VOL. 63, No. 21
May 29 - June 4, 2014
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
SUPERINTENDENT DORSEY HOPSON
Leadership for a new era of public education besmith@tri-statedefender.com
by Bernal E. Smith II
Maya Angelou speaks at Congregation B nai Israel on January 16, 2014 in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Larry Marano/Getty Images)
Dr. Maya Angelou:
America’s most phenomenal woman theGrio
by Ronda Racha Penrice
Dr. Maya Angelou, who kicked down the door for many AfricanAmerican and other female artists, passed away Wednesday morning. She was 86. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo., but raised off and on in Stamps, Ark., by her paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, as well as in various cities in the Midwest and on the West Coast, nothing in Maya Angelou’s early life or the times in which she lived hinted at the global stature she would one day attain. A poet, memoirist, dancer, singer, actress, playwright, producer, director, teacher, civil activist and See addi- rights women’s rights advotional sto- cate, there were no ries on limits to her outlets creative exprespages 4 for sion or her capacity to champion justice and 8 and equality. Her life was a testament to the power of possibility as well as an affirmation of courage and daring. The journey she memorialized in her six autobiographical books, including the pivotal “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” published in 1970, by most accounts, during a time when an avalanche of previously unheard black female voices was unleashed, began when her parents divorced when she was just three. Traveling from California to Arkansas unaccompanied by an adult with her slightly older brother Bailey Johnson Jr., the two arrived to their grandmother safely and entered into a world where “Momma,” as they called her, had the only black-owned store in the community, which served as a de facto community center. Under Momma’s guidance and the watchful eye of her crippled son, Uncle Willie, Angelou was exposed to the best of African-American cultural traditions even against the backdrop of the horrors and limitations of the Jim Crow South. Relocation to Chicago to live with their mother Vivian Baxter was traumatic for Angelou, who was raped by Mr. Freeman, her mother’s boyfriend. Telling only Bailey, who informed the family of the violation, Angelou refused to speak for five years SEE PHENOMENAL ON PAGE 2
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
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H- 9 0o - L - 7 0o H- 9 1o - L - 7 1o H- 9 2o - L - 7 2o Scattered T-Storm Scattered T-Storm Isocated T-Storm REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
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Shelby County Schools Supt. Dorsey Hopson – saying he was “humbled and honored” that the Shelby County Schools board has expressed confidence in his leadership – sat down Wednesday with TSD President and Publisher, Bernal E. Smith II, for a wide-ranging conversation. Hopson reflected on his first year as superintendent, delving into the challenges and opportunities of the newly merged district, the future of public education and his vision for the district. The exchange reflected his style of leadership and his focus on serving the students and achieving results in the midst of ongoing change. Asked his thoughts on whether contract extension talks now underway are likely to culminate with a new contract within the next two months and prior to the August 7th school board elections, Hopson said he didn’t anticipate any concerns. “The board sought feedback from the community and its been overwhelmingly positive relative to my involvement in the community and ability to set vision and a positive course for the district,” said Hopson. “There won’t be any big sticking points or negotiations for more money or anything like that. I suspect that we will be able to get it resolved quickly. I’ll also say that some of the candidates for the board have also expressed support and positive sentiments.” And in another trending matter, Hopson said it is not official by any means but there are “some positive
Confident about the depth and breadth of his understanding of the issues, Shelby County Schools Supt. Dorsey Hopson accepted the challenge of leading a merged school district with myriad needs. With the first school year complete, he is looking toward the future. (Photo: Bernal E. Smith II)
indications from the federal government that we may be the official administrator of at least part of the Head Start grant for Shelby County. If and when it does become official, we are prepared to execute.” Here is Part I of the TSD’s end-of-
the-school-year Q&A with Supt. Hopson:
Bernal E. Smith II: You certainly have to be one of our community’s most intriguing leaders and without question have one of its most formi-
dable jobs. What are your reflections on how you came to be SCS superintendent? Supt. Dorsey Hopson: It’s interesting. First, Dr. (Kriner) Cash (Memphis City Schools superintendent) was gone and then Dr. (John) Aitken (superintendent of the old Shelby County Schools system) resigned and then began the questions. Even as I became the interim there were whispers, shouts and doubts about the ability of “this attorney” to handle the district and all the change. There were thoughts that things would fall apart. Truly I felt like that third string quarterback brought off the bench to sling it around and manage not to lose the game. However, I had perspective and depth of understanding in my favor. I knew the issues of both MCS and SCS as legal counsel for both entities, having counseled both Cash and Aitken on the most difficult challenges facing both districts independently and through the merger. With that depth and breadth of understanding the issues, I was very confident that I could handle the position with sound practical approaches and through building relationships with the team – the principals, the teachers and certainly the families we serve.
BES: You are a product of the public school system here in Memphis and Shelby County, a proud Whitehaven High School graduate. Has being from the area and a product of MCS been helpful in your role as superintendent and in taking on SEE HOPSON ON PAGE 5
Memphis VA not immune from national scandal pushback Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Wiley Henry
President Obama announcing his “My Brotherʼs Keeper” initiative (Photo: NNPA/Freddie Allen).
Men want ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ expanded to include black females NNPA News Service
by George E. Curry WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 200 African-American men, ranging from a taxi driver to university professors, sent a letter to President Obama on Tuesday urging him to expand his black male initiative to include black girls and women, saying they were “surprised and disappointed” that the president had sought to include only half of the race to tackle community-wide issues. A copy of the letter to Obama was obtained by the NNPA News Service. After praising the president for saying that addressing the needs of those left behind is as important as anything else he is undertaking, authors of the letter wrote, “So we were surprised and disappointed that your commitments express empathy to only half of our community – men and boys of color. Simply put, as black men we cannot afford to turn
away from the very sense of a shared fate that has been vital to our quest for racial equality across the course of American history.” The letter continued, “As African Americans, and as a nation, we have to be as concerned about the experiences of single black women who raise their kids on sub-poverty wages as we are about the disproportionate number of black men who are incarcerated. We must care as much about black women who are the victims of gender violence as we do about black boys caught up in the drug trade.” The 893-word letter maintained a respectful, dignified tone throughout, but was consistently firm in asserting that President Obama had erred in limiting his initiative to black males. “We write as African American men who have supported your presidency, stood behind you when the inevitable racist challenges to your authority have emerged, and have understood that our hopes would be tempered by the political realities
that you would encounter,” the letter stated. “While we continue to support your presidency, we write both out of a sense of mutual respect and personal responsibility to address what we believe to be the unfortunate missteps in the My Brothers Keeper initiative (MBK). In short, in lifting up only the challenges that face males of color, MBK – in the absence of any comparable initiative for females – forces us to ask where the complex lives of black women and black girls fit into the White House’s vision of racial justice?” On Feb. 27th, President Obama announced his “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, a program to assist young black males. With the parents of slain Florida teenagers Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis looking on, Obama said: “After months of conversation with a wide range of people, we’ve pulled together private philanthropies and SEE KEEPER ON PAGE 3
Before the VA hospital scandal made its way to Washington, D.C., and landed squarely on the desk of President Barack Obama, the Memphis VA Medical Center was mired in its own scandal in 2012, the year three patients died in the emergency room. An investigation ensued and the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office of Healthcare Inspections concluded that the deaths resulted from inadequate care. Widespread problems with the nation’s hospitals for veterans – including recent reports of delayed treatments, preventable deaths, and efforts to falsify records – drew a strong rebuke from the president: “I will not stand for it,” said Obama, who met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki in the Oval Office last week prior to a news conference. The VA facility in Phoenix particularly drew the ire of the president and prompted the OIG to investigate. The inspector general announced the department’s findings on Wednesday (May 28th): At least 1,700 veterans at the medical center were not registered on the proper waiting lists to see the doctors, thereby causing veterans to be at risk of being forgotten or lost. A number of reports were released by the OIG within the last few days in response to a number of allegations that were brought to light by confidential complainants and substantiated by the OIG after concluding its investigations. The sweeping allegations of misconduct and questionable medical practices at the veteran facilities have drawn sharp criticism from Ninth Congressional District U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who pledged his support to the nation’s veterans. He has also invited Shinseki to come to Memphis to reassure the nearly 200,000 veterans served by the VA hospital here that their concerns are taken seriously. On Tuesday (May 27th) afternoon, State Rep. G.A. Hardaway and State Rep. Karen Camper, a veteran herself, facilitated a town hall meeting for veterans at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. They took notes and recorded the veterans’ testimonies in SEE SCANDAL ON PAGE 5
Page 2 PHENOMENAL
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
once Mr. Freeman was found beaten to death. Believing that her voice had resulted in his demise, she vowed not to use it again. Back in Stamps, Momma never pressured her to speak but believed that she would one day use her voice powerfully. Encouraged by her teacher, Bertha Flowers, Angelou encountered and cherished the words of William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson and Langston Hughes, among others, and even began writing down her own. Pushed by Flowers, who assured Angelou that she would never appreciate the full force of those words unless she spoke them, Angelou did eventually speak again. At age 13, she left Stamps with Bailey to join their mother in the Oakland/San Francisco area, but Stamps, as she wrote often, served as the foundation from which she touched the world. Access to greater educational resources and increased opportunities helped Angelou, who also gained a loving stepfather, excel. Despite studying dance and drama, she dropped out of San Francisco’s Labor School to become San Francisco’s first African-American female cable car conductor. Shortly thereafter, she returned to high school, graduating from Mission High School, even though she was eight months pregnant by a boy she did not love and had only slept with once. However, she always insisted that her son and only child, Clyde “Guy” Johnson, was a blessing. In 1985, she told Essence, “The greatest gift I ever received was my son. . . .When he was four . . . I taught him to read. But then he’d ask questions and I didn’t have the answers, so I started my lifelong affair with libraries. . . .I’ve learned an awful lot because of him.” Still life was not easy as a young, single, unwed mother. Angelou did whatever she could to survive, working multiple jobs as a cook, waitress,
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Tri-State Defender
May 29 - June 4, 2014
even briefly as a madam in a brothel, to support her son and herself. She married her first husband, Greek sailor Tosh Angelos, in 1949, but the union only lasted three years. His name, however, came in handy. Working as a Calypso dancer at the San Francisco club The Purple Onion, Angelou, performing as Marguerite Johnson or Rita at the time, was told she needed a more theatrical stage name. By combining “Maya,” the name her stuttering brother Bailey had given her when they were children, and a variation of her ex-husband’s last name, she became “Maya Angelou.” When Alvin Ailey moved to San Francisco in 1951, the two artists connected and even danced as the duo “Al and Rita.” From 1954 to 1955, she traveled throughout Europe and Africa with “Porgy and Bess,” all the while battling her guilt over repeating history by leaving her son with his grandmother. “Calypso Lady,” her first album, was recorded in 1957 and, in 1958, she moved to New York with her son. New York presented a world of opportunities. Angelou joined the legendary Harlem Writers Guild, where she befriended James Baldwin and others. Turning her talents to social causes, she, along with Godfrey Cambridge, penned the revue “Cabaret for Freedom,” in which she performed, to raise funds for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Angelou also appeared in the important off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks,” also starring Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones and Louis Gossett Jr. With her second husband, South African activist Vuzumzi Make, Angelou and Guy relocated to Cairo, Egypt, in the early 1960s. Sadly, the union didn’t survive, but Angelou continued to thrive, serving as associate editor of the English language weekly The Arab Observer before moving to Ghana, where she taught at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama, contributed to the Ghanaian Times and worked as the feature editor for The African Review. It was in Ghana that Angelou
