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Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 84 – No. 1 | September 9-15, 2020
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Governor Whitmer Signs Bill to Provide Funding for Enhanced Federal Unemployment Benefits Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 745, which appropriates $2.8 billion in supplemental funding from federal revenues awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover a temporary $300 per week enhanced federal payment for eligible Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits. As part of the FEMA program, the additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits will continue until the federal emerGovernor Whitmer gency disaster relief funding made available for this program has been exhausted. At this time, it is unknown how many weeks may be covered by existing funds. “This is good news for the thousands of Michiganders who are still without work as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, but it’s still a short term band aid that falls short of what’s needed,” said Governor Whitmer. “We need the president, Mitch McConnell, and Congress to put partisanship aside and pass a bipartisan recovery package that will help us save lives and get people back on their feet. Michigan families, frontline workers, and small business owners are counting on the federal government to do the right thing and work together on their behalf.” At this time, eligible claimants do not have to take any action to receive the additional benefit amount provided by the program.
AN EYE TOWARDS NOVEMBER ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Election 2020 – What’s Next?
Michigan Chronicle Endorses U.S. Sen. Gary Peters For Re-election In November By Whitney Gresham
J
ust as the race for the presidency of the United States between the Republican Donald J. Trump and former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden offers the country the starkest of choices to be made about the future and the direction of our country, so does the race between Michigan incumbent Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger John James. In many ways, the campaign for the U.S Senate is reflective of the Presidential campaign in as much as it pits a moderate, centrist, Democrat in Sen. Peters, who was propelled into office with the overwhelming support of Black voters in Detroit and around the state against a far-right Republican, in James, whose campaign – like Trump's - is mostly centered on repudiating the legacy of America's first Black President, Barak Obama, while counting on voters to be enamored by his business background. Besides the ideological differences between the two men who are both military veterans, the significant differences are Peter's years of experience as an elected official with a track record of fighting and delivering for
Michigan's citizens. Versus James, who has never held elective office. He did, however, unsuccessfully challenge Michigan's senior Sen. Stabenow for her seat in 2018. Another noticeable difference is that Peters is white and from Pontiac, and James is an African American from Detroit. And the Michigan Republican Party believes that makes him a more attractive candidate for some Black Michigan voters and some white voters concerned about their Party's reputation for hostility toward African Americans. However, in this moment of the Black Lives Movement, racial reckoning and demands for social justice, James bizarre ambivalence about Black civil rights - even refusing to support the strengthening and renewal of the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act and denying voter suppression is profoundly problematic. It puts him squarely at odds both morally and politically, with most African Americans on an issue that is foundational to the Black community. Nether James, his press secretary, Abby Walls, or officials from the Michigan Republican Party responded to phone calls, emails, or texts from the
Chronicle requesting an interview or answer questions emailed to them by the Chronicle.
However, in interviews he provided elsewhere, James has reiterated his strong support for Trump and continued to call for Obamacare's destruction – which he has called a "monstrosity" - while offering no meaningful plan for replacing it. Besides committing himself to a policy that would end health care for more than 100,000 Detroiters, he has also called for the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and taking away critical funding for public schools and other essential services to provide tax breaks for the rich. During a 2018 interview with the Chronicle, when he was challenging Sen. Stabenow, James claimed he was a "textualist" and said he supported the appointment of rabidly anti-civil rights justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Both justices have voted not only to gut the Voting Rights Act every time it has been before the court for review during their tenure. Still, they are also part of a far-right anti-civil rights cabal on
See ELECTION
2020 page A2
Domino Effect:
WHAT’S INSIDE
When Police Stop Black Men, The Effects Reach Into Their Homes And Families By Deadric T. Williams and Armon Perry — (The Conversation)
Denise J. Lewis,
veteran real estate attorney and senior partner retires from Honigman LLC
Money. A5
While much of the world was sheltering in place in the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans’ undivided attention was focused squarely on Minneapolis, Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed at the hands – and knees – of the police. Floyd’s murder evoked memories of other murders by the police, including those of Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Philando Castile and Samuel DuBose. Most recently, another unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We are a sociologist and a social worker who study racism, inequality and families, including a focus on Black men and their interactions with law enforcement. Each of these killings serves as confirmation that concerns about those interactions are warranted.
$1.00
The problem isn’t just that Black men get
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EFFECT page A2
Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •
September 9-15, 2020
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Election 2020 to inform crime reduction programs.
From page A-1 the court that would not even accommodate voters and allow more time for mail-in voting during this year's primary elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He received a 97 percent positive legislative rating from the national NAACP during the 20172019 legislative session. Unlike James, who has joined Trump in calling for the destruction of Obamacare, which helps more than 500,000 Michigan residents - a the disproportionate number being people of color and the working poor Sen. Peters is a strong advocate for the law and has passed legislation to help get lower-cost generic insulin and other generic medications to the market. He has also cosponsored and passed the Maternal Health Accountability Act to create a grant program to help states track and reduce maternal deaths, disproportionately impacting Black women.
Sen. Peters has been a steady, if somewhat low key presence in Washington, who has established a reputation for bipartisanship, excellent constituent service, bringing home the bacon for Michigan, and a reliable friend and advocate for African American community. During the current session, Sen. Peters, with the NAACP's support, introduced the bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act to establish the first top-to-bottom review of our justice system in over 50 years and help set the agenda on critical reforms for our criminal justice system. He cosponsored national reforms like an outright ban on the use of chokeholds, accountability in the event of the use of deadly force by law enforcement, and the requirement for fair and impartial independent investigations. Moreover, he supports measures to require federal law enforcement to identify themselves and promote evidence-based practices
Sen. Peters's work on behalf of Detroit citizens includes helping to secure funding for the purchase of 59 new city transit buses and funding to revitalize Belle Isle and additional money for resources to keep communities and places of worship safe. He played a pivotal role in helping Flint to secure $30 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Grant to replace the crumbling Atherton
Domino Effect From page A-1
killed – it’s that Black families are stressed and strained by Black men’s daily encounters with police. Studies show Black and Hispanic drivers, compared to white drivers, experience a disproportionate number of police stops and that officers show less respect to Black drivers. Racial inequality in contact with the police may influence the lack of trust in police among Black Americans. In a recent Gallup survey, one in four Black men ages 18 to 34 reported they have been treated unfairly by police within the last month. In our research on these interactions, we found that they have far-reaching implications for Black families. Law enforcement encounters for Black Americans stretch beyond the streets of our cities and into Black Americans’ homes, where they have a negative effect on family life. Families suffer Studies show that one in nine Black children has had a parent in prison. Having an incarcerated parent is associated with a host of social problems for children, including behavioral problems and academic failure. Former inmates have to navigate many barriers to reintegrate and reconnect with their communities and families. A recent study shows that if fathers were previously incarcerated, they were more likely to report having a strained and unsupportive relationship with their child’s mother, a major factor which negatively impacts fathers’ involvement and harms their connection and relationship with their children. Although a growing number of studies focus on incarceration and families, there is less empirical research that includes whether police stops experienced by Black fathers affect family life. In our research, we have found the obstacles that come with economic hardship, mental illness, parenting stress and incarceration can hurt how well parents work together and the well-being of their children. We wanted to extend our work by examining whether experiencing a traffic stop for Black fathers affected their relationship with their child’s mother. This is important because the mother-father relationship plays a large role in fathers’ involvement with their children. In 2019, we co-authored a study that examined how Black fathers’ contacts with police affects their relationships with their children’s mother. We analyzed data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being study,
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East public housing complex, plus an additional nearly half a million dollars for Flint Community Schools to hire staff and improve the learning environment for students affected by leaded water. James, who comes from a highly respected family, deserves credit for serving our country. And he has been an able steward of the business he and his brother took over from their father, Group international, where his father, John A. James, was the CEO.[ He talks a great deal about his business acumen; however, during his 2018 interview with the Chronicle, he was non-committal about support for specific programs to help Black businesses and entrepreneurs and opposed affirmative action programs to help African Americans. His website makes no mention of specific policy initiatives aimed at the African American community. Sen. Peters has not only been a vocal advocate for the Minority Business Development Agency, but he also helped pass the Small Business Jobs Act to boost small businesses in and around Detroit through tax credits and access to low-interest loans. He also fought for and secured additional relief to minority-owned firms and community
a study surveying nearly 5,000 families from urban cities. In conducting our analysis, we focused on 967 Black families that included both fathers’ and mothers’ reports of relationship quality and cooperative parenting. We found that fathers who reported experiencing a police stop were more likely to report conflict or lack of cooperation in their relationships with their children’s mother. They also reported the same relationship problem if they had been previously incarcerated.
lenders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is an original cosponsor of the For the People Act, which would expand voting rights and reduce the influence of big money in politics. With so much on the line this coming November, it is critical for all Michiganders to know we have a friend in the U.S. Senate to count on to fight and advocate on our behalf. Especially Black Michigan residents who, along with people of color from all across this country, have borne the brunt of almost four consecutive years of mistreatment and nonstop racist assaults and insults from President Trump and his Republican Party enablers. We have that in Sen. Peters. He may not be flashy but has been a very able and highly effective, hardworking senator for all of Michigan. His attention to his constituents' needs and commitment to fairness, decency, and racial equality stands in stark contrast to everything James appears to represent with his dangerous indifference toward Black civil rights, hostility toward Obamacare anti-labor, and anti-choice policy positions. His near unwavering support of President Trump – who is opposed for reelection by more than 90 percent of African American voters – makes his candidacy appear more quixotic than serious - at least among Black voters. It's not even close: The Michigan Chronicle endorses incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters for reelection to the U.S. Senate in November.
