5 9 2012

VOL. 61, No. 19

May 3 - 9, 2012

www.tristatedefender.com

75 Cents

Fixing Juvenile Court: ‘We can’t let this stand’

African Americans urged to step up after Justice Department report Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Tony Jones

A unified response to the findings of the U.S. Justice Department’s recently released investigation of

Shelby County Juvenile Court is driving the push for a town hall meeting being spearheaded by Shelby County Commissioner Henri Brooks.

The meeting is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday (May 10) at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center at 485 Beale St., the headquarters of Local 1733 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Initially planned for this weekend, the session

was reset to work around the Memphis in May Beale Street Musicfest.

Begun in August 2009, the Justice Department’s two-year comprehensive study concludes that Juvenile Court is operated in an unsafe, obsolete manner that targets AfricanAmerican youth for more punitive and harmful treatment. Released last week, the study is the first of its kind in U.S. history. The investigation accessed more than 66,000 files.

“There is no way we can let this stand,” Brooks told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. “We have to come together and demand that real change is made down there. We have the facts in hand and we must move on them now.”

Brooks met with the Baptist Ministerial Association on Tuesday to plan the town hall meeting. The group has appointed the Rev. Leonard Dawson and the Rev. Ralph White as a com-

mittee to assist Brooks, whom many credit as the consistent force that brought to light long- held suspicions about Juvenile Court. In 2007, Brooks petitioned the federal government to look into the plight of children brought to the court.

“I was just doing my job. So many people kept coming to me about JuSEE COURTS ON PAGE 2

13 must answer for FAMU drum major’s death Charges take hazing case to next level

(This story reflects the reporting of the FAMUAN, the student voice of Florida A&M University.)

The backdrop is a hazing culture in American universities that Florida Ninth District State Atty. Lawson Lamar framed as “bullying with a tradition.”

That picture took on an additional dimension on Wednesday (May 2) with the filing of charges against 13 people in Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion’s hazing death last November. The death has been ruled a homicide.

Following a press conference, several individuals were booked at the Leon County Jail, and one in Georgia, in conwith nection Champion’s Eleven death. people will face felony hazing charges. Lamar said that those Robert Cham- without a crimipion (Photo by nal record could the FAMUAN) face up to six years in prison.

No names were immediately released, with Lamar saying his office would hold off until after the arrests had been made. He declared a media blackout on the case during the proceedings to follow, explaining, “We will be doing our talking in court.”

In reading a statement that included the charges, Lamar said Champion was “pummeled to death” resulting in internal bleeding, which led to his death in Orlando on Nov. 19, 2011.

As Lamar was walking away, a reporter asked about the charges. Why only “homicide,” the reporter wondered.

“The testimony obtained to date does not (suggest) murder,” said Lamar, referring to the legal, intentto-kill stipulation that must accompany murder charges.

FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger and President James H. Ammons sent their condolences to Champion’s family in a statement and outlined some of the steps the university has taken to eradicate hazing.

The Champion family has filed a lawsuit against the bus company responsible for the transport of the band, claiming the driver, Wendy Millette, stood guard during the events.

Champion’s death has become a symbol of the culture of hazing at FAMU and has sparked a national deSEE HAZING ON PAGE 3

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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H- 9 1o - L - 6 9o Most ly Sunn y

H- 8 9o - L - 6 8o P a r tl y C l ou dy

H- 9 0o - L - 6 8o Partl y Cl o udy

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-92 L-69 H-88 L-67 H-89 L-67

Saturday H-91 L-70 H-89 L-65 H-88 L-66

Sunday H-92 L-69 H-88 L-67 H-88 L-66

Commander-in-chief…

On the anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, President Barack Obama greets U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field after a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday (May 1). He affixed his signature to a 10-year postwar security deal with Afghan President Hamid Karzai before speaking to a hangar full of eager U.S. troops, and then addressing the American people by satellite. The defeat of Al Qaeda is “within reach,” he said. (White House photo by Pete Souza)

Varied interests, emotions at education town hall Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Tony Jones

Linda Chism-Leaks, director of Training and Development at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, had family, friends and coworkers as part of her support crew. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Inspiration abounds at TSD 2012 WOE gala Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell “…This reminds me of those elegant high-tea affairs that the black sororities and social clubs used to host back in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. The hats, the dresses and just the whole of this occasion calls back the grace and sophistication of days gone by….These are the standards of taste and refinement we must pass on to our daughters and granddaughters.

I feel blessed to witness this occasion. What an inspiring moment in time. It was epic….”

Rhonda Lambert Treadwell, Attendee Women of Elegance Champagne Brunch & Awards Presentation

Sharon K. Richmond, human resources manager at Kirby Pines Retirement Community, searched for words to convey what the 2012 Women of Excellence Champagne Brunch & Awards Presentation

As news circulated that Aug. 2 had been designated for county referendum elections on whether to create separate and independent schools systems in the suburban cities surrounding Memphis, the 2nd annual countywide town hall meeting for teachers, parents, students and community stakeholders moved right along.

Wearing a green AFSCME Tshirt, Emma Lee Payne approached a microphone set up at the well-attended session at The New Olivet Baptist Church at 3084 Southern Ave. She identified herself as a 27-year-school employee, a head cook that had worked at many schools.

“I’m not here for myself, but to remind you of something. A school is maintained by hard working people who keep it running and clean,” said Payne. “What about their lives, careers and their families? The county privatized their schools years ago and I suggest you study

them well before you repeat that mistake.”

And so it went, with Shelby County School board member the Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. hosting the meeting crafted to “receive input so that ‘next steps’ can be taken to reclaim our schools for every child in Shelby County.”

Nearly two-dozen people spoke during the approximately two-hour session.

Memphis Education Association President Keith Williams said that while he can see the pride in winning the Gates Foundation grant, the school board should also be careful when adhering to its guidelines.

“We should be very guarded about extending contracts beyond this area,” said Williams. “One of the things that we must be careful of is that we are not hiring or recruiting our teachers from the local area.

We are sending a message that our own people are not good enough and that is wrong.”

SEE EDUCATION ON PAGE 3

- INSIDE -

• More broadband access equals more access to health care. See Opinion, page 4.

INSIDE

• Michael Ealy: The ‘Think Like a Man’ interview. See Entertainment, page 12.

Women who talk the talk, and walk the walk. See 2012 Women of Excellence, pages 8,9.

Welcome to ‘Earth University,’ says keynote Lucy Shaw. See Religion, page 10.

meant to her.

“I felt honored and humbled to be named among the caliber of women who were also honored,” said RichSEE WOMEN ON PAGE 2

• Value of a dollar is a lesson learned. See Community, page 15.

Tony Allen

• Game 2 was sweeter for Tony Allen and the Grizz. See Sports, page 16.

Page 2

COURTS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

venile Court that I had to do something,” said Brooks. “And without people knowing it, the ministers backed me up then, even petitioning to reimburse the county to pay my airfare to Washington. They have been behind this all the way.”

It is imperative that a strong group be assembled to demand that the reforms identified and recommended in the report are actually acted upon, and that proof be shown, said Brooks.

“We cannot fall for them putting together some fly-bynight watchdog group and expect them to speak for us. The black community can speak for itself and we demand immediate attention to this report.

Now is the time to unify in one voice, demand change and demand accountability.”

‘With dignity and respect’

The 66-page Justice Department is stunning in its directness. Consider this excerpt from page 36: “…a Black child had odds of receiving a warning that was still substantially lower, by approximately one third, than the odds of a White child receiving a warning. In other words, the impact of race on the result is not a chance event.”

Juvenile Court Chief Administrator Larry Scroggs on Wednesday said the administration of Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person is already moving to make changes recommended by the report.

Just the night before, Scroggs had walked out on a tense citizens’ meeting concerning Juvenile Court. The next day, he had no reluctance to talk with the TSD in his of-

WOMEN

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

mond, one of 50 women honored (April 28) amid the rustic beauty of Memphis Botanic Gardens.

“Our city is filled with caring, talented, and awesome ladies who are making a difference every day of their lives.

This will be one of my fondest memories. It was a day of dreams.”

The easy-listening tunes of Prosody set a stylized, artistic tone for the morning’s wellscripted agenda. TSD President and Publisher, Bernal E. Smith II, welcomed the distinguished gathering, declaring that the Women of Excellence Awards “does not begin to scratch the surface” of the talent and giftedness of AfricanAmerican women in this community.

Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku framed the event’s purpose as being right and good and a thing of great import. It was, he said, a matter of giving honor to a group that did not include a single person who would have asked for the honor or required it to keep doing what they do.

Then came the centerpiece of the splendid affair – a moving keynote address by TSD columnist and 2010 Women of Excellence honoree, Lucy Shaw.

Friends and enemies are all within, according to Shaw, an author, entrepreneur, minister and former head of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

“Friends and enemies are not the people around you,” she said. “Your friends are positive, empowering thoughts, what we say about ourselves.

That voice within that talks to us…You received this award because you are deserving.

You earned this honor.”

Enemies are not our haters, said Shaw. “(Enemies) are

Please join the Tri-State Defender Fan Page on Facebook

NEWS

fice. Getting there means passing through Juvenile Court hallways where a quote from Judge Person is prominently displayed multiple times.

The quote reads, “Everyone who comes in this building will be treated with dignity and respect.”

A former state representative who has worked in juvenile justice in several capacities, Scroggs said, “The part (in the Justice Department report) that was unfair is that it did not account for the number of modifications to procedure that we have made. Our main objection is that the report stated that race still matters in decisionmaking. But we make decisions on a case- by-case basis.

The data was based on the past before Judge Person came into office. When the complaint was first filed Jan. 15, 2007, it was filed historically.”

While there are logistics to be worked out, Scroggs said adding a Sunday Juvenile Court hearing clearly has to be addressed.

“One of the things they (investigators) were most displeased with is that a child would be brought in by law enforcement after 10:30 pm on a Friday (and) was having to wait until after 1 p.m. on Monday,” he said. “That is still in compliance with state law, but the Justice Department was not please with it. So we are going to have detention hearings on Sunday.”

By the numbers

According to Scroggs, law enforcement brought 5,249 juveniles to the Juvenile Court detention center intake in 2011. After the initial screenings and detention hearings the court detained 479 of those.

That’s about 9 percent. The number of youth transported to Juvenile Court in 2011 is about

those fears and doubts, those beliefs that cause us to distrust ourselves and our abilities. But you are capable and gifted…you should have your eyes set on your own promised land. Your friends and enemies are all inside of you. There are no limits to what you can achieve…”

The keynote ushered in the main attraction – awards dispensed to deserving honorees amidst cheering and applauding supporters.

In their words

“I was sitting there at the table with my two daughters.

One of them turned to me and said, ‘Mother, we are so proud of you. This is the kind of thing we will tell our children about – how you were honored today.’ They will tell their children because this was a historic day in our family.’ That time we shared together meant so much. I appreciate Mr. Smith and the Tri-State Defender for this experience.”

Anna R. Bradford Kirby Pines Manor Director of Nursing “It was one thing to read about all the things these women are achieving. But it’s quite another to hear some of those things read aloud. And to think I was among them. I loved the camaraderie I felt with the other nominees, very much like my experience at Leadership Memphis last year.

I kept jumping up, enjoying every minute and just taking it all in. I said, ‘Let me sit down and stop acting like a thirdgrader.’ But everything was so awesome. I’m so grateful and so inspired. I left there thinking about what else I can do. That experience made me want to do more. I want the Lord to give me greater vision for touching more lives.”

