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Volume 88 • Issue 25
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Look inside for health-related news for you and your family on page 6 Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
School of Choice in Atlanta Pass Fail
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
COVER STORY
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Georgia celebrates School Choice with Ludacris and Keshia Knight Pulliam
By Terry Shropshire Throngs of children erupted in an outbreak of shrieks and excitement when Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges arrived to help usher in a celebration and to shine a spotlight on educational options in the state of Georgia, as well as the need to expand school options so that more families can benefit.
The rapper, producer and business owner knows there are too many Georgia students still trapped in failing schools. There is currently legislation (SB 91 and HB 234) before lawmakers, with the support of Gov. Nathan Deal, to expand statewide, educational choice by creating an Education Savings Account program. A group of education advocates combined their efforts for a rally at Liberty Plaza across from the state Capitol in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, Jan. 27 to highlight legislation aimed at expanding charter schools and other school choice options in Georgia. The rally was aimed at highlighting legislation (SB 91 and HB 234) to create more statewide, educational choice by creating a so-called Education Savings Account program. The event coincides with National School Choice Week, which features a series of rallies and other education-related events promoting school choice across the county. Ludacris received such a rousing ovation when he arrived because students, parents and educators know that he genuinely cares, appropriating almost as much time in the community as he does being bunkered up in his studio cranking out club anthems. Atlantans see Luda the philanthropist every year with the plethora of programs during Luda Weekend every Labor Day here in Atlanta to raise money for his Ludacris Foundation that helps children. And they’ve seen him provide holiday cheer to kids
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during Christmas in faraway places such as Los Angeles and Houston. So what the multiplatinum Grammy-winner hip hop heavyweight says resonates with children, not just because his booming baritone voice bellows through the air with greater force, but because kids know he actually cares about them. And kids don’t care what you know, until they know that you care. “I’m here because I know how education is vital for everybody’s future. And every child should be able to access the school that best meets their learning needs,” says the Grammy-winning rapper and businessman, who appeared with his wife Eudoxie and his longtime business partner and Disturbing tha Peace co-founder, Chaka Zulu. “As a father and as a husband, I know firsthand how important education is. But I realize that not all families have the financial means that my family possesses. And that’s why education is so important – regardless of income, regardless of ZIP Code, regardless of social status – all children should be able to access a great school, whether that’s the school closest to your house or through a scholarship tax credit. Education savings accounts should ensure that all children have access to great education. The purpose of this event to today is to highlight that we all have a choice. And we have to make our voices heard. For all the kids that are here today, if don’t think that your school is challenging you, you have to talk to your parents. And parents, we must stay involved.”
Keshia Knight Pulliam, another prolific philanthropist, who is best known for her roles in “The Cosby Show” and “House of Payne,” added that “we have to make sure that we advocate and speak up for children. I know the value of your voice. You have to speak up,” she said. “You have to start clubs that are in your interest. This year, this is your
world. That’s why I’m so excited to be a part of school choice.” The event was Hosted by Georgia Center for Opportunity. GCO is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to increasing opportunity and improving the quality of life for all Georgians. The organization researches solutions to society’s most pressing challenges, promotes those solutions to policymakers and the public, and helps innovative social enterprises deliver results on the ground. National School Choice Week 2016 was held Jan. 24 to Jan.30, with rallies taking place at state capital buildings in over 20 states. The NSC Week is the largest series of education-related events in U.S. history: • 16,140 total events across all 50 states • 13,224 schools of all types are holding events • 808 homeschool groups are holding events • 1,012 chambers of commerce are holding events • 27 governors have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their states • More than 200 mayors and county leaders have issued School Choice Week proclamations
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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
State Sen. Hunter Hill (R-Atlanta), says this issue transcends political affiliation or socioeconomic status or ethnicity. In fact, Hill calls the issue of school choice the civil rights issue of our time “and not just on the issue of diversity, but of income as well. You shouldn’t just be of the highest income to be able to go to private school,” said Hill, in an outdoor rally on the capitol steps, in the face of blistering winds and beneath overcast skies. “Everybody should have the opportunity to go to the school that best serves them and their needs. You’ve already taken the first step – you’re here and you’re involved. We are asking for your help as we move forward. We need you to contact your legislators. We need you to contact the leaders of the education committees and organizations to tell them or your support for education choices.” House Rep. Mike Glenn (D-Clayton County) takes it even a step further and calls what is unfolding before us educational-wise as a “revolution.” “This is not a black or white issue. This is about you, this is about being student focus and giving more opportunities. And don’t let anyone to take that away from you. Parents continue to be involved and not back down,” he thundered on the podium to enthusiastic cheers. “This is a revolution. And frankly speaking and a matter of national security and the future of the United States of America. I want to thank these students because you enable us to fight for you, continue to have the best scores in the state, when you continue to, you make our job that much easier. So continue to stay on the front lines of the education revolution because we will be the best education state in the United States of America.” Photos By Terry Shropshire
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NEWS AHA Board names Joy Fitzgerald president and CEO Democratic Party of Georgia
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
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Citing major strides, the Atlanta Housing A new Chief Operating Officer and General Authority has made under the leadership of Counsel have also been recently appointed. Interim President and CEO Joy Fitzgerald, AHA’s Catherine V. Buell, a Washington, D.C., real estate Board of Commissioners today voted to appoint attorney and Spelman graduate, was named Chief her permanently to the position. Operating Officer. Ms. Buell led the District of Columbia’s $2.5-billion transformation of the “Joy Fitzgerald has expanded affordable 183-acre St. Elizabeths East campus into a fivehousing and increased the number of families million-square-foot development that features an we serve while cutting administrative costs and Innovation Hub. enhancing efficiency,” said Daniel Halpern, Chairman of the AHA board. “We are confident Paul E. Vranicar has been appointed General that AHA will continue to innovate and expand Counsel. Mr. Vranicar, a graduate of Emory affordable housing under her leadership.” University School of Law and formerly with Holland and Knight, LLP, has served as litigator, “I am honored for the opportunity to continue legal advisor and general counsel to large to serve our neediest citizens as President and Joy Fitzgerald corporations, governments and public agencies, CEO of AHA,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “We have a most recently as Assistant General Counsel at AHA. lot of work to do, including the expansion of affordable housing opportunities for low-income citizens of the City of Atlanta, “It’s important to expand our leadership team as we move leveraging AHA-owned real estate in order to create vibrant forward to revitalize communities and enhance affordable self-sustaining communities, and successfully implementing the housing,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “Catherine and Paul are excellent $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant received from HUD additions to the capable and hard-working team at AHA.” in September for the Ashview Heights, AUC and Vine City neighborhoods.”
