Mc edition 8 19 15

Comerica treats day campers to VIP experience at The Henry Ford

New artists put a different spin on

Nina Simone classics, often successfully.

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Volume 78 – Number 49

WHAT’S INSIDE The way it was, the way it will be: Brewster renaissance (Page A-3)

Second Chance

The Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center is a vital part of Detroit’s history, particularly as it relates to the African American community. The center and the area around it are set for a carefully planned resurgence.

Comerica committed to the city (Page B-1) The Comerica Charitable Foundation recently teamed up with The Henry Ford to invite Detroit youth from the Summer in the City program for a preview experience at Maker Faire Detroit.

‘Trumping the Trump’ on immigration (Page B-4) Bill Fletcher, Jr., a racial justice, labor and global justice activist, has much to say about presidential candidate Donald Trump and his stance on immigration. He notes that Trump has in the past “played to the worse, racist sentiments in the U.S.”

Women’s Empowerment Expo (Page C-1) In every sense, Radio One’s 2nd Annual Women’s Empowerment Expo at Cobo Center was a major success, attracting thousands of women. The event featured Iyanla Vanzant as keynote speaker and Wendy Williams as special guest.

Looking back to ‘A Different World’ (Page D-1) From 1987 to 1993, one of the most popular shows on television was “A Different World.” The “Cosby Show” spinoff was “must” watching for millions of viewers. It also made stars of people like Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison.

Detroit Councilman Scott Benson:

A vote for redemption

By Donald James SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Certain dates for certain reasons resonate in the minds of some people for a long time. For Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson of District 3, Sunday, June 29, 2014 is a date that will be etched in his mind for a while.

The date represents a low point in his life, when on a hot summer evening, Southfield police responded to a call and found the councilman asleep at the wheel of his stopped, but still idling the city issued vehicle. The car was at a traffic light on a busy Southfield street. It was determined by police that the councilman was highly intoxicated. He was arrested, but posted a bond for release. Several months later, Benson pleaded guilty to a reduced DUI charge.

Earlier this year, Benson was ordered to serve a seven-day sentence but was released early. Probation and the continuation of substance abuse counseling were also attached.

Yet, despite the journey from an inauspicious place in his life, Benson has gained a new lease on life, thanks to what he said were lots of prayers, an in-depth look at himself, the courage to seek help, support from family and colleagues, and a vote of redemption from many constituents in District 3.

“My life is one of sobriety now,” said Benson, who spoke about the help and counseling that he underwent and continues to receive. “It was humbling in many ways, but I lived and learned and feel so much stronger now. However, I am a recovering alcoholic and I will always be that.

Some people are hindered by their mishaps, but I chose to get up, dust myself off and move forward to help others.”

Today, Benson continues his commitment to empower the people of District 3, something that he vowed to do since taking office 21 months ago. He remains a strong advocate of economic development and is committed to implementing initiatives that

help small businesses in the district flourish. Since taking the oath of office, Benson has hosted job fairs and economic empowerment events, such as the D3 Business Connect that brainstorms ways to spark economic and job growth in District 3.

Benson is excited about his role in the current economic project with Crown Development, a company that is constructing a half-million square foot logistic center in the Harper and Van Dyke area of District 3.

Once operational this fall, the facility, according to Benson, will convert big boxes into smaller boxes for shipping. He said the venture will create approximately 150 jobs.

Later this year, Benson, who chairs Council’s Green Task Force, will lead a continent of about 20 local green and environmental practitioners and stakeholders to San Francisco, where they will monitor SF Environment, a department of the city and county of San Francisco. The goal of the trip, which will be paid for by three Michigan foundations based on grants written by Benson, is to learn why, thanks to SF Environment, the city of San Francisco was named this year as the “Greenest City in North America.” Additionally, the United Nations honored San Francisco for having the “best green building policies” of any city in the world.

“San Francisco is on the cutting edge as it relates to green and environmental initiatives and the creation of green jobs,” said Benson. “We want to see what they are doing in San Francisco and see how we can do the same here in Detroit.”

Benson also renders leadership to Detroit City Council’s Senior Task Force that looks for viable solutions to aid the local senior population in every aspect of living.

Additionally, he has worked diligently to find ways to reopen Lipke Park Recreation Center, once a play haven for youth in the Van Dyke/E. Seven Mile Rd. area. Lipke is now slated to undergo a $10 million renovation as part of a venture that involves city leaders, Detroit Lions’ quarterback Matt

See SECOND

CHANCE page A-4

August 19-25, 2015

Julian Bond served our community

By Kai El’ Zabar CHICAGO DEFENDER

Julian Bond, tall, handsome, smart and charismatic, could have been a movie star but chose to be a change agent. He was a leader in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, a powerful voice of the anti-Vietnam War campaign and warrior for equal rights. He served black people well and in doing so served in America’s best interest and made us proud. He always stood up against injustice. Julian Bond died Saturday night in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The Southern Poverty Law Center announced Bond’s death on Sunday. He was 75.

Bond was a Morehouse man when he became one of the Julian Bond original Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee/SNCC members in Atlanta from 1961 to September 1966. His role was communications director for five years and he skillfully guided the national news media toward stories of violence and discrimination as the committee challenged legal segregation in the South’s public facilities during a time when mainstream media ignored what was happening to blacks. He traveled around Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas to help organize civil rights and voter registration drives. Bond left Morehouse College in 1961 to work on civil rights in the South. From 1960 to 1963, he led student protests against segregation in public facilities and the Jim Crow laws of Georgia.

Over time he shifted his stance to lean more towards the leadership of the NAACP where he found a foundation of peace that would guide him throughout the rest of his life.

In 1965, Bond was one of 11 African Americans elected to the Georgia House of Representatives after passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of 1965 had opened voter registration to blacks. By ending the disfranchisement of blacks through discriminatory voter registration, African Americans regained the ability to vote and entered the political process. Although he was initially undecided about his party affiliation, Bond ultimately ran and was elected as a Democrat, the party of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had signed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law. However, it was noted by civil rights leaders how Johnson had hesitated and did not sign the Civil Rights Act until he had no choice.

On January 10, 1966, Georgia state representatives voted 184–12 not to seat him because he had publicly endorsed SNCC’s policy regarding oppo-

See JULIAN

Is faith the medicine for failing Detroit schools?

By Keith A. Owens SENIOR EDITOR

No one who’s paying attention will argue that Detroit schools are educating Detroit children just fine. They’re not. Detroit kids are being ripped off in a major way, and they most certainly know it.

“Many of our kids are trapped.

Trapped in a system that is broken,” said Hiram Jackson, publisher of the Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media CEO. “And it’s not just DPS and EAA that are broken.”

$1.00

BOND page A-4

But that isn’t news, and anyone who has been paying even the slightest amount of attention over at least the past two decades is aware that desirable educational options for Detroit children have been shriveling like a raisin in the sun for that

Tonya Allen (left), The Skillman Foundation; Clark Durant, ­Cornerstone Schools; Ernestine Sanders, Cornerstone Schools; and J­ ennifer LoPiccolo, Detroit Parent Network. entire time, and that’s a long time for anything to be shriveling.

On Thursday morning at the

St. Regis, a panel featuring some of Detroit’s more noted faith/ community leaders came together at the invitation of the Michi-

gan Chronicle to discuss whether or not introducing the concept of faith into the schools was worth considering as a possible solution – or at least a partial solution – to helping the children and the schools they attend get back on the right track. Panelists included Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard, on-air personality with Mix 92.3, who served as moderator; Ernestine Sanders, president/CEO of Cornerstone Schools; Bishop Edgar Vann II, pastor of Second Ebenezer Church; Sharlonda Buckman, CEO of Detroit Parent Network; and Rev. Charles Williams, National Action Network.

The most obvious potential roadblock that had to be acknowledged by the panel as the elephant in the room is whether or not it is permissible – or even a good idea - to include the Christian concept of faith into a public

See FAITH page A-4

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REGIONAL NEWS Macomb Macomb County seeks hosts to celebrate Manufacturing Day Macomb County is revving up for another successful Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) and is seeking area manufacturers to offer tours. Last year, the county held one of the largest MFG Day events in the country, and this year, it is going to be even bigger.

The Department of Planning and Economic Development is once again partnering with the Macomb Intermediate School District and 21 public districts to organize a countywide celebration of MFG Day on Friday, Oct. 2. They are in need of manufacturers to serve as hosts, allowing small groups of students to tour their facilities to see what a career in manufacturing is all about.

Two thousand students from all 28 Macomb County public high schools are expected to participate in this massive event. This is an excellent opportunity to expose the next generation of workers to the many interesting and well-paying careers the manufacturing industry has to offer.

MFG Day is a national campaign designed to create greater awareness about the importance of the manufacturing industry. Nowhere is it greater than right here in Macomb County.

To get involved, local manufacturers should contact Maria Zardis at maria. zardis@macombgov.org by Tuesday, Sept. 1 to become a host site. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

More information is available at MacombBusiness.com.

Oakland

icine Residency Program has had with Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network since our inception,” said Michael Robinson, board member and patient at OIHN. “These resources are vital to this community and we need them here to improve access to care for those that need it most. ”Without access to a quality and affordable primary care doctor like those in the Family Medicine Residency Program, most of these individuals would be forced to either not seek care or to seek care at a nearby emergency room which drives up the cost of healthcare.

“This family medicine program is critical to providing healthcare services to Pontiac area residents who are on Medicare, Medicaid or without insurance,” Patterson said. “Hospitals outside of Pontiac are already lobbying for the residency program because Doctors’ Hospital filed for bankruptcy. We urge the decision makers to keep the Family Medicine Residency Program in Pontiac should Doctors’ Hospital not be able to successfully emerge from bankruptcy.”

Pontiac is considered the only medically underserved area in Oakland County. The partnership between OIHN and the Federally Qualified Health Center model of care has been an extremely important relationship for the Family Medicine Residency Program which has served the Pontiac community for over 30 years. The 18 medical residents in the program also become part of the community. They make Pontiac their home during their three-year residency. Eighty percent of the patients at the Family Medicine Residency Program and Family Medicine Center receive Medicaid or Medicare benefits, allowing more individuals to have access to quality healthcare.

“If the Family Medicine Residency Program were to leave Pontiac, not only would it be harmful to the patients it serves, but to the Pontiac community as a whole,” Mayor Deirdre Waterman said.

“Pontiac wants to ensure a good quality of life for our residents by having access to quality, affordable healthcare. ”Patterson and Waterman join the growing number of political and community leaders who are putting out the call to keep the family medicine residency program in Pontiac. Last week, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Michael J. Gingell and Commissioner David E.S. Bowman, who represents Pontiac, co-sponsored a bi-partisan resolution to keep the Family Medicine Residency Program in Pontiac.

It passed unanimously.

The Family Medicine Residency Program and its 18 residency slots could go up for bid to other hospitals if DHM does not successfully emerge from financial restructuring. If these slots were to relocate outside of Pontiac, fewer doctors would be available to see patients in the Pontiac area, especially those who are on Medicare and Medicaid.

“We are extremely proud of the ongoing relationship that the Family Med-

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The departure of the Family Medicine Residency Program from Pontiac would negatively affect the overall health and wellness of the community.

“Over the last 30 years, the Family Medicine Residency Program has been a positive impact on the Pontiac community,” former resident Dr. Vince Guglielmetti said. “Being a resident and living in the community you are serving is incredibly valuable due to the bonds made with the people in the community.”

Dr. Mirsen Lekovic, also a former resident, agreed.

“The program has an extremely accomplished history of preparing residents who are passionate about giving back and well-prepared to provide quality care. With leadership and faculty that care about the success of their residents, residents graduate the program with a wealth of knowledge they can’t get anywhere else,” he said.

Community Leaders: Save Pontiac Recruit 5 Friends for Brooksie Way Family Medicine Residency and You Run Free in ‘16 Program The Brooksie Way is offering 10 inOakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman, and Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network (OIHN) joined other community leaders to fight to keep a family medicine residency program which serves Pontiac’s residents, many of which are low-income. Area residents are at risk of losing the Family Medicine Residency Program at Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan (DHM) in the wake of the hospital’s recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, if they cannot restructure successfully.

Register Today! NOW ENROLLING FOR 2015-2016

terested walkers and runners a chance to participate in the 2016 HealthPlus Brooksie Way Half Marathon for free – just convince five friends to register online for any of the 2015 Brooksie Way races.

The inaugural Brooksie Ambassador Program offers the first 10 people who recruit five runners or walkers to complete the online registration for any of the Sept. 27 races will receive special reserved parking near the start/finish line for this year’s race, an official 2015 Brooksie Ambassador shirt and $20 in HealthPlus Brooksie Way merchandise.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch but this is pretty close,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said.

“Get five of your friends registered for any of our races and you get in the 2016 half marathon for free, which would save you enough money to treat your friends to lunch after the race.”

The HealthPlus Brooksie Way, now in its eighth year, is named in memory of Brooks Stuart Patterson, a young father and the son of the county executive, who died in 2007. It has become one of the most popular regional fall half marathons.

“The Brooksie Way team continues to create innovative ways to increase access to this important community wellness event,” said Nancy Jenkins, HealthPlus president and CEO. “HealthPlus is proud to support their efforts as a way to further its vision of healthier people and places.”

The Brooksie Way is also offering “Throw-Back Thursdays,” a chance for runners and walkers to save as much as $35 off the entry fee for the half marathon. Each Thursday in August, registration for the half marathon is $45 – the same price offered in January. Those who wait until race weekend will pay $80 to enter the half marathon.

New this year, all participants in a timed race will receive a free photograph of themselves. Also new is the ability to purchase Brooksie Way race apparel and other logo merchandise online at www.

TheBrooksieWay.com.

Participants also can register online for the popular Team Challenge – which sold out last year – and celebrate after the race in the exclusive Team Challenge tent, which is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. The Rochester Tap Room is providing food for Team Challenge participants.

PROJECT EXCELL Accelerated Program for high achieving students

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Wayne County September 2015 Auction When property taxes are not paid, foreclosure and auction are required by law. While unfortunate, this creates opportunity. Thousands of properties are available including residential and commercial structures, and vacant following:

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September 10th.

Please understand that many of these properties will not be available in the now.

Winning bidders will be required to pay the 2015 summer taxes in addition to the bid amount before a deed is issued.

New state law will not allow participation by anyone who owes taxes or has blight violations on other properties.

If you wish to bid on a property you lost to foreclosure you must pay the greater of the winning bid or the outstanding taxes, fees, and interest.

For further information, contact us at 313-224-2864 or WCTauction@waynecounty.com.

Now is the time to invest in Wayne County!

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The popular Kid’s Race – also sponsored by Fifth Third Bank – is set for Sept. 26, the day before the bigger races.

Proceeds from the races help fund The Brooksie Way Minigrant Program, which has awarded more than $135,000 to local non-profit organizations to support health and fitness activities since 2010.

RAYMOND J. WOJTOWICZ Wayne County Treasurer

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August 19-25, 2015 Page A-3

Hope springs eternal 80 years after

Brewster-Wheeler center returning to glory Recreation center redevelopment sparks larger project to include housing, offices and restaurant

By Ken Coleman

will celebrate the rich history of the recreation center, which was a sanctuary of sorts for generations of children and young adults. A restaurant will be built on top of a basketball floor. The Clarkston Union and Vinsetta Garage proprietors will operate the restaurant.

John Rhea and Livonia-based Shostak Brothers will build the residential development. Detroit-based Jenkins Construction has been was selected as the contractor. Jim Jenkins, an African-American, well credential and respected builder, was an early supporter of Duggan’s 2013 bid for mayor. As concern grows among some longtime city residents about gentrification, Duggan and developers have made several promises:

Eight decades ago, a caravan of four vehicles motored from city hall downtown to the Hastings-Benton Street area. Passengers included Mayor Frank Couzens, Common Council members, and one very special guest — First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

It was September 9, 1935 and they had arrived at 651 Benton Street in the heart of the city’s growing black community that by all accounts was bursting at the seams.

A makeshift platform awaited them.

One of the city’s most respected clergy leaders, the Rev. William H. Peck, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church and founder of the Booker T. Washington Business Association, was among many there to greet them. Standing in front of the platform were the city’s police band as well as the Brewster Center children’s group.

A double quartet from neighboring Miller High School was there, too.