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Anger and frustration Encountering law enforcement can affect family relationships in a number of ways. In many cities, the police presence is heaviest in low-income communities where Black men are more likely to live. These communities and their residents are often economically disadvantaged with very few viable prospects for gainful employment. For the Black fathers in these communities, not being able to fulfill the financial provider role can contribute to relationship tension with their children’s mother. Family researchers suggest that stressful events such as law enforcement contact may also reduce individuals’ ability to manage family problems. Family members are inextricably linked, so when Black fathers experience a police stop, it may generate feelings of uncertainty and agitation on the part of the mother and affect the way that she views the relationship, leading to anger and frustration that negatively impacts the relationship. Reinforcing racial oppression The shooting of another Black man, Jacob Blake, by police on August 23 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, led to days of street protests. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The disproportionate number of Black men who have contact with law enforcement does not happen within a vacuum. Some researchers underscore the historical origins of policing and criminalizing of Black males since the Civil War that continues into the present. This includes negative stereotypes of Black men as dangerous, which led to more than 150 years of lynchings, mass incarceration of Black men and more recent stop-and-frisk policies that disproportionately target Blacks. Given the prevalence of both incarceration and police stops for Black men, law enforcement contact of any kind can become a source of additional stress and may reinforce racial oppression. As the results of our study indicate, these experiences may carry over into their day-to-day lives, including harming their family relationships.
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| September 9-15, 2020
Gift Of Life
Roots.
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When Michael Love started to experience shortness of breath, the Southfield resident said he thought it’d be easy to treat. He was 50 years old at the time and noticed he had been slowing down and was frequently out of breath. His condition came to a head one day when the struggle to get from his truck to his desk caused a co-worker to ask him if he wanted to call an ambulance. He declined, but visited a doctor soon after. The diagnosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, came as a shock to him and the recommended treatment was even more startling: his doctors told him he had no other reMichael Love course than to get a double-lung transplant. “It was an eye opener,” said Love, a pipe fitter at General Motors. “I can’t even tell you how I had to process that. It caught me off guard. I thought, ‘You’ve got to be out of your mind.’” He continued to work after his diagnosis, even though his health was declining. The call came on Nov. 16, 2015: a donor of lungs had been found, and Love was scheduled for surgery the next day. He went home shortly after the double-lung transplant and, at first, things were looking good. “I felt brand new,” said Love. “If I hadn’t just had my chest completely wide open, I probably would’ve ran home. I hadn’t felt that good in I can’t even tell you when. I don’t even know how long I had been suffering from that lung disease.” Two years later, his symptoms returned. He was in and out of the hospital, being treated for pneumonia, and his oxygen level was taking a long time to return to normal. Further tests showed that his body was rejecting his new lungs. “I didn’t get bent out of shape. My viewpoint is: options. I had the option to do it again,” said Love. “You get nervous when you don’t have any options and are pressed up against the wall. I thought: ‘If this is what we have to do, let’s go!’” His optimism didn’t fade, despite a close call with a second pair of donated lungs. He was preparing for that surgery in 2018 when the surgeon cancelled at the last minute, saying the lungs were not viable. “I wasn’t upset. I’ve learned that the key is, you have to look at things as the glass being halffull, no matter where you are,” he said. “You could be at your lowest, but there’s always going to be somebody out there that will love to step up into your shoes.” His next call came 12 weeks later. The initial recovery was more difficult after his second transplant, but he said he’s working his way back up to full strength and taking joy in accomplishing the things he hadn’t been able to do while he was sick. He’s also made it his personal mission to give back, by encouraging people to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and helping them along their transplant journey. He knows he was fortunate to not wait long for either procedure. Minorities tend to spend more time on the waiting list because they are more likely to suffer from conditions like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, which can lead to organ failure. Some are also less likely to sign up to be a donor. More than 100,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in the United States, and nearly 60 percent of them are minorities. In Michigan, 871 of the 2,688 people on the waiting list for a transplant are African American. August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month, which aims to highlight the need for minority organ donors and encourage people to lead healthier lives. Love said he hopes to do that and to provide perspective to people who are waiting for a life-saving or life-altering gift.
See GIFT OF LIFE page A-4
The State of Black Men’s Health in Medical and Mental Intervention
By Megan Kirk
With the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman, the question of health and wellness has become more prevalent than ever. Starring in “42,” “Get On Up,” and the box office hit “The Black Panther,” the 43-yearold star passed away from colon cancer. The stigma on healthcare professionals within the Black community runs deep. With issues of mistrust, lack of health care coverage and lack of access, many African Americans seek medical and mental health treatment at significantly lower rates than other races. Black men, especially, are seeking healthcare far less than Black women. While most chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes can be managed, early screenings and lifestyle changes are key in helping to control the condition. Shanette Kennedy, a registered nurse in the Detroit medical system, believes Black men choose to forgo the doctor out of fear. “From a medical perspective, I believe that a lot of Black men don’t see doctors simply because they don’t want any bad news,” she explains. While potential outcomes could discourage Black men from seeking medical attention, there still exists the lack of trust due to the low numbers of Black healthcare professionals. According to a 2019 survey from the Association of Amer-
cans were uninsured. In 2016, the year former President Barack Obama left office, the gap significantly closed to just over 10 percent. Now, on the uptick, more Black Americans are becoming uninsured. As women are offered state insurance due to pregnancy or income-based, in contrast, without employer-provided insurance, the state or private insurance, Black men are largely uncovered. “We can’t ignore the fact that a lack of health insurance plays a major role in seeking medical care. Low income women are offered medical insurance and screened for insurance when applying for state assistance, many men don’t get that luxury,” Kennedy expresses.
ican Medical Colleges, African Americans make up roughly five percent of active physicians in the country. “I think a lack of representation in the medical field deters a lot of Black men, especially older Black men, from seeking regular medical exams,” Kennedy explains. “When men finally go to the doctor, they may leave with prescriptions for common chronic issues and haven’t formed a level of trust to be compliant with the medications.” In addition to fear, there is a huge disparity in healthcare coverage. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, African Americans were able to close the gap for those uninsured. When the Affordable Care Act was first implemented in March 2010, over 19 percent of African Ameri-
Physical health and wellness are not the only areas of healthcare Black men stray from. Mental health also affects them in alarming rates. Christopher Harris, a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of CCHarris Professional Counseling Services, attributes the fear of seeking mental health assistance to cultural and systemic issues. “The functional problem is cultural. We’ve been raised by a narrative of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” Harris explains. “The second problem is systemically. It hasn’t been part of our narrative. We have a portion of the community that distrust professionals.” Mental health is a taboo subject within the Black community. Unlike seeing a
See BLACK MEN'S HEALTH page A-4
Eating to Live: Food, Sustainability and Celebration in the Black Community By Megan Kirk Gathering around the table for family dinner is a customary practice across many races and nationalities. However, in the African American community, food and celebration go hand-in-hand. Throughout generations, beginning with Sunday dinner, Black families have used food as an opportunity to spend time together and have meaningful conversation over a good meal. Creating memories of familiar smells and matriarchs, recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. Referenced in films such as “Soul Food,” large meals of various Southern cuisines are seen as crowd favorites and cost effective in feeding large numbers in times of heartache and festivity. Theophilus Williams is part owner of Full Course Catering. Alongside wife Dominique, Williams has served families and events since 2014. For him, certain foods create a sense of nostalgia. “It brings back those good memories. The older we get, especially throughout generations, it brings back aunties and mothers,” Williams says Affectionately known as “soul food,” Southern dishes such as fried chicken, greens and macaroni and cheese, are a staple on urban tables. Full Course Catering takes those traditional dishes and recreates them with a twist for their customers and their special events. “We cater to whatever the client wants. We’ve taken the average recipe for African Americans and shook it up,” Williams says.
In previous generations, to curb the need for access to fresh produce, elders planted small gardens in their yards for personal use. Today, access to fresh produce has become increasingly difficult for urban communities. For Williams, gardening and tilling the land is a system he keeps alive. “This is putting us back to when grandma has collard greens growing in the backyard,” Williams reminisces. “We’ve gotten away from that and a lot of kids don’t know how to grow.” Through
growing
fresh
herbs and vegetables in a small personal garden, the catering couple uses it for themselves and their clients. “We have to utilize natural gardens. In my backyard I have some fresh herbs, okra, a few stalks of corn, tomatoes and basil,” Williams says. Although food is seen as a sense of comfort and celebration within the Black community, it is also seen as unhealthy. As poor diets can lead to various health issues, most Southern meals are cooked with ingredients full of fat and grease.
Ruchelle “Chelly” Jackson is a functional medicine nutritionist, holistic health practitioner and a raw and vegan chef. In working with the community, Jackson has been able to see first-hand the effects of unhealthy nutrition. “Our community, for the most part, has a very unhealthy diet. As humans, we depend on so much variety in our diet to feed our ever-growing appetite, and we’re never satisfied,” Jackson says. According to Jackson, using food to celebrate and come together is often the source of another major health problem: overeating. “When we are congregating and celebrating, we tend to eat more because we aren’t paying attention to what we’re consuming,” she states. Comparing humans to trees and plants, Jackson believes humans should consume the proper foods in order to sustain their health. “We could learn a lot from nature. Besides obesity, diets can create high blood pressure, cancers, diabetes and digestive issues,” Jackson continues. According to a 2018 study by JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, the Southern diet plays a major role in the disparity in hypertension between Black and white populations. African American participants accounted for 46 percent of high blood pressure cases while white participants made up 33 percent. Factors such as poverty and access to food make healthy eating habits harder for Black families. Research from Feeding America states that Black
See EAT TO LIVE page A-4
Page A-4 • michiganchronicle.com • September 9-15, 2020
Redford Township Woman Celebrates 90th Birthday with a surprise Parade!
