GARY CRUSADER 02-06-2016.qxp_Sheriff 1/8/13 2013 2/4/16 2:35 AM Page 1
Marquette Park Pavillion presents new exclusive caterer
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
(See page 6)
IU Northwest’s HR assistant is ‘Pretty, Raised Ugly’ (See page 8)
Blacks Must Control Their Own Community
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VOLUME LIV NUMBER 41 —SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
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Gary churches step up to help Flint residents Businesses respond with donations to purchase cases of bottled water By Louise Scott Rev. Charles Emery, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church is leading a group of Gary residents who are collecting donations to purchase bottled water that will be donated to the residents of Flint, Michigan. The city’s problems started two years ago when the state decided to save money by switching Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River, a notorious tributary that runs through a city known for its filth. It was supposed to be temporary while a new state-run supply line to Lake Huron was being made ready for connection. Soon after the switch, the water started to look, smell and taste funny. According to Pastor Emery, donations from various churches, businesses and individuals have allowed them to purchase bottled water in large quantities from County Market Grocers. The store owner participated by giving a significant discount to the group. The store owner told Pastor Emery that he would be placing an order with his supplier for bottled water to be delivered over the weekend because he did not have a sufficient supply to fill their request. Emery said they requested 10 pallets of bottled water, which equals 60 cases per pallet for a total of 600 cases of water. According to Emery, a number of churches in Gary have donated funds. The other participants include funeral homes Smith, Bizzell and Warner, Guy & Allen and Manuel Memorial Funeral Home. In addition, Liberty Baptist Church has plenty of bottles in storage they are donating thanks to some of their members. “We are anticipating that we will have an 18-wheeler ready to transport the water to Flint,” he said. A pastor of a church in Flint, who is part of the operation, will receive the water for distribution. Emery said people in Gary came together for the effort to support Flint’s majority of Black residents, who accused city and state officials of ignoring initial concerns about
LEADERS WHO ARE helping with Flint’s crisis: Pastors Lee Gilliam, New 2nd Baptist Church; Charles Emory, Pilgrim Baptist; Kelvin J. Pennington, owner Smith and Bizzell; and Bishop Tavis Grant, Greater First Baptist Church. the water. Some community leaders in Flint suburbs of Flint, Michigan do not have the said residents’ concerns would have been ad- same problem that the urban citizens have. dressed if they were white or affluent. Many of us are in the same National Baptist He said, “The majority of the people are Convention. The pastors we are working Black people. I understand the people in the through are Baptist pastors in Flint, Michi-
gan. We feel it is our responsibility to reach out and aid and assist people that we know need help, especially churches. The bible says to do good to all men especially those of the household of faith.” Smith, Bizzell and Warner Funeral Home was one of the first businesses to respond to Emery’s request for funds to purchase bottled water for Flint residents. Sandi Cogan, the funeral home’s director of Community Affairs and Public Relations, said her employer was more than pleased to be a part of this initiative. She said, “It is a national disaster. We did the same thing for Hurricane Katrina when the National Council of Negro Women asked us to make a donation towards their truck load of water to go to New Orleans.” Rev. Emery said they will make sure that this water will get into the housing developments in Flint because they hear that the people there are not getting their fair share of the water being donated. He said, “We were told not to give our donation to the Red Cross or to the Police Departments because (Continued on page 3)
Decades later, a secret finally revealed Who nominated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize? It’s a true story you’ll find hard to believe By Erick Johnson It’s a known fact that in 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became the third Black leader to win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Across the nation, the achievement by America’s most prominent Civil Rights leader has been mentioned in countless documents, school history books and newspaper articles. But, the story behind King’s Nobel Peace Prize remained a secret for more than 50 years…until now. Who nominated Dr. King for this honor? Was it his closest friend and adviser, Minister Ralph Abernathy, or A. Phillip Randolph, the “Dean of Negro Leaders,” who helped initiate the March on Washington, where King delivered his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech? Or could it have been Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., the Civil Rights leader, who was with King when he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968. The answer is none of them. In fact, no one from the racially-charged South or the Civil Rights Movement nominated King for the Nobel Peace Prize.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. gives his acceptance speech in Oslo Norway after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 The nomination came from a tight-knit or- state of Pennsylvania. An organization that, to this day, idolizes ganization of white religious residents in King with celebrations, the Quakers nomiPhiladelphia whose members included Betsy nated the slain Civil Rights leader for the NoRoss and other influential Quakers who bel Peace Prize based on a letter dated Jan. 31, viewed King on the same level as William (Continued on page 2) Penn, a Quaker who is also the founder of the
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NEWS
No Gary police involved shootings in 2015 As police shootings continue to rock Chicago and the nation, Gary remained quiet in 2015, where there were no such cases involving the city’s police department, according to a report Mayor Karen-Freeman Wilson released to the media. Nearly a thousand times last year, an American police officer has shot and killed a civilian, according to a report last December in The Washington Post. In a year-long study, The Washington Post found that the incidents sparked protests in many U.S. communities. In Chicago, a study by the Better Government Association shows that police-involved shootings cost the city $106 million in settlements and
legal fees in 2014 and 2015. While the most high profile cases involved unarmed Black men, the Post found that the great majority of people who died at the hands of the police fit at least one of three categories: they were wielding weapons, they were suicidal or mentally troubled, or they ran when officers told them to halt. In Gary, Freeman-Wilson said, the police department’s end-ofthe-year crime statistics show a significant decrease in all categories of reported crime over the past three years. The three-year comparison monitors stats related to Criminal Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Assault, Burglary, Larceny-Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft,
and Arson. Gary, like many U.S. cities last year experienced a spike in vio-
Decades later, a secret finally revealed (Continued from page 1) 1963. On Jan. 30, 1964—one year later—eight members of the Swedish Parliament gave a second nomination that sealed King’s place in history. The organization—the Norwegian Nobel Committee—has awarded the prize since 1901, and it followed its policy of revealing these details 50 years after the honor has been bestowed. Details are outlined on the Nobel Peace Prize’s website: www.nobelprize.org. For the first time, the committee released their video of King’s acceptance speech before a packed hall of dignitaries. The new revelations help tell a fascinating story of King’s relationship with the Quakers and how both sides influenced each other. In addition to the Quakers, the Norwegian Nobel Committee also regarded King very highly and picked him from a vast pool of 43 candidates, who included royalty, presidents and heads of state: Haile Selassie I, the emperor of Ethiopia; the Shah of Iran; Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi; and William V.S. Tubman, president of Liberia. According to the website, King was “by far the strongest candidate” because he led a powerful mass movement with non-violent methods. He was also a strong contender because he was Black and not a head of state. The award was announced on Oct. 14, 1964 and presented to King at Oslo University in Oslo, Norway on Dec. 10, 1964. King could have received the award in 1963, but the nomination may have been too late for that year, according to the website. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) a Quaker organization that nominated King—won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947. The AFSC’s nomination letter barely arrived in time to be consid2
ered in 1963, but “for some reason, the nomination was transferred to the following year.” A note on the letter says, “Reserved for 1964.” The website noted that it was possible that the committee considered King’s nomination to be too late to be considered for the1963 ballot. King’s nomination letter reads, “African leaders, who are perhaps most aware of racial tensions, are in several striking cases seeking to create a spirit of reconciliation and to use methods that will not increase the likelihood of violence. These leaders have been influenced and are being encouraged by the example of MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr., whose work to resolve serious conflicts without violence is also helping to reduce in the United States the indiscriminate bitterness that condemns international organization, and in particular the United Nations, because of the participation of people of non-white races and of the concern to promote ‘the dignity and worth of the human person’ regardless of race.” The Quakers, also known to many as the Society of Friends, continue to have a strong presence in the city of Philadelphia. Many Quakers are influential and affluent members of Philadelphia. In addition to historical sites that attract thousands of tourists annually, the Quakers remain passionate about King and his message. Quaker schools observe the King Holiday annually, and they have their own King Center for Non-violence, like the original in Atlanta. One can find out about King’s connections with the Quakers on many websites about the Quakers. On one website, King is mentioned in the same context as Penn—a Quaker who founded Pennsylvania after King Charles II gave him land that became one of the original 13 states or colonies.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
Nicknamed the “Great Hero of American Liberty,” Penn attacked religious intolerance and defended Quakers who were persecuted by Protestants and Catholics. Like King, he was jailed for speaking out against hate crimes. One document says Penn once owned slaves, but gave them up after becoming a Quaker. Millions of Americans know Penn as the white-haired “Quaker Man” on Quaker Oats’ ubiquitous oatmeal container boxes. The company says it has used Penn’s likeness because his Quaker faith represents “honesty, integrity, purity and strength.” As it turned out, King had many connections with the Quakers during the 50s and 60s according to documents from the organization. After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, King urged the AFCS to join the Montgomery Bus Boycott. After its Yearly Peace Committee meeting, the Quaker organization sent two members to Montgomery where they were impressed by King’s leadership and his peace efforts. Years later, the Quakers arranged King’s historic trip to India, where he and his wife, Coretta, would visit places associated with another famous peace leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Jack Sutters, a former AFSC historian, stated the organization also published and widely distributed King’s famous, “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” which he wrote after he was imprisoned for leading a nonviolent demonstration in 1963. One member of the AFSC said King and the Civil Rights Movement played “a big role in the AFSC’s evolving understanding of non-violence.” In addition to war, Quakers used King’s message of peace to include the roots of violence, which are injustice, poverty and oppression.
