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Volume 89 • Issue 39
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May is National Foster Care Month May 4-10, 2017
Stacey Abrams: Front and Center
May 4-10, 2017
COVER STORY
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Stacey Abrams files paperwork to run for governor in 2018
House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams took the first step toward a run for Georgia governor, filing paperwork to form a campaign committee for the 2018 contest to replace term-limited Governor Nathan Deal. Although the move is still considered exploratory, the 43-year old attorney and leader of House Democrats in the state Capitol for the last seven years has long signaled her interest in the race for governor. Now, with Governor Nathan Deal, wrapping up his final legislative session, prospects on both sides of the political spectrum are throwing their hats in the ring. Three Republicans already have launched full-on campaigns: Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, state Sen. Hunter Hill of Smyrna and Secretary of State Brian Kemp. On the left, Rep. Stacey Evans of Smyrna has signaled interest to close company; and former state senator Jason Carter remains undecided on the prospect of a second run for Governor. His last run, which was supposed to be a rebirth of the Democrat party fell short of expanding the electorate beyond what was already expected. “If you look at the data, you’ll see [Jason Carter and Michelle Nunn] received their votes right where you’d expected they’d receive them: Right here in Atlanta, where there is a concentration of Blacks and Latinos, but not enough to move forward,” says Dr. William Boone, political science professor at Clark Atlanta University. “But it did give Democrats something to organize around.” The 2018 race for Georgia’s highest office will garner unprecedented national scrutiny as it promises to further complicate the nation’s political calculus and serve as a mid-term election referendum, of sorts, on President Donald Trump. Already, 90 percent of contributions to the campaigns to fill the U.S. Congressional District 6 seat left by current U.S. Health and Human Resources Secretary Tom Price, are from political factions outside of the state. Abrams has spent the better part of the last decade representing portions of Atlanta, DeKalb County and the city of Decatur since 2007 and attempting to
turn Georgia “blue” through the non-profit voter registration group she founded in 2013. The New Georgia Project, which aims to register hundreds of thousands of voters and ride the wave of the ever-changing voter demographics in the greater Atlanta region comes on the cusp of the crucial reapportionment of legislative districts scheduled to take place after the 2020 census. Legislatively, voting rights will likely remain a cornerstone of Abrams’ legislative focus. She opposed House Bill 228 legislation approved on a party-line vote this session that opponents argued could disenfranchise minority voters. The elections bill includes a 26-month deadline for applicants to correct voter registration discrepancies. The bill came a little more than a month after the state settled a federal lawsuit accusing it of disenfranchising minority voters because of an “exact match” requirement used by the state on registration forms that critics said blocked thousands of them from voter rolls. In the settlement, the state agreed to no longer reject those applications and said applicants would not be under any deadline to correct a mismatch or to confirm their identity unless mandated by a future statutory requirement. To date, the New Georgia Project stated it has thus far registered 200,000 minority voters – about one-quarter of its stated 800,000 goal. A successful run would mean that Abrams would be the first African-American governor in Georgia – and the first black female statewide officeholder in the state’s history.
Atlanta Daily World
Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932
NEWS
Georgia NAACP lawsuit challenges unlawful racial gerrymander
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ADW reports
legislature, however, has repeatedly sought to amend its post-2010 redistricting plan for its At the end of April, the Georgia NAACP and House of Representatives, even though there is the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights filed no legitimate reason to do so. It most recently suit against the State of Georgia and its Secre- did so in 2015, when it passed House Bill 566 tary of State to remedy an unlawful racial ger- (“H.B. 566”) in ways that departed from norrymander. The suit, filed in federal mal procedures. For example, Africourt in Atlanta, claims that the recan-American legislators serving on drawing of lines for Georgia House reapportionment committees were of Representatives Districts 105 and excluded from the process of deter111, in 2015, was done with a racialmining the changes. ly discriminatory purpose to favor Most important, H.B. 566 used the election of White incumbents race as the predominant factor to – an alleged violation of the Fourallocate African-American and othteenth Amendment and the Voting er minority voters into and out of Rights Act of 1965. House Districts 105 and 111, so as to “Mid-decade redistricting has reduce the ability of African-Amerbecome another tactic used by those ican and other voters to elect candiwho seek to suppress the rights of dates of their choice. These changes minority voters in the face of racial Kristen Clarke were made against the backdrop of demographic change,” said Kristen a growing African-American popuClarke, president and executive director of the lation in those two districts and recent elections Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under that saw White Republican candidates just narLaw. “Lawmakers in Georgia explicitly used rowly defeating Black Democratic candidates. race to reconfigure district boundaries to guar“The people of Georgia deserve an electoral antee the reelection of white incumbents. Such system that is fair and free of decisions based conduct is discriminatory and illustrative of the on racial gerrymandering and partisan gamesugly racial discrimination that infects the politi- manship,” said Jennifer Dempsey, partner Bryan cal process in Georgia today.” Cave, LLP. “We hope this lawsuit will advance “The history of the struggle to disenfran- that cause.” chised people in the nation demonstrates that The Complaint alleges that the passage of power concedes nothing without a demand. H.B. 566, in the context of the historical disThis litigation represents our demand that the crimination against African Americans in ‘we’ in ‘We the People’ include all people,” said Georgia and racially polarized voting, was inFrancys Johnson, Statesboro Civil Rights at- tended, at least in part, to reduce the number torney, and Georgia NAACP president. “In of minority voters and increase the number of the fight to secure the right to vote and elect White voters to reduce minority voting strength the candidates of our choice, the NAACP will in Districts 105 and 111, and was a racial gerrymortgage every asset we have. These rights are mander in violation of the Constitution and the sacred. Hallowed no less by the blood, sweat, Voting Rights Act. and tears of those who came before us.” In addition, the Complaint alleges that the The Georgia House of Representatives is redistricting plan is an unconstitutional partisan composed of 180 members, each of whom is gerrymander as it creates political classifications elected from a single-member district. Tradi- without any legitimate legislative objective. tionally, states adopt a new redistricting plan Plaintiffs in the suit include Georgia State every 10 years, after the decennial Census, so Conference of the NAACP and several individas to comply with the Constitution’s “one per- uals who live in the contested Districts. son, one vote” requirement, according to the 100-year-old state organization. The Georgia
May 4-10, 2017
Turner Field Community Trust Fund created for job training, affordable housing The Atlanta City Council approved, in a vote of nine to three, an ordinance by Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) to create a Trust Fund to benefit the communities surrounding the former Turner Field, including Summerhill, Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh, and a portion of Grant Park. The approved legislation is the first legislative victory for the students and activists of the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition, which has been petitioning the City and Georgia State University to create an equitable Community Benefits Agreement been the University and the surrounding neighborhoods. The ordinance would allocate money from the sale of city-owned properties around Turner Field to surrounding neighborhoods to be used solely to fund economic and community development initiatives such as the construction and preservation of affordable housing and job training. For any sale or lease proceeds up to 500,000 dollars, one hundred percent will go into the Trust Fund; for proceeds between $500,000.01 and one million dollars the amount will be “a reasonable amount no less than 50 percent”; and for proceeds above $1 million, the amount will be “a reasonable amount no less than 33 percent.”
