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April is National Humor Month

Volume 89 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 37

April 20-26, 2017

Atlanta

structures falling down

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thl a r he or d you f e sid ou an 5 n i e k ry Loo s fo n pag w ne ily o fam

April 20-26, 2017

COVER STORY

I-85 reconstruction fast tracked

Atlantans braced for what was expected to be a long haul of exacerbated traffic woes following a fire and bridge collapse along a 100-foot stretch of I-85 at Piedmont Road in the Piedmont Heights neighborhood north of Midtown Atlanta. But reconstruction happening around the clock has already cast some light from the end of the tunnel. Georgia Department of Transportation Director of Construction Marc Mastronardi Tuesday provided a status update for the project, which Georgia DOT has committed to completing and opening to traffic on or before June 15. At the Governor’s urging, the Department has incentivized the completion of the work. If C.W. Mathews Contracting Company, who is leading the rebuilding, can complete the project by May 25, the company will receive an additional $1.5 million. If completed by May 21, they will receive $2 million and an additional $200,000 for each day completed before May 21; up to a maximum of $3.1 million. “This afternoon the contractor is completing the last cap pour. Twenty beams will be installed by midnight tonight on two of the project’s six spans. These will be set on those spans in the furthest northern location in both directions,” Mastronardi said. “And by Tuesday, when the last cap forms are removed, the entire substructure - which provides support for the beams and the deck - will be complete.” Caps are placed on top of columns and underneath bridge beams. The bridge deck spans are the individual decks resting on those caps, he explained. While typical similar projects often use a pair of 150-ton cranes, for efficiency and time savings, an 800-ton crane – one of the largest around – is being used to set all the spans for I-85. The advantage of the larger crane is its reach; it can be set up once and place decks for several spans without having to be relocated. To date 530 cubic yards of concrete have been poured and 9.5 tons of steel have been placed. The next steps are survey work to finish deck elevations and the deck work itself. Construction will then progress south to set the remaining spans. “A fair amount of very complex work has been completed and I am excited about the pace of the work,” Mastronardi explained. “To ensure safety standards, we have four inspectors per shift onsite. We are working continuously to reopen this critical corridor and continue to ask for motorists to plan ahead, seek alternate com-

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mute options, and to be patient when they are behind the wheel. Opening the roadway is our number one priority.” The federal government has committed to providing $10 million in aid and to easing some federal regulations to expedite the reconstruction of the road that sees more than 250,000 motorists daily. As well, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has rolled out a web-based tracking tool which provides up-to-the-minute capacity updates for 10 parking facilities across the MARTA rail system. “The launch of this real-time parking platform enables riders to plan their morning commutes to our various stations that have been near or at capacity since the I-85 bridge collapse,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Keith T. Parker. “With the increase in ridership, it is imperative that we look to enhance our communications to help make everyone’s commute as worry-free as possible.” The site will provide real-time updates Monday through Friday, 6-10 a.m. for 10 of the Authority’s busiest parking facilities—including North Springs, Sandy Springs and College Park. Periodic updates will be made throughout the business day. To help ease parking congestion, MARTA strongly encourages riders to take advantage of ride sharing services, carpool, biking or use designated Kiss/Ride lanes. MARTA buses offer free transfers at rail stations and every vehicle is equipped with a bicycle rack. “We are especially excited about our partnership with Uber,” said Parker. “The company is offering a 50 percent discount off their pool fare for trips to and from MARTA stations.” In the initial days following the collapse of a vital portion of I-85, MARTA ridership surged 20 percent system-wide. Breeze card purchases, as well as data from gate usage and parking operations, also signaled a strong uptick in ridership across the system. “During the morning commute times this week, our On Time Performance for rail service has averaged more than 98 percent, indicating that our trains are arriving on time and moving efficiently through the system,” said Parker. “We have operator-ready buses and rail cars on standby to quickly add more service during peak hours, as needed.”

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Thousands of MARTA riders were greeted Monday by additional station agents and volunteers assigned to help first-time customers with everything from using the Breeze vending machine to downloading MARTA’s free “On The Go” app to navigate the best route to their destination. “MARTA employees and volunteers have pulled together to ensure our current and new customers have a great experience with us and are informed of the best way to navigate our system,” said Parker. “We are committed to delivering routine excellence for the long haul and we see this as an opportunity to earn everyday customers.” Early Monday, a buckled section of I-20 west between Candler and Gresham Roads -- likely due to work being done on an underground utility -- threatened to further ensnarl city drivers. However, GDOT Crews immediately went to work breaking up large slabs of concrete, removing the dirt and concrete, and replacing the pipe below. Beginning late Monday night, 63 cubic yards of concrete were poured in the area and cured overnight. Workers completed additional work including the lane striping before 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The City of Atlanta has launched CommuteATL, an online platform designed to help residents and visitors plan their travel while the Interstate 85 bridge is being reconstructed. The CommuteATL map incorporates real-time travel alerts from Waze, including road closures, accidents and current travel speeds as well as real-time schedule information for all modes of transportation, including the Atlanta Streetcar, MARTA bus and rail schedules, and parking lot conditions. The map also shows the locations of Relay Bike Share stations for quick and convenient last-mile connectivity. “For the next several weeks, the City of Atlanta asks the public to choose transit, tele-commute, and use ride-sharing services as much as possible,” said Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Public Works Commissioner William Johnson. “We hope CommuteATL will assist people as they make plans to travel to work, to school, or to any of the special events happening in our city. As we work to mitigate traffic congestion, our primary focus is preserving access for our first responders and to hospitals. We want everyone to make it to their destination safely, and we hope this new tool can help in this effort.” As motorists look for different routes to commute to work and school, the City is taking proactive steps to protect residential streets and neighborhoods which are not designed to accommodate heavy traffic. These measures include prohibiting non-local traffic in certain areas while work on the Interstate 85 bridge is ongoing. The City has also increased staffing for its traffic-management operations. Engineers will make real-time adjustments to signals to keep increased traffic volume moving on major thoroughfares, which should alleviate the need to take smaller side streets.