lent crime during the summer months resulting in the cities’ violent crime rate to escalate in 2015. Gary Police have been working diligently to combat violent crimes in the city. Chief Larry McKinley has reiterated numerous times, “We know the identity of the top violent offenders in our community and (referring the city’s Gary for Life initiative) we continue to send the message we will help you if you let us and we will stop you if you make us.” Gary for Life is a partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities. The program works with at-risk individuals and potential offenders to offer an opportunity to change. The pro-
gram has realized some successes as it relates to a decrease in Gary’s crime statistics. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson praised the work of the men and women of the Gary Police Department for their untiring service to the Gary community. Nearly all Police and Fire personnel received pay increases in 2015 and 2016. Freeman-Wilson continues to serve as Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors – Mayors and Police Chiefs Committee on Community Policing and Relations and Chair of the National Leagues of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee.
THREE YEAR CRIME COMPARISON
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
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NEWS
Toll Road Concession Co. to announce $200M project Governor Mike Pence today joined the Indiana Toll Road Concession Co. (ITRCC) to announce that the ITRCC is commencing a $200 million, two-year road improvement project on the Indiana Toll Road that is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs in northern Indiana. “In Indiana, we’ve made great progress on our standing as the Crossroads of America, and today’s announcement is yet another installment to ensure the quality of our roads and bridges,” said Governor Pence. “As our economy continues to grow with more Hoosiers working than ever before, I am confident that our roads will continue to serve as the arteries of economic development and help Indiana businesses get goods and products to market. I’m thankful to the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company for its continued work to modernize and upgrade the Indiana Toll Road, and I look forward to its completion as the largest project on the Indiana Toll Road since its initial construction.” The project, called 80/90 PUSH (Pavement Upgrade for a Superior
critical investment in safety and service on the Indiana Toll Road,” said ITRCC CEO Ken Daley. “This is the start of an exciting new phase for the ‘Crossroads of America’, and the ITRCC has pledged to modernize the Toll Road and rebuild the ITR travel plazas. We are very pleased to be partnering with Rieth-Riley for 80/90 PUSH, a local company with a long history of quality work on the Toll Road and the same commitment we have in supporting local businesses. Together, we have developed a work schedule to fast-track construction and minimize impacts, particularly during high traffic periods.” A fact sheet detailing the 80/90 PUSH project can be found attached. Highway), covers the 70-mile section of the Toll Road from Portage through Elkhart and will include all interchanges, mainline pavements, shoulder replacement, and various bridge repairs and widening works. The project will also allow for the installation of “Intelligent Transportation Systems” to improve safety and information
service for Toll Road customers. Construction work is scheduled to begin in March 2016. The ITRCC has awarded the contract for the 80/90 PUSH project to Indiana-based Rieth-Riley Construction Co., and the 80/90 PUSH project is funded in its entirety by the ITRCC. “The 80/90 PUSH project is a
Mayor to host annual UNCF prayer breakfast Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson will partner again this year with the Northwest Indiana Leadership Cou-ncil to host the annual Mayor’s Pra-yer Breakfast benefitting the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 will be held at the Genesis Convention Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. More than 300 businesses, civic and education and community leaders will support the UNCF event. The proceeds will assist in providing scholarships for Northwest Indiana students. Rev. R. E. Robinson, St. John Baptist Church, Gary will served as the keynote speaker. UNCF is known as the nation’s largest minority organization supporting higher education, student development and other programs for students attending historically black colleges and universities. The
UNCF Northwest Indiana Leadership Council established in 2007 has raised more than $400,000 and has awarded more than 60 Scholarships to students in Northwest Indiana. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson stated, “I am proud to again host the Mayor’s Breakfast presented by the UNCF Northwest Indiana Leadership Council. As a member of the Northwest Indiana Leadership Council, I am relentless in supporting UNCF’s mission while improving the educational outcomes of the students of Gary, Indiana. Investing in our youth not only develops the next generation of leaders, but improves our communities.” Tickets and Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Tickets are $35.00. Please contact the Mayor’s Office at 219-881-1302 for sponsorship information and tickets; or via email at ddelk@ci.gary.in.us.
Gary churches step (Continued from page 1) they have a tendency to give it trucks up with the water. Libto who they want to have it. The erty Baptist Church a business main people don’t get it. It’s not man in their congregation that reaching its needed destina- owns an 18-wheeler. He has tion.” told his pastor that he will be in Gary Sunday to leave out MonOn Saturday, February 6 day morning to transport the volunteers are needed from 10 water from the U-Haul trucks a.m. to 4 p.m. at County Mar- into his semi-tractor trailer and ket to help load U-Haul take it to Flint, Michigan. www.garycrusader.com
Karen Freeman-Wilson
State Rep. Brown honored by former legislators for his civility in office State Rep. Charlie Brown (DGary) has been honored with the first Civility in Government Award for his strong communication skills and demonstrating courtesy in office. The award, honoring a member of each legislative caucus, is presented by the Association of Retired Members of the Indiana General Assembly (ARMIGA), a group of former Indiana lawmakers who work to recognize the achievements of current members. A nine-member selection committee — representing academia, the media, lobbyism and former legislators — chose this years’ winners for their ability to participate in the debate with a dignified demeanor, demonstrating respect for their peers and the institution. “I am so honored to be recognized by this outstanding group of former legislators,” said Brown. “Discussions can be heated on the House floor, but I believe that we are far more successful
Charlie Brown when we combine strong communication with emotional control and a bit of humor too.” First elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1982, Brown has been highly involved with legislative committees, advocating for a number of youthand health care-related issues. Brown’s name will be displayed on a plaque that will hang in the hallway outside the House chamber.
