Adw june1 by Atlanta Daily World

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

Volume 89 • Issue 43

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June 1-7, 2017

Black Money

MATTER$

COVER STORY

June 1-7, 2017

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Black America still needs Black-Owned Banks

By Katrice L. Mines Citizens Trust Bank has had something to celebra Citizens Trust Bank has had something to celebrate in its 95th year: continued relevance. As a gift of sorts for its nearly century-long existence as an institution in the black community, the community gave back to the bank with nearly $1 million in deposits – in just five days last July. The major influx of account applicants was in response to rapper Killer Mike’s challenge to black consumers to move their money to black-owned financial institutions; 8,000 answered the call with CTB in Atlanta. The rapper and other black influencers took to social media with the hashtagged phrases “bank black” and “move your money” as a push back against the deluge of high-profile police killings of African Americans. And CTB’s seasoned bankers were prepared for the immediate foot traffic; in fact, the bank was already in the midst of its own campaign for a long-term infusion of business from a younger demographic of bank customers. Arkeedah McCormick was one such customer. “I was inspired by Killer Mike’s most recent interview with Hot 107.9,” she says. “It made me reevaluate where I was spending my money and most importantly where I was investing my money.” McCormick, an Atlanta-based blogger, immediately felt a shift in her consciousness when she visited CTB. “My heart smiled as I was sitting in the lobby for over two hours waiting to open my account. It was a pleasant and calm atmosphere while everyone came together for the same purpose. Since posting on social media that I opened an account, a lot of my followers shared that they will be doing the same. I know for a fact that my mother will be opening an account at the same branch I did.” Nearly a year later, McCormick says it was the right choice. It was serendipitous. In June 2016, the introduction of CTB’s Next Generation Advisory Board – a council of young executives who will serve in a collaborative capacity to explore innovative and strategic ways to offer financial solutions to a changing and diverse demographic -- had been announced. The NGAB is comprised of 13 young Atlanta business leaders who have an interest in enhancing access to financial services to build wealth and financial success for the current generation and generations to

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come. In partnership with our advisory board, the bank is working to expand its reach and deepen its impact through alliances. “As we continue to move our bank forward in an ever-changing marketplace, we wanted to include a new, younger set of thought leaders to help us better serve our customers and communities in ways that are consistent with the 21st century banking customer,” says CTB president of CEO Cynthia N. Day of the group that started to take shape in her mind a few years ago. “I felt like we could do a lot of things and put a lot of things in place, but we could miss it. So why not go and ask the people that are our future generation?” Around the country, other heads of black banks have a similar mindset. OneUnited Bank, the first Black internet bank and the largest Black owned bank in the country, with offices in Los Angeles, Boston and Miami, says it “is a part of the movement to #BankBlack and #BuyBlack, to garner Black spending power and Teri Williams channel it back into the Black community to create jobs, build businesses and increase wealth.” While the financial institution attracts broad range of customers, Teri Williams -- president and owner of OneUnited Bank -- notes that the #BankBlack movement is largely being fueled by Millennials. Asked how they are being attracted, his response is direct. “OneUnited is and has been unapologetically Black. We strongly believe the way for our community to build wealth is through collective economics, to #BankBlack and #BuyBlack. We believe our messages and services appeal to people who support the movement. Trust, as the movement grows, which it will, everyone will recognize our ice is colder!” According to Nerd Wallet, a representative with OneUnited said the #BankBlack movement was credited with bringing $20 million in new deposits to the black institution. It had total assets of about $646 million as of September, according to the latest data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Though statistically black financial institutions have been on the decline, BlackoutCoalition.org’s U.S. map of black banks and credit unions shows 31 black banks across the country. Moreover, grassroots organizations like Bank Black USA have taken up the cause of moving $500 million to black-owned banks between Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2017 and 2018 commemorative holiday. A note on its Facebook page says, “while saving for your own future, you can help to bolster these black institutions that support black families, black businesses, and black communities.” It’s a message that appeals universally. As for maintaining and deepening the momentum from last summer’s spike in applications, NGAB member Katerina Taylor said the bank has increased its immediate attention on the small business and entrepreneur segment. “Under a new presidential administration we are keenly aware that funds for small business and entrepreneurs may not be as available as they have been in past administrations, but that should not be a deterrent for people that want to start or grow their business.” In the first quarter of 2017 the NGAB board met with the Small Business Administration Region office in Atlanta, Taylor, who is president and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, said. “We reviewed the current SBA programs available to the bank’s customers, as well as their propensity to use what was available to them. From this research we were able to compare past SBA loan production to better assist with the ongoing efforts of the Citizens Trust Bank lending teams to expand its reach and the bank’s business loan offerings around the SBA platform.” “We have looked at what is new in FinTech and what can we realistically deliver to enhance online, e-service solutions and mobile platforms. The bank’s consumer education strategies continue to encourage some of our most seasoned customers to join us online, and balance their need for traditional banking as well as online banking services. Now, more than ever, we know that innovation paired with human interaction enables us to not only provide financial empowerment for our customers and communities but also sets us apart in the marketplace.” “We continue to provide financial education to area high schools and continue to be a responsive financial partner through the creation on financial solutions to promote sustained financial health,” she said. And that, essentially, is the sentiment CTB senior executives aimed for in considering how to fortify the institution for next. “We started these conversations by establishing the advisory board through what we’re already doing in the community. The more awareness that we get, the greater the impact we can have. That’s why I say the timing was perfect,” Day says. Vonetta Y. Daniels, another NGAB member, is hopeful that the community’s commitment to supporting its own will this time stick. “My personal hope is that from this tragedy we as a human race have a renewed reminder of our responsibilities to educate and empower underserved communities, highlight the contributions of Black people and disadvantaged people to the American story, and specific to CTB -- bring a renewed focus on the need for financial education, financial literacy and stability as necessary for current and future generations.”

