MC Digital Edition 7.7.21

Local Detroit High School Educating Students on Trade Careers Roots. A3

Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 84 – No. 44 | July 7-13, 2021

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Assistant Secretary of State Heaster Wheeler Talks Innovation at the SOS

By Sherri Kolade “When you come to the Secretary of State, you are going to leave with some answers, or you are going to leave with a specific solution.”

Heaster Wheeler, assistant Secretary of State (SOS), State of Michigan, believes in the good work that the SOS offices are committed to doing throughout the state, while perfecting the art of customer service. That work in a (somewhat) post-COVID-19 world is gaining momentum, and appreciation from residents looking for speed and efficiencies, too.

Wheeler spoke in mid-June with the Michigan Chronicle’s Digital Anchor Andre Ash inside Real Times Media’s Studio 1452 about what the SOS has on tap.

The casual conversation was filled with light-hearted banter between the two as important customer-facing topics like wait times and new improvements were also brought up.

“Very dynamic things are happening all the time,” Wheeler said of the SOS. Things, however, were not always looking bright for the SOS, which had to close all 131 of its offices statewide last March.

“We’ve gone through quite the year -- we have been in a pandemic.

At one point the Secretary of State offices were put to a halt, like everything else,” Ash said. “Where are we … today?”

Wheeler said that among the branches that closed, five of them were in Detroit, and all were shut down for several weeks.

“There were literally hundreds of thousands of people who were behind on their renewals, driver’s license tabs, and various other functions,” he said. “It is important that we articulate … (that) the governor extended all expirations through March 31 and since March 31 we’ve gotten hundreds of thousands of people who are trying to catch up.”

Wheeler added that the pandemic provided the “perfect opportunity” to switch from a several-hour wait inside the SOS lobby to do their business by-appointment-only, which greatly reduces the wait time.

“So now we have just about addressed that particular issue,” he said.

The SOS offices oversee up to 99 transactions – 49 of which can be done online.

Wheeler said that now that the offices are back in full swing, they are “trying to play catch up,” by handling the backlog of customers on top of everyday ones.

“We’re almost current,” he said.

“We’ve got some innovation that we

See INOVATION

AT THE SOS page A2

A Return to Normal?

Michigan’s Covid-19 Restrictions Are Lifted; Will Normalcy Soon Follow?

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

After 15 months of some of the country’s longest and toughest COVID-19 restrictions, mandated by Executive Orders signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan’s top elected official announced on Tuesday, June 22, that the state is fully reopened.

“Today is a day that we have all been looking forward to, as we can safely get back to normal day-to-day activities,” Whitmer said at a press conference held at Belle Isle Park near downtown Detroit. “Effective today, there is no more mask or gathering orders. Effective today there is no more capacity limits – indoors or outdoors. Effective today, our Pure Michigan Summer is back, and we can realize it.”

The governor’s actions have been a long time coming for many Black-owned small businesses in Detroit, who have been hit extremely hard over the past 15 months. Yet, for some Black businesses, reopening to pre-pandemic levels will be a slow process.

“We are moving at our own pace, and we are going to come up with our own capacity guidelines,” said Stephanie Byrd, co-owner of Flood’s Bar & Grille, The Block, and The Garden Theater, all located in Detroit. “We are adding more seating and increasing our capacity as we see fit. We have some staffing restrictions because we still want to keep our staff safe. We are getting where we need to be, but we won’t be pressured to make moves that we aren’t comfortable making.”

When asked about mask requirements at her establishments, even though Whitmer announced that they were no longer required, Byrd said, “We are evaluating that right now. When we

were open last week, we required them, but we weren’t as strict. I imagine that we will still require our staff to wear masks.”

With the lifting of the pandemic restrictions, there are questions from parents and guardians of Detroit Public School District Community (DPSCD) students. According to Chrystal Wilson, DPSCD”s assistant superintendent of communications, the school district is awaiting specific and separate pandemic guidelines from the governor regarding in-person learning for students. Yet, Wilson is upbeat about this summer and fall.

“Just like last September, we plan to be fully open in the fall, but we will be first offering in-person summer learning experiences, starting July 12,” said Wilson. “We will have more than 40 air-conditioned schools open for summer learning experiences. In addition, there will be community partners who will come into the buildings to provide summer learning enrichment to our families and get children in the flow of going back to in-person learning.”

Wilson said there might be instances where the District will offer virtual learning, but it will be based on several qualifications and conditions. ”Our primary focus will be to get every student back into our school buildings,” said Wilson. “Our schools are safe for our students, teachers, and staff. We know that about 75% of the District’s employers are fully vaccinated. That’s a good signal that we are ready to get back to helping our students rise up.”

Other sectors of life in Detroit are reacting differently regarding mask-wearing now that restrictions have been lifted.

“I’m not wearing a mask anymore,” said Metro Detroiter Sidney Robert

By Sherri Kolade

Robert C. Valade Park

Willow Metropark

Stony Creek Metropark

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Huron-Clinton Metroparks have a multi-year, pilot partnership that focuses on widening access to new programs and recreation for city and suburban families, and leverages the world-class parks, greenways and public spaces managed by the two organizations.

Through the partnership, Metroparks will establish a physical presence in Detroit and contribute $6 million over seven years to the Conservancy for expanded programs and operations at the future Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park on the West Riverfront.

Leading up to the opening of the new park (slated for 2023), the two organizations are offering combined robust programming and joint outreach efforts.

Explore more at detroitriverfront.org and metroparks.com

Early Entrepreneur Growth Program Targets

Black Women in Business Money. A5

Keith Williams, Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus chair. Photo courtesy of the Official $1.00

Khaldun reported that more than 893,000 Michiganders have been infected by the coronavirus, with a death toll of more than 19,000 state residents.

With 61% of the state said to be vaccinated, Khaldun urged all eligible people to get vaccinated and protect themselves and others.

“The single most important thing that we all can do right now to fight back these variances is to get vaccinated,” said Khaldun. “We are working very hard with our partners across the state to make sure that vaccines are accessible for everyone in every community,

See RETURN

TO NORMAL page A2

Where is Our Black G-7?

Black Leaders Speak on It

WHAT’S INSIDE DISCOVER YOUR DETROIT RIVERFRONT + METROPARKS THIS SUMMER

Cullen Plaza

Mason. “My wife and I have been fully vaccinated, and we feel totally comfortable going to our favorite restaurants and entertainment venues without masking up. It’s summertime, baby, and we are going to enjoy it after missing summer completely in 2020.”

Detroiter Joey M. Williams is a little more cautious about returning to normal activities with an ongoing pandemic.

“I’m going to take my time and ease back into going to places that I used to frequent that were packed with people,” Williams said. “While I’m vaccinated, some people are not and don’t plan to.

So I will be wearing my mask and will be social distancing for a while.”

“I’m pleased by how far we’ve come, but the pandemic has not ended,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan and Chief Deputy Director for Health in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “There are still many people that have not been vaccinated, and we have not yet achieved herd immunity. And we still have the more easily transmitted Delta variance in the United States, including here in Michigan.”

Democratic Black Caucus of Macomb County

in his controversial tweet.

The 2021 G-7 Summit met Is the G-7 white supremaJune 11–13 in the United cist in nature?

Kingdom, with Australia, India and South Korea invitThe world’s largest develed as guest countries. Other oped economies: the United important global leaders are States, Canada, the United included at the Summit, like Kingdom, France, Germarepresentatives of the Euny, Italy and Japan make ropean Union, China, India, up this entity that meets Mexico and Brazil. In addiannually, and is the point tion to tackling COVID-19-reof contention for far-left lated issues, the world leadcivil rights and environmen- Joel Rutherford, Black ers discussed trade, climate tal activist Ajamu Baraka. Leadership Adviso- change and technological Baraka tweeted June 12 that ry Council member. advances. the G-7 is a “white suprema- Photo provided by Joel The Balance added that cist structure.”

Rutherford the G-7 Summit doesn’t “Like the U.S./EU/Axis of have any legal or political authority, yet domination, it is one of the structural when the seven world leaders “agree on expressions of the Pan-European colo- something,” there is a dynamic power to nial/capitalist white supremacist patri- shift the course of economic worldwide archy that has proven to be the real ex- growth, per the article. istential threat for collective humanity,” The lack of Black representation at Baraka, currently the national organizer See BLACK G-7 page A2 for the Black Alliance for Peace, posted

Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com • July 7-13, 2021

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Return to Normal

From page A-1

Innovation at the SOS From page A-1 will be rolling out.”

Some of that innovation entails sprucing up the somewhat unapproachable offices’ entryway that is known to have drab and uninviting signage for customers.

“We are going to take that sign down when you approach that says, ‘appointments only,’” Wheeler said.

“We’re going to change that message.”

He added that close to 200 more SOS jobs are being added to the state and those interested in working could visit www.michigan.gov/sos for more information.

Ash also asked him about new kiosks available.

“I had to renew my driver’s license about a month ago -- I didn’t even have to make an appointment … I walked to a new kiosk available,” Ash said.

Wheeler said that 150 self-service stations have

Black G-7 From page A-1

the G-7 is eye-opening to a couple of locals who are even calling for a Black G-7 Summit of their own.

Though the African Union (comprised of 55 member states that make up the continent) officially launched in 2002 -- as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity -- - is in existence, an additional entity that connects all Black people worldwide would be something worth considering, political experts said.

Joel Rutherford, Black Leadership Advisory Council member (a position appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer) spoke to The Michigan Chronicle about this idea and said that “it’s a matter of cooperation” between groups.

Rutherford said that the continent of Africa has plentiful natural resources varying regionally and has a leg up economically.

Rutherford also said that if a Black G-7 were to exist “cooperation is needed” so wealth is not concentrated “among so few people.”

“The countries in Africa can come together and work together; they can accomplish so much,” he said adding that around 2030 and

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2050, there will be more young people on the continent as a whole. “You can certainly make big things happen.”

Rutherford also said that while the current G-7 Summit does provide financial resources to the continent of Africa, there needs to be a significant financial boost for Black Americans back at home, too.

He said while the Juneteenth holiday was made a federal holiday, that “doesn’t cost anything.”

“As I get older, I get more skeptical about it -- do they give us the easy things?” he said, adding that “so much more can be done.”

From regional G-7 Summits around Africa to “building bridges together,” Rutherford said making big things happen is not a pipe dream but a reality that wealthy African countries could make happen.

