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Vol. 108 No. 28

Two Sections

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JULY 12-18, 2017

Burgess and Lavelle make final push for Affordable Housing funds Post-agenda meeting set for July 18

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

REV. RICKY BURGESS

After reviewing all the funding options forwarded by the Affordable Housing Task Force, Pittsburgh Councilmen R. Daniel Lavelle and Rev. Ricky Burgess opted to push one of the few choices that didn’t require state approval, a one-percent increase in the realty transfer tax to two percent.

by Atiya Irvin-Mitchell For New Pittsburgh Courier

R. DANIEL LAVELLE

Kala Thomas remembered as ‘the heart of the family’

Black teen behavior at Fireworks ‘a marked 25-year-old improvement’ mother of four

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

In the moments following Pittsburgh’s Independence Day fireworks celebration at the Point last year, four people were shot near Liberty Avenue and 7th Street.

One of the victims was 15 years old.

The shooting and other corresponding violence placed a black mark on an otherwise successful event.

But according to Sonya Toler, public information officer for the city’s department of public safety, this year’s Fourth of July celebration Downtown was “a marked improvement over last year.

“Everyone returned home without having the trauma of a gunfight in Downtown,” Toler told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview.

But the fact that no one was shot doesn’t mean all was well. Many spectators told the New Pittsburgh Courier there were a number of minor fights occurring in the moments after SEE BEHAVIOR A11

was killed in Garfield May 23

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Dianne Thomas said her daughter, Kala, liked to skate, loved to dance and just have fun.

And that’s exactly what Dianne’s family and friends did, during a fundraiser for her daughter.

Kala Thomas was shot to death in late May. She was found in Garfield near North Atlantic Avenue in the Garfield Commons Housing Complex. She was 25 years old, and the mother of two sets of twins, 8 years old and 5 months old.

“Kala was a loving kind of person, she loved her kids, she was all about having family and having fun with her four children. She had a beautiful spirit,” Dianne Thomas told the New Pittsburgh Courier during the fundraiser at the Neville Island Roller Drome, July 10. “For her to be 25 with four kids, I was proud of her because she took good care of them and for this to happen to her, now her babies won’t know who their mother was.”

Dr. Rachel Poole dies at age 92

as ne f t e first Blac students admitted to Pitt’s n rsing r gra in

The increase, supported by Mayor Bill Peduto, is estimated to raise between $8 million and $10 million per year to eliminate the city’s deficit of affordable housing, which task force studies estimated at 17,000 units.

But, as Rev. Burgess told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview July 6, that wouldn’t do SEE HOUSING A4

$1.00

Dr. Rachel Poole was a woman that wore many hats in her personal and professional life. She was a nurse, a mother, an educator, and over the years became a woman of accomplishment. But perhaps her most notable accomplishment was becoming one of the first three Black students admitted into the University of Pittsburgh’s nursing program in 1943.

Dr. Poole, along with the other two Black students, graduated in 1947.

Dr. Poole died on the way to the hospital from her home in the Hill District on June 23. She was 92 years old.

“My mom believed in excellence and always felt that you had to be the best that you could be,” Dr. Poole’s daughter, Adriene Dilworth, told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “If that

DR. RACHEL POOLE meant being the first of something significant, so be it.”

A dedicated student, Dr. Poole was co-valedictorian of her high school class, Westinghouse High, in 1942. Her desire to care for others in part was due to losing her own mother to cancer as a child. Beyond that, Poole had a passion for learning. Her mothSEE POOLE A3

No URA contract stifling training of Larimer youth

by Christian Morrow

interior demolition on was reduced from six to two, Courier Staff Writer while the number of youth When Black contractors they were set to train douEmmett Miles and Ron bled from six to 12.

No problem. With the Garland were informed they would be rehabbing six donation of pry bars, hamKALA THOMAS homes as part of the Larim- mers and other hardware Penn Wholesale er redevelopment project, from Dianne Thomas said Kala truly loved to they decided it would be a Kitchens and the equipdance, and “she liked to sing, even though great opportunity to take ment Miles and Garland she wasn’t a good singer,” she joked. kids from the city’s Learn purchased—goggles, boots, Dianne Thomas told the Courier Kala and Earn summer jobs pro- safety vests—they could was about to attend CCAC to complete a gram and teach them the still give the kids the trainnursing degree. She labeled Kala as an basics of construction work. ing they’d planned.

But that isn’t happening outgoing person, while Kala’s cousin, DaBut in the past month, the number of houses they were SEE THOMAS A11 SEE URA A4 originally scheduled to do

New Pittsburgh Police class: 31 percent Black

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

In recent years, it has not been surprising to see graduating classes from the Pittsburgh Police Academy that were either allWhite, all-male, or sometimes both.

That is not the case with the most recent class of new officers who were sworn in June 27. Of the 19 graduates, five are Black males and one is a Black female.

This prompted Black Political Empowerment Project founder Tim Stevens to write a letter commending Pittsburgh Police Chief Ron Schubert and Mayor Bill Peduto for their efforts to diversify the force.

“These numbers are much more reflective of what we hope to see in future classes for the City of Pittsburgh,” he wrote in a letter obtained by the New Pittsburgh SEE POLICE A4

DIVERSE CLASS—Mayor Bill Peduto, far right, with members of the new Pittsburgh Police Academy class. There are five Black males and one Black female.

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JULY 12-18, 2017

INTERNATIONAL

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This Week In Black History

Week of July 12-18 July 12 1887—Mound Bayou, Miss., perhaps the nation’s best known historically all-Black town, is founded by ex-slave Isaiah Montgomery and his cousin Benjamin T. Green. It was built as a sanctuary for former slaves during a period when Jim Crow racism and terrorism by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were on the rise. It is considered the oldest surviving all-Black town in America. According to the 2000 Census, the town had 2,100 residents.

1937—Actor, comedian and political activist William “Bill” Cosby is born on this day in Philadelphia, Pa. Cosby would rise from nightclub comedian, to actor in several of the so-called WILLIAM “BILL” COSBY Black exploitation movies of the 1970s, to star of the hit NBC television series “The Cosby Show” from 1984-92.

The show won numerous awards and praise for its portrayal of a middle-class African-American family.

1949—Although he is seldom mentioned today, Frederick M. Jones was one of Black America’s most productive inventors. There are at least 60 patents to his credit. However, Jones is best BEAUTY PAGEANT WINNER—In this Feb. 2 photo, Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, is in known for the invention of an air conditioning Pretoria, South Africa. (AP Photo) unit. Specifically, he designed an automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks and trains which he patented on this day in 1949. Jones was born in 1893 in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati.

He died in 1961.

FREDERICK M. JONES July 13 1863—One of the bloodiest race (or perhaps more appropriately “racist”) riots in America history begins. The event, known historically as New York City Draft Riots, was sparked by angry opposition to the congressionally passed Enrollment Act—a mandatory draft requiring White men to fight in the Civil War. Many Whites went on JOHANNESBURG (AP) “We thought it was the “I really can’t believe ‘our’ a rampage out of opposition to the draft and fear of freed Blacks competing with them —A beaming Miss South right thing to do, seeing Miss SA is wearing latex for jobs. The rioting lasted from July 13 to July 16 before it was Africa was photographed as we were working with so that she can touch these finally put down with the aid of Federal troops. But before it was with children at a soup food,” 22-year-old Nel-Pekids!!” over, an estimated 100 people had been killed and 300 woundkitchen in what was ters said.

Another person posted ed—most of them Blacks. The mandatory draft also reflected a supposed to be a feel-good The Miss South Africa or- photos of Nel-Peters prefact commonly omitted from standard American history texts: charity event. But she end- ganization said in a stateparing food at a different the class nature of much legislation. In this instance, the draft ed up fending off accusament that Nel-Peters did event, noting that she was only applied to poor and working class Whites. Wealthy Whites tions of racism for wearing not wear disposable gloves “peeling potatoes without were officially exempted from the draft by paying a fee. gloves while interacting throughout the visit. gloves for White folks.”

1868—Oscar J. Dunn, a former slave, is installed as Louisiwith Black children.

Race remains a sensiNel-Peters made local ana’s lieutenant governor. At the time, it was the highest elective Beauty pageant winner tive issue in South Africa, headlines last month when state position ever achieved by any African-American. Another Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, where White minority rule she reportedly escaped Black, Antoine Dubuclet, was installed as state treasurer. Howwho is mixed-race, posted ended in 1994. from her vehicle while ever, virtually all the Black political gains after the Civil War OSCAR J. DUNN a video this week in which Ikageng, the communibeing accosted by three would be wiped out by the Hayes-Tilden Compromise of 1872 she said she and other ty center where the soup armed thieves on a main and the subsequent anti-Black Jim Crow laws. It would take nearly 100 years (during volunteers wore disposable kitchen was set up, helps road in Johannesburg. The the 1960s) before Blacks would once again begin to match the political gains they had gloves at the event in the orphans and other vulnerepisode prompted South made during the post-Civil War period.

Soweto section of Johanable children, including Africa’s police minister to July 15 nesburg because they some who are HIV positive. reiterate a commitment to 1779—Noted Black spy Pompey Lamb supplies the American revolutionary forces wanted to be hygienic.

One Twitter user said: fight crime against women. with information, which enables them to win the Battle of Stony Point—the last major battle of the Revolutionary War in New York State. Lamb had worked as a fruit and vegetable delivery man for the British Army.

1822—Philadelphia becomes one of the first major cities to open its public schools to Blacks. The first school was a segregated one just for Black boys. One for girls was opened four years later in 1826. The city’s public schools would remain segregated until the 1930s.

July 16 1862—Crusading journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett is born in Holly Springs, Miss. Wells-Barnett was a true militant activist. Her editorials so angered Whites in the Memphis, Tenn., area that a mob burned down the building which housed her newspaper. She was also one of the original founders HAMBURG, Germaa discussion on digitalizaTrump’s “America First’’ of the NAACP and in 1884 she committed a “Rosa Parks” type act IDA B. WELLSny (AP)—Leaders of the tion, empowering women rhetoric and decision last when she refused an order to give up her seat on a train to a White BARNETT world’s top economic powand unemployment. month to withdraw from man. It took the conductor and two other men to remove her from ers are wrapping up their A key focus is on what the Paris accord against the seat and throw her off the train. search for common ground formulations the G-20 climate change have caused 1882—Violette A. Johnson is born. She would become the first Black female aton trade, climate change leaders find to set out their widespread concern. torney allowed to practice before the United States Supreme and a host of other issues positions on global trade Germany has been keen Court. at the Group of 20 summit and climate change. The to preserve the G-20’s traJuly 17 in Hamburg Saturday, a host, German Chancellor dition of making decisions 1794—Former slave and minister Richard Allen officially meeting overshadowed by Angela Merkel, said after by consensus. dedicated the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in violent clashes between the first day of meetings The G-20 comprises ArPhiladelphia, Pa. The church was the first all-Black denominaanti-globalization activists Friday that discussions on gentina, Australia, Brazil, tion not affiliated with a larger White congregation. The inciand police. trade were very difficult China, Germany, France, dent leading to the dedication took place in 1787 when Allen, Saturday’s agenda feaand that differences on Britain, India, IndoneAbsalom Jones and several other Blacks were thrown out of tured discussions on partclimate change were clear. sia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Philadelphia’s St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church when nerships between the G-20 Finding compromises is South Korea, Mexico, Rus- they attempted to pray along-side Whites. The AME Church and Africa, on migration challenging at a time when sia, Saudi Arabia, South would go on to become one of the largest Black religious denomand health. There was also President Donald Trump’s Africa, Turkey, the U.S. and inations in America.

RICHARD ALLEN the European Union.

1862—As the Southern, pro-slavery rebels prove more diffiAlso attending were the cult in battle than expected, Congress passes a law giving President Abraham Lincoln Netherlands, Norway, the authority to begin recruiting free Blacks and recently freed slaves into Spain, Guinea, Senegal, military service during the Civil War. Singapore and Vietnam.

1911—Frank M. Snowden is born in York County, Va. The Saturday’s sessions Harvard educated Snowden would become a prominent professor came after a second night at Washington, D.C.’s, Howard University and a leading authority of trouble elsewhere in on Blacks in ancient history. His major works include “Blacks in Hamburg, as rioters set up They also encourage us to reuse Antiquity: Ethiopians in the Greco-Roman Experience” and “Before street barricades, looting Color Prejudice: The Ancient View of Blacks.” Snowden documenteverything supermarkets and attacked that “Ethiopians pioneered religion” and played a major role in ing police with slingshots the development of the greatness of ancient Egypt. Snowden also from plastics and firebombs. Hundreds of showed that Blacks influenced the development of both ancient officers went into buildings to newspaper, Greek and Roman societies working in capacities ranging from in the Schanzenviertel musicians to scholars. Snowden died in February 2007 at the age appliances to neighborhood to arrest of 95. troublemakers.

1942—Heavyweight boxing champion clothing. But Muhammad Ali is born Cassius Marcellus have you heard FRANK SNOWDEN Clay in Louisville, Ky. Ali would join the THE Nation of Islam and become a major oppoNEW PITTSBURGH about soap renent of the U.S. war in Vietnam. He would later split with MalCOURIER colm X when Malcolm broke away from the Nation of Islam. cycling? Learn 1944—The so-called Port of Chicago Mutiny takes place.

PUBLISHING COMPANY In the middle of America’s involvement in World War II, an more about the Publication No.: USPS 381940 ammunitions depot at Port Chicago, Calif., explodes killing 320 award-winning, men—most of them Black. It was the worse stateside disaster 315 East Carson Street in U.S. military history. However, when 258 surviving Black Pittsburgh-based Pittsburgh, PA 15219 soldiers refused to return to work until they received certain safety guarantees, their refusal was labeled a mutiny by milieco-soap bank Phone: 412-481-8302 tary authorities. Fifty of the soldiers were convicted of mutiny MUHAMMAD ALI Fax: 412-481-1360 on the next Pittsburgh Profiles with and jailed. However, after the war, President Harry S. Truman commuted their sentences.

The KQV Reporter Elaine Effort.

July 18 New Pittsburgh Courier 1753—This is believed to be the day Lemuel Haynes escaped from slavery in Massachusetts. The product of a Black father is published weekly and a mother who was normally described in history texts as “a White woman of respectable ancestry,” Haynes would become periodicals a renowned figure in early American history. He fought with paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. distinction in American Revolutionary War for independence PRICE $1.00 from Britain and would become the first Black person ordained as a minister by a mainstream Protestant church. He was also (Payable in advance) the first Black in American history to become head minister at a LEMUEL HAYNES predominantly White church.

6 Months.....$25 1863—Sergeant William H. Carney was the first Black person to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in battle. The bravery which led to the medal 1 Year....$45 occurred on this day in 1863 at the battle of Battery Wagner.

2 Years...$85 1918—Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is born in Transkei, South Africa.

Mandela would spend 27 years in prison for his struggles 9 Month School Rate $35 against the system of racial oppression in South Africa known as When he was finally released in 1990, it was a day of POSTMASTER: Send apartheid. massive celebration for Blacks and progressive Whites throughout address changes to: South Africa and much of the world. He won hundreds of awards for his anti-apartheid efforts including the Nobel Peace Prize in New Pittsburgh Courier 1993. With the downfall of apartheid in the early 1990s, Mandela would become the first Black president of the country in 1994.

315 East Carson Street He was widely praised for not launching a campaign of revenge Pittsburgh, PA 15219 NELSON MANDELA against his White former oppressors.

Outcry at Miss South Africa’s gloves in greeting Black kids

G-20 leaders wrap up search for common ground at summit

Environmentalists encourage us to recycle…

Elaine Effort

Pittsburgh Profiles heard on

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Friday, July 14 at 7:30 P.M. Saturday, July 15 at 7:00 A.M. Sunday, July 16 at 5:00 P.M.

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Dr. Rachel Poole ‘believed in education, believed in excellence’ POOLE FROM A1

er was a teacher, and Dr. Poole’s commitment to education would stay with her throughout the course of her life. Dr. Poole earned a Master’s degree and two PhDs. “Mom believed in education and ensured that the family would be well educated. As a child, she (was) a great teacher and inspired everyone,” Dilworth said.

The woman with so many titles put her education to good use. Dr. Poole was the first African American Director of Nursing in Western Pennsylvania and eventually the first African American Associate Professor and Associate Chairperson in the Department of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing. From 1974-78, she held a faculty position in Pitt’s School of Education Institute of Higher Education.

In between holding teaching positions at local colleges and raising her two daughters alongside her husband, Marion Poole, Dr. Poole was passionate about many social justice causes.

