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Vol. 108 No. 2

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JANUARY 11-17, 2017

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PAT bus changes create State to close two prisons headaches for some riders Decision expected Jan. 26

by Christian Morrow

rear. Unfortunately, his bicycle was still lashed to the front of the bus when it Though changes in the pulled away. Luckily, he got Port Authority of Allegheny the driver’s attention and County’s fare system went didn’t have to run to the into effect Jan. 1, most com- next stop.

One driver on the 51 muters didn’t experience them right away because, Carrick route said while for them, Monday, Jan. 2 pay-enter does deter the freeloaders, the rear-exit was a holiday.

By many accounts, Jan. 3 can be a problem, especially at night and for elderly was anything but.

One such commuter on riders.

“I could be letting somethe 14 Ohio Valley bus was perfectly fine until— one off in a snow drift, or on a hill,” he said. “That should just be for Downtown stops only.”

That policy is also creating longer waits for buses during the evening outbound rush--and obviating the advantages of the longer segmented buses to take on a lot of passengers at once.

CHANGE IS GOOD—David Cook says PAT chang- Such delays ing to pay-enter for buses and the T, and elimi- are further nating the 2-zone fare are beneficial changes to exacerbated transit system. (Photos by J.L. Martello) when long lines of ridthanks to new rules re- ers have to wait for one or quiring “pay-enter” at the more wheelchair users, and PAYING MORE—Ilea Washington waits at her bus stop Downtown for a ride that costs $2 more per day than it did in December because she pays cash and paper front door, and exit at the SEE PAT A4 transfers have been eliminated. back—he had to exit in the Courier Staff Writer

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Just days after announcing it was seeking qualified providers to offer specialized re-entry services for inmates being released, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced it will close two of its State Correctional Institutions by June 30.

In a Jan. 6 press announcement, Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said the two closures would be selected from a list that includes the Pittsburgh, Mercer, Frackville, Retreat and Waymart facilities, and is being made because of a declining prison population and to save money.

“From the day I got in this job, every single lawmaker I’ve talked to has complained about corrections spending,” Wetzel said. “We’ve gone through a process where we’ve systematically… reduced our prison population. The way you save money in corrections is to close prisons.”

The state currently houses about JOHN WETZEL 49,000 inmates in 26 state prisons, down from a height of nearly 52,000 in 27 prisons in 2012.

The department closed its Cresson and Greensburg prisons, and opened a new one, Benner, in 2013. The system, Wetzel said, now operates at 87 percent of capacity. The closures would bump that up to 92 percent, with nearly 1,000 inmates being moved to its Camp Hill facility.

The state will also shutter its GraterSEE PRISONS A4

BMe awards TIFs yield $1.4M Pittsburgh police to send 15 Perry $40,000 in new tax revenue officers to Trump inauguration to recognize youth genius The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh has announced that thanks to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) debt being paid early, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools will begin receiving nearly $1.4 million in excess revenue.

The TIF, established to renovate the historic Fulton Building, Downtown, is being paid off more then two years earlier than scheduled. The URA board will vote to beSEE TIFS A4

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pittsburgh City Council has preliminarily approved sending 15 police officers to Washington D.C., for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The officers will be deputized as U.S. marshals and provide security along the parade route where some 1 million people are expected on Jan. 20. The government asked for 20 officers, but that wasn’t possible given staffing requirements in the city. More than 50 officers volunteered and those

going were selected based on seniority.

The federal government is reimbursing the city and is covering other expenses, including insurance.

The officers will leave Jan. 18 and return Jan. 21.

Council gave a preliminary OK last Wednesday and is expected to approve the move at a final vote on Jan. 10.

About 3,200 officers from across the country are expected to help at the inauguration.

Porter placed on leave following South Side arrest Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter has been placed on leave after he was arrested on the South Side following the team’s wild-card win over the Miami Dolphins, the Steelers announced Jan. 9 afternoon.

The incident occurred Jan. 8, just hours after the Steelers defeated the Dolphins 30-12 in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

Porter reportedly became angry when a doorman at The Flats on Carson Street wouldn’t let him in to at-

tend a party he’d been invited to.

Police said they received a call about a man assaulting the doorman. When they arrived, they identified the man as Porter, who is the Steelers linebackers coach and a former player for the team.

The doorman reportedly told Porter, “Last time you were here, you threatened to kill me. You need to leave.”

The police report said that Porter lunged at the doorman, grabbed him by the arms and lifted him off the ground. Police and people

with Porter intervened, and Porter dropped the man, according to the complaint.

He then grabbed an officer’s wrists and would not let go. When Porter released his grip, the officer called for backup and arrested Porter.

Porter, 39, was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest and public drunkenness.

Porter was arraigned and JOEY PORTER, Steelers’ assistant coach, will not be on the sideline for the Kansas City Chiefs SEE PORTER A4 game. (AP Photo)

Pittsburgh Courier

Lauren Victoria Burke says

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PITTSBURGH, PA.—BMe Community, One North Side, Ya Momz House, Inc. and Pittsburgh Perry High School leadership are launching an impactful program that will recognize and champion the innovative ideas of North Side youth.

Pittsburgh Perry students wrote thoughtful proposals about a business idea that they wish to see or create on the North Side. The 40 student-led projects will be awarded up to $1K to complete their project in the North Side community.

The North Side Narratives program will be implemented throughout 2017 and is being led by BMe Pittsburgh’s Community Manager Harry Johnson II, BMe Leader and Emmy-Award winner Emmai Alaquiva, and Ya Momz House, Inc. Executive Vice President Victoria Snyder.

The program has gained the support of Pittsburgh Perry faculty and the backing of its new Principal James Cooper, who believes the experimental learning program has the perfect components needed to help foster creativity, leadership and service within student body.

Pittsburgh Perry High School and the Community College of Allegheny County have partnered to implement a dual enrollment entrepreneurship course for three credit hours for the student led projects chosen and supported by the North Side Narratives selection committee.

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Senate Dems slammed for failing to hire minorities Opinion B5

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INTERNATIONAL

JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

ANC LEADER—South African president Jacob Zuma attends the ruling African National Congress (ANC) 105th anniversary celebrations in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday Jan. 8. (AP Photo/Yeshiel Panchia)

‘We have made mistakes,’ South Africa president tells party

by Stuart Graham Associated Press Writer

SOWETO, South Africa (AP)—South Africa’s scandal-ridden president said Sunday the ruling party has made “mistakes” and is determined to root out the corruption that is destroying the country’s democracy, as a shaken African National Congress begins looking for a new leader before the next election in 2019.

President Jacob Zuma tried to rally the ANC at its 105th anniversary celebration after a year in which the party saw its worst election showing since taking power a generation ago at the end of

white minority rule.

Many blame the 74-yearold Zuma, who in November escaped a move by senior party members to oust him as president. Zuma faces the reinstatement of corruption charges linked to an arms deal and has been accused of allowing a wealthy family to influence state decisions, among other scandals.

“When leaders and members of the ANC are corrupt and steal they are betraying the values of the ANC, the people and our country. We will not allow this,” Zuma said to a stadium of thousands of party faithful.

South Africa’s move last year to leave the Inter-

Doctors Without Borders giving food to Boko Haram refugees

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)— Doctors Without Borders says it has given food to 26,000 families taking refuge from Boko Haram Islamic extremists in northeast Nigeria’s biggest city, stepping outside its traditional medical role to try to prevent more children dying.

A statement Saturday says people are “in desperate need” and other organizations are not stepping up.

U.N. agencies and private charities operate in Maiduguri city alongside government agencies being investigated for corruption in food distribution. Refugees have almost doubled the population of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, to 2.5 million.

The United Nations last month appealed for $1 billion to tackle Africa’s worst humanitarian crisis in which 5.1 million refugees face.

national Criminal Court, after former President Nelson Mandela was a passionate advocate for the court’s creation, led critics to again say the ANC had drifted from its earlier ideals. Meanwhile, anger grows over high unemployment, a weak education system and poor delivery of basic services in a country that jostles with Nigeria to be Africa’s leading economy.

“Our people have told us that we come across as too busy fighting one another and do not pay sufficient attention to their needs,” Zuma said. “We must give our people hope. We must unite against our common enemies, which are unemployment, poverty and inequality.”

The country’s next presidential elections are in 2019. An ANC conference in December will determine who will succeed Zuma as party leader—and likely as president, as the party has never lost the general election since it took power in 1994.

But the party is under growing pressure from the opposition. In August’s municipal elections, the rival Democratic Alliance reached beyond its political stronghold in the Cape region to win control of the capital region and Johannesburg for the first time.

Neither of the two people seen as the likely candidates to succeed Zuma as ANC leader, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and African Union Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has declared their intention to run.

The ANC’s Women’s League has announced its support for Dlamini-Zuma, who is also President Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife. In his speech Sunday, Zuma made a point of saying that the focus this year is on empowering women.

(Associated Press videographer Renee Graham contributed.)

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For the week of Jan. 11-17 January 11 1965—The extraordinarily talented author and dramatist Lorraine Hansberry dies. Deeply committed to the Black struggle, Hansberry’s brilliant career was cut short by cancer. She was only 35. Her primary works included “A Raisin In The Sun” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” “A Raisin In The Sun” became the first play written by a young Black woman to be produced on Broadway.

1971—Popular R&B singer Mary J. Blige is born on this day in the Bronx, N.Y. Blige starred in the Lifetime movie “Betty and Coretta” alongside Angela Bassett, Malik Yoba and Lindsay Owen Pierre. She played Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X. The film premiered in February 2013.

LORRAINE HANSBERRY 1988—Scientists (paleo-anthropologists) announce the discovery of the “African Eve”—the mother of all humankind.

Based on research in East African involving mitochondrial DNA, the researchers from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford, England, conclude that the original woman evolved in East Africa approximately 200,000 years ago and that all of humanity can ultimately trace their ancestry to this woman. However, some more recent studies suggest that humankind first evolved in Southern Africa.

January 12 1890—Educator Mordecai Wyatt Johnson is born in Paris, Texas. Johnson became the first Black president of Howard University and presided over the prestigious Black institution for more than 30 years. He died in 1976.

1920—Civil rights leader James Farmer is born on this day in Marshal, Texas. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s he was among the top three or four most prominent civil rights leaders. He helped organize the “Freedom Rides” to help desegregate public transportation and founded the Congress of Racial Equality. He died in 1999.

January 13 JAMES FARMER 1869—On this day in 1869, one of the earliest post-Civil War attempts at organizing Blacks on a national level occurs. The National Convention of Black Leaders is held in Washington, D.C. Frederick Douglass is elected president.

Also, the first Black labor union convention takes place. It was called the Convention of the Colored National Labor Union.

1913—The sorority Delta Sigma Theta is organized on the campus of Howard University by 22 coeds. It develops into one of the most prestigious and influential Black Greek letter organizations in the nation.

1953—Don Barksdale becomes the first African-American to play in an NBA AllStar game.

1966—Robert C. Weaver becomes the first Black member of a presidential cabinet.

Lyndon B. Johnson appoints him Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

1987—In what many considered a racist decision, Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham rescinds the gubernatorial decree, which had established the birthday of civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. as a state holiday. The decision sets off protests and a national Black boycott of Arizona.

1989—Poet Sterling Brown dies. Brown, a middle-class Black, born into one of Washington, D.C.’s, most prominent Black families, has probably never received full credit for the power, thought-provoking and even revolutionary nature of his poetry. He was a professor at Howard University for nearly 40 years.

1999—Superstar Michael Jordan retires from professional basketball. However, in 2009, Jordan was still ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the top 10 richest Blacks in America.

January 14 1895—A group of African-Americans organized the National Steamboat Co. in Washington, D.C. The group sailed the luxury steamer “George Leary” between the nation’s capital and Norfolk, Va., during the waning years of steamboat popularity in America.

The George Leary was a triumph for Black entry into business.

1930—Ernest Just becomes vice president of the American Association of Zoologists.

Just was perhaps the most noted Black zoologist in American history. He accomplished pioneering research in fertilization and cell division while also publishing more than 70 scientific papers and books. Born in Charleston, S.C., he was a brilliant student who graduated from Dartmouth magna cum laude. He taught at Howard University in Washington, D.C., for years and helped a group of students organize the Black Greek letter fraternity—Omega Psi Phi. Just died in 1941 of pancreatic cancer.

1972—“Sanford and Son” starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson premiers on NBC. The sitcom gains almost immediate popularity among Blacks as well as develop a large following of Whites. The name “Sanford” came from John Sanford—Redd Foxx’s real name.

January 15 1908—Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Black Greek letter sorority, is founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle of St. Louis, Mo. The sorority gradually branched out to other campuses and became one of the leading organizational vehicles for college-trained Black women to make their mark on American society.

‘SANFORD AND SON’ 1929—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the man who was to become America’s greatest civil rights hero, was born on this day in 1929. Actually, his original given name was “Michael,” but it was later changed to Martin. He first rose to national prominence as the country’s premier civil rights leader when he successfully led the 1955-1956 Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott by Blacks angered by the arrest of Rosa Parks for her refusal to give up her seat on a city bus to a White man. In 1957, King was elected to head the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which became the leading organization of the civil rights era. Between 1957 and 1968, he traveled more than six million miles, gave more than 2,500 speeches, was arrested more than 20 times, and physically assaulted at least four times—all on behalf of civil rights for American Blacks. Perhaps his most famous speech was the “I Have A Dream” speech given before a crowd of 250,000 during the March on Washington Aug. 28, 1963. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and the nation now celebrates his birth as a national holiday on the third Monday of each January. But during his life, King also became the target of a massive FBI operation that some feel indirectly paved the way for his assassination in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968. During his “I Have A Dream” speech, King summarized the purpose of the march and the Civil Rights Movement: “But 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.

And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.”

1961—One of the original super groups—The Supremes—signed with Black record company Motown on this day in 1961. The name was later changed to Diana Ross and the Supremes and the R&B singers rocketed to international fame.

January 16 1901—Hiram R. Revels, the first African-American elected to the United States Senate, died on this day in Aberdeen, Miss. Revels, a politician, minister and educator was of Black and Cherokee descent.

1920—Zeta Phi Beta sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., by five socially conscious Black women. It became one of the nation’s leading Black sororities. It was founded as a sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

1950—Dancer-producer Debbie Allen is born on this day in Houston, Texas. She is perhaps best known for her work on the 1982 musical-drama television series “Fame,” where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series’ principal choreographer. She is the younger sister of actress/director/singer Phylicia Rashad.

January 17 1759—Paul Cuffee is born near Dartmouth, Mass. He was one of the most prominent Blacks of the 1700s. Born of a Black father and an Indian mother, Cuffee grew wealthy as a whaling captain, ship builder and merchant. He was an ardent fighter for Black rights and built the first integrated school in the state. But in his later years he became frustrated with the slow progress for Black freedom and began to support a program calling for free Blacks to return to Africa and build a nation of their own. He actually financed and helped a small group of Blacks establish a base in the West African nation of Sierra Leone in 1815. His program ended with his death in 1818.

1874—Armed and racist Whites violently seize control of the Texas state government, bringing an end to Reconstruction and to post-Civil War Black rights and gains in the state. Actually, when it became clear that President Andrew Johnson was a friend of the old South and had no intention of enforcing rights for Blacks, Texas-style armed revolts took place in several Southern states in which integrated governments were violently and illegally driven from office.

1927—Multi-lingual singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt is born in a small plantation town called North, S.C. But when abandoned by her mother because her second husband did not want to raise a mixed-race child, she was raised by an aunt in New York City. Kitt became a star of stage and screen, including playing the role of Cat Woman in the Batman television series. The U.S. entertainment industry would not touch her for nearly 10 years after a 1968 White House luncheon during which she angered President Lyndon Johnson’s wife by criticizing the war in Vietnam. Kitt died in December 2008 at the age of 81.

1931—Stage and screen actor James Earl Jones is born on this day in Tate County, Miss. Ironically, you cannot tell from his deep baritone voice today that he had a stuttering problem as a child.

NATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

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Congressional Black Caucus to be more aggressive under Trump

by Jesse J. Holland Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP)—For almost eight years, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus existed in the shadow of the first Black president. They praised President Barack Obama’s achievements while at the same time pushing him to do more for their constituents who overwhelmingly supported his history-making campaign and administration.

But with Obama set to leave the White House on Jan. 20, Black lawmakers in the House and Senate are recalculating and reassessing their place in Washington. And realizing they’re regaining the limelight as the most visible and powerful African-American politicians in the nation’s capital.

President-elect Donald Trump will face a larger and more aggressive caucus, which will advocate for positions with “a bit more force,” said Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., a longtime member. “Without President Obama being in office, there will be more forceful articulation vis a vis administration policy.”

To the outgoing caucus chairman, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., “The consequences are too enormous for us to be indecisive.”

There are more Black lawmakers in Congress than ever: 49 African-American men and women were sworn in Tuesday, including Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., just the second Black female senator. Also serving on Capitol Hill are the first Indian-American senator, 38 Hispanic lawmakers, including Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, the first Latina senator, and 15 Asian-Americans.

The caucus never had a perfect relationship with Obama, and several powerful members initially backed Hillary Clinton

BLACK LEADERSHIP—More than 75 percent of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus have Black Chiefs of Staff. This photo was taken during a recent CBC press conference outside of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA) during Obama’s first run for president in 2008.