Use these resources to plan your commute: • Visit www.dot.ga.gov for the most upto-date maps and information on road closures and alternate routes • Visit www.511ga.org or dial 511 for routing information or to speak to an operator who can assist • Visit Georgia Commute Options for additional resources and information about available cash incentives for using commute options • Visit www.itsmarta.com for MARTA routes and schedules • Visit www.xpressga.com for information on GRTA express routes The Atlanta Regional Commission provides alternate route options to commercial vehicles and large trucks to help them get through the region. These types of vehicles are also encouraged to only travel through the metro area during overnight hours and to take advantage of I-285 to bypass the city

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Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Lorraine Cochran General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

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NEWS

Rep. Maxine Waters at Morehouse for ‘Not One Step Back’ strategy session ADW reports Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), the leading voice challenging the current threat to rollback gains made in criminal justice and ending the drug war, will meet with hundreds of activists and scholars on Saturday, April 22 in Atlanta. The intensive one-day strategy session will examine the intersection of drug policy, mass incarceration and public health. A generation ago, Representative Waters was among those who warned the nation about the failure of the drug war and the prison system and in the last decade, bi-partisan coalitions have formed to course correct. Recent reports suggest that despite gains in health and other outcomes, there are some who would return the nation to an unsafe and dangerous place, especially for vulnerable communities. Brought together by the Drug Policy Alliance, Amnesty International, Peachtree NORML, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, The Ordinary People’s Society, Georgia State University’s Department of African American Studies and the Morehouse School of Medicine, hundreds of the nation’s leading advocates will gather for this momentous collaboration to get more aligned with each other in a time when our values are under attack. The day’s program will include not only Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and national leading criminal justice, drug policy and public health reformers, but VH-1 personality

and best-selling author, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, and Black Lives Matter co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, among others. “The drug war is coded language,” said DPA senior director, asha bandele. “When the law no longer allowed the control and containment of people based on race, they inserted the word drug and then targeted communities of color. Fifty years later, we see the outcomes of that war. Drug use remains the same, and Black people and people of color are disproportionately locked up. But no community regardless of race has been left unharmed which is why we are calling everyone together to strategize.” Recent media reports have made it clear that while tremendous gains have been made toward reducing the harms of the drug war and mass incarceration, there are some vocal and prominent people who would seek to extend the overreach and horrific harms of the drug war and the criminal justice system, all while disrupting the most effective pathways to real and quality public health. Adopting a “stop and frisk” policy nationwide, the return of “law and order,” and the overuse of ICE has or will have a disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable communities. Advocates are gathering to strategize on ways to secure them instead. The powerful gathering will build momentum for the International Drug Policy Reform Conference taking place in Atlanta in October.

April 20-26, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Stadium construction faces further delays

Ongoing roof construction is again delaying the opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium – this time pushing its opening back to August. The new $1.6 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium – nicknamed the Pantheon -- in downtown Atlanta will hold some 71,000 people and feature the unique feature of a panoramic screen surrounding the internal perimeter of the roof and allowing for every fan inside to see what’s televised. Independent petals of retractable roof structures may slide to create either a closed dome or a circular skylight above the center of the field, just like in Rome, and each petal can also be located on the permanent roof to give the feeling of a regular stadium with only stands covered. The new opening date will be just in time the Atlanta Falcons’ preseason game against Arizona on August 26. The stadium with its intricate folding roof had been set to open on July 30 for Atlanta United’s game against Orlando City. The demolition of the Georgia Dome will be put on hold as an insurance policy in case of further delays.

Studies find 1 in 5 homeless Atlanta youth are victims of human trafficking Homelessness makes them vulnerable to traffickers,” said Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan. “We don’t have to live in a world where desperate kids are bought and sold. If we want to reduce the number of youth who are trafficked, we have to end youth homelessness. We can, we must, and we should.” The 10-city studies encompassed interviews with young people aged 17 to 24. Among the national reports’ key findings:

ADW reports Researchers announced findings today from the largest-ever combined sample of homeless youth in the United States and Canada, revealing that nearly one-fifth are victims of human trafficking, including those trafficked for sex, labor, or both. Homeless youth in Atlanta were among those surveyed for the study, and the local finding echoed the national results: of the 64 young people interviewed, 20.3 percent were trafficked for sex, labor, or both. The dual studies by researchers at The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola University (New Orleans) Modern Slavery Research Project, drew on interviews with 911 homeless youth across 13 cities, including 12 cities where homeless young people accessed services through Covenant House, between February 2014 and March 2017. Covenant House operates the largest network of residences and community service centers for homeless youth across the Americas, reaching more than 46,000 youth every year in 30 cities across six countries. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth were disproportionately affected. Though they accounted for just 20 percent of the respondents interviewed, LGBTQ youth accounted for 38 percent of the sex trafficking victims. Overall, 17 percent of the young women interviewed were trafficked for sex; 13 percent of the young men interviewed were trafficked for sex; and 11percent of respondents were trafficked for labor. “While we have known that many of the youth who come to us are fleeing trafficking and sexual exploitation, this ground breaking study gives us confirmation that we must end youth homelessness now. With over 3,300 homeless youth in metro-Atlanta on any given night far too many young people are at risk. It is our community responsibility to stand on behalf of these kids and ensure they

• 15 percent of the total population of 911 young people had been trafficked for sex (21.4 percent of young women and 10 percent of young men). An astounding 26.9 percent of LGBTQ youth reported experiences consistent with the U.S. federal definition of sex trafficking.

have a safe place to seek shelter and refuge”, said Allison Ashe, Executive Director of Covenant House Georgia. Nationally, the researchers found that 19.4 percent of the interviewed youth were victims of human trafficking, with 15 percent having been trafficked for sex, 7.4 perent trafficked for labor, and 3 pecent trafficked for both. Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. Labor trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bonding or slavery. “Too many youth are desperate and alone on the streets.

