Adw april 9 by Atlanta Daily World

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Atlanta Brews at Philips Arena Page 4

UNCF Evening of Stars Page 7

Spelman’s Women of Color Page 9 April 9-15, 2015

Volume 87 • Issue 35

New president for CAU: New day for HBCUs

April 9-15, 2015

COVER STORY

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

CAU president-elect prepares to lead new Millennial

By Terry Shropshire When Clark Atlanta University selected Dr. Ronald A. Johnson as the new president of Clark Atlanta University, they got a powerful package deal. He and his wife Irene Johnson, the First Lady-elect say are a Houston power couple of the highest order. The president-elect has managed $3 billion in assets at Smith Graham & Company and $2 billion with Templeton, while the soon-tobe first-lady-elect acquired a multi-million dollar contract for NASA in Houston, Texas. Johnson, who is currently the Dean of Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business, will take over for outgoing president, the acclaimed Dr. Carlton E. Brown, on July 1, 2015, Brown will officially retire on June 30. “There are few institutions in the United States, HBCU or otherwise, with the rich dual history, the intellectual legacy and the tradition of scholar- activism that defines Clark Atlanta,” Johnson said. “Now the University will look to its future, harnessing a tremendous wealth of academic talent, a nation-wide expanse of passionate, multi-generational alumni and opportunities to create strategic alliances that will elevate its competitive advantage.” Johnson comes to Atlanta from another mega-city, Houston, bringing with him a vast amount of experience and expertise that include leading business development teams in over 25 foreign nations and serving as a consultant to heads of government and their administrations on macro-economic policy. The Brooklyn-born Johnson holds a B.A. in economics and an MBA in finance from Adelphi University. He earned an M.A. and doctoral degree in economics from Stanford University. CAU’s Board of Trustees Chairman Alexander B. Cummings Jr. said hiring Johnson was a no-brainer. “In Ronald Johnson, we have identified a scholar of tremendous intellect, a global financier with impeccable credentials, an institution builder with a demonstrable record of successes, a fundraiser with high developed strategic acumen and a compassionate role model whose obvious desire to engage and empower students is born out of his personal journey.” Cummings said. “We were looking for someone who would bring a lot of experience from, one, the private sector experience, someone with academic experience, someone with pristine academic credentials and we found Dr. Ronald Johnson,” Cummings added. “He’s a Ph.D, and he’s been the dean at Texas Southern University also at Western Carolina. He’s been in turnaround situations. We’re very fortunate to have someone with very wide experience in

ADW | 2

the private sector and academia who’s well credentialed to lead our institution. Johnson rose to the top of the pool of illustrious candidates not only because of his ability to lead large national and intercontinental organizations, projects and companies, but also his knack for discerning what the new-Millennial student needs to compete in the global marketplace. “One of the things that I truly am a believer in is that the student experience and the delivery mechanism of knowledge in the classroom is as important as the content,” Johnson told the Atlanta Daily World following a press conference. “And so, speaking with faculty and speaking with administrators on the academic side, I really would like them to explore opportunities for the students to be; engaged in community, develop experiential education and find ways to get to what I call ‘aha!’ discovery without having to be imprisoned in a seat. Seat time and knowledge accumulation are really not correlation. That’s what I learned about this generation. Moving forward, Johnson said his job is to inculcate the students of today with the tools, resources and education sufficient enough to handle the multiplicity of choices and opportunities they face today in comparison to a generation or two ago. “I would like to really see the students have choices. Because I really think it’s all about choices. When we look at African Americans from, say, 50 years ago and they finished with a college degree, you could be a schoolteacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a dentist. You could run a funeral home, [be a] post office worker or a Pullman car porter. That’s it,” Johnson said. “Now we have choices and opportunities to fit in the spaces that we 50 years ago did not have the opportunity to fit into. So I would say for the students, I would like for them to have the benefit of choice so they could take their gifts and talents and match it to the area of interests they have. If you match your gifts and talents and combine them with what you really like, you explode.

Johnson’s wife, Irene, a power player in her own right, said she is eager to bring her private and education experience — as well as her passion for the arts — to CAU. “I am so happy to bring my personal touches to CAU. I’m really looking forward to engaging with the alumni and the CAU community,” Irene Johnson said. “I’m very passionate about the arts and humanity, and I hope to get very engaged here on the campus of CAU with the art gallery and the literary arts. I’m really excited about the possibilities here and leveraging the wonderful collections and the works that are already here.” Johnson also indicated he would work to garner the support of former Clark students. “We really have to engage our alumni and bring them together so that we have a foundation for takeoff. Without having the alumni there for the foundation, it’s going to be very difficult. As you know the adage that it takes a village. Well it’s time for African Americans to take command of our institutions. We’re in a world where we can no longer depend from support from other folks, nor should we look for support from other folks and certainly the government has helped, but it’s no longer a reliable partner,” said Johnson. Johnson says he’ll focus identifying ways to operate for the common good of the AU Center, especially in light of volatile and opposing forces in the market place. We can look for ways to become more effective and efficient in the use of resources. To have additional partners is, I think, a plus. There is really no other place like this in the country, where you can just walk across the pod, it is very unique. There are places where are consortiums, but you have to travel: Silicon Valley in California, the Research Triangle, the consortium in Massachusetts. You can’t just walk across the street. And that’s something that is really unique and special here at the AUC.”

