Let’s Talk SDMNEWS wants to encourage Black San Diegans to take this time to talk to each other while at home 5 Habits of Highly Effective Communicators
Recently some new science studies have backed up their claims and I feel it makes for a very compelling case to overhaul my own communication efforts and maybe it’s some inspiration for you too!
Have you ever walked away from talking with someone that you’ve just met and thought to yourself “Wow, this was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had!”? I’ve recently had one of those and at first, I quite selfishly concluded “Wow, I’m a great communicator”. But then I realized, hang on a second, I think this other person was the reason I felt so good about this talk, how did he do that?
Let’s dig in: 1. They listen first – then focus on being Active and Constructive
I started to think about a few of the things this person did, that made me feel so comfortable and open to speak with him. In usual Buffer blog manner, I thought of finding some real science to back up some of the simple habits this newly found friend had so ingrained when talking with me. So, what I’ve come up with are 5 of the most effective habits famous communicators have used for hundreds of years.
The word conversation generally brings to mind talking—at least for me. However, if you’ve ever seen two people trying to talk to each other at the same time, you’ll know that listening is just as important. In fact, listening is half of a successful conversation—you take turns to talk, and everyone feels heard. This is great communication. You might have heard of active listening before. It’s something we often get confused with passive, silent listening. Active listening, in fact, means taking part in the conversation and working on the rapport between you and your partner. It’s made up of three parts: paraphrasing, inquiry and acknowledgement.
3
The San Diego Monitor
RE-BRANDING
BLACK AMERICA 5 Reasons Why Social Entrepreneurship Is the New Business Model
world. It's not a gimmick or a marketing tool. It's a genuine mechanism to solve social problems while feeling connected to a higher purpose.”
Today’s young people are as concerned with making a positive impact on the world as they are with making money. A whopping 94% want to use their skills to benefit a cause. Meanwhile, only half of Americans have confidence in the free market system, down from 80% just 15 years ago.
It keeps you motivated.
Against this backdrop, social enterprise has taken off as a new formula for success, combining capitalism with a dogooder mentality. These self-funding, for-profit businesses also have a mission to tackle global issues such as alleviating hunger, improving education, and combatting climate change. To achieve their high-minded goals, the companies might fund specific programs, partner with governments or existing philanthropic entities, or follow a one-for-one donation model, and work on either the local or international level. I spoke with several leading social entrepreneurs, all of whom are incredibly enthusiastic about what they do for a living because it allows them to live their passion, embracing a career with meaning. Here are five reasons why they believe social entrepreneurship is the new business model:
It connects you to your life purpose. Honeycomb is a social impact SaaS platform bringing businesses and philanthropy together to make the world a better place. The company has facilitated over $2.4 million in social impact to over 500 non-profits in less than four years. Honeycomb cofonder Melissa Levick said, “Having social impact built into your business model allows you to live your life on purpose. It's about connecting your brand's why with how it can be used authentically to serve the
I do Leffler had tremendous success with one of his first businesses, the natural beauty brand Yes To (Carrots, Cucumbers, etc). When thinking about what to do next, he and his business partner Lance Kalish decided to build their company on three key pillars: working with incredible people, making great products, and benefiting an impactful cause. Leffler created Yoobi to make school supplies fun again and solve a big problem along the way: Teachers in the U.S. spend an average of $500 out of their own pockets every year on school supplies, and millions of kids don't have the tools they need to realize their potential in the classroom. For every Yoobi item sold, the company donates supplies such as colored pencils, staplers, and notebooks to schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Why found a social enterprise? “I think the biggest question once you’ve reached success is one of motivation,” Leffler said. “What keeps you going? For us, it was this idea that we didn't want to just be ‘widget guys.’ We wanted to make a real and lasting impact on people’s lives. It's that simple. At the end of the day, giving back in the way that we are is much more rewarding than any business success I can think of." It brings you lasting happiness. Corporate360 is a multi-million-dollar outbound marketing data software start-up that founder Varun Chandran created without external funding. The company also runs an NGO in Chandran’s hometown of Padam, in Kerala, India. Read Entire article sdmonitornews.com
What do they Want you to KNOW? What Everyone Needs to Know About 2020 Census Questions
By law, the U.S. government is required to count the number of people living in the United States every 10 years. Getting an accurate count is important because census numbers impact daily life in the United States in many ways. For example, census data are often used to determine how much federal funding is allocated for important projects and services that benefit local communities. The census also plays a vital role in our nation’s system of government by determining how many representatives will be sent to Congress from each state. Because getting an accurate count is so important, the process is designed to be fast, easy, and safe. On average, it takes no more than 10 minutes to answer the questions on the census. How Are Census Data Collected?