NEWS

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Henry County Battlefield Museum closes 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 Lorraine Cochran General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

Katrice L. Mines

Senior Editor kmines@atlantatribune.com

Kamille D. Whittaker Associate Editor kwhittaker@atlantatribune.com

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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.

Henry County officials have found themselves embroiled in a controversy with local residents after Henry County District 2 Commissioner Dee Clemmons asked Nash Farm Battlefield Museum to remove the Confederate flags from a display on its grounds, according to museum officials. The museum’s response – to abruptly close its doors. The Nash Farm Museum, which sat on a 204-acre park/Civil War battlefield site in Hampton, Ga., was purchased by Henry County 10 years ago to stop construction of 399 homes. The $8 million acquisition was considered a win for history buffs who wanted to preserve battlefields. Heads of a volunteer group that ran Nash Farm said they preferred to close rather than fight Clemmons’ request to remove all Confederate flags from the museum. The catch: the commissioner says she didn’t make that request. In a statement on the county’s website, the board of

commissioners wrote: “Many are aware of an issue which has caused the Friends of Nash Farm to announce that their museum will close on June 1st. This has caused much divisiveness and controversy in our county. As we continue to hear from concerned citizens, please know that we will continue to explore the facts more fully before giving our input on how to proceed to address this issue. We welcome input from concerned citizens, and request that you please express your thoughts in a respectful manner. As we approach Memorial Day, we encourage you to remember, honor and acknowledge those who nobly gave themselves, even unto death, for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves, while serving in our country’s military forces, and we also encourage you to participate in the various Memorial Day remembrances taking place throughout the county this weekend. Please pray for unity and peace for Henry County, our State of Georgia and our United States of America.” On the heels of New Orleans’ removing its statue of General Robert E. Lee, a 16-foot-tall bronze figure mounted on a 60-foot pedestal in the center of Lee Circle near downtown as well as the removal of other Confederate symbols seen by some as vestiges of racism and others as icons of heritage, tensions are high. The issue has been a national debate since Dylann Roof, an avowed white supremacist who posed in photos with the Confederate flag, gunned down nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015. Several supporters of the museum have lashed out against Clemmons on its facebook page. Clemmons did not immediately respond to requests for comment at presstime.

June 1-7, 2017

Glass half full for black Millennials A newly released study of Millennials reveals that Black consumers between the age of 18-35 are more optimistic about their futures than Hispanics, Asians and Whites of the same age. Young African-Americans were also far more likely (59 percent) to say “anyone can achieve their dreams if they try hard enough.” The report is based on 2016 data from a collaborative research study conducted by Richards/Lerma (known for its expertise in Hispanic market advertising) and The University of Texas, Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. It was designed to gain a more thorough understanding of the complexities of today’s highly diverse multicultural Millennial group. “One of the most staggering findings of all in the midst of our nation’s current racial upheaval is that Black Millennials are more optimistic than the other Millennial segments. Although they are less likely to say they are currently satisfied with life, they are the most optimistic about the future,” the report says. The study, “Millennials Deconstructed,” consisted of a national

online sample of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White Millennials between the ages of 18 and 34 and Hispanics 35-plus for comparison, and explored three separate topics: political beliefs and attitudes, the American dream, and media behavior. A series of qualitative one-on-one interviews were conducted following the quantitative study to gain additional insights into survey findings. “Although our initial intent in this report was to strictly define and deconstruct the American Dream by racial/ethnic segment, a much more interesting story emerged after analyzing the results,” the report says. “When zooming into the differences between the segments, the data reached out and smacked us with untold cultural stories that challenge popular notions about each race and ethnicity. While the differences between the way the groups define and relate to the American Dream are interesting, what’s far more compelling is how their cultural and ethnic background shapes their responses in counterintuitive ways. In other words, it’s not only ‘the what’ we want to talk about, it’s the often neglected how and why.”

AG Sessions calls for return to mandatory minimum sentences associated with low-level drug crimes, mass incarceration By Frederick H. Lowe Mandatory minimum sentences, which have been vilified by some as a war against African-American men, just got a strong push from the U.S. attorney general after a shortlived hiatus during the Obama administration, sparking angry objections by some, though it remains to be seen if the black community feels the same way given their mixed feelings about the issue. In a memo to all 94 federal prosecutors, Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General, wrote that prosecutors should charge and pursue the most serious and readily provable offense. “This policy affirms our responsibility to enforce the law, is moral and just, and produces consistency,” Sessions wrote. “This policy fully utilizes the tools Congress has given us. By definition, the most serious offenses are those that carry the most substantial guidelines’ sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences.” Sessions’ action reverses a policy by former President Barack Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that encouraged federal prosecutors not to pursue mandatory minimum sentences usually associated with low-level drug arrests. Sessions’ memo does not mention drug arrests. Under Holder, the move away from mandatory minimum sentences, usually linked to low-level drug arrests, was called “smart on crime,” said Marc Mauer, executive director of The Sentencing Project.

“In recent years the Department of Justice had achieved a substantial population reduction in its overcrowded prison system,” Mauer said in a statement. “The decrease was produced by several policy changes orchestrated by the U.S. Sentencing Commission and through the now-rescinded DOJ directive known as Smart on Crime. Reversing the directive will exacerbate prison overcrowding, increasing spending and jeopardize the safety of staff and prisoners.”

The Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes sentencing reform, noted that the federal prison population has dropped 2.9 percent since 2011. Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said: “Mandatory minimum sentences have unfairly and disproportionately incarcerated too many minorities for too long. Attorney General Sessions’ new policy will accentuate that injustice. Instead, we should treat our nation’s drug epidemic as a health crisis and

less as an as a ‘lock ’em up and throw away the key’ problem.” Color of Change, like Sen. Paul, believes Sessions is trying to reignite the war on drugs and has launched an online petition drive to stop Sessions. “The only real purpose this serves is to fill prisons with our people and fill the pockets of private prison companies. Almost half of the entire federal prison population consists of people serving time for drug offenses,” Color of Change wrote. “We need to shut down this clear attempt to fuel mass incarceration.” But the black community may have a different opinion. In the book “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America,” author James Forman Jr. writes as a public defender in Washington, D.C. that he attempted to keep a 15-year-old client out of a tough juvenile detention center. Forman noted that everyone involved in the particular criminal case was black, including the judge, the arresting police officer, prosecutor and city council which had written the city’s stringent gun and drug laws. In addition, blacks supported President Bill Clinton’s 1994 tough on crime legislation that led to tougher drug laws and mass incarceration of black men. African-American men are angry about police brutality but they also are angry about hoodlums who shoot their guns, making their neighborhoods unsafe for their wives and children.

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NEWS

June 1-7, 2017

City Schools of Decatur hires ‘Equity Director,’ fills other key positions City Schools of Decatur has hired school system identified gaps bean “Equity Director,” a new employ- tween the academic performance of ee whose full time job will be to ad- black and white students. “In 2015dress racial disparities in academic 16, a Black student in CSD was eight achievement and student discipline. times more likely than a White stuCSD has also announced a new dent to be cited for rude/disorderly Executive Director of conduct,” the report Curriculum and Insays. struction and a new Decatur’s Beacon Director of Special Hill Branch of the Education. NAACP has been Lillie Huddleston, pushing to keep the a clinical assistant disparity issue on professor at the the minds of School Georgia State UniBoard members versity School of and representaPublic Health, will tives have regularlead CSD’s efforts to ly attended board create a level playmeetings. A Feb. ing field for students 8 panel discussion as the system’s new on the topic drew a Equity Director. She standing-room only previously served on Lillie Huddleston crowd. the faculty of Emory The new position University prior to joining Geor- is part of a larger “strategic reorganigia State. She has a background as zation” of City Schools of Decatur’s a music teacher and “is a licensed Central Office. After first proposing psychologist and has earned Mas- the creation of an “associate superters, Ed.S., and Ph.D. degrees in intendent” position, Superintenschool psychology,” CSD says. She dent David Dude decided instead to was competing against nearly 100 make some changes to the existing applicants for the job. central office staff. A recent report produced by the

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African Americans living longer, still a way to go The death rate for African Americans fell 25 percent from 1999 to 2015, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. But disparities still persist between blacks and whites. Although blacks as a group are living longer, their life expectancy is still 4 years less than that of whites. As well, the study found that blacks in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are more likely to live with or die from conditions that typically occur at older ages in whites, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Risk factors for some diseases, such as high blood pressure, may go unnoticed and untreated during these early years. “We have seen some remarkable improvements in death rates for the black population in these past 17 years. Important gaps are narrowing due to improvements in the health of the black population overall. However, we still have a long way to go,” said Leandris Liburd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., associate director, CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. “Early health interventions can lead to longer, healthier lives. In particular, diagnosing and treating the leading

diseases that cause death at earlier stages is an important step for saving lives.” Social and economic conditions, such as poverty, contribute to gaps in health differences between blacks and whites, according to the report. In all age groups, the analysis showed that blacks had lower educational attainment and home ownership and nearly twice the rate of poverty and unemployment as whites – risk factors that may limit African American’s access to prevention and treatment of disease. Other risk factors affecting health outcomes for blacks include obesity and less physical activity. CDC researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Vital Statistics System, and CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine factors that may influence disparities across the life span. “It is important that we continue to create opportunities for all Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle,” said Timothy Cunningham, Sc.D., lead author and epidemiologist with the Division of Population Health, CDC. “Public health professionals must work across all sectors to promote health at early ages.”

Job prospects mixed for black workers last month

By Freddie Allen Managing Editor/NNPA Newswire Even though Black women lost ground in the labor market last month, the unemployment rate for Black workers dipped below 8 percent for the first time since January 2017, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department. Not only did the unemployment (UE) rate for Black workers improve, the labor force participation rate (LFPR), which is the share

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of people in the labor market who have jobs or who are looking for work, also moved in a positive direction. The labor force participation rate for Black workers increased from 62.3 percent in March to 62.5 percent in April. The employment-population ratio (E-POP), or the share of the population with jobs, climbed a few notches from 57.3 percent to 57.6 percent in April. The jobless rate for White workers decreased from 3.9 percent in March to 3.8 percent in April, and so did the labor force par-

ticipation rate. The E-POP for White workers was flat. April was a good month for Black men over 20 years old; the three main indicators (UE, LFPR and E-POP) all moved in positive directions. The unemployment rate for that group improved from 8.2 percent in March to 7.3 percent last month. April’s jobs report was a tough one for Black women over 20 years old. For the third month in a row, the labor force rate for Black working women was flat at (62.7 percent). The E-POP took a few steps back from the 58.6 percent mark set in March to 58.4 percent in April. The unemployment rate for Black women increased from 6.6 percent to 6.9 percent in April. Economists say that the measures of labor market indicators for minority subgroups are more prone to wild swings, because the survey sample sizes are smaller for minority workers compared to the sample size for White workers. Economists also say that the public shouldn’t make much out of a single job report and should instead watch for trends. One of those trends, was an increase in “annual work hours for all workers, especially low-wage African American workers and women,” from 1979 to 2015, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a think tank focused on the needs of low- and middle-income workers. In a recent post on EPI’s website, Valerie Rawlston Wilson, the director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE)