Black lawmakers did help turn out the largest number of African-American voters in modern history for Obama’s two presidential campaigns; African-Americans voted at a higher rate than non-Hispanic whites in 2012, 66.2 percent versus 64.1 percent. But those lawmakers felt disappointed when Obama did not focus as much as they would have liked on issues their minority constituents valued: criminal justice and policing, minority representation on the Supreme Court and other high offices, bringing jobs and industry to rural

and inner city areas.

“We didn’t make President Obama step to us all the time. We have to make leaders do their work, they’re not going to do it because they are essentially well intentioned. They have to be pushed,” said Julianne Malveaux, economist and author of “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy.”

Caucus members said they walked a delicate line, wanting to get behind the first Black president but also promoting their own priorities, which didn’t always seem to be on White House’s front burner.

“There are times in which you’d like to go further than where the administra-

the school.

The Inaugural Committee’s announcement last month had ignited passionate debate on the campus and around the nation.

In announcing that the Talladega College Marching Tornadoes will participate, Hawkins said the lessons students can learn from the experience cannot be taught in a classroom.

“We respect and appreciate how our students and alumni feel about our participation in this parade,” Hawkins said in a

statement Thursday.

“As many of those who chose to participate in the parade have said, we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event but a civil ceremony celebrating the transfer of power,” Hawkins added.

The announcement followed several days of intense debate on social media.

Some people voiced strong opposition, while others said it would be a good opportunity to perform in the parade.

Talladega bills itself as Alabama’s oldest

tion appears to be going, but at the same time you also want to appear and be as supportive as you can possibly be,” Davis said.

Republicans now control Congress and the White House, and Black lawmakers, most of whom are Democrats, are left to figure out how to oppose and work with the new administration and the majority party on Capitol Hill.

“We find ourselves facing a very difficult political and legislative environment unlike any we have ever seen before,” said Butterfield, as the caucus met at the Warner Theatre for a ceremonial swearing-in event this Jan. 3.

Obama’s departure will refocus attention on the caucus, said Fredrick Harris, a Columbia University political science professor and director of its Center on African-American Politics and Society.

With Trump as president, “The CBC will be even more vocal than they were during the Obama era when their voices were muted by the Obama White House and their surrogates who pushed back on criticism that the president was not paying enough attention to racial issues,” Harris said.

Todd Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina, thinks Obama may leave the caucus in a better position that it was before he became president. Many people thought Obama’s election heralded an end to racial politics and the need for groups such as the caucus, Shaw said.

“In some ways, there may be recognition now, even after Obama, that we are not saved,” Shaw said.

(Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press. Contact him at jholland(at) ap.org, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ jessejholland or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland.)

Historically Black college: Talladega College Band will march at Trump’s inauguration

by Jeff Martin Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP)—The marching band of a historically Black college in Alabama will perform in President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inaugural parade, despite a barrage of criticism, the school’s president announced Thursday.

Talladega College President Billy Hawkins confirmed what the Presidential Inaugural Committee had announced Dec. 30. It was the first official word from

private, historically Black liberal arts college.

The college traces its beginnings to 1865, when two former slaves pledged to provide a school for the children of former slaves of the community. The school was founded two years later, in 1867, according to historical accounts on its website.

Talladega will join about a half-dozen other college bands, at least eight high school bands and several military groups that have been announced for the parade lineup so far.

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METRO

JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Wheatley heads Finance Committee HA R R I SB UR G— State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, said he will again take a leadership role in the General Assembly with his reappointment as Democratic chairman of the House Finance Committee.

“I am eager to use this opportunity to reassess where we are as a commonwealth as it relates to our tax policy and what we envision Pennsylvania to be in 5 to 10 years,” said Wheatley, who was sworn in to his eighth term representing the 19th Legislative District.

Wheatley said righting Pennsylvania’s fiscal ship, LEARNING THE NEW SYSTEM––People getting on in the front of the bus and off in the back. (Photo including faltering revenues and credit ratings

by J.L. Martello) and a growing budget deficit, will require leadership, new ideas and compromise.

PAT changes creates headaches CONTINUED FROM A1

cash customers.

The T system is now entirely cashless. But cash customers on PAT buses have their own set of complaints; mainly that––with the elimination of paper transfers––they are being shafted.

Under the old system, if someone wanted to ride from the New Pittsburgh Courier offices into Downtown for a quick errand, they could pay $2.50 for the ride and $1 for a transfer, with the round trip cost being $3.50. Now, cash riders pay $2.75 for each trip adding up to $5.50.

The flip side is that riders using Connect Cards still ride for $2.50 and can get a $1 transfer––they can also load the cards with a set amount of money or buy

monthly, weekly and even $7 daily passes.

And with the elimination of the 2-zone fare system, long commute riders get a substantial discount on passes––$25 per week instead of $37.50. The cash penalty was designed in an effort to force bus riders to use the connect card system. But until the Authority has more retail locations and more kiosks at stops where customers can get and load the cards, low-income cash customers–– about 20 percent of PAT’s ridership––will continue to pay more.

Ilea Washington, who rides from Homewood to her job at 7-11 on Liberty Avenue, isn’t happy about it.

“I guess it’s good because people can’t bypass the bus

Porter placed on leave CONTINUED FROM A1

posted $25,000 bond early Monday morning. He was released from jail.

On Jan. 9, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Porter had been placed on leave.

“We are continuing to gather information concerning Sunday night’s incident involving Joey Porter. We have been and will continue to be in communication with the NFL as is required by the Personal Conduct Policy,” he said in

a press statement.

“Pending further review, Joey Porter has been placed on leave. At this time, we will move forward with our preparations for the Divisional Round playoff game at Kansas City.”

The arresting officer, who was working an off-duty detail upon being called to assist at The Flats, was wearing a body camera, but it wasn’t turned on until the altercation was nearly over, according to court documents.

ADMINISTRATION CAROL LYNN GREER

Director of Human Resources Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Lynn received her bachelor of science in communication at Clarion State University in 1980, where as an undergrad she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. During her time at the university Lynn was very active in her sorority and participated on the Black Student council. She was honored with outstanding Junior and Senior by the council in 1979 and 1980.

Now married to Charles Anthony Greer Sr., Director of Union Organization for Sheet Metal Local 12, Lynn is also the proud mother of William McGhee and Brittany McGhee and stepmother to Charles, Ashley and Olivia.

As a seasoned HR professional, with over 30 years’ experience and a masters in human resources from Saint Francis University, Lynn has used her expertise in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, public housing and various non-profit organizations; including her current leadership role at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. She has been a member of the international Society for Human Resources Management since 2007, the local Pittsburgh Human Resources chapter and the Pittsburgh Association for Human Resources Professionals.

As Director of Human Resources at the Pittsburgh Zoo she was recognized

by Pittsburgh Urban Media in their Black History Salute in February of this year. Lynn is proud of the fact that twice she has come to an organization as the human resources manager and been promoted to director, as a newly created position; at the Zoo and the Allegheny County Housing Authority.

At the Zoo Lynn has responsibility for all areas of HR which include benefits, recruitment, employee and labor relations. Employee and labor relations are the specialties she enjoys most; working through issues and coming up with solutions that will work to the benefit of the organization and employees when possible.

Lynn’s outside interests and distractions include being a league bowler for over 30 years, making the final table at Texas hold’em poker, playing candy crush, being part of the congregation at Pilgrim Baptist Church and vacationing in Las Vegas and Aruba as often as she can.

(This is a clarification of Carol Lynn Greer’s bio. A rewrite contained inaccuracies in the bio in the Women of Excellence special section. The New Pittsburgh Courier regrets the errors.)

for free, but it’s bad because you’re paying $5.50 for a ride that used to be $3.50.

It’s hard enough for me to get on the bus as it is,” she said. “Not everybody has access to Connect Cards where they live, and without paper transfers, you’re messing with money that shouldn’t be messed with.

I mean times are hard. I don’t think it was thought out very well.”

Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said another problem that arose that first day was that people who had paper tickets– good for one- and two-zone rides––hadn’t exchanged them for credit on Connect Cards, despite being told for months they could not be used beginning Jan. 1.

‘People were lined up out the door and onto the sidewalk (at the Service Center on Smithfield Street),” he said.

David Cook, a retired chef from Ingram, said he thinks the changes are good.

“Pay-enter at the front is good because people getting in on the back tend to get over on the bus drivers––if they get on in front, you can tell if they pay or not,” he said. But I think it does hurt low-income people who can’t get a connect cards. Overall, I like the changes. I think they’re good. The best part is having one zone for everything—it saves people money.”

monwealth and its citizens,” Wheatley said. “I acknowledge the challenges ahead, pledge to seek bipartisan solutions and thank House leadership for their vote of trust in reappointing me to the chairmanship.”

The House Finance Committee oversees matters relating to taxation and fiscal policy, investment of the commonwealth’s money and regulations of the Department of Revenue.

JAKE WHEATLEY “I am committed to modernizing our tax policies so that we have the revenues necessary to maintain, grow and advance our com-

State to close two prisons CONTINUED FROM A1

ford facility in Montgomery County when the new Phoenix State Prison, being built alongside, opens.

Wetzel said the state would also be reducing its halfway house capacity from about 3,000 to 1,500. He citied statistics showing inmates who spent time in halfway houses, even those considered low-risk, had higher rates of recidivism than those released directly into the community.

The “Invitations To Qualify” as a re-entry service provider, issued by the Department Jan. 4, seek not only address the need for housing assistance, but also a comprehensive range of reintegration services including drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, family reunification, mentoring and job training.

As for correction employees, Wetzel said the closings could affect upwards of 800 employees, but he added that all would be offered positions within the system. Of the prisons being considered, SCI Pittsburgh is the largest and would generate an estimated $81 million in annual

savings. It currently houses 1,921 inmates and employs 555.

In a separate statement also released Jan. 6, Gov. Tom Wolf said spending money on education, job creation and social services can take priority over correction without sacrificing safety because of reductions in the inmate population.

“The DOC believes we are able to close prisons without security risk because of the historic reduction in the inmate population and crime is down. By investing in the things that make Pennsylvania a better place —like reducing recidivism and improving our schools —we can ensure the longterm prosperity and safety of our commonwealth,” Wolf said.

“I chose to invest in schools—not prisons—because it’s both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. The future of Pennsylvania depends on making investments in what works and I’ll do everything I can to ensure we’re investing in all our kids and their futures.”

The department will announce the two facilities selected for closure Jan. 26.

BMe awards Perry $40,000

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The student participants will be given the opportunity to share their ideas and community building project on film with Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Emmai Alaquiva.

Students will also receive engaging mentorship, leadership development training, field trips and exposure to remarkable entrepreneurs and business leaders affiliated with the national and local BMe Community.

Students will use their $1K mini-grant to startup new concepts, businesses and services that will help build a more caring and prosperous North Side.

North Side Narratives wants local community engagement and will host a “pitch fair” to be held in February featuring the 40 student groups chosen to implement their projects.

HARRY JOHNSON II The community will be invited to view their ideas, and have an opportunity to sign up and support this powerful program.

BMe Community is a movement inspired by Black men to build a more caring and prosperous America together.

Since 2013 BMe’s 40,000 members have helped themselves and 2-million others to improve their health, wealth, hope and communities.

BMe is backed by individual donors and leading foundations, including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, the Buhl Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.

TIFs yield $1.4M in new tax revenue CONTINUED FROM A1

gin the process of dissolving the TIF District at its regular meeting on Jan. 12.

The Fulton Building TIF District was established in 1999 to provide financing towards the historic renovation and reuse of the iconic, but blighted 13-story structure in the Cultural District. The $43.4 million improvements included a $3.5 million TIF note devoted primarily to the historic restoration of the exterior façade.

Prior to the TIF, the Fulton Building generated $63,819 in tax revenue, annually. The taxing bodies will now receive $884,399 annually in tax revenue, a $491,410 annual increase over the next two years as

a result of the early dissolution of the TIF. In 1999, the assessed real estate value of the site was $1,242,800.

Today, the property is assessed at $39,878,400.

“This project represents another example of how the economic development tool of tax increment financing yields multiple wins,” said URA Acting Executive Director Robert Rubinstein in a Jan. 10 press release.

“A catalytic, historic structure was brought back to life, and in the process, generated new jobs and dramatically increased tax revenues for the taxing bodies.”

The project also created, 175 –on-site jobs and preserved the 111-year-old, historic landmark in the

downtown Pittsburgh skyline.

Additionally, the Penn Liberty Plaza TIF established in December 1995 to facilitate construction of the $33 million Grant Street Transportation Center expired Oct. 31, 2016. The project created an intermodal transportation facility includes 1,000 parking spaces and the Greyhound Lines Bus Terminal on the first floor. In 1995, the assessed real estate value of the site was $822,320.

Today, the property value is more that 20 times higher, having been most recently assessed at $18.8 million. The annual tax revenue from the property has risen from $743,191 to $1,117,695.

Community Calendar Leadership Nominations Open

Through FEB. 21—BMe Community is accepting nominees for its 2017 Bme Leader Award. Leaders are social entrepreneurs, innovators, and difference-makers who the world needs to know.

They cure hopelessness, end helplessness and build community in places where the world’s leading social innovators fail to do so. BMe Community seeks remarkable, authentic, committed Black men whose works and stories speak for themselves, and who live to make a better world for us all. To tell your story or nominate someone, visit http://www.bmecommunity.org/call-for-stories/. Top honorees receive national recognition, $10,000 to help build their communities, and a trip to Washington, D.C. for induction.

Violence Prevention Recruitment

ONGOING—The Allegheny County Department of Health is recruiting 25 individuals to serve on its new Violence Prevention Community Advisory Board. The board will assist ACHD in developing public health approaches, data-driven strategies and collaborations to best serve the residents in the areas with the highest activity of gun violence. Members are being recruited from a wide range of backgrounds, including workforce development, government, media, social services as well as community residents who are committed to addressing the issue. To learn more, visit online at http://www.achd. net/commhealth/advisoryboard.html.

Winter Fun

ONGOING—The Allegheny County Parks Department has opened the ski slopes and snow tubing areas in Boyce Park, as well as the ice skating rinks in North Park and South Park, weather and conditions permitting. For information on times, rates and rentals visit online at www. alleghenycounty.us/parks/ activities/winter-sports or call 412-350-2455.

Business & Community Training Course

JAN. 12—Community Empowerment Association will begin a 12-week Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship course, 6 to 8p.m. each Thursday, at 7120 Kelly St. In Homewood. Classes will cover business formation, marketing, product development and more. Space is limited.

Call 412-371-3689 Ext. 44 to register.

Spirit of King Awards

JAN. 19—The Port Authority of Allegheny County, The Kingsley Association, The Pittsburgh Pirates and the New Pittsburgh Courier will present the 2017 Spirit of King awards, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Kingsley Association, 6534 Frankstown Ave. in Larimer. This year’s honorees are former Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Gwendolyn Elliott and jazz icon Walt Harper.

Racism and Evidence Law Presentation

JAN. 23—The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Race and Social Problems will present “Objection: How Evidence Law Perpetuates Racism in the Courtroom,” by Assistant Professor of Law Jasmine B. Gonzales Rose, from12 to 1:30 p.m. in rm. 2017 at the Cathedral of Learning. The event is free.

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ENTERTAINER New Pittsburgh Courier

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JANUARY 11-17, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Cover To Cover

‘Lose Your Final 15’

by Terri Schlichenmeyer For New Pittsburgh Courier

Somebody passed you a plate of cookies.

It was the holidays so, of course, you had to take one.

Or three, because they were good; and when the fudge came around, you had that, too. And some pie, cheesecake, punch and homemade candy, now your pants are tight, you feel lazy and your bathroom scale is screaming. Yep, it’s time to step back and step toward losing that holiday weight with the help of “Lose Your Final 15” by Rovenia M. Brock, PhD. When she was just 9 years old, growing up in Washington, D.C., Brock had a dual life-changing experience: she lost her mother to cancer and she met her mother’s friend, a dietitian who taught her the “relationship between diet and health.”

FIRST NIGHT FIREWORKS (Photos by J.L. Martello)

DWAYNE DOLPHIN

Pittsburghers celebrate First Night

by J.L. Martello For New Pittsburgh Courier

Despite the on and off drizzle of rain and small snow flurries throughout the night, thousands of people gathered Downtown to ring in the New Year at the Highmark First Night celebration.

Pittsburgh helped people celebrate the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017.

With the large variety of events, shows and activities, all held within the 14 blocks of the Cultural District, people had to use

Remembering the woman’s words, Brock went to college to be a “nutrition educator,” but, like many women of color, she “worried that men wouldn’t find me attractive unless I put a little more meat on my bones.” That was unhealthy and she knew it, so she created her Final 15 program.

To begin, take the “Self-Assessment Test” and put ENJOYING THE NIGHT––Tyraya Kitchenl, of the North Side, dancing and wearing PARTY TIME––Dancing to the deejay on 8th Street are Arnita Stagger and Christan Thompson, both from Penn Hills. yourself in the “F-15 Mind- balloons to celebrate New Year’s Eve. set.” This will help you make The Highmark First event guides that were better choices when faced Night, presented by the handed out to plan their with cravings. Also, rememPittsburgh Cultural Trust, experience. ber that some hunger is Once the clock read midis a family oriented celebraemotional and that you can night, marking a new year, tion that escorts the current understand the difference. year out and welcomes in a the celebration ended with In the planning phase of new one. This year marked its finale that featured a the Final 15, Brock recomthe 23rd year that the an- beautiful fireworks dismends that you eliminate nual New Year’s celebration play. sugar, sodas and alcohol.