met Malcolm X and agreed to return to the United States in 1964 to help build his Organization of Afro-American Unity, but he was assassinated shortly after her arrival, and the organization was dissolved. Martin Luther King Jr. Jr. asked her to serve as SCLC’s Northern Coordinator soon thereafter. When he was assassinated on her birthday, Angelou was shocked and devastated, sending Coretta Scott King flowers every year until her death in 2006, rarely celebrating her birthday on its actual day. Encouraged by Baldwin, Angelou began writing “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Upon publication, it became an instant classic, catapulting Angelou to international stardom and earning her a National Book Award nomination, not to mention a madefor-television movie in 1979. Poetry volumes followed, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie (1971),” which contained her classic poem “Still I Rise,” an ode to African-American resiliency in spite of oppression. Her 1978 book of poetry, “And Still I Rise,” yielded “Phenomenal Woman,” which struck a chord with black women especially, helping them affirm their unique inner beauty. It became an unofficial anthem, making its way to stages everywhere, performed frequently by black women and girls. Angelou’s popularity mushroomed even more when she delivered “On the Pulse of Morning” during the 1993 presidential inauguration of William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton, becoming the first female poet to recite during a presidential inauguration and only the second poet (with Robert Frost being the first at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration) ever to do so. That January, Angelou, according to her publisher, sold more books than in the previous year combined. An audio recording of the poem won a Grammy. Long championed by Oprah Winfrey, who shared her love and devotion to Angelou as a mentor, mother-figure, sister and friend early on with her television audiences, often explaining how Angelou’s works
had touched her impoverished life and enriched her soul, Angelou also enjoyed great critical acclaim. Lauded for her ability to paint detailed portraits of identity and family within the context of virulent racism, not to mention her disclosure of sexual abuse, Angelou’s works were added to educational curricula across the country, even amid protest. Her 1972 screenplay “Georgia, Georgia,” nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, was the first original script by a black woman to be produced. She received a Tony nomination for her role in the 1973 Broadway play “Look Away.” In 2000, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts and the Lincoln Medal in 2008. Additionally, she won three Grammys for her audio recordings. In all, she received over 30 honorary degrees, granting her the Dr. Maya Angelou title. As an actress, Angelou played Kunta Kinte’s grandmother in the iconic mini-series version of Alex Haley’s
“Roots” and also appeared in John Singleton’s “Poetic Justice,” where Janet Jackson recited her poetry, and in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion” with Cicely Tyson. In 1998, she directed “Down in the Delta,” starring an ailing Esther Rolle, who had played her grandmother in the television film version of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Returning to the South in 1981, Angelou settled in Winston-Salem, N. C., as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. She launched her own line of greeting cards, featuring her words, in 2002 with Hallmark and began hosting her own weekly radio show for XM Satellite Radio’s “Oprah & Friends channel.” In 2007, she became the first AfricanAmerican woman and first living poet to be featured in the “Poetry for Young People” series. Throughout her career, she published over 30 books, including six autobiographies, six children’s books, two cook-
books, nearly ten volumes of poetry and at least five books of essays. Libraries, schools and other public institutions bear her name. Always one to beat to her own drum, Angelou rallied behind Hillary Rodham Clinton in the historic 2008 election, despite close friend Oprah’s unwavering support for Barack Obama and the fact that Obama, like her, was black. A global renaissance woman indeed, Maya Angelou, who spoke many languages, was nurtured in Stamps, Ark., but loved all over the world. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,” she was frequently quoted as saying, “but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And Maya Angelou made most people feel proud to be in their own skin, regardless of race, gender or class. (Follow Ronda Racha Penrice on Twitter at @RondaRacha)
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KEEPER
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
businesses, mayors, state and local leaders, faith leaders, nonprofits, all who are committed to creating more pathways to success. And we’re committed to building on what works. And we call it ‘My Brother’s Keeper.’” Among those signing the letter to Obama were Luke C. Harris, associate professor of American politics and constitutional law at Vassar College; Robin D.G. Kelly, professor of history at UCLA; Michael Hanchard, professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University; James Turner, founder of the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University; Robert Hill, professor of history and editor-in-chief of the Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project at UCLA; Houston Baker, professor of English at Vanderbilt University; Charles Steele, president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); poet Saeed Jones; David Melton, a taxicab driver; writer Robert Jones, Jr.; psychiatrist Adisa Ajamu; filmmaker Byron Hurt; and former NFL player Wade Davis Jr., executive director of the You Can Play Project, an organization dedicated to ending discrimination and homophobia in sports. “Everyone is focused on getting nearly 300 girls safely returned home in Nigeria and rightly so,” said Steele, president of the Atlanta-based civil rights organization co-founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “We should stay focused on the 300 girls in Nigeria, but at the same time not forget about the millions of black girls and women suffering right here at home.” Professor Harris said the men’s activities will not cease with sending the letter to Obama. He and several others will write a series of articles for the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and BlackPressUSA.com, NNPA’s companion website, beginning next week. They will host a webinar in June and continue to educate the public about the issues raised in the letter. Meanwhile, the group will continue to collect signatures (blackgirls2014@gmail.com) and provide updates on future activities at the African American Policy Forum’s website, www.aapf.org. Organizers said more than 200 men had signed the letter by Tuesday. The letter to Obama stated, “We are not suggesting a national moratorium on black male-oriented projects. But our sense of accountability does reflect the fact that our historic struggle for racial justice has always included men as well as women who have risked everything not just for themselves or for their own gender but for the prospects of the entire community.”
May 29 - June 4, 2014
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New NAACP president says protest in his DNA Selection of Cornell William Brooks has many saying, ʻWho?ʼ NNPA News Service
by George E. Curry When the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III of Dallas learned that the NAACP Board of Directors had chosen Cornell William Brooks over him, attorney Barbara R. Arnwine and several other better-known candidates to succeed outgoing president Benjamin Todd Jealous, his response was “Who?” And he wasn’t the only one responding that way. In an interview from Florida, where trustees had just made their selection, a board member who asked not to be identified by name said, “We turned the whole nation into a collection of owls,” he said. “When they learned of our decision, everyone in the country was saying, “Who? Who? Who?” Though he is not among the Who’s Who of national civil rights advocates, Brooks feels his entire life has prepared him to become president and CEO of the NAACP. He graduated from Jackson State University in Mississippi with honors, earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in systematic theology from Boston University School of Theology– where Dr. Martin Luther King earned his Ph.D. in the same area of study – and graduated from Yale Law School, serving as a senior editor of the Yale Law Journal and a member of the Yale Law and Policy Review. After serving as a law clerk for Judge Sam J. Irvin III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Brooks’ first job was as an attorney at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law headed by Arnwine. He later worked as an attorney for the Justice Department, a senior attorney for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and was executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington, D.C. His most recent job was as president of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, a Newark-based organization founded in 1999 by the Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein Foundation. According to its website, the institute seeks to expand economic opportunity for people of color and low-come residents; promotes holding local, state and regional government accountable for fulfilling the needs of urban residents and protects the civil rights of the disadvantaged. “When you look at the arc of my career, it has not been singular or linear in focus, but really touched on many of the challenges facing the country – whether it be in business, the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system, the housing market – so I think I bring a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplined, multifaceted focus on work,” Brooks said. “That does not make me unique, but perhaps distinctive.”
New NAACP President Cornell William Brooks. (Courtesy photo)
Brooks will need that and more to be successful as the 18th president of the NAACP. The 5-page job description developed by The Hollins Group, the NAACP-contracted search firm based in Chicago, noted among the specific job responsibilities: “Work closely with the Chairman and the Board and be responsible for developing the organization’s U.S. private sector fundraising plan and growing its annual income and membership by 20%. This also will include expanding both staff and operations with an emphasis on building a larger base of private sector support and establishing an endowment.” According to the job description marked “confidential,” the Baltimore-based NAACP has a staff of 100 and an annual budget of $42 million. However, the organization is deeply in debt and recently cut its staff by 7 percent. Brooks has never managed a staff that large. The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice had a total of 19 staff members and a budget of
$2.08 million. Its primary income was equally divided between government grants and investments, each bringing in approximately $350,000 annually. According to its IRS Form 990, it had a loss of $421,939 in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2012. Even though it was losing money, Brooks collected base compensation of $227,526, plus $10,437 in retirement and deferred compensation and $3,137 in nontaxable benefits for a total of $241,100, according to the IRS filing. Beyond the fiscal challenge, the expectation that Brooks can grow membership by 20 percent a year is considered a lofty goal for an organization that has long fudged its membership numbers. Former NAACP executive directors Roy Wilkins and Benjamin L. Hooks routinely claimed a membership of 500,000. However, the Baltimore Sun did research and found that the NAACP had been claiming a membership of 500,000 since 1946. In 2006, then-president Bruce Gordon finally admitted that the figure was less than 300,000, where it still remains today. Brooks seemed confident that he can attract young people to the nation’s oldest – in longevity and by average age of members – civil rights organization. “It’s been my model, if you will, to engage young people, not by deputizing and delegating to them, but charging them with being cocreators of public policy,” he said. “In work I’ve done thus far, we were not engaged in bringing young people to the kiddie table. We bring them to the conference table as co-creators of reform and it works. It’s easy to get people excited about the work when they’re doing the work. They are not, in effect, junior anything in the movement.” Brooks is a fourth-generation ordained minister and an associate pastor at Turner Memorial AME Church in Hyattsville, Md. His grandfather, the Rev. James Prioleau, in the 40s ran for Congress in the 6th Congressional District of South Carolina. “He ran for Congress not because he thought he could win, but rather because he wanted to register African Americans to vote and enlist in and engage in the membership of the NAACP. That legacy is part of my moral DNA,” he said. With the upcoming mid-term elections and the passing of voting laws that adversely impact African Americans, some critics worry that Brooks will not be able to hit the ground running when he assumes office in July. However, he strongly disagrees. “I think I am well prepared to do the work,” he said confidently. “I am as confident in my colleagues as I am my own abilities. I don’t think I’ll have any problem hitting the ground running simply because there are a lot of folks running with me.”
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John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)
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OPINION
Tri-State Defender
May 29 - June 4, 2014
• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor
From Maya to me, you and beyond!