By Lamus Rush
On August 31st, Mrs. Florence Jones of Redford Township turned 90 years old, and it would become a birthday she would never forget! Her family surprised her with an extravagant drive-by parade like never before. Mrs. Jones arrived at her home at 1:45 pm and was greeted by DJ CoolBreeze, shouting her arrival on Microphone, “Happy 90th birthday Mrs. Jones”. Mrs. Jones was then guided by her granddaughter Lena to the best seat on the block. A throne chair trimmed in gold fitted for a queen. She was crowned with a Florence Jones match gold tiara. Jone’s grandson D esmond Lester was the driving force behind the celebration. “My grandmother is an amazing person and leaves an everlasting impression on everyone she meets. We wanted to do a big surprise dinner for her, but due to COVID, we had to do the next best thing, a Drive-by parade.” At 2 pm, The parade started with a banner reading “Happy 90th Birthday Mrs. Florence Jones” followed by the Gabriel Brass Band marching down the block Mardi Gras style. After the parade, she was presented with an Anniversary Gift box from Detroit’s own Better Made Chips, a tribute by the State of Michigan signed by none other than Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Men's Health From page A-3
doctor to manage physical health, mental health professionals are not seen as important to overall health and wellness. “Your physical, mental and emotional health are all connected. If you’re struggling in one, it’s hard, but what if you’re struggling in all three?” Harris asks. Aside from seeking medical help to aid in checkups, preventative measures and health management, Black men are less likely to enlist the help of mental health professionals to discuss their traumas. Maintaining a healthy mind and body are key in experiencing overall health. “Lack of sleep, nutrients and lack of fitness can shut your system down,” Harris says. The notion of Black masculinity, or Black manhood, is a topic that has been explored through books, research and various studies. With ideas of ego and pride often being at the center of internal conflict, seeking professional help is often frowned upon amongst Black men. Jakita Reed, a Marriage and Family Therapist intern, details
Gift Of Life From page A-3
“I want to help as many people as I possibly can. It’s my personal mission. When you are told that you need a transplant, most other people do not have that experience. They don’t know that many people that have had one that you can have a conversation with,” said Love, now 55 years old. “If you can talk with someone who has had that same transplant – they get it. They understand. “There’s a side of this that a doc-
how masculinity among Black men prevents them from seeing mental health and medical health professionals. “Black masculinity is certainly a factor in black men not seeking professional help. I’ve heard many men and women tell young boys to stop crying like a little girl. If that’s not silencing the ability of emotional attunement in self of men then, I don’t know what is,” Reed says As a result of not seeking medical or mental health, chances of Black men turning to unsafe practices and coping mechanisms to self-heal could drastically increase. “Not seeing a doctor when symptoms are mild likely means that the symptoms will only increase or get worse over time. The potential of those mild symptoms turning into a crisis is very likely. Suicide, Homicide, major depression, alcohol and substance abuse, as well as terminal illnesses could all be potential dangers to men who do not seek treatment for any mental or physical health needs immediately.,” Reed says. As Hollywood and the African American community lost a real-life superhero in the passing of Boseman, his silence around his illness continues to speak volumes. The tor can’t give you,” he added. “They can heal you, they can tell you how to maintain it, but there are some things they just can’t give you.” About Gift of Life Michigan Gift of Life Michigan is a federally designated organ procurement organization that serves the state of Michigan as the intermediary between donors, their families and hospital staff. In collaboration with Eversight, Gift of Life provides all services necessary for organ, eye and tissue donation. For more information, or to sign up on the Donor Registry, visit www.golm.org or call 866.500.5801.
idea of staying silent in times of health crisis in the Black community is often very common. “Maybe he was being humble or maybe he didn’t want the news of his terrible illness to overtake his legacy as a strong Black man. Black men save face for their families every day. I believe many black men suffer in silence for many reasons,” Reed shares. As masculinity, access and representation continue to be driving factors in seeking medical and mental healthcare, reminding Black men preventative care is key can help in urging them to seek professional help. “Visiting a physician can sometimes seem very invasive, even for the simplest appointments,” Kennedy says. “Black men deserve a shot at life-and a healthy life. Prevention is everything.”
Eat To Live From page A-3
families face hunger issues twice as much as white families. Having to make their dollar stretch, Black families are limited on food options. As inner-city grocery stores have less access to fresh produce, the cost of healthier options is significantly higher in urban neighborhoods. “It’s unfortunate in our community [that] we have to pay more to eat healthy,” Jackson notes. Thanks to the power of the internet, families can research healthier options and create nutritious meals for their families to aid in better health. “Now that we’re in the day and age of technology and growth, let’s break the generational curse of hypertension and diabetes,” Williams says.
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Money.
| September 9-15, 2020
Robin Dillard-Russaw Hired As Director Of Newly-Created Wayne County Office Of Public Defense Services Wayne County has hired Robin Dillard-Russaw to serve as Director of the new Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS), charged with management of the indigent defense system in Wayne County. The OPDS is state funded through a grant from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). The OPDS was created to manage the indigent defense system which handles 15,000 assignments of counsel in felony cases. One of the first goals of the OPDS is to encourage the use of investigators and experts when defending cases, because this resource can often provide more equal access to justice for the indigent. When fully operative, the OPDS will manage the process from assignment of counsel and litigation support to payment of fees. In 2020, approximately 75 percent of Wayne CounRobin Dillard-Russaw ty’s cases were assigned to about 200 private attorneys. The remaining 25 percent of cases were assigned to Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit (NDSD), which began operation in 2019. “Our justice system promises every defendant the right to quality legal representation regardless of their economic situation,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “That principal hasn’t always been the reality historically, which is why my administration has made improving defense services a priority. Under Robin Dillard-Russaw’s leadership, we are continuing to build toward an indigent defense system in Wayne County that can be a national model for fairness and justice.” Ms. Dillard-Russaw is an experienced local practitioner who has practiced law as a criminal defense attorney, assistant prosecutor, assistant attorney general, and judicial magistrate. She most recently served as Deputy Court Administrator and Magistrate in the 46th District Court in Southfield, MI, where she created the Court’s “Counsel at First Appearance” process to provide assigned criminal defense counsel at arraignments on the warrant. She was also instrumental in the creation and administration of that court’s plan for compliance with the standards of the MIDC, and in training new magistrates and court personnel. As Deputy Court Administrator, she assisted in the Court’s fiscal management, human resources, grant-writing, dispute resolution, performance review process, and policymaking. “Wayne County’s Third Circuit Court is Michigan’s busiest criminal court, so managing indigent defense services is no small task,” said Wayne County Corporation Counsel James Heath. “Robin Dillard-Russaw’s record demonstrates she is the right person for this role.” Both OPDS and NDSD are made possible through the support and generous grants from the MIDC. Going forward OPDS will work with both NDSD and private assigned counsel in Wayne County to meet and exceed the MIDC standards and provide quality legal services to the indigent charged with felonies in the county.
michiganchronicle.com
Denise J.
Lewis
, Veteran Real Estate Attorney And Senior Partner Retires From Honigman LLC
By Donald James Special to the Chronicle
Denise Lewis in 2018 moderating presentations by Detroit developers at the national conference held in Detroit of the Real Estate Executive Council. Denise chaired this 2018 conference.
Lewis handling documents at a client closing in 2010. Next to Lewis is her Honigman partner Maurice Binkow.
For almost 37 years, real estate attorney Denise J. Lewis had provided creative strategies and rendered savvy leadership to successfully complete complex development projects for Honigman LLC. In her senior position, Lewis, while based in downtown Detroit, built a strong reputation for skillfully representing many local, regional, and national developers in transactions that involved public/private partnerships, urban redevelopment, and mixed-use development. After what has been described as a brilliant career at Honigman, in July of this year, Lewis retired. As the senior partner of Honigman’s Urban Redevelopment Practice Group, a group she founded 20 years ago, Lewis as chair, directed a team of approximately 15 attorneys to complete multi-tiered urban development and redevelopment projects, including office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, apartment complexes, single-family residential projects, and mixed-use development projects. Under her guidance, her group was heralded as one of the largest and most-well-respected real estate practices among law firms in the nation. Chambers USA, a highly regarded publication, lists Honigman’s real estate department as the No. 1 unit in the state of Michigan.
portfolio, in 2017 and 2018 alone, she closed 15 deals valued at approximately $580 million. Among those deals were the new construction of mixed-use projects in the downtown Detroit Paradise Valley District, financing for the redevelopment of an historic office building to be the new home of the Michigan Chronicle, and the redevelopment of an historic structure to be the corporate headquarters for Hamilton Anderson Associates (architecture firm). There are other signature development projects in the city completed during Lewis’ tenure, including the Detroit Pistons Training Facility and Corporate Headquarters in Midtown. For Lewis, urban redevelopment projects in cities such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit have been rewarding. “I am proud of the work that Honigman and I have done over the years in many of the cities that had their ups and downs,” Lewis said. “Detroit is one of the important cities where we have helped make projects happen. They were incredibly challenging, didn’t look like they were going to happen, but changed the landscape for the city and people who live in the city.” Lewis believes while it’s important for the city to build its tax base, at the same time it must create and maintain affordable housing. “We have to make the balance work so that we welcome new residents into
While Lewis has many successful real estate development projects in her
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LEWIS page A6
Lewis receiving an award from the National Associa- Lewis officiating at the investiture of the President of Wayne tion of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) as a Top State University, Irvin Reid in 1997. Lewis was Chair of the Ten Michigan Business Woman in 2008. Wayne State Board of Governors.