During the first census in 1790, census takers visited nearly every U.S. home to gather data. In 2020, households will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. The Census Bureau expects many households to complete the questionnaire online, using instructions received in the mail. These instructions will also include information about how to respond by phone. Some households will receive a printed questionnaire which they can mail, postage-free, back to the
Be Counted! SDMNEWS’S Motivation Information
Census Bureau. A small percentage of households, primarily located in remote areas of the country, will be visited by a census taker who will help collect the necessary information to complete the form. Who Receives the Census Questionnaire and How Is It Filled Out? Most housing units in the United States that receive mail at their physical location will receive a letter by mail with instructions on how to complete the census questionnaire. Housing units include houses, apartments, cabins, mobile homes—pretty much any place where people live in the United States. In areas where the majority of housing units do not have mail delivered to their physical location, census workers will leave questionnaire packages at every identified housing unit. The census process also includes special provisions to count people who are homeless and those in other types of living quarters, such as college dorms, military barracks, ships, prisons, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. The person in the housing unit who fills out the census questionnaire or talks to the census taker is known as Person 1. Typically, Person 1 is the owner/co-owner or renter/corenter of the housing unit. READ MORE sdmonitornews.com
5
Is The NAACP Lynching Its Leadership? SD president stands for something and all hell breaks loose!
The San Diego Monitor
just about everyone else who has struggled for equity and equality in America. Long before I was elected to office in the San Diego Branch, the NAACP stood out front with oppressed persons and groups and applied its resources and its highly recognizable name to their causes. Alfred Olango, Section 8 housing vouchers, discrimination in the schools, homelessness, lack of minority contract from the City of San Diego and countless other issues and causes the NAACP has taken on, with very little fanfare. I want to continue to build on that great legacy. While the NAACP is best known for its advocacy work and policy work, there is an element of community organizing for direct action they could be using to push the envelope on the civil rights agenda. My background and training are in community organizing. Once the NAACP is well organized and structured according to its Constitution and Bylaws, it can move forward on an aggressive agenda.
SDMNEWS: In general terms what kind of leadership did you want to offer San Diego, Black San Diego specifically? CH: I try to take the broad and comprehensive perspective. The NAACP San Diego Branch has 23 Standing Committees, plus other ad hoc committees. For the purposes of civil rights that means the NAACP can strive to address a wide range of issues - from education to criminal justice to economic development to health to youth and much, much more. The NAACP for more than a century has been on the front lines of addressing civil rights for Native American Indians, LGBTQ, immigrants, women and
Specifically, for the Black community of San Diego, I am driving on a program to achieve equity within the next generation. I have grandchildren and I am working, not just hoping, to help raise the profile of the Black community of San Diego so that they have opportunities equal to that of others. What does that look like? One example is economic equity. Black people make up approximately five percent (5%) of the population of San Diego city and county. However, we only account for about one percent (1%) of the gross domestic product or GDP. So, over the next generation the GDP of the Black community needs to increase by five times or 500% PER YEAR to get ‘parity’. Then, there is still a huge asset deficit that must be addressed to achieve some degree of equity. Nationally, white people have about one and a half time or 150% of the income of Black people. Continued on page 8.
6
The San Diego Monitor
SDMNEWS Must Read 2020 CA Census Guide Table of Contents Section 1: General Information (PDF) •
Initiative and Referendum Qualification Requirements
•
Candidate Qualifications and Information
Section 2: Nomination Requirements (PDF) •
Presidential Candidates
•
United States Representative in Congress, and Member of the State Legislature Candidates
•
Nomination Documents – Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy
•
Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee
•
Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee and/or Nomination Papers
•
Ballot Designations
•
In General
•
Campaign Filings and Responsibilities
•
Candidate Intention Statement
•
Campaign Contribution Account
•
Exceptions
•
Additional Filing Information
Section 3: Candidate Filing Information (PDF) •
Required Filing Fees, Nomination Signatures
•
Write-In Candidates for the Office of President
•
Write-In Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices
In-Lieu
Signatures,
Section 4: Candidate Checklist (PDF) •
President of the United States
•
United States Representative in Congress
For download please go to www.sdmonitornews.com
and
8
The San Diego Monitor
But they have 10 times, or 1000% of the WEALTH of Blacks. This is because of the history of slavery, segregation, discrimination and racism in America. White Americans and many immigrants have been taking advantage of the infrastructure of white supremacy and white privilege for centuries to accumulate wealth at the expense of Black people. For centuries Black labor has become white wealth. I'm working on strategies for Black labor to create the same kind of wealth for Black people that it has historically created for whites and others. Again, with 23 committees covering many aspects of Black life, these strategies can be applied to lifting the Black community in every area of life. SDMNEWS: Give us a roadmap to the matter in which led to your suspension? CH: 2016 • •
The NAACP San Jose Branch wrote a resolution calling for a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools. The NAACP California State Conference, headed by NAACP State President and NAACP National Board member Alice Huffman, supported the moratorium resolution and offered it to the NAACP National Convention for consideration.