Voter registration deadline for primary April 4 Residents who want to vote in the May 3 primary election have until April 4 to register to vote. To register, voters can visit http://www.indianavoters.com/. Indiana residents with a valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana state-issued identification card will be able to use this tool to submit a new voter registration application or to update an existing voter registration
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
record. In addition to registering to vote online, http://www.indianavoters.c om/ provides Hoosiers with the ability to validate their voter registration status, find their polling place location, look into their provisional ballot status information, find county contact information, and determine “Who’s on My Ballot?” for an upcoming election. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
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EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL BLACK PEOPLE AND GLOBAL POLARIZATION
A lot of people are convinced that the world is coming to an end. This may or may not be true, since this kind of prophecy pops up just about every century and it hasn’t happened yet. What is certain, however, is the fact that the world comes to an end for a lot of people EVERY DAY; they pass away from this realm. There is no doubt, though, that there is extant a feeling of transformation, of transition, and this just might be what people are sensing when they say the world is coming to an end. What is more likely is that a death and a rebirth is coming into play. Wise people have said many times that as one cycle or thing ends, another begins; something new always comes out of something that is passing away. One of the clearest indicators of this trend is the increasing polarization that is evident in every area of life on this planet - there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor with a vanishing middle class; Christians are in stark opposition to Muslims to such an extent that one American presidential candidate has called for them to be banned from the United States; there is increasing evidence of misconduct in police districts that have a heavy Black population resulting in a situation wherein many Black people are in opposition to all police; Democrats and Republicans in America are at extreme odds with one another, and racial tensions are rising among many groups as calls for the cessation of “politically incorrect” language are reaching a crescendo. Because of this polarization, these are very dangerous times, but they are also pregnant with possibility. There is a foul climate in America that is becoming more evident as bigots are being flushed out of the woodwork emboldened by demagogues who are not ashamed to air their jaundiced viewpoints. This is contrasted by those who feel that disadvantaged and oppressed people should have a fair chance to achieve parity in America. One of the best places to see this polarization in action in America is the race for party nominations for president of the United States. On the one hand we have the uber-left democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and on the other hand we have the uber-right Donald Trump; both candidates are receiving a lot of attention. Their support gives a very clear picture of how divided the country has become. With this said, there is an opportunity for African Americans to influence the outcomes of this polarization. But first, there must be caution regarding how things can play out in an environment that is starting to throw political correctness into the garbage heap. For one, it’s interesting that Black people have forgotten that anti-Black discrimination was the starting point for the politically correct movement due to sensitivity connected with perceived insults connected with racism. Black people were the initial beneficiaries of this movement. Now that it seems to be dissolving, Black people will have to decide what side to take and how to navigate the stormy waters of social unrest amidst the maelstrom of angst generated by an angry white cohort in America. Fortunately, Black people are becoming more and more aware of the power of collective action. The challenge will be that the right decisions will have to be made in order for true and lasting progress to happen in Black America. One of the best tools in this regard is the VOTE. It must be utilized strategically; Black people in America must learn from mistakes of the past in order to ensure a better future. Black people must not cast their votes for people who have demonstrated an obvious disdain for the community. We must be vigilant and proactive if we are to successfully ride this wave of polarization so that we end up on the right side of the mountain. In order to do this, we must banish the old foes of self-hatred and disunity in order to come out triumphant. A luta continua. 4
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR She hurt those who can least afford it Dear Editor: Spare me the cliche of innocent until proven guilty. When a person is accused of a single illegal incident, there is the possibility that the accuser made or is making a mistake. However, when the accusation involves several instances and seven figures all doubt should be removed. Monique Bowling-Boyd doesn’t live in Gary but she sure hurt the people of Gary – those who can least afford to have anything go wrong in city government. She is the one-time Gary employee who ripped off the city for more than a million bucks. She cheated the city of several hundred iPads and other computer and electronic equipment. A state official said she schemed between 2012 and mid2015 to commit fraud. Right now she hasn’t been charged, but the Indiana Attorney General is suing her to recoup about $1.3 million. I have my doubts about the state or Gary will ever see any of that money. The tragedy is that her actions mean that equipment taxpayers ultimately were paying for didn’t get to the city employees who needed it to do their jobs more efficiently.
The bottom line there, is taxpayers get the double whammy because ultimately they will wind up paying again. There is absolutely no doubt that anyone who spends any time in or around Gary knows of our financial straights. So, a city employee definitely would know the fiscal problems the city is fighting. To me it is lower than low for someone to rip off the city repeatedly and for such a huge amount. According to the Indiana AG when all is said and done Ms. Bowling-Byrd could be looking at a $4.1 million bill, including attorneys’ fees. There is never a good time for a tragedy, but a man-made one like this could not have come at a worse time. Roger Welch
Carter gets it right Dear Editor: Recently I had the privilege of learning about Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter’s approach to criminal justice. It was refreshing to hear that he advocates a strong family structure instead of lengthy prison sentences. We see Carter’s theory borne out down the road in Chicago and other communities across the cou-
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
ntry. There are countless crimes, and often there are arrests and convictions. Despite the criminals often receiving life sentences, the criminals left on the street don’t seem bothered that they could face the same fate. Carter said he believes a strong father is essential to solid family structure. There is no reason to refute that idea. We have far too many children, especially in our (Continued on page 5)
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NOSING AROUND
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column is a gossip column. We ask that items contained herein be judged by individuals that read it as such and not as documented facts gathered by the newsgathering personnel of this publication.
Kyle Allen ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE Now that Kyle Allen moved on to another office, there’s a vacancy on the City Council. This also means there will be a slew of folks vying for the seat prior to the caucus to select the replacement. However, rumor has it that would be candidates are wasting their time because the powers that be have already decided on the replacement. Word is the person being considered is someone who ran for the position last year and although they weren’t successful, made a decent showing in the primary. This time around with the support from a number of political heavyweights, they are getting another bite at the apple. This time however, Nosey hears that it won’t just be a bite instead they will get the whole apple.
she tried to get support for when she was on the council before. During a previous stint she sought to get a residency ordinance through the council with no success. This time around instead of introducing legislation regarding the issue, Hatcher has drafted a letter to the city administration calling on them to enforce the law that is already on the books. Talk about time bringing about a change. When introduced before Hatcher’s bill received little support. This time around she seems to have the support of a signigcant number of her colleagues. Chief among those supporters is First District Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt and Lavetta Sparks-Wade. The three of them seem to have formed a coalition of sorts on the council. Word is Hatcher still has her eyes on the mayor’s office. Nosey wonders will the Hatcher,
SEEKING THE ANOINTING Since announcing their candidacies for the Senate seat being vacated by Earline Rogers, both Darern Washington and Eddie Melton have been going out of their way to court Rogers in an effort to get her support. They are also hoping that who ever Rogers
Eddie Melton
Lavetta Sparks-Wade Wyatt, Sparks-Wade coalition last and extend into the next mayoral contest?
run against her, the two have maintained a cordial relationship. Rogers has also had positive things to say about Melton also without revealing where she may be leaning. Nosey hears that Ro-gers may announce her choice by the end of the week and until then, no doubt both candidate are keeping their fingers crossed hoping that they will be the anointed one.
-Nosey-
Darren Washington
Earline Rogers
-Nosey-
anoints will also reap the favor of her supporters as well. When she announced that she would not seek re-election for another term, Rogers indicated that when filing for the May Primary close she would make known who she’ll be supporting. She has a good relationship with both candidates and despite Washington having
Ragen Hatcher
-NoseyONE MORE TIME Ragen Hatcher is not only back on the City Council, she is also back pushing one of the few issues
Rebecca Wyatt
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Continued from page 4) community, who are growing without the benefit of a father. Of course, a father’s presence in the home can’t stop all crime. But, a principled and disciplined father will be the kind of example children will want to follow. A father who is constantly in his child’s life will be a greater influence on children than gang members. The way Carter sees it, and I believe he is correct, youngsters influenced by gangs are eventually used up by those gangs and tossed www.garycrusader.com
like last night’s garbage. Another sage piece of advice the prosecutor offered is for parents to get their kids out of the juvenile detention center as soon as possible if they are arrested. The kids’ presence there make them prey for the gangs and a lifetime of despair. Hopefully the prosecutor will deliver these messages more frequently and to larger audiences, and I pray we are listening. Betty Scott Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
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BUSINESS BUSINESS
Marquette Park Pavillion presents new caterer with “Meet the Chef ” Marquette Park Pavilion, one of the premier venues in the Midwest for special events and posh affairs will present its new exclusive caterer to the community in a meet & greet this weekend. A “Meet The Chef ” event will be held at the Pavilion on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Late last year the City of Gary Parks Department released its bid package for a new caterer at Marquette Park Pavilion following the contract expiration with the former caterer. The Parks Department reached out to several local established food businesses and caterers encouraging response to
the bid. After a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, Fuze Catering and Events, featuring Chef James Sanders, will bring a continually evolving menu that incorporates flavors from cultures worldwide to Marquette Park. Fuze was one of three vendors responding to the bid. Executive Manager, Tiffany Merrills says, “We are excited about the unique culinary experience that Chef Sanders is bringing not only to Marquette Park Pavilion but to the City of Gary. Along with outstanding food quality and food selections, we were impressed by his humble nature and humble beginnings.”
Chef Sanders describes his passion for cooking...“My passion for cooking did not begin like many chefs: cooking cakes and pies in the kitchen with Granny. I grew up in a working class family in East St. Louis, where both parents worked outside the home. While I appreciated the quality environment and education my parents worked so hard to provide, I soon became tired of the same (though hot and healthy) mundane meal my often exhausted mom prepared for me four days out of the week. At the tender age of 8, my father spoke great words of wisdom into me, “Don’t ever depend on a woman
Urban League to host Diversity Luncheon The Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Inc. will host its 4th Annual Diversity Awards Luncheon on Thursday, March 24, 2016 beginning at 11:30 a.m. The event will be held at the Avalon Banquet Center in Merrillville, Indiana where awards will be presented to businesses and organizations throughout Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties that embrace and celebrate inclusion and participation of a diverse people in their workforces. New this year are two award opportunities for youth groups. Last year, this annual event drew over 500 people who came together to recognize those who are in the
forefront of making Northwest Indiana a better place in which to live, work and recreate. The Urban League of Northwest Indiana Diversity Awards Luncheon is an important opportunity for businesses and organizations throughout our region to demonstrate and be recognized for the ways in which they make our diversity an asset that is integral to their success. Recognition will be given for outstanding performance, in one or all of the following four categories: • Community relations: Activities that encourage and support diversity in the community. • Development: Opportunities
for diversity education, communication and best practices within the organization. • Leadership: Strategies throughout the organization that develop and support diversity. • Workforce Diversity: Hiring and promotional beliefs and actions that represent diversity and inclusion within the workplace. The Award Application deadline is February 19th, 2016. For more information call the Urban League office at 219-8879621. Sponsorship and ticket information is located on the Urban League website. Payments can be made online at www.ulofnwi.org.