Fifth Third Bank Remains Fully Committed To Detroit Market, Says CEO Greg Carmichael By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle
Greg Carmichael, president and chief executive officer of Fifth Third Bank, recently spoke with the Michigan Chronicle and he wanted to make it clear from the beginning that the metropolitan Detroit market remains a priority to his bank even as COVID-19 creates unprecedented challenges for his industry. “Michigan is an extremely important market to Fifth Third and Detroit is an extremely important market for Fifth Third as well,” said Carmichael, who has been CEO of the Cincinnati-based bank since 2015. A commitment to following through on major initiatives has enabled Fifth Third to make good on Carmichael’s words. And one of the best examples is Fifth Third’s $5 million community investment through the Detroit Strategic Neighborhood Fund and Affordable Housing Leverage Fund. In 2019 it was announced that Fifth Third’s investGreg Carmichael, president and chief executive of- ment would focus on revitalizing the Gratiot/7 Mile (G7) area by helping ficer of Fifth Third Bank.
to fund physical improvements to parks, streetscapes and commercial corridors, while also supporting single family housing and affordable housing for all. Carmichael explained that Fifth Third “tracks everything” and compiles a “scorecard” that is shared with the community, and when these practices are applied to community development initiatives it helps to ensure that the bank is allocating those resources in a way that produces the best outcomes. But beyond just tracking and record keeping, Fifth Third has taken time to develop meaningful human relationships with key community partners in the Detroit area that are able to identify where assistance is most needed. These partners include the Detroit Development Fund; Entrepreneurs of Color; Michigan Women Forward; The New Economy Initiative; Opportunity Resource Fund; Great Lakes Women’s Business Council; and LifeBUILDERS, whose mission is to “restore dignity and provide hope to the residents of Regent Park, a northeast Detroit neigh-
borhood.” The sampling of Fifth Third’s community partners was provided by Detroit’s own Byna Elliott, a graduate of Cass Tech and a senior vice president and Chief Enterprise Responsibility officer at Fifth Third, where she oversees the bank’s fiveyear, $32 billion community commitment covering 10 states, including Michigan, in collaboration with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Elliott is joined at Fifth Third by another high-ranking senior executive with Detroit roots in Kala Gibson (Renaissance High School), who is executive vice president and head of Business Banking at Fifth Third. Carmichael said Elliott and Gibson are prime examples of Fifth Third’s commitment to diversity at the highest levels of the organization. “I don’t think there is a bank out there that has that kind of diversity,” said Carmichael, who explained that at one point during 2020, 70
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THIRD BANK page A6
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Denise Lewis From page A-5
Detroit while maintaining housing opportunities for lower income Detroiters who have lived here long term,” said Lewis. “A vibrant city has a mixture of ethnicities, income levels and ages. That’s why it’s important that we make a way for people who are low and middle income to be included in that community.” Lewis admits that she has been interested in how communities are formed and how people organize since her late teens. She was also intrigued with the intricacies of policymaking and political action and how it impacted people. With such a mindset, Lewis, after graduating from Detroit’s Mumford High School, attended Columbia University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She ultimately received her master’s degree in political science from Wayne State University, between her years of working for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and later being appointed to the administration teams of Detroit Mayors Roman Gribbs (early 1970s) and Coleman A. Young (mid-to-late 1970s), respectively. Lewis left her position in the Young administration to attend the University of Michigan Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor (cum laude). She started her legal career at Honigman in 1983. The law firm, founded in Detroit in 1948, operates six offices in Michigan and one in Chicago. The firm, headquartered in downtown Detroit, currently has approximately 300 attorneys practicing law in more than 60 practice areas. “For me, the decision to stay with Honigman for almost 37 years was a combination of things,” Lewis explained. “I found satisfaction in real estate development. I also wanted to stay because I was accepted into the leadership of the firm. I was on the board of directors for almost 10 years, and I was the diversi-
Fifth Third Bank From page A-5
percent of the bank’s revenue was run by African Americans. “I take a lot of pride in that because it’s more than just having African Americans in those positions, we’re talking about the best of the best.” While Carmichael is proud of the diverse talent that Fifth Third has assembled throughout the bank and on its board, he cannot deny the challenges confronting key Fifth Third markets, including metropolitan Detroit. “I’m very concerned about the urban areas, and all of these small business-
Dennis Lewis and Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP attorneys hosted a pre-Barrister Ball party at the Renaissance Club ty partner for the firm for more than 25 years. I felt that I was able to make a valuable impact at the firm and that’s what kept me there until I retired.” “We are proud that Denise has been at the forefront of many of the major real estate projects leading to the revitalization of Detroit and other cities,” said David Foltyn, partner, chairman and CEO, Honigman LLP. “We greatly appreciate her contribution to the law firm’s leadership, serving as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Diversity Partner for a number of years. Denise has made many exemplary contributions to diversity, inclusion, and equity as a leader within and outside the firm.” Alex Parrish, Partner and Co-Leader, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group at Honigman LLP expressed similar sentiments. “ Denise and I have been partners at the Honigman law firm for more than 30 years. I have so much admiration for her. Not only is she one of the top lawyers in the country, but she is also one of the most important community leaders we have. And with much hard work over several decades, she paved the way to achieve more diversity and inclusion in the top echelons of the legal profeses that are going to have trouble surviving,” said Carmichael, who specifically identified lack of foot traffic and cash on hand as major challenges facing local small business owners as the pandemic continues. Fifth Third’s response to the crisis has been characterized by a hands-on approach, including encouraging small business owners to apply for hardship relief and offering to walk small business owners through the process. The bank also has made more financial-empowerment information available online. In addition, Fifth Third has addressed basic, critical needs of the mass population, including significant contributions locally to Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank.
Lewis speaking at the program honoring her election to the Board of Directors of the Honigman firm in 2007. sion, academia and corporate America.” said Alex Parrish, Co-Leader, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group, Honigman LLP A significant part of Lewis ‘contribution at Honigman has been to empower Ultimately, Carmichael said the success of Fifth Third and the communities the bank serves are intertwined, and he identified Fifth Third’s inclusive culture as the driving force behind the bank’s ability to help communities be successful. “We’re trying to be an inclusive and diverse organization that is welcoming to everyone,” said Carmichael, whose bank developed a comprehensive 18page “inclusion toolkit,” for employees, which aligns with the social justice movement being waged today, as the content focuses equally on awareness and advocacy. “I think Fifth Third has made tremendous progress and there is a lot more to do. To say these things is
other minorities. “One of my real emphasis at Honigman was to be dedicated to mentoring other women and African American lawyers,” she said. “Over the years, there were many lawyers - young lawyers and career lawyers – that I had an opportunity to touch their lives. Mentoring has been the focus of my entire career. I wanted to be an example of showing that you don’t have to sacrifice your integrity to be successful.” During her long tenure at Honigman “the Lewis effect” was appreciated in numerous external circles. She received dozens of honors and awards over her career from industry publications, has been included in Michigan Super Lawyers listings from 2006 2017. The Michigan Chronicle included Lewis in its 2008 class of “Women of Excellence” and Savoy Magazine in 2015 named Lewis one of the Nation’s Most Influential Black Lawyers. While the life of a retiree means different things to different people, for Lewis it means still using her time and talents to impact and empower others. She has begun consulting with New York-based Africa-America Institute, an organization she describes as a longstanding entity dedicated to bringing Africa and America together on numerous fronts. In retirement, Lewis also plans to do more traveling and look forward to spending more time with her two adult sons who live on the east coast. Lewis has another vision that she hopes to help bring to fruition. “I hope that more African Americans will look at real estate,” said Lewis, a fierce advocate for Detroit’s minority developers. “Real estate represents a means by which wealth has been built for various communities. Owning real estate and developing real estate have been means by which people, either individually or as a community, build wealth. We must see real estate as a tool to an end. It can be the foundation for building a community, a family, and a way to close this wealth gap for African Americans.” one thing, but the most important thing is for everyone within the organization to feel it and be united, and we have worked very hard to do that.” And when asked what he would like the Detroit community to best understand about Fifth Third’s commitment, Carmichael, whose bank moved the operations of its Eastern Michigan regional headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2016 said: “We really want to make sure that the community knows that we do not tolerate racism in any form. We strive to be the bank that people most value and trust, and we represent the people we serve. We care about the community and I want the community to know we care.”
