember Michael Jackson
Justin Timberlake
Aretha Franklin
BET (Black Entertainment Television) has been around longer than most people realize. The cable/ satellite station’s roots go all the way back to early 1980 when Robert L. Johnson, of Freeport, Illinois, decided to transform a vision into reality by launching a television network.
Charlie Neal, former Detroit sportscaster, and Erica Finnel Banks. — Montez Miller photos
Detroit stars in a DC sky By Kevin E. Taylor The star-filled, clear, cool air of Washington, D.C. on a Friday night is a perfect time for celebrations. This night the air was thick with anticipation as former employees of BET’s national headquarters gathered to reconnect for a reunion.
Adele
It’s a “black thing,” but now, more than ever, in one sense it is “everybody’s thing.” There are plenty of very good white “soul” singers out there — Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Robin Thicke, Joss Stone and Adele, to name a few — whose burgeoning careers are built on a black foundation. Without Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and hundreds of others, they would not be doing what they do, and would certainly not be in such lofty positions.
At that time it was only on the air two hours a week, but in 1983 it became a full channel. Initially the programming consisted of mu- Robert L. Johnson sic videos and reruns of popular sitcoms. In 1988, BET stepped up its game with the introduction of “BET News,” anchored by
See BET Page D-2
Curtis Symonds, one of the network’s senior executives through the 1990s, couldn’t have expected what was to come as the streets filled up with well-dressed men and women who had made their way to D.C. to get “Back Together Again.” Among those former staffers who helped build, shape and define some of the greatest eras and best programs to grace the airwaves of Black Entertainment Television are a son and daughter of Detroit. Donnie Simpson got his start in Detroit, where he was born. He moved to D.C. in the late ’70s and made a national name for himself. The young deejay had already gained a large audience as a phenom who commanded the Detroit airwaves from the age of 15. Simpson became so popular in the D.C. market that television wanted him too. For 15 years he hosted one of BET’s most popular music programs, “Video Soul.”
The cultural sharing or adopting is only a problem when the white artists get more “play” and “props” than the African Americans who influenced them.
Montez Miller, the videographer who created the “Back Together Again” theme, worked on “Video Soul” as producer and also worked on “Video LP” and the network’s Walk of Fame specials.
If every white person made a list of “blessings,” somewhere on the list — in the upper region —should be the fact that “we” are here.
Miller was working in the Detroit market, producing television commercials, serving as dance coordinator for “The Scene,” working with the Electrifying Mojo, and producing the video show “The Club” for Barden Cablevision when BET called.
Derrick Rutledge and Donnie Simpson.
Miller left BET in 1995 to do even greater things. She knew by instinct to bring her camera to the BET event. Simpson, who had retired five years ago, announced his return to radio and television, much to the surprise and delight of everyone present. When the two Detroiters saw each other, the magic of the night could be seen in their smiles, hugs and all of the unspoken Detroit pride.
“Empire” EVERYONE, it seems, wants to get in on a good thing, have at least a connection to what’s “hot,” especially if there is money to be made. The Fox Broadcasting Company and Saks Fifth Avenue have entered into a business relationship to introduce a line of clothing based on one of the hottest shows on TV. The “Empire” Collection will be introduced to the public very soon, enabling fans to dress like the complex Lyon family — Lucious, Cookie, Jamal, Hakeem and Andre. While a TV show with a clothing line is a rarity, many television shows have influenced fashion. That would include “Dynasty,” “Miami Vice,” “Sex and the City” and, of course, “Soul Train.” Speaking of “Empire,” there are conflicting stories as to why Wesley Snipes, the original choice to play Lucious Lyon, is not on the show. He says it is due to “a combination of things and the time demands.” But co-creator Lee Daniels said a new casting decision was made because of the strong urging of Taraji P. Henson, who portrays Cookie. CIARA (full name: Ciara Princess Harris) wishes people would mind their own business. There is all kinds of talk about the singer with regard to her former boyfriend, rapper Future (real name: Nayvadius Wilburn), their Ciara son, Future Zahir Wilburn, and current boyfriend, NFL player Russell Wilson. Among other things, some people be-
See Reflections Page D-2
“Back Together Again” was a very special two nights to remember.
Curtis Symonds and Jeffrey Lee.