Stephanie Jones-White Director of Communications,

May 3 - 9, 2012

1,200 less than was transported in 2010.

“There are several reasons for that, but two in particular,” said Scroggs. “One is the SHAPE (School House Adjustment Program Enterprise) program, which we partnered with the Memphis City Schools to develop, which has created a 45 percent drop in the number of kids brought here from the schools.

“The other is the summons program, which has created a 30 percent drop in transports for certain offences. Today we have about 48 kids in the detention center. Three years ago it would not be unusual to have double that number. Some days it’s as low as 14.”

Scroggs said one of the things he wishes the public would understand is that the youth in the detention centers are not there because of minor offences.

“Some have committed rape, even murder. A child will not be put in the detention center for a minor offense. It is only for those children that may present a danger to themselves or the community. And most have a history with Juvenile Court,” Scroggs said.

“One of the most surprising things I’ve learned in my six years here is that only about 500 kids commit the most serious offenses. You may have 11,000 delinquent charges, but only that 500 that commit the worse crimes. In 2011, it was less than 400.”

One of the most alarming findings in the Justice Department report is the confirmed use of an immobilizing device called a restraining chair. A violently unruly or disturbed child would be strapped into it to keep from harming themselves. Scroggs wonders how they will be handled now.

“There were three,” he said, “but they’ve been removed.”

Memphis/Shelby County Public Library

“I’m only 22 years old, and for me to get this award was huge. I mean, Ms. Ruby Wharton is being honored – the mayor’s wife. It was such a wonderful surprise to be nominated and then accepted into the 2012 Women of Excellence group means so much. My mother came here with me. I was so proud to receive this honor publicly, and I know she was proud of me. I will never forget this day.”

– Yolanda N. Gates Creative Director of Epiphany Firm

“It’s always nice to be recognized. When someone takes the time to just say, ‘I appreciate what you are doing, giving of yourself each day and trying to make a difference’ – it just makes me so appreciative of the Tri-State Defender and this great honor. I had two tables full of screaming supporters. It was phenomenal. I am so grateful, and I know my fellow honorees feel the same.”

– Linda Chism-Leaks Director of Training and Development, The MED

“I don’t even know where to start. I was so happy and excited when I first received the call from the Tri-State Defender informing me that I had been nominated to this year’s Women of Excellence. My work with individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS in Shelby County is so rewarding within itself. It is so humbling when someone recognizes all you’re trying to do to improve the quality of life for others. My mother and father came here with me. What an awesome experience. We’ll never forget what we shared here today.”

– Dorcas Young Memphis Ryan White Program, Shelby County Government

Tri-State Defender

Tri-State Defender

HAZING

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

bate, much to the chagrin of administrators, alumni, faculty and students. In the aftermath of the incident, administrators and the Board of Trustees initiated a series of on-campus seminars with prominent speakers and adopted a new motto of “respect and dignity.”

The trustees’ board has also established an anti-hazing committee composed of experts in law, hazing and marching bands. The first meeting was in March. After two members resigned in early April over whether the group should be subject to Florida’s open government laws, another three members recently followed suit.

“They felt that given the operational constraints and limited time frame to prepare a report, they could not reasonably complete the task asked of them,” said FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders.

Belinda Shannon, the Board of Trustees liaison with the anti-hazing committee, will be working “with the university’s internal crisis committee to identify short term issues and proposed recommendations for the board’s review and discussion at the June meeting,” Saunders added.

David Starnes, director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University, cited “roadblocks” in the committee’s process as a major reason for his resignation in a letter to Shannon.

“I do not feel that FAMU or the Board of Trustees is ready to take this step,” he said.

Since Champion’s death, seven band members have been arrested in connection with hazing incidents, and two music professors, Anthony Simons III and Diron Holloway, were put on leave after a Tallahassee Police department report said they had been present at band fraternity hazing off campus. Last week, they resigned prior to facing administrative action from the university.

The band still remains inactive and new-member intake has been halted indefinitely.

Band Director Julian White was placed on administrative leave in the days following Champion’s death. White has said he alerted the administration of the persistent problem of hazing but his warnings were ignored. After he learned about several incidents, 26 members of the band were barred from playing at the Florida Classic, where Champion was killed.

“Now that arrests have been made and the criminal investigation into the hazing that led to Robert Champion’s death has been concluded, it is our position that President Ammons and/or the Board of Trustees should finally consider our petition to have Dr. White fully reinstated as Director of Bands and Chair of the Music Department at Florida A&M University,” said Chuck Hobbs, White’s attorney, in a statement.

NEWS

May 3 - 9, 2012

EDUCATION

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Stephanie Fitzgerald, a teacher for 38 years, said more is being taught than intended.

“When you try to set people against each other, try to setup a system that is said to be better than another, you are teaching them something that is not good,” said Fitzgerald.

“I fail to understand how it is good economic development to take jobs away from people in your own community and then hire consultants from outside the community.”

Gary Greer turned the listening ses-

sion toward corporal punishment, saying the new merged school district must somehow find a way to reverse corporal punishment, especially in the emerging elementary years.

“It’s when the children learn right and wrong and we are not teaching them that there is consequences to bad behavior,” Greer said.

Whalum, who also is the pastor of The New Olivet Baptist Church, guided the speakers toward keeping their responses centered upon finding solutions that could be put into active mode for board consideration.

School board members Dr. Freda Williams and Theresa Jones also were present.

Page 3

MEA President Keith Williams speaks up for local hiring. (Photo by Conor Fox)

Page 4

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

May 3 - 9, 2012

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper

A Real Times Newspaper

• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor

Students with loans worthy of corporatelevel treatment

More broadband access equals more access to health care

Health Care Reform is one of the most pressing topics being discussed on Capitol Hill. The White House is working to help make health care more affordable, accessible and the health system more sustainable for all Americans. To meet this goal, the Administration should consider the role that broadband technology can play in bringing affordable health care to all citizens.

Recently, a Dartmouth study described access to broadband as essentially “more access to health care.”

With advances in telemedicine and increased knowledge of IT healthcare, broadband technology is improving the overall quality and delivery of health care services by transforming the way doctors interact with patients and with how patients can access information. As stated in the study, “Remote monitoring made possible by broadband can facilitate post-operative care and chronic disease management without hospitalization or institutionalization.”

Broadband technology also enhances medical recordkeeping by combining electronic databases, giving patients and authorized providers instant and centralized access to information, treatment regimens and medical images. These implications are especially important when considering those living in low-income and minority communities.

To learn how we as leaders can help improve health care through broadband in low-income and minority communities, earlier this year I attended the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women Congressional Broadband Technology and Media Forum, which convened a delegation of women congressional officials, mayors, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and members of the Obama Adminis-

tration.

During the forum, women leaders addressed the impact of broadband in the areas of jobs, health care, economic opportunities and education for women and famiRep. Lois M. lies. During a robust lineup of Deberry roundtable discussions, we also identified programs that can help to remove barriers between those without access to technology and the rest of the world. For example, Comcast’s www. internetessentials.com helps families across the country receive Internet services, including service for only $9.95 a month, computers for just $149.99 + tax, and free Internet training.

The women leaders also met with members of President Obama’s administration to discuss technologies like the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Blue Button initiative.

Blue Button makes it easier for veterans to instantly download electronic copies of their medical records. The VA is working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to make this technology available to all government health plan beneficiaries.

Thus, increased access to broadband technology and knowledge of how it can positively impact how we manage and monitor our health can ultimately result in saving money and saving lives.

(Lois M. Deberry is Speaker Pro Tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 91, and the Tennessee State Director of Women in Government.)

FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Lexie Carter

Lexie Carter is a local Democratic Party activist and radio talk show host. She hails from Richmond, Calif., and has certainly adopted Memphis as her home, working each week to bring good information to light through her radio show “Eyes on Memphis.”

She and her co-host, Sheri DelBrocco, tackle the issues each Wednesday at 8 a.m. on 990 a.m.

A quick view of her Facebook profile and you can see that Carter has rubbed elbows with the powerful and influential around the country. You also quickly learn that she is serious about her Facebook standards. Check out this declaration: “Please respect my Facebook page. If you post nasty pictures, profanity, advertisements or derogatory remarks about others on my Facebook page, you will be blocked. I created my page for friends and family with positive messages and sharing of information, not to sell anything or give anyone else a format to push their products. Use the events option to invite me and I will respond accordingly but please donʼt keep tagging me and posting on my wall.”

We agree with her on that sentiment and thank her for always being bold in her stances and for being a member of the TSD Facebook family!!

FLASHBACK

Food Stamp success faces media’s cold shoulder

The Department of Agriculture recently issued a report showing that food stamps, one of the nation’s largest safety net programs, is also one of the most effective. Food stamps were responsible for reducing the prevalence of poverty by an annual average of 4.4 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to the report, Alleviating Poverty in the United States: The Critical Role of SNAP Benefits.

SNAP, an acronym for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was formerly called the Food Stamps Program.

According to the study, SNAP’s antipoverty effect was strongest in 2009 when benefits were increased under President Obama’s stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. That year, SNAP benefits reduced the poverty rate by nearly 8 percent and the depth of child poverty by 20.9 percent.

That’s startling news. It’s also news you may have easily missed.

Media Matters, the watchdog group, reported that a week after the release of the study on April 9, no broadcast TV outlet had mentioned the study.

And only one cable news network – Al Sharpton’s “Politics Nation” on MSNBC – mentioned the report.

“New evidence that food stamps help to drastically reduce poverty has been largely ignored by the media, even as the right pursues a campaign to bully those who face food insecurity into silence and help conservatives slash funding for successful antipoverty measures,” Media Matters stated.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has tried to demean President Obama by repeatedly labeling him “the most successful food stamp president in American history.” Gingrich continued to make that charge even after a couple of fact-checking sites pointed out that more people received food stamps under President George W. Bush than President Obama.

As Media Matters noted, “In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began taking steps to ‘ensure that all eligible people, particularly seniors, legal immigrants and the working poor, are aware and have access to the benefits they need and deserve’ long before Obama took office.”

The attacks on food stamps recipients extend beyond politics. Some of it has been nasty and deeply personal.

Charles Payne, appearing in a Fox News business segment, acknowledged that anti-poverty programs, food stamps and unemployment insurance were “good programs” and then promptly proceeded to viciously attack recipients of those programs.

“I think the real narrative here, though, is that people aren’t embarrassed by it,” Payne said. “People aren’t ashamed by it. In other words, there was a time when people were

embarrassed to be on food stamps; there was a time when people were embarrassed to be on unemployment for six months, let alone demanding to be on for more than two years…”

George E. That’s an insult Curry to more than 46 million people who are on food stamps because they desperately need them. Approximately 85 percent of SNAP households have gross incomes below the poverty line, defined as $22,000 for a family of four. And the benefits average only $1.50 per meal, a figure scheduled to drop to $1.30 per meal in November of next year.

Media Matters says conservatives are trying to bully society’s most vulnerable members.

“By bullying into silence those who would talk openly about their experiences with successful antipoverty programs – and whitewashing studies proving these programs to be effective – the media create an environment conducive to eviscerating the safety net,” the media monitoring group stated.

And that’s exactly what the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is already doing.