He added that he feels that the G-7 Summit now is exclusionary in its approach to having Black and Brown countries represented.

“So often ... Black and Brown people are not given a full seat at the table,” he said. “As long as you are able to exercise economic control over countries or people, that gives you a lot of power and I think there is not a desire even in 2021 for things to really be equitable.”

Keith Williams, Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus chair, told The Michigan Chronicle that it’s time out for a primarily white-only G-7.

“The G-7 is when white nations get together and plot out economic strategy and military strategy and working in conjunc-

been added across the state with nearly 30 min southeast Michigan.

“You can go to almost any Kroger store, any Meijer store,” he said of utilizing SOS services. “Unless you have to take a photo every eight years you don’t always have a reason to go to the branch. But I understand we are creatures of habit; we like that personal transaction.”

• Go to online services • Find a self-service station • Make an appointment • Call 1-888-sos-mich Ash asked Wheeler about even with the importance of having a driver’s license, issued through the SOS, is it needed to be able to vote.

“Republicans argue you should. Where do we stand on some who would say voting rights are under attack?” Ash asked.

Wheeler said identification to vote is “not necessarily needed” and he added that the “African American vote saved this American democracy.” tion with one another to make sure everybody is on the same page,” he said, adding that the countries, especially the United States are “trying to show its will” while “jockeying for supremacy” in the world market.

“But nobody’s ever talking about the Black market,” he said from a world view perspective of Africans to Blacks in the United States and the diaspora. “We need to come up with our own summit.”

Williams said the ideal Black G-7 summit would discuss everything from healthcare to economics. Even locally, a “Blackinaw” conference (a play on words for the Mackinaw annual event) wouldn’t be a bad idea, he said. “We always try to integrate ourselves in their market … only when they do, they take it over.”

He added that his standpoint has always been about prosperity and “Black people first.”

Williams mentioned that Detroit, a city whose residents are more than 80 percent Black, change can start at home.

“We don’t own anything; don’t control our politics, economic infrastructure,” he said.

“How do we diversify this market with Black leadership?”

Williams added that he is not mad at the current leadership.

“But I’m mad at us for allowing that to happen,” he said. “I want a mayor that talks like me, walks like me and thinks like me.”

He said from leaders of the Black community to African royalty, and everything in between, it’s time to come together once and for all.

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“We need to bring our Black higher officials into the mix -- legislators and governors and mayors,” he said. “I do believe there needs to be a Black G-7; if they can get together for climate change, military and all that stuff why can’t we? Who is stopping us? With God all things are possible.”

whether it is at a doctor’s office, a church, even in your home if that is what is necessary.”

“The state is normalizing, which means Detroit can now get back to normal, but it doesn’t mean we can let our guard down,” said City Council Member Scott Benson of District 3. “Our vaccination rate in the city is so low at around 37%, and we got to do better. We have to get closer to an 80% rate.”

Benson said his office and the offices of other city council members are proactively encouraging Detroiters to get vaccinated. There is a special push to target Detroiters between the ages of 25 and 50. However, he also said that there must be caution with such a low vaccination rate in the city because of the Delta strain that is strong and has shown up in the state.

“Taking the vaccine is not just about one individual, it’s also about protecting the health and wellbeing of families and communities,” Benson said. “Right now, there are dozens of vaccination sites in our neighborhoods across the city that’s ready to vaccinate the unvaccinated.”

For music lovers who live in Southeastern Michigan – vaccinated and unvaccinated - the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions means a return to full capacity concerts. One

venue on people’s radar is The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, formerly Chene Park. The 6,000seat venue, just east of downtown Detroit, will present its first concert of the 2021 season – and the first in 22 months on Wednesday night, July 7. It will feature recording artists Sheila E. and Monica Blair. The venue’s management team promises concertgoers a clean and safe experience.

“This will be one of the first live concerts in the state since the restrictions were lifted on June 22,” said Shahida Mausi, president of The Right Productions, which operates The Aretha. “We will see whether the audiences are feeling comfortable and ready to come out, party, and enjoy the music. We are an outdoor venue, so we will not require masks to be worn by the audience. But we are asking people to be mindful of what we all have gone through with COVID-19 and that we don’t want to go back.”

As Michigan opens and is ready to return to pre-pandemic times, the governor is optimistic about what’s ahead.

“It’s been a grueling 15 months,” Whitmer said.

“We’ve all been pushed to our breaking points, but we have to make sure that Michigan comes out of this pandemic in the strongest possible shape.

We will work together to make that so.”

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A3

| July 7-13, 2021

COMMENTARY

Roots.

michiganchronicle.com

Something (Else) That Hasn’t Changed

By Pashon Murray & Nya Marshall Some of our ancestors arrived on the shores of America. No one knows how long they had been held captive before arriving here, but their arrival and brutalization would lead to an intricate framework that—in many ways—is still in place today.

This is the framework that places an oil refinery in the heart of a mostly low-income, Black and brown communities. All communities should be sustainable in order for us to impact climate change. You can’t have a solution with voids, climate change impacts everyone which requires a unified effort.

It is also the same framework that allowed dumping of questionable chemicals along waterways and in communities of color, while keeping more stringent rules in place for another locality that never suffered the same level of environmental harm—if any at all.

The regulation and laws have to hold all of us equally accountable whether it’s corporation or individual citizens.

Americans recently marked Juneteenth which is now recognized as a national holiday. Juneteenth observes the day in 1867 when the last enslaved Americans in Texas found out they were free. It was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Husband and wife, Terence and Trena Edmondson, of Detroit, (pictured celebrating a past wedding anniversary) overcame the challenges of COVID-19 together. Photo courtesy of Terence Edmondson

Overcoming COVID-19 Through Christ Pashon Murray & Nya Marshall Despite the freedoms granted in the Proclamation, and the laws written to include us since, America is still built on a system of frameworks that work best when Black, brown, and poor people are subjugated to the lowest possible standard of living. Redlining and gerrymandering are the result of the lack of freedom and human rights, if we were truly free than we wouldn’t need to vote on voting laws, America would protect all of us and grant us the right to vote.

By Sherri Kolade

in commercial property management, said. “I still tear up as I think about it ... I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to do.”

She had just 24 hours.

Twenty-four hours to decide whether her husband should live or die. It was an unimaginable, sudden decision thrust upon Detroit resident Trena Edmondson last May -- take him off a ventilator or not.

She had to make the choice after her husband spent 40 days in an induced coma as the result of a COVID-19 diagnosis and being unable to breathe.

It wasn’t looking too good for Terence Edmondson at that moment, but God had other plans.

There have been more liberties granted to Black people since 1865, but true freedom has been illusive for the past five generations. The homes that our great-grandparents purchased in neighborhoods that were once considered to be middle-class and affluent now have little value as they sit in the middle of blight and environmental disaster. Gentrification is another tactic and strategy to control the communities in which we reside, why?

Terence Edmondson, a father, friend and commercial real estate broker in downtown Detroit was in a fight for his life that caught him totally by surprise.

Environmental, industrial, and economic decisions like this essentially stopped much of the Black community from building wealth. In rare cases, economic hubs saw Black American dreams realized for residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s, “Black Wall Street” or even Detroit’s “Black Bottom” and “Paradise Valley” districts. But, even in each of these cases, Black neighborhoods were destroyed; usually to make way for (more) white wealth

Terence said that when he and his wife both contracted COVID-19 last year they had very different experiences. His own started like cold symptoms a week prior to March 25, 2020, when he was admitted to the hospital; she was asymptomatic and quarantined for 14 days around the same time.

Almost immediately when Terence went to Ascension Providence Hospital - Southfield Campus, healthcare officials told him that he had to be put in a coma.

“I was in a coma for three weeks and then I was on a ventilator for 22 days,” he said, adding that he didn’t “come around” until day 40.

Trena, who still gets emotional about it, said that when she dropped him off at the hospital that day, she was surprised at the treatment plan awaiting him.

“He called me within an hour and told me that, ‘They’re about to put me under,’ and I’m like, ‘What do you mean?

Where is all this coming from?’” she said. “He said, ‘I can’t talk,’ and he told me to tell our son (38 years old) to ‘be good.’”

She added that her husband of now 28 years told her that he’ll see her in a couple of days --- but that wound up not being the case.

The very lines that are drawn to decide who can vote for what are redrawn again and again as the cycle of white flight to gentrification and back again continues. This gerrymandering is blatant disenfranchisement, purposefully squeezing the power from our communities. In the instances that Black people see traction on legislation that benefits our people, too often long filibusters delay or kill the votes needed to turn our grassroots action into law.

But, we can take that power back.

According to the US Department of Energy, environmental justice is the “fair treatment

“I didn’t think it was going to be anything as dramatic as it was,” Terence and Trena Edmondson (both in their late 50s) shared, retelling their harrowing story of “faithing” their fears to The Michigan Chronicle almost exactly a year after his complete recovery.

“Tell Our Son to be Good”

“A couple days turned into 77 days,” Trena, who works

Trena, though, found her strength to do what she knows best in the face of insurmountable challenge -pray.

She prayed for her husband, whom she met at the gym decades earlier, that he would live. She prayed with a prayer group that her sister-in-law and their family formed.

“I never imagined that it would be 77 days,” she said, adding that the first couple of weeks were especially rough.

What’s God Saying?

During this gut-wrenching time, Trena Edmondson learned something while in her waiting.

“I realized that, truthfully, God was trying to tell me something and the only way He could teach me was to sit me down and He had my undivided attention,” she said, adding that Wednesday, June 9, 2021, makes it a year to the day she took her healthy husband home.

Detroit resident Howard Morris, a family friend for 20 years, said that he was saddened by Terrence’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

“Initially I could not and did not receive any word of what was going on with Terry,” he said. “But I still prayed for him each day.”

He added that he and other received daily text messages from Trena updating him ad others about his friend’s condition.

He described them as “the most impressive display of prayer and faith I have ever witnessed.”

“Because he was in the hospital such a long time, I was close to giving up hope. But then I would receive Trena’s text message and it would replenish my faith and give me the hope and strength I needed to keep up my own prayers for Terry. I am convinced that his recovery is a direct result of Trena’s undying faith, devotion and love of Terry and of the Lord. My own faith was renewed and rejuvenated by this experience,” he said.