Thornetta Davis:
Detroit’s new Queen of the Blues By Keith A. Owens Because, when you think about it, seriously, who else could it be? Of course it’s her. That wasn’t even hard. The fact that Thornetta Davis was crowned by the Detroit Blues Society as Detroit’s new Queen of the Blues on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Hastings Street Ballroom isn’t really the story here. Not to anyone who has ever heard this woman sing, or is familiar with her accomplishments. The story is how she got here. That, and her relationship with the late Alberta Adams, who held the undisputed title for years before her death on Christmas Day, 2014. “I called her Momma,” said Davis. “From the first
See Thornetta Davis Page D-2
Thornetta Davis
entertainment
5.0 in.
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Thornetta Davis time I saw her, in the late ’90s, I went to see her and she was at a bar on Gratiot. And it was late night, after three o’clock in the morning. What was his name… Lenny. Remember Lenny? “He was like this white motorcycle dude and he owned this after-hours restaurant where he could pass you a little alcohol in a coffee cup and she was the entertainment. And the first time I saw her, I was like, ‘Look at her go!’ because she went all the way down to the floor, then came back up. “I mean she had to be at least in her late seventies then. So yeah, I’ve loved her ever since. That was the first time I had heard of her, and she was the entertainment, and she was there every weekend. “Eventually we ended up talking somehow, and we ended up doing shows together. RJ was managing her at the time. I learned longevity in the blues, and I learned I can sing this music until I drop. There’s no age limit on it as far as the music industry goes.”
Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2015 Page D-2
From page D-1
became the Chisel Brothers. They just called me up on stage one time, and I knew one blues song, that was in ’87, and it was “Stormy Monday.” She continued, “At the time they were calling me up I was just singing background, and the audience kept yelling up, “Let the girl sing!” and they looked at me like, You know any blues? And I was like ‘Stormy Monday’? And so that’s how I became a blues singer. This was at the Red Carpet on the east side. “And then I just keep going, and one night Roscoe said, ‘You want a gig at Alvin’s? I was like ‘yeah!’ And he offered me, that night, I think it was $50. To me that was so much money. That was a whole lotta money to me. I was like yeah I’ll do it! “And when we got there that night, it was barely anybody there and he (Roscoe) looked at me as he was just getting ready to pay me, and he says to me, ‘OK, if you want your $50 then you can just be a guest person for tonight. But if you wanna join the band, then you have to take $20. And all of the sudden my life flashed before my eyes, non-gigs, my baby, and I’m on welfare, and I was like ‘OK. I’m a member.’”
RICKEY SMILEY SEPTEMBER 10
She can laugh about it now. But back then.? 21.0 in.
So when someone tells their own story this well, the best thing is to just get out of the way. But from there Thornetta began getting so many gigs that she had to let the welfare office know that she didn’t need them anymore, then moved on to Sub Pop records, which led to her next step to Big Chief, which led to her recording “Sunday Morning Music” where she was gently “advised” that she’d better start writing some songs of her own.
But long before her fated meeting with Alberta, there was Thornetta as a young child, singing herself to sleep to her favorite Michael Jackson song, “I’ll Be There.” Then singing again once she woke up. Singing herself through the day. Child was always singing, to the point where her sister encouraged her — practically shoved her — into stepping in front of an audience to let others hear what she already knew (like sisters do) was something special of a voice. Looking back down the road, it becomes apparent that someone – or something – was guiding her steps. Although there was practically no way to see it at the time, a brief chronicle of events makes it plain how seemingly all the right doors seemed to open at the right time. Or close. “I always tell people, I didn’t choose the blues, the blues chose me,” said Davis. “At the time it chose me I was a young mother, on welfare. I loved to sing. And even in the singing groups I was in at the time — I was in a female singing group called Chanteuse — we were really doing R&B. At that time we couldn’t get gigs, and we didn’t know how to break into a situation where we’d be working all the time. “I had just started going out to jam sessions, and I ran into David Murray, and he introduced me to the band that
KIM RUSSO THE HAPPY MEDIUM
“And so they say, ‘OK, Thornetta, it’s been six months. You need to start writing.’ And lo and behold, at that time I was in a relationship that took me through some changes,” she said. “So I just started writing about it. And the music was already there, so I wrote my lyrics to what was on the tape that they gave me. A little cassette tape. God, that was a long time ago! And that’s where ‘Sunday Morning Music’ came from. “The title track? I was just staring out the window at the crack house that was next door to me. I remember church on Sunday morning, and they were closing Catholic churches, and the lyrics just came.”