“The House Agriculture Committee, which the House-approved budget requires to quickly produce $33 billion in savings over the next decade, approved a proposal that would obtain the entire amount from cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps,” said the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “The cuts – which would come on top of another proposal in the House budget to cut SNAP by $133 billion over the next decade and convert it to a block grant – would reduce or eliminate benefits for all SNAP households, including the poorest.”

The Center observed, “No other program under the Committee’s jurisdiction would face any cut under the proposal, despite frequent calls for reform of the nation’s farm subsidies – 74 percent of which go to the largest, most profitable farms…(that) received an average annual government payment of more than $30,000 a year in 2009, while having an average annual household income of over $160,000.”

Those corporate welfare recipients are the ones who should be ashamed, not people who are down on their luck through no fault of their own.

(George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.)

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IN THE MAIL

1. Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed.

2. Racially unrestricted membership in all jobs, public and private.

3. Equal employment opportunities on all jobs, public and private.

4. True representation in all U.S. police forces.

5. Complete cessation of all school segregation.

6. Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the state level breaks down

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President Barack Obama hit a home run when he traveled to three colleges last week: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Julianne University of Malveaux Iowa. Though Republicans called it a campaign trip to swing states, the fact is that, at the cusp of graduation season, President Obama did the right thing to share his feelings on legislation that would either increase the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans or take money from essential women’s health programs to maintain the 3.4 percent interest rate.

In rallying students, President Obama is reminding them that their fate is in his hands. An increase in the Stafford loan program would affect 7.4 million students. Cutting $5.6 billion from women’s health programs would affect millions of women. Pitting women’s health against lower student loan rates makes no sense. We could make headway if we treated students the same way we treat corporations.

In the wake of the bank bailout, banks qualified for low-interest and even no-interest loans. Students have always had to pay their share, and in this economy, a 3.4 percent interest rate can hardly be considered low interest. Now, if nothing is done, the rate can rise to 6.8 percent, and 7.4 million students will be affected. This is hardly compatible with President Obama’s pledge to make our nation, once again, a leader in the educational arena.

Higher interest rates for student loans are a step backwards, often discouraging students from attending or continuing college, or extending the time it takes for them to finish degrees. This is especially true for African-American, working class, and first-generation students.

The average college graduate leaves school with $25,000 of student loan debt, the average AfricanAmerican student with even more.

The time it takes to complete college has inched up, partly because students drop out a semester or two to gather funds and partly because some college have been forced to cut faculty so much that essential courses are not offered frequently enough.

Students are shouldering a bigger burden on their student loans, and colleges, are also burdened when state legislatures apply drastic cuts to higher education budgets. Many states are also hampered because they, unlike the federal government, can’t carry deficits from year to year.

It’s no secret that if we invest in higher education now, we’ll have a stronger workforce later. As it is, heavy student debt prevents young people from fully participating both in the labor force and life. Many take jobs because they can make great money, eschewing jobs in social work or teaching because they don’t pay enough.

Many others living with Mom and Dad delay marriage and homeownership while they tackle debt. While these students took on debt knowing they’d have to pay it back, what kind of country makes upward mobility so unaffordable that students literally shackle themselves to debt so that they can have a shot at participating in our changing labor force?

Why can’t we treat students the same way that we treat corporations, offering them subsidized interest rates, or even zero interest rates? After all, they are helping us meet national goals and are key to our national and international survival. But banks are a bigger and more effective lobby than students, and we don’t mind subsidizing banks, while students are another story.

The human costs are high. The shattered dreams are heart breaking.

I’ve seen Mom and Dad borrow on their home so baby girl can go to college, only to find the amount they have is simply not enough. I’ve seen folks turned away from student loan opportunities because their credit is bad, forcing them into higher loan options. I’ve seen students opt to work more hours, affecting their grades but paying their bills. Some students choose off-campus housing because they think it is cheaper, only to find themselves hungry and stuck with costly bus rides. Again grades suffer.

We have a generation shackled by debt, and legislators who have only come up with the option of throwing women’s health care under the bus to lower rates. We say we believe young people are our future. We have a funny we of showing it.

(NNPA columnist Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author and President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.)

NATION

Tri-State Defender

Page 5

May 3 - 9, 2012

Change comes slowly to South L.A. ‘flashpoint’ 20 years after Rodney King

(NNPA) – Twenty years ago, Los Angeles exploded into flames and violence after one Hispanic and three white police officers were acquitted in the videotaped beating of Rodney King, an AfricanAmerican motorist.

More than 2,000 national guard troops were deployed; the marines were called into action from Camp Pendleton; curfews were imposed in L.A., as well as in the surrounding cities of Carson, Culver City, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Torrance and West Hollywood; an estimated 1,000 buildings were burned; thousands were injured; the regionwide property destruction was an estimated $1 billion; and 53 people lost their lives.

One critical flashpoint of the violence was Normandie and Florence avenues. And among the people who lived and continued to live in the area or frequent it, there is no real consensus about whether life is better or worse since 1992.

“Really it’s changed for the worse,” said 41-year-old Erik Patt, who was born in the area and grew up there in the 1970s.

“In the ’70s, these were very nice neighborhoods,” Patt pointed out as he got his car repaired by a local mechanic the week before the anniversary. “All these bars (on homes) were not here. The houses had plate glass doors.

Now, there’s no money; the school system is horrible.

“There’s nothing new, except those businesses on the other side of the liquor store,” Patt continued, pointing to a Subway, Metro PCS and fashion boutique on the north side of Normandie Ave. The budding entrepreneur, who says he’s working to start a trucking company, also pointed to the lack of jobs as a key continuing problem for the neighborhood. He recalled that his grandmother raised his parents in the area while working at places such as the McDonnell Douglas Corp. “Those jobs are gone now,” said Pratt.

Adolph Washington, an 83year-old retired Los Angeles Unified School District employee, has lived near 78th and Normandie since 1963.

“When I moved here, it was half black and half white,” said Washington, who also noted that on his block crime has quieted down and been cleaned up – the crack house has been closed down.

Anthony St. Julien was born in the area of Normandie and Florence, grew up in Leimert Park, and was the service manager at the old Pep Boys on Crenshaw Boulevard in 1992. He remembered that after the verdict a car plunged through the door of the store.

Renita Polk, 56, who’s been living in the area a little more than 20 years, offered her memories of the day.

“I packed up my clothes and got away,” she said. “I went to my mother’s house in Compton.” Several days after she returned, people still were throwing rocks at the police, even in the middle of the day, said Polk.

In his state-of-city-address last Wednesday, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa remarked on the economic malaise that has settled on the city.

“We have 720,000 Angelenos living on the wrong side of the poverty – a a city the size of San Francisco. We must take up the vital mission of bringing the benefits of economic growth to every part of Los Angeles. If our economy is to work, it has to work for everyone.”

Harkening to the 1992 explosion, Villaraigosa said, “The death and damage of those six days finally forced us to come to grips with the hard truth: L.A. was a city divided.

Los Angeles of 2012 is a different and better city, he said.

“In the two decades since those six days in April, we forged a new partnership between the LAPD and the community based on respect. We changed the culture of policing in L.A. and enshrined constitutional policing as the bedrock principle of the LAPD. We recruited a new generation of officers. We now have a force that reflects the many different communities it services.”

Marqueece Harris-Dawson,

president and CEO of Community Coalition (CoCo), which was entering it second year of existence when the violence

broke out, summed up the situation this way: “The things that haven’t changed are so bad and so ridiculous that they cover up

what has changed.”

The CoCo CEO said there has also been a divestment in South L.A. that has not been

helped by economic development efforts that don’t force the issue of investing in underserved areas of the city.

(This story reflects reporting special to the NNPA from OurWeekly.)

BUSINESS

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May 3 - 9, 2012

Focus: Starting a part-time business

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

Go for it, but watch out for the pitfalls

Part of living the American Dream is to own your own business. But then reality kicks in and the scramble for money to start this business begins. While some people can jump in with both feet and devote all of their time to a new business, there are others that have responsibilities and bills that prevent them from taking the risk on 100 percent.

Whatever your situation may be, do not let fear of the unknown prevent you from at least trying to fulfill your dream of owning a business. Many entrepreneurs have started ventures part time while still employed. They simply did not have the luxury of committing to the venture full time from the beginning.

The part-time focus provided the aspiring entrepreneur an opportunity to generate additional income to satisfy existing responsibilities and still venture out to try something new.

When pursuing a business opportunity part time, there are a few potential pitfalls to consider:

Family time

Although your time commitment may be part time, the time away from family could be significant. It is always wise to seek family support prior to pursuing the business opportunity.

Not only do you want their emotional support and understanding, in some situations you may need their labor contribution. So, communication goes along way when starting up a new business.

Slower growth

If you commit to the business part time, then your growth will inevitably be slower than if you had committed full time. You will have less time to market and build a clientele. Don’t expect the profits to reflect a full-time work commitment. Be realistic with your expectations, goals and planning.

Burn out

Working a full time job can be challenging.

And when you add the stress and time commitment of a business, well, it can be exhausting and even overwhelming.

Current employer

Make sure that your business does not present a conflict of interest with your current employer. Do not use your employer’s resources – such as phone, copier, computer and/or email – to start your own business.

Also, be mindful of the time commitment to your current employer. Get a full understanding of just how much money you need to generate with your new business venture to position yourself to walk away from your full-time job.

Through your business plan and actual financials, you should be able to tell where you are

Carlee McCullough

in the process and when it is time to commit to your venture full time.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, there are a few businesses that are ideal for part time opportunities. But remember to pursue your passion and it will seem less like a job.

Artisan food purveyor

A growing number of people are conscious of the food they consume. Farmers’ markets are popping up like never before. Opportunities exist in handmade items such as desserts, breads, fruits and vegetables, and jams.

Check with the Health Department for rules and regulations. Then prepare a great product and seek out the local farmers’ markets to start selling. This is a great part-time business because the markets are usually on nights and weekends.

Baker

Remember that bakers are not just relegated to bread. There has been an explosion in the cupcake and dessert market. Competition is fierce. Your product must taste great and have a polished and professional appearance. We want our baked goods to taste like Momma made it, but not look like it.

Start with selling to friends and relatives. If they don’t want or like it, the likelihood that anyone else will is low.

Caterer

Entry into the catering market is not difficult.

Begin with marketing to your friends, family and co-workers. Develop a niche such as intimate dinners, which include you preparing the meals in their home.

Remember to include service and treat the clients as if they were in a 5 Star restaurant.

Picnic baskets are another niche. The more creative your concept, the better it will be accepted. People want to try and experience something new. Try to provide something that they cannot easily do for themselves.

Landscaper

With a small investment, you can be up and running in the neighborhood planting flowers, trimming trees and cutting lawns and hedges.

Remember that this business tends to be seasonal in and probably will not generate a load of income in winter months.

(Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, Tenn.

38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)

MONEY MATTERS

Life insurance: get to know the basics About 70 percent of U.S. households agree that life insurance is the best way to protect against the financial consequences of a primary wage earner’s premature death, yet around half believe they do not have enough. However, choosing from the many types of life insurance policies that are available can be a difficult process. A few main categories are described here to help you search for a life insurance policy that is appropriate for you.

Keep in mind that the cost and availability of insurance depend on factors such as age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Before implementing a strategy involving insurance, it would be prudent to make sure that you are insurable.

Term life insurance

Term life insurance is the most basic and usually the most affordable. Policies can be purchased for a specified period of time. If you die within the time period defined in your policy, the insurance company will pay your beneficiaries the face value of your policy.

