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Volume 89 • Issue 36
The Gray Impact: Atlanta and Beyond
April 13-19, 2017
April 13-19, 2017
COVER STORY
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Servant leadership defined: How Todd Gray is making a difference With a passion for community and youth, it is easy to recognize Todd’s passion for servant leadership to the community. “It’s important I have the ability to make the community aware of The Gray Impact and other organizations who make meaningful change within the community. It’s my intent to enlist, encourage, and inspire others to join my efforts. It’s not hard to make a meaningful impact if you have a desire,” Todd concludes. For more information visit www.thegrayimpact.org
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By Lorraine Cochran-Johnson In an era where many people are left in dismay by the multitude of issues facing their communities, metro Atlanta native Todd Gray has expanded his platform beyond his work in diversity and risen to the call of service few answer. Driven by a desire to help others achieve social and economic equity, Todd is redefining service as he steps outside the shadows of corporate America onto the front-line of change with The Gray Impact, a community initiative is dedicated to civic and human service. “The Gray Impact was created to address everything from community and politics to economic development. I saw a need and I wanted to develop an organization that is an agent of change. There is a huge need for concerned citizens to mobilize to improve their communities and the lives of those around them. At the end of the day, we either succeed or fail together, according to Todd.” With a mission to educate, empower, and improve, Todd partners with purpose-driven organization from across the United States to build awareness of resources and opportunities for both community and self-improvement. Working tirelessly from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., The Gray Impact recently partnered with Gilbert Campbell III, co-founder of Volt Energy, a minority owned solar development firm to teach metro Atlanta students about the importance of diverse owned businesses and how they can take charge of their own destiny and impact their community. Through The Gray Impact children were shown a solar operation near the Howard University campus. According to Gilbert Campbell III, “The Gray Impact allowed students to experience the future of technology and better understand the economic and environmental impact solar energy has through their handson visit. It is important both students and adults understand the possibilities around them and how their decisions affect future generations.” To better understand Todd and his passion, it’s important to understand his background. As Director of Supplier Diversity for Grady Health System, Todd is responsible for sourcing, contract
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management, implementation and facilitation of Supplier Diversity for the seventh largest public health system in the United States, where he has a strong commitment to the inclusion of diverse suppliers in their supply chain and purchasing. Prior to joining Grady, Todd served as Supplier Diversity Manager for CVS Caremark; and, Assistant Vice President of Wachovia and Wells Fargo Corporate Supplier Diversity. It is this background that has fueled his desire to ensure people everywhere have equal access to resources, opportunities, and education as the key to improving the world – one persona at a time. Beyond, The Gray Impact, Todd is an active participant in countless civic and state level initiatives impacting diversity and community. He is vice chair of Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council and serves on the Business Opportunity Committee of the Atlanta Business League. Over the last decade, he has served as a mentor through the State of Georgia’s Mentor/Protégé Program for small business development and supported youth minority entrepreneurship through his partnership with the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance Construction Skills Development Institute. He also serves on the board of the YMCA and was recently appointed to the Ethics Board of the City of Atlanta. Prior to mobilizing his efforts, Todd also founded an Atlanta community youth development initiative for young men ages 12-17 called P.O.L.I.S.H.E.D. to help young men develop life, social and community involvement skills through ongoing tutoring and mentorship. Additionally, Todd points to the importance of alliances that expand one’s support base beyond the limits of an individual, when he reflects upon his participation in the 100 Black Men, where he is actively involved in the Leadership Academy, a vehicle by which youth are taught the importance of civic, social, and individual responsibility.
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NEWS Mayor Reed stops construction work during ACLU files suit for civil rights protections I-85 bridge reconstruction for LGBT employees
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ADW Reports
ATLANTA – The City of Atlanta today announced that Mayor Kasim Reed has issued an executive order temporarily suspending non-emergency construction activity while the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) makes repairs to the impacted sections of Interstate 85. The City is working in close collaboration with GDOT, the lead response agency, to implement multiple strategies to mitigate traffic congestion and preserve access for first responders and to hospitals. The order suspends work between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, throughout the Impact Mitigation Corridor, which extends from downtown Atlanta to the northern city limits, east to Moreland Avenue and west to US-41/Northside Drive. The City will not accept any new construction permits before April 17, 2017, to further mitigate the impact of construction activity on traffic congestion. “Temporarily suspending construction activities during reconstruction of Interstate 85 makes sense and is the right decision to help
April 13-19, 2017
ease traffic congestion,” said Mayor Reed. “While our partners at GDOT do the essential work of rebuilding the I-85 bridge, we are taking multiple measures to ensure people can make it to work or school on time, and can enjoy their time in our city.” The City’s top priority throughout the reconstruction period is ensuring access for first responders and to hospitals. As motorists look for different routes to commute to work and school, the City has also prohibited non-local traffic in certain areas. The City also encourages residents, visitors and public employees to consider tele-commuting or taking transit, such as MARTA and the Atlanta Streetcar, whenever possible. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have announced discounts for customers traveling to and from MARTA stations. For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed.