The journey before coming home was filled with ups and downs – and also extra care that helped carry the couple through.

See OVERCOMING COVID page A-4

See NEIGHBORHOODS page A-4

Local Detroit High School Educating Students on Trade Careers

By Megan Kirk

ested in the trades will have the experience and knowledge to execute. A. The average cost of a Philip Randolph Career four-year college educaand Technical Center is tion for the 2020-2021 the only career and techschool year, according nical school within the to information provided Detroit Public Schools

by Forbes magazine, is Community District. more than $30,000 for First opened in Septemprivate institutions and ber of 1981, Randolph close to $20,000 for inoffer hands-on training state full-time students. and education in the While attendance at colconstruction trades calege and universities reer path. Randolph ofis heavily endorsed for Omar Hasan fers classes in masonry, high school students, it can become quite costly. Trade carpentry, pipefitting, painting and schools, on the other hand, offer a drywall as well as many other procost-effective path to a lucrative ca- grams. reer in the skilled trades without With the help of a partnership beacquiring a hefty amount of debt. tween Detroit At Work, DPSCD and Aside from its financial appeal, trade IBEW Local 58, a union for electrical school is a lesser endorsed path but workers, A. Philip Randolph Career could lead to big bucks. and Technical Center was able to creOne local Detroit high school is ensuring students who are inter- See TRADE CAREERS page A-4

Page A-4 • michiganchronicle.com •

July 7-13, 2021

Trade Careers

Frankie Darcell’s

ate a specialized program that will help graduates get on the path to the trades. Through the program, students are able to learn the skills necessary and enter into the workforce.

“It was a partnership that was created about four years ago with the focus being creating a direct pathway for youth to get accepted into apprenticeship directly out of high school,” says Omar Hasan, Employer Engagement Strategist for Detroit At Work. “We’ve been setting up the infrastructure and now we’re at a point where we just set up our first four completers of the program who had graduated from Randolph and have been accepted into the union.

Graduating from A. Philip Randolph in June 2019, the four cohorts were able to work and earn money fresh out of high school.

After earning the opportunity for a permanent position, each was accepted into the union.

“They worked over the summer of their graduation and then they got hired by the contractor that they were working with. Then, they applied for their union apprenticeship and they got accepted earlier this year,” says Hasan.

For students interested in enrollment, the cost for trade schools is significantly lower than that of a four-year degree. Ranging from $3,000 to just under $15,000 depending on the program, upon completion, workers have the opportunity to make upwards of $80,000 per year and more. Trade school

Know what your non-negotiable issues are

also takes a shorter time to complete. In just two years, a student could receive a certificate specializing them in a specific skill.

“Plumbers are making $100,000 plus and in some cases, we’ve come across plumbers making $150,000 (a year) with all the work that is going on across the city from new construction, rehabilitating old buildings, roads that need to get repaired, lead lines that need to get replaced,” says Hasan.

The financial stability offered by working on the skills trade helps to create economic mobility. Depending on the field, With the average age of skilled workers topping 55, retirement is on the horizon. With so many leaving the workforce, the opportunity to enter the field and begin to build is palpable.

Overcoming COVID From page A-3 “The nurses … that cared for him … were sent by God,” she said, adding that they made it a priority that the couple was connected, especially on their 27th wedding anniversary last April 2.

When COVID-19 peaked last year and hospital visitors were not allowed in, the nurses Facetimed Terence with his wife. “[They] let me see him and everything he was connected to,” she said, adding that she didn’t care if it was graphic. “We missed a lot of time together.”

Trena Edmondson said one nurse went under the plastic covering surrounding Terence and it was there that his wife was able to talk to him while he was intubated. She wished him a happy anniversary, then asked him if he could hear her to make some type of move-

“They’re going to be retiring in

the next five to seven years and you’re going to have this huge vacuum of half of the workforce retiring and we don’t have a real plan in place to make up for that,” says Hasan. “The best we can do is to get students and their families educated about what these opportunities are.”

While this is the first class the program has successfully completed and had an electrical focus, it will not be the last. There is a similar program available for masonry and there are plans to roll out additional programs for new cohorts and additional unions.

“We really want to seize this opportunity and take advantage and use these success stories to motivate kids and let them understand what opportunities are available to them right out of high school,” says Hasan.

There comes a time in your life when you should know what your non-negotiable issues are. If you don’t know now than when? When do you say enough is enough?

Enough of giving up on who you are and what you will tolerate in life, and who you will tolerate it from.

Where is your happy?

Do you know? Or have you lost it completely? And didn’t even realize it was gone. If nothing else the Corona virus has shown us that life is short and the unexpected could happen at any moment. You’ve spent your life living in dysfunction so long you have accepted it as normal. It’s time for you to determine what you are not giving up on, and what you require to be a whole and happy human being. So what is it you need to live your best life? What are your financial goals, professional aspirations, intimate needs from your partner, and spiritual growth from your church? Life is not a dress rehearsal, this is it. And at this point in life, It’s time to be real clear about what is required for you by you to be happy and not settle. When you become sure about what you want you will attract to you those who want the same. You deserve it!

ment with his body.

and she got it: a tracheotomy.

The nurse later confirmed that her husband moved his arm.

Twenty-four hours later after receiving the confirmation she needed from a friend, she decided to have her husband have a tracheotomy -- a lifesaving move.

Her Decision “That told me what I needed to take back to the prayer group -- it was a very deep journey,” she said of their separate and collective experiences filled with miracles, signs and revelation.

“The trach is what saved my husband’s life,” she said, adding that doctors said that her husband was going to have it the rest of his life.

On that difficult decision day last May, though, police came to her door and told her that doctors were trying to get ahold of her concerning her husband.

“As God would have it, I don’t have it anymore,” he said.

“I just fell to my knees,” she said, preparing for the worst. That was when she then found out about the choice she would soon have to make about her husband’s life. “The doc told me … ‘It’s been 21 days; we need to make a decision.’”

“I had no physical use in my body -I couldn’t sit up,” he said, adding that his recovery then healing were miracles, too, and today, the couple are on their second wind with each other and God.

Dismayed about her options (take him off the ventilator and make him comfortable or send him to a type of ­ “home”), Trena wanted a third option

The recovery phase was a miraculous journey, too.

“You store up your blessings,” Terence said. “They don’t come when you want them to but when you are obedient and continue to pray, your blessings will come for you.”

Neighborhoods From page A-3 and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

That means that we all have an opportunity to dictate what corrections should be made to reverse some of the generational damage done to our bodies and the places we call home.

Human and environmental rights have been violated, let’s focus on the equitable lens and environmental justice? We have to dismantle economic exploitation, social degradation and political oppression.

How will you make sure your neighborhood is included in the city’s plans?

Black Family Development, Inc.(BFDI) An Organization of Service Made Strong by Those Who Serve Black Family Development, Inc. (BFDI), headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a 501c3 organization, founded in 1978. Our youth-focused, and family-centered organization provides services in Detroit, Wayne County, and Washtenaw County.

For 16 years, the Michigan Chronicle has utilized the Women of Excellence Awards as one of their many platforms to recognize servant leaders in Detroit’s community. This commitment to elevating excellence contributes to highlighting all that makes Detroit a renaissance community.

Black Family Development, Inc. appreciates its ongoing partnership with the Michigan Kenyatta Stephens, Chief Executive Officer Black Family Development, Inc.

Chronicle.

Congratulations to BFDI’s CEO, Kenyatta Stephens, on her recognition as a Michigan Chronicle “Woman of Excellence”.

The “All White Celebration” was held on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the Music Hall Amphitheatre.

Black Family Development, Inc. would also like to honor previous staff recipients of the “Woman of Excellence” award: *Alice G. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer Emeritus; *Anquinette Mosley, Mental Health Therapist; and *Maria Stanfield, Clinical Director

Congratulations Women of Excellence Previous Award Recipients from BFDI

Anquinette Mosley Mental Health Therapist

Alice G. Thompson Chief Executive Officer, Emeritus

Thank you to the Michigan Chronicle for your role as an essential partner in the community Kenyatta Stephens, Hiram E. Jackson, CEO, Real Times Media and Publisher of the MI Chronicle

Kenyatta Stephens MI Chro.indd 1

www.blackfamilydevelopment.org

Maria Stanfield Clinical Director

@bfdi.inc

@BFDIDetroit

@BFDIonline

@blackfamilydevelopment 6/30/2021 9:44:46 AM

A5

| July 7-13, 2021

Money.

michiganchronicle.com

Millennials and Trading

By Megan Kirk

When trade is visualized most see the hustle and bustle of interactions, white-collar businessmen in suits and a fast-paced life of cars and cash as laid out in movies like “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

While this may have been the case previously, the trade world is taking on a much different look. What was once reserved for the white elite is now an open ground for Black Gen Z’ers and millennials. Taking trade, finances and economic mobility by the horns, these groups are dominating, learning and sharing information to become the stakeholders of trade.

Within the last two years, Forex has made waves in the trading game. First introduced in the 1970s, the modern foreign exchange market trades currencies from the U.S. dollar, European Euro and the Japanese Yen. Due to its low margin requirements and ease of access, Forex has continued to grow in popularity and is often the gateway to buying and trading.

Working as a manager in corporate America, one trader learned the game from a close friend. After a self-learning and healing journey, the budding trader decided the everyday demands of a standard job were not the ideal life.

Owner of NLD Strategic and founder of The WELL, Nakeia Drummond

Early Entrepreneur Growth Program Targets Black Women in Business

By Megan Kirk

Trader Candace Green “A friend from college introduced me to trading. I watched her for a few months, did my research and I finally made that decision to invest in myself,” says Candace Green, a full-time entrepreneur focusing on Digital Trade and Investing. “In the beginning I really just wanted to trade just to make additional income but realized trading can really lead you to so much more and I’ve seen it help so many people in the process.”

Introduced to day trading in 2017 during a trip to London, one trader was first told about the relationship between currency and exchange. Already invested in cryptocurrency, the appeal of Forex was not immediate.

“I was looking for ways to make additional money without having to put too much effort into something, like a second job,” says Robert Gray III, a trader who is a data architect by profession. “I saw people were doing Forex trading and I went to one of the events and I signed up.”