Policies can usually be bought for one- to 30year time spans. Annual renewable term insurance usually can be renewed every year without proof of insurability, but the premium may increase with each renewal. Term insurance is useful if you can afford only a low-cost option or you need life insurance only for a certain amount of time (such as until your children graduate from college).

Permanent life insurance

The other major category is permanent life insurance. You pay a premium for as long as you live, and a benefit will be paid to your beneficiaries upon your death. Permanent life insurance typically comes with a “cash value” savings element. There are three main types of permanent life insurance: whole, universal and variable.

Whole life insurance: This type of perma-

nent life insurance has a premium that stays the same throughout the life of the policy. Although the premiums may seem higher than the risk of death in the early years, they can accumulate cash value and are invested in the company’s general investment portfolio. You may be able to borCharles Sims row funds from the cash value or surrender your Jr., CFP policy for its face value, if necessary.

Access to cash values through borrowing or partial surrenders can reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit, increase the chance that the policy will lapse, and may result in a tax liability if the policy terminates before the death of the insured. Additional out-of-pocket payments may be needed if actual dividends or investment returns decrease, if you withdraw policy values, if you take out a loan, or if current charges increase.

Universal life insurance: Universal life coverage goes one step further. You have the same type of coverage and cash value as you would with whole life, but with greater flexibility. Once money has accumulated in your cash-value account, you may be able to vary the frequency, as well as the amount, of your premiums. In fact, it may be possible to structure the policy so that the invested cash value eventually covers your premium costs completely. Of course, it’s important to remember that altering your premiums may decrease the value of the death benefit.

(Charles Sims Jr. is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancial Group.com. The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.)

Tri-State Defender

Tri-State Defender

May 3 - 9, 2012

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April 3 - 9, 2012

Tri-State Defender

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April 3 - 9, 2012

2012 Women of Excellence:

‘Conviction, passion, integrity, strength and courage’ besmith@tri-statedefender.com

by Bernal E. Smith II

This past Saturday (April 28), we hosted the 5th Annual Women of Excellence Awards Presentation at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. This fantastic event recognizing and honoring area African-American women for their contributions and achievements, has become an annual Memphis tradition.

With nearly 400 attendees, the event continues to grow in both scope and impact, serving as a platform of recognition and inspiration. Thanks to our sponsors – FedEx, AT&T, Citizens Bank, Allstate Insurance and Real Times Media, Inc – for their investments and support in making this our best Women of Excellence event yet.

As The New Tri-State Defender continues its transformation into a dynamic 21st Century multi-media outlet of cutting edge introspective global and ”hyper-local” news and information, we realize the importance of telling “our stories” and highlighting the daily contributions of African Americans to the growth and well-being of the Greater Memphis community. It is our role and responsibility to inform, inspire and elevate through our various portals, giving the entire Memphis community an opportunity to embrace and recognize the diverse contributions made each day by people from all walks of life.

We shine the spotlight on these individuals and the contributions that enhance all of our lives and ultimately make Memphis a better place to live. It is my sincere hope that events such as the Women of Excellence Awards and the accompanying editorial coverage serve to inspire someone to action – to contribute, to invest, to work, and to commit themselves to principles and values that lead to greater stories of triumph and victory versus those of defeat and despair.

Our keynote speaker, Lucy Shaw (chairwoman of Tri-State Bank and a TSD contributor), spoke with great conviction and eloquence about each person’s place in Earth University. She advised that everything in life boils down to our intention and purpose; it is those things that ultimately determine how we apply our gifts and talents and how we end up contributing.

It was the TSD’s intention to justly uplift our honorees with overdue recognition, and our purpose to provide inspiration to them and others to duplicate their efforts and contributions toward making this community a better place for all. Mayor AC Wharton Jr., Congressman Steve Cohen and County Trustee David Lenoir all attended the event with similar intention and purpose.

During an incredible morning of salute, our 2012 honorees received an

incredible tribute in dance and poetry (“Phenomenal Woman,” Maya Angelou) from Tangela Mathis, a Soulsville Charter School student, and her mother. For the event’s finale, The New Tri-State Defender’s unofficial house band, Prosody, provided a fitting musical tribute that brought a rousing standing ovation and a call for an encore as they performed R. Kelly’s “When a Woman Loves.” The day was justly a day of high tribute to a group of sisters deserving of the moment.

Long-time TSD reader and supporter, Mrs. Pearl Street, and her family were my special guests. I recognized her and shared how she got up in the middle of the Top Ladies of Distinction luncheon where I was being honored (April 14) and gave The New Tri-State Defender a ringing endorsement, speaking passionately of the importance of this publication for the Greater Memphis community.

An elderly and dynamic lady, Street had spoken with so much courage and conviction that she captivated the audience and motivated many to follow her actions. For years, she has dipped into her own pockets and purchased 10 to12 annual subscriptions at $20 to 30 each for friends and family. She has been a loyal supporter and subscriber and a true advocate through many ups and downs of the newspaper.

Mrs. Street represents the essence of what our Women of Excellence awards is all about; women of conviction, passion, integrity, strength and courage. It is about women who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. Mrs. Street was an honorary Woman of Excellence this year because she truly deserves it and has served as a source of inspiration for me to continue the work of reinvigorating and reengineering this great publication into a dynamic multi-media outlet for generations to come.

I congratulate and thank all of this year’s honorees and encourage each of them to continue the great work and contributions they are making in the city. More importantly, I ask them to remain engaged with the TSD as we move to inform, inspire and elevate the quality of life for our readers and those in the Tri-State area.

We look forward to honoring another fabulous 50 Women of Excellence in 2013!

Bernal E. Smith II, Tri-State Defender President / Publisher

Karanja A. Ajanaku, TSD Executive Editor

Rep. Steve Cohen

City University Charter School students provided helping hands.

THE 2012 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE HONOREES: Beverly H. Anderson, Pamela Arrindell, Shante Avant, Cassandra Bell Warren, Sonia M. Benn, Audrey Bonner, Anna Bradford, Kenya Bradshaw, Lou Etta Burkins, Deloris Burrow, Patricia Cathey, Dr. Linda Chism, Kim Clark, Shrearest Crenshaw, Loverta R. Dorris, Angela J. Garland, Phyllis Garrison-Brunson, Yolanda Gates, Freda Greene Martin, Emily S. Greer, Teresa S. Hall, Janet P. Hooks, Evie R. Horton, Regina Hubbard, Rose Jackson-Flenorl, Stephanie Jones-White, Judge Loyce Lambert Ryan, Sonja A. Lavender, Yolanda Lunford, Elizabeth McGhee, Shelia Middleton, Thelma Nelms, Verna V. Nickelberry, Summer C. Owens, Denise Perino, Sharon Richmond, Christina T. Rosenthal, Linda Segrest, Jaria Sharkey, Cynthia Stewart, Joy Stout, Cassandra W. Taylor, Vivian TaylorHenry, Magnolia “Nan” Tolbert, Sandra Upchurch, Tera L. Upshaw, Christina V. Watkins, Ruby R. Wharton, Deborah Williams, Dorcas Young (Photos by Warren Roseborough)

Felicia Bean Catering excelled with variety and presentation.

Deborah Powell Alexander, TSD Vice President / Executive Sales Manager

Rodney Dunigan (left) is greeted by Mayor AC Wharton Jr. Dunigan, a news anchor at ABC-24, was the emcee for the day.

Honoree Emily S. Greer and her husband, Jarvis Greer. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

Tangela Mathis let her dance do the talking.

Prosody set a stylized, artistic tone.

Shirley Jackson, TSD Office Manager (left), and Lucy Shaw.

Pamela N. Arrindell, Ruby R. Wharton and Evie R. Horton.

An ice sculpture added to the atmosphere of the event.

Honoree Stephanie Jones-White and her husband, Robert White.

(Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

RELIGION

Page 10

Tri-State Defender

May 3 - 9, 2012

LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE

Welcome to ‘Earth University’

(TSD columnist Lucy Shaw, a previous Women of Excellence honoree, zeroed in on “intention and purpose” during her 2012 WOE gala keynote speech at the Memphis Botanic Gardens last Saturday (April 28).)

“Ten years ago, Wayne Dyer wrote a book titled ‘The Power of Intention.’ I remember searching the book for a definition of intention. I finished the book without a working meaning of the concept for myself and hence an inability at the time to apply what surely must have been a powerful concept.

“Today, I know that I simply was not ready to receive it or at least not in the way that Wayne Dyer presented it. Today, I have what I think is a pretty good grasp of what intention is….

“Simply put, intention is the conscious activity of using your will to choose. The operative words are conscious, will and choosing. Add purpose to the choice and you have something that is unstoppable. Free will is the most powerful gift that we have. When it is understood, appreciated and used consciously and purposefully, wonderful things begin to happen. It can be small or it can be large.

“This morning, you practiced this awesome skill by choosing to attend this event. What makes any choosing special is your purpose. While one person chose to be here to show love and respect for an honoree, another’s purpose may be to meet and touch people she has admired from afar.

Another may be here to network. Another may simply be here to satisfy

“Here is what is most important about intention and purpose. So listen closely because it is elegantly simple and infinitely powerful. You are here at Earth University to learn and to grow.

That’s it, period. The quality of your matriculation through Earth University (EU) is determined by your intention or choices, ...”

curiosity, another may be here for the purpose of expressing gratitude for the TSD, supporting its contribution to our community. The possibilities of purpose are unlimited.

“But here is what is most important about intention and purpose. So listen closely because it is elegantly simple and infinitely powerful. You are here at Earth University to learn and to grow. That’s it, period. The quality of your matriculation through Earth University (EU) is determined by your intention or choices, your discipline and your purposes. What choices are you making, moment by moment, and for what purpose?

What will you learn and how will you grow in your choices? And most important, how will you teach what you learn to others?...

“I have been blessed with an absolutely wonderful life. But I must tell you a secret. I was not always intentional or purposeful. I simply always did what seemed right and natural, loving and fair. I was not one of those people who could say, “I always wanted to be a ...” I was good at many things and simply did not choose to do the things that I was not

good at! In other words, I played it safe.

“And one day, I learned that our core purpose is defined by that thing we can do well without a whole lot of effort. Sure there are some corollary skills that we might have to work harder at, but each of us came to EU with a basic set of gifts and talents that we are expected to intentionally and purposefully exploit. To do that requires self-trust and self-respect and the capacity to constantly ask, “How can I up my game?”…

“Choosing to excel can be tricky business. Everybody doesn’t think you are great and everybody doesn’t love you when you excel.

“I went to an awards dinner one time and a young black female who had worked in Japan came up to receive her award, and here is what she said, “In the Japanese tradition, I thank my enemies first and my friends second.” She explained that her enemies were those whose lack of faith in her caused her to keep pushing, and friends were those who supported her on her journey.

“Over the years I have thought much about this. So who are our friends and who are our enemies?

“Our friends are the positive, empowering thoughts and beliefs we have about ourselves and others. Our enemies are the fears, doubts and beliefs in lack and limitation that keep the good away. Paul tells us in Hebrews that the Israelites did not make it into the ‘promised land’ because of their unbelief. They never believed they were deserving or capable of entering in.