Georgia State University and partnering developers bought Turner Field in 2016 with the intention of turning it into the Georgia State Stadium after the Braves built a new stadium in Cobb County and moved to the suburbs. Voting in favor were Councilmembers Carla Smith (District 1), Kwanza Hall (District 2), Ivory Lee Young (District 3), Cleta Winslow (District 4), Alex Wan (District 6), CT Martin (District 10), Joyce Sheperd (District 12), Bond and Andre Dickens (Post 3-at-large). Voting nay were Howard Shook (District 7), Yolanda Adrean (District 8), and Felicia Moore (District 9). Keisha Lance Bottoms (District 11) abstained due to her former position as Executive Director of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. Natalyn Archibong (District 5) and Mary Norwood (Post 2-atlarge) were absent. The Trust Fund ordinance now proceeds to Mayor Kasim Reed for action. On the initiative, Councilman Bond said, “We want to keep it community-focused, community-driven, and community-initiated. We want to continue to help facilitate what the community’s vision is for their own destiny.”
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BUSINESS
May 4-10, 2017
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The 16th Annual Bridge Builder Awards were held April 20 at the Delta Flight Museum. Hosted by award-winning morning anchor Cheryl Preheim, 11alive, the fundraiser also featured honorary co-chairs Hank Aaron and wife Billye, and Ambassador Andrew Young and wife Carolyn. Hank and Billye Aaron presented $200,000 to the Atlanta Technical College Foundation to benefit students. Carolyn Young encouraged attendees to give to Atlanta Tech. “Approximately 600 students had to stop attending classes and withdraw last semester because they did not have $375, the average student account balance owed,” she said. Dr. Victoria Seals reminded attendees of the Bridge Builder Awards’ mission. “As it is with everything at Atlanta Technical College, at the heart of tonight’s celebration is our students,” she said. Honorees at the 2017 event were award-winning makeup artist and Atlanta Tech graduate Patrice Coleman, who worked as makeup artist for Tyler Perry and who worked most recently on
Changemakers (L to R): Ceasar Mitchell, Atlanta City Council President and Atlanta mayoral candidate; keynote speaker, Lisa Nicole Cloud, WEN and BRAVO TV; Dr. Roshawnna Novellus, and Michael V. Roberts Sr., real estate mogul
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; charter member of the Atlanta Technical College Foundation, Arlane Robinson, who was honored posthumously; Bahamas Consul General Randy Rolle; Fabiola Charles Stokes, Community Impact Director, Google Fiber; and Charmaine Ward, Corporate Relations Director, Georgia Power Company. Student of the Year Terrylynn Stevenson performed 50 Years Strong, a presentation in honor of Atlanta Tech’s 50-year anniversary in 2017. Students illuminated candles in a ripple effect as Stevenson ended her presentation. Guests at the event were able to tour the Delta Flight Museum and bid on sports memorabilia, jewelry, and fine art at the silent auction. The state-of-the-art Delta Flight Museum explores the history of Delta and the future of flight. If you were not able to make it to Bridge Builders 2017, it is not too late. You can still text and give to support the students of Atlanta Tech at 404.998.4ATC (4282).
CAU hosts summer science and engineering program for high school students
ADW reports On Thursday, April 27, the inaugural EnrichHER Business Conference was held at Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead. Dr. Roshawnna Novellus, event creator and co-founder of Bootstrap Capital, partnered with the City of Atlanta to support women entrepreneurs during a two-day conference that engaged over 250 participants. The conference focused on the development of successful women business leaders. Six women led businesses participated in EnrichHER’s business pitch competition. The winner, Lalanya Abner of Imagination Beyond Boundaries, was awarded $5,000 in funding. Lisa Nicole Cloud, CEO of Elite Marketing Strategies and star of BRAVO TV’s “Married to Medicine,” was the keynote speaker. Rashan Ali, multi-media personality, was the master of ceremony EnrichHER speakers and panelists included Abigail Trembel, president of Randstad; Kimberly Blackwell, advisor for PMM & NBWC; Susan Oh, managing partner of Telemundo; Veronica Maldonado-Torres, program director for Georgia Protege Project; Genevieve Bos, managing partner of Thought Capital. Judges for the business pitch competition included: Grace Fricks, president of Access to Capital For Entrepreneurs; Theia Washington, executive director of Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative; and Dina Marto, founder of Twelve Studios.