Over the years she participated in the NAACP, Black Nurses Association, and wrote letters to congress and presidents until the end of her life.

“She went to the polls and voted every year,” Dilworth said. “I think she would want people to know that.”

As a parent, her daughters knew her as someone nurturing, supportive, self-

less, and someone whom could always be relied upon for sound advice. It seems in Dr. Poole’s retirement, she couldn’t bring herself to fully retire. At age 82, she added author to her already-impressive resume and penned a children’s book, “That Girl With Green Bean Hair.”

“Some divine inner workings seemed to always be present and moved inside her and manifested as immovable and unstoppable,” Dilworth said.

Despite her numerous accomplishments and status as a trailblazer, according to her family Dr. Poole was a humble and giving individual. She had a profound love of children and animals, both of whom she appreciated for their authenticity. This love is why, at Dr. Poole’s private memorial to be held August 19 in Penn Hills, donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue League will be accepted in lieu of flowers.

Dilworth told the Courier that Dr. Poole donated her body and organs to the Pitt Medical School, and due to her mother’s humility, wouldn’t have wanted a large-scale funeral service.

“She would have just wanted us to come together and have a little dinner, say a few things about her,” Dilworth said.

Dilworth said her mother was having heart problems the past few months.

“My best memories of her are just us talking in the living room, having conver-

sations about everything under the sun, politics, stories about her life, things going on with me, family history,” said E.J. Sharif, son of Dilworth and grandson of Dr. Poole. “She was a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to spend time and talk with you as long as you wanted about anything.”

Dr. Poole is survived by her three daughters, Adriene Dilworth, Tenanche Golden and M Poole, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Dr. Poole was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and a member of Bethesda Presbyterian Church.

As a once studious child told by doctors that she’d have to be still and quiet DR. RACHEL POOLE, in this 1965 photo, at her desk as the director of nursing at Western Psych. due to a heart condition, (Photo courtesy Adriene Dilworth) Dr. Poole did not live quietly. She was a trailblazer whose commitment to excellence was rivaled only by her dedication to helping others. Her legacy is one of determination and humility and will be deeply missed not only by her family, but likely those that she helped through her work.

“She changed views on what it was to be a Black woman, a mother and a career woman all at the same time. She was a great multitasker,” Dilworth said. “I asked her one day how she figured out how to do it. She ADRIENE DILWORTH said, ‘nobody ever told me about her mother, Dr. Rachel Poole or showed me. I just knew somehow.’”

“She changed views on what it was to be a Black woman, a mother and a career woman all at the same time. She was a great multi-tasker. I asked her one day how she figured out how to do it. She said, ‘nobody ever told me or showed me. I just knew somehow.’”

(Rob Taylor Jr. contributed to this story)

DR. RACHEL POOLE, in this undated photo, was one of the first African American students admitted into Pitt’s nursing program in 1943. (Photo courtesy Adriene Dilworth)

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Larimer youth eager to work, but no URA contract URA FROM A1

because, according to Garland, the Urban Redevelopment Authority hasn’t finalized the contract, which means there is no insurance. And the city is still paying the kids $7.50 an hour, without their doing any actual work.

“So, we’ve had these kids for two weeks and we’ve given them general safety training and shown them basic carpentry skills,” said Garland, field supervisor for AOne Contracting.

“They can watch what we do, but that’s it.”

Miles said he wants to take them to the Energy Innovation Center in the Hill District for Occupational Health and Safety Administration certification, but that hasn’t been arranged yet, either.

Jay Akers, the site supervisor for the Emmett Miles Development Group, said even though the kids can’t

do any actual demolition inside some of the houses along Mayflower Street, what they are learning is valuable.

“Safety—that’s the most important thing on a job site,” he said. “Even how to properly use a hammer, or a ladder. A lot of people actually don’t know that.”

Miles said they are also learning “life skills—how to show up on time, with the right clothes, how to listen to an employer, to follow through on instructions,” he said. “This is stuff they’ve never experienced because of where they’re from.”

That’s why, even though she hopes to become a veterinarian, 15-year-old Westinghouse student Malaya Williams—the only girl on the crew—said she enjoyed the experience.

“It’s good because it’s different than what I’ve done before,” she said. “I want to

learn something other than doing hair or helping with kids.”

Nahki Johnson, 17, who attends Propel Braddock Hills, said he’s enjoying it, and if his football plans don’t work out it can be valuable.

“Construction workers make a lot of money, and if I learn this I can take it into the future,” he said.

Miles said they are the future. “We were the only construction company that stood up to take any of these kids, and now we can’t do what we planned because we don’t have a contract,” said Miles. “The city’s got 5,000 houses like these two, and at the end of the day, these kids are our future. If we don’t give them something positive to do, they could end up doing things that aren’t.”

(J.L. Martello contributed to this story.)

LARIMER YOUTH are looking to work on homes in the neighborhood, but a lack of a URA contract is halting much of the progress. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

City Council to vote on Affordable Housing funds City’s latest police class more diverse HOUSING FROM A1

it in a fashion that was big enough to rebuild depressed Black neighborhoods like Homewood.

“You can’t make a meaningful difference doing three or four houses at a time,” he said. “We have to do 100, 200 at a time. That’s how you make change.”

To that end, he and Lavelle proposed another piece of legislation that would allow the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to float a $100 million bond, which, Rev. Burgess said, could potentially leverage $1 billion in foundation and private funds. More directly, Lavelle said, it would allow for large affordable housing projects to go ahead immediately.

The two pieces of aforementioned legislative proposals are collectively referred to as the “One Pittsburgh Investment Strategy.”

“This allows us to frontload the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and move on projects, instead of do-

ing a little here and a little there as the transfer tax revenue to trickles in,” he said. “We’ll have a dedicated fund that the tax money replenishes.”

After multiple public hearings, City Council has scheduled a post-agenda hearing to get one last round of input from experts before voting on the financing package. Reverend Burgess said he has four Council votes, and is fairly confident he can get the additional vote needed to pass the measure.

He also noted that, because of possible reductions in federal monies, this may be the only opportunity to leverage the $1 billion in investments that could revitalize the entire city.

“The president and congress have both talked about eliminating Community Development Block Grants and the Choice Neighborhoods program— which is what is funding the Larimer redevelopment,” he said. “This may be our only shot at doing this.”

Reverend Burgess said on average, two families per week are leaving Homewood. Some are simply abandoning their homes, either because repairing them would cost more than they can sell for, or they can’t pay the taxes. The leveraged funds could be used to address both issues, as well as for subsidizing firsttime home buyers, paying rent, buying and rehabilitating abandoned homes, and paying off liens and judgements.

Though the front-loaded nature of the fund would allow for public property purchases and development that lessens the impact of private developers increasing property values to levels that make affordable rents impossible, and thus drive gentrification, Burgess said it can’t stop it entirely.

“I’m more focused on economic diversity than racial diversity. We need mixed-income communities. My preference is 33 percent subsidized rental housing, 33 percent market

rate rental and 33 percent homeownership,” Rev. Burgess said.

“The Black folks are already leaving—two families a week. I don’t care if the new residents are Korean. This is the only way to stabilize some of these communities. At the end of the day we’ll at least have something African Americans can come back to.”

The post-agenda meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

July 18 in Council chambers. Although no public comment will be heard, Rev. Burgess and Lavelle encourage supporters of the legislation to attend.

“The goal is $1 billion worth of investment over 10 years, that’s 100 million a year for 10 years,” Rev. Burgess told the Courier.

“If you put that kind of investment in these (Black) communities you’re going to see them starting to thrive. You’re going to see Black people moving back into Pittsburgh, and you’re going to start seeing places that look like Stanton Heights replicated.”

POLICE FROM A1

Courier.

“We realize that reaching these numbers is not an easy accomplishment, but it is one that must remain a top priority for your administration and the city.”

Peduto, who recently tasked new Deputy Director of Civil Service and Personnel Janet Manuel to increase minority recruiting and application for city jobs, said he is pleased with the results evidenced by this class.

“Increasing police hiring— with an added focus on recruiting qualified minority candidates—has been a top priority of my administration and will continue to be moving forward,” he said.

“Police staffing is at its highest level in more than a decade, and our ability to attract more minority candidates has been a citywide effort including the departments of Public Safety, Personnel and Law, as well as partnerships with Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh Public Schools.”

Two recent classes, the “magnificent seven” class of 2016 that boasted 7 Black male graduates out of 29, and the earlier 2016 class that had 10 of 40 Black

male graduates, show a positive trend. the six most recent classes prior to those have averaged only 3 total African American recruits, male and female.

Several of those classes began with double-digit numbers of Black recruits, which were among the factors leading to an ACLU lawsuit that won damages for Black candidates dismissed during the subjective interview portion of the recruiting process. Those practices, along with some personnel, have since been changed.

Schubert is also pleased with the latest results.

“Diversity among our police officers remains an ongoing priority because diverse police agencies generally maintain stronger community relationships than those that are less diverse,” he said.

“Also, we want everyone to know that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is a great place for a long career in making a positive difference in the community. The Bureau will continue to work closely with the Personnel and Civil Service Commission to develop policies that will create an environment in which diversity is not only valued but sought after.”

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JULY 12-18, 2016

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Black homeowners struggle as U.S. housing market recovers

by Janie Har

might get a knock on the door, and the banker will come up with sheriff’s agents talking about, ‘You got to leave now.’”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Yul Dorn The pick-a-payment loans drew and his wife raised their son and wide government scrutiny. In 2010, daughter in a three-bedroom home Wells Fargo agreed to pay $24 milcrammed with family photos, one lion to end an investigation by eight they bought in a historically Afristates, including California, into can-American neighborhood in San whether lenders later acquired by Francisco more than two decades the bank made unsustainable mortago. gages without disclosing the terms.

Today, the couple is living in a moWells Fargo has vowed to help tel after they were evicted last year, create more than 250,000 new having lost a foreclosure battle. A African-American homeowners to second home they inherited is also address declining homeownership. in default.

But spokesman Alfredo Padilla said The Dorns expect to join the growthe bank could not find a way to ing ranks of African-Americans who help the couple. do not own their homes, a rate that Dorn, the 60-year-old pastor, was nearly 30 percentage points says Chase misapplied a payment higher than that of whites in 2016, he made in 2008 and then failed according to a new report. to keep proper records. He made “The person who bought the house, several payments on a modified trial we lost all of our memories,” said loan, which the bank then denied.

Dorn, a pastor and case manager In 2015, the home he bought with the city health department. for $168,000 in 1996 was sold for “He put the furniture out on the $482,000. In May, the new owner street, and it was just devastating sold it for $850,000. to my family.”

Chase spokeswoman Suzanne The nation’s homeownership rate Alexander said foreclosure is always appears to be stabilizing as people the last option, pursued only when rebound from the 2007 recession other avenues are exhausted. that left millions unemployed and home values underwater, according EVICTED—Yul Dorn, who lost his home to foreclosure, poses outside a motel near his office in San Francisco, July Yet there are bright spots in the 6. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) home-owning front. to the report by Harvard UniverThe New Haven metro area in sity’s Joint Center for Housing ress, and now we’re back at square one,” Lenders also targeted minorities, pushing Connecticut, for example, reported an Studies. But it found African-Americans said Alanna McCargo, co-director of the riskier subprime loans even when appliincrease in Black homeownership from aren’t sharing in the recovery, even as Housing Finance Policy Center at the cants qualified for lower-interest loans.

2010-2015. Georgia’s Albany area, which Whites, Asian-Americans and Latinos Urban Institute, a think-tank focused on Graciano de La Cruz, 70, grew up in is predominantly African-American, saw slowly see gains in home-buying. The inner-city issues that published a similar San Francisco, the child of a Filipino faa 15 percent increase from 2005 to 2015. center said the disparity between Whites report. ther and an African-American mother. In In Detroit, a largely African-American and Blacks is at its highest in 70-plus An AP analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 1960s, the city condemned his mother’s city wracked by foreclosures, the mayor years of data. statistics shows some pockets of the house for redevelopment in the historilast year announced a financing program Experts say reasons for the lower Midwest and California had the lowest cally Black Fillmore neighborhood. She to make home-buying easier. Previously, homeownership rate range from historic homeownership rates for African-Ameriwas given a housing voucher and became banks couldn’t provide loans for more underemployment and low wages to a cans, while some areas of the South had a renter, losing any equity she could have than a home’s appraised value, which recession-related foreclosure crisis that the highest. passed to her children. wasn’t enough to cover needed repairs or hit Black communities particularly hard.

Low inventory adds to the problem, He and his wife, Buena, who is Filipirenovations.

In 2004, the pinnacle of U.S. homeownersaid Jeffrey Hicks, incoming president of no-American, must now sell their own And in Jacksonville, Florida, 32-yearship, three-quarters of Whites and nearly the National Association of Real Estate home of two decades to pay off a debt old Natasha Jones recently bought her half of Blacks owned homes, according to Brokers, which was founded in 1947 to that stemmed from a “pick-a-payment” first home, a three-bedroom listed at the Harvard study. promote fair housing opportunities for loan with World Savings Bank in August $135,000. The single mother of three By 2016, the African-American homeminorities. The Atlanta area has only 2006. worked with a member of the nonprofit owner rate had fallen to 42.2 percent and about 30,000 properties for sale through They asked for a loan with a fixed rate, NeighborWorks America, which supports lagged 29.7 percentage points behind real estate agents, compared with apbut the lender said an adjustable rate community development, to clear up her Whites, nearly a percentage point higher proximately 100,000 about 13 years ago, package would meet their needs. The credit and save for a down payment on a than in 2015. he said. initial monthly payment for the pick-aWells Fargo-financed loan.

Now, a lack of affordable housing and “You had subdivisions going up everypayment loan was about $1,700.

“I am my mom’s first child to own my stricter lending are making it harder for where in terms of newer homes,” Hicks Then her health declined, and he lost home,” Jones said. “Now that we’re in first-time buyers to obtain what tradisaid. “We haven’t seen that resurgence of his job. In 2014, Wells Fargo, which our own place, I’m redoing the flooring tionally has been considered an essential new housing stock.” had purchased World Savings, issued a the way I want to. I’m painting the kids’ part of the American dream and a way to African-Americans snapped up homes notice of default. By then, the monthly walls. It’s ours.” build wealth. at the peak of the housing bubble, lured payments had mushroomed to roughly (Associated Press writer Corey R. Williams in “It has always been historically and by generous lending and a glut of af$3,000.

Detroit and data journalist Angeliki Kastanis in systemically harder for Blacks, and we fordable properties, housing experts say.

“I can’t sleep,” de la Cruz said. “I fear I Los Angeles contributed to this report.) were seeing there a little bit of progAssociated Press Writer

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HEALTH

JULY 12-18, 2017

R

R R

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

Health Care after Incarceration

ESTHER BUSH

Post-Incarceration Health Care

This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on the continuity of care after incarceration. Vianca Masucci, health advocate at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, exchanged ideas on this topic.

EB: Hello, Vianca. You must be pleased to be covering post-incarceration health care this month. I understand that it’s a topic that’s close to your heart.

VM: It is, Ms. Bush. Because African Americans are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates, many of our programs at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh keep the needs of previously incarcerated individuals in mind. Consequently, I often have the opportunity to counsel these clients on getting the health care they need.

EB: ncarceration can ha e ra ifica tions in so many directions, long past confine ent hat has een our e eri ence when helping formerly incarcerated members of our community establish and navigate their health care?

VM: hat e found is that there are an needs and barriers in place for previously incarcerated individuals when it comes to standardizing their health care. Many of my clients suffer from some kind of chronic illness or are ill because they didn’t receive the best health care while incarcerated.

Many don’t have health records or established relationships with doctors. Most of them need help securing health insurance.

Almost all of them struggle with the cost of care, especially those who are having troue findin e o ent en those ho did have established care before incarceration struggle to get reconnected after so many onths or e en ears of ein confined t s a lot of work and takes extensive knowledge of the health care system and preventative care recommendations to really help a previously incarcerated individual bring his or her care up to standard.

EB: here ind oes i ediate considering these health care barriers among all the barriers that this population faces, is priorities. It must be hard to prioritize your health while worrying about findin a o or a ace to i e hese are funda enta necessities e no that it s usually very challenging for individuals with criminal records to rebuild their lives. So, how do you impress upon someone in that position how important it is to connect to a doctor when it can be a time-consuming process riddled with obstacles and she or he a e ore orried a out ho to find an income or a home?

VM: That’s a tough question, Ms. Bush.

And I think that it’s even bigger than just impressing that importance on the individual. I would also like to put the burden of answering that question on us, as community members and professionals who work to address the needs of this population.