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But that was in 1996. The focus now is on her next project which has been coming for, well, a little more than 15 years. But hey, it’s Thornetta. The album will be called “Honest Woman,” brought to you by Detroit’s own Queen of the Blues. “I done been through bad relationships, bad karma, and now I’m happy I’m in the relationship I’m in, and I feel more creative than ever, and inspired,” she said. It’s good to be Queen.
BET
From page D-1
EARL KLUGH SEPTEMBER 25
Detroit’s own Ed Gordon. According to early 2015 statistics, BET is now available to 75 percent of U.S. households. Further proof of its importance was when, in 1991, the network had the honor of becoming the first black-owned company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. At times BET has been the object of criticism from numerous quarters for some of its programming choices. As a result, certain changes have been instituted. BET introduced the BET Walk of Fame Awards in 1995, the BET Awards in 2001 and the BET Honors in 2008. Early this month, a festive, glittering, well-attended two-day event took place
Reflections lieve Ciara should not bring another man around Future’s son, and Future strongly dislikes the situation as well. Ciara says she has just been living her life and will continue to do so. Remember SWV? They had a lot of hits in the ’90s. Well, the ladies are back together and have new product on the market. Smokey Robinson recently taped a concert at the Apollo Theater as part of the “Legends: OWN” series. It will air on OWN (Oprah Winfrey’s Network) in October. Because he looks so good and is so active, it is hard to believe Smokey Robinson that Robinson is 75 years old. And just think of all the classic hits he wrote, produced and recorded with the Miracles and as a solo act, including “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Ooo Baby Baby” (Donnie Simpson’s alltime favorite song), “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Shop Around,” “Who’s Lovin’ You,” “Cruisin’” and “Being With You,” to name a few.
Madelyne Woods
Stephen Hill
in the nation’s capital, the BET Family “Back Together Again.” The locations were SoBe Restaurant & Lounge and the Park Club. — SVH
From page D-1 Plus all the hits for others, such as “Get Ready,” “My Guy,” “The Way You do the Things You Do,” “I’ll be Doggone,” “My Girl,” “Floy Joy,” etc. BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that the Spinners were originally known as the Domingoes, and in the early days of the Spinners recorded a song titled “Itching for My Baby But I Don’t Know Where to Scratch.” MEMORIES: “Door to Your Heart” (the Dramatics), “Just the Way You Are” (Billy Joel), “Here and Now” (Luther Vandross), “The Glamorous Life” (Sheila E.), “When She Was My Girl” (the Four Tops), “Every Little Bit” (Millie Scott), “Groovy Situation” (Gene Chandler), “Foolish Little Girl” (the Shirelles), “Hey, Girl” (Freddie Scott), “Again” (Faith Evans). BLESSINGS to Joe Spencer, Rian Barnhill, Stephanie Washington, Tamela Jones, Keith Washington, Hansen Clarke, Willie D. Williams, Aretha Watkins, Linsey Porter and Carol Prince. WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Alan Cohen: “The universe will reward you profusely for being what you are.” Let the music play! Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
VANESSA WILLIAMS OCTOBER 11
SOUNDBOARDDETROIT.COM
MotorCit y Casino Hotel and MotorCit y Casino Hotel design are trademarks of Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. ©2015 Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
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OBITUARIES
Billy Gene Hunter Billy Gene Hunter was born March 20, 1930 in Topeka, Kansas to Imogene Bernis Thomas and William Hunter. He attended school in Pratt, Kansas where he earned accolades for his athletic ability in football, basketball and baseball. A gifted baseball player, Bill was invited to join the Kansas City Monarchs Negro League baseball team, playing alongside Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and other prominent black players. He graduated from Pratt High School and attended Pratt Community College. Bill’s step-grandfather, Mr. Campbell, was a staunch supporter of Bill’s early years. He attended all of his games, even those out of town, where he was the only black person in the stands. Mr. Campbell sponsored Bill into the Masonic order when he was just 18 years old. Because of this, he became a lifelong devoted Mason acting as Past Master of Unity Lodge #21, Honorary Past Imperial Potentate of the Shrine and Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the United Supreme Council. Bill was joined in holy matrimony with Johnnie
In Memoriam
Page D-3
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lou Nelson on December 27, 1951. That same year, he was drafted into the armed forces, serving in Korea from 1951 to 1953 where he fought as a forward observer at the Battle of Old Baldy. He received his B.S. degree from Wichita State University in 1956 where he studied pre med. While there, he was inducted into the University of Kansas Kappa Alpha Psi chapter. Bill was also employed with the Hutchinson YMCA in Wichita, Kansas as a boys work secretary from 1953 to 1961. In 1961, he was offered a job in Houston and Detroit with the YMCA. He chose Detroit and was assigned to Fisher YMCA, across the street from Northwestern High school. There he established a network of talented African American Detroit educators, artists, business people and politicians who worked with him to create positive programs for the youth of the city. He and his wife have remained in Detroit since that time. In 1963, Bill left the YMCA to work for General Motors, Ternstedt, in the personnel department. He worked his way up through GM