City of Atlanta addresses Turner Field residential initiatives Planning Team Seeks Public Input to Help Guide Vision for Stadium Area The City of Atlanta’s Department of Planning and Community Development in partnership with Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority and Invest Atlanta will host a visioning workshop for the Turner Field Stadium Neighborhoods Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) to help develop a shared vision for the eight blocks with vacant parcels immediately surrounding the stadium (referred to as the Core Area). On Saturday, Jan. 30, at FANPLEX located at 768 Hank Aaron Drive SE, the planning team will conduct two identical work sessions to ensure that everyone in the stadium neighborhoods have a chance to participate in at least one of two sessions: from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each session will consist of a brief presentation which will include initial findings on the transportation, housing and market conditions, as well as opportunities of the study area. A
brief summary of the kickoff meeting will be presented along with the results of the survey conducted by the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition. Following each presentation, participants will have an opportunity to engage in interactive exercises intended to identify the community’s vision for the Core Area. The Planning Team will provide examples of neighborhoods with variant characteristics, densities, mixes of use, and the services these neighborhoods support. Using these as guidelines, participants will be encouraged to build their own community in the core area using 3D blocks. To learn more about the project and RSVP to participate in the morning or afternoon session, visit www.StadiumNeighborhoodsLCI.org and facebook.com/ StadiumNeighborhoodsLCI
5th Congressional District to Hold Training ADW Staff
On Saturday, Jan.30, the Democratic Party of Georgia 5th District Chair will host a delegate selection training in preparation for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. This training is the first step for the 5th Congressional District in the delegate selection process, culminating with Georgia sending a delegation of more than 125 Georgia Democrats to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July. Any individual that is registered to vote in Georgia in this congressional district and is a Georgia Democrat is encouraged to participate in the training and learn the mechanics of the delegate selection process. To learn more about the Georgia Delegation and the process, visit the Democratic Party of Georgia’s website at georgiademocrat.org. “The spirit of the Democratic Party is one of inclusion, and our district’s delegates will emulate that spirit,” said Democratic Party of Georgia 5th Congressional District Chair TJ Copeland in a statement. “Even if a Georgia Democrat has never participated in a Party activity, we encourage them to attend this training and learn how they can have a front-row seat when our Party nominates the next President of the United States. Georgians of all ages, color, and backgrounds will comprise a diverse delegation that truly represents the best of our state.” Interested Georgia Democrats interested in the 5th Congressional District delegate selection training on Saturday, Jan. 30 are encouraged to join participants at the Mbar, 186 Auburn Ave.
Volunteers prepare to count and support homeless citizens
TSA confiscates record number of guns at Hartsfield-Jackson airport ADW Staff A record-number of firearms were caught by the Transportation Security Administration at security checkpoints at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2015, TSA officials announced. Overall, more guns were intercepted at more airports than any time in history, with the majority being confiscated at the Dallas, Houston and Atlanta airports. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was No. 1, with the ATL closely behind at No. 2. A total of 153 guns were found at Dallas-Fort Worth airport security checkpoints in 2015. Across the country, a total of 2,653 guns were discovered in carry-on bags — an average of 7 per day. The number has risen every year since 2007.
The TSA announced last week that it discovered a record number of firearms at airport checkpoints in 2015 — 2,653 in all — a 20 percent increase from the previous year. More than four out of five guns found (or about 83 percent) were loaded The number of guns confiscated in airports has been steadily on the rise since 2005, when only 660 guns were discovered in carry-on luggage. One theory for this disturbing and disquieting trend is this: it is possible that Americans are taking advantage of looser gun laws enacted in many states. For instance, Texas recently passed an open-carry law that will allow guns in churches, theaters, stores, and restaurants, and firearms are now allowed in airports and bars in Georgia. Concealed carry is legal in every single state provided the gun owner meets certain requirements.