“So for the (WOE) honorees and

Over the years…

Grace Missionary Baptist Church held a celebration of 50 years of pastoring (19622012) last Saturday (April 28) for the Rev. Coleman Crawford Jr. at the Marriot East Hotel. Pictured: Rev. Coleman with Dr. Inetta F. Rogers, 50th Anniversary program chairperson and associate minister. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

TSD columnist Lucy Shaw, a 2010 Women of Excellence honoree, zeroed in on “intention and purpose” during her 2012 WOE gala keynote speech at the Memphis Botanic Gardens last Saturday (April 28). (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley) for the rest of those present, are you visualizing, naming and claiming your own ‘promised land’? Are you setting an intention and purpose for entering into your promised land?

Are you believing, trusting, preparing and owning it as your birthright?

EU is for living, learning, teaching, giving and receiving again and again and again. There are no limits! Success is our very birthright…

“I want to end this talk with one of my favorite quotes. Author, preacher, teacher, Maryanne Williamson wrote it; President Nelson Mandela used it and made it broadly famous.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mea-

‘Essential Women Facing the Challenges…’

Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee State NAACP, was the keynote speaker on Sunday (April 29) for the Annual Womenʼs Day 2012 program at Mt. Olive Cathedral Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. Ronald Williams is the host pastor. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 3311 Kimball Ave. Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 744-7531 (901) 744-7664

Clarence Kelby Heath Wednesday Pastor

Noon - 1 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

9 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM

Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews

Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

AM 1070 WDIA Sundays, 10:00-10:30 AM

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm

FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm

TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST

672 So. Lauderdale 38126 P.O. Box 314 Memphis, Tn 38101 Phone (General) 774-1572 Pastor: 775-0740 Secretary: 775-1909 WEEKLY SERVICES

Sunday Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Night YPWW 5:00 p.m.

Night Service 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Night Prayer 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.

Friday Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m.

Night Service 7:30 p.m.

BROADCASTS 9:30 a.m. Sunday WDIA - 1070 AM

No Telecast Service

ST. ANDREW A.M.E. CHURCH 867 SOUTH PARKWAY EAST Memphis, TN 38106

Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

Worship Services

Sunday Sunday School Worship Service

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

sure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Dr. David Allen Hall Pastor

“The Founder’s Church”

First Pastor: Senior Bishop C.H. Mason

THE BLVD Ea s t 6745 Wol f Ri v e r B oule v a r d @ Ki r by Pa r k wa y ( i n t he Cl a rk Ope r a Me mphi s Ce nte r ) Me mp h i s T N 3 8 1 2 0

Dr. Frank A. Thomas Senior Servant

Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor & Clothes Closet Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Co-Pastor Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM

“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

— Proverbs 1:7

RELIGION

Tri-State Defender

Local teachers, who are members of the New Shelby Missionary Baptist Church in Collierville, gather round their pastor, the Rev. Brandon Walker following a special celebration of teachers during church services last Sunday (April 29). (Courtesy photo)

Religious leaders recognize teaching as a ‘special calling’ Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Tarrin McGhee

Hundreds of teachers across the Mid-South were honored at church services on Sunday (April 29) as area religious leaders reminded parishioners that effective teaching is second only to effective parenting in having a positive influence on a child’s development.

“As pastors, we see teaching as a special calling,” said Brandon Walker, pastor of the New Shelby Baptist Church and director of Clergy United for the Memphis Schools, which organized the countywide celebration of teachers.

“For me personally, it is tremendously gratifying that so many of our religious congregations took the time and energy to honor our teachers. I know many of the teachers in my own church were profoundly moved by these efforts. One came up to me at the end of services and said that of all the recognition and awards she’s received over the years, this recognition by her church and congregation meant the most to her.”

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May 3 - 9, 2012

More than 40 congregations took part in the celebration in Memphis and nearby Mississippi. The pastors preached about the biblical basis of teaching and how fundamental that role is to a successful society.

As part of the celebration, teachers received a special gift from their congregation.

(Some religious leaders, like Rabbi Greenstein of Temple Israel whose congregation does not celebrate on Sunday, mailed the gifts to their teacher-congregants.)

“We’re doing our best to mobilize faith leaders to make sure we fully understand what is happening in the public schools, especially the importance of teachers in making our schools first class,” Rev. Walker added. “We then want to help educate our congregations and add our voice to the public debate about helping to make teaching as effective as it can possibly be, especially since we know that teachers are the most important influence on our children, next to parents.”

In pursuit of that goal, Rev. Walker and three colleagues – Rabbi Micah Greenstein, the Rev. Bartholomew Orr, and Dr.

Christopher Davis – released a research report on April 10 prepared by Clergy United for the Memphis Schools. The report included research that weighed all the factors that go into running a school, including curriculum, class size, funding, and administration.

What the report showed is that nothing is more important to student success than teacher effectiveness.

The group is now working to lend support to the goals of the Memphis City Schools’ Teacher Effectiveness Initiative, a reform effort initiated to pursue a focus on improving teaching in the schools, with the main focus being to identify teachers who have the potential to become great teachers, and offering added support to help them get there.

“As we’ve explored this,” said Rev. Walker, “we have come to appreciate how challenging this (teacher effectiveness) work is, and we know it can be a sensitive area for teachers. But one of the best ways to ensure that students are succeeding academically is to support and nurture teachers, and that includes

RELIGION BRIEFS

Teachers honored on Sunday (April 29) at New Haliburton Church in Olive Branch, Miss., included (left to right) Christine Lewis, Courtnie Janiece Moore, Loretha Harris and Verdell Burton. The Rev. Steve Dodson serves as pastor. (Courtesy photo) evaluating how they are performing in the classroom to determine areas for improvement, and help move our schools to the next level.”

“It is so important that we make our appreciation of teachers public and not take the critical work they do for granted,” added Bishop Edward Stephens of Golden Gate

Cathedral, one of the churches that participated in the Sunday Celebration of Teachers.

“Proverbs tell us to ‘train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,’ and our teachers toil every day to connect that scripture to our children’s lives to help them be successful.”

BRIEFLY: Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church at 765 South Parkway East will present “Women In White” on Sunday (May 6), beginning at 3 p.m. Pearlie Love, wife of the Rev. Larry Love Sr. of Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, will speak.

The Rev. Dr. Eugene Henson is host pastor. For more information, call 901-755-3223.

BRIEFLY: The LOVE Ministry of New Macedonia Baptist Church will host the 2nd Annual Mother & Daughter Tea on May 12, beginning at 11 a.m. at the St. John Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 3131 Chelsea.

Tickets are $10. For more information, contact Doris Embery at 901-452-5818.

BRIEFLY: Greater Faith Tabernacle will host Community Outreach Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church at 905 E. Shelby Drive at Fairfield on May 12. The day will include a health fair, with information on diabetes, lupus, cholesterol and smoking.

Blood pressure and HIV/AIDS screening will be offered, along with massages. The host pastor is the Rev. Orlester Johnson. For more info, call 901-346-4429 or 345-9959

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, May 3 - 9, 2012, Page 12

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

What has technology done to the ‘B’ side?

Just the other day, a colleague and I were talking about how the music industry has changed. We recalled a time when some of the greatest artists were discovered by accident. We remembered Myron hearing of songs Mays that became the biggest of hits when a DJ decided to turn the record over and the play the “B” side. You just don’t hear success stories like that anymore, do you?

The recording industry is not the same as it was 30 years ago. As a matter of fact, the recording industry is not the same as it was 10 years ago, maybe even 5. Remember when we mostly heard our music on the radio?

Consumers have never had such variety of ways to get and listen to their music as they do now.

In the days of the MP3, we can listen to music on just about any device, such as MP3 players, iPods, iPads, cell phones, computers, CDs, as well as on the radio. The rise in technology has not only reinvented the way the music industry works, but it has tremendously affected the way radio works as well.

While technology is good, it can have its not-so-good points too. Ask yourself this, “Is music as good now as it was, let’s say 20 years ago? Of course it isn’t! Here’s why: image outweighs talent in today’s climate.

Longevity does not matter as much as the present. Record labels primarily look for the next big thing. If it creates a buzz, they’re interested. No one is being groomed for the long haul anymore.

Who suffers? The consumer does, of course.

We don’t get quality; we get multiple artists who sound just alike. We don’t get a lot of variety; we get the same ten songs over and over again.

And we wonder why iPods, iPads and digital downloads are more popular now than ever. This way, we get to hear the songs we really like, not the ones that are chosen for us to like.

And certainly not the ones that are shoved down our throats hour after hour.

I am very thankful that there are independent artists who release their own music and do not rely on traditional record labels to do that for them. They are using avenues such as their own websites, iTunes and others. And in a lot of cases, the quality of independent music is a lot better, if you ask me. That’s partly because there’s not a system in place that scrutinizes the artist’s creativity.

Here’s good news. Because of this new technology, you still have options…many of them.

FRE&H FRUIT

Ajae Moore: ‘The study of me’ Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Kelvin Cowans

(Fresh Fruit is Kelvin Cowans’ periodic look at the wealth of up-andcoming talent in Memphis and the surrounding area.)

Vocalist Ajae Moore says heʼs working to create a buzz, get his name out there and see how people react to it. (Courtesy photo)

Ajae Moore: I do a little jazz, R&B, soul and hip-hop. I try to be well rounded with my singing.”

Kelvin Kelvin Cowans: Cowans Great. I heard that you did an awesome job at The Memphis Black Expo; that your performance was excellent and that your voice had “next” written all over it. Would you like to explain that?”

A.M.: I did a song that I wrote titled “Romancing to War” and the crowd really liked it. They energized me and I just gave it my best.

K.C.: Oh, so you write songs as well?

A.M.: “Yes, I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember. Right now I’m in the process of creating an EP, with this new song that I wrote.

K.C.: So are you working on an album?

A.M.: No, not yet. I’m working to create a buzz and get my name out there and see how people react to it. I don’t want to get out there to soon or try to do too much too fast and kind of feel my way through.”

K.C.: Patience, we respect that. So, your talent of singing, does it run in your family?

A.M.: Yes it does, I have a large family and we all seem to be musically inclined in one way or another, either singing or playing an instrument. I can’t take credit for my talent, I just work to perfect it and make my family proud. I grew up singing in church and listening to my uncles and aunties sing as well. My grandmother actually became the one who would push me to sing more and to take it seriously. I graduated from Whitehaven High School In 2008 and I won Most Talented that year. I also sung in the Gospel Choir there.

K.C.: What can we look forward to from you?

A.M.: Right now I have my own show coming up on May 11th at Brinson’s on Madison, with the doors opening up at 7:30 and tickets are $10 (and) the theme being “The Study of Anthology,” which is a mixture of my name. This show is the study of me. It’s my alter ego. When I’m performing I like for the fans to feel my high’s and low’s of what I’m going through, and if I can do that I feel that I’ve put on a great show.

“The Study of Anthology” will be the theme for Ajae Mooreʼs show on May 11th at Brinsonʼs on Madison. “This show is the study of me,” says Moore.

K.C: It’s customary in this section that I ask you what your favorite fruit is?

A.M.: Now before I sing, I eat pineapples to help with my vocals, however my favorite fruit is Kiwi! I love the color of it and it’s tasty. It fills my needs I guess.

K.C.: A metaphor spoken just like a kid that was raised in the church. I’m sure his grandma is even more proud.

(Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.)

Eddie Griffin in Concert

Comedian Eddie Griffin is headed back to Memphis on 7th at the Cannon Center. The first time I got a chance to catch this guy in action, I was actually the host of the show. I met him backstage and we talked. The guy is just as funny backstage as he is in front of the crowd.