How do we prioritize the health of our previously incarcerated community members when the resources that we have are limited and there may be more immediate issues to deal with, like employment or housing? I think the answer to that question begins to shake loose when we consider the statistic that Dr. Mulvey shares with us in the overview: Around 20 percent of the prison population has a serious mental disorder at any given time. This population is at greater risk for certain illnesses and so their health needs are high. They must be connected to care. Further, if proper mental health treatment is not received after incarceration indi idua s a find the se es repeating behaviors that got them in trouble in the first ace n this a not recei in health care in the right time contributes to the cycle of incarceration. Yes, the barriers are difficu t es there are an of the But they all contribute to people returning to incarceration e cannot i nore that EB: You are absolutely right, Vianca. This issue has many layers and, at the heart of it, the problem is a lack of resources and infrastructure to manage the needs of this population. Dr. Mulvey mentions that community reintegration programs can help ith issues i e this a ree e need ore support in place to help our previously incarcerated community members. That’s an institutional problem that must be solved on the government level. So, as community members and citizens, it’s important for us to pay attention to the restorative justice movement and vote accordingly.

VM: I second that suggestion, Ms. Bush!

I’d also like to mention that the Health ducation ffice at the r an ea ue is a resource for anyone looking for help navigating their care or securing health resources ur ser ices are free e are o en fi e days a week.

EB: Our HEO is a great resource. I encourage folks to check it out.

VM: Thank you for your time, Ms. Bush. I am grateful for the opportunity to chat with you about this topic. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on next month’s topic—e-cigarettes.

According to the United State Department of Justice, more than 2 million adults were incarcerated at the end of 2015. For these millions of people, time spent in jail or prison is disruptive to many different parts of life, including relationships, finances e o ent and hea th care hi e eo e ho are incarcerated are under the care of health care professionals, they may struggle accessing health care once they are released.

Though most incarceration systems provide some kind of health care for their populations, disruption in care can have negative effects. The large number of people incarcerated in the United States means that many people are affected by a lack of continuous health care, as pointed out by Edward Mulvey, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“Health care works best when it’s coordinated and continuous,” said Dr. Mulvey. “It’s silly to think that we’re going to incarcerate people and then bring them back to their communities and think that somehow their health care is going to be continuous or of a quality that’s going to really address chronic problems effectively. nd the i side is that hen some people are incarcerated, they may receive some of the first hea th care the e otten in many years. How is this supposed to continue?”

Disruption of health care is especially a problem for people who already have a higher risk for certain diseases. African Americans and Latinos have higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other conditions. The United States Department of Justice reports that in state prisons, African Americans are incarcerated at 5.1 times the rates of white people. Latinos are incarcerated at 1.4 times the rate of whites. People who already have a higher risk for some diseases and are incarcerated

RAYMOND MILES, MILES owner of Realistic Reentry, LLC at hi her rates a ha e a diffi care after incarceration can cult time accessing continuous e difficu t findin on oin health care, including mental treatment for a mental illness, health care. even though it is extremely “In mental health care, there important, may also be hard has been a big push for identionce the person returns to the fication said r u e ts community. estimated that around 20 perSo, how is the health care gap cent of the prisbridged between the periods on population has a serious during and after incarceration? mental disorder at any given Dr. Mulvey said that peer suptime. I think it’s fair to say that port networks and community mental health services aren’t reintegration programs can greatwell-funded. The demands on the ly help. If people are engaged staff are high.

The amount of before release in planning how time given to individuals with they will rebuild mental illness is their access EDWARD MULVEY, PhD, often limited.” to health care, professor of psychiatry, Because of University of Pittsburgh School they may have limited personnel greater success of Medicine and resources, once they return Dr. Mulvey said that mental to their communities. health screenings are mostly “People need to get health done to see if people are at risk care referrals and make plans for suicide. Beyond that, he bebefore they leave to rebuild lieves there are many undetect- their lives,” said Dr. Mulvey. “It’s ed and untreated mental health the smart and responsible thing problems in jails and prisons. to do.”

And, given that resuming health The Pennsylvania Depart-

ment of Corrections (www.cor. pa.gov/) reports that 90 percent of inmates return home at some point. This means that, upon release, the individual returns to civilian life, with the hope of being a law-abiding citizen and reconnecting with life-sustaining functions, like employment and health care. This transition period is called “reentry.”

Pennsylvania is one of 35 states that works with the Center for Effective Policy, located in the reater ashin ton D.C. area. The center is doing research about the use of mentoring for assisting adult offenders in transitioning successfully from prison to the community.

A mentoring relationship can provide “consistent support as needed, guidance, and encouragement that impacts participants in developing positive social relationships and achieving program outcomes such as o retention fa i reunifica tion, reduced recidivism, etc.” (www.reentrycoalition.ohio. gov/docs/initiative/coaching/ Building%20Offenders’%20 Community%20Assets%20 Through%20Mentoring.pdf) Mr. Raymond Miles, a Pittsburgh native, previous inmate, and owner of Realistic Reentry, LLC encourages family and friends of individuals in reentry stages to provide support.

“A change in behavior begins with a change in the heart,” says Mr. Miles. “If home is where the heart is, I encourage everyone to create a home that is welcoming, void of past experiences and erased of previous failures.

As individuals, we can create an environment that supports change and promotes growth.

As a community, we can hold accountable organizations and agencies that fail to do so.”

For more information about local reentry services, check out the PA 2-1-1 page at http:// pa211sw.org/get-help/reentry-services/. This page provides information and resources on topics like transition, education, employment, counseling and legal assistance.

Silent But Deadly: Hepatitis C and Prison

by Lauren Johnson

The Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) is a public interest a fir ins ired by the struggle of prisoners e are or ani ed for the purpose of abolishing class- and race-based mass incarceration in the United States. To accomplish this goal, ALC works on behalf of people whose human rights have been violated in prison. Through producing educational programs, we inform the general public about the harms of mass incarceration e ai to de e o a movement against the United States’ penal system by building alliances and nurturing solidarity across social divisions.

One of our current projects is focused on Hepatitis C, which is a chronic liver disease. It can cause cirrhosis (long-term damage that causes scarring) and i er cancer hen

untreated, it can lead to death.

Prisoners are the largest segment of Hepatitis C-positive persons in the country. About 10 to 20 per-

cent of inmates carry the disease.

Before 2013, Hepatitis C treatment had a low success rate, took a year to complete and had serious side

effects.

After 2013, a new series of drugs with a 95 percent cure rate and minimal side effects were created.

Most prison systems have refused to provide these drugs. Or, the drugs are rationed, meaning that many prisoners experience permanent liver damage or die of Hepatitis C. The Hepatitis C Project is recruiting a network of pro bono attorneys to represent Hepatitis C-positive inmates throughout the state to ensure that inmates can receive treatment.

If you want to know more about Hepatitis C, are interested in helping out with the project or know a Hepatitis C-positive inmate, contact the Abolitionist Law Center at ljohnson@ alcenter.org.

More information about ALC can be found online at http://abolitionistlawcenter.org/.

National Urban League supports new Senate Bill to create incentives to reduce mass incarceration

Lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would use the power of the purse to reduce incarceration and crime at the same time. The legislation attempts to counter archaic “tough-on-crime” policies coming from the Attorney General.

The Reverse Mass Incarceration Act of 2017 was introduced by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The bill, based on a 2015 proposal by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, is widely-backed by civil rights advocacy groups and supporters of criminal justice reform.

The bill is essentially the reverse of the incentives provided in the “1994 Crime Bill.” Instead of incentivizing states to increase prison populations, the legislation would pay states to decrease them, while keeping down crime. “The Reverse Mass Incarceration Act would do the opposite— it would encourage states to reduce their prison populations and invest money in evidence-based practices proven to reduce

Instead, it costs us billions annually, tears families apart, and disproportionately drives poverty in minority communities,” said Senator Cory Booker.

“Senators Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal have developed a creative policy proposal that would serve as a powerful tool to accelerate state efforts in reversing the damaging impact of mass incarceration,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.

More information, including the bill, can be found at MARC H. MORIAL http://nul.iamempowered.

President & CEO National Urban League com/content/nationalurban-league-supportscrime and recidivism. Our bill recognizes new-senate-bill-create-incentivesthe simple fact that locking more people reduce-mass-incarceration. up does little to make our streets safer.

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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JULY 12-18, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report

The sale rack first Anybody that is a hard core shopper knows that you shop the sale rack first in any store.

That is where you find the best bargains. Last weekend, Big Lots had a two-day, 20 percent off sale. I guess for some it was one day. In order to get the discount on both Saturday and Sunday you had to have a rewards card. It was a good time to stock up on paper towels, toilet paper and water. While I was in the line waiting to check out, the young lady in front of me was buying a box of Betty Crocker pre-made brownies for five cents.

She was very young and asked me since the brownies were due to expire in one day if should she buy them.

There were only two boxes left and I said, for 10 cents why not. If there had been any left I would have tried them myself. She said she had a car full of kids and she was going to give them the brownies and order some pizza.

After I left Big Lots I went to Monroeville Mall and was walking past Things Remembered and noticed a sign that said 90 percent off.

Now 90 percent off is a sale. It was only one table, but worth taking a look. I found some very nice leather items to add to my gift drawer.

It isn’t too early to start shopping for Christmas items or birthday gifts.

Even though this is July it is considered the end of the summer season as far as clothing. I saw quite a few signs that said 50 percent off and higher. There is still a lot of warm weather ahead and you will get great use out of your bargains. Markdowns on patio furniture are already starting to appear. This is the time to buy. I was trying to find a new patio rug and they are already sold out for the most part. I may have to go online and find one.

Here is a report for those of you who live in the east suburbs or perhaps used to live east of Pittsburgh. The old Sears on William Penn Highway is almost completely torn down. It is very sad to see that building go. That was where I had my first management job. I was a division manager in the fabric and notions department. I had some great days at Sears Penn Center. In front of the Sears there was a restaurant called John Harvard’s. Well, that has been torn down and a good source told me that is going to be a Texas Roadhouse. If you were excited about the reopening of The Italian Oven in Monroeville next to Big Lots, get over it. The restaurant is now closed as well as the Bar Louie in Station Square. I saw the Bar Louie signs being removed last week. Where do they take those signs? A few have landed inside of the John Heinz History Center.

I’ll keep you posted on what’s new and what’s changing.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com)

CLUB MEMBERS—Dianne Hart Pettis, Carroll Murphy, Meena Ingram Hill, Natalie Meade, Anita Walker, Daren Ellerbee and Brenda Sims

by Debbie Norrell

Achieving new heights

ago the group used to select a group of deserving students that Lifestyles Editor were going to college and give The Women’s Achievement Club, a com- them a check for $50 and a watch. munity organization based in Aliquippa, Fast forward to May 27, now the was founded in 1945. Their mission is to Women’s Achievement Club holds achieve new heights in African American an Annual Scholarship Luncheon. citizenship, education and culture. Years This year it was held at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott Hotel, and they made donations to the Black College Tour and grant scholarships to students from their area.

Scholarships were awarded to three students: Bryce Allen (Beaver Falls), Trey Adams (Quaker Valley) and Kaleah Jones (Central Valley). Four students were selected as “Students of the Season,” and one student for each season of the year received a monetary award. Those students included: Bryce Allen (Beaver Falls), Hannah Davis (Moon Area), Robert Goode (Moon Area) and Loreal Willis (Aliquippa).

A special award was presented to the CLUB MEMBERS—Margie Walker, Georganna King, Loretta Jeter child of a club memSHARING HIS STORY—Emmai Alaquiva and Jacquelyn Smith ber. This year’s spe-

OFFICERS—Curtistine Walker, Javerta Sims, Jovita Smith and Rosalyn King

cial award was presented to Peri Murphy (Quaker Valley), the daughter of Henry and Carol Murphy.

During the luncheon guests enjoyed a scene from the play “The Journey of Dianne’s Hart” with actors Dianne Hart Pettis, Stephanie Akers and Ijasneem. The guest speaker for the afternoon was Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor Emmai Alaquiva.

His theme was “promoting achievement for higher success.” Alaquiva said growing up his life was like a HipHop song. He grew up with gang violence in Wilkinsburg and was a hard headed young man. He revealed that at age 13 he tried to sell drugs but got robbed on his first day of business, that day was also his last

day of business. Around that time he fell in love with Hip-Hop. For a period of his life he was homeless and joined the YMCA just to take showers. Alaquiva says Hip-Hop saved his life.

Today he is the proud CEO of Ya Momz House Inc., an award-winning multimedia company, director for CBS Sports Network’s Daytime Emmy-nominated TV Show Game Changers, as well as co-founder of the award-winning arts education program, Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K., which has over 48 partnerships in 11 school districts and has served more than 5,000 young people throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Women’s Achievement Club members also reside in Sewickley, Moon Township and Beaver County as well as Aliquippa.

ENJOYED THE BLACK COLLEGE TOUR—Mikaela Jessamy and Es- SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS—Robert Goode, Hannah Davis, Trey Adams, Peri Murphy and Loreal sence Simmons Willis (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

ENTERTAINER New Pittsburgh Courier

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New ‘Planet of the Apes’ is best one to date

Cover To Cover

‘Surpassing Certainty’ impresses at times

by Terri Schlichenmeyer For New Pittsburgh Courier

by Merecedes J. Howze For New Pittsburgh Courier

Two words.

Issa classic.

Just when I thought the whole Caesar saves the ape world storyline was getting old, the film series comes back stronger than ever in its third installment, “War for the Planet of the Apes.”

Starring Andy Serkis and Woody Harrelson, the apes, with Caesar as their fearless leader, are in an unprovoked war with the nearby humans. After a devastating loss, Caesar breaks off from the shrewdness to avenge the death of his family and friends.

You all know that I do not enjoy long movies. In my opinion, anything over two hours is a made-for-TV Lifetime movie. But in this case, “War of the Planet of the Apes” is 140 minutes of pure joy. There is a sweet mixture of action, historical context, and retaliation.

The introducing of Amiah Miller as Nova, a young orphan with a speech impediment, was perfect timing.

The character has

been a part of the Planet of the Apes series since 1968 when the original film was released. Nova softens the plot with the juvenile likeness and, simultaneously, thickens the plot as she’s caught in the middle of the species war.

This is my first time seeing Miller on the big screen, and based off her performance, she has a promising career. This film series is Big Time Hollywood and, at 12 years old, she manages to nail her role as Nova.

Every time Harrelson is in a movie, I can’t help but to think of White Men Can’t Jump (1992). Random? I know. Ole’ Billy Hoyle was cutting up in “War for the Planet of the Apes,” but he was the best bad guy ever.

Harrelson, who played the human leader The Colonel, is strong, ruthless and kept the conflict rolling with his ill-advised command.

Miller and Harrelson are great, but it is Serkis as Caesar, like Steve Carrell as Gru (Despicable Me), who is the glue that holds this film together. Caesar is by far one of my favorite

When you were 20 years old, you wanted only to impress.

If people looked at you, wasn’t that good? You wanted to be seen, watched, adored by those you saw as desirable. But what, exactly, did you want people to notice? Was it your hair, your body or, as in “Surpassing Certainty” by Janet Mock, was the whole you on display?

At age 19, Janet Mock should never have been where she was, three nights a week.

Her Thursday-through-Saturday schedule was meant for women over 21; that was the legal age for dancing as a stripper in a Waikiki clubs, but the proprietress of the club jokingly offered to

fictional characters of alltime. Although there’s a lot of technology involved to make Serkis into a primate, Serkis does an amazing job.

I can’t imagine this film series without this character.

“War for the Planet of the Apes” is a visual masterpiece. The definition and diversity in the film’s imagery is appealing and plays a vital role in the movie’s success. The trilogy’s un-

orthodox narrative and intense drama makes for the best Planet of the Apes film since the series was revamped in 2011. The film comes out this Friday, July 14.

Missed any movie reviews from Pittsburgh’s Movie Scene Queen?

“Despicable Me 3” as “cute and funny and its predecessors.”

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” shows “diversity in its cast.”

“All Eyez on Me” was “amazing despite the haters.”

Read Merecedes J. Howze’s Movie and TV Show reviews now at newpittsburghcourier.com

“give” Mock two of her own birthdays, and that was that: Mock was a dancer, albeit a self-conscious one.

She was afraid that someone could spot her secret from the bar rail.

At a very young age, Mock knew she was a girl in a boy’s body. Her mother looked the other way while Mock wore feminine clothing and grew out her hair, and she ignored when Mock started taking female hormones as an adolescent. After saving every penny, Mock flew to Bangkok to finalize her transition at 18; months later, she realized that nobody saw her as anything but a pretty Black woman.