to become its first African American executive. As director of Corporate Minority Affairs, he traveled to historic black colleges, recruiting young people. He also visited major GM automotive plants where he identified black talent to come work for GM Headquarters. He retired from GM in 1987, but continued to work as a consultant until 2005. Bill leaves behind a legacy as one who paved the way for young black talent to rise through the ranks of General Motors. Bill leaves behind his beautiful wife, Johnnie; two sons, William Nelson (Jeanne) and Jonathon David; three grandchildren, Jonathon David Jr., Madison Camille and Thalya Faith Marie, as well as one great grandchild, London Elijah. Bill enjoyed travel, the arts, listening to jazz and his grandchildren. He and Johnnie traveled the world, but he loved Detroit and being a part of the community. DONATIONS: In honor of Billy Gene Hunter, donations can be made to the following: HYPE - Detroit Public Library Teen Center, http:// www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/specialservice/hypeteen-center, 313.481.1300. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, http://thewright.org, 313.494.5800.
Remembering
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS CITY OF DETROIT Housing and Revitalization Department Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Ave, Suite 908 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: 313.224.6519 TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS Pursuant to 24 CFR 58.70, this notice shall satisfy procedural requirements for activities undertaken by the City of Detroit. On or after September 3, 2015, and in accordance with 24 CFR 58.71, the City of Detroit will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Detroit Field Office for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds authorized under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383). Once provided the appropriate authorization, the City of Detroit may commit these funds to the following project: Whitdel Apartments Parking Lot Project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 2014 $125,000.00 PROJECT SCOPE As permitted under 24 CFR 570.202(a)(1), the City of Detroit shall commit Federal funds to reimburse eligible costs associated with improvements to the parking lot located at 3932 Porter The parking lot is used by residents of the Whitdel Apartments located just south of the project at 1250 Hubbard. The project will include the following: • Installation of proper drainage and erosion control • A finishing layer of asphalt • Construction of a concrete drive and sidewalk Southwest Housing Solutions will serve as the primary sponsor of this Project. The offices of Southwest Housing Solutions are located at 1920 25th Street, Detroit, MI 48216. DETERMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is Categorically Excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(ii), and the preparation of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is not required at this time. However, this project is subject to the laws and authorities articulated in 24 CFR 58.5 and 58.6. The City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department has prepared the Environmental Review for this project, and the Environmental Review finds that this project complies with the laws and authorities articulated in 24 CFR 58.5 and 58.6. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.38, the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department prepared an Environmental Review Record that documents the environmental review process of the above-named project. The Environmental Review Record is on file with the Housing and Revitalization Department at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC), 2 Woodward Ave, Suite 908, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The record is available for public examination and copying, upon request, on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS AND CERTIFICATION Through the Requests for Release of Funds and Certification (form HUD 7015.15), the City of Detroit certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the City of Detroit has fulfilled its responsibilities for environmental review, decision making and action. Furthermore, the City of Detroit and Mayor Michael E. Duggan, or other official approved by HUD, consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities for environmental review, decision making, and action. Upon approval of the request for release of funds and certification, the City of Detroit may commit the Community Development Block Grant funds, and HUD will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and related laws and authorities. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Robert B. Smith The family of Robert B. Smith, affectionately known as “Smitty,” wishes to thank everyone for their comforting messages, floral arrangements, prayers and other expressions of kindness. Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements. ‘Farewell My Friends’ It was beautiful as long as it lasted, the journey of my life. I have no regrets whatsoever, save the pain I’ll leave behind. Those dear hearts who love and care, and the heavy with sleep ever moist eyes, the smile in spite of a lump in the throat and the strings pulling at the heart and soul. The strong arms that held me up when my own strength let me down, each morsel that I was fed with was full of love. At every turning of my life I came across good friends, friends who stood by me, even when the time raced me by. Farewell, farewell my friends. I smile and bid you goodbye. No, shed no ears, for I need them not. All I need is your smile. You feel sad, do think of me, for that’s what I’ll like. When you live in the hearts of those you love, remember then…you never die.