FLASHBACK: 2007
Through her words, Maya Angelou has assured that her genius will continue to transcend generations. Here is a sampling of her mental jewels:
Republicans are veteran hypocrites on the VA
If you let the Republicans tell it, President Obama is directly responsible for the fiasco at the Veterans Administration. But they don’t tell you that fresh off of Memorial Day parade appearances, they are responsible for scuttling legislation that would have expanded benefits for the nation’s 22 million veterans and their families. A measure backed by Obama would have lengthened the period veterans are eligible to receive health care from the VA from five years to 10 years after deployment. The bill also would have allowed the VA to open 27 new health facilities, expand medical and dental care, make more veterans eligible for instate tuition at public universities, repeal the recent cut in cost-of-living adjustments for new enlistees and extend a program that provides care for veterans with mild to severe brain injuries. More than 20 military organizations – including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wounded Warriors Project and Disabled American Veterans – supported the bill. William A. Thien, commander-inchief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, submitted a letter saying, “This legislation is the most comprehensive veterans’ legislation to be introduced in decades. It contains many of the VFW’s priority goals, which will implement, expand and improve both health care and benefit services to all generations of veterans and their families.” Senate Bill S.1982, known as the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014, was favored on Feb. 27 in the Senate 56-41. But the measure fell four votes shy of the number needed to overcome a threatened GOP filibuster. Every Democrat voted for the bill and only two Republican Senators – Jerry Moran of Kansas and Dean Heller of Nevada – voted for the measure. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the committee, said: “We have veterans dying from long waits for basic, necessary tests like colonoscopies. Veterans waiting for their disability claims to be processed know all about frustrations and delays at the VA, and adding more individuals to an already broken system doesn’t seem wise.” Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky, accused Democrats of engaging in election-year politics, a charge Senate Veterans’ Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), denied. He told reporters after the vote: “The point of the matter is if we had won today…both parties could have gone out and said we finally overcame all of the partisanship we see here in Washington. This could have been a political winner, if you like, and certainly a public policy winner for both Democrats and Republicans.” More than two dozen veterans groups had supported the measure. According to the Washington Post, Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, said, “I don’t know how anyone who voted ‘no’ today can look a veteran in
George E. Curry
the eye and justify that vote. Our veterans deserve more than what they got today.” According to MediaMatters, the watchdog group, the media failed miserably in letting the public know Republicans were blocking the leg-
islation. “While mainstream media coverage of the serious allegations of improper practices at certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health clinics has been extensive in recent weeks, a bill to expand health care for veterans that was blocked by Senate Republicans in February received little attention,” it noted. “…Based on a LexisNexis search television transcripts from February 26 to 28, the veterans health bill was not covered by ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, or CBS Evening News,” the media monitoring group said. “Based on a LexisNexis search of news articles from February 26 to 28, neither the New York Times nor the Wall Street Journal reported on Senate Republicans’ obstruction of the legislation that would have allowed the VA to open 27 new health facilities.” The media has also done a poor job describing how proposed budget cuts will impact veterans. For example, the Republican-led cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, will hurt veterans as well other low-income families, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a Washington-based think tank. “Nationwide, in any given month, a total of 900,000 veterans nationwide lived in households that relied on SNAP to provide food for their families in 2011, a previous analysis of Census data estimated,” a report by the CBPP noted. “…For low-income veterans, who may be unemployed, working in low-wage jobs, or disabled, SNAP provides an essential support that enables them to purchase nutritious food for their families. “...While the overall unemployment rate for veterans is lower than the national average, the unemployment rate for recent veterans (serving in September 2001 to the present) remains high, at 10.1 percent in September 2013. About one-quarter of recent veterans reported service-connected disabilities in 2011, which can impact their ability to provide for their families: households with a veteran with a disability that prevents them from working are about twice as likely to lack access to adequate food than households without a disabled member.” Republicans need to do more than simply wave the American flag. (George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) can be reached via www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.)
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Tri-State Defender Platform
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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“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
Maya Angelou
“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.”
Memphis needs defined contribution pension reform
Four years ago, when serving on the Memphis & Shelby County Metropolitan Charter Commission to consolidate city and county governments, there were numerous issues that we were facing in terms of the long-term benefit for our city. The divide that existed on these issues stemmed mainly from our resistance to change, and it didn’t matter what logic, math, or business sense told us to do differently. We took solace in holding on to what we’ve got with the attitude that ignored the trend lines. To have a buy-and-hold mentality when your stock is falling, has been on persistent decline, and is in an industry that is being eliminated, creates financial suicide. One such issue that we forecasted on the Charter Commission was the City of Memphis pension plan. We made a forecast on the direction of our pension, and unfortunately, four years later this prediction has come true. What many in the City of Memphis do not understand is that city taxpayers went to the polls in 2010 and voted to approve by a simple majority to consolidate city and county government and in that was pension reform that switched from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan – a 401(k) of sorts. This was one of the major factors in consolidation where we saw strong protest and outcry from the unions, but the City still decided at the time it was the direction our city needed to go. Unfortunately, because the county voted down city and county consolidation, the governments did not merge and pension reform was denied. Fast-forward to today and we have multiple actuaries estimating just how much debt we are in, but the fact remains the same. No matter whose number you use, the City of Memphis finds itself in deep debt because of spiraling pension costs. Debt is never an indication of financial health. The truth is that we cannot afford our current pension system and we must change it immediately to put Memphis back on the right track. There are so many factors as to why we are in this situation, ranging from our tax base decreasing, economic downturns, lack of provisions to safeguard pension funds, lack of forecasting and prudent management, as well as having one of the most generous pension plans in existence. This pension plan has not changed in over 60 years, even while life expectancy has lengthened – al-
lowing employees to collect longer or even come out of retirement – setting the stage for collecting two pensions. Let us not forget that Memphis is in Shelby County, which alAndre ready has the Fowlkes highest tax base in the state; so much so that if you looked at the top 10 list of highest tax rates of Tennessee municipalities, the majority of them would be in our county. Couple that with the fact our population has been stagnant the last 30 years while Tennessee’s population has grown 37 percent. We as a community must take matters into our own hands, especially when it comes to things that we have direct control over. Changing our pension plan to defined contribution is one such matter that has major positive implications for our city. This is the difference between sending our city into a financial tailspin with reactionary band aid reform or creating the opportunity to allow more tax dollars to go to proactive economic and community building. Defined Contribution will aid in creating more prosperity in our community and allow Memphis to catch up with the times. In the last five years, we have been making some strides to better our community – from the Overton Square renaissance to Sears Crosstown, to better libraries and parks and many other economic development initiatives. We’ve even seen an encouraging increase in talent and human capital retention. I would hate to see all of this abruptly stalled – or eliminated – because we could not get our spending habits together. So please, spread awareness and encourage City Government to make the switch to a retirement system that is fair to employees and the City’s taxpayers. Memphis needs Defined Contribution. I encourage you to take action and email City Council at www.reformmem.com. Click the yellow “email all” button and let our Council members know that it’s time to modernize our retirement system to keep Memphis moving forward. It’s time for Defined Contribution. (Andre Fowlkes is president of Start Co.)
FACEBOOK FAN OF THE WEEK Name: Arnetria McGhee
Arnetria McGhee is this weekʼs TSD Facebook Fan of the Week! She is a Memphis native who graduated from Whitehaven High School and received her degree from Tennessee State University. Energetic, comical and ambitious, Arnetria lives by this quote: “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” Arnetria enjoys being involved in the community with her sorority. She also loves music, especially Mary J. Blige and Will Downing. Thanks Arnetria McGhee for excelling in Memphis and for being a part of the TSD Facebook family!
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
No surprise racism lurked underneath rage of mass murderer
There was no surprise that in between U.C. Santa Barbara’s mass murderer Elliot Rodger’s warped, sick and perverse harangues against women, he also laced in a generous dose of racist rage and stereotyping. “I passed by this restaurant and I saw this black guy chilling with 4 hot white girls. He didn’t even look good. Then later on in the day I was shopping at Trader Joe’s and saw an Indian guy with 2 above average White Girls!!!” He returns to these hate mongering digs at black, Hispanic and Asian-American men for having the temerity to associate with white women, and worse their reciprocation with minority Earl Ofari men more than a Hutchinson few times. Rodger’s murderous psychosis is certainly evident in these rants. But that doesn’t tell the whole story of why a conflicted mixed race young guy would act out his rage in a deadly spree against innocents. The racial targeting can well be chalked up to ignorance, confusion, racial denial, and closet bigotry. But there have been several compelling hints that the racial blinders are tied chokingly tight on many whites, particularly young whites, as well as those who are conflicted about race, such as Rodger. Racial digs that mock blacks, Latinos and Asians have been a common feature on more than a few college campuses in recent times. There’s the wave of fraternities that have been called on the carpet for mocking black notables and rappers, holding slave auctions, minstrel shows, displaying the Confederate flag in front of frat dorms, and for their members sporting the flag on tee shirts. Many have also been reprimanded for their vicious mocking of Latin and Asian immigrants. This was not merely a free speech issue, or a case of zany college kids making utter fools of each other. This was blatant racial slander. An AP poll in 2012 also found that a majority of non-blacks had antiblack prejudices. But it also found that a significant number of those who held the same prejudices and outright bigoted views were in the under age 30 crowd. That’s precisely the age demographic of Rodger. His rants proved once more that bigotry, with all its twisted, warped, and psychotic delusions, fears and hates can explode any time, and anywhere in the orgy of murderous rampages that Americans are getting far too accustomed to seeing, and being victimized by. Rodger’s “Manifesto” tells that same sordid tale once more.
(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a weekly co-host of the “Al Sharpton Show” on American Urban Radio Network. He is the author of “How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge.” An associate editor of New America Media, he is host of the weekly Hutchinson Report Newsmaker Hour heard weekly on the nationally network broadcast Hutchinson Newsmaker Network.)
NEWS
Tri-State Defender
SCANDAL
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hopes of locating resources that may be available at the local, state and federal levels. Following the investigation of the Memphis facility a year ago, the inspector general mandated corrective action. The call for corrective measures came after an anonymous complainant alleged that a patient with a drug allergy was given the wrong medication and died. A second patient died after being administered multiple sedating drugs and left unattended. And a third patient with very high blood pressure died after treatment was delayed. Last week, Tennessee’s U.S. senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, inquired about updates on changes made at the facility via a letter sent to Robert A. Petzel, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ undersecretary for health.
Changes at the VA hospital…
According to the Memphis VA hospital, changes have already begun in the emergency department. The hospital will spend approximately $5 million to renovate and expand the Emergency Department (ED) to improve urgent care delivery and access for its patients. The work will be executed in three phases and take about 1.5 years to complete. One of the primary changes includes relocating the admissions area to the first floor of the Bed Tower. Structural changes also include closing some entrances and opening others to accommodate the flow of patient, employee and visitor traffic. Only patients with “true” emergencies, or life-threatening issues, will be permitted to enter through the emergency room. Other changes have already begun to take place, hospital officials said Wednesday in response to an inquiry from The New Tri-State Defender. A new nurse manager with ED experience, for example, has been hired along with 14 additional nurses. Training for the nursing staff also will be expanded to ensure they are competent and certified. A Patient Care Assistant desk has been established that navigates 25 percent of patients with minor complaints to an appropriate provider instead of directly to the ED. And to expedite dispositions, patient flow coordinators have been established in the ED to communicate the status of patient tests with providers. Additional administrative staff has been hired as well and an Admissions Office has been designated to coordinate admissions and transfers. Still other changes are being made as well to improve medical care for its veterans, according to the written response for the Memphis VA.
Reiterating his support…
Cohen said three congressional staffers at his Memphis office work daily on veteran affairs and that much of their constituent service is centered on veterans. “With more and more of our
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May 29 - June 4, 2014
nation’s veterans returning from combat suffering from PTSD and serious injuries, I will continue supporting the president’s efforts to make sure they are treated with the utmost respect and receive timely, high-quality care at the Memphis VAMC or any other VAMC,” Cohen said. Some of the problems with veteran hospitals could be solved if Congress appropriates more funding for more doctors and health care professionals, said Cohen. There was a proposal to increase funding for the nation’s veterans hospitals, he said, “but the Republicans refused to fund it. They stopped it in the Senate. Some of the problems are a lack of funding and the Republicans refuse to fund it.”
community approach.