• 32.1 percent of the youth interviewed had engaged in some way in the sex trade at some point: 40.5 percent of young females; 25.3 percent of young men. Fifty-six percent of the transgender youth reported being involved in the sex trade in some. The Loyola research further found that: • 67.9 percent of the youth who had engaged in the commercial sex trade had done so while homeless. • While 21 percent of the youth interviewed had a history in the foster system, 29 percent of the youth who were trafficked and 27 percent of the youth who were engaged in the sex trade had been wards of the state or in the foster care system at some point in their lives. For more information on these ground-breaking studies, go to CovenantHouseStudy.org or contact: Kellie Glenn, Covenant House Georgia, work (404) 465-2557, cell (678) 849-8498, kglenn@covenanthouse.org

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BUSINESS

April 20-26, 2017

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Sterling calls for fixing Fulton Elections Office ADW reports The Special Election for Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District once again highlights continuing problems with Fulton’s Elections Office. “We wake up to a newspaper headline that we’ve all gotten accustomed to seeing… ‘6th District Vote: Fulton extends polling hours; DeKalb and Cobb smooth’” noted Fulton Commission Chairman candidate Gabriel Sterling. “I get this question every year, from Democrats and Republicans alike, ‘What the heck is wrong with Fulton elections?’” In Tuesday’s election, a judge had to intervene to extend hours at some Fulton precincts. Also, the final numbers for Fulton were reported several hours after DeKalb and Cobb had reported their final returns due to “technical difficulties”.

“After years of failure, it will take a revolutionary way of thinking to fix the very real, and systemic, problems. I will work with anyone and everyone, Democrat or Republican, willing to admit there are serious issues here,” continued Sandy Springs Councilman Sterling. “Yes, we are a large county. That shouldn’t stop us from doing a great job in conducting our elections. If we fail in that core area, it undermines our credibility across the board.” “It’s ridiculous and unfair that Ossoff and Handel supporters, as well as every other campaign, had to wait for hours with no updates. It’s not acceptable anymore,” Sterling concluded. “As Chairman, I’ll fix our elections office. We should never have to have judges come in to correct issues that should never exist in the first place. It’s now time to truly fix it.”

Craft Syndicate celebrates 2nd year empowering entrepreneurs Annual arts collaboration returns to award mentorship and $15,000 grant

Music producer and Craft Syndicate mentor Don Cannon Craft Syndicate by Dutch Masters wants to give a mentorship opportunity and a $15,000 grant to aspiring music producers. Craft Syndicate returns, celebrating its 2nd year and is searching for innovators with an unwavering commitment to making their dream a reality. Craft Syndicate looks to share the craft by pairing an aspiring music producer with an established music producer and entrepreneur, and tasking them to collaborate in developing a marketable song. The winner of this year’s competition will be awarded the opportunity to work with industry expert and noted music producer, Don Cannon. Hopefuls can register to be entered into the competition: • Entry: March 31 through April 20, 2017, producers 21 and older can apply by registering through the Craft Syndicate official site, www.Craft-Syndicate.com. Once registered, an entrant may submit one or more music tracks and must upload, tagging each with @craft_syn dicate and using the hashtag #CraftSyndicate in the post copy to a participating social media site (i.e., Twitter, Soundcloud or Instagram) • Selection: Contest entries will be initially judged by a panel of music professionals each of whom will select up to 10 finalists. • Finals: Mentor, Don Cannon, will select the grand prize winner, from all the chosen finalists. “Being a mentor for the Craft Syndicate program allows me to connect to and inspire other DJs and producers to excel and

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know there are no limits to their futures,” said mentor Don Cannon. “As a music executive and DJ I look forward to working with young producers and artists because it allows me to get re-energized.. I always keep my ear to the streets and working directly with them is the best way to understand how any generation’s music works.” “I’m excited to hear all the submissions and meet the winner,” said Sarah Krysalka, Director of Marketing for Dutch Masters. When you think of Dutch Masters, you think of craftsmanship, creativity, camaraderie and the role it plays in culture with such die-hard fans. So Craft Syndicate is all about finding those individuals who, too, are perfecting their craft. Who have not just the desire but the need to express themselves through their art. Who are gratified not only when their work gets some shine, but also when their peer, their community, their cause is being heard and reverberated. This program is to honor their hustle and support their artistic expression. And personally, when you see someone who’s ready, who’s doing the work, someone who just needs that opportunity and I can help give it to them…that’s a big reason I love my job. I can’t wait to hear the finished track. Future mentee – I’ll see you at the release party! Lending their expertise to the this program as Craft Syndicate judges will be Grammy Award winning producer, and music executive, Kawan “KP” Prather, resident tour DJ, and author, DJ Mars, and music producer OG Parker. In 2016, the first Craft Syndicate program was launched in the fashion vertical and partnered with renowned fashion designer Jeff Staple. Program winner, Alexander-John, and Jeff Staple went on to launch a successful street wear collection: OFLUXURY. As part of Craft Syndicate’s ongoing commitment to creative entrepreneurship, the plan is to roll out additional programs in 2017. Once again, pairing up-and-coming creators in fashion, film, food and art/design with established entrepreneurs for the purpose of sharing the craft and collaborating on all-new products together. Designed to bring dimension to and serve as proof of Dutch Masters’ value proposition, “Share in the Craft,” Craft Syndicate is a communications platform that uses social media to encourage creative entrepreneurship. It works towards this goal by pairing aspiring entrepreneurs in fashion, music, design, art, food and film with established entrepreneurs in each field and tasking them with co-developing a new product. Each program is fully funded by a grant of up to $15,000 awarded by Dutch Masters.