Peggy Ann Walker Smith Services for Peggy Ann Walker Smith were held on July 20 at Word of Truth with Pastor Hayes officiating. She made her transition on July 13, 2015. Peggy Ann Walker Smith was born on Aug. 24, 1941 in Glendora, Mississippi to Robert and Henrietta Walker, one of five children. She graduated from West District High School. She married Rev. Willie Smith and relocated to Detroit in 1969. They were blessed with five children. Mrs. Smith was known as a kind, generous and thoughtful person. Left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Willie Smith; three daughters, Tracey, Tomika and Nicole; eight grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends. Two sons, Robert and Patrick, preceded her in death. Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Interment took place at Elmwood Cemetery.
How to Naturally Prevent Headaches
The City of Detroit invites all interested agencies, groups and persons to submit written comments concerning the above-named project for consideration. The Housing and Revitalization Department should receive such comments at the address listed at the top of this notice on or before September 3, 2015. The City of Detroit will consider all such comments so received, and the City of Detroit will not request the release of Federal funds on the above-named project prior to September 3, 2015. OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS For a fifteen (15) day period following receipt of all required documentation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will accept an objection to its approval of the release of funds and certification only if the objection is based upon one of the following claims identified in 24 CFR 58.75: (a) That the certification was not in fact executed by the Chief Executive Officer or other officer of the applicant approved by HUD; (b) That the applicant’s environmental review record for the project indicates omission of a required decision, finding, or step applicable to the program in the environmental review process; (c) That the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) That another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. HUD will not consider objections to the release of funds and certification on a basis other than those stated. All interested agencies, groups or persons must prepare and submit objections in accordance with the required procedures outlined in 24 CFR 58.76. Potential objectors must address their objections to: Ms. Ellen Chung, Senior CPD Representative Detroit Field Office U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 477 Michigan Avenue, 16th Floor Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Potential objectors should contact Ms. Ellen Chung at 313.226.7900 to verify the actual last day of the objection period. NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The City of Detroit does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, handicap, national origin, race, sex or sexual orientation. Persons or groups with discrimination complaints may file those complaints with the City of Detroit Human Rights Department, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1026, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The applicant for this project is:
CITY OF DETROIT Michael E. Duggan, Mayor Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Notice Date: August 26, 2015
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346 614 915 465 Pain in your brain can be a real headache. To avoid getting hit with a doozy, consider these easy tips. • Drink water. Dehydration causes headaches, and most Americans are not drinking enough water. Drink your eight 8-ounce cups of water every day to drastically lower your risk of getting a headache. • Cut back on the coffee. Coffee is
one of the largest headache triggers, but most people like to begin their days by drinking at least one cup. Instead, try some peppermint or ginger tea -- both of which you can also drink to cure a headache if it sneaks past your defenses. • Relax. Stress is on the rise, according to the American Psychological Association. So it’s no wonder we get headaches so often. Put
aside time every day to do something you enjoy. Some low-stress, rewarding options are taking a yoga class, volunteering at a charity or playing with a pet. Headaches aren’t pleasant, but these prevention techniques will make your days better -- not only by improving your health but by increasing your happiness.
333 882 336 241 744 489 399 103 4-42-55-60-71-14 7964
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IN MEMORY In Loving Memory
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
DELOSE DAVIS–KING
ROOMS FOR RENT UNFURNISED
HELP WANTED
East Side
City of Dearborn Heights is seeking applicants for the following F/T positions:
• Assessor • Firefighter • Home Rehab Specialist
Senior or Mature Adult
Must meet all quals listed at: www.ci.dearborn-heights. Mi.us/HR_EmpOpp.cfm. For more info, call 313-791-3420. EOE
313/ 521-0621 or 313/ 247-6460
Page D-4
HELP WANTED
POLICE OFFICER City of Grand Rapids Employment Opportunities Police Officer Please visit our website at www.grcity.us to apply. EOE !
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HELP WANTED
Sr.!Researcher! !
