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Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall dish on

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Volume 80 – Number 1

The District

September 14-20, 2016

Detroit

By Roz Edward During a groundbreaking last week for the new Little Caesars world headquarters — a nine story, 234,000 square foot space which will double the size of its current home on Woodward and Columbia avenues — speaker after speaker noted the comprehensive effort to ensure that the lion’s share of contracts be awarded to Detroit and Michigan based businesses.

“It’s not just contractors who are getting a boost. I think it’s incredibly important to Detroiters and the surrounding community to have an iconic brand, a global company firmly plant it’s roots right here in the city of Detroit. It’s a sense of pride, for all of us. We are Motown and the Motor City and Hockeytown and we are the ‘Pizza, Pizza’ city too,” said Larry Brinker, Jr., of Brinker-Christman. Brinker-Christman, a Detroit-based construction management company, is leading construction of the Little Caesars world headquarters development.

The architectural firm spearheading design is the Detroit-based firm SmithGroupJJR. Twenty-seven years after moving its headquarters from the suburbs to Detroit’s Fox Office Center in the heart of downtown, Little Caesars is not only making a $150 million investment to expand the current property, it is the cornerstone of The District Detroit’s Columbia Street neighborhood, which is part of the larger $1.2 billion dollar project, dubbed the District Detroit.

WHAT’S INSIDE September 14-20, 2016 Section B

More than a game: King High football embodies community pride!

provided an For fans at the game, the ceremony and day kind enough opportunity for reflection, and many people were to share In each their thoughts with the “Best of Young Detroit.” contributions of instance, the message was clear that the people that have Dale Harvel, James Reynolds and all of the should never be made the “Crusader Nation” what it is today forgotten, as we continue to lift our city. stands: Following is a sample of what was said in the and the “Coach Harvel’s dedication and love for the kids made me love game was unbelievable. His commitment just this team and I know my son does too.”

Jr., a Patricia Campbell, mother of Darrell Wyatt sophomore receiver on the King football team

is part of “Anyone who has been a part of the King program means a large extended family. To be a part of this program Reynolds a lot and it takes a lot. Coach Harvel and Coach to getting mean the world to us because they were dedicatedto step up kids off the streets. They taught us to be men and was as fathers and in the process a powerhouse program built right in the heart of the city.”

Class Richard Miller, Martin Luther King High School of 1989 and father of Richard Miller, a sophomore linebacker on the King football team

Helmet presentation to the Harvel family shines light on a special legacy King High School football and

By Scott Talley The Detroit scholar-athletes.

Special to the Michigan Chronicle group included UAW-Ford Vice UAWbut on Sept. President Jimmy Settles, Football is often called the ultimate team game, when literally Ford Director of Community 9, the word “team” had an even greater meaning Luther King Relations Angelique all segments of our community gathered at Martin Peterson-Mayberry, Detroit High School for a football game and more.

Public Schools Director of squad.

On the field, King hosted a very worthy Southeastern came Athletics Alvin Ward and community others that understand that However, along with the action on the turf, the Dale Harvel, the tradition and history of together to honor the legacy of King’s late coach, a special helmet King football has touched whose wife Bridgett and family were presented lives in ways that are far at halftime made by Xenith, a Detroit-based manufacturer. the on-field greater than athletics.

Coming together with the family during the legacy of ceremony were fellow lovers of Coach Harvel,

sacks and Devon Lucas, Mumford, nine tackles, three a forced fumble and a Bryant Graham, Osborn, 52-yard TD reception in left 98-yard, game-winning TD run with 11 seconds Osborn’s 12-6 victory against Renaissance three De’Shawn Nevitt, Osborn, 11 tackles, including sacks to go with a forced fumble in Derrick Corbin, Western, passed for two TDs And Western’s 42-0 victory against Communications Media Arts return for and a Donovan Parker, Cass Tech, 53-yard punt receptions TD two Western, George, Devin 57-0 a TD and a 13-yard TD reception in Cass Tech’s 55-yard punt return for a TD victory against Pershing also Rodrick Harris, Daryl Ervin and DeMonte Smith including Zyaire Gardner, Cody, 122 yards rushing, had rushing TDs for Western one TD in Cody’s 56-0 victory against Douglass Eric Mitchell, Western, four sacks 163 yards Marquise Burnett, Cody, 5-of-7 passing for Craig Flowers, Western, three sacks and 4 TDs three sacks Jaysaar Ball, Cody, nine tackles, including and a 30-yard TD run following a fumble recovery for a TD Quinten Allen, Cody, 45-yard interception return including Adonte Calhoun, Denby, 187 yards rushing, Ford four TDs in Denby’s 40-14 victory against Henry for Keanan Harris, Denby, registered three tackles a TD for loss, two sacks and returned a fumble recovery yards Zahmaine March, East English Village, 175 42-6 rushing, including four TDs in East English Village’s victory against Central TD run Roro Purdue, East English Village, 35 yard Dontez Taylor, East English Village, eight tackles and Demetrius Christian, Central, 183 yards rushing 12 solo tackles, including a sack and 56 Omar Pagan, Mumford, 252 yards passing Detroit yards rushing in Mumford’s 26-14 victory against Collegiate Prep at Northwestern an 84Cerell Lewis, Mumford, 79 yards rushing and yard kickoff return for a TD including Brandon Green, Mumford, seven tackles, one sack, to go with a forced fumble 123 yards Levian Fields, Mumford, six receptions for

and “It’s a wonderful program that is all about the kids making sure they have a future after football.”

School Class Monica Ellerbee, Martin Luther King High played for of 1993 and mother of Tyriq Thompson, who State on a Coach Harvel and is now attending Michigan football scholarship a football “Of course it gives you pride as a student, to havesay my program like ours. You can’t go everywhere and trophies. team is undefeated, or has won so many It’s heartbreaking that the team lost their coach, but King will always be the state champion and it’s more than just winning—it’s a spirit that we have to keep trying no matter what.”

Joel Robinson, Martin Luther King High School Class of 2020 “When I think of King High School, I think of what Dr. King stood for as a humanitarian. As a school and as students, we have always tried to carry that dream out. If we want the world to be better, it starts with our community.”

Anthony Friend, Martin Luther King High of School Class of 1978 and former member the King Crusaders basketball team

The District Detroit development project will transform 50 blocks around Comerica Park and the new Little Caesars Arena into a dynamic mix of new restaurants, shops, bars, parks, offices and places to live. The project will create five unique neighborhoods around six theaters and three professional sports venues to connect Midtown to downtown Detroit, making it a premier community which will facilitate pedestrian traffic throughout the area.

“Does that comeback include the entire city of Detroit?” Mayor Mike Duggan asked rhetorically.

“When Chris Ilitch gives you the numbers, you look around and say ‘200,000 hours of work done by Detroiters, just in this neighborhood already.’ Today, more than 100 Detroiters are working as apprentices on these job sites,” explained Duggan, adding, “They are going to have good paying careers for the rest of their lives because of these projects. … We have Detroiters rebuilding Detroit.”

And, while construction contractors nationwide decry the sad state of local hiring on construction projects nationwide, in large part due to a lack of qualified laborers, Detroit is bucking the national trend as evidenced by the minority contractors and laborers involved in the development of one of the largest construction undertakings in Detroit history, and one of the largest of its kind in the country.

“Olympia Development of Mich-

See THE

DISTRICT page A-4

Detroit gets $4 million for Fitzgerald community

By Alisha Dixon

The Michigan Chronicle and Radio One will host the first annual Best in Black Awards on Oct. 20 at the Music Hall in Detroit. It is an opportunity for the community to vote for the best black businesses, community leaders and more in over 40 categories.

Michigan Chronicle reports

Martin The defending Division 2 state football champions,in royal field Luther King High School, defended its home fashion en route to a 60-0 victory against Southeastern. and strong Dequan Finn threw three touchdown passes 42 yards safety Aaron Pitts returned an interception had an also for a score. Linebacker Jeremiah Thomas interception return (24 yards) for a touchdown.

Following is a listing of other top local performers during Week 3 games:

Photos by Rogers William Foster

The City of Detroit was recently awarded a $4-5 million grant under the national Civic Commons program to further its redevelopment efforts in the Fitzgerald neighborhood in northwest Detroit. The city raised $4-5 million in local matching funds for a total of $8 million to be invested in the area.

Other cities to selected for this funding include Chicago, Akron and Memphis.

$1.00

Best in Black: Elected Officials

Reimagining the Civic Commons is a national initiative that seeks to counter the trends of economic and social fragmentation in cities and disinvestment in the public realm. By revitalizing and connecting public spaces, the initiative intends to be the first comprehensive demonstration of how a connected set of civic assets — a civic commons — can yield increased and

more equitably shared prosperity for cities and neighborhoods.

The grant funding and local match is a critical element in advancing Mayor Mike Duggan’s recently announced 20-Minute Neighborhood initiative. Similar to the Civic Commons approach, the mayor has proposed investing in targeted communities to better link residents to key assets, such as housing, retail, recreation, transit lines and educational centers so they are all accessible within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. The mayor recently announced that the first neighborhood the city will focus on is the Livernois-McNichols area, particularly the Fitzgerald neighborhood, which is the target of this major revitalization effort.

"Through the Civic Commons initiative,

See FITZGERALD

COMMUNITY page A-4

Best in Black is a way to celebrate black excellence by highlighting some of the contributions African Americans have made in the metro Detroit area.

This week, the Michigan Chronicle is highlighting nominees in the Professional/Community category. This category includes Best Elected Official.

Congressman John Conyers is the longest serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served Michigan’s 13th congressional district since 1965. As the member of the U.S. House of Representatives with the most sen­iority, Congressman Conyers is recognized as Dean of Congress.

Conyers has been one of the foremost contributors of legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the introduction of the

See ELECTED

OFFICIALS page A-4

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

Page A-2

The Detroit Department of Public Works announces the following street closings Westbound Cadillac Square from Woodward to Bates will be closed completely now through Oct. 22, 2016 for street activities.

Washington from Larned to the alley east of Washington will be partially closed now through Oct. 31, 2016 for building construction.

Yzerman Drive from Jefferson to Bates will be closed completely Sep. 10, 2016 for a race.

Larned from Washington to the alley north of Larned will be partially closed now through Oct. 31, 2016 for building construction.

Westbound lanes on Michigan Ave from Griswold to Shelby will be closed completely now through Sept. 2016 for building renovation. However, one lane in each direction for both eastbound and westbound traffic will be open at all times, using the eastbound lanes.

Congress from Woodward to Bates will have northern westbound lane and sidewalk closed for building renovation now through Oct. 31, 2016.

State St from Griswold to Shelby will have a partial closure of the eastbound lane and sidewalk for building renovation now through Nov. 13, 2016.

Shelby from State St to alley south of State St will have a partial northbound lane closure for building renovation now through Nov. 13, 2016.

Griswold from W. Grand River to John R will have northbound lane and parking lane closed from now through June 2017 for building renovation. However, one lane in each direction will be maintained.

Cadillac Square from Woodward to Bates will have parking lanes closed now through Oct. 29, 2016 for Food Huts, Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, however two lanes in each direction will be maintained.

Shelby from Grand River to State will be closed completely now through Jun. 1, 2017 for building construction.

St. Antoine from E Lafayette to Monroe will be partially closed now through December 30, 2016 for building construction.

Grand River from Griswold to St Woodward will be partially closed now through Jan. 25, 2017 for building construction.

West Grand River from Griswold to Woodward will be partially closed now through May 1, 2017 for building renovation.

Griswold from Grand River to Clifford will be partially closed now through May 1, 2017 for building construction.

John R from Eastbound I-75 Service Drive to Montcalm will be closed completely from now through Nov. 21, 2016 for garage construction.

State St from Shelby to Griswold be partially closed from now through Oct. 7, 2016 for building renovation.

Griswold from Michigan to State will be partially closed from now through Oct. 7, 2016 for building renovation.

Shelby from Congress to Fort will be partially closed from now through Sep. 23, 2016 for roof replacement.

Emergency manager lawsuit dismissed On Monday, Sept. 12, an appeals court rejected a challenge to Michigan’s emergency manager law, saying Gov. Rick Snyder’s solution to taking political power from distressed communities doesn’t violate the constitutional rights of residents.

Emergency managers are typically granted extraordinary authority to administer extreme measures in governance over city halls and school districts, while elected officials are sidelined while financial remedies are put in place. The most ostentatious use of emergency management occurred in Detroit, when Snyder appointed bankruptcy expert Kevyn Orr in 2013.

Emergency manager opponents who sued argued that the law violated

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the constitutional provisions of free speech, voting rights, and even protections against slavery — especially in cities with large black populations.

“The emergency manager’s powers may be vast, but so are the problems in financially distressed localities, and the elected officials of those localities are most often the ones who led the localities into their difficult situations,” the court said in upholding a decision

by U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh.

Michigan voters in 2012 overturned Snyder’s first emergency manager law. But he and fellow Republicans in the legislature came back with another version just weeks later which was ultimately put into law.

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Front Row Left to Right: Cynthia Jackson, NEGC; Rev. L. Shanell-Campbell, New Whitestone Baptist Church; Melissa Freel, NEGC; Sarah Cobb, community ambassador; Judy Lewis, SAGE; Sherry McRill, president & CEO Northeast Guidance Center; Dr. Peggy Trewn, NEGC board president; Val Biggs, MDHHS, and Janaya Stokes, NEGC Back Row Left to Right: Karen A. Love, KarYzma; Ellen Mariscal, STEP; Diane Byrd-Johnson, Aetna; Michele Adams-Calloway, Authority Health; Daniele Martin, NEGC; Pat Rencher, Urban Aging News; Jennifer Onwenu, STEP; Sharon Strickland, MDHHS; LaTonya Walker, MDHHS; James Karagon, James Karagon PC

NEGC Senior Reach Advisory Board

The adage that it “takes a village” rings true with the newly formed Northeast Guidance Center, Senior Reach advisory board. However, it also rings true that it will take community partners and human service organizations dedicated to servicing seniors like DAAA, Hannan House, SAGE, PACE, and Henry Ford Health services, to equip and train their staff to identify older adults who may need to connect with services such as counseling due to emotional support, care management, referrals to resources, depression screening and

treatment, or identification and early intervention of prescription drug misuse or abuse. This training is available through the Senior Reach program.

For more information regarding the Senior Reach program or to learn about the challenges faced by today’s older adult, become a volunteer, a partner, or you know of a senior who could benefit from the Senior Reach program call the Senior Reach hot line at 844202-9932 or 313-308-1400.

4th Annual Head Wrap Expo and Fashion Show returns to metro Detroit Hosted by Beautifully Wrapped, the highly anticipated Head Wrap Expo & Fashion Show will return to metro Detroit this month for its fourth consecutive year.

The event attracts more than 500 attendees each year and is one of the largest events of its kind in the country. This year’s expo will be from 1-8 p.m. Sept. 25, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.

“There is a magic in head wrapping, one that many spiritual and cultural groups across the globe have tapped into for centuries,” said Zarinah

ligious, spiritual, cultural or a fashion statement, head wrapping is an art enjoyed globally by men and women.

Event attendees can enjoy a day of shopping, styling, workshops, seminars, fashion shows and networking. Special guests include nationally recognized Nigerian gele artist Segun Gele, who will lead a workshop on the business of cultural fashion El-Amin Naeem, founder of the event.

“This is our team’s fourth year producing this event, and now that head wrapping is becom-

ing a trend in the fashion industry, this expo offers that one-of-a-kind experience for knowledge, entertainment and fun.”

Whether worn as a re-

General admission for the expo and fashion show is $20.

For more information, email event founder Zarinah El-Amin Naeem at zarinah@niyah.net.

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 7-13, 2016

Page A-3

African American developers helping to rebuild downtown

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

“If you build it, they will come” is close enough to the famous line used by actor Kevin Costner in the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams.” Interestingly, the year the film was made is not too far off from the last time a stand-alone condominium was built in downtown Detroit.

However, that’s about to change, as a development partnership called 600 Ventures Development Group announced recently that it will build Ashton Detroit on the western sector of downtown. The development group is led by Eric Means and the Means Group, an African American-owned development and construction management company based in downtown Detroit.

According to Means, Ashton Detroit will be an impressive 11-story, standalone condo that will be built at 600 W. Lafayette Blvd. The location is the former site of WWJ, and the current home of Michigan AFSCME Council 25. The new condo will call NBC Local 4 (WDIV) its neighbor.

Ashton Detroit, said Means, will feature 78 luxury condominium units and five penthouses, all of which will carry a construction price tag of $35 million.

The posh living units’ floor-to-ceiling windows will give residents a spectacular view of downtown Detroit, the Detroit River, the Ambassador Bridge, and even an international look into Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Amenities will include an indoor swimming pool, spa, fitness center, retail shopping and enclosed parking spaces for 200 vehicles.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring more living space to downtown Detroit,” said native Detroiter Eric Means, who holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, “This historic project will build upon the legacy of the former home of WWJ and Michigan AFSCME Council 25 by retaining the historic architecture.

Our goal is to create exciting living spaces.”

Joining Means and the Means Group, under the auspices of 600 Ventures Development Group, is The Resendes Design Group, led by Francis Resendes and the Holdwick Development Group, led by Brian Holdwick. The three companies have a combined 67 years of experience working on multimillion dollar

commercial development and construction projects.

Construction on Ashton Detroit is scheduled to begin next year, with the first few units slated to open in 2018.

The entire project is projected for completion in 2019.

In addition to Ashton Detroit, the Means Group has amassed an impressive portfolio of development projects in metro Detroit. Projects within Detroit’s city limits have included the Garden Center, which includes the renovation of the historic Garden Theater; the former Don Barden Building now owned by Grand Valley State University; Lafayette Towers’ restoration; the 14-story downtown Metropolitan Building, and others.

The announcement related to the building of Ashton Detroit is the latest news pertaining to African American-led groups/partnerships/companies currently involved or soon to be involved in downtown development/construction projects. This past June, The Downtown Development Authority of the City of Detroit (DDA) approved a $52.4 million investment package over the next three years for the construction/renovation of the Paradise Valley Cultural & Entertainment District in what is now called Harmonie Park. This massive project, with a heavy African American involvement and ownership, will consist of commercial and retail space, restaurants, entertainment venues and more.

One approved development/construc-

tion project slated for the new Paradise Valley is Hasting Place, led by Hiram E. Jackson of Paradise Valley Real Estate Holdings, II, LLC. Plans are to erect an 83,340 sq. ft. building at 1468, 1480 and 1496 Randolph St. The new structure will include 60 apartments, a five-story parking deck and ample retail space.

The new building will be constructed next to the soon-to-be renovated corporate headquarters of Real Times Media, where Jackson serves as CEO. Real Times Media publishes such historic African American newspapers as the Michigan Chronicle, Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier and Atlanta Daily World.

“Moving back to the new Paradise Valley is actually a celebration for the Michigan Chronicle, because Paradise Valley is where the Michigan Chronicle was founded in 1936,” said Jackson.

“Building Hastings Place next door continues the legacy and spirit of Paradise Valley that was started by African American business pioneers and entertainers more than 80 years ago.”

Other Paradise Valley projects that will be led and owned by African Americans include the new Randolph Centre Building, where Rainy Hamilton, Jr., president of Hamilton Development Corporation, plans to renovate the building that houses his architecture company.

Over the past two decades, Rainy Hamilton and Hamilton Anderson Associates have provided architecture, urban planning and design expertise for metro Detroit clients. Projects within city lim-

its have included Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, DPOP Chrysler House, DTE Salvation Army building, Detroit School of Arts, and more.

“This neighborhood has been home to our firm for 22 years, and this is a great opportunity for us to expand our presence and our commitment to this unique place and the great heritage it honors,” Hamilton said in a news release distributed by the DDA. Additionally, Patricia Cole, who is African American, has partnered with Roger Basmajian to renovate a Paradise Valley Building at 311 E. Grand River. The building will become Harmonie Club Hotel. Likewise, Dennis Archer Jr., as a managing partner, is leading Gotham Capital Partners to renovate 1407 and 1427 Randolph St. to become Harmonie Pointe, which will housed a restaurant, music lounge and offices on the upper levels.

Lastly, Ismail Houmani will lead La Casa Properties, LLC to purchase and refurbish the La Casa Cigar and Lounge at 1502 Randolph. The project will include a VIP lounge and reconfigured apartments on the upper floors.