• The National Convention passed the moratorium resolution: The NAACP National Board of Directors adopts the moratorium resolution - over the objections of many
black community• - The National Convention passed the moratorium resolution •
The NAACP National Board of Directors adopts the moratorium resolution - over the objections of many black community
members and leaders. (The California Legislative Black Caucus sent a letter signed by all of its members imploring the NAACP National Board of Directors NOT to adopt the moratorium. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS CALLS ON NAACP TO REJECT RESOLUTION CALLING FOR MORATORIUM ON CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS) 2019- (During the timeline described below there were many phone calls and emails between the NAACP San DIego Branch and the NAACP California State Conference regarding these issues.) •
May 1 - After a very contentious time dealing with the San Diego Unified School District and other school districts in the county of San Diego, the NAACP San Diego Branch Executive Committee, according to the authority vested in the Executive Committee in the NAACP By-laws, votes to adopt a resolution asking the National NAACP to end its moratorium on charter schools, citing statistics that show that African American children in public charters schools Next page
perform better than their counterparts in traditional public school. Two other Branches of the NAACP in California, San Bernardino and Southwest Riverside (Lake Elsinore) offer what are later described and ‘identical’ resolutions. May 1 - The San Diego Resolution was sent via FedEx to the National NAACP, according to the rules for submitting resolutions. (The resolution to end the moratorium was rejected by the National NAACP Resolutions Committee) May 2 - The General Membership of the NAACP San Diego Branch discusses and ratifies the vote of the Executive Committee of the Branch in support of the resolution to end the moratorium. May 3 - An article appears in the LA School Report describing the tensions in the NAACP, “3 California NAACP chapters break with state and national leaders, calling for charter moratorium to be overturned.” May 6 - An opinion piece appears in the Wall Street Journal, “An NAACP Revolt on Charters: Three local chapters in California oppose a union-led moratorium.” May 23 - California State Conference sends a letter to NAACP National President calling for “Article X” investigation of three branches of the NAACP. The letter is signed by NAACP California State President Alice Huffman. June 5 - I responded to Alice Huffman’s letter. August 6 - Article appears in the Huffington Post, “Inside The NAACP’s Civil War Over Charter Schools.” September 26 - NAACP National President, Derrick Johnson, sends a letter to me stating that I was suspended pending an investigation and that I could request a hearing. The letter does NOT state why I am being suspended. October 10 - I sent a response letter to the National NAACP and requested a hearing. 2020 January/February 2020 - I received a packet in the mail from NAACP National Headquarters stating that a hearing would be held on February 4. February 4 - Hearing. February 26 - Letter from National NAACP stating that my suspension was upheld by the National Board of Directors. ...and there is more…. SDMNEWS: Do you feel the mission of the NAACP has changed? CH: I’m not sure I’ve been with the NAACP long enough to say that I have been a part of its history. I did a podcast with the Union-Tribune when I was the president of the Branch
I talked about what I have witnessed in the NAACP and here in San Diego. The NAACP is a bit behind the times. They’ve been trying to catch up, but the leadership is dominated by older people who have loyalties and commitments to people, systems and agencies that have supported them for many years. That worked very well for Black people and others who are supposed to be served by the NAACP, and in most cases, it appears that it still does. But times have changed, and it doesn’t appear that the NAACP as it is currently configured has been able to make the pivot as nimbly as it could’ve. Again, the current alliances of the NAACP and may be making change difficult. SDMNEWS: What would be the disruption of an organization like this that would meet Black America where it is now? CH: The leadership of the National NAACP is highly centralized. While the regional State and local units have some degree of autonomy, all of the absolute power is held in the hands of the National Board of Directors. The names of more than 60 board members appear on the National NAACP website. Many of these are icons in the history of the NAACP and civil rights. They will have to figure out how to do two things, in my opinion - and this is what all of our legacy civil rights and civil rights era Black agencies will need to do: They will need to Create and implement a strategy for turning over these agencies to the next generations. And these agencies will need to be reconfigured for the ways of being that Black young folks embrace within the context of civil