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Ruben Malik Dunlap Sunrise: June 17, 1971 Sunset: August 31, 2014 To my Daddy in Heaven:
It has been 8 years since your transition. However, our loving thoughts of you still fill our hearts with joy, joy, joy! I often think about our love for Egyptian History and “The Mummy Returns” Movie. Your Loving Twin, Deloyace “DD” and Davis Family
I just need for you to know, that you are forever in my heart and I will eternally love you so. Even knowing that you now reside in a far superior place where there is no such thing as pain; explaining that to my heart was like the sun explaining gravity to the rain....no matter what, the effort would be in vain. My heart still aches right now but knowing that God is now your caretaker, somehow, makes my heart crack a smile. I love you with all my heart Daddy! Always and forever. -Markita Ruben was a beloved son, father, and grandfather. He was the son of Ruben C. Dunlap & Wilma N. Dunlap, the father of Markita D. Pinckney(Jon Sr.) & Kayla M. Dunlap, and the grandfather of Jon M. Pinckney Jr & Ari S. Pinckney.
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The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFQs for Annual Inspection and Maintenance for Overhead doors for SMART’s Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and ROTC for Three (3) Years with Two (2) – One (1) Year Options, Control No. 15-1759B. RFQ forms may be obtained beginning on August 17, 2015 from www.mitn.info. RFQs are due by 3:00 PM ET, September 16, 2015.
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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS BY WAYNE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY FOR DEMOLITION AND ASBESTOS ABATEMENT OF STRUCTURES IN ECORSE AND RIVER ROUGE, MICHIGAN Proposals are being sought from qualified firms for the Demolition and Asbestos/Hazardous Materials Abatement of single and multi-family residential structures in Ecorse and River Rouge as part of a Help for Hardest Hit Blight Elimination Program in partnership with the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Nonprofit Housing Corporation and Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Firms deemed qualified to provide the services specified in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), will be placed on a list of qualified firms and be permitted to bid on demolition work through future Requests For Proposals. Bidders are invited to review this open enrollment solicitation at http://www.waynemetro.org/content/request-proposals. If interested, submit your qualifications to: ATTN: John Carmody jcarmody@waynemetro.org Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency 2121 Biddle Avenue, Suite 102 Wyandotte, MI 48192 Responses to this RFQ must be received on or before 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, 2015 to be considered for the first round of Request for Proposals for Demolitions. This RFQ is for open enrollment and is ongoing until completion of the project.
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Seeking
RETENTION COORDINATOR at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Center for Multicultural Initiatives
This position will assess the needs of underrepresented students and initiate efforts to direct university resources to meet these needs. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience, Two years experience working within an educational setting with diverse students, including developing and implementing programs regarding diversity and retention issues. Ability to work evening hours. Salary up to $40,000 annually. See online posting for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by August 31, 2015. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM
ANNOUNCEMENTS
STEEL BUILDINGS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS BY WAYNE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY FOR PRE DEMOLITION INVESTIGATION AND SURVEY OF ASBESTOS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FOR STRUCTURES IN ECORSE AND RIVER ROUGE, MICHIGAN
PIONEER POLE BUILDINGS
Proposals are being sought from qualified firms for Investigation and Survey of Asbestos/Hazardous Materials to be performed as part of a Help for Hardest Hit Blight Elimination Program in partnership with the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Nonprofit Housing Corporation and Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Investigation and Survey activities include single- and multi-family residential buildings in the Cities of Ecorse and River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan. Qualified bidders are invited to review this Request for Proposals and, if interested, submit a proposal on or before Wednesday, September 3, 2015 at 5:00 PM to: Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, 2121 Biddle Avenue, Suite 102, Wyandotte, MI 48192, Attn: John Carmody. The complete RFP may be found at http://www. waynemetro.org/content/request-proposals or by picking a copy up at the address above.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Air Quality Division NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Air Quality Division (AQD), will take comments from August 20, 2015, to October 5, 2015, and will hold a public hearing on September 23, 2015, on a proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) to address sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the non-attainment area in Wayne County, Michigan. A SIP includes a detailed analysis of contributing sources and a legally enforceable reduction strategy to negate the SO2 impact. The public comment period and hearing address the federal Clean Air Act public participation requirements prior to a SIP submittal. The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, in the River Rouge High School Auditorium, 1460 West Coolidge Highway, River Rouge, Michigan, 48218. An informational meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. with the public hearing to follow at 7:00 p.m. Visit http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/downloads/SIP/AQD-SIP.shtml to download the SIP documents. The following locations will also have the SIP documents available for public review: MDEQ, AQD, Lansing Office, 525 West Allegan, Lansing 48933, 517-284-6740 MDEQ, AQD, Detroit District Office: Cadillac Place, Suite 2-300, 3058 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, 48202, 313-456-4700