The City of Detroit and the Detroit Housing Commission, co-hosts of the event, called the program “Demolition Ceremony and Public Reception for Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.” A street festival featuring young neighborhood girls clad in pretty dresses performed and greeted Roosevelt, the iconic liberal woman of patrician upbringing.

Construction followed in later weeks, but first land had to be cleared to make room for the new development. The event, in effect, served as a kickoff for the Brewster Homes, the nation’s first federally funded housing project for blacks. The first phase of the project opened in 1938. It contained 701 residential units in a series of four-story structures. The development, several streets wide, crossed Beaubien, St. Antoine and Hastings. By the early 1950s, the Frederick Douglass Apartments, two-six story low rises and six 14-story residential towers were completed to top off the development.

It was sorely needed.

By the 1930s, a significant portion of the city’s lower east side was deemed by city and federal officials as “slum clearance.” Residential units and commercial structures, most of which were built in the previous century, had leaky roofs, inadequate plumbing and collapsing porches. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected in 1932,

• 200 or more permanent jobs pledged to pull America out of the economy-ravaged Great Depression, create government-sponsored and funded public works projects, get people back to work, and help local governments to rebuilt sections like Black Bottom, Paradise Valley and the other communities on the city’s lower east side.

In 1910, only about 5,000 blacks lived in Detroit; by 1930, the number soared 120,000 of the city nearly 1 million residents. About 85 percent of city blacks lived on the lower east side in Black Bottom, south of Gratiot, in Paradise Valley, north of Gratiot, and headed up to Mack Avenue or Rowena Street, the thoroughfare’s name prior the 1930s. New residents to the city would double and triple up with aunts and uncles, cousins and family friends. Most of them made the trek from the South to find employment and a better quality of life in the bustling industrial city, then the nation’s fourth largest. However, racism in the mortgage lending industry and extreme protest from whites in other sections of the city relegated blacks to only a few neighborhoods in which to live.

Fast forward to 2015.

After the demolition of the Douglass Towers and the deteriorating condition of the neighboring Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center, a city government call for redevelopment proposals yielded everything from a skateboard park to residential development. Mayor Mike Duggan, in carefully crafted April news conference, including developers, neighbors and other leaders, announced

an ambitious $50 million plan to rescue the historic Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center. The proposal calls for a new restaurant, 150 new housing units and new offices.

“Every opportunity we have, we are going to preserve buildings like the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center that have a deep personal history in our city and do it in a way that provides real benefits to Detroit residents,” Duggan said in a prepared statement. “When this redevelopment is completed, we will have a facility that honors the legacy of Joe Louis, Leon Wheeler (the first black man to work for the city’s recreation department) and so many others, and re-establishes its connection to the community.”

The much-anticipated announcement came about eight months after the first-term mayor committed to finding a developer to revamp the structure where champion boxers Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson learned the “sweet science.” The Miller High School boys basketball team, which was coached by the legendary Will Robinson and had star players like future Harlem Globe­trotter Charlie Primas, adopted the center’s full-size court to play home games because their matchbox-sized gymnasium was too small for the Trojans that won four consecutive city championships between 1947 and 1950. The center closed about 10 years ago and had been plastered with graffiti inside and outside. Vandals had begun stealing copper and boosting other metal fixtures.

Developers promise that the project

• 20 percent of residential units will be offered at affordable rates • 30 percent of construction jobs will go to Detroit-based contractors • 51 percent the construction jobs will go to city residents • 3 5 percent of available jobs will be filled by city residents • 40 percent of jobs at the restaurant would be offered to Detroiters, with a goal to increase that to 70 percent within four years In addition, Duggan pointed out that Slow Roll, the nonprofit that hosts weekly bike rides for thousands of cyclists, as well as the award-winning Detroit Chess Club and Alternatives for Girls, will have office space in the new development.

Donyetta Hill, who led an impressive fight to preserve the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center to yesteryear glory, described the Duggan development as a “big victory” and a compromise that she could live with.

“I’m down with the idea,” she said.

“We took what we could get. It was the closest fit. We just want community things there. I was born and raised in the Brewster Homes. The recreation center was my second home.”

Ken Coleman is an author and historian who has written about the Brewster Homes community in “Million Dollars Worth of Nerve: Twenty-one People Who Helped to Power Black Bottom, Paradise Valley and Detroit’s Lower Side.”

Improved services attract more Arab Americans to Detroit, but challenges remain About this series New Michigan Media (NMM) is a collaboration between the five largest minority media in SE Michigan (The Arab American News, The Latino Press, The Michigan Chronicle, The Michigan Korean Weekly, and The Jewish News) with a combined estimated circulation of 120,000 weekly. NMM is also a founding partner of The Detroit Journalism Cooperative (DJC). Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Renaissance Journalism’s Michigan Reporting Initiative and the Ford Foundation, the DJC aims to report about and create community engagement opportunities in Detroit and its post-bankruptcy recovery. Each article in the series appears in all the NMM member newspapers, and is posted on the DJC website.

This article is from The Arab-American News.

The DJC is a unique collaboration between important media outlets of the region, and includes The Center for Michigan’s Bridge Magazine, Detroit Public Television, Michigan Public Radio, WDET and New Michigan Media.

By Ali Harb

more devastation, while progress brings more improvement. He said when a neighborhood is mostly populated, the residents look after each other’s properties.

Improved city services and better quality of life in the neighborhoods are prompting Arab Americans to buy and rent homes in Detroit. These new Arab Detroiters are benefiting from and contributing to the city’s ongoing recovery. But despite the promise of Detroit’s neighborhoods, challenges and concerns about safety and blight remain, residents and city officials said.

West Detroit neighborhoods have become a fertile destination for Arab Americans looking for a new residence or real estate investment, partly due to their proximity to Dearborn and Dearborn Heights.

Rabih Haidar, a real estate investor who owns 16 homes on the west side of Detroit, said the neighborhoods have come a long way over the past two years.

“These neighborhoods have a huge promise,” he said. “We need people not to be scared. Detroit is a beautiful city with massive potential. Why pay $150,000 for a house in the suburbs when you can buy the same house for $50,000 or less in a nice neighborhood in Detroit?”

In the Aviation Subdivision, which stretches across Tireman Avenue east of Schaefer to the north, Haidar was proudly showing off all the luxurious homes as if they were his own. He bought four houses in that area.

“These are historic homes,” he said. “You will not find houses like that in the suburbs.

There are barely any empty homes here. The city is always doing work and homeowners take care of their lawns.”

However, Haidar acknowledged that it is

The state of the neighborhoods Abandoned homes are less numerous throughout west Detroit, but they are still a hurdle in the progress of the neighborhoods.

Khader Abu Khader with his family in their Detroit home. not all rosy.

“We need more police presence,” he said.

“For the neighborhoods around Warren (Avenue), the closest police precinct is farther than a mile away on Joy Road.”

The Arab American investor explained that additional police patrols would solve multiple problems in the community, including break-ins, illegal bulk dumping and loitering.

Around Warren Avenue, neighborhood conditions sometimes vary by the block sometimes. A well-kept subdivision with no vacancies could be a street down from a rundown block with overgrown grass and several unoccupied properties.

Across from a lawn covered with trash in front of a partly burned down home in Warrendale, a west Detroit neighborhood, a resident expressed her frustration.

Haidar explained that vacancies attract

Marshall Bullock, the manager of District Seven in the Detroit Department of Neighborhoods, which covers the Western side of the city, said his agency is aggressively tackling blight. The department is acquiring ownership of abandoned houses, then tearing down those that can’t be repaired and selling the ones in relatively good shape.

The city does not board up homes, he added. Instead, it provides neighbors with boards and connects them to volunteers who can help them seal the unoccupied properties.

“When you can find active community groups, that’s another asset,” Bullock said.

Bullock explained that as the number of vacancies decreases, additional houses are turned over to the Wayne County because of overdue taxes.

“Vacancy is fluid,” he said. “We can tear down or sell 100 houses in an area and get 40 the following year.”

Despite the progress, Bullock acknowledged that there is still work to be done in terms of services.

“There is a difference between doing good and doing better,” he said. “We’re doing better, but we are not doing a great job.”

(To be continued.)

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Second chance Stafford and local newspaper columnist and author Mitch Albom.

Benson also continues to fight blight in his district.

“When I first took office, there were no Hardest Hit Funds available in District 3,” said Benson, a Los Angeles native, who holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University. “I was able to work with the mayor’s office to bring in the Hardest Hit Funds. Now, District 3 has led all districts in terms of teardowns.

I’m pretty sure that we now have over 800 structures that have been torn down in the district.”

“Overall, Councilman Benson has

Faith

From page A-1 done an outstanding job,” said District 3 resident Joey Williams. “He made a mistake, but I believe he learned and will continue to work hard for the betterment of the district.”

Benson said he wants to continue to be a difference maker in District 3.

However, he knows that his new life of sobriety must never slip.

“I’m not happy about what happened to me a year ago, but I had a problem, dealt with it and will continue to deal with it,” Benson said. "I am extremely happy that I have a high level of support among my constituents who still believe in me and my abilities to deliver measurable results. I’m happy that I’ve been given a second chance to serve.”

From page A-1

school setting. Many problems immediately present themselves, not the least of which is the fact that not all children attending Detroit’s public schools come from Christian households, and not all parents are comfortable with the inclusion of anything that sounds like religion in the educational curriculum of their child.

So how to bridge that dilemma?

“I think the one thing I worry about when we discuss religious education is whose religion are we talking about?” said Buckman. “Are we talking about Christianity? Are we being inclusive?

Are we talking about the Muslim faith?

So whose faith is it? I think those are choices that are very intimate and personal for families to have to make.”

Buckman and the other members of the panel all seemed to agree on the importance of making sure all religious views of children and families are respected without judgment by teachers and administrators. Secondly, and quite simply, is results. If the kids are learning and growing in a healthy way, then it’s working. Because if the children are learning and happy, then most likely there should be more room for experimenting with alternate approaches to teaching and learning, because the current system is dysfunctional at best.

Without a doubt any number of critics – including the current Detroit Public School Board most prominently – can point to a list of reasons as to how the schools got to this point, and many of those reasons have significant merit and are even grudgingly acknowledged by some of the school board’s harshest critics.

August 19-25, 2015 Page A-4

But while that fight continues, and it is likely to be a long and ugly one, the overriding immediate concern that cannot await the verdict of any court is what is happening – and not happening – with Detroit kids. Right now. Today.

And Skillman CEO Tonya Allen, who introduced the panel, had some piercing advice: “That’s one of the messages that we as a community are going to have to push through is that we don’t have to take what is given to us. That we can actually go after the things that we deserve.”

And speaking of what we deserve, no child deserves the type of devastated home and neighborhood environment which far too many of Detroit’s children have to navigate each and every day.

“Statistics show that 60 percent of our children are living in extreme poverty in the city of Detroit,” said Rev. Williams. “So when we talk about issues of education and we talk about the young people and the problems that we’re having in Detroit Public Schools, what we really need to be talking about is how to we address poverty, and the culture that these young people are growing up in.”

One of the obvious outcomes of such a crippling situation is children who can’t read, because children who can’t read – and understand what they read are crippled in more ways than they will ever understand.

“Our kids need to know how to pray, but what good does it do our kids to be able to pray if they can’t read the prayer and they can only recite it?” said Buckman.

Mrs. Jasmine Farr, wife of Mel Farr, leaves the church following services. — Jason Flowers photo

Hundreds gather to remember Mel Farr

By Daniel A. Washington

Hundreds attended the farewell ceremony of former Detroit Lions running back and Ford dealership owner Mel Farr at Christian Tabernacle Church.

Community leaders, athletes and others joined Farr’s wife, Jasmine, who is currently pregnant, and other members of the immediate family in remembering the influential businessman.

“He really led the way in many areas for us younger guys back then,” said former Detroit Pistons great Greg Kelser. “Farr was gifted on the field but bright off the field. Owning dealerships and making a name after playing was unheard of at the time.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and NFL Hall of Famer Lem Barney spoke during the service.

Each icon shared fond memories of the man known to many as Mel Farr Superstar.

The fast-paced running back out of UCLA won the Co-Rookie of the Year award in 1967 with teammate Lem Barney. He played seven seasons for Detroit before retiring due to nagging injuries.

"He was a fun guy, sincere guy, a loving guy," Barney said. "He was a guy that everybody would want on his team.

You would want Mel on your team. Good

instincts, great heart. Very generous and a serious guy. He's going to sorely be missed."

Farr’s was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1967 draft. The gifted back worked for Ford Motor Co. in the off-season throughout his football career. The experience helped him transition into life after retirement.

“I worked for Ford Motor Co. for seven years in the off-season. I worked in an area called dealer development,” Farr said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press a few years ago. “You see, in 1967 when I came here, Detroit was literally on fire because of the riot and so Henry Ford II said, 'You know, we're going to make Ford dealerships available to African Americans,' because before 1967 there were no African-American Ford dealers.”

This prompted Farr to open 11 dealerships with his automotive group at the height of his success post retirement.

Farr was known as the “superstar” businessman amongst local car buyers. Locally, commercials featured Farr with a cape and action hero-worthy scripts to go along with his catchy car sale deals.

As a respected businessman, in the spring of 1980, Farr, with a group of minority dealers convened in Detroit to discuss strategies for survival after financial problems plagued smaller dealerships.

Julian Bond

From page A-1

sition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. They disliked Bond’s stated empathy for persons who were “unwilling to respond to a military draft.” A three-judge panel on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled in a 2–1 decision that the Georgia House had not violated any of Bond’s constitutional rights. In 1966, the United States Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in the case of Bond v. Floyd(385 U.S. 116) that the Georgia House of Representatives had denied Bond his freedom of speech and was required to seat him. From 1967 to 1975, Bond was elected to four terms in the Georgia House, where he organized the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

In January 1967, Bond was among 11 House members who refused to vote when the legislature elected segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox of Atlanta as governor of Georgia over the Republican Howard Callaway. Callaway had led in the 1966 general election by some 3,000 votes. The choice fell on state lawmakers under the Georgia Constitution of 1824 because neither major party candidate had polled a majority in the general election. Former governor Ellis Arnall polled more than 50,000 votes as a write-in candidate, a factor that led to the impasse.

Bond would not support either Maddox or Callaway, although he was ordered to vote by lame duck Lieutenant Governor Peter Zack Geer.

Throughout his House career, Bond’s district was repeatedly redistricted in an effort to unseat him: 1967–69: 136th 1969–73: 111th 1973–74: 32nd Bond went on to be elected for six terms in the Georgia Senate, in which he served from 1975 to 1987.

During the 1968 presidential election, Bond led an alternate delegation from Georgia to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he became the first African American to be nominated as a major-party candidate for vice president of the United States.

The 28-year-old Bond quickly declined nomination, citing the constitutional requirement that one must be at least 35 years of age to serve in that office.

that was aired live on C-SPAN. He was a strong critic of policies that contribute to anthropogenic climate change and was amongst a group of protesters arrested at the White House for civil disobedience in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline in February 2013.

Bond ran for the United States House of Representatives from Georgia’s 5th congressional district in 1986.

He lost the Democratic nomination in a runoff to rival civil rights leader John Lewis in a bitter contest, during which Bond was accused of using cocaine and other drugs. During the campaign, Lewis challenged Bond to take a drug test (Lewis had said he took one and passed). Bond refused, saying the drug test was akin to McCarthyism and trivialized the issue of drugs.

While Bond had raised twice as much money as Lewis and had a larger national reputation, Lewis cast himself as the man on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement and ran up large margins over Bond among white liberals in Atlanta. As the district had a huge Democratic majority, the nomination delivered the seat to Lewis, who still serves in Congress. Still dogged by allegations of drug use, Bond resigned from the Georgia Senate the following year. His estranged wife, who publicly accused him of using cocaine, later retracted her statements.

Bond returned to Morehouse in 1971 at age 31 to complete his Bachelor of Arts in English. With Morris Dees, he helped found the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a public-interest law firm based in Montgomery, Alabama. He served as its president from 1971 to 1979. Bond was an emeritus member of the Southern Poverty Law Center Board

of Directors at the time of his death.