The Dual Degree Engineering Program at Clark Atlanta University has been awarded a nearly $40,000 grant to host a summer STEM program for exceptional high school students. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) through the Minority Serving Institution Partnerships Program (MSIPP) sponsors this grant. Adjunct professor and program manager at CAU, Veda L. Chandler, J.D., will lead the summer initiative. The students participating in this two-week residential program are from the High School STEM Institute. It’s designed to help youth experience the possibilities of careers in various STEM fields, with a strong emphasis on additive manufacturing. The goal is to promote energy science and engineering, and multi-disciplinary education and research among high school students, according to Chandler. Oak Ridge National Lab will support the mission by providing their expertise and training in the field of throughput in additive manufacturing. In an effort to make it a comprehensive
A perfect pairing Verna Jennings Cleveland and her business partner Hillary Dunson had been friends for 10 years or so, engaging in small entrepreneurial enterprises and community service projects together when the ‘Big Idea’ hit. Hillary and her husband were on a business trip in Arizona and walked into an olive oil shop. Thoroughly inspired, their idea was to open such a place in Atlanta where there weren’t very many. “Hillary was looking to do something for herself. She was working in husband’s dental office and I was working as a political strategist for the last 30 years. I was also looking to do something for myself -- something my two daughters would be proud to be a part of.” Still, Verna was, what would become Atlanta Olive Oil Company’s first tough sell. “Hillary approached me about the idea and I said, ‘No, thanks.’ I was not interested in being a foodie-type. I am not even a cook, don’t like to cook … I had never even gone into an olive oil shop. I felt you had to be passionate about what you do in order to do it well.” But Hillary wouldn’t take no for an answer and Verna eventually said yes -- but they wanted to do it differently. “We wanted to have a place that would also serve as a facility that people in the community could use as an event space. The other shops are like old candy stores. So, we started looking for space during our information-gathering phase. Mind you, we were still putting together business plan and still convincing our husbands that this was more than just a hobby. So we hadn’t gone the traditional finish-your-business-plan before-you-start route.” West Midtown’s burgeoning foodie scene would turn out to be the perfect anchor.
“The area was up and coming, trendy and relatively inexpensive and it also had a great event space. We took the dive. Hillary jumped right in to the foodie aspect like the selection of products and distributors and I focused on the business management. We kind of stayed out of each other’s lanes and trusted each other. We were able to devise a business model based on our strengths to open up really fast and produce something really fast that people really like.” To optimize the space and innovate, they host events and tastings featuring their “Guiltless Cocktails” – olive oil and balsamic vinegar infused cocktail creations that appeal to every palate. The location is not in a heavily foot trafficked area, so, having penetrated all of their circles of influence to initially keep the business afloat, they believe if they were in the planning stages again, they would devise a model where they would duplicate and scale faster; one that would reach more customers even faster – introducing them to the world of olive oil. “We’re still fine-tuning our marketing strategies and the finances are always a challenge. When you start a new business offering a product and you have a brick and mortar there’s a set overhead. Any profit has to be reinvested back into the business. A lot of people by now would have had to close their doors. “ For the business school grad duo, time management and timing is everything. “If we had gone the traditional route of completing business plan and getting attorneys lined up, it would have probably been another two years and we probably wouldn’t have done it. You have to take risks and if you’re smart enough, you can minimize risks.”
May 4-10, 2017
16th Annual Bridge Builder Awards sets gold standard
Staying safe – there’s an app Conference hosted over 250 for that business-minded participants Safe2Meet.com, an Atlanta-based, woman-owned company has offered up a technological solution to thwart online predators through a peer-to-peer identity verification and background check platform. The first of its kind, “the platform provides a way for anyone who wants to make sure that any stranger they need to meet for any kind of interaction – to show a vacant property, for a classified ad sale, a date, anything at all – is who they say they are,” says CEO Patricia Wilson-Smith. “Real Estate agents, in particular, are especially excited about our solution.” The platform generates a digital badge for Safe2Meet members that can be scanned with their proprietary mobile app to confirm its authenticity and refreshes a user’s identity and background information every 30 days to provide an up-to-date status on an ongoing basis. It uses a patent pending process to establish the true identity of a person and then compiles social network, public records, and other verified data repositories to confirm a person’s background to generate a badge that can be displayed and used to confirm status. “This is different than anything else in the identity verification or background check industry. Our users will be able to actively manage their own background status and share it with anyone at any time,” says Manish Verma, the company’s president. “We’ve found that the major players in social media, classified advertising and dating have no real incentive for solving the problem of safety online,” says Matthew Watson one of the company’s co-founders. “Safe2Meet is going to become the trusted platform that will make meeting and doing business with anyone on any platform safer.” Since launching in public beta on April 10th, the company has raised $165K from angel investors to build the service.
COMMUNITY
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experience, there will be seamless interdepartmental collaboration between CAU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development and cyber security faculty. The MSIPP showcases advanced manufacturing to regional high school students. MSIPP was conceived at the Department of Energy to build a sustainable pipeline from HBCUs to industry. One of the goals of MSIPP is to enhance the role of minorities in the future workforce at national labs and sites. CAU’s Dual Degree Engineering Program is a five-year program, which allows students to earn a degree from Clark Atlanta and a degree from any of the 12 partner engineering institutions. Majors include aerospace engineering, agricultural and biomedical engineering, among others. Students pursuing engineering degrees at CAU are eligible to receive several merit-based scholarships, and must complete a rigorous academic schedule as part of the program. To learn more visit CAU.edu.