Chef James Sanders to cook for you.” Those words awakened my call and I have been cooking ever since.” The community is invited to meet Chef Sanders and the staff,
and to partake in “a taste of Fuze” on Friday. Fuze Catering has more than 30 years combined experience of providing quality service and delicious food.
Will America ever create an opportunity economy for all? By Charlene Crowell NNPA Columnist As communities of color continue to suffer from financial stress, a new research report provides insights as to how the racial wealth divide is in large part created by policy trends that favor the well-to-do at the expense of the majority of the nation. New research by the Corporation For Enterprise Development (CFED) notes that although economists have long declared the Great Recession over, Black and Latino consumers in particular are losing wealth, disproportionately suffering from subprime credit scores and turning to high-cost predatory lending to piece together their financial lives. The report helps to identify underlying causes, explaining that, “The federal government spends nearly nine times as much on tax programs designed to encourage upper-income households to save, invest and build wealth as it does on the Earned Income Tax Credit. . . .All-told, the top 0.1 percent gets more money from 6
these ‘upside down’ tax programs than the entire bottom 80 percent combined.” The CFED report concludes that, “We need to create an opportunity economy where anyone who works hard can get ahead, where every American has a clear and critical stake, and where policies and programs are designed to encourage upward mobility.” Consider the following key economic measures: • The median net worth of White households is nearly $111,000 compared to $8,985 for Latino households and even less for Black households – just $7,113. • While 71 percent of Whites are homeowners, Black homeownership is at an all-time historic low of 41 percent, and Latino homeownership is between the two at 53 percent. • Black homeowners who now owe more than their home is worth is double the number for Whites. • Among renters, a majority of both Black (57 percent) and Latino renters (56 percent) spend more than one-third of their earnings for rent, compared to only 45 per-
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Charlene Crowell cent of Whites. These disproportionate housing burdens contribute to the fact that almost half of the nation’s households are living asset poor lives. The term ‘liquid asset poor’ refers to consumers who lack less than three months of savings. Should jobs be lost, medical emergencies arise or any unexpected expenses emerge, people who are liquid asset poor are more
likely to face a financial crisis. While more responsible options exist, it is the high-cost predatory lenders, those who charge tripledigit interest rates that eagerly exploit financially vulnerable families. What the report makes clear is that rules matter. Unfortunately, today only five states have banned or capped all predatory loans: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Nationally, 29 of 50 states and the District of Columbia have capped interest rates or banned auto-title loans; and payday loans have been banned or effectively enacted interest rate caps in 17 states and DC. “We know that effective policy changes lives,” states the report. “That means we need to expand policies that work so they are available to all families who need them. It also means reforming those policies that stand in the way of economic opportunity. . . . Only a comprehensive approach to helping households of color – from all backgrounds — achieve financial stability will effectively remedy the disparity in outcomes
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
and help bring every American family to a place of true opportunity.” Nikitra Bailey, an Executive Vice President with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) agrees. “The 21st Century challenge to America is not just to identify widening disparities in lending; but to advocate policy reforms in the area of financial services that will aid in closing the racial wealth gap. As long as these disparities remain unaddressed, many Blacks and Latinos will continue to lag far behind their White counterparts.” observed Bailey. “Our nation’s prior public policy decisions have led us to this outcome. We need change to ensure that All Americans have a fair shot at creating economic stability and a chance to build wealth. Fair lending for all is part of the solution forward,” she concluded. Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org. www.garycrusader.com
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COMMENTARY
CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION Your choice: Ignorance is bliss or knowledge is power By Vernon A. Williams If you’re tired of talking about race in America, dig a hole in the sands of Lake Shore Drive beaches in Chicago or Marquette Park’s beach in Gary and just bury your head in it (sadly, Indianapolis has no beach front). Race remains the compelling and vital topic of our day. And even with that being conspicuously true, there are still those who’d rather not enter the fray. Then there are those – like presidential candidates – who prefer the “hear no evil…see no evil…speak no evil” cop-out. Turning to the inhumane treatment of men, women and children in Flint, Michigan, and the total disrespect demonstrated by the state’s Republican Governor Rick Snyder who rob residents of a voice in local matters by deposing the mayor and city council, then appointing his own man to run the city. How about swearing out an arrest warrant for Gov. Snyder? Too harsh? Well, your perspective most likely relies on how much you know about the situation. Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore – who happens to live in Flint - recently shared with media 10 incredible points that are not being publicized broadly about the crisis. See if this persuades your thinking: 1. While the Children in Flint Were Given Poisoned Water to Drink, General Motors Was Given a Special Hookup to clean water a few months after Governor Snyder removed Flint from the clean fresh water we had been drinking for decades; no need poisoning big business. 2. For Just $100 a Day, This Crisis Could Have Been Prevented. Federal law requires that water systems which are sent through lead pipes must contain an additive that seals the lead into the pipe and prevents it from leaching into the water. Someone at the beginning suggested to the Governor that they add this anticorrosive element to the water coming out of the Flint River. “How much would that cost?” came the question. “$100 a day for three months,” was the answer. Now the cost of fixing the situation is approximately $1.5 billion. 3. There’s More Than the Lead in Flint’s Water. The number of cases in Flint of Legionnaires Disease has increased tenfold since the switch to the river water. Eighty-seven people have come down with it, and at least ten have died. In the five years before the www.garycrusader.com
Vernon Williams river water, not a single person in Flint had died of Legionnaires Disease. Doctors are now discovering that another half-dozen toxins are being found in the blood of Flint’s citizens, causing concern that there are other health catastrophes which may soon come to light. 4. People’s Homes in Flint Are Now Worth Nothing Because They Cant Be Sold. Would you buy a house in Flint right now? Who would? So every homeowner in Flint is stuck with a house that’s now worth nothing. That’s a total home value of $2.4 billion down the economic drain. People in Flint, one of the poorest cities in the U.S., don’t have much to their name, and for many their only asset is their home. So, in addition to being poisoned, they now have a net worth of zero. 5. While They Were Being Poisoned, They Were Also Being Bombed. Here’s a story which has received little or no coverage outside of Flint. During these two years of water contamination, residents in Flint have had to contend with a decision made by the Pentagon to use Flint for target practice. Literally. Actual unannounced military exercises – complete with live ammo and explosives – were conducted last year inside the city of Flint. The army decided to practice urban warfare on Flint, making use of the thousands of abandoned homes which they could drop bombs on. Streets with dilapidated, unoccupied housing were targeted for rocket grenades. 6. The Wife of the Governor’s Chief of Staff Is a Spokeswoman for Nestle, Michigan’s Largest Owner of Private Water Reserves. As Deep Throat told Woodward and Bernstein: “Follow the money.” Snyder’s chief of staff
throughout the two years of Flint’s poisoning, Dennis Muchmore, was intimately involved in all the decisions regarding Flint. His wife is Deb Muchmore, who just happens to be the spokesperson in Michigan for the Nestle Company – the largest owner of private water sources in the State of Michigan. 7. In Michigan, from Flint water, to Crime and Murder, to GM Ignition Switches, It’s a Culture of Death. Flint has one of the worst murder and crime rates in the country. But it’s not just street crime that makes one wonder about what is going on in Michigan. Last year, it was revealed that,
once again, one of Detroit’s automakers had put profit ahead of people’s lives. General Motors learned that it had installed faulty ignition switches in many of its cars. Instead of simply fixing the problem, mid-management staff covered it up from the public. 8. Don’t Call It “Detroit Water” — It’s the Largest Source of Fresh Drinking Water in the World. The media keeps saying Flint was using “Detroit’s water.” It is only filtered and treated at the Detroit Water Plant. The water itself comes from Lake Huron, the third largest body of fresh water in the world. It is a glacial lake formed over 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age and it is still fed by pure underground springs. 9. ALL the Children Have Been Exposed, As Have All the Adults, Including Me. That’s just a fact. If you have been in Flint anytime from April 2014 to today, and you’ve drank the water, eaten food cooked with it, washed your clothes in it, taken a shower, brushed your teeth or eaten vegetables from someone’s garden, you’ve been exposed to and ingested its toxins. When the media says “9,000 children under 6 have been exposed,” that means ALL the children have been exposed because the total number of people under the age of 6 in Flint is… 9,000! 10. This Was Done, Like So Many Things These Days, So the
Rich Could Get a Big Tax Break. When Governor Snyder took office in 2011, one of the first things he did was to get a multi-billion dollar tax break passed by the Republican legislature for the wealthy and for corporations. But with less tax revenues, that meant he had to start cutting costs. So, many things – schools, pensions, welfare, safe drinking water – were slashed. Then he invoked an executive privilege to take over cities (all of them majority Black) by firing the mayors and city councils whom the local people had elected, and installing his cronies to act as “dictators” over these cities. Their mission? Cut services to save mo-ney so he could give the rich even more breaks. Thanks, Michael Moore. Now with whatever you have to say about the Flint debacle, you can no longer say you don’t know the truth. CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION by Vernon A. Williams is a series of essays on myriad topics that include social issues, human interest, entertainment and profiles of difference makers who are forging change in a constantly evolving society. Williams is a 40year veteran journalist based in Indianapolis, IN – commonly referred to as The Circle City. Send comments or questions to: vernonawilliams@yahoo.com.