Having their say…
The veterans who came out to the town hall meeting on Tuesday afternoon had much to say about the VA fiasco that is triggering calls for reform. Several were quite vocal about their own personal experiences regarding health care and other veteran issues. Some of them talked about the city providing homes for struggling veterans and homeless people and using vacant school buildings, if they could be repurposed as transitional homes or facilities. One veteran spoke about his dissatisfaction with the VA hospital. More than 70 veterans and their families attended the meeting. “The goal was to get information directly from the veterans through their testimonies,” said Hardaway. Randy Wade, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, advocated for veterans in his former job as district director for Cohen. At Tuesday’s hearing he polled the veterans to ascertain the number who were dissatisfied with the treatment they’ve received from the VA hospital. “About 99 percent are unhappy,” said Wade, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the local VA hospital. Wade’s former co-worker, Willie Henry Jr., Cohen’s deputy director, was present and spoke briefly. Hardaway said hospitals such as Regional One Health (formerly the Regional Medical Center) could stand in the gap for the VA hospital in terms of immediacy of services. “We want to look to see what we can do to bring in the MED, Methodist, the University of Tennessee – whatever local medical services we have – to complement the services that the VA hospital isn’t delivering.” The VA hospital, Hardaway said, should be held accountable for the job that it is charged to do to ensure accessibility and provide affordable care to veterans. He said the veterans’ testimonies would be shared with some of the state agencies and made available to Sen. Alexander’s office as well. Hardaway’s deceased brother was a Vietnam-era Marine and his father, also deceased, was a World War II Army veteran. “It’s personal to me,” he said. (TSD freelance reporter Ashley Grandberry contributed to this story.)
The Emergency Department (ED) at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Memphis is undergoing renovation and expansion to improve urgent care delivery and access for patients. The approximately $5 million project will be underway for the next 1.5 years. (Photo: memphis.va.gov/MEMPHIS/)
A Memphis native, Shelby County Schools Supt. Dorsey Hopson says, “Certainly being from here and realizing the good, the bad and the ugly of the community gives me a unique perspective of this work.” (Photo: Bernal E. Smith II)
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the challenges of the merger and improving student achievement (among others)? Why or why not? Supt. Hopson: There is no place like home and that can be good and bad. Certainly being from here and realizing the good, the bad and the ugly of the community gives me a unique perspective of this work. I know the history of public education in Memphis and Shelby County. I also know how both school districts have been instrumental in the development of young people over the years. When we were growing up many of our role models were people who worked in MCS. Scores of principals, coaches and teachers, and of course people like Dr. (Willie W.) Herenton as school superintendent, were influential in our development. When you appreciate how hard so many people have worked over the years, it gave me extra motivation to not only make sure that the school system opened up on time but to make sure that it is a vehicle for providing folks a real opportunity to succeed. … (Poverty) is such a huge issue here in Memphis and Shelby County, yet I believe that education is the great equalizer. You cannot choose your parents or who raises you, but you can choose to use education to change your life trajectory. I think it is incumbent upon us to create the conditions and the best system possible so that those who may not have the resources and home environments of more affluent kids still have the opportunity to work hard and use education to change their trajectory and that of generations to come. So that is what really motivates me. A lot of that comes from seeing folks from old MCS and SCS work hard to make sure all kids had an opportunity to succeed in life.
BES: I am familiar with and engaged with some of the Teacher and Leadership Effectiveness work that is being done. I’ll say that I am somewhat skeptical of the approaches and assumptions in some of the theory. I do believe that all young people have the capacity to learn and learn at the highest levels, yet when you consider … the poverty rate and the social ills and challenges that too many of our young people face, do you think we have adequate models in place that take into account the challenges that our young people are facing? Or is there something else out there that allows a district like SCS to more adequately educate and empower that specific student population? Supt. Hopson: (Those are) excellent questions and I’ll start off by saying that the district does its best to deal with the real life circumstances and social ills our kids face, but the reality is the district is simply not equipped to deal with all of that. What that raises in my
mind is that we need to have a real community discussion about the ways that not just government but the faith-based community, the corporate community, and everybody can come together to address the socioeconomic concerns. You hit the nail on the head. If I leave school at 3 o’clock and don’t have another meal until I get back to school the next day and then that evening I’m walking through gangland. I may have a teenage sister who has a child of her own or a grandmother working two or more jobs to help take care of me and I just don’t have that
support system at home. It makes it difficult to study algebra at night or to do that reading assignment. The school district unfortunately is not equipped to address scenarios or circumstances at home. You can have a rock star teacher that does a great job teaching you the concepts at school and you are getting it but then when you get home you don’t have to think about it, you’re constantly playing catch up. If we really want to address the poverty issue and its impact, it’s really got to be an allhands-on deck, all-inclusive
BES: So can effective teachers and school leaders move the mark for our kids in spite of some of the ills and challenges we’ve discussed? Supt. Hopson: Absolutely! I have seen extraordinary teachers go into schools that have been chronically underperforming, right in the middle of neighborhoods where all the social ills are and move kids two or three grade levels with exceptional results. The question becomes how do we incentivize and motivate teachers who are at say a White Station to move to a more challenging school such as say a Carver? What incentive do I have to get teachers to take on those greater challenges? When you look at the data and compare some of our higher performing schools where parental involvement and incomes are higher it is not surprising that the achievement is higher. Not because the kids in the lower socioeconomic neighborhoods can’t achieve but because they are dealing with so much more. The dynamics are one group of parents brings their children to school while we have to take the school to the other group of children. We have to make sure they can see, they can hear, that they eat breakfast that they get some behavior therapy. One of the things that doesn’t get talked about is that we have 8, 9, 10, 11 year olds that have seen people get killed, get raped, and other heinous or extreme acts, drug use. And when you are dealing with those kinds of adult issues at that age and you don’t get the counseling or support you need, it’s going to cause difficulties. No one talks about that, but it is a challenge. NOTE: In Part II, Supt Hopson discusses strategies for improving the lowest performing schools in the district; innovations in the I-Zone; Common Core in Shelby County; the impact of municipal districts; charters and vouchers; safety, security and school shootings; academic achievement goals, and more! Follow the conversation online Friday at TSDMemphis.com.
BUSINESS
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Tri-State Defender
May 29 - June 4, 2014
ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY
The Business of fashion – Part I When many people think of Memphis they think of our soulful music, smoky barbecue or muddy Mississippi River. One of the last things that come to mind is Memphis as a fashion forward city. There is, however, a growing class of creative individuals committed to bringing fashion into the forefront of a place that seems to reference the past more frequently than the future. In part one of a two-part series, we meet pioneer James Davis, who not only offers tailor-made clothing, but has his own fragrance as well. Carlee McCullough: Thank you for taking the time to share with our readers your experience and knowledge. Tell us about James Davis? James Davis: Let me first thank you for taking time to have me for the interview. I am the president and owner of L.R. CLOTHIER. I strive to be more successful every day and understand that success is not simply defined by how much money is made, but how many people you have a positive influence upon as well. I truly believe that if you think it – then you can achieve it. Everyday is something new, something different and life is what you make of it. I love
what I do.
C.M.: How did you get into the fashion industry? J.D.: I f i r s t worked in retail at Carlee McCullough Wi l s o n ’s Leather. I experienced a high level of sales success, which led to me being recruited by J. Rigg i n g s , which is a James moderateDavis l e v e l m e n ’ s clothing store. After starting with selling men’s accessories, it was a no-brainer to venture into garments. Initially it was just off-the-rack shirts, which expanded into custom-tailored shirts. From there, my clients began to additionally request to have tailored suits. C.M.: What do you do in
growing. You’ll see a host of boutiques that are around and will even catch some pop-up shops from time to time. There’s more fashion oriented networking taking place. The respect of Memphis being an epic center for style, it’s a diamond in the process. We’ve come a long way, while traveling this extending road. Look out for 2 to 3 people that are poised to hit a national stage.
the fashion industry today? J.D.: At L.R. CLOTHIER, we custom make fine quality suits, jackets and accessories. In addition to that, we’ll identify other designers and network with them, to help further their efforts, while limiting some of the bumps and bruises we suffered along the way.
C.M.: What is the status of the up-and-coming fashion industry in Memphis? J.D.: We’ve been up and coming for a good while now. A lot of strides have been made. One such indicator, there are now several fashion week events and activities that exist. Their recognition is
C.M.: How did you get into the fragrance business? What inspired you to get into the fragrance business? J.D.: What I do in my business reflects the personalities, platforms and existence as some of the major fashion houses. Think Polo, think Armani, think Tom Ford. They all have a fragrance as part of their brand and collection. Not only is it a profit center for them, but also it’s a way of attracting a clientele that may not be able to purchase a better-priced clothing item, but they will spend $50, $60, $70 on the cologne.
I really got inspired when Diddy won the Fifi award for having the #1 selling cologne Unforgivable. After always admiring his vision, branding, drive and hustle, I thought –
Business plan winner values the process of learning
Dr. Ken Brown, executive vice chancellor and COO of UT Health Science Center (fifth from right), is pictured with officials of Harbin Medical University during a recent trip to China. (Courtesy photo)
UTHSC eyes pharmaceutical discovery, development and manufacturing Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Dr. Ken Brown, executive vice chancellor and chief operations officer at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), traveled to China earlier this month to participate in an international conference sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to discuss international concerns related to pharmaceutical supply chain security. The conference also focused on manufacturing practices,
shipping and distribution networks, and the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry. The trip to Qingdao is described as a reflection of UTHSC’s growing interests and efforts in pharmaceutical discovery, development and manufacturing. Other global concerns discussed centered on internet pharmaceutical sales, counterfeit pharmaceutical trafficking and pharmaceutical cargo thefts, said Dr. Brown, JD, MPA, PhD, FACHE. UTHSC will begin construction of an approximately
$12 million Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility for drug development and production in late summer or early fall. While in China, Brown visited Harbin Medical University to tour its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, grow UTHSC’s partnership with Harbin that already includes student exchanges, and explore future joint pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution possibilities. (For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.)
Michael Partee recently had one of those experiences that lend credence to the thought that it is often the journey – rather than the destination – that yields the most reward. Partee, the owner of M.B. Partee’s Gourmet Pecans, recently emerged the winner of the best business plan grant competition sponsored by Deidre Malone and The Carter Malone Group LLC. After a thorough review by a panel of professionals, Partee came out on top of the grading process. He netted money to invest into his business and a new perspective on what it takes to run one. “I’d like to think that I learned more about my business through the process of writing this business plan than I they learned from reviewing it,” said Partee. “Through their symposium, I was able to truly look at my business and identify strengths and weaknesses that will affect its success long-term. …This was a great learning experience.” A life-long Memphian, Partee is a well-recognized artist with work displayed across the country. In the early 1980’s, he was artist-in-residence at two Memphis art galleries before transitioning into corporate art with Federal Express Corporation in 1986. Seven years later, he resigned his senior illustrator position to pursue his art full-time. Thus the birth of Art by
Michael Partee made use of his artist background, creating attractive packaging for his new product, M.B. Parteeʼs Gourmet Pecans.