On the bill are other comedians such as Joe Torry, Teddy Carpenter, Antoine Blackman & V Mack. This one gets my full guarantee. Get your tickets by calling the Cannon Center Box Office at 901-576-1269.

The Isley Brothers, Kem and Fantasia

If there is an important man in your life, why not give him the gift of soul with a couple of tickets to check out The Isley Brothers, Kem and Fantasia in concert? This will make a Great Father’s day gift for someone!

The show will be at the Landers Center on June 16th. Get you tickets by contacting the Landers Center Box Office or all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com.

(Got an event you’d like for me to cover or attend? Email me at Myron@whatshappeningmyron.com)

Michael Ealy: The ‘Think Like a Man’ interview

K.W.: How hard was it working with an ensemble cast with so many big stars? Was it hard to get a little elbow room to do your thing?

M.E.: No, it felt a lot like my first movie, “Barbershop,” which was also an ensemble film, and which was also directed by Tim Story. So, it was sort of like a ten-year reunion.

Special to the Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

Michael Ealy is set to co-star in the new detective series, “Common Law,” which debuts on the USA Network on May 11. Here, he talks about playing Dominic in his latest picture, “Think Like a Man,” Steve Harvey’s battle-of-the-sexes comedy, which made its way to No. 1 at the box office.

Kam Williams: Hi Michael, thanks for the time.

Michael Ealy: Hey, Kam, how’s it going, dude?

K.W.: Great, thanks. What interested you in “Think Like a Man?” M.E.: Honestly, it was the first romantic comedy that I liked. I’d kind of avoided them for a while because I never felt that any of them were really smart enough. But when I read this script, I genuinely fell in love with the characters, especially my own. So, I just wanted to be a part of it.

K.W.: Harriet Pakula Teweles asks: “How flattering or unflattering to the image of the black male are the ‘types’ that the actors are asked to portray in this film?”

M.E.: That’s another great thing about this picture. Yes, the cast is predominantly AfricanAmerican, but color is never really an issue in the film. It’s rarely brought up since, at the end of the day, these guys are going through universal relationship issues that anybody can relate to. So,

Michael Ealy (Courtesy photo)

while the characters like “The Non-committer,” “The Player,” and “The Dreamer” might be recognizable as common stereotypes, color isn’t involved.

K.W.: How did your parents feel about your becoming a struggling actor after help putting you through college? Did they ever pressure you to abandon acting for a more practical profession?

M.E.: No. My parents, God bless ’em, were very supportive of me and my decision to pursue acting. Their dream for me and my sister was that we graduate from college. And as soon as I fulfilled that, they were extremely supportive of what I wanted to do next. I will always be grateful to them for that, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help and encouragement.

K.W.: Tell me a little about your new TV series, “Common Law.” Since it’s a cop series revolving around black and white partners, it sounds a little like “Psych,” which is also on the USA Network?

M.E.: (Chuckles) It’s nothing like “Psych.” It’s an action comedy about two detectives who are really good at what they do. But they have different approaches to the work and to life in general, and that creates conflict and bickering and fights, sometimes. What happens is that their captain decides to send them to couples’ counseling in order to keep them together, because they always get their man. They basically just need a little help in getting along. What makes it funny is that the characters end up having a lot of the same issues as the married couples they’re in therapy with….

K.W.: The Judyth Piazza question: “What key quality do you believe all successful people share?”

M.E.: (Reflects for a long time before responding) I’d say two qualities: perseverance, because you cannot be successful without confronting rejection and, second, studying. You have to know your craft. I find that most people who are very, very successful know their craft and have done the research….

ENTERTAINMENT

Tri-State Defender

Page 13

May 3 - 9, 2012

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening May 4, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“The Avengers” (PG-13 for intense violence and a drug reference) Marvel Comics screen adaptation finds peacekeeper Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assembling a team of superheroes comprised of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) to save humanity from a diabolical villain (Tom Hiddleston) bent on world domination. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Stellan Skarsgard and Paul Bettany.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (PG13 for profanity and sexuality) Geriatric set comedy about British retirees who move to India to spend their Golden Years in luxurious accommodations only to discover that the place fails to measure up to its billing. Alist cast includes Oscar-winning Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, two-time nominee Tom Wilkinson, along with Bill Nighy and Dev Patel.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in “The Avengers.”

kidnapped and taken on a killing spree by a demonic serial killer (Samuel L. Jackson).

With Leslie Bibb, Peyton List and Tracie Thoms.

“Mother’s Day” (R for sexuality, torture, brutal violence and pervasive profanity) Grisly remake of the 1980 horror flick revolving around three sadistic siblings (Patrick John Flueger, Warren Kole and Matt O’Leary) who terrorize the new owners (Jaime King and Frank Grillo) of their childhood home in the wake of a bank robbery gone bad. With Rebecca De Mornay, Tony Nappo and Kandyse McClure.

“First Position” (Unrated) Stars of tomorrow portraits of a half-dozen dancers in training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world’s most prestigious, international ballet competitions.

“Jesus Henry Christ” (PG-13 for profanity, smoking and violent images) Baby-daddy comedy about a boy genius’ (Jason Spevack) search for his father (Michael Sheen) after learning from his mother (Toni Colette) that he was a test tube baby conceived in a Petri dish. Support cast includes Samantha Weinstein, Cameron Kennedy and Dewshane Williams.

“Last Call at the Oasis” (PG-13 for disturbing content and brief profanity) Climate change documentary examining evaporating evidence of the world’s burgeoning water crisis. Featuring commentary by Erin Brockovich, Peter H. Gleick and Tyrone Hayes.

“A Little Bit of Heaven” (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and crude humor) Bittersweet romantic comedy about a stoic doctor (Gael Garcia Bernal) whose steely veneer starts to crumble when he finds himself falling in love with the carefree cancer patient (Kate Hudson) he’s given a terminal diagnosis. Ensemble cast includes Academy Award-winners Whoopi Goldberg and Kathy Bates, Rosemarie DeWitt,

Romany Malco, Treat Williams and Peter Dinklage.

“LOL” (PG-13 for profanity and mature themes) Miley Cyrus stars in this remake of the French romantic romp of the same name about a recently-jilted teenager who develops feelings for her best friend (Douglas Booth) after having her heart broken by her high school sweetheart (George Finn). With Demi Moore, Thomas Jane and Ashley Greene.

“Meeting Evil” (R for profanity and violence) Cajun country crime thriller about a depressed family man (Luke Wilson) who is

“The Perfect Family” (PG-13 for mature themes) Dysfunctional family dramedy about a devout candidate (Kathleen Turner) for Catholic Woman of the Year who does her best to hide her alcoholic husband (Michael McGrady), her lesbian daughter (Emily Deschanel) and her philandering, married son (Jason Ritter) from the judges. Support cast includes Richard Chamberlain, Elizabeth Pena and Sharon Lawrence.

“ReGeneration” (Unrated) Modern malaise documentary, narrated by Ryan Gosling, chronicling the cynicism running rampant among Americans recently comingof-age. Featuring commentary by Noam Chomsky, Talib Kwali and the late Howard Zinn.

“You Hurt My Feelings” (Unrated) Baby maybe sitcom about a marriage-minded fellow (John Merriman) who takes a job as a nanny to convince his ex-girlfriend (Courtney Davis) that he’s ready to settle down and have children. With Macon Blair and Lillian and Violet Collins.

HOROSCOPES

May 3-9, 2012

ARIES Love, joy and hope fill the air around you this week. Three of the greatest intangible assets that one can experience will be given to you in abundance this week. Use them to overcome the bad vibes being given out by a co-worker.

TAURUS Live this week especially in a celebratory mode and count your blessings for you are wealthy in ways that are above materialistic levels. Do not dwell on the financial situation in which you find yourself. Be ecstatic about the little pleasures that bring you laughter and gladness in your life!

GEMINI Take the time this week for self-reflection.

There is something about yourself that you are not seeing clearly. Remember now and whenever you examine your inner self to celebrate your strengths, for you have so many, and to accept your weaknesses as necessary, you are rewarded.

CANCER This week your honest acceptance of yourself will give you a power of both grandeur and humility.

People will approach you for advice. You are capable of seeing clearly what it is that troubles them. Be a counselor. In that you will find your prize.

LEO Others might mistake your gift for something else. They may not be able to see it but your inner strength is very available to you this week. Fill the workplace with warmth as soon as you enter.

VIRGO Someone influential is watching you at work this week. Get your work done as you think about celebrating your harmonious vibrations in the evenings in secluded time with your lover. Think about being uninhibited in your celebration and you will radiate joy in your work place and no one will know the reason.

LIBRA Emotional well being is as important to happiness as physical health. Cool it this week. Give yourself a break. Problems are learning experiences. Make sure you keep that in mind as you face a challenge in the financial area of your life this week.

SCORPIO This week is your week to shine! Let nothing get in the way of your light. You have an energy inside of you that can light the path at work. Now is the time to let your inner glow radiate out to coworkers. Let love dominate your week.

SAGITTARIUS Everyone wants joy in their lives but few people are ready to commit to truly joy filled ideals.

The ideal you need to cultivate this week is forgiveness. You’re holding on to something needlessly. Even if you get even you won’t feel any better. Let it go.

CAPRICORN You know, the dream that you say you’ll “get to” when the time is right. The time is exactly right. Get the plan started that will lead to the realization of that dream. Talk it over with significant others. Make the dream their dream too.

AQUARIUS You are made from the best stuff on earth. You’ll need to remember that this week. Cast a wide net among the people that admire you and spend time being admired. This week seek out those who enjoy talking about what is good about you.

PISCES Give to a charity, talk with a grandparent, counsel a child, encourage a colleague this week.

Choose any or all of the above or create your own list. Your goodness is an investment in your future as long as you do not think of it as such.

Source: NNPA New Service

Page 14

HEALTH

CHEF TIMOTHY

Vegan is a lifestyle that requires discipline

by Chef Timothy Moore Ph.D, N.M.D, C.N. Special to the Tri-State Defender

There are times when we all must come to terms with what ails us mentally and physically, which, if left untreated, could cause our self-esteem to plummet. In my case, my self-esteem took a nosedive.

Why? I was overweight and refused to accept myself for who I was and where I wanted to go in life.

I was unhappy with the person I saw in the mirror and wished somehow that I could change the rotund image. Then, out of nowhere, a light flashed in my brain. I could see the future – and it looked bright – but only if I were going to transform myself without delay. My health depended on it.

I had to brace myself for the journey, though. I knew it would be an arduous trip, but one that I’d welcomed since I was looking for good health and longevity. I had to love myself, first. Then I had to refocus and execute the plan that would save my life.

It wasn’t long before I took charge of my life. If I wanted to be healthy and get my weight under control, I had to stop eating red meat and switch to a plant-based diet. In essence, I had to become a vegan, which is essentially a total lifestyle change.

So what is a vegan?

A vegan (pronounced vee-gun) is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat any foods (eggs, dairy products, meats, etc.) that come from animals. It is a reversal from eating meat – a complete 180 degrees, if you will. Not many people, however, have the discipline to change their eating habits.

I had to go vegan; my life depended on it. I’d topped the scale at 300 lbs. and my health was waning.

I didn’t know each awakening day whether I could survive carrying

Weighing progress...

around the extra weight. I was miserable and death was waiting if I’d continued on the darkened path that I was on.

So, no more beef, pork, turkey, chicken, fish and dairy products for me.

I avoid meat and diary products Dr. Timothy like the plague.