First time First Night has taken place Downtown And that you eat breakfast attendee Chanel Smith, and the 14th year as a early, “eat often,” get lots production of the Cultural formerly of Gary, Ind., and of sleep and “take special who now lives Downtown, Trust. care,” especially if you’re a The youth band from the said, “I have had a blast nightshift worker, and unAfrican American Music since I have been out here. derstand that buying dairy Institute started off the (It’s) the liveliness of evproducts, vegetables, fruits evening’s performances eryone––they are friendly and fish is not merely a and kicked off the kids fire- and everyone is enjoying matter of going to the groworks. There was also face themselves––and I love the cery store. painting and balloons, as music.”

Phase 1 teaches readWhen asked about a New well as other activities and ers the basics of eating Year’s resolution, Smith performances for kids. and exercise; phase 2 adds Concerts held inside and said, “I want to get back more choices to both; and outside throughout the on my feet and continue to phase 3 of the program is night by Dwayne Dolphin, help others, like I have in the “Coast and Maintain” Nigel Hall, Brooke Anni- the past. I also want to give phase for lifelong health. bale, the Heritage Gospel back more.”

That doesn’t mean letting (Any questions or comments reChorale of Pittsburgh, and your guard down. garding this article, please email many more dancers, come“You can’t declare victory,” HEADLINERS–Dwayne Dolphin and Steel Town Horns performing inside the Arts Education Center. dians and artists through- J.L. Martello at martellogino@ Brock says, “and then reout the Downtown area of yahoo.com.) turn to your old habits.”

Those last 15 pounds, as they say, are the hardest to lose when you’re dieting, but “Lose Your Final 15” helps the first and last pounds go, and every ounce in between.

Brock offers step-by-step handholding and useful advice as well as fat-burner exercises.

There are lots of charts inside this book, but nothing too scientific; you’ll also find simple recipes that don’t require a Food PhD to make.

Readers, however, should know that some chapter sub-headings may seem misleading and that they should read each section.

The actual page on eating snacks “That Are No Larger Than Your Closed Fist” has more succinct meaning.

Read. Carefully. (“Lose Your Final 15” by Rovenia M. Brock, PhD, c.2016, Rodale, $26.99/$31.50 Canada, 285 pages.)

THE HERITAGE GOSPEL CHORALE OF PITTSBURGH singing their hearts out on the 7th Street stage.

NIGEL HALL and his band performing outside just prior to the fireworks.

ARTS & CULTURE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

A. J. BROWN on vocals, a member since 2014.

RICHARD DALEY on bass, a member since 1973.

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

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CAT COORE on guitar , a member since 1973.

Third World rocks New Hazlett Theater

by J.L. Martello For New Pittsburgh Courier

Reggae legends Third World packed the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side for a classic concert of great music.

Third World is a band from Jamaica that performs disco, R&B, Bossa Nova, light pop-jazz and many other forms of music , but their claim to fame is Reggae.

“We have had so many influences in our lives like James Brown, our parents introduced classical music when we were young, we grew up with a sense that music is just music regardless who it comes from,” said one of its founders Richard Daily.

The Hazlett Theater was filled with all the seats taken and some people standing to see and hear the sounds of the Third World band. Towards the end of the concert the group called for people to go ahead and dance and that’s what they did. They

NORRIS “NORIEGA” WEBB on the keys member since 2007 came down to the front of the stage and danced during the last three or four songs and the encore set.

The whole crowd sang along to songs like “96 Degrees” and “We Found Love” as well as other songs from Third World.

“You have dreams and ambitions man, I couldn’t say at the time or foretell that we would have the success that we have had, and we are ever grateful everyday that we get to play another show.”

The group has a new record coming out soon with Damon Marley producing.

Kente Arts Alliance is responsible for bringing Third World into Pittsburgh and many other well known groups. Kente will be having other performances by The Lark Whitfield Family Band and the Mark Strickland Quartet on March 11 and Terell Stafford Quintet featuring Tim Warfield on April 29.

Gail Austin, managing director of Kente Arts, said, “It’s a real pleasure bringing in all these TONY “RUPTION” WILLIAMS on drums, a member since 1997. artists from all over the world and from the AfriDaley was 22 years old in ahead, we just lived for can Diaspora.”

1973 when the group start- the moment then,” Daily (To see who the Kenta Arts is ed. said. The band having hun- bringing into Pittsburgh and “I didn’t even have the dreds of songs on countless what else they do you can follow capacity to think that far albums to list Daley said. them at kentearts.org.)

DANCING TO THE MUSIC—Towards the end of the concert people were on the front of the stage dancing to music from Third World band during the concert. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

Pgh Playwrights posts 2017 Shows As part of our mission to develop and showcase the works of local playwrights, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company is proud to present three world premiere plays by local playwrights in 2017!

Pittsburgh Playwrights continues to be a leader in presenting world premiere productions by area writers. “Specifically, this season will introduce the voices of playwrights Arlene Weiner, Steve Hallock and Michael A. Jones to our devoted audience,” said Monteze Freeland, PPTC’s Artistic Associate. “We are proud to offer our growing list of patrons an accurate depiction of cultural collaboration through the lens of a Pittsburgh playwright.”

PPTC’s Founder and Producing Artist Director Mark Southers is also excited about the 2017 season. “With our historic production of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars we’re off to a great start. I’m looking forward to the balance of our season.” 2017 will showcase: Findings by Arlene Weiner, directed by Lisa Ann Goldsmith, opens our season of world premieres with its March 4-19, run.

Jennifer prides herself on being able to see every crisis as an opportunity. Can she keep on “bright-siding” when her doted-on daughter runs away, her sister’s behavior threatens the family with ruin, and a secret from the past may burst into the open?

Lights Out by Steven Hallock, directed

by Cheryl El-Walker, is our second world premiere. A power outage that stalls a Pittsburgh trolley in a tunnel beneath Mount Washington on a late Friday night leads to a set of encounters among a train of strangers that spark fear, accusations, confessions, guilt, and love as the riders share thoughts of wisdom, philosophy, music and religion, mixed in with a few drinks and some jazz and blues riffs. Performances are April 1-16 Hercules Didn’t Wade in the Water by Michael A. Jones, directed by Wali Jamal, is our last mainstage premiere of the season (May 6-21). It is 2005. Two men cling for life on a rooftop, surrounded by murky water, festered with disease and the unknown. Two women are hundreds of miles away, striving to see their dreams of life, love and the pursuit of happiness come to fruition. All of this set against the threat of one of America’s greatest disasters.

The 2017 Pittsburgh Playwrights’ 13th Annual Theatre Festival in Black & White takes on a new format. Middle and high school students will submit original one-act plays, and if the student’s script is selected, they’ll work with dramaturges to improve their scripts and then see them produced at Pittsburgh Playwrights during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, directed by theater professionals.Script submission details will be available on our website www. pghplaywrights.org starting in early 2017.

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Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved.

An ounce of prevention goes a long way

ESTHER BUSH

Preventive Health know your numbers This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on preventive health. Maria Catrina D. Jaime, MPH, CPH, research coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, discussed the importance of prevention for overall health and well-being.

EB: Good morning, Catrina. It is so nice to sit down and talk again. I’m interested in learning more about what exactly preventive health means. I think for many of us it can be a little bit confusing.

MCDJ: It’s wonderful to talk with you again, Ms. Bush. I certainly agree—preventive health includes a wide range of services and behaviors that can improve your overall health and includes mental, physical and social well-being. Some services are cancer screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies, and vaccinations against diseases, like polio, measles or even a seasonal flu shot. Other types of preventive services are babies and children having well-visits with a doctor or a woman’s visit with her gynecologist. They can be counseling services or health coaches that support people of many ages with quitting smoking or learning how to eat healthier foods. Depending on your age and insurance coverage, different services are provided. Many times these are covered at no cost to the individual.

EB: That’s a really helpful explanation. It seems then that preventive health is very broad. I know I try to schedule all these types of visits with my health care provider.

Do a lot of people use these services?

MCDJ: Well, I did some research on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. They report that only about half of Americans use preventive health services. Many people do not use services because of cost, such as copays or deductibles. The Affordable Care Act helped by removing some of these costs and requiring health insurance plans to provide recommended preventive services at no cost.

These included things like well visits, provision of breastfeeding supplies, screenings and counseling for domestic violence.

EB: Yes, many people are managing difficult times and I can see why removing and/or reducing costs can help make sure more people use preventive services. Can you describe more about what illnesses these health services may help prevent?

Is knowing your blood pressure numbers, blood sugar levels and how to properly take your medications part of practicing preventive health?

MCDJ: Yes, that’s right. Preventive health services can help reduce risk for chronic diseases. Examples are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. These are important diseases to talk about because according to the CDC these diseases account for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans every year. Costs associated with these health issues make up about 75 percent of our nation’s health spending. When people “know their numbers”, have good relationships with their health care providers, and are able to get screenings, tests and treatment regularly, it can improve their overall health.

EB: It is so important that we all, no matter our age, pay attention to building and safeguarding our health, Catrina. I agree that a good, honest relationship with your doctor is one step in maintaining good health. January is a great time to talk about this, as many people make New Year’s resolutions that are about improving their health—whether it’s exercising more, eating better, going to the doctor, reducing stress or seeking a better work-life balance.

The healthier the individual, the healthier the community as a whole. And, as my grandmother might have said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure.”

MCDJ: Exactly, Ms. Bush. From a public health perspective, it’s important to focus on preventing people from getting sick in the first place. Preventive health helps the individual. It also helps keep the cost of health care down for everyone. If each person makes good health a priority, throughout their lives from baby to senior citizen, more people will remain healthy.

Be sure to talk to a health care provider to understand what preventive services you may need and what is available to you. The less sickness and disease, the healthier and happier our communities will be.

EB: What a great way for us to kick off this New Year, Catrina! I’m so glad we are talking about this at the start of 2017. I encourage each reader to access the preventive health services that are available to you. If you have any questions, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh has a Health Education Office where you can get answers to your questions and connected to health services. I look forward to talking with you next month about healthy relationships.

Any questions or comments can be sent to partners@hs.pitt.edu.

In this Feb. 23, 2012 photo, family nurse practitioner Terrance James, left, examines Kamiyan Cooper, 1, as his mother, Kesha Wilson, holds him at the Multnomah County’s Mid County Health Center, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer/File) January is a great month to set goals for the year. For many people, their goals involve being healthier—eating healthy foods, getting more exercise or losing weight. One part of being healthier is to not only reverse health problems but to stop illness or disease before they happen, which is referred to as preventive health care.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes preventive health care as “health services like screenings, check-ups and patient counseling that are used to prevent illnesses, disease and other health problems, or to detect illness at an early stage when treatment is likely to work best.”

Researchers have determined which preventive services are most helpful based on a person’s age and health status.

There are many different tests or procedures that people can have to monitor their health throughout their lifetime. Health care professionals will make suggestions based on people’s age and personal and family health history. But, in general, preventive health services include: • Appropriate vaccinations according to age—The CDC reports that 42,000 lives are saved when children get their recommended vaccinations.

The CDC also notes that only 46 percent of Blacks—and 67 percent of Whites—get the pneumococcal vaccine recommended for all people 65 and older.

• Cancer screenings—Breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer screenings are important for adults.

• Health tests—It’s also important for you to know your blood pressure, cholesterol level and whether you have a disease like diabetes. All of these are important health markers.

• Regular health visits—It helps to have regular conversations

with health care providers.

They can be partners in keeping people healthy.

• Healthy lifestyle coaching— Health care providers can discuss different issues that can affect people’s health, like mental health screenings, healthy eating, weight loss, appropriate exercise, quitting smoking and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases.

(For more information on specific preventive health services according to age group and sex, visit https://www.cdc.gov/prevention/.)

Screenings and tests are an essential part of preventive health. But don’t forget about the everyday decisions that are a large part of preventive care.

According to Kathleen McTigue, MD, MPH, MS, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, “It’s easy to forget that the everyday decisions—like what we decide to eat for every meal or whether or not we’re going to exercise— are choices that directly affect our health. They may seem like small choices, but they are the choices that determine how healthy we are.”

Dr. McTigue cites years of re-

search that suggests smoking is harmful to people’s health, that flu shots help prevent people from getting the flu and data that strongly suggest that heathy diet, exercise and weight loss will lead to overall better health. But people don’t always take disease prevention into their own hands.

“Our health system focuses on and is really good at treating

health problems,” says Dr. McTigue. “It’s easier for people to ignore preventive health and seek help only when they think something’s wrong.

“People should talk with their health care provider about what’s best for them. But taking steps to prevent illness and disease sounds like a great idea for the new year to me,” she says.

In this May 6, 2010 photo, Toborcia Bedgood, left, prepares a screen-film mammography test for patient Alicia Maldonado at The Elizabeth Center for Cancer Detection in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes/File)

Tyrone Harvey talks with his doctor Gail Nunlee-Bland, M.D., about his diabetes. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin/File)

Research Opportunity: MyPaTH Story Booth Project Everyone has a personal story to tell about facing a health problem or accessing health care. And researchers at the University of Pittsburgh want to hear those stories.

People are invited to share their stories for the MyPaTH Story Booth project. During a conversation with a project staff member or with a friend, people’s experiences will be recorded in an audio booth set up in Oakland or shared over the phone. The recordings will be stored in an archive to which researchers will have access.

“We hope researchers will listen to these stories and get a better idea of what it’s like to be a patient or what it’s like to struggle to be healthy,” says Kathleen McTigue, MD, MPH, MS, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “We’re trying to get patients involved in the research process. If researchers want to be answering questions that are going to make a difference to patients’ care, we need to get patients involved so that we find out about what it’s like for patients to be ill, to

stay healthy, in what ways it’s difficult to practice preventive health care and what it’s like to access the health care system.”

When people share their stories, they also have the option to say whether they want to be a part of the research process. “With patient-centered research, researchers aren’t just looking for people to be participants in their studies,” says Dr. McTigue. “They’re often looking for patients to join their research team and help shape a project to make sure it’s something of value.”

The “PaTH” network is a collection of researchers at universities, health care plans and other institutions that focus on patient-centered outcomes research. The network’s goal is to make it easier for researchers to do patient-centered research.

“We hope to help the researchers understand the patients’ perspectives and help make connections between them so these two important groups of people can really get to know each other better,” says Dr. McTigue.

If you are interested in participating in the Story Booth project, or want to learn more, go to https://goo.gl/fa2Dai. This study is one of 200+ research studies listed on the Pitt+MeTM website. Pitt+Me™ is a community

of patients, volunteers, and researchers working together as partners in research and clinical trials to advance healthcare. You can play an important role in the process of discovery by joining Pitt+Me.

Story Booth user Shunai Taylor (right) talks with PaTH student worker Sri Karanam.

New Pittsburgh Courier

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

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Police Cdr. Gwen Elliott, jazz musician Walt Harper 2017 Spirit of King honorees

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

When she passed away in 2007, friends remembered Gwendolyn Elliott’s big smile, large laugh and very dry sense of humor. She probably would have joked that she didn’t want to be a Spirit of King honoree—be-

what an impact she had on their lives. As her daughter, it’s a privilege to accept the award on her behalf.”

So she will likely look down, with a wry smile, as she is inducted into the rolls of past Spirit of King honorees along with Pittsburgh entertainment icon Walt Harper, Jan. 19 at the

the police force, she was among those who founded the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, and when she retired in 2002, she founded Gwen’s Girls as an after-school program because she was moved by the plight of pregnant teens she saw trapped in impossible home situations.

GWEN ELLIOTT cause the award is always posthumous.

“Any tribute in connection to Dr. King is a great honor. She had the spirit of always helping others a trailblazer for helping women and children and we should all aspire to that,” said her daughter, Kathi Elliott. “To this day people come up to me a say

Kingsley Association.

Though she was a pioneer in integrating Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Police––being one of its first Black female officers in 1976 and, later, its first Black female commander––it was her work benefiting young girls and women that has become her enduring legacy.

Even before she joined

In 2005, the organization opened a residential program in a former North Side convent for up to 16 pregnant and parenting teens who are sent there by the court system for medical care, emotional and spiritual support, and parenting and practical skills.

Now run by her daughter, Kathi, the organization

also boasts a summer program, career and workforce development programs, and outreach and training services, in addition to its clinical and group home services.

“She was a single and also a foster mother,” said Kathi. “So in many was I was the first Gwen’s Girl.”

Walt, the musician, producer and businessman who popularized jazz “outside of smoky back rooms” in Pittsburgh is this year’s other Spirit of King honoree.

Not only did he present jazz festivals, workshops and cultural programs, he recorded eight albums and appeared numerous times on national and local television, with his group or alone. He also hosted an Emmy-nominated PBS special called, “Walt Harper at Fallingwater,” which aired nationally.

While he could have taken the rout preferred by other Pittsburgh jazz masters, like Erroll Garner, Earl Hines or Stanley Turrentine, and played to national and international acclaim, his daughter and biographer, Sharynn Harp-

WALT HARPER er, said he loved Pittsburgh and wanted to popularize jazz in his hometown. Being named a Spirit of King honoree, she said, is wonderful.