From 1980 to 1997, Bond hosted “America’s Black Forum.” He was also a commentator for radio’s “Byline” and NBC’s “The Today Show.” He authored the nationally syndicated newspaper column “Viewpoint” and narrated the critically acclaimed PBS series “Eyes on the Prize” in 1987 and 1990. Bond hosted “Saturday Night Live” on April 9, 1977, becoming the first black political figure to host the television show. In 1978, Bond played himself in the miniseries “King.” He also had a small appearance in the movie “Ray” (2004). In 2012, he was centrally featured in “Julian Bond: Reflections from the Frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement,” a 32-minute documentary film by Eduardo Montes-Bradley.

After leaving politics, Bond taught at several universities in major cities in the North and South, including American, Drexel, Harvard and the University of Virginia, where he taught until 2012. He was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

In 1998, Bond was selected as chairman of the NAACP. In November 2008, he announced that he would not seek another term as chairman. He agreed to stay on in the position through 2009, as the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Roslyn M. Brock was chosen as Bond’s successor on February 20, 2010.

Bond was an outspoken supporter of the rights of gays and lesbians. He publicly stated his support for same-sex marriage.

Most notably, he boycotted the funeral services for Coretta Scott King on the grounds that the King children had chosen an anti-gay mega-church as the venue. This was in conflict with their mother’s longstanding support for the rights of gay and lesbian people. In a 2005 speech in Richmond, Virginia, Bond stated: “African Americans … were the only Americans who were enslaved for two centuries, but we were far from the only Americans suffering discrimination then and now ... Sexual disposition parallels race. I was born this way. I have no choice.

I wouldn’t change it if I could.

Sexuality is unchangeable.”

In a 2007 speech on the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, Bond said, “If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married.”

His positions pitted elements of the NAACP against religious groups in the Civil Rights Movement who oppose gay marriage.

Bond was a strong critic of the Bush administration from its assumption of office in 2001, in large part because Bond believed the administration was illegitimate. Twice that year, first in February to the NAACP board and then in July at that organization’s national convention, he attacked the administration for selecting Cabinet secretaries “from the Taliban wing of American politics.”

Bond specifically targeted Attorney General John Ashcroft, who had opposed affirmative action, and Interior Secretary Gale Norton, who defended the Confederacy in a 1996 speech on states’ rights.

In the selection of these individuals, Bond said, Bush had appeased “the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing and chosen Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection.” Then House Majority Leader Dick Armey responded to Bond’s statement with a letter accusing NAACP leaders of “racial McCarthyism.” Bond later added at the annual NAACP convention that year, that since Bush’s election he had “had his picture taken with more black people than voted for him.”

On May 14, 2013, while on MSNBC, Bond called the Tea Party the “Taliban wing of American politics.” Bond told MSNBC, “I think it’s entirely legitimate to look at the Tea Party.” But he also said, “It was wrong for the IRS to behave in this heavy-handed manner.

They didn’t explain it well before or now what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.”

Most resistance came from within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was partially blamed for the success of the gay marriage ban amendment in California.

He called Tea Party members “a group of people who are admittedly racist, who are overtly political, who’ve tried as best as they can to harm President Obama in every way they can.”

He added, “We all ought to be a little worried about them.”

On October 11, 2009, Bond appeared at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., and spoke about the rights of the LGBT community, a speech

Julian Bond is survived by his wife, Pamela Horowitz, a former SPLC staff attorney, his five children, a brother and a sister, Jane Bond Moore.

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page A-5

A special lady makes transition Emma Didlake, 110, the nation’s oldest known veteran, passed away Sunday morning.

She grew up in Kentucky and in 1944 moved to Detroit with her husband and five children. Among her many recognitions is the Detroit Branch NAACP’s James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. She joined the NAACP in 1945 and was a lifetime member. On July 17, 2015 she was personally honored by President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. as the oldest living veteran.

Mrs. Didlake was a cosmetologist by trade but joined the U.S. Army’s Women’s Army Corp.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Swanson Funeral Home.

Public visitation will be Thursday, August 20, 6-8pm and Friday, August 21, from noon- 8pm at

“ WHAT’S DTE ENERGY DOING TO MAKE IT EASIER ON BUSINESS?”

Emma Didlake Swanson Funeral Home located at 806 E. Grand Blvd on Detroit’s eas side.

Funeral Services will be held at Didlake’s home church, Second Baptist Church, located at 441 Monroe, Detroit.

Family hour starts at 10 am and the funeral will begin at 11 am.

The new interactive eBill from DTE Energy makes it easy to analyze energy usage and pay your bill. The new, simple layout shows your usage at a glance, gives you links to energy-saving ideas, and lets you pay your bill in a snap. There are even sections specific to your business that can help you understand and manage what you use, and pay.

For additional information contact Swanson Funeral Home at (313) 923- 1122.

Services for Dr. Hills Howard, Jr. Dr. Hills Howard, Jr. MD was born on March 12, 1946 to the late Hills and Mildred Howard. He was the third of 11 siblings.

Howard earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1969 and a Medical degree in 1975 from Wayne State University. He joined the Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1966.

Mr. Howard cared deeply for his patients.

He served as medical director for OmniCare

PC and on staff at Detroit Medical Center (DMC) for many years. He recently retired.

Mr. Howard was called to be with the Lord on Aug. 16, 2015. Visitation is Friday, Aug. 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Swanson Funeral Home, 14751 West McNichols in Detroit.

Dr. Hills Howard Health Systems and The Wellness Plan for several years. He was owner of Howard Medical Service

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m. at People’s Community Church, 8601 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

Mr. Buck, Owner Mr. Buck’s Hair Pavillion

Michigan State University and ProvidenceProvidence Park Hospital announce new College of Human Medicine Southeast Michigan campus Officials at Michigan State University (MSU) and Providence-Providence Park Hospital (PPPH) announced on July 21 an agreement to establish a new medical school campus in Southeast Michigan. The new partnership creates the college’s seventh statewide community campus – and the first in Southeast Michigan.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon joined Jean Meyer, President and CEO, St. John Providence, PPPH-Southfield President Michael Wiemann, MD, FACP, PPPHNovi President Peter Karadjoff, FACHE, and MSU College of Human Medicine’s Dean Marsha D. Rappley, MD, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Aron Sousa, MD, at the announcement reception.

the Southeast Michigan turn to practice medicine Southeast Michigan, and Energy/Creative/DTE0386 campus. DTE0386 | Dropbox/Clients/DTE someday,” Karadjoff said. the Upper Peninsula Region. The college is home “We are thrilled to be In addition to | the 2015-05-01-Ethnic-Mr-Bucks-5x10.5-BW-R1.indd Page 1 of 1 | Rev1 | 05/01/2015 part of the MSU College Southeast Michigan cam- to centers of excellence in Parkinson’s disease of Human Medicine’s of Hu-05/01/2015 Publication |pus, 5x10MSU | No College Bleed | Close plans to expand in South- man Medicine has six research and women’s east Michigan,” said Wie- community campuses health research. For more REVISIONS DUE TO AGENCY 05/01/2015 mann. “Providence-Prov- located in Flint, Lansing, information, visit the idence Park Hospital and Grand Rapids, Midland, Michigan State University College ____ CR ____ TR ____ ____ of Human Mediits exceptional DT medical Traverse City and PR the ____ Up- AE cine Web site at www.hustaff will provide students per Peninsula. manmedicine.msu.edu. an opportunity to learn in Since 1964, Michigan Providence-Providence From left, Robert Flora, MD, President Simon, Dean an environment dedicated State University College to high quality, compas- of Human Medicine has Park Hospital is part of Rappley, Val Overholt, DO, Michael Wiemann, MD, sionate care for the whole drawn upon MSU’s land St. John Providence, the and Aron Sousa, MD person.” grant values to educate largest provider of inpa“This partnership with DO, has been appointKaradjoff adds the new exemplary physicians, tient care in Southeast Providence-Providence ed community assistant medical school campus discover and disseminate Michigan. St. John ProvPark Hospital is the re- dean for the College of will open new possibili- new knowledge and re- idence provides compresult of shared goals to Human Medicine’s South- ties for physician recruit- spond to the needs of the hensive prevention, prieducate medical students east Michigan campus. ment. “This new effort medically underserved mary care and advanced within a health care sys- The first cohort of stu- will provide MSU’s third- in communities through- treatment programs with tem that values quality dents will start in July and fourth-year medi- out Michigan. The med- more than 125 medical and provides care to a 2016. At full capacity, cal students a chance to ical school’s statewide centers and five hospitals diverse population of pa- MSU College of Human study and live in an area footprint includes seven spanning five counties.

Medicine plans to have of the state where many community tients,” Simon said. campuses: For more information, stjohnprovidence. a total of 60 third- and come from and where we Flint, Grand Rapids, Lan- visit PPPH’s Director of Stufourth-year students at hope they’d like to re- sing, Midland Regional, org. dents Valerie Overholt,

news

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page A-6

Tonya Allen, Clark Durant, Ernestine Sanders and Hiram E. Jackson, Publisher, Michigan Chronicle and Ernestine Sanders, President & CEO, Jennifer LoPiccolo Clark Durant, Co-Founder, Cornerstone Schools Cornerstone Schools and Cathy Nedd, Associate Publisher, Michigan Chronicle

Attendees enjoying a buffet breakfast at Hotel St. Regis

Hiram Jackson, Clark Durant and Nicole Attendees of the Michigan Chronicle Faith Leaders Black Breakfast

Felicia Wasson, Director, Public & Affairs & Our panelists at the Faith Leaders Breakfast; Reverend Communications, The Coco-Cola Company Charles Williams III, Sharlonda Buckman and Bishop Cornerstone staffers Janice Whittenburg and Andrea Perry and Bishop Edgar L. Vann, Pastor of Edgar L. Vann Second Ebenezer Church

Perzigian,

Roseann

Karen Gray-Sheffield of St. John Providence Rev. Charles Williams III and Edward Pastor Lee Jackson, Bishop Edgar L. Vann, Pastor Douglas Butler, Health and Bridget Hurd of Blue Cross Blue Foxworth III Bishop James Williams Shield of Michigan

Attendees engaged in the Faith in the Classroom discussion

Bishop Edgar L. Vann and Ernestine Reverend Mary Edwards, Leaves of Gold, Sanders of Cornerstone speaking on Faith LLC in the classroom

Panelist for Faith Leaders Breakfast: Reverend Charles Williams III, Clark Durant, Sharlonda Buckman, Bishop Edgar L. Vann, Ernestine Sanders and Dr. Deborah Smith-Pollard

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michiganchronicle.com

August 19-25, 2015

Comerica Bank’s Patricia McCann and Summer in the City campers show their musical ­inclinations by creating instruments using common household items with the help of Ben’s Encore at Maker Faire Detroit.

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HOMEFRONT Comerica treats Summer in the City day campers to Maker Faire Detroit VIP experience at The Henry Ford

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

-Benjamin Franklin Ben Franklin’s view on the importance of investing in knowledge remains as true today as it did when the Founding Father first spoke it nearly 260 years ago. And, his unique description is perfectly fitting when discussing Comerica Bank’s continued commitment to metro Detroit, specifically the well-being of the region’s educational infrastructure.

The Comerica Charitable Foundation recently teamed up with The Henry Ford to invite Detroit youth from the Summer in the City program for a sneak preview experience at Maker Faire Detroit the Friday before it opened to the public.

Summer in the City is a Detroit-based volunteer organization focused on bringing diverse, young people together to invest their energy in making a positive impact on the city.

“The Maker Faire experience hopefully inspired our Summer in the City VIPs to become inventors by exposing them to inventions that apply science, technology, engineering and math,” said Janice Tessier, president, Comerica Charitable Foundation.

During the event, campers, kindergarten through fifth grade, explored The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, and spent one-on-one time with some of this year’s Makers, includ-

See MAKER FAIRE DETROIT page B-2

The Hot Wheels Big Loop was built to try and break the world record for the largest working Hot Wheels loop.

Patricia McCann, vice president and national civic affairs manager at Comerica Bank, helps Summer in the City campers make a smaller scale model of the 12 and a half foot tall Hot Wheels Big Loop.

Comerica Bank’s VIP guests from Summer in the City played musical fruits and veggies at Ben’s Encore Instrument Building Workshop during a Maker Faire ­Detroit sneak preview event at The Henry Ford.

Campers used recycled materials to create their own unique pair of glasses during a Maker Faire Detroit sneak preview sponsored by ­Comerica Bank.

Summer in the City kids explore music, sound and technology inside Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience space at Maker Faire Detroit.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page B-2

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Index Sees Strongest Gain in a Decade Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index continued to grow in May, increasing 3.3 percentage points to reach a level of 124.8. May’s reading is 51 points, or 69 percent, above the index cyclical low of 74.0. The index averaged 117.4 points for all of 2014, three and three-tenths points above the index average for 2013.

April’s index reading was 121.5.

“The 3.3 percent gain in our Michigan Economic Activity Index for May was the strongest monthly gain since February 2005. May continued a strong run for the Michigan economy, which began last November, and was interrupted in February, primarily as a result of very bad winter weather. The Robert A.Dye climate is better in Michigan now in more ways than one. The U.S. auto industry is enjoying strong sales and solid profitability, supported by an improving U.S. economy and low gasoline prices. This is a tailwind for the state of Michigan, fostering broad-based economic gains,” said Robert Dye, Chief Economist at Comerica Bank. “Seven out of eight components of our Michigan Index increased in May, including labor market and housing-related indicators.”

Summer in the City campers show off their custom designed and built cars they raced down the winding, wavy track of the Great Maker Race by Maker Works.

Maker Faire Detroit ing Arts & Scraps, Ben’s Encore, The Great Maker Race by Maker Works, The Henry Ford’s Discovery Camp, The Les Paul Big Sound Experience and the Hot Wheels Big Loop.

SUMMER IN THE CITY MAKERS Arts & Scraps, Build and Invent: Campers created inventions using simple machines and assembled structures using push/ pull concepts.

Ben’s Encore, Instrument Building Workshop & ­Percussion Wall: Kids made instruments from household materials, enjoyed a percussion wall, and played musical fruits and vegetables on a makey makey machine.

The Great Maker Race by Maker Works: Campers designed, built, and raced their own car down a wild and wavy track.

They cut the car body with a hot-wire foam cutter, nailed their wheels on and decorated it to make a one-of-a-kind car!

The Henry Ford’s Discovery Camp: Campers participated in science activities, games, hiking, tours, fishing and robotics. They even had a chance to perform green experiments.

Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience: Campers got a taste for the greatness of Les Paul through 1,000 square feet of space where they explored music, sound and technology – all as seen through Les Paul’s eyes.

Hot Wheels Big Loop: Campers witnessed demonstrations of the 12 and a half-foot tall Hot Wheels loop and talked with the build team about how they solved big engineering problems during the 1 6/2/15 2:07 PM design of a UNI_CBP-5136_HELOC.pdf track for tiny cars.

“The Henry Ford welcomed 437 Summer in the City camp-

From page B-1

ers, counselors and volunteers to the special preview event,” said Catherine Tuczek, curator of school programs at The Henry Ford.

“With the Comerica Charitable Foundation’s grant support, each camper was able to get a taste of Maker Faire before it opened to the public and participated in two fun hands-on, interactive experiences.”

The Maker Faire Detroit VIP event also served as an opportunity to engage volunteers from the Comerica Cares program.

“Special thanks also to the Comerica volunteers who led small groups to the stations within the Faire and kept them safe and on time during a busy set-up time for the event,” said Tuczek.

Comerica’s commitment to the community and education doesn’t end with Maker Faire. The bank supports initiatives throughout the year benefiting local schools, including City Connect Detroit’s Grow Detroit’s Young Talent citywide summer jobs program which employs young adults from 14 to 24 years old, Youth Savings Programs which introduce and teach money management and smart banking practices to elementary students, the Comerica Grand Slam Grant program which helps create, expand or improve high school baseball and softball programs, the Innovations for Learning TutorMate program which allows Comerica Cares volunteers to tutor elementary students across Detroit and the Bing Youth Institute “Boys Inspired through Nurturing and Growth Opportunities Mentoring Program,” which pairs successful males from business, sports, government and other areas with at-risk urban male youth from Detroit.

For more information about Comerica Bank’s commitment to the community, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of eight variables, as follows: nonfarm payrolls, exports, hotel occupancy rates, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, sales tax revenues, home prices, and auto production. All data are seasonally adjusted, and indexed to a base year of 2008.

Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values.

Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Comerica Bank, with 214 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Michigan and Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, and Florida, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

To find Comerica on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares.

Follow us on Twitter at @Comerica_Econ.

Put your home equity to work.

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Ask an associate about a Comerica Home Equity FlexLine with an introductory rate of

®

3.25 APR %

*

applies to balances on the first six monthly statement cycles after the account open date.

Later variable rate as low as

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To speak with a Comerica loan specialist and apply for a home equity loan, stop by your local Comerica banking center or call 800.292.1300. ®

RAISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

MEMBER FDIC. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER. Comerica Bank NMLS ID: 480990 *The Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 3.25% is for home equity line of credit accounts only and applies to balances on the first six monthly statement cycles after the account open date, which changes to a variable APR as low as 3.50% at the end of the introductory period. To receive this rate, the application must be submitted between July 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, and the loan must close by February 29, 2016. This special offer is for a limited time only and cannot be combined with any other offers or special promotions. The variable APR is 3.50% for line amounts of $50,000 or more. This rate includes a 0.25% discount for maintaining an automatic payment from a Comerica Bank deposit account. Your margin, rate and payment may differ based upon loan amount, collateral value, credit history and additional banking relationships. After the introductory rate expires, your rate will never be lower than 3.50% or higher than 18%. APR is a variable rate that will change based on the prime rate as published in the Midwest edition of The Wall Street Journal plus a margin (currently 3.25% as of May 1, 2015). A cash advance fee of $2 to $15 applies. $350 early termination fee, if account is closed within the first two years for Michigan customers. $50 annual fee (waived the first year) for Michigan customers. No title fees and no cost for the initial property valuation conducted by Comerica for credit line amounts less than or equal to $500,000. Additional property valuations, when requested by you, are at the sole discretion of the bank at your cost.

A security interest will be taken in your home. Property insurance is required and flood insurance may be required. Comerica reserves the right to modify or end this offer at any time. Subject to credit approval.

CBP-5136 05/15

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 20

August 22

August 29

August 19-25, 2015

Page B-3

September 4-7

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN

PRAISE IN THE PARK

ARTS, BEATS & EATS

Meadow Brook Hall 480 S. Adams Road Rochester, Michigan

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Nardin Park Grand River Ave. and West Chicago, Detroit

Downtown Royal Oak (On and near Washington St.)

Hear live jazz by local musicians in Meadow Brook’s beautiful garden as visitors enjoy hor d’oeuvres and a hall tour as a part of the summer concert series. This is a ticketed event.

For more information call 248.364.6252 or visit www.meadowbrookhall.org.

August 20 HEALTH & SAFETY FUN FEST IN WAYNE The Wayne County Department of Public Health 33030 Van Born Road Wayne, Michigan The Wayne County Department of Public Health hosts its Health and Safety Fun Fest with screenings for hearing and more, immunizations and free haircuts for kids.

A collaborative community outreach event offering free food, clothing, school supplies, train rides, bouncers and more.

For more information call 313.350.4890.

UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND HOSTS 27TH ANNUAL WALK FOR EDUCATION IN DETROIT

For many, it’s the most anticipated festival of the summer. AB&E has grown a lot through the years but has maintained its simple, classic roots. Tons of great live music (local and otherwise), a labytinth of food stands and enough art to inspire a city.

For more information call 248.334.4600 or www.artsbeatseats.com

August 29 September 4-7

8 a.m.

Belle Isle Park Belle Isle Casino 3031 W. Grand Blvd.

Detroit

Get a good workout while supporting a good cause with this year’s United Negro College Fund (UNCF) 27th annual Walk for Education. Registration is $15-35.

For more information call 313.873.1500

For more information call 734.727.7000

August 21 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AT THE CARR CENTER IN DETROIT 6 p.m.

The Carr Center 311 E. Grand River Ave., (Across from the Music Hall) Detroit

The Trinity International Film Festival celebrates its 9th annual event on August 2122, 2015 at the beautiful Carr Center located in Harmonie Park (311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit). This two-day event features an array of independent films from around the world, panel discussions, and networking with industry professionals.

BLACK MOTHERS’ BREASTFEEDING SUMMIT AT CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM IN DETROIT 1 p.m.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 315 E. Warren Ave. Detroit Black Breastfeeding Week Celebration: Lift Every Baby... So Strong. So Us.

For more information call the Carr Center at 313.685.3124

For more information call 800.313.6141

DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL Several blocks of downtoen Detroit. from Hart Plaza to campus Martius Park Downtown Detroit One of several events originally designed to expose music lovers to the city, the jazz fest totally exemplifies the vibrancy, variety and music of Detroit. The lineup is made up of entertainers from around the globe, but features some smokin’ local jazz.

For more information call 313.447.1248 or www.detroitjazzfest.com

SOMETIMES, OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS.

OTHER TIMES, IT ROLLS. We were curious, why do people always have to “go” to the bank? Why can’t the bank come to them? That’s why, since 2004, the Fifth Third eBus has visited neighborhoods in a dozen states.

It’s where you can get answers about mortgages, credit reports, and smart money management.

After all, if a bank just sits there, where is it taking you? If you’ve got questions, or even want to apply for a job with us, we’re rolling your way.

Aug. 25, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Henry Ford Hospital, Poe St., Detroit Aug. 27, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Carstens Academy of Aquatic Science, Detroit Aug. 29, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Mason Academy, Detroit

Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC.

Equal Housing Lender.

QFRC5894000_Ebus_BW_Michigan(10x10.5).indd 1

8/13/15 9:24 AM

HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher

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

(313) 963-5522 e-mail:newsdesk@michronicle.com August 19-25, 2015

Quote of the week:

CATHY NEDD Associate Publisher KEITH A. OWENS Senior Editor

“The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied rights granted to others.”

SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011 JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997 LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

— Julian Bond

Page B-4

Trumping the Donald on immigration

By Bill Fletcher, Jr. Watching Donald Trump being interviewed (recently) was — for the few moments that I could take it — quite fascinating. What quickly became clear was that Trump will not let the facts get in the way of his opinion. Actually, he will dispense with the actual facts and create his own.

Such was the case when it was pointed out that the number of murders committed by undocumented immigrants were less, as a proportion, than those committed by the general public.

Bill Fletcher, Jr. Trump simply said that the interviewer had her facts wrong, did not state counter-facts, and moved on.

We have to remember that this is the same person who played to the worst, racist sentiments in the U.S. with his support for the Birthers, i.e., those who suggested that President Obama had not been born in the U.S. and was, therefore, not a citizen and not eligible to be president of the United States.

The facts, including the provision of Obama’s birth certificate, were never enough to stop his gab.

Again, the facts are as he sees it.

Trump’s anti-immigrant rant, while ridiculous, is quite dangerous. He is playing to right-wing, xenophobic forces in the USA who wish to portray immigrants as the source of the problems of this country.

His blatant, anti-Mexican rhetoric, suggesting, for example, that Mexican immigrants bring with them crime, leads one to ask a simple question: What does Trump think about the people who migrated from Sicily? How about from Ireland? In both cases, notorious criminal

organizations were either brought with the immigrants or were formed by the immigrants once they arrived.

Does this mean that Sicilians and Irish were overwhelmingly criminals? Of course not, but that small fact is completely absent from Trump’s analysis. If he is not suggesting — and actually cannot suggest — that Sicilians and Irish were a bunch of criminals, then on what basis can he go after Mexicans?

Trump’s opportunism is aimed at winning the Republican nomination or, at least, influencing the outcome of the primary process. More importantly, he is, regardless of intent, working to not only stoke the coals of xenophobia, but to make more coherent and legitimate, the right-wing, racial attack on immigrants of color. He may say that he has Mexican friends, but where have we heard that language before?

Trump’s racist opportunism must be blunted and this means a combination of speaking out every time we hear his irrational words, as well as working to isolate him as one would a dangerous plague.

Movements such as #BlackLivesMatter as well as organized labor need to join hands with immigrant rights forces in pointing out the hypocrisy and blatant racism contained in Trump’s efforts.

These movements must also join hands in the fight for genuine immigration reform that recognizes the humanity of immigrants of color as well as recognizes that many, if not most, of these immigrants find themselves on our shores as a direct result of policies by the U.S. government and corporations, policies such as military interventions and free trade acts.

In fact, many of these policies originate in boardrooms such as those occupied by the Donald.

Bill Fletcher Jr. is the host of “The Global African” on Telesur-English. He is a racial justice, labor and global justice activist and writer

Republicans ignore anniversary of Voting Rights Act

By George E. Curry The 50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act fell on the same day that Fox News hosted two Republican presidential debates. But the landmark legislation was never mentioned by the questioners or the candidates.

And we know why.

Under the headline, “What Media Need to Know About the Debating GOP Candidates’ Disdain for Voting Rights,” Media Matters, the watchdog group, pointed out “…

George E. Curry with the help of most of the Republican politicians currently running for president, voting rights have been steadily rolled back in recent years.”

Media Matters provided this recap of efforts to weaken voting rights laws by the leading GOP presidential candidates: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush – Under his administration, 12,000 eligible voters were wrongly purged from the voting rolls in Florida prior to the 2000 election. They were incorrectly identified as convicted felons and thus ineligible to vote.

Though black voters accounted for only 11 percent of the state electorate, they were 41 percent of those purged.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — He supported a purge of voter rolls in 2012 that disproportionately targeted Democrats and people of color. He also supported discriminatory voter ID laws, asking, “What’s the big deal?” The big deal, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, is that 11 percent of all eligible voters do not have government-issued ID, a disproportion of them African American and Latino.

Just since last year, he’s signed laws that reduce early voting and eliminate same-day voter registration; reduce the minimum number of voting machines that counties must have on hand; make it easier to purge voters from the rolls; make it more likely that provisional ballots will be rejected; and make it harder to obtain an absentee ballot.

The early voting cuts are the subject of a lawsuit in federal court, alleging that they discriminate against African Americans.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — He

attempted to add a voter ID amendment to an immigration reform bill and tried to amend a voter registration law to allow states to require proof of citizenship before being allowed to vote. Cruz strongly supported the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder that weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — He is a strong proponent of voter ID laws. Quoting the Washington Post, Media Matters noted, “The former Arkansas governor told the crowd at an Americans for Prosperity conference last month that sometimes he thinks the United States has less freedom than North Korea.

“When I go to the airport, I have to get in the surrender position. People put hands all over me. And I have to provide photo ID in a couple of different forms and prove that I really am not going to terrorize the airplane. But if I want to go vote, I don’t need a thing.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — In 2013, he vetoed a bill allowing early voting at polling places. Earlier this year, he vowed to veto legislation that would have mandated automatic voter registration and allowed online registration and two weeks of early voting.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) – Paul said that he supports increased voting access, citing legislation he co-sponsored to restore voting rights to some convicted felons. But voter ID requirements are OK, he said, as long as Republicans don’t talk about it too loudly.

Dr. Ben Carson — New York magazine observed, “In (his book) “One Vote,” Carson offers an enthusiastic endorsement: ‘I hope everyone (minorities included) across America will take responsibility for having proper identification documents, which are very easy to obtain as long as one does not wait until the last minute to acquire them.’

He is also fine with “fees” for these IDs, knowing full well, as all Republicans are fond of saying, that ‘fee’ is a euphemism for tax and in this case a poll tax.”

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — He signed a discriminatory voter ID law that was later ruled unconstitutional.

He also signed a bill capping early voting George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and BlackPressUSA.

Police shootings about class as well as race

By Jesse Jackson After three days of peaceful demonstrations marking the one year anniversary of Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, Mo., yet another African American man was shot by police there.

While the facts are still unclear, the tragedy will surely add to the national protests challenging our racially biased structures of criminal injustice.

A week earlier, a young, unarmed man was shot Jesse Jackson to death by a police officer in Seneca, South Carolina.

Only this young man was not black, but white.

According to CNN, Zachary Hammond was fatally shot while in a Hardee’s parking lot. He was 19 years old and on a date. The police officer was conducting a drug investigation and claims that he shot Hammond in self-defense when the unarmed teenager drove his car at him.

A small amount of marijuana was found in the front passenger compartment. Police said the target of the investigation was not Hammond but his date. An independent autopsy showed, however, that Hammond was shot in the back, not the front, contradicting the official story.

“He was a 19-year-old, 121-pound kid killed basically for a joint,” the family attorney Eric Bland said.

CNN reported that if this had been an African American victim, it would have received national attention.

That is true now, but only because an active movement of demonstrators have made it so. In fact, virtually the only protests to Hammond’s death were issued by #BlackLivesMatter activists on social media.

One year after Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, unarmed black men are still seven times more likely than whites to die by police gunfire, according to a new study by the Washington Post.

So far this year, the Post reports, 24 unarmed black men have been shot and killed by police — one every nine days.

The Post reports that 585 people in total have been shot and killed by police through Aug. 7.

There is no question that African American men are at greatest risk. After the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson, national protests have forced reform of the police and of mass incarceration policies onto the national agenda.

The names of those who died from police violence — Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Samuel DuBose, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Freddy Gray, Sandra Bland and more — are etched in public memory because demonstrators have demanded justice for them. The nonviolent protests of demonstrators and the black church have forced community after community to respond.

After Ferguson, and with the spread of cameras that have caught the police in lies, the police are no longer completely immune. In 24 states, reform measures — many focused on requiring body cameras — have been introduced.

These are merely the first stirrings of change. But the killings haven’t stopped.

While African Americans are at disproportionate risk from the structural and human biases of our criminal justice system, we should not forget that working and poor people of all races suffer from police excessive use of force.

Police kill more whites than blacks.

Of the 700 killings it has recorded, the Guardian reports that 340 were white, 179 black and 101 Hispanic. The Post reports that African American men were 40 percent of the unarmed deaths, but whites and Hispanics made up the majority.

The system has a class bias as well as a race bias. An investigation by Alternet’s Zaid Jilani revealed that in the first five months of this year, 95 percent of police killings occurred in neighborhoods with median family incomes under $100,000. There were no killings in neighborhoods with median family incomes of $200,000 or above.

One year after Ferguson, it’s clear we all have a stake in dramatic reform of the American way of policing, if the police are to be trusted as protectors and not threats.

Beyond the rhetoric: Immigration, a problem without a cure

By Harry C. Alford NNPA COLUMNIST

Immigration is at the top of the news on a daily basis. It is a major election issue for the race to the presidency. It has been that way since the days of Ronald Reagan.

Today, there are more than 11 million illegal aliens walking around our nation. It is a problem without a cure.

The problem, however, is not exclusively an American issue. Nations have borders for many reasons and the biggest reason is to protect themselves from unwanted visitors.

Harry C. Alford

What motivates people to leave their country for another? Usually it is related to the local economy. People want to eat and have a quality of life that includes basic shelter and a true democracy. Practically all of world’s immigrants come to find work or to build their own business.

You cannot do this under a mean dictatorship or a weak economy that may even lead to hunger and starvation. Oppressive regimes will also make people leave by the thousands. Who wants to be beaten, imprisoned or even murdered?

Desperate people who decide to flee will go to the border of least resistance.

Our southern border with Mexico has very little resistance and people come over by the hundreds of thousands on a monthly basis. It is not primarily Mexican citizens coming over the border.

Rather, it is mainly Central Americans who are fleeing the violence and poverty in the nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Unfortunately, some of them are also violent. The notorious gang known as

MS-13 was founded in El Salvador. They are now in our largest cities wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods. We deport a large number of these illegal immigrants but they just turn right around and come back in the same way they did before.

Another popular destination for illegal immigrants are the Mediterranean nations, particularly Italy, Greece and Spain.

People running from the blight and violence of African nations such as the Congo, Niger, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and others are coming via small boats. Often these boats will collapse during their travel and the lucky ones are rescued by the navies of the aforementioned nations.

This is causing an even greater problem. Once these immigrants recover from their dangerous travel they begin to once again go on the move. The new destinations are France, Germany and England. Most of them are black and therefore stand out in European surroundings.

The boldest are those headed for England. They brazenly find their way to the underground tunnel known as “the Tube.” This tunnel is for trade via trucks driving under the 28-mile stretch of the English Channel. They jump on trucks or even walk along the narrow shoulders of the highway. Many are captured by British authorities and some die along the way in truck accidents. But most make it through and spread out to English cities where they connect with relatives or friends who have settled in after their legal immigration or illegal via similar trips earlier.