Point in Time (PIT) count provided necessities to the unsheltered ADW Staff Volunteers eagerly gathered at the South Fulton Lift Community Development office on Old National Highway, Tuesday evening, Jan. 26 to prepare to count the unsheltered homeless. Before receiving their final instructions, nine volunteers out of approximately two-dozen gathered for a photo to show off the blankets, socks and toiletries that would be given to those who would be counted. Before taking to the streets, they received final instructions on appropriate contact that would emphasize dignity and respect for those in need. The count also included volunteers located at North Fulton Community Charities on Elkins Road in Roswell. For more information about the annual PIT count, contact Leonard Westmoreland at 404-613-0416.
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BUSINESS
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
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Georgia DOT meets with small businesses for contracting opportunities ADW Staff The Georgia Department of Transportation’s Metro Atlanta District (District 7) invites contractors and small business owners to attend the 2015 Transportation Funding Act and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise outreach session. Contractors and small business owners will learn about upcoming and current maintenance projects in Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Clayton, Rockdale, and Douglas counties. The session will take place from 11 a.m., until 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the District 7 Office, 5025 New Peachtree Road in Chamblee. “Contractors and small business owners who attend this session will learn more about our procurement
process and the type of maintenance and construction projects planned for District 7,” said Kathy Zahul, Metro District Engineer. “The District will need help from contractors to deliver much needed projects throughout Metro Atlanta. Motorists who travel in our District can expect major improvements to the interstates and state routes because of the available funds from the Transportation Funding Act of 2015.” For more information, contractors and small business owners can contact: Anthony Miles at GDOT DBE Supportive Services 404.631.1273
Change expert H. James Dallas Men of Courage work together to shares success secrets create positive change ADW Staff H. James Dallas, is on a mission: To guide those who want to be change agents using the lessons he learned during 30 years of leading change at global companies. Dallas’ book, Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change: Inspire the People and Succeed Where Others Fail and his new radio program “Change Agents Exclusive: Showcasing and Learning from World-Class Change Agents” both provide the tools to successfully lead change. Dallas led an extraordinary number of successful changes at Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Medtronic Inc.: ten transformational and turnaround initiatives, twenty acquisition integrations, five operations/quality shared services centers of excellence, and three innovation centers. He has developed a personal and successful approach to managing change with his “Four Ps”: priorities, politics, people, and perseverance. Dallas is proud of the number of executives that he mentored and sponsored using this method. At last count, 4 are CEOs, 8 are CIOs, and 5 are in the executive level positions within multibillion dollar companies. Dallas’ approach is noteworthy following a 2015 McKinsey poll found that 75% of major change initiatives fail. “Leading change isn’t easy as the meager success rate tells us,” agrees Dallas. “But what that means is that those few who master it find themselves in a tier above their competition. Their careers climb high and fast.” Dallas’ career exemplifies this climb. After joining Georgia-Pacific as a cost accountant, he rose to become CIO. When Dallas retired from Medtronic in 2013, he was SVP – Quality, Operations & IT. He managed an annual budget of $4.7 billion and 19,000 employees. Among Dallas’ many honors, Black Enterprise and Savoy magazines named him one of the most powerful black men in corporate America several times in his career. Dallas can be heard as host of “Change
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By Keesha J. Atkins
H. James Dallas Agents Exclusive” twice a month on www. businessradiox.com beginning Tues. Feb. 9th at 9 AM. He and high-profile guests will provide listeners with insights and answers to the professional and personal challenges they face. His guests on Feb 9th are Steve Koonin, CEO and part owner of the Atlanta Hawks, and Art Hopkins, Executive Recruiter with Russell Reynolds. Upcoming topics, guests, and schedule can be found on www. jdallasassociates.com. An introductory radio program can be heard at http://tinyurl.com/ brxhjd. The former college basketball MVP and Academic All-American currently operates his consulting firm, James Dallas & Associates, which works with organizations and businesses to help them achieve the organizational alignment needed to successfully implement change. Dallas and Celest, his wife of 34 years, live in Atlanta.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Men of Courage event was held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. Ford Motor Company, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and 100 Black Men of America brought together Black men ranging in age from 17 to 70 for a day of mentoring and planning for the future. During the day-long forum, men from varied backgrounds discussed their experiences as professionals, husbands, fathers and leaders with the ultimate goal of changing the perception of Black men in America through inter-generational storytelling. Throughout the interactive program, participants worked together to create vision boards and build action plans to illustrate their commitment to positive change. As part of this initiative, Ford is also sponsoring a national contest of inspirational stories and will announce a winner at the Ford Freedom Awards in May. Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, is also developing a free online curriculum and teaching guide for junior and secondary high school students that profiles 20 prominent African American men. “The Men of Courage is incredibly powerful. We’re trying to change negative perceptions that people have about African American men.
Henry Ford was all about making the world a better place and in the end, that’s what this is all about,” said Burt Jordan, Ford vice president of Global Vehicle and Powertrain Purchasing & Supplier Diversity. For Jordan, hosting the event at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum was personally significant. He noted, “Lewis inspired me to get a finance degree and to learn about wealth creation.” In addition to financial health and future planning, personal transformation was among the major themes discussed throughout the day. Author Shaka Senghor spoke to the group about overcoming life-changing mistakes. He spent 19 years in prison for murder and is now a writer, mentor and speaker whose motivational Ted Talk has more than 1.2 million views. “Men of Courage is important because the media doesn’t always portray us in a great light and we need to work together to change that. It’s important to get together and talk about things like entrepreneurship, family and fatherhood,” he said. Men of Courage was piloted last year in Detroit and Ford is continuing to collaborate with Detroit figures like former Mayor Dave Bing and recording artist Big Sean to expand the program to communities across the country. In 2016, the program will reach communities in Atlanta and Washington, DC.