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Trump administration’s rollback will have devastating effects for Michigan’s Black & brown communities By Rev. Dr. Steven C. Bland, Jr. The COVID19 pandemic has shined a glaring and harsh spotlight on the irrefutable fact that unhealthy air and water can become devastating disasters for communities of color. We have always known that clean air and water is necessary for human health. But the COVID19 pandemic revealed, yet again, the harsh and tragic reality of what decades of pollution does to communities of color. While as a nation we are rightfully focused on addressing the immediate health needs of infected individuals, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the health and wellRev. Dr. Steven C. being of black Bland, Jr. and brown folks must be addressed through pollution reduction--something the Trump Administration is actively failing to do. Under the current deregulatory agenda, water protections are drying up, coal is worth more than human life, and new tailpipe emissions standards may actually cause more deaths. Even the nation’s bedrock environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is under siege. These rollbacks will increase human exposure to pollution that is linked to higher coronavirus death rates. As a pastor concerned with both protecting human life and God’s creation this is untenable. Cumulative impacts—a catch phrase to mean systematic and ongoing poisoning of neighborhoods and communities—need to be addressed if we are ever to truly recover from this pandemic. These cumulative impacts cannot be addressed by rolling back regulations in the name of economic progress. Yet, that is exactly what the Trump administration is doing with its toxic agenda--including the recent executive order to use a national emergency declaration to waive NEPA’s crucial environmental protections. The rollback of NEPA is of particular concern since it is credited with protecting communities from the devastating impacts of an unwanted and unneeded freeway expansion in the northeastern part of the state and saving Michigan taxpayers $1.5 billion. Yet, even given
its effectiveness in minimizing impacts to the environment and to communities during infrastructure development, the Trump Administration is currently planning to revise and undermine this law. Despite public outcry, the Administration is close to finalizing changes to the entire NEPA process that favor polluting industries. In a bid to escape the burden of environmental stewardship, which President Trump describes as a “regulatory nightmare,” the Administration’s proposed rollbacks aim to change the NEPA review process and pave the way for further degradation of vulnerable communities. We know that these communities—low-wealth neighborhoods and communities of color—often bear the brunt of problems caused by poorly planned infrastructure projects. By rolling back NEPA, the Trump Administration is planning to eliminate one of few environmental protections that these communities have. The changes to NEPA threatens the health of our communities and puts our air and water at risk My Christian faith calls on me to care for the earth and most importantly to care for my neighbor. This healthy future that my faith envisions and my community deserves demands more than rollbacks designed to pave the way for unsustainable and irresponsible development. Protecting the environment through regulations like NEPA aligns with a vision of vibrant, healthy communities. NEPA has helped us escape some of the more environmentally tragic infrastructure missteps for more than half a century, and it should be regarded as helping us build a pathway to a healthier future. The impacts of COVID-19 may have uncovered for many the environmental injustice lived daily by communities of color, but it also unearthed a solidarity among us all to care for our neighbor in their time of need. We know more acutely now that pollution left unchecked will severely undermine our ability to respond to pandemics. We must, therefore, ensure that protections such as NEPA that protect human health remain intact, because we depend upon these safeguards to build vibrant and just communities. Rev. Dr. Steven C. Bland, Jr. is the Senior Pastor at Detroit’s Liberty Temple Baptist Church and the President of the Michigan Progressive Baptist State Convention.
Childhood immunizations are essential, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic The coronavirus pandemic has created a new normal for how we live safer lives. One thing it hasn’t changed is the need to get proper immunizations for ourselves and our children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed concern that vaccination rates for children are falling at an alarming rate. This spring, the CDC released a study that indicated that fewer than half of infants five months or younger had received vaccinations. One of the primary reasons is that parents are afraid their child will be at risk of catching COVID-19, so they’re continuing to postpone well-child checkLoretta V. Bush ups. During the early stages of the pandemic, access to primary care pediatricians was difficult, and the fear of exposure was understandable. However, as more protective equipment has become available and safe operating procedures implemented, parents should strongly consider the benefits of vaccination and contact their healthcare provider regarding any remaining fear of scheduling an appointment. According to PCC, a pediatric health data collection company, during the week of April 5, the administration of measles, mumps, and rubella shots dropped by 50 percent; diphtheria and whooping cough shots by 42 percent; and HPV vaccines by 73 percent. Delaying immunizations puts children at risk for acquiring contagious diseases like measles and whooping cough, as well as other life-threatening illnesses. Many doctors note that vaccine-preventable diseases can be more deadly to children than COVID-19 seems to be. This trend is especially concerning for African American children. As in other health and disease categories, African Americans are at risk for not getting their required immunizations because of limited access to primary care, distrust in health providers, and miscon-
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Cops Who Hate By Oscar H. Blayton America can no longer stick its head in the sand to avoid seeing the serious flaws in the culture of American policing. The plague of gratuitous violence against “the other” – mainly directed towards African Americans – has now spread and targets anyone who dares to criticize any form of law enforcement in this country. The countless instances of cops murdering African Americans caught on video have crushed the denials of disparate treatment of people of color by police along with Oscar H. Blayton their accusations that such claims are exaggerated and false. There are too many cases of lethal animosity directed towards African Americans to support the false “few rotten apples” defense that these are the acts of a small number of rogue cops who can easily be weeded out or retrained. Clearly the problem is systemic and goes to the very root of American policing. Every day, we witness more evidence that the entire barrel of apples is rotten in many cases. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a young white man, visibly armed with a long gun that he had just used to murder two people, walked unimpeded past a troop of police responding to a call that there had been a shooting. This cultural blindness is aggravated by the fact that the police allowed this white killer to pass uninterrupted while a crowd of Black witnesses were pointing towards him and shouting that he had just killed someone. In defense of the white privilege the police afforded this killer, the chief law enforcement officer of Kenosha offered the totally illogical reasoning that his officers were experiencing “tunnel vision” as they were responding to a report that a shooting had just occurred and that is why they ignored the witnesses yelling and pointing out the killer. The message is clear: White people have privilege and Black people – and those who ally with Black people – are not to be believed. Some people now are pulling their heads out of the sand, and while blinking their eyes in the harsh light of this reality, proclaim that “things have really gotten bad.” But things have been bad for centuries. The Kerner Commission Report, written more than a half century ago, documented the very injustices and intolerable abuses visited on people of color that plague us today. The Kerner Report was commissioned in 1967 by
President Lyndon B. Johnson in the wake of civil unrest and riots by people of color that began in the mid-1960s in America’s cities. Johnson said he wanted to find out what was causing this unrest. White America was blind to the causes of pain inflicted upon people of color, but after a year of research, the Kerner Commission reported: “Bad policing practices, a flawed justice system, unscrupulous consumer credit practices, poor or inadequate housing, high unemployment, voter suppression, and other culturally embedded forms of racial discrimination all converged to propel violent upheaval on the streets of African-American neighborhoods in American cities, north and south, east and west.” White America took one look at this report and stuck its head back in the sand. Not wanting to offend his political base, the white middle class, Johnson hoped to lay blame on outside agitators such as Communists and irresponsible journalists. But the report clearly laid the blame at the feet of white racism. White America was offended by the truth and their backlash contributed to a loss of support for Johnson’s civil rights initiatives and led to the “law and order” climate that propelled Richard Nixon to the presidency in 1969 and introduced decades of militarized policing. Not only has America disregarded the Kerner Report, but a more recent and even more startling red flag is being ignored. Since 2006, an FBI intelligence assessment entitled, “White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement,” has sat largely ignored by most of America’s news media, politicians and citizens. The Guardian newspaper, headquartered in England, recently published an article: “The FBI warned for years that police are cozy with the far right. Is no one listening?” The article was written by a former FBI agent, Mike German, whose job it was to infiltrate white supremacist groups. He cites the FBI’s 2006 assessment and points out the fact that the criminal justice system “can never achieve its purported goal of fairness while white supremacists continue to hide within police departments.” There are many good cops and many good police departments. But we turn a blind eye to the bad cops and the rotten departments at our own peril. Policing based upon white supremacy and carried out by cops who hate is a destructive force that threatens the very fabric of our democracy. We must always strive to eliminate them and the politicians who support them. Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.
ceptions about the risks and benefits of vaccination. Over the past 50 years, the success of immunizations has caused us to overlook the many diseases our children are still susceptible to. Likewise, the decline in children receiving vaccinations has led to the rise of diseases like measles. Measles is a preventable disease through a highly effective and safe vaccine. In 2000, the disease was declared eliminated in the United States. However, today, with the decline in measles vaccine coverage, the disease is resurging in this country and elsewhere. Studies have shown that good, credible communication can allay vaccine safety concerns among African American parents and others concerned about immunization. Sometimes society becomes complacent and needs to be reminded we live in a biologically dangerous world.
Jasmine Gray
Voice of the Voice of the Community Community at your at your fingertips
fingertips.
Parents should not be concerned about the cost of immunizations. Vaccines for Children (VFC), a program offered through the CDC, ensures that vaccines are provided at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. These shots are available at private physician’s offices, community-based clinics and public health clinics registered as VFC providers. If your child is behind in their immunization schedule, contact your pediatrician or a public health clinic and schedule an appointment to catch up. Immunizations are critical components of giving children a healthy start in life. If your child does not have a pediatrician, contact our staff at Pediatrics Practice, PLLC, at 248-281-3215 to schedule an appointment to have your child immunized. Contributors: Loretta V. Bush, MSHA, President and CEO of Authority Health and Jasmine Gray, D.O., Pediatrician, Pediatrics Staff, PLLC – Managed by Authority Health
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BUILD BACK BETTER BLACK ECONOMIC POWER
Joe Biden’s jobs and economic recovery agenda is built on the proposition that we must build our economy back better than it was before the COVID-19 crisis. Biden has been laying out his vision for a stronger, resilient, and inclusive economy. He believes in an economy where every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead.