“He probably would have been surprised and humbled because he was all about music. He loved jazz and Pittsburgh, and never would have thought he did anything for such an honor,” she said.

He was a pioneer in jazz appreciation, and he was proud to give people in Pittsburgh exposure and didn’t feel he needed to go to New York or Europe to do that.”

And expose people he did. Walt would bring in friends like Mel Torme, Lionel Hampton and Chico Hamilton to play at his events or venues he owned and operated as a businessman––the most successful of which was Walt Harper’s Attic in Market Square.

“He was very adamant about that,” said Sharynn.

“He wanted the best for his home town. He always said Pittsburgh was fertile ground and there was an audience for good jazz.”

Sharynn, whose book, “Walt Harper and Jazz in the Attic,” comes out later this year, will come in from New York City for the award ceremony.

The Spirit of King Award Ceremony, held annually, honors the lifetime achievements of local citizens who pursue human rights and equality in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The ceremony is sponsored by the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Kingsley Association, Pittsburgh Pirates and New Pittsburgh Courier.

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., Jan. 19, at the Kingsley Association, located at 6534 Frankstown Ave., in Larimer.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr., (Jan. 15, 1929–April 4, 1968) was a pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.

He was born Michael King, but his father changed his name in honor of the German reformer Martin Luther. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career.

He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and after the success of this campaign he decided to make the fight for civil rights is lifetime goal.

Needing an organization to work from he helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president.

With the SCLC, King led an unsuccessful struggle against segregation in Albany, Ga., in 1962, and organized nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Ala, that attracted national attention following television news coverage of the brutal police response. King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

On Oct. 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1965, he and the SCLC helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches and the following year, he took the movement north to Chicago to work on segregated housing. In the final years of his life, King expanded his focus to include poverty and speak against the Vietnam War, alienating many of his allies with a 1967 speech titled “Beyond Vietnam.”

In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor People’s

Campaign, when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, where he was organizing a march in support of equal pay for garbage collectors there. His death was followed by riots in many U.S. cities.

King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a holiday in numerous cities and states beginning in 1971, and as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. Hundreds of streets in the U.S. have been renamed in his honor.

In addition, a county was rededicated in his honor. A memorial statue on the National Mall was opened to the public in 2011.

Growing up in Atlanta, King attended Booker T. Washington High School.

He became known for his public speaking ability and was part of the school’s debate team. King became the youngest assistant manager of a newspaper delivery station for the Atlanta Journal in 1942 at age 13.

During his junior year, he won first prize in an oratorical contest sponsored by the Negro Elks Club in Dublin, Ga. Returning home to Atlanta, he and his teacher were ordered by the driver to stand so White passengers could sit down.

King refused initially, but complied after his teacher informed him that he would be breaking the law if he did not go along with the order. He later characterized this incident as “the angriest I have ever been in my life.” A precocious student, he skipped both the ninth and the twelfth grades of high school. At age 15, King passed the exam and entered Morehouse.

The summer before his last year at Morehouse, in 1947, an eighteen-year old King made the choice to enter the ministry after he concluded the church offered the most assuring way to answer “an

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. inner urge to serve humanity”. King’s “inner urge” had begun developing and he made peace with the Baptist Church, as he believed he would be a “rational” minister with sermons that were “a respectful force for ideas, even social protest.”

In 1948, he graduated from Morehouse with a B.A. degree in sociology, and enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa., from which he graduated with a B.Div. degree in 1951.

King was elected president of the student body.

King began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and received his PhD. Degree in 1955, with a dissertation on “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., when he was 25 years old, in 1954. As a Christian minister, his main influence was Jesus Christ and the Christian gospels, which he would almost always quote in his religious meetings, speeches at church, and in

public discourses. King’s faith was strongly based in Jesus’ commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself, loving God above all, and loving your enemies, praying for them and blessing them. His non-violent thought was also based in the injunction to turn the other cheek in the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus’ teaching of putting the sword back into its place (Matthew 26:52). In his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, King urged action consistent with what he describes as Jesus’ “extremist” love, and also quoted numerous other Christian pacifist authors, which was very usual for him. In another sermon, he stated: “Before I was a civil rights leader, I was a preacher of the Gospel. This was my first calling and it still remains my greatest commitment. You know, actually all that I do in civil rights I do because I consider it a part of my ministry. I have no other ambitions in life but to achieve excellence in the Christian ministry. I don’t plan to run for any political office. I don’t plan to

do anything but remain a preacher. And what I’m doing in this struggle, along with many others, grows out of my feeling that the preacher must be concerned about the whole man.”

His study of Mahatma Gandhi struggle in India also had a lot to do with his tactics of nonviolence as well as the general knowledge of most Black Southerners that an armed confrontation would be disastrous for Blacks.

In his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, he stated that he just wanted to do God’s will.

Veteran African American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin served as King’s main advisor and mentor in the late 1950s.

Mahatma Gandhi’s success with non-violent activism, King had “for a long time...wanted to take a trip to India.” With assistance from the Quaker group the American Friends Service Committee, he was able to make the journey in April 1959. The trip to India affected King, deepening his understanding of non-violent resistance and his commitment to America’s struggle for civil rights.

In a radio address made during his final evening in India, King reflected, “Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity.”

One-aspect scholars haven’t dealt with for the non-violent method of King is common sense and common knowledge of the South. Just about every Southerner had a gun and could use them and had demonstrated this many times in the past when Blacks spoke out. So if

Blacks took up guns in the South they would have in most cases been eliminated quickly, and probably would have been supported by many Whites in the north.

King and other activists throughout the South understood this.

As the leader of the SCLC, King maintained a policy of not publicly endorsing a U.S. political party or candidate: “I feel someone must remain in the position of non-alignment, so that he can look objectively at both parties and be the conscience of both—not the servant or master of either.” King stated that Black Americans, as well as other disadvantaged Americans, should be compensated for historical wrongs.

In an interview conducted for Playboy in 1965, he said that granting Black Americans only equality could not realistically close the economic gap between them and Whites. King said that he did not seek a full restitution of wages lost to slavery, which he believed impossible, but proposed a government compensatory program of $50 billion over ten years to all disadvantaged groups.

He posited that “the money spent would be more than amply justified by the benefits that would accrue to the nation through a spectacular decline in school dropouts, family breakups, crime rates, illegitimacy, swollen relief rolls, rioting and other social evils”. He presented this idea as an application of the common law regarding settlement of unpaid labor, but clarified that he felt that the money should not be spent exclusively on Blacks. He stated, “It should benefit the disadvantaged of all races.”

Information for this article was obtained from various sources, including Wikipedia, “From Slavery to Freedom,” “Before the Mayflower,” and “Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr...the beginning

by Ulish Carter Courier Staff Writer

In 1955 the 25-year old Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was content with receiving his first church, Dexter Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., and he and his wife, Coretta, were intent on building a family and someday taking over his father’s mega-church in Atlanta, but fate changed all that.

Montgomery’s NAACP President E. D. Nixon, and the overall Black community, was sick and tired of segregation as a whole, but the buses in particular, and was looking for a way to end it.

So one day, when NAACP Secretary and Youth Director Rosa Parks, a well respected woman in the community, was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus for a White man, Nixon saw this as the opportunity to act against desegregation in MontMARTIN LUTHER KING JR. gomery, starting with bus desegregation.

After a long drawn out car-pooling, the city finalParks wasn’t the first to struggle with Blacks ly gave in to the demands be arrested for not giving either walking to work or of integrating the buses. up their seat to a White person. Many were kicked off the bus while others were arrested, depending on the driver. But her actions came at the right time and place.

Nixon used this as a spark calling a meeting at the largest church in the city headed by Rev. Ralph Abernathy. At these meetings an agenda to fight bus segregation and to select a leader of the bus boycott, Nixon chose that leader by challenging the young King to step out and step up.

Nixon later said he chose Rev. King because he was young with little to lose, unlike most of the older ministers and Blacks in Montgomery as a whole, and that he was an excellent speaker with a solid background.

That was the beginning of the massive national Civil Rights Movement that spread all over the country. Reverend King went on to become one of the greatest leaders the world has known.

The law throughout Southern states at that time was that there was a White section starting in the front of the bus, and Black section starting from the back. Blacks paid their fare, which was the same as Whites, up front to the driver then got off the bus and entered from the rear side door. Most were not allowed to walk through the White section to the Black section. If the White section filled Blacks in the front of the Black section had to give their seats up to Whites.

This sometimes led to older Black women having to give their seats up to young White men.

With this spark, Rev. King and the Civil Rights Movement spread all over

the South and throughout many states in the North demanding integration

and equal rights for all citizens regardless of race or gender.

King Day Celebration at Children’s Museum Monday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will host its Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration by marking the historic contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement with programs throughout the day: King for a Day—11 a.m.–3 p.m.––Kids and adults will read aloud the speeches of King at the microphone in the “King for a Day” program hosted by The Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show. All ages are invited to take the podium at this annual event.

On Freedom Corner—10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (in the Studio)––Freedom Corner, the historic corner of Centre and Crawford Avenues, is a symbol of the home of the Civil Rights Movement in Pittsburgh. Guests will use images from the local and na-

tional movements, and their own ideas of what they would fight for to create a zine.

A zine is a magazine commonly self-published and reproduced via photocopier.

Streaming Justice—1 p.m.-6 p.m. (open to the public until 5 p.m.)––SLB Radio Productions will present a live 5-hour webcast exploring civil rights accomplishments, challenges and dreams for the future. Hosted by area teens, Streaming Justice will originate from the SLB Radio studios in the Children’s Museum and feature music, conversation, listener phone calls and more—all of which will air live at www.youthexpress.org or via the TuneIn or Simple Radio app.

(For more information: https://pittsburghkids. org/events/3156/2017/1/16. The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, North Side, 15212.)

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JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report

No resolutions I stopped making New Year’s resolutions years ago. Most of the time when I made one, I would soon forget what it was and there goes the resolution. Several people asked me, last week, if I had made a New Year’s resolution and it was the question of the day on my company’s home page. I told my friends that I was just going to try and be a better person, be a better steward of my money and do the things I want to do. I am going to try and revive my mission of trying new things and new places. That means I’m also looking for new and interesting things to cover. As a friend of mine always says, “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” That means if you don’t speak up you aren’t going to eat. In other words, if you don’t let me know about an event in a timely fashion, I will not be able to attend.

You may have noticed that you see a lot of events on the Lifestyle page, year after year, and if you read other publications, you will see the same thing.

These veteran groups know when their events are going to be and they notify us of their dates well in advance.

I have already booked dates into May. We are always looking for a well-planned fun event to cover. I love themed and colorful events. If you know when your event is going to be, and you would like coverage, reach out to me via email. The email address is at the bottom of each column, but here it is: debbienorrell@ aol.com. Please put “request for coverage in the subject line.” This is very important as I receive a lot of junk email and I need to be able to spot the serious emails vs, the spam.

Keep in mind that when someone comes out to cover your event, they should not be asked to buy a ticket.

If I cannot attend, I may be able to send a photographer.

Please be prepared to have someone work with the photographer to get the best shots. We love to get photos of the planning committee and any special guests that might be at your event. Some organizations like for us to take a big group shot. Just a heads up, the bigger the group, the more challenging it will be to give you a good product.

Your friends will not be able to recognize you and your head will look really tiny. Sometimes we will break the large group up into several smaller groups. Our focus is on the group that is having the event.

This year, I plan to post more New Pittsburgh Courier events on our Facebook page.

This way you will get to see a lot more photographs. I can’t believe that people are still asking me where do you buy the New Pittsburgh Courier? We put a listing of where to buy in the paper all the time.

Get a subscription and you won’t have to worry.

(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)

PITTSBURGH COUNCIL OF MEN WITH FOUNDING MEMBER—Chrisp Perry, Dan Brown, Clayton Robinson, Ira Ritter Sr., Larry Victum, Reggie Jackson, Don Trent and Milton Oliver

Pittsburgh Council of Men celebrates fall and founder

SURROUNDED BY LOVE—Family and friends celebrating Ira Ritter Sr., center. ( Photos by Debbie Norrell)

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

DENISE WILLIAMS & KEVIN HEAD

On Dec. 2, 2016, at the Rodi Road Comfort Inn, the Pittsburgh Council of Men held their annual fall dinner dance and honored one of their founding members, Ira Ritter Sr., with a Lifetime Membership Award. The award was presented in recognition of his commitment to leaving a legacy to the PCM Foundation and as a show of gratitude for his help with the mission of assisting and serving the Pittsburgh community.

PCM President Larry Victum acknowledged others who were instrumental in founding the organization. They were George Shields, Wendell Freeland, Fred Gladney Sr., Oscar Worthy and Curtis Watkins. Ira Ritter Jr. thanked the group on behalf of his father, who was beaming with pride while receiving the beautiful plaque.

More than 100 guests enjoyed dinner and dancing while Flo Wilson and the Old School band provided the soundtrack for the evening.

THE VICTUMS—Gwen, Larry and Karla

MITCHELL JAMES & TRACEY CHANDLER

THEY CAME TO PARTY

ERIC AND YVONNE ANDERSON

WIVES AND FRIENDS—Marsha Trent, Doll Ritter, Gayle Jackson, Michael Brown, Gwen Victum, Kim Cadney, Elke Walls and Terry Robinson

MARGARET & RICHARD ROBINSON

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RELIGION

JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 12:00 P.M. Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) 12:00 P.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH 22 Sampsonia Street, Northside Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-231-2554 FAX 412-231-6395 Rev. Lacy F. Richardson, Ph.D., Pastor Church School.................................9:30 A.M. Worship Service.................8:00 & 10:45 A.M. Bible Study/ Prayer Wednesday...................6:30/7:30 P.M. www.metropolitanbaptistchurch.com metropolitanbaptist2224@gmail.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

Journey Worship........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship........11 a.m.

PASTOR DOROTHY STUBBS

REV. STANLEY HOOD, of Ethane Temple, serving as the featured guest preacher.

Pastor Stubbs celebrates first year anniversary

New Destiny CME Church 1018 Bidwell St. Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-231-7882 Rev. Kornelus Neal, pastor The Rt. Rev. Marvin Thomas Sr., presiding bishop Sunday School....................................9 A.M. Morning Worship Service............11:00 A.M.

To have your church included in the Praise & Worship section contact Ashley Johnson at 412-481-8302 ext. 128 for ad rates.

REV. ELEANOR WILLIAMS from On the Wall Ministries.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

by J.L. Martello For New Pittsburgh Courier

Reverend Dorothy Stubbs started pastoring at Helen Faison School after sitting on the Greater Allen AME Churc ministerial staff for almost nine years.

For the past year, Rev. Stubbs has pastored New Evangelistic Ministries, now located in Wilkinsburg.

Many people from churches all over the city came to celebrate her one-year anniversary with musical selections, prayer, scripture and a Word by guest preacher Rev. Stanley Hood. A delicious lunch served before the ceremony.

“I just bless God cause you look and you wonder how, what, when, where your going to do this and God is just so faithful he just puts everything in place sends people to you in your life. I just want to bless God,” Rev. Stubbs said.

During the last year, Rev. Stubbs said she overcame

being the pastor of a new ministry and trying not to put a lot of pressure on herself.

“In the earlier part of the year, (you try) to do everything yourself because you don’t know who has that talent and spirit, and you don’t want to just put anybody in there and they don’t have the right spirit,” she said.

Some of the good things to being the pastor, Rev. Stubbs said, was “Seeing families come together that weren’t speaking, seeing people come together and stop judging others and come to have change in their own life is the highlights of pasturing in the last year.”

The mission statement of the New Evangelistic Ministries is “Where everybody is somebody you don’t have to dress up, but cover up.”

“I want everybody to know that who so of will, let him come; whether you’re

TAYLOR, MICHAEL DeVAUGHN

We are looking to feature our positive youth in the church communities. You can e-mail, fax or mail their bios and photo to:

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Fax: 412-481-1360 email: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com

Michael DeVaughn Taylor, 41, of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away unexpectedly on January 6, 2017. Michael was born on January 3, 1976 in Pittsburgh, PA to Celeste Taylor and Michael Cain.

Michael attended Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPA) in Pittsburgh and George Junior Republic in Grove City, PA. He attended the culinary program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) prior to graduating from Pennsylvania Culinary Institute with a love of culinary arts. Michael was employed at Mad Mex for many years. Most recently, he worked at Conflict Kitchen and E2.

Michael’s favorite pastimes were spent with his friends and family, especially his two young sons. Many of his friends and family knew him as Miguel or Knuckles.

His grandmother affectionately called him “Wick.” Michael enjoyed social gaming, especially Magic the Gathering, longboarding, and music, including being a percussionist. Michael was a kind, thoughtful man with a deep passion for peace and justice. Michael was raised as a Quaker and was a long time member of the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting.

In addition to his parents, Michael is survived by two sons, DeVaughn Taylor and Damian Taylor; former wife and mother of his children, Renee See-Taylor; three brothers, Chuck McCurdy, Hunter McCurdy and Forrest (Nicole) McCurdy; a step-father, Charles H. McCurdy; two uncles, Donald Taylor and Marlon Taylor. Michael was loved dearly by his entire family, including several close cousins.

Michael was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Gwendolyn Taylor-Spriggs; maternal step-grandfather, Ralph G. Spriggs; three uncles, James Taylor, Keith Taylor and Darryl Taylor.

Cremation services and burial will be at the convenience of the family.