But the club, well, money was good there and she settled in. She sometimes made a cool grand a week, and she didn’t have to sleep with customers; the club’s owner, in fact, urged her girls not to do so. “Love can wait,” she’d said, but when Mock met the man she’d ultimately marry, there was no reason not to take the plunge.

He was a Navy man who took Mock’s truth in stride, but the two grew apart: Mock quit dancing before she quit the marriage to move to New York City to attend college, where she felt empowered as a woman in control of her life.

She made friends, decided what she wanted to do with her life, landed the job of her dreams and, “I was home.”

Filled with florid prose and swoony drama, “Surpassing Certainty” is one of those memoirs that feels like a long conversation.

That can be a good thing, and it can be bad.

In speaking directly to readers, author Mock offers an aura of girlfriendship.

And yet, this conversation doesn’t seem to have a point.

Mock writes at great length about stripping. She tells about her many loves, fusses too much about her appearance, and shares thoughts about men that reflect her youth at the time. Except for a juicy admission of omission in her last book, this seemed like a lot of navel-gazing. (“Surpassing Certainty” by Janet Mock, c.2017, Atria, $24.99 /228 pages.)

PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 12-18, 2017

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From the Steel City to West Africa Uber’s new public policy manager for West Africa is Allderdice graduate

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Natalie Jones is one proud mom.

The Pittsburgh resident and Baptist Temple Church of Homewood member doesn’t get to see her daughter, Jacquelyn Omosunbo Omotalade, as much these days, because Omotalade is making magic happen in West Africa.

Omotalade was recently named Public Policy manager for Uber, West Africa.

“In this role, I focus on the development and implementation of Uber’s policy agenda across all of the West African markets,” Omotalade told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview. “I started with Uber in March 2017.”

Jones told the Courier her daughter was known as “Kia” in her earlier days in Pittsburgh and was an ardent member of Baptist Temple Church. Omotalade graduated from Allderdice High School in 1996, but “attended my last year of high school at Edertal Gymnasium in Frankenburg, Germany as part of the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Exchange Program,” Omotalade said.

She grew up between the U.S., Nigeria, and Germany.

“I have a passion for tech, law/advocacy, communications and environmental and public health. I am also a qualified attorney, having completed a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.”

Omotalade told the Courier that most of her professional career has occurred outside of Pittsburgh, but “I was a law clerk for the Honorable Justin M. John-

son, Superior Court of Pennsylvania and the Executive Director of Global Outreach for Addiction Leadership and Learning (GOAL). In my capacity as executive director, I led an organization that worked in Kenya and reached over 68,000 people with messages promoting HIV/AIDS education.”

Mario Browne, director of Health Sciences Diversity Programs at the University of Pittsburgh, said on Omotalade’s LinkedIn page that “Jackie is an exceptional and energetic leader whose passion is only supplanted by her intellect.”

Elizabeth L. Hughes, Assistant Counsel at UPMC, also recommended Omotalade on the Uber employee’s LinkedIn account, stating: “Jackie is a fantastic resource, particularly in the fields of political management and public health initiatives. Jackie is a trailblazer, an innovator and has a boundlessly brilliant mind. She has had experiences which have immersed her in other cultures, working to solve problems and coming up with creative solutions to challenges facing communities both in the United States and abroad. Jackie speaks several languages and has the energy, knowledge and drive to assist communities, individuals and organizations in finding new and better ways to operate in an increasingly global arena.”

Omotalade, among other positions, previously worked as the former President of the San Francisco Commission on the Environment. According to her LinkedIn page, Omota-

The Courier

is The Voice

of Black Pittsburgh

lade said she transformed training for public health professionals in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands at the California Pacific Public Health Training Center (CALPACT).

She “energized the training landscape for public health professionals by using new technologies including social media, podcasts, webinars, radio broadcasts and online courses.”

Omotalade, or “Jackie O,” as she sometimes is called, “was instrumental in improving hospital management practices, including reducing patient wait time by 50 percent, in all 13 public hospitals in Ethiopia.

She worked with hospital management teams and the Ministry of Health to identify problems and implement new systems.”

No surprise here…Natalie Jones is one proud mom.

And Omotalade returned the sentiments, when asked about the origins of her work ethic. “Definitely comes from my family and my mother, Natalie Jones, in particular,” she said.

“She is the hardest working person I know. She is truly JACQUELYN OMOTALADE, known locally as “Kia,” is Uber’s new public policy manager for West Afridedicated to making her ca. (Photo by Laura Petrilla) community a better place.”

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PEOPLE

Now you see her…

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Now you don’t…

PARENTS BRIAN TOLSON and Neisha Tolson, with 14-year-old daughter Chloe, at Anthrocon 2017.

The Furries are back

SPOOK THE FURRY—From left: Daral Kayton 12, Lailia Griffin, 11, and Ben Griffin, 13, of North Versailles, with “Spook” at Anthrocon 2017.

If you saw humans dressed up as furry animals in Downtown Pittsburgh recently, that only means one thing…Anthrocon!

The 21st annual convention was held June 29-July 2, and featured thousands of people who are fascinated with anthropomorphics, which are humanlike animal characters. It’s another event that has become part of the fabric of our unique city, and Courier photographer J.L. Martello captured the event in pictures.

GRIMPUP THE FURRY—Davon Thrash and Aneka Rasome, of the North Side, with “Grimpup” and “Spaceweasel” at Anthrocon 2017.

FULL OF FURRIES—From left, “Lolly’ holding 3-year-old Keiauriiez, mother Rickelle Ford holding 3-year-old Keiauriion, and furries “NIIC the singing Dog” and “Spook.”

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DIANNE THOMAS tends to 5-month-old twins Serenity, left, and Sincere. The twins are the children of Kala Thomas, who was killed in Garfield in May.

JULY 12-18, 2017

NYLAH BEY gets her face painted during the skating fundraiser for Kala Thomas.

Kala Thomas remembered as ‘the heart of the family’ THOMAS FROM A1

jia Thomas, called Kala “the heart of the family.

“She was a beautiful human being, she always took care of her kids, she always loved to have fun, to be with family and friends,” Dajia Thomas said. “She never had any enemies, she was just very loving and caring, always cracking jokes.”

Dianne Thomas, a South Side resident, calls the violence plaguing Pittsburgh’s African American

communities “senseless.

I don’t understand it. Before, nobody ever killed women, and now all you hear is females getting shot and killed, it’s ridiculous.”

No suspects have been arrested in Kala’s homicide.

“Put the guns down” was Dianne Thomas’ message, she told the Courier. “Black folks need to get together instead of fighting against each other. It would be a better place, a better DIANNE THOMAS holds her grandson, Sincere, during the skating fundraiser for her daughter, Kala. world.”

Black teen behavior at Fireworks ‘a marked improvement’ BEHAVIOR FROM A1

the Fireworks Grand Finale, most involving African American teens.

“We did have an issue with, apparently, juveniles who came Downtown looking to fight,” Toler confirmed. “Gone is the time when teenagers” sometimes settled differences on possibly a playground or elsewhere, and “now for some reason they think it’s OK to come into (Downtown) and settle their differences,” Toler told the Courier. “We’ve been working with a group of people from a variety of backgrounds on how we are going to address this issue because it’s not just this special event when this happens, it’s during the school year as well.”

Flo Taylor, a well-known community activist and Downtown resident who regularly confronts teens looking to commit violence Downtown, admitted that the teens’ behavior “was much better” than the ac-

tions at the 2016 Three Rivers Regatta last August. “There was a throng of people at the Point, but the kids seemed orderly, seemed like it was almost uneventful. I saw lots and lots of police, some were not even in uniform, they had dark colored shirts that said, Police,” Taylor told the Courier.

The threat of fighting from teens Downtown was not the only reason for the step up in security. A crowd of roughly 50,000 was expected for the event, and with Point State Park labeled a state park, items such as explosives, fireworks, drones, firearms were prohibited, and bag checks were conducted upon entrance to the park.

“We have allocated significant resources to ensure that the atmosphere is one that supports what has traditionally been a safe, family-oriented celebration,” Public Safety Director

Wendell Hissrich said in a statement before the event.

“There will be absolute zero tolerance for crime and disorder. Anyone who intends to cause disruption, will be swiftly dealt with.”

Taylor said teens nowadays “take their freedom a little bit more than they should.” Also, “parents used to be able to discipline their kids, and at some point those laws changed. Something happened to where now if you jump on your child, and you draw blood or something dramatic happens where someone can see it, you’re in trouble. That used to not be the case.”

Toler told the Courier that volunteer outreach workers were working in conjunction with City Police officers, which helped dramatically. “They would come to that (teen) group and say, ‘What’s going on here? We need to settle this without fists.’”

Toler said overall, “There’s

a lot of work we still have to do with our young people. It’s just not the right thing to do to be disruptive in that manner.”

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RELIGION

JULY 12-18, 2017

Praise & Worship

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention election occurs Oct. 12

NEW ZION VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141

THROUGH JULY 14— New Zion Baptist Church is holding Vacation Bible School for ages 3 to adult from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each weekday. There will be good fellowship, snacks, and fun, fun, fun! New Zion is located at 1434 Juaniata St., North Side.

For more information, call 412-322-3838.

Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) 11:00 A.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

BAPTIST TEMPLE GOSPEL VOCAL QUEST

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

Summer Worship.........10 a.m.

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 rates.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

Church Circuit

REVEREND CHANDRA WILLIAMS

Can Rev. Chandra Williams become the first female president?

by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier

The Rev. Chandra I. Williams is running to become the first female president of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention because she wants to make sure that women have a say in making decisions at both the state convention and local church levels, along with making the Black church strong again.

“I want to make sure that women have a seat at the table when vital decisions in ministry are made,” explained Williams, who currently serves as the convention’s Eastern regional vice president. That region encompasses Philadelphia and surrounding areas and is one of the convention’s largest sectors with more than 136 registered churches. She also served as president of the convention’s youth department for four years.

The Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention has been in existence for 125 years and consists of four regions: Eastern, Central, Southwestern and Western.

Williams was in Clairton over Memorial Day weekend in May speaking at an intimate tea with local church ministers and delegates one day, and at Morning Star Baptist Church in Clairton the next day, presenting her platform, “Operation Reset.”

She had come to the City of Prayer in October 2016 when the convention was held at Clairton’s Mt. Olive First Baptist Church,

where over 500 people from churches across the state converged on the city to hear the dynamic preaching, speaking and to participate in the teaching sessions the convention offered. Williams was happy to pay the city a return visit.

the catalyst to make the African American church strong again.”

Williams currently is senior pastor of United Missionary Baptist Church in Philadelphia, where she was reared and still resides.

Her father pastored the church for 54 years before

“I feel like we are not as relevant as we should be.

We need to be more involved in all of the church’s decisions,” Gressem-Jacobs said.

Williams first received the Lord’s call on her life in 2000. The single mother of one son received her formal

education in Philly’s public schools system before entering Virginia Union University. However, she graduated from Temple University with a dual degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

After working as a teacher for five years, she turned to banking and worked at PNC for 15 years, earning numerous sales and marketing awards. She is currently enrolled in the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia University in Richmond pursuing her Master of Divinity.

“You have to be able to lead, communicate and mediate,” she said. “You can’t run a convention like you run your local church; going to it once a week. The president has to be actively engaged. You have to emulate what you want to imitate.

The convention has to model what it wants the church to model. I want to ensure that people feel that the Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention is a place they can learn from.”

Morning Star Baptist Church Minister Gloria Gressem faithfully attended the convention for 10 years but stopped due to a lack of diversity.

“The classes and the people didn’t change. Nothing changes and it gets redunREVEREND CHANDRA WILLIAMS seeks to become the first female president of the Pennsylvania dant,” said Gressem.

Baptist State Convention. The election occurs in October.

If elected convention “The churches need to be unified. When the church is not unified, each church is doing its own thing and people play on that,” Williams told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview. “We are

she took the helm in 2012.

Minister Jean Gressem-Jacobs of Morning Star Baptist Church hopes Williams’ election as convention president will weave more women into the fabric of the church.

JULY 15—Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race Street in Homewood, is pleased to announce its 2017 Gospel Vocal Quest, a gospel singing and rap competition.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. at the Carnegie Library, Homewood Branch, 7101 Hamilton Ave. Donations are $15 for adults and $7.50 for youth 18 and under. No charge for children 2 and under. For more information, call 412-241-1624, or visit www.eventbrite. com/e/2017-Gospel-Vocal-Quest-tickets to purchase tickets.

MIRACLE MINISTRIES OPEN HOUSE

AUGUST 5- The Miracle Ministries/Beaver Valley College of Theology announces its annual Open House and Registration, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Miracle School of Ministry, 702 Davis St., Aliquippa.

Classes begin on September 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Dr. Corelia Armstead at 724-378-3224.

president, Williams vows to change that. The election occurs Oct. 12 in Philadelphia.

She also wants to cultivate relationships with historically-Black colleges— specifically Chaney and Lincoln. “Historically-Black colleges were started by churches and we are not actively engaged with them,” Williams said.

That piqued the interest of Rikkel Ford, who questioned how the convention will engage young people.

“You have to know the technology and know that it is a huge part of the lives of a young adult. You have to be in touch with all the things that are important in their lives,” said Williams, whose son, Bernard Lambert III, is a drummer for such artists as Tye Tribbet (with whom he won two Grammy Awards), Floetry and Jazmine Sullivan. “The music and programming at the convention have to be right. Young people don’t want a lot of preaching and you can’t be judgmental. Young people need to see people who are successful in their careers and have those people show them how to get where they want to be. Our young people need to hook up at the convention because they are like-minded and lifelong friendships are made there.”

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

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beloved sportscaster Stan Savran Sports B7

JULY 12-18, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

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Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B5-B6

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Throw doors of opportunity wide open for our youth

Business leaders, espe(NNPA)—These are dark times in Washington. It’s cially in the technology and no secret that President advanced manufacturing Trump and his team are sectors, regularly tell me working overtime to turn that they have thousands back the clock on our rights of open jobs, but don’t have and divest from our com- the qualified candidates.

For example, Manufacmunities.

If you want to know turing Renaissance Chicawhere the President stands go reports that there are on the welfare of the Afri- 15,000 unfilled advanced can American commu- Congresswoman Robin Kelly nity, look no further than his immoral budget. It eliminates programs that feed hungry kids, support veterans and help families buy manufacturing jobs in Chicagoland; these jobs pay an their own home.

Republicans are slam- average annual salary of ming the doors of oppor- $70,000.

My bill would help people tunity for our youth. For people of color, those doors get the training they need appear to be barricaded, for good-paying jobs by investing in apprenticeships, chained and padlocked.

We must resist. We must training and re-training reverse their damage and programs and expanded prevent them from doing it student aid for career and again. Let’s push forward technical education.

Additionally, my “Comand throw wide the doors munity College to Career of opportunity for all.

President Barack Obama Fund Act” would partled our recovery from the ner businesses with our community worst economic recession remarkable since the Great Depression. colleges to develop curricTogether, we saved our ulums that turn students economy and created more into career-ready graduthan 14 million jobs, more ates.

If we used these programs than ten times the number created under the previous to fill just 10 percent of President George W. Bush. Chicagoland’s open manBut today, we are seeing ufacturing jobs, we’d add that jobs are being lost; $105 million in wages to wages aren’t keeping up our communities each and and bills are piling up. every year.

Filling open jobs with Tragically, my Republican colleagues’ solution is properly trained workers more tax credits for the su- is a strong first step. We also need to create more per-rich.

My solution is different. jobs by investing in small It’s called the “Today’s businesses, funding local American Dream Act” and incubators and rewarding will empower families with companies for expanding the security of a good job, a into new markets.

I can tell you that our good education, home ownership and access to health- young people are ready and eager to get to work. care.

I introduced this compre- In April, I hosted my fourth hensive, 25-section bill so annual Youth Jobs Fair. our young people can live More than 300 young peothe American Dream by ple came, resume in hand, training them for good jobs, looking for a job. Let’s crecreating more good jobs SEE YOUTH B2 and innovating the future.

Commentary

TRUCKING COMPANY UTILZE SBA PROGRAMMING—Hauling like a man but owned by a lady, Big Lulu’s Trucking owners Celeste and John Phillips transports throughout the region. (Photo by Diane I. Daniels)

Emerging Leaders Program Helping businesses in Pittsburgh’s urban communities

by Diane I. Daniels

through the Ignite Tour. Her focus will be on listening to business owners, edFor New Pittsburgh Courier ucating about SBA’s services for access The main objectives of the U.S. Small to capital, mentoring and federal conBusiness Administration are to assist tracting, advocating for entrepreneurs Americans to start, build and grow and driving economic growth with businesses. Servicing 27 counties in small businesses.

Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh A popular SBA program offered by District Office headed by Dr. Kelly A. the Pittsburgh District Office is the Hunt is one of 68 SBA district offices Emerging Leaders Program, a federresponsible for the delivery of its proal training initiative. “The training grams. has been very beneficial thus far,” SBA administrator Linda McMasaid John Phillips, operations manhon recently visited Pittsburgh. “The ager of Big Lulu’s Trucking, owned by purpose of this visit is to meet the his wife Celeste. “It has been helping District Office staff and to make the me understand our financial growth SBA and its services better known potential and what we need to do to throughout the region and state of get to the next level. I’m even learnPennsylvania,” McMahon told the ing from the other businesses in the New Pittsburgh Courier. “I want to class.” make the SBA known to more people The Phillips describe Big Lulu’s for all the services we offer other than Trucking, based in Homewood, as a the first thought that comes to mind, tri-axel dump truck hauling business.

LINDA McMAHON loans. We have resource partners like Serving Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and SCORE which are volunteers from the Westmoreland counties, they transbusiness and executive world that coach entrepreneurs port bulk commodities, raw materials, construction and and help them get their businesses going. We have the demolition waste, scrap metals, stone and landscape Women Business Centers and the Small Business De- material. velopment Centers and many other available resources The Emerging Leaders Program, free to participants, for counseling and coaching. I think the mentoring and provides executives with the organizational framework, networking process is often just as important to entre- resource network, and over 100 hours of training. Parpreneurs as the access to capital.” ticipants work with experienced professionals and develMcMahon’s goal is to now travel nationwide and visSEE EMERGING B2 it every district office within the next couple of years

Auto companies find success with diversity programs

by Bria Nicole Stone

erences are changing rapidly, diversity and inclusion are more vital to GM’s success than ever before.”

Meanwhile, “tech companies like Goo(NNPA)--As tech companies struggle to recruit and hire African-Americans and gle, Facebook and Intel have shown little other minorities, companies in another progress since first releasing their diverbillion-dollar industry, have embraced sity numbers in 2014,” according to the the importance of diversity and inclusion Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Google’s own workforce demographic strategies that are critical to the future data released in 2014 showed that only success of their businesses.

A recent report published by Gener- 2 percent of the tech giant’s staffers were al Motors found that African Americans Black. In fact, the San Francisco-based account for a higher share of the auto- software firm Atlassian reported that maker’s workforce in the United States Blacks account for just 2 percent of the compared to their share of the total U.S. tech industry’s entire workforce.

Some tech companies don’t even recogworkforce. Blacks account for 18.1 nize they have a problem. percent of the total U.S. A survey by Atlassian showed, “that 83 workforce at General Mopercent of tech employees believe their tors, according to the company is already diverse, and 79 company’s 2017 “Dipercent think the average team at versity & Inclusion” their company has a diverse set of report. team members,” according to the GM also reported Silicon Valley Business Journal. that 35 percent of In March, Apple shareholders all of the company’s rejected a plan to accelerate the U.S. hires were micompany’s efforts to increase dinorities in 2016. versity among its senior manageIn the report, ment and its board of directors, Mary Barra, the TheVerge.com reported. chairman and CEO TheVerge.com article continued: of General Motors, “This is the second year in a row said that, “at a time that Apple shareholders have shot when the auto indusdown the proposal, with just over 95 try, technology and percent of the vote opposing it this customer time around--slightly more prefthan last year.”

Ken Barrett, the global chief diversity officer for GM, said that some people look at diversity and KEN BARRETT, the global chief diversity officer for GM, said that diversity and inclu- i n c l u s i o n sion programs make good business sense. This photo was taken at the Charles H. p r o g r a m s Wright Museum of African American History. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA) as the right For New Pittsburgh Courier

LISA BROWN, the diversity and inclusion consultant for Volkswagen Group of America, said the automotive industry has to market to the Black community and do business with Black-owned firms.

(Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA) thing to do, but the programs are also about business.

“There is a clear business case for diversity and inclusion on the inside and outside of your organization,” said Barrett.

“For us, diversity may be the picture, but inclusion is the test.”

Barrett continued: “Do people really feel empowered to bring their ideas to the forefront? Do they feel empowered to tackle the challenges we face as a company and ultimately be in a position to spawn new ideas? That [innovation] will ultimately give us that competitive edge.”

Barrett said that for GM to be relevant and to win in the marketplace, the company has to possess cultural competency inside the organization; it’s that awareness

that ultimately helps GM to connect with their customers.

Whether it’s concentrating on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions or major organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers or the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers or the Society of Women Engineers, Barrett said that companies must have relationships with diverse communities to attract top talent.

Barrett added that GM didn’t just start thinking about diversity and inclusion.

According to GM’s “Diversity & Inclusion” report, the automaker launched the SEE AUTO B2

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BUSINESS

JULY 12-18, 2017

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Cook Purnell to head Campus School of Carlow University PITTSBURGH, Pa.— Tawana Cook Purnell has been named the new Executive Director of the Campus School and Early Learning Center of Carlow University. She will begin this position on August 15, 2017.

“Tawana has rich experiences in independent and faith-based schools in Pittsburgh and in Washington, D.C.,” said Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD, president of Carlow University.

“She has served as head of school, principal, director of lower school, and teacher in both public and private schools. She has worked with students and parents from socioeconomically and

ethnically diverse backgrounds, and has served as a member of the board of directors on many community organizations in both Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.” Currently, Cook Purnell is the Head of School of the Bishop Walker School for Boys in Washington, D.C., where she worked with the board and staff to create and implement policy, established a cohesive K-6 curriculum for language arts and math, revised standardized testing protocol, and strengthened parent support efforts, among other initiatives. Prior to that, she was a principal of the Environmental Charter

BUSINESS CALENDAR Business Data Security Seminar

JULY 13—Data Connectors will host its Pittsburgh Tech Security Conference, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, 112 Washington Place. Designed to showcase the broad spectrum of new and emerging information security products and services to solve complex IT security challenges of businesses, the event will include educational speaker sessions, industry experts, networking opportunities, and more than 30 vendor exhibits. Cost is $50 and includes a full lunch. For more information visit http://www.DataConnectors.com

Duquesne Training Event

JULY 18—The Duquesne University Small Business Center will host First Step: Business Start-up Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. in Rockwell Hall, rm. 108, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. Topics covered include: Business Structure and Formation; Fictitious Name Registration; Employee Issues; Insurance Government; Procurement; Environmental Concerns; Financing Options; Taxation, and Major Components of the Business Plan. Cost: $25. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

Duquesne Export Basics

AUG. 3—The Duquesne University Small Business Center will host Export Basics, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. Topics include: Recognizing export opportunities; Shipping & payment; Legal & regulatory aspect of exporting; Sources for information & assistance, and cultural issues. Fee: $49. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

Chatham Business Workshop

AUG. 12—The Chatham’s Women Business Center in partnership with SCORE Pittsburgh present a Build Your Business Workshop to entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding their business. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Eastside campus, 6585 Penn Ave. Business experts and seasoned entrepreneurs will discuss the following topics: business planning, marketing and sales, financin e a issues and usiness essons learned. A continental breakfast will be provided. Fee $10. For more information, contact Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-365-1153.

Chatham Training Program

AUG. 16—The Chatham’s Women Business Center presents a six-week “Concept to Launch” training course, on six consecutive Wednesdays from until September 13 at the Eastside campus, 6585 Penn Ave. The program, designed for women in the early stages of starting a business, will focus on: developing a business concept; industry and market research; identifying target customers ricin and ar etin strate ies startu financials; legal business entities, and pitching the business. Cost $95, with 50-percent, need-based scholarships made available by Bridgeway Capital. For more information and to register, call Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-365-1153.

HIGHLAND PARK PREP Established 1979 Housed in a Historical, Stately Mansion ONE STOP SHOP: Daycare – Nursery COMMON CORE (STEM) Elementary, Middle, Secondary: K-12th GRADE Students graduate: HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND ASSOC. DEGREE same time! * LEARNING CENTER OFFERING * * 6 WK TUTORIAL PROGRAM * Reading, Math, English.

Tues. & Thurs. 10 AM – 2 PM LIMITED ENROLLMENT Discount Fee applies.

SMALL CLASSES. All students do not learn same rate or style: Self-Contain, Montessori Open-Classroom, Individualized Instruction. erienced ertified eachers Bachelors, Masters & PhD’s.

NOW ACCEPTING ENROLLMENT Financial Aid & Scholarships Available 2017-2018 School Year Call: 412-661-2415

School in Pittsburgh, and, for a decade, was the director of the Lower School at National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C. She has also served as a teacher at St. Albans School for Boys in Washington, and in the Montgomery County Schools in Montgomery County, MD. “I am looking forward to leading the Campus School,” said Cook Purnell.

“I am particularly drawn to the opportunities for the Campus School in our culturally rich city and the collaboration between the Campus School and the Carlow University community.”

After being admitted with the first class of women to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., and a master’s degree in private school leadership

from the Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City. She has served on many local, regional, and

national boards, including Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance, the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education,

the Excellence in Education Program and the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association

TAWANA COOK PURNELL

Program helps businesses in urban communities EMERGING FROM B1

op connections with their peers, city leaders and financial communities while promoting sustainable businesses and increasing economic development within urban communities.

With 97 percent of the businesses in the Pittsburgh region considered small, the Pittsburgh District Office reports that last year they guaranteed almost $1.5 million in loans contributing to the retention and creation of over 1,300 jobs.

McMahon serves as the 25th administrator of the SBA and advocates on behalf of more than 28

million small businesses in America which employ nearly half of all American workers and account for 56.8 million jobs. Also, an entrepreneur and business executive, she is a co-founder and former chief executive officer of Women’s Leadership LIVE LLC, a company that uses live events and ongoing relationships to educate and inspire women to launch and expand their own businesses. McMahan is a co-founder and former chief executive officer of WWE, based in Connecticut. She helped grow WWE from a 13-person regional operation to

a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide.

McMahon said she has known the President for about 25 years and that he was familiar with her history of growing her business from the ground up. This helped her obtain the position as SBA Administrator.

Eventually, she took her business public on the New York Stock Exchange.

“The President and I met when he was President-elect, and he talked to me about taking on this job. He said, ‘I want somebody that knows about

business, especially about small business.’”

McMahon said she and her husband have grown their business from sharing a desk, have been through bankruptcy and lost everything, and knows how difficult it is to gain access to capital.

“I can walk the walk and talk the talk when working with the small business community,” she said, noting that the President felt that was a great advantage to understand what small businesses need. “He wanted someone that could be an advocate in Washington for small businesses.”

Doors of opportunity must be opened for youth YOUTH FROM B1

ate jobs for them so they build the American Dream for themselves and their families.

We also need to invest in tomorrow, by investing in the science-technology-engineering-mathematic (STEM) fields.

Right now, STEM jobs are driving our economy and continue to grow. According to the Level Playing Field Institute, there will

be 1.4 million new tech jobs by 2020 but 70 percent will be unfilled.

Despite the massive need for qualified computer science professionals, just a quarter of all high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) computer science classes. Many of these schools aren’t in African American communities. In fact, just 13 percent of students who took the AP computer science test were Af-

rican American or Latino.

It’s time to invest in STEM teachers so our young people—Black, White, Latino, Asian American or Native American— can innovate the future!

The “Today’s American Dream Act” would provide aid to STEM teachers who are dedicated to educating the next generation of Mark Zuckerbergs.

Taken together, the “Today’s American Dream

Act” will train our young people for the opportunities of today and prepare them for the possibilities of tomorrow. It’s time to pass the “Today’s American Dream Act” and throw wide the doors of opportunity.

(Congresswoman Robin Kelly represents Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District. She is the former chief of staff to the Illinois State Treasurer. Follow Rep. Kelly on Twitter @RepRobinKelly.)

Companies find success with diversity programs AUTO FROM B1

first minority supplier program in the auto industry in 1968. GM also initiated the first minority dealer program in the auto industry in 1972 and the first women’s dealer program in 2001.

Barrett noted that General Motors takes pride in the fact that the company promotes from within.

“It’s important to note that Mary Barra started as an intern,” said Barrett. Barra worked her way through the system all the way up to chairman and CEO. Alicia Boller-Davis, an African American woman, is the executive vice president for global manufacturing. Barrett noted that

Boller-Davis started as an intern, too, and worked her way up to run one of the largest manufacturing organizations in the world.

Barrett also pointed out that Ed Welburn, the former global design chief for GM, was also the first African American designer ever hired at GM. “[Welburn] came in during 70s and was able to move all the way up,” said Barrett Barrett said that it’s important for minorities to look up and see people like Boller-Davis and Welburn.

“That’s important for us, but we got more to do,” said Barrett.

Barrett continued: “We can be great today, but better tomorrow. We always

want to be on the cutting edge. We just don’t want to compete and win in the marketplace, we want to compete and win that battle for talent, as well.”

Volkswagen has also ramped up its efforts to recruit and hire minorities and women.

Lisa Brown, the diversity and inclusion consultant for Volkswagen Group of America, said that in the years she has worked for Volkswagen, she has seen an increase in the amount of women who are beginning to work in a field that is mainly dominated by men.

“I’ve been with Volkswagen for 18 years and worked in after sales as an operation manager,” said Brown.

“I was the first female of col-

or and only the second woman who held that position.”

Brown continued: “Now there are a lot more women in the region teams. When I started there were one or two and now there are three or four women per region and five women in our leadership executive position.”

Along with increasing the amount of women in leadership and the workforce at Volkswagen, the company has also partnered with organizations and universities to ensure that the company has access to a highly qualified and diverse talent pool.

Brown stated, “We have partnered with the School of Business at Howard University, the National Black MBA, both the D.C. and Detroit chapters, and Inroads Inc. We also have an executive mentoring program for women.”

Brown said that because of the strong buying and consumer power in the African American community, African Americans must be conscious of how inclusive these companies are.

Due to the fact that the Black community has such strong buying power, the automotive industry must cater to the Black demographic, Brown added.

Companies need to market to the African-American community and have African American leadership, said Brown.

Brown continued: “There’s a value and appreciation for understanding the partnerships we can create and we have to make sure we have a direct link to the African American community.”

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 12-18, 2017

B3

Sad but true—Black-on-Black homicides trend up in June

Guest Editorial

Toomey misleads on health care bill The good news is that Republican Sen. Pat Toomey held an hour long televised town hall forum in Harrisburg last week on a wide range of issues but mostly focused on the Republican health care bill.

The bad news is that Toomey continues a misleading defense of the bill as helping Medicaid when it would in fact deliver devastating cuts.

The public forum was Toomey’s first this year in front of an audience. Dozens of demonstrators protested outside WHTM studio against Toomey’s support of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health care law and mocked Toomey’s lack of courage to hold a full town hall-style event.

Toomey insists that the Republican health care bill is misunderstood. He says that the bill cap on Medicaid costs would allow expenses to rise with inflation.

Toomey and other Republican lawmakers are offering “alternative facts” about the impact of their replacement for the Affordable Care Act. The senator said falsely that the bill “does not pull the rug from anyone currently covered by Obamacare, and keeps the Medicaid expansion.”

Toomey’s claims are specifically important to Pennsylvania, where more than 700,000 people gained insurance through the Medicaid expansion and 360,000 through the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act. Toomey is right when he says the Senate bill does not revoke expanded Medicaid eligibility.

However, the GOP proposal gradually reduces the federal government’s contributions, while also capping future funding on a per-enrollee basis. The proposed changes to premium tax credits and its elimination of cost-sharing subsidies would affect all age groups, but especially older Americans.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the GOP plan would lead to 15 million fewer Medicaid enrollees and 7 million fewer in the individual market within the next decade.

Pennsylvanians would see a 72 percent increase in out-of-pocket premium costs under the new bill, compared with a national average increase of 74 percent, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health research group.

Pennsylvanians should let know Toomey of their opposition to this bill through letters, emails, phone calls and in person at town hall events.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

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I guess it was too good to be true. In May, only 65 percent of the homicides were Black but things have gone back to the norm with all six homicides in Allegheny County being Black in June. One female and five males.

It could have been worse. It could have been like Little Rock, where 25 were shot and three injured in a gunfight in a nightclub. Even though TV news has pretty much abandoned the issue, at least some online newspapers’ accounts said officials believe it was all centered around rapper Rickey Hampton (Finese2Tymes), who was performing at the club that night.

Officials said a few days earlier, the Memphis rapper had a confrontation with someone and shot him in the neck at another club in Arkansas.