Atlanta Daily World

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 Roz Edward

Managing Editor / Interim Advertising Director redward@realtimesmedia

Terry Shropshire

Web Editor tshropshire@realtimesmedia

Juan Sifuentes

Graphic Designer jsifuentes@realtimesmedia.com

Atlanta Daily World is powered by Real Times Media The Atlanta Daily World is not responsible for unsolicited photos, manuscripts, etc., unless return is requested with postage. Address all correspondence to and make checks payable to Atlanta Daily World, rather than to individuals.

April 9-15, 2015

NEWS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

April 9-15, 2015

Georgia Commute Options offers solutions to Atlanta traffic congestion Georgia Commute Options, a Georgia DOT program designed to encourage alternatives to driving to work alone, is planning a week’s worth of activities to celebrate the launch of its new Be The Solution initiative. With Be The Solution, Georgia Commute Options empowers commuters to take action to reduce Atlanta traffic on a large scale by choosing alternatives to driving alone, like carpooling, teleworking and taking transit. Atlantans can act now to make a positive impact on our region’s traffic issues and become the solution to local gridlock. Georgia Commute Options will use each day during the week of April 13 – 17 to highlight different alternative commute modes: • Monday, April 13 – Transit (Train & Bus) • Tuesday, April 14 – Bus & Vanpool • Wednesday, April 15 – Bus & Vanpool • Thursday, April 16 – Telework • Friday, April 17 – Carpool, Bike & Walk

“Metro Atlanta’s traffic congestion affects all of us, and we can all take action to improve it,” said Georgia DOT State Transportation Planning Administrator Cindy VanDyke. “By reducing the number of vehicles on the road through the Georgia Commute Options incentive programs, commuters don’t just have solutions — they, in fact, become the solution to traffic congestion throughout our region.” The Georgia Commute Options’ Be The Solution Launch Week will begin with a transit promotion during the morning commute at MARTA’s Arts Center Station with a live broadcast with V103’s “Ryan Cameron Morning Show.” The day’s promotion will continue in the afternoon commute with Majic 107.5’s “The Ride” broadcasting live along with a live remote by B98.5. Other launch week activities include: surprise vanpool rewards at 13 Park & Ride lots; a carpool selfie contest through Majic 107.5;

promotional activities at the April 13th Atlanta Hawks game; a telework “outside office” installation at the corner of 10th and Peachtree Street; and “energizer stations” for cyclists in midtown and downtown Atlanta. An integrated marketing campaign will also launch on April 13th with advertising

in the form of digital billboards, radio, bus shelters and online ads, designed to encourage more commuters to choose alternatives to driving alone. For more information, visit www.GaCommuteOptions.com.

Ghana Council of Georgia welcomes new Ambassador to Atlanta

GDOL to co-sponsor Atlanta Career Expo The Georgia Department of Labor, the City of Atlanta, and Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church will co-sponsor a career expo Thursday, April 16, in Atlanta. The expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Adamsville Recreation Center, 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, S. W. The event originally had been scheduled for Feb. 26, but was cancelled due to a winter storm. The expo will feature a number of employers, educational institutions, and resource agencies that provide assistance to job seekers. The employers will be hiring or discussing current and future employment opportunities, while other organizations will provide education and other resources. Those expected to participate in the event include: Advance Auto Parts, All(n)1 Security Services, America’s Thrift Stores, Areas USA, AT&T Staffing, Atlanta Police Department, Avon, Brenau University, Central Michigan University, Clayton County Public Schools, Comcast, Community Friendship,

April 9-15, 2015

DeVry University, Diesel Driving Academy, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Georgia Community Support and Solutions, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Global Protective Services, Globe Chemical Company, Herzing University, Legal Shield, Lowe’s, MARTA, New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Primerica Financial Services, Teachers R US, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. Applicants should bring plenty of resumes and be prepared to fill out company applications and interview for available jobs. Attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately to improve their chances for employment. For more information about the event, contact the GDOL’s Janice Burley-Black at (404) 210-0072 or email Janice.Burley-Black@gdol.ga.gov.

The Ghana Council of Georgia will host a town hall meeting as they welcome the newly appointed ambassador of Ghana to the United States, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith. The forum will cover a variety of topics of interest geared towards the concerns of the Ghana constituency here in Georgia. The topics range from business possibilities in Ghana to education and health related issues. His Excellency wishes to address these concerns while meeting his compatriots in the Diaspora. He has informed the council that his aim is to genuinely lend on open ear to the community. Everyone is invited to attend the forum, especially those who have a direct interest and or ties to the Republic of Ghana. The event will be held April 20, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at Jesus Power Assemblies of God Church, 351 Pike Blvd. in Lawrenceville. The town hall meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Ghana Council of Georgia.

3 | ADW

April 9-15, 2015

BUSINESS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Red Carpet Tour® brings business prospects to Georgia AtlAntA DAily WorlD

The 2015 Georgia Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Tour® kicks off Wednesday, April 8 and runs through Saturday, April 11. Twenty-four business leaders who are planning to locate or expand from throughout the nation and the world are participating in this year’s tour, which will visit the Governor’s Mansion, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and the Masters® golf tournament in Augusta. Each year, the Tour highlights the beauty, hospitality and business friendly economic environment Georgia has to offer. Guests are accompanied by a host committee of business leaders in order to learn first-hand the advantages of locating in the state. “The Georgia Chamber is proud to be a host of the Red Carpet Tour, our state’s premier economic development event,” said