COMMUNITY
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Local judges offer free legal advice to the public Advocacy for Action, an Atlanta based nonprofit which educates the public about the importance of diversity in the judicial system, is hosting a free community forum on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Georgia Gwinnett College. Judging the Judges is a free forum open to anyone who wants to receive legal advice. Many people who attend court proceedings are not well versed in the legal system. They are not familiar with the judges who may hear their cases. Advocacy for Action’s goal for this forum is to bridge the gap between the community and the judicial system. Lawyers often charge up to $500 per hour in consulting fees. The Judging the Judge forum will offer free one-on-one consultations. Attendees can receive legal advice about traffic tickets, divorce cases, criminal cases, probate, juvenile, civil lawsuits and more. Former Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Moore, retired DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Keegan Federal, President Emeritus of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials Tyrone Brooks and Lauglin McDonald of the ACLU, will be on hand along with several defense attorneys and civil rights attorneys
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to answer questions about why diversity in the courts is so important. Attendees will also have an opportunity to register to vote. “Unfortunately people tend to skip voting in judicial elections,” says Suzanne Ockleberry, one of the Founders of Advocacy for Action. “But it’s the judges that have a more of direct impact on their lives than the mayor or city council. A person will probably get traffic tickets, experience divorce, or be involved in a civil lawsuit, and it’s the judge who will determine their fate.” The 2016 candidates for Gwinnett Judicial Office will also be on hand to discuss their platform and the importance of diversity on the bench. Currently, there are no minorities that serve on the bench in Gwinnett County. The forum will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. at Georgia Gwinnett College Student Center, 1000 University Center Lane in Lawrenceville,. Free refreshments will be provided. To schedule an interview contact Tenisha@ PerfectPitchMediaGroup.com To learn more about Advocacy for Action call 404-491-9052 or visit http:// advocacyforaction.com
Published Every on domestic violence and bullying Thursday
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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
2016 Class for International Civil Rights Walk make a stand
ADW Staff Footprints of six new esteemed civil rights icons were added to the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame during the 2016 Trumpet Awards festivities. The induction ceremony took place on Friday, Jan. 22, at 10:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, located at 101 Jackson Street in Atlanta, Georgia, 30312. The ceremonial host for this year’s occasion was Danny Bakewell, Trumpet Awards Foundation Board Member. The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame was created in 2004 to give recognition to those courageous soldiers of justice who sacrificed and struggled to make equality a reality for all. This extraordinary display has enhanced the historic value of the geographic area, enriched the cultural heritage, and augmented tourist attractions in the city of Atlanta. Along the promenade leading to the National Park Service’s Visitor Center is a parade of embedded 2’x 2’ granite markers featuring the actual footstep impressions of civil and human rights icons, such as Rosa Parks, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Ambassador Andrew Young, US Congressman John Lewis, and others. Inductions occur annually in partnership with the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.
founded by Xernona Clayton, who also is the Executive Producer of the renowned Trumpet Awards. The 2016 honorees in this prominent group include: Dr. Amelia Boynton Robinson (posthumously), a civil rights activist from the Selma movement who was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal in 1990; Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, a philanthropist, author, motivational speaker, founder and pastor of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore; Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, the FriendshipWest Baptist Church Pastor who is also a committed community activist who formed alliances with local leaders and Dallas city officials to fight violence; Rev. Dr. Jim Holley, the historic Little Rock Baptist Church Pastor whose mission was the “ministry of liberation;” Gordon L Joyner, Esq., who has been recognized for his leadership by two US Presidents, five Georgia Governors, and two City of Atlanta Mayors; and Rev. Dr. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, pastor of America’s Freedom Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he is a defender of civil and human rights and has taken on the contradictions of the criminal justice system through his fierce public advocacy.