What is really sick is that you know you shot someone but you continue as if nothing happened, placing all the people at the lounge in danger.

Witnesses say the rapper and his people had guns but officials still haven’t issued a statement of who did the shooting and who was arrested other than the rapper on other charges.

On Facebook, several people stated how sorry they were for the victims who were just out for a night of fun, and that the club was being shut down which would further reduce the number of places to go for young people.

In an Associated Press story, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said he and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson planned to form a task force in response to the club shooting and other recent violent incidents in the city. Stodola said he hoped the panel would look at increasing monitoring of parolees released in the community as well as efforts to keep guns out of felons’ hands.

Ulish Carter

Just Sayin’ “Certainly, from a broader context, we’re reaching out to the community in a variety of ways, asking for their participation and help, whether it’s helping to mentor a child that needs direction or whether it’s helping a felon that’s been released that needs to find some gainful employment,” Stodola said to the AP. “We’re trying to work both ends of the spectrum, the people who haven’t gotten in trouble yet and the people who have already been in trouble and want to go straight.”

That sounds great. Maybe some of the other major cities and states will follow suit. But it’s sad that it took a massive tragedy for them to come to this action. I know this is not new in Little Rock, and it’s not new in Memphis and Jackson, Miss. If it’s just Little Rock that takes action, it will be for naught because Memphis and Jackson is just as much a part of these gang fights.

The mayor asked for help finding jobs for recently-released felons. But it’s not just the felons who need the jobs…recently-graduated high school and college grads also need jobs, and not just in Little Rock, Memphis and Jackson.

Pittsburgh says they are seeking Black college grads but are they? A few weeks ago the Courier ran a story about Pittsburgh making a commitment to hiring Blacks and other people of color in an effort to keep

this talent in the city.

Well…I’ve had a few young Black women complain to me that they are college grads, some recently and some in the past four to five years and they can’t get a call back or E-mail response after filling out a resume online. Others say that a requirement to get some of these “entry-level” jobs actually require three to five years experience! How can you get the experience if you don’t get hired in the first place, and who says just because one has experience they will do a better job in the long term?

But that’s not all. One said that for those who have the degrees and experience, the city and many businesses only want to pay them $9 to $10 an hour.

And they wonder why young people, especially Blacks, who would love to stay in Pittsburgh, are leaving.

The Media vs. Trump I’m beginning to believe for the next four years it’s going to be a fight between President Trump and FOX News vs. both MSNBC and CNN. Conservatives, Progressives, and Moderates. I’m getting tired of “Russia interfering with the election” as the only news being reported on the TV networks. It’s almost like nothing else is happening in the world.

What about coverage of the G-Summit? Why not, for example, let each of the anchors deal with a different issue in detail…1; Russia interfering with the election. 2; North Korea and the nuclear bomb. 3; Syria’s civil war.

4; Leaving time for another anchor to focus on Health Care or whatever other issue the producers see as important.

With all that money and personnel, what a waste.

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

Democrats, we are your base (TriceEdneyWire.com)—For years, Black people have delivered our vote to Democrats. Many Democrats wouldn’t have won without our vote.

Now some Black people, and other people of color, have become discouraged because no matter the votes we deliver, we are taken for granted.

Once elected, many forget our efforts on their behalf.

When I ran for the U.S. Congress in my home state of Louisiana, I lost by less than one-percent in a 2/3rds Democratic District. Much of my organized support came from Congressional Black Caucus members and a few Progressive Whites. I received lukewarm-to-no support from the state Democratic Party. On the strength of Black voters and a few White people, I won 97,000 votes at a time when many Democrats were winning their Congressional seats with 35,000 to 40,000 votes. As a first time candidate, we brought out a record number of Democratic voters in my district.

Congressman John Breaux also ran for the U.S. Senate. His campaign events weren’t attracting as many potential voters as mine. His crowds were often so thin that he left and came to my events. We welcomed him, and on the strength of the Black vote, he won. I lost narrowly because he was unable to deliver any votes to my campaign.

My campaign ended with a debt.

Customarily, losing candidates get help from those who win to assist in debt-erasing fundraising efforts.

friends—especially White women— betrayed us and voted for Donald Trump! My enthusiasm was once again damaged.

Now, I see a Party leadership enslaved to misplaced loyalties. Rather than growing and rewarding that portion of the base that has given unwavering allegiance to party objectives, leaders debate the how-to’s of making White males happy and Since I had helped him so much, I bringing White women, who rejectthought it was logical that Mr. Breaux ed the Party en masse, back into the would lend his name to a fundraiser fold. for me. Instead, his response was, A pragmatic post-mortem of Elec“Well, I’m a U.S. Senator now, and I tion 2016 indicates a party failure don’t lend my name lightly.” I’m sure to focus on registration efforts in the there’re other candidates who can re- Black community. There was a reluclate. Apparently, Mr. Breaux’s white- tance to spend money with organizaness overshadowed his party loyalty tions and efforts by the Black press to and loyalty to his fellow Democrats. help Get-Out-the-Vote. The party lost That’s just one example of the treat- opportunities to place our issues up ment African American Democrats front and center, to hire more of us on often receive from the Party we con- their staffs, and to do more to show sistently help to gain so many victo- their appreciation for our loyalty. ries.

Despite the current discord in naUntil President Barack Obama tional politics, we need to be able to ran for office, I voted for Democrats, identify who we can confidently call but I’d lost my enthusiasm for my “leader.” Whatever the party agenda, Party. My enthusiasm returned full it must specifically address a realforce in 2008 and 2012. By 2016, I istic plan to improve our communistill enthusiastically supported Sec- ties, put our people to work, fix our retary Hillary Clinton. I did so be- schools and streets, and put an end cause she was a Democrat, but also to the insane racist behavior trendbecause she was a woman--and, just ing throughout the nation. Demoas we had waited for the election crats, your most loyal supporters are of an African American, we women waiting for you to recognize what The had waited too long to see a woman Party would look like without us!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of the Naelected President. African American women worked so hard and had such tional Congress of Black Women. www.nahigh hopes, but so many of our White tionalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788)

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

How Melania stacks up to Michelle

by China Dickerson Both Melania Trump and Michelle Obama had modest upbringings: one is White, born in Yugoslavia. The other is Black, raised on the South Side of Chicago.

When Melania married Donald Trump in 2005, he was already a real estate magnate. When Michelle married Barack Obama in 1992, he had just become a law school professor. Both Trump and Obama went on to become president of the United States, and both women who hail from different walks of life, found themselves thrust in the job of first lady.

So who has worn the FLOTUS title best? I submit, Michelle, 53. Not because she was the first Black FLOTUS or because she’s wicked smart or because she’s super stylish or because she has always worked to improve her community, including her legendary Let’s Move! campaign.

She endured the most criticism of any first lady, including name-calling, body shaming, and questions about her love for America. Yet she still manages to be a great role model, supportive wife, mother, daughter, and friend.

While Melania is not safe from the cyber bullying, Michelle endured eight years of racist and sexist attacks, not just against her, but also her daughters, Malia, 18, and Sasha,

16. She stood by as racists called for the first Black president of the United States to be hung. Just last month, a man was sentenced for a conviction of making physical threats to Obama and his daughters. By the way, shouldn’t children be left out of political fights?

And toward the end of last year, a West Virginia mayor resigned after agreeing with a social media post that the first lady was an “ape in heels.”

Finally, but unfortunately nowhere near the least of the degradation that Michelle endured, a big (and ridiculous) controversy embroiled about of her wearing a sleeveless dress for her first official photo. Some called it “too informal” for the occasion. In other words, she doesn’t belong in the House.

To be fair, Melania, 47, has endured her fair share of criticism. From mockery of her accent to her criticism of her career choice as a model, the new first lady isn’t immune from trolling.

The first lady, who just last week arrived at the White House, came under attack for choosing to stay in New York City while the couple’s son, Barron, 11, completed the school year.

On the campaign trail last summer, nude photos of the former model surfaced, prompting folks to go to social media to shame the woman who would be first lady. Some said things as cruel as “we’ve never before

had a first lady who was introduced to her husband by a pimp.” Unlikely supporters like Octavia Spencer rose to her defense. The star of Hidden Figures and The Help, tweeted, “Melania Trump isn’t running for president, her husband is. This is a below the belt attack and shouldn’t be condoned.”

Melania suffered another big blow during the Republican National Convention when she was accused of plagiarizing Michelle’s 2008 Democratic National Convention speech.

Because of similarities in speeches, Melania was accused of being poorly educated. Some say she may not have known the speech was plagiarized; others weren’t as sympathetic.

Most recently, she endured seeing comedian Kathy Griffin pose for photos holding a mock image of Trump’s bloody head.

Granted since Melania has held the title for less than six months, I shouldn’t be so quick to judge how she’s wearing her title, right? However, history has traditionally been most unkind to Black women, especially those in positions of authority, which is why I think Michelle will go down as the winner of wearing the title best. Not because of her style, but because of her courage and perseverance.

(China Dickerson has worked in politics, government, and community organizing for over 10 years.)

B4

JULY 12-18, 2017

Are you better off in a 45 presidency?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—The man who currently occupies the Oval Office (I call him 45, but y’all know his name, and we don’t call it because we do not believe in feeding bloated egos), promised to “Make America Great Again.” He said that he would create jobs, generate economic growth, and create a new and better health care environment than the one we got from the Affordable Care Act. Instead, he has found himself stuck in the muddy quicksand of wanting to repeal, but not replace, the legislation that provided health insurance for more than 20 million people.

When he was a candidate, 45 claimed that unemployment data was false and manipulated. As President, he has touted the unemployment rate improvement as evidence that he is doing a good job. But the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the employment situation is steady, but not especially good. While the unemployment rate is lower, by 0.4 percent, than it was when 45 took office, little else has changed. The Black unemployment rate, at 7.1 percent, is, as always, nearly double the White rate (3.8 percent), and the number of people who have been unemployed for more than half a year has not changed much. The labor force participation rate (the people who are working or looking for work) is just below 63 percent, as it has been most of the year. The employment-population ratio, or the percentage of people holding

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary jobs, is also steady, at 60.1 percent.

The Bureau of labor Statistics report (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ empsit.pdf) repetitively describes indicators as “changed little”, which means that few are better off than they were when 45 took office.

The low unemployment rate is deceptive.

In a vibrant economy, more people would be entering the labor force, with the understanding that if hard times are over, good jobs are now available. Although some new college graduates have entered a vibrant market with high demand for their services, many others have not seen their prospects improve.

Indeed, African American college graduates face unemployment rates that are far higher than their White counterparts. According to the Economic Policy Institute (in full disclosure, I am a member of that Board), young Black college graduates have an unemployment rate of 8.0 percent. College graduates remain worse off than their counterparts who graduated in 2000 and 2007, the year before the Great Recession (http://www.epi. org/publication/the-class-of-2017/).

Low labor force participation rates, then, tell a story. It is challenging to look for work when you have limited resources. Some recent graduates, and others, will not fully participate in the labor market because they don’t have the wherewithal. Others will work, but have no choice but to accept underemployment—with the marketing major now working in retail or in a fastfood restaurant because that is the only job she can get. And the number of people who work “part time for economic reasons,” or “involuntarily part time,” at 5.3 million, is again, “little changed.” How many young people who did the right thing, checked off all the boxes, took the STEM classes, and graduated with thousands of dollars’ worth of debt because they invested in themselves, now find themselves underemployed?

So Bobby Womack had this song, “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” I think about it when I recall some of my commentary on the Obama Presidency, especially in my book, “Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and Public Policy.” No, the majority of Black folk were not materially better off in the Obama years. But if we think we were hurting then, wait until the Trump years evolve (sing along). None of the promises that 45 offered to “help” the people have resulted in positive change. If you think Obamacare hurt, think about what Trumpcare will do! If you think the economic situation was challenging for working people under President Obama, imagine the challenges under 45 leadership. 45 has been insistent and persistent about rolling back many of the important innovations that took place under President Obama’s leadership. He is rabid about rescinding the Obama legacy, and too many have allowed their own racial bias to support his efforts.

Still, the new unemployment rate data tell us as much as we need to know. Workers are not better off under 45. Wages remain lower than they should be, and job expansion is somewhat tepid. Labor force participation and the employment population ratio are lower than they should be.

There are too many people who are out of work, or underemployed and stuck in unsatisfactory work.

45’s Presidency has not only eroded our nation’s standing in the world, but it has also eroded the economic wellbeing of millions in our own country, as the unemployment rate data attest. 45’s buffer is the blind loyalty of those who prioritize partisan politics over national wellbeing, and racial hegemony over common decency.

And maybe, just maybe if there were economic returns to this idiocy, I might understand. But there are no returns, nothing but jingoistic chaos.

(Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education.)

FORUM

It is not easy, but it is worth it

I am an active Belafonte…all member of New three challenged Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick Destiny C.M.E. the corrupt system Church and our that threatened to current pastor is devour Black peoRev. Kornelius ple. Once again, it Edward Neal. The was not easy, but it current title of this was worth it. Those column is based on persons fought a a recent sermon system that was he preached, and void of compassion, in my personal estimation it was right caring, or concern when it involved on target. The following names are living or working conditions when it persons who are perfect examples. The pertained to Blacks. A lesser people great Nelson Mandela was asked by the would not have survived, but somehow, officials in South Africa to publicly state our grandparents, parents, neighbors that he would not resort to violence to and friends managed. It was definitely free his people, and if he wouldn’t, he not easy, but it was worth it. would be imprisoned.

On a personal level, I was FIRED four Mandela could have had life and times from political positions, because would not have been imprisoned, but I sought to make a difference. It was he refused, and was imprisoned for 27 never easy, but it was always worth it. years. Yes, it was not easy, but it was Frequently, I have engaged in conworth it. History records that Mandela, versations about my feeling that too upon release from prison, became the many of us are so reluctant to challenge first Black to become President of South WRONG, particularly if the wrong is Africa. It is impossible to name or count committed by their employer. They the persons, males or females, educatgenerally state they have families, want ed or uneducated, who challenged the to buy a car, house, send children to bigoted racist system that attempted to college, and it is totally unfair for me to stifle us as a people, and the price they expect them to risk losing these opporwere compelled to pay. Medgar Evers, tunities.

Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, My answer is, “It is not easy, but it is they paid the ultimate price, their lives, definitely WORTH IT.” (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to the it was not easy…but it was worth it.

New Pittsburgh Courier.)

Paul Roberson, Muhammad Ali, Harry

To Tell The Truth

Is slavery America’s ’original sin’ or is it bad theology?

Last week was the So evil and “orig4th of July. inal sin” are not J. Pharoah Doss On social media, interchangeable. holiday wishes Religious people were mixed up understand “origiwith Independence nal sin” is derived Day denunciations. from disobedience The complaint was in the Garden of independence was Eden. When Adam declared for a new and Eve, “humannation while it ity’s parents,” ate practiced slavery and that made slavery the forbidden fruit they transgressed America’s “original sin.” against Divine law and infected human I empathize with the sentiment, but is nature with sin. it accurate?

But this doctrine of “original sin” is not If you separate the phrase and define a single concept that means mankind is the two terms the inaccuracy is apparpermanently doomed. The whole point ent. “Original” is rooted in the word of Christian theology is that God sent a origin, where something begins, and redeemer. That’s the story of the cruci“sin” is a transgression against Divine fixion, where God’s son is the sacrificial law. Slavery didn’t originate in America lamb to redeem humanity from Adam and there is no Divine commandment and Eve’s “original sin.” against the practice.

So in Christian theology the doctrine That’s a logical dismissal, but it’s of “original sin” comes with redemption. deceptive.

If slavery was America’s “original sin” By separating the words, I deluded then the Civil War would be equivalent the phrase from its theological depth. to the crucifixion. But it’s not comparaFor semi-religious people that repeat ble to those that use the “original sin” the charge against America, the phrase metaphor because they don’t believe in “original sin” is interchangeable with America’s redemption. evil.

They reject the outcome of the Civil Now, there’s a biblical story about a War and claim slavery just evolved into boy named Joseph that was sold into different forms of oppression. But in slavery by his older brothers. Joseph Christian theology, after the crucifixion, rose to prominence by saving Egypt Christians were persecuted from the and his brothers from a famine. At the first to the fourth century. end of the story the brothers sought That’s a time span of 400 years. forgiveness and Joseph forgave their (Sound familiar?) treachery in this popular passage: You Redemption doesn’t mean a return meant evil against me, but God meant to the Garden of Eden. The purpose is it for good, to bring it about that many to eradicate the wrong. If slavery was people should be kept alive, as they are America’s “original sin” than abolishtoday. (ESV) ing slavery was America’s redemption.