Georgia Chamber president and CEO Chris Clark. “As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, this has been one of our most successful economic development efforts, generating tens of thousands of jobs for Georgians.” “The Red Carpet Tour is a great opportunity to showcase Georgia and build relationships with top business leaders from around the world,” said Chair of the 2015 Red Carpet Tour and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr. “This event is a testament to the strong public-private partnerships that support the growth of our economy while creating jobs and investment opportunities across Georgia.” The 2015 Red Carpet Tour is conducted in partnership with Georgia Allies and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Atlanta Hawks introduce Atlanta Brews at Philips Arena

By Terry Shropshire The Atlanta Hawks is not the only entity whose stock has skyrocketed nationally. Hot-lanta’s reputation as a premiere beer city has also expanded substantially in recent years. The Hawks are presenting responsible adult guests at Philips Arena with the opportunity to “drink local” during Hawks home

ADW | 4

games. The team announced a collaborative effort with Atlanta Beverage Company to open the “Atlanta Brews” craft beer stand. “Atlanta continues to gain recognition as one of America’s best beer cities, so we are thrilled to offer options from outstanding local breweries to our guests,” said Trey Feazell, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Philips Arena. “As we remain focused on staying ‘True to Atlanta,’ we believe ‘Atlanta Brews’ will deepen our connection to the city and Hawks fans.” Located outside of Portal 5 in the “Hawk Walk” section of the arena, “Atlanta Brews” features beers from: Monday Night Brewing and Red Hare Brewing Company, and also serves selections from JailHouse Brewing Company, Jekyll Brewing, Orpheus Brewing, Three Taverns Craft Beers and Red Brick Brewing Company. The beer stand made its debut on Friday, March 27 when the Hawks defeated the Miami Heat 99-86. Sales of alcohol at Philips Arena conclude at the end of the third quarter. For more information on the Atlanta Hawks, please visit www.Hawks.com

Get Connected, Stay Informed ADWnews.com

Facebook.com/ADWnews Follow us @ADWnews

April 9-15, 2015

COMMUNITY Comcast, Mayor Reed and Arthur Blank Foundation commit to Comcast Cares Day project

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

On Saturday, April 25, Comcast President and CEO Neil Smit and more than 300 local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community partners will “make change happen” as they volunteer to improve Atlanta’s Vine City community as part of the 14th annual Comcast Cares Day. Comcast Cares Day, which takes place each April during National Volunteer Month, is Comcast NBCUniversal’s companywide celebration of their year-round commitment to service, and the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer effort in the country. Comcast volunteers, elected officials, and community partners invite Metro Atlanta residents to join them at Comcast’s marquee project on Saturday, April 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they beautify the Vine City community and the Higher Ground Empowerment Center, in partnership with the Arthur Blank Foundation and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Other project partners include the Kamp Kizzy Foundation and Usher’s New Look. The Vine City project will encompass various neighborhood beautification initiatives including gardening, landscaping, general clean-up, building a handicap-accessible ramp, installing fencing, updating a soccer field, and creating recreational areas for children.

April 9-15, 2015

“We are honored to partner with Mayor Kasim Reed and the Arthur Blank Foundation to support the ongoing transformation of the Vine City community during our 14th annual Comcast Cares Day,” said Comcast Regional Senior Vice President Doug Guthrie. “We are thankful to those who will

be donating their time to help make a difference in the lives of others.” More than 4,500 Comcast Cares volunteers will work at 44 projects across Georgia that support digital literacy, children’s education, food banks, building outdoor classrooms, landscaping, and revitalization. To find a project in your area, visit www.ComcastintheCommunity.com. “Comcast Cares Day demonstrates what’s possible in a day,” said Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation. “It truly is amazing to see the transformations that take place when communities mobilize to revitalize neglected neighborhood parks, beautify schools to improve the learning environment, stock community food banks, plant trees, install and wire computer labs at community centers, and so much more. Each year I am inspired by the generosity of everyone who gives back – not just on Comcast Cares Day, but all year

long.” People interested in supporting this project can register at www.ComcastintheCommunity.com

Because money does not grow on trees.

That’s why I installed a programmable thermostat and got a $100 rebate. I saved money by installing the thermostat myself. I also qualified for the full $100 Georgia Power rebate. B y f o l l o w i n g j u s t a f e w o f t h e e a s y, m o n e y - s a v i n g t i p s o n G e o r g i a P o w e r ’s w e b s i t e , I ’ v e b e e n a b l e t o r e a p some great cash rewards. For more information on tips and other rebates, visit georgiapower.com/save. Georgia Power customers may be eligible to receive a rebate of 50% of the installed cost up to $100 for upgrading from a standard to a programmable thermostat. Certain preconditions and requirements must be met in order to qualify for this rebate. Rebate available through December 2014. Application and receipt/invoice must be submitted within 60 days of purchase or installation. ©2014. Georgia Power Company. All rights reserved.

April 9-15, 2015

5 | ADW

HEALTH

April 9-15, 2015

Delta and Morehouse College to host 5k Heart Walk

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Georgia, Alabama sign agreement to protect children Leaders of child welfare agencies in Alabama and Georgia signed an agreement Friday that eliminates barriers for social workers seeking homes for vulnerable children on the two states’ border. The Georgia-Alabama Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) Border Agreement allows for greater cooperation between the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services and the Alabama Department of Human Resources as the agencies work to provide safe and stable housing for both youth who are in foster care and for children who are at risk of entering state custody.

The Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine will host its 36th Annual Health Fair and 5k Heart Walk on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Greenbriar Mall. This year’s health fair will engage the community through exercise and living a well- balanced life. The event is free and open to the public with free health screenings available onsite. The 5k Heart Walk will begin at 8:00am, and will include a warm-up by dance and fitness guru Step Stewart from the Dr. Oz television show. It is anticipated that more than 500 people from the Southwest Atlanta community will attend the health fair. More than 50 vendors will provide education on lupus, ovarian cancer, kidney disease, as well as free health screenings for blood pressure and diabetes.

Atlanta kids get important allergy relief Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta, Inc. applauds Georgia legislators for passing Senate Bill 126, which will provide access to epinephrine auto-injectors in public facilities, and urges Gov. Nathan Deal to sign the bill. This new law will make epinephrine – which is first line medication to treat anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction – available in public places such as restaurants, recreation camps, youth sports leagues, theme parks, resorts, and sports arenas. “This is good news for any Georgian with food allergies,” says Dr. Karen Freedle, Pediatric Allergist with the Children’s Physician Group, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University and Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta board member. “The legislation could be life-saving for anyone having anaphylaxis. It allows trained individuals access to an epinephrine auto-injector so that they can give the medically necessary medication to those who need it.” Anaphylaxis can happen at any time and can be caused by food, medications, insect venom, latex, and other allergens. Early use of epinephrine improves a person’s chance for survival. Symptoms may initially be mild, such as itching or rash, but can then turn serious very quickly, causing shortness of breath, shock or even death. “We applaud the Georgia General Assembly for passing this bill,” said Karen Harris, Founder of Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta and Vice President of Restaurant and Food Industry Services for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team. “By having epinephrine auto-injectors readily available in public places, citizens and businesses are better protected. We must ensure entities are aware of this new law and that they understand the importance to have epinephrine auto-injectors available to use in cases of emergency.”

ADW | 6

In addition to offering better protection to those who currently suffer from life-threatening allergies, or to those who may experience anaphylaxis for the first time, the new law will also provide civil liability protection for pharmacists who fill the medication, health care providers who write the prescriptions, and others who maintain and administer this emergency treatment, in accordance with the law. Georgia was one of the first states to enact statewide legislation allowing schools to stock epinephrine. Food allergies are on the rise and there is no cure. A CDC report estimates that “between 1997 and 1999, food allergies affected about 3.4 percent of American children. By 2009 to 2011, that number rose to 5.1 percent – an increase of 50 percent in just over a decade.”

April 9-15, 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

ENTERTAINMENT

April 9-15, 2015

UNCF an Evening of Stars® features Big Sean, Toni Braxton, Morris Day and Babyface Big Sean, Toni Braxton, Babyface, Mickey Guyton and Morris Day & the Time will perform at the UNCF An Evening of Stars®. Kevin Hart, Chris Paul, Pharrell Williams and Usher will make special taped appearances on the show, which has been the hallmark of African American superstars supporting education for 36 years. Also joining the show to present will be stars of television, film and music including Ludacris, Trai Byers, Jermaine Dupri, Grace Gealey, Dania Ramirez, Tamia and Grant Hill and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. They join the show’s host Anthony Anderson and previously announced performers K. Michelle, Yolanda Adams and Estelle along with “Empire’s” Jussie Smollett. UNCF an Evening of Stars® will tape at the Atlanta Civic Center on April 12 and air nationally on BET, Sunday, April 26, at 10 p.m. EST. UNCF an Evening of Stars® will also air in syndication on April 25 and 26 (check local listings for dates and times). Turning up the energy this year, HBCU choirs will take the stage to appear with some of the night’s performers. Big Sean will perform “One Man Can Change the World” accompanied by the Miles College Choir. Estelle and Jussie Smollett, who will be singing the duet version of her single “Conqueror,” will be joined by the Dillard University Concert Choir. And, joining Yolanda Adams on stage to perform the gospel anthem “How I Got Over” will be the Talladega College Choir. This year’s show is made possible by national sponsors McDonald’s and Wells Fargo. Target, is an official sponsor and also serves as a “Rising Stars” scholarship sponsor. Buick is a major sponsor. The City of Atlanta, iHeartMedia and BET Networks serve as the city and media partners, respectively. The Walton Family Foundation is a philanthropic partner. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, returns to produce UNCF An Evening of Stars® for the third year. The

veteran producer has produced award-winning television programming including the GRAMMY® Awards, the BET Awards, BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards. He has worked with superstar talent including Beyoncé, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and Kid Rock. Collins is also executive producer of the BET hit series “The Real Husbands of Hollywood” starring Kevin Hart, which won an NAACP Image Award® for Outstanding Comedy Series. Tickets to the show’s taping can be purchased at www.UNCF.org/AEOStickets.

NeNe Leakes gets huge raise and spinoff Atlanta Daily World from ‘RHOA’ Every year…the same story. NeNe Leakes was reportedly ready to leave “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” fed up that her career has outgrown the Bravo series, but the network ponied up some huge coin to keep her around – and this time a spinoff series was part of the deal. According to radaronline: Leakes announced her new reality show with Kim Zolciak, called “NeNe And Kim: The Road To Riches” last week, and a source revealed what the behind-the-scenes negotiations were. “NeNe absolutely hated ‘Housewives’ this season. She hated almost all of the other women and wanted off the show entirely,” the source said. “But she is the most valuable person in the entire franchise and Bravo was going to do whatever she wanted to keep her. So they offered her the spin-off, which she gladly took,” said the source. As previously reported, Leakes did the bare minimum to promote RHOA this season, but the Bravo execs didn’t care and made her return virtually impossible to turn down. “They want NeNe, so they offered her a huge raise. She already makes the most and now they’re giving her even more money per episode and her bonuses will be bigger too,” the source claimed. Leakes was already making a whopping $1.5 million for this season and she made sure she leveraged her unhappiness for her upcoming shows. “NeNe is a really smart business woman,” the source said. “She even got Bravo to pay her more than they’re paying Kim on the new show. NeNe knows she is the one people want to see, and so she’s going to make Bravo pay up to keep her around.”