“The City of Detroit is finally in a position to deliver on a promise made a decade ago,” Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement released by the DDA earlier this summer. “The key developers behind this project are longtime Detroit­ ers. They know what this district was and they know what it can be. They’re committed to working with existing tenants and building a Paradise Valley that not only honors the heritage of our city, but ushers in our future.”

Independent of the Paradise Valley project, there are other African American-owned and operated development and/or construction management companies that are placing their fingerprints on projects downtown and throughout the city and region.

One such company is Detroit-based White Construction, led by Bernard White. The firm has worked on many major construction projects in Southeast Michigan. City-wise, such key projects have included Comerica Park, Ford Field and Campus Martius Park. Currently, White Construction is working on the M-1 Rail Woodward Avenue Streetcar Project, and the Arena District Project, which includes the construction of the Detroit Red Wings’ future home.

Pamela J. Moore taking Detroit Public Schools Foundation to higher ground to help DPS students

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

Most news stories about Detroit Public Schools (DPS) these days, and for a while, have not been favorable. Whether it’s low tests score, terrible conditions of some schools and classrooms, not having textbooks/educational supplies, or repulsive reports about administrators/principals being convicted of wrongdoing, the news stories are not good for the image of DPS, the educational welfare of its 45,000 students, or the well-being of Detroit’s quest to make a full comeback.

While DPS has been the frequent subject of negative news stories, Pamela J. Moore, the relatively new president and CEO of Detroit Public Schools Foundation, is optimistic and excited about the days ahead.

Since taking over as the foundation’s top executive in March, 2016, Moore is making progress in elevating the image of DPS. “There are many stories of student accomplishments and other success stories in DPS,” Moore said. “And there are highly credentialed and committed administrators and educators who are doing outstanding things inside of DPS. Unfortunately, only the bad news stories tend to get the most press, which has to, and will, change.”

One of the main functions of DPS Foundation is fundraising, which is facilitated to advance programs and initiatives that empower DPS students educationally. Fundraising priorities for the foundation include early childhood education and literacy projects, awarding scholarships through Detroit College Promise, embracing STEM programs and fine and performing arts programs, developing viable career pathway initiatives, and the implementation of the foundation’s Beyond the Classroom program, which focuses on partnerships, shadowing and mentorship engagement endeavors between students and other stakeholding entities outside the classroom.

Through strong fundraising activities, many of the aforementioned programs and initiatives are being implemented by the DPS Foundation, under the leadership of Moore and her staff. Moore said the foundation raises funds and awards grants to teachers, schools, principals, and non-profit organizations that operate programs in schools to enhance DPS students’ educational experiences.

Two upcoming events geared to raise funds for DPS Foundation are “Dine 2 Donate,” which takes place on Friday, Sept. 16, at Granite City Food & Brewery in the Renaissance Center.

Granite City has

tions to help DPS Foundation and DPS students.

“You can help DPS students without ever writing a check,” she said. “You can be a mentor for our scholarship program, or donate needed in-kind items for DPS students, like musical instruments, textbooks, clothing and other items.”

Pamela J. Moore agreed to donate 20 percent of each customer’s total bill to the foundation. Additionally, on Thursday, Oct. 13, at MGM Grand Detroit Hotel (5:30–8:30 p.m.), DPS Foundation will hold its “Champions of Education” event. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, the fundraising event will salute various corporate honorees for their dedication to advancing DPS Foundation. The Michigan Chronicle serves as this year’s media sponsor.

“This will be a fun evening where we will also showcase our young people and what they have accomplished,” Moore said. “There will be music and dancing, with the proceeds going to support DPS students and their quest for academic excellence.”

Moore also pointed out that through the year, there are other ways for people/organiza-

A native Detroiter, Moore, who holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from Wayne State University, took DPS Foundation’s top position after serving six years as president and CEO of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, the City of Detroit’s workforce agency. Her expertise in career development and work preparedness and training has been valuable at the foundation, as to how best to prepare DPS students for life after high school, whether it means going to college or going straight into the workforce.

“There are 8,000 more Detroiters working now than two years ago,” Mayor Mike Duggan told media outlets when Moore announced her decision to leave DES for DPS Foundation.

“Pam and her team at DES deserve a lot of the credit for that.

The good news is that, in her new position, she will continue to play a major role in developing Detroit’s talent pipeline.”

“I’m this hometown girl who has lived in Detroit all my life,

because I deeply care about the city and our young people,” said Moore, who has worked in the administrations of the last three Detroit mayors. “Over the years I’ve met so many community, civic, foundation and corporate leaders, as well as people at the state and federal levels. These relationships are valuable in how I am leading DPS Foundation.”

“I’m on a blessed journey with DPS Foundation,” continuied Moore, who is looking forward to a new Detroit school board being elected in the November General Election. “I’m really grateful for this opportunity to make a difference, to help 45,000 DPS students. The work that I’m doing is important to me. I’m really humbled by the opportunity that people have given me to lead the foundation. I have the same confidence in working with the children, principals, administrators, parents, teachers, staff and others through DPS Foundation. I’m optimistic that the DPS is in a great position to get it right for our children because they deserve the best that we can give them.”

For more information about DPS Foundation and upcoming events, call 313.873.3348 or log on to www.dpsfdn.org.

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

The District igan has worked diligently to ensure the participation of Detroit-based and headquartered businesses in construction of the new Little Caesars world headquarters,” said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings and son of Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch.

Olympia Development of Michigan is the Ilitch organization leading the project “From day one we committed to create real and significant business opportunities for local companies and their workforces through a Michigan Made, Detroit Built development,” said Steve Marquardt, vice president of Olympia Development of Michigan. “Just one year after breaking ground on The District Detroit and the arena project we’ve already

Page A-4

From page A-1 awarded more than $300 million to Detroit-based businesses and nearly $500 million to Michigan businesses. This is a significant milestone for our project and is just the beginning. As more developments come on line, so will more business opportunities.”

To date, more than 70 Detroit-based companies have received contracts as part of the project, including major awards to Motor City Electric, Adamo Group, Midwest Steel, Tooles Contracting Group, Ram Construction, Blaze Iafrate JV, ChristenDETROIT and others.

These contracts represent work on the new Little Caesars Arena and adjacent properties, including new mixed-use buildings, shopping and entertainment areas.

However,

some

construc-

tion industry insiders say the numbers for local and minority participation in the project are inflated, although they admit even with adjustments for non-Detroit and non-Michigan based companies, the project does comply with an executive order issued by Mayor Duggan in 2015 which requires that at least 30 percent of construction contracts be awarded to local businesses.

Jason Cole, executive director of the Minority Contractors Association, said Olympia Development is operating on a frequently used technique to inflate inclusion rates for Detroit businesses. “[Those numbers] are not proper by any stretch of the imagination … but I know how the game is played,” Cole said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. The methodology for calculating local par-

ticipation does not deduct subcontracts to outside companies as long as the prime contractor is a Detroit based contractor.

The City of Detroit’s Human Rights Department monitors compliance daily to verify the number of hours worked by city residents.

Data from the University of Michigan demonstrates that The District Detroit will ultimately account for an impact of more than $2 billion by 2020 and create 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs. More than $100 million in income from the Little Caesars Arena alone is expected for Detroit residents, with significant additional income to be created through future private development.

“The District’s connecting

downtown to Detroit to Midtown Detroit is an absolute key element in Detroit’s next phase of revitalization and recovery,” explained Roderick Miller, president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, a private non-profit organization which regularly partners with the City of Detroit to bring large-scale development projects to fruition.

The District Detroit development team in its commitment to hire locally has also partnered with Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, the city's workforce agency providing demand-driven services to employers. Metro Detroiters from skilled tradesman to recent high school graduates are encouraged to contact DESC to take the District Detroit Skills Assessment and register for construction jobs.

Fitzgerald community From page A-1 we hope to rekindle the sense of pride current residents should have living in a neighborhood adjacent to such wonderful institutions of higher learning,” said Maurice D. Cox, director of planning and development for the City of Detroit.

Mayor, Comcast Business announce new partnership to make Project Green Light more affordable Fifty business already jumping at the offer prior to public launch Since it was introduced in January, Project Green Light, a revolutionary program that provides greater safety for Detroit businesses, has been an unqualified success. Business owners rave about the positive impact the program has had on their businesses and crime is down 50 percent at locations that have been on board since the beginning.

The only thing slowing down Project Green Light has been the inability for many small businesses to afford the upfront costs.

Officials from the city and Comcast Business have announced a simple and uniform new plan that makes joining Project Green Light much more affordable to the city’s small businesses.

Rather than having to pay upwards of $6,000 for purchasing and installing high-resolution cameras and other required equipment, eligible businesses can now join the program with $1,000 for camera installation and as little as $140 additional per month for cloud storage and leasing the camera equipment (based on existing Internet service provider and plan).

The cloud storage provides 30 days worth of video so it will be easily and immediately retrievable by the storeowner or Detroit Police, if needed.

security at our small businesses in Detroit. This new deal from Comcast Business is going to be a game changer for participation in the program,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “We have removed the one obstacle that has kept Project Green Light from exploding in participation across the city.”

For Comcast Business, creating this solution is a show of the company’s commitment to playing a major role in the City of Detroit’s revitalization.

“We are uniquely positioned to support Project Green Light,” said Tim Collins, senior vice president of Comcast in Michigan. “Since entering the Detroit market 22 years

Monthly Costs: • $139.75 for four-camera rental and 30-day cloud storage All prices are based on a threeyear agreement and do not include applicable taxes, surcharges and other fees. Comcast Business Deluxe 50 Internet service is required with the $139.75 base package. The monthly charge for Deluxe 50 Internet service is $89.95 per month.

Chief credits “virtual patrols” with reducing crime Project Green Light was launched in January with eight gas stations sprinkled across the city. Since then, 34 more businesses, including restaurants, party stores and others, have joined bringing the total to 42.

Those that have been in the program the longest have experienced a 50 percent reduction in violent crime at their establishments, thanks to the visible signage and watchful eyes of Detroit police officers.

ago, we’ve invested millions of dollars every year in our network and today we provide a reliable Internet a connection to thousands of businesses in Detroit. We can make it easy for local businesses to participate in this important program by serving as a one-stop shop for the sale, installation and support of Project Green Light cameras and Internet connection.”

Today, Project Green Light has 42 businesses online, up from the original eight when the program launched in January. Since Comcast Business began offering the program, 50 businesses have expressed interest in joining the program.

Here’s how the pricing of Comcast Business’ offer is designed:

“Project Green Light has been a game changer in how we provide

• Additional camera installation is $199.95 per camera.

• Upfront cost for Comcast Business’ base package installation: $999.95 • Basic installation of one indoor and three exterior cameras

A full time staff at the Detroit Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center monitors video from the businesses around the clock.

“Businesses really have a great incentive to join Project Green Light because of this technology,” Chief James Craig said.

“Thanks to this virtual patrol, we are able to gather intelligence and conduct a much more proactive form of policing. That’s why we are seeing incidents of crime going down so significantly at Project Green Light Businesses.”

To see the locations of all Project Green Light businesses and to learn more about the new Comcast Business program, visit www. greenlightdetroit.org.

“Vacant lots turned into a park and greenway connecting Marygrove College and U of D Mercy complement our effort to rehab and reoccupy 100 vacant homes in the neighborhood, and help strengthen the entire fabric of the community,” Cox added.

The $4 million grant will contribute to the

creation of a $30 million Strategic Neighborhood Fund the city is raising with Invest Detroit to cover revitalization work in three neighborhoods, Livernois-McNichols, West Village and Southwest Detroit.

Reimagining the Civic Commons is a partnership among four national foundations — the Kresge Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the JPB Foundation, as well as Cox and other top city planning and economic development officials.

Find out more about each city’s plan online at www.civiccommons.us.

Elected officials From page A-1 Martin Luther King Holiday Act of 1983.

Conyers said, “To me, Dr. King is the outstanding international leader of the 20th century without ever holding office. What he did I doubt anyone else could have done.”

Conyers is one of the 15 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. It was created to allow black legislators to “seize the moment, to fight for justice, to raise issues too long ignored and too little debated” — all of which quickly translated into a more influential association for African American members.”

For more information about Congressman John Conyers, please visit conyers.house.gov or call (313) 226-2085.

Detroit Police Commissioner Willie E. Burton has served citizens of the 5th District since being elected on Jan. 1, 2014. During his campaign, Burton promoted the issue of body cameras for Detroit police officers. Body cameras, Burton said, “would serve to exonerate officers who acted appropriately while documenting the wrongdoing of those who used excessive force.”

In addition to promoting public safety and awareness, this summer Burton hosted a weekly event on the Detroit River Walk to encourage healthier lifestyles for De-

troiters. The event, “Walk with Willie,” highlights the health benefits of walking.

For more information about Detroit Police Commissioner Willie E. Burton, please visit willieburton.com or call (313) 596-1830.

Detroit City Council member Mary Sheffield has served District 5 since being elected in 2014.

Sheffield, the daughter of Rev. Horace Sheffield III, is the youngest person ever to be elected to Detroit City Council.

“I’ve always had a passion for serving people, and I thought it was time for a young woman to step up,” Sheffield said.

“There is a need for young leaders to step up to motivate and inspire other young leaders.”

Sheffield serves as chair of the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee and also as a member of the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee.

For more information about Detroit City Council member Mary Sheffield, please visit detroitmi.gov or call (313) 224-4505.

Voting is open now and ends Sept. 23. Winners for each category will be announced at the Best in Black Awards on Oct. 20 at the Music Hall.

To cast your vote for the best black restaurant, barber, pastor and more, please go to bestinblackdetroit.com.

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

Page A-5

Public Transit Benefits Us All: Vote YES on Nov. 8

By Tom Watkins

care and education. We will spur more investment, prosperity and the quality of life that young talent is seeking today.

I believe our decision in November will be one of the most important steps we can take to secure a better future for our Southeast Michigan communities and families."

Every elected official, civic, business, labor and religious leader should be promoting a YES vote on Nov. 8 to move Michigan forward by building a much needed regional transit system.

An investment in mobility in the four-county region (Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Washte­ naw plus the city of Detroit) is an investment in our collective future.

This action will go a long way towards helping every citizen in the city and region, especially helping persons with low incomes have a means of getting to work; the elderly and persons with disabilities will have additional opportunities for mobility.

The regions’ leaders have put forth a proposal to raise tax dollars for a sensible regional transit initiative. It is a major positive step to see the leadership of Southeast Michigan come together to jump start our region.

The tax will effectively be managed by a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) whose mission is to manage and secure transportation resources that significantly enhance mobility options, to improve quality of life for the residents and to increase economic viability for the region. (http://www.rtamich-

igan.org/)

as we should.

It is now up to all of us to to say YES and provide the resources to make this long overdue mission come alive. The action voters take at the polls will have implications which will be felt for decades to come.

Clearly, this is an investment worth making. The tax would cost the average homeowner about $95 per year. These plans cover a lot of ground for $100.

The ballot proposal will bring bus rapid transit, a rail line between Ann Arbor and Detroit, an airport shuttle service, a regional fare card system and other transit service upgrades to a non-existent system today.

The tab is as big as the need: $4.6-billion of yours, mine and our tax dollars. It adds up to a 20-year, 1.2-mill property tax increase, if voters approve it –

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans is quoted in a Detroit Free Press story saying “the vote points our region towards a world class regional transit system and residents would get to decide whether their communities deserve a significantly improved transportation system.”

Robert Reich, former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton, cut to the heart of the upcoming vote when he said,

“A society — any society — is defined as a set of mutual benefits and duties embodied most visibly in public institutions: public schools, public libraries, public transportation, public hospitals, public parks, public museums, public recreation, public universities and so on."

Paul Hillegonds, chair, Regional Transit Authority, a trusted leader who has added value and helped make a difference for decades in Michigan, had this to say about the value of this transportation plan: “The regional transit proposal is about connection and opportunity. With voter approval, we will connect people with jobs and vital services like health

Sandy Baruah, Detroit Regional Chamber president and CEO, “applauded the action by our elected regional leaders and RTA board for achieving consensus on regional transit. This is another example of how Southeast Michigan is able to collaborate for regional progress. The Chamber is committed to working towards a ‘yes’ vote in November.”

For the region that “put the world on wheels,” we seem to be in the Stone Age compared to other cities, states and nations when it comes to mass transportation.

This needs to change.

There is now an opportunity to vote your self-interest and help Michigan catch up with the rest of world by providing a viable public transit system. Help drive our region boldly into the future. Vote YES on Nov. 8.

Tom Watkins is president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (www. dwmha.com).

WCCCD offers help to ITT Technical Institute students impacted by closure Wayne County Community College District is offering assistance to students displaced by the closure of ITT Technical Institute. Students impacted by the ITT Technical Institute closure can review WCCCD’s full list of information technology, computer science, business, and health care programs, and apply today at www.wcccd.edu.

WCCCD offers more than 100 academic and certificate programs with a variety of new and exciting programs, including Cybersecurity, Application Developer, Product Development and Prototyping (3D Printing), Gaming Design, Website Design, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Health Care and more.

“We have committed staff to helping students displaced by the ITT Technical Institute closure to continue their education without disrupting their pathway to rewarding and fast-growing careers,” said WCCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis L. Ivery.

“Our mission has always been to provide pathways to better lives through higher education, and we are mobilizing to help those students carry on their studies, starting today.”

ITT Technical Institute, a national chain of for-profit schools, announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9, that it would close more than 130 facilities. “We reached this decision only after

having exhausted the exploration of alternatives, including transfer of the schools to a non-profit or public institution,” an ITT Tech press release said.

The move comes in response to the U.S. Department of Education banning ITT from enrolling students who get federal aid, in an effort to protect students and taxpayers.

“In recent years, ITT Educational Services, Inc. has increasingly been the subject of state and federal investigations and this year it has twice been found out of compliance with its accreditor’s standards,” the department stated.

The Education Department

has cracked down on career colleges that it suspects of enrolling students through misleading claims about job prospects.

ITT Tech and other for-profit colleges have been criticized for charging high tuition, but failing to provide a high-quality education, leaving students with huge student loan debt.

ITT Tech relies on students who receive federal financial aid. Those students accounted for more than two-thirds of the company’s revenue in 2015.

WCCCD, the largest urban community college in Michigan, is a multi-campus district with six campus locations, including the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center and the

Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), serving more than 70,000 credit and non-credit students annually across 32 cities and townships, and more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to the continued development of new programs, workforce transformation, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services.

Displaced ITT Tech students are welcome to call (800) 3002118 or email at inquiries@wcccd.edu to learn more.

Students may still register for the current fall 2016 semester at WCCCD. Flex Entry classes begin Oct. 18 at wcccd. org.

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9/8/16 11:45 AM

Page A-6 •

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • September 14-20, 2016

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Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to Internet Essentials service for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. After initial participation, if a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the program but continues to receive Comcast service, regular rates will apply. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details, or visit InternetEssentials.com. ©2016 Comcast. All rights reserved. Internet Essentials is a program to provide home Internet service for families. It is not a school program, and is not endorsed or required by your school. Your school is not responsible for Internet Essentials accounts.

Section B

September 14-20, 2016

More than a game: King High football embodies community pride!

For fans at the game, the ceremony and day provided an opportunity for reflection, and many people were kind enough to share

their thoughts with the “Best of Young Detroit.” In each instance, the message was clear that the contributions of Dale Harvel, James Reynolds and all of the people that have made the “Crusader Nation” what it is today should never be forgotten, as we continue to lift our city.

Following is a sample of what was said in the stands:

“Coach Harvel’s dedication and love for the kids and the game was unbelievable. His commitment just made me love this team and I know my son does too.”

Patricia Campbell, mother of Darrell Wyatt Jr., a sophomore receiver on the King football team

“Anyone who has been a part of the King program is part of a large extended family. To be a part of this program means a lot and it takes a lot. Coach Harvel and Coach Reynolds mean the world to us because they were dedicated to getting kids off the streets. They taught us to be men and to step up as fathers and in the process a powerhouse program was built right in the heart of the city.”

Richard Miller, Martin Luther King High School Class of 1989 and father of Richard Miller, a sophomore linebacker on the King football team

“It’s a wonderful program that is all about the kids and making sure they have a future after football.”