Here, evil is associated with the Since America’s redemption is rejected, brother’s motive and not the institution slavery can’t be associated with “origiof slavery. It was human beings that nal sin.” declared slavery evil after morality An accurate theological metaphor evolved over millenniums. By this time would be slavery is America’s unpardonevil was defined as profoundly immoral able sin to those that inherited Phaor malevolent, and slavery was associat- raoh’s hardened heart.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsed with evil because it was a transgresburgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahdoss@blogspot.com) sion against humanity not Divine law.

Check It Out

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Raynard Jackson

Commentary ‘When was America ever great,’ you ask?

Here’s my answer (NNPA)—Celebrating Independence Day and watching President Trump on the international stage during the G20 Summit, I couldn’t help but reflect upon a recent conversation I had with one of my “Hollywood” friends.

This friend is a self-proclaimed liberal and sees absolutely no value in anything Republican!

I remember having many conversations with him during last year’s presidential campaign and talking to him about Trump’s tagline, “Make America Great Again” (MAGA).

Even though, I’d heard his retort before from liberals, both Black and White, I was still shocked when he asked, “When was America ever great?”

When I’ve heard this response from liberals in the past, it’s usually followed with ad hominem attacks on America, beginning with slavery, then Jim Crow, segregation, police killings of unarmed Blacks, etc.

These assertions are undeniably factual, but to end there is like reading the first chapter of a book that opens with a murder and concluding that the whole book is about that one event.

Slavery and racism are still the biggest blemishes on America’s history, but because we are Americans and showed resolve, we also have one helluva redemption story to tell. We have come a long way from the days of slavery and Jim Crow.

Here are a few questions for my liberal friends. If America is so racist, how did we elect a Black man as president? If America is so racist, how did we have two consecutive Black secretaries of state (Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice)? If America is so racist, how did we have two consecutive attorneys general (Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch)? If America is so racist, how are African-Americans making millions of dollars in sports, music, business and technology?

Name me one other major power that can make the claim that Black people have these opportunities in their country.

Germany can’t. Britain can’t. China can’t.

Australia can’t. France can’t. I think you get my point.

During a time when all Americans should be celebrating the progress we’ve made as a nation on our journey towards redemption, liberals seem to want to focus on our past.

So, to answer my Hollywood friend’s original question, “When was America ever great?” my response is very simple.

America was great when former President Lincoln freed the slaves. America was great when Congress passed the Civil and Voting Rights Acts in the 60s.

America was great when they elected the first Black president in 2008. America was great when we witnessed, yet again, the peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump from Barack Obama, despite just witnessing one of the nastiest presidential elections in our nation’s history.

America will always be great as long as we accept the will of the American people, when it comes to our free and fair elections. You don’t have to like the choice, but you must accept the result.

This is what makes America great.

Has America lived up to the words in the Declaration of Independence?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?”

No, we still have a long way to go, but we have made remarkable progress.

Isn’t it amazing that the very liberals who criticize this country never, ever seriously consider leaving the country? Despite all of our nation’s faults, where else could those liberals go and still have this type of freedom and opportunity?

We must get back to our founding principles; love of God, love of country; and love of our people.

Academy Award winning actor, Denzel Washington made this point in a phenomenal graduation speech he gave two years ago to the students of Dillard University in New Orleans, La., one of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It was one of the shortest, yet, most powerful speeches I have ever heard.

Liberals must stop obsessing about America’s racial past and focus on America’s promise. We must not live our lives in fear of loss; we must live our lives in hope of gain.

America is not as bad as it used to be and not as good as it can be.

It’s like President Obama said: “We are the change that we seek.”

Liberals are great at complaining about problems, but rarely if ever provide any practical solutions to their complaints.

On this day and every day, we have the freedom to be free. Respecting this freedom, for everyone, is how we all can truly “Make America Great Again.”

(Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF).

For more information about BAFBF, visit www. bafbf.org.)

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B5

JULY 12-18, 2017

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POSITION: CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK (TYPE II)

nnua a ar de endin on ua ifications osition ocation itts ur h ication ead ine u at Position Summary: The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Court”) is accepting applications for the position of Chief DeputyClerk of the Bankruptcy Court. The business of the Court is conducted at three divisional locations in itts ur h rie and ohnsto n urrent the er s ffice has a ro i ate e ployees with four presiding Judges (three in Pittsburgh and one in Erie).

The Chief Deputy Clerk is a senior level management position that serves as second-in-command and reports directly to the Clerk of Court. Under direction of the er of ourt the Chief Deputy Clerk is responsi e for the ana in annin su er ision ad inistration of the er s ffice and acts as the er of ourt in his a sence and additional duties. ua ification Re uire ents Applicants must have (a) a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school (law review preferred at east si ears of experience in a law related profession and c at east t o ears of responsibility for budgeting and/or or ani ationa ana e ent plicants must possess skill in dealing with others in professional work relationships and tact in ha dling workplace and employee relations issues with a high degree of inte rit a on ith the a i it to e ercise mature judgment. Applicants must also possess excellent oral and ritten co unication s i s excellent interpersonal and leadershi s i s and de onstrate stron or ani ationa rioriti in and ro e so in s i s The successful candidate must ha e no ed e of sound financial controls and policies. A working knowledge of legal terminology and procedures is required. A working knowledge of the Bankru tc ode and Ru es road auto ation s i s and an understanding of electronic case management systems are highly desira e roficienc in icrosoft ffice uite ce o er oint Word) is essential. Familiarity with electronic database systems is preferred.

The successful candidate will be subject to a ten-year mandatory background investigation and FBI fin er rint chec as a condition of employment with possibly an updated in esti ation e er fi e ears thereafter.

Application Procedures and Information: ua ified ersons ust e ectronica su it on u a co er etter a detai ed r su inc udin sa ar histor and a Federal Judicial Branch Application for o ent or ia http://www.pawb.uscourts.gov/ career-opportunities. Please DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL the Court inquiring about the position.

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o e ai itts ur h at ed enin s ce ent a afet onus reat enefits ore r re stenson Logistics Apply: www.goelc. com 844-205-6902

OEO PROGRAM MANAGER

Port Authority is seeking an OEO Program Manager to be responsible for the implementation and management of Port Authority’s EEO program and serves as the organiation s officer n esti ates and responds to internal and external EEO complaints. Provides solutions to EEO issues that are consistent with Port Authority policies and procedures. Prepares and distri utes re orts of findin s and recommendations regarding resolution and appropriate corrective action to senior staff. Educates employees on equal employment opportunity re u ations a ications and initiatives. Performs Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and limited Disadvantage Business Enterprise assi n ents as needed Job requirements include: •BA/BS in Human Resource Mana e ent usiness d inistration u anities or direct re ated fie d from an accredited school. ini u of fi e ears of e erience in investigative procedures eadin to o ecti e re ie for uation of reco endations and the preparation of detailed reports.

•Thorough knowledge of federal and state EEO regulations.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of indo s icrosoft ord and cel.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

Preferred attributes: •Master’s degree in Human Resource ana e ent usiness dinistration or direct re ated fie d roficienc in eo e oft R

We offer a comprehensive compensation and enefits ac a e nterested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Inez Colon Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 IColon@portauthority.org EOE

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTRACT SPECIALIST – MAIN SHOP

Port Authority is seeking a Quality Assurance and Contract Specialist – Main Shop to under general suer ision easure and onitorin performance of all materials and vendor activities to ensure quality and performance in meeting Port Authority maintenance and operatin efficiencies consistent ith adopted guidelines and objectives. so to esta ish i e ent and administer processes to ensure vendor and Port Authority compliance with established and proposed contracts.

Job requirements include: •Two-year Technical Degree or Associate Degree in Business or related fie d dditiona e erience sufficient to successfu erfor the essential functions of the job may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

•Three (3) years of experience managing bus or heavy automotive eet ehic e aintenance inc udin a thorough knowledge of bus and/or heavy vehicle systems/equipment is required.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of indo s icrosoft ord and cel. usto er focused e or ani ed and results-oriented.

•Excellent interpersonal skills.

•Effective and professional communication skills.

•Valid drivers’ license.

Preferred attributes: •Bachelor’s degree in Business or re ated fie d dditiona e erience sufficient to successfu erfor the essential functions of the job may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. erience in conductin us eet hea ehic e eet or industria achine maintenance analysis.

•Vocational training in mechanical/ electrical-electronic equipment and systems.

•Statistical process control knowledge.

•Knowledge of business practices related to the purchasing of equipent ateria s and ser ices required for vehicle and/or machinery maintenance.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and enefits ac a e nterested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Inez Colon Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 IColon@portauthority.org EOE

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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Help Wanted

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FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR

The Allegheny County Airport Authority Airport has an opening for a Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Complete information about this position is available at http:// www.flypittsburgh.com/ACAA_ employment The advertisement period ends on u The Allegheny County Airport Authority offers a competitive compensation package.

EOE / M / F / D / V.

IMANI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

seeks eligible candidates for the positions of: Kindergarten Teacher Middle School Math Teacher Middle School Science Teacher Middle School Social Studies Teacher Middle School English Teacher High School Social Studies Teacher Secondary Theology Teacher o e e and areer uidance Counselor Part Time Cafeteria Worker Application Deadline: July 20, 2017 For additional information contact Ms. Stein at: jstein@imani pgh.org or 412-731-7982 LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

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NOTICE

isca ear throu h ort uthorit of e hen County proposes to implement the following goal for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) ro ra for the eriod cto er throu h e te er as follows: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation goal is 14.985 percent of federal contract opportunities will go to Disadvantaged usiness nter rise fir s race conscious goal of 13.945 percent and a race neutral goal of 1.04 percent will be tracked to make up the overall 14.985 percent.

A description of how the goal was calculated is available for inspection a oint ent unti u et een the hours of to in the office of a ei i ia s ro ra ana er Diverse and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Port Authority of Allegheny County 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Port Authority will accept coments to this oa unti u at oon ddress a co ments to Ms. Cameil D. Williams ro ra ana er i erse and Disadvantaged Business Enterrise at the a o e address

PROFESSIONAL

cono ic de e o ent or ani ationa is re uestin ua ifications from: Environmental Assessment Firms ua ifications re ati e to the following should be discussed: conducting Phase I ESA’s accordin to s re uire ents developing and implementing Sampling and Analysis Plans and ua it ssurance ro ect ans conducting site assessments in accordance ith ct conductin site characteri ations re ati e for stora e tan s or in in a team environment with the EPA’s o unit ide ro nfie ds ssess ent rant eetin oa s for inorit o an eterans and o ned usinesses Economic Development/Real Estate Firms ua ifications re ative to the following should be discussed in entor in rea estate or in ith ro ert o ners rede e o ent annin ana in the U.S. EPA’s Community-Wide ssess ent rant ac a in other econo ic incenti e ro ra s or in in a tea en iron ent assistance in securing women and minority participation. NSIDC, 700 River Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. RFQs due July 22, 2017

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NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

u City of Pittsburgh-Dept. of City Planning Ross treet 2nd Floor itts ur h a

This notice shall satisfy procedural requirements for activities to be underta en the it of itts ur h the r an Rede e o ent uthorit of Pittsburgh (URA) and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP).

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS n or a out u the it of itts ur h it i su it a re uest to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of following federal funds for the construction of a new park in the ari er ast i ert hoice ei h orhoods e entation rant program area and for the disposition of vacant land owned by Housing uthorit of the it of itts ur h oc ot o and that i e art of the ne ar a hoice ei h orhoods rant unds ursuant to ection of the ct as a ended the onso idated and urther ontinuin ro riations ct o unit e e o ent oc rant funds c edera and and Water Conservation Funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Conser ation and atura Resources and d o in to or Funds and Program Income Funds. The proposed park will be adjacent to the CNI Larimer/East Liberty Phase I housing development in the Larimer / East Liberty neighborhoods of the City of Pittsburgh. The completed hase housin de e o ent consists of residentia units he ari er ast i ert hase de e o ent consistin of units i c ose on construction financin so eti e in fa and e co eted ithin a ro i ate onths fro the co ence ent of the construction Future CNI housing developments are planned for the Larimer neighborhood. he ro osed ar i e ocated on an a ro i ate acre site surrounding the Phase I residential housing. The park will be constructed on e istin acant and ocated at the corner of tation treet ari er enue and a ida ri e he arce s are oc and ots and arious o ortunities for outdoor recreation i e constructed within the park including playground equipment and open space. The new park will include the highest standards in sustainability and storm water management.

The proposed park will be an important gateway between the Larimer and ast i ert nei h orhoods he ar i direct enefit residents of the East Liberty and Larimer neighborhoods as well as other surrounding neighborhoods. he edera fundin sources are hoice ei h orhood nitiati e funds o unit e e o ent oc rant funds and edera and and ater Conservation Funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. HACP will use MTW and/or program income funds for any potential costs associated with disposition of the aforementioned vacant land currently owned by HACP. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will have no significant i act on the hu an en iron ent herefore an n iron enta act tate ent under the ationa n iron enta o ic ct of (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the n iron enta Re ie Record RR on fi e at Ross treet oor itts ur h a and a e e a ined or co ied ee da s fro a to PUBLIC COMMENTS n indi idua rou or a enc a su it ritten co ents on the ERR to: Mike Petrucci City of Pittsburgh, 200 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2211 co ents recei ed u i e considered the it of itts ur h rior to authori in su ission of a re uest for re ease of funds Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION he it of itts ur h certifies to that i ia eduto in his ca acit as a or it of itts ur h consents to acce t the urisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have een satisfied s a ro a of the certification satisfies its res onsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Urban Redevelopment Authority to use development funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a eriod of fifteen da s fo o in the antici ated su ission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the fo o in ases a the certification as not e ecuted the ertif in fficer of the it of itts ur h the it of itts ur h has o itted a ste or fai ed to a e a decision or findin re uired re u ations at R art c the rant reci ient or other artici ants in the de e o ent rocess ha e co itted funds incurred costs or underta en acti ities not authori ed R art efore a ro a of a re ease of funds or d another edera a enc actin ursuant to R art has su itted a ritten findin that the ro ect is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be re ared and su itted in accordance ith the re uired rocedures R art ec and sha e addressed to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Division The Moorhead Federal Building Liberty e t r Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

William Peduto Mayor City of Pittsburgh

Estate of MR. NORMAN R. BRONOWICZ, deceased of eifried ane itts ur h state o s nne ichter ea er ri e ensha ecutri c o a e d an ttorne t a ifth enue orao o is

Estate of JOANNE B. OSTERGAARD, eceased er t air orou h enns ania o of ae ster aard ecutor isenho er r itts ur h or to R R tt R R ashin ton enue rid e i e

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CLASSIFIEDS

JULY 12-18, 2017

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Estate of ADELINA C. CASTILLO, Deceased, of Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, No. 02747 of 2017. Blanca E. Castillo and Julius A. Castillo, Executors, 13566 Waterford Hills Blvd., Germantown, MD 20874 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of GARY W. GRINGEL, Deceased, of Ohio Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. No. 02-17-03644. Robin L. Rarie, Esq., Administrator. BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of DONNA MAY MANCO MARTIN, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania No. 02-17-02901 Clayton S. Morrow, Atty; Morrow & Artim, P.C., 304 Ross St., 7th Foor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Estate of ROBERT L. WARD, III, Deceased, of 26th Ward, City of Pittsburgh, No. 02847 of 2017. Katrina N. Davic, 439 E. Burgess Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Exec., or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Attys, Ste. 100, 908 Perry Hwy., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

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NOTICE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

Notice is hereby given that the following amendments are being made to the 2017 budget of the City of Pittsburgh’s Community Development Block Grant Program: PROJECT

YEAR

ORIGINAL AMOUNT

NEW AMOUNT

CHANGE +/-

ACTIVITY

SERVICE AREA

Paulson Spray Park

2017

$0.00

$189,743.00 $189,743.00

Public Service

East Liberty

Tree of Hope

2017

$2,500.00

$15,000.00

$17,500.00

Public Service

East Liberty

East Hill Field

2017

$0.00

$20,000.00

$20,000.00

Public Service

East Hills

Larimer Courts

2017

$0.00

$30,000.00

$30,000.00

Public Service

Larimer

The City of Pittsburgh is requesting comments on its proposed use of Community Development Block Grant funds and on the City’s past CDBG performance. Comments may be sent to: Michael Petrucci Assistant Director for Community Development Department of City Planning 200 Ross Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 It is requested that comments be received no later than Friday, August 11, 2017.