As more young professionals learn the ropes of trading, they are leaving corporate America for the chance to be their own boss. The fast-paced art of trade is ever changing and more millennials are willing to take the risks to become financially comfortable. The pandemic also helped in creating an unforeseen amount of both free time, creativity and drive. Helping to show there is more than one way to generate revenue, trade has helped some fill gaps in their income and create indepen-

See MILLENNIALS

AND TRADING page A6

Black women in business dates back to a time when women were not seen as an economic powerhouse.

However, following in the spirit of trailblazing entrepreneurs like Madame CJ Walker, one of the country’s most known self-made millionaires, and Annie Malone, founder of Poro College, a beauty and cosmetics school, Black female entrepreneurs continue to break barriers and provide their community an opportunity for economic prosperity.

The WELL, or Women Entrepreneur Leadership Lab, was founded in 2018 by business owner Nakeia Drummond. Based out of Baltimore, Md., NLD Strategic, Drummond’s business, launched The WELL in hopes of bridging the gap for Black women businesses. With more than 42 percent of new women-owned businesses opened by Black women, most of them have no employees and are considered one-woman bands. Despite being the fastest growing business owner population, African American women are less likely to receive capital and the financial resources to help their businesses cross the five-year mark.

“We’ll be three in October and it started because I, as a business owner, experienced all the things that most of us do -- the loneliness, isolation. I would go to networking events and groups and not quite feel like it was for me or that I fit. I wanted to collaborate, but didn’t know where to find those partners that were ideal for me,” says Drummond. “I started having these round tables with other Black women business owners and what

Application Graphic to apply for Early Entrepreneur Growth Program came out of it was we all shared a lot of common things among ourselves.

We wanted a community where we saw ourselves and our challenges and our needs represented.”

Partnering with General Motors and the National Business League, The WELL is leveling the playing field for Black women and making access to business resources easier. Through its Early Entrepreneur Growth Program and a $50,000 dollar investment from General Motors, The WELL looks to graduate a class of 20 members from across the nation, host a pitch competition for the cohorts and provide 10 scholarships with Detroit be-

ing one of the receiving cities along with Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC and Baltimore. The six-month accelerated program will work with Black women who own businesses that are less than two years old or generate below $25,000 dollars in revenue.

“Black women are the fastest growing sector of entrepreneurs in the country, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation and/or gender, but the least supported in terms of opportunity and growth of revenue. This national partnership kicking off in Detroit between The WELL, General Motors and the National Business League (NBL) aims to address this continued barrier to entry into the marketplace by providing technical assistance and ongoing education and training,” says Kenneth L. Harris, Ph.D., national president and CEO of the National Business League, Inc. In addition to the Early Entrepreneur Growth Program, another way The WELL looks to serve Black female entrepreneurs is through capital and relationships with banks. Establishing a transparent system of trust and support between the women who are a part of The WELL and financial institutions help to create authentic conversations and real-time assistance.

“We are deliberate about finding Black women bankers and building relationships with those bankers,” says Drummond. “What we’ve seen is that those Black bankers have gone back to their banks and presented the cases of these women as whole people with real stories and not just a set of metrics.”

See THE

WELL page A6

Rebrand Black Accelerator Building Up Black Businesses

By Sherri Kolade Black businesses are booming in Detroit and coming out on the other side of the pandemic looking all right.

They’re doing more than all right in fact with the help of Rebrand Black Accelerator, especially after having a bumpy start last year. With COVID-19 devastating over 40 percent of Black-owned small businesses, Rebrand Black Accelerator (a unique partnership with Rebrand Cities and Thrivent) an opportunity arose to give $50,000 in grants to Black-owned Detroit small businesses.

The six-week program, featuring a pitch competition, opened in the winter with applications due in early March.

The Rebrand Black Detroit Accelerator program is now in the pitch competition stage of their program and is looking to select a winner among the 12 businesses that beat out over 200 applicants.

These applicants have learned intensive knowledge about branding, scaling, financial wellness and are now competing for the grand prize of $25,000; the first-place winner

receives $10,000 and the second-place winner receives $5,000. The remaining nine participants who don’t place will receive $1,250 each.

The entrepreneurs and businesses are: • Ashton Keys, Athlytic, Inc. • Deidre Roberson, Eumelanin • Margarita Barry, Mainstreet Mob • Danielle Smith, Detroit Maid • Alyssa Space, ForHerCosmetics • Jonathan Merritt, Narrow Way Café • Krista McClure, Detroit Parent Collective • Dexter Sullivan, Forerunner Consulting • Melinda Anderson, Studio M Detroit • Chantele Jones, Estellas Vegan Dessert Boutique • Ken Walker, K. Walker Collective • Cartiear Madlock, Vegan Black Guy • Danielle Smith Parker, the founder of Detroit Maid, said that the experience is one to remember.

“Rebrand Black provided an invaluable

See REBRAND

BLACK BUSINESSES page A6 Cartiear J. Madlock, Vegan Black Guy.

Photo provided by Cartiear J. Madlock

Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com • July 7-13, 2021

Millennials and Trading

Rebrand Black Businesses

From page A-5

networking experience. Connecting with other entrepreneurs who are in the thick of scaling their businesses while exchanging ideas for rapid growth has helped me to grow personally and professionally. I believe that each one of us, after having gone through Rebrand Black, are better positioned to tell authentic stories about our businesses and entrepreneurial journeys,” Smith Parker said.

dence.

“Financial freedom, generational wealth, access, time and self-worth are all reasons more millennials are getting into trading,” says Green. “I also think COVID showed a lot of weaknesses and flaws that the corporate job system has. With everyone getting laid off or fired or whatever the circumstances may be, people had no income.

When you’re relying on one source of income, you hinder yourself very very deeply. Having those secondary, third, fourth and fifth streams of income is so important in today’s world.

Although trade is not suited for everyone, learning the art of trade is one of the suggestions often shared by traders.

Allowing mistruths and hysteria to cloud judgment could stop some potential gainers from an extra source of income.

“The number one misconception that I hear about trading is people feel like they need a lot of money to trade. You do not,” says Green. “Another misconception that I hear so many times is not having the time.”

For those who believe trade is a scam, there are legitimate investors looking to shift the narrative about earning money and day trading.

“The biggest misconception is that it’s a scam and that you are going to lose all your money. Also, that you can’t make any money unless you have large sums of money. Those two things are absolutely false,” says Gray.

Traders suggest starting with practice before getting into the real thing. It is also suggested to not form personal or emotional bonds to any particular stock.

“Do your research. When you start trading, always practice with demo accounts until you’re ready and can set up a free demo account with brokers so you can actually learn what you’re doing first,” says Green. “Do not trade with emotion so, if you had a bad day, don’t trade. You want to trade with a clear mind and not trade with your emotions.”

From page A-5

Cartiear J. Madlock, Vegan Black Guy, agrees.

“My experience participating in the Rebrand Black accelerator was one of a kind. The natural chemistry and camaraderie amongst us all have been a breath of fresh air. It has given me the opportunity to not only expand my business acumen, but my confidence in business as well,” he said, adding that he hopes to win. “My plan with the grand prize of $25K is to purchase a shipping container, build it out as a juice bar and sell my products as enhancers. ‘The Bowling Pen’ will be a one-stop-shop for Vegan Black Guy supplements, smoothie bowls, grain bowls and all things wellness.”

Hajj Flemings, founder of Rebrand Cities, said that after the murder of George Floyd last year there was a moment where companies were trying to bring Black people and their companies more to the forefront. Flemings saw an important opportunity in this space to make a difference.

“We as an organization said, ‘What do

The WELL From page A-5

For General Motors, continuing to invest in Detroit and build, encourage, support and strengthen Black-owned businesses in the city is paramount. Standing firm on their diversity and inclusion initiatives, the auto giant’s partnership with Drummond came as the entrepreneur participated in a pitch day for the company.

“Supplier Diversity is the economic engine that drives empowerment, equity and inclusion into our supply chain and business community. As such, General Motors is proud to partner with NLD Strategic in support of the advancement of Black woman-owned businesses. Our mission is to serve as bridge builders, connecting an ecosystem of diverse suppliers, communities, advocacy organizations

we want our contribution to be?’ So, Rebrand Cities … said we’re going to create Rebrand Black. How do we use this moment when we have everybody’s attention?”

Flemings added that the businesses involved are learning how to succeed and helping Black businesses in the community is vital.

Flemings added that from the economic lens, society and everybody does better when Black people are uplifted.

“[We] not only want to help Black businesses but want them to be in the city [of Detroit],” Flemings said. “For us, we want stuff impacted in the city.”

“How do we start to create partnerships with brands that benefit from Black culture and drive and have an economic impact upon Black businesses?”

The competition winner will be announced on June 29. The pitch competition link is available here: https:// fb.watch/5-zsWleRNY/.

Michigan Chronicle

and customers. It is with this spirit that we invest in unique initiatives, such as the Women Entrepreneur Leadership Lab, that will uplift powerful and influential local Black business owners.”, says Cheryl Greer, GM Supplier Diversity program manager.

Having more than 49,000 Black-owned businesses nationwide, with just over 400 located within Detroit city limits, the push to create wealth and success is palpable. Providing the women in The WELL with coaching and informed programming, the NBL will also be responsible for finding and recruiting new cohorts to take part in the program. The National Business League is the first and largest nonprofit, non-partisan and non-sectarian for Black business professionals and tradesmen founded by Civil Rights pioneer, educator and author Booker T. Washington.

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Reggie Jackson, Hall of Fame Baseball Legend and Founder of the Mr. October Foundation, visited Hope Academy in celebration of their successful STEM Education Program funded by the Foundation and supported by Eastern Michigan University (EMU).

Dr. James Smith, the 23rd President of EMU, and the Honorable Alisha Bell, Chairwoman of the Wayne County Commission, spoke to the importance of STEM education in supporting the exposure of young students in this area. The success of Hope Academy students, under the instructional leadership of their lead STEM educator, Susan Kelsey-Brewton, was celebrated. “We are honored to be recognized by EMU and the Mr. October Foundation for our continued and consistent participation over the last year, and the amazing STEM Program,” said Dr. Mark J. Mayberry, Hope Academy Principal.

Helping K-12 students to learn of and master STEM education is important in supporting the new economy of Michigan.