Michael B. Partee. Partee says his creative background helped him create attractive packaging for his new product and to develop a strong branding strategy. With that strategy in mind, Partee was among those who sought out the opportunities built into the 2014 version of the Controlling How the Cookie Crumbles: Educating and Empowering Entrepreneurs symposiums offered by The Carter Malone Group. The annual event is designed to target women and minorities who are interested in starting a business or are new business owners. Attendees are exposed to information about the staples any business needs to get off the
why not? This wasn’t a separate class or category for your “urban brands” or anything like that. Unforgivable beat out every other fragrance, period. That was a major accomplishment, which many probably still don’t know. These thoughts and ideas helped birth my very first fragrance – CONVOLUTION. Let me say this. It’s not a private label that I signed off on. I actually created the scent myself. I’m very proud of that and excited as to how well the test marketing has been received. C.M.: What are the necessary elements that go into a successful business? J.D.: The most important element is to have a true passion for what you’re doing. In addition to that, you have to have a deep knowledge of your product, service and industry. (Contact James Davis, president of L.R. CLOTHIER, at 901-347-8669. Visit www.lrclothier.com (new updates on Sunday). Email: info@lrclothier.com.) (Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.) ground, including a strong business plan, industry benchmarking, using resources within the community, marketing and financing. All of that is followed by an extensive Q&A session. At the end of the symposiums, participants were asked to submit their own business plans using the information learned. The incentive included a chance to be awarded a $1,500 grant to help get their business started or to help them grow their business. “We want people to walk away feeling empowered,” said Malone. “I truly believe in giving back to the community and helping others as much as possible. If we are going to thrive as a county, then we must help create new business opportunities on every level. These symposiums are designed to inform aspiring and new women and minority entrepreneurs how to be successful from the beginning.” Seasoned industry leaders served as speakers for the symposium each year. The headliners were Dr. Floyd Tyler, founder/president of Preserver Partners, and Fred Jones, founder/president of SMC Entertainment/the Southern Heritage Classic. Sessions were conducted by Nita Black – MAP Momentum, Alandas Dobbins – Memphis Office of Resource Enterprise, Natasha Donerson – Success Unlimited, and Cynthia Norwood with alt.Consulting. (For more information on Controlling How the Cookie Crumbles annual symposiums, visit www.cmgpr.com.)
RELIGION
Tri-State Defender
RELIGION BRIEFS Financial Breakthrough Conference at Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church
Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church will be the venue as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW), Inc., Memphis Chapter “Sisters’ Keeper” Program partners with the Midtown Church to present a free “Financial Breakthrough Conference.” Open to the public, the conference will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Mississippi Blvd at 70 North Bellevue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 14th. Organizers point out that throughout the Mid-South and the country, the need for financial education is great. Topics expected to be covered during the conference include: Reducing the mortgage payment in a home that has lost its value; Understanding the truth and consequences of bankruptcy Developing good saving practices Retiring comfortable; and Understanding credit reports and credit repair and how they impact everything from renting an apartment to buying a car. Featured conference speakers will include Travis Moody, author, “Financial Breakthrough,” which shows his family’s journey from being in over $100,000 debt to debt recovery. Businessman James Harvey, chairman of the Shelby County Commission and vice-president of Tri-State Bank, will be on hand, along with other workshop leaders, to provide information on financial issues that “impact your life and how you can overcome them so you can live your best life possible.” Register for the conference online at www.eventbrite.com/e/financial-breakthrough-conference-tickets-11647976411 or by emailing ncbwmemphis2014@gmail.com. For more information, contact Katrina Thompson-Edwards at the 901-482-6036 or Bettye Boone at 901-831-8739. BRIEFLY: On Saturday (May 31st) at 10 a.m., the book club of Castalia Baptist Church, located at 1540 Castalia Road, will hold its book discussion. This month’s featured book is “Living and Dying in Brick City” by Sampson Davis, M. D. The host pastor is the Rev. R. Meade Walker, Ph. D. BRIEFLY: Castalia Baptist Church will hold its Vacation Bible School from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 2nd-6th at the church at 1540 Castalia Rd. Bible study, arts and crafts, food, fun and fellowship are all built into the experience. Minister Jerrian Moody Harris will be the principal, with Stewart White and Gloria Harris serving as superintendents. BRIEFLY: The Vacation Bible School of Fullview Missionary Baptist Church at 7100 Memphis-Arlington Rd. in Bartlett presents an “Anti-Bullying” Rally on June 13th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich and representatives from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Bartlett Police Department. For more information, call 377-0341.
God gave her son autism as punishment for past abortion, says Toni Braxton
Singer/songwriter Toni Braxton promotes her book “Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir” at Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on May 20, 2014 in New York City. (Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
PRAISE CONNECT
Gospel recording artist Peggy Garner with Gospel great Bishop Rance Allen of the Rance Allen Group. (Photo: Courtesy of pgsproductionsministries.com.)
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor
ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
901-946-4095 fax 948-8311
No Cross... No Crown
Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews 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
Toni Braxton has dropped several bombshells in her new memoir, appropriately dubbed “Unbreak My Heart,” but her thoughts on her son’s health condition seem to be receiving the most attention. The crooner reveals that she believes God gave her 11-year-old son, Diezel, autism as punishment for her having an abortion more than a decade ago. She addresses her guilt over having the procedure done due to her religious upbringing, saying, “I was suddenly faced with a choice I’d never thought I’d have to make. Amid my major misgivings about abortion, I eventually made the gut-wrenching decision.” Braxton continued, “In my heart, I believed I had taken a life—an action that I thought God might one day punish me for…My initial rage was quickly followed by another strong emotion: guilt. I knew I’d taken a life…I believed God’s payback was to give my son autism.” The 46-year-old also documented her childhood in a strict household, where she claims her homework took a backseat to memorizing 26 scriptures a week and focusing solely on her religious studies. She added that the rule of thumb in her home as a kid was to “Shut your mouth and suppress whatever you feel.” Braxton also wrote about the controversial debate between vaccines and autism, a topic that other celebs like Jenny McCarthy have been vocal about for years. Source: Lily Harrison, E! Online, via theGrio
Gospel recording artist Peggy Garner to highlight Westwood Shores community event
-A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-
767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
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May 29 - June 4, 2014
Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
– Psalm 55:22
Attend the church of your choice
Gospel recording artist Peggy Garner of Atlanta will be the special guest on Saturday (May 31st) as the Westwood Shores Homeowners Association & Committee hosts a community event from noon to 4 p.m. Garner was born and raised in Memphis, where she graduated from Overton High School. She earned an Associates of Applied Science Degree from Draughons Jr. College in 1986 and a second Associates of Applied Science Degree in Graphic Arts/Multimedia from Southwest Tennessee Community College in 2007. Garner, a singer, songwriter/guitarist, is also a stage play/screenplay writer. She has written, produced and directed several stage plays, including: “Grandpa Are You Sure Grandma Is Going To Make It To Heaven?”; “The Foolish, The Wise & The Virtuous Woman”; “You Ungrateful Thing You”; “Rise Up My Brother & Walk”; and “A Silent Cry.” Among Garner’s producer Ms Geraldine, Claudie & Phebee a Si tcom and also has produced the hilarious “Ms. Freeda Mae Jenkins on Church Folk,” a comedy CD, also reflects Garner’s work as a producer. The host of her own TV show for the past 10 years on Comcast channel 17 (every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.), Garner has also authored her first newly released E-Book – “What Has God Done Lately.” It is filled with “22 years of God’s Supernatural powers demonstrated in her life.” Garner, who recently moved from Ohio to Atlanta to broaden her horizons in the television and film industry, will be singing and playing her guitar at the Roco Lake Annual neighborhood spring cookout at the Westwood Shores Boat Dock at 1609 W. Holmes Rd.
Attend the Church of your choice
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. —Phillipians 4:13
ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, May 29 - June 4, 2014, Page 8
Oprah on how Maya Angelou helped define her legacy theGrio
by Chris Witherspoon Renowned poet, actress, and activist Dr. Maya Angelou, who has passed at the age of 86, influenced some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities and major world leaders, none more so than Oprah Winfrey. For decades, Oprah has affectionately called Angelou her “mother, sister, friend.” I had the honor of interviewing Oprah in August of last year for “Lee Daniels’ ‘The Butler,’” and she opened up about how Angelou helped to define her legacy: “I remember when I opened my school in South Africa and I said to Maya Angelou, ‘Gee this will be my legacy.’ And Maya in her Maya way said, ‘You have no idea what your legacy will be. Your legacy is what you do everyday. Your legacy is every life you’ve touched, every person whose life was either moved or not. It’s every person you’ve harmed or helped, that’s your legacy.’ I don’t think about it. I just try to live it.”
Oprah also released a statement to NBC News today on Dr. Angelou’s passing: “I’ve been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister, and friend since my 20 s. She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give’ is one of my best lessons from her. “She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration. But what stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace. I loved her and I know she loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my clouds.” (Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter @WitherspoonC.)
Oprah Winfrey (right) talks with her beloved mentor, author Dr. Maya Angelou, about Angelouʼs book, “Mom & Me & Mom,” during the show “Super Soul Sunday) in May 2013, Dr. Angelou delved into one of the deepest personal stories of her life – her relationship with her mother. (Photo: http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soulsunday/Oprah-and-Dr-Maya-Angelou)
ALL OVER TOWN!
A night out with the Omega men:
Sundresses and Linen
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Ashley Grandberry here’s nothing like educated, handsome men with a purpose and the men of Omega Psi Phi are examples of such. On Sunday, May 25th they hosted their annual Sundresses and Linen event at the Pink Palace Museum located at 3050 Central Ave. The men of the Sigma Lambda Lambda chapter of Omega Psi Phi organized the event to commemorate their 10-year anniversary as an alumni chapter and to raise funds for one of their celebrated service projects and for scholarships – one of the fraternity’s cornerstones. The front lawn was the focal point of the event, with several rooms inside the museum reserved for guests to dine on hors d’oeuvres, look at African art and mingle as music played from both a live band and a DJ. The proceeds went to the Omega Healthy Kids Clinic, a community initiative of the Sigma Lambda Lambda Chapter that targets childhood obesity as an epidemic. The clinic creates awareness and emphasizes education in the areas of nutrition, childhood diabetes and the importance of physical activity and exercise, indeed an awesome cause! Patrons were welcomed as soon as they arrived on the lawn of the venue. There was a member of the organization waiting at every post with gratitude and a smile. As you grew closer to the live band and seating options, everyone was granted the privilege of pa-
T
parazzi-like treatment on the Omega Purple Carpet. All guests were given the choice of posing alone or with their dates as a photographer snapped and uploaded their picture. After posing, all were given the opportunity of purchasing the photo to remember the festive occasion. Seating was plentiful, with hundreds of white chairs throughout the lawn. This gave the attendees a free range of sitting virtually anywhere outside. Tiki torches were pre-lit to ward off mosquitoes and dually served as lighting as night drew nearer. The lawn was also a haven for the awesome live band
and designer cigar booth. Having bars both inside the museum and outside on the lawn diminished long lines for beverages. The Omegas did an awesome job of anticipating every need and want of their attendees. Even though there were some reserved table options at the party, the mood wasn’t at all divided or restricted and throughout the night everyone seemed as though they were glad to party with a purpose. The overall mood was fun, inviting and festive. For many of us the event served as sort of a family reunion as we were reunited with members of our organizations who we hadn’t seen in quite some time. Music – both current tunes and the sounds of yester-year – spread through every inch of the venue, which created a universal vibe among partygoers. The gracious men of Omega Psi Phi also shared their event with young college students by promoting and conducting a fashion show highlighting aspiring designers in the middle of the event. Part of the outside scenery was transformed into a runway to showcase amateur designs of students from neighboring universities. The fashion-show portion of the event was both insightful and generous of the organization. Obviously these men are no strangers to giving. Filled with laughter and dancing, all attendees appeared joyful and I’m sure the children who benefit from their healthy kids clinic will soon be just as pleased. (For questions, or if you would like Ashley Grandberry at your next big event, email inthemail@tri-statedefender.com.)