April 9-15, 2015

n rsal Huma er is Unive Decemb n ir huma ople the pe ir ny ge the To de to challen rights is nity. very huma -Nelson

nth

Rights Mo

Mandela

17, 2014

11December

ort F o t s e o Madea Geson and... McPher

by Powered

Volume

es Media

orld.com taDailyW www.Atlan

Real Tim

e 18 87 • Issu

credible ing an in re,” rry is gett ac “Tyler Pe ying $92,000 an Khanna, - Ayesha thority deal – pa nt Au n McPherso

herson developme Local Re er on Fort McP ge 2 memb ase. | Pa land purch

7 | ADW

ENTERTAINMENT Albany State University presents musical drama “Spunk”

April 9-15, 2015

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

The Albany State University Division of Speech and Theatre presents “Spunk,” a production of the acclaimed musical drama developed by playwright George C. Wolfe. “Spunk” is an adaptation of three short stories, “Sweat,” “A Story in Harlem Slang” and “The Gilded Six-Bits,” all by renowned writer Zora Neale Hurston. The production will run April 9 through April 12 in the Billy C. Black Auditorium, with 7:30 p.m. performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. production on Sunday. “This is a continuation of last year’s Big Read initiative, where we honored Zora Neale Hurston,” said Eve Lambert, Ph.D., ASU assistant professor for the department of fine arts. Also, George C. Wolfe is directing a Broadway production. We’re really honoring two black theater artists.” Although all three of the original stories were written during the Harlem Renaissance era, Hurston’s writing focused largely on the lives of black Americans living in the rural South. “Zora Neale Hurston is a great story storyteller,” said Ray Proctor, Ph.D., director of the production and ASU assistant professor of speech and theatre. “Storytelling is how African-Americans have held on to our identity, our history and our humanity. Hurston’s stories are our stories because they are stories about our cousins, and aunts and ancestors. We know the people in these stories, not as ghosts or fictions, but as real people who continue to populate the fabric of our lives.” General admission to the production is $5. Tickets are available at the door. Admission is free for ASU students, faculty and staff with proper ASU ID.

Photos by Kevin Berne

Ludacris and ‘Ludaverse’ at DTLR in Atlanta

By Terry Shropshire Ludacris is the people’s champ. Ever since his first autograph signing just after midnight at the defunct Earwax record store in Midtown 15 years ago, where he rocked a Kangol and cornrows and celebrated the debut of Back for the First Time, Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges has been ripping off rapid-fire rhymes and giving back to the community with equal aplomb. The Universe has undoubtedly repaid the hip hop heavyweight handsomely for planting those seeds of greatness in others. His

ADW | 8

monstrous month of April 2015 has included a major motion picture, Furious 7, that has already broken records overseas as well as shattered Universal studio standards of box office success in the United States. Luda received a lot of love in return for his loyalty to the ATL, particularly Hot-lanta’s south side when throngs of fans turned out for the signing of his 8th studio album, Ludaverse, at DTLR shoe store at the Camp Creek marketplace, replete with V103’s famed DJ Greg Street and DTLR’s radio stations on hand. Photo by Terry Shropshire

Our Lifestyles. Our Opinions. Our News. April 9-15, 2015

EDUCATION Julliard School accepts first Atlanta native in over 40 years

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

Zoe Hollinshead

April 9-15, 2015

On Saturday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m, DanceMakers of Atlanta will host a College Day reception to honor all seven of its graduating seniors. All program graduates who have been accepted to selective elite college programs that many students only dream of attending. Most of the graduates listed below will pursue careers in dance: Nieya Amesquita St. Pius X Catholic High School; Jazmine Freeman Westlake High School; Zoe Hollinshead Westlake High School; Takia Hopson Douglas County High School; Jazmyn James Benjamin E. Mays High School; Brianne Sellars North Springs High School, and Danielle Swatzie DeKalb School of the Arts Many of the highly selective colleges and universities DanceMakers students will attend accept fewer than 50 or fewer freshman nationwide each year. Tuition for most of these institutions range from $30,000.00 to $60,000.00 each year.

The DanceMakers of Atlanta perform “Saeglopur” at JUMP Among the illustrious graduates is 17-year old dancer, Zoe Hollinshead, who has been accepted into the BFA Dance program at The Julliard School in the Lincoln Arts Center in the city of New York. The Julliard School is one of the world’s most renowned and recognized private, premier arts conservatory colleges. Each year The Julliard School only selects 6% of its applicant pool. For the Dance Department that equates to 12 women and 12 men out of a pool of over 1,000 applicants from about 40 different countries. Zoe is the first Atlanta native in over 40 years, and one of very few African Americans to achieve such

an honor. The application and audition process is challenging to say the least. Students train for years just to have the opportunity to audition and are sometimes cut before the end of the class portion of the audition. Advanced skill is required. Being selected is like winning the “Heisman Trophy” of dance. This is a unique and amazing accomplishment for Zoe, her family, her dance school, her community and her state. Juilliard alumni have collectively won more than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26 Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts.