celebrates Trina Braxton hix opening of Bar-C P.7 2015 29 Oct. - Nov. 4,
WAR
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Whats Inside: ATL’s Fire and Rescue winter weather safety tips 5 Most toxic items at The Dollar Store Hot Hair Tools: Battle of the Burns Komen Atlanta’s Bubbles & Bling
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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
hacks for drinking better wine by better drinking By Michele Locke Aiming for a new and improved you in 2016? That’s tough. Improving your wine experience? That’s not hard at all. Because if you want to drink better wine, the first step is drinking wine better. To help you get the job done, we asked the pros for their best wine drinking hacks that will make you a better person (or at least a better drinker). LEARN BY DEGREES Aim for a middle ground when it comes to temperature. Good reds taste better with a little chill on them and good whites taste better when they’re not ice cold, says Joe Campanale, co-owner and beverage director for Epicurean Group, which includes the NYC neighborhood restaurants dell’anima, Anfora and L’Artusi. So if a red wine isn’t being pulled from a temperature controlled cellar or wine refrigerator, put the bottle in a refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes (or until slightly cool to the touch) before serving, says Jessica Pinzon, wine director of the Napa Valley’s Miminashi restaurant. “Wine shows more acidity and minerality at a cooler temperature, and more fruit and alcohol at a warmer temperature. Experiencing the transition of (wine) warming up in the glass will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the wine,” she says. ADD A TOUCH OF GLASS Use clean, clear glasses with a good stem, says Campanale, who hosts the weekly “In the Drink” program on Heritage Radio Network. He uses Bordeaux-shaped glasses (your basic red wine glass) for “pretty much all wine, including Champagne.” The stem plays an important role _ keeping your fingers from warming the warm. AGE WISELY Drink most white wines young, says Gordana Kostovski, general manager and sommelier/beverage director of the Volver restaurant in Philadelphia. And these days many red wines are made ready to drink on purchase, too. Big red wines, on the other hand _ think French Bordeaux _ may need a little more time. Wondering how long? That’s a hard question to answer since wines vary. You can ask for clues at the wine shop or sometimes the label or wine website will offer suggestions. DEVELOP A BUBBLY PERSONALITY “Drink more bubbles,” is the advice of Andy Myers, master sommelier and wine director for Washington, D.C.-based chef Jose Andres’ ThinkFoodGroup. His pick, Raventos I Blanc “De Nit” rose from Spain. And skip the flute, says Kosovski. Serve bubbles in a coup or regular wine glass. DARE TO DECANT Decanting a wine is good all around. Whether young or old, a wine improves when exposed to a little air (which occurs naturally when pouring the wine from the bottle into a decanter). And careful pouring also means you leave any sediment in the bottle. “Decanters aren’t just for somber, candle-lit cere-
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monies to separate the sediment out of venerable, old bottles,” says David Kravitz, certified master sommelier and beverage director of The Smith Restaurants in New York. “Young, inexpensive wines are often improved with a good, hard splash decanting. Oxygen will open up the fruit and ease the tannins.” Note: If you’ve got a decanter gathering dust at the back of the cupboard, now’s the time to use it. If not, simply pour the wine into a clean pitcher or vase, says Pinzon. And don’t limit this to reds, she says. Champagne, white wine or rose can benefit from decanting, too. PICK SAVVY STORAGE Store wine on its side and in contact with its cork, says Kostovski. And if you’ve got a wine refrigerator, keep it in there at 55 F. If not, look for a spot in a basement or closet that’s shaded from heat and light. Organize your wine and know what you have so you don’t forget it and leave it too long. And, says Kostovski, think about investing in a Coravin, the device that allows you to sample wine repeatedly without pulling the cork. Having friends over for dinner and plan to open a nice, older bottle of wine? Stand the bottle upright (ideally at cellar temperature, or somewhere between 50 F to 64 F) for a couple days before the dinner party, advises Pinzon. This allows any sediment that may have settled in the shoulder of the bottle to settle at the bottom instead, making serving or decanting cleaner and more ideal. PRIME THAT WINE Drinking two wines at dinner out of one glass? Don’t rinse the glass with water to make the change, says Chloe Helfland, sommelier at Bazaar Meat in the SLS Hotel Las Vegas. Once the glass is empty, pour in a little of the second wine, swirl it,
dump the rinse and you’re ready for a proper pour. SHOP SMARTER There’s no hacking a really bad wine. Campanale recommends going to a good wine shop to get a head start. If you find a wine you like, make a note of the producer; you’ll probably like some of their other wines, too. RELAX Learning about and developing an appreciation for wine is interesting, but don’t make it a chore. “Have fun and enjoy the wine; pair it with food and friends,” recommends Kostovski. And while you’re swirling and sipping _ but not while pouring _ try closing your eyes. “Feel the wine through your senses,” she says, “Wine is romantic!”
LIVING WELL
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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
Atlanta Fire and Rescue offer winter weather safety tips ADW Staff During the inclement weather of last week, and in anticipation of more extreme weather in coming weeks, the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department offers a series of tips for residents and visitors for how to stay safe during frigid winter temperatures and prevent home fires. “AFRD is committed to keeping our residents safe throughout the winter season,” said Fire Chief Joel Baker. “We encourage everyone to review our winter safety tips and contact your local fire station for assistance in installing carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. We want everyone to have a safe winter, and by following some basic safety tips, you can protect yourself and your family when temperatures drop.” AFRD offers these winter safety tips: • Make sure space heaters, fireplaces and water heaters are properly vented. Improperly vented heating equipment can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal. • Place space heaters at least 3 feet from flammable materials, like furniture and curtains.
• Never use your oven to heat your home. • Never use propane tanks indoors. • Purchase high-quality carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Take a moment to test your batteries and detectors now. Make sure the batteries are working. Place carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas, and place smoke alarms on every level of the house. • Have your fireplace and chimney inspected once a year. • Have your central heating system professionally inspected in the fall. • Never attempt to thaw frozen water pipes with a blow torch or open flame. Pipes can conduct heat and ignite the wall. • To prevent frozen pipes, disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. When temperature falls below 32 degrees, turn at least one faucet on and allow it to drip. If pipes freeze, contact a plumber immediately. If you live within the City of Atlanta, you can call the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department at 404-546-7000, and the department will assist with the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide monitors for you.