Make Your Voice be Heard at the Ballot Box By Melanie L. Campbell NNPA News Wire Guest Columnist In just over a week, Iowa, which has a 3.4 percent Black population and New Hampshire, which is less than 2 percent Black, will hold their presidential caucus and primary. From there, the primary battles move to states with larger Black populations—first in South Carolina where over 27.8 percent of its population is Black. Then it’s on to Super Tuesday with several southern states with large Black populations that are key for presidential candidates to win their party nominations including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The additional reality is that in less than one year the presidency of Barack Obama, the first African American President, comes to an end. We were reminded of this reality on January 12th, when President Obama delivered his final State of the Union message. I watched the President with bit-
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
tersweet remembrance of his historic and impactful two-term presidency. The President stressed the need for reforms in our democracy and emphasized the importance of people, not corporations electing their representatives. He also called for bipartisan unity when it comes to the electoral process. As the leader of a non-partisan Black civic engagement organization (NCBCP), that will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its founding in 2016, it was very moving to hear President Obama deliver a message of hope, optimism and achievement. He also declared he is going full speed with his 4th quarter agenda for the American people that includes continuing to fight for voting rights reform. During the speech, I recalled the images of millions of black Americans standing in long lines for hours and many voting for the first time for President Obama in 2008 and 2012. Still, even with the historic election of President Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and the many gains made,
there is much work to be done that the next president will be responsible for in 2017 and beyond. African Americans and other people of color dominate statistics of the undereducated, unemployed and poor; and millions do not have access to affordable health care in many states with large minority populations, especially in the South where many governors have blocked fully implementing the Affordable Care Act for partisan gain. Further, the Black Lives Matter Movement is a reminder that there is much social justice work to be done—where we dominate the statistics on those likely to be victims of police violence or injustice. Thanks to partisan gridlock nationally and in many state legislatures, middle class wages are stagnant and the Labor Movement– a traditional gateway to middle class for working families-is under attack like never before in states across the country. Also, thanks to the U. S. Supreme Court—our voting rights are not fully protected through the Voting Rights Act!
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COMMUNITY
IU Northwest’s HR assistant is ‘Pretty, Raised Ugly’ Crystal O’Brien’s memoir is more than an account of her triumph over a traumatic past, it’s the birth of a movement to raise people up At one time or another, each and every employee of Indiana University Northwest is bound to come across the smiling face of Crystal O’Brien, Human Resources Assistant, and an IU Northwest alumnus. It’s a pretty face, few would dispute, but as her memoir will reveal, it hides an ugly upbringing. Now available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, her selfpublished memoir, “Pretty, Raised Ugly,” was a journey that began in October 2014 when O’Brien, of Gary, learned her father was being released from prison. He’d been convicted on several counts of abusing her, and the possibility of seeing him again, and having to tell her daughter, now 12, about everything, began to overwhelm her. Ever since her father had been convicted in 2003, O’Brien, now 29, had worked hard to build a life after her abusive childhood. She’d become a mother at the age of 16; she’d sought out years of therapy and eventually earned two college degrees. When news of her father’s impending release came, O’Brien had been pondering her next steps as far as her career, her healing process and
Crystal O’Brien how she would make her mark upon the world. Last January, O’Brien took to writing her memoir as a way of healing, and to explore her future. The words flowed out of her in a therapeutic whirlwind of prose. “One day, I decided I would write the first couple of chapters and see how intense it would be,” she recalled. “And every day, I wrote nonstop. It just kind of flowed out of
me. It was a combination of a release and a venting and it just came to me like it was supposed to be on the pages. I did this for seven days straight, and I was done. When I got to the end, I was overwhelmed.” Overwhelmed, perhaps, because of the vivid detail with which she recounts her experiences. Not simply saying she got in trouble, for instance, but spelling out exactly what she did, why, with whom. Telling her story in such a public fashion comes with some inherent risks and difficult situations. Much like her teen pregnancy forced her to reveal her abuse and seek help -- a self-admitted “way out” as O’Brien described it -- the release of the book also forced her to address some tough questions, like having a long-overdue conversation with her daughter, for instance. Thankfully, her father had been deported back to the Philippines, his native country, upon his release from prison, so that difficulty had been avoided. Difficult as it might be to share her raw, unedited story with the world, it was important for her to self-publish the memoir so that it remain untouched, and thus, authentic. She feels this is the best way
to accomplish what it needs to. “I just feel like the book is going to reach the hands of those who it is supposed to reach,” she said. Talking with O’Brien, her gold “Hope” necklace glinting in the light, it’s clear this book and the motivational speaking engagements it has prompted, were not meant for career gain, but rather, to use her experiences to raise up others. However, thanks to her education, her entrepreneurial spirit and team of professionals she’s secured to help, it seems that’s where she is headed. In fact, that notion of raising oneself up in the face of struggle gave rise not just to the publication of her memoir, but the birth of a move-
ment that has been dubbed the “iRaise Movement.” As she wrote the book and worked to bring it to print, she also took to video blogging and encouraging others to join the conversation and tell their own stories of how they’ve raised themselves up. “I wanted to change the perspective of how you’re raised and how we can change and grow from that,” O’Brien said. “Just having that conversation is a lot of it. We don’t talk to each other about our histories the same way; we don’t talk about how our personal experiences influence and change us and so we go through the same things. When (Continued on page 9)
Opportunity Enterprises 24th Annual Gala tickets now available for purchase Delta Theta Tau announced thier 24th Annual Gala to benefit Opportunity Enterprises on Saturday, March 12, 2016. “Tickets are now available for purchase for Opportunity Enterprises’ most upbeat and inspirational event of the year, celebrating and supporting individuals with disabilities in Northwest Indiana. This year’s Gala theme – A Place to Grow – reflects the role of support, guidance, education, and enrichment that OE has in serving individuals with disabilities in Northwest Indiana.,” a spokesperson for Delta Theta Tau said. This black-tie optional event will be held at Avalon Manor in Merrillville from 6:00 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 each and the night will include an open bar, gourmet dinner, exciting live and silent auction packages, and live
music by Chicago’s Rhythm City. Opportunity Enterprises will also be offering a 50/50 raffle, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners. New this year, OE is offering an improved registration system, as well as complimentary valet parking. Tickets may be purchased at www.oppent.org/gala. OE’s Annual Gala brings together all members of the community
to enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment, highlighting individuals with disabilities. A trailer featuring OE clients may be viewed by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q RrzDNRrx0. For more information, contact PR-Events Specialist Natalie Krivas at 219-464-9621 ext. 239 or via email at natalie.krivas@oppent.org.
PICTURED AT THE 2014 gala is Jeff (OE’s Secure Shred employee) and Ellen DeMartinis, Opportunity Enterprises CEO.