for the think tank, noted that working moms were “significant contributors to this trend.” More than half of all Black female workers are moms compared to roughly 44 percent of White female workers. “African-American working moms are uniquely central to the economic well-being of their families,” wrote Wilson. “To begin with, more than two-thirds of all African American working mothers are single moms, making them the primary, if not sole, economic providers for their families. By comparison, 29.6 percent of white working mothers and 47.9 percent of Hispanic working mothers are single.” Black married women with children also worked more hours per year and earned less money per hour than White married women with children, according to EPI. “What’s behind this greater attachment to the labor force? For African American women, it may have to do with higher rates of Black unemployment and racial pay and wealth disparities motivating the greater intensity of work relative to other groups,” wrote Wilson. “Economic policy has unquestionably failed single working mothers, who tend to work fewer hours in lower-wage jobs and often lack necessary family work supports like paid leave, health care and retirement benefits, affordable high quality child care and more predictable work scheduling.” The Labor Department will release its next jobs report on June 2.

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COMMUNITY

Campbellton road to be developed into a street smart corridor

Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a partnership project with the Georgia Department of Transportation to convert Campbellton Road into a Street Smart Corridor from Lee Street to the western city limits of Atlanta. The project scope consists of resurfacing; operational and safety improvements; pedestrian amenities; streetscaping; ADA compliance sidewalks; drainage improvements and signalization technology upgrades. In addition, coordination with planned MARTA improvements in the corridor will be included. The $18.2 million project includes $12

million from GDOT. The CIty of Atlanta has committed $4.2 million matching funding for this project from the special purpose local option sales tax for transportation (TSPLOST). The project design stage will begin in 2018. “The goal is to have the Campbellton Road corridor be amongst most connected corridors in Georgia, including technology that will be used for multimodal traffic control and road safety,” Councilmember Bottoms said. Campbellton Road is one of the longest and most highly traveled thoroughfares in Atlanta.

The U.S. Army and 100 Black Men of America partner to build leaders Under the banner of mentorship in the development of our nation’s next generation of leaders, the U.S. Army will partner with the 100 Black Men of America during 31st annual 100 Black Men of America National Conference in New Orleans next week. Alongside the 100 leadership, the Army will assist at the conference by sharing experience and guidance that can lay the groundwork for the long-term success of our young African-American men and women. Army leadership will participate in panel discussions such as the Women of Influence Panel, as well as the Collegiate 100 Workshop and will host an interactive exhibit area with elements that will test attendees’ mental agility and critical thinking, as well as opportunities to discover career matches based on their STEM and leadership strengths in the Army and beyond. “We believe that to make a difference in the lives of young African

American men and women, we must continuously offer leadership and mentorship that truly impacts long-term success,” stated Lt. Col. Michelle Nhambure, program manager for the U.S. Army Marketing and Research Group. “The U.S. Army stands strong in support of leading organizations such as 100 Black Men of America for we have a common belief that mentorship breeds strong leadership.” The Army’s continued partnership with 100 Black Men of America is consistent with its ongoing focus on leadership development and education. Last year, the Army awarded more than $280 million in ROTC scholarships to students at more than 275 colleges and universities across the country. As well, the Army has more than 150 career paths, including in-demand fields such as information technology, engineering and health care, among others.

June 1-7, 2017

Answering the Call: No Disconnects How a Smith College Ph.D. Student Followed Iconic Footprints to Clark Atlanta University Ronjonette N. Harrison, LCSW, knows that severe childhood trauma can imprison its victims. She also knows that healing, with appropriate treatment and support, is fully possible. That reality is much more than a career goal for the Smith College doctoral student, presently interning as a doctoral research assistant in Clark Atlanta University’s Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work. “I consider myself an advocate, a voice for individuals and families grappling with abuse, victimization and marginalization,” she says. Harrison, who is in the final phases of completing the Ph.D. in social work Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Mass. Her desire to intern at CAU is, perhaps, associated with an earlier “disconnect” that shaped her perspectives on social work education. “I entered undergraduate school with little support, resources or direction,” she recalls. I became aware of the social work profession while taking an elective course, “Social Work with Minority Families.” It sparked an intense range of emotions, and my passion for the field was instant and all-consuming. I knew this was my calling.” But a young Harrison faced one glaring hurdle. “Although my teachers were talented and committed to the student body, there was a disconnect because faculty often were not representative of the client [minority] population. Their theoretical perspectives significantly differed from my experiences and those in my community.” That episode stuck with Harrison over the past 15 years. So, when time to satisfy Smith College’s doctoral research internship requirement, she knew she wanted to do so on an HBCU campus. “As a social worker, you can’t stand in footsteps any more resonant than W.E. B. Du Bois and Whitney M. Young Jr.,” Harrison says. “And both sets of iconic footprints lead you to Clark Atlanta University. W.E.B. Du Bois founded contemporary sociology on this campus, and activist and advocate Whitney M. Young Jr. was the School of Social Work’s first dean. They are legends for anyone in this field, regardless of one’s race. CAU is ‘ground zero’ for anyone who is serious about shaping the future of social work.” But is it necessary for an African American to connect with other minority clients? And does legacy translate into policymaking, Harrison’s ultimate goal? Harrison says that not to immerse herself in the client population

would be irresponsible. “African Americans are not a monolith. Clark Atlanta provides an opportunity, and central proximity to the metro Atlanta community, for me to advance my own research interests -- exploring associations between betrayal trauma and criminal pathways of incarcerated women of color -- immersed in diverse client subpopulations that have been or will be directly or indirectly affected by this issue based upon a number of factors, age, social identity and economics among them.” The published author, who is simultaneously completing a clinical internship at neighboring Spelman College Counseling Services, also is working with CAU Professor Joi G. Showell, Ph.D., to evaluate the licensure test results of the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work’s MSW students, providing data that better allows school faculty and staff to facilitate licensure preparedness among graduates. “What Ronjonette brings to the program reaffirms the character of our school and honors the standards of excellence set by our forebears, W. E. B. Du Bois and Whitney M. Young Jr.: a strong academic pedigree, an appreciation for innovative research and critical analysis, and a passion for transformative policymaking that creates meaningful change. “