Hope Academy is a public charter school established in 1998 by Bishop Andrew Merritt of Straight Gate International Church. Reggie Jackson, “Mr. October”, in partnership with EMU, has supported Detroit area K-12 schools with funding focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math . . . STEM. “Only through education can we empower children to lead more productive lives. Early exposure to STEM is where the motivation begins,” said For more information on Hope Academy and its Reggie Jackson.

STEM Program, you may call (313) 934-0054.

Dr. Mark J. Mayberry; The Honorable Alisha Bell

Dr. James Smith, President of EMU

Dr. Mark J. Mayberry; Rhonda Calloway, Reggie Jackson; Nanette De Priest; Angela Polk; Ken Davis; Dr. Malverne C. Winborne; Dr. Ronald Williams

Reggie Jackson, Founder Mr. October Foundation

Dr. Mark J. Mayberry; Angela Polk, Board President

Dr. Mark J. Mayberry; Charlie Batch; Reggie Jackson; George Gervin

WHY DID I GET VACCINATED?

GWENDOLYN C. OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN

The COVID-19 vaccine will save lives.

Kim was Gwendolyn’s best friend. Kim caught COVID and passed away the day before her birthday. So Gwendolyn got the vaccine to honor her friend and to prevent others from losing their loved ones. She strongly recommends that everyone, especially in the city of Detroit, gets their shot. Let’s join together to help save lives and get beyond this pandemic.

The vaccines have been tested for safety and are trusted by doctors.

Find your vaccine at Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. Text your zip code to 438829 or call 888-535-6136 and press 1.

Page A-8 • michiganchronicle.com •

July 7-13, 2021

THERE IS A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19 AND IT’S AVAILABLE IN DETROIT. If you recently tested positive, call now to see if you’re eligible. The one-time treatment can prevent symptoms from getting worse and keep you out of the hospital.

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

(313) 874-7575

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Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

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The Future is Cutting Edge for this Black Barbershop in Metro Detroit

By Sherri Kolade *The Michigan Chronicle is discussing barbering and its future in metro Detroit in this two-part series. In this second part, we delve further into the barbershop community and how they keep things moving as the present and future of barbering have shifted during COVID-19.

The concept of a barber has been around for quite a long time.

Dating back to as early as 3500 BC, the word has Latin roots meaning “barba,” another word for “beard.”

The ancient world believed that spirits entered through the hair on people’s heads and faces and by cutting someone’s hair, these evil spirits could be eliminated, according to https://www.main-street-barbershop.com/.

Aa barber back then was held in high regard and were seen as someone who does more than cut hair, but someone who was a staple in the community. A little further along during the Middle Ages, they performed surgical operations, acted as dentists and, naturally, religious figures as well. The classic barber pole out front of many barbershops represents something more than a nostalgic image. The red, blue, and white ribbons initially repMarc Roberts owns resented blood, veins The Marc Roberts and bandages. As of Experience in South- 1747, barbers could no longer perform field and brings re- surgical procedures, spect to the barber- so that pole became shop industry. more of a symbol for barbers that has evolved into an icon.

Marc Roberts, 47, barbershop owner of The Marc Roberts Experience in Southfield spoke to The Michigan Chronicle about the historical relevance of barbers and the intimate relationship they share with the client that still remains to this day.

“Back in the day the barber was like a therapist or doctor,” he said. “They give you advice, they did bloodletting, counsel … you can go to a barbershop get your tooth pulled -- a bath. A barber was respected as a doctor or lawyer in the 1940s.”

Roberts said that when he started his business, he intended to do so to bring back the honor in this competitive industry.

“I wanted to put the respect for barbers back in the industry -- put the honor back in it,” he said, adding that the concept for his shop, which he opened in 2009, was for men and women working in the shop servicing everyone who wants a sharp cut, their nails done and more.

Employees class things up a bit by wearing a black shirt and tie, and jazz music plays in the background, along with ESPN on the screen.

“You can get coffee or wine – whatever,” he said, adding that his concept brought “the respect back.”

“That is how my brand took off,” he said, adding that the average lifespan of a barbershop business can be three to five years.

See BLACK BARBERSHOP Page B-2

Detroit native Mario Moore’s exhibit, “Enshrined: Presence + Preservation” features everyday people on display.

Photo provided by Charles H. Wright

Art Revisited at The Wright

By Sherri Kolade Staring back at you are Black figures, people from different time periods, casually going about life, at times their gaze indifferent.

such as Kerry James Marshall, Barkley Hendricks, and one of his earliest painter influences, Diego Velazquez.

“Enshrined” makes way for Moore’s desire to put the economies of social order within Black American life on the map.

But they still draw you into their world: at a diner, lounging outside, reading a book or walking on the street.

Moore added that some of his works have never been seen before locally.

These everyday colorful, and stoic, characters are all part of artist Mario Moore’s latest exhibition, “The Art of Mario Moore,” running now through September 19 at the Charles H. Wright Museum.

“Some of these works ... haven’t been viewed for a long time -- two of the works have been in a collection in Puerto Rico since 2011-12,” he said.

The exhibition, “Enshrined: Presence + Preservation”, shows the Detroit native’s love of recognizing individuals “who are within reach—presenting their labor and their leisure,” according to the museum. “He encourages us to question who is deserving of portraiture and thus preservation.”

The show pulls together several dozen works of art from Moore’s early as well as his present-day career.

“I’m really humbled by and super excited about the opening,” Moore said of the show and opening. He added that his work was produced over the last 11 years. “[It is] really interesting to see pieces done in 2010 sitting next to works done in 2020 -- that is really what I’m most excited about this show, to look at my work over time and the way it was curated.”

Also included in “Enshrined” are paintings from his most recent body of work, “The Work of Several Lifetimes” (2019), which was created with the support of Princeton University’s esteemed Hodder Fellowship.

Moore said that he is adamant about the way he paints, what materials he uses and how he has developed his technique over time.

“I can see the difference in something I painted in 2010 and 2020 -- a kind of development as an artist and my technique.”

He also said that it can be “weird” to go back and be “acquainted” with his work from previous years, which he described as reconnecting with an “old friend” that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Seeing that friend again [is like], ‘Oh, that is where I was then,’” he said adding that his job is to paint every day.

“As an artist I’m in the studio every day. “I’m always working on multiple pieces at a time; keeps me engaged.”

Moore, who works on oil paintings, said that he chooses his subjects based on inspiration.

His paintings of people typically showcase his subjects standing tall, “offering stern and confident gazes toward the viewer, while perpetuating a presence of primacy without regalia,” according to the Wright.

“Subjects are really chosen just living and experiencing -- a lot has to do with reading and things that I find, and it depends on the year that I made the work,” he said.

“I’m always doing research that usually comes into my work and what I do is find people to find the work that I’m working on.”

This form of depiction puts Moore’s style of portraiture within the hallowed territory of works by figurative artists

For more information visit https://www.thewright.org/ exhibitions/enshrined-presence-preservation.

Gay, Black and Alienated: How Gay Black Men Are Pushed Out

By Megan Kirk Zaya Wade, daughter of NBA superstar Dwayne Wade, broke headlines when the then 13-year-old announced she was transgender and would be transitioning to her true self, a female. Immediately catching the attention of fans and celebrities alike, the choice sparked conversation around Black maleness and gender identity. As June and Pride Month come to a close, the month serves as a celebratory reminder that some are still fighting for equality and the right to live as one chooses.

Members of the LGBT+ community, which includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or gender non-confirming, continually face an uphill battle in embracing their individuality and being accepted in the world. According to a poll conducted by USA Today, more than five percent of the country identifies as LGBT+. For the Black community, more than six percent are in same-sex male relationships.

In Black families, the symbol of the African American man represents strength, protection, a provider and masculinity.

Black men who identify as gay or another member of the LBGT+ community are often shunned and alienated by family, faith and friends. Able to establish their true

sense of being, the LGBT+ community has blazed trails and continues to work to create a more inclusive world. Despite triumphs, gay men, Black men in particular, are shut out and left to navigate through a maze of exclusion and rejection.

“Because of how we were raised as Black people, we were coming through Jim Crow, we had a position in society and we were looked at as strong, head of the household; we had to maintain a certain status quo. However, even back then, some of those men may have been feeling the same things, but they couldn’t act on it because of what was happening at the time,” says Emanuel Keith Upshaw III, entrepreneur and openly gay Black man. “When it comes to Black gay males, we are ostracized because that’s still the perception that most people want us to have and we don’t get a chance to be ourselves.”

Like many, the path to coming out of the proverbial closet is one laced with lessons and heartbreak. While society is less accepting of same sex male relationships, it seems to be the opposite for the inverse.

While lesbianism is more widely accepted or hyper-fantasized in society, homosexuality for men is frowned upon. Through mainstream media is racing to catch up, gay men are still seen as a negative.

“The hyper-sexualized idea that it’s hot

for two women to have sex; more of the idea that they [men] want more women at one time, versus the idea of two men being intimate. It’s what people picture in their minds and they act on those thoughts accordingly. Thus, accepting women and rejecting the men,” says Upshaw.

The tales of going public with sexuality, particularly in the African American community, is taboo, unspoken. Despite its closeted conversation, topics surrounding Black men and homosexuality are beginning to break through. Despite the harsh realities, Black gay men are reclaiming their identities and breaking free of the ridicule brought on very often by those closest to them.

“The bullying that I got came from home. Being called slurs from my mother and egged on by my sisters, I was never really accepted growing up. At the time, I didn’t know what was ‘wrong’ with me to where my people would say and do these things to me. I didn’t understand what I was going through mentally as a kid,” says Upshaw. “Just looking back on the situation, my mother didn’t know how to raise me because this is not who they were taught to be. She didn’t know how to deal with the fact that her only son was gay.”

See GAY BLACK MEN Page B-2

Emanuel Keith Upshaw III

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • July 7-13, 2021

Get Your Positive Energy Up Today!

By Sherri Kolade

Miss Michigan USA hopeful Averi Wilson

Full-Figured, Fabulous and Taking on Pageantry

By Megan Kirk Tiaras, titles and evening gowns are no longer just for royalty. Pageants are making their return after a year of COVID and a new contestant is shaking up the typical look of a pageant Queen and showing why body positivity and representation are key on stage and in life.

Not to be confused with Miss Michigan, which is a scholarship competition, Miss Michigan USA has a rich history and legacy in pageantry. The Miss Michigan USA pageant has had tens of winners and participants in its history, but none like contestant Averi Wilson.