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April 20-26, 2017

Demystify home ownership and you’ll find it’s often within reach By Glenda Gabriel Today, prospective homebuyers face some level of uncertainty when looking at the possibility of entering the housing market. In fact, experts and economists say it could be one of the more unpredictable times in the housing market since the Recession, owing to the changing economic, political and social climate in America. Despite these potential concerns, homeownership is more within reach than prospective homebuyers may think. This may be especially true for first-time homebuyers and those with a household income below the median. Would-be homebuyers can be discouraged by “homebuyer myths” or preconceived notions about buying a home that are often false. The reality is that these really are only myths. With a proper understanding of what’s required to get into a home, prospective buyers often find the confidence they need to take the first step toward homeownership. Below are a few common myths prospective buyers should be aware of as they embark on their search for a house, as well as some resources that can assist throughout the buying process: Myth: You need perfect credit to buy a home. While it’s true that some might have their work cut out for them, those with a less-than-perfect credit score may still qualify for a mortgage

if the lender is satisfied with their overall finances. You may be asked for documentation and information about your debts and income to determine if you can afford a home. But if you’re willing to work with your potential lender and put your best foot forward, you may be pleasantly surprised by what options they can offer. Myth: “I’m not ready.” Often potential buyers think they need to be somehow better prepared for home-buying, to be further along in life, or to be earning more money. The reality is that very few homebuyers feel 100 percent prepared to take the leap — and that’s okay. While it’s important to be sure you can comfortably afford your mortgage and that you’re ready for a significant financial commitment, it’s also important to trust your gut and take a step toward your goal of owning a home if the opportunity seems right. Myth: You must put 20 percent down. The common perception is that lenders require a 20 percent down payment. But these days, borrowers may be able to put down significantly less. One question to ask your mortgage lender is whether you’re eligible for low down payment and/or assistance programs. Many online tools can help you find down payment programs that put your home within reach. Financial institutions can help as well. Additionally, some buyers may find opportunities to reduce

or even eliminate their down payment through government programs such as Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which allow a 3.5 percent minimum down payment, or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, where qualified military borrowers can put zero down. That said, it’s generally smart to pay as much as you can comfortably handle up-front, since that reduces both your monthly payment and the amount you’ll pay in interest overall. It’s also important to note that for conventional financing, if you don’t make at least a 20 percent down payment, you will likely need to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). Make sure you know how much this cost will be and factor that into your monthly home payment budget. To get started and figure out if the time is right for you, you can visit a reputable bank or mortgage lender who can determine how much you can afford, contact a nonprofit housing agency to help you get your credit and savings in order, or even visit an interactive website like BetterMoneyHabits.com, where you can learn all about preparing for homeownership. Glenda Gabriel is the Neighborhood Lending executive for Bank of America and is responsible for identifying opportunities to drive successful homeownership among low-to moderate-income borrowers, underserved communities, and multicultural borrowers across the economic spectrum.

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April 20-26, 2017

Know Your Status Tour comes to AU AIDS Healthcare Foundation announced the Know Your Status Tour (KYST) will stop at the Atlanta University Center on April 20 at 3 p.m. in the Juanita Powell Baranco Multi-Purpose Room at Clark Atlanta University. A multi-city youth awareness campaign geared towards educating college students on the importance of safer sex, the Know Your Status Tour encourages students to take the proper precautions to avoid contracting STDs, while educating them on how to be treated and form positive sexual health habits as they move into adulthood. The Know Your Status tour will stop at Clark Atlanta University’s Juanita Powell Baranco, JD Multi-Purpose room on Thursday, April 20th at 3:00 p.m. and will feature a live music performance by Ari Lennox and celebrity panelists including Amber Rose, Jacquees, Don Benjamin, Cordell Broadus, Sibley Scoles and sex expert Shannon Boodram. Social media strategist Karen Civil will moderate the discussion. KYST kicked off its 2017 dates on Wednesday, April 12 at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. The Atlanta University Center is the second stop on the tour and will be followed by Texas Southern University in Houston, TX on Wednesday, April 26. Chris Grace, founder of AHF’s KYST initiative, creatively meshed the worlds of social impact with sexual education on the tour by selecting respected influencers to create an environment of comfort and familiarization who will encourage open dialogue. “Each year, 12 million young people contract an STI and there is an undeniable urgency to target safer sex messages that are interactive, engaging, and relevant to their lives and experiences. With the Know Your Status Tour, we are doing our part to educate our youth on the importance of being tested regularly for STIs and help them form good sexual health habits that they can take with them long into adulthood,” Grace explains. The tour will feature celebrity panel discussions, breakout discussions, specialized school activities, social media pledges and musical performances by influential artists Jacquees, Kent Jones and Ari Lennox. Students who participate in STD and HIV testing will receive a custom t-shirt and be eligible to win prizes including: 1) $5,000 student scholarship, 2) Pimp My Dorm Room for participating schools, and 3) tablet giveaway for each campus.

LIVINGWELL

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ECOPSS Inc. launches Safe Teens Project By Denise P. Johnson Traveling and living away from their parental home represents teenagers’ right of passage from juvenile to legal adulthood. New to autonomous living, they must be taught how to safely navigate today’s complex, sometimes dangerous global society. America’s youth now have access to “ongoing” training in how to recognize and minimize well known threats to their health, safety and personal security. In a survey parents were asked, “what concerns you most about your son or daughter traveling or living away from home?” Parents’ top responses are: Safe Teens Project course titles are: 1. Becoming Sick or Injured CPR / AED / First Aid Certification 2. How Can They Avoid Legal Trouble Law School For Teens 3. Being Physically / Sexually Assaulted Personalized Self Defense Training 4. Do They Have Good Decision Making Skills Safe Dating Strategies 5. How Will They Adapt To Social Challenges Of College Life Secrets of College & University Life Safe Teens Project, courses and curriculum were designed with input from police officials, security experts, educators and attorneys. Each course

immerses participants in thought provoking, table top exercises and reality based training scenarios, which no classroom can duplicate. Teens learn to anticipate, recognize and appropriately respond to the intentional, incidental and accidental consequences of their own actions and behavior…as well others’. Armed with situational awareness, critical thinking and threat assessment skills, teens are better equipped to successfully manage emerging critical situations. When confident in their own ability to recognize “pre-incident indicators”, teens become more attentive, perceptive and effective… thereby less naive and vulnerable to the tricks, cons and victimization tactics of others. They become more “Street Wise”. Safe Teens Project courses are held regularly at ECOPSS Diversified Education & Training Center in College Park, as well as hosted by schools, churches

and organizations, nationwide. Visit ECOPSS.COM for class schedules or call 404-963-6234. Class sizes are restricted, to maximize information retention and skill development. Limited scholarships and sponsorships are available.

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LIVINGWELL

April 20-26, 2017

Truth Initiative and CVS Health Foundation to make HBCUs tobacco-free Effort aims to help communities profiled by the tobacco industry

Where you live, who you love, your race, your mental health and financial status play an important role in how hard tobacco companies come after you. For decades, African Americans, low-income neighborhoods, LGBTQ communities and those with mental illness have been disproportionally targeted with advertising and promotional efforts. The “truth x CVS Health Foundation” tobacco-free campus initiative follows the launch of the latest campaign by truth®, #STOPPROFILING, that underscores the fact that tobacco use is more than a public health issue, it’s a social justice issue. Despite lower youth and young adult smoking rates overall, smoking on college campuses remains a problem in the U.S. Of the 102 federally recognized HBCUs in the country, less than half have smoke-free and/or tobacco-free campus policies. Of the 1,108 community colleges in the U.S., only 360 have 100 percent smoke-free policies in place1. “With 99 percent of smokers starting before age 27, college campuses are critical to preventing young adults from starting tobacco use, aiding current smokers in quitting and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke for all,” said Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative, the national public health organization that directs and funds the truth campaign. “Our partnership aims to counteract the decades of profiling of African Americans and low income communities by Big Tobacco. We are thrilled to be working with the CVS Health Foundation to make smok-

ing and tobacco use a thing of the past on HBCU and community college campuses.” Since the launch of their tobacco-free college program in 2015, Truth Initiative has awarded funding to 135 colleges. To date, 50 colleges have gone smoke- or tobacco-free (40 community colleges and 10 HBCU’s). The “truth x CVS Health Foundation” tobacco-free campus initiative is part of CVS Health’s Be The First campaign, the company’s five year, $50 million commitment to helping deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation have set actionable and measurable goals for Be The First, including a doubling of the number of tobacco-free educational institutions in the United States. In addition to supporting Truth Initiative to expand technical assistance to support 42 HBCUs and 64 community colleges advance their campus policy effort, the CVS Health Foundation is also working with the American Cancer Society to help 125 colleges advocate for, adopt and implement 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campuses. Students, faculty and staff at the schools are charged with developing a campus task force, assessing tobacco use on their campus and developing public-education campaigns to support comprehensive tobacco- and smoke-free polices on the campus. “Today’s young people are a generation with an unyielding commitment to diversity,

inclusivity and equality, and that includes making sure health benefits are equally distributed across ethnic and socioeconomic classes,” said David Casey, Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health. “We’re proud that the CVS Health Foundation is working with Truth Initiative to help HBCUs and community colleges adopt tobacco-free campus policies. Helping more colleges and universities go tobacco-free is an important step in achieving our shared goal of helping to deliver the first tobacco-free generation.” The tobacco industry has long profiled minority communities, particularly African Americans, with intense advertising and promotional efforts. For example, in major cities like Washington D.C., there are up to ten times more tobacco advertisements in African American neighborhoods than in other neighborhoods. There is a disproportionate health burden of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality among African Americans. Each year, approximately 47,000 African Americans die from smoking-related disease. Research has also shown a clear pattern of targeted marketing in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. People living below the poverty level in the U.S. are nearly twice as likely to smoke, compared to those at or above the poverty level.

Additional stats on smoking • Teen smoking of traditional cigarettes in the U.S. reached a historic low of six percent in 2016, but tobacco still remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. • Cigarettes cause over 480,000 deaths annually in the U.S. • Tobacco kills up to half of its users. • LGBTQ young adults, ages 18-24, are nearly twice as likely to smoke as their straight peers. • Individuals with mental illness account for up to 46 percent of cigarettes sold in the U.S. • People living below the poverty level in the U.S. are nearly twice as likely to smoke, compared to those at, or above, the poverty level.

Join Our TEAM!!!

Thursday, April 20, 2017 10am-12pm Newton Campus Building A, Auditorium 16200 Alcovy Road Covington, GA 30014

Please bring: Resume Transcripts Cover Letter

Calling all those interested in teaching day time classes on campus and / or at our service area high schools in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties. We will be conducting onsite interviews with Program Directors in the many diverse disciplines. For more information please visit http://tinyurl.com/ gptcadjunct and click on Academic Education under ‘Part Time & Adjunct’ at the bottom of the page.

www.gptc.edu | 404-297-9522 As set forth in its student catalog, Georgia Piedmont Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). Contact Lisa Peters, the ADA Coordinator, at 404/297-9522, ext. 1154, ADA504Coordinator@gptc.edu or at the main DeKalb campus, 495 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021 Room A-170; or Dr. Debra Gordon, the Title IX Coordinator, at 404/297-9522, ext. 1176, TitleIXCoordinator@gptc.edu or at the main DeKalb campus, 495 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021 Room A-103 for assistance. For more information about our graduation rates and other important program information, please visit our website at https://www.gptc.edu/gainfulemployment

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April 20-26, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Slick Rick, Prince the Coveted Jewels of Record Store Day’s 10th Spin

There’s no shortage of record stores in the city of Atlanta and Record Store Day – this year in its 10th iteration dedicated to record culture, record lovers, record makers, and record havens – makes it plain that the vinyl revolution is still spinning. The figures confirm: Last year, vinyl LP sales reached sales of 13 million albums, according to Nielsen’s Year-End Report, increasing for the 11th consecutive year. On Saturday, April 22, vinyl aficionados will be lining up at their local record store in the hopes of owning that special must-have album, many that have been out of print for decades. More than 20 businesses in the Atlanta area will participate this year, from Criminal Records in Little Five Points to mother and son-owned Comeback Vinyl in Alpharetta. Each store has its own celebratory sales and special events planned, but the day actually centers on a limited number of new releases and reissues, all exclusive to Record Store Day. Moods Music in Little Five Points, for example, boasts a full line-up of DJ sets and live performances to build out the day – topping it substantively with an artist development seminar hosted by Karen Marie Mason. Each record store places an order for its share of the exclusive releases, but store owners won’t know what they have until their box of Record Store Day releases arrives, usually the day before the event. “A lot of the releases are limited editions and they are shipped to stores across the country sometimes across the world,” says David Soul, manager at Moods Music. “We typically only get a certain amount of each time.” This year the Slick Rick Box Set is causing the most stir, at least in Hip-Hop circles. “They are doing a reissue of his first album and there’s actually going to be a 16-page comic book that goes along with it.” And then there’s Prince. “There’s going to be a Prince ’45 of “Little Red Corvette” and “1999 on the flip side.” It’s a reissue of the 1983 picture disc, and it has been out of print since 1985. No pre-selling; no reservations. You just have to be there.

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Crowd of 30,000 expected to attend 2017 World Natural Hair event The 20th Annual Spring Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair & Healthy Lifestyle Event which will be held April 22-23, is once again on target to be an invigorating experience for both the natural hair industry and community. Now more expansive, and more reflective of the natural hair movement’s transformation into a total body movement, the theme of this year’s show is “Healthy Hair, Healthy Body, Healthy Lifestyle.” More than 30,000 attendees are expected to attend this extravaganza which will feature products and information to enhance every aspect of what it means to live a natural and healthy life. The Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair & Healthy Lifestyle Event is a family-friendly show with exhibits and attractions for all ages to enjoy at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA. Featuring over 250 exhibitors, guests can anticipate interactive seminars, competitions, a Book Nook, a Social Cir-

cle Lounge, Wellness Way, Children’s Corner, Pamper Zone and Men’s Den. Taliah Waajid, a pioneer in promoting and educating the masses on natural hair benefits and beauty, will offer the Taliah Waajid Hands-On Healthy Hair Seminars – a popular three-day session where students will receive hands-on training and one-on-one attention in an intensive interactive learning environment led by the Taliah Waajid Styling Team. Students will be taught techniques on styling natural hair, braiding and weaving and receive a certificate upon seminar completion. As well, the main stage has been revamped to showcase a new CultureVibe Music Fest which promises the best in entertainment by talented artists playing live music. Prepare to enjoy acts ranging from Jazz, Reggae, Gospel and Alternative Local Sounds to African Dancers, Steel Band performers and a wide variety of soothing and uplifting sounds. Headlining the music fest will be Rebel Rock/T.I.’s Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist B.O.B. who is known for such hits as “Airplanes” and “Nothin’ On You.” Tickets, which can be purchased at www.naturalhairshow.org, are $5 in advance and $10 at the door, and admission is free for children 12 and under.

Review of: ‘Elementary Genocide: From Primary to Penitentiary’ By Erin Gloster Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” But what if this powerful weapon was being exploited for capital gain? Award-winning filmmaker Rahiem Shabazz, with appearances by Roland Martin, Dr. Boyce Watkins and a cast of social critics, explores the relationship between early childhood education and the prison system, and the intersection of education and capital, a pattern known as the “school to prison pipeline.” The problem: Most states look at the reading levels of black boys at the end of elementary school to predict how many prison cells they will need in the next decade. The reason: Capital. Do prison executives use illiteracy rate data of black boys to predict future prison populations and thus future profit margins? Researchers like Dr. Umar Abdullah-Johnson believe the data points to this logical conclusion and to overlook it wouldn’t make business sense. “If a black boy cannot read by fifth grade, there is a 75 percent chance he will be a criminal by age 25,” asserts Abdullah-Johnson, a nationally certified school psychologist and political scientist, in the opening scene of the interview portion of the documentary; illuminating the statistical nexus between the illiteracy of young black men and the population of black men in prison and the apparent conflict of interest when capital gain — and not rehabilitation — is the ultimate driving force of the prison system. The problem: Miseducation begins the first day a black boy steps into the classroom. The reason: A broken education system. “Less than half of black boys in the United States who are in fourth grade can read on grade level.” The education system is broken by design, posits Dr. Sujan Das, a best-selling author and community activist. Placing young, middle- to upper-class white women to teach in a lower-class black community, while expecting young black students to be able to re-

late and find connections with people that do not look, talk, or act like them is problematic. It is expected for the oppressed to essentially learn from their oppressors, Das explains. Having been told by a white guidance counselor that he would “amount to nothing,” Das has first-hand knowledge of the cultural dissonance. In order to correctly educate black boys and girls, changes must be made, beginning with the type of teaching employed at the primary and elementary school level. The problem: “Mass incarceration is the new Jim Crow.” The reason: Human capital exploitation. Eighty percent of school drop-outs end up in prison 40 percent of which are African American yet African Americans make up just 13 percent of the population. Civil rights litigator and activist Michelle Alexander bills it “the new Jim Crow,” referring to the racial caste system that plagued the South at the turn of the 20th century. According to Alexander, the policies of the current criminal justice system replaced Jim Crow laws, which in turn had replaced and mirrored slavery. Further, Sistah Iminah, the founder of Ghetto to Goddess, proclaims that the prison systems are not reforming people; instead, they are getting bodies, and free labor to generate money and commerce. “Elementary Genocide” [is for] those of us who have a moral obligation to see the next generation is better off than the previous one. The documentary will resonate with community leaders, students, parents and faith-based organizations,” explains Shabazz. “In order to deal with the unbelievable ratio of illiterate black boys, we must seriously look to alternative ways such as homeschooling. When it comes to discipline in school, we should look to restorative justice instead of the get tough policy employed across the nation. More importantly, we must change the cultural perceptions of education as it exists today into a more African-centered one that doesn’t ignore or distort our contribution to the world.”

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COMMUNITY

April 20-26, 2017

Sheltering Arms promotes literacy through Keep DeKalb Beautiful turns blight into art annual read-a-thon Colorful scenes replace illegal dump sites

Sheltering Arms, Georgia’s largest nonprofit early education and child care organization, is preparing for its annual week-long read-a-thon and is inviting the community to participate by reading to a class or making a donation to help children get new books for home. The read-a-thon is part of Operation Storybook, Sheltering Arm’s year-round literacy program that also includes a monthly book distribution. The effort, launched nearly 10 years ago, was in response to Reading Is Fundamental’s research finding that two-thirds of America’s children living in poverty have no books at home and that the number of families living in poverty is on the rise. Every year, Sheltering Arms hosts the reada-thon and invites corporate and community volunteers, professional storytellers and special VIP guests to share stories with children at all 15 locations around metropolitan Atlanta. During the week of April 24-28, Sheltering Arms children will listen to volunteers read from their favorite childhood books, act out stories, and participate in various activities that help bring the books to life. “Children learn literacy and language skills long before they are able to read or speak,” said Blythe Keeler Robinson, Sheltering Arms’ President and CEO. “Operation Storybook is a fun

way to generate awareness around early literacy and involve the community in getting children interested and excited about reading.” According to Reading is Fundamental, children who do not have access to books and do not read regularly are among some of the most vulnerable Americans, in terms of social outcomes. To combat this challenge and emphasize the importance of early literacy, Sheltering Arms provides all 2,400 children, 90 percent of whom receive financial assistance, with a new age-appropriate book each month for their own home libraries. Sheltering Arms has provided high-quality early education, child care and comprehensive family support services since 1888. The agency serves more than 3,600 children annually and their families at 15 metropolitan Atlanta locations in Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Gwinnett counties and consistently meets accreditation standards by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. On average, children attending Sheltering Arms score in the 90th percentile for language and literacy, exceeding developmental milestones for kindergarten readiness. Visit www.shelteringarmsforkids.com for more information.

Keep DeKalb Beautiful is working with communities to convert blight into art with its Barriers to Beauty program. The program installs cheerfully painted concrete barriers to prevent illegal dumping in key areas. Its most recent project was installed off of River Road. “These barriers are used to prevent dumping in key areas, and when they are bare, they look institutional,” said Gordon Burkette, program director of Keep DeKalb Beautiful. “This hands-

on project is designed to give young people the opportunity to improve how their own communities look through creativity.” Barriers to Beauty promotes community involvement and educates citizens about how illegal dumping affects them. Participants spray paint the base of the block, then use recycled signs to create stencils of picket fences, flowers, butterflies and more.

Colorful barriers off of River Road block a former illegal dump site and beautify the community.

Morehouse celebrates contributions of Hank Aaron, raises more than $800,000 ADW reports Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) celebrates the generous contributions of Henry “Hank” Aaron — as the Louis C. Vanguard recipient — to the Atlanta health community and allows donors to “experience” how the school is leading the creation and advancement of health equity during the 10th annual Hugh M. Gloster Society Celebration on Thursday, April 13. This year’s sold-out event, co-chaired by Ted Decker, executive vice president of merchandising for The Home Depot and Dr. Stephen and Mrs. Arnika Dawkins (’87), owner of CaduceusUSA and the Arnika Dawkins Gallery, has raised more than $800,000. The evening’s events will allow attendees to visit and share with faculty, staff and students during a series of interactive “experiences” in the school’s Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care. “This annual celebration is not only a thank you to our members, but a chance to show how their contributions are impacting the lives of students and those most vulnerable in our communities through scholarships, investment of research, healthcare and health,” explains MSM President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. “Their generous support is cultivating the next generation of health and science professionals in science, technology, arts, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) programs.” Named for the school’s founder the late Dr. Hugh M. Gloster, since 2006 society members have donated more than $10.5 million to support the school’s mission. The donations

have been used to improve overall health and well-being, diversify the health and scientific workforce and improve primary health care, with emphasis on people of color, the underserved urban and rural populations in Georgia, the nation, and the world. To learn more about MSM’s mission in action and how you can get involved, visit msm.edu. Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians and was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine in 2011 as the top institution in the first study of U.S. medical schools for our social mission based on our production of primary care physicians, training of underrepresented minority doctors and placement of doctors practicing in underserved communities. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care.

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GUEST COMMENTARY

by Stacy M. Brown

by Julianne Malveaux

The black press shows resilience of the black community For 190 years, the Black Press has chronicled the spirit and resilience of the African-American community. “You can see it in the spirit of the process that we have [developed] in documenting our history — we are marvelously resilient by nature, we are street fighters, guerilla fighters and resilience defines us,” said NNPA Foundation Board Chairman Al McFarland. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade group of more than 200 Black-owned media companies in the United States, also known as the voice of the Black community, has been the repository of Black history for generations, capturing that spirit and resilience through compelling journalism and stirring images. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, the president and CEO of the NNPA, said that the strength of the Black Press has been widely demonstrated through decades of change. “Since 1827, the Black Press in America has been on the frontline of publishing in the interests of freedom and justice,” Chavis said. “Today, the NNPA continues to represent the resilient, trustworthy tradition of the Black Press that is indispensable to Black America.” Janice Ware, the publisher of the “Atlanta Voice,” which was founded in 1966 by Ed Clayton and J. Lowell Ware, said that like other NNPA member newspapers, the Voice had a defined vision and mission. “[The Atlanta Voice] has been the vehicle that has allowed the important information [affecting African-Americans] to be captured,” Ware said. “I celebrate my father for his vision to start the publication and our motto, which is, ‘A people without a voice cannot be heard.’” The venerable, award-winning publication was born out of the refusal of the White-owned majority Atlanta media to give fair and credible coverage to the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement, the Voice states on its website. “Our motto is still prevalent today,” Ware said. “We’ve got to record our history; if we don’t, they will.” As the media industry continues to evolve, driven by advances in technology, Black newspaper publishers balance “click-bait” and quickread content with longer, in-depth news articles. Rosetta Perry, publisher of the “Tennessee Tribune” in Nashville, said that even though millennials aren’t reading traditional newspapers as much as past generations, news orga-

nizations in the Black community—including newspapers, radio stations, magazines and websites— are working together to ensure that critical information reaches the masses. “There are many stories about Black people both domestic and international that the mainstream media ignores or underplays,” Perry said. “The Black Press cannot afford to be silent or not be certain to get the word out about them, whether it’s voter suppression or police misconduct and brutality.” In 1973, Howard University, a historically Black institution in Washington, D.C., collaborated with the NNPA, to establish the Black Press Archives at the school’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. The archives also include a gallery of distinguished newspaper publishers and historical records related to the Black Press. Black newspapers are also collected and preserved there for scholars, students and the public. “While some think that the Black Press is no longer needed, they need only to look at the newsrooms of the mainstream press—newspaper and television—and see that when pressured after the Civil Rights Movement, they hired more Blacks,” in the past than they do now said Dorothy Leavell, the outspoken publisher of the award-winning Crusader newspapers in the Chicago area. Leavell continued: “And, most said the Black Press wasn’t needed. While they were employed, the Black reporters were not given the freedom to report stories as they existed, often White editors changed the story with headlines that fit their perspective, not the essence of the story, if some of them recognized their stories as submitted, it was rare.” Leavell said that when Black reporters were making good salaries at mainstream media outlets, they mostly remained silent. Many now want to speak up as their numbers are dwindling. Many have left predominately White newsrooms and returned home to the Black Press, added Leavell. “The Black Press is driven by a purpose and a mission to tell the truth and to stand up to those who would rob humanity of its fullness,” McFarland said. “We stand to call attention to the truth of our existence and to the commitment of freedom and liberation. Our spirit is underlying in our newspapers; we are resilient and we no longer have to see ourselves through the lenses of Europeans.”

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The March unemployment report is mixed news Our 45th President has had no trouble claiming the good employment news reported for January and February of this year. In those jobs reports, released on the first Friday of the month, we saw unemployment rates of 4.8 and 4.7 percent. In both of those months, more than 200,000 jobs were created. 45 crowed that this data showed how successful his Presidency had been, even though he had barely kept his seat in the Oval Office warm, and oven though he had done nothing, from a policy perspective, to stake his claim on progress that could only have come from the economic recovery engineered by his predecessor, President Barack Obama. Now, we have the report from March, with an unemployment rate, at 4.5 percent, that is at its lowest level in a decade (since May 2007). We also have a sluggish report on job creation – with just 98,000 new jobs, less than half as many jobs that were created in each of the last two months. Is the 45th President going to claim that his actions have caused a slowing in job creation? Since he was so quick to claim credit when the numbers looked good, what will he say now? More importantly, the low jobs creation number suggests that the economic recovery we have been experiencing is far from solid. The March number can be a mere hiccup – we did have weather challenges last month that may have slowed some job creation, and may even have been responsible for lower job growth in the retail sector. But it might also suggest that the Fed should not be so quick to raise interest rates. Despite relatively low unemployment rates, there is room for much more job creation before employers will have to compete for workers. The overall unemployment rate of 4.5 percent would be something to celebrate if it were accompanied with more job creation. It might also be something to celebrate if the Black unemployment rate were not so high – at 8 percent it is more than twice the white rate of 3.9 percent. Furthermore, when those marginally attached to the labor market, discouraged workers, and those working part time because they can’t find full time work, are included, the overall unemployment rate is 8.9 percent. Using the

same methodology, this unemployment rate would be 15.8 percent for African Americans. To be sure, these numbers are a vast improvement on the numbers we saw a year ago, not to mention five years ago. But the impact of these low numbers has bypassed many workers. Too many have still not seen their pay levels increase (wage growth was around .02 percent last month), and too many still fear layoffs or job reorganizations. Equally importantly, the approach this administration has taken to federal employment and to health care have had chilling effects in the labor market. As an example, while employment has been trending up in health care, the health care sector added about 20,000 jobs a month, compared to an average monthly gain of 32,000 jobs in 2016. The baby boom isn’t getting any younger, and Americans sure aren’t getting any healthier. It is plausible that, instead, announcements about health care by this administration, and chicanery by this Congress, may have slowed health care employment when it should be rising. Except for “America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again”, and a whole lot of rhetoric, we have no specifics around this Administration’s economic plan. We do know, however, that freezing or reducing federal employment will have an impact on unemployment rates, and that cutting key departments (Health and Human Services, Labor, Interior) will have an impact on the long-term employment situation. Those who work in the social service areas (social workers, community service workers) are also rightly apprehensive about how their work will be funded and who will pay for it. This unemployment rate report may be as good as it gets if Mr. Trump has his way. President Obama did his best to create a robust economic recovery. President Trump says he inherited “a mess”. The January and February unemployment numbers disprove that assertion. The March report, however, shows that while 45 did not inherit a mess, he can make one with his draconian budget cuts and other ill-advised economic measure.

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