A memorial service will be held at House of Manna, 7240 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. A repast will immediately follow the memorial service. Another memorial service will be held at the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting on Saturday, February 25, 2017. More details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the DeVaughn and Damian Taylor College Fund. The fund is being established at the Poise Foundation located at Two Gateway Center, Suite 1700, 603 Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 and on the internet at www. poisefoundation.org.

FAMILY—Pastor Dorothy Stubbs, third from left, with her supportive family. From left: Donald Kenley, brother; son, Courtland Kenley; Stubbs; mother, Avis Walker; brother, Donald Allen; and daughter, Latoya Austin. (Photos by J. L. Martello) White, Black, whatever you are, and no matter what you got going on in your life, we don’t judge you. God is the Judge; all we can do is love on you, and preach and teach the word so you can

see what God wants you to change in your own life,” she said.

New Evangelistic Ministries can be seen on PCTV 21 as Lost and Not Forgotten Outreach. For more

information, visit www.lbnfoutreach.com, email evangelistdstubbs@gmail.com, call 412-969-8423, or just come through the side door of Ethan Temple located on Wood Street, in Wilkinsburg.

MIME MINISTRY—Mime group called GA Squared (God Above All) performing a few selections.

New Pittsburgh Courier

BUSINESS

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JANUARY 11-17, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Harry C. Alford

Beyond the Rhetoric

2017 is going to be fantastic!

(NNPA)—After a very tough 2016, we should all look forward to 2017. Last year’s economy was challenging. Here in Chevy Chase, Maryland, one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, high-end department stores closed their doors in mass. Families, even the rich ones, cut back on spending; they have no faith in our future economy. However, that is going to change this year. The stock market is still carrying the surprising “Trump Bump” and will soon soar over the 20,000 mark. In contrast to 2016, investors will soon have a new confidence. That means happier days ahead. Those shuttered stores will reopen under new banners and new surge in spending will drive employment levels up.

Politics in 2016 was downright ugly. The worst I have seen in my life. But in November, it came to a head and burst. We are now picking up the pieces and a new atmosphere is forming throughout the nation. Foreign plants are moving back to the United States bringing thousands of new, good paying jobs.

The job market is active, especially, with all the political positions opening due to the change in administration.

Foreign affairs have been a little shaky.

For the first time in history, our current Secretary of State lambasted our closest ally, Israel, in a formal meeting at the United Nations and the White House agreed with him. This betrayal is very shocking. However, our incoming President-elect Donald Trump publicly stated to Israel to “stay strong,” as he will be sworn in on Jan. 20, ushering in a better relationship with that country. Enemies of Israel beware!

For the first time in modern history, our Navy does not have one aircraft carrier out to sea. This is significant. Morale is slipping and that is a scary state of affairs. It is critical that our military returns to its previous position. If a nation like ours is not prepared for war and its leadership is unmotivated then war is certainly what we will get. It appears that Congress is going to renew its commitment to our military via more funding and recruitment. The sooner this is done, the better America will be.

The public is becoming increasingly optimistic. I could tell from most people this season saying “Merry Christmas” as opposed to “Happy Holidays.” It is so nice to hear; people proud of their religion as opposed to being politically correct. If you love Christ, shout it out!

Once again jobs are available big time in the federal government workplace. This happens every four to eight years as the new administration pushes out the political hires from the previous administration and fills those positions with their new crew.

This is no secret! If any of you want to look or try it, go on the Internet, and apply for a good paying government job with 30 days sick leave and 30 days vacation—that’s 60 days off with pay! You can apply for a “noncareer” position with the Trump Administration online at https://apply.ptt.gov/.

These jobs aren’t just in Washington, D.C. Every city has a noticeable amount of federal jobs. Many of the new bosses will be looking for Republicans. There aren’t too many Black Republicans and that could be a good thing. For Blacks that means there SEE 2017 C2

Homewood Café offers coffee and uniqueness in community

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

Between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on any given day community leaders like Fred Brown or Jerome Jackson, entrepreneurs including Roland Ford and Christian Hughes, college students and just ordinary people can be found at 532 North Homewood Ave. patronizing the Everyday Café.

Considered Homewood’s hub for innovation and inspiration, where great coffee and passionate people meet every day, the dream of the owners is for the café to be Pittsburgh’s quintessential place for premium coffee and delicious food.

Considered a social enterprise, operated by the Oasis Project, the community and economic development division of Bible Center Church, Pastor Cynthia M. Wallace, identifies the Everyday Café as Pittsburgh’s first completely cashless coffeehouse.

Cashless meaning that the business only accepts debt and credit cards or the Everyday Café Gift Card. The gift card enables customers to put money on the card to pay for purchases and to earn BARISTAS AT WORK—Staff and Homewood residents Shunai Taylor an Edinboro University student and Montana loyalty points to receive a Howard a Duquesne University student enjoy working in their community at Everyday Café. (Photos by Diane I. free coffee or tea after pur- Daniels) chasing nine.

The café, according to Walnior citizen building, Sandidge Photogra- award-winning Dillanos Coffee Roasters. lace, executive pastor of Bible Center and phy Studio and All State Insurance.

Described as a Christian oriented roaster executive director of the Oasis Project, fulServed all day, the breakfast and lunch based in Seattle, Wallace said its global fills a need in the community for a gather- menus consist of Breakfast sandwiches connections are used to bring fair trade ing or meeting space where people can get made with eggs and all served on a toasted and organic certified coffee from around a good cup of coffee and a light breakfast or English muffin, oatmeal and an assort- the world to the Everyday Café. lunch. Considering it’s a multi-use space ment of pastries. The lunch menu is incluInvolved in the community for 60 years, equipped with free WiFi, a mix of comfort- sive of a variety of sandwiches, soups and John M. Wallace Jr., PhD, senior pastor of able seating and work tables it is located salads. Both breakfast and lunch menus Bible Center and grandson of the churches across the street from the Homewood- include combos. founders Elder Ralph and Mother Bernice Brushton Busway and moments from Also, serving a mix of beverages inclusive Groce, is following in their footsteps of anPoint Breeze, East Liberty, Shadyside and of blended handcrafted beverages and a swering the spiritual “cry for help,” that Oakland. The building also houses the se- variety of teas, the staple of the café is its came from the Homewood community. Located in several areas in Homewood throughout the years the church currently worships in their multi-purpose facility what they classify as the W.A.R.M. Center (worship, arts, recreation and ministry) at 717 North Homewood Ave. in the former Rite Aid building. “We are renovating the lower level of the building with the goal to have a commercial kitchen and to operate a pre-school,” said Wallace, the wife of John. Their administrative offices are located on Tioga Street.

According to the church’s website Bible Center has purchased and is productively reusing more than twodozen parcels and properties in Homewood. In addition to senior homes, and housing for college students and young adults being trained in urban ministry, properties have been used to teach young people the construction trades, for a new community playground, as classrooms to teach seniors how to use their smart phones, for parenting and financial literacy classes, and most recently as the home for the “Maker’s Place” an WHAT A TEAM—Cynthia M. Wallace, Executive Pastor and John M. Wallace, Jr. Senior Pastor of Bible ESTEAM (entrepreneurship, science, Center Church and the owner the Everyday Café demonstrate merchandise sold in the café, just one of the economic ventures of the church’s community and economic development division the Oasis Project.

SEE HOMEWOOD C2

Consumers get back over $17 million, thanks to CFPB Millions of consumers who were duped into paying fees for their own credit scores will soon receive more than $17.6 million, thanks to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Affected consumers can expect to receive notification letters in the mail.

TransUnion and Equifax, two of the nation’s largest credit reporting agencies, sold credit scores, credit reports and credit monitoring services to consumers even though the “credit scores” sold were not typically used by lenders to make credit decisions. As a result, what consumers paid to these two firms was of questionable value.

As credit scores are often cited as the basis for many consumers of color to either be denied access to credit or be charged higher than average interest rates, it is likely that many will also be eligible for restitution. TransUnion must now provide restitution of $13.9 million to affected consumers, while Equifax’s cost of restitution is $3.8 million. Assessed fines on the violations will add additional costs of $3 million to TransUnion and $2.5 million for Equifax.

“TransUnion and Equifax deceived consumers about the usefulness of the credit

scores they marfee—usually $16 or keted, and lured Charlene Crowell more per month. consumers into exA d d i t i o n a l l y, pensive recurring Equifax violated payments with the Fair Credit Refalse promises,” porting Act, which said CFPB Direcrequires a credit retor Richard Corporting agency to dray. “Credit scores provide a free credit are central to a report once every 12 consumer’s finanmonths and to opercial life and people deserve honest and ac- ate a central source— curate information about them.”

AnnualCreditReport.com—where conBoth TransUnion and Equifax are sumers can get their report. Until Jancharged with violations of the Dodd- uary 2014, consumers getting their report Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer through Equifax first had to view Equifax Financial Protection Act from 2011 to advertisements—another illegal act. By 2014 and included: law, such advertising is allowed after con•Deceiving consumers about the value of sumers receive their report. the credit scores they sold; and Beyond the costs of restitution and fines, •Deceiving consumers into enrolling in CFPB will now hold Equifax and Transubscription programs. sUnion accountable for changes in the way In its advertising, Equifax falsely they operate. From clearly informing conclaimed that credit scores and credit-re- sumers about the nature of the scores they lated products were free. In the case of are selling to consumers; to providing simTransUnion, the cost was promised to be ple, easy to understand information on how only $1. What neither made clear to con- to cancel the purchase of any credit-related sumers was that unless the ‘service’ was product, and ending billing and collection cancelled during its 30-day trial period, payments for any recurring charge once a consumers would be charged a recurring consumer cancels the service.

Commentary

The two final enforcement requirements are probably the most important of all: 1. Before enrolling a consumer in any credit-related product with a negative option feature, TransUnion and Equifax must obtain the consumer’s consent; and 2. Truthfully represent the value or usefulness of products sold.

“We applaud the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for taking strong and vigorous actions against TransUnion and Equifax to protect the interests of American consumers,” said National Consumer Law Center staff attorney Chi Wu. “In addition to obtaining tens of millions of dollars in relief for consumers, this consent order will protect consumers from being ripped off in the future over deceptive credit monitoring products and sales practices.”

For more information on credit scores, visit CFPB’s web at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/aboutus/blog/what-you-need-know-understanding-why-offers-your-credit-score-are-notall-same/.

(Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending.

She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

B4

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS

Homewood Café Signs your aging parents need offers coffee help managing their finances CONTINUED FROM C1

technology, engineering, arts and math) program focusing on an out-of-school time program that teaches young people 21st Century skills including, computer coding, website development, fashion design, and digital media and manufacturing.

The executive director of the church’s community and economic division, Wallace outlined that the Oasis Project designs youth programs, builds businesses, creates jobs, and adaptively reuses vacant and abandoned property to empower people and transform the community. She pointed out that it uses research and an assetbased community development approach to further the mission of creating oases; places of peace, safety, and happiness in the midst of trouble and difficulty. The Oasis Project focuses on three interconnected areas: educational initiatives, capacity building and social enterprises.

Educational Initiatives she pointed out seeks to empower and transform the lives of young people in Homewood by enhancing their knowledge of workforce skills, STEAM; known as science, technology, engineering, art, and math principles, 21st century skills, life skills what they consider character development and social skills and much more.

“It is Bible Center’s desire to see young people find and reach their potential,” she said.

Initiatives include the Maker’s Clubhouse, the Maker’s Place, Color-Coded, Dinner’s Ready, and the Manhood/Womanhood Education and Training component.

Sighting the Everyday Café as an example of capacity building she explained that the project is a collaborative between them and Operation Better Block. The church owns and operates the business and OBB owns the building.

“Bible Center is able to build capacity through collaborations with no-profits, businesses, and education institutions, and co-convening HOST; Homewood Out-of School Time Collaborative,” she added.

In addition to the café their social enterprise projects include Oasis Transportation Services and the Oasis Food Farm and Fishery that involves three interrelated projects: Oasis Farm and Fishery, (Microfarm), Everyday Café and the WARM Center Commercial Kitchen.

Committed to Homewood, both John and Cynthia have family roots in the community. John grew up in Homewood and gained his foundational training in ministry at Bible Center before receiving his Bachelors Degree from the University of Chicago and his Master’s Degree and PhD from the University of Michigan.

A native of Flint, Mich., Cynthia’s mother was a Homewood native so as a child she often spent summers in Pittsburgh. She also received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Chicago and her Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan.

An educator by trade, formerly she was the principal of Pittsburgh Montessori and an adjunct professor at Carlow University.

Operating almost two months, Wallace and the Everyday Café team of baristas are pleased with the success of the business so far but striving to improve operations every day. Viewing it as truly community, Wallace pointed out that 80 percent of the staff is from the East End mostly consisting of college students. The manager, Donna Taylor, has extensive experience in the consumer food product industry. A member of Bible Center she is also the Chief Operating Officer and leading the execution of the new ventures of the Oasis Project including the Oasis Foods Farm and Fishery.

This week the café began hosting what they call Grind Time where their hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays. Wallace said they are looking to eventually launch every day after hour events like jazz mix and mingles, poetry readings or book clubs. “We want people to utilize the café for their productivity needs as well as a place to meet and greet,” she says pointing out that the Everyday Café is where great coffee and passionate people meet, every day.

2017 is going to be fantastic!

CONTINUED FROM C1

is a shorter “line.” Opportunities will be exponentially greater. There are nearly a dozen regions in the federal government structure (depending on the agency or department). Within each region are various district offices located throughout the nation. Zero in on the district you want to apply for work. Indicate that on your resume or the online application. These job opportunities will fill up within the next three to five months. Get busy!

Section 3 of the HUD Act has been in existence since 1968. This is a job-training program for residents of public housing or people living under the poverty level. It is the best job training program the federal government has put on the “books.” However, no administration has ever implemented it.

Something tells me that this administration will be the first one to implement this law.

Google “Section 3 of the HUD Act” and learn about this. Any project with HUD funding is supposed to follow this program. They aren’t now, but that is about to change.

Yes, indeed, the times are changing for the better. Those who believe should go for it and enjoy this new ride. This year is going to be the best year for those who believe it..)

by Sarah Skidmore Sell The Associated Press

It’s inevitable. As we age, our bodies and our brains change, and not always like fine wine. Cognitive skills decline as part of the normal aging process and in turn, so do some of our financial management skills.

Research shows that financial decision-making peaks around age 53, and by age 60 our ability to process new information starts to slow. The shift happens at a different pace for everyone, and it can be accelerated by medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. While some people are capable of managing their own finances throughout their lifetime, others may find their skills suffering.

The impact could be as benign as paying a utility bill twice, or something worse, like falling prey to a scam.

Experts say there are signs that children or spouses can watch out for that will help them know when it’s time to step in and help an older relative with their finances.

“This will probably happen to someone you love or to you,” said Bill Hensley, director of education at the National Endowment for Financial Education. “The way to deal with it is to plan ahead.

Plan ahead, prepare for the worst, put those safeguards in place.”

A new study from the University of Alabama, with support from the NEFE, has identified five signs that aging may be impacting someone’s financial decision making.

The study looked at up to seven years of financial skill performance among cognitively normal older adults. The warning signs of financial decline it found are: •Taking longer to complete everyday financial tasks; •Missing key details in financial documents; •Having difficulty with everyday math; •Showing decreased understanding of common financial concepts; •Having difficulty identifying risks in an investment opportunity.

Seeing any of these signs doesn’t mean an elderly relative needs to have their checkbook taken away immediately. But they can be a warning that decline is occurring. And that can be a sign that help is needed.

“Hopefully we are helping people understand the importance of planning ahead so that you are not the victim of your own cognitive decline, or someone else taking advantage of that,” Hensley said.

Unfortunately, this planning often doesn’t occur until after an illness, death or other unfortunate event. But ideally, people should be putting plans and documents into place to protect themselves by midlife or earlier.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare: START THE CONVERSATION If possible, begin talking about how you want your financial matters handled early, before things go awry. Talk to your spouse, your children and other loved ones about your preferences and game plan.

If initiating the conversation about someone else, do so gently. Ask them where basic documents such as a will are stored, or if they even exist. Another effective tactic is to start by saying “I’m thinking of doing X, Y or Z for myself, what have you done?”

Experts also suggest pointing to a loved one’s death or something in popular culture as a starting point. Financial planners say requests for medical directives jumped after the 2005 death of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman whose family fought a years-long right-to-die case.

This isn’t a conversation that will, or should,

happen in one sitting.

“Assure them we aren’t taking over your finances, but we want to make sure you a r e pro-

ROSALIND BREWER

Open House

JAN. 11—The Chatham Women’s Business Center will hold an open house, 5:30-7 p.m., at the James Laughlin Music Hall on the Chatham University Shadyside Campus. Meet staff, facilitators, and past participants while learning about all of our services for women business owners and women in business. The Center has programs for women in all stages of business development, from membership to business development classes, small business workshops, women’s leadership breakfasts, and our online community for our members.

Strategic Planning Workshop JAN 12—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. will host a Strategic Planning Workshop, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in its 9th floor boardroom at the Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Ave., Downtown. Raymond L. Vargo, director of the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center will present information about the vital components that should be included in a strategic plan, what to include when applying for funding, tips for marketing, and how to use your plan to make decisions in your business. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for nonmembers. For more information call 412-392-0610.