Helmet presentation to the Harvel family shines light on a special legacy

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle Football is often called the ultimate team game, but on Sept.

9, the word “team” had an even greater meaning when literally all segments of our community gathered at Martin Luther King High School for a football game and more.

On the field, King hosted a very worthy Southeastern squad.

However, along with the action on the turf, the community came together to honor the legacy of King’s late coach, Dale Harvel, whose wife Bridgett and family were presented a special helmet at halftime made by Xenith, a Detroit-based manufacturer.

Coming together with the family during the on-field ceremony were fellow lovers of Coach Harvel, the legacy of

King High School football and Detroit scholar-athletes.

The group included UAW-Ford Vice President Jimmy Settles, UAWFord Director of Community Relations Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Detroit Public Schools Director of Athletics Alvin Ward and others that understand that the tradition and history of King football has touched lives in ways that are far greater than athletics.

The defending Division 2 state football champions, Martin Luther King High School, defended its home field in royal fashion en route to a 60-0 victory against Southeastern.

Dequan Finn threw three touchdown passes and strong safety Aaron Pitts returned an interception 42 yards for a score. Linebacker Jeremiah Thomas also had an interception return (24 yards) for a touchdown.

Devon Lucas, Mumford, nine tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble

Following is a listing of other top local performers during Week 3 games:

Derrick Corbin, Western, passed for two TDs in Western’s 42-0 victory against Communications And Media Arts

Donovan Parker, Cass Tech, 53-yard punt return for a TD and a 13-yard TD reception in Cass Tech’s 57-0 victory against Pershing

“Of course it gives you pride as a student, to have a football program like ours. You can’t go everywhere and say my team is undefeated, or has won so many trophies.

It’s heartbreaking that the team lost their coach, but King will always be the state champion and it’s more than just winning—it’s a spirit that we have to keep trying no matter what.”

Joel Robinson, Martin Luther King High School Class of 2020 “When I think of King High School, I think of what Dr. King stood for as a humanitarian. As a school and as students, we have always tried to carry that dream out. If we want the world to be better, it starts with our community.”

Anthony Friend, Martin Luther King High School Class of 1978 and former member of the King Crusaders basketball team

Bryant Graham, Osborn, 52-yard TD reception and a 98-yard, game-winning TD run with 11 seconds left in Osborn’s 12-6 victory against Renaissance De’Shawn Nevitt, Osborn, 11 tackles, including three sacks to go with a forced fumble

Devin George, Western, two TD receptions and a 55-yard punt return for a TD

Zyaire Gardner, Cody, 122 yards rushing, including one TD in Cody’s 56-0 victory against Douglass

Rodrick Harris, Daryl Ervin and DeMonte Smith also had rushing TDs for Western

Marquise Burnett, Cody, 5-of-7 passing for 163 yards and 4 TDs

Eric Mitchell, Western, four sacks

Jaysaar Ball, Cody, nine tackles, including three sacks and a 30-yard TD run following a fumble recovery

Monica Ellerbee, Martin Luther King High School Class of 1993 and mother of Tyriq Thompson, who played for Coach Harvel and is now attending Michigan State on a football scholarship

Craig Flowers, Western, three sacks

Quinten Allen, Cody, 45-yard interception return for a TD Adonte Calhoun, Denby, 187 yards rushing, including four TDs in Denby’s 40-14 victory against Henry Ford Keanan Harris, Denby, registered three tackles for loss, two sacks and returned a fumble recovery for a TD Zahmaine March, East English Village, 175 yards rushing, including four TDs in East English Village’s 42-6 victory against Central Roro Purdue, East English Village, 35 yard TD run Dontez Taylor, East English Village, eight tackles Demetrius Christian, Central, 183 yards rushing and 12 solo tackles, including a sack Omar Pagan, Mumford, 252 yards passing and 56 yards rushing in Mumford’s 26-14 victory against Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern Cerell Lewis, Mumford, 79 yards rushing and an 84yard kickoff return for a TD Brandon Green, Mumford, seven tackles, including one sack, to go with a forced fumble Levian Fields, Mumford, six receptions for 123 yards

Photos by Rogers William Foster

Best of Young Detroit

September 14-20, 2016

Page B-2

Obstacles make Anquniece Wheeler stronger in the pool and in life “If you take off you can’t get better, so as soon as I was able I got back in the water,” said Wheeler, describing her response after suffering a broken leg after being hit by a car last year, while on the way to study.

It appeared that the injury would prevent Wheeler from competing on the Martin Luther King swim team during her then sophomore year. However, her determination brought her back in time to swim in three meets, including the PSL Swimming Championships, where she won the 100-meter butterfly and was second in the 200-meter freestyle.

“Anquniece is an excellent swimmer,” said King coach Gary Peterson. “To come back and compete after what happened to her last year, and she still did very well. We expect even greater things this year. She’s on the road to qualifying for the state finals and that hasn’t been done by a girl in the PSL in 20 or 30 years.”

Wheeler showed great promise immediately upon entering King. As a freshman at the PSL Championships, she won four gold medals, including two individual titles (200 individual medley and 100 butterfly). It was the same type of immediate promise that she displayed shortly after learning how to swim as an eight-year-old.

“I signed up her up for swimming lessons so she wouldn’t drown at camp, and she turned out to be a natural,” said Wheeler’s mother, Julia. “Swimming has done a lot for her.

It’s a sport that she can compete in and you would not know that she has a hearing impairment. It also has given her confidence.”

Though just entering the 11th grade, Anquniece has already had to call upon the confidence her mother speaks of to deal with some of the ugly aspects of life, including slurs aimed at her and her fellow African American teammates while competing at some national meets, as a member of the Detroit Recreation Department Swim Team.

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle The first thing that one learns about Anquniece Wheeler is that she is not about excuses. If she did make excuses, most people would understand, given that the 15-year-old has dealt with a hearing impairment, hostile treatment based on race, and even a broken leg, but still fiercely pursues lofty goals in the swimming pool and classroom.

“I’m hearing impaired, I wear glasses, I’m black and I’m a female, so those are four things that some people can try to use to hold you down, but I know it’s going to be a lot of that in the real world and I have learned that when you come upon an obstacle you don’t give up—you make a way,” said Anquniece, reflecting a maturity that would be expected in a much older person.

Anquniece also offers mature advice for other African American girls that may have a talent or interest in swimming.

“If you really want to go on to success, the hair, nails and make-up can be fixed later,” advises Anquniece, who also likes to take on challenges outside of the pool and talks about becoming a biological or chemical engineer.

Anquniece expresses great appreciation for the support of her mother and Coach Peterson in helping her to become a strong swimmer. She also recently received help from an unexpected source—controversial Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.

“When I saw him I was first afraid to go up to him, but he gave me some tips to help my technique,” said Anquniece of a chance encounter with Lochte at a YMCA in Orlando, Florida. “To get that from a professional swimmer really did inspire me.”

And while Anquniece returns to PSL competition in much better health than she was last season, she approaches her sport as if she still has much to prove.

“Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard,” said Anquniece, who looks forward to swimming with her King teammates this Thursday (Sept. 15) during dual meet competition against Harper Woods at Western International High School.

Dynamic duos help power Osborn and Denby

National football recruiting analysts like what they see in the PSL

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle Earning stars is not just the domain of military generals. High school athletes also covet stars, as they seek the attention of coaches and schools across the nation.

Sports media often discuss and dissect multi-starred recruits, but less is said about how the ratings are determined.

“Rating a prospect is simply this: Who will this player be at the college level?” said Josh Helmholdt, Rivals.com Midwest analyst.

“Same as the NFL Draft is evaluating what a player will be at the NFL level. It is a subjective measurement, based on film and in-person evaluations over the course of several years of a player’s prep career.

Rivals.com is one nation’s most respected evaluators of high school football, which is played by more than one million studentathletes across our nation’s high schools. The elite Rivals 250 Prospect Ranking for the Class of 2016 included four four-star standouts from Detroit that have gone on to in-state collegiate powerhouses: receiver Donnie Corley (Martin Luther King/ Michigan State); two-way lineman Michael Onwenu (Cass Tech/Michigan), cornerback Lavert Hill (Martin Luther King/Michigan) and defensive back Demetric Vance (Cass Tech/Michigan State).

As this section was going to press, three Detroit PSL prospects were listed on the Rivals 250 list for the Class of 2017, led by Cass Tech’s five-star receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who appears as the Number 13 rated recruit over all positions. Also appearing on the list are four-star standouts Ambry Thomas (DB, Martin Luther King) and Donovan Johnson (DB, Cass Tech).

To receive up-to-the moment ratings and recruitment information about Detroit and national prospects, please visit rivals.com.

Deshawn Nevitt

Bryant Graham

Adonte Calhoun

Keanan Harris

During a hard fought Week 3 contest with Renaissance, Osborn senior Bryant Graham found a way to make explosive offensive plays. In the first quarter he scored a touchdown after catching a screen pass from quarterback Isaiah Watts, covering 52 yards on the play.

And with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, and the scored tied, 6-6, Graham struck again from deep in Osborn territory. His 98-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds left secured a 12-6 victory for the Knights.

Graham had an opportunity to win the game in large part due to the play of fellow Osborn senior Deshawn Nevitt, who starred on defense, registering 11 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble.

At Henry Ford, another dynamic senior duo was on display, as running back Adonte Calhoun and defensive end Keanan Harris led the way for the visiting Denby Tars in a 40-14 victory. Calhoun rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns and Harris recorded three tackles for loss, two sacks and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown, as Denby improved to 3-0 for the season.

Exciting football action across the PSL returns Friday.

Where are they Now? Former scholar-athletes from Detroit continue to make their mark for college and professional teams. Following is a small sampling of Detroit products that made contributions during recent games: Northern Illinois safety Mycial Allen (Martin Luther King) made five tackles, four of them solo, in the Huskies’ 48-17 loss against South Florida.

San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (Central) registered three receptions for 20 yards, in the Chargers’ 33-27 loss against Kansas City.

Gates, regarded as one of the best to ever play the tight end position in the NFL despite never playing a down of college football, now has 847 career receptions for 10,664 yards and 104 TDs. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (Crockett Tech) had two tackles, including one sack, in the Eagles’ 29-10 victory against Cleveland.

Iowa cornerback Desmond King (East English Village) made four solo tackles in the Hawkeyes’ 42-3 victory against Iowa State.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (Martin Luther King) had three tackles, including one sack, in the Packers’ 27-23 victory against Jacksonville.

Toledo safety DeJuan Rogers (Cass Tech) had four tackles and two pass break-ups in the Rockets’ 45-3 victory against Maine.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Detroit Public School League football games Western (3-0) at King (3-0), 4 p.m.

Central (1-2) at Osborn (2-1), 4 p.m.

East English (2-1) at Denby (3-0), 4 p.m.

Cass (3-0) at Southeastern (1-2), 4 p.m.

Henry Ford (0-3) at Renaissance (1-2), 4 p.m.

DCP-Northwestern (0-3) at Cody (2-1), 4 p.m.

CMA (1-2) at Mumford (2-1), 4 p.m.

Douglass (0-3) at Pershing (0-3), 4 p.m.

Source: Detroit Public Schools Athletic Department Office

Your Feedback Matters The “Best of Young Detroit” welcomes feedback from our community. Please submit story suggestions and other comments to Scott Talley at stalleyassociates@gmail.com or 313-590-3686.

PAGE B-3 ASK THE

COMMUNITY Powered by Real Times Media

September 14-20, 2016

DOCTOR

PTSD - Not just for veterans A recent question came from the mother of a child who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. She was confused because she thought that was related to soldiers in war situations. Her child was too young to be a soldier and had never been in a combat zone.

PTSD is a mental health disorder that occurs after experiencing a traumatic event. It is easy to understand why people relate it to the military. It was first described in American literature after World War I, and was often called “shell shock.” After World War II it became known as “battle fatigue.”

There was much more research in the 1950s and 1960s with survivors of the Holocaust and Vietnam war, resulting in the term PTSD. However, anyone who has experienced a traumatic event could have PTSD symptoms.

Traumatic events include natural disasters such as a tornado or earthquake; a car accident; sexual or physical assault; a life-threatening illness; or a serious accident at home or work.

The child diagnosed with PTSD could have been the victim, or could have witnessed any of these sorts of events, and the mother might not have been aware of it.

What are symptoms to look out for? The symptoms can be broken down into four categories.

Re-experiencing, or re-living the event: This includes nightmares about the event, or flashbacks. Flashbacks are when you feel like you are actually going through the event again.

The nightmares and flashbacks are often triggered by something that reminds you of the event, such as a movie, a smell or a sound.

Avoidance: People will often avoid those triggers, or things that make them think about the event. For example, you may avoid the place where the event happened. Or you may avoid talking or thinking about the event. Some people try to stay busy, or may even turn to alcohol and/or drugs to keep themselves from remembering the event.

Hyperarousal, or feeling anxious/jittery: This is when people are always on the alert.

You may have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. It could be hard to concentrate or keep focused on things. You may be jumpy, or easy to startle.

Numbness: This can be a part of avoidance. You may push down your feelings and feel blank or numb. You may not remember some aspects of the event. You may start avoiding people, or find that you don’t enjoy activities that you used to enjoy anymore.

While the symptoms are overwhelming for people suffering from PTSD, and the people who care about them, it is important to remember that there are good treatments available, and recovery is possible. Treatment may include counseling, and there are very specific therapy techniques for PTSD. For some people, treatment may include medication, which could be short-term or long-term.

There are also support groups for those suffering from PTSD, as well as their families.

People have asked me if I can help them forget the traumatic event.

Successful treatment and recovery do not mean that you will forget the event. Instead, you regain your self-confidence, you learn how to cope with challenges, you start achieving your goals, and gain a sense that your life is worth living.

You can find behavioral health resources at www.dwmha.com or by calling (800) 2414949.

Dr. Carmen McIntyre is the chief medical officer at Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority. If you have a question for Dr. McIntyre, please submit it to AskTheDr@dwmha.com.

Pamela Moore (left), president, Detroit Public Schools Foundation; Asha Hill, scholarship recipient; and Mindy Lopus, director, Go Red For Women for Southeast Michigan American Heart Association

DMC Heart Hospital hosts goREDTALKS

By Patreice A. Massey Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state of Michigan and the nation. Over the past five years in Michigan, 58,298 women have died of heart disease. This number of women could easily fill Comerica Park for a Detroit Tigers game, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Every day about 2,200 Americans die from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, which averages out to one person every 40 seconds.

Katrina McCree, marketing director for Health Insurance Operations at Detroit Medical Center (DMC), could have been one of those people. McCree took the stage to tell her story of how what began as a typical day at work would change her life forever.

“I was about to eat lunch. I had a sandwich and I could not grasp the sandwich. It just kept falling out of my hand. It was very strange,” said McCree.

Things quickly went from strange to scary as McCree was in what she described as a confused state.

“I couldn’t figure out what was happening,” she said.

McCree got up and attempted to walk it off, when her coworker asked, “where are you going?” McCree heard her but could not respond, because her body and brain were at odds.

As she was trying to open the door to her office she lost the feeling in her limbs and collapsed.

Luckily for McCree, she works in a hospital and was able to get immediate medical attention. Over the course of three days, she underwent a battery of tests and learned that she had experienced a stroke.

“The MRI revealed I had a stroke and the Doppler test found a blocked carotid artery,” she said. A piece of plaque had broken off and tried to move through her artery but couldn’t get through, thus creating a blockage and the recipe for disaster. McCree was stunned.

“I didn’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol and wasn’t diabetic. I felt like there

Pamela Moore (left), Cydney Gardner-Brown, scholarship first runner-up, and Mindy Lopus should’ve been a warning.”

But there was a warning when doctors discovered that she was pre-disposed to heart disease given her family history, including her brother, Kelly, who died from a heart attack at the age of 29.

McCree went on to make several health and heart conscious changes in her lifestyle, and now speaks about her experience in hopes that it will help someone else make the change.

“Unfortunately, we live in a society where people don’t believe things until it happens to them or someone they know.

I am trying to be that person they know. The person that makes them say ‘I don’t want this to happen to me.’ We have to become more health conscious,” said McCree.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, accounting for more than 17 million deaths per year. Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in 2013.

The problem is so great and affects so many that the DMC Heart Hospital was designed to improve the heart health of Detroit, southeastern Michigan and the entire region. They have dedicated powerful resources to creating a cardiac care center that leads the region in research and care.

One such powerful resource is their partnership with the AHA and Mindy Lopus, director of Go Red For Women for the Southeast Michigan AHA who created the goREDTAKS. Loosely modeled after the highly successful "TED Talks,” (TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas and information, in the form of short, powerful talks on a variety of topics) the idea behind goREDTALKS is to promote ideas that relate back to the lifesaving work of the AHA, but are not necessarily about the AHA. “We started the talks about two years ago because we realized that people didn’t understand the full scope of everything we do and we wanted to become more accessible to the community,” said Lopus.

Last Friday the AHA, in partnership with DMC Heart Hospital, held their first-ever, exclusive “goREDTALKS.” The half-day event was held in the new DMC Heart Hospital and featured national and local speakers who shared their brief yet insightful viewpoints and stories on how healthcare, and more specifically cardiac care, impacts our community.

“Our partnership with the American Heart Association helps us bring this event to life, providing a unique series of speakers with great insight into healthcare, the city of Detroit and how they come together for the benefit of every person who enters our doors," said Theodore Schrieber, presi-

Katrina McCree, marketing director, Health Insurance Operations, DMC

dent of DMC Heart Hospital.

Other speakers included Jiri Fischer of the Detroit Red Wings, whose playing career ended abruptly in November 2005 after he went into cardiac arrest during a game. Fischer narrowly escaped death due to the immediate action of doctors and arena personnel. He subsequently retired due to his heart problems.

The audience also heard from 16-year-old Cydney Gardner–Brown.

Gardner-Brown was the first runner-up in the ONE BOLD GIRL, ONE BOLD THOUGHT scholarship contest. The contest was open to incoming senior girls in the DPS STEM program. Gardner-Brown's talk described how she had unwillingly become a member of one of the most dangerous “clubs” in the country. She likened the club to a gang that has been ruthlessly killing thousands of people every year.

“I am afraid for my life,” she said.

The “club” she was talking about was heart disease, and both her grandmother and grandfather had fallen victim to the club and died of heart related causes.

All of the speakers helped to put a face on heart disease. The stories were varied, but most importantly they were real. The goREDTALKS offer an opportunity to share experiences and solutions to make the changes necessary to improve the health of our community.

A Real Times Media Newspaper 479 Ledyard, • Detroit, MI 48201

(313) 963-5522 e-mail:newsdesk@michronicle.com September 14-20, 2016

Page B-4

HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher

Quote of the Week

CATHY NEDD Associate Publisher

“If you are a Democrat and get less than 90 percent of the black vote, you are going to likely lose the election.”

— Roland Martin

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

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

An open letter to the Michigan Chronicle

Story glossed over major issues with new RTA transit funding plan Montez Miller photo

What do black folks gain by voting for Trump?

By V. Lonnie Peek Jr.

As a black man in America, as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in presidential campaigns. On the night when Barack Obama was elected president, as many did, I shed tears of joy. I thought of how I wish my parents were there to see this. I remember my dad, Rev. Vassie L. Peek, many decades ago saying, “Lonnie during your lifetime, there will be a black president.”

America and the world now find themselves on the front row observing an unexpected presidential “nightmare.”

Billionaire Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president. His battle with the first woman nominated V. Lonnie Peek Jr. by a major political party, Democrat Hillary Clinton, is a “tug of war.”

Historically, the African American and Hispanic vote has gone to the Democratic presidential candidate. Trump’s recent special efforts to reach out to these two voting blocs is interesting.

He formed a National Hispanic Council to advise him on how to influence that constituency. They were told by Trump that he would soften his stance on deporting those of Hispanic descent who are here illegally and that he would consider some type of program that would give them a “pathway forward” to citizenship.

Well, after his meeting with Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, later that night, while giving a major speech on immigration policy, Trump changed on any ideas of an amnesty plan. Members of his Hispanic Council felt betrayed and being used as “Hispanic props.”