The Biden-Harris Plan for Black America will: Advance the economic mobility of
Strengthen America’s
African Americans and close the
commitment to justice.
racial wealth and income gaps.
Make the right to vote and the
Expand access to high-quality
right to equal protection real for
education and tackle racial
African Americans.
inequity in our education system.
Address environmental justice.
Make far-reaching investments in ending health disparities by race.
Visit joebiden.com/blackamerica for more
PAID FOR BY BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT
City ity.. Life ife.. Style. Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style
B1 | September 9-15, 2020
michiganchronicle.com
MSU Science Center Presents:
FuturePresent
Michigan State University’s Science Gallery Detroit is pleased to announce its third annual exhibition, FUTURE PRESENT: Design in a Time of Urgency, which will open on Sept. 11 during Detroit Month of Design and run through Dec. 11 at Bedrock’s 1001 Woodward Building in downtown Detroit. The entire season is free and open to the public. This year’s exhibition theme will explore humanity’s nuanced relationship to various forms of design and the impact it has on the future. Further, the exhibition will illustrate three key themes as they relate to design: the impact of technology on society; design and systemic change; and creating participatory design processes for a sustainable future. FUTURE PRESENT will include works from more than one dozen national and international artists, scientists, and researchers; and, four commissioned pieces, including three from three Detroit-based emerging artists. Guest curators for the exhibition include Olga Stella of Design Core Detroit, Cézanne Charles of rootoftwo, and South African artist and curator Ralph Borland.
“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Detroit Month of Design, we are also reflecting on the future we want and the actions needed to bring that future into reality. The involvement of organizations like the Science Gallery Detroit allow us to explore the vital role design plays in helping cities, businesses, and communities adapt to current challenges,” said Olga Stella, executive director of Design Core Detroit. In light of the pandemic, Science Gallery Detroit is taking extra precautions to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for visitors. Capacity into the exhibition will be limited to 30 guests per hour, and visitors must reserve a free timed-ticket in advance. Attendees will enjoy a 40-minute tour of FUTURE PRESENT, and the Science Gallery staff will sanitize the exhibition hourly. Special hours have been reserved on a daily basis for seniors and vulnerable populations. In compliance with the governor’s executive order, attendees will be required to wear face masks at all times.
SKIN DEEP:
While the exhibition will be a lowtouch experience, guests will have access to a smartphone tour that will include videos, audio clips, and images to augment exhibition content. Additionally, Science Gallery Detroit’s team of mediators will work remotely, and in real-time via telepresence robots, to engage visitors in dialogue helping them to further explore exhibition themes. “A core component of design is finding creative solutions to complex challenges,” said Devon Akmon, director of Science Gallery Detroit. “Our team has taken an innovative approach to designing timely and relevant exhibits in Detroit while presenting exciting and informative programs to a global audience through a range of collaborative partnerships.” This year’s show kicks off with a
Designer Siana Treece Launches Nude Dresses for all Flesh Tones The Siana Treece Collection is proud to announce the launch of My Skin My Sexy Collection, a bevy of nude dresses for all flesh tones. Available exclusively online at sianatreece.com on Sept. 14, the collection provides the perfect “little nude dress” for women of all skin tones and body types. The result is six modern body-con dresses for all sizes. “I created this collection to solve a problem for women of color and to make them feel beautiful and sexy in the process,” said Siana Treece, the collection’s founder and designer. “The word ‘nude’ or ‘flesh-tone’ should not only be associated with the color beige. It’s time to embrace reality. It’s time to acknowledge and celebrate all the beautiful shades of nude.” The collection includes mini and midi body-con dresses made out of a satin-finished milliskin stretch fabric, featuring body-contouring seams, moisture-wicking, and compression lining. The dresses come in six styles and six colors, with sizes ranging from extra-small to 3X. The dresses will retail at $125. The Siana Treece Collection is known for its bold,
See SIANA TREECE Page B-2
See SCIENCE CENTER Page B-2
Big Sean “Bossed Up” on New Album “Detroit 2” By Ashley Stevenson Sean Don has done it again—"Detroit 2” is full of hits! The much-anticipated fifth album of the Detroit-born, Cass Tech alumnus, Big Sean’s album dropped today and he did not disappoint. “Detroit 2‘s” release date was pushed back twice, and the time he spent tending to his mental health is palpable in this project filled with spiritual storytelling, mindfulness and with enough base to make your trunk rattle. The album starts off with “Why Would I Stop?” an apt response to those who questioned Sean’s ability to carry the same fire he carried in the onset of his career. Big Sean moves through his first track: “Why would I stop? I’m unstoppable.” With a beautifully artistic flow of life experience
and higher consciousness, Big Sean provides a view from his “third eye” recounting pivotal moments throughout his life all while humbly paying homage to his hometown, Detroit. From staying in a two-family flat with his mom and aunt to Sean experiencing his first “audition” dancing for his family. All candid, character-building moments that lead to his success today. Included in this 21-track project are sweetly placed interludes of other artists regaling the listener with their Motown moments entitled “stories.” Dave Chappell shares the story of the time he was encouraged by Big Sean’s father. There are other big names among the seasoned story tellers including Queen Erykah Badu and living legend Stevie Wonder. Throughout the album Sean
nods to other artists that paved the way for him like Diddy (who is also featured on the track “Full Circle”), Jay-Z and, of course, Kanye West who discovered Big Sean. We’re reminded of Big Sean’s range and versatility as he switches cadences in tracks like “Lucky Me” and “The Baddest.” Lyrically, it’s some of his best work. Comparable to Big Sean’s famed album “Dark Sky Paradise”, released in 2014, which explored the complexities of his mind while he rose to fame. “Detroit 2” displays a more intentional, grounded Big Sean, matured in his artistry, and always appreciative of his roots. “When God said let there be light, he made Sean,” says Diddy in “Full Circle.” Big Sean has been openly vocal about his battle with his mental health, admitting he
attended counseling and temporarily took a step back from music to heal from his daunting traumas. In true Detroit fashion
Sean is as much a fighter as he is a lover, often referencing his
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Multifaceted Narratives:
An Exploration of Black Figurative Art By Lindsay Keener Detroit is fighting back against centuries of oppressive racism, and it’s using art as it’s medium. Forced to confine to society’s warped ideas of what it means to be a Black person, Detroit artists join forces to tell their own stories with the help of the Detroit Artists Market, a non-profit gallery located in the hub of Michigan’s most historic city. In mid-August, the Detroit Artists Market debuted “Multifaceted Narratives: An Exploration of Black Figurative Art”, a multimedia exhibition featuring Black figurative works by Black artists based in Detroit. Hoping to combat racist misinformation spread over time, one art expert dedicated herself to sharing the complex stories of her community. “Detroit is a majority-Black city and I feel like Detroit artists are not getting enough opportunities here and part of the reason why I wanted to do a show that focused specifically on the Black figure and Black artists is because I wanted to just think of the idea of Black bodies taking up space in a literal and figurative sense,” said Juana Williams, the curator of Multifaceted Narratives: An Exploration of Black Figurative Art. “I was thinking of the complexity of Blackness. With stereotypes and things like that, Black people get grouped together and there’s this linear understanding of what Blackness means from people who are not Black and I wanted to give an opportunity to have this space for self-defined identity.” Williams says the root of America’s strained relationship with the Black community stems from destructive thoughts ingrained into the country’s most influential systems. “This is not something that just began in 2020 and this is not something that is just indicative of Detroit culture,” said Williams. “It leads as far back as colonialism and probably farther back than that. The powers that be had a lot of influence on the way people thought about Blackness; they created their own pseudo-science and decided that Black people had certain brain sizes and different anatomy so that they could create this idea that we were lesser than Europeans. A lot of systems that we’re still having to deal with today, were put in place to uphold this idea.” With nearly 80% of it’s residents belonging to the African-American community, Detroit has seen the effects of
systemic racism firsthand. Issues of housing discrimination, police brutality, and public health concerns have plagued the city for years. Recent run-ins with COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests have intensified these stressors. Williams made the decision to showcase the Black experience in all it’s glory and all it’s trauma. “Violence against the Black body, especially the male Black body, is such a part of our culture and our identity and the way that Black people were brought to this country; I didn’t want to ignore the fact that that’s going on,” said Williams. “I think that what’s particularly interesting about Taurus’ work in the show is that it’s not incredibly graphic... there’s nothing else like [the “Shooting of Philando Castile”] in the show and it gave us the opportunity to have those conversations.”
Siana Treece From page B-1
unique design elements, artistic prints, luxury fabrics, and sexy style. Actress and model Kenya Moore (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta”), singer and songwriter La’Britney (“Love and Hip Hop Hollywood”) have both worn Siana Treece designs, and actress Ryan Destiny wore the designer’s popular “Gemstone Jacket” in rapper Big Sean’s “Single Again” music video.
While Williams does not intend on eradicating racism with the month-long exhibit, she does hope the pieces will spark, what she believes are, very important conversations on race. “It’s important for art to be accessible because of the power that it has,” said Williams. “My hope is that people will come and see the work and have some type of an experience...I want this work to mean something to someone.”
To purchase a “little nude dress” from Siana Treece’s My Skin My Sexy Collection, go to http://sianatreece.com. Connect with The Siana Treece brand socially on Facebook and Instagram.