Another immigration hot spot is the Middle East. Afghanistan is a place still ravaged by the Taliban and other rebel forces.

Harry C. Alford is the co-founder, president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015 Page B-5

Cornerstone Schools’ Be A Tiger For Kids

By Jason Flowers MANAGING EDITOR Every year, more than 3,000 people fill Comerica Park for a night of fun and baseball for Cornerstone Schools’ Be A Tiger For Kids event.

In its tenth year, it raises dollars for more than 500 children attending Cornerstone Schools from preschool to high school.

“We’ve had this ongoing partnership with the Detroit Tigers and we have really creat-

ed a following and a good support base for this event,” said Cornerstone Schools Director of Institutional Advancement Andy Anuzis.

a minimum donation of $60 to attend this event. With your donation you’ll receive a commemorative T-shirt, a voucher for a hot dog, pop and chips and access to the Be A Tiger For Kids Hospitality Plaza providing Pepsi products, ballpark snacks and activities for children, including the opportunity for your child to run the bases after the game.

“This event helps parents who are making the decision right now about bringing their children to Cornerstone Schools.”

The baseball game will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7:08 p.m. when the Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Angels will take to Comerica Park’s field.

For more information on how you can participate and donate, visit www.cornerstoneschools. org or call (800) 343-0951.

You can support the children of Cornerstone by making

20 Detroit-area McDonald’s restaurants to giveaway 1,000 backpacks

“Supporting youth and education remains a top priority for me and my fellow McDonald’s restaurant owners,” said Jon Campbell, McDonald’s restaurant owner. “We are proud that our McDonald’s Get BackPackin’ to School giveaway will positively impact local families

PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS MONDAY, AUG. 17 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Detroit-area McDonald’s restaurant owners will give away 1,000 McDonald’s-branded backpacks filled with school supplies celebrating the back to school season Monday, Aug. 17 through Friday, Aug. 21.

The McDonald’s Get BackPackin’ to School giveaway offers customers the chance to win a backpack by simply visiting one of 20 participating Detroit-area McDonald’s restaurants during the sweepstakes period. Each McDonald’s-branded backpack will include a spiral notebook, pocket folders, pens and pencils as well as other supplies so children can return to school with the tools to help them succeed in class.

MCDONALD’S GET BACKPACKIN’ TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY 14204 W. Seven Mile Rd. 15550 W. McNichols Rd. 18403 Grand River Ave. 21640 Grand River Ave.

TUESDAY, AUG. 18 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Jon Campbell

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19

as they prepare to send their children back to school.”

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

For complete McDonald’s Get BackPackin’ to School sweepstakes rules visit www.

BackPackDetroit. com.

15501 Plymouth Rd. 13676 Grand River Ave. 15321 Wyoming Ave. 17121 Livernois Ave.

2889 W. Grand Blvd.

13500 Linwood St. 9815 Grand River Ave. 6876 Michigan Ave.

THURSDAY, AUG. 20 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

14271 Gratiot Ave. 19840 Van Dyke Ave. 20405 Conant St. 1321 W. Eight Mile Rd.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

16950 Harper Ave. 3975 Connor Rd. 10400 Gratiot Ave.

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

1000 Mack Ave.

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community

August 19-25, 2015

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

COMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY

Page B-6

COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Erica Jordan Pinned to the bulletin board in the office of Erica Jordan, senior vice president and audit director of Comerica Bank are the words, “It is okay to stumble on your journey so long that the pebbles that cause you to stumble become pebbles of wisdom.”

Grow Detroit’s Young Talent interns Marian Sanders (left), Ricardo Cummings (right center) and Kennedy Cook (right) had a chance to meet with Comerica Bank’s chief diversity officer, Linda Forte (center left), during their internship.

Ricardo Cummings (left) and Kennedy Cook (right) joined colleagues in Comerica Bank’s Human Resources department for some after-work bowling fun. Cummings and Cook interned at the bank as part of the city of Detroit’s Grow Detroit’s Young Talent program.

Jordan’s 22-year career with Comerica Bank includes such positions as corporate credit analyst, regulatory and compliance team leader, and national anti-money laundering compliance education manager, and their related certifications. In her current position, Jordan is responsible for supporting the General Auditor and Deputy General Auditor with strategic oversight of the bank’s Internal Audit Division.

Comerica Bank helps grow Detroit’s Young Talent Comerica Bank gave three students an up close look at banking through its participation in the city of Detroit’s “Grow Detroit’s Young Talent” program. Kennedy Cook, a sophomore at Wayne State University who is majoring in finance, and Ricardo Cummings, a junior at Detroit Edison High School Academy who is taking college finance courses through the University of Michigan-Dearborn, worked in the bank’s Finance Department over the summer. A third intern, Marian Sanders, worked in Comerica’s Human Resources Department. Sanders is a 2015 graduate of Detroit Renaissance High School and plans to attend Wayne State University this fall. The Grow Detroit’s Young Talent program strived to provide meaningful work experiences to young Detroiters.

Erica Jordan

During her recent involvement with a program sponsored by Inforum, – a women’s leadership development organization that strives to help impact and empower women in their careers – she was asked to reflect on her professional mistakes and how these experiences have shaped her career. She came up with this phrase and now uses these words to remind herself every day of how important it is to turn mistakes into learning opportunities.

She believes mistakes help guide and develop people professionally.

Linda Forte (left), senior vice president and chief diversity officer for Comerica Bank, congratulates Kennedy Cook on completing her internship at the bank.

Michael Cheatham (center), Michigan CRA market manager for ­Comerica Bank, recently spoke with participants in the Detroit Community Initiative’s Future Leaders program about the importance of making good decisions with their money, how credit scores are calculated, and the impact of credit scores on your financial success.

Representative Keith ­Ellison (left) presents Michael Cheatham, Michigan CRA market manager for Comerica Bank, with a plaque recognizing him as one of the Michigan Chronicle’s 2015 Men of Excellence Award honorees. The Men of Excellence Awards celebrate men who have demonstrated exceptional strength and commitment in their profession and communities.

Patricia McCann, national civic affairs manager, Comerica Bank, accepts a Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership Award from Representative Roger Williams, who is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Comerica was one of 23 financial services companies recognized by FSR, a leading financial services trade association, for its leadership to improve communities and improve Americans’ financial literacy skills.

In 2014, Comerica employees donated more than 73,000 hours of their personal time and talents on behalf of the communities the bank serves.

Also in 2014, Comerica contributed more than $8.5 million to nonprofit organizations within the bank’s markets. In addition, Comerica employees raised some $2.2 million for the United Way and Black United Fund in 2014.

“As auditors, our role is to ensure that our organization’s internal control framework is solid and progressive,” said Jordan.

“We’re responsible for identifying where there are gaps in controls, recommending solutions and keeping management informed on evolving regulations and emerging risks.”

Jordan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Michigan State University. She later obtained an MBA degree with an emphasis on e-commerce. Jordan focused on e-commerce due to changing industry trends and her belief that e-commerce business philosophies and related risk considerations would be essential tools due to the technological advancements occurring in banking.

Erica Jordan (right) volunteers at The Children’s Center in Detroit spending time drawing with kids during an art therapy session.

When not working, Jordan regularly volunteers through the Comerica Cares program with organizations such as Gleaners Community Food Bank, The Children’s Center in Detroit and Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Recently, Jordan volunteered at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Benefit for the Disabled annual event called the Handicapper Fishing Derby, which provided attendees a day of boating, fishing, music, dancing and lunch on Cass Lake in Waterford.

What has been your most memorable volunteering experience?

“That would be my time spent volunteering at The Children’s Center in Detroit. I was able to join the kids during an art therapy session where we drew what was important to us, what we desired in life or what was bothering us. The experience showed me how art can help with self-awareness and also allow families to reconnect after a busy day, week, etc. I even brought this activity home for my own kids to try. We regularly sit down together to draw and discuss how our day is going or what we are feeling.

It isn’t about the beauty in the drawing but what’s behind the picture on the paper.”

How do you create a work-life balance?

“Well, I like to ballroom dance. A colleague got me interested in it and kept encouraging me to go. Finally, I decided to try it out and loved it; I’ve been going for almost two years. I’m passionate about my career and dedicated to my family but wanted to make sure that I’m making time for myself. Being able to ballroom dance allows me time to exercise and have a little fun.”

What are your goals for the future?

“Professionally, I want to continue using my skills and knowledge to coach and develop Comerica’s young talent while continuing to support the audit team’s strategic vision. Personally, I want to help my two boys find their purpose in life as they pursue higher education and their desired careers. Each day, I treasure the time I spend with them and the ability I have to mold and instill strong values that will help develop them into successful, productive and caring individuals.

Willie Horton’s 14th ­Annual Batting for Kids Angelo Leslie (far right), vice president and wealth advisor for Comerica Bank, presents a $10,000 check to Pamela Rodgers, chair of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, and other Chamber members for the bank’s sponsorship of the Chamber’s launch event for the Women of Color Entrepreneurial Circle. The event, which will be held in September, will include a panel discussion that will address networking, career and wealth management issues faced by women business owners.

For more information on Comerica, our colleagues and our commitment to the community, visit

www.facebook.com/ComericaCares.

Hundreds of Detroit area boys and girls had a chance to work on their baseball skills at Willie Horton’s 14th Annual Batting for Kids event, which benefits Don Bosco Hall. The fun-filled day gave kids a chance to work on their baseball skills at Comerica Park as well as meet Detroit Tigers legend Willie Horton.

Comerica Bank accepting entries for $5,000 Star Spangled Choir National Anthem singing contest

Janice Tessier, national contributions manager for ­Comerica Bank, works with Golightly Education Center grant to support their choir’s students that she tutored through Winning ­Futures – one of several programs in which ComericaCares volefforts. unteers work to help students succeed.

Metro Detroit choirs in-

Metro Detroit choirs are invited to enter for a chance to perform at Comerica Park

As part of Fan Appreciation Weekend at Comerica Park, Comerica Bank is hosting the Star Spangled Choir National Anthem singing contest. Open to nonprofessional choirs performing in southeast Michigan, the contest runs through Aug. 30, 2015.

“Metro Detroit’s rich musical history includes many talented choirs who have lifted us up and inspired us through their music,” said Michael T. Ritchie, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan.

“The Star Spangled Choir contest is our way of saying thank you for their gift of music while giving them an opportunity to further showcase and share their musical talents with others.”

In addition to being offered the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Sept. 26, 2015, Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park, the winner will receive 45 tickets to the game and a $5,000

terested in entering should upload a video of their group singing the National Anthem to YouTube and submit it through the Star Spangled Choir tab on the Comerica Cares Facebook page.

Entrants must be 13 years or older and members of a choir based in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw or Livingston counties.

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the Detroit Tigers and Comerica Bank and narrowed down to the top 10 contestants. On Sept. 8, the top 10 videos will be available on the Comerica Cares Facebook page and open for public voting. Voting ends Sept. 20 and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

For more information and to enter, head to www.facebook.com/ ComericaCares.

Percussionist Obed Succari brought the crowd to its feet as the 15th season of Comerica Java and Jazz came to an end. Comerica Bank partners with the Detroit Public Library on this annual celebration of ­ ­Detroit’s great jazz heritage.

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August 19-25, 2015

Iyanla Vanzant

omen’s Empowerment EXPO

Monica Morgan photos

By Donald James

she was raised.

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

“I was raised by crazy folks,” she said. “Now today, they would be called dysfunctional, but in my day, they were really crazy. My grandmother was mean, and for some reason, I was the object of her meanness, which impacted me in negative ways.”

T

housands of women from metro Detroit and beyond convened at Cobo Center on Saturday, August 15, to attend Radio One Detroit’s 2nd Annual Women’s Empowerment Expo. As advertised, the all-day event catered to helping women discover ways in which to empower themselves in every aspect of life.

The expo featured morning and afternoon seminars that included “How to Successfully Promote Your Business,” “Keeping the Relate in Your Relationship,” “Ask the Lawyer,” “No More Drama” and “It May be in Style, but is it Your Style?” No topics were taboo, as the bestselling erotic author, ZANE facilitated two seminars that packed the room. One seminar was titled “Your Best Sex Ever,” followed by “Bitterness and Baggage.”

Expo-goers were also able to browse at the tables of more than 100 vendors. Just about every type of product and service was available that would be instrumental in the empowerment of women.

Wendy Williams, host of the top-rated syndicated television talk program, “The Wendy Williams Show,” was a special guest at the expo, and she did not disappoint the large number of women — and a few men — gathered to hear her. Williams’ central theme was “Ten Things That Every Woman Should Know and Have.”

As she went through each item, loud roars of laughter was common.

She stated, every woman should have her own money, should always have a go-to dress ready for any occasion, should know that she should never cry at the workplace or at least don’t let co-workers see her cry.

Wendy Williams Williams said that all women in any kind of relationship, such as marriage or just staying together with their man, should have a separate bank account from their mate.

She got the biggest applause when she said, “Men are great and I love them. However, men are a luxury, not a necessity.”

The expo featured musical performances by such recording artists as gospel’s Tasha Page-Lockhart, R&B diva Faith Evans, R&B vocalist El DeBarge and hip-hop legend Doug E. Fresh.

dience.

Following a prayer for all women to be encouraged and empowered in their respective journeys in life, Vanzant, host of the television show “Fix My Life,” took off for an hour-long talk with the audience. She touched on topics such as, how all women matter, regardless of what they have been through. She reflected on how

Vanzant went on to talk about how women must learn how not to let anyone negatively impact them with mean words and deeds. She had specific words of advice for women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and seventies. She described their likes and the mental, spiritual and physical evolution that women experience in the respective age brackets, while learning to live better as time progresses.

The core message resonated with many women when Vanzant urged them to pause in their lives at certain junctions.

“We need to learn to pause sometimes in life,” she said.

“Because, often we go from thing to thing, age to age, job

to job, man to man, without pausing. We must learn to hit the pause button in order to see, know and enjoy who we are as women.”

Vanzant, despite her status, remains humble, saying, “I want to thank you for who you’ve been in my life. You’ve been the wind beneath my wings.”

“Iyanla was awesome,” said Mya Campbell, who drove from Chicago with two female friends. “She had a strong message for every woman in every age category. They were messages of truth and empowerment. I loved how she broke it down so simple.”

Mary Jackson-Sturdivant from Detroit attended the expo with her mother, Cassie.

“I missed coming to the expo last year, but when I heard that Iyanla Vanzant was going to be a keynote speaker, I had to come,” said Jackson-Sturdivant. “But besides hearing her, I was able to learn so much by attending the seminars to learn how to better promote my business. I can’t wait until next year.”

Perhaps the highlight of the Women’s Empowerment Expo was an electrifying keynote speech by Iyanla Vanzant, acclaimed TV host, producer, speaker, spiritual leader, attorney and New York Times bestselling author. Following a rousing introduction by Mildred Gaddis, Radio One host of “The Mildred Gaddis Show,” Vanzant gracefully entered the main speaking area where at least 3,000 women were waiting. With the song “It’s My Time” by Kelly Price, blasting, Vanzant walked slowly to the main stage, much to the delight of the charged up au-

Lawrence Tech University partners with DPS for STEAM program

By Daniel A. Washington

Scholars at Sampson-Webber, and an additional 50 students will join every year after. The students are expected to continue in the program through the 12th grade.

Detroit Public Schools and Lawrence Technological University have teamed up to provide youngsters with a chance to become more exposed to the STEAM field through early education preparedness.

“We want to encourage more students from Detroit to attend Lawrence Tech, and this program is designed to prepare them for success both at the college level and in their professional careers in STEAM-related fields,” said Lawrence Tech President Virinder Moudgil.

The innovative partnership will enhance education in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) at the Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy.

“Innovative partnerships such as the one created between DPS and LTU are key to the district creating an educational system that is academically competitive,” said Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley.

The program is designed to continue through their high school and college careers.

Informational meetings started this month and will run through October.

Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy currently has a limited number of openings in this program for students in grades 6-8. Families interested

in enrolling should call (313) 240-4377 to get more information.