Recently, Trump ventured into Detroit in an effort to reach out to black folks. He accepted an invitation from Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, owner of Impact Network, the only Christian TV station owned by African Americans. Some raised objections to Bishop Jackson’s invite to Trump, but we must put it into perspective that this was a business decision to get him to Detroit. Understand that Hillary Clinton has also been invited.

During Trump’s prepared speech before the congregation, he spoke on how the African American church has been a “moral compass of America.” True! And while somebody wrote a very scripted presentation for him, there were several points that I could not digest. One was when he stated that “the present political system only benefits the rich.” If I recall correctly, when questioned about his numerous bankruptcies he stated, “All I did was use what was available to me to my benefit.” He didn’t care about the companies that went bankrupt because he never paid them or the workers that lost their jobs. Then he said, “When you see workers’ wages falling, that’s wrong.” He previously stated that America’s workers are paid too much and that he does not support raising the minimum wage.

Then, there’s the issue of all of his merchandising productions being done in foreign countries. He has no manufacturing produced in America. Then, he had the audacity to say “our nation is too divided, we spend too much time talking past each other.” Now this man wants to build a wall, wants to deport 11 million folks, wants to deny immigrants entry before passing a test of what he calls allegiance to America. He also has talked about women and how people look. Talk about “spewing the vision,” he masters that. He is a hypocrite.

In order to put Trump’s candidacy into perspective, you must also understand that he is representing the Republican Party. So, what does the Republican Party represent that benefits black folks?

Well, here in Michigan, Republicans are leading the charge to disallow straight party ticket voting. This process permits voters to choose an entire slate of candidates, based upon their

party, with just one ballot marking. This is a method that many black voters utilize because it facilitates the voting process. It was abolished in January 2016

by Republican legislators. In July 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin Drain issued a preliminary injunction stopping the enactment of this law. His ruling stated that it will reduce African Americans’ opportunity to participate in the state’s political process and will suppress their right to vote, making the voting process more complicated. Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson have filed an appeal.

Then, we have South Carolina and Texas’ proposed Voter Picture ID Laws.

They were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Research showed that these laws focused on the black population. In the court’s ruling it stated that “it targeted black voting patterns with surgical percussion.” These laws also eliminated same-day registration which allows you to register and vote on the same day. Republican legislatures declared that this was necessary to curtail voter fraud, even though research showed that in both states there is very little voter fraud.

These voter restriction actions proposed by the Republican Party are known as “voter suppression.” In other words, instead of making it easier to vote, Republicans want to make it more difficult for minorities because they generally vote Democratic.

Another issue is on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick B. Garland for the Supreme Court in March 2016. He is a well known figure in Washington circles, with impeccable legal credentials. Even though Republicans and Democrats have agreed that this judge is a consensus builder and legal scholar, he has never been given a hearing or brought before the committee that recommends a vote for a candidate. The Republicans blocked any forward progress and would not give him the courtesy of moving his nomination forward. Why not?

They stated that President Obama did not have the right to nominate a candidate, since he was a “lame Duck president.” Nowhere is this stated as a law. so does being a “lame duck president” mean you don’t do anything in your final year? They wanted to block President Obama, anticipating that a Republican could win the presidency and they would then make the next nomination.

President Obama made a statement several months ago that “usually when different parties disagree, they come together and work out compromises.”

But these Republicans’ main objective during his presidency is to block whatever he proposes. Why is that? Does this have anything to do with President Obama’s race? Well, they would never admit that.

One more issue that was led by Republicans was the “birther movement.”

These were individuals who hounded President Obama to show his birth certificate. This was done to discredit him, claiming that he was not born in America, therefore, disqualifying him to be president. Such effort had never been made for any other presidential candidate or president. Well, guess who was one of the main leaders of this movement? That’s right, Donald Trump.

He got in front of the parade to harass the first black president to force him to prove that he was born in America.

When the president released his birth certificate, Trump held a press conference and stated, “I’m so proud of myself today, no one else could get him to show his birth certificate, but I did.” Trump used this issue to raise his profile and position himself among a certain constituency that he would later tap into during this presidential season.

So, what do black folks gain by voting for Trump? They will be voting for a man who is a hypocrite, a divider, one who attacked the first black president, one who has put countless companies out of business, forced workers to lose their jobs, manufactures his products abroad. So what do blacks have to gain?

Nothing! What do they have to lose?

Everthing, and self-respect!

Dear Editor: The article in the Aug. 24 edition of the Michigan Chronicle titled “Is the RTA anti-Detroit?” fell far short of the standard of objectivity and fairness that metro Detroiters have come to expect from the Michigan Chronicle. Not only were the differing views of both sides of this argument grossly skewed against the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), but the tone of the article ridiculed and oversimplified a dispute that has been decades in the making.

While the writer conceded that “something triggered the discontent” of 843 Detroit­ ers who joined our petition and complaint and that ATU gave members something to “complain about,” he Fred A. Westbrook Jr. dismissed our argument out of hand and then rendered a detailed, extensive rehash of the RTA’s position.

There is not a rational thinking leader in the metro Detroit area who does not subscribe to inevitability and necessity of a regional transportation system. Our issue with the Regional Transit Authority is this: How do we fairly and progressively get there? Do we want two transit systems that are separate and unequal?

That is what we will have if there is no seamless connectivity between the systems.

Our position is simple and it is one we hope will be adopted by the Detroit City Council and ultimately the voting public before each gives its support of the RTA funding millage proposed for the November ballot. Detroit funding should be restored to the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT). The adoption of a new funding formula by the RTA board created a loss of $8 million for DDOT and shifted it to SMART. That formula went from 65 percent to Detroit versus 35 percent for SMART to 50 percent for Detroit and 50 percent for SMART. There were more egregious formulas considered, including one that would have reduced DDOT’s share of the pie to 19 percent.

When we spoke with Mayor Mike Duggan and Dan Dirks during a recent meeting, the mayor was outraged at ATU for accusing the two of downplaying the importance of the $8 million loss because of their former ties to SMART. (Duggan and Dirks both served as executives with SMART in the past.) They both dismissed it as only capital money. We reminded them that DDOT has closed one terminal and has another in bad disrepair. The city could have used that money to effect repair of DDOT infrastructure. After a cooling off, Duggan said he agreed that Detroit should have the majority share of transit funding but then said that was unlikely because Detroit has one vote on the RTA board. We told him that we could help him get the funding back by challenging the RTA. Weakened routes in Detroit must be improved so that riders do not have to wait more than 25 minutes for a coach — currently they can wait as long as an hour on some routes. The RTA will argue that Detroit’s population has decreased and that justifies reducing share of funding. However, DDOT still typically carries three passengers for every one passenger carried by SMART, so how can this be fair? Long waits for service throughout the city and poor maintenance of coaches — all due to lack of resources and funding — contributed to the loss of ridership that the RTA uses as its reason for changing the city’s funding. It’s like a doctor blaming the patient for being sick. Long waits present problems for the elderly, workers, schoolchildren and creates a potential for crimes to occur. How do we connect to these super routes from home?

We were forced to choose which routes we would get for this new upcoming refleX service, Woodward or Gratiot, both which represent an important part of our operating funds historically. Now that funding will become impacted by this wasteful duplicated service.

There needs to be wage parity between SMART and DDOT drivers, thereby maintaining service quality and customer satisfaction. Although this may seem more important to the union than to the public, it should be understood that the ATU has in the past, and currently, has fought for better service that

benefits Detroit voters and the poor people who don’t have a voice in the political system. The history of this union has been one of fighting for better and safer transportation. It is insulting to encroach on DDOT’s most productive routes and pay Detroit drivers less for doing the same work that SMART drivers do, while bleeding the central city bus system (DDOT) of badly needed funds.

The independence and autonomy of the Detroit Department of Transportation is on the verge of being sacrificed for the sake of the Regional Transit Authority and bus service within the boundaries of the city of Detroit will suffer for it. Service will be worse unless major changes are made. Beyond the wages it is a matter of pride in our city that we became victims of a discriminating and bias funding formula change.

The writer of the Chronicle editorial — rather than a news story the piece smacked of commentary and opinion — did not even answer his own headline: The RTA as it is envisioned in the November ballot proposal is anti-Detroit, given the shifting of funds to SMART. There is not one iota of truth to proposition that the RTA will benefit DDOT, much less the citizens of Detroit. He also failed to print the statistics that the ATU union provided: ■ 83 percent of Detroit’s population is African American ■ 41 percent of Wayne County’s population is African American ■ Only 14 percent of Oakland County’s population is African American compared to 77 percent white ■ Only 9 percent of Macomb County’s population is African American, compared to 85 percent white The areas with the largest African American population are receiving funding cuts, while the areas with the largest white population are enjoying funding increases, even though those areas serve fewer riders. Add to that mix that the RTA does not take into consideration one of the most condemning aspects of this formula change and its impact on those living below poverty level: ■ 40 percent of Detroit residents live below the federal poverty level ■ 24 percent in Wayne County ■ Compared to Oakland County only 10 percent and Macomb County 12 percent The county executive in Oakland and Macomb counties are today’s modern day sheriffs of Nottingham, robbing the poor and giving to the rich. They either out-negotiated Detroit representatives in the most recent RTA negotiations, making it almost impossible to ever get the formula back or there is an attempt to weaken DDOT either by omission or commission. Who is standing up for Detroit? This is the theme we will continue to ask of our city councils, the mayor and all civil rights activists who need to let their voices be heard.

Where is the fairness in cutting the budget for DDOT when the system services more than 100,000 riders each day compared to the 35,000 handled

by SMART daily? Where is the fairness when more than half of all riders — DDOT and SMART — are Detroit residents? In what world is it fair to expect Detroit to close facilities or let its infrastructure fall in disrepair when SMART has yet to close one facility?

What is the benefit of an enhanced suburban system that transports workers to outer rim employment if workers in the city cannot utilize feeder routes or must wait extraordinary times just to catch a D-DOT bus to begin their connections? Plans are to ask the voters of all four counties and the city to approve a property tax millage for regional transit in November. What you must consider is that changing the formula caused D-DOT to lose $8.2 million annually and will be shifted to SMART, and the RTA millage is only going to yield 8 million, so what do we gain? Nothing, we will be $200,000 in the hole.

Taking the sum total of all our complaints into consideration, the composition of the RTA board is not such that Detroit’s needs can be satisfied, unless those needs are addressed prior to the funding and establishment of the RTA structure. Anything less than satisfaction of those pressing needs is in fact discriminatory and harmful to Detroit.

Fred A. Westbrook Jr., president, business agent, ATU

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

Page B-5

Detroit NAACP Notice of Fall meetings and November election Dear Member: Please note the following General Membership meetings of the NAACP Detroit Central Branch for the purpose of the election of officers and at-large members of the executive committee.

Photo Credit: Barbara Barefield

Harvest Festival at Palmer Park

An annual nature celebration with apples, animals and hayrides through the woods Autumn in Detroit’s Palmer Park would not be complete without a hayride through the colorful trails at People for Palmer Park's annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 4 pm.

2. On Oct. 27, at the Detroit Central Branch NAACP Office located at 8220 Second Ave., Detroit, there will be a report of the Nominating Committee, receipt of Nominations

by Petition, and election of the Election Supervisory Committee.

More than a century ago, Senator Thomas Palmer and wife Lizzie Merrill Palmer would often invite guests to enjoy their Log Cabin Farm, drink freshly pressed apple cider, and enjoy the harvest. Palmer donated the land in the late 1800s to the city of Detroit to serve as a park “for the good of all.”

All members whose memberships are current as of April 1 may be nominated for office or as at-large member of the Executive Committee. In order to sign a nominating petition, or be elected to the Election Supervisory Committee, a member must be current as of 30 days prior to the October meeting.

In honor of the harvest and in celebration of the Palmer legacy, the area across from the Splash Park on Merrill Plaisance, adjacent to People for Palmer Park's community garden, will be filled with autumn festivities and free family fun.

Farmer John and his Barnyard Express show and petting zoo will return. Some of the season’s bounty will be shared: apple tasting (with five different varieties of heirloom apples), apple cider and donut holes for the first 500; corn grilling and pumpkin picking. Musician/storyteller Jahra Michelle McKinney will spin songs and tales; children will explore African instruments. Arts and crafts activities and pumpkin decorating will take place in PFPP's big blue art tent, and a special squash display will demonstrate the wide variety of pumpkins and squash that grow in Michigan and how they look inside and out. Then try your luck at tug-of-war, sack races and other old-fashioned games.

This will be a fun opportunity for all ages to learn about how our food is grown, the lives of farm animals, and nature in the park.

During Harvest Fest, learn about the very exciting Lake Frances Revival Proj-

1. On Sept. 22, at the Detroit Central Branch NAACP office located at 8220 Second Ave., Detroit, at 6 pm there will be an election of the Nominating Committee. All members whose memberships are current as of 30 days prior to the meeting date may be elected to the Nominating Committee.

ect. People for Palmer Park, in partnership with the landscape architecture firm Conservation Design Forum, has been working on a plan to revitalize Lake Frances. The benefits of blue/green infrastructure and revitalization strategies for Palmer Park's Lake Frances will be discussed. This initiative is funded by The Kresge Foundation.

The event takes place next to Palmer Park’s Splash Park and new playground, on Merrill Plaisance near Pontchartrain, between McNichols and Seven Mile, west of Woodward Avenue. Parking is available at the Splash Park parking lot.

sance, west of Woodward between Six and Seven Mile.

There is no charge to take in the sights, celebrate and appreciate Palmer Park and this special nature harvest.

The Harvest Festival complete with petting zoo, Farmer John animal shows and hayride through the woods will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m .

The Harvest Festival at Palmer park is presented by People for Palmer Park with the support of the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Dept., Hitachi Corp., Quicken Loans, BNP Media, and Walker Miller Energy Services.

People of all ages are encouraged to take a trip and join the fun at Palmer Park, by the Splash Park parking lot, Merrill Plai-

Special thanks to Home Depot for a grant and volunteers who made it possible to build the PFPP Educational Garden.

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3. On Nov. 17, the election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee will take place at the Detroit Central Branch NAACP Office located at 8220 Second Ave., Detroit. Polls will open from 8 am to 6 pm. In order to vote in a Branch election, one must be a member in good standing of the Branch 30 days prior to the election.

A form of identification is required.

Should a runoff election be necessary, that election shall occur on Dec. 15, at the NAACP Detroit Central Branch located at 8220 Second Ave. Detroit The polls will be open from 8 am until 6 pm.

We look forward to your participating in these activities.

Dr. Shekitra Green (Secretary)

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SECTION C

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Pay attention to the Financial Review Commission

By Ryan Mack The Michigan Financial Review Commission Act established the Financial Review Commission which was tasked with overseeing the financial operations of the City of Detroit as it emerged from bankruptcy.

In March 2016, that statute was expanded to allow the FRC to oversee the financial operations of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Given the new statutes which permit city residents to elect their own governing school board, and the recent confusion with respect to the proper authorities of the FRC over the school board, it is critical that an memorandum of understanding between the FRC and the newly elected board of the DPSCD be discussed immediately upon the election of a new school board. This MOU will clearly define the specific roles and authorities possessed by the FRC as it relates to the newly formed DPSCD board.

Kenneth Dixon following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather at Dixon’s Barbershop, a family business that spans three generations on the Avenue of Fashion. – Keith A. Owens photos

The best black business district in Detroit?

It is undeniable that the Detroit Public Schools have been plagued with financial issues in the past. However, many of these problems cannot be laid at the feet of the citizens and their ability to elect a fully-empowered school board. At the time the school board lost its power initially, in 1999, it had a surplus of nearly $100 million. The state legislature acted to remove this elected board from power at that time, and a reform-board governed the school board for six years.

By Keith A. Owens Senior Editor

When most of the national media talks about Detroit’s comeback, they normally focus on two areas, downtown or Midtown. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that, because for certain there has been a tremendous — and tremendously welcome — development boom in those areas.

In 2005, when the elected school board briefly took over power again, the reform-board left the elected school board with a $200 million deficit. The school district deficits, mostly while under direct state control, have slid downward ever since.

But if you take the Lodge Freeway out of downtown, then take the Livernois exit and drive up to 7 Mile, you hit the historic Avenue of Fashion, which is experiencing a noticeable resurgence of its own. But long before Detroit became “hot” again, and even before the Avenue of Fashion began attracting renewed positive attention as a desirable area for small business development, longtime business owners in the area remained committed to the community as what they believe to be the best black business district in the entire city.

The financial problems of the school district are intricately linked to the circumstances causing the financial downfall of the city of Detroit itself — circumstances not uncommon to many Midwestern urban centers. Detroit’s population has been sliding since the 1950s as many families with the means to leave for the suburbs have done so. Further, in 1994 the state changed its method of funding education, from property taxes to a “per pupil” grant issued by the state. As the school district’s enrollment slid from 95,000 in 2009 to less than 48,000 currently, the grant funding left as the students left to enroll in other districts.

Not long ago, the Michigan Chronicle had the opportunity to chat with the owners of three of these businesses: Rhonda Morrison (House of Morrison Professional Shoe Care), David Dixon and son Kenneth (Dixon’s Barber Shop), and Larry Swygert (L. Swygert). Two of these businesses, Dixon’s Barber Shop and House of Morrison, are two of the three oldest black-owned businesses on the strip, according to Morrison. And Morrison, who at times appears to be as much of a community griot as she is a respected business owner, would know.

David Dixon

The financial problems are societal ills which extend far beyond the board room of the school board — elected, appointed or otherwise empowered.

And notwithstanding their intellectual and experiential prowess, these problems are well outside the capacity of a Financial Review Commission to fix.

“The first black business from 8 Mile to 6 Mile (on Livernois) was Wendell’s Hair Salon, and he used to be next door to the shoe man on Dexter,” she said.

“Well, where there’s a shoe shop there’s a barber shop. So the Dixons went next door to the shoe shop. When Wendell moved off of Dexter, he told Mr. Dixon. So Mr. Dixon’s here now.”

It is important for the elected school board and the Financial Review Commission to work together to respond to these societal ills. However, we must move beyond blaming the prior board for the current challenges, and certainly must avoid hamstringing the future school board with the board’s historical challenges.

See Financial Review Page C-2

When Morrison’s father, Ted Morrison, moved in, the House of Morrison became the third black-owned business on Livernois.

Rhonda Morrison “We've been here since the early ’70s. My father started the business in 1954. He started on Joy Road and Grand See BLACK BUSINESS DISTRICT Page C-2

Larry Swygert

Comcast’s Internet Essentials helps low-income families bridge the digital divide In five short years, the cable giant Comcast has achieved incredible success with its Internet Essentials program, connecting 750,000 low-income households to the power of the Web. But for Karima Zedan, the director of the program, it’s time to dream even bigger.

“We are not complacent by any stretch, we want to continue to grow the program and connect as many families as possible,” Zedan said. “We won’t stop. We won’t rest on our laurels.”

Five years ago, Comcast began its mission to help close the digital divide for low-income families. In all, it’s estimated that three million individuals now benefit from the program and Comcast has also invested more than $300 million in cash and in-kind support to help fund digital literacy training and educational

ally, the cable provider has also announced that it would give an additional $2 million in grants during the current back-to-school season to community-based organizations that provide vital digital literacy training and Internet access.

“I don’t think anyone here at Comcast, when the program launched in August of 2011, imagined it would grow to be the program that it is today,” Zedan said. “No other company or government organization has ever attempted anything of this size and scale before. We designed the program on best available research. We mobilized a company-wide effort with hundreds of volunteers, thousands of partners.” initiatives, reaching about 4.4 million people through national and local nonprofit community partners.

The program allows quali-

fying families to pay $9.95 per month for Internet service, including Wi-Fi. Comcast also offers a subsidized computer or laptop for $150. Addition-

While Comcast officials said they don’t believe that one company can close the digital divide all by itself, their efforts have led to success that have not

gone unnoticed.

David L. Cohen, Comcast’s senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer, said that solving a big, societal issue like the digital divide takes a movement.

According to data collected in the 2013 American Community Survey, 98.1 percent of households earning $150,000 or more owned a computer and 94.9 percent reported Internet use. For households earning less than $25,000, that level of access drops to 62.4 percent for computer ownership and less than 50 percent (48.4 percent) for Internet usage in the home.

Internet Essentials provides students the tools they need to succeed in and outside the classroom, according to the research. Prior to the launch of Internet Essentials, the nation

See ESSENTIALS Page C-2

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

Black business district River,” said Morrison.