Business & Community Training Course

tected,” said Amy Florian, whose business specializes in teaching people how to support and interact with those going through life-changing events.

People often avoid these conversations because they are uncomfortable talking about money or thinking about death. Florian says to be clear that this isn’t about dying, it’s about living and taking the burdens off your family.

“It’s about living the way you want to until you take your last breath,” she said. “There are things you can’t control, but control what you can.”

ESTABLISH YOUR TEAM Pick a team to help monitor and potentially step in if your financial skills start to deteriorate. This can include family, friends or others you trust.

Assign roles to everyone involved: name someone to serve as your medical decision maker should you need one, and someone to act as your financial power of attorney. And consider whether you want one person in charge, or if you want some checks and balances in place.

Talk to everyone involved to make sure they are comfortable with their role.

CREATE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS Get some basic legal documents in place to ensure your wishes can be carried out.

At a minimum, write a will, a medical directive and a financial inventory listing all your financial accounts, assets and insurance policies. Keep these documents in a safe place and let your team know where to access them.

Seek professional assistance from a lawyer, estate planner or financial planner along the way if needed.

Florian also suggests that people prepare a “diminishing capacity letter” giving permission to a financial planner or other professional to contact loved ones if they believe their mental capacity is weakening.

MANAGE YOUR PLAN It’s important for families to be in sync about what needs to happen if it becomes necessary to take over a loved one’s financial decisions, said Suzanne Schmitt, vice president of family engagement at Fidelity Investments.

Financial interdependence is often a gradual process. Some people may want early intervention, such as setting up alerts for their kids if their accounts show unusual activity. Others do not want any help unless their mental capacity is dramatically diminished. Respect those preferences.

“Be proactive, plan as if this will happen, even if it never does, have a plan in case it does,” Hensley said.

Sam’s Club CEO to step down After serving as the CEO of Sam’s Club for five years, Rosalind Brewer will step down from the helm of the company. Brewer announced that she will resign on Friday, reports Fortune.

Brewer, who is the first African American woman to assume the position of CEO at the company, has decided to leave after struggling to match the growth

BUSINESS BUSINESS CALENDAR CALENDAR

sales of Costco. The brand is also focusing on attracting more affluent consumers. Despite the challenge to increase the sales at Sam’s Club Brewer, 54, played an integral role in implementing the company’s e-commerce initiatives. Some of which included the scan-and-go procedure that allowed customers to scan items on their mobile devices to streamline the checkout process and drive-through pickups for products that were purchased online.

Brewer’s work at Sam’s Club landed her on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list in 2016. She has been recognized as one of the most notable Black executives in the retail industry.

“She’s leaving Sam’s with momentum,” said Doug McMillon, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, in a statement. “Roz and the team have developed a strategy that’s led to three consecutive quarters of improving comp sales and some exciting innovation.”

John Furner, Sam’s Club’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, will take on the role of CEO when she leaves. Brewer’s final day at Sam’s Club will be Feb. 1.

JAN. 12—Community Empowerment Association will begin a 12-week Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship course, 6 to 8p.m. each Thursday, at 7120 Kelly St. In Homewood. Classes will cover business formation, marketing, product development and more. Space is limited. Call 412-371-3689 Ext. 44 to register.

Business Breakfast Meeting JAN. 13—The Chatham Women’s Business Center will host its monthly Women’s Business Leaders Breakfast Series from 8-9 p.m. at the James Laughlin Music Hall on the Chatham University Shadyside Campus. The speaker will be Eve Picker, small home developer, and head of the Small Change online real estate investment portal.

Cost is $25. Register online at http://www.chatham.edu/cwe/netw orking/breakfastseries/

Training Event JAN. 19—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host First Step: Business Start-up Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Rockwell Hall Room 108, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. Topics include: Structure and formation; Employee issues; insurance; financing options, Taxing requirements and others. Cost is $25. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

PowerBreakfast Meeting JAN. 20—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa. will host it first PowerBreakfast meeting of the year with guest speaker County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Rivers Club in One Oxford Center, Downtown. Fitzgerald will address the health of our county and his vision and plans for 2017. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, call 412-392-0610.

Build your Business Workshop JAN. 21—The Chatham Women’s Business Center presents a Build Your Business Workshop,9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mellon Building on the Chatham University Shadyside Campus The workshop is designed for women interested in starting or expanding their business. Business experts and seasoned entrepreneurs will discuss the following topics: business planning, marketing and sales, financing, legal issues and business lessons learned. Cost $20 with partial scholarships available (need-based, up to 50%). For more information, call Anne Flynn Schlicht, 412-365-1153.

Business Energy Efficiency Grants THROUGH APRIL 15—The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has to $1,000,000 of grant funding available in the 13th year of the Commonwealth’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program for small businesses that adopt or acquire equipment or processes that promote pollution prevention and/or energy efficiency projects.

Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. Businesses can apply for 50 percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or procedures. Funding is eligible for those costs incurred between July 25, 2016 and June 30, 2017.

For more information, contact the Small Business Ombudsman’s Office at 717-772-5160.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

B5

Congratulations to the Women of Excellence

Guest Editorial

Let your voice be heard to stop Sessions’ confirmation U.S. Sen. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions (R-Ala.), President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, is scheduled to have his confirmation hearing start on Jan. 10.

The Senate Judiciary Committee should not confirm his nomination, because Sessions is the wrong person to serve as our nation’s Attorney General.

His record on voting rights and criminal justice reform is hostile to protecting voting rights. Witnesses testified that he made racially offensive remarks resulting in him being denied a federal judgeship in 1986 because of them.

Allegations of racial insensitivity surfaced against Sessions at a 1986 Senate hearing when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to be federal judge.

He joked that once respected the Ku Klux Klan until he learned that members smoke marijuana. He called the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights group, and the American Civil Liberties “un-American” and “Communist-inspired.”

Sessions nomination to be a federal judge was defeated in 1986 after being opposed by civil rights organizations.

His nomination—this time for nation’s the chief law enforcement officer—should be defeated again in the Senate.

Pennsylvanians must take a stand and call, write and email Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey Jr. today and urge them to reject Sessions confirmation.

Sessions cannot be trusted to uphold justice for all Americans.

If confirmed as Attorney General, Sessions would be the top law enforcement officer of the United States. That means he would have the last word on voter suppression and police brutality—issues where Senator Sessions has a horrible record.

Sen. Sessions has received an F on the NAACP’s federal legislative civil rights report cards for nearly 20 years. He has voted against our policy positions nearly 90 percent of the time. He supported the gutting of the Voting Rights Act and has voted against federal hate crime legislation four times between 2000 to 2009.

Sessions’ horrible record on civil rights prompted a group of more than 1,100 law school professors from across the country to send a letter to Congress urging the Senate to reject his nomination for Attorney General.

“We are convinced that Jeff Sessions will not fairly enforce our nation’s laws and promote justice and equality in the United States,” states the letter from the law professor, who expressed concerns on Sessions’s record on several issues including his prosecution of three civil rights activists for voter fraud in Alabama in 1985. The defendants were found not guilty on all charges.

“Nothing in Senator Sessions’ public life since 1986,” the letter notes, “has convinced us that he is a different man than the 39-year-old attorney who was deemed too racially insensitive to be a federal district court judge.”

With enough political pressure, Session can be stopped from becoming the 84th U.S. Attorney General. His confirmation is not inevitable.

Contact Toomey and Casey and urge them to vote to reject Sessions.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey 248 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4254 Fax: (202) 228-0284 U.S. Sen. Bob Casey 393 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-6324 Toll Free: (866) 802-2833 Fax: (202) 228-0604 (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Ulish Carter

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

Congratulations goes out to all the Women of Excellence celebrated by the New Pittsburgh Courier last Friday.

It was a pleasure to be in the company of not just brilliant women, but such beautiful women of all ages.

Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg for Black women throughout the city in their efforts to break the glass ceilings not only in the corporate world, but in nonprofits, and as entrepreneurs.

Hopefully the doors will remain open for Black women with the new adminstration and the new direction the country is suppose to be going in under President Trump. With the new emphasis on business maybe more money will be available to help Black women create more new businesses, and the Black community will understand the importance of supporting them.

It’s great that more Blacks are looking to start their own businesses, when in the past we were taught to work for someone else.

Again kudos goes out to each and every person honored.

Speaking of business, it has been reported by the media, Fox News in particular, that the Republican House and Senate are seeking to cut corporate taxes 15 percent, whereas Trump wants 20 percent. They feel this will spur more business by freeing up more capital. My question is yes it frees up more money, but will that money be spent by the corporations to expand their businesses and create more jobs? Spend that money to increase pay for employees? Or simply keep it to fatten their bank accounts?

Isn’t this the same thing former President Bush did? Isn’t it what President Reagan did? Give the rich a tax break and anything else they wanted believing somehow that mon-

Ulish Carter

Just Sayin’ ey would trickle down to the middle income and low income. We all know what that led to. It stalled in the rich people’s pockets. But I will wait and see. Maybe the third time will be the charm?

The Republicans have vowed to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). But because they never offered an alternative plan they are baffled at what to offer, so they haven’t come up with a plan. To kill Obamacare without an alternative plan would cost the country billions.

President Obama told them that but no one listened, but now it’s in their hands. They can’t cut the program without offering a replacement. President Obama has come out and stated that he welcomes the repeal, when the GOP comes up with a better plan.

This may force the Republicans to work with the Democrats to come up with an Affordable Health Care bill that the American people have been asking for the past 40 years. This is something that Trump will have to be a major part of. If the two parties and the president work together maybe, just maybe, this country will finally get an affordable health care plan.

Speaking of working together, the Republicans are saying that Senator Chuck Schumer, the new minority leader in the Senate, came across as an Obstructionist; saying that the Democrats are going to try to block or make it hard for the GOP to pass anything. Wow, after eight years of

doing the exact same thing to President Obama, how can they shape their mouths to complain.

Hopefully the Democrats will listen to First Lady Michelle Obama.

“When they strike low, you go high.”

I know this is asking a lot, but the Dems should make an effort to work with Trump and the GOP. Remember there are going to be a lot of differences between the GOP and Trump. The people within the party selected him not the party leaders.

The party was forced to abide by the people’s selection but many, including the U.S. Senate, and U.S. House leaders, still have not accepted him, which is going to lead to many battles in which the Dems could be the deciding factors. For example who leads the GOP? Well most had said Paul Ryan before the election. But now President Trump, with his ego, will make it very clear that he’s the man. So if the Dems are smart they will use this for the betterment of the people, setting their own egos aside.

It’s time to do what’s best for the country, not the political parties.

Maybe it’s just me, but seems like more attention should have been paid to a man who only checks a gun with no luggage in his travel from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. And it also seems to me that if this man, or anyone, complains to authorities that he/ she is having mental problems maybe his gun permit should have been suspended, at least until he had been checked out by doctors and cleared to carry a gun. But instead, at last report, five are dead, six wounded by this man at a Fort Lauderdale airport shooting where he gunned down everyone in his sight. And he’s still alive. Good thing he wasn’t stopped for a traffic violation? Oh, I’m sorry, he not Black.

(Ulish Carter is the managing editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)

Advocates slam Senate Democrats for failing to hire more Blacks, Latinos (NNPA)—Don Cravins, the NationBrown.

Lauren Victoria Burke al Urban League’s senior vice presi“The numbers are worst than they dent for policy, challenged members have ever been,” Cravins railed. of the U.S. Senate, particularly the “We’ve been talking about this issue Senate’s 46 Democrats, on the lack of for decades.” minority hiring in their senior staff The issue of Senate staff diversity positions at a two-hour forum on has been raised several times before Capitol Hill. in the press and in reports issued “Out of 300 senior-level positions in by the Congressional Hispanic Staff the Senate, only three are occupied Association in 2010. Their 2010 reby African Americans. What’s most the discussion. The only Black Leg- port “Unrepresented: A Blueprint for insulting to me is that only one of islative Director in the Senate, Clint Solving the Diversity Crisis on Capthem works for a Democrat mem- Odom, who was recently hired by itol Hill,” received media attention, ber—a party but no meathat goes out surable hiring every election changes. The and relies on Joint Center’s Black voters recent study, to elect them,” “Racial Diversaid Cravins, a sity Among Top former LouisiSenate Staff,” ana state senwas released in ator; Cravins December. served as Chief Ten years ago, of Staff for forin 2007, Politico m e r- S e n a t o r reported that, Mary Landrieu when it came for two years. to senior staff “I’m not happositions, “the py, today. I’m number apfrustrated and proached zero” embarrassed regarding Afriand I’ve had can Americans. enough.”

Blacks account Cravins addfor roughly 13 ed: “The time percent of the for lip service is U.S. populaover, we won’t tion, but only stop pressing NO BLACK STAFFERS—Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the new Democratic leader in the 0.7 percent of this issue.”

Senate, doesn’t have a single Black staffer in a senior-level position. This photo was taken during the senior staff About 250 a ceremony where NASA transferred title and ownership of space shuttle Enterprise to the In- members in the people showed trepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at the museum in New York City. (Bill U.S. Senate— up for the open Ingalls/NASA/Wikimedia Commons) three people of discussion on 300 senior staff congressional jobs. Currenthiring, specifically focused on the low Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), was ly Latinos are 17 percent of the U.S. numbers of Black and Latino staff in in the audience. population, but only 2.3 percent of the U.S. Senate.

The National Urban League and top staff.

“We are making it abundantly clear, the Joint Center for Political and “I find it ironic that many of these the time is now,” said Don Bell, who Economic Studies have been specific politicians didn’t have a problem outadded that Senator Schumer, who to focus on Black and Latino hiring to reaching to Black and Latino people became the new Democratic Leader senior staff positions in the Senate; during the election, but now they in the Senate when Sen. Harry Reid Chief of Staff, Legislative Director need a director to do it, but okay,” (D-Ariz.) retired, only has Black staff and Communications Director. The Cravins said when speaking on a reat non-senior staff levels. reasons are obvious to Capitol Hill cently considered diversity position The senior staff positions on Capi- insiders; Senior staffers hire junior to deal with the hiring issue. tol Hill are Chief of Staff, Legislative staff, control the office budget and One reason that there has been Director and Communications Direc- handle the most important issues no change in the numbers over detor. in the office from policy priorities to cades is that members of Congress “There are nearly 40 general coun- communications. are exempt from labor laws that sels of color standing at the helm of The lack of minority hiring and pro- would prompt a lawsuit in any other Fortune 500 companies in America. motion is particularly bad for Senate sector. Congress is not required to Forty. And yet you’d be hard pressed Democrats, many of whom owe their adhere to the 1964 Civil Rights Act to find one Black one in the Hart election victories to Black voters. No and the Equal Employment Act of Senate Office Building,” Cravins told Senate Democrat from a state with 1972. There’s no legal requirement the audience of staff, advocates and over 20 percent African American for Senators to answer to anyone on press. “It’s an embarrassment. It’s population has an African American hiring issues and no requirement a travesty. Something has got to be in any of the three senior staff posi- to post job vacancies in Congress. done.”

Since Congress is also exempt from tions.

Will Searcy, the director of the Black New Democratic Senate Leader freedom of information requests, Talent Initiative at the Joint Center Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senators there’s also no requirement to report for Political & Economic Studies, Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Tim data on hiring. said that Senate staff dictates that Kaine, D-Va., Mark Warner, D-Va., Ironically, federal officials that the Senate’s legislative agenda con- Ben Cardin, D-Md., Chris Van Hol- must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate trols the $3.8 trillion dollar federal len, D-Md., currently have no Black must adhere to such guidelines.

(Lauren Victoria Burke is a political a(nbudget and provides oversight over senior staff members. Additionally, federal employees—collectively 4.1 Sen. Van Hollen became the Chair- alyst who speaks on politics and African million people. man of the Democratic Senatorial American leadership. Lauren is also a freRepublican Sen. Tim Scott’s Chief Campaign Committee in Novem- quent contributor to the NNPA Newswire of Staff Jennifer DeCasper, the only ber 2016 and hired no Black senior and BlackPressUSA.com. She can be conBlack Chief of Staff currently serving staff, even though the electorate is tacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on in the U.S. Senate, participated in becoming increasingly Black and Twitter at @LVBurke.)

Commentary

B6

FORUM

JANUARY 11-17, 2017 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This is why I finally Was Obama’s last action supported the Women’s the politics of embarrassment?

J. Pharoah Doss March on Washington (NNPA)—“Ain’t I A Woman,” railed Sojourner Truth, “I have ploughed and planted and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman!

I could work as much and eat as much as a man —when I could get it—and bear the lash as well. And ain’t I a woman?

I’ve bourne thirteen children and seen most all sold off and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman.”

The similarities and differences between Black and White women are captured in Sojourner Truth’s famous December 1851 speech. She movingly talks about the men who say women should be “helped into carriages, and moved over ditches, and have the best place everywhere,” while “nobody ever helps me into carriages or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place.” Both Black and White women cry a mother’s grief for the loss of a child, and both endure labor pains. Black women’s lives, while similar, are different and often disadvantaged, because they lack the privilege that White women so easily take for

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary granted and often fail to notice or remedy.

Thus, it did not surprise me that a White woman in Hawaii called for a “Million Women’s March” on Washington, D.C. on the day after the Presidential inauguration. And it did not surprise me, when White women took up the call. Too bad these same White women did not advocate more forcefully against the man who won the Electoral College vote for the Presidency.