FOUR OF OPPORTUNITY Enterprises’ clients photographed in attire for the next gala are Tina, Ruben, Claudia and Steve. 8
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HEALTH
Methodist Hospitals Foundation receives $10,000 donation The Pink Ribbon Society donated $10,000 to the Methodist Hospitals Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center recently. Ann Peters, President and Founder of the Pink Ribbon Society, and Chris Cain, Vice President of the Board of Directors, proudly presented Jennifer San-ders, Manager of the Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center with the $10,000 check to support the Breast Care Center’s goal of creating a mobile mammography unit that will provide mammograms to women in Northwest Indiana. The new mobile unit would provide women in Lake and Porter counties with an opportunity to receive their 3D annual screening mammograms with state of the art equipment at their places of employment, state buildings, churches or other areas enabling women to have easy access to these screenings. The Pink Ribbon Society is an organization that helps promote breast cancer awareness. The Pink Ribbon Society services men and
cer is by making sure that women receive their annual mammograms on a regular basis,” Ann Peters said. “The biggest excuse that women have for not getting a mammogram is that they don’t have time to get one. With a mobile unit, they won’t have that excuse anymore. We really believe in this cause.” “According to the American Cancer Society breast cancer is the second most common newly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the U.S. We understand that most women today are busy not only working, but tending to
family and home matters. The Mobile Unit would be a simple solution to bringing the lifesaving cancer screening directly to those in need of the services, “said Jennifer Sanders. About Methodist Hospitals Foundation The Methodist Hospitals Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. As the philanthropic arm of Methodist Hospitals, its purpose is to raise charitable gifts to support the hospital’s mission of providing quality and compassionate health services to all those in
PICTURED FROM LEFT to right: Dr. Anastasia Siatras, Methodist Hospitals Radiologist, Jennifer Sanders, Manager of Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals, Chris Cain, Vice President of Board of Directors, Pink Ribbon Society, and Ann Peters, President and Founder of the Pink Ribbon Society. women in Lake, Porter, Jasper and cal community for both individuNewton Counties in Northwest als and local breast cancer awareIndiana. It has always been impor- ness organizations. tant to the organization that the “One of the best ways for us to funds raised are dedicated to the lo- spread awareness about breast can-
IU Northwest’s HR assistant is ‘Pretty, Raised Ugly’ (Continued from page 8) we talk to each other, we can learn from each other’s experiences and by doing so, not have to go through the same challenges.” That’s what the iRaise Movement aims to accomplish, provide that “short cut,” for others. O’Brien has worked as a human resources assistant at IU Northwest for the past five years, a role which doesn’t seem to correspond with her educational level. She holds two degrees – a bachelor’s in financial information systems from IU Northwest, and an MBA with a human resources concentration from Indiana Wesleyan University.
“I am flowing with what I am supposed to be doing. When I got my degrees and my job, it was because of what I needed to do,” she said. “This is what I had to do to take care of my daughter. I wanted to finally find what I am supposed to do and match that with what I am passionate about.” Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson contributed the forward for O’Brien’s book. She knew O’Brien as a young girl and was involved with her family’s custody battle as a legal professional. She describes feeling “haunted” by the case. She also recounted witnessing O’Brien’s transformation over the years from a troubled child to a determined
professional and admired her triumph over her childhood abuse. “In the pages of Pretty, Raised Ugly,” Freeman-Wilson writes, “Crystal bares her soul and in doing so, regains her voice and gives voice to so many others. I am grateful that she has taken this opportunity to share experiences that many might choose to suppress.” She continues, “I am so glad our paths crossed more than once because her evolution has been an inspiration to me and I am sure that it will provide a similar experience for countless others. There is something here for everyone; I am hopeful that you will find what is in here for you.”
NINETY AND STILL going strong–William “Bill” Hill recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday with a host of family and friends at the Barbara Leek-Wesson Community Center. Joining in the festivities were Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson (left) and Hill’s daughter Sharon Price. (Photo by Ted Brown)
SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS of Third District Senate candidate Eddie Melton joined a birthday celebration for the candidate Saturday, January 30 at Jelly’s Pancake House. Melton, who represents Indiana’s 1st Congressional District on the Indiana State School Board is also the Manager of Governmental Relations and Community Relations at the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). He is seeking to replace Senator Earline Rogers who announced she is retiring at the end of her term. (Photo by Ted Brown) www.garycrusader.com
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CHURCH
Unity Baptist Church celebrates mortgage burning service Sunday The guest church for the service inside the church will be the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, where the pastor is the Rev. Marion Johnson. Rev. Protho said he is so thankful for those who make up the membership of Unity Baptist Church, for their commitment, prayers and dedication. He said, “Now we have some more work
By Louise Scott Although Unity Baptist Church is only eight years old, it has been able to purchase a building and pay off its mortgage in a short amount of time. The Unity church pastor and congregation now call their church home a building that is more than 100 years old. Rev. Jerry Protho, pastor of Unity, says it really took the church less time than that because they were not in their current building at first. During Unity’s first year, services were held in the Diamond Center of the former Bennigans Restaurant until they were ready to move into its current home at 2019 Connecticut Street. The church building Unity Baptist purchased was originally built in 1915 and owned by St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church. St. Save eventually decided to build a new church in Merrillville so they sold the church to Morning Star Baptist Church. Unity purchased it from Morning Star Baptist because they too were building a new church. Rev. Protho said St. Sava fellowshipped with them last year. He said, “When they came they brought some of their children and grandchildren because they wanted them to see some of their humble beginnings.”
MORNING STAR BAPTIST Church made it official that Unity Baptist is now the owner of their church home, during the transferring of the deed on Sunday, as Rev. Jerry Protho accepts it. Rev. Protho said there is a bell at cause of tides, offerings and a lot Unity that has been there when St. of prayer,” he said. He said, “Our congregation is Sava first built it. He said one of the elders of St. Sava wanted to not that large, but we have some know if it was still there. He said, committed people who trusted in “He walked up three flights of God, gave what they had and God steps to see it because he wanted gave the increase. He made the to ring it. We even ring it on Sun- difference.” Last Sunday, Morning Star Bapdays.” Unity Baptist Church had been tist, where the pastor is the Rev. working to pay off the mortgage Hollis Mannon, fellowshipped for the past six years. “Our goal with Unity Baptist for the transwas to pay it off in five years, but ferring of the deed ceremony. This we paid it off in six. We paid it off Sunday, February 7 there will be a the second week in December of burning of the mortgage service at 2015 and became debt free be- 4 p.m. in the church parking lot.
to do.” Their next project is to do some work around the church and develop a strategic plan not only for the church building but for the church neighborhood as well. Rev. Protho said, “In the neighborhood half the homes are abandoned. We have to put a plan together on how we can revitalize the neighborhood.”
REV. JERRY PROTHO, pastor of Unity Baptist Church, signs the documents making Unity Baptist Church officially the congregation’s on last Sunday. The burning of the mortgage will take place Sunday, February 7 at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Unity.