Now I’m foMoore cused on eating only fresh fruits and vegetables. I’ve switched from being a carnivore to an herbivore and not once thought about returning to eating meat.

Some people choose to eat meat and would never consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan. However, those who are inquisitive about a vegan diet often are mainly interested in the way the food is prepared and where to purchase vegetarian and vegan food.

I’ve been bombarded with questions about my plant-based diet and whether there’s nutritional value: Where do you get your protein if you’re not eating meat? How can you not eat meat and cheese? Will I lose too much weight and look rail-thin?

I explain to the inquisitors that there are health benefits to changing your diet.

If you decide to become a vegetarian or vegan, there will be lifestyle challenges and health risks. For example, you’ll need to be careful not to consume foods that are loaded with fats and oils. You may have just as many health problems as a meat eater if you rely too much on food substitutes or foods with very little nutritional value.

If you’re serious, however, consider eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables along with fresh leafy greens, beans, whole drains, nuts,

CLASSIFIEDS

Tri-State Defender

April 3 - 9, 2012

seeds and other legumes. Though most people might choose to eat meat, adding more fresh food items in their diet will do the body good.

Becoming a vegan is not a cure-all for what ails you. If you’re suffering from a catastrophic disease, a good diet of fruits and vegetables just might extend your life, but I would see a medical doctor first and follow the expert advice. Taking medication is not the end of the world, unless you abuse it.

Veganism is gaining widespread popularity. There have been studies pointing to the health benefits of switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet. Both diets have been known to reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol and known to keep heart disease and diabetes at bay.

Again, if you’re serious about becoming a vegan or vegetarian, you’ll have to adopt the lifestyle. But use common sense and understand your basic nutritional needs. Let me warn you, though, a diet of soft drinks and fried potatoes don’t constitute being a vegan.

Want the key to a healthy vegan diet? Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day including whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Eat the nuts and seeds in moderation, though.

Still worried about getting more protein into your diet? You won’t have to if you eat all your fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and seeds.

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, send me an email detailing your journey.

(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He can be reached by email at cheftimothy@cheftimothymoore.com or visit him on the Web sites at www.cheftimothymoore.com or www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)

Since the Healthy Church Challenge 100-day weight loss competition first launched on March 10, hundreds of participants from Mid-South churches have lost collectively more than 1,000 lbs. Laverne Johnson, a member of Saint Andrews AME Church at 867 South Parkway East, weighed in during the first day of the Challenge. The next weigh-in is Saturday, May 5, at the Church Wellness Center, 1115 Union Ave., from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Photo by Wiley Henry / The Carter Malone Group)

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COMMUNITY

Tri-State Defender

Page 15

May 3 - 9, 2012

Entrepreneurial sisters and courageous nine year old take on cystic fibrosis Shop for the Cure is May 5

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Nine-year-old Jada Fifer’s battle with cystic fibrosis has inspired her entrepreneurial mother and aunt to create Shop for the Cure to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The event, in two locations, will occur Saturday (May 5) at Cajama Salon & Boutique at 6019 Stage Rd. in Bartlett, and at Shoenista’s shoe and accessory boutique at 2294 Young Ave. Fifty percent of the profit made that day will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

An inherited chronic disease, cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States

(70,000 worldwide). Jada was diagnosed with this lifethreatening illness at the age of four and since that day, her family has stood by her side as she fights to stay well. She has been hospitalized on several occasions and thanks to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Jada has been able to receive life-saving assistance to pay for her treatment and provide her family with the knowledge and support she needs to stay healthy and alive.

On her birthday, Jada said she wanted to find a way to support the organization that has done so much for her. Her mother, Joye Hillman, is a licensed cosmetologist and the owner of Cajama Salon and Boutique. Her aunt, Toni Hayes, is the owner of Shoenista’s shoe and accessory boutique. They specialize in trendy shoes, purses and jewelry for the sophisticated

fashionista.

The two savvy entrepreneurial siblings decided to join forces to dedicate a day to Jada. They are donating 50 percent of the profit made from both stores that day to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event coincides with the Cystic Fibrosis’ “Walk on the Wild Side” fundraiser, a family-oriented celebration and walk that unfolds at the Memphis Zoo on May 5th. Jada’s family will be participating in that event as well.

“My daughter is a fighter with a big heart. It was very hard to learn that she is ill, but my family and I are extremely thankful for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,” said Hillman.

“We wouldn’t have been able to pay for her medical expenses or the special vest she is required to wear if it weren’t for them. It’s a pleasure to give back. Cajama Sa-

lon will have specials such as massages for $30 and eyebrow waxing for only $5 running all day long. Me and the other stylists are ready to go to work!”

Jada is a sweet child who and doesn’t ask for much,” said Hayes.

“So, when she said she wanted to give back to CFF, my sister and I decided to do it as a team to have a bigger impact. We want Jada to have an amazing day and the participation of the Memphis Community to come shop for a worthy cause is all that’s needed to make that happen,” said Hayes.

“We’ve done the rest. We’re hoping for a sellout. I want the shelves and walls in my store bare by the end of the day. We want people to come shop and support.”

After the CFF walk, there will be a special party for Jada

On her birthday, 9-year-old Jada Fifer, who is challenged by cystic fibrosis, made it known that she wanted to find a way to support the organization that has done so much for her. (Courtesy photo) outside Shoenista’s complete with food, games and prizes.

It will begin at noon and the public will also get a chance to see just how special Jada is because she plans to man a special lemonade stand as well.

(To make an appointment at Cajama’s, call 901-382-1091 or visit www.cajamasalon

.com. They open at 7 a.m. and walk-ins are also welcome.

Shoenista’s will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.shoenistas.com or call 901-231-5055. To learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and/or to register for their walk, visit www.cff.org.)

BRIEFS & THINGS Mothers of the NILE dinner set for May 3

Michelle Fowlkes, executive director of the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission, will be the guest speaker during the Mothers of the NILE Annual Mother’s Day Dinner at First Baptist Church-Broad, 2835 Broad Ave., on Thursday (May 3).

Fowlkes has led the Memphis and Shelby County community in receiving national recognition from the Department of Justice and the White House on how our community is addressing the reduction of youth violence.

Registration and seating begin at 5:30 p.m., with the program set for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This year’s dinner will feature the winner of the group’s 3rd annual Spoken Word Essay Contest. The contestants are children who attend Hope Academy while they are in the Juvenile Court detention center.

Individual tickets are $30.

For more information, call 272-3819 or email mothersofthenile@aol.com.

Coach Pastner to speak at National Teacher Day Banquet

The Memphis Education Association (MEA) will host the 33rd annual National Teacher Day Banquet on Friday, May 4, at the Holiday Inn, University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Festivities begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The featured speaker will be University of Memphis Men’s Basketball Coach, Josh Pastner.

“National Teacher Day is a time to recognize educators and show appreciation for their commitment to the education of our children,” said Keith Williams, MEA president. The banquet will feature special recognitions for MCS retirees and the MEA scholarship recipients. Additionally, the MEA Friend of Education Award will be presented.

National Teacher Day began with the efforts of Mattye Whyte Woodridge of Helena, Ark., who conceived the idea of having a day set aside to honor the country’s teachers.

She embarked on a nine-year nationwide letter writing campaign that resulted in Congress proclaiming a National Teacher Day in 1953.

Gearing up for ‘Family Affair’

‘The Family Affair” – say its organizers – is an opportunity “to join forces in rebuilding the trust of community.” The event is set for noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday (May 5) on the grounds of Florida-Kansas Elementary School at 90 West Olive.

The Youth of Creative Life is operated by Dr. Carolyn Bibbs, President-CEO, and staff. The Family Affair event is pitched as partnership with area schools, businesses, and civic and community leaders.

The scheduled highlights include free health screenings and food, college information, jump rides and games for the children, haircuts, giveaways, entertainment and more.

Hattiloo Black Arts Fest 2012 on deck

The Hattiloo Black Arts Fest 2012 will be held from noon to 3 p.m. in Overton Park on May 12.

The event is a celebration and showcase of local visual and performing arts. Patrons will get a free, rare and special opportunity to meet and talk with visual artists, and enjoy live musical concerts and dramatic performances.

The performance stage will feature LilyRoze Studios, Bridging Souls Productions, Bluff City Tri Art, Collage dance Collective, Blue Violin Foundation, Memphis Black Arts Festival, Out Loud Artistry, Hattiloo Theatre, PHeelGood Showtime and Watoto of Memphis.

The Musical Stage will feature Tenebrae, Damion ‘YellaP.” Pearson, Inner City South, Jamille ‘Jam’ Hunter and Black rock Revival. The outdoor art gallery will include the works of Frank D. Robinson, Ronald D. Herd, Felecia Wheeler and Darlene Newman.

For more information, call 901-502-3486 and/or visit www.hattilootheatre.org. Hattiloo Theatre is located at 656 Marshall Ave.

BRIEFLY: Friends of the Library will host its Spring Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 11-12 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 3030 Poplar Ave. A pre-sale for Friends of the Library will be May 11 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Call 901-4152840 for more information.

Never too early…

A pre-Motherʼs Day celebration was held for Czrenia Boothe, 95 years old, on Saturday (April 28) at Middle Baptist Church on Whitehaven Lane. In March, Boothe fractured her pelvis in two places. Her recovery has gone well and she was able to walk during the celebration with the aid of a walker. (Photo by Audrey Bonner)

Wells Fargo personal banker Patrice Huff assists senior Northeast Prep Academy student Jasmine Wallace with a “Teaching Children to Save” budget worksheet. (Courtesy photo)

Value of a dollar is a lesson learned Financial-literacy push unites Rise, Wells Fargo Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Amy Rosenberg

In a classroom filled with wide-eyed teenagers, it was evident that Patrice Huff’s dollars-and-cents discussion was an attention-grabber. A personal banker with Wells Fargo, Huff was delivering an important lesson about fiscal responsibility as part of the new “Teaching Children to Save” initiative.

The national campaign was recently rolled out in Memphis through a partnership between Wells Fargo and the RISE Foundation. Its goal is to help teens understand why it’s critical to start developing positive spending and savings habits

now, as well as to teach them how banks can help them prepare for a secure future.

“This is a real eye opener for them,” said Martice Adams, a Career Connections teacher at Northeast Prep Academy. “This gets them thinking about the long term, not just short term.”

Most of the student participants at Northeast Prep are either part of Adams’ Career Connections class or enrolled in RISE’s STEP Prep program. While many are preparing to live on their own for the first time as college students, not all of them have fully considered what it really means to be independent.

“Teaching Children to Save” allowed students to test the waters by putting them in real-world situations that they will face on their own. Students in the workshop are challenged to manage a budget while working through different scenarios. They start with a salary and

must account for expenses, such as car payments, groceries, gas and entertainment. For many, it’s been surprising to realize the number of expenses and just how quickly they add up when.

Yet, leading a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle to account for common everyday spending is not the focus of the workshop. Most importantly, students are encouraged to incorporate regular savings into their budgets so they can be prepared for the unexpected, too.

“Just putting away 10 dollars a week will make a real difference,” Huff told the students.

Senior Infiniti Eskridge said the workshop helped her understand how much her mother has been taking care of her.

“I started to see how much I’m going to need to have to live a certain way,” she said. “We need to be prepared.”

The RISE Foundation and Wells Fargo brought the “Teaching Children to Save” workshops into several schools throughout Memphis. Additionally, Wells Fargo recently gave RISE a $ 5,000 grant to support its continued financial literacy work in Memphis.