“Our family house was at Yosemite and Grand River, one block east. My father was by trade a millwright for Vernor’s and Coca-Cola. He was also a truck driver for Michigan Hydrant and Valve. This is when everything north of 8 Mile was forest. Part of his job was taking the piping north of 8 Mile for sewage.”

As Morrison tells it, her father got a parking ticket that he didn’t pay.

“Back then you’d lose your license for one unpaid ticket,” she said.

Morrison’s father was called into the office of Hydrant and Valve.

“A white boy was there who’d had a DUI. The white boy was given work in the shipyard.

They told my father, ‘go pay your ticket and don’t come back.’ My father decided that was the last time somebody else was gonna decide whether his children (Rhonda is one of five girls) were gonna eat or not. And he started praying. And he said God told him to figure out what you can do to service the community you live in. And my father said, ‘shine shoes.’ And he built a shoeshine stand that went in our backyard on Yosemite. He cleared up his license, he continued working for Michigan Hydrant and Valve, and he started shining shoes on Sundays. My father used to walk the block from Grand River to Linwood and collect shoes.”

Ted Morrison later heard a sermon by Elijah Muhammad at Muslim Mosque #1 that inspired him considerably.

“It was a sermon that said that if you employ yourself and one person, you are a successful businessperson. And my

not go to barber school like my family did, and I think it was one of the best things I could have done at the time.”

Nearly 20 years later, in the early ’70s, was when Morrison’s father found a new building for relocation.

Kenneth went to Michigan Barber College on Grand River off Joy. He graduated in 1991, then started at the shop in 1992. He said working at the shop changed the course of his life for the better.

Fast forward to 1991.

Rhonda’s nephew, Keenan,had been getting into a bit of trouble running with the wrong crowd, so she entrusted him with cleaning up the shop each day. He did a great job, then over time gradually began to learn the business as well.

“He was around it enough that he learned it,” she said.

By 2010, Rhonda Morrison was feeling like she could retire.

“I said, Oh I’m outta here. Keenan got this. He can run it.”

She asked Keenan if this was what he wanted to do, and he said yes.

So Morrison invested $62,000 in all new equipment for the shop. Then she applied for a grant.

She won the grant.

“But I don’t know that we won the grant because on the Fourth of July of 2014, Keenan was killed

Financial Review

From page C-1

Section 6 of the Michigan Financial Review Commission Act obligates the FRC to perform certain oversight functions over the school board. Section 7 of the Act permits, but does not obligate, the FRC to perform certain oversight obligations. These required and permitted oversight functions are unspecified and vague in many respects. The FRC may waive the obligations of these sections after three years of deficit-free budgets and other financial requirements are met.

their vote. Even under the guise of financial distress, there is no justification for compromising this franchise.

The Michigan Financial Review Commission Act is the current law. We must follow the las, but even while operating under this restrictive authority we must ensure the peoples’ voices be heard by adhering to a well-defined memorandum of understanding.

There is precedent for this approach. When the city elected its mayor in the midst of emergency management, in 2013, the mayor and emergency manager wisely negotiated an arrangement. This arrangement was meant to clearly define the roles of the mayor and the emergency manager, and more importantly established accountability for the elected mayor in certain critical functions.

We live in a society where the most important franchise of each citizen is “one person = one vote.” On that day when each Detroiter votes, he is of equal value and influence to this function of our society. For that right to be denied or even compromised undermines the voice of the people and

Rhonda Morrison in a car crash, him and his little brother,” she sadly recalled.

David Dixon

and

Kenneth

David Dixon’s father started his barbershop on Hastings and Mack, then moved to Dexter and Webb in 1957. In 1969 the shop moved to Livernois where it remains today.

David started working at the shop in 1972, following his brother Elijah who started in 1971. His brother Ernie came on board in 1985. Both brothers have since passed, but son Kenneth, who joined in 1992, is still reporting for duty.

“I was forced to be

in the shop when I was younger. I wasn’t a troublemaker, but trouble seemed to be around me sometimes,” said Kenneth with a smile, to widespread laughter among the clientele in the shop (including his father) who know him well.

“So, you know, for my best interest my dad had me come up here in the later part of the week and clean up. So I saw my dad cutting, and I saw my uncles, and they seemed happy doing what they was doing. So growing up, some of my choices here and there were kinda suspect, so a couple of other jobs I tried didn’t quite pan out, so I decided why

began to focus on the importance of having high-speed Internet access in the home and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) presented the National Broadband Plan in 2010, which articulated the research behind issues of broadband adoption and digital inclusion. Internet Essentials was the first comprehensive and action-oriented response by a major Internet Service Provider to address the three main barriers to broadband adoption.

“To solve one of the great inequalities in our society, it takes passionate individuals from all walks of life who are united and determined,” Cohen said in a statement. “It takes people like Cheryl Hobby, a math teacher at Lee Street Elementary School in Georgia, who embraced Internet Essentials because her students only had access to the school’s computer lab for 45 minutes a day. She saw immediately what having home Internet service could mean for her students’ grades.”

“It takes people like Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who personally made the case that Chicagoans take advantage of this program.”

“We expanded eligibility to all HUD-housing assisted families, of which there are up to two million in our service area across the country,” said Cohen.

With access to the Internet, children can perform research for their homework assignments, download material and even apply to college, she said. Parents can search for employment, view health care options and get access to social services they might need.

“There are so many stories out there of students not having Internet access, some even using their parents’ smartphone in the back of the car writing a paper,” said Zedan. “There are parents who might travel for over an hour to go to a library and sign up for 30 minutes of Internet time and then have to sign up again for another 30 minutes and then travel back home for more than an hour.

“These stories are heartbreak-

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“Let me break it down to you. I came from downtown before they turned the lights out. I had a salon downtown (for maybe 13-14 years) and I hated to leave, but there was nobody down there.

All the businesses were closing up and leaving. So I left from down there and

Cohen said that Comcast and Julián Castro, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, recently announced the biggest, most sweeping change to the program in its history.

Larry Swygert

I came here, and there was maybe only three or four people on this block.”

That was in 1987.

Swygert started out with just one building on Livernois, but then he expanded to open up several other hair salons nearby.

After a while he decided he was “maxing out with hair salons” so he decided to develop small retail spaces and then lease them out to young entrepreneurs at an affordable rate “where they wouldn’t have to sell their soul. I give them an affordable rent, they can build their business up, they can learn business, and then if they decide to expand and move into a bigger place on Livernois they can do that as well.”

“We probably have 10 businesses on this block.

They’re small, but they’re a business. Most of them, when they come up here, they just can’t afford 1,200 or 1,500 square feet. They just can’t survive. And that’s why a lot of these buildings were empty for years, because they couldn’t afford the rent,” he said.

“So it keeps me alive and it keeps them in business. You know, I love downtown, but I tell people this is the best black business district in the city. Right here.”

From page C-1

“Working with my father and my uncles in a family oriented barbershop, at first it was kinda humbling because I had never cut hair before. And coming up here with my dad and my uncles, they were professionals. I was just learning the ropes.

But the thing about it is they were patient with me, and the customers were patient with me,” he said. “I can truly say getting up in the morning and knowing you’re going to work in a place where you know you’ll have fun, it makes a difference.”

Essentials

REACH METRO DETROIT SENIORS

It is critical that the FRC and the newly elected school board of the DPSCD discuss an MOU for clarity, transparency and accountability for all.

Even during this threeyear period, it is important that the roles of FRC and the school board are clearly defined further than outlined within the law. The school board must be given the autonomy and flexibility to operate the district and assure fiscal soundness.

Before the end of November 2016, the transition process for the new school board should be well under way. I propose that the new board and the FRC spend this month to discuss an efficient and appropriate MOU.

From page C-1

father got a brick and mortar on Grand River and Joy Road and opened up a three-chair shoe shine parlor,” she said.

“When my daddy found this building, he went to his father and told him he needed $10,000 to help him buy this building, because the people that were selling it were in some legal matters.

My granddaddy cashed in his life insurance, gave all of their children their $15,000, so that my daddy would have the money to buy the building. He never had a note from the day he opened up. I worked for my daddy for 13 years before he retired,” after which he lived for six more years.

Page C-2

313-963-5522

ing but they also show a commitment by these families to help their children succeed. We’re very happy that everyone who we have been able to provide the service to is using the Internet almost every day.”

Before subscribing to Internet Essentials, 80 percent of the program’s customers lacked an Internet subscription at home. For the rest, most used their data plan on a smartphone or tablet to access the Internet at home. With Internet Essentials, the daily lives of those families are dramatically impacted, Zedan said. Comcast statistics revealed that 51 percent of customers said the program helped them or someone else in their family to find a job.

Many children have been able to turn their lives around by completing courses and applying for college online, thanks to the program, Zedan said.

“When we hear that, it really makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing for the right reasons,” she said. “That’s the goal of this program — to level the playing field.”

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20., 2016

Page C-3

Cass Community Social Services and Ford host Tiny Home Open House Cass Community Social Services and Ford Motor Company recently showcased the first completed tiny home at an open house as part of a unique, first-ever tiny home community in Detroit.

In addition to assisting renters to become homeowners, the 25-home community project will address the city’s neighborhood revitalization needs by bringing a diversity of ages, life-experiences, races and cultures to a new, vibrant setting.

The new Tiny Home community-Cass Community Social Service Campus is at 1564 Elmhurst between the Lodge freeway at Woodrow Wilson, north side of Elmhurst. .

Rev. Faith Fowler, executive director of Cass Community Social Services, Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund, Thomas Lewand, City of Detroit, and Richard Lord, treasurer, RNR Foundation participated in the announcement and celebration.

Cass Community Social Services is developing a neighborhood of 25 tiny

homes to provide safe, clean, affordable housing for low-income individuals or couples.

Ford outlined its lead investment and Ford Volunteer Corps involvement in the project dedicated to providing housing for low-income residents, as part of the company’s increased commitment to revitalizing Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Detroit is changing in many ways and the tiny home project is one of the important contributing factors.

McDonald’s appoints new vice president and general manager for michigan McDonald’s Corporation, one of the largest financial contributors to Michigan’s economy, has appointed Marcos Quesada as its new vice president and general manager of the Michigan region.

Francisco “Pancho” Gonzalez, who previously held the position, has relocated to the Houston region to serve as the new vice president and general manager.

In his new role, Quesada will collaborate with McDonald’s owner/operators and supplier partners to develop and implement a regional strategic business plan, manage and develop staff talent and facilitate civic and community affairs. In Michigan, McDonald’s employs 32,000 people at Marcos Quesada more than 500 locations and annually spends more than $230 million on raw food ingredients grown in Michigan.

Quesada launched his McDonald’s career in 1984 as a crew person in Miami. Over the years, he has moved from restaurant management to director of field service in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Central America and Mexico. He worked at McDonald’s Corporate Operations (McOpCo) in both Central America and Mexico, leading operations, security and training, before joining the home office

team in Oak Brook as the senior director of field service for Latin America.

Quesada then transitioned to the U.S. business to oversee operations for McOpCo in three states in the northeast before moving into the New York metro region in 2011. Most recently, he served as an operations vice president in New York just prior to his current role as vice president and general manager in the Michigan region.

Quesada is the recipient of numerous McDonald’s awards for outstanding performance including the Circle of Excellence Award (2011), Pioneer for the Implementation of the New Production Platform in Latin America (2006), Best Employer Team (2006), Best Crew Satisfaction (2005), Best Service in Latin America (2005), Circle of Excellence (2004 and 2005), Presidents’ Award Candidate (2003), International Marketing Hamburger University Best Group (2000), Team Award (2000), Star Award (2000), and Swing of the Year (1986).

Land of Opportunity.

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BuildingDetroit.org More ways to own your family’s dream home in Detroit.

Probably for a lot LE$$ than renting.

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Marcos Quesada and wife Lucy have been married for 22 years and have four children, Grace, Marcos, Michelle and Anthony.

Not Your Typical Doctor’s Office

Free Health & Wellness Fair Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get a free gift card Wednesday, September 21, 2016 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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Page C-4 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • September 14-20, 2016

September 14-20, 2016 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • Page C-5

TOP FINALISTS

Cast Your Vote TODAY! Voting Closes 9.30.16 Music Hall | 10.20.16 | 6pm Presented by

www.bestinblackdetroit.com

#MCBIB16

Best Attorney

Best School Marching Band

Best Car Dealership

Best Make-Up Artist

Best Business Product

Best Live Band

Adam Clements Carl Collins Cliff Woodards Daniel J. Reid Gary Jones Janecki Nance Jehan Crump-Gibson Judge Craig Strong Judge Vonda Evans Kim Ward Kymberly Kinchen Nikkiya Branch Ray Paige Urenia Ricks-Johnson Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy Wendy Turner Lewis

Cass Tech Marching Band Detroit School of Arts Martin Luther King Jr. Sr. High School Mumford High School Oak Park Marching Legion Renaissance High School River Rouge High School Southfield High School

Authentic Motor Sales Avis Ford Big 3 Auto Sales Jorgensen Ford Mercedes Benz of St. Clair Shores Merollis Chevrolet Prestige Automotive Group Rodgers Chevrolet Royal Oak Ford

Brittany Garner Courtney Shelby Danielle Brown Eonet Brown George McKenney Latia Calloway Liz Richardson (Liz Renee) Rashida Williams Shalonda Wooten Hargress Sydni Jones Talya Ashford Toi Wagner

Banks Bail Bonds App Breathe Spa Products Eco Tax Software Go Smoothies Heritage Optical J’adore Cosmetics PBA Royal The Natural Market

313 Live Experience Band Alise King & The Pure Nastiness Band B. Williams Experiment Circle of Sound Collective Peace Hot Sauce Jukeboxx Larry Lee & The Back in the Day Band Phase 5 and Phase 5 Orchestra Randy Scott

Best Elected Official Congressman John Conyers, Jr. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence Council Member Andre Spivey Council Member James Tate Council Member Janee` Ayers Council Member Mary Sheffield Council President Brenda Jones Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton Judge Craig Strong Judge David A. Perkins Wayne County Executive Warren Evans Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy Wayne County Treasurer Eric R. Sabree

Best Bar/Club/Lounge 211 Ultra Lounge Bakers Keyboard Lounge Bert’s Warehouse Encore Lounge Epitome Firewater 2 Flood’s Bar & Grill Friends Cocktail Lounge Mix Bricktown Opyum Lounge PV Lounge Rockefeller Oyster Bar Teresa’s Place Truth Music Café TV Lounge Yesterday’s

Best Restaurant 1917 American Bistro Beans & Cornbread Crabhouse Ribs & Soul Detroit Seafood Market Detroit Soul Café Great Lakes Burger Bar Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles Motor City Soul Food Pasta Bowl Savannah Blue Scrappy Joe’s Steve’s Soul Food at Riverfront The Block

Best Food Franchise Edible Arrangements J & J Fish McDonald’s (Errol Service) McDonald’s (Jamjomar) McDonald’s (Ron Moten) McDonald’s (Virgilli Management) McDonald’s (West Davison) Tim Horton’s Wing Stop

Best School Teacher Angela Davis Brandy Walker Dr. Eddie Connor Dr. Richard T. James Gwendolyn Denham Hawanya Urquhart Kim Mitchell Latoya Daniels Stephanie Murray Tiffany Jackson Vicki Green

Best School Principal Aisha Scott Delois Spryszak Ernestine Sanders Hal Heard Jason Drain Jorvanna Drain Lisa Phillips Ronald Alexander Schranda Collier Wendy Shirle

Best School Athlete Andre D. Bell Antwon Burgess Cassius Winston Donnell Alexander Donnie Corley Donovan Parker Donovan People-Jones Elijah-juan Pearcy Jahz Watts Jalen Martin

Best Car Wash/Auto Detailing Celebrity Car Wash & Detail Doctor Detroit Auto Detailing Edwina Car Wash Exquisite Car Wash Frank’s Car Wash Lyshern’s Auto Detailing Mr. Pops Detail Shop Scotty B’s Car Wash The Wash Rack

Best High School

Best Hair Salon

Cass Technical High School Central Collegiate Academy Communications & Media Arts High School Detroit School of Arts Martin Luther King Jr. Sr. High School Mumford High School Oak Park High School Osborn High School Renaissance High School River Rouge High School Southfield High School University High School Academy

Directions Salon Elite Virgin Hair Co. by Bree Envy Me Salon Foil Salon Hair Art Kut Em Up Hair Salon Nfluence Hair Salon Pretty Girl Studio Primm Beauty Salon Covas Salon Hype Hair Salon Jacqueline & Spa Salon Posh Salon Simply Beautiful Sharmell’s Hair Salon Textures by Nefertiti Vixen Hair Salon

Best High School Coach Barry Cannon Corey Parker Dale Harvel Ken Flowers Lynn Sanders Robert Dozier Thomas Wilcher

Best Sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Chi Eta Phi-Lambda Chi Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Eastern Star Gamma Phi Delta Sigma Gamma Rho Zeta Phi Beta

Best Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha F&A Masons Kappa Alpha Psi Omega Psi Phi Phi Beta Sigma Phi Eta Psi

Best Photographer/Videographer AJ Photography ATE-UP Videos Belton Media Group Davide Anderson Photography Dr. Richard T. James, Jr. G. Greg Wells Photography Justin Milhouse Kory Woods Updated Media Detroit Lavish Touch Photography LeoSage Images Monica Morgan Photography My Touch Films Patricia McDowell Photography

Best Caterer Beans & Cornbread Durden’s Catering Fire N’ Ice Catering Flavorful Expressions Catering Jackson Five Star Catering Last Minute Gourmet Catering Southern Comfort Soul Food Touch of Class Catering

Amina Daniels Armond Rashad Chris Huff Felicia Maxwell Fresh Glenn Lott John C Jones Lazet Michaels Boatman Nisette Gray Raphael Williams Sydni Jones

All About Technology Breathe Beauty Bar Darling Dior Boutique Detroit vs. Everybody Dollhouse Café Enjoy Detroit God’s World Heritage Optical Mom and Pop Toy Shop S&S Intimates Silver Fox Furs Simply Casual Stef N Ty The Natural Market The Shoe Lady

Best Clothing Store

Best News Anchor

A Diva’s Everything Curve Bella/Curve Envy Darling Dior Upscale Boutique & Beauty Bar Detroit Is The New Black Detroit vs. Everybody Dollhouse Café Fashion International Flagship Boutique Flo Boutique Hot Sam’s K Flair Studios Simply Casual Swank The Fashion Place Three Thirteen

Anquenette Jamison Carmen Harlan Carolyn Clifford Diana Lewis Evrod Cassimy Glenda Lewis Huel Perkins Kimberly Gill Lee Thomas Malcolm Maddox Maurielle Lue Rhonda Walker

Best Personal Trainer

Best Cosmetologist Alisha Taylor Deserae Byrd Dominque Hardy John Gooden Kenia Burns Kia J Nathan Adams Nicole Williams Yolanda Green- Yody

Best Clothing Line/Designer Beautiful Stoner Bonita Couture Detroit Is The New Black Diane Berry FlyTy’s 24hourcreations/Tyrone Hunter House of Zuri Kierra Sheard KWD Style Lynette Halalay of Knit Sew Fabulous Young Socialites/Naima D. Melonson YPVL

Best Barber Shop Cut It Out International Executive Cuts Final Cutz Barbershop Kut Em Up Heavyweights Cuts – Indian Village Jays Fades Marc Robert Experience Mo Heads Social Club Grooming & Co.