5 most toxic items at the Dollar Store ADW Staff Dollar store deals might look like a bargain from the outside: everything usually is a dollar or at least close to it. But looking at the harmful product ingredients it can turn out to be not a bargain after all. Recent testing of dollar store products found that nearly 81% contained one or more hazardous chemicals. The tests, conducted by a third party consumer testing group, found chemicals associated with cancer, obesity, diabetes, asthma, thyroid and kidney diseases, learning problems, lower IQ, birth defects and early puberty. Here are five items you should think about buying from elsewhere. 1. Kitchen Dollar Store Items The black solid color spoons, spatulas and forks may contain high levels of bromine, a component in flame retardants or BFRs. Though these are added to make the products resistant to fire, the have been linked to cancer, birth defects and impaired brain development. That ingredient has effectively been phased out in the U.S. but thy are still available in these cheap, dollar store utensils.
4. Vinyl Floor Coverings Flexible, adhesive bath mats from dollar stores have tested high in both phthalates and chlorine. Exposures to these phthalates affect multiple parts of our bodies. What to do: Avoid any products labeled “vinyl” on the label. 5. Holiday Lights Shopping at the dollar store during the holidays can save us a lot of money, but at what cost to our health? There are high levels of chlorine and bromine, including flame-retardant chemicals that have been linked to cancer and thyroid problems. What to do: When buying holiday lights, check the tags to make sure they are ROHS-compliant.
What to do: Use stainless steel or real wood utensils. 2. Plastic Silly Straws Silly straws found in the dollar store have tested high for level of DEHP used in consumer products. Some interfere with the body’s endocrine system, and studies have linked them to asthma and allergies, prostate and testicular cancer and Type 2 diabetes. What to do: Brands like “Silly Straws” and non-plastic straws (look for recycled cardboard) are BPA and PVC free.
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3. Electronic Accessories Extension cords, USB charging cords and cell phone charges are something we all need, but maybe not from the Dollar Store. Those from your local dollar store tested high in chlorine, a sign that the items were made with a plastic called ply-vinyl chloride or PVC. PVC is made from vinyl chloride, a cancer-causing chemical that has harmed workers and contaminated communities close to the factories. What to do: Go to your local electronic or battery store instead.
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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
LIVING WELL
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Hot Hair Tools: Battle of the burns I have a love and hate relationship with my heated hair styling tools. Though I love how they whip my hair into shape, I hate the battle wounds I get from them time and time again. They say pain is beauty, but the beating that I take is starting to not be worth the outcome. Here are a few tips for dealing with this HOT matter, and if these steps are taken in a timely manner, you may be able to prevent permanent damage. 1. The Cool Down Did you know that burning flesh continues to burn even after you have removed the source of heat from your skin? If the skin that came in contact with the heating device isn’t cooled immediately the burn can continue to seep deeper into the skin, causing it to go from a first degree to a second or third degree burn. A cold compress is the best immediate care for any burn. According to the Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, “Never apply ice directly to the burn, as that can freeze the skin. Instead grab an ice pack, or run a towel under cold water.” The idea of this is to cool off the skin, until it isn’t warm to the touch any longer.
treat the area with a topical steroid. This helps to reduce inflammation, but won’t really resolve your long-term wound care needs. Try aiding your wound with aloe vera gel or vitamin E oil to assist in the healing process. Aloe also aids in pain relief. 3. Let It Be Wounds can really go through a bunch of phases throughout their healing cycle. And take it from me, it is going to look ugly and itch like crazy at times! The best thing you can do is just continue to LEAVE IT ALONE! Picking at it is only going to leave you susceptible to infection and scarring. 4. Moisturize Keeping the burned area moist is imperative to the healing process. I personally kept a small bottle of aloe vera gel with me at all times. The pain and itching at some points can get unbearable, and I found that the aloe truly did the trick. Another good option is Vaseline!
2. Treat Once your flesh is done burning it’s best to
Komen Atlanta’s Bubbles & Bling is best for breasts ADW Staff
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Leaders from Atlanta’s corporate and philanthropic communities have come together to host their 3rd annual 80s-Themed ‘Bubbles & Bling’ Party-With-A-Purpose as they aim to raise $250,000 to strengthen Komen Atlanta’s mission to assist women in detecting and surviving breast cancer. Komen Atlanta is the local resource for breast cancer screening, diagnostic and support services. Through events, such as Race for the Cure and Bubbles & Bling, and individual, foundation and corporate contributions, Komen Atlanta raises funds to promote early detection and increase breast cancer survival rates by facilitating access to quality care, providing education and supporting research. Seventy-five percent of all funds stay in Atlanta to provide breast health services for those who could not otherwise afford them. Twenty-five percent of dollars raised sup-
ports national research efforts to find a cure. Komen Atlanta has raised more than $41 million since its inception in 1991. Komen Atlanta is part of the national Susan G. Komen organization, which strives to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen is the largest private funder in the fight against breast cancer and has invested over $2.8 billion toward the cause. Guests will enjoy delicious 80s food, drinks and music, as well as a huge ball pit and 80s arcade games on big screen TVs. Checka Cee from Yo Checka will serve as the evening’s “pink carpet host” and B98.5’s Madison James will host the evening’s live auction. In attendance will be local celebrities, media personalities and bloggers and one lucky guest will even win a one-carat diamond. ‘Bubbles & Bling’ Party-With-A-Purpose will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 from 7 p.m. to11 p.m. at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. 916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
Nene Leakes’ bosses at ‘RHOA’ and Bravo demand a comeback By Terry Shropshire
minimal involvement with Season 8 of the popular RHOA reality show, it still lead to higher ratings. Now, “Bravo execs want to bring NeNe back full time next year,” an insider told Radar. “The fans miss NeNe and even though there’s tons of drama this year without her, with her back, it would just take the show to the next level.” Bravo’s parent company, NBC Universal, which also owns E!, the home of “Fashion Police,” threatened to remove her from the coveted fashion-based show if she doesn’t return to RHOA. “NeNe loves being a part of ‘Fashion Police,’ but the network is ready to cut ties if she doesn’t agree to their terms,” the insider told Radar. “NeNe seems to think she is better than doing reality television and has moved on from RHOA,” the source claimed. “Going back would be a step back in her plan to become a global brand. She has a clothing line, and no longer wants to be associated with a reality show.” The Atlanta franchise of the popular reality show is Bravo’s ‘cash cow’ and reports are that the network is doing all it can to keep Leakes, 48, on the show.