Mayor Kasim Reed details Grant Park Gateway Project
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Mayor Kasim Reed recently unveiled plans for the $48 million Grant Park Gateway Project, a new underground parking and mobility facility which will be located at the site of the existing eight-acre surface parking lot, adjacent to Zoo Atlanta on Boulevard Avenue. The new amenity will feature a park on the roof of the facility with green infrastructure elements and a restaurant highlighting regional cuisine, while providing approximately 1,000 parking spaces. Other planned features for the future LEED-certified facility include planted vegetation which will reduce storm water run-off and improve air quality; an intelligent parking system aimed at helping guide patrons find vacant spots; and state-of-the-art surveillance cameras to promote safety. The Department of Parks and Recreation will host community meetings in the upcoming months to solicit additional ideas and concerns from residents as they move forward with the planning of the project. In 2015, the City of Atlanta conducted a mobility feasibility study to understand the current and future traffic and parking demands for Grant Park and Zoo Atlanta. The City also performed a geotechnical study to determine
the feasibility of the current Boulevard surface lot as a proposed mobility and parking solution. Working with key stakeholders and community leaders, the Department of Parks and Recreation gathered input for a parking solution that would help reduce traffic congestion in the neighborhood, improve safety and eliminate illegal parking on grassed areas. During the two-year planning process, community leaders requested the parking solution to include amenities to enhance the park, the neighborhood and Zoo Atlanta. Chief of Staff Candace Byrd, Commissioner Phuong and Councilmember Smith also led two delegations to Dallas, Texas, to learn best practices for mobility and parking. The overall project, to complement the Zoo’s “Grand New View,” aims to repurpose the former Cyclorama building to a multi-use, special events facility and expand their entry plaza to the Boulevard entrance. The City of Atlanta will fund the project, to be fulfilled by Winter Johnson Group by late 2018, through a revenue bond and supplement it with additional sources, including the Department of Parks and Recreation’s park improvement funds.
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May 4-10, 2017
Americans feeling more stressed in 2017
LIFESTYLE
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Lydia Meredith, from first lady to a voice for LGBTQ and human rights
Good news: Stress levels, across United States cities, decreased last year to their lowest point in a decade. But, according to Wallet Hub, that rise has already evaporated in 2017 following a tumultuous election. During the 10-year period when stress was declining, Americans commonly identified “money, work and the economy” as their biggest sources of worry. Today, however, those surveyed also cite increased anxiety over the current political climate, uncertainty of our nation’s future and fear of violence. Georgia is No. 8 on the list of states with the highest levels of overall stress and 9th in work-related stress. If this is you, Lateefah Watford, MD, and chief of Behavioral Health for Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, has a few tips to shake it off. Keep them handy. Learn to say, “No.” • You cannot take care of others, if you do not take care of yourself. Prioritize what is most important to you. If you are asked to take on a new task that you do not have the time or energy to complete, be comfortable saying “no.” Get adequate sleep • Allowing your body and mind to rest is key to managing stress. Sleep allows your body to recalibrate and gives you the energy to face the challenges each day presents. To help yourself wind down at the end of the day, disconnect from all media and create a sleep routine that includes activities you find relaxing, whether it is reading a book or soaking in the tub. Strive for at least eight hours of sleep each night. Delegate • Being a leader does not mean you personally take on every task. Build a strong team and put their talents to use. Delegate work assignments and allow your employees to show their individual strengths. By sharing the workload, you can reduce your own stress while giving your employees an opportunity to learn and grow. Mindfulness • Mindfulness is about making a conscious decision to be present in the moment. It does not require a 30-minute yoga or meditation session, it can be a few quiet moments when you disconnect, forget about unanswered emails or missed calls, and unclutter your mind.
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Sydnei Jarman, a 26-year-old Atlanta transplant does virtually everything on her phone. Two years ago, she was only mobile shopping online for clothes; today her go-to: apps like Uber Eats, and a progression to even ordering groceries from her iPhone. Jarman fits the profile of the new study of younger consumers Registria found who prefer to connect with brands through their mobile devices, instead email and paper literature, immediately after purchasing a new product. According to the study, 47 percent of consumers aged 18-34, and 47 percent of consumers who make $100,000 and above, say they would like to receive product setup instructions, tips, and service and warranty information directly to their mobile device. What attracts them? Convenience. “Anything I want is in the palm of my hands,” said Jarman who works in higher education. “I use apps most frequently, but mobile browsing is still very useful. I’ve also noticed that I use Twitter a lot more frequently to get a brand’s attention. Sending an email for customer service may take two or three days for a response, if I tweet them, I may get interaction instantly.” There’s a catch though, neither Jarman or Lucy Dazilma -- another Atlanta Millennial -- want brands to add them to automatic follow up or mailing list programs. Chris McDonald, CEO of Registria, believes that consumers’
Nick Gordon and his new girlfriend flaunt their love on social media
May 4-10, 2017
Golden Glide’s future remains uncertain
Danielle Jennings
have never been exposed to if it weren’t for her son. “You must speak to your children every day and be there for them. Most of all love them. Ask them how their day went be involved with all they do. Don’t let them suffer in silence because they may feel different and may be getting bullied. Communication is key.” Society’s culture of intolerance, Meredith said is to blame for the discrimination, violence and lack of acceptance. Acknowledging the humanity in everyone regardless of differences, Meredith believes, is key. “To attack a person’s human sexuality is to attack a person’s human identity. Homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or emotional problem. Until we, as a society and faith community, are able to value diversity we will not be able to move forward toward achieving social transformation and world peace,” the former first lady said. “This is about changing how we view Christianity and how we view each other.” She added, “My story is a true testament of taking a situation that could break you and turning it into something that can help others. This is bigger than me.” For more information about Lydia Meredith and to purchase “The Gay Preacher’s Wife: How My Gay Husband Deconstructed My Life and Reconstructed My Faith,” visit http://www.lydiammeredith.com.
Millennials: Yes to mobile brand connection, no to onboarding ADW reports
ENTERTAINMENT
The new couple took to IG to show off their love.