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June 1-7, 2017

BUSINESS

Monday Night Brewing breaks ground in historic West End Monday Night Brewing will break ground on its second brewery in Atlanta Tuesday — this one along the BeltLine in the historic West End neighborhood — focusing on its popular brand of barrel-aged and sour beers. Mayor Kasim Reed will join Atlanta City Councilmember Cleta Winslow and Monday Night Brewing co-founder Joel Iverson in a celebration the company’s new manufacturing facility in the West End neighborhood. The new commercial development will be one of the first on the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Building along one of the largest urban renewal projects in the country, the company will plant an urban orchard to aid in wild fermentation and open a second tasting room as part of the new 22,000-squarefoot development.

According to the company website, the new barrel-aging and souring brewery’s name will be the Garage. “Why the Garage? We started out homebrewing in our garage every Monday Night. For us, the humble garage has always been a symbol of experimentation, spontaneity, and community, all things that we want to replicate in our new West End brewery. An open garage is inviting. It invites neighbors to “borrow” your fancy new weed-eater, but also invites in the outside air. We plan on doing a good bit of open fermentation, even piping in the outside air from the orchard to cool and ferment wort in our coolship.” The brewery plans to be open later this year.

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WHO’S WHO IN

Collaborating with influencers is a great way to gain traction on social media, market to your target audience and much more. However, too many small business owners are going about it the wrong way. It is imperative to understand how to partner with the right influencers to scale your business. Select the Right Person The first mistake business owners make when collaborating, is working the first person that contacts them via direct message or email. Stop letting the influencers pick you and start researching the people who fit your brand’s messages. You want someone who reflects your brand’s message and resonates with your target audience. Just because someone is popular on social media does not mean they have your target audience. Take the time to outline essential characteristics you want this person to have. Bloggers Are Not the Only Influencers The individuals who influence me daily are women I discovered on social media; they run businesses, are super creative and are operating in their purpose. Take a moment to think about people who influence you. If somebody embodies all the qualities you want for your campaign that is the person

you want to work with even if they don’t have blogger as their title. Establishing a Relationship On any given week, I receive packages to my P.O. Box. Rarely have these individuals reached out before sending me something they want me to promote. When clients seek my advice on working with influencers, I suggest they spend 90 days or more engaging this person on various platforms. You just don’t email Jules of Sincerely Jules saying ‘let’s work together.’ Spend time cultivating a relationship that can become mutually beneficial. Your goal is to build rapport with this individual before you decide to design a marketing campaign around them. Pitching Your Influencers After investing time building a relationship with this person, it’s time to craft a pitch. Before pitching the influencers, go on their website and retrieve their media kit. In their media kit, you will see stats for their website, social media, past collaborations and pricing. In your proposal outline your goals for this partnership. It’s important to be open to their ideas and thoughts; afterall, they do know what resonates with their audience. The biggest advice I can provide when it comes to collaborating with others is to make sure they are the right fit for your brand.

Who’s Who In Black Atlanta welcomes Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine to the Real Times family and announces the Official Networking Reception and Book Unveiling of its 17th edition

Friday, July 28, 2017 • 6 p.m. Atlanta Marriott Marquis 265 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

For advertising / sponsorship information and VIP Group tables Call 404.932.1128 or Email lcochran@realtimesmedia.com

Tickets are $50 which includes a copy of the sixteenth edition of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta® ($39.95 Retail Value) www.whoswhopublishing.com

#WWIBA17

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POLITICS

Fulton County awarded for transparency

Fulton County has been named the 2017 Best in Nation in Civic Engagement and Public Information Award recipient from the National Association of Counties. Under the category “Civic Education and Public Information,” Fulton was recognized both for the county’s public engagement efforts in the development of the Strategic Plan, as well as for the citizen centered performance measures and public-facing Performance Management System implemented. National awards are given in 18 different categories to reflect the vast and comprehensive services provided counties. NACo will recognize Fulton County (and other award-winning counties) at its 2017 Annu-

Fostering relationships with influencers to grow your business By Tasha S. Robinson

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al Conference and Exposition July 21-24 in Franklin County, Ohio. This NACo Civic Education and Public Information award acknowledges Fulton County as a national leader in government transparency and constituent engagement. And its Commissioners say this is only the beginning. The county’s finance department is exploring employing the platform’s capabilities around fiscal transparency, and is in conversations with Alpharetta, East Point, and Johns Creek, each of which are interested in collaborating on the sharing of public data using a common platform.

June 1-7, 2017

Early voting has begun in Georgia’s 6th District Early voting for the special election runoff in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District began Monday with a recent 11Alive poll showing Democrat Jon Ossoff surging past Republican Karen Handel. The district includes parts of Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties. In the poll conducted by Survey USA, Democrat Jon Ossoff leads the race 51 percent, compared to Karen Handel’s 44 percent. Six percent of voters remain undecided. The 7 percent lead is beyond the +/- margin of error of 4.3 percent, but “close enough in a low-turnout, stand-alone runoff to be anyone’s call, though clearly Ossoff is in a better position than Handel,” Survey USA analysts concluded. More than half of respondents have an unfavorable view of President Donal Trump, a plurality disapprove of his firing of FBI Director James Comey, and 60 percent believe a special investigator should be named to look into Russian interference in America’s elections. Handel and Ossoff will meet in a primetime debate on June 6 that will air live on WSB-TV at 8 p.m. Handel will campaign with Vice President Mike Pence on June 9. The winner of Georgia’s 6th Congressional District special election would replace Tom Price, who vacated the seat after he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as secretary of health and human services in February.