MARTA adds 1,200 additional parking spaces to ease Monday commuter woes ADW reports Weekend Single-Tracking Service Makes Way for Rail Maintenance and Wi-Fi Technology Upgrade Ahead of Monday Commute Anticipating a surge in ridership this Monday, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced plans to expand parking lots at five high-traffic stations, adding 1,200 new parking spots. Chamblee, King Memorial, Brookhaven/ Oglethorpe, Kensington and East Point MARTA stations will offer additional parking spaces available for morning commuters. The new spaces will become available at the five station on Monday, April 10, 2017. “Next week will serve as a clear test as we welcome back many of our regular customers as well as many first-time MARTA riders,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Keith T. Parker. “We look forward to rising to the occasion as we remain committed to providing safe, cost-efficient transportation.” MARTA Police Department will have an increased presence around the expanded parking lots while reassigned MARTA staff will be at designated locations to assist first-time customers. “As the Authority continues to make the necessary adjustments to meet the demand of transit service in the coming weeks, we are also increasing our police and security presence to reassure our riders of our commitment to public safety as well as transportation,” Parker said. The Authority continues to work with businesses and organizations with parking lot availability to further expand capacity to stations throughout the system. MARTA strongly encourages riders to take advantage of ride sharing services, carpool or use designated Kiss/ Ride lanes. MARTA buses offer free transfers at
By Channing Grate The ACLU of Georgia and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief on arguing that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act clearly prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The brief, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, supports Plaintiff Jameka Evans’ request for a re-hearing in the case of Evans v. Georgia Regional Hospital, in which Evans, a lesbian employee, sued her employer for harassment in violation of Title VII. “The ACLU has long fought to end workplace discrimination in all of its forms, because no one should be fired from a job or harassed at work just for being themselves,” said ACLU of Georgia Executive Director Andrea Young. “Bias against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people turns on the sex-based expectation that women should be attracted only to men - and not women - and vice versa. Employers who take sexual orientation into account necessarily take sex into account - and sex discrimination in the workplace is clearly prohibited under the Civil Rights Act.” On March 10, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit, basing its decision on precedent that has been called into question by more recent Su-
preme Court rulings, held that the discrimination based on sexual orientation was not actionable under Title VII. Evans has filed a Petition for Rehearing en banc, asking that all of the judges of the 11th Circuit hear arguments on whether sexual orientation discrimination is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII. The ACLU of Georgia supports Evans’ petition because, as recent court rulings explain, Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination protects all employees, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Employers who take sexual orientation into account necessarily take sex into account, because sexual orientation is defined by one’s sex in relation to the sex of the people to whom one is attracted. The other organizations that signed onto the ACLU’s amicus brief in support of the petition include: 9to5, National Association of Working Women; A Better Balance; California Women’s Law Center; Coalition of Labor Union Women; Equal Rights Advocates; Gender Justice; Legal Voice; National Association of Women Lawyers; National Organization for Women Foundation; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women’s Law Center; Southwest Women’s Law Center; Women Employed; Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.; and Women’s Law Project.
rail stations and every vehicle is equipped with a bicycle rack. Additional updates will be announced as they become available. Customers can visit www.itsmarta.com/parking for real-time MARTA station parking capacity updates, Monday through Friday, 6-10 a.m. for ten of the busiest parking facilities. SINGLE-TRACKING MAKES WAY FOR RAIL AND TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES MARTA will deploy single-tracking April 8-9 as the system makes scheduled rail maintenance and technology enhancements. Customers can expect weekend rail service to arrive in 20-24 minute intervals on north and south lines. “Utilizing single-tracking service allows MARTA to perform periodic maintenance and upkeep to our rail line while also providing an opportunity to upgrade our technology in the process,” said Parker. “MARTA is extremely excited about the advancements we are making to enhance our ridership experience with the addition of Wi-Fi service throughout our rail system.” ADDITIONAL MARTA PARKING • Chamblee 75 • King Memorial 400 • Brookhaven/Oglethorpe 175 • Kensington 385 • East Point 168 UNDERUTILIZED MARTA PARKING LOTS AND DECKS • Lenox Station Garage • Lindbergh Center: Garson and City Center Decks • Lakewood/Ft. McPherson Station: East Lots • Park and ride lots: Barge Road, Mansell Road, South Fulton (Union City) and Windward Parkway
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COMMUNITY
April 13-19, 2017
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Bank of America partners with United Way for child well-being ADW reports Research recently shared by United Way of Greater Atlanta and community partners found that nearly 500,000 youth across the Greater Atlanta region live in low well-being neighborhoods – with some of the highest rates of poverty and lowest rates of economic mobility of any region in the country. United Way of Greater Atlanta and Bank of America recently announced a Day of Action: a partnership with the United Way dedicating Bank of America employee volunteers to 12 United Way partner agencies at 14 locations across Greater Atlanta. Bank volunteers from across the region will dedicate hundreds of hours of time, stepping up as one of the first corporate partners to support United Way’s Campaign for Child Well-Being. “Too many individuals living on the margins are limited by their zip codes and unable to create a better life for themselves and their families through good jobs or affordable housing. That’s why we’re focused on building pathways to economic mobility by addressing the issues of workforce development, education, housing and community development,” said Wendy Stewart, Atlanta market president, Bank of America. “Through our partnership with United Way and the power of our employee volunteers, we’re working to create a thriving economy in Atlanta and a better future for us all.” Hundreds of volunteers will participate in The Bank of America Day of Action in projects with 12 United Way agency partners including: Action Ministries, the American Red Cross, Back on My Feet, Easter Seals, Gateway Homeless Shelter, LaAmistad, LostN-Found, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Open Hand, Prestigious Purse Inc., and Salvation Army Red Shield. The Campaign for Child Well-Being has substantial 10year goals including improving the overall well-being of 250,000 children across the region. A key imperative to
the success of this campaign is to increase volunteerism threefold. Bank of America’s volunteer commitment on the Day of Action is making significant strides towards this goal. “We know that communities cannot thrive unless children thrive,” said Milton J. Little, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta. “We are grateful for partners like Bank of America that share our vision for a community where all children, individuals, families and communities can thrive, regardless of zip code.”