Best Local Producer Brandon Williams Dwele Freezabag Gutta Helluva313 J Drew Sheard II J. Moss Key Wane Maestro Nov Ra Paul Allen Payroll Giovanni Rokk Mass Entertainment Group

Best Barber Aiden Hollister Al Wilson Damarius Alexander Huggy 313itcBarbershop Ian Slaughter Jay of Jay Fades Kay the Barber Marc Roberts Quincy Robinson Ricardo Robert Frazier Sebastian Jackson Shalom @shalomissocool Sterling Brown Tee (Cut_to_the_Tee) Terrance Vann Tiff the Barber

Best Tattoo Artist Deon Woodward Jason Phillips Krissy the Butcher Lorri Thomas Lady L Sebastian Murphy Thomas Jones Young RU

Best Service Business

Best Nail Technician

Blackwood Credit Services Fancy Flash Photo Booth Gold Standard Massage Clinic Goodness Gracious Mobile Media Marketing Group PBA Royal Stepladder Construction Upscale Retreat – Corporate Chair Massage Visiting Angels of Detroit Woodhouse Day Spa

Fatima Squirewell Finnie Jenkins Gemini Twin Shauwn Diva Mika Marie MzShanna Artavia Nails by Lala Rochelle Dudley Williams Stormie Norwood Tia Bills Tonya Williams Vakeisha Calloway

Sponsors

Best Retail Business

Best Instagram Personality Ayisha Smith 13 Blues Lady Champagne Coco Radio Deelishis Dope Island Eastside Ivo Haha Davis Kenny Knox La’Britney MeechOnMars Stewe Tattooman Paige TBoyd_ Thy Real TKay Versatilenstyle Kajuan Clark

Best Club Promoter Darnell Macon FameCipriano Kevin Maples Maria B. Stanfield Terrance Woods Tiba Entertainment To-To Wilson/Eklectiq Enterprise Urban Organic

Best Local Artist Alise King Angela Davis Brandon Williams Chrissii Key Elijah Connor Icewear Vezzo Isis Damil L’Renee La’Britney Lamar Anthem Shelby 5

Best Comedian Antirell McCoy Coco Dope Island Downtown Tony Brown Eastside Ivo Faygo Red Foolish Horace HB Sanders J Bell Joshua Adams Kool-Aide MeechOnMars Mike Bonner

Best Local Film 2Eleven 5k1 Buffed Up Cody High Five 0 I Am My Sister’s Keeper Memoirs of a Black Man Once Upon A Time in Detroit Project 313 SCARS The Great Detroit

Best Gospel/Church Choir Burning Bush International Ministries Mass Choir Detroit Mass Choir Gospel Music Workshop of America Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver & The Hallelujah Singers Galilee Missionary Baptist Greater Emmanuelle Institute COGIC Greater Golden Gate Voices of Praise Greater Grace Temple Greater Quinn AME Church Hartford Memorial Baptist Church Larry Callahan and Selected of God Choir News Prospect Missionary Baptist Perfecting Church Choir Second Ebenezer Majestic Voices Third New Hope Sanctuary Choir Triumph Mass Choir

Best Pastor Bishop Charles H. Ellis III Bishop Edgar Vann Bishop J. Drew Sheard Bishop Keith Butler Pastor Carlyle Fielding Stewart Pastor Charles G. Adams Pastor Darren K. Penson Pastor David A. Johnson II Pastor David Alexander Bullock Pastor Don W. Shelby, Jr. Pastor James Morman Pastor Keenan Knox Pastor Marvin Winans Pastor Solomon Kinloch Pastor Spencer Ellis Pastor Tellis J. Chapman Pastor Valerie Bennett Pastor Welton Smith Pastor Wilma R. Johnson

Best Church Burning Bush International Ministries COGIC Christian Tabernacle Galilee Missionary Baptist Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Greater Emmanuelle Institute COGIC Greater Grace Temple (City of David) Greater Quinn AME Church Hartford Memorial Baptist New Prospect Missionary Baptist Oak Grove AME Perfecting Church Second Ebenezer Church Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Triumph Church Word of Faith International Christian Center

Best First Lady Evangelist Bonita A. Shelby First Lady Agnes Hadley Adams First Lady Crisette Ellis First Lady Danielle Knox First Lady Deborah Butler First Lady Dr. Charisse Gibert First Lady Eunice Chapman First Lady Jasmine Gray First Lady Karen Clark Sheard First Lady Kimya Johnson First Lady Lanell Branch First Lady Loretta Morman First Lady Monica Anthony First Lady Robin Kinloch First Lady Sheila Vann First Lady Sylvia Jordan First Lady Tamyka Tucker Rev. Danielle Penson

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Career Fair The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office continues to push its law enforcement hiring program in an effort to fill more than 100 open positions. To meet this goal, the office will join the Wayne County Government in Partnership with Wayne County Community College District to hold a recruitment event for the public.

Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon believes the job to serve is both a calling and a long-term career path. New officers are paid a salary of $31,182 (bi-weekly pay period) with full benefits, which goes into effect October 1, 2016. This is based on a 40 hour work week.

At the time of application and appointment eligible persons must: • Be a citizen of the United States; and • Be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or GED; and • Be qualified to obtain a concealed pistol license; AND • Have a valid Michigan Driver’s License and a good driving record; AND Have passed the Michigan Sheriff’s Coordinating and Training Council’s (MSCTC) examination and standards for corrections officers (see empco.net for details) • Have passed the MSCTC Physical Agility test (see misctc.org for details) This recruitment fair will take place on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 2 to 6 p.m. located at the WCCCD Downtown Campus, 1001 W. Fort Street, Detroit.

For more information about the job openings and requirements see www.sheriffconnect.com, http://waynecounty.com/ phr/jobpostings.htm or contact Director Chuck Pappas at cpappas@ waynecounty.com or call 313-213-1736.

September 14-20, 2016

Page C-6

Join the Arbor Day Foundation and receive free trees Everyone who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in September will receive 10 free trees as part of the Foundation’s Trees for America program.

Through Trees for America, everyone is encouraged to plant trees, which benefit the environment and improves quality of life. With nearly a million members and supporters, the Arbor Day Foundation is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.

Everyone joining this month will receive one of the following tree packages based on their location: 10 Arizona cypress, 10 live oak or 10 mix trees including eastern redbud, white pine, sugar maple, white flowering dogwood, pin oak, red maple, river birch, silver maple, northern red oak, and Colorado blue spruce.

As part of their efforts to distribute 10,000 backpacks across the state, Molina Healthcare participated in The Youth Connection’s annual Back-to-School Fair on Belle Isle where employee volunteers distributed 2,000 backpacks to children.

Molina Healthcare of Michigan donates 10,000 backpacks In an effort to help children in need succeed and prepare for the new school year that was upon them, Molina Healthcare of Michigan donated a total of 10,000 backpacks to children throughout Michigan.

Molina employees distributed the backpacks at several community events that took place in Wayne, Genesee, Bay and Saginaw counties. Community organizations joined Molina at each event to give away free school supplies to children in attendance.

“Molina Healthcare was excited to join our community partners for these back-to-school events to support our ongoing mission of serving individuals and families in need,” said Lauren Royston, manager of community engagement, Molina Healthcare of Michigan. “Donating 10,000 free backpacks to children who need them most provided an incredible opportunity for us to give back to the community and make a positive

impact.”

As part of the company’s efforts to reach children in need throughout the state, Molina employees participated in The Youth Connection’s 15th Annual Back-to-School Fair on Belle Isle distributing 2,000 backpacks.

Employees also gave away 500 backpacks filled with school supplies at the Hamilton NHCW Annual Back-to-School Fair in Flint. Thousands of school supplies were donated by Molina employees as part of a school supply drive held at the company’s Michigan headquarters in Troy.

“These trees are carefully selected to yield year-round benefits, including beautiful spring flowers, cool summer shade, spectacular autumn colors, winter berries, and nesting sites for song-

birds,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. These trees will also add to the proud heritage of your state’s Tree City USA communities. For the past 40 years, Tree City USA has supported effective urban forestry management across the country, and planting these trees will enhance this tree-planting tradition.”

The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between Oct. 15 and Dec. 10. The 6 to 12 inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Easy-to-follow planting instructions are enclosed with each shipment of trees.

New members of the Arbor Day Foundation will also receive “The Tree Book” which includes information about tree planting and care.

To receive the 10 free trees, send a $10 membership contribution to Ten Trees, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Sept.

30, 2016, or join online at arborday.org/ september.

3rd Annual

Champions of Education Join the Detroit Public Schools Foundation as we come together as a community to celebrate the successes of our students, raise funds to better serve them, and honor some outstanding Champions of Education.

Molina also participated in the recent Doors of Success – Essentials for Success “Back-to-School Bash” held at Corrigan Field in Detroit where Molina employee volunteers distributed 2,000 backpacks to children in attendance. “Dr. Cleo,” the company’s popular cat doctor mascot, was also on hand to give out backpacks and take photos with children and their families.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 7-13, 2016

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Paula D. Cunningham to receive Trailblazer Award from Michigan Congressional Black Caucus Paula D. Cunningham, AARP Michigan State Director and a pioneer in business and education in the Lansing community, will receive the Trailblazer Award from the Michigan Congressional Black Caucus on Friday, Sept.16, at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C.

First Independence Bank

explains the mortgage process What you need to know during the mortgage application process Are you are thinking about purchasing a home, or refinancing a home? If so, First Independence Bank wants you to know exactly what documents/information you will need, as well as what you should and should not do during the mortgage application process.

First, let’s list what you will need to have when beginning the mortgage application process.

• A copy of your driver’s license or official state ID, if you don’t drive • A copy of your Social Security Card • A copy of your Resident Alien Card (if you are not a United States citizen) • A copy of your W-2s for the last two years • A copy of your Federal Tax Returns; all schedules covering previous 2 years • A copy of your paystubs covering a 30-day period • A copy of your 2 most recent bank statements (2 consecutive months and all pages must be included even if last page(s) is blank) • If you receive Social Security, you will need your awards letter • Your divorce decree, if applicable • If you have had a foreclosure,

you will need the Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure or HUD 1 Settlement Statement, if property was sold as a short sale • If you have filed for bankruptcy, it must be discharged, and you will need your bankruptcy papers.

Now, what “not to do” during the mortgage application process…

• Do not open new trade lines of debt. Example: Do not apply for a new credit card or obtain a new car loan or lease • Do not quit or change jobs • Do not co-sign for anyone on any type of loan • Do not make any large deposits into the bank account you are using to qualify for your mortgage • Do not let multiple companies run your credit • Do not make any late payments on your bills In essence, you should not do anything that could and will alter your financial status. If you’re unsure about what you should have, or are unsure about any transaction(s) during the mortgage application process, please call and speak with First Independence’s Robert Silverstein (NMLS #372565) at 586-4165750, ext. 1222 or you can email him at rsilverstein@firstindependence.com

a strategic planning process that resulted in five new buildings. The main building on the LCC campus was officially named the Paula D. Cunningham Administration Building in 2006.

She served for nine years as president and CEO of Capitol National Bank in Lansing, where she led the bank through Michigan’s worst recession in 70 years.

Cunningham is among a group of distinguished Michigan business and political leaders to be honored during the Congressional Black Caucus 46th Annual Legislative Conference in the nation’s capital.

Cunningham was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013 for her business and community service. She was the first female president Paula D. Cunningham “The Michigan Conof LCC and the first female gressional Black Caucus Host Committee is president and CEO of Capitol National Bank, pleased to honor Paula D. Cunningham as its in addition to being the only African American 2016 Trailblazer Award recipient,” said Tyrone female in the country to be president and CEO D. Sanders Jr., chair of the Host Committee. of a majority owned bank. Cunningham was “From being the president of Lansing Com- also the first African American woman to chair munity College, to the president and CEO of the board of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Capitol National Bank, and now AARP Mich- Commerce. igan state director, Cunningham’s career has been filled with trailblazing accomplishments.

We salute Paula and her vast contributions to the Greater Lansing community and the state of Michigan.”

Cunningham, who was appointed State Director of AARP Michigan in June of 2015, spent 25 years at Lansing Community College, where she served as President from 2000-2006.

Under her leadership, the college implemented

Other Michigan Congressional Black Caucus honorees will include: U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow who will receive the John Conyers, Jr. Public Service Award; Dr. Alma G. Stallworth will receive the inaugural Community Leadership Award; Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony will be presented the Champion of Justice Award; AT&T will receive the Distinguished Corporate Citizen Award; and Dr. Patricia Maryland will be presented the inaugural Chairman’s Pinnacle Award.

Senate finally authorizes aid for Flint, while House ignores Americans in need The Senate passed a bill containing long-awaited federal aid for Flint, MI more than two years after the emergence of the beleaguered city’s water crisis. Action in the House of Representatives does not appear imminent.

NRDC is in federal court this week with Flint residents and the ACLU of Michigan calling for emergency action to give people in the city access to safe water.

Following is a statement from NRDC Midwest Director Henry Henderson: “The Senate has at long last taken the first steps towards addressing the contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan:B:10” a public health diT:10” saster and a national embarrassment.S:10” But it looks like the House of Representatives

continues to show no urgency in helping Americans who have literally been poisoned by their government.

ter is a national problem that needs to be treated as such.

It is time to get the lead out nationally.”

“In a governing body that has utterly failed the people of Flint, one representative’s lack of action is particularly conspicuous. Fred Upton, a Congressman from Michigan, leads the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee oversees implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. He should have been in the forefront of pushing for federal action when the Flint Water Crisis emerged years ago and now needs to start taking action on behalf of his fellow Michiganders.

Earlier this year, NRDC released a groundbreaking report showing more than 18 million Americans were served by water systems with Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Shockingly, Flint still does not appear in EPA data for drinking water violations, a tipoff that the problem of lead-contaminated water is likely much broader than previously understood. The aid package for Flint also includes hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with lead pipe replacement and public health challenges in cities across America struggling with water infrastructure issues.

“We need to get the lead out of Flint. And it needs to happen fast. But that is not enough. Lead in drinking wa-

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016

Page C-8

Nationally acclaimed author Randall Kennedy to keynote WCCCD Scholarship Banquet Nationally renowned author and former law clerk for legendary U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Randall Kennedy will keynote the Wayne County Community College District Chancellor’s Scholarship Banquet 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 21st at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Proceeds from the Chancellor’s Scholarship Banquet benefit the WCCCD Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to students who otherwise would be unable to attend college. Tickets are $150 each and on sale now by phone at 313-496-2510 or email: ChancellorScholarshipBanquet@wcccd.edu.

Kennedy, a former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and a Rhodes ScholRandall Kennedy arship recipient is a nationally recognized author of several books including Interracial Intimacies: Sex, Marriage, Identity and Adoption, For Discrimination: Race, Affirmative Action, and the Law, The Persistence of the Color Line: Racial Politics and the Obama Presidency. Kennedy is the Michael R. Klein Professor at Harvard Law School where he teaches courses on contracts, criminal law, and the regulation of race relations. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on national news programs.

Kennedy’s speech at the Chancellor’s Scholarship Banquet is, “Our Youth, Our Vision, Our Future.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kennedy to WCCCD and to Detroit,” said WCCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis L. Ivery. “He has championed higher education and critical thought as a way to understand how our very lives are shaped by policy and the law; not so that we’re limited by it, but so that we might move closer towards the promise of our collective potential.”

“We work every day to help provide better lives to our students through higher education, and Dr. Kennedy’s achievements, enduring intellectual curiosity and keen insight on how we must continue to move forward to form a more perfect nation are profoundly inspiring examples of just where that learning can take you,” Ivery said.

Kennedy was born in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Washington D.C. Kennedy attended St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., Princeton University, and the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Kennedy received his law degree from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal. He served as a law clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall of the United States Supreme Court from 1983-84.

In 1998 Kennedy was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for his Race, Crime, and the Law. Dr. Kennedy provided the foreword for Thurgood Marshall: His Speeches, Writings, Arguments, Opinions and Reminiscences, and is the author of five additional books and countless articles in national publications.

Kennedy is a member of the American Law Institute, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Association, Mr. Kennedy is also a Charter Trustee of Princeton University.

He lives in the Washington D.C. area and is the father of three children.

For more information about the WCCCD Scholarship Fund annual dinner or to reserve tickets, please call 313-496-2510 or email: chancellorscholarshipbanquet@wcccd.edu About WCCCD: WCCCD, the largest urban community college in Michigan, is a multi-campus district with five campus locations, the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center and the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), serving nearly 72,000 students annually across 32 cities and townships, and more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to the continued development of new programs, workforce transformation, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services. www.wcccd.edu .

Developers to breathe new life into the old Fairgrounds Developers have released revised plans and new conceptual renderings for the former Michigan state fairgrounds in Detroit.

said, “more community meetings are planned before City Council is presented with a finalized site plan” which is projected to happen in early 2017.

Described as a mixed use space the site is expected to include retail, restaurants, single and multifamily residential housing, senior living facilities, medical office space, a transportation hub, about 120,000 square feet of space for academic uses, including the Wayne County Community College District and green space. The Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, also known as the Hockeytown State Fair Coliseum, is a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena, which has been identified as the site of a future movie theater complex.

A team of developers that includes retired basketball star Earvin (Magic) Johnson's development company Magic Plus LLC and Southfield-based Redico LLC met with the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee on Wednesday night at Cadillac Place in the New Center Area, where they discussed plans for the 167-acre site.

Design director for the city's planning and development department, Dave Walker, stated that the update “offers a look at the character of the space and the vision for the property.”

Senior adviser for the city's jobs and economy team, David Williams

Other investors in Lansing-based Magic Plus are Joel Ferguson, who is chairman of the MSU board of trustees and owner of Lansing-based Ferguson Development LLC, and Marvin Beatty, chief community officer for Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit.

If the team can collect enough commitments from prospective tenants and gain the necessary land use permits, the fairgrounds could be up and running soon enough.

The development is expected to cost upwards of $150 million.

Plans also include bike and walking trails and a bus transit station connecting the grounds to surrounding neighborhoods.

The latest plans to put the fairgrounds to creative use has been receiving more positive feedback which is in contrast to the community opposition Magic Plus had met with upon agreeing to purchase the site in 2013.

The agreement has been modified several times to include public meetings about site plans.

“I just feel it’s important that we’re not left out of the conversation,” said Mira Langley of Detroit. “This is our community. We live here and we don’t want to see another big box shopping area with a huge asphalt parking lot,” she continues. “We want to encourage the developers to think further down the line. To create something that will stand the test of time.”

Q&A with Detroit filmmaker Anthony Green

By Chasidy Hall Special to the Michigan Chronicle

Local Detroit filmmaker Anthony Green, 41 has directed various short films and documentaries for eight years. He wears many hats including father, cousin, uncle, friend, husband and filmmaker. His faith in God is his main motivation to continue to persevere despite the obstacles that he has faced .This local talent is surely one to watch.

How old were you when you first began to get into film making? What interests you about the process?

I was 16 years old when I first began to have interest in video production.

At this age, I began to develop the love for the camera. I just wanted to produce comedy skit videos to distribute to family and friends. Their feedback were vital to me and prompt me to try stand-up comedy right after highschool.

What makes a good film to you and why?

A few things make a good film to me, but my number one is twists. I love a good twist in a film. Twist and of course the overall story that can keep me in tune will always have my attention when at the movies.

What type of genre interests you?

I’m a BIG drama / thriller guy. I love the thought of being at the edge of my seat.

What type of film festivals have your short films been entered in?

What categories did they win?

I was fortunate to have four of my films be accepted to various film festivals. The first film festival that accepted my work was the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival 48 film

Anthony Green challenge. We actually won 3rd place for our short film titled “Reunited”.

A few years later we were accepted at the Trinity International Film Festival and Made –In-Michigan Film Festival for our short film titled “Intervening”.

Last year 2015, Trinity International Film Festival accepted yet another short film of ours titled “Match”. We won for Best Inspirational Film.

What are your favorite type of films to direct?

Personally I do not have a favorite type of film. I love to explore all genres.

Documentaries however are simpler to direct in my opinion.

What is your upcoming feature film "Last Words" about and what do you hope your audience will get out of it?

Last Words aka “My Baby”! It’s about a woman named Tiff, whom is struggling to leave an abusive relationship. And once leaving, she tries to get back on her feet and start over.

But little does she know, she will be faced with even more challenges. The film highlights the mental side of what a person, particularly a woman challenges could be after being hurt continuously. I’m hoping that the audience can gain a better understanding of relationships and the seriousness

of life, love and trust.

When and where can your audience view your film?

The film is still in production. We are targeting for next summer to be complete. Our goal is to have a premier at one of our local AMC theaters near Metro Detroit. The trailer of Last Words can be viewed at www.youtube. com/antgreen.

What advice would you give someone who is starting their journey into becoming a filmmaker?

The first step in becoming a director is simply film something. You can only get better from there. Keep God first in everything you do. That’s my model. And research! God took me from being in front of the camera to behind it.

What encourages you to keep going in your profession despite the obstacles you may have faced?