Months after meeting with HBCU Presidents, Trump still giving mixed messages on black colleges By Jane Kennedy Repeatedly during his first 100 days, President Donald J. Trump signaled to the leaders and supporters of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that the federal support on which HBCUs depend would remain a priority under his administration. One sign of hope was an executive order that the president signed in February to move the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities from the Education Department to the White House, which some believed was an indication that HBCUs would indeed continue to be a priority under the new administration that had been expressed by the President. But, doubts surfaced just weeks later after dozens of HBCU presidents and leaders met with the President in the Oval Office Feb. 27 for a meeting that was widely panned as little more than a photo op. That same month, Education Secretary Betsey DeVos was heavily criticized for a statement in which she praised HBCUs as “real pioneers when it comes to school choice.” HBCUs were actually birthed from legalized racial segregation when African-Americans had no choice but to attend Black schools. It was, in part, the aftermath of that statement that caused graduates at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach to boo and turn their backs on DeVos in protest as she began their commencement speech May 10. Still, the Trump administration has sent yet another troubling message concerning HBCUs, contained in a signing statement connected to a temporary federal spending measure. The statement said, “Historically Black College and University Capital Financ-

ing Program Account” among other funds, the order said, “My Administration shall treat provisions that allocate benefits on the basis of race, ethnicity, and gender…in a manner consistent with the requirement to afford equal protection of the laws under the Due Process Clause of the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment.” This HBCU Capital Financing Program Account, which provides HBCUs with funding at reasonable rates to build new and renovate infrastructure on their aging campuses, was created in 1992 as part of the Higher Education Act passed by Congress. According to Black lawmakers and other HBCU advocates, race is not a criteria and to qualify for the loans the schools must meet standards based on mission, accreditation status and the year an institution was established.

Hours after the White House released the signing statement, Michigan Rep. John Conyers, who is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana) issued a joint response that questioned both Trump’s understanding of the Capital Financing Program and his commitment to HBCUs. “Trump’s statement is not only misinformed factually, it is not grounded in any serious constitutional analysis,” it read. “For a president who pledged to reach out to African-American and other minorities, this statement is stunningly careless and divisive. We urge him to reconsider immediately.” Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president/CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), in a lengthy

statement noted that HBCUs serve diverse student bodies. “Since their founding, HBCUs have been open to, welcoming and supportive of persons from all races, ethnicities, religions, and both genders except for the gender-specific HBCUs,” she said. “HBCUs enroll roughly 30 percent of non-African American students. Their faculty is more than 40 percent non-African American. Today 5 HBCUs are more than 50 percent non-African American. At least one is majority Hispanic serving. One is being shepherded by a white female president.” If the administration were to withdraw from the program, she added, it would be “devastating to these equal opportunity institutions to whose presidents and chancellors President Trump pledged the largest investments in their history.” The President has hastened to clarify the signing statement and assuage his critics, stating that the signing statement “does not affect my unwavering support for HBCUs and their critical education missions.” Noting the executive order he signed in February to strengthen their capacity, he said his commitment “remains unchanged.” But, Conyers and Richmond aren’t buying it: “Sadly and shamefully, HBCUs, including the schools that President Trump met with, are left to wonder whether he wants to help or hurt them,” they said in the joint statement. “If President Trump really wants to help HBCUs, he’ll implement the proposals the CBC has suggested to him in several letters, including the letter we sent him on April 27, calling for robust funding for a host of programs that support students served by these schools.”

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LIFESTYLE

June 1-7, 2017

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On Our Radar: “Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design” The High Museum of Art will be the first venue in the United States to present “Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design.” This major touring exhibition -- organized by the Vitra Design Museum and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao -- offers a fresh look at African design through a myriad of diverse works by more than 120 artists. Ranging from playful to provocative to political, the works include sculpture, prints, fashion, furniture, film, photography, apps, maps, digital comics, and more. Contemporar y

works are presented alongside historical documents and photography to emphasize the rapid rate of cultural

change in post-colonial Africa. The exhibition offers a vision of Africa in the 21st century as a place of unbounded optimism, rapid growth, and massive cultural transformation and presents the continent as a hub of experimentation that generates innovative design approaches and solutions with worldwide relevance. “Making Africa” focuses on a generation of entrepreneurs, thinkers, and designers from and within Africa who address a global audience and provide the world with a new vantage point on their continent. Opening October 15, 2017, The exhibition illustrates how the artists use their work to effect significant economic, social, and political change. “Making Africa” is a collaborative project led by Vitra Design Museum Curator Amelie Klein along with Consulting Curator and Haus der Kunst Director Okwui Enwezor, with support from a large board of curatorial advisors, based primarily in Africa. The exhibition will be presented in the Cousins Special Exhibition Galleries on the second level of the High’s Wieland Pavilion.