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All interested persons are invited to attend and present his or her views. Anyone unable to attend may submit written comments to Cari DeBruler at debrulerc@michigan.gov or to MDEQ, AQD, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan, 48909-7760, Attention: Cari DeBruler. Written comments must be received by Monday, October 5, 2015. Persons needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact the AQD at 517-284-6740 one week in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Lynn Fiedler, Chief Air Quality Division
Seeking
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMIES Charter Schools
Provide collaborative support and assist in the overall management and oversight of the School of Education and Human Services’ Office of Public School Academies. Responsible for oversight and support to charter schools for their delivery of pre-school programming and special education services and support. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Administration or Education or an equivalent combination of education with specialized knowledge and experience within the field of special education. Salary is up to mid $50s, commensurate with experience. Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by September 1, 2015. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM
Seeking
PLANNED GIVING ASSOCIATE at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Planned Giving
This position will expand the outreach of the planned giving office while facilitating a quick response to donors at all planned giving levels. Will also assist with the management of planned giving prospects and the annual giving office as needed. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education & experience. Minimum of two years progressively responsible experience in development and fund raising, preferably in higher education. Salary up to the mid $40s annually, compensation commensurate with education and experience. See on line positing for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by September 2, 2015. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu Seeking
ADMISSIONS ADVISER at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Admissions Department
This position will recruit new students to attend the university. Process applications for admissions and award scholarships. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. One year experience recruiting students for educational opportunities. Ability to travel extensively (in and out of state), valid Michigan Driver’s license and driving record acceptable to university. Ability to work extended hours, some evenings and weekends will be required. Excellent organization, analytical, oral & written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with others. Salary is up to the mid $30’s annually. Refer to online posting for additional requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by August 28, 2015. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu Seeking
River Rouge Mayor’s Office: 10600 W. Jefferson Ave., River Rouge, 48218, 313-842-4200 Wayne County Clerk’s Office: Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave., 2nd Floor, Room 201, Detroit, 48226, 313-224-6262
General'Motors'Co.'seeks'Sr.'Researcher'in' Warren,'MI'to'develop'next;generation' technologies'for'vehicle'powertrain'system' diagnosis,'prognosis,'and'fault'remediation'as' well'as'integrationB'develop'and'execute' technical'plans,'including'concept'generation,' development,'implementation,'and'evaluationB' generate'innovative'ideas'and'establish'new' research'areasB'lead'technical'discussions' and'reviews'as'an'expert'in'related'areas'of' responsibilityB'maintain'state;of;the;art' knowledge'in'related'areas'of'responsibilityB' communicate'ideas,'plans'and'results' effectively'via'presentations'and'written' reports.'Min.'PhD'+'2'yrs.'exp.''Please'send' resumes'to:'GM'Co.,'Resume'Processing,' Ref.'#6091305,'300'Renaissance'Center,'' M/C'482;C32;D44,'Detroit,'MI''48265;3000.! '
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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COMPLIANCE & FISCAL PERFORMANCE, PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMIES Charter Schools
Provide collaborative and business management direction and oversight in all fiscal matters pertaining to budgetary control, accounting policies and procedures, forecasting and billing and special projects for the operation of the Office of Public School Academies/Urban Partnerships directly, as well as each of its K-12 schools. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with concentration in accounting. A minimum of 3 years accounting experience, budget preparation and control, analysis. Familiarity with federal and state regulations related to K-12 educational funding. Salary is up to mid $60s, commensurate with experience. Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by September 1, 2015. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu
praise connect
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Second Ebenezer Church worship at Chene Park
August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
Black United Fund of Michigan
Application Announcement: Up to $10,000 in grant funding to non-profits Black United Fund of Michigan (BUF) has a rich 45-year heritage of identifying and funding innovative programs that reach a diverse demographic throughout the state of Michigan. Since 1970, BUF of Michigan has raised millions of dollars for thousands of non-profit organizations and programs. BUF of Michigan awards grants totaling $1,500 to $ 10,000 per agency and provides technical support and/or advice. In exchange, BUF of Michigan requires from awardees accountability, evaluation and measurable results. BUF’s 2015-16 funding targets are programs that have a measurable impact on economic empowerment, education, health, culture, community development, family enrichment., vocational training, scholarship funds, health clinics, recreation centers and self-help programs.