Fellow art lovers in connection with the exhibition have expressed feelings of awe when attending Multifaceted Narratives: An Exploration of Black Figurative Art. “Curator Juana Williams has put together an impressive exhibition of 30 artworks from an amazing group of 16 artists. The show forms an important and timely narrative woven together by individual perspectives,” said Matt Fry, Director at Detroit Artists Market. “Some of the pieces that stand out to me are: Desiree Kelly’s “The OG’s (Grandma and Auntie),” a wonderful celebration of family and tribute to lineage; the painting “Shooting of Philando Castile,” which is artist Taurus Burns’ commentary on racial violence; and, there is a poignant series of small collage-photographs by Olivia Guterson that speaks to the metamorphosis of pregnancy and the joy and apprehension of bringing a Black child into today’s world. These and many other works combine to make this a powerful exhibition.” Multifaceted Narratives: An Exploration of Black Figurative Art will be held at the Detroit Artists Market until September 12
Detroit 2 From page B-1 success and failures in relationships in addition to his intimacy. “Detroit 2” features softer tracks such as “Body Language” featuring Jhené Aiko and Ty Dolla $ign and “Time In” by TWENTY88 (the duo of Jhené Aiko and Big Sean). The pinnacle of the album is “Friday Night Cypher,” a 10-minute Detroit Artist Collective with Tee Grizzly, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll Giovanni, 42 Dugg, Sada Baby, Royce Da 5’9”, Big Sean, Eminem and more . “Detroit 2” was well worth the twoyear wait, the entire album Is fire. This is
a clear indication of what happens when you realize you can’t pour from an empty cup. The album is overflowing with talent and true artistry. A refreshing rap album that you can listen to the whole way through. It features other dominant artists like Post Malone, Young Thug, Lil Wayne, Travis Scott and a dynamic posthumous feature from beloved Nipsey Hussle on “Deep Reverence.” “Detroit 2” feels like Faygo, Better Made, and 25 Cent Now N’ Laters. Big Sean bossed up, put on his buffs, and gave us something to bop to down the lodge. “Don’t mistake me falling down for falling off,” he says in “Guard your Heart” (featuring Anderson Paak, Earlly Mac, and Wale). “Detroit 2” is now streaming on all platforms.
YES, WE’RE OPEN! With so much to do in downtown Detroit, the D is the place to be. Get in on the latest sales at retailers featuring local and global brands, and savor the flavor of dining outside on patios and rooftops at some of the city’s best restaurants. In between shopping sprees and eateries, take in a change of scenery at your favorite park. Come with your family and friends to Shop, Eat & Be in the D.
Science Center From page B-1 bevy of sci-art virtual programs. Starting opening weekend, Science Gallery Detroit will host a Curators’ Conversation on Fri., Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. followed by an exclusive performance on Sat., Sept. 12 at 10 p.m by Ghostly International artist Shigeto. Both events are presented in partnership with Detroit Month of Design and Ars Electronica Festival 2020, which is known as one of the world’s largest international multi-media festivals that celebrates technology, science, and the arts. In sum, one dozen virtual sci-art programs will be part of the FUTURE PRES-
ENT season, including The FUTURE PRESENT Poetry Slam: Design in a Time of Urgency presented in collaboration with Detroit Symphony Orchestra and featuring celebrity judges jessica Care moore, Nandi Comer, and Joel Fluent Greene, airing Sept. 14. In October, the virtual programs will continue as Science Gallery Detroit partners with WDET-FM to present the acclaimed electronic artists John Collins and Mark Flash of Underground Resistance during this year’s Concert of Colors. FUTURE PRESENT is made possible by MSU’s Science Gallery Detroit founding partner, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), and Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.
Find open retailers and restaurants downtown, plus see where you can get free four-hour parking with qualifying purchases, at: OpenBusinessMap.BedrockDetroit.com
The Open Business Directory includes more than 100 listings, all of which are Bedrock tenants.
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Help Taxpayers Get The (Tax) Credit They Deserve AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has kicked off volunteer recruitment for its Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest volunteer-run tax preparation service. The program is looking for individuals to volunteer virtually or in person in a number of roles to provide help to taxpayers. Individuals interested in volunteering should apply by September 30th for the 2021 tax season. Tax-Aide offers free in-person and online tax preparation and assistance to low- and moderate-income taxpayers nationwide. Because of the complexity of the U.S. tax code, many taxpayers overpay their taxes or turn to paid tax services they cannot afford. Some may forgo filing their taxes and miss out on the credits and deductions they’ve earned because they are unable to pay for assistance. Tax-Aide volunteers can help by providing necessary services right in their communities. Volunteers can serve in person or coach taxpayers online or by phone. In addition to tax preparation help, volunteers can serve as client facilitators, providers of technical and management assistance, and interpreters. Every level of experience is welcome. Volunteer tax preparers complete tax preparation training and IRS certification. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has grown since its inaugural team of just four volunteers in 1968 and has served over 68 million taxpayers since its inception. The program has volunteers in every state and now involves more than 36,000 volunteers. This past tax season in Michigan. Tax-Aide volunteers assisted as counselors, virtual coaches, managers and administrators, technologists, and translators, among other valuable roles. To learn about our volunteer opportunities, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-6872277).
Mildred Delores Pitts
Mildred Delores Pitts was born in East Chicago, Indiana. She graduated from high school in Gary, Indiana. She attended Indiana and Howard Universities. She graduated from Wayne State University, earning both a bachelor and a master’s degree.
ion Extravaganza Souvenir Booklet Committee. Mildred was also the past president of the Detroit Chapter of the National Barristers Wives. Mildred’s interests included completing puzzles of all kinds, traveling and collecting Black History materials. Her interest in Black History began in the early 1970’s, after hearing a lecture by Alex Haley. Her master’s degree project analyzed the history of African Americans in Detroit. She traveled to South Africa and West Africa. She visited Gorie Island in Senegal, the ancestral village of Alex Haley in Gambia, the slave castles of Ghana as well as Cote du Ivoire and Lome Togo. When asked about her time on the continent she said:
Mildred began her career in 1950 as a City of Detroit employee. She worked at both the Department of Health and the Department of Public Welfare. She was influenced significantly by two Welfare Department supervisors, Mrs. Arnette Burwell and Mrs. Flossie Robinson. These two role models stressed the importance of pursuing excellence and having a strong work ethic. In 1958, while working at the Welfare Department, Mildred met Cornelius Pitts. They married in 1959 at the Detroit Urban League. Their sixty-one year union produced son Byron. Anyone who met Mildred knew of her love of family and the enormous joy she received from being a mother. In 1962, Mildred became a Detroit Public School teacher. Over the course of thirty years she taught children and adults to strive for academic excellence. In the 1980’s Mildred found enormous satisfaction working at the Detroit Public School’s Great Cities Program. At this program she trained adults to work, in the classroom, alongside certified teachers. She retired from the Detroit Public School system in 1992. Mildred loved her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated. She was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated in November 26, 1950, at Tau Chapter, Wayne State University. Mildred brought energy and fresh ideas to her beloved sorority. In the 1970’s, she started the Eta Area dinner meetings. At those meetings sorors, socialized and exchanged ideas while dining. Those gatherings continue to this day and are now known as the Eta Sister Circle Dinner Meetings. Soror Mildred served on numerous committees for the Detroit Alumnae Chapter; including, but not limited to, the Art Auction Committee and chairing the Delta Round-up Ticket
“This was one of the most memorable trips of my many sojourns. For to have walked where one’s ancestors possibly lived and walked is a most humbling experience.”
Committee. Mildred generously supported Delta Manor and Our House. She mentored countless new Delta’s to help them fully understand the values of the sorority. Mildred was a soror for seventy years. In 1987, she became a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta. On October 28, 2013, Mildred became a Charter Member of the Collier County Alumnae Chapter of Naples Florida. She was also active with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Mildred began her volunteer service in 1967. She chaired the museum’s very first auction. In 1999 she received The Excellence in Volunteerism Award from Dr. Charles H. Wright. She chaired both the 2002 and 2004 Dr. Charles H. Wright Awards for Excellence Dinners. She was a member of the Museum’s Million Dollar Club and she served on the membership committee. Mildred’s volunteerism extended to working with the March of Dimes. For over twenty years, she served as the Chairperson of the March of Dimes Fash-
In retirement, The Pitts family purchased a home in Naples, Florida. During her fifteen years in Naples, Mildred continued to indulge in her love of sisterhood. She became a Charter Member of the Collier County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Mildred thoroughly enjoyed Naples and she made many new friends while living there. She lived her final years, to the fullest, in the warm Florida sun. Mildred is survived by her husband, Attorney Cornelius Pitts, son Attorney Byron Pitts and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Marion Johnson and Hazel Johnson and brother Lonnie Johnson. The arrangements are being handled by Hutchinson Funeral Home. The viewing will be held at Hutchinson Funeral Home at 6051 East Seven Mile on September 11, 2020. The viewing will be held from 12:00 PM-7:00PM. The devices will be at Hartford Baptist Church. September 12 10:30 Family Hour 11:00 Service.
MI Sisters and Friends : “Conversations that Count”
Johnnetta Betsch Cole
Regina Elaine Belle
Jacky Clark Chisholm
Martha Rose Reeves
…and more surprise celebrity guests!!! You won’t want to miss it!!!!