For more information about this campaign or other RISE programs, visit www.risememphis.org.

Local groups net grants from Philanthropic Black Women Three community groups requesting funds from the Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis (PBWM) were awarded grants during an awards luncheon (April 20) at Bleu Restaurant & Lounge in the Westin Hotel in Downtown Memphis.

DeNeuville Learning Center (House of the Good Shepherd of Memphis), an organization that guides women from all backgrounds and cultures in learning the skills needed to make positive choices for themselves and their families, received $5,000. Sister Lakshmie Napagoda, who founded DeNeuville in 1998, accepted the award.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Memphis Chapter was awarded $2,500.

The organization of progressive African-American

women advocates and promotes other women of color in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment. Bettye L. Boone, the coalition’s president, represented the group.

Morris Brown accepted the award of $2,175 for his group, the Memphis Blackhawks Aviation Association.

The nonprofit targets underprivileged, urban and innercity youth that are in desperate need of clear direction and positive role models in their lives. The Blackhawks also expose young men and women to all aspects of the aviation industry, said Brown, the group’s president.

The PBWM was founded in 2005 by nine professional and civic-minded AfricanAmerican women with a vested interest in philanthropy. Their charitable con-

The Philanthropic Black Women presented Sister Lakshmie Napagoda (center) with a $5,000 check for her charitable group, DeNeuville Learning Center, at a recent awards. Pictured (l-r) are: Carolyn Hardy, Belinda Watkins, Edith Kelly Green, Napagoda, Mary McDaniel, Nelda Burroughs and Deidre Malone.

(Photo by Wiley Henry / The Carter Malone Group)

tributions have always centered on children, education, and self-sufficiency.

The members are Debra E. Evans of ViaSys Technology, Inc.; Nelda Burroughs of First Choice Sales & Marketing Group; attorney Monice Hagler of The Law Office of Monice Moore Hagler; Car-

olyn Hardy of Chism Hardy Enterprises; Edith KellyGreen of The KGR Group; Deidre Malone of The Carter Malone Group; Mary McDaniel, State Alcoholic and Beverage Commission; LaShell Vaughn of MLGW; and Belinda Watkins of FedEx Corp.

SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, May 3 - 9, 2012, Page 16

NBA Playoffs:

GRIZZ TRACK

Game 2 rings sweeter for the Grizzlies Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelley Evans

Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins walked onto the FedExForum floor wearing the Portland Trailblazers championship ring that he earned in his second year in the league.

“I’d lost it, and I just found it. Somebody else found it and brought it to the game,” Hollins said Wednesday night, after the Grizz had engineered a 105-98 victory to square their NBA Playoffs openinground series against the Los Angeles Clippers at one game each.

Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, a huge cog in the game-two win, knows the history of Hollins’ ring.

“They (Portland) were not the expected team, but they got it done,” said Mayo.

“We feel the same way. We feel like we’re not the expected team, but we are a playoff team. We really worked hard and we feel like we have a chance.”

Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay jokingly labeled himself a ’80s baby unable to remember anything that occurred in the 1970s. Hollins played with the Portland Trailblazers from 1975-1980.

“I think he just wore that tonight to let us know that he’s been through it,” Gay said.

“He’s trying to keep us on the right page and keep us on the right path with what he’s teaching us.”

Sunday’s epic collapse in the fourth quarter notwithstanding, it was clear most Grizz fans still were on the bandwagon. A sold-out crowd jammed the FedExForum and saw the Grizzlies out-rebound the

Clippers 37-28, with a 16-4 margin on the offensive glass. Memphis shot 79.5 percent from the free-throw line.

“We were very aggressive and we just kept attacking,” said Hollins.

“Well, too many offensive rebounds and too many turnovers,” said Clippers Head Coach Vinny Del Negro. “That’s what they (Memphis) live on, and we helped them a lot tonight.”

Los Angeles had a .567 shooting percentage, becoming the first team to lose in the playoffs with that high of a mark since the Orlando Magic lost to the Detroit Pistons on April 21, 2007 despite shooting .581 from the field.

The Grizzlies recorded 13 steals and forced the Clippers into 21 turnovers, with Memphis scoring 25 points off turnovers.

Gay led the Grizzlies for the secondstraight game with 21 points. Mayo followed with 20, scoring 10 in the final frame.

“We definitely – after Game 1 – understood that our focus for the entire 48 minutes was important, and I thought we played well down the stretch,” said Mayo.

Grizz guard Mike Conley finished with 19 points and was 11 of 12 from the line.

“We kept attacking and getting into the paint area,” Conley said. “We made good decisions with the basketball and we didn’t turn it over down the stretch.”

Clippers guard Chris Paul led all scorers with 29 points. Blake Griffin added 22.

Paul put the blame on turnovers.

“That was a huge difference, and it’s my fault,” Paul said. “I turned the ball over way too much. I’ve got to figure out how to get them (the Grizz) off of me.”

Game three is Saturday (May 5) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

O.J. Mayo scores over Mo Williams of the Clippers. The Grizzlies bounced back and defeated the Clippers 105-98 (Photo by Warren Roseborough)

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Runnin’ & jumpin’ like the wind Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Andre Mitchell

The best of what Memphis and Shelby County has to offer in middle school track & field was on display during the MIAA City Championships last week (April 27) and The New Tri-State Defender was there and determined to get up close and personal.

Ridgeway’s eighth-grade, standout, Ronnie Perry, took the top spot in the boy’s 200 meter dash, with a time of 23.78 seconds, and the long jump, with a leap of 20 feet and one inch.

Tri-State Defender: As a studentathlete, what do you aspire to achieve most of all in school and your sport?

Ronnie Perry: I aspire to graduate from high school and attend college, maybe USC (University of Southern California). I plan to major in business and own a restaurant one day.

Ronnie Perry Sr. & Ronnie Perry Jr.

TSD: What do you find most challenging?

RP: Keeping everything balanced.

Currently, I carry a 3.9 GPA and understand that I must balance my schoolwork, chores and sports. Although I play several sports (football being my favorite), I am a student first and an athlete second.

TSD: Who’s your most influential role model?

RP: (laughs) My dad, Ronnie Sr., and (when it comes to football), Sam Craft (rising senior at Craigmont High School). I’ve watched him since I was a little kid; I admire the way he carries himself, plays football, basketball and takes care of his business in the classroom.

TSD: Where do you plan to attend high school?

RP: I’m undecided at the moment, but I’m considering East, Ridgeway, Whitehaven and a few others, but those schools are at the top of my list.

• • • Fairview Middle School’s track & field team did well enough to take home the top honors in the girl’s 4x200 meter relay, with a time of: 1:51.47, while the boy’s team did the same in the 4x100 meter relay, with a time of: 46.61 Two of their stellar student-athletes are Jala Allen & DeQuan

Coach Jessica Ball, multi-medal winners Jala Allen & DeQuan Dallas, along with Coach Kendrick Wade Dallas.

Tri-State Defender: (J. Allen) as a student-athlete, what do you aspire to achieve most of all in school and your sport?

Jala Allen: I aspire to make it all the way to state and win!

TSD: What do you find most challenging?

J.A.: Getting better, so I try to work harder every day, stay focused and out of trouble.

TSD: Who’s your most influential role model?

J.A.: My mom, Sandra Allen. She encourages me to do my best in everything I set out to do.

TSD: How does participating in

sports, help you in the classroom?

J.A.: It helps because in track or any sport, you have to be disciplined and focused, just like the classroom, so it’s like practice in a way. Participating in track helps me to prepare for class and class helps me to prepare for college and life after college.

• • • TSD: (D. Dallas) as a student-athlete, what do you aspire to achieve most of all in school and your sport?

DeQuan Dallas: Excellence in my class work comes first, then my extracurricular activities.

TSD: What do you find most challenging?

D.D.: Trying to out-perform my competition.

RESULTS

The top M.I.A.A. Middle School Track & Field participants showcased their talents at Fairgrounds Stadium during the City Championships last Friday (April 27).

First-place finishers Girls shot put Boys shot put Girls discus throw Boys discus throw Girls long jump Boys long jump Girls high jump Boys high jump Girls 3200 meter run Boys 3200 meter run Girls 100 meter hurdles Boys 100 meter hurdles Girls 4x100 meter relay Boys 4x100 meter relay Girls 4x800 meter relay Boys 4x800 meter relay Girls 100 meter dash Boys 100 meter dash Girls 1600 meter run Boys 1600 meter run Girls 4x200 meter relay Boys 4x200 meter relay Girls 400 meter dash Boys 400 meter dash Girls 800 meter run Boys 800 meter run Girls 200 meter dash Boys 200 meter dash Girls 4x400 meter relay Boys 4x400 meter relay

Echols, Rodrea Snowden Jones, Kevin American Way Blair, Tiereny American Way Brias, Shuntrell Bellevue Montgomery, Dejah Snowden Perry, Ronnie Ridgeway Anderson, Darianna Kirby Vaughn, Donte Bellevue Hudsmith, Emilee White Station Marshall, Jontae Colonial Johnson, Mikayla Ridgeway Jones, Kerric Bellevue Craigmont Middle School (A) Fairview Middle School (A) White Station Middle (A) Wooddale Middle School (A) Simmons, Tiereny Ridgeway Hayes, Joe Ridgeway Hudsmith, Emilee White Station5 Davis, Dedrick Westside5 Fairview Middle School (A) Colonial Middle School (A) Montgomery, Dejah Snowden Mitchell, Jared White Station Long, Kendall Ridgeway Irby, Quinsontro Ridgeway Mitchell, Courtney White Station Perry, Ronnie Ridgeway Snowden Middle School (A) Snowden Middle School (A)

TSD: Who’s your most influential role model?

D.D.: My great uncle, he was a former track star, and seeing what he accomplished motivates me to do my absolute best.

TSD: What role does education play when it comes to participating in sports?

D.D.: It plays a major role because education is what will help me to learn anything – period! I would like to play football professionally and maybe join the military (Army) when I get older. It will take education to do those things.”

• • • Fairview track & field coach, Kendrick Wade, is in his second year.

TSD: (Coach Wade) as a coach, what has it been like at the helm the past two years?

Coach Kendrick Wade: The success that I’ve had at Fairview has been a product of hard work, dedication, perseverance and belief in us all from the principal, AD, coaches, parents and our studentathletes.

37-05.25 39-11.50 76-09 122-01 17-03.00 20-01.0 4-08.00 5-08.0 12:40.61 11:57.34 16.76 15.78 51.14 46.61 11:13.66 9:35.36 12.99 11.98 53.68 14.59 1:51.47 1:39.85 1:04.76 53.47 2:29.81 2:16.50 26.87 23.78 4:25.27 3:51.17

TSD: What has been most challenging thus far?

Coach Wade: Changing the culture of the students, period! For the past 10-12 years, Fairview hasn’t been very strong in sports, so getting rid of that “losing mentality” was instrumental. It was a great challenge, but it has changed for the better, so it was 100 percent worth it.

TSD: In working with young student-athletes, what do you try to get them to understand most?

Coach Wade: I preach to my kids daily about always being respectful and always working hard. Good character traits are good to have and can take you a long way in life.”

TSD: Who is your most influential role model?

Coach Wade: My mother has always been my most influential role model.

TSD: What words of encouragement do you have for any studentathletes and our readers?

Coach Wade: It doesn’t matter where you are; it’s more about who you are and where you want to go in life.