My first inclination was to ignore this women’s march. The organizers have repeatedly struck me as tone-deaf and indifferent to the diverse needs of women.

But when I talked to Tamika Mallory, the dynamic young woman activist who was once Executive Director of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, I shifted my perspective. Tamika shared that, just a few days after the initial call to march was issued, organizers reached out to her asking for help. She said they said they “needed to ensure that women of color were involved.”

Now, there are four co-chairs of the Women’s March on Washington, including African American leader Tamika Mallory, Latina activist and part of Harry Belafonte’s Gathering for Justice, Carmen Perez, a White woman entrepreneur whose t-shirts have been galvanizing, Bob Bland, and Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour. I applaud the diversity in leadership, but wonder how many women of color will turn out on Jan. 21. Tens of thousands of women from all over the country are expected, with more than 100,000 saying they plan to be there.

But many African American women have looked askance, perhaps with distaste from the cultural appropriation of the initial organizing descriptive, “Million Women’s March”, perhaps because we recoil from the strong support White women gave the President-elect, choosing race loyalty over gender, class, or personal interest.

I applaud Tamika Mallory. She told me “I was not willing to let this convening come together without having Black women involved.” In other words, White women cannot speak for all women. If White women had their way, the march and rally would probably focus only on equal pay and reproductive rights. Thanks to Tamika and her colleagues, a statement of principles, to be issued next week, will also address racial justice, police brutality, criminal justice reform and mass incarceration.

Absent the involvement of young Black women like Tamika, it would be extremely easy for me to ignore this march. But because some women have drawn a line in the sand and insisted on space for Black women in this march, they deserve support. They remind me of the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who in 1913 elbowed their way into the Women’s Suffrage March when their involvement was unwelcome. They reminded the Women’s Suffrage Association that Black women were also women, and we would not be excluded.

Now, White Women are at it again, but strong, brave, Black women, the descendants of Ida B. Wells, aren’t willing to sit on the sidelines. The march is to remind all watching that “women’s rights are human rights.” Black women’s rights will be considered in this gathering because some Black women dared place themselves in an uncomfortable space (working with privileged, White women is never easy) in order to make a difference.

Information on the women’s march is available at https://www.womensmarch. com/.

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available via www. amazon.com or booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com.)

Gore Vidal once said we live in the United States of amnesia.

Let’s test that theory.

Do you remember this 2013 headline: Obama knew of NSA spying on Merkel and approved of it?

Angela Merkel is the German Chancellor.

The German government discovered America’s National Security Agency was intercepting her cell phone conversations. Of course, the German Chancellor was livid and demanded an explanation from American officials. But the Obama administration had a difficult time making a creditable case for their activities.

If you didn’t remember that headline how about this one from 2014: Germany orders CIA station chief to leave over spying allegations?

This form of retaliation is usually conducted between espionage adversaries such as the United States and Russia.

A CIA expert said, “The Germans must feel compelled to do this for political reasons, because there are ways to convey one’s displeasure without taking this kind of overt step.”

Another intelligence expert said, “The reality is that every country should operate on the basis that it is being spied upon…The German government needs to tone down the volume. We are a family of nations in the west and when things go wrong, you work them out like good families—within the family.”

It sounds like this expert fears the German Chancellor has unnecessarily engaged in the politics of embarrassment. This could change the collective countering of enemy intelligence into a western family feud leading to a disastrous game of counter-embarrassment.

Now, here’s a 2015 headline you might not remember, but German journalist will not forget: Obama administration spied on German media as well as its government.

Washington neither denied or confirmed any fact related to this story.

WBut one German newspaper was more upset with the German government. They stated, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that representatives of the German government at best looked away as the Americans violated the law, and at worse supported them.”

Was that information obtained in the original leak concerning the Chancellor’s calls or was this counter-embarrassment?

Of course a German journalist stated he’s disappointed with the Americans

Commentary

because spying on the press is something expected in authoritarian states like Russia.

Now, do you remember this headline a month before the 2016 presidential election: U.S. officially accuses Russians of hacking DNC and interfering with election?

The report said Hillary Clinton and U.S. officials have blamed Russian hackers for stealing more than 19,000 emails from Democratic Party officials, but the same report said U.S. intelligence and the Obama administration had concluded over the summer that Russian hackers were responsible. If they were certain in the summer why didn’t they retaliate to prevent any further interference with the general election?

They did nothing, once again, to their embarrassment.

Then Donald Trump won the presidency.

President Obama announced to a stunned nation he would follow the example of President Bush and conduct a professional and peaceful transition. But the Russian hacker story resurfaced as a contribution to the Democratic Party’s loss. President-elect Trump dismissed the claims and gloated that the Democrats were embarrassed by their defeat and were making outlandish excuses.

Now, do you remember the first critical headline concerning President-elect Trump? He decided not to have daily intelligence briefings which might have reminded President Obama of his previous espionage embarrassments and viewed it as a slight towards his transition team.

Finally weeks before President-elect Trump’s inauguration this headline appeared: Obama kicks out Russian diplomats in hacking counter-strike.

President Obama promised a peaceful transfer of power. Did he break this last promise because it was an unavoidable matter of national security or was it a farewell act of counter-embarrassment?

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the United States for imposing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats, but said no U.S. diplomat will be ousted in reprisal. Putin stated he will not stoop to President Obama’s level.

President Obama could have made a simple recommendation of retaliation and left the decision to the next president, because nothing is more embarrassing than when an ex-KGB agent announces he will not stoop to the level of the exiting “leader of the free world.”

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsburgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahdoss@ blogspot.com)

Foreign influence and the integrity of America’s democracy (NNPA)—“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government…The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is…to have with them as little political connection as possible.”—President George Washington, Farewell Address, Sept. 17, 1796 In 1840, President Martin Van Buren was fighting for re-election. He ultimately lost his presidential bid to a war hero, William Henry Harrison, who easily won over the widely unpopular Van Buren, nicknamed, “Van Ruin,” for presiding over the nation during an economic depression. The presidential campaign of 1840 was heavy on image, and light on substance, painting Van Buren as an elitist and Harrison as an everyday man. Harrison—accused of being helped by British bankers during his campaign—won the Electoral College vote and an extremely close popular vote. In 1888, Grover Cleveland was favored to win his presidential re-election campaign, but ultimately lost the presidency because he appeared partial and subservient to British interests.

The voters turned against him and his perceived British sympathies. While he managed to win the popular vote, he lost the Electoral College vote, and, hence, the presidency.

If the past is prologue, history suggests that Americans resent the interference of foreign governments and interests in our presidential elections.

As evidence of Russian tampering via cyber-attacks and hacking continues to mount, and President-elect Trump has tapped Rex Tillerson as his Secretary of State—who Trump described as doing “massive deals in Russia” and was awarded the “Order of Friendship” by Vladimir Putin—it is the duty and obligation of our Congress to thoroughly investigate whether or not Russia has interfered with our election process to tip the scale for a Trump win and, in the process, undermine and sow distrust in our democracy and its institutions.

President Obama has ordered a full intelligence review of the alleged Russian hack into the Democratic and Republican National Committees to be completed before inauguration day. In

a break with Trump, the top two Republicans in Congress have lent their support to a bipartisan congressional effort to investigate the alleged Russian cyber-attacks. Calling any breach of American cyber-security measures “disturbing,” Senator Mitch McConnell added that, “the Russians do not wish us well…It defies belief that somehow Republicans in the Senate are reluctant to either review Russian hacking, or ignore them.” As of my writing, it has been reported that more than 50 Democratic voters in the Electoral College are asking for an intelligence briefing from the director of National Intelligence into possible foreign intervention in the presidential election before the college meets to cast its vote for our next president and vice president.

Trump and his associates have dismissed the allegations of Russian interference, painting them as “ridiculous,” and “another excuse.” Trump has— quite characteristically—explained away the legitimate concerns of our institutions, political leaders, the press and the people by blaming the Democrats for disseminating conspiracy theories because “they suffered one of the greatest defeats in the history of politics in this country,” to conceding that if there was any interference or hacking, “they have no idea if it’s Russia, or China, or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed someplace,” he said in a televised interview.

Trump, and I’m sure many of his supporters, see the investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election as an attempt to—yet again—delegitimize his recent win. But the president-elect would do better to understand that to not thoroughly investigate these allegations would leave a permanent stain on his administration, his tenure and his motives. To not look into these allegations seriously would further erode public trust in the already embattled mechanics of our democracy. If domestic voter suppression sits on one side of the coin, the unwanted influence of a foreign power in American elections sits on the other. Rather than enrich us, and our system of representative government, both serve to undermine true democracy.

(Marc Morial is the President and CEO of the National Urban League. Follow Marc on Twitter at @marcmorial.)

Raynard Jackson

Commentary

The NAACP stoops to new low with Jeff Session’s sit-in protest (NNPA)—Once again, the radical liberal National Association for the Advancement of “Certain” People has proven that Blacks can indeed sellout their own people and even be extremely hypocritical.

The NAACP’s perpetual promotion to the Black community of radical Democratic policies, in recent years, has caused more harm to the Black community than any White man with a sheet over his face.

Like in the Bible, the handwriting is on the wall for the NAACP. I am calling for all people of good conscious to withhold any and all support for this organization, whether monetary or otherwise.

Why am I being so hard on this group you might be asking? Well, last week the NAACP once again showed their total lack of relevance; and they continue to find new ways to further embarrass the Black community.

Cornell Brooks, the national president of the NAACP, was so bored that he decided to gather a few of his cronies to fly down to Mobile, Alabama and hijack Senator Jeff Sessions’ office as an act of civil disobedience.

They demanded that Sessions withdraw his name from consideration for United States Attorney General, because in their perverted minds, he is supposed to be a racist.

As I wrote recently, I worked Sessions’ first senate campaign and you will not find a more decent person on Earth. The radical, liberal NAACP claims that Sessions made what they consider to be “racist” statements 30 years ago.

Oh, really? You want to go there? Alright, then let’s go there.

No one has ever accused Sessions of being a member of the KKK or serving in a leadership capacity in the hate group. So, I find it quite ironic that when former West Virginia U.S. Senator Robert Byrd died in 2010, the NAACP “mourned” his death.

Byrd was not only a member of the KKK, but he also served as Exalted Cyclops, which meant he was basically CEO of his local chapter. Byrd also has the distinction of being the only U.S. Senator to have voted against both Black Supreme Court nominees (Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas). And that’s who the NAACP mourned? You can read more about Byrd’s racism here.

So, they mourn the person with a track record of being a racist and attempt to malign the person with no “credible” evidence of being a racist?

Brooks also claimed that he wanted to “bring attention to issues like the continuing debate over police killings of unarmed civilians, mostly Blacks” of which Sessions had nothing to do with.

Let me point out a few other examples of the NAACP’s hypocrisy in action.

Why didn’t Brooks and his cronies hijack Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s office after the murder of Laquan McDonald at the hands of the Chicago police department? Emmanuel intentionally withheld the video of the murder until after his reelection, because he knew that releasing the video before the election would have guaranteed his defeat.

Why didn’t the NAACP hijack Education Secretary Arnie Duncan’s office for the policies he unleashed that devastated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)?

Why didn’t they hijack Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office in Baltimore, Md., when the Justice Department issued their scathing report in the aftermath of the protests and riots sparked by the police killing of Freddie Gray? Justice Department officials found that Baltimore’s police department was rampant with racism and all sorts of civil rights violations.

Finally, why didn’t they hijack the offices of the Democratic House and Senate leadership over the recently released report about the lack of Black staffers?

So, it seems like the National Association for the Advancement of “Certain” People is only interested in racism when it involves Republicans. They never hold Democrats to the same standard, because they are too busy trying to curry favor; not standing up for those who have truly been aggrieved.

This group’s hypocrisy stinks so much that I believe their days are numbered. They have been weighed in the balances and have been found grossly wanting; wanting for relevance and wanting for money.

They claim to be a non-partisan group, but, in my opinion, the group is nothing more than an arm of the Democratic National Committee. This is why I am asking my readers to refrain from this day forward from giving them any form of support. Let them continue to wither on the vine.

They have brought total dishonor to the likes of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. They have also brought shame to the hard work and dedication to lifetime Republicans and lifetime NAACP members like Bob Brown and Bill Coleman.

I am asking this new Congress to convene hearings on the possibility of forcing the I.R.S. to strip groups like these of their tax-exempt status for promoting the Democratic Party.

Would this not be a great way to honor Dr. King’s upcoming birthday? I’m just asking.

(Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future, a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party. You can follow Raynard on Twitter @Raynard1223.)

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Grow Pittsburgh now hiring for fulltime and part-time positions. Visit our website at www.growpittsburgh.org

TRANSPORTATION OUTREACH SPECIALIST

Well organized self-starter to promote transportation options by building relationships with commuters, employers, and the general public. Qualifications include outreach experience, customer service skills, attention to detail, and valid PA license. See detailed job description at www.spcregion.org.

Email resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to hr@spcregion. org. EEO/AA/M/F/Vet/Disability Employer Engineer: Compunetix, Inc. seeks Application Software Engineer to work in Monroeville, PA. Dsgn & dvlp applctns that enhnc the value of teleconfrncng pltfrms. Masters dgr or forgn equiv in Electrical Engnrg, Comp. Sci. or Comp. Engnrg & 3 yrs of exp in a relatd occuptn. Work exp or acad crswrk must incl: 3 yrs of exp in mobile applictn dsgn & dvlpmt for iOS platform using Objective C/C++; 2 yrs of exp in Web Dvlpmnt incl HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, Tomcat, Ant, Apache & Java; 2 yrs of exp in dvlpmt for SQL & MySQL dbases; & 2 yrs of exp using configurtn mngmt systms GIT or ClearCase. Email resume to Bbrennan@compunetix.com.

SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST

University of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks a Surgical Oncologist in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA. Specialize in surgical oncology performing surgical procedures to diagnose, stage, and treat cancer and/or to relieve symptoms; perform biopsies, resections, reconstructive and palliative surgeries.

Must have a Medical degree or foreign equivalent; completion of five years of post-graduate training in Surgery; Must be Board eligible or certified in General Surgery; completion of two-year fellowship training in Surgical Oncology - fellowship training must include training in advanced gastrointestinal surgical oncology techniques with peritoneal cancer; Must have a valid PA medical license or be eligible for licensure. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers. upmc.com and enter 160001OZ in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MENTAL HEALTH/ INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD 2017 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Mental Health/Intellectual Disability (MH/ID) Advisory Board Meetings for calendar year 2017 will be held on the second Tuesday of every other month, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Homestead Grays Conference Room, Lower Level, unless otherwise notified.

The MH/ID Advisory Board Meetings for 2017 are scheduled as follows: January 10 March 14 May 9 (Joint meeting with Drug and Alcohol Planning Council) July 11 September 13 (Second Wednesday, joint meeting with Drug and Alcohol Planning Council) November 14 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DRUG & ALCOHOL PLANNING COUNCIL 2017 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Drug & Alcohol Planning Council Meetings for calendar year 2017 will be held on the second Wednesday of every other month, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Homestead Grays Conference Room, Lower Level, unless otherwise notified.

The Drug & Alcohol Planning Council 2017 meeting schedule is: January 11 March 15 May 9 (Second Tuesday, joint meeting with MH/ID Advisory Board) July 12 September 13 (Joint meeting with MH/ID Advisory Board) November 8 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

SONNY BOY

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ADVISORY BOARD 2017 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Children, Youth and Families (CYF) Advisory Board Meetings for calendar year 2017 will be held the first Wednesday of every other month, from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Rachel Carson Room, Lower Level unless otherwise noted.

The CYF Advisory Board 2017 meeting schedule is: March 1 May 3 July 5 September 6 November 1 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the 2017 annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Allegheny County Housing Authority will be held at 10:30 a.m. on January 18, 2017 in the Authority’s Boardroom located on the 12th Floor, 625 Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222. The meeting will be preceded with a meeting of the Finance and Audit Committee at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Board’s review of the agenda for the annual meeting and other general matters at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend these meetings.

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETINGS Notice is hereby given of the regular monthly meetings of the Board of Directors of the Allegheny County Housing Authority for calendar year 2017, all meetings to be held in the Authority’s Boardroom located on the 12th Floor, 625 Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222. On the dates listed below, the Finance and Audit Committee will meet at 9:15 a.m., to be following by the Board’s review of the agenda and other general matters at 9:30 a.m. The Board of Directors meeting will commence at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend the committee meetings, agenda reviews and regular Board meetings.

February 15, 2017 March 15, 2017 April 19, 2017 May17, 2017 June 21, 2017 July 19, 2017 September 20, 2017 October 18, 2017 November 15, 2017 December 20, 2017 Frank Aggazio, Executive Director Allegheny County Housing Authority ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

NOTICE TO PUBLIC

Pursuant to 55 PA Code 5100.12 and 5100.81, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Administrator of Mental Health Services hereby provides public notice of the approved and designated facilities that are available to provide involuntary emergency examinations, involuntary treatment or voluntary treatment funded in whole or in part

by MH/OID funds. The following are the facilities in Allegheny County to which a person may be taken pursuant to Section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act: Allegheny Valley/Alle-Kiski Hospital Forbes Regional Hospital Heritage Valley-Sewickley Hospital Jefferson Hospital Ohio Valley Hospital St. Clair Memorial Hospital UPMC-McKeesport UPMC-Mercy UPMC-Montefiore UPMC-Presbyterian UPMC-Shadyside UPMC-Western Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) VA Pittsburgh Health SystemUniversity Drive Campus (Veterans only) Limited Designated Facilities (authorized and designated for involuntary examination and treatment) LifeCare Hospital Southwood Psychiatric Hospital State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

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ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Allegheny County Airport Authority will host a Small Business Fair at Pittsburgh International Airport, Landside Terminal, Ticketing Level (north end adjacent to the American Airlines Ticketing Counter), P.O. Box 12370, Pittsburgh, PA 15231-0370 from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. on January 31, 2017.