Hosea Helps partners with Popeyes for final farewell Fellowship Festival on Easter As the West End Community blossoms with the promise of spring time growth, Hosea Helps, a longtime pillar for the community, bids a final farewell to the building that has housed the organization for 20 years as they prepare to move to a yet unknown location. On Easter Sunday, April 16, Hosea Helps will host the last major festival from their current headquarters location at 1035 Donnelly Ave. The recent sale of the warehouse that Hosea has leased for the past 20 years has the non-profit looking for new warehouse space. In spite of the uncertainty of where they will relocate, the almost 50-year-old organization remains steadfast and faithful. Even as they are packing for the move, they are continuing Rev. Hosea Williams’ legacy with the mission of providing much needed services to the community. In addition to the huge Easter event, Hosea is increasing services through its “Food On the Move” project that mobilizes food and services by taking them directly to those in need in some of Georgia’s poorest communities, where one out of 7 children are living in hunger and poverty. The annual Easter Celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hosea Helps Care Center. Hosea Helps has partnered with Popeyes to provide a full course meal of blackened chicken tenders, red beans and rice, cole slaw, biscuits and desserts at no cost to all event attendees. The organization will also continue to provide traditional services including haircuts for boys and men, natural hair braiding for girls and women, Sunday Best (for children of all ages), summer clothing, medical care, Kid’s Korner ac-
tivities, live entertainment, and fresh produce. They will also provide on-site benefits assistance to help stabilize families in need through the following services: Food Stamps, WIC, PeachCare, Medicare, Medicaid and more. The entire Atlanta community is invited to come out and be a part of this farewell celebration. “God has taught us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We are continuing the work that he has called us to do and we believe that in this season of rebirth and restoration that God is going to move in a mighty way on our behalf. We have to have that kind of faith. God knows the work that we do for HIS people. He will not leave us nor forsake us. We just have to hold on and trust that help is on the way,” said Hosea Helps CEO, Elisabeth Omilami. Items that are still needed in order to make the Easter Block Party a success include: Easter baskets, clean (new or gently worn) summer clothing and Easter dresses and suits, hair braiders, barbers, face painters, balloon artists, buses, vans, and shuttle services to help transport those in need from local shelters, orphanages, senior centers and underprivileged neighborhoods. For details regarding the 2017 Easter Celebration and to find out how you can get involved, please call Hosea Helps at 404755-3353. To join in the fight against poverty, go to www.4hosea. org .To volunteer register at https://4hosea.volunteermatrix.com.
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April 13-19, 2017
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April 13-19, 2017
BUSINESS
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PNC Foundation and DonorsChoose.org team up to fund Pre-K requests for resources The PNC Foundation recently funded hundreds of pre-K classroom requests as part of a new $5 million grant to DonorsChoose.org to provide teachers with enhanced classroom resources and experiences to inspire their students’ love of learning. The foundation’s donation of $504,000 flash funded 849 projects in public and charter pre-K classrooms in 22 states and Washington, D.C. where The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. conducts business. The PNC Foundation entered the grant-funded alliance to further the mission of PNC Grow Up Great®, a $350 million, multi-year bilingual initiative in early childhood education. The PNC Foundation’s gift to support pre-K classrooms also enables DonorsChoose.org to expand its education funding platform to include project requests from Head Start teachers for the first time. DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that connects individual donors with classrooms in need, and this is the first expansion to reach a new audience of teachers in DonorsChoose.org’s 17-year history. “We’re thrilled to be a part of PNC’s longstanding commitment to early childhood learning,” said Charles Best, DonorsChoose.org founder. “Their generosity will help us expand the DonorsChoose.org platform to serve Head Start classrooms nationwide, ensuring that
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many more pre-K teachers have resources they need to give their students a solid educational foundation.” Teacher requests for educational resources range from books to art supplies, science equipment, field trips and more, according to DonorsChoose.org. Frequent requests include technology and visits from specialized educators. A recent study conducted by the National Head Start Association showed that 94 percent of teachers say they need more resources to enrich the classroom, but 84 percent say they are unable to fund experiences they want to provide. The study also noted that 93 percent of those queried either considered buying or bought classroom supplies out of their own pockets; 88 percent reported spending up to $500. “Head Start supports our nation’s most vulnerable children by offering a comprehensive, high-quality early learning experience that prepares them for kindergarten and
strengthens family participation in their children’s learning,” says Yasmina S. Vinci, executive director, National Head Start Association. “Our research shows almost all Head Start teachers are spending their own dollars on basic resources for students. This is a great opportunity to empower Head Start teachers to secure the resources needed to maximize the Head Start advantage.” Following the flash funding, the PNC Foundation grant will also be used to match, dollar-for-dollar, donations that support pre-K and Head Start projects listed on DonorsChoose.org in the PNC footprint, subject to restrictions and a maximum dollar amount. The match is designed to encourage others to help support preschool programs in public or charter schools and Head Start classrooms. The duration of the match campaign depends on the number of project requests and donations. For specific guidelines on the match offer, visit donorschoose.org. “PNC’s work with DonorsChoose.org reflects our commitment to
helping children get a strong start in life,” says PNC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William S. Demchak. “This program will directly improve pre-K teachers’ ability to help more students reach their full potential and, through their successes, will strengthen the communities we serve.” As well, the PNC Foundation will provide 14,500 PNC employees who volunteered with Grow Up Great in 2016 $50 DonorsChoose. org electronic gift cards that will enable them to select classroom projects for those funds. Since Grow Up Great’s founding, PNC employees have logged more than 652,000 hours for the initiative through a progressive policy that allows 40 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer. Volunteers have collected more than 930,000 books, art supplies, hats, mittens and other items that have been donated for use in classrooms or for the personal well-being of preschool students. “Our employees are a driving force behind Grow Up Great’s success and impact,” Sally McCrady, president and chair of the PNC Foundation, says. “With this grant, we provide our employee volunteers another avenue to demonstrate PNC’s continuing support of early childhood learning as a way to help children and families thrive.”