By Alisha Dixon Lydia Meredith’s story is one of faith, tolerance and triumph. She is a mother, activist and best-selling author of “The Gay Preacher’s Wife: How My Gay Husband Deconstructed My Life and Reconstructed My Faith,” a book that chronicles her journey from first lady to becoming a pivotal voice for LGBTQ and human rights. Lydia Meredith’s seemingly perfect life was ripped apart by the news that her husband of 30 years, Reverend Dennis A. Meredith, had been unfaithful throughout their marriage and was leaving her for another man. “I was one of those preachers’ wives who sat in the pew on many a Sunday morning while my “real” life was a fraud… I watched my husband stand in that pulpit on Sunday morning, preaching one message and living out yet another,” Meredith wrote in an excerpt in the book. “I had to make a decision. Did I want to hold on to my pride, my pain, my perception of what I wanted? Or was I going to deal with my new reality and bring my family back together?… The first place I turned to for answers were God. I prayed. I wept. I prayed. I wept. I prayed and I wept. God woke me at 3 a.m. I sat straight up in the middle of my bed. What did Jesus really say about homosexuality? What was Jesus’ message about gays?” To find the answers, she began pursuing a degree in theology, but while in her pursuit she discovered what was taught in the church and what was actually written in the Bible were quite different. In fact, she said, within the teachings of Jesus, she discovered story after story of tolerance, something that was absent in the church. “The Church has a moral requirement to look at the current moral fabric of our society and the world and begin to revise the perceived context within the current interpretations. Much of what is over-interpreted today doesn’t fit within the founding principles of the church in the 21stcentury,” she said. “The Church needs a new kind of ministry – one steeped in the tradition of the ministry “started” by Jesus. Free of bias, the discrimination, hate or prejudice marked by loving God and others – this is the key to social transformation.” The lesson in tolerance grew even closer to home when she found out her son was gay. This news, Meredith said, allowed her to truly see the negative attitudes that society and the church have toward the LGBTQ community, a perspective she otherwise may
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desire to connect with brands creates a value for them and is a revenue generator for manufacturers. “The process of product registration has evolved over the past 40 years, and mobile technology makes it even easier for brands to use product registration as an engaging way to onboard customers.” Fifty-six percent of consumers say that receiving warranty and service plan information is the most important reason to register a product, while 25 percent cite safety and recall notifications as the most important reasons to register. However, in the study, 68 percent of all consumers said they never register their products. Shoppers age 18-34 think it is more important to register products in order to be notified of deals on accessories and complementary products. In addition, consumers with higher income of $100,000 and above say staying connected with a brand for loyalty and VIP programs is the most important reason to register. Social media interaction with brands can also be that bridge. “Using the phone has made it way more convenient to connect and get answers to questions quickly. I use my phone all the time. It only makes sense that I integrate that use with brands that I love and utilize the most,” said Dazilma, follow brands she loves and uses their apps to stay abreast of deals and current trends. “[However] I do not like to be spammed after making a purchase. It’s annoying. Yes, I’m coming back. No, it’s not right now. Unless the sale is just too good to pass up!”
Nick Gordon, the troubled ex of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown, hasn’t made many headlines lately, as he has kept a low-profile since being required to pay $35 million to Bobbi Kristina’s estate after being found guilty in her wrongful death suit in 2015. Well now, he has returned…and with a new girlfriend. In a handful of Instagram posts, Gordon and his new girlfriend took their relationship public. The woman, only identified as Laura, posted two photos complete with sappy messages about her new boo. The new couple is seen cuddled up together in each photo, however at press time, Gordon hadn’t posted any photos of Laura to his personal account. In one of the picture’s captions, Laura describes Gordon as “My sweet, handsome, considerate, protective, loving, charismatic, entertaining, compassionate, comforting, warm hearted, outstanding, simply incredible boyfriend: I’m beyond blessed because you’re the best.”
Janet Jackson brings ‘State of the World’ tour to Atlanta Global music icon Janet Jackson’s 56-City “State of the World” tour will hit Atlanta Dec. 17, 2017, at Philips Arena. Tickets will go on sale Friday at Ticketmaster.com for the four-month North American tour produced by Live Nation. Jackson will make multiple stops in Texas and California, hit all four corners of the U.S. visiting Seattle, Portland, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, Philly, Memphis, Jacksonville, as well as head north of the border to include Vancouver and Toronto, with her final stop on Dec. 17. Tickets held for previous “Unbreakable” tour events that are now re-scheduled will be honored at the new dates. The legendary entertainer began her sold out “Unbreakable” tour in August 2015, but just one year ago she reached out directly to fans via Twitter with news of her focusing on starting a family, confirmed months later with the arrival of her first child. Since, she has taken the past year to enjoy pregnancy and motherhood, and is now ready to return to the live stage to give Janet fans everything they could hope for in one epic concert event. The “State of the World” tour is a continuation of the Unbreakable tour and will include fan favorites from her chart-topping ‘Unbreakable’ album, an array of her socially conscious music she’s released throughout her career, and other smash hits and soon-to-be released new tracks with a state of the art live production. For more information, visit livenation.com.
The fate of DeKalb County landmark Golden Glide Skating Rink is now up in the air after locals rallied to change tide of what was looking to be a certain shuttering. The skating rink on Wesley Chapel Road was the epicenter of weekend teenage recreation and pop culture references for years. It saw its peak in the early 90s, when owner Greg Alexander initially purchased the leased building and the land in 1993. But an economic downturn and languishing patronage and revenue over the last eight years forced Alexander to have to personally finance Golden Glide to make payroll and remain operational. Enter nostalgia, sentimentalism and social media. The outpour of support was so strong that the bank took notice and offered to purchase Golden Glide and keep the business running under his leadership. ““The bank called me this morning and they saw the overwhelming response on social media, Twitter, everywhere else,” Alexander told 11Alive. “They are asking me not to shut down.” Alexander remains undecided. “Without the community, we can’t survive and I think the community sees what role they play to keep this open.”
ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL MAY 26-28, 2017 | MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND PIEDMONT PARK FEATURING: MACY GRAY | ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT MOONCHILD MARQUIS HILL BLACKTET | FREDDY COLE | DEVA MAHAL RUSSELL GUNN & AFRICAN DRUMS MEETS KEBBI WILLIAMS’ WOLF PACK
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ENTERTAINMENT
May 4-10, 2017
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Ava DuVernay teases involvement in Rihanna + Lupita Nyong’o fan film idea And to think this all started over a tweet...
Danielle Jennings Ahh, the power of social media! No one could have predicted that a series of tweets about a 2014 photo of Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o sitting side-by-side at a fashion show would spiral into an actual film idea with both women actually down to do it. Now, famed director Ava DuVernay discusses her potential involvement in the fan-made film idea. While on a panel Monday night during Conversations on Creativity with Quest-
love hosted at Pratt Institute with The Roots’ drummer Questlove, DuVernay addressed the potential heist film idea that has all of social media talking. DuVernay spoke about the possibility of her involvement in the film, as well as Insecure star Issa Rae, in a detailed response: “My Twitter feed is in shambles,” DuVernay said. “I can’t even retweet anymore. It’s so many people over the last four days inundating me with it. It just feels nice like, ‘they like me, they picked me.’” “But also, I think the main thing is the idea that the people want a certain kind of film. People want Black women in centered, powerful images that are complex and layered. And that have nuance beyond what we’re relegated to. And they want it from other Black women. They chose Black writers, with Issa. Issa text me like, ‘Yooo!’ She’s on the set of “Insecure” trying to be insecure. And all this great stuff is happening.” “So it just feels like, wow, this is a moment of Black women centered-ness. It’s an indicator of this voice is valid and it should be amplified. And so, I accept it as that.”
Cynthia Bailey joins Dr. John Lipman for fibroids documentary premiere
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Cynthia Bailey and John C. Lipman, MD, FSIR Esteemed female professionals recently convened for the official premiere of the documentary Freedom from Fibroids, featuring “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Cynthia Bailey, former TV anchor and current radio and television TV host Monica Pearson, and John C. Lipman, MD, FSIR, Medical Director of the Atlanta Fibroid Center. Guests enjoyed red carpet arrivals, an intimate reception with trumpeter Melvin M. Miller, catering by Akoma Events, special giveaways and a post-screening meet-and-greet with Cynthia Bailey. Atlanta Mayoral candidate Kwanza Hall and Atlanta City Council candidate Erika Y. Mitchell attended to support Fibroid Awareness as well. The Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Millard J. Collier kept the show lively with his dynamic style. Peter Morrison, theatre manager and magician extraordinaire, provided production support for the event. Cast members in
attendance included Wayne & Gwen Tyler, Constance Barnett, Carmen McKever, Cie Cie, Wilson-McGhee, Robie West and Lauren Hawkins. Presented by the Atlanta Fibroid Center and narrated by Monica Pearson, the documentary explored the journey of Cynthia Bailey and other patients that suffered with fibroids and did not want surgery. Surgery was the only option given to these women until they found Dr. Lipman and the Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) procedure. As a community awareness effort, Dr. Lipman created the documentary to educate women on the non-surgical treatment for fibroids. UFE treats the symptoms of fibroids, for example, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and increased urinary frequency. UFE avoids all of the surgical risks and long recovery, and allows women to keep their uterus. Immediately following the screening, Dr. Lipman moderated a Q&A segment with the audience to further discuss fibroids and their treatment. Dr. Lipman began offering UFE as a fibroid treatment over 20 years ago. He is considered the world’s most experienced UFE physician, with over 6,000 procedures performed, and is well-known throughout the Georgia medical community for his work with fibroid sufferers and UFE. Dr. Lipman is a respected UFE expert who is often called upon to provide commentary on uterine fibroids and UFE on major television networks. The global medical community recognizes his expertise and personalized care by referring him patients from throughout the US and abroad.
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EDUCATION
Oprah Winfrey delivers commencement at Agnes Scott College ADW reports Agnes Scott College just got a “two-fer.” First, the historic Decatur campus of the all women’s liberal arts school landed
a location credit last summer for the filming of the HBO movie ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.’ In it, an African American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s. Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 1950s and her cancer cells (later known as HeLa) would change the course of cancer treatment. Now the film’s top biller — Oprah Winfrey — will be accepting an honorary degree and be the commencement speaker for the Class of 2017 on May 13. Although Winfrey’s presence on campus was kept a top secret during filming, Agnes Scott’s president, Elizabeth Kiss, was able to offer Winfrey a personal invitation to be the commencement speaker – citing the institution’s “diversity and commitment to women.” As well, one of the graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy is a graduating senior at Agnes Scott. The announcement comes on the coat tails of its largest capital campaign — $115 million — exceeding a stated goal of $100 million.
Van Jones to address Morehouse College graduates ADW reports CNN political correspondent Van Jones will be guest speaker for Morehouse College’s 133rd commencement ceremony. Jones, host of The Messy Truth -- a town hall political series on CNN, will deliver the keynote address at Morehouse College’s Commencement Exercises at 8 a.m. on May 21, at Century Campus, the esteemed campus green that lies in the shadow of the historic Graves Hall, Morehouse College’s oldest building. More than 300 members of the Class of 2017 will receive degrees on graduation day Jones’ work as green jobs adviser to President Obama in 2009 spurred the growth of a skilled workforce in the nation’s environmental and green energy sectors. He helped to lead the inter-agency process that oversaw $80 billion in green energy skills training and economic recovery spending. “As Morehouse College celebrates its 150th year of serving scholars, we are honored to have Van Jones, a world-renowned journalist, political insider, and best-selling author as our graduation speaker,” said Morehouse College Interim President Bill Taggart. “At Morehouse, we groom scholars to become change-agents in business and government, in math and science, and in the arts. Our students not only grow intellectually; they also grow in their understanding of their responsibility to serve their communities. Van Jones’ work in social justice and the environment will inspire our students to become servant leaders in their careers.” Jones, who has a law degree from Yale University, is currently a fellow at the MIT
Media Lab. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, “The Green Collar Economy,” an examination of the environmentally friendly jobs market, and “Rebuild the Dream,” which traces his journey as an activist to his role at the White House. He is also the founder and president of the national organization Dream Corps, an incubator, platform, and home for innovative initiatives that close prison doors and open opportunities to some of the most economically disadvantaged populations in the country. Dream Corps’ programs #YesWeCode, #cut50 and Green For All are helping to bring jobs and training programs to low-income youth and their communities. For his work as an environmental and human rights activist, Jones has received numerous recognitions and awards, including The World Economic Forum’s “Young Global Leader” designation; an NAACP Image Award; and TIME magazine’s 2009 “100 Most Influential People in The World list honoree.”