Getaway to the Lowcountry

By Katrice L. Mines Montage Palmetto Bluff is the kind of destination that you visit time and time again because it’s both familiar and just a bit of a break from the norm. The Lowcountry haven is an undemanding drive from Atlanta, which makes it difficult to resist as the obvious choice for chance getaways from city. The bonus: everything else. Peaceful streets, gas-lit walkways and wraparound porches render Palmetto Bluff picturesque, but there is a promised experience among the moss-draped live oaks and

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engulfing sense of neighborly pace. You will be replenished. The luxury South Carolina resort along the May River between Hilton Head Island and Savannah last fall fully opened 150 new guest accommodations within its 20,000 acres in Bluffton, S.C. Situated on the banks of the inland waterways, two-story Guest Houses featuring 76 classically southern guestrooms that offer gorgeous greenspace and lagoon views and an Inn with 74 guest accommodations joined Palmetto Bluff ’s beloved cottages. As well, to its five restaurants is also the addition of a lively lobby lounge and

Octagon Bar with sweeping lagoon views; a 13,000-square-foot Spa Montage with salon and fitness center; and an additional resort pool with bar and grill. Already a well-appointed escape, Montage’s plan to sprawl a bit just makes sense. A classic retreat for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, visitors and residents enjoy year-round access to sports and recreational pursuits both on and off land in a pristine, natural setting. It’s simply impossible to not feel like porching, taking the stroll to RT’s Market, lounging by the pool with a good book for hours and having s’mores around a fire pit under the stars. The sense of place transforms you, even if for just a while; and each time you return to it. If it’s a touch of solitude you desire, that too can be accomplished here. Known for its homey cottages, also renovated this year and strewn steps from the River House where arriving guests used to be greeted as well as Buf-

falo’s restaurant, there is still very much the draw of Palmetto Bluff as your home away from home. Stay in and enjoy a quiet meal on the enclosed back porch or take a cottage bicycle to wander the property. What more could you ask for? • Escape to Spa Montage – Book the Deluxe Caviar Facial, ultra-luxurious 90-minute treatment that firms, tones, refines and deeply hydrates the skin with protein-rich caviar, collagen boosting peptides, cell regenerating Co-Enzyme A and a specialized AcuLift massage.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Exhibit: Lessons of Joy, Unbridled Wonders of Black Happiness Throughout the Decades

The Auburn Avenue Research Library, in collaboration with Hammonds House Museum will present “Lessons of Joy, Unbridled Wonders of Black Happiness Throughout the Decades” by renowned artist and educator K.Joy Ballard Peters. An emotionally vibrant retrospective of a Master virtuoso, Lessons of Joy, is an ebullient visual celebration of the lived Africana experience that foregrounds communal happiness and joy. Rooted in flawlessly executed Beardenesque collage techniques Peters births extraordinary transcendent appliqués that manifest the spiritual essence and unbridled wonders of Black happiness and joy. Peters is a retired professor of Art and an applique artist living in Atlanta. She composes intricate designs including some mixed media aspects to her applique work. Her notable appliqué technique, often described as “painting with fabric”, is

her favorite and most used medium. Her appliqués can stand alone, beautifully framed to make a statement, or you may enjoy them on scarves, tote bags, clothing, aprons and note cards. The collage technique is at the root of the inspiration of her appliqués. Collage is an artistic medium popularized by renowned artist Romare Bearden. Once inspired by a concept, Peters begins building the vision of the appliqué by selecting commercially produced fabrics, then cuts, redesigns, and sews by machine to create new images with dimension and depth. One must look carefully to see exactly which images and colors have been repurposed to create new scenes. Illusions and surprise textures appear without warning in her appliqués. Additionally, she developed her watercolor painting skills and style while studying art at Howard University un-

der internationally acclaimed artist, Lois Mailou Jones. There, she also explored working with acrylics, tissue paper collages, charcoal, printmaking techniques and ceramics. These techniques often appear in mixed media appliqués created by Peters. A lover and creator of art since the age of 8, Peters enjoys exploring the arts, especially those with decorative and utilitarian purposes. Visual art has always been, and will continue to be, a part of her everyday living. This “Lessons of Joy, Unbridled Wonders of Black Happiness Throughout the Decades” exhibition will be presented in the Cary-McPheeters Gallery and Peters will facilitate an exhibition artist talk 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2017.

“People may not tell you how they feel about you, but they always show you. Pay attention.”

June 1-7, 2017

Georgia edges out California as top location for feature film production

According to a new report by FilmL.A, 17 feature films were shot in Georgia in 2016, beating California as the top location for feature film production and making it the number one filming location in the world, reports Project Casting. FilmL.A.’s annual Feature Film study revealed the United Kingdom came in second for shooting 16 feature films, with Canada taking third place with 13. Meanwhile, California was in fourth place with 12 feature productions and New York, and Louisiana tied for fifth place. Researchers also changed the way they analyzed the data. In fact, data scientists calculated the top five filming locations by analyzing the 100 top-grossing movies at the domestic box office. Aforementioned is different in comparison to previous studies, which used only films released by major U.S. film companies. As a result, Georgia’s film industry not only shot the most movies but, had some of the highest grossing movies films in the state as well. Overall, the California shot feature films spent nearly $99.5 million in filming and received $12.4 million in tax credits thanks to the California Film & Television Tax Credit program. “California’s incentive has returned some feature projects to the state,” the study states. “In fact, in Los Angeles, on-location feature film production reached an eight-year high in 2016 — but the state’s film incentive program seems optimized for use by a narrow band of feature film projects, with budgets from $40 million to $100 million.” Meanwhile, big budget productions like “Passengers,” “The 5th Wave,” “Allegiant,” “Captain America: Civil War”were all filmed in Atlanta. Consequently, $2.02 billion was spent on film and TV production; while Georgia spent $606 million to fund the tax credits. Overall, it is important to note that the film industry in the United States is on the decline. While Georgia may host some of the biggest movies in the world, the study revealed 57 percent of all movies filmed in the United States. That is the lowest percentage share in nearly five years, with an average of 63 to 67 percent.

• Get on the Water - The only destination to see bottlenose dolphins “strand feed,” where groups of dolphins heard a school of fish or shrimp onto the sandbar or beach then launch their bodies onto the beach to feed. • Take a tour to learn about the native Gullah culture.