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in,” Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, Godfather Part III This is what former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star-turned-current “RHOA” cast member Nene Leakes must be feeling as her brash Bravo bosses are yanking the bodacious TV star back into the reality show mix, something that Leakes must have thought she had finally escaped. Leakes made her highly anticipated return last week during the last few minutes of the show. But Bravo wants more of Leakes. A lot more. Bravo honchos are fighting to make the housewife a full-time cast member, but Leakes has other gigs on deck and doesn’t want to make that move. Now Bravo is reportedly leveraging their parent company, NBC, to threaten Leakes to stay on at RHOA. Producers want NeNe Leakes to return full time next season, radaronline.com states, their bosses are threatening to cut Nene’s involvement from “Fashion Police” as punishment! Here is the reason: despite Leakes’s
Sports fans to bet $4.2 billion on Super Bowl 50 ADW Staff According to an estimate released on Wednesday, Jan. 27, by the American Gaming Association (AGA), Americans will bet $4.2 billion on Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, up eight percent over last year. Nearly 97 percent of those bets — $4.1 billion worth — will be wagered illegally, standing in stark contrast to the approximately $115 million bet legally on the New England Patriots-Seattle Seahawks game last year. In fact, the illegal market is 35 times greater than the legal marketplace. “As Americans celebrate a milestone Super Bowl, they’ll also bet a record amount on the Big Game,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “Just like football, sports betting has never been more popular than it is today. The casino gaming industry is leading the conversation around a new approach to sports betting that enhances consumer protections, strengthens the integrity of games and recognizes fans’ desire for greater engagement with sports.”
Overall, AGA’s estimate found that Americans wagered $149 billion on sports in 2015, up from nearly $145 billion in 2014. Before last January’s Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl, AGA released its first-ever estimate predicting fans would wager $3.8 billion worth of illegal bets on the title game. Late last year, following months of study and deliberation, AGA’s Board of Directors issued a set of recommendations that marked a major shift in the industry’s approach to sports betting. AGA is building a broad coalition that will determine whether a rational alternative to current sports betting law in the United States exists. Such an alternative could include strict regulation, rigorous consumer protections and robust tools for law enforcement to eliminate illegal sports betting and strengthen the integrity of games. For more information on how the gaming industry is approaching sports betting, please visit BettingInAmerica. com.
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VIEWPOINTS
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Rep. Stacey Y. Abrams
by James Clingman
Hillary Clinton must be a next level President
My five siblings and I were raised in Mississippi. Even though we sometimes struggled to make ends meet, our parents taught us to work hard and to serve those who had even less. For us, public service is a way of life – one that taught us hard lessons about opportunity and inequality, especially in the African American community. My parents believed in our capacity for success, but like millions of other moms and dads, they also had to teach us about the challenges our heritage would cause us to face. Unfortunately, gaps in educational options, persistent income inequality and the lack of access to healthcare are considerably worse for the black community. On nearly every metric, we cannot escape the reality that our nation’s long struggle with race is far from finished. Today, white families enjoy a median wealth of more than $134,000, while for African American families, the number is $11,000 – in part because blacks are nearly three times as likely as whites to be denied a mortgage. Studies show that African American men are far more likely to be stopped and searched by police, charged with crimes and sentenced to longer prison terms than white men convicted of the exact same offenses. Historical policies that excluded our grandparents and great-grandparents who were farmers and domestic workers from Social Security and recent developments like on-call scheduling and wage theft combine to create barriers to equal opportunity. To be sure, President Obama’s election and commitment to social justice has delivered a remarkable step forward for our nation, and particularly for African Americans. But change takes longer than a single presidency. To continue his progress, our next president must be committed the progress of those too often left behind. Because she has been working on issues that will continue to transform our country for more than forty years, I believe Hillary Clinton must be that president. As a young lawyer, Hillary worked with Marian Wright Edelman at the Children’s Defense Fund to ensure that poor children were enrolled in school. She fought against inequities within our prison system; and at the legal aid clinic at the University of Arkansas, she advocated for families all across that state with nowhere else to turn. From the state legislature in Georgia, I have seen how her experience in the trenches of social justice informs Hillary’s worldview today. She called out Alabama’s recent voter I.D. debacle for what it is – a deliberate effort to make it harder for people of color to vote. She supports an end to the era of mass incarceration that has separated and stigmatized millions of families. In the fight for criminal justice, she supports the use of body cameras and has offered a plan to reestablish trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Hillary’s experience working and living in