The purpose of the Small Business Fair is to provide an opportunity to the business community to obtain information on doing business as a consultant, construction company, vendor, and supplier for the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Staff from the Authority’s various areas including Business Development, Safety, Security, Communications, Finance, Planning & Environmental Affairs, Maintenance, Engineering & Construction and Procurement will be on hand to answer questions.

To register for the event by end of business on January 30, visit http://www.flypittsburgh.com/ doing-business/businessopportunities.

Please call Samantha Stedford, Manager of Business Diversity and Outreach, at 412-472-3648 for additional information.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting Letters of Interest and Statements of Qualifications from Professional Engineering Firms who wish to be considered for the following: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE/SOURCE CONTROLS CAPITAL PROJECT S455 PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project will advance the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)/ Source Control components of the ALCOSAN Wet Weather Plan in accordance with the Consent Decree requirements and with the long term objective of improving water quality while advancing the benefits of a regional sewer system.

Interested firms shall submit twelve (12) bound paper copies and one (1) electronic copy on a CD in a sealed envelope plainly marked: Statement of Qualifications for Program Manager Green Stormwater Infrastructure/ Source Control Capital Project S455 Allegheny County Sanitary Authority 3300 Preble Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Attention: Suzanne Thomas An informational meeting will be held at January 20, 2017 at 10:00am in the ALCOSAN Auditorium at 3300 Preble Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233 to clarify the goals and purpose of the Request for Qualifications. All submittals must be received no later than 2:00 PM on February 10, 2017.

Late submittals will not be considered and will be returned unopened.

Additional information and instructions may be obtained by visiting http://www.alcosan.org/Business Opportunities/RFQsRFPs/ tabid/182/Default.aspx. All questions should be submitted, in writing, to Suzanne Thomas, at suzanne. thomas@alcosan.org.

ALCOSAN encourages third party certified businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged, women and service-disabled veteran small business enterprises to submit qualification statements or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the selected Firm(s).

The Firm(s) selected shall be required to utilize minority, disadvantaged, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business enterprises to the fullest extent possible. The goals of the ALCOSAN’s Supplier Diversity Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www. alcosan.org.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend the informational meeting.

Jan Oliver Director of Regional Conveyance

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PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Estate of ROBERT B. WOLF, a/k/a Robert Benson Wolf, deceased of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, No. 02-16-06521, Mary Ellen Wolf, Executrix, c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate and Trust Estate of GAIL RYAVE, a/k/a Gail Perlut Ryave, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 02-16-06600 Sharon K. Brody, Executrix of the Estate of Gail Ryave, a/k/a Gail Perlut Ryave and Trustee under Irrevocable Trust, Agreement of Gail Ryave dated April 2, 2004, c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & More, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of BARBARA C. TOMSIC, deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, No. 02-16-06516, Paul J. Tomsic, Executor, 1 West Superior, Apt. 3712, Chicago, IL 60654 or to Todd T. Jordan, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Gran Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Letters Testamentary on the estate of GEORGE DALEY, Court Term No. 021606703, late of Verona, Allegheny County, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned by the Director of Dept. of Court Records, Wills/Orphans Court Division of Allegheny County, notice is hereby given to all persons indebted to said estate to make immediate payment, and to those having claims against the same to present them to the undersigned, duly authenticated for settlement.

Elaine Daley, Executrix, 7930 Orlan Pl, Verona, PA 15147 Estate of ILENE H. GUGGENHEIM, deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, No. 02-16-05959, Bonnie Guggenheim, Executrix, 307 S. Dithridge Street, Apt. 208, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or to Todd T. Jordan, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of ROBERT H. GUGGENHEIM, deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No. 02-16-05962, Michael Guggenheim, Executor, 307 S. Dithridge Street, Apt. 208, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or to Todd T Jordan, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of JOHN I. RUTLEDGE, deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 14, 2014 No. 02-17-00043,Margaret M. Gardner, c/o Judith A. Lehnowsky, Attorney, 820 Evergreen Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15209 412-821-0441 Estate of BEVERLY L. TIMMINS, a/k/a BEVERLY L. HUFF-TIMMINS, deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No. 02-16-06788, Holly A. Martys, Executrix c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS

Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.port authority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on January 25, 2017 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid Number Bid Name B161097 Underground Teraction Power Cable B1611102 Bucket Trucks B1611103 LED Fixtures for Steel Plaza and Wood Street Stations Paper Proposal – Documents are available for the following item at Port Authority’s Main Offices 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15222-2527 B160761AR Copier Management Services No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00am on January 10, 2017 at Port Authority, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 152222527. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within 48 hours of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION Of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Room 251, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on February 7, 2017, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for the following: Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5 Installation of Classroom Ceiling Fans Electrical Prime Pittsburgh Brashear H. S. ADA Toilet Room Renovations General, Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Primes Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 Restroom Renovations General, Asbestos, Plumbing, HVAC and Electrical Primes Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5 Auditorium Ventilation Unit Replacement General, Asbestos, Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5 Boiler Replacement Asbestos, Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pittsburgh Morrow PreK-5 Roof Replacement General and Plumbing Primes Pittsburgh Perry H. S. New Theatrical Lighting and Sound System Electrical Prime Pittsburgh Various Pgh. Schools Carbon Monoxide and Heat Detection System Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pittsburgh Westwood K-5 Elevator Addition General, Plumbing, HVAC and Electrical Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on January 9, 2017 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

B9

RASHAD BYRDSONG, who talked about Kwanzaa, gave an overview of where Blacks stand, in Pittsburgh and the country, in 2016. THE DRUMS—The drum call performed by drummers of Sankofa. (Photos by J. L. Martello)

CEA presents 22nd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration

MANNA KADIATOU BALAFON DANCE TROUP

GIFTS FOR YOUTH—A few of the youth who received gifts at the celebration are, from left: Nate Bey, Hailey Pressley and Tia’lynn Bey.

MANNA KADIATOU BALAFON DANCE TROUP

CHILDREN ENJOYED THEIR GIFTS—Kristina Terrell, back row, center, celebrating Kwanzaa with her kids and nephews.

MANNA KADIATOU BALAFON DANCE TROUP The 22nd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration was held Dec. 30 at the Community Empowerment Association’s Arts, Culture and Training Institute, located at 7120 Kelly St. in Homewood.

“The goal is for the mind-set to spread into the community. Building self-determination and self-consciousness is the purpose of Kwanzaa and a philosophy in which we live. It’s our way of keeping the rich tradition community-based and community driven,” said Rashad Byrdsong, president & CEO of CEA. For decades, CEA has been a leader in helping disadvantaged children, youth, individuals and families with training, employment, after school enrichment as well as mental health, violence prevention, and supportive services. An advocate of cultural enrichment, CEA also provides activities that celebrate the diversity of the Black experience which includes the Black Family Reunion, Founder’s Day, the Day of Black Male Solidarity, Ancestor’s Day and the Kwanzaa celebration.

An avid observer of the value system of the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba), the theme of the celebration was NIA— (PURPOSE).

The principle of NIA reinforces the central ethical teachings of our ancestors that humans are chosen to bring good in the world and that we should and shall never rest until the goodness and wellbeing of the world and all in it are secured.

The celebration consisted of dancing, drumming, singing, community building awards and refreshments.

Kwanzaa also includes gift giving, generally to children. Given the roughness of the economic conditions, there are many children who may not get gifts for the holiday season. CEA encouraged residents to sponsor toy drives and donate toys to its Kwanzaa event.

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that originated in the mid 1960s by Maulana Karenga who currently serves as professor of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University, in Long Beach.

Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration meaning “firstfruits,” was created to reaffirm the communitarian vision and values of African culture and to contribute to its restoration among African peoples in the Diaspora, beginning with Africans in America and expanding to include the world African community. Kwanzaa introduces and reinforc-

es the seven basic values of African culture, which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world, African community. Those principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba AWARDEES—Recipients of the 2016 Nation Building Award are, from left: Father David Taylor, Larticia (Creativity) and Imani Robinson, Reginald Smith, Rev. Sam Ware, Cheri Smith and Genie Beckum.

(Faith).

SPORTS New Pittsburgh Courier

B10

JANUARY 11-17, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

by Aubrey Bruce For New Pittsburgh Courier

Hip, hip, hooray. Hip, hip, hooray.

The Pittsburgh Steelers put the Miami Dolphins in a stranglehold defeating the “fish” from the “Sunshine State” by the score of 30-12. The score would have been far more lopsided than that if Steelers Quarterback “Big” Ben Roethlisberger had not again thrown two “questionable” interceptions.

One fan going by the name of John Johnson had this response on espn. com on Sunday afternoon/ evening. “Ben’s decision making will be the undoing of the Steelers next week. He has for the last 6 weeks made the most bone headed interceptions, he

Inside Conditions…quadruple threats cannot do this next week, especially while Brady has a vacation in Hawaii.”

Brian Miller who has himself listed as a: “Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP had this to say. “There will probably be many future comments referring to the game between the Steelers and Chiefs earlier this year. But just like this game against Miami, anything can happen the second time around. They need to come out with a fire just like they did today.”

Okay, enough with the criticism. The Pittsburgh Steelers played as if they were the undertakers and the Miami Dolphins were the “stiffs.” The Dolphins were talking smack back in week six when the

iron, named H e i n z Field.

The Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi in week six ran for over 200 yards against the Black and Gold defense, looked as if he were a 200 lb. + ballerina AUBREY BRUCE performing in a “Fish” beat the Steelers, Russian Ballet being per30-15 down in the balmy formed at South Beach. On city of Miami. They had no Sunday he looked as if he idea that they would have were a hypothermic hiker to duplicate that feat in a just waiting to be rescued playoff game on the frozen from the top of a mountain tundra disguised as a grid- summit after being acci-

dentally caught in a snowstorm.

By the way, not all of the comments posted on espn.com were unfriendly concerning “Big” Ben. Ulloa Familia came to Roethlisberger defense in a very adamant way.

“Are you playing the game?” He asked and answered his own question. “I don’t think so.

You don’t know the kind of pressure he’s under.

Yes he made a mistake all quarterbacks do but he’s brought this team to the playoffs and he will continue to do his best for the team and that’s all we can ask for. Now unless you’re the one getting sacked and having the pressure of winning an entire game on your shoulders I suggest

you keep your comments and thoughts to yourself about this team or find another team to root for.

If you’re a true fan then don’t talk crap about our own players.”

Way to go Se·ñor Familia: That’s right don’t be a fair weather fan because there will not be any fair weather, (maybe, maybe not) or fair weather fans in Kansas City waiting to embrace the Steelers when they roll into K.C. There cannot afford to be any letdowns here. (Espn.com was a source for this article)

(Aubrey Bruce is the Senior Sports Columnist for the New Pittsburgh Courier, he can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-5836741. Follow him on Twitter@ ultrascribe.)

Steelers face Chiefs in Super Bowl quest

by Ulish Carter Courier Staff Writer

The Steelers repaid the Miami Dolphins for their 30-15 victory over them with a 30-12 win Sunday, setting the stage for the AFC semi-finals with the AFC West champions the Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) this Sunday at 1 p.m. in Kansas City.

The Steelers jumped all over the Dolphins in the first quarter with three quick scores building up a 20-6 lead to cruise on to a final 30-12 victory in pret-

ty much what everyone expected.

In his first playoff game Le’Veon Bell set a Steelers playoff record with 167 yards on 29 carries and 2 touchdowns. But it was Antonio Brown who closed the door early on the Dolphins with touchdown catches of 50 and 62 yards to put the Steelers out front and they never looked back.

Once again the Steelers defense was awesome shutting down the running game that had allowed 204 yards by Jay Ajayi rushing the first meeting and held

STEELERS CELEBRATE VICTORY OVER MIAMI DOLPHINS

OLD MAN TIME—James Harrison at 36 still outperforming the youngsters. (Photos by Shelley Lipton)

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—So it’s true what the old folks say. “You never miss your water till the well runs dry.” I know you missed me, but I’m back.

Now let’s get it started. :09—I know you’re Steelers crazy right now, but just sit tight. I’ll get to that in a minute. We got time. Miami ain’t going nowhere I promise ya! Let’s get caught up on some stuff first…I’ve been gone two weeks now! :08—So “you people” still think Donald Trump is the man, even after everybody on the planet knows that he’s in bed with the Russians. Okay, but if your butt is shoveling snow in Siberia next week, you only have you and the rest of middle America to blame! :07—It takes a big man to admit he’s wrong. I’m a big man…and I was wrong.

And a small man called me

him to just 33 yards on 16 carries.

James Harrison continues to look like a 26 year old instead of a 36 year old veteran as he led the defense with 12 tackles and 2 sacks. Lawrence Timmons kept pressure on the quarterback all game long while stopping the running game with 14 tackles.

But they had plenty of help Ryan Shazier, Javon Hargrove, and Stephon Tuitt who all had monster games.

The secondary composed of Sean Davis, Artie Burns, Willie Gay, Mike Mitchell, Ross Cockrell and Robert

Golden not only held the passing game in check, they did a brilliant job of helping the front line keep the running game in check to help extend the Steelers NFL longest winning streak to eight.

But the Chiefs should be a much tougher opponent than the Dolphins with their much improved offense and outstanding defense.

The Chiefs average 24.9 points per game while allowing opponents just 20.4 points.

Alex Smith still leads the Chiefs offense with 3502 yards through the air as he

Overtime on it. (I mean small with all due respect…Big Smile!)

But Braddock Roy, the first assistant to Eddie Jefferies, the president of the “Know It All Club,” caught me two times. Yes, I forgot to put Walter Payton in the top ten running backs list.

Ink him in third behind the great Jim Brown and Gayle Sayers. And somehow I left Randy Moss off the all time receivers list…yeah, I know! Well you can put him in behind Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann. I know, I know, but I’m taking Swann!!! Now shut up and move on. :06—So let’s turn it up a notch and get to the real deal. Let’s go greatest players of all time. Hoo-Ray!!!

Here’s your selection after 700 plus votes: #1 Jim Brown—Nine seasons, never missed a game. The man all other running backs are measured by. #2 Joe Greene—At times 4 men

BILL NEAL had to stop him. #3 Jim Thorpe—Did ‘everything” on the field and was great at it. #4 Joe Montana—The quarterback all others are measured against. #5 Lawrence Taylor—Coaches had to plan their game around

him. #6 Tom Brady – Clint Eastwood with a football in his hand instead of a magnum! #7 Walter Payton— The heart and soul of football. #8 Reggie White—You forget he was inhuman! A monster with a bible in his

completed 328 of 489 passes for 15 touchdowns. He is gradually becoming one of the elite quarterbacks even though he receives very little recognition.

On the ground Spencer Ware is a workhorse with 921 yards on 214 carries but just 3 touchdowns.

Smith balances that out with several receiving targets. Travis Kelce is their top receiver with 85 catches for 1125 yards and 4 touchdowns, Tyreek Hill 61 catches for 593 and 6 touchdowns, Jeremy Maclin 44 catches for 536 yards, and Chris Conley 44 catches for 530 yards.

In other games the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants, the Houston Texans beat the Oakland Raiders, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Detroit Lions.

This weekend the Dallas Cowboys will host the Packers, and the Atlanta Falcons will host the Seahawks in the NFC. In the AFC the New England Patriots will host the Texans.

Predictions: Cowboys over the Packers, Seahawks over the Falcons, Patriots over the Texans, and the Steelers over the Chiefs.

hand!!! #9 Johnny Unitas — “Johnny U” was everybody’s. #10 Dick Butkus —Greatness before L.T., Lambert, Ham, Ray Lewis, Singletary…need I say more? :05—Pitt basketball in a nutshell. You lose to Duquesne after beating Maryland 73-59 and giving them their first loss.

You lose to Notre Dame even though you had them beat. Then you drop 88 on Virginia who had the #1 defense in basketball, but you lose to Syracuse who you owned over the last seven games. It’s gonna be a roller coaster season. :04—Forget everything else you know or think you know about the movies and go see “Fences.” It’s what movies are all about. Yep, 5 stars *****. Right up there with “The Godfather,” “Magnificent 7” (the original), “American Gangster,” and the “Outlaw Josey

Wales.” That’s all you need to know. :03—Oh, by the way, I saw that lady at Savoy again.

You know the one that said I’m no journalist, but I read you every week. Well, she’s still reading. Must be doing something right. :02—NOW TO YOUR STEELERS STUFF: a: Regarding Bradshaw’s comment about Tomlin not being a good coach. Big time sell-out! If he were in the mafia and spoke against the family like that, he’d be swimming with the fishes by now. b: This team is coming together at the right time. The injured are healed, Ben is on point and Bell and Brown are unstoppable. c: This one’s over.

Kansas City here we come.

Won’t be easy, but we are Super Bowl bound!!! :01—Game Over…Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (I know, shut up!)