Spelman College announces Game Changers: Women of Color Conference Dynamic women visionaries who are leading in the field of technology will be honored at the 11th Annual Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference May 13-14, in Atlanta at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. Convened by Jane E. Smith, Ed.D., executive director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at Spelman, the conference will showcase a host of influential women and their perspectives on the theme, “New School Leaders of the Digital Era.” “Technology is embedded in everything we do,” said Smith. “This year’s conference will offer bold, new-age strategies on how to successfully navigate and harness the influence of the various digital platforms and concepts that impact our reality. It will also focus on how women of color are a critical part of this digital movement. The digital world transcends demographics and is a driving force in our society, which makes the topic and timing of this conference ideal.” Spelman will celebrate the impact and influence of exceptional women leaders in the digital era with the conference’s annual Game Changers Awards. A Game Changers honoree is a 21st century leader who is powerful, forward thinking and embraces her drive for excellence. Recognized for their exemplary leadership and commitment to creating positive change, the following women (and others) will be presented with the 2015 Game Changers Award:

April 9-15, 2015

Kathryn Finney, founder of digitalundivided; Jacqui Chew, founder/CEO of iFusion Marketing; Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code, and Lauren Wesley Wilson, president of ColorComm Inc. are among the illustrious women to be honored. Groundbreaking female speakers who are driving the charge in the information age will also be showcased at the conference. On day two, a panel of media leaders will examine the make-or-break reality of communicating in a 24/7 global news cycle and the new rules needed for responsible reporting in the digital era. A few of the confirmed media panelists include: Shelly Jones Jennings, vice president and director of digital for Earl G. Graves Ltd./ Black Enterprise; Mary Hudetz, editor of Native Peoples magazine and Doris Truong, home page editor at The Washington Post. Previous speakers include Carol’s Daughter Founder Lisa Price, journalist Roland S. Martin, actress Nicole Ari Parker, corporate executive Kimberly Davis, media expert Arianna Huffington and White House director Kiran Ahuja. The 2015 conference will be held May 1314, 2015, at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. The two-day event will explore “New School Leaders in the Digital Era” and feature notable leaders in the technology and digital industries

small playingone you be found the ssion to t is less than la is no pa Mande “There g for a life tha - Nelson ” living. 2015 in settlin lable of ry 19-25, Februa are cap

by Powered

es Med

Real Tim

.com ailyWorld tlantaD www.A

• Issue 28 ume 87

Vol

Publishes Every Thursday

srict to ’ a i g r o t e is Grtunity SchoohlrDonically’

Oppo over 100 ‘c ols take failing scho

9 | ADW

CLASSIFIEDS

April 9-15, 2015

It pays to advertise in the Atlanta Daily World.

Contact ADW sales representative at

678-515-2053 or redward@realtimesmedia.com

Subscribe for 2 Years and Save! RATES: Mail Subscription Rates (Check one) 1 Year for $52 2 Years for $85 PAYMENT: Check, Money Order, American Express, MasterCard or VISA

Credit Card#: Name: Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Phone: Email: CLIP AND MAIL: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354

How to place a Classified Ad ONLINE: www.atlantadailyworld.com MAIL: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway • Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30354 EMAIL: redward@realtimesmedia.com TELEPHONE: 678-515-2053 PAYMENT: Cash, check, or credit card DEADLINE: Every Tuesday, 12:00 pm (noon) RATES: Open Classified Advertising Rates $25.00 for four lines . Additional lines $5.50 each. A line consist of 26 characters including spaces and punctuation. All rates listed above apply to line ads. DISPLAY ADS: Contact 678-515-2053 or redward@realtimesmedia.com

ADW | 10

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD – Pick Up Locations Auburn Avenue Library - 101 Auburn Avenue The Apex Museum - 135 Auburn Avenue Silver Moon Barber - 202 Auburn Avenue Sweet Auburn Grocery - 210 Auburn Avenue Rib Shack - 302 Auburn Avenue SCLC - 328 Auburn Avenue Auburn Cleaners - 388 Auburn Avenue McGhee Tennis Center - 820 Beecher Street Big Daddy - 3085 Campbellton Avenue Nail Spot - 589 Cascade Road Kroger - 590 Cascade Road Stylistic Hair Salon - 590 Cascade Road Shear Barber Shop - 590 Cascade Road Cascade Nail - 590 Cascade Road Spark Unisex - 591 Cascade Road Ethnic Braid - 593 Cascade Road China Cafereria - 609 Cascade Road Cascade Grill - 1053 Cascade Road CVS - 2237 Cascade Road Big Daddy - 2284 Cascade Road Frills Hair Salon - 2290 Cascade Road Dream Wings - 2292 Cascade Road Louisana Seafood - 2298 Cascade Road Health Essential - 2329 Cascade Road Hans Express - 2345 Cascade Road J R Cricket - 2348 Cascade Road Kroger - 3425 Cascade Road Papa John’s - 3425 Cascade Road Atlanta Fulton Library - 3665 Cascade Road PUBLIX - 3695 Cascade Road Pak Mail Center - 3695 Cascade Road Tire Plus - 3735 Cascade Road Kaiser Permante - 1175 Cascade Parkway Dixie News - 13 Decatur Street Chanterelles - 646 Evans Street Baltimore Crab - 1075 Fairburn Road Trends Barber Shop - 1075 Fairburn Road LT’S - 1270 Fairburn Road Mr Abdullai - 2377 Fairburn Road Ben Hill Rec Center - 2405 Fairburn Road The Barber Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy The Herb Shop - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Le Nails - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Salon Culture - 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Medu Book Store 2841 Greenbrair Pkwy Citgo Service Station - 2995 Headline Drive Master Beauty Supply - 3031 Headline Driver Mr Everything - 870 Martin L King Dr

Advertise Services Our Readers Need in the ADW Classifides! Handyman Contractors Cleaning Services Electricians

Plumbers Roofers and More!