A few years ago and this is a true story, I had a one-on-one with God. I humbly asked him “God can you please show me a sign that I should continue my film endeavor journey?

I have spent time and money on this dream and I would love a sign of some sort”. I literally begged God for a sign.

And that’s when he opened up a door for our film “Intervening” to be accepted at two film festivals within the same year. This story will always be my “taxi” that keeps me driven.

How far do you want to take film-making what are your goals for the future?

I want to take it as far as God allows. And we all know that he has no limits. I want to explore and just continue to be creative. My goal though is to produce films that will impact the soul and touch the heart. “Ministering through cinema if you will”

Detroit prepares to launch new construction jobs training program City seeks training partners to provide work readiness skills for growing number of available skilled trades jobs As the number of major construction projects in Detroit continues to grow, the City is preparing to launch a new program designed to train Detroiters for careers in construction and skilled trades.

The initiative will train Detroiters in the fundamental, math, reading and work readiness skills connected to jobs in the construction industry. The program is being developed and recruited

by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, the City of Detroit’s workforce agency.

DESC has released a Request for Proposals seeking two training partners to run the program, which will include literacy and

numeracy improvements, skilled trades career exploration and work readiness skills and supports. Classes will last 4-6 weeks and will begin this fall.

“Detroit is experiencing a real construction boom that is bringing with it a lot of well-paying jobs,” said Mayor Duggan. “The goal of this program is to help make sure city residents have the skills they need to fill these jobs so we can have a turnaround that includes Detroiters rebuilding Detroit.”

Graduates of the program, which is expected to launch later this fall, will have the skills necessary to immediately transition into a job or apprenticeship.

“Building a pipeline of Detroiters ready for careers in the construction industry is a huge priority for us,” said City of Detroit

Workforce Development Director Jeff Donofrio. “This new program will help Detroiters find immediate employment on projects in our city or go on to enter into a construction certificate or skilled trades apprenticeship program.”

The RFP process calls for bids to be received at DESC’s downtown offices by 3 p.m. local time September 23, with announcement of awards in early October.

Training is anticipated to start in November and will complete before the end of 2016.

Organizations interested in responding to the RFP should visit www.DESCmiworks.com and click on the ‘About Us’ link. Individuals interested in participating in the training should visit the DESC website or call 1-800-285-WORKS for the location of their nearest DESC One-Stop Service Center.

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September 14-20, 2016

michiganchronicle.com

Reflections

By Steve Holsey

Goddess

Some words are not to be tossed around casually because the words are so seldom applicable. One such word is “goddess.”

Beyoncé is a goddess. Enchantingly beautiful, multitalented, sexybut-not-trashy, and the best and most exciting female performer in the business today.

Her shows are extravaganzas.

Without question, she was born to entertain and never fails to give her legion of fans everything she possibly can, and then some.

Beyoncé has joined the other bigger-than-life Beyoncé goddesses, such as Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Marilyn Monroe.

A CONCERT event that caught many people by surprise is the King and Queen of Hearts Tour starring Mary J. Blige and Maxwell. Each has a large and enduring following, so together they should do really big business at the box office.

But even so, the Palace of Auburn Hills (Nov. 18) is an exceptionally large venue. Can they fill or almost fill it? We’ll see.

The two stars had plenty of praise for each other.

Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall dish on

‘When the Bough Breaks’

By AJ Williams

Maxwell and Mary J. Blige Blige: “Maxwell is a man that we need as women. He sings from the heart and soul with an amazing voice.

When you hear him, you feel comforted, good, sexy. Women need to feel that there’s some man out there that really cares and will speak to them through song.”

Maxwell: “This tour is something we’ve been trying to bring together. Mary’s soulful voice and the way she connects with the audience, her warmth and giving nature in an industry that can make you cold, stale and jaded, I’ve learned a lot from her in that regard.”

Blige came up with the tour name.

THE MEMOIR of super actress Taraji P. Henson goes on sale Oct. 11.

“Around the Way Girl” should be an interesting read. And speaking of Henson, widely known as Cookie Lyon Taraji P. Henson on “Empire,” she received a wonderful compliment from Danny Strong who co-created the show with Lee Daniels.

Regarding Henson’s audition, Strong said, “She came in and 30 seconds into it, it was game over.” He said she knew instinctively how to deliver the lines, what to wear, how to move.

It has been reported that the books to be written by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama after they leave office will be the most successful ever written (individually) by a former president and a former first lady.

And by the way, it was thought by many that the Obamas w o u l d move back to Chicago, but not Barack Obama and so; they ­Michelle Obama plan to continue living in Washington, DC, according to reports.

Since Drake’s relationship with Serena Williams, among others, didn’t last, people wonder how long he and Rihanna will stay together.

Starting Oct. 6, Paisley Park, located in Chanhassen, Minnesota near Minneapolis, the complex where Prince recorded, lived and rehearsed,

See Reflections Page D-3

It is common knowledge that devoted parents will do anything to protect their children. But what if the biggest threat to a family comes before the baby is even born?

In the nail-biting thriller “When the Bough Breaks,” hope-to-be parents John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) find out how a lullaby life can quickly become a waking nightmare.

Young, professional and successful, the Taylors desperately want a baby to make their picture perfect family complete. After exhausting all other options, the ideal woman walks into their life, Anna (Jaz Sinclair). She’s beautiful, friendly and ready to be the Taylors’ surrogate. They immediately hire her and take her under their wing.

However, there’s something else growing inside Anna besides a baby, however.

As Anna gets further along in the pregnancy, the trust between her and the Taylors starts to crack. She develops a dangerous fixation on John that grows increasingly psychotic, and he begins to learn that she’s not who she says she is. A deadly game has been set in motion, and it will take everything the Taylors have to fight for control of their future before it’s too late.

We talked one-on-one with stars Morris Chestnut (“Rosewood,” “The Perfect Guy”) and Regina Hall (“Think Like a Man,” “Scary Movie”) about the movie that hit theaters Sept. 9

Cast members Jaz Sinclair, Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall attended the Screen Gems premiere of "When the Bough Breaks."

Michigan Chronicle: Being key members of black Hollywood, how do you feel about doing this movie and are the roles and movie opportunities getting better for black actors and actresses?

Morris Chestnut: I think just to be able to be working in Hollywood for a sustained period of time is something, whether you are black, white, to work in Hollywood, in general, is definitely a blessing.

In regards to black Hollywood, I definitely think the opportunities are increasing, they’re improving in terms of television. I still feel that we could be doing a little bit better in films, in terms of opportunities, but there are opportunities, nonetheless, in both.

Regina Hall: Yes, and I agree with Morris. I think it’s a work in progress, but it’s always a blessing to be working and that ideally, things continue to evolve.

MC: Morris you’re executive producing and you’re starring in the film. How was that experience?

Chestnut: It wasn’t my first time, but it’s always a great opportunity to where you’re not just an actor in front of the camera. To be able to have some type of input into the overall process beyond being an actor is something that I’ve been continually trying to do more and more of each time out. It was cool.

MC: This film has some pretty dark subject matter. What would you two say is the most difficult part of filming a movie like this?

Hall: Well, it’s really an emotional journey when you’re dealing with issues as sensitive and heart-wrenching as surrogacy and fertility issues. Just starting from there is already a lot.

See BOUGH BREAKS Page D-2

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September 14-20, 2016 Page D-2

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UniverSoul Circus through a child’s eyes

By Keith A. Owens

ers of color from around the world. From Africa.

Jamaica. South America. Asia. So many places. All of them working together to create joy for others. As the ringmaster pointed out at last week’s opening night, “Isn’t that the way it should be?”

Senior Editor

The best way to see the UniverSoul Circus, if you’re an adult, is to see it with a child. Which is why, on opening night last Thursday at Chene Park, I took my grandson Rylee. I remembered all too well the wonder I experienced when I was his age witnessing my first circus as a kid growing up in Denver, Colorado.

The UniverSoul Circus will be in Detroit through Sunday, Sept.

25, at Chene Park, 2600 East Atwater. Visit www. universoulcircus.com for more information, including show times and schedules.

But as excited as I was all those years ago, and as much fun as I had with my parents when they took me to see the Ringling Brothers Circus (I’m pretty sure Barnum and Bailey came to town too, but that’s going back close to 50 years so forgive me if I don’t quite remember), I still have to wonder how much more excited I may have been to see something like the UniverSoul Circus.

Because the UniverSoul Circus is the first circus I have ever seen where there were performers who looked like me, and I can say without question how much joy that gives me even as an adult. But as a 4-year-old kid? The age of my grandson? I mean, I can’t even…

The first time I saw the UniverSoul Circus was about 15 years ago when they first came to Chene Park and my wife and I were living within walking distance. There really was no good excuse to miss a circus featuring a lot of black folks, especially not a circus featuring a lot of black folks within walking distance in Detroit. So we went. I don’t know what I expected, but whatever it was, the performance we witnessed was far beyond anything I had imagined. To be such a relatively small operation with only one ring and a tent that fits into a parking lot, the amount of magic that took place for those two hours simply blew me away.

All these years later, I never would have believed anything that great could have gotten so much bet-

Bough Breaks From page D-1 Chestnut: Right. Doing a film like this where, like she says, it takes an emotional toll on you, as an actor to have to be in that space day in and day out, it’s really draining.

Just being in that space when you draw from your life’s experiences to be in that mental head space, it was a relief to be done with it. I was looking forward to doing something that was fun and light afterwards.

MC: Both of you have been very successful in transitioning between film and television. What do you think has been the key to your success and to your longevity?

Hall: I just think looking for and picking the right parts and really working with really great people, always trying to continue to pick material that you connect with and doing the work, and luck, but doing the work so that every opportunity you get to perform, you’re doing your best.

To read this interview in its entirety visit michiganchronicle.com.

Indeed it is.

Alisha Dixon photos

ter. But it has. I could try an describe the magic acts (including huge tigers that somehow appear within the blink of an eye inside cages that appear to be empty), the contortionists, the clown dancers that perform their moves and grooves hilariously throughout the show, or the motorcycle stunt drivers that explode into the air above the heads of the crowd…

But you would never believe me.

And it wasn’t just the jaw-dropping performances and sheer quality of the entire event, but the fact that not only were there so many performers of color (including the ringmaster, and his sidekick Zeke, a crowd favorite that remains with the circus to this day), but that these were perform-

Maurice White shares life and memories in new autobiography If anyone has a musical and life story to tell, it is Maurice White, the musician, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and founder of the iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire who passed away in early February. Due to illness, he had stopped touring with the group in 1994.

The title of the autobiography is “My Life With Earth, Wind & Fire.” According to his brother, Verdine White, also of Earth, Wind & Fire, the book is something he had been working on for quite some time.

White, who won seven Grammy Awards with Earth, Wind & Fire and was nominated for 20, left an indelible mark on the world of music, on the strength of a long string of major hits including “Keep Your Head to the Sky,” “September,” “Reasons,” “Shining Star,” “Getaway,” “Let’s Groove” and “That’s the Way of the World,” in addition to a collaboration with the Emotions, “Boogie Wonderland.”

The band’s concert performances were extraordinary.

Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016 Page D-3

MOTOR CITY ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

ANTHONY ANDERSON, Mark Curry, Tony Rock, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb, Fox Theatre, Oct. 15. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

“BLACK BOTTOM Paradise,” musical, Music Hall, Sept. 23. For more information, visit musichall.org.

WAYNE BRADY, MGM Grand Detroit, Oct. 9. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

TONI BRAXTON, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Oct. 12. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Thursday, Sept. 15.

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

CHANCE the Rapper, Fox Theatre, Sept.

25. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

NENE LEAKES, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Tuesday, Sept. 30. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

“LOVE JONES,” musical, featuring MC Lyte, Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius, Raheem DeVaughn, Chrisette Michelle, Dave Hollister, Fox Theatre, Oct. 7-8. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

GUCCI MANE, Masonic Temple, Nov. 5. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

HANNIBAL MONTANABAL, Masonic Temple, Saturday, Sept. 17. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

ZIGGY MARLEY, Fox Theatre, Sept.

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

L.J. Reynolds & the Dramatics

DETROIT SOUL Explosion, Music Hall, Oct. 1, L.J. Reynolds & the Dramatics, Deniece Williams, the Flaming Emeralds, William Odell Hughes, emcee Mike Bonner. For more information, visit musichall.org.

“DON’T STOP the Music,” fundraiser for the BARD Foundation, Music NeNe Leakes Hall, Friday, Sept. 16. For more information, visit musichall.org.

MICHAEL FRANKS, Keiko Matsui, Music Hall, Oct. 14. For tickets and more information, call 313.887.8500 or visit www.musichall.org.

GINUWINE, Dru Hill, Kelly Price, Donell Jones, Chico DeBarge, Case, Masonic Temple, Oct. 1. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

Detroit Rep Actors Workshop Returns Scholarships for low- to moderate-income students are available

JASON MARSALIS Vibes Quartet, Music Hall, Sept.

30. For tickets and more information, call 313.887.8500 or visit www.musichall.org.

The Detroit Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce the return of the Actors Workshop Program. The return of the Workshop after a five-year hiatus is due to a generous sponsorship from The "Ways and Means" Community Foundation.

MINT CONDITION, Bel-Ami, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Sept.

22. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com.

To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

Founded in 1975, the Detroit Repertory Theatre's Actors Workshop is a ten-week actor's training program. The Actors Workshop provides professional instruction in all phases of theatre to persons who wish to pursue a theatrical career, revive a dormant interest in theatre or simply to fulfill a need for self-expression. Students will study Voice & Diction, Improvisation, Scene Study and Audition Technique.

CHANTE MOORE, Tony Toni Toné, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Friday, Sept. 16. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

MORRIS DAY & the Time, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Friday, Nov. 3. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino. com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

ANTHONY HAMILTON, Fox Theatre, Oct. 14. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

MYSTIKAL, Juvenile, 8 Ball & Mug, Pastor Troy, Bun B, Fox Theatre, Oct. 29. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

FRED HAMMOND, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Karen Clark Sheard, Regina Belle, Casey Janice Hobbs, Fox Theatre, Oct. 21.

BOZ SCAGGS, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Oct. 16. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com. To charge by phone, call 1.800.745.3000.

D.L. HUGHLEY, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, Tuesday, Oct. 21. Tickets sold at Ticketmaster locations and MotorCityCasino.com.

KANYE WEST, Joe Louis Arena, Sept. 28.

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

The Workshop is open to adults 18 and older. Aspiring students at all levels of experience are encouraged to take the Workshop. No prior acting experience or training is required.

Registration for classes will be held at the Detroit Repertory Theatre on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Aspiring students will be required to audition at registration by performing a monologue from a published play, not to exceed 30 seconds in length. The classes will be held on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, beginning October 8, 2016 at Trinity Community Presbyterian Church in Detroit and will culminate in a Showcase presentation on the stage of the historic

Detroit Repertory Theatre on Monday, December 12, 2016.

The cost of the ten-week workshop is $185.00 per student. However, if an aspiring student is able to demonstrate limited financial resources, scholarships up to the full cost of the workshop will be awarded based on financial need.

Income verification documents such as payroll stubs and/or income tax forms will need to be presented at registration for review and determination of need.

Only 60 slots are available to potential students for the Workshop. Due to high demand, priority will be given to interested persons already on the DRT Workshop waiting list. First come, first served. Anyone wishing to register must call the Theatre during regular business hours, 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, at (313)868-1347.

The "Ways & Means" Community Foundation's mission is to help rebuild and stabilize local communities by providing programs and services that help improve the "ways" of life of individuals and of families living within those communities.

The Theatre, in partnership with "Ways and Means,” is seeking sponsors for the 2017 Actors Workshop.

Civic-minded businesses or individuals who wish to make a tax deductible contribution to the continuation of the Workshop should contact Leah Smith, Director of Development at the Detroit Repertory Theatre.

The Detroit Repertory Theatre is the oldest professional (Union) non-profit theatre in the State of Michigan.

Morris Day & the Time

Usher receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Usher, recording artist and actor who has maintained a consistent presence since his first national chart entry in 1993, recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

More than two and a half thousand individuals and groups have been honored in this way, prompting Usher to quip at the ceremony, “This is the first time in history that I’ve come in 2,588th place, and it felt like No. 1.”

He added, “I don’t just celebrate this moment by myself. I celebrate it with those people who invested in me, those people who loved me through the hard times.”

Usher’s new album, “Hard II Love,” is being released this week.

Reflections

will be open for daily public tours. The 70-minute tour will cost $38.50.

The megastar’s sister, Tyka Nelson, said Prince had long wanted to open Paisley Park to the public, though I must admit, I find that a little hard to believe. That would not have included his living quarters, of course.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that even though Smokey Robinson wrote and produced many of the Temptations’ hits, he only worked closely with whoever was singing lead. He let the other four guys come up with the backgrounds because “they could come up with something better than I could.”

MEMORIES: “Hard to Stop” (Betty Wright), “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (Whitney Houston), “It Seems to Hang On” (Ashford & Simpson), “Tennessee” (Arrested Devel-

From page D-1 opment), “Ready For Your Love” (Chapter 8), “Back in My Arms Again” (the Supremes), “Our Day Will Come” (Ruby & the Romantics), “I’ve Passed This Way Before” (Jimmy Ruffin), “Jive Talkin’” (the Bee Gees), “Tighten Up” (Archie Bell & the Drells).

BLESSINGS to Clifton A. Tuggle, Charles Rudolph, Michael Goodin, Donafay Collins, Diane Steinberg Lewis, Jacque Thomas, Adrian Stevenson, Denise Stevenson Cash, Thelma Myles, Carol Smith Dixon and Aton Haynes.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Stevie Wonder: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

Let the music play!

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

© 2016 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

REQUEST FOR QUOTES The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFQ’s for Remanufactured A/C Compressors. RFQ packages will be available after September 13, 2016, at www.mitn.info.

RFQ’s are due Thursday, October 6, 2016 by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

September 14-20, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Month of September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION A Michigan Works! Agency, in cooperation with the MAYOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (MWDB) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

CONSTRUCTION BASIC SKILLS TRAINING PROVIDERS The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency, is seeking proposals from qualified vendors who can prepare participants to enter pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and construction related employment.

Proposals will only be accepted from those firms or individuals demonstrating a minimum of three (3) years of experience providing the services requested in this RFP for projects of similar scope and size.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP WANTED

NOTICE of AIR POLLUTION COMMENT PERIOD and PUBLIC HEARING

POLICE OFFICER

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is holding a public comment period from September 15, 2016 until October 14, 2016, and a public hearing, if requested, on October 20, 2016, on Sakthi Automotive Group USA, Inc.’s proposed installation and operation of an aluminum die casting facility. The facility will be located at 201 Waterman Street, Detroit, Michigan. The public comment period and hearing, if requested, are to allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the MDEQ’s proposed conditional approval of a Permit to Install (PTI). It has been preliminarily determined that the installation of the die casting facility will not violate any of the MDEQ’s rules nor the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The facility’s impact will not exceed the available increments for nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter.

Seeking

AIR QUALITY DIVISION (AQD) Internet Home Page - http://www.michigan.gov/air

Business Administration

DETROIT: DEQ, AQD, Cadillac Place, 3058 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 2-300 (Phone: 313-456-4688) LANSING: DEQ, AQD, Constitution Hall, 2nd Floor, South Tower, 525 West Allegan Street (Phone: 517-284-6793) DETROIT: Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 (Phone: 313-224-3400) The public is encouraged to present written views on the proposed permit action. Written comments or a hearing request should be sent to Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Supervisor, Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan, 48909-7760. Comments may also be submitted from the webpage http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/cwerp.shtml (click on “Submit Comment” under the Sakthi Automotive Group USA, Inc., Permit to Install No. 92-16 listing). All statements received by October 14, 2016 will be considered by the decision maker prior to final permit action. If a hearing is requested, the comment period will be extended until the close of the hearing.

Only if requested in writing by October 14, 2016, the informational session and public hearing will be held on October 20, 2016 at the Delray Neighborhood House, 420 South Leigh Street Detroit, Michigan. The informational session will begin at 6:00 p.m., at which time AQD staff will be available to answer questions. The public hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. The sole purpose of the public hearing will be to take formal testimony on the record. Those interested may contact the AQD at 517-284-6798 on October 17, 2016, to determine if a hearing was requested and will be held.