May 4-10, 2017
Chevrolet and NNPA offer Journalism Fellowship to HBCU Fellows Fellows will receive a combined $80,000 in scholarships and summer internships
(From left to right) Chevrolet Diversity Marketing Manager, Michelle Alexander; Songwriter, Philanthropist, Actress and DTU Ambassador, MC Lyte; National Newspapers Publishers Association, President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and, Clark Atlanta University School of Arts and Sciences, Dean Danille K. Taylor, Ph.D. Chevrolet is putting more students in the driver’s seat with the expansion of its Discover the Unexpected fellowship program. Now in its second year, DTU provides college students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities the opportunity to change the narrative of media reporting in the African American community with the help of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. The eight 2017 DTU Fellowship Program students are: Taylor Burris of Spelman College, Darrell Williams of Morehouse College, Jordan Fisher of Clark Atlanta University, Tiana Hunt of Clark Atlanta University, Kelsey Jones of Spelman College, Ayron Lewallen of Morehouse College, Noni Marshall of Howard University and Alexa Imani Spencer of Howard University. Students will work in partnership with NNPA member papers in Washington D.C., Atlanta, New Orleans and Raleigh. “Last year we were honored to launch the DTU fellowship program at Howard University and meet a group of very talented journalism students,” said U.S. Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing Paul Edwards. “Their enthusiasm, insight and determination made the selection process extremely difficult. We’re excited to send more trailblazers on the road to highlight the positive, inspire hope and document the legacy of African American voices for generations to come.” This year, DTU fellows will work with editors and reporters from the Washington Informer, Atlanta Voice, Louisiana Weekly and The Carolinian. “The NNPA is looking forward to welcoming the next group of fellows to the program,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Ben Chavis Jr. “Our 2016 fellows showed that despite the negative perceptions seen in the media, there are also beautiful and powerful stories in African American neighborhoods across the country. Our 2017 Fellows will continue sharing stories of community advocates, making impactful and lasting changes on a local and global level.”
The fellowship program is open to communications, mass media, and visual arts students. A panel of judges consisting of NNPA and AUCC staff will conduct on-site interviews during the program’s AUCC launch. Chevrolet will award eight $10,000 scholarships to each fellow and provide a stipend to defray the costs of traveling to and from school as they report on their stories. In addition to the financial investment, Chevrolet will provide each fellowship team access to the Next Generation 2018 Chevrolet Equinox during their reporting assignments. Legendary lyricist and hip hop pioneer MC Lyte will return as the program’s national spokesperson and will be on-hand to kick-off the launch in Atlanta. Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easyto-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com. NNPA is a trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned community newspapers from around the United States. Since its founding 75 years ago, NNPA has consistently been the voice of the black community and an incubator for news that makes history and impacts our country. As the largest and most influential Black-owned media resource in America, NNPA delivers news, information and commentary to over 20 million people each week. Americans from all backgrounds seek news from the Black perspective from the NNPA member newspapers around the country. In America, now among the most diverse countries in the world, the Black Press of America is more relevant than ever. To learn more visit nnpa. org/dtu.
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May 4-10, 2017
GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by James Clingman
by Julianne Malveaux
Blackonomics: Time for black fraternities and sororities to step up Remember the scene from “New Jack City” when Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) told Scotty (Ice-T), “This ain’t personal, this is business?” And at the end of the movie, Scotty said to Nino, “This is personal,” as he proceeded to give him a beatdown. Well, this article is both personal and business. It’s a call to the Alphas, Omegas, Kappas, Sigmas, Deltas, AKAs, Zetas, Thetas, Iotas, known as the “Divine Nine,” and the fraternity I was part of back in the 1960,s at North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University), “Groove Phi Groove.” The latent collective power within these organizations is mind-boggling. Their members are conscientious, which is demonstrated by their friendship and loyalty to one another. They rally around their members during crises; they support one another when they get married and have children; they work together, locally and nationally, on community projects across this country. They even formed a national collective organization, The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.; the group’s stated purpose and mission is, “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.” I especially like the part about “mutual interest.” I know it’s a hard question to answer, based on our individualistic and proprietary approach to solving many of our problems, but what are the mutual interests among not only sororities and fraternities, but all black organizations? Is there one thing that all of us can and should do together without compromising our various missions and such? I believe there are several things we can do together, but reality tells me that all black people will never do any one thing together. So in light of that reality, we must come up with something that is simple yet powerful and will demonstrate our collective resolve, not just to the world, but to ourselves and our children. Keep in mind I said, “simple.” On the business side of things, this is a call — a challenge — to each member of the abovementioned black, proud, historic and venerable organizations to purchase at least one bag of Sweet Unity Farms Tanzanian Gourmet Coffee. The coffee is grown by family co-ops founded by Jackie Robinson’s son, David, 20 years ago. April 15, 2017 was the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. We can break the economic barrier by collectively propelling his son’s company to unimagined heights by purchasing his cof-
fee. In case you didn’t know, Jackie Robinson went to work for a coffee company when he left baseball. On the personal side, black folks are taking an Ice-T beatdown like Wesley Snipes received, only ours is an economic beatdown, much of which we are doing to ourselves by not supporting one another more than we do presently. What could be more personal than family? Again, one simple solution is for our black sororities and fraternities, comprised of millions of members around the world, to take this challenge personally and buy at least one bag of David Robinson’s coffee, a fitting tribute to his father’s legacy. By doing so, the world would witness a black-owned company, operating in Africa and the U.S., become a billion dollar firm virtually overnight, all because a group of conscientious black folks individually spent a very small amount of money on a black-owned product. A veritable, black economic renaissance. After accomplishing that simple goal, we could repeat it hundreds of times with other black companies, thus, creating larger firms that have so much business they would have to hire more employees. In the words of the R&B group Atlantic Starr, “Am I dreaming?” Maybe I am, but it’s a great dream and I pray it will come true. From what I observe among our social organizations, members of sororities and fraternities are the most conscientious; therefore, I am calling on the presidents of the Divine Nine to spread the word to their members to take this simple action step toward economic empowerment. In addition, I want all HBCU student associations, Greek Letter organizations, and individual students to insist that their cafeterias serve Sweet Unity Farms Coffee. Now that’s really a no-brainer, isn’t it? As I said, this is both personal and business, and I truly believe that our black sororities and fraternities can make it happen. With a little bit of money from a lot of people, we can accomplish a very personal and business milestone, one that our youth can look at as an example of blacks utilizing our latent power rather allowing it to sit on the shelf and eventually expire. Order your coffee at www. iamoneofthemillion.com (Click on the products tab.) No excuses, y’all. If you don’t drink coffee, give it as a gift to someone who does. Let’s do this. James Clingman is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for black people. His latest book, “Black Dollars Matter! Teach Your Dollars How to Make More Sense,” is available at Blackonomics.com.