As a full-figured competitor, this teacher by day is among the first plussize women to enter the show. Defying the odds and breaking barriers, Wilson is redefining what it means to compete.

Unlike many of the competitors who have been groomed and have a history in pageantry, Wilson enters the Miss Michigan USA untrained, but is not deterred. Despite not having an official coach (as of yet), the race for the 2021 title is serious. From a world of fashion shows and hair, Wilson’s interest naturally grew to pageants.

“This is my first pageant but I’ve always been interested in the beauty pageant world and I’ve modeled in small fashion and hair shows but never a pageant before,” says Averi Wilson, contestant in Miss Michigan USA. With all roads leading to Miss USA, a Detroiter taking the crown and following in the footsteps of a small, yet elite group of Black women from the city who have gone on to win it all, is monumental.

Even more so in a body shape that does not receive a lot of praise.

“Being full-figured in a pageant of this magnitude is super important because, growing up, I never thought I could do something like this because I never saw my body type represented in the media in that way,” says Wilson.

“I’m all about representation and showing people that you don’t have to be

super tall or stick thin to compete. We’re getting judged on our poise and personality and I just hope they can see past how I look and judge me on what really matters.”

Formed in 1952, The Miss Universe Organization was formally a bathing suit contest put on by swim attire giant Catalina Swimwear. Growing to become internationally recognized, the mega house is the parent company of MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA competitions. On a smaller level, the state’s local pageants help gather contestants for the main stage in the three events.

Over the course of Miss USA, Michigan has taken the crown and the title five times. Most notably in 1990, the first African American woman, Carole Gist, won followed

by Kenya Moore in 1993.

Never having crowned a full-sized contestant, Miss Michigan USA has an opportunity for diversity.

“I’ve gotten so much love and support since announcing I was competing and that completely caught me off guard but also reinforced that I’m doing the right thing for me and others that look like me. If someone doesn’t want to support that, it’s their loss.”

The costs of participating in a pageant race can quickly add up. The cost of dresses, hair and makeup alone can run into the thousands. Together with the registration fees and other charges associated, pageants outlays can exceed $5,000 on the low end. To help cover the fees associated with enrolling, a GoFundMe has been set up.

While the goal is to win the title and go on to compete in the national Miss USA competition, Wilson is hoping judges will be able to look beyond the gowns and competitive nature to allow a lesson in breaking the mold and allowing women of all shapes to wear the crown.

Creating a safe space for other plus-size beauty queens to rise in the ranks is an example of the world’s push to shatter previous guidelines and build new ones.

Gay Black Men From page B-1 Family aside, faith is another aspect that greatly affects the LGBT+ community. Religion is heavily rooted in both the history and perseverance of African Americans. Leaning on the Bible, Black families have a strong sense of faith and belonging with the church. Aside from feeling pressure and criticism from family, churches use the Bible to execute its word. Within its texts, verses speak against same sex relationships.

Although the Bible also teaches love, some in the LGBT+ community have felt all but love from churchgoers.

“The Bible talks about homosexuality as not being accepted, and our community is taught to not accept it, making it a morality issue,” says Upshaw “Gay Black men have gotten the absolute shun from the church, but there is a conflict of interest on both parts.

You don’t have to stay stuck in a rut.

According to Life Hack, looking on the bright side of things can be as hard as looking at the negative.

But choose your hard: The glass half-full side or the glass half-empty side. We recommend looking at that thang (yes, we went there) from the positive side.

Jada Pinkett Smith once said: “You know, as I get older, personal happiness is all about love. It’s all about love. You know, how I’m loved and how I love my family and my husband. That to me is happiness, when I feel like I am loved and I have a place to love deeply. That to me is happiness.”

What is your happiness and where does it lie?

According to the article, maintaining positive thoughts can fluctuate when one is “bombarded with a succession of negativity, failures, disappointment and heartbreak.”

In fact, every obstacle and hardship pulls from a person’s reservoir of energy and wears down a little bit of their faith. Once that positivity is depleted, pessimism starts to take over.

“Positive thinking is a mental and emotional state of mind that focuses on the good and expects positive outcomes,” according to the website, and creating a positive

mental balance of energy is more than thinking on happy notions.

In fact, for those who believe, the Bible says, in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What are your thoughts resting on or reflecting on? The negative thing that happened this week or that positive event that made your day today?

Being positive also is not merely not thinking about the negativity.

It is, rather, that the negative event or occurrence is in existence, but then choosing to rest in the positive space.

“At its root, it is simply the belief that despite the current circumstances, things will work out favorable in the end,” the article said.

Here are some tips for dwelling in the positive: 1. Enjoy Nature Get outside and get some fresh air.

This, according to scientific experts, can help people lower stress levels and give them a sense of a restart.

2. Do Something Nice Randomly Do something nice for a stranger, it will make you smile as much as

Black Barbershop From page B-1 “Thank God I’ve been there 13 years and I think the reason being is because ... I offer something different. Everybody wants to be treated well.”

Roberts is the founder and owner of the only male grooming spa in the state of Michigan and is known for being one of the best grooming spas for men in the entire country, according to his website.

His salon was also the first to give former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick a trim and lineup in Michigan (he previously had a hair cut in Atlanta) when he was released from prison earlier this year. On the barbershop’s Instagram page, a smiling Kilpatrick can be seen with a fresh cut and a caption that reads: “Welcome home!”

Roberts said that while the future of the barbershop industry is not certain, one thing he feels for sure is job security.

“To business meetings, concerts, dating, getting married, whatever – barbering has always been in the industry and kind of like a pillar of the business and entertainment industry,” Roberts said. “So, for me, I think that barbering is definitely like something that has always been around and will always be around.”

He joked at the world is becoming more automated and controlled by robots, the art of barbering will more than likely stay the same.

“There is no way to replace it,” he said of barbering over 20 years. “I hope I’m around to see it if ever happens.”

Kind of like in the old days when barbers were looked to for their medical expertise, they are being tapped again but now to help bridge the gap medically for the Black community when it comes to the fight against COVID-19.

As the nation tops over 600,000 people who have died from the virus, Black Enterprise reported

Especially when gay Black men have been an active participant in church, like singing in the choir, directing, music department, usher board, even in the pulpit. Although these churches benefit from homosexuals, they still are overtly shunned and turned away, or rejected by the church.”

Navigating the trials and tribulations of life, Black gay men are charting a course in hopes of making it easier for other gay Black men to live in their truth. Facing the backlash of sexuality is constant, but with resilience and perseverance, Pride Month is a small show of changing times and the continued fight for equality.

“Coming out and trying to grow into who you are is already hard within itself without the childhood traumas and the mess,” says Upshaw. “It’s easier today to come out than back in the day. It’s not a matter of right and wrong. Fostering and loving a kid to be who they’re supposed to be was supposed to be the goal that got lost along the way.”

that President Joe Biden announced plans in early June to recruit 1,000 Black-owned barbershops and hair salons to promote the nationwide vaccination effort against COVID-19.

The effort, called Shots at the Shop, is a collaboration between the Biden administration, the Black Coalition Against COVID, the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity, and SheaMoisture, according to the article.

The group will connect with local barbershops and salons to support the local vaccine education and outreach efforts and provide vaccination shots at barbershops.

The plan came shortly after public health practitioners and researchers joined forces with 10 Maryland-area salons and barbershops to create

it makes them feel better. Doing a positive thing for someone else can also help you forget about your own problems momentarily.

3. Develop a Thankful Heart Think about the little things and be grateful for them. This can help give you a mental increase and help your spirit out in the moment. Read the article “60 Things to Be Thankful for In Life” for a reminder.

4. Take a Mental Break Find balance and take a break when things become too much. From taking a nap to pausing – find what works and do it.

5. Laugh Yup, you heard (or rather, read that right). Laughter as we all know is the best medicine around, and laughing is not only medicinal in the expression people use but it helps your immune system, boosts mood, reduces pain and protects from stress. So, pull out something funny on your phone or get your close friend or family member to make you laugh. Or better yet, watch a comedic act -- you won’t be sorry.

6. Don’t Forget to Breathe Breathe deeply to help remove the toxins from your body and refill your body with fresh air. Go outside and breathe deeply and take in everything and refresh.

Content from https://www.lifehack.org.

health and wellness hubs to combat the pandemic and break down myths about the vaccine.

Stephen Thomas, the director for the Center of Health Equity, told USA Today the effort is a good thing.

“This big push to recognize the barbershops and beauty salons in Black and Brown communities as assets to be mobilized is just a blessing,” Thomas said in the article. “I could not be more excited and ecstatic.”

In the announcement, Biden said this summer will be one of enjoyment and participating in other activities.

“America is heading into the summer dramatically different from last year’s summer,” Biden said in a statement. “A summer of freedom, a summer of joy, a summer of get-togethers and celebrations, an all-American summer that this country deserves after a long, dark winter that we’ve all endured.”

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3/24/21 11:25 AM

July 7-13, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com •

Page B-3

Heavy On Love: Dating from the Perspective of a Plus-Size Woman

By Megan Kirk Full-figured. Plus size. Big Girl. Phat.

Curvy women have been labeled with a variety of descriptions and are reclaiming their confidence in fashion, life and dating.

However, women with a little extra weight are sometimes discriminated against when it comes to matters of the heart. Often shunned and body shamed, full-figured women are pulling back the veil and revealing how weight has played a role in dating and how it will no longer stand in the way.

Actress Gabourey Sidibe, most known for her role in the film “Precious” and hit FOX show “Empire,” caused a stir on social media when the actress revealed she was not only dating, but engaged to be married.

The 2020 proposal came in the midst of a pandemic and just days before Christmas. Despite the love and holiday cheer the proposal evoked from fans, critics took to social media to express their shock at the couple’s announcement.

Ridicule came from many sources online calling attention to the actress’ size.

Lynae Traylor, owner of Even Chicago rapper Twista Steps with Stella Kay Line got in on the Dance School, shows action weighwomen of all sizes are ing in on the beautiful. actress’ size.

With the help of a meme, the rapper was able to deliver a comparison between Sidibe and a smaller model to highlight the differences.

Unfortunately, plus-size women see this treatment in dating. Excluded from some dating pools simply for their size, full-figured women are seldom seen as the woman who gets the man. Men will sometimes use bigger women as a fetish, plaything or practice. Loving full-figured women behind closed doors, some men seem to be closeted in their attraction, feel shame or are embarrassed about dating a bigger woman.