ENTERTAINMENT
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Shonda Rhimes joins national board of Planned Parenthood Danielle Jennings
For television producer extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes, being as busy as possible is clearly never a problem, as she has just added an additional responsibility to her plate. This time, it’s for the benefit of women’s health, as she has just joined the national board of Planned Parenthood. Rhimes, who was previously a member of the Los Angeles board, joins at a critical time. Planned Parenthood has been in the news more than ever lately due in large part to the Trump administration’s attempts to cut the program’s funding, without giving any thought to how it will impact millions of women across the country. With the Women’s March earlier this year, it’s clear that American women are not giving up on their fight to keep Planned Parenthood in its current form. As reported by Essence, Rhimes feels very
strongly about the Planned Parenthood organization and wants to help in any way she can. She stated, “The fact is that women’s health is under fire right now. And so, to me, it feels like it’s important to help fight back. I just want to be of service.” Rhimes is looking forward to serving as a member of the national board, but she isn’t exactly certain what her new role will consist of just yet, noting “I haven’t totally defined what I want to do yet, but mostly I want to be of service — in any way that I can. And if that is helping to convey messages, that is what I’m going to do. If it’s rolling up my sleeves and getting to work, that is what I’m going to do.” Rhimes has long been a huge champion of women’s rights and representation in media and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood agreed. “I’ve been so, so impressed by everything she’s ever done,” Richards said.
Black playwright, poet, novelist and critic all win 2017 Pulitzer Prizes
April 13-19, 2017
NABFEME raises bar for media professionals ADW reports On April 29, the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment Atlanta Chapter will host NABFEME University kicking off their first series of events slated for 2017 in effort to fund the organization’s scholarship fund. Taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hands on Atlanta located at 600 Means St. Suite 210. NABFEME University will present leading executives in television, radio, film, PR, sports and business. Each track consists of 1-hour workshops geared towards preparing women with tactical strategies for career growth and how to respond to current trends in the entertainment industry. “The women of NABFEME share a common goal to learn, educate and collaborate to deliver meaningful results. NABFEME makes a difference through five areas of service; education, mentorship, networking, sisterhood and faith. Interested parties are encouraged to join the organization and become a part of that difference,” says Zina Brown, NABFEME Atlanta operations manager. The event is open to all women, men, students, seasoned professionals and anyone who has interest in the film, television, radio and media technology. NABFEME University will prepare attendees to take their next steps in careers and business. This event was
designed as Education 2.0 or 3.0 to get to the heart of what attendees will need to know to be successful. “This opportunity is only available one time this year, so we hope that not only NABFEME members, but any women interested in entertainment will take advantage of this incredible event,” adds Jennifer Nash, event producer and NABFEME board member Confirmed guest speakers include: Brett Dismuke, “Being Mary Jane” producer and casting director Ebony Steele, radio personality, actress and entrepreneur LaQuanda Plantt, casting director, ElleQCasting Reno Valentine, stylist/video director and assistant director Dianne Ashford, producer and production manager (Creed/Ride Along/The Gospel/No Good Deeds) Kevin Shine, CEO of the F.I.R.M. and Writing Sessions America creator Joyce Little, V-103 Radio personality Ticket prices range from $25-$50. For more information email zinathedirector@aol.com.
Dr. Jonathan Flacker brings more compassion to senior medical care. NewsOne Staff Three African Americans and one African were the recipients of this year’s Pulitzer Prize, announced on Monday. According to Journal-isms.com, of the seven arts and letters prizes, three went to African Americans—Colson Whitehead in fiction for The Underground Railroad, Lynn Nottage in drama for Sweat and Tyehimba Jess in poetry for “Olio.” Hisham Matar, who is of Libyan descent, won for biography or autobiography for “The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between,” about his father’s fate under the regime of Muhammar Gaddafi. Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad gives a fictional account of the lives of two slaves caught up in a murder mystery as they navigate the “underground railroad,” but in Whitehead’s account, it is actually a train which that runs underground (so Porsha from the RHOA is not an idiot after all…oh right. Yes she is.) Published in August 2016, it was also winner of the 2016 National Book Award. The New York Daily News describes Sweat as “a timely drama about blue-collar workers devastated by layoffs in a Pennsylvania facto-
Hilton Als ry town.” The Pulitzer jury hailed Sweat as “a nuanced yet powerful drama that reminds audiences of the stacked deck still facing workers searching for the American dream.” Nottage won a Pulitzer in the same category in 2009 for Ruined. Hilton Als, theater critic of the New Yorker and a staff writer there since 1994, appeared to be the only African American winner who was not part of a team, reports Journal-isms. Als won the prize for criticism, for “bold and original reviews that strove to put stage dramas within a real-world cultural context, particularly the shifting landscape of gender, sexuality and race.” Detroit-based Tyehimba Jess won for his collection of poetry, Olio, released in April 2016. According to one review, Olio is “part fact, part fiction … sonnet, song and narrative to examine the lives of mostly unrecorded African American performers” including Paul Laurence Dunbar, Blind Tom Wiggins, the Fisk Jubilee Singers and Edmonia Lewis. With the inclusion of a Chinese American Du Yun, who won in the music category for opera Angel’s Bone, this year’s Pulitzers are made of one of the most diverse classes yet.