Fifty middle school students will become the first Blue Devil

Students participating in the program will be eligible to earn college credits and given the opportunity to attend Lawrence Tech with a partial scholarship upon graduation. Lawrence Tech is making a $3.5 million scholarship commitment to attract a larger numbers of DPS students and prepare them for opportunities in the STEAM fields.

More than a dozen Lawrence Tech faculty members will be involved in the partnership

with DPS, and the university together with DPS will provide additional resources and funding throughout the life of the project.

“This is an exciting new chapter in Lawrence Tech’s ongoing involvement in Detroit,” said Moudgil.

The Blue Devil Scholars program is designed to provide a systematic approach to enhance STEAM education for Sampson-Webber students starting in sixth grade and continuing through high school.

In the future, the program will expand to grades 3 through 5, and eventually the process of preparing students for STEAM education will begin in kindergarten.

“As we move forward with the transformation of DPS, we will continue to seek out partnerships/programs that enhance our curriculum and provide our students with a clear pathway to success,” said Earley.

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business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page C-2

Vibrant Foods, LLC, and Gold International Deli & Bakery, LLC

By Patreice Massey The Michigan Chronicle is profiling small businesses that have participated in the Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) program. This is another article in a series aimed at increasing African-American awareness and participation in programs that can aid in the expansion of their businesses.

PMBC, a public-private initiative developed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), provides Michigan businesses with new and creative methods in purchasing, selling, raising capital and connecting with one another.

What do thousands of Michigan companies have in common?

This week, we talk with Alfira Kinney, owner of Vibrant Foods, LLC, and Gold International Deli & Bakery, LLC, a certified Michigan Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) supplier.

“I moved to the U.S. from a country where a woman is discriminated against in every aspect of her life,” said Kinney.

Her flair for entrepreneurship started when she was 16 years old. After her parents divorced, Kinney had to find a way to help her mother bring in money to feed her and her little sister.

Upon reaching a point where they only had enough money left to buy one loaf of bread and milk that would last only for two days, Kinney said to her mother, “Mom, what if we take this last bit of money you have and instead of buying bread and milk, you bake a couple of sweet pastries and I will try to sell them?”

People loved the pastries and they started getting orders. They were making enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Eventually, the family settled in Sterling Heights. Kinney discovered several Russian and Eastern European businesses in the metro area. Gold International Bakery was one of those stores.

After a few visits, Kinney discovered that the owner also lived in Ferghana before moving to the U.S. The owner wanted to retire and asked if Kinney would be interested in buying the bakery. They worked out a deal and Kinney took over last July.

S:10.5”

Born in Ferghana, Moscow, Russia, Kinney came to America a little over 10 years ago.

“As a WBE and someone not native to this country, there have been quite a few challenges but I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful family that is there for me all the time,” she said. “My mother and sister are a great help. They are voluntarily working at the bakery. My ex-husband lives in the area and helps with our daughter. Any startup business depends on the family. If not for them, I would not be able to accomplish much.”

The right connections.

In today’s economic climate, business owners need all the support they can get. That’s why more and more

Kinney considers herself fortunate to have discovered PMBC through Michigan’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Michigan businesses are turning to Pure Michigan Business Connect. This

“Participating in the PMBC program has allowed me the opportunity to see the gaps within in my marketing strategies and how I can strengthen my networks. I am excited to see what kind of business connections I can make through working with the program.

free program connects you to billions of dollars in resources that can help you expand your supply chain. Identify new business opportunities. And provide complimentary legal, accounting and

“I would encourage any small business to look into PMBC summits because you will learn something that will further your business. Be prepared to invest time in yourself and ideas, and understand that it is your business and you have to put in the work necessary.

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“Once you do that, PMBC will assist you along the way. It is a great program that is very beneficial to the to the small business owner.”

To register your business, go to michiganbusiness.org/TMC

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business

August 19-25, 2015

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Page C-3

Community activist Marvis Cofield receives FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

By Donald James

lor’s degree in sociology from Detroit Institute of Technology and a teaching certificate from Wayne State University School of Education.

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE For more than four decades, Marvis Cofield, founder and CEO of Alkebu-lan Village, has been a strong advocate for the empowerment of African American youth in the city of Detroit. It has been his belief that when significant time, energy, knowledge and resources are poured into the lives of young people, they will be better prepared to meet the many challenges of life.

Cofield was honored for his passion and organization’s work to empower inner city youth. Cofield, along with 55 other community leaders from across the country, was presented the prestigious FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award during a ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. FBI Director James B. Comey presented the award.

“It was a great honor to be chosen,” said Cofield. “It was a testament to what Alkebu-lan has done in serving more than 350,000 youth and families over the past 37 years. We believe in taking action, not just talking about action.

It’s about putting boots on the ground in the community to reach our young people in many ways.”

“Marvis Cofield is a revered community leader in metropolitan Detroit,” Paul M. Abbate, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office said in a press release. “He has been an advocate and community partner with the FBI Detroit Field Office, Community Outreach Program for more than 10 years.”

Cofield began his journey of youth advocacy in 1978, when he opened Alkebu-lan Martial Arts Federation, an east side martial arts training facility that

From 1980 to 1990, Cofield taught at Kettering. Additionally, he worked in leadership capacities with Inner City Sub Center, a community-based organization on the east side, dedicated to providing meaningful services and activities to local black communities. This organization served as a foundational rock on which Alkebu-lan Village continues to stand.

also taught young people discipline and other interpersonal skills needed to succeed in life. As a 7th degree black belt and victor in national and international competitions, Cofield, a native Detroiter, was able to connect with many inner city youth when others could not.

In 2000, Cofield’s Alkebu-lan Martial Arts Federation evolved into Alkebu-lan Village. The newer organization offered more services to develop young people educationally, culturally and recreationally. The organization is dedicated to preparing black youth (5 to18 years of age) for the 21st Century through mentorship and teachings of leadership, entrepreneurship and social understanding. The organization has numerous programs that support youth success, including tutoring, after-school initiatives and a juvenile diversion program.

1970s, which were pivotal times in the both the civil rights and black power movements, Cofield has never forgotten his roots, or their importance to his community-empowering endeavors of today. He grew up on the city’s east side wanting to help elevate his community and his people. He realized that young people were the leaders of the future, but required special guidance along the way.

Thus, after graduating from Kettering High School, Cofield earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Wayne County Community College, a bache-

“We are an African-centered organization,” said Cofield, a former Detroit Public Schools board member who currently serves on the board of New Detroit. “We embrace our rich culture, history and traditions of Mother Africa, and we choose to teach our black youth principles that go back many thousands of years ago in Africa.

“I look at what I do as a ministry because I’ve been blessed,” he said. “For me, the gift of reciprocity is to learn and gain something, but give back so others will be helped.”

For more information about Alkebu-lan Village, located at 7701 Harper Ave. in Detroit, log on to www.alkebulanvillage.com or call 313.921.1616.

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Drake Phifer appointed director of marketing and special events Real Times Media, a leading African American media and marketing solutions company, recently appointed Drake Phifer as its new director of marketing and special events. A native Detroiter, Phifer, brings a vast array of professional successes that has afforded him a respected connection with Detroit’s arts & cultural and corporate communities. Having most recently served as the facility rental operations manager for the Charles H. Wright Museum, the nation’s largest museums dedicated to African

Drake Phifer American history, Phifer sees this new position as a natural progression for his specialty in niche marketing, branding and event management operations.

In his new role, Phifer

will expand client engagement, recruit new business, design and develop marketing solutions and increase business performance across all platforms including print, digital, events and sponsorship. “I am pleased to have a professional of this caliber join the team.

He has the knowledge, track record and the professional experience to make tremendous strides in this market as well as with our other properties, nationally” said Hiram E. Jackson, publisher of the Michigan Chronicle and chief executive officer of

Real Times Media.

As a professed student of author Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point, which states small actions at the right time, in the right place, and with the right people can create a “tipping point,” Phifer is a strong advocate of utilizing the modern tools of communication as an effective way of reaching targeted audiences.

“I’m all about embracing new methods to organically grow audience share. Real Times Media has aggressively expand-

ed its presence into the digital space in the last two years by creating a greater online presence.

I look forward to being a part of that movement and pushing its various products to their respective tipping points whereby they become household names.”

Phifer is also a national music tastemaker. As founder of Urban Organic, a music promotion group that specializes in presenting top- notch urban music. He is also responsible for marketing the early careers of today’s hottest R&B artists such

as KEM, Avery Sunshine, Dwele, Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi and Floetry, to name a few.

Phifer has been recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business, Billboard Magazine, the Michigan Chronicle, as well as the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press for his entrepreneurial and community efforts. He graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in English. He resides in Metro Detroit with his wife, Monique. Find him on Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter under the handle @Phifedom.

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business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page C-4

Prudential study shows blacks faring better financially

By Roz Edward

“The good news is that employer sponsored plans, like 401Ks, are readily available,” said Joyce, cautioning that black workers do not participate at the same rate as the general population.

Only 74 percent of those surveyed participated in employer sponsored plans, compared to 85 percent of the general population.

NATIONAL CONTENT DIRECTOR While many African American men and women have demonstrated a special talent for managing households and family budgets with skill and prudence, only recently has that money management acumen been recognized in formal studies.

The 2015 “African American Financial Experience” — for the first time in the survey’s history — examined the financial state of two distinct sub-sets of the African American population, caregivers and veterans.

Prudential unveiled the results of its 2015-2016 study, “The African American Financial Experience,” that examines the financial attitudes, priorities and progress of black consumers in the current economy.

Presented by leading financial expert Delvin Joyce at the National Association of Black Journalist Conference in Minneapolis, the findings paint a positive picture of the state of African Americans and their financial affairs. Joyce, managing director of Prudential’s South Florida Financial Group, is optimistic about the study’s findings.

“I’m super excited to be here today and talk about the findings and insights of the newest release of ‘The African American Financial Experience.’ One of the key findings is that the majority of African Americans see continued im-

Delvin Joyce provement of their financial situations over time,” said Joyce, adding “African American (adults) also anticipated continued improvement for the next generation of their families.”

The Prudential study indicates that compared to the general population, African Americans are more likely to say their financial situations have improved over the last five years. A majority of respondents also indicated that their finances were better than their parents at the same point in their lives.

“The African American Financial Experience” research also indicated that 58 percent of those surveyed expected their children to fare better in their lives.

With economic confidence among blacks growing, the focus is on ensuring that black Americans are prepared to protect their finances as well as grow wealth. But research shows where African Americans are less successful financially in the area of transferring wealth and saving and investing for their children’s education.

“The big difference between African Americans and the general population is that (black people) who are caregivers tend to see their caregiving responsibilities as a long-term commitment, saying they expected their responsibility to provide care would last upward of 10 years,” Joyce said.

Veterans indicated that they were more financially prepared and confident about making financial decisions after leaving the military.

To read the study’s findings in its entirety, visit.prudential.com/africanamericans.

UAW takes another hit, right-towork upheld for state employees To complete a questionnaire go online at

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By Daniel A. Washington

Justice Robert P. Young Jr. whose vote was a part of the majority.

Union and government officials have debated whether the right-to-work legislation is now expired due to the recent Michigan Supreme Court decision.

The three others disagreed with the majority, saying that the Civil Service Commission’s authority includes the ability to force union payments from employees.

“This was an attempt by the UAW to take away the rights of certain workers and force union payments from them, going directly against Michigan law,” said Patrick Wright, vice president of legal affairs at the Mackinac Center. “The majority correctly noted that state employee unions have illegally been receiving agency fees from state employees for decades.”

The UAW argued that PA 349 was unconstitutional regarding workers classified as civil service employees and that the Civil Service Commission has the authority to compel civil service workers to pay an agency fee to the union or risk being fired.

“I don’t think anyone is going to be shocked,” said Nick Ciaramitaro, legislative director of Michigan AFSMCE Council 25, in response to the decision.

“I think it’s disappointing, it’s an undermining of the civil service system.”

Four justices ruled that while the Civil Service Commission has control of salary, benefits, grievance procedures and employment conditions, it does not have the authority to require involuntary payments to the union.

“What the commission cannot do is foist the administrative costs of that choice onto anyone else,” said Chief

“2012 PA 349 was not necessary to end this practice; agency fees for state employees have been illegal since the adoption of the 1963 Constitution,” added Wright.

The decision was reminiscent of the decision made in the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2013 addressing state employees being subjected to the right-towork law despite the existence of the Michigan Civil Service Commission.

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This decision’s reason was different from two years ago.

The court also upheld a 2011 law requiring employees in the state’s defined benefit pension plan to either contribute 4 percent of their pay toward retirement costs or move to a 401(k) plan, in which future retirement benefits are not defined. That ruling overturned a decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals.

“I respect that the freedom-to-work laws inspired passionate debate on both sides, and appreciate that the state’s highest court has now brought this issue to a close,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. “(The decision) ensures that state employees will enjoy the same rights and protections as private sector workers across Michigan.”

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8/18/15 11:22 AM

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page C-5

LaunchDETROIT hosts Open House for Detroit entrepreneurs LaunchDETROIT, a micro-loan program developed by Rotary District 6400, will host an informational Open House for Detroit entrepreneurs and small businesses from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2015. The event will be held in southwest Detroit at Grace in Action Church and Collectives, located at 1725 Lawndale.

LaunchDETROIT is a multipronged program that offers qualifying entrepreneurs a combination of free business training, micro loans of $1,000 to $2,500, assigned business mentors and networking opportunities.

“We are entering the third year of this program and are currently accepting online applications to select our next group of entrepreneurs,” said Rotarian Lawrence Wright, president of the LaunchDETROIT initiative. “Our mission is to support and develop small businesses in under-resourced communities in the Detroit region.”

According to Wright, LaunchDETROIT has received international attention and is being documented by Rotary International, the world’s largest service organization headquartered in Evanston, Illinois.

Beginning in October, qualifying applicants will receive business training provided by

During a previous Open House, Detroit entrepreneur Levi Johnson, Jr. shared with prospective entrepreneurs how the LaunchDETROIT program has helped his business, Mr. Levi’s My-T-Fine Soul Sauce. instructors from Baker College in Allen Park during eight threehour classes, held once a week.

Upon completion of business training and business plan presentations, the LaunchDETROIT selection committee will interview candidates for the micro-loans. Each candidate is

also assigned a business mentor to work closely with them throughout the program.

Successful candidates must have a business product or service that will enable them to repay their loan within one year through regular installments.

Additional information will be provided at the August 20th Open House. Guests will also have an opportunity to talk with some of the entrepreneurs currently participating in the program. The online application is available at www.

LaunchDetroit.org, and the

deadline to apply is Friday, August 21, 2015.

LaunchDetroit is a non-profit program powered by Rotary volunteers from District 6400, which serves southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario.

Questions may be emailed to contact@LaunchDetroit.org.

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Page C-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • August 19-25, 2015

WE’RE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST Each year, The Michigan Chronicle recognizes 40 professionals under 40 who are creating a movement within their professional field, personal lives, and community connections. Nominations will be taken until August 31, 2015.

Candidates are considered from all professional and creative backgrounds. All chosen honorees will be notified and honored at our annual awards ceremony.

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY! SUBMIT NOMINATION BY VISITING:

www.michronicleonline.com/2015/08/03/40-under-40-nomination/

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August 19-25, 2015

michiganchronicle.com

Reflections

By Steve Holsey

An unusual listening experience No one could be more deserving of a tribute album than the magnificent and unique Nina Simone, and her devoted fans should have “Nina Revisited…A Tribute to Nina Simone.”

But they should know that many of the songs are rearranged to the point of being unrecognizable, such as “My Baby Just Cares for Me” as (unexpectedly) sung by Usher.

One exception is “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” delivered beautifully by the iconic star’s daughter, Lisa Simone.

Without a doubt, the strangest interpretation is “I Put a Spell on You” by Alice Smith. It’s intriguing, almost eerie thanks largely to the sci-fi-ish music.

Lauryn Hill is effective on “Wild is the Wind,” “Feeling Good” and “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” and others.

Six of the 16 tracks are hers.

The others are mostly okay — Mary J. Blige, Jazmine Sullivan, etc.

The low point is Common’s rap on “We are Young, Gifted & Black” which brings the whole album down, and it is a completely different song than Nina Simone’s great “To be Young, Gifted and Black.”

The album concludes with the real Nina Simone singing “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free.”