CHURCH CALENDAR St. Timothy Community Church celebrates 90th Anniversary St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 W. 25th Avenue in Gary, is celebrating its 90th church anniversary with nine events that will take place each month with a culminating event in September. The kickoff event was held on January 31, 2016 with one of Gary's own evangelist, Rev. Dr. Justin. H. Hunter, Ed.S, Ed.D., who is Senior Pastor of One Vision in Christ Community Baptist Church. Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Alfred Johnson said, "We are inclusive and invite all churches and all faiths.” Contact the church at (219 977-0079) for more information. The events are free to the public, free parking and everyone is welcome. St. Timothy Community Church was founded in 1926 as the Gary Community Church. It was renamed St. Timothy Community Church in 1949. The church was located on 25th Avenue from 1951 until 1990. In 1990 the church moved to its present location of 1600 W. 25th Avenue. 10
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ENTERTAINMENT
World Premiere at the Towle Theater The Towle Theater opens its 13th Season with the world premiere of “Crashing with Flamingos” by Jim Henry. Jim is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and has written numerous plays and has received several awards for his work. Jim Henry’s play 7th Monarch had a 3 month
run off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre on 42nd St. 7th Monarch is the winner of three playwriting awards: Plays for the 21st Century (Dallas, TX), DramaRama 2000 (San Francisco, CA), and The Panowski Award (Marquette, MI). Other productions include The Road Theatre North Hollywood CA, Chicago Street Theatre, LaCrosse Community Theatre and Missouri Valley College. Mr. Henry’s first play, The Angels of Lemnos has been produced throughout the US and
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Towle Theater in Australia. Angels world premiered at Chicago Dramatists and won Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work. The play ran for five months in Los Angeles receiving an L.A. Times Critic's Choice, rave reviews from Variety, and a Robby Award for Best New Play. The Towle Theater is proud to produce this world premiere with a stellar cast. The show follows
Eric, who can do no wrong. Everything he touches seems to end up in the pink. One of his coworkers, Bury, is laid off from his job and locked out of his apartment on the same day. Eric comes to the rescue by offering his sofa-sleeper to Bury until he is back on his feet. Instead of being rescued, Bury is thrown into the middle of the implosive relationship between Eric and his neurot-
ic and quirky shut-in wife Peg. What Eric and Peg don’t know? Bury is about to heap his own pile of baggage into this magnificent mess. Playing Peg Flamingo is Amy Gorelow (Chicago) who was last seen in the Towle Theater’s production of Play Dates. The Towle welcomes newcomers Michael Pine (Chicago) as Eric Flamingo, Andrew Stachurski (Lisle) as Bury
Blacks Must control their own coMMunity
Zimmerman and Dustin Sutliff (Chicago) as Lou. The production is under the direction of Towle Theater Managing Director, Jeff Casey. Performances for “Crashing with Flamingos' are February 26-28, March 4-6, 10-13. Thursday through Saturdays the production will begin at 8pm and on Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are only $19. March 11 will be a talkback with Jim Henry, the cast and production team. Every Friday performance is an Educator Appreciation Night with buy-one-get-one free tickets to all educators. Thursday, March 10th is Industry Night; anyone who provides proof of their work in a theater production will receive a buy-one-get-one free ticket. Reservations required for all promotional discounts. Children under six years of age are not permitted in the theater. The Towle Theater is located in beautiful downtown Hammond at 5205 Hohman Avenue. Parking is available just off Fayette Street only steps away from the alley entrance at the back of the theater. For more information, please call 219-937-8780 or visit www.towletheater.org.
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HEALTH
Crown Point woman provides life-saving gift to friend After Daughter’s Death Family Friend Receives Transplant In Rare Directed Organ Donation As one mother was burying her only child, her friend, a mother of three, was preparing to undergo life-saving surgery. Tanisha Basham, 41, from University Park, Ill., was a supervisor at a local grocery store. Always highenergy, Tanisha became sick in 2013. With her energy depleted and struggling to breathe, Tanisha underwent medical tests, which revealed she had congestive heart failure – the same condition that took her mother’s life at age 48. With her heart functioning at only 25 percent of its capacity, Tanisha was hospitalized multiple times and had numerous complications, including dangerous blood clots. Added to the heart transplant waiting list in December 2013, Tanisha underwent surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device, or VAD, that helped to pump blood through her ailing body — a bridge procedure until a suitable donor was found. After a long 18 months on the waiting list, in June 2015, Tanisha received word that her friend, Vicki Olds—a mother from Crown Point, Indiana, was giving her the gift of life – the heart of her recently deceased teenage daughter. Earlier that month, 18-year-old
Domonique “Nikki” Smith, died unexpectedly. A college student with a bright future ahead of her, Nikki was a tutor and mentor to fellow students. She spoke French fluently. She listened to Andrea Bocelli and proudly sang along in Italian at the tender age of three. And when she took to the stage herself, she brought down the house with her enthusiastic performances.
NIKKI SMITH AT her high school graduation Nikki’s mom, Vicki, and Tanisha, were friends who had become like family. Vicki and Tanisha’s older sister have been best friends for 35 years. Tanisha’s nick-name for Nikki was “niecy-poo.” “I was overwhelmed,” Tanisha recalls. “I told Vicki, ‘I can’t accept
this.’ But she told me, ‘Tanisha, you’re like my sister. You’ll always have my baby with you.’” Life Saving Gift Tanisha was the first person Vicki thought of when trying to make some good come from Nikki’s death. “She has three of her own children who need their mother,” Vicki explains. “She needs to be able to live her life.” Under the care of her advanced heart failure cardiologist, Dr. William Cotts, blood tests showed that Nikki’s heart was a perfect match for Tanisha, and she was immediately admitted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., for transplantation surgery with Drs. Antone Tatooles and Patroklos (Pat) Pappas. Two weeks later, Tanisha was back home with her family. And as she continues to regain her strength, she looks forward to resuming the many tasks her daughters took care of during her long wait for a heart. She also plans to cherish every moment as a mother, as a friend and as the keeper of Nikki’s lasting legacy. Tanisha keeps Nikki’s photo as a screensaver on her smartphone as a constant reminder of who gave her a second chance at life. And when she goes to her frequent echocardiogram appointments, Vicki accompanies her so she can see her daughter’s heart beating in the body of her friend.
VICKI OLDS (LEFT) and Tanisha Basham In all, Nikki saved the lives of five bly generous. There is no better individuals as an organ donor, in- gift than giving someone the gift of cluding another family friend who life.” received one of her kidneys in a “I carried Nikki for nine months, second directed donation - an or- and Tanisha’s going to carry her for gan donation made to a chosen re- the rest of her life,” Vicki says. cipient - an extreme rarity in dona- “When I was living through my tion cases. worst nightmare on the worst day “Before this, I had never heard of of my life, I chose to preserve the anyone receiving a directed heart lives of others.” organ donation,” said Dr. Tatooles. Since her daughter’s tragic death, “To lose your daughter and yet use Vicki has been working tirelessly to that tragic event to save lives change misconceptions about orthough organ donation is incredi- gan donation.
African-Americans are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or dementia than whites Warning Signs Help Ensure Early Detection and Care Planning According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Facts and Figures report, African-Americans are two times more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
than whites and less likely to have a diagnosis of their condition, resulting in less time for treatment and planning. The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s 6th-leading cause of death, in diverse populations.
Many people dismiss the warning signs of Alzheimer's, believing that they are merely a part of typical aging. While there are currently no treatments to stop or even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, early detection and diagnosis can allow for earlier use of available treatments that may pro-
GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE marks the first anniversary of the landmark approval of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0 waiver alongside HIP enrollees at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. 12
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vide some relief of symptoms and help maintain independence longer. An early diagnosis can also allow the individual to be active in making legal, financial and care plans while they are still capable to make their preferences known to their families. Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. 4. Confusion with time or place. 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. 8. Decreased or poor judgment. 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. 10. Changes in mood and personality. One of the greatest obstacles to developing the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments is recruiting and retaining clinical trial participants. Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease allows an indivi-
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dual the opportunity to participate in trials. The Alzheimer’s Association offers TrialMatch®, a free service that connects people living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, families and physicians to clinical trials based on personal criteria and location. For more information, visit alz.org/trialmatch. For more information on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease and available resources, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s tollfree, 24/7 Helpline at 800-2723900 or visit alz.org/indiana. About the Alzheimer’s Association® The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. The Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/indiana or call 800-2723900. www.garycrusader.com
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Drivers: 3-openings only. Guaranteed Min. $1K/wk for 1st yr. Great Benefits. No touch. 5 days/wk., TL, 3rd shift, CDL-A 2yrs. 800-321-3460 x227
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EDUCATION
King announces guidance to states to help reduce testing Acting U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. recently announced new guidance to help states identify and eliminate lowquality, redundant or unhelpful testing. “High-quality assessments give parents, educators and students useful information about whether students are developing the critical thinking and problem solving skills they need to succeed in life,” said King. “But there has to be a balance, and despite good intentions, there are too many places around the country where the balance still isn’t quite right. We hope this guidance will help restore that balance and give back some of the critical learning time that students need to be
successful.” The guidance outlines how federal dollars may be used to help reduce testing in schools, while still ensuring that educators and parents have the information they need on students’ progress to improve learning. The guidance shines a light on innovative work already happening across the country and provides examples of how states and districts can use their federal funding to explore new strategies for ensuring the use of high-quality, useful and wellconstructed assessments, and the elimination of redundant and burdensome assessments. King talks more about the guidance in a video recently released. The document builds on an Octo-
John B. King, Jr. ber 2015 announcement by President Obama and a set of principles the Department released, outlining that assessments must be worth tak-
IU Northwest celebrates Black History Month with lecture, performance Author/professor to analyze ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’
Indiana University Northwest’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs invites the campus and community to celebrate Black History Month with a discussion of the song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24 in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, located in the Savannah Center. Tim Askew is a professor at Clark Atlanta University and author of “Cultural Hegemony and African American Patriotism: An Analysis of the Song, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’.” Askew will discuss the song, folTim Askew lowed by a performance by the Sanctuary Choir Ensemble from St. 6596 or jacksoti@iun.edu. About Indiana University Timothy Community Church in Northwest Gary. As one of seven Indiana University Seating is limited. For reservations, campuses, IU Northwest leads the contact Tierra Jackson at (219) 980-
region as the premier, urban campus dedicated to serving the needs of nearly 6,000 students from the state’s most diverse and industrialized region. Committed to helping its local Northwest Indiana communities thrive, IU Nor-thwest is best-known for providing a personal, quality and affordable education close to home. IU Northwest positions its students to be leaders with more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. For more information, visit www.iun.edu.