JenCare Senior Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Jonathan Flacker to its practice. Dr. Flacker specializes in providing care to Atlanta’s seniors, and he loves learning about his patients. “Understanding what their lives have been like is the first step to helping them be healthier,” Dr. Flacker says.
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To learn more about JenCare or becoming a patient, visit: JenCareMed.com 5 Convenient Locations Druid Hills
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LIFESTYLE
April 13-19, 2017
Travel talk series: Atlanta Layover with Jessica Nabongo
Join international blogger, entrepreneur, and nomad Jessica Nabongo for her stop in Atlanta for all things travel, creating the life you want to live and great networking. Blogger, entrepreneur, and nomad, Jessica Nabongo has visited 70 countries/territories across six continents. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to Ugandan immigrants, Jessica remembers daydreams of foreign lands and a life of wander after her first international trip to London and Uganda at the age of six. Those childhood daydreams reappeared and led her to sell her furniture, cut off all of her hair and move to Japan in 2008. This decision gave life to her travel blog, The Catch Me If You Can and her new wanderlust lifestyle. Jessica has since lived, worked and studied in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. When she isn’t blogging and collecting followers (20k+) , you can find Jessica planning and curating fabulous trips through her boutique travel firm, Jet Black or speaking across the globe about her experiences through her Travel Talk Series! Jessica is on a mission to visit all 196 countries by May 2019, making her the first African-American and Ugandan to do so.
Seasonal tips for warm weather fashions (StatePoint) From cool and casual to feminine and expressive, the newest trends in apparel and shoes are giving women the tools to express themselves through fashion this season. Unabashedly girly shades, such as pinks and blushes are dominating the landscape, while creative construction and soft materials offer a variety of comfortable options for all occasions and lifestyles. Brittany Moeller, women’s buyer for shoe retailer Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, shares some tips on how to wear the latest trends during the warm weather months. Embrace Your Feminine Side Floaty, floral dresses, lace patterns and new blush shades are all trending this season, empowering women to express themselves through feminine details with the utmost confidence. Embroidery and crochet designs can be found on everything from shoes to jeans, as well as jackets, blouses and t-shirts, which is a subtle nod to inspirational throwback styles. Not convinced blush is your color? Not to worry: Neutrals, creams and tans also provide a sophisticated color palette to work with this season. Express Your Casual Side “Whether you’re looking to take the Bohemian style to the next level or you love a cool and sporty outfit, there are so many ways to pull off a casual look this season -- plus plenty of footwear to choose from,” says Moeller. Cropped jeans, short sleeve cotton dresses and graphic t-shirts can all be complemented by the latest in outdoor-inspired sandals, sneakers and slides. Get Comfortable Selecting pretty and elegant fashion options doesn’t have to translate to swollen and sore feet at the end of the day! In fact, footwear manufacturers have created clever ways to deliver more comfortable choices. Consider this: • Block heels and wedges are on trend, easy to wear and easy to walk in! • Popular materials, such as velvet and suede, are comfort-
8 Tips to help you stop your anxiety Written By Black Health Matters Roughly 40 million Americans live with an anxiety disorder, more than the occasional worry or fear. Anxiety disorders range from a generalized anxiety disorder, an intense worrying you can’t control, to panic disorder, sudden episodes of fear accompanied by heart palpitations, trembling, shaking or sweating. For people with this disorder, it’s crucial to find strategies to manage or reduce anxiety in the long term, like talk therapy or medication. But everybody can benefit from reduced stress and anxiety. There are steps you can take the moment anxiety starts to take hold. Try these eight tips to relax your mind and help you regain control of your thoughts. 1. Stay in the present. Don’t worry about what might happen. Instead, pull yourself back to the present. Ask: What’s happening right now? Am I safe? Is there something I need to do right now? If the answer is no, check in with yourself later in the day to revisit your worries so those distant scenarios don’t throw you off track. 2. Change the label. Panic attacks can make you feel like you’re having a heart attack. Remind yourself that it’s a panic attack and that it’s temporary. And remember that it really is the opposite of a sign of impending death; an anxiety attack is your body activating its fight-or-flight response, the system that keeps you alive. 3. Rethink your fears. People with anxiety tend to fixate on worst-case scenarios. To stop these worries, think about how realistic they are. If you’re concerned about a big presentation at work, for instance, instead of thinking: “I’m going to be terrible,” say: “I’m nervous, but prepared.” The pattern of rethinking your fears helps train your brain to come up with a rational way to deal with your anxiety.