“I’ve always been plus size. Always. I remember being in elementary school and boys would secretly write notes saying ‘Do you like me? Yes, or no?’ Funny thing was they would tell me, ‘don’t tell anyone though.’ Back then I didn’t think much of it because I was a kid and I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to have a pretend boyfriend anyways, but as I went into middle school, I started to notice it was a trend. It wasn’t until the end of high school when I went into college that I was done and frustrated with being loved privately,” says Lynae Traylor, owner of Steps with Stella Kay Line Dance School.

According to several sources, the average size for an American woman is between a 14 and 16 dress size. These sizes are considered plus size and proportion and weight distribution all play a part in overall body shape. While preference is a fundamental building block in dating and for some men, plus size women do not fall in line with body shapes presented by society as a measure of beauty.

“Often times, I feel like plus-size women will settle just to have someone because after rejection or ‘behind closed doors love,’ it will get discouraging and make you feel like the ‘behind closed doors’ love is a thing, is acceptable, or the only way we can find love, but it’s not. Us full-figured women deserve more,” says Traylor.

Despite male opinion, more and more plus-size women are embracing their curves and living life unbothered by societal norms or standards. From fashion to love, plus-size women are grabbing life by the horns and crushing the opinions of others. With advocates like singer Lizzo, whose body positivity has been spread through music, social media posts and statements made through interviews, the veil has been ripped away.

“I feel like it’s starting to become a trend more and more, every day, because my plussize Queens are realizing who they are and are flaunting it in every way unapologetically. We also live in a monkey see monkey do world. Clothing brands are starting to show body positivity through their models who would typically be a size 2, but now they have size 22 models that are just as good if not better. That’s making people more comfortable as well and making it cool,” says Traylor. “The funny thing is I believe we are realizing men really do like BBW’s and we making them stand on that openly now.”

While some men have qualms about dating a woman who is heavy, others embrace the opportunity to show them there is no division in attraction.

“There is somebody out there that will love every inch of you and will celebrate it every step of the way,” says Traylor.

Sex and Health:

How Intercourse Can Make You Healthier

By Megan Kirk It turns out having relations with a significant other can have benefits to more than just one area of the body. Aside from the happy feelings the act creates, the physical reaction reaches to the innermost workings of the human body. The health benefits of sex extend to heart health, helps boost the immune system and reduces stress.

According to information released by Planned Parenthood, an organization that supports women’s rights and is a health care provider, intercourse is a multi-level system. Extending beyond just physical intimacy, sex includes watching adult films, using toys or having dirty conversations over the phone.

Regardless of the methodology, keeping the body in top condition is key in having a healthy sex life.

“There are definitely health benefits to taking care of the muscles that you’re born with,” says John Beiter, Ph.D., certified sex therapist.

Often used as a tool for stress relief, intimacy shared between two partners can inevitably help to curb tensions. Paired with the physical act, studies have shown it can also help relieve stress and anxiety through the release of oxytocin in the brain, the body’s natural “feel good” hormone. The release of the chemical in the bloodstream also helps partners achieve intense finales as it is directly tied to orgasms.

An argument or disagreement can put a wet blanket on love. A breakdown in communication can create problems in the bedroom and greatly affect the level of intimacy. Maintaining an open mind and acknowledging the needs and desires of your partner are ways to help electrify the moment.

“When people come to see me about a sex problem they’re having, it boils down to communication.

Sex is a biological function and can be used as a stress reliever and increase bonds of intimacy. With that being said, that’s when communication comes in,” says Beiter.

After a night of passion, sleep might be the natural next step. Sex can also help ease insomnia and other issues with sleep. Just as oxytocin is released during the height of the act, prolactin is released afterwards and aids in feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. While these feelings are biological, the feelings can be intensified when mutually shared and expressed. When the needs and desires of both parties are clearly defined and executed, the effects are transferred to their chemical makeup.

“One of the questions you always have to ask is ‘what is sex? How do you define it?’ If it’s just intercourse and climax, that is called goal-oriented sex.

On the other hand, it’s connecting with someone in a way that connects you with your partner,” says Beiter. “[It gets bad] when it’s one-sided, when one person has to have it their way during intercourse.”

For men, multiple releases can help to prevent cancer. The Journal of the American Medical Association published their findings citing men able to reach climax at least 21 times a month are least likely to develop prostate cancer. In women, intercourse helps to improve bladder control. The constant contracting and releasing of the pelvic floor act as crunches for your body creating strong pelvic and vaginal muscles. This can be especially important in conception and childbirth.

As both men and women age, there are some benefits to intercourse that span both genders. Sex is known to lower blood pressure, keep the immune system intact, lower the risk of heart attack and burn calories through activity. Growing older creates a necessity to take overall health seriously, but to especially be keen in caring for the love and reproductive organs.

“Your body changes and it’s learning to accept it.

As you are, it’s that ‘use it or lose it’ perspective. Not in a mechanical way, but maintaining sex and intimacy with your partner,” says Beiter.

While sex can provide a wealth of health, it is important to practice safely and responsibly.

Bottoms Up: Drinks to Liven Up Girls’ Night

By Megan Kirk

the perfect brunch meal. By adding fresh strawberries, Mimosas can be taken to another flavor profile. For the friend in the group that prefers beer, try whipping up a Beermosa. Yes, it is real.

Who doesn’t love a good girls’ night? Complete with gossip, selfies and drinks, girls’ night is just what the bartender ordered. When it’s time to let loose, ladies love variety. Whether wine or beer, shots or cocktails, these eight drinks are sure to liven up any girls’ night.

6. Dirty Shirley: Transfer friends back to their childhood with an adult twist on a kid’s favorite. The Shirley Temple, named for the actress with rosy cheeks and golden blonde curls, is made with ginger ale and cherry syrup, though through time the recipe has developed. The Dirty Shirley takes the same recipe and ramps it up by adding vodka, or your favorite spirit. This drink will be sure to have the girls singing and dancing just like its namesake.

1. Cosmopolitans: Carrie Bradshaw and her legion of gal pals made Cosmos popular. The foursome always ordered a round of this now iconic drink. Simple to create, the right amount of vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime come together for the perfect drink to “cheers” with. Get creative and add a variety of fruit juices in lieu of cranberry for a new spin on a classic blend.

2. Sangria: With the weather heating up, ladies are looking for something light and refreshing to beat the summer heat. Made from red wine and a variety of fruits, sangria is just the drink needed for girls’ night on the patio. Originating in Spain, some recipes call for a Spanish red wine to create the authentic flavor profiles. Garnacha is widely listed as the best wine to use for sangria recipes. Use strawberries, green apples, oranges and blueberries to help bring out the natural flavors of the wine. Add a splash of brandy, and Salud!

3. Margaritas: If girls’ night happens to fall on everyone’s favorite day of the week, Taco Tuesday, then margaritas are the natural drink of choice.

Choosing the right tequila is key in creating the perfect Margarita. Sugar versus salt rims are a real debate and bartenders have been known to use

alternatives like candy, pink Himalayan salt and chili powder on glasses.

Served frozen or on the rocks, Margaritas are a girls’ night staple.

4. Mojitos: Some things are just meant to be and your girlfriends are no exception. That is why a drink with mint as the main ingredient can help show just how friendship is rooted in a good time. Three additional ingredients help to bring the mint to life and create this fresh-breath drink. Rum, lime and a simple syrup is all it takes to shine like a true bartender on any night.

5. Mimosa: Sometimes, girls’ night actually happens during the day.

Sunday brunch has become a staple and no brunch is complete without a round of mimosas. Champagne and orange juice is all that is needed to help put a smile on faces and pair with

7. Moscow Mule: A few copper mugs, vodka and ginger beer are used to make the Moscow Mule. Growing in popularity and drink menus, Mules also contain a splash of lime juice to bring out the flavors. The copper cup helps to keep drinks cold through rounds of games and trivia. Adding fruit can introduce a new taste and keep friends coming back for more.

8. Manhattan: Some girls prefer the rich flavors whiskey provides. For friends who prefer their drinks come from aged barrels, a Manhattan is the perfect way to go. Grabbing a shaker with sweet vermouth and bitters, whiskey is the final touch for this sophisticated drink. Sometimes paired with a cigar, Manhattans are garnished with an olive to add a much-needed salty punch.

Despite the drink of choice for the evening, remember to drink responsibility and consumption is for those 21 and older.

Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com •

July 7-13, 2021

S

FAMILY FEATURES

ummertime, for many, represents an opportunity to enjoy freshly cooked meals while enjoying time outdoors.

Taking your dishes from ordinary to extraordinary starts with chef-inspired recipes that call to mind the flavors of the season.

Whether you’re a steak enthusiast who enjoys nothing more than a tender cut or a summer burger connoisseur looking for a fresh twist on tradition, these recipes call for high-quality beef from Omaha Steaks. Created by Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose, the New York Strips Oscar-Style complement the thick, juicy, marbled flavor of the steaks with sauteed asparagus, bearnaise sauce and jumbo lump crab meat. Or turn your attention to Fried Lobster Po Boy Burgers with pimento remoulade sauce for a tempting way to combine two summertime favorites – seafood and burgers.

Visit OmahaSteaks.com for more summer meal inspiration.

Fried Lobster Po Boy Burgers

Fried Lobster Po Boy Burgers

Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose Prep time: about 20 minutes Cook time: about 20 minutes Servings: 2 Pimento Remoulade: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 1/2 tablespoons minced pimentos

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon minced bread and butter pickles

1 pepperoncino (seeded and minced) 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 dashes hot sauce kosher salt, to taste Fried Lobster Tails: Vegetable oil, for frying 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 large egg

1 tablespoon water

2 dashes hot sauce 1/4 cup potato chips, finely blended in food processor 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon minced flat leaf Italian parsley

2 Omaha Steaks lobster tails (5 ounces each) Cheeseburgers:

1 pound Omaha Steaks premium ground beef salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 brioche buns

2 slices yellow cheddar cheese

3 leaves romaine lettuce, shredded

New York Strips Oscar-Style

To make pimento remoulade: In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, pimentos, mustard, pickles, pepperoncino, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, lemon juice and hot sauce until well incorporated. Season with salt, to taste.