Call 678-515-2053 or email redward@realtimesmedia.com

Citizen Trust Bank - 965 Martin L King Dr Atlanta Library - 1116 Martin L King Dr Shell Service Station - 1720 Martin L King Dr M L K Coin Laundry - 2860 Martin L King Dr African Braid - 3050 Martin L King Dr Adamville Rec Center - 3201 Martin L King Dr Adamville Library - 3424 Martin L King Dr Shummy - 3550 Martin L King Dr Linda’s Cleaners - 3565 Martin L King Dr Yasin - 3641 Martin L King Dr Washington Park - 101 Ollie Street Washington Tennis Center - 102 Ollie Street 100 Black Men of Atlanta - 241 Peachtree Street Kanley Restaurant - 75 Piedmont Road Citizen Trust Bank - 75 Piedmont Road Post Office - 576 Piedmont Road PUBLIX - 595 Piedmont Road Playmaker Barber - 270 Ponce De Leon Eats - 600 Ponce De Leon Borders - 650 Ponce De Leon Kroger - 725 Ponce De Leon Dugus - 777 Ponce De Leon PUBLIX - 1007 Ponce De Leon Merkerson’s Fish Market - 740 Ralph D Albernathy Blvd SW Scott Library - 1917 Candler Road CVS - 2458 Candler Road Gene Package - 2538 Candler Road Gene Laundrymat - 2538 Candler Road Big Men Package - 2594 Candler Road Kelly Express - 2701 Candler Road Dramatic Design - 2701 Candler Road Music Media - 2701 Candler Road Amber Bristo - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway Master Barber - 3910 Flat Shoel Parkway Dollar Insurance - 3806 Flat Shoel Parkway T Nails - 3665 Flat Shoel Parkway Kroger - 2875 N Decatur Road PUBLIX - 2155 N Decatur Road Kroger - 3108 Briar Hill Road Post Office - 3104 Briar Hill Road Up Sweep Beauty Salon - 3649 Flakes Mills Road PUBLIX - 3655 Flakes Mills Road Mo Better Restaurant - 3927 Flat Shoals Parkway Barber Shop - 3929 Flat Shoals Parkway PUBLIX - 3870 N Druid Hills Road Helen S. Mills Multi Purpose Facility - 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. SE Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Advertisers the ADW Advertising Department Now Accepts Credit Cards for Ad Payments We Accept...

Publishes Every Thursday April 9-15, 2015

VIEWPOINTS

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux

by Lee A. Daniels

Cheating to the test

Eleven Atlanta teachers have been convicted of altering student test scores on standardized tests. They are charged with racketeering and conspiracy. The much-celebrated Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Beverly Hall (she was named Superintendent of the year in 2009), was among the indicted but was too ill to stand trial (she died March 2). Another group of teachers, principals and administrators took plea bargains. A total of 178 people were accused of taking part in the cheating “scam”, and in 2011, Dr. Hall reminded observers that “we have over 3000 teachers in Atlanta,” and just a few were part of the cheating scandal. Dr. Hall also denied any knowledge of the cheating. Until her illness, she insisted that she wanted to stand trial and clear her name. Those 11 convicted were taken straight from the courtroom to jail. Sentencing should take place next week, and they can be sentenced to as many as 20 years of incarceration. It is interesting to note that most of these teachers are African American. You can serve as few as 15 years for second-degree murder in Georgia, and as little as a year for involuntary manslaughter. Further, most convicted offenders get a day or even months to go home and straighten out their affairs. Does this punishment fit the crime? These Atlanta teachers aren’t the only teachers involved in similar cheating scams. According to one source there have been allegations in as many as 39 states, with at least a dozen cases showing evidence of rampant cheating. A year ago, 130 Philadelphia educators were accused of cheating. In September, several were ordered to stand trial. Why have those who chose a low-paid and little-regarded profession stoop to cheating on standardized tests? Are they judged by the number of students who pass these flawed tests, and the number who fail? Is there a culture of cheating in too many of our nation’s schools? Is there a culture There is no excuse for the cheating in Atlanta, or that in Philadelphia, or in El Paso, where the school superintendent was imprisoned for reporting faulty test scores. While there is no excuse, it would be foolhardy to ignore the pressure that many face when federal laws mandate the use of standardized tests to “prove” that teachers and schools are doing their jobs. In some districts, like Atlanta, teachers are given bonuses when their students do well on tests, and may be terminated when students do not. Even now, after revisions in teacher evaluation, half of teacher performance is based on standardized tests. The consequences are high when students don’t do well on standardized tests. Teachers can be reassigned, or schools can be closed if there are too many poor-performing students enrolled. Again, no excuse for cheating. As flawed as standardized tests are, students and their families are denied some basic knowledge about the skills that standardized test can measure