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the South also shaped her economic agenda. Though it begins with raising the minimum wage, she understands the necessity of equal pay for women. She supports paid family leave because she understands that parents cannot play a role in their children’s school if taking time off work means losing their jobs. She has a plan to provide every family with access to preschool and help people of color obtain the capital they need to become entrepreneurs and start small businesses. Her New College Compact will help refinance debt and make college more affordable, including special financial support for historically black colleges and universities. Of course, the Republican presidential candidates oppose the majority of these proposals. They promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has extended healthcare to 18 million Americans. Despite an epidemic level of deaths, they continue to oppose common-sense solutions to the regularity of gun violence that pervades our communities. Across the country, Republican governors and legislators have used the gutting of the Voting Rights Act to make it harder for people of color to access the ballot. So this election year, it is more important than ever for us to exercise that right. We must start by nominating a Democrat who has the best shot of being elected the next President of the United States and that is Hillary Clinton. In the African American community, we have faced tragedy and obstacles with a remarkable resilience. We realized that the more time we spend fighting for progress, the better the odds will be for the next generation. Our next president must see the possibility in every American – and she must be committed to creating a pathway that everyone can follow. Fortunately for America, Hillary Clinton has been carving that way forward as a legal advocate, a public servant and in our nation’s highest offices. When we stand together to elect her as our next president, we will take another historic step together – towards a future we all can finally share. Stacey Y. Abrams is the Georgia House Minority Leader. She is the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and is the first African-American to lead in the House of Representatives.
Unrepresented by our representatives Does it really matter who wins the presidency? How can it matter to black folks, considering the way we “play” politics? We have no power, no leverage, and little or no influence in the political arena, and even worse it seems we are reluctant to do what it takes to gain any political clout. So why do we care so much about the upcoming election? Having “played” this political game for more than 50 years now, getting thousands of black folks elected to public office, and even a Black President of the United States (POTUS), we are still far behind and even nonexistent in serious public policy discourse and legislative initiatives. As we face yet another “most important election” of our lifetime, what are you willing to do to improve our political situation in this country? Hint: Handwringing won’t help. Is our political strategy, “I got plenty of nothing, and nothing is plenty for me”? Or, “You got to give the people, give the people what they want”? Do we even have a strategy other than listening to flowery words from politicians and watching them give speeches and participate in debates? We, the bipolar electorate, have empowered an aristocratic class of pompous, self-righteous, lying, condescending, affluent, aloof, money-grubbing, narcissistic, insincere, unconcerned, yet powerful individuals that many of us hold in high esteem, for reasons unbeknownst to me. They play with our emotions and draw on our sympathies, the result of which is a never-ending roller coaster ride. Even sadder is the fact that many of us believe they will save us. All of the incumbents and candidates need are a few nice sounding phrases to make us think we are in high cotton. To make matters worse, black “leaders” once again are telling us to vote, but they are not in specific discussions about who to vote for and why. Oh yeah, I forgot, the NAACP is “nonpartisan” (yeah, right) and cannot endorse or support any candidate. How convenient; and what a joke that is. The vast majority of black folks are already in the tank for Hillary; anyone can see that. Black organizations will feature her at their conventions, and preachers will invite her to their pulpits. On the other hand, Bernie is courting blacks via his Black Lives Matter rhetoric, and Trump is saying how much Black people love him, while the other Republican candidates are reluctant to seriously lobby the black vote —in-
cluding Uncle Ben. We are merely props for a circus act. The day after the SOTU many of our people were more interested in what Michelle Obama wore than what her husband said—or did not say. She wore a dress originally priced at $2,095, made by Narciso Rodriguez, a non-Black gay designer, and we went bonkers. Preceded by Michael Kors, Azzedine Alaïa, Jason Wu, Barbara Tfank, Rachel Roy, and Isaac Mizrahi, I must ask if there are any Black designers’ dresses good enough for the SOTU soiree? Where does all of this political high drama leave us? Our unemployment rate is still double that of Whites, and we are not creating jobs. Our health is the poorest in the nation, especially with illnesses like diabetes, and we don’t own a dialysis center. Our education is substandard, and we are not establishing our own schools. We are disproportionately incarcerated, but we are not selling anything to the prisons. Many economic solutions are in our hands. And here’s a political solution courtesy Rep. William “Bill” Clay (D-Mo.): “If you want equity, justice, and equality, you must…become irritants, become abrasive. Your political philosophy must be selfish and pragmatic. You must start with the premise that you have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.” We have set politicians up as kings and queens, the price for which can be found in 1st Samuel, Chapter Eight: “This is the way the kind of king [you want] operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.” Unnerving, isn’t it?
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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2016
S av e t h e Dat e
WHO’S WHO IN
Announces that the Official Networking Reception and Book Unveiling of its 16th edition will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 | 6 p.m. Hyatt Regency Atlanta 265 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30303 Mark your calendar for the city’s most highly acclaimed event recognizing Alanta’s elite professionals and game changers Contact Lorraine Cochran today for information and advertising opportunities at (678) 515-2053 Tickets are $50 which includes a copy of the sixteenth edition of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta® ($39.95 Retail Value)
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