Bishop Edgar L. Vann
By Nicole Black Bishop Edgar Vann and Second Ebenezer Church took church to Chene Park. Celebrating 75 years of church history, on Sunday, August 22, Second Ebenezer Church presented their 10 a.m. morning worship service to more than 2,500 attendees with the All White Celebration. The All White Celebration started with a resounding prayer offered by Minister Katherine Dhud followed by exceptional selections from the Second Ebenezer Mass Choir. Many boaters had the privilege to also be a part of such an awesome worship experience and hear a soul-stirring message entitled “Shout the Walls Down” by Bishop Edgar Vann. Bishop Vann stated that now was time in our city to have a citywide worship experience because our city is coming back to its right place. Eb Rocks the Park was designed to reach the community where they are. Meaning sometimes
you have to go out from the four walls of the church and bring church to the community. If the world can have a good time listening to their favorite artists at the park, I think the church can have a faith-based citywide celebration with Jesus being the center of it all. With that being said, 25 attendees gave their lives to Christ. Not only did Second Ebenezer Church rock the park, they exemplified the true meaning of ministry by being a blessing to city kids and well as their youth by giving away 1,000 book bags stuffed with school supplies sponsored by Molina Health Care. Meijer also gave away gift cards as well as groceries. The service ended with corporate prayer for our city’s educators and kids for a safe and productive school year for our city. For more information regarding service times, please call Second Ebenezer Church at (313) 867-4700.
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To receive an application, please visit http://www.bufmi.org and download a copy or send an email request to info@ bufmi.org. Screening, interviews, site visits and final selections will take place in October and November 2015. Applications must be returned by Aug. 31, 2015. For information email info@bufmi.org or, telephone: (313) 894-2200,
Appointed director, Science Nursing program Lambda Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., a professional nursing organization, is proud to announce the recent appointment of Thelma Phillips, PhD, RN, as director of the Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) programs at the Novi campus of South University. Dr. Phillips has a strong background in multiple areas of nursing with a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Nursing Administration and Patient Care Services. Dr Phillips has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy and a lecturer at Wayne State University. She has a strong background in obstetrical nursing and administration. In addition to membership in Lambda Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Dr. Phillips maintains membership in Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Midwest Nursing
Thelma Phillips Research Society, and Association of Black Nursing Faculty. Congratulations to Dr. Phillips on her appointment.
Pastoral installation
Larry Callahan & Selected of God appears on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Seated from left, Rev. Patsy Brown, Pastor John D. Smettler and First Lady Ebony Smettler. Standing from left: Mayor Andre Windom of Highland Park, O’ Neil D. Swanson Sr., Pastor Lynda C. Evans, and Bishop Lewis E. Evans, pastor of Soul Harvest Ministries. The pastoral installation service for Pastor John D. Smettler was held at Wings of Truth Full Gospel Church located at 252 Tuxedo Highland Park. Pastor Patsy Brown, overseer, gave reflections and Bishop Lewis E. Evans installed Pastor Smettler. Bishop
By Nicole Black Larry Callahan & Selected of God, known to the world as the choir that brought the sunshine in the Verizon Wireless Choir Competition, “How Sweet the Sound,” and the star-studded Chrysler 200 Superbowl XLV commericial, has embarked on another great journey. Detroit’s own Larry Callahan & Selected of God is a part of the NBC hit
TV show “America’s Got Talent.”
Evans is the presiding relate of SEAD International Fellowship. O’Neil D. Swanson Sr., president and CEO of Swanson Funeral Homes Inc., is a friend of the family, knowing the pastor’s father, the “Eletrifying” Rev. John.
Crystal Windham speaks at back-to-school program
Larry Callahan & Selected of God opened up during their first performance with a rendition of Celine Dion’s “The Prayer” and a rearrangement of Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” which landed them a spot in the finals. Detroit is wishing Larry Callahan & Selected of God much success in this endeavor. Last day for voting is Aug. 26.
Crystal Windham Crystal Windham, GM director of interior design, addressed about 200 kids and parents at the Northwest Activity Center, located at 18100 Meyers Road in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 22. A community group called the Parent Prayer Network hosted the back-to-
school program. The sessions inspired, encouraged and empowered students to have a successful school year and to develop a vision of what can be if they put forth the effort and seek the right support.
Page D-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • August 26-Sept. 1, 2015
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