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CLASSIFIEDS

June 1-7, 2017

REAL ESTATE WANTED WE BUY HOUSES FAST Any Price, Any Condition, Any Situation www.peachstatehomebuyers.com 404.478.9866

ANNOUNCEMENT C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc will be accepting quotations from subcontractors, including GDOT certified DBE subcontractors, for Henry County Bid #17-53 Jodeco Road at Blackhall Rd Intersection Improvements. This project is bidding on June 21, 2017 @ 3:00 P.M. Items of work include: Hauling, Clearing & Grubbing, Layout, Erosion Control, Grassing, Nursery, Pipe Work, Guardrail, Water Quality, Signs, Milling, Concrete Flatwork, Drainage Structure, Electrical, and Thermoplastic Pavement Marking. Subcontractor quotations will be accepted by C. W. Matthews’ Estimating Department in person, by e-mail: mikek@cwmatthews.com or Fax: #770422-9361 until Noon on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. All bidding documentation will be available at the C. W. Matthews Contracting website (www. cwmatthews.com). If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Mike Kleuckling at (770) 422-7520 X1254. You must register a User ID and Password to access the CWM website. For additional website information, contact C. W. Matthews’ Estimating Department at 770-422-7520.

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June 1-7, 2017

GUEST COMMENTARY

by Cornell Williams Brooks

by Jesse Jackson

The Mythology of Voter Fraud The recent executive order establishing the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity represents yet another veiled attempt to disenfranchise people of color. Citing false and unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud, President Trump has perpetuated this mythology of “voter fraud,” as justification for support of laws and policies that promote voter suppression. This Commission poses a very real and direct threat to our electoral system and democracy. Clearly designed to bar millions from exercising their democratic birthright, through a gumbo of alt-facts, stereotypes and dog whistle politics, the NAACP as this nation’s first-responder on civil rights will fight back with every resource at our disposal against any assault on the vote. Without a doubt, the enemy of the vote will seek to utilize whatever findings the committee produces as ammunition for the continuing assault on voting rights. While we cannot predict what the commission will report, its makeup gives us reason the worry. Vice Chair of the Commission, Kris Kobach, is one of the principal disseminators of the mythology of widespread voter fraud, despite no statistical proof to validate this claim. In a 2015 study, The Washington Post

found that out of 1 billion votes cast between 2000 and 2014, there were 31 alleged incidents of voter fraud. More recently, of the 134 million votes cast during the most-recent presidential election, The Post found a mere 4 incidents of voter fraud. Despite any evidence of voter fraud, this administration is expending public funds to address an issue which, quite simply, does not exist. There is simply no evidence of widespread voter fraud. The appointment of Kris Kobach as Vice Chair of the Commission is a clear signal of the ultimate purpose and intent of the Commission which is to provide justification for making it more difficult, if not impossible, for African-American and Latino citizens to exercise their right to vote. The NAACP is committed to defend against any attack on the voting rights of our fellow citizens, no matter what their color or political persuasion. Rather than burdening participation in our democracy, we should all be working to increase the degree of civic participation throughout this nation. There is no integrity in denying American citizens their right to vote. This Commission on Election Integrity is a sham and should not be allowed to give any credibility to the mythology of widespread voter fraud.

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Country needs a helping hand, not a hammer blow If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. The United States has a big hammer — the military, plus the intelligence community’s covert intervention forces. So we are dropping bombs from drones in seven countries. Donald Trump goes to Saudi Arabia peddling arms and urging military cooperation. When North Korea acts up, he dispatches an aircraft carrier flotilla as a “show of force.” When Syria’s government is accused of using chemical weapons, he unleashes a barrage of cruise missiles. Now as Venezuela descends toward chaos, much of the hemisphere fears the United States will reach for its covert hammer to help get rid of a regime it doesn’t like. The people in Venezuela are suffering horribly in the midst of a deepening recession. A recent study reported that nearly three-fourths of the people have lost weight amid a spreading food shortage. In 2016 inflation soared to 800 percent while the economy lost nearly 20 percent of its GDP. More than 40 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty. Violent death is now a daily feature of a country with one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Shortages of food and medicine are growing, hospitals are increasingly dysfunctional, and prisons are scarred by riots and massacres. Violent mass protests and rising state repression threaten to spiral out of control. The causes of this are many. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Oil constitutes about 90 percent of Venezuela’s exports and is vital for a country that imports many necessities. When oil prices plummeted in the 1990s, Venezuelans suffered. When oil prices recovered in 2000, the popularly elected populist government of Hugo Chavez used the new

resources to reduce poverty and extend health care and education. When oil prices plummeted again, Venezuela descended back into misery. The country is deeply polarized politically. The rapacious elite families that ran the country for decades never accepted the Chavez “Bolivarian Revolution,” and organized mass protests and attempted a coup. The impoverished rallied to Chavez, but his successor, Nicholas Maduro, has neither his political skills nor his good fortune on oil prices. In bitterly contested elections, the opposition captured the national assembly in 2016. Maduro has used the Supreme Court to overturn the assembly’s legislation while postponing state elections. Opposition demonstrations have grown larger and more violent. We should care about Venezuela’s agonies. The U.S. should not employ the hammer of military or covert intervention but rather creative diplomacy and humanitarian assistance. We should be building a multilateral effort to deliver food and medicine to Venezuelans in a time of need. We should join in urging the government to hold the postponed state elections and encourage leaders in the hemisphere to mediate some kind of a negotiated resolution between the parties. These are our neighbors. We do have a stake in limiting the violence, in supporting democratic processes and in aiding the people in the midst of economic turmoil. The long history of military and covert intervention into the hemisphere has increasingly isolated the U.S. from its neighbors. Now, in Venezuela, we can begin to find a better way by not intervening on one side or the other but by standing with our neighbors in a time of desperate need.

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