To make fried lobster tails: Preheat grill to 400 F and add oil to 10-inch cast-iron pan about 1/2-inch deep.

In medium bowl, whisk flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 tea­spoon pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika until well incorporated. Set aside.

In separate medium bowl, whisk egg, water and hot sauce. Set aside.

In third medium bowl, whisk potato chips, panko breadcrumbs and parsley until well incorporated. Set aside.

Cut lobster tails in half lengthwise, remove meat from shell and season with remaining kosher salt and black pepper.

Toss halved lobster tails in flour mixture first, egg mixture second then potato chip mixture third, coating thoroughly.

Fry lobster tails 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Close grill lid between flipping.

To make cheeseburgers: Preheat grill to 450 F using direct heat. Form ground beef into two 1/2 pound patties, each about 1/2-inch thick.

Using thumb, make dimple in center of each patty to help cook evenly.

Season both sides of burger with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread butter on each cut side of buns.

Grill burgers 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness.

Add one slice cheddar cheese on each burger, close lid and grill about 30 seconds to melt cheese. Remove patties from grill to clean plate. Place buns cut sides down on grill grates and toast 20-30 sec­onds, or until well toasted, being careful to avoid burning.

To assemble: Place desired remoulade on buns. Place cheese­burgers on bottom buns. Top each with two fried lobster tail halves. Place handful shredded lettuce on lobster tails. Top with buns.

New York Strips Oscar-Style Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose Prep time: about 30 minutes Cook time: about 3 1/2 hours Servings: 4 Sauteed Asparagus: 1/2 pound jumbo asparagus (about 1 bunch), blanched in salted boiling water

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons minced shallots salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste Bearnaise Sauce: 1/4 cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons minced shallots

1 tablespoon chopped tarragon

3 egg yolks

2 tablespoons water, plus additional for boiling, divided

2 dashes hot sauce 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste Jumbo Lump Crab Meat:

1 pound jumbo lump crab meat

2 tablespoons kosher salt New York Strip Steaks:

4 Omaha Steaks Private Reserve or Butcher’s Cut New York Strips (10 ounces each) salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste water

4 tablespoons grapeseed oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 garlic cloves

2 fresh thyme sprigs

To make asparagus: Cut asparagus stalks into 1/4-inch pieces. Heat large pan over mediumhigh heat and add olive oil.

Add garlic and shallots to pan; lightly saute about 20 seconds, or until fragrant.

Add asparagus to pan; saute about 2 minutes until lightly browned. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

To make bearnaise sauce: In small saucepan, bring vinegar, shallots and tarragon to boil then reduce to simmer 3-4 minutes until reduced by about half. Cool to room temperature.

Bring medium pot half full of water to slow boil.

In small bowl, whisk egg yolks, vinegar reduction, water and hot sauce until well incorporated.

Place bowl over pot of boiling water and continue whisking ingredients until it starts to emulsify and becomes sauce-like. Alternate whisking on and off heat every 30 seconds to prevent eggs from scrambling.

Gradually add melted butter, continuously whisking until sauce becomes rich with ribbony consistency and sets up. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. If too thick, add 1 tablespoon water at a time and whisk to desired consistency.

To make crab meat: In medium bowl, lightly toss crab meat with salt until well coated.

To make steaks: Pat steaks dry with paper towels and season heavily with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring steaks to room temperature.

Place sous vide immersion circulator in pot of water and set to 5 F below target doneness.

Place seasoned steaks in sous vide bag or zip-top bag and cook 2 hours.

Remove bag and remove steaks from bag. Pat steaks dry with paper towels.

Warm large cast-iron pan over high heat and add oil. Add steaks, butter, garlic cloves and thyme leaves. After about 1 minute, steaks should start to brown.

Flip steaks and baste with butter until caramelized. Remove steaks from pan and rest 7-8 minutes.

To assemble: Place asparagus on bottom of plate. Top with steaks (whole or sliced), crab meat and bearnaise sauce.

Classifieds

July 7-13, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PUBLIC NOTICE ACCURACY TEST Notice is hereby given, that the City of Highland Park will be conducting a Public Accuracy Test for the Special Municipal Primary Election being held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Clerk’s training room (lower level) located:

Robert B. Blackwell Municipal Complex 12050 Woodward Ave. Highland Park, MI 48203

Six Things You Should Be Asking Your Pharmacist…But Aren’t

The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to tabulate the votes cast at the election meets the requirements of law.

(StatePoint) An estimated 4.5 billion prescriptions will be filled this year in the United States, with about half of consumers taking at least one prescription medication over the past 30 days.

BRENDA GREEN CITY CLERK CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK

“You’d think we would be better at communicating with our pharmacists – just as we do with our other health care providers, like doctors, nurses, and dentists,” says Susan Peppers, R.Ph., vice president of Pharmacy Practice at Express Scripts Pharmacy.

“Unfortunately, it’s just not the case.”

In fact, a JD Power study shows that only 10% of people talk to a pharmacist when ordering or receiving

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP WANTED

Announcement – Invitation to Bid

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Employment Opportunity

Date: 7/7/21 Cornerstone Education Group is soliciting competitive bids from Providers of Telecenter U ® School Communication Systems

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFPs for Vehicle Wash Systems for the Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Terminals, Control No. 21-3391. RFP forms may be obtained beginning July 7, 2021, from http://www.mitn.info. RFPs are due by 3:00 PM ET, August 6, 2021.

CITY OF EASTPOINTE

BID DUE DATE: Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 10:00 am EST US PROJECT NAME: RFP#5076-399 Telecenter U ® School Communication System PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Provide and install complete Telecenter U Communication System for (3) three District locations with infrastructure at two locations to support system and network components for data, voice, video, paging communication, wireless, and security.

BID PLATFORM: Bid Documents can be found on DemandStar www.demandstar.com If you are interested in bidding, please contact Grant Heugel, Director of Operations.

Email: grant.heugel@cegschools.org Phone: 248-268-8532

HELP WANTED

Director of Public Spaces Operations

Downtown Detroit Partnership is seeking a strong, experienced and visionary candidate to direct DDP public space logistics. The Director of Public Spaces Operations is a senior level management position responsible for park operations, management, visitor experience, programming and placemaking logistics for the DDP’s public spaces. Other responsibilities include, ensuring ground operations exceed visitor expectations and that the organization continues to create innovative strategies and initiatives, directing and supporting vendors and managing relationships with municipal and funding partners. Our public spaces serve as platforms of engagement and entertainment for Detroit residents, visitors, Downtown employees, and businesses and reflect historic, contemporary and unique spaces spread over 9 acres that attract millions of visitors annually through a wide array of cultural events and programming.

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications should submit a resume and cover letter to resumes@downtowndetroit.org with the subject: Director, Public Spaces Operations. This is a full time position with on-site presence required in our spaces spread across Downtown Detroit, and includes occasional nights and weekends.

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Create &modify test cases based on functional specs, DFMEAs &FMEAs. Dvlp simulation panels using CANoe &CANalyzer tools for bench level validation. Master, Computer Science, Computer Engrg, Electrical Engrg, or related. 24 mos exp as Engineer, integrating, &validating psgr vehicle Telematics &Infotainment syss SW &In Vehicle SW apps incldg apps OTA updates, using CANoe &CANalyzer tools, or related. Mail resume to Ref#1916, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

HELP WANTED

Civil Engineer SEMCOG seeks detail-oriented civil engineer, with experience in underground infrastructure issues. More information at www.semcog.org/careers.

EOE

Planner SEMCOG seeks self-motivated planner, with working ­knowledge of environmental planning priorities. More information at www.semcog.org/careers.

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Court Administrator Under the general direction of the Chief Judge, manages all administrative functions of the Court. Directs staff responsible for the processing of traffic, civil and criminal cases, assist coordination of court security and fulfilling other non-judicial functions.

To review the job description and to apply, please visit our Employment Opportunities web page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/eastpointemi

Employment Opportunity

CITY OF EASTPOINTE Supervisor of Public Works & Service

Under the supervision of the D ­ irector of DPW, assists in developing the day-to-day work assignments for the department and oversees field personnel and activities. Schedules and trains workers, inspects work sites, discusses and resolves public works and services issues with the public, maintains safety standards and evaluates work output and performance.

To review the job description and to apply, please visit our Employment Opportunities web page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/eastpointemi

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• Could this medication interact with my vitamins and supplements? Nonprescription medications and supplements can interfere with your prescription or cause unnecessary side effects. Talk to a pharmacist about all the medications you take, especially when you are prescribed any new medication.

• I’m taking multiple meds.

What do I need to know? If you are on multiple medications for one or more chronic conditions you should speak with a pharmacist any time there is a change to your medication regimen to check for potential drug-drug interactions, medication overlap or gaps in care.

• What should I do if I forget to take my medication?

Always consult with your prescriber on what to do if this happens. Having access to your pharmacist 24/7 is particularly important when you forget to take a dosage at the scheduled time. He or she can help you get back on track so that you get the full benefits of your medication. Having access to your pharmacist from the privacy of your home is another great reason to look for this 24/7 convenience.

• Could this prescription make me unsteady on my feet?

Some medications can make you dizzy or drowsy, and there are other hazards in the home that can cause a fall, especially as one ages and needs to get up frequently during the night.

A pharmacist can provide home safety tips to avoid an accident.

• I sometimes forget to take my meds. What’s a reminder that works? Taking medications regularly can help avoid complications. When having trouble remembering to take your medications, turn to pharmacists, who can suggest tech solutions that will work for you, such as reminder apps.

They can also help you manage side effects you may be having and identify alternatives that you can discuss with your prescriber, when needed.

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their medications. Pharmacists at Express Scripts Pharmacy were asked what are the top six questions patients should be asking their pharmacists, but don’t. Their answers offer insights into why we should take the time to ask these questions and why pharmacists play an important role in our health care.

Call (313) 963-5522

• Is there a more affordable option for my prescription?

If you are having trouble affording your medication, your pharmacists can help with more affordable options and recommendations, such as generics or less expensive formulary options.

For more tips and resources, visit www.esrx.com/AskYourPharmacist.

“When it comes to whole-person care, pharmacists play a major role in the equation,” says Peppers. “Communicating with your pharmacist regularly can help reduce the chance of complications related to your medications.

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• michiganchronicle.com • July 7-13, 2021

Keeping You Informed Away or at Home.

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