ENTERTAINMENT
Tri-State Defender
Page 9
May 29 - June 4, 2014
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
Doris Payne, one of the most notorious jewel thieves of all time, is the subject of a biopic titled “The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne.” Payneʼs 60-year thieving career took her to Italy, Switzerland, Monte Carlo, and Japan. She stole an estimated $2 million worth of jewelry. (Courtesy photo)
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kam Williams
For movies opening May 30, 2014
BIG BUDGET FILMS
“Maleficent” (PG for action, violence and frightening images) Angelina Jolie plays the title character in this reimagining of Sleepy Beauty from the perspective of the classic fairy tale’s infamous villain, an embittered shrew driven by revenge to put a curse on the king’s (Sharlto Copley) young daughter (Elle Fanning). Cast includes Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple. “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (R for violence, drug use, crude humor, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity) Seth MacFarlance wrote, directed and stars in this irreverent Western, set in Arizona in 1882, as a cowardly shepherd who finally summons up some courage when his girlfriend’s (Charlize Theron) gun-slinging husband (Liam Neeson) suddenly shows up in town bent on vengeance. With Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman and Giovanni Ribisi.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
“Delivery” (Unrated) Demon seed horror flick about a couple (Laurel Vail and Danny Barclay) expecting their first child who decide to document the pregnancy for a reality-TV show, only to discover that the newborn’s been possessed by an evil spirit. With Rob Cobuzio, Colter Allison and Rebecca Brooks. “Emoticon ;)” (Unrated) Romance drama about the Digital Age dating frustrations of an Anthropology student (Livia De Paolis) who’s
writing her thesis on modern methods of communication. Supporting cast includes Michael Cristofer, Carol Kane, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Sonia Braga. “Filth” (R for violence, profanity, drug use, frontal nudity and graphic sexuality) Screen adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name about a bigoted, drug-addicted, cross-dressing, bipolar police officer‘s (James McAvoy) efforts to secure a promotion and to reconcile with his estranged wife (Shauna Macdonald) and daughter (Megan Finn). With Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent and Imogen Poots. “The Grand Seduction” (PG-13 for drug references and suggestive material) Englishlanguage remake of Seducing Doctor Lewis, the 2003 French farce about a tiny fishing village’s attempt to convince a visiting physician (Taylor Kitsch) to relocate there from the big city. Co-starring Brendan Gleeson, Liana Balaban and Anna Hopkins.
“The Hornet’s Nest” (R for pervasive profanity) Afghan War documentary chronicling veteran journalist Mike Boettcher and son Carlos’ nightmare when their covering U.S. troops on the front lines turned into a hair-raising fight for survival.
“Korengal” (Unrated) Sequel to the Oscarnominated documentary Restrepo, directed by Sebastian Junger (A Perfect Storm), serves up another slice of the War in Afghanistan from the point of view of a decimated platoon of American soldiers stationed in a very vulnerable valley surrounded by Taliban fighters on a suicide mission.
“The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne” (Unrated) “Diamond in the Rough” biopic
chronicling the exploits of an infamous, African-American jewel thief from humble roots who fleeced upscale retailers like Cartier and Tiffany of millions in gems over the course of a checkered career which spanned 60+ years.
“Lucky Them” (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Toni Collette stars in this tale of redemption as a music critic assigned by her magazine to interview her reclusive, retired rock star ex-boyfriend (Johnny Depp) who hasn’t been seen in public for over a decade. With Oliver Platt, Thomas Haden Church and Amy Seimetz. “Night Moves” (R for nudity and profanity) Eco-thriller revolving around a trio of radical environmentalists (Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard) determined to protect the planet by any means necessary who conspire to detonate a hydroelectric dam. With Alia Shawkat, Clara Mamet and Logan Miller. “Venus in Fur” (Unrated) Roman Polanski screen adaptation of the David Ives play of the same name about a director (Mathieu Amalric) who finds himself seduced by an aspiring starlet (Emmanuelle Seigner) auditioning for the lead role in his highly-erotic, upcoming production. (In French and German with subtitles)
“We Are the Best!” (Unrated) Coming-ofage drama, set in Stockholm in 1982, where we find three 13 year-old girls (Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin and Liv LeMoyne) without instruments forming a punk rock band even though their friends and family say the genre is dying. With Alvin Strollo, Mattias Wiberg and Jonathan Salomonsson. (In Swedish with subtitles)
E-BRIEFS Orange Mound in May Festival Partners With ArtsMemphis
In partnership with the Orange Mound Outreach Ministries, ArtsMemphis will participate in the fourth annual Orange Mound in May Barbecue Contest and Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday (May 31st) at the Orange Mound Outreach Ministries, 845 Marchalneil St. Free and open to the public, the contest and festival will feature art demonstrations, performances and hands-on activities. Arts organizations that participate in the ArtsMemphis Community Engagement Fellowship Program will be on hand to share their arts expertise with the residents of the Orange Mound neighborhood. These organizations include: Theatre Memphis, Ballet on Wheels, the Levitt Shell, and the Metal Museum. “This is the first of many events ArtsMemphis hopes to support the Orange Mound community,” said Linda Steele, chief engagement and outreach officer at ArtsMemphis. “Our goal is to help the arts organizations that receive funding from ArtsMemphis develop more partnerships with community groups, such as the Orange Mound Outreach Ministries, to create arts programming in the neighborhood.” As part of its community engagement efforts, ArtsMemphis is helping 24 local arts organizations learn how to create programming and strategic partnerships in under-served neighborhoods throughout Memphis. (For more information, visit artsmemphis.org or contact Lauren Boyer at 901-5782787 or lboyer@artsmphis.org.)
Artistic expression built into South Main Artspace Lofts
Creativity runs deep through Memphis, from music to murals, food to photography, the visual arts, dance, and guerilla bocce ball, among countless other cultural activities. During the preconstruction phase of the South Main Artspace Lofts project (http://www.artspace.org/southmainartspacelo fts) the space will be animated through engagement with artists, creative entrepreneurs, and local arts organizations. A variety of creative partners will temporarily transform the space through artwork, activities or events that create a season of art and culture uniquely “Memphis.” Essentially, the building will serve as a living platform for artistic expression and to offer a full season of artistic programming at the South Main Artspace Lofts!
• May 30- Theatre/musical revue – Bluff City Tri-Arts Theatre Co. • June 27- Dance performance – New Ballet Ensemble & School • July 25- TBD • Aug. 30 – Artlounge II of participants creating their own art. All events are free and open to the public.
COMMUNITY
Page 10
☺ ☺D BLUE G☺
BRIEFS & THINGS
South MEMShop to Launch two new businesses May 31st
The Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team MEMShop initiative will launch two new businesses at 991 and 993 Mississippi Blvd on Saturday May 31st, with an open house celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring activities for the kids, live entertainment, food and a raffle. The new businesses are @ Home Computer Services – 991 Mississippi Blvd., which provides affordable, reliable technology and support to the Memphis community; and Klassy Chics – 993 Mississippi Blvd., a shoe boutique that provides ladies from all walks of life with style and class at an affordable price. Applications are being accepted for the fall 2014 MEMShop class in South Memphis / Soulsville. For more information, visit http://memshop.org/ or contact alt.Consulting at 901. 312.9797 or http://altconsulting.org/.
Oldham lends helping hand to Man of the House Mentoring
Sheriff Bill Oldham is this year’s presenting sponsor for the 6th Annual Man of the House Mentoring Event at the National Civil Rights Museum. On June 14th, 120 boys from Memphis and Shelby County join 50 mentors from various professions to experience new work skills, civil rights history and the first-ever Power Lunch for Boys. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) C.O.P.S. program, along with Sheriff’s deputies, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, motor-sports enthusiasts, and talented educators will serve as mentors. This year’s Man of the House (MOH) Mentoring Event is the official launch of the 2014 Bikes, Books & Battles initiative, highlighting a new Neighborhood Bike Club concept. For the past six years, MethodistSouth Hospital physician Dr. Todd Motley has been a primary catalyst for the annual gathering of men and boys at the iconic site, this year adding the County’s top cop to the list of men reaching out to area youth. “Sheriff Oldham has always made prevention of crime a priority, and when we asked for his help this year, he said yes immediately,” said MOH founder Tony Nichelson. “Our boys really need work skills, improved personal discipline, and a fundamental knowledge of civil rights history, and that’s what ‘Man of the House’ Mentoring is all about.” Parents of middle school boys interested in this year’s should visit manofthehouse.net for details and to register their sons.
(For more information, call Tony Nichelson at 901-336-2399, or email manofthehousementoring@gmail.com.)
Born2Win Concert – A Survivor’s Journey
Sharen Rooks Agency and Walking Into A New Life, Inc. will present the Born2Win Concert – A Survivor’s Journey on June 6th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Great Hall, at 1900 Germantown’ The event will feature songs, dynamic speakers and diverse vendor opportunities. The cost for attendees is $10. Those who participate in the choir are individuals who have overcome any number of adversities (cancer, domestic violence, sexual assault, poverty, homelessness, etc.) and have chosen to come together and celebrate their triumphs in song. In addition, participants receive a T-shirt, CD/DVD and will take part in co-authoring a book, which will share the same title as the event. For more information, call 901-4666182, 800-971-8016, email info@wianl.org and/or visit www.wianl.org. BRIEFLY: A Town Hall meeting designed to get Whitehaven residents engaged in creating improvements or expansions for their community is set for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 29th at the Whitehaven Community Center at 4318 Graceland Drive. BRIEFLY: The inaugural Sistahs Succeed 2 Showcase (SS2 Showcase) presented by Spirit Magazine is coming to the Cook Convention Center on June 7th-8th. Event highlights include an appearance by actor Morris Chestnut and the Memphis Best Gospel Competition, where a grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded for the best solo performance. Actress Elise Neal will serve as a celebrity judge. Contestants can enter online at http://www.ss2showcase.com/. For more information, including tickets, contact Minerva Little at 901-240-0177; email sistahssucceed2@gmail.com; or contact Regina Harris-Jones at 901-2780881 or rhjones@cmgpr.com. BRIEFLY: On June 21st, Memphis Kwanzaa International in association with the University of Tennessee presents a Community Health Fair at the Memphis Kwanzaa Center at 1549 Elvis Presley Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Kaia Naantaanbuu at 901-2101218 or Regina Hughes at 901-2303455.
Tri-State Defender
May 29 - June 4, 2014
Deputy Charllai Wooten equipped for it. It’s a work in progress and we’re getting it done.
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Kelvin Cowans
KC: You guys have a tough job and I don’t think everyone understands that. As a whole when it comes to law enforecement the last thing I as a citizen (want) to hear is that the budget is about to be balanced on you guys’ backs. Not cool. Find something else. Deputy Wooten: I understand.
(Just as a neighborhood should not be judged by the actions of a few bad apples, neither should law enforcement agencies. The New Tri-State Defender’s “Good Blue & You” column spotlights law enforcement officers who do it right. This week’s focus is on Shelby County Deputy Charllai Wooten.)