IN ITS introductory season, “Empire” proved to be a ratings and social phenomenon, the three biggest attractions being Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon and Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon.

The show returns Sept. 23.

Lee Daniels, co-creator and executive producer, says “without a doubt” there will be a spinoff show because “there’s so much ripe story that we’ve talked about already, about Cookie’s family, what makes her, her.”

FROM LEFT are Glynn Turman, Dawnn Lewis, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown and Darryl M. Bell. In back are Kadeem Hardison and Lou Myers.

Favorite TV shows from ‘back in the recent day’

‘A DIFFERENT WORLD’

By Steve Holsey

Few shows in television history have gotten off to as slow a start as “A Different World,” that ran on NBC from 1987 to 1993. Well, “slow” in terms of finding its groove, not in the ratings because, after all, it came on immediately after NBC’s megahit, “The Cosby Show” and was, in fact, a spinoff from that history-making sitcom.

“A Different World” focused on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and her friends at Hillman College, a fictional historically black college in Virginia. The problem was that the show lacked the “feel” of a black college, and considering the setting, Denise having a white roommate and close girlfriend seemed improbable.

High expectations notwithstanding, the first season of “A Different World” was rather dull. The situation prompted Sinbad, who portrayed Coach Walter Oakes, to say, “I’ve never seen a black college like this.”

Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

“Empire” is also famous for the stars who have made or will be making guest appearances, but Daniels says it is important to not go too far with that because “it takes away from the Lyon family, the most important thing.”

DONNIE SIMPSON — Detroit’s own — returning to radio following a five-year absence came as a surprise to a lot of people. By the time you read this, he will be back on the air in Washington, DC, this time on WMMJ-FM, owned by Radio One. Simpson was coaxed out of retirement by his wife, Donnie Simpson and Pam, and his Montez Miller. — Montez many fans.

A n o t h er great Detroit talent, videographer Montez Miller, caught up with Simpson at a big event in Washington, DC, the BET “Back Together Again” reunion. Simpson hosted “Video Soul” on BET from 1983 to 1997.

Miller photo

It is unfortunate that Jennifer Hudson’s excellent and diverse album, “The Song is You,” has not received more attention. Of the many outstanding tracks, my favorite is her rendition of Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does it Better.”

New Edition THE NEW EDITION biopic, coming to the public next year via BET, should be interesting. The three-night miniseries is being co-produced by Brooke Payne, who has managed the group for many years,

See Reflections Page D-2

INDEED, the Hillman campus was fully integrated even though the school was “historically black.”

What the show needed was a change of direction — an overhaul, so to speak.

That need was expressed to the producers and writers of the show as well as to Bill Cosby himself.

Famed dancer, choreographer, actress, director and producer Debbie Allen was hired and given the green light to do whatever she felt was necessary to give “A Different World” new life and a lot more relevance.

Allen was the perfect person for the job. In addition to her many skills, she had attended a historically black college, Howard University, in Washington, D.C. Oddly enough, Lisa Bonet ended up leaving the show that had been created with her in mind. Bonet, married in real life to singer-musician Lenny Kravitz, was expecting, but Allen thought that a pregnant Denise Huxtable would bring an interesting dynamic to the restyled “A Different World.”

HOWEVER, Cosby insisted that the public would nev-

er accept Denise Huxtable as an unwed mother, so the idea was nixed.

Kadeem Hardison was already popular as the brainy Dwayne Wayne, as was Jasmine Guy as the “prissy” Whitley Gilbert, the quintessential “southern belle.”

Allen added Cree Summer as the slightly spacy “earth child” Winifred (“Freddie”) Brooks, and Charnele Brown as another brainy student and the levelheaded best friend of Whitley.

Darryl M Bell’s role as Ron Johnson, Dwayne’s best buddy, was increased to the principal cast. Same for

Sinbad.

Also added to the cast were Lou Myers as the feisty, advice-giving restaurant owner Vernon Gaines, and veteran actor Glynn Turman as Col. Bradford Taylor who developed a relationship with an older Hillman student, Jaleesa Vinson (portrayed by Dawnn Lewis) that led to marriage.

Viewers loved these characters and looked forward to seeing them every week.

Jada Pinkett was later added as the street-smart Lena James.

TWO OF the most popular recurring guest stars

were the iconic songstress Patti LaBelle (seven episodes) as Dwayne Wayne’s soulful, down-to-earth mother, Adele Wayne, and the legendary Diahann Carroll (seven episodes) as Marion Gilbert, the ultra-classy, somewhat snooty mother of Whitley Gilbert.

Adele Wayne and Marion Gilbert clashed often, and every time they did, it was hilarious.

Among the other big names that appeared on “A Different World” were Halle Berry, David Alan Grier, Richard Roundtree, Whoopi Goldberg, Heavy D, Raven-Symoné, Blair Underwood, Lena Horne, Billy Dee Williams, Jesse Jackson, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Tisha Campbell-Martin.

Also, it was not uncommon for stars of “The Cosby Show” to make appearances on “A Different World,” including Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Bill Cosby, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Earle Hyman, who was Russell Huxtable, father of Heathcliff Huxtable.

Tempestt Bledsoe and Darryl M. Bell have been a real-life couple for over two decades, and during the show’s run, Kadeem Hardison and Cree Summer dated.

As stated previously, Hillman College was fictional, and when campus scenes were needed, they were shot at Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, both black colleges and both located in Atlanta. Keisha Knight Pulliam is an alumna of Spelman.

When Jasmine Guy was asked by BET why “A Different World” remains popular after the passage of so many years she said, “It answers a time in our life that is very transformative, those four to five college years. It’s a turning point. We had very different characters on the show — medical students, free spirits — so at some point someone is saying something for you.

“So many people still come up to me today and say they went to college because of ‘A Different World.’ I knew we were funny, but I didn’t know that what we were doing was important. I couldn’t see that at the time.”

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015 Page D-2

Aretha Franklin comes home to Chene Park

By Donald James

as well as with music critics, in music polls and at music awards shows.”

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Following her stint with Atlantic Records, in 1980, Clive Davis, president/founder of Arista Records, signed Franklin. With Arista, Franklin scored another long string of hits, among them “Jump to It,” “Freeway of Love,” “Get it Right,” “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (with George Michael), “United Together,” “A Rose is Still a Rose,” “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” and “Willing to Forgive,” to name most of the biggest.

Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who has been called a national treasure and an international icon, will perform for her metro Detroit fans on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Chene Park, her first time performing at this venue that is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

“I’m really looking forward to it, I can’t wait,” said Franklin in a phone interview from her tour bus heading back east from sold-out concerts in California. “Tell everybody in Detroit, I’m bringing it.”

Industry historians and insiders say that Aretha Franklin is “the “most charted female recording artist” in the history of the recording industry.

While Franklin won’t reveal all that she’s bringing, she hinted at hitting her hometown hard with some of her classic hits and songs from her latest album, “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics.”

Franklin, the first female inductee into the Rock and Roll of Fame, says performing in Detroit is “personal and very special.” It is here that Franklin began singing at New Bethel Baptist Church, pastored by her father, the legendary C.L. Franklin.

In the early 1960s, Franklin transitioned to R&B/pop after inking a recording deal with Columbia Records. She had several successful albums and singles, but the best was yet to come. After Columbia, Franklin signed with Atlantic Records and her star power skyrocketed with megahits like “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You),” “Respect,” “Baby I Love You,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools.”

“Ain’t No Way” “Think,” “Rock Steady,”

Perhaps Clive Davis summed it up best when he described Franklin in his New York Times best-selling book, “The Soundtrack of My Life.” Davis, who worked with Franklin for over two decades, wrote, “Her singing combines incomparable power and range with the spiritual fervor of gospel, the grit of the street, and the passion and technical facility of opera. For my money, she’s sim-

Aretha Franklin “Day Dreaming” and many more.

Interestingly, many people believe the title, “Queen of Soul” emanated from Franklin’s constant placement at or near the top of the charts.

“Not so,” said Franklin. “That started in Chicago, way back in the day, around 1962. One of the major disc jockeys in Chicago, Pervis Spann, started it when he walked on the stage with a crown for me. As a follow-up, the title ‘Queen of Soul’ started to spread in some of the major music industry publications,

Popular radio personality dies Fans, friends and family are remembering Larry “Doc” Elliott, best known to Detroiters for his stints on radio stations WJZZ, WCHB, WJLB and WHYT, who died Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the age of 61 from complications of a stroke. He had been in hospice care.

The radio veteran also worked in Columbus, Ohio; Saginaw, Michigan; Washington, D.C.; Milwaukee, Atlanta and San Francisco.

alongside Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins and Johnny Gill.

Bobby Brown is not involved in the project, probably due to the passing of his daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

The untitled miniseries has not yet been cast.

Tina Knowles Lawson made it clear in Ebony magazine how she feels about the haters of her daughter, Beyoncé. She said, “The people who hate her for no reason, I just don’t get it. What has she done? A hater is a thinly disguised fan.

Why else would you go from website to website slamming someone you say you don’t like? There are people who study every move this girl makes.”

There are now wax figures of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in the Madame Tussauds museum in London.

(Those things are scary.)

It is a shame that the names of groups from the ’60s and ’50, like the Drifters, the Coasters, the Platters and the Crystals, get used and abused so much on the nostalgia concert circuit. Among other things, this is a disgrace to the legacy of the real singers in addition to being unethical.

Elliott’s daughter, Shelarri Anderson, one of his nine children, went online to thank the many people who have been supportive throughout this difficult period.

For example, a group billed as "Denise Spann Morgan & the Marvelous

Larry “Doc” Elliott

“I’ll take it, I’ll take it!” said Franklin with a laugh when reminded of Davis’ lavish praise. “I love it! It’s a great compliment to be bestowed on one, especially coming from someone as special and great as Clive Davis, who is extremely knowledgeable about the music industry.”

With a 50-year-plus career, Franklin is not slowing down. She continues to perform, record and tour.

“My roots are in Detroit, I’m home,” said Franklin. “I love the city and its people. I still have family in Detroit. It’s a great rallying city, where people root for each other and I love that.”

For tickets and/or more information about Aretha Franklin’s show at Chene Park that will also feature the legendary Isley Brothers, log on to www.cheneparkdetroit.com, or phone the box office at 313.393.7128 or main office at 313.393.0292.

Reflections

The fact is, Beyoncé’s megastar status, beauty, talent and money make some females insanely jealous.

Known for his smooth on-air style that matched his personality, Elliott was born in Koziousko, Mississippi and knew early on that he wanted a career in radio broadcasting.

ply the best singer in the world.”

From page D-1 Marvelettes" recently performed in New York. They have no connection to the famous Motown group. It would be different if these groups evolved from the originals, but rarely is that the case.

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, located in Warren is sure stepping up its game, booking acts like Arsenio Hall, Stephanie Mills and Regis Philbin.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds’ nickname was given to him by Bootsy Collins.

MEMORIES: “No Pain, No Gain” (Betty Wright), “Work on Me” (the O’Jays), “No More Tears” (Anita Baker), “You Should be Dancing” (the Bee Gees), “The Sweeter He Is” (the Soul Children), “Forever Came Today” (Diana Ross & the Supremes), “You are so Beautiful” (Billy Preston), “Two Lovers” (Mary Wells), “The Jam” (Graham Central Station).

BLESSINGS to Donna D. Sadler, Mary Wilson, Greg Dunmore, Keith John, Marvin ("Marvelous Marv) Taylor (sorry about the typo last week), Dina Peace, Robin Terry, Ray Henderson, Deena Dunham and Linda Burgess.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Jesse Jackson: “Excellence is the best deterrent to racism.”

Let the music play!

Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

P I CK S

120 402 787 555

August 19-25, 2015

Walbridge is the Construction Manager for a 13 story, 219 unit new apartment building in Downtown Detroit.

GWENDOLYN LANDRUM

SERVICES ANNOUNCED Services for Gwendolyn Landrum will be held on Friday, Aug. 21, noon, at Word of Truth Temple of Jesus Christ, 16001 W. Seven Mile Road. Family hour, 11 am. Public viewing will on Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 to 8 pm at Cantrell Funeral Home, 18400 Mack Ave. She made her transition on Aug. 7, 2015.

Gwendolyn Landrum was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on Oct. 24, 1946 to Pastor Murray Landrum and Lillian Johnson Landrum. Having moved to Detroit, she graduated from Eastern High School, Wayne County Community College and Wayne Theological Seminary.

After completing her studies, she married Gerald Hughey. They were later divorced. She relocated to Las Vegas in 1997 where she worked at Mirage Casinos. In addition, she worked as a realtor and also established her own line of custom jewelry Mrs. Landrum was a founding member of her father’s church, Holy Temple. She attended Perfecting Church and Word of Truth Temple of Jesus Christ and had most recently become a member of Mountain Top Church.

BERNICE BROWN Services celebrating the life of Bernice Brown were held on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Lenard Thomas officiated. Mrs. Brown passed away on July 27, 2015.

Bernice Brown was born on Oct. 22, 1933 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi to Louis and Emmie Clay.

She was educated in the Detroit Public Schools.

She married Cosby Brown and were blessed with many children.

Mrs. Brown was employed by Chrysler Corporation and retired in 1991.

She was a charter member of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading, cooking, swimming and shopping “from the luxury of her bed.” She also loved having fun with and learning from the Internet.

Cherishing the memory of Bernice Brown are her children, Felicia, Vanessa, Marcia, Jasmen, Cosby, Pervis, Derrix and Renardo (two of her children, Chiquetta and Laticia, preceded her in death); three brothers, Willie, Louis and Burnell; and many other relatives and friends.

We are looking to qualify subcontractors and tradesmen for this project. Walbridge is committed to the City and is committed to using City of Detroit Based Businesses and Labor Force.

If you are a Detroit Headquartered, City of Detroit Based Business or a skilled tradesmen that is a resident of Detroit, you are encouraged to reply to Micah Milot at 313-442-1229 by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2015.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS General Contractor: O’Brien Edwards Construction Project: Packard Plant Revitalization Project Description: Project consists of complete renovation of an existing 118,710 SF building for the Packard Plant. Located on 40 acres of land on East Grand River Blvd, Packard Plant totals 3,500,000 SF of space. This phase encompasses the first building located in Zone 1 of the plant. Bidding all trades.

This Project will be subject to Davis Bacon Prevailing Wages.

(Visit http://www.wdol.gov/dba.aspx#0 for Davis-Bacon Wage Decisions. NOTE: wage rates are subject to change as the final wage decision for this project will not be set until the project closing date).

At this time we are inviting you to attend a PRE-BID MEETING for this project.

Please join us FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 at 1:00 PM. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. * Pre-bid Meeting 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. * Network LOCATION: O’BRIEN EDWARDS CONSTRUCTION 2785 East Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48211 For details: RSVP to Luiza Diac ldiac@obriencc.com by Thursday, August 20 Bids will be due by the end of day on September 3, 2015 WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

ATTENTION QUALIFIED GENERAL CONTRACTORS The City of Detroit is inviting qualified General Contractors for the following Project:

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

PROJECT: Franklin Wright Settlements LOCATION: 3360 Charlevoix St., Detroit, MI 48207 OWNER: Franklin Wright Settlements

Interment was at Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery.

GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION **** NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF DTE GAS COMPANY CASE NO. U-17332-R • DTE Gas Company requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile its 2014-2015 gas cost recovery costs and revenues for the 12-months ending March 31, 2015.

• The information below describes how a person may participate in this case.

• You may call or write DTE Gas Company, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan 48226, (800) 477-4747, for a free copy of its application. Any person may review the application at the offices of DTE Gas Company.

• The first public hearing in this matter will be held:

DATE/TIME:

Thursday, September 3, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters.

BEFORE:

Administrative Law Judge Sharon L. Feldman

LOCATION:

Michigan Public Service Commission 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing, Michigan

PARTICIPATION:

Any interested person may attend and participate.

The hearing site is accessible, including handicapped parking. Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission’s Executive Secretary at (517) 284-8090 in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a public hearing to consider DTE Gas Company’s (DTE Gas) June 29, 2015 application to reconcile its gas cost recovery (GCR) costs and revenues for the 12-month period from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015. DTE Gas represents that for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2015, its GCR revenues of $657 million, its GCR Cost of Gas Sold of $569 million, $0.4 million of penalty and fee revenue, $0.1 million interest expense from 2014-2015 GCR, the roll-in of approximately $85 million underrecovery related to 2013-2014 GCR, and subtraction of $1.8 million for the Reservation Charge overrecovery combine to result in a net overrecovery of $1.0 million that was incurred through reasonable and prudent actions.