MI Sisters and Friends “Conversations that Count” Thursday, September 17, 2020 11:30am –1:30pm To register: https://bit.ly/MISisters
Classifieds PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
September 9-15, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
Senior Connectivity Engineer
Systems Engineer - Trailering Features
FEV North America, Inc. seeks a Senior Connectivity Engineer in Auburn Hills, MI to lead development of Vehicle Connectivity and ADAS/AD implementation for BI programs; among other duties. Min. bachelor in electrical or electronics engineering and three years of exp. in job offered or related. EOE M/F/Disability/Vet. Apply to job reference number 20-00062 at: www.fev.com
Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp, write, &release Sys Technl Specs (STS) &lower level subsys Design Element Specs incldg apps updates for full size SUV, &light duty &HD truck) Trailering feature (TF), using DOORS/DOORS NG tools. Collaborate w/ Syss Architecture &SW Dvlpmt Team to dvlp sys interface reqmts &CAN signals &resolve CAN communication issues for TF in Center Stack Module &other ECUs incldg as Video Processing / Trailer Interface / Electric Brake / Body Control / &Telematics Modules, &Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys. Identify &dvlp Trailering sys reqmts using DOORS. Master, Electrical Engrg, Computer Engrg, or related. 12 mos exp as Engineer, dvlpg &releasing STS &lower level subsys Design Element Specs incldg apps updates for psgr vehicle TF, using IBM DOORS, or related. Mail resume to Ref#27825-47, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.
Quality Engineer Steelcase, Inc. seeks a Quality Engineer in Grand Rapids, MI, to support quality objectives and serve as the customer advocate in the total supply chain from our supply base through product development and manufacturing to customers; among other duties. Min. bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Quality Engineering or closely related field and one year of experience in the job offered or related. Mail resume to: Ms. Sandra Swanson, Steelcase, Inc., Resume Processing / JO#10974435, GRR B-3C, P.O. Box 1967, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.
HELP WANTED
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Salary of $130,000 - $150,000 annually with benefits Oakland County is seeking a Human Resources Director experienced in working for local governments or large organizations and who displays the utmost level of ethical behavior and integrity; effective communication and relationship-building skills; and critical and analytical thinking. Applicants should have a bachelor’ss degree and 7 years experience within HR and 5 years experience in an HR leadership role. To apply, visit: thenovakconsultinggroup.com
Please visit our website for more classified ads. www.michiganchronicle.com
Easy Way to Enjoy Life’s Everyday Moments
F
FAMILY FEATURES
or many people across the country, carving out time from busy schedules to spend with loved ones can be difficult. However, when opportunities arise to experience bonding activities together, the results can be fond mem ories and a deeper sense of security. “Many families, mine included, usually put a lot of energy into planning fun events and special trips to create memories,” said Amanda Mushro, TLC lifestyle expert and fairlife ambassador. “These get-togethers help us cope with challenges and remember to make the most of each day. This year, while disappointing, has revived our chances to slow down a little and savor the little moments that happen at home every day.”
Build Strong Bonds
Life gets busy, and in the shuffle it’s easy to overlook the importance of quality time with your friends, family, and significant others. Commit to regularly (and safely) spending oneon-one time with each loved one as a special treat you can all cherish. Even if it’s just snuggling and watching a favorite show together, crafting or doing an activity you both enjoy, try making an effort to slow down and strengthen your bonds.
Head Outdoors
Leave the technology behind and go for a walk or a bike ride together once or twice a week. It’s a ritual you can look forward to while taking advantage of the time together and the chance to burn some energy. You can take outdoor appreciation even further by planning camping trips to enjoy the joys of wildlife through activities like bird watching, fishing or impromptu scavenger hunts.
Avoid Life’s Stressors
Outside influences can have a major impact on your mood and ability to enjoy your time at home. Try turning off your phone notifications for a few hours of uninterrupted home time. If clutter is creating havoc, look for ways to improve your home’s organization and get everyone in the house to pitch in to keep things in place.
Make Meals a Family Affair
Not only does getting the whole family involved make the preparation faster, it’s a chance to squeeze in some time and maybe even some learning and sharing. Kids can help with measuring and other age-appropriate tasks, and the casual setting is a good environment to get kids talking about what’s on their minds.
Special moments and gatherings often revolve around food. With some simple (and tasty) adjustments, you can still savor every moment, including dessert, without overindulging. Choose a light(er) frozen delight. A cool scoop (or two) of dessert is a perfect cap for all kinds of cuisines and making smart choices can help manage the calorie load. One example is fairlife Light Ice Cream, delicious frozen desserts expertly crafted with ultra-filtered milk and natural flavors for a lactose-free product with a rich, creamy texture. In comparison to traditional ice cream, it has less sugar, fat and calories. Additionally, depending on which of the seven flavors you choose, it contains 8 or 9 grams of high-quality protein.
HELP WANTED
If evenings are too rushed to make an all-hands approach practical, instead try carving out some time on the weekends or once a month for a few hours of baking up batches of a favorite treat. You can also find new and fun family-friendly recipes. Even if the recipe doesn’t turn out well, the time spent doing it together is a treat on its own.
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Tips for Handling Your Finances During a Crisis IT Help Desk Technician – Detroit, MI Web Developer – Detroit, MI
Salesforce Lightning Programmer/Developer – Detroit, MI Energy Engineer - Illinois
(StatePoint) With record numbers of Americans filing for unemployment and many facing income loss, a full list of qualifications please visit https://wmenergy.com/careers-2/ theFor financial impacts of COVID-19 are far-reaching. **Please note the location of the position when applying. ** “Times of financial crisis can be overwhelming,” says head of Wells Fargo & Company’s Innovation Group, Lisa Frazier, who learned this lesson at a young age when her family struggled to make ends meet on the farm. “But you don’t need to navigate these waters alone. Numerous resources are available, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.” To get a handle on your finances, consider these tips and resources from Frazier and the experts at Wells Fargo: 1. Guard against fraud. The Federal Trade Commission and other agencies have warned consumers to watch out for scammers exploiting the crisis. Be suspicious of messages claiming to be from creditors, employers or charities you do not recognize. Don’t respond to these emails or phone calls directly. Only contact PHOTO: (c) fizkes / iStock via Getty Images Plus phone numbers or email addresses you know are accurate, like the contact information on a creditor’s or charity’s website. 2. Bank online. As banks and retailers adjust in-person services and hours, consider managing finances online or through mobile banking. With most digital tools, you can easily check account balances, pay bills and make transfers. Consider direct deposit of your tax refund this year, which is faster than a paper check. Digital banking may also allow you to more easily send money to family in need or to receive funds from people who may be in a position to ease your financial burden. 3. Know your credit score. Many banks and other services allow you to access your credit score online. Take advantage of this feature to ensure the information is accurate and look for areas where you can improve. A financial coach can help you understand which money decisions will impact your score and how to preserve it as best as possible. 4. Use credit wisely. If you need to carry balances or borrow more, make a list of your current credit sources, including current balances, credit limits and annual percentage rates (APRs). Note the end date of any zero percent introductory offers. If your credit is good, consider requesting higher credit limits, which can soften the impact of higher-than-usual balances on your credit score and reinforce your safety net. 5. Seek free expert help. Feeling uncertain about which bills to pay first? Struggling to pay rent and other household needs? There is help available. A financial coach can help you tap government benefits and other resources and get on track. This is why the Wells Fargo Foundation is supporting the following nonprofits that provide free, confidential financial coaching over the phone and online to anyone facing financial hardships: • Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education: Sign up to meet with a certified-financial coach at yellowribbonnetwork.org/afcpecovid19. • National Disability Institute: Visit the Financial Resilience Center at NationalDisabilityInstitute.org/financial-resilience-center for accessible financial health resources and to connect with a certified-financial coach with disability-related experience. • National Foundation for Credit Counseling: Call 1-844-8651971 or visit nfcc.org/locator to connect with a financial counselor for assistance with managing creditors or debt. • Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund: Visit fecpublic.org/ about for a list of locations in cities across the U.S. offering virtual financial counseling as a free public service. As you take steps to protect your health, be sure to also take steps to protect your finances.
Enjoy Tasty Treats Together
There’s nothing quite like a bowl of ice cream to light up a face and mood so break out the scooper and make some sweet memories. Set up your next sundae bar with a tasty option like fairlife Light Ice Cream, a delicious, lactose-free frozen dessert with a strong nutrition profile compared to traditional ice cream. It comes in seven flavors, so there is something for everyone.
Schedule Weekly Fun Nights
Designate a night each week to have fun together playing games, watching movies or dancing. Pull out the board and card games or get some fresh air with yard games like croquet or bag toss. Sign up for a virtual cooking fitness class. When it comes to movies, enjoy old favorites together or introduce kids to beloved classics from the ’80s and ’90s and incorporate fun traditions with snacks and special treats.
Voice of the Voice of the Community Community at your at your fingertips
fingertips.
Make fruit the star. Fresh berries or seasonal fruit like peaches with fairlife Vanilla Light Ice Cream are a refreshing and more nutritious option than a rich cake or pie filled with added sugars. Or try dipping fruit like grapes or strawberries in chocolate for bite-sized treats. Serve perfect portions. Occasionally treating yourself is actually a good way to help keep your healthy lifestyle on track. It minimizes the sense of deprivation that can lead to overeating. The trick is to manage your portions. Miniature cheesecakes or tarts are enjoyable ways to treat yourself with a sweet ending to the event. Or try making your own ice cream sandwiches using reduced or sugar-free cookies and light ice cream for the filling. Each pint of fairlife Light Ice Cream has 3 servings per container.
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• michiganchronicle.com • September 9-15, 2020