No stranger to learning, Charllai Wooten graduated from Central High School (Class of 2000) and earned a criminal justice degree at the University of Memphis in 2008. True to her degree, she quickly found herself working for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, where she learned even more while applying all that she knew for four-plus years. The years spent studying and working in the field of criminal justice came in handy when she joined the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) in 2013, landing on the Shelby County Schools “Rapid Response Unit.” But before we get to that, let’s pick up with Wooten the soldier, who was dispatched to Egypt seemingly in the blink of an eye. “Instead of going to college right after high school I enrolled in the military. This provided a good background for the passion I had for law enforcement and what I wanted to do with my life, as well as help pay for my schooling,” said Wooten. “It just so happened that while I was in the military that the September 11th attacks happened and I deployed to Egypt seven days (later). It happened so fast until we really didn’t get a chance to tell our families bye. That changes the perception that you can just go into the military, serve your time and go. The realization is that anything can happen and just like that you are put directly in the middle of it.” With that set-up, here’s the rest of my free-flow conversation with Deputy Wooten: Kelvin Cowans: Fast forward…once you joined the SCSO you are immediately placed on the “Rapid Response Unit.”…Was this experience bumper cars or the Zippin Pippin (The old rollercoaster ride at the now defunct Libertyland
KC: How do spend your down time? Deputy Wooten: Like anyone else. I like being at home and relaxing. When I do go out I find a really nice restaurant or go catch a really good movie. I have a big family and we truly enjoy hanging out with each other. Holidays are great. We’re officers on and off duty but you still try to find times to chill out like any other citizen.
amusement park.)? Deputy Wooten: It’s been a good experience, although at times definitely up and down like that ride. A lot of kids are lacking discipline and parental guidance. Many of these kids are surely missing a father figure and even some a mother who fills her motherly duties. A lot of times the mothers (who) come to our schools to deal with their kid’s issues come into the school high on drugs, inappropriately dressed and talking crazy. Many times we’ve had to put parents out of the school buildings because they were out of control. At times we’ve had to threaten to arrest some of them because they are out of control. That behavior reaches the children and is acted out in the schools. It’s sad. So I always feel if I could just reach one child outside this uniform I feel that I’ve done a good job. I love the fact that I get to interact with kids. I like speaking to them about things that will help them perform
well in school. These type of things remind me that I actually had it good growing up. I understand the black experience, I’m not so removed that I can’t relate.”
KC: How big of a problem are gangs in the schools? Deputy Wooten: It’s the biggest problem. Gangs have stepped in where the parents should be. Those higher-ranking gang members are taking that place in those kids’ lives. We control it as best as we can but that’s at school. They still have to go home to their neighborhoods.
KC: Here’s a magic wand, how do you stop gang activity? Deputy Wooten: You can’t stop it, you can only try to control it. It’s different now than when I grew up. Back then kids hid their affiliations. Now they will openly tell you that they are in a gang and the gang name. But we understand that the job has to get done and we’re
KC: What does your community work consist of? Deputy Wooten: The SCSO has this thing called “Speakers” and different deputies go out and speak to schools and churches and I enjoy that. We speak out against bullying as well as gangs and other hot topics. We some times team up with McGruff the crime dog and it gets really creative yet informative.
KC: …Give me your initial thoughts and answers to these questions. Where is our city headed? Memphis and Shelby County, what needs to be done to push it into a good direction? Deputy Wooten: Well true, we’re stagnant and I think that the main thing that should be done is that we start to cater to college graduates. College graduates are leaving our city at a fast pace headed for Dallas, Houston and Atlanta because they have better jobs and more attractions. We’re not attractive right now. Even the things that have attracted tourists in the past aren’t necessarily safe. Memphis needs to put money back into its people. Make them want to stay and work and create art here and they will in turn spend money right here.
(Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com. Join the Good Blue and You Facebook page.)
UCAN Memphis’ president earns Surviving in Silence Award Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Brittney Gathen
Leshundra Robinson’s driving force can be accessed through a question: “If we don’t give back to where we came from, then who will?” The president and co-founder Leshundra of the non-profRobinson it youth mentoring organization UCAN Memphis, Robinson recently netted the S.I.S. (Surviving in Silence) Award from Walking Into a New Life, Inc. during the organization’s 4th annual S.I.S. event at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. “We are a product of our own community. ... Who knows our community better than we do? Giving back to my community is extremely important because I want to help my community grow,” Robinson said. The May 3rd event, which was co-hosted by Successful Single Moms Memphis, was created to “celebrate and honor strong single mothers who give back to the community and set the bar for what it means to survive and thrive.” “In addition to individuals, we acknowledge organizations that represent and embody support for survivors of abuse as well as single motherhood,” said Joyce Parkinson, executive director of Walking Into a New Life Inc., which has hosted the S.I.S. awards since 2011 and has been in existence since 2010. ”Leshundra’s commitment to teens and anti-bullying, her status as a single mother, and her strength and dedication in leading UCAN in community service played the biggest part in selecting her for the award.”
Leshundra Robinson (center), with Joyce Parkinson (right) of Walking Into a New Life, Inc., and Nicole Gates of Successful Single Moms Memphis. (Courtesy photo) Founded in Memphis in 2005 by Robinson and Richardetta Kight, UCAN Memphis aims to impact adolescents through mentoring, personal development and education to foster positive growth in the community, according to its website. Robinson has been president since 2006. “What inspired me to start UCAN was I had a young lady who was lost in the world, and her mom didn’t know exactly how to handle
it,” Robinson said. “She was a teenager and she didn’t know where to go and what to do. Through the process of talking to her, I realized that she just wanted attention and wanted to have someone to understand her. She was tired of moving from place to place with her family, and she needed someone who could listen to her.” A single mother of three, Robinson came to realize that her kids don’t always talk to her about
everything, which spotlighted the need for mentors. “Having a mentor gives them the opportunity to open up and discuss things more than what they would actually discuss with me. So, it wouldn’t be an issue of whether or not they’re being bullied or they’re having low self-esteem because someone will be able to help them and talk to them about what’s going on in their lives,” Robinson said. UCAN provides programs in the core areas of community involvement, which includes tutoring and mentoring programs; image development, which includes etiquette, professional attire and health awareness; college planning; and career workshops. The organization is also an anti-bullying advocate and hosted a play titled “You Can’t Hold Me Down” at The LeMoyne-Owen College on March 8th to illustrate the harm of bullying and examine why people bully. Robinson said programs such as UCAN are important to the Memphis community because thousands of students don’t have anyone to talk to, which can lead to low selfesteem, poor grades, and high drop-out rates. “If you don’t have a mentor with you, then there is at least a 90 percent chance that you’re not able to succeed, because you don’t have anyone there to really assist you in moving to the right direction,” Robinson said. “We want to be able to encourage and inspire them to be the person we know that they can (be).” According to Robinson, there are 30 students involved in UCAN, and the organization is always looking for volunteers, such as ambassadors who can help promote and take part in the participants’ success.
(For more information, visit www.ucanofmemphis.org or call 901-262-8642.)
Tri-State Defender
Legal Notices
REQUEST FOR BIDS Legal Notice MSCAA Project Number 13-1368-01 Demolition of South End of Concourses “A” & “C” – Construction
Sealed bids for the Demolition of South End of Concourses “A” & “C” – Construction, MSCAA Project No. 13-1368-01, will be received by the Staff Services Division of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA), 3505 Tchulahoma Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38118, until 2:00 PM Local Time on Thursday, July 3, 2014, and immediately thereafter will be opened and publicly read. No bids will be accepted after the stated deadline. BIDS WILL NOT BE RECEIVED AT ANY OTHER LOCATION. The scope of work generally consists of demolition for the south end of Concourses A & C. Individual trade work includes but is not limited to mechanical and plumbing termination of duct work and sewers; and reconnecting of chill water, hot water, and domestic water. The electrical work involves termination and removal of existing circuits and low voltage cabling that are to be abandoned, as well as removal of substation 13. The contract will also include hauling of rubble and backfill of the existing tunnel. Brick masonry and glazing will fill the end of the corridors that remain after demolition.
Bid Documents may be obtained and found on our website (www.mscaa.com) on or after Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Bid documents may be examined at the following locations in Memphis, TN: Builderʼs Exchange Plans Room, McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge Plans Room, Memphis Area Minority Contractorʼs Association, Mid-South Minority Business Council, National Association of Minority Contractors, and Renaissance Business Center Bid Room.
All Respondents are hereby notified that all updates, addenda and additional information, if any, shall be posted to the MSCAA website (www.mscaa.com) and Respondents are responsible for checking the MSCAA website up to the time of the Bid opening. A MANDATORY Pre-Bid Meeting will be held Thursday, June 12, 2014, at 1:00 PM at the Airport Project Center, 4225 Airways Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38116. Only Prime Contractors who attend the Pre-Bid Meeting will be permitted to submit a bid. The project site will be available for inspection immediately following the meeting. The MSCAA hereby notifies that it will review and award contracts in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4a and Title 49,
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Each bid must be by a contractor licensed in Tennessee and accompanied by a 5% Bid Guarantee. In accordance with TCA §62-6-119, the Bidder, and where applicable, one contractor/subcontractor performing electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or masonry work must have its license number, expiration date of the license, and that part of the classification applying to the bid shown on the outside of the envelope containing the bid. Failure to supply all information on the outside of the envelope will result in the return of the unopened envelope to the Bidder. The successful Bidder will be required
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to execute a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of 100% of the Contract Price. Liquidated damages for delay in contract completion shall be as stated in the Contract Documents.
No Bidder may withdraw an opened bid within the defined period following actual bid opening without MSCAAʼs consent. Award will be made to the lowest and best responsible qualified Bidder, if any contract is awarded, based on the best combination of base bid plus individual add-alternates deemed, at MSCAAʼs sole discretion, to be in MSCAAʼs best interests regardless of whether the individual add-alternates are ultimately constructed or not constructed. MSCAA reserves the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part and to waive any informalities, technicalities or omissions therein. MSCAA also reserves the right to reject bids from bidders that have pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, or if such bid includes a proposed subcontractor or supplier that has pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, if MSCAA determines, in its sole discretion, such litigation or claims may adversely affect the ability of the parties to work efficiently and effectively under this contract, or for any other reason as determined by MSCAA. Any such bid will be returned to the bidder. See Instructions to Bidders in the project specifications for a further description of this and other reservations of rights. MEMPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY By Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E., President & CEO
Gaining self-confidence – 1st step to achieving success Special to the Tri-State Defender
by Tarrin McGhee
Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it. To be successful as adults, children must understand from an early age that they can do and become anything that they set their minds to. A parent is a child’s first teacher. Until a child begins school and starts to interact with peers and other adults, instilling self-confidence Tarrin and self-esteem is the reMcGhee sponsibility of Mom, Dad, and caregivers. The biggest success stories are often prefaced by an adult thanking their parents for believing in their ability, and letting them know at every turn that they were indeed capable of greatness. “You can do it” and “failure is not an option” are mantras that I heard repeatedly as a young child from my parents and older siblings, and their voices still ring in my mind even today.
Early life lessons
Ensuring your child has the self-confidence and self-esteem necessary to push themselves to new heights and accomplishments is critical, and the process should begin at birth. As an infant begins to progress into toddler years, they are gaining the ability to think and act independently. They need constant reassurance to reach key development milestones such as crawling, walking, and talking. The same reassurance will soon promote positive social interactions with classmates and teachers. Research suggests that a positive self-image for young children is also a crucial component to foster later academic achievement and positive and productive behavior overall. Related studies show that self-esteem is also associated with better physical health and more pro-social behaviors, while low self-esteem is associated with a variety of emotional problems and social difficulties like anxiety and depression.