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT Port Authority of Allegheny County REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 17-11

Port Authority of Allegheny County is requesting proposals for the performance of the following service: HOSTED INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SERVICES The work under the proposed Agreement consists of providing for a fully-managed and hosted multi-channel Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service to augment its existing customer service call center. This would include, but is not limited to: design, integration, testing and implementation required for a turn-key service.

A copy of the RFP will be available on or after July 06, 2017, and can be obtained by registering at the Port Authority ebusiness website: http://ebusiness.portauthority. org and following the directions listed on the website. Please note that Proposers must register under the ebusiness category of PSIVR – Pro Interactive Voice Response for this RFP. Proposers may also register in other categories for any future RFPs issued by Port Authority. If ou ha e s ecific uestions re arding this RFP, please contact Catherine Terrill at (412) 566-5188.

An Information Meeting for interested parties will be held at 9:30 a.m., prevailing time, July 21, 2017 in the Fifth Floor Board Room of Port Authority of Allegheny County’s downto n offices i th enue to answer any questions regarding this RFP. Hard copy proposals must be both delivered to, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, August 08, 2017, at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527. Proposals received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of proposals shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Proposer shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein.

This Contract Services may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The proposal process and the performance of the requested services will be in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, require that certified i erse usinesses (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for these Contract Services. In this regard, all Proposers shall make good faith efforts in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts.

Proposers shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for these Contract Services.

Port Authority of Allegheny County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Replication of the Evidence-Informed YVLifeSet Model for Foster Youth Transitioning to Adulthood. Proposals are due by: 3 p.m. Eastern Time on August 4, 2017.

For more details and submission information, visit: www.alleghenycounty.us/ Human-Services/Resources/ Doing-Business/Solicitations(RFP/RFQ/RFI).aspx.

Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR

Group Term Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and Group Long Term Disability (LTD) Benefits RFP #650-19-17 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests ro osa s fro ua ified ir s or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Group Term Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and Group Long Term Disability (LTD) Benefits RFP #650-19-17 The documents will be available no later than July 3, 2017 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 A.M., July 21, 2017 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 200 Ross Street, 1st Floor, HR Training Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 July 13, 2017 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified inorit usiness enter rises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/ Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

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Pick up your Courier at these locations NORTH SIDE LOCATIONS NORTH SIDE BEER AND BEVERAGE 1304 Federal St. 7-11 1001 Western Ave. RICHEY’S BARBER SHOP 1207 N. Franklin St. NORTH SIDE VALERO 820 Pennsylvania Ave. RITE AID 802 Pennsylvania Ave. MARSHALL SHELL 1500 Spring Garden Ave. SWINKO’S MARKET 2535 Perrysville Ave. MERCY STREET EXPRESS 6 Mercy St. HARV’S EXXON 2501 Brighton Rd. QUICK SCHWARTZ 3235 Brighton Rd. HANINI MARKET 3245 Brighton Rd.

Monroeville WILLIAM PENN SHOP 132 North Highland Ave., East Liberty

SOUTH SIDE LOCATIONS KEN’S MARKET 216 Beltzhoover Ave. Daily Mart 1125 Arlington Ave. SHOP N’ SAVE Brownsville Rd., Carrick

WOOD STREET 7-11 429 Wood St. NEWSTAND Sixth and Wood ONE STOP 300 Sixth & Wood

WEST END LOCATIONS CRAFTON BEVERAGE 15 Foster Ave., Crafton/ Ingram Shopping Center SHEETZ 5400 Campbells Run Rd. SHOP N SAVE 2103 Noblestown Rd.

OTHER DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS INCLUDE...

KWIK-E-MART 212 Tenth St. 7-11 643 Liberty Ave. ESTER’S SNAX Federal Building, Second Floor FABER COE & GREGG Fifth Ave. Place, First Floor EXTRA EXTRA NEWS 413 Seventh Ave. UTSAV NEWS 400 Cherry Way C&C NEWS 2 PPG Place EDDIE’S SNACKS 262 Fifth Ave. BIG DADDY 465 Forbes Ave.

HILL DISTRICT LOCATIONS SHOP N’ SAVE 1850 Centre Ave. WONG’S MARKET 2170 Centre Ave. ANN’S MARKET 2316 Webster Ave. A-PLUS MINI MARKET 2350 Centre Ave. UJAMMA BOUTIQUE 1901 Centre Ave. K LEROY IRVIS TOWERS 715 Mercer St. ABE’S MARKET 1860 Centre Ave. WYLIE TOBACCO 2152 Wylie Ave. POPULAR EAST END LOCATIONS GETGO 4924 Baum Blvd.

BP GAS STATION 11835 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills PUFF’S DISCOUNT TOBACCO 10991 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills SHOP N’ SAVE 3335 William Penn Hwy, near Monroeville Mall GETGO 10525 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills CVS PHARMACY 10600 Frankstown Rd., Penn Hills SHELL GAS STATION 7619 Baum Blvd., Shadyside STANTON NEGLEY DRUG 804 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park UNIMART 5724 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside SHELL GAS STATION 6701 Frankstown Rd., East Hills SQUIRREL HILL NEWS 5804 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill MURRAY AVE. NEWS 2024 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill PUFF’S DISCOUNT TOBACCO 234 Yost Blvd., Braddock Hills DORSEY’S RECORDS 7614 Frankstown Ave., Homewood HOMEWOOD MARKET 7201 Frankstown Ave., Homewood SHEETZ 3457 William Penn Hwy.,

SMOKE

DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS PENN AVENUE 7-11 (Sixth and Penn) Koppers Building (Ninth and Penn) NEWS-NUMBERS 136 Penn Avenue SMITHFIELD NEWS 115 Smithfield St. 7-11 SMITHFIELD 420 Smithfield St. FABER COE & GREGG 500 Grant St. FABER COE & GREGG 600 Grant St. NIELSEN’S STORES One Oxford Centre, Grant St.

GIANT EAGLE (18 Pittsburgh Locations) 6320 Shakespeare St., East Liberty (EAST, near BUSWAY) 4004 Monroeville Blvd., Monroeville (MONROEVILLE MALL) 230 Rodi Rd., Penn Hills (EAST inside Penn Hills Shopping Center) 9001 Frankstown Road. (EAST, corner of Frankstown and Verona Rd.) 550 Centre Ave., Shadyside (EAST, Market District) 3812 O’Neill Blvd., McKeesport (SOUTHEAST) 1356 Hoffman Blvd., West Mifflin (NEAR KENNYWOOD) 1901 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill (EAST) 1005 Freeport Road, Waterworks Mall (NEAR FOX CHAPEL) 4250 Murray Ave., Greenfield (EAST) 254 Yost Blvd., Forest Hills/ Braddock Hills (SOUTH EAST) 1705 S. Braddock Ave., Edgewood Towne Center (EAST) 420 East Waterfront Dr., Homestead (SOUTHEAST) 4680 Old William Penn Hwy, Ames Plaza, Route 22 (NEAR MURRYSVILLE) 2021 Wharton Ave. (SOUTH SIDE FLATS) 318 Cedar Ave., North Side (NORTH near E. OHIO ST.) Crafton/Ingram Shopping Center, 51 Walsh Road (WEST END) Parkway Center Mall, 1165 McKinney Lane (WEST END)

SPORTS New Pittsburgh Courier

B7

JULY 12-18, 2017

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Rod Rutherford named head football coach at Perry Former Perry Traditional Academy and Pitt star quarterback Rod Rutherford has been named the new head football coach at Perry, according to information obtained by the New Pittsburgh Courier.

Perry helped lead the Commodores to the 1997 PIAA Class 3A Championship game, and still holds the single-season passing yards record at Pitt with 3,679 in 2003.

Rutherford finished his career at Pitt with 6,724 passing yards, 60 touchdowns and a 54.4 completion percentage.

ROD RUTHERFORD, shown here as a quarterback for Pitt. (Photo

by Will McBride)

ROD RUTHERFORD

The story behind beloved sportscaster Stan Savran

by Aubrey Bruce

Arrived in Pittsburgh at age 28 and still going strong

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Stan Savran entered this world as Stanley George Savransky on Feb. 25, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, that Cleveland, Ohio.

The broadcasting icon worked for the old KBL, then Fox Sports Pittsburgh, hosted “Sportsbeat” with Guy Junker for over 17 years…who can forget, “Stan, Guy, Love the Show!”

When the show was canceled in 2009, it went down as the longest running sports show in Pittsburgh television history.

But the beat never stops for Savran. He remains on television in a number of capacities, hosting the Mike Tomlin Press Conference, the Mike Tomlin Show, and airs his opinions each weekday from noon to 2 p.m. on ESPN Pittsburgh (970-AM).

Prior to writing this story, the first thing that hit me was that he was born and raised in…Cleveland.

One of Pittsburgh’s most despised and passionate rivals, though I believe Baltimore is the team and city we here hate the most these days.

After a hearty laugh about that tidbit of sports history, Stan told me, “When I came out of college, I had worked in a few different places. I worked in places such as Willoughby, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland not too far from where I grew up.

Even though I was young,

Inside Conditions

AUBREY BRUCE at that point I’d also had a pretty extensive career.

I did Ohio State University football play-by-play when I was 24. I worked in Oklahoma for a year and a half and I worked in Orlando for three years. Even though those jobs didn’t pay a lot, they were good for me developmentally.

For example, take Oklahoma. I had to do disc jockey work, I had to sell advertising, I had to read the news and I had to do sports, high school football and basketball play-by-play. I even did some baseball. This was not during the depression, this was in 1969. When I worked in Willoughby, I made $70 a week. When I went to Oklahoma, I made $100 a week.

“After I arrived in Orlando, I was looking to make a move up. There used to be a magazine called ‘Broad-

casting Magazine.’ It had all kinds of industry articles and news and in the back of the magazine there was a classified section. So if you were looking for a job in broadcasting and a television or a radio station was looking for someone you would go to that section.

The magazine was published weekly and I used to get it every week. One week, I saw this ad about a job. You would send your resume to this blind (P.O.) box in (Washington) D.C. I also didn’t want my boss to know that I was looking for another job. The ad said, ‘Major Northeastern market looking for sports announcer/ sports commentator, apply.’

So I sent in my resume and my tape and about two days later I heard back from the radio station, and I knew that they must have had interest or they would not have responded so quickly. Again, the ad just said ‘major Northeastern market’ and I never considered Pittsburgh because as far as I was concerned, Pittsburgh may have been major but it was not Northeastern.

Savran said to me, “Where is this? Philly, New York or Boston? So I was surprised when it was Pittsburgh only because of the geography. So the guy said, ‘We really liked your tape and we’d like to fly you up here for an interview,’ which they did the following week. After I arrived, I auditioned, they had me rewrite some copy and do

a five minute sportscast as well, even though they already had my tape. I did that and I was there for two days and at the end of the second day the big boss called and said, ‘We really like your work we’d like to hire you.’”

So, at the age of 28, the journey train of Stanley George Savransky, which had begun in the Buckeye State, made a stop in Pittsburgh and has yet to pull out of the station.

When it comes to the internet’s production of current “major sports gurus” gaining fortunes and fame, most of the time with very little or no experience at all, Savran does not use or waste much energy criticizing or analyzing their methods or their craft.

“Well, I look at what the bloggers and writers do as different from what I do because they’re writers and I’m a broadcaster. Although I wrote for the Post-Gazette for 12 years, blogging is a different medium at a different time. FM radio was not that big a deal when I started out. There were only three channels on TV, maybe four if you included a UHF station near your town. Now if I can mix apples with apples, I think that there are a lot of kids who are coming out of college with broadcasting degrees (and it’s not all their fault) who have not paid any dues. I don’t think they’re prepared to work in a major market like this one.”

STAN SAVRAN Savran continued, “Anyone can walk up to me and say, ‘I have a blog,’ but bloggers don’t have instant credibility. I mean, my grandma can blog but that doesn’t mean anything to me. If you’re good at it then by all means.”

Savran obviously pulled no punches. “Some of these kids come out of college and they major in being TV announcers. They major in being on TV, so when they get their first job, employers tell them, ‘Well, we are going to use you as a weatherman, or as a news reporter or a news anchor or a sports guy. I majored in sportscasting. I did other things but I learned my craft, first in radio and then in TV. These kids today are trained to be TV personalities, it doesn’t matter what particular job that they have, they’re just

trained how to perform on television. People often ask me how long I have been preparing for this job. I say for over 65 years. When I was 4 years old, I was in love with sports. That’s all I would think about. (Along the way) I had to learn some of the stuff that you had to do to get on radio and TV but my sports broadcasting foundation was based on extreme interest, a lot of preparation and a serious work ethic. As far as my work ethic is concerned, no school could teach me that.

I learned that from my parents.”

In next week’s July 19 edition, I’ll continue with Savran, including some comments from him you do not want to miss.

(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741.)

John Witherspoon is THE funniest, and stop blaming Venus Williams!

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—Listen…To…Me...

When I tell you I’ve never laughed so hard in my entire life, I mean never, never, never ever. And I’ve seen them all. Moms Mabley, Richard Pryor, Andrew Dice Clay, Eddie Murphy, Bill (I didn’t do it!) Cosby and Chris Rock.

Ladies and gents, John Witherspoon is the funniest man alive. I’m talking 90 minutes of in your face, raw, no-holds-barred stuff.

Bang Bang Bang! Do not miss him the next time he comes to town. :09—Here’s the thing about having a lot of money.

It can get you whatever you want, but it can also get you stuff you don’t want. Like unwanted attention. EVER-Y-BOD-Y on this side of right and wrong knows Venus Williams did noth-

ing wrong except be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After reviewing the tapes, it’s clear she was not at fault, but you know once her name and fame was known, someone was going to try and get paid! :08—As amazed as you are with the Pirates lighting up the scoreboard Sunday against the Cubs (14-3 win on July 9), or for that matter over their 5-2 winning road trip, go back to what ole Uncle Bill told ya at the start of the season.

The bats are not the problem. Was not then and is not now. The name of the game in baseball is pitching and if you can’t shut the opposition down, you lose. It really is that simple. We need shut down pitchin’ to go with these bats. :07—Speaking of Name of the Game, and I just was if you were paying attention,

ARMEN GILLIAM remember the good ole days, and they really were because we had a bunch of quality spots to go to and they were trouble-free.

Let’s take a walk…“Name of the Game,” “Crazy Quilt,” “The Pyramid,” “Heaven” (Black Heaven & White

Heaven), “2001,” “Stanley’s,” “Ramsey’s II,” “Judy’s Banquet Hall,” and of course “Too Sweet’s.” Mano-Man, those were the days. :06—Now I am going to give you this list one more time. I got harassed at a cookout over the Fourth of July holiday so here we go again…and maybe for the last time. Here are the Top 10 greatest dunkers in City League/summertime basketball (of course from my eyes only.) No. 1, Nathan “Sonny” Lewis.

No. 2, Myron Brown. No. 3, Morrie “Skylab” Cox. No.4, Steve Snyder. No. 5, John Farley. No. 6, Darrin “Skywalker” Walls. No. 7, Robert “Jeep” Kelly. No. 8, Dougie Johnson. No. 9, Darrin Pondexter. No. 10, Will Herndon. Talk to me!!! 412-628-4856. :05—In two weeks, the real party starts. Your Pittsburgh Steelers go to

camp and with the best two receivers in football. :04—Not a lot of noise here, “Just Do It!” Pull out or pull up Issac Hayes’ Shaft, but not Shaft. Listen to “Soulsville.” Oh my goodness, wait and see how good it makes you feel. Matter of fact, you probably feel it now. :03—Here’s what “Big Ed” out in Wilkinsburg told me, so you know it’s true. Next year, LeBron is gone. And gone means the Lakers.

How does Ed know this to be true? Because Ed said LeBron’s wife said… “We out!” :02—I know many of you are ready to trade in your Pitt season basketball tickets. Let’s hold on just a minute. The program has managed to recruit some decent players in the midnight hour. Let’s wait and see what happens given that everybody but Ryan

Luther left, they have nowhere to go but up! :01—Pictured in this column is one of Pittsburgh’s greatest of all-time. The late, great Armen “The Hammer” Gilliam. One of the NBA’s all-time great power forwards. What you need to know is his basketball camp is coming August 5 and 6 at the Penn Hills YMCA, for boys and girls ages 8-16. Includes lunch, T-shirt, supervision, games, and lots of “hard work.” Sign up today. Space is limited. Call Achieving Greatness at 412-628-4856. :00—A shoutout to my new best friends Nazzera, Teneia, and Knyondra!!!

Ladies, loved almost having lunch with you and enjoyed the conversation. You are now officially “In the Locker Room!” Hey girl, be safe in Carolina! ~ GAME OVER ~

B8

JULY 12-18, 2017

PEOPLE

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