All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission’s E-Dockets website at: michigan.gov/mpscedockets.

Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E-Dockets help page. Documents may also be submitted, in Word or PDF format, as an attachment to an email sent to: mpscedockets@michigan.gov.

If you require assistance prior to e-filing, contact Commission staff at (517) 284-8090 or by email at: mpscedockets@michigan.gov.

Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by August 27, 2015. (Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format.)

The proof of service shall indicate service upon DTE Gas’ Attorney, David S. Maquera, DTE Gas Company, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan 48226.

Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance.

To file an appearance, the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position. All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information, thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website, and subject to disclosure. Please do not include information you wish to remain private.

Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System’s Administrative Hearing Rules R 792.10422 and R 792.10432. Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to (517) 284-8130.

A copy of DTE Gas’ request may be reviewed on the Commission’s website at: michigan.gov/mpscedockets, and at the office of DTE Gas Company. For more information on how to participate in a case, you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at (517) 284-8090.

Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 300, as amended, MCL 462.2 et seq.; 1919 PA 419, as amended, MCL 460.54 et seq.; 1939 PA 3, as amended, MCL 460.1 et seq.; 1969 PA 306, as amended, MCL 24.201 et seq.; 1982 PA 304, as amended, MCL 460.6h et seq.; and the Michigan Administrative Hearing System’s Administrative Hearing Rules, 2015 AC, R 792.10401 et seq.

ARCHITECT: Fonath Architects & Consultants, LLC 400 Monroe Street, Suite 237, Detroit, MI. 48226 Phone (313) 415-4038 E-Mail: fredideozu@gmail.com GENERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Contractors desiring to bid shall demonstrate the following minimum qualifications: At least three years experience in their relative trade(s), licensed as required by the state or local law. A completed Contractor’s Qualification Statement and Cost Breakdown must accompany the Bid, the form of which is attached to this Bid Announcement.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS Public Liability with the City of Detroit named as an Additional Insured, Auto Liability, and Worker’s Compensation to limits specified in the General Conditions of the Contract.

BID PACKAGES Bid Packages are available at _3360 Charlevoix St., Detroit, Michigan 48207, from 9:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays, throughout the bidding period. The phone number is (313) 579-100 Ext. 241. Bidders will be responsible for charges associated with obtaining documents.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE A pre-bid conference will be held on August 25th, 2015, 10:00 AM. at the 3360 Charlevoix St , Detroit MI 48207, Michigan. Attendance is not a mandatory prerequisite for submitting bids.

BIDDING Bid Proposal Forms are due by 2:00 p.m. Aug. 30th, 2015 and will be received at the main reception desk at the 3360 Charlevoix St., Detroit MI 48207, from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily, excluding holidays, throughout the bidding period. Bids submitted after the due date and time will not be considered. The owner reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any bid or to reject any or all bids should it be deemed for its best interest.

PROJECT FUNDING The contract will be executed under the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program as administered by the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department.

WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS The successful contractor will be required to comply with federal laws governing equal employment opportunity, with prevailing wage requirements of the Federal Labor Standards Act which also incorporates Davis-Bacon requirements, will have to be cleared and approved by the City of Detroit, and comply with Mayor’s Executive Order No. 2007-1 Utilization of Detroit Residents on Publicly-Funded Construction Projects, as follows: Per Executive Order No. 2007-1: at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the workforce must be bona-fide Detroit residents. In addition, Detroit residents shall perform fifty-one percent (51%) of the hours worked on the project. Workforce and project hours shall include work performed by Detroit residents in the various job categories: officials and managers, supervisors and forepersons, professions, technicians, sales workers, office and clerical, skilled trades, craft workers, operators, laborers, service workers, apprentices, and onthe-job training positions.

The contractor shall be required to comply with the “Section 3 Clause” (24 CFR Part 135). All contracts (subcontracts) shall include the Section 3 Clause.

BONDING REQUIREMENTS The successful Bidder is required to furnish Payment (Labor and Materials) and Performance Bonds in the amount covering the faithful performance of the Contract and the payment of all obligations arising thereunder, in the amounts of 100% of their contracts, executed by a surety acceptable to the Owner and which is licensed to do business in the State of Michigan.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFICE ASSISTANT III at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

REQUEST FOR BID

Services for Audrey Theresa Jones were held on Thursday, July 16, at Cantrell Funeral Home with Rev. Lawrence Foster officiating. Mrs. Jones passed away on July 12, 2015.

Audrey Theresa Hayes Ford Jones was born on Sept. 20, 1928 in Detroit to John Alonzo and Vera Mae Hayes. Her early years were spent in Mt. Vernon, New York, and at the age of eight she moved to Detroit to live with her grandparents, Edward and Theresa Brown.

After graduating from Northern High School in 1946, Mrs. Jones attended Allen University in Columbus, South Carolina. Later, she attended Wayne State University. She worked for the Veterans Administration and later the Treasury Department of the State of Michigan, retiring in 1988.

Mrs. Jones was president, treasurer and advisory board member of the Downtown Senior Citizens Center and later joined Toastmasters International.

She married Taylor Ford, who preceded her in death, in 1953 and they had two sons, Kenneth Taylor and Aaron Alonzo. Her second marriage was to Oliver Jones, who also preceded her in death. They had a daughter, Beverly Vanessa.

Left behind to cherish the memory of Audrey Theresa Jones are her children, Kenneth, Aaron and Beverly; grandchildren, Aaron Ford II, Theresa Ford and DeAndre Elliott; and many other relatives and friends.

Cantrell Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Interment was at Elmwood Cemetery.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Employee Dental Benefits, Control No. 15-1763. RFP forms may be obtained beginning on August 19, 2015 from www. mitn.info. RFP’s are due by 3:00 PM ET, Thursday, September 24, 2015 at the Buhl Bldg. 535 Griswold, Ste. 600 Detroit, MI 48226

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REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT CITY OF DETROIT MICHAEL DUGGAN, MAYOR NOTICE OF DESIGNATION OF SLUM AND BLIGHT AREAS COMMUNTY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM July 29, 2015 to August 27, 2015 Notice is hereby given that the City of Detroit has designated three geographic areas of the City as “Slum and Blight Areas” (SBAs) as allowed under 570.208(b)(1) of the Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program regulations.

The City of Detroit is launching several new initiatives designed to revitalize declining areas within the City. Of particular concern is the problem of vacant or substandard homes that are contributing to the overall problem of blight and decay. The City will address this problem by the use of a slum and blight “area basis” option described at 570.208(b) (1). The slum and blight category covers activities that aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight conditions in a designated area. Examples of activities that qualify when they are located within the slum or blighted area include the rehabilitation of substandard housing located in a designated blighted area and where the housing is expected to be brought up to standard condition.

Requirements for Slum and Blight Areas The area to be designated must, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: 1.The area must meet the definition of a slum, blighted, deteriorating or deteriorated area under state or local law or ordinance.

2.The area must also meet the conditions of “a” or “b” below: a.At least 25% of the properties in the area experience one or more of the following conditions: i) Physical deterioration of buildings or improvements; ii) Abandonment of properties; iii) Chronic high occupancy turnover rates or chronic high vacancy rates in commercial or industrial buildings; iv) Significant declines in property values or abnormally low property values relative to other areas in the community; and v) Known or suspected environmental contamination. b.The public improvements in the area are in a general state of deterioration.

In addition to these specific qualification factors, the City must maintain documentation to support the designations including the boundaries of the area and the conditions that qualified the area as slum or blighted. All CDBG assisted activities must be shown to address one or more of the conditions that contributed to the deterioration of the SBA. Designated Slum and Blight Areas The following areas have met the above mentioned requirements and have been designated as slum and blight areas in the City of Detroit for CDBG purposes: •SBA #1 - Cody-Rouge & Warrendale: Generally bounded by Rouge Park to the West, Fullerton/I-96 to the North, Southfield Freeway to the east (to include East of Southfield FWY at Tireman), and the City Boundaries to the South.

•SBA #2 – Delray: Generally bounded by I-75 to the North, Grand BLVD to the East, Jefferson to the South, and the Rouge River to the West. Census tracts include: 5250003, 5249001, 5249002, & 5250002.

•SBA #3 - Conant-Davison: Bounded generally by Davison & East McNichols to the North, Mount Elliot to the East, and the City boundary with Hamtramck/Highland Park to the South and West.

The City’s CDBG Citizen Participation Plan requires that residents of the City be allowed to review and comment on any substantial amendment to the City’s CDBG program and Action Plan. The designation of the SBAs will be included in the City’s Consolidated Plan and One Year Action Plan.

In accordance with Consolidated Plan requirements at 24 CFR Part 91 Subpart B and the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, the Housing and Revitalization Department (H&RD) has posted the designation of these areas in order to seek public comment.

Hard copies of this notice and supporting data and documentation for the SBA designations are available from H&RD upon request. Anyone wishing to review that information and comment on the designations may transmit such comments in writing to H&RD at the address below:

City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 908 Detroit, MI 48226 E-mail address: EricJ@detroitmi.gov In addition, questions may be directed to the Housing and Revitalization Department at (313) 224-2811. Public comments will be received for a 30 day period until August 27, 2015. The designation is subject to approval by the Director of H&RD. Notice of Non-Discrimination: The City of Detroit does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, handicap, sex or sexual orientation. Complaints may be filed with the Detroit Human Rights Department, 1230 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit MI 48226.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, WHO REQUIRE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, AUXILIARY AIDS, OR SERVICES TO READ THIS MATERIAL, SHOULD CONTACT THE HOUSING AND REVITALIZATION DEPARTMENT WITH AT LEAST THREE DAYS’ NOTICE (CONTACT H&RD AT (313) 224. 6380.

Publish Date: July 29, 2015

General Motors Co./OnStar seeks HP PPM Technical Specialist for its Detroit, MI facility to be responsible for supporting OnStar's HP PPM 9.2 application on a day-to-day basis; patching/upgrading the application, basic and advanced application administration, resolve all user issues related to the time/project/resource management functionality that has been implemented in the application; maintaining and debugging the customizations that have been done in the application; and creating request types and workflows related to project and portfolio management using advanced configurations.

Min. BS & 7 yrs. exp. Please send resumes to: OnStar Corp., Resume Processing, Ref. #6062996, 300 Renaissance Center, M/C 482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265-3000.

Seeking

NETWORK ENGINEER I at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

University Technology Services – Network Support

Work with a group of highly motivated individuals to plan, design, install and operate an always-on network for the faculty, staff, and students of Oakland University. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications, Network, or closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Some experience in trouble-shooting or installing network configurations on local computers or network devices. Willingness to be flexible in work schedules. Salary up to $53,000 annually. See on line positing for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply

by August 27, 2015.

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

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, DEGREE AUDIT AND CURRICULUM at OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Office of the Registrar

YOUR FUTURE IS HERE!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Openings at The Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences Please send letter of interest and resume’ by mail, fax, or email.

Position: Maintenance Staff Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, J. Harris 2985 E. Jefferson Avenue Detroit MI 48207 Jeharris@daask12.com Fax: 313-393-0460 HP PPM Technical Specialist

Seeking

The Order of the Fishermen Ministry Head Start is accepting bids for food and non-food items services. Bids must be received no later than August 24, 2015 at 3:00 pm. Interested vendors may call (Beatrice Alghali, RD at 313-933-0300) or write to 10047 Grand River Ave., Det. MI 48204. Sealed bids will be opened at 3:00 on Aug 28, 2015 at 10047 Grand River.

Page D-4

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This position provides functional and technical expertise supporting the university’s degree audit software. Collaborates with academic units and advisors in support of academic success and maximizing degree audit functionality.

Evaluates degree and program requirements and inputs them into the degree audit system.

Provides ongoing training across campus. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Minimum 3 years of related experience, preferably working in higher education.

Two years of experience working directly with a Student Information System or any large Enterprise Resource System. Salary is up to the low $60s, commensurate with education and experience.

See on line positing for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by August 24, 2015.

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

PHYSICIAN

(INTERNAL MEDICINE/PEDIATRICS) SPARROW CLINTON HOSPITAL seeks a PHYSICIAN (INTERNAL MEDICINE/ PEDIATRICS) to work in St. Johns, MI. Will be responsible for providing medical care to patients (internal medicine & pediatrics), including diagnosing illnesses, treating patients, ordering tests, interpreting results, prescribing medication, referring to & consulting w/subspecialists as required.

Participate in hospital’s quality improvement activities. Must have Medical Degree or foreign academic equivalent & must have completed 48 months of residency training in Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics. Must have or be eligible for a MI Physician’s License.

Applicants submit resumes to: Barbara Hilborn Sr. Recruitment Specialist Sparrow Physician Recruitment 1210 W Saginaw Lansing, MI 48915

PRODUCT ENGINEER

Fisher & Company, Inc. seeks a Product Engineer to work in Macomb County, MI. The engineer will interpret/translate customer and region specific design and performance requirements to facilitate design, development, and production of complete seat structure systems. Oversee and/or assist in the development of product design and FEA models – specifically sheet metal design, part design, and assembly design including identification and evaluation of all critical stack-up and kinematic models. Lead and report out on validation test activities. Support product through launch and into volume production.

Must have bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and five years of experience as an engineer of automotive seating. Within this 5 years of experience, must have three years of experience using Catia for 3D layouts and 2D drawings and must have three years of experience performing kinematic analysis.

Applicants submit resumes to: Roz Rottier, Benefits Manager 33300 Fisher Drive St. Clair Shores MI 48082 or fax to 586-746-3067

praise connect

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

August 19-25, 2015

Page D-5

Arthur Green, husband of funeral director, dies Arthur Green

By Britta Lee

2015 Debutantes

The victim of a small plane crash near an airport in Michigan’s northern lower peninsula was identified as 58-year old Arthur A. Green, the husband of Carla Cole of the James H. Cole funeral home.

Green was a first lieutenant of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

“Mr. Green’s death is a profound loss for the DNR and for the citizens of the state,” said DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler in a news re-

lease. “He was a dedicated professional who was deeply committed to protecting our nation, its citizens and Michigan’s natural resources. Most recently, Mr. Green was instrumental in the smooth transition of Belle Isle Park in Detroit to DNR management. He will be greatly missed.”

The Michigan Chronicle expresses its condolences and will continue to keep Mrs. Carla Cole, her sons and family as well as the James H. Cole Funeral Home in our prayers.

Crystal Windham to speak at Back-to-School program

2015 Debutantes — Bill Sanders photo The Cotillion Society of Detroit Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2009 with the mission of enhancing the total well-

being of children and youth in the Detroit metropolitan area, presented their 2015 Debutantes to polite society on April 25.

Appreciation banquet Crystal Windham Crystal Windham, GM director of interior design, will address about 200 kids and parents at the Northwest Activities Center, located at 18100 Meyers Road in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 22.

A community group called the Parent Prayer Network is putting on a Back-

Seated from left, honorees First Lady Angela Wafer, Pastor Jimmie T. Wafer., and Mother Essie Stevenson. Back row, Pastor Jerry Hatter of Brown Chapel AME in Ypsilanti, keynote speaker; First Lady Gwendolyn Hatter and O’ Neil D. Swanson Sr., president/CEO, Swanson Funeral Home. — Marcus Patton photo New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church hosted an appreciation banquet honoring the pastoral leadership of Rev. Jimmie T. Wafer and First Lady Angela Wafer at Fellowship Chapel Church of

Christ at 7707 W. Outer Drive in Detroit.

O’Neil D. Swanson Sr., president and CEO of Swanson Funeral Homes, Inc., was the master of ceremonies.

to-School program. The sessions will inspire, encourage and empower students to have a successful school year and to develop a vision of what can be if they put forth the effort and seek the right support. Windham will speak from 11:20 a.m. to 12 p.m.

PRAISE CONNECT Are you hosting a concert or faithfriendly event?

Are you celebrating an anniversary or special occasion?

PROMOTE IT HERE! Contact us at: nblack@realtimesmedia.com

Page D-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • August 19-25, 2015

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