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4. Breathe. Deep breathing helps calm you. Focus on evenly inhaling and exhaling. This will help slow down and re-center your mind. 5. Practice the 3-3-3 rule. Look around and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body—your ankle, arm and fingers. Whenever your brain starts to race, this trick can help bring you back to the present moment. 6. Do something. Stretch, take a walk, drink a glass of water, organize the files on your desk—take any action that interrupts your train of thought to help you regain a sense of control. 7. Avoid sugar. It may be tempting to reach for a sweet snack when you’re stressed, but that Snickers may hurt more than help; research shows eating too much sugar can worsen anxious feelings. Instead, drink a glass of water or eat protein. This provides slow energy, which your body can use to recover. 8. Take a humor break. Laughter really is the best medicine. Research shows laughter is good for our mental well-being. One study found humor could lower anxiety as much as, if not more than, a strenuous workout. So watch episodes of “black-ish” or cue up a Chris Rock special.
able and soft to the touch. • Hidden construction features, such as zippers on the back and Velcro strapping, make a shoe easier to slip on -- rather than a closure that isn’t designed to “give” when placing over the foot. “How you define femininity and stay casual and comfortable is an individual choice. This season’s fashion footwear choices cover all the bases,” says Moeller. To find footwear for any occasion this spring, check out Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse. With more than 80 locations from coast to coast, they offer high fashion styles from top designer and n a m e brands that meet today’s current trends. Visit offbroadwayshoes.com for more information on how to venture into the warm weather in style. With so many styles trending right now, it’s easy for anyone to feel great while wearing the latest fashions.
EDUCATION
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Georgia Department of Education awards STEM certifications to local schools Georgia Department of Education Reports The Georgia Department of Education has awarded Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) certification to two schools: Newton College and Career Academy (NCCA) in Newton County and Cooper Middle School in Cobb County. “As our students enter the 21st-century economy, they must be prepared with a solid foundation of science, technology, engineering and math competencies and skills,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Newton College and Career Academy and Cooper Middle School are doing a fantastic job equipping students with those skills in an out-of-the-box, project-based environment that prioritizes and personalizes
student learning.” NCCA is the first College and Career Academy in Georgia to earn STEM certification from the GaDOE, and is also the first STEM-certified school in Newton County. Students at the school complete an engineering or biotechnology pathway as part of a program characterized by a weekly flex day that allows student choice in projects and collaboration partners. Meaningful and engaged business partners provide authentic problems for students to solve. STEM students are required to take Latin and Advanced Placement math and science coursework prior to graduation. Cooper Middle is Cobb County’s first STEM-certified middle school. The school faculty has built in flexible time for project-based learning to occur, and math and science are blocked
Planting the seed for STEM
together for integrated instruction. Strong business partners are the backbone of the STEM program, as students work in the field with businesses to engage in real-world problem solving. Females take prominent leadership roles in the program and are represented on the robotics team and in computer coding activities. To earn STEM certification, each school had to submit an application showing that it meets specific criteria, including evidence of teacher collaboration, business and industry partnerships, high levels of math and science instruction, and an integrated, project-based STEM curriculum. A team from the Georgia Department of Education visited the school to observe the program. Learn more about STEM schools at stemgeorgia.org.
HBCUs: Much greater than a brief photo opportunity By Andrew R. Hairston
ADW reports Changing the Face of STEM, a national campaign encouraging women and young people of color to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, came to Atlanta for a presentation on Thursday, April 13. The highlight of the event was the Atlanta premiere of Crystal R. Emery’s documentary “Black Women in Medicine,” which shines the spotlight on tenacious women who have succeeded against all odds in the male-dominated medical field. The film, which shows rarely seen footage of Black women practicing medicine during critical operations, emergency care and community wellness sessions, has been hailed as “inspiring” by the Los Angeles Times. The event will be hosted by Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. Emery’s campaign Changing the Face of STEM is both an extension of the film, which recently aired on public television, and of a need to drastically increase the numbers of blacks in the STEM fields. African-Americans receive only 7.6 percent of all STEM degrees in America; less than one percent of all scientists and engineers are black women. “Against All Odds: Black Women in Medicine,” Emery’s biographical photo-essay book profiling more than 100 spectacular physicians, is a companion piece to the film and is used in the Changing the Face of STEM initiative. “It’s all about exposure. It’s crucial to introduce young people to ideas and careers early on so that they can begin thinking seriously about their higher education and work life during their formative years,” said Emery. “As former
Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders said, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’” “At Kaiser Permanente, we believe in providing culturally-competent care and building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we serve,” said Mary L. Wilson, MD, executive medical director of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia and president of the Southeast Permanente Medical Group. “We hope this film and Emery’s ongoing work inspires more minority students to pursue careers in medicine to help meet a growing demand for doctors across the country.” Changing the Face of STEM is administered by the filmmaker’s non-profit content production company, URU The Right To Be, Inc. and brings stars of STEM to schools and colleges as well as community groups across the country— areas where African Americans are severely underrepresented. Emery was joined by Dr. Gina Northington at the event. Emery, a quadriplegic, has triumphed over two chronic diseases to become an outspoken voice on the intersection between race, gender and disability. She founded URU The Right To Be, Inc. in 1995 to challenge hearts and minds through the arts. Emery’s work has been recognized by the Congressional Black Caucus with the Health Brain Trust Award in Journalism. The event, which included a reception, film screening, Q&A and book signing, took place at Piedmont Center. For more information on Changing the Face of STEM, the book or the film, visit www. URUtherighttobe.org.