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What black leaders can learn from the O’Reilly debacle Former Fox News Channel anchor Bill O’Reilly, the man whose lofty ratings were responsible for the growth of the network, is no longer on the air. Revelations that $13 million had been paid, either by O’Reilly or the network, to women who said they had been sexually harassed repelled millions, some of whom protested outside Fox headquarters and took to the airwaves with their complaints. But it is unlikely that protests or complaints moved Fox to separate themselves from O’Reilly. Instead, it is most likely that the network severed ties with O’Reilly, because advertisers did not want to be associated with a program anchored by a man who seemed to find nothing wrong with sexual harassment. More than 52 advertisers pulled ad spots from “The O’Reilly Factor” in the wake of the New York Times article about the payouts. They included Advil, Mercedes, BMW, Jenny Craig, Hyundai, Allstate, Lexus and H&R Block. “The O’Reilly Factor” was the highest revenue-generator in cable television, bringing in about $120 million in the first nine months of 2016. “The O’Reilly Factor” dominated the 8 p.m. weekday hour, drawing more viewers than any other cable network. Don’t cry for Bill O’Reilly. He is leaving Fox News with “tens of millions of dollars” in a settlement. Be concerned, instead, for the women who have had to put up with his odious behavior; be concerned for those who didn’t come forward to get paid because they were afraid for their jobs, or because they feared they would not be believed; be concerned for the black woman that O’Reilly allegedly called “Hot Chocolate,” grunted when he saw her, and behaved so badly that she was frightened for her safety. Why didn’t she leave? She valued her job. She didn’t know if she could find another one. An African-American woman who heads a househod, on average, has just $4400 in liquid assets, compared to $20,519 for white women. With such a tiny cushion, an African-American woman is likely to think twice before airing a sexual harassment complaint. African-American women are also less likely to be believed than white women are, at least partly because of the way the world views black women. So, right on to the sister who called the Fox Hot Line to report that she was being harassed. She, and many of the other black women who have protested the culture of sexism at Fox, need to have champions that are as vocal as the champions Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson had. Indeed, one might look at the fact that Megyn Kelley pushed Tamron Hall off her perch as the only black woman anchor at the “Today” show as evidence of how much more highly
valued white women are than black women. What did we learn from O’Reilly’s ouster, though? We learned that advertisers are controversy averse. They don’t want to be associated with an accused sexual harasser, especially when the accusations are persistent and are backed up with numerous settlements to women who have experienced harassment. Advertisers saw their brands tarnished, and their consumer base angered, by O’Reilly’s behavior. Too many of the companies that abandoned O’Reilly’s show have increasing numbers of women in senior management, in advertising and on their boards. While Roger Ailes, now himself dismissed from Fox for his harassing behavior, described O’Reilly’s antics with “Bill will be Bill,” increasing numbers of women (and some men) in charge find Bill’s behavior, not only odious, but also illegal. Increased sensitivity to issues of sexual harassment helped make it clear that O’Reilly’s behavior was simply unacceptable. What would it take for advertisers to draw the line on racial discrimination and/ or discrimination against African- American women? Racial discrimination does not cause the same repugnance that sex discrimination does. Indeed, companies that engage in widespread race discrimination might even get high fives from consumers who might like to practice racism themselves. The only way that African Americans could spark an advertiser exodus, on par with what happened to “The O’Reilly Factor,” would be to either work with partners who would put their feet down strongly, or to boycott the goods and services that a discriminating company provided. Unfortunately, there are few African Americans who would emulate those who boycotted busses for 381 days in Montgomery during 1955 and 1956. It seems unlikely that a critical mass of African Americans would inconvenience themselves to punish a discriminator. African American leaders would do well to study the O’Reilly case and to ask what it would take for us to send as strong a signal about race discrimination as the O’Reilly dismissal did about sexual harassment. Many thought O’Reilly was invincible, but he wasn’t. Race discrimination isn’t invincible, either. We just have to decide what we want to do about it. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and founder of Economic Education. Her podcast, “It’s Personal with Dr. J,” is available on iTunes. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy,” is available at www.juliannemalveaux.com and at Amazon.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @ drjlastword.
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