rights and justice. They didn’t grow up in the same racial, social, religious, cultural and political world that these older Black folks grew up in. Their psyches were formed differently. They have a different worldview. Don’t give our children a civil rights and social justice organization that doesn’t recognize this. Stand guard over the work of the next generation. Just as we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, we have to make sure the foundations for success are in place for the next generation. David was not allowed to build the temple for God, but he made sure the materials Solomon would need were already in place when he was ready to build. The NAACP, or any of our legacy social justice organizations need to ensure that the fundamentals for success are solidly in place. There has to be a dedicated funding stream. There need to be appropriate legal structures in place. There has to be accountability to the masses. The incoming leaders have to know and understand the successes and errors of the past and how to use them to negotiate the present and future. Old leaders have to pass the baton to new leaders, and it has to be a very strong hand off. Read the rest of this interview sdmonitornews.com
Afrofuturism: Where Science Fiction Meets Social Justice Black people are rarely featured in sci-fi and fantasy films — that is, unless that black person is Will Smith. So how do black people get to exist in the future? Afrofuturism is one answer. Culture critic Mark Dery coined the term in his 1994 essay, “Black to the Future” to point out the lack of black writers and black stories in science fiction. Today, it’s expanded into a scholarly and artistic movement that imagines the future through a black cultural lens with social justice in mind. And it encompasses a variety of creative outlets outside of science fiction, like music. Afrofuturists like Sun Ra and Janelle Monáe use their art forms to imagine a future for black people on their terms. Check out the video above for more on how Afrofuturism came to be, and the new perspectives science fiction and social justice bring. When Janelle Monáe hit the popular music scene at the start of the current decade by introducing herself as "Cindi Mayweather" — an alter-ego, suit- and brogues-wearing android — her visage, sound and even the stylized way of her debut seemed unprecedented. Monáe melded retro with contemporary, femininity with masculinity, science-fi fantasy with socially prescribed identities. In doing so, she explored themes associated with love, imagination, the body, power structures and justice, swiftly gaining notable regard as a cultural icon reimagining identity and politics.
As innovative as Monáe was, and continues to be, her work builds on a multigenerational legacy and movement that draws on science fiction, magical realism, fantasy and black thought to explore the condition of the African diaspora, said Bryan Carter, associate professor in the University of Arizona's Africana Studies Program and a UA Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry advisory board member. Known as "Afrofuturism," the movement simultaneously calls attention to the persistent social inequity faced by the African diaspora while imagining a different reality and future for black people around the world. "The science-fiction industry has traditionally ignored people of African descent. Black writers, then, have been able to use this genre to have very different discussions," said Carter, who is currently teaching AFAS 378, or "Afrofuturism and Black Speculative Fiction Through the Ages," in the College of Humanities. "When you are talking about race, it's one thing to talk about it in a forum just about race. But it is quite different to talk about the 'other' as an alien or advanced AI who is part of the mainstream,” Carter said. "Then, you can explore how that entity or subject is treated. It is through that depiction that many black science-fiction writers are able to interject controversial topics." Although American author and critic Mark Dery coined the term "Afrofuturism" just over 20 years ago, the concept has been in existence for decades, Carter said. Read full article on sdmonitornews.com
11
The San Diego Monitor
State Findings: California, 2019 Strengths: Low prevalence of smoking Low premature death rate Low infant mortality rate
Challenges: Low percentage of high school graduation High levels of air pollution Large difference in health status by high school education Highlights In the past year, excessive drinking decreased 8% from 19.2% to 17.6% of adults In the past year, disparity in health status decreased 14% from 37.1% to 31.8% Since 2012, physical inactivity increased 10% from 19.1% to 21.0% of adults Despite decreasing since 2012, air pollution increased 12% over the past three years from 11.4 to 12.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter In the past 10 years, chlamydia increased 43% from 388.3 to 553.4 cases per 100,000 population Since 1990, cardiovascular deaths decreased 37% from 377.0 to 236.7 deaths per 100,000 population
WWW.SDMONITORNEWS.COM