I love historically Black colleges and universities, commonly referred to as HBCUs. I’m certainly biased, as I’m a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., but my admiration for these institutions extends across my lifespan and the generations that preceded me. A host of my friends, family members and colleagues are HBCU alumni, and these institutions continue to contribute a great deal of vibrancy to American life and our system of democracy. My first major case as a lawyer centered around the desegregation of Maryland’s four HBCUs, and I recently wrote two pieces dedicated to the significance and personal history of HBCUs. I am particularly proud of these institutions for what they have managed to do despite the perennial challenges of systemic racism and inadequate investment. With all of this in mind, I find myself troubled by the news that broke on Monday, February 27, 2017. A number of articles on various news outlets, as well as posts on social media, quickly made it known that the Trump Administration, ostensibly under the direction of President Trump’s assistant, Omarosa Manigault, had organized a meeting with numerous HBCU leaders. A photo opportunity emerged, and a peculiar picture, with President Trump, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and the HBCU presidents & chancellors, soon made its rounds on the Internet. To conclude the day’s events, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued a statement asserting that HBCUs are ‘real pioneers of school choice.’ As a young civil rights attorney and HBCU graduate, I do recognize the validity of some assertions made by the Trump Administration in reporting what transpired during the listening session. For instance, enhancing the infrastructure of a number of HBCUs could certainly play a role in increasing the competitiveness of these institutions in the twenty-first century. However, a brief photo opportunity and press release associating HBCUs with school choice both severely mischaracterize the history and promise of these 105 colleges and universities throughout the United States. At their founding, many HBCUs opened their doors to students who had been previously denied an opportunity to access a postsecondary education. As they have evolved, these institutions have fortified themselves as supportive spaces for students to refine their commitment to social justice and learn of the significant con-
tributions of members of the black diaspora to the world. When I think of my experience at Howard, I recall marching to the White House in 2011 to protest the execution of Troy Davis, traveling to Annapolis to call for an end for the death penalty in Maryland and partnering with grassroots community organizations to canvas in Baltimore as a part of the University’s Alternative Spring Break initiative. Yes, increased funding, stronger programmatic offerings and better facilities would all undoubtedly assist HBCUs in reaching their full potential in the current global landscape. What the new administration must also understand is that HBCU graduates often leave their campuses with both degrees and a mission to achieve racial & social justice. For many HBCU alumni, myself included, that photo opportunity does little to mitigate the damage already done by the Trump Administration’s policies to these principles, including the travel ban, the rescission of the Obama Administration’s Title IX guidance for transgender students, and the Department of Justice’s decision to remove itself from a crucial challenge to a discriminatory voter ID law in Texas. Additionally, the dark picture painted by President Trump in his inaugural address, which placed emphasis on American carnage and a need to restore law and order in this nation, contradicts the rhetoric released by the Administration concerning HBCUs. As communities of color continue to mobilize against militarized schools and police shootings of unarmed black people, among other issues, the missions of HBCUs and these activists find themselves inextricably linked. Harmful policies advocated by the Trump Administration, including widespread availability of school vouchers and increasing funding to local law enforcement officers, stand only to exacerbate the push-out of children of color and limit their access to a quality public education. The school-to-prison pipeline already hinders the promise of many young children of color by replacing school resources with those of the juvenile justice system; these practices indirectly result in a diminished applicant pool for HBCUs and make it that much harder for these institutions to fulfill their missions grounded in justice and equality. HBCUs constitute strong and powerful portions of the American story. To demonstrate an earnest interest in these institutions, President Trump and his administration must remain cognizant of the historic and current purpose of HBCUs.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
by Julianne Malveaux
Sponsors of hate today must be held accountable Over the next several days, across the United States, people will pause in solemn remembrance of the 49th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968. Back then, I was a young college student and staff member of Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in North Carolina on that tragic day in 1968. There is no question that it has been a long and difficult road for our communities, during the past half century, as we continue to fight for equal rights and to eliminate racial hatred, discrimination and bigotry. Many in North Carolina may recall my beginnings in activism when, as a 13 year old, I fought to integrate the public library in Oxford, N.C., and was the first African American to successfully struggle to get a library card there. Later, I worked for the SCLC, CORE, NAACP and the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice. Today, I proudly serve the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) as president and CEO. Over the years, our work has taken different shapes and has required many different approaches and levels of intensity to ensure we continually push our leaders and fellow citizens further down the path of freedom, justice and equality. Under the Obama administration, we were fortunate to have friends in the White House, the Department of Justice and all across the administration, who recognized the historic opportunities and worked with us to maximize them. We saw many advances for our communities and the priorities were rightly on addressing criminal justice reforms, labor, income, education, poverty and access to health care. We did not arrive fully there, but we were well on our way to making more progress for all people in America. With the rise of the so called alt-right movement and its anti-immigration agenda that many believe helped to elect President Trump, we find ourselves working to maintain the status quo in civil rights rather than advancing this fight. And we have every right to be concerned and frustrated. Yet, as Dr. King believed, we should work to get each president of the United States, including President Trump, to denounce bigotry and hatred, as well as to champion racial equality. We must tap into that energy to push our agenda and ensure that our nation’s leaders do not support bigotry of any kind and that means identifying individuals and groups that are sponsoring this hate and holding them accountable. Unfortunately, here in my home state of North Carolina, the Foundation for the Carolinas has spent tens of millions of dollars over the years supporting groups that sponsor hate and advance this anti-immigration and population control agenda that threatens our communities. All immigrants should be treated fairly and equally without discrimination.