ing and of high quality; enhance teaching and learning; and give a well-rounded picture of how students and schools are doing. Last fall, the Council of the Great City Schools released the results of a comprehensive, two-year study on the scope of testing in schools, a report that has helped deepen the nation’s understanding of assessments. Some states and districts continue to look for creative ways to decrease testing burden on students and teachers while ensuring that new assessments measure vital skills like writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The Department is highlighting some of that work on its Progress blog with posts on strategies being used in Tennessee and in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While this guidance addresses use of federal money under No Child Left Behind during the 2015- 16 and 2016-17 school years, the Department will provide further clarification in coming months on how dollars under the newly adopted Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) can be used to support the reduction of unnecessary testing. The new law takes additional steps to support smart, effective assessments and to reduce over-testing, including efforts to encourage states to limit classroom time spent on statewide standardized testing and to strive for continued improvement and innovation in assessments. ESSA encourages a smarter approach to testing by allowing the use of multiple measures of student learning and progress, along with other indicators of student success, to make school accountability decisions. It also includes support for state efforts to audit and streamline their current assessment systems. “As a teacher, you know that information on your students’ progress is crucial to tailoring instruction to
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their specific needs and to understanding whether a lesson has worked. As a school leader, you need tools to ensure that every student is learning and to support the growth of your staff,” King said. “And yet, in both roles, you’re also always seeking more opportunities for quality instructional time for your students. Good assessments can actually be part of great learning experiences, but simplistic, poorly constructed, or redundant tests just take away from critical learning time, without providing useful information.” In his FY16 budget proposal, President Obama called on Congress to provide support to continue and grow this work. The President’s budget included $403 million for state assessments to provide additional resources to states to support the effective implem-entation of assessments that are aligned to college- and career-ready standards that will help ensure that all students graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college and the workplace. In his FY17 budget proposal, President Obama will once again prioritize these goals. In addition to this guidance, the Department has also: • Established “office hours” for any state or district that wishes to consult on how it can best reduce testing while still meeting policy objectives and requirements under the law; • Highlighted the work of states and districts on the Progress blog; • Awarded resources through the Enhanced Assessment Grants competition to support the development of better, less burdensome assessments; • Provided expertise to states directly through proactive outreach to states and other technical assistance.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 401 BROADWAY ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2016 AND A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2016 AT 5:30 P.M. C.P.O. 16-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL REVISING 2016 SALARY AND OPERATING BUDGETS FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS AND FUNDS OF THE CITY OF GARY. Sponsored by: Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, City of Gary, Celita Green, City Controller CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 401 BROADWAY ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2016 AND A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2016 AT 5:30 P.M.
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C.P.O. 16-06 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 15 ENTITLED “LAND USAGE”
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CHAPTER 123 ENTITLED “ZONING CODE” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GARY, INDIANA. Petitioner: DS Enterprises 2 Inc., 2557 Colfax Street, Gary, Indiana Property: 2557 Colfax Street, Gary, Indiana CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF GARY, LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 401 BROADWAY ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2016 AND A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2016 AT 5:30 P.M. C.P.O. 16-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GARY, INDIANA ESTABLISHING SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE AND TO MINIMIZE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LOSSES DUE TO FLOOD CONDITIONS. Petitioner: Department of Planning and Development CITIZENS APPEARING AT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD THEREON. SUZETTE RAGGS Gary City Clerk
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Urban League offers scholarship money for college bound students The Urban League of Northwest Indiana recently announced the 2016 Scholarship opportunities for students. The Urban League offers multiple scholarships to college bound high school seniors who apply before the March 16, 2016 deadline. In 2015 alone, students were awarded over $2 million in scholarships from attending the Urban League Scholarship Fair held in September 2015. The young people come from Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties to a luncheon held each year in May. The luncheon is a veritable rainbow of students from the region, bringing together hundreds of students, counselors, and parents to celebrate each other’s accomplishments and receive additional scholarships. Many have a story to tell that needs to be heard. For instance, Precious Price who is now enrolled at Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and will graduate in 2017 has this to say. “Growing up, my family never left the confines of my city. Upon entering college, I made it a goal to study abroad. The scholarship I received
from the Urban League helped to alleviate some of the costs. This past May I studied social entrepreneurship in Costa Rica for 10 days and
received the most fulfilling experience, all due to the help of the Urban League.” And Richard Span, an accounting
major at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa reveals another “coming of age” story. “I came into the Urban League thinking it would get me out of class early and be just another extracurricular activity but they’ve been family to me. They guided me, basically paid for my books and helped me to advance my public speaking skills. The Urban League reaches out to kids of my age group and gets them off the streets and keeps them out of trouble by offering mentoring. All in all, the Urban League is a great place to experience new things and overcome your toughest obstacles.” Many times the financial challenges students in the Region face are sometimes unsurmountable. That’s
why Lauren Kovacic’s story is so powerful. “I received a scholarship for $20,500 a year to Valparaiso University. I plan to become an occupational therapist. The Urban League gives students a convenient college fair and provides easy access to scholarship information. You can narrow down your options about schools in just one visit.” The Urban League asks individuals, businesses and organization to consider them as they make decisions about charitable giving. To make a donation online go to: www.ulofnwi.org or stop in at the Urban League of Northwest Indiana’s office at 3101 Broadway, Gary, IN.
Grant supports education-workforce alignment Lilly Endowment provides $925K for CELL’s statewide innovation network A statewide initiative to align K12 and postsecondary education with regional workforce needs will continue for another two years, thanks to a $925,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis. The grant will directly support the Education Workforce Innovation Network (EWIN), administered by CELL, which identifies and works to close gaps in education-workforce alignment through regional partnerships among school corporations, institutions of higher education, workforce development agencies, business and industry, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders. Established in 2012, EWIN provides resources and technical assistance in clarifying workforce needs and coordinating educational programming and training efforts, including the implementation of innovative new models. Its partnerships are organized according to the 12 Economic Growth Regions established by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, enabling programs to be tailored specifically to local issues and industries. “The goal is to create educational opportunities that match the economic realities of Indiana’s workforce demands,” said CELL www.garycrusader.com
Executive Director Janet Boyle. “This new funding will support further progress as we make strategic investments in innovative programming to benefit students, business and industry and, as a result, the economy in different regions ac-ross the state.” For example, in Region 2, which comprises St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and Fulton counties in northern Indiana, EWIN collaborates with the Region 2 Works Council, the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce and Horizon Education Alliance. Together they provide technical assistance and consulting services to support coalition building, industry sector partnerships and pathway systems development. “CELL is such a great thought leader for our state,” said Brian Wiebe, executive director of Horizon Education Alliance, which promotes education innovation and workforce development in El-khart County. “We've seized every opportunity it has provided to us, and the momentum we are experiencing in Region 2 is directly related to the funding, expertise and connections that have come thro-ugh our relationship with EWIN.” EWIN also is partnering with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute to research promising global, national and statewide practices involving career pathways systems and the benchmarks that demonstrate positive impact. This work will guide the regional partnerships in selection, implementa-
tion and evaluation of educationworkforce systems. More information on the Education Workforce Innovation Network is available at iewin.org. About Lilly Endowment Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. However, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. About the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning Created in 2001 at the University of Indianapolis, CELL is a leading convener, catalyst and collaborator for dynamic, innovative education change to improve student achievement throughout Indiana. CELL’s efforts are rooted in the principle that all students, regardless of background, should graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary education, training and success in the 21st-century global economy. More information is available at cell.uindy.edu.
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DURING THE RECENT Teach-A-Rama luncheon, Zinos from the National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa youth group entertained guests. Tami Gholson provides a violin selection. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
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