Love and compliments
According to The Urban Child Institute, early attachment security – an infant’s sense of closeness and love from parents – is key and efforts to promote these feelings within your child should never cease. Lavishing babies and infants with love and compliments during the first three years of life is especially important to help strengthen connections that are forming in a young child’s brain that are associated with feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Too much attention?
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May 29 - June 4, 2014
Coupled with a strong upbringing and moral foundation, praise and compliments help to give children a sense of self-worth. It is unlikely that encouragement and support from parents will have adverse effects on their personality or cause a child to have an oversized ego. On the contrary, low self-esteem and a poor self-image can negatively interfere with and af-
REQUEST FOR BIDS Legal Notice MSCAA Project Number 14-1373-01 Terminal B Escalator Replacement
Sealed bids for the Terminal B Escalator Replacement, MSCAA Project No. 141373-01, will be received by the Staff Services Division of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA), 3505 Tchulahoma Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38118, until 2:00 PM local time on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, and immediately thereafter will be opened and publicly read. No bids will be accepted after the stated deadline. BIDS WILL NOT BE RECEIVED AT ANY OTHER LOCATION.
The scope of work generally consists of the removal and replacement of multiple escalators. The existing 4 escalator units in Terminal B are outdated and past their service life. Each of these units will be removed and replaced. This replacement effort also includes reworking the terrazzo flooring, adding handrails, electrical, sheetrock install/repair, painting and other efforts as required. Maintenance of airport site security, in accordance with MSCAA and FAA regulations, are specifically included. Bid Documents may be obtained and found on our website (www.mscaa.com) on or after Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Bid documents may be examined at the following locations in Memphis, TN: Builderʼs Exchange Plans Room, McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge Plans Room, Memphis Area Minority Contractorʼs Association, Mid-South Minority Business Council, National Association of Minority Contractors, and Renaissance Business Center Bid Room.
All Respondents are hereby notified that all updates, addenda and additional information, if any, shall be posted to the MSCAA website (www.mscaa.com) and Respondents are responsible for checking the MSCAA website up to the time of the Bid submission deadline. A MANDATORY Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 1:00 PM local time at the Airport Project Center, located at 4225 Airways Blvd, Memphis, TN.
The MSCAA hereby notifies that it will review and award contracts in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4a and Title 49, Part 26, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act. MSCAA further notifies all Bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged, Business Enterprises (DBE) will be afforded full
opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation or disability in its hiring and employment practices, or in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services and activities. The DBE participation goal for this contract is 5% in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. Therefore, the only participation that will be counted toward meeting this goal will be participation by certified DBEs, the owners of which have been certified as having a personal net worth less than $1.32 million.
Each bid must be by a contractor licensed in Tennessee and accompanied by a 5% Bid Guarantee. In accordance with TCA §62-6-119, the Bidder, and where applicable, one contractor/subcontractor performing electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or masonry work must have its license number, expiration date of the license, and that part of the classification applying to the bid shown on the outside of the envelope containing the bid. Failure to supply all information on the outside of the envelope will result in the return of the unopened envelope to the Bidder. The successful Bidder will be required to execute a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of 100% of the Contract Price. Liquidated damages for delay in contract completion shall be as stated in the Contract Documents.
No Bidder may withdraw an opened bid within the defined period following actual bid opening without MSCAAʼs consent. Award will be made to the lowest and best responsible qualified Bidder, if any contract is awarded, based on the best combination of base bid plus individual add-alternates deemed, at MSCAAʼs sole discretion, to be in MSCAAʼs best interests regardless of whether the individual add-alternates are ultimately constructed or not constructed.
MSCAA reserves the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part and to waive any informalities, technicalities or omissions therein. MSCAA also reserves the right to reject bids from bidders that have pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, or if such bid includes a proposed subcontractor or supplier that has pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, if MSCAA determines, in its sole discretion, such litigation or claims may adversely affect the ability of the parties to work efficiently and effectively under this contract, or for any other reason as determined by MSCAA. Any such bid will be returned to the bidder. See Instructions to Bidders in the project specifications for a further description of this and other reservations of rights. MEMPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY By Scott A. Brockman, President & CEO
COMMENTARY
fect a child’s learning ability, social behavior, and overall academic performance. Research on early childhood brain development has found that early attachment problems can cause children to feel unworthy of love and affection. These feelings are early predictors of later social, behavioral and academic problems that without intervention can persist for a lifetime. Children who experience a lack of love, affection, and reassurance from parents may become shy and withdrawn and begin to question their own ability to excel in and outside of the classroom.
Shy children
Some children have a naturally shy temperament. Ultimately, however, parenting behaviors that promote healthy attachment will instill shy children with self-confidence, though at times the process may seem to take longer than with other children. For parents of shy children, it’s important to understand the difference between being encouraging and pushing too hard. Overly aggressive efforts to make an introverted child become an extrovert are not only bound to fail, but may backfire: Research suggests that such efforts may cause a child to become more socially withdrawn and increase the likelihood for problems like social anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties bonding with peers.
Walking a fine line
Consistent reinforcement of ability and offering rewards for good behavior and performance have proven to be necessary factors to promote self-esteem and positive self-images for young children. Thinking back on your childhood years, can you recall how good it felt to hear “Great job!,” “You are awesome!” and “Way to go!” from your parents, or to receive a gold star from your favorite teacher? Parents and caregivers should not deny children the same early feelings of greatness because of preconceived notions, or concern that too much praise will create a “know-it-all,” narcissistic, or overly confident child. Creating boundaries so that your child doesn’t become too full of himself, and challenging your children to think and act creatively and independently are important. However, one thing is certain – a child cannot achieve the goals that parents set for them, or the ones they will later set for themselves without first acquiring selfesteem and knowing that accomplishments are attainable. As with all things, taking proactive measures to minimize potential for failure, to mediate missteps, and to produce ideal outcomes is key to success in all aspects of life. And through a focused and committed effort from parents, teachers, and caregivers, all children can develop confidence in their ability to succeed. (The New Tri-State Defender has partnered with The Urban Child Institute to make sure every child has the best chance for optimal brain development during the critical first three years of each child’s life. This is one in a series of stories and columns in our campaign.)
Brad Watkins
Greetings from Mid-South Peace and Justice Center’s new executive director We at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center stand poised on the precipice of a great transition. I want to first and foremost thank Jacob (Flowers) for ten years of outstanding service and leadership to this organization and to our entire community here in Memphis. Under Jacob’s stewardship, the MSPJC has grown and evolved, producing an incredible body of work rooted in our most deeply-held principles. His work has connected global oppression to local injustice, asking us to focus not only on those that suffer overseas, but also those that suffer right next door. Beyond this, Jacob’s leadership allowed us to build a “people’s organization” with an amazing and diverse staff aided by one of the strongest board of directors this organization has ever had. Over the past six years it has been my pleasure and honor to serve alongside Jacob as Organizing Director and with your help, we have made great strides towards a more equitable community. Local issues like environmental justice, homelessness, and public transit have become cornerstones of the MSPJC, as evidenced by grassroots movements like GrowMemphis, H.O.P.E., and the Memphis Bus Riders Union. The Gandhi-King conference has developed into a major event and our training department has provided resources and mentoring to foster leadership and build our base of local activists winning real victories for their communities. We stand on the shoulders of giants and we all have a deep commitment to protect hard-won victories. Change can be scary, but it can also provide a space to envision new
directions. Moving forward, we will continue to push on issues like criminal justice reform, housing justice, and tenant advocacy. I personally feel that it is past time that our community begins to have the deep conversations necessary for real solidarity and understanding between African American and Latino communities. In this time of transition, we will need your continued support and guidance to thrive and continue our most important work of building communities of liberation. Executive Director is a temporary job in a permanent struggle. My goal is to constantly build a movement bigger than myself, my time, or any individual or era. Please feel welcome to approach me or my staff at any time. As Executive Director, I will need your counsel and ideas. This is your organization and that’s one thing that will never change. (Brad Watkins can reached via email at brad@midsouthpeace.org. Call him at 901725-4990.)
NOTE: In the next few days, the MidSouth Peace and Justice Center will announce a farewell Roast and Toast event to honor outgoing Executive Director Jacob Flowers and his work. A donation of any amount to the Ten for Ten Fund will provide free access to the Roast and Toast event. Donors can give securely online through this link (http://midsouthpeace.org/tenforten) or by mailing contributions to the MSPJC office at 3573 Southern Ave. Memphis, TN 38111.
SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, May 29 - June 4, 2014, Page 12
‘A Little R&R on Sports’:
An original 50 Cent reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch of a game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field in New York City on Tuesday (May 27th). (Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
50 Cent throws a foul ball, possibly the worst pitch ever 50 Cent can blame his tight Mets jersey for what many people are calling the worst first pitch in the history of first pitches. On Tuesday (May 27th), the rapper took the mound at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., to throw the ceremonial pitch before the New York Mets-Pittsburgh Pirates game. He did a decent job looking the part of a pitcher, but on his release, the rapper unleashed a doozy of horri-
bleness. It isn’t just that the pitch is bad – it’s that the pitch is being called the worst ever. Which means that 50’s pitch was worse than Mariah Carey’s lame attempt at throwing a baseball in 4-inch heels. That 50’s pitch was worse, even, than that of Olympian Carl Lewis, who asked for a do-over shortly after he released the ball. Source: The Root
“It is critical that we continue to expand our efforts to engage families in understanding the importance of an active lifestyle and good nutrition.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Olympian gets help to promote better fitness and nutrition among families INDIANAPOLIS – An Olympic heroine joined forces with the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world Wednesday (May 28th) with a shared vision to transform the health of families and communities. Jackie Joyner-Kersee and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) made the announcement at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Orlando. “It is critical that we continue to expand our efforts to engage families in understanding the importance of an active lifestyle and good nutrition,” said Joyner-Kersee. “By partnering with ACSM, we can accelerate our reach by taking this message to underserved communities nationwide.” Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, Joyner-Kersee is one of the most decorated Olympians in history. Since her retirement, she has been a passionate advocate for healthy living in her hometown of East St. Louis. Working with
public schools, community partners and corporate sponsors, Joyner-Kersee’s influence and hands-on work have made a positive difference in her hometown. Now it’s time to take the dream further. “The impact Jackie is having in her community has been exemplary,” said ACSM president William Dexter, M.D. “We look forward to helping her expand this program across the country by providing our organizational resources and evidenced-based research that will help fuel her efforts. At the end of the day, our goal is the same: raise the quality of life for underserved families through nutrition and physical fitness.” The new partners used the ACSM Annual Meeting as the official kick-off for their working relationship. “We are off to a great start as we look to the future,” said Joyner-Kersee. “I am grateful to ACSM for coming alongside us as we pursue a longterm solution for healthy families.
Larry Robinson (right) and Howard Robertson of “A Little R&R on Sports,” a Memphis-based and nationally-syndicated sports entertainment show. (Photos: randronsports.com/) ost of us are regular recipients of ideas, thoughts and visions from a source and power much higher than ourselves. Whenever it happens, sometimes you may get a few instructions on how to do it but usually there’s a “figure it out yourself” aspect. That’s where originality comes in to play. What we all tend to discover is that however divine the thought, the “devil is in the details” of planning and execution. A little over a year ago, Larry Robinson, a Memphis-based marketing exec, was driving to his hometown of Louisville, Ky. and “talking to God” as is his routine on long drives alone. He says that God gave