Behind a veil of anonymity created by the Foundation, donors who support this organization are able to indirectly fund extremist groups without any public accountability. The Foundation prides itself on — and even advertises — donor anonymity as a reason to contribute to the Foundation. Large donors are assured that Foundation for the Carolinas has “fewer reporting requirements” than private foundations that they might otherwise choose as a vehicle for their giving. This condition, afforded to some of our state’s wealthiest individuals, has enabled patrons of the organization to operate unchecked, making this lack of transparency a significant liability for your organization. According to the Los Angeles Times and others, one individual in particular, Fred Stanback, has used the foundation to direct his money to extreme causes. Behind the cloak of the Foundation, Mr. Stanback has become a leading supporter, funneling tens of millions of dollars to fringe anti-immigrant groups including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (labeled an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center). It is my understanding that Mr. Stanback is behind several donor advised funds at the Foundation, which afford him this anonymity. Over a period of more than 10 years, the Foundation has donated more than $20 million to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and to NumbersUSA, a similarly minded and well-known extremist group. These vehicles have proactively disseminated hateful xenophobic sentiment throughout our region and country, ostracizing some of our most vulnerable citizens. In addition, the Foundation for the Carolinas’ board of directors reserves “variance power,” which authorizes it “to modify any condition or restriction on the distribution of funds if in its sole judgement (without the approval of any trustee, custodian or agent), such restriction or condition becomes, in effect, unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment, or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the area served by the Foundation…” Despite the board’s discretionary power, it chose to support organizations whose agendas were clearly at odds with the best interests of a diverse nation. As a civil rights and social justice leader, my view is that we should not tolerate this kind of unjust targeting of our most vulnerable citizens by Foundation for the Carolinas’ anonymous patrons. Public accountability for all nonprofits is necessary. It is our duty to fight for justice for all. It’s time for the Foundation for the Carolinas to come clean and stop sponsoring such hate groups. Let’s move our nation forward and not backward. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@ nnpa.org. You can follow Dr. Chavis on Twitter @drbenchavis.
Alexander Acosta; Bad news in a slick package By the time you read this, Alexander Acosta, the 45th President’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, is likely to have been confirmed by the full Senate. He got narrow approval from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions by a 12-11 party line vote. I don’t blame the Democrats for opposing the Acosta nomination. In his televised hearing, he was as slippery as Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, dancing around questions and so exasperating Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) that she said, “This has really been frustrating. You have dodged every one of my questions. None of these were trick questions.” Warren tried to pin Acosta down on overtime rules. Presently, workers who earn more than $23,660 do not qualify for time and a half, or overtime, pay. Someone who earns that little money is earning just over $11 an hour. They hardly qualify as “executives”. President Obama proposed that the ceiling be doubled, so that anyone earning under $47,320 could collect overtime. Four million more workers would have overtime protection. Acosta said he would take the lead from his boss, the 45th President, but indicated that the ceiling should be less than $47,000. He prefers something in the $33,000 range. Will you stand up for workers, Elizabeth Warren asked him? That’s the purpose of the Labor Department. We have so many government departments who take care of corporations, but only the Labor Department takes care of the little person. Their regulations on occupational safety and health, pay fairness, and discrimination protect workers when employers are indifferent to their safety and welfare. But the 45th President’s “budget lite” proposes a 21 percent cut in the Department of Labor budget. It would eliminate some job training programs, including the Senior Community Service Employment Program, close Job Corps Centers, eliminate parts of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and eliminate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration “unproven training grants”. This “America First” budget is disgraceful in its frequent use of words like “ineffective”, “unproven”, “inefficient”, and “eliminate”, as if there has been any study done, in the scant 60 days of this Administration, to prove inefficiency. Indeed, while we weren’t paying much attention, 45 signed legislation that took away occupational safety protections for those working for federal contractors. President Obama required
companies competing for federal contracts to disclose and fix safety violations, but the Senate voted to revoke the Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Rule. Some Republicans said it “wasn’t fair” that companies with workplace violations couldn’t get federal contracts. They would prefer that contractors who exploit and endanger their workers be allowed to bid on federal contracts without fixing their deficiencies. They want to reward contractors who exploit and endanger their workers. Acosta doesn’t have the baggage that restaurant executive Andrew Puzder, did. 45’s first nominee for Secretary of Labor was such a hot mess that he withdrew from consideration. Acosta is a lifelong public servant and now dean of Florida International University’s law school, and chairman of the board of the US Century Bank. He has been confirmed by the Senate for other positions, including the National Labor Relations Board and Assistant US Attorney, and he is likely to be confirmed this time around. Despite the fact that Acosta will be only the first Hispanic on the Trump cabinet, and the fact that his background – Harvard undergraduate and law degrees – seems impeccable, he is likely to be nothing but a disappointment for workers. Not only will he likely do less for overtime than President Obama required, but he will likely also limit rules that limit worker exposure to cancer-causing substances, and require financial advisors to work in the best interest of their clients. Essentially, he has indicated he will follow 45’s lead, and Trump is notoriously anti-regulation. Acosta had to offer an apology for past behavior. As Assistant Attorney General, he had an employee who described conservatives as “real” Americans. The rest of us, apparently, are “commies and pinkos”. Never should have happened, he told the Senate committee. While the apology was appropriate, what, really, does he think of liberals? Will it affect his ability to enforce labor laws? At least Acosta, unlike his boss, has enough integrity to apologize when he is wrong. But his shillyshallying testimony suggests that he doesn’t have many opinions of his own, only Trump’s. He doesn’t have a problem with the 45th President’s plans to shrink the Labor Department and he might support elimination of the Women’s Bureau. Acosta is bad news wrapped up in a slick package. His confirmation is a blow to working people.
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