Individuals needing accommodations for effective participation at the hearing should contact Ms. Lisa Shooltz at 517-284-6793 one week in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance.

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY _____________________________________________________ Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Supervisor

All Bid Packages for this RFP will be sent via email only. Bid packages will not be available for hardcopy pickup and will not be mailed by U.S. mail. Requests for the RFP package may be emailed to DESC at descprocurement@detempsol.org. In order to receive an RFP package, qualified vendors must submit the following information via email: company name, address, office phone number, fax number, contact person’s name, title, and valid email address.

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

Sealed bids must be received at DESC, 440 East Congress – 4th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48226, no later than September 23, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. A Public Recording is scheduled for September 23, 2016, 3:30 P.M. at the above-mentioned address. The bids will not be available for viewing. Each vendor is responsible for ensuring that its bid is received by DESC on a timely basis. Late bids will not be accepted.

For example, Casio’s line of Ultra Short Throw projectors offers teachers the ability to present interactive multimedia content directly from a mobile device, USB stick, laptop or even the internal memory of the machine itself. Plus, no time is lost in getting the lesson set up once the bell rings, as an image can be displayed at full brightness in a matter of seconds.

The icing on the cake is that these new projectors are environmentally-friendly and can be easy on a school’s budget, reducing power consumption by up to 40 percent and offering an operating life of 20,000 hours. Savvy schools can use the saved money on other STEAMrelated programming needs.

Add it Up

You may remember shuffling from one class to another during your school days, learning subjects in a siloed style. After you graduated, you probably realized that’s not how the real world works. Luckily, schools that are focused on STEAM-related subjects appreciate this fact and, as a result, many teachers today are synthesizing the principles of multiple subjects

Projecting the Future Today’s teachers are saying goodbye to the old school projectors you may remember from your own childhood, and with good reason. New projectors

)

Executive Events

are designed to bring lesson plans to life within seconds.

Cohesive Lesson Plans

Technical)Leader,)Software/) Automation)Standards8Metalcutting) (Southfield,)MI)) Lead%design%of%controls%software%programs% from%start%of%development.%Research,%develop,% document%software%interfaces9%Design%and%lay% out%software%structure%and%write%logic%from% scratch9%Design%Human%Machine%Interface% (HMI)%screens.%Must%have%five%years%previous% exp%as%CNC%Programmer%or%Supervisor%or% related.%Exp%must%have%included%PLC,%Human% Machine%Interface,%and%software%development% platforms%including%Siemens%Step7,%PRO%Tool% Pro,%WinCC%Flexible%Advanced,%HMI% Advanced/HMI%Embedded,%and%840D% PowerLine/Sinamics%(ISO%part%program,%NC% functions,%drive%commissioning,%and%drive% optimization)9%programming%of%powertrain% CNC%metal%cutting%machines%and%ancillary% equipment9%analysis%and%interpretation%of% customer%specifications,%electrical%controls% schematics,%technical%procedures,%and% government%regulations9%drafting%of%technical% documents%and%reports.%Any%suitable% combination%of%education,%training,%and% experience%is%acceptable.%Must%be%willing%to% travel.%Travel%required%up%to%30%.%Send% resumes%to%Morris%Esse,%Comau,%Inc.,%21000% Telegraph%Road,%Southfield,%MI%48033,%use% reference%code%CAC1.%

EVENT MANAGER AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

How classrooms are changing to better teach ‘STEAM’ subjects

From art projects that incorporate math concepts to science projects that require an artistic hand, students today can expect their teachers to use games, hands-on learning stations and interactive digital technology to go beyond recitation in order to invent, create and discover.

Provide academic advising to current and prospective undergraduate students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree program in the School of Business Administration. Also advise students having academic difficulty.

Perform necessary administrative functions related to students’ academic progress.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling or higher education or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A minimum of one year experience in academic counseling or advising. Strong computer and database skills. Refer to online posting for additional requirements. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

First consideration will be given to those who apply by September 26, 2016.

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

Seeking

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Jose Reyes, Interim President/Chief Executive Officer

at once for greater cohesion.

ACADEMIC ADVISER AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

)

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board, Laura A. Hughes, Chairperson

With this shift comes the need for new educational tools. Here are three big ways that classrooms are changing to keep up with this year’s curriculum.

Canton Township is now accepting applications for the Police Officer position.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 21, 2016. Job description with complete qualifications and hiring process is available on the Canton Township website: http://canton.applicantpro.com/jobs/ (EOE)

Copies of the MDEQ’s fact sheet(s) and proposed permit conditions are available for review at the following locations, or you may request a copy be mailed to you by calling 517-284-6793.

Please reference PTI Application Number 92-16.

DESC expects to award up to two contracts for the services described in this RFP. The contract period will be from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017; the contract may be extended for up to two, one-year periods.

(StatePoint) The U.S. may be short as many as three million high-skilled workers by 2018, according to National Math + Science Initiative predictions. In response, more educators and schools are embracing the idea that today’s curriculum must include Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), in order to adequately prepare children for the future.

Page D-4

Math class is more important than ever, and students and teachers are gearing up accordingly with up-to-date graphing calculators that can enhance understanding of mathematic principles. New calculators, such as the PRIZM fx-CG10 from Casio, are allowing students to create their own graphs over pictures of reallife scenes to better understand the functions from the graphs.

Additionally, today’s calculators feature color LCD with a full textbook-style display to make classroom learning, as well as homework, easier to digest. To learn more, visit Casio.com.

As the world changes, so does the classroom. New tools are helping educators prepare students for tomorrow and for challenges solvable by better STEAM knowledge.

Plan, manage, and execute high quality events that are designed to engage donors, volunteers, and the Oakland University community and friends on behalf of the President’s Office and the Development and Alumni Relations division. Will require the ability to work extended hours; including early morning, evenings and occasional weekends.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Three to five years of experience in managing highlevel special events from start to finish.

Knowledge of rules of etiquette and social protocol and experience working for top-level executives and high ranking officials. Refer to online posting for additional requirements.

Salary commensurate with education and experience. First consideration will be given to those who apply by September 22, 2016.

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

Public Safety Officer City of Oak Park Oak Park Department of Public Safety is a consolidated Police & Fire Department.

Applicants must have successfully completed 60 semester hours of college credit or have served a minimum of four years active duty military with an Honorable Discharge. Applicants must take and pass the MCOLES Reading and Writing test and the MCOLES Physical Fitness Test by October 10, 2016.

Salary range is $53,540 to $76,493 Current work schedule 12-hour shifts Excellent fringe benefits and retirement plan Application Process: Applications may be picked up in person at the Oak Park Public Safety Dept.

13800 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park MI 48237 An application may also be obtained by visiting the City of Oak Park website at: www.ci.oak-park.mi.us Applications must be returned by October 14th, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.

An ADA/Equal Opportunity Employer

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

praise connection

Metropolitan Christian Council Presents the 17th Annual Herald Awards Banquet Thursday, Sept. 29, is the date for the 17th Annual Herald Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Metropolitan Christian Council DetroitWindsor.

Mrs. Massengale, long active in the church, was president of the Henry Ford Hospital Mending Heart Association for several years. She also enjoyed cooking and gardening.

Cherishing the memory of Josephine Elizabeth Massengale are her sons, Simuel, Jerome and Salewa Olafioye; daughters, Jennese, Marchell Massengale-Criswell, Melinda Faye and Felicia; a sister, Dorothy Mitchell; and many other relatives and friends.

Greektown is the location Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 707 E. Lafayette, Detroit. Reception and silent auction begin at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm. Call (313) 8709550 or www. mccdw.orgfor more information. Zenara Barlow and Rev. Cherlyn McKanders, are co-chairpersons.

2016 COGIC Bishops Conference The 2016 Annual Bishops Conference of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. will be held in Detroit. The conference participants are comprised of over 320 bishops from the United States and around the world. Bishop John H. Sheard serves as chairman of the Board of Bishops, Church of God in Christ, Inc., vice chairman of Michigan/Ontario Council of Bishops and prelate of Michigan Southwest First Jurisdiction.

Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter To Raise Funds at Annual ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter will host its annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” Saturday., Oct. 1 at Comerica Park.

Registration for the twomile walk will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. ceremony and 10:30 a.m. start.

The chapter is hosting its walks throughout the state through Oct. 1.

More than 600 communities in the nation take part in the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” which is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Registration is required and while there is no participation fee, those involved are encouraged to fundraise for the organization and bring attention to the cause. For those raising funds, the nonprofit will provide tools, including webinars, to help them seek out donations.

“The ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s’ is an all-inclusive event that calls on people of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for the more than 5.3 million individuals in our

country who have been diagnosed with the disease,” said Jennifer Lepard, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter. “While it is an enjoyable event where participants can enjoy family friendly activities and meeting new people, it is also incredibly moving to watch those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia walk to help raise funds for something that has fundamentally changed their lives.”

On walk day, participants who have raised more than $100 will receive a t-shirt and all registrants will receive a wristband with a Promise Garden flower. Flowers come in four colors to represent the individual’s connection to the disease: blue for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia, purple for someone who has lost a loved one to the disease, yellow for supporters and caregivers and orange for anyone who supports the cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.

For more information, visit www.alz.org/gmc or call 248-351-0280.

Josephine E. Massengale Services for Josephine E. Massengale were held at Israel Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, Sept. 3, with Rev. Edward L. McCree, Jr. officiating.

Mrs. Massengale passed away on Aug. 28, 2016.

She was educated in the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Miller High School. She and Samuel Massengale were married and remained so for 45 years, until his passing in 1991. They had seven children.

This year, Justice Conrad Mallet of DMC, Alyssa Martina, president of BLAC magazine, the Rev. Dr. William Danaker Jr. of Christ Church Cranbrook, David Crumm, formerly of the Detroit Free Press, now editor of David Crumm Media, LLC., Steve Rota, operations manager, Bloomfield Community TV, and Rev. Gene Mariann McCormack, lifetime members of MCCDW will be honored.

Liberty Temple Baptist Church recently celebrated its Year of Allegiance to Faith and Kingdom Building with beloved Pastor Steve Bland. The banquet was held at the Saint John Armenian Church Banquet and Conference in Southfield. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A Wright Jr. provided the keynote address. Seated: Rev Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Standing: honoree Rev. Dr. Steve Bland and O' Neil D. ­Swanson of Swanson Funeral Homes, Inc.

Page D-5

Josephine Elizabeth Massengale was born in Birmingham, Alabama on June 11, 1932 to Theodore Roosevelt Holden and Fannie Mae Nibblett-Holden.

President/CEO Rev. Priscilla Carey-Tucker cordially invites all to enjoy the annual banquet where local people in the community are recognized for their community service.

‘12 years a servant’

September 14-20, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

The Church of God in Christ is ranked by the National Council of Churches as the largest Pentecostal Holiness denomination and the fifth largest Christian denomination in the United States. Internationally, the Church of God in Christ can be found in more than 60 nations.

Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., serves as the international presiding bishop and chief apostle of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. The Church of God

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Elmwood Cemetery.

Annie Flora Hunter Services for Annie Flora Hunter were held on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Wilma R. Johnson officiating. Mrs. Hunter passed away on Aug. 26, 2016.

Annie Flora Robinson was born on Aug. 18, 1936 in Florence, Mississippi to Ridley and Ollie Robinson. She was educated in the Detroit Public Schools. She was always interested in culinary arts and nursing, and she became certified in both. For 23 years she worked as a home health care aide for Rest Care Services.

Bishop John H. Sheard in Christ, Inc. recognizes the needs of people around the globe are dire.

When times are bad the church becomes a place of solace. Christian leaders must be prepared to provide hope for the hopeless.

During the conference, daily seminars and workshops have been designed to enhance and improve the quality of life for church families as they face 21st century challenges. While the daily sessions are restricted to the College of Bishops, evening worship services are open and the public is invited to attend.

2016 Bishops’ Conference of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. Detroit, MI | September 19-22, 2016 Worship Service Times and Locations Monday Evening Worship Services, September 19th @ 7pm: Service held at: Greater Mitchell Temple Church of God in Christ 13737 Curtis Ave. Detroit, MI 48235 Host Pastor, Bishop John H. Sheard Tuesday & Wednesday Evening Worship Services, September 20 & 21st @ 7pm: Services held at: Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ 19190 Schaefer Hwy. Detroit, MI 48235 Host Pastor, Bishop J. Drew Sheard Tuesday Speaker: Bishop John H. Sheard, Chairman of the Board of Bishops Wednesday Speaker: Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop Church of God in Christ, Inc. Thursday, September 22nd @ 6 pm “An Evening of Elegance” Board of Bishops Annual Banquet Westin Southfield Detroit 1500 Town Center Southfield, MI 48075 All are welcome For ticket information contact: Mrs. Tonia Minor 313-345-9900

Elder Dr. Harold L. Taylor In memory of beloved Elder Harold L. Taylor, DDS, homegoing services will take place on Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17. Visitation will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Unity Mission Church, 1335 Oakman Blvd.

Dr. Taylor’s funeral service will be held at 10. a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, atBbethel AME Church at 5050 St. Antoine, with the internment following at Elmwood Cemetary.

For more information please call Swanson Funeral Home at 313-272-9000 or 313-9231122.

Are you hosting a concert or faith-friendly event?

Are you celebrating an anniversary or special occasion?

PROMOTE IT HERE!

PRAISE CONNECT Contact us at: 313.963.5522

In 1956, she married Jessie Hunter and they had six children and raised nine. She was active at her children’s school, including serving as a crossing guard, teacher’s aide and eventually president of the PTA. Mrs. Hunter love reading, cooking, gardening and going to church.

The memory of Annie Flora Hunter is being cherished by her children, Lizzy, Rose, Jessie Jr., Aaron, Tyrone, Beverly and Joyce, and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Detroit Memorial Park East.

Sharlynn Denise Cannady Services for Sharlynn Denise Cannady were held on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Glory to ­Glory C.O.G.I.C. with Supt. Tommy C. Vanover officiating. Mrs. Cannady ­ passed away on Aug. 26, 2016.

Sharlynn Denise Cannady was born on Jan. 31, 1969 in Detroit to Elmer Frank and Gloria Cannady.

She was educated in the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Murray-Wright High School. She continued her education at Colorado Technical University, earning an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration.

She is remembered as a loving person who cared deeply about family and friends. She also loved church and was active in it.

Cherishing the memory of Sharlynn Denise Cannady are her adopted mother, Mildred Powers; two sisters, Fairell Tubbs and Doriease Blue; and many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements were handled by Swanson Funeral Home.

Clarence “Boone”Jones We miss you and love you. You will forever be in our memories. Love your wife, Dorothy Jones, The Jones Family, The Rowland’s and the Moore Family.

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

September 14-20, 2016 Page D-6

C hanté Moore: Better, Stronger and Wiser

By Patreice A. Massey

S

inger and songwriter Chanté Moore’s voice, beauty and unerring artistic vision have allowed the R&B singer to enjoy an illustrious two-decade career, which is rare in this business. Her voice is timeless and her talent knows no bounds. She writes, acts and can sing gospel, R&B, and jazz with ease.

Moore has seen ups and downs and battled depression, but now everything seems to be on an upswing for the mother of two.

“I have been blessed and honored to do what I love for a living for as long as I have,” says the dynamic songbird.

“My fans who have continued with me on my journey have become a part of me and the music.”

Moore’s genuine connection with her audience has been forged through her intimate and personal songwriting.

“I give 100 percent of myself when I sing and perform.

And there were times when I was in this state of depression and I would break down crying on stage. I would just burst into tears.“ In recent years, Moore had become known more for her personal life than her singing thanks to her decision to star in the highly rated TV One reality show spin-off, R&B Diva’s L.A. The show followed the lives and careers of Moore as well as fellow divas Kelly Price, Lil' Mo, Michel'le Dawn Robinson Lela James and Chrisette Michelle. Moore is very upfront about her time on the series and admits that she has some regrets.

“Prior to joining the show, I never watched reality TV and still don’t so I was very naive. I thought it was going to be about us being R&B divas, our individual careers, and us coming together to work on a project at the end.”

As many of us know, reality TV is rarely a vehicle for altruistic endeavors. Moore soon learned that as she became entangled in various feuds and confrontations. One would wonder why Moore stuck around after the first season.

“The first year I didn’t really know what was going on, and the second was crazy! Everybody was mad at me. The third year, I came back because I didn’t want them to think they ran me away. I came back basically to say, Y’all not gon’ punk me!”

During the time she was filming R&B Divas, Moore was dealing with the grief related to the death of her brother and about the industry being what it is but no one seemed

to care. Moore remembers the experience as being “horrible” and said she would never do it again.

stand the work that women must do to become whole on their own.

“It was a lot to swallow and I’m really glad it ended.”

That kind of truth is part of why Moore’s fans have stuck with her over the years (the other part is her amazing voice). She’s genuine when she sings and when she performs you feel all of Chanté Moore— her hurt, her happiness and everything in between.

Her latest album, which has yet to be titled, is about her choice to be better, stronger and at peace.

Moore comes across as a genuine person who has no problem keeping it real with others as well as herself, which was the thought behind her book, Would I Marry Me? Moore says she wrote the book after taking a look at her life and having an honest conversation with herself.

“It was a personal journey in trying to examine myself. I wrote this while I was married and I knew I had to turn the tables on myself because I knew I was the common denominator in all of the marriages that I had been in before and I had to learn about me.”

With her book, Moore hopes other women will see a little of themselves in the pages and under-

“This album is about rebirth and becoming the person I said I wanted to be. It’s about being becoming a better, stronger and wiser woman. The things that used to bring me down, now make me soar. There are a lot of things I get now that I didn’t get before. And I’m glad for my fans to witness this growth.”

Motorcity Sound Board welcomes Chanté' Moore and Tony Toni Tone’ on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 8PM.

Cydni Elledge photo

Tatiana Simone photo

The Women of Badboy Entertainment empowers Detroit women

By Tatiana Simone

en are portrayed in the media and at times are exploited by those who represent them.

The Women of Badboy Entertainment came to Detroit not only to perform their hit songs at the Palace of Auburn Hills, but also to spread words of encouragement and advice to women from all walks of life.

“The artist has one perspective, but then there is the business side. There are people not of color in offices deciding who we are and deciding what is right. They control the image, so it is limited and a challenge,” said Gibson.

Presented by Beauty Chronicles and moderated by Hot 107.5’s Koffey Brown, the panel included award-winning Faith Evans, R&B group Total with Keisha Epps, Kima Dyson and Pamela Long, and choreographer Laurieann Gibson. The panelists discussed a variety of issues from being a woman in a male dominated field to being a black woman in society and empowering oneself and uplifting each other as women.

The Beauty Chronicles Brunch Tour is a women’s empowerment brunch series created by Brand Maverick Entertainment President Steven Jones and co-produced by Prolific Music Group managing partner Cheryl Flowers Briggs.

The purpose of the brunch is to present conversations on sisterhood, images of beauty and self-esteem while receiving tips on learning to love and be your most authentic self.

Evans cited her weight as a personal struggle but also noted that her management never pressured her to be any particular size. She used fashion to work on her side.

ORS Hair Care powered the event, enforcing the movement of “no stereotypes.”

Tatiana Simone photo A competitive spirit can be a hindrance to women’s progress.

“It’s not about somebody else having something or somebody doing something in the vein you would like to do it,” said Keisha Epps, who took some time off to care for her family.

“When you are loving yourself, you’re loving God back and and opening more doors for you.”

The entertainment industry is largely male dominated, which poses difficulty for women seeking to gain access.

ing the barrier for respect.

“There are a lot of stereotypes in the world, especially for people of minority culture, but I don’t let things like that permeate my energy or thoughts,” said Evans.

“It’s very difficult for African American women to get into this business, but that’s life, that’s the reality and I just want to wrap my hands around every young girl and say ‘it is a reality’ and not beat them down for not understanding,” said Gibson.

Breaking the glass ceiling can often be considered break-

The intimate conversation touched on the way black wom-

In a society where natural hair has become more embraced, women tend to believe this means healthier hair, since chemicals aren’t used. The movement, initiated by Senior Brand Manager Tracey Bell and her team, is one she holds close as one who chooses to relax her hair.

“Whether you decide to go relaxed or natural, healthy is our goal,” said Bell.

The campaign is geared to end the stereotypes of what defines “good” hair.