April 9-15, 2015

(bearing in mind that standardized tests can be both culturally biased and manipulated). Still, it makes sense to look at the many ways that the system encourages teachers to manipulate, if not outright cheat, when they administer standardized tests. Some schools spend days preparing students to take the tests. They aren’t spending days teaching the material students must learn, just the rote material needed to pass standardized tests. Passing a test in English and grammar may prove some proficiency, but does it prove that a student can write a paragraph or an essay, or engage in critical thinking? When teachers spend too much time focused on standardized testing and not enough on course content, are they cheating students? In teaching to the test, are they cheating to the test? I’m not referring to the multiple erasures that investigators found on some of the Atlanta tests, or schemes that excluded poor-performing students from testing so average grades could be higher. I’m referring to teachers who choose to teach content that they know will show up on the test, or those who spend tens of hours in “practice sessions” with old copies of tests used as drills. From my perspective students are being cheated when there is too much emphasis placed on standardized testing. One might ask how teachers and students can be evaluated without standardized tests, but there is an extensive body of research that suggests other methods of evaluating teachers, including classroom observation and curriculum review. Students, too, can be evaluated with out the taking annual standardized tests. It is interesting to note that an increasing number of colleges do not use standardized tests to evaluate students for admissions because they think such tests are flawed. Obviously, there must be some way to measure progress among students, and proficiency among teachers. Still, standardized test results should not be tied to teacher compensation, or to threats of school closings. If standardized tests are one way to measure results, they must be combined with other measures to ensure fairness. The conviction of 11 Atlanta teachers should give us all pause. Those convicted teachers, and those others engaged in cheating scams are hurting students and raising questions about teacher integrity. It makes sense, though, to ask if there is a racial dynamic to leading nearly a dozen teachers, mostly African American, out of a courtroom in handcuffs. And it makes sense to wonder if the charge of racketeering is being applied to harshly for what is clearly illegal misconduct. While teaching to the test is not against the law, isn’t it cheating our students nearly as much as the scams?of “teaching to the test”?

‘Religious Freedom’ scams

Pity the poor, put-upon anti-gay bigots. Worried by recent steady march of federal court decisions advancing the right of gays and lesbians to marry, they tried to copy the Supreme Court majority’s flim-flam maneuver of last year in the Hobby Lobby case: By asserting a business is a “person,” they intended to enable business owners to discriminate against gay and lesbian prospective customers, and anyone else under the cover of “religious belief.” The blowback from corporate giants, religious denominations, cities and states, associations and organizations, and prominent entertainment and literary figures produced a thunderous roar succinctly expressed by the headline of the March 31 front-page editorial of the Indianapolis Star newspaper. In huge letters, it blared: “Fix This Now” Suddenly, faced with the likelihood of devastating economic boycotts, the two states’ governors and state legislatures quickly complied. By week’s end last week they had amended those particular so-called religious freedom restoration laws to declare they couldn’t be used to discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. (However, neither did either legislature enact specific statutes barring discrimination against, gays, lesbians and transgendered people.) But no one on the right side of history should think this ends the anti-gay rights campaign. Nor should they forget this episode’s lessons. For one thing, it’s underscored the true purpose of these “religious freedom” laws, which now exist in 19 other states and are being considered in an additional 14. That purpose, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to rule on same-sex marriage by this June, is to provide the anti-gay forces a means of escaping compliance with the seemingly inevitable affirmation of same-sex marriage by the federal judiciary. Secondly, these wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing laws offer further proof that the GOP down to its very roots in state and local communities has devolved from a political party ruled by the old traditions of give-and-take politics crucial to the functioning of a democratic society. It’s become one driven by an unceasing winnertake-all attitude that’s only barely concealed beneath a thin veneer of ultra-conservative religious dogma. Further, we should remember that the justifications for these laws are classic examples of the “hustle” used to pretend bigotry is not bigotry: those who want to discriminate against a particular group claim it’s that group, backed by “the government” who are “victimizing” them.

So, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence could assert, shortly after he signed the original state law, that “many feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action” in forcing them to accept gays and lesbians as customers of their businesses. One doesn’t have to be that well-versed in the Southern massive-resistance campaign against the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s to note the tawdry similarity: That region’s politicians also vociferously claimed that they were defending white citizens’ against attack by the federal government. And, as numerous other commentators have noted, many Southern Christians cited Biblical passages to justify their racism. The rationales for today’s anti-gay laws are just as despicable. Their advocates claim they’re needed because, as Eric Miller, executive director of the conservative group Advance America, said they could help Christian bakers, florists and photographers avoid punishment for “refusing to participate in a homosexual marriage.” Got that? Miller contends that any business owner who sells an item to or performs a service for a customer thereby becomes a “participant,” and “involved” in whatever it is the customer proceeds to do with the item. If you think that’s silly, look up some of the segregationists’ rationales for all the grand and petty laws of Jim Crow for further proof that bigotry is impervious to logic. The historian Jarret Ruminski ended his recent column on this latest effort to cloak intolerance in law with these words: “If I wanted to argue from a religious standpoint, I’d point out that rabid anti-gay stances conflict with Jesus’ injunctions to ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ And to ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged.’ Finally,” he wrote, “if I wanted to argue from the standpoint of basic human decency, I’d argue that love is always better than hate, and that hate shrouded under the banner of good intentions and blind moral absolutism is especially devious.” Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His essay, “Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Great Provocateur,” appears in Africa’s Peacemakers: Nobel Peace Laureates of African Descent (2014), published by Zed Books. His new collection of columns, Race Forward: Facing America’s Racial Divide in 2014, is available at www.amazon.com.

DIGITAL DAILY 11 | ADW

www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD

April 9-15, 2015

Atlanta Daily World for the advertisment results you are looking for.

Contact ADW sales representative at 678-515-2053 or redward@realtimesmedia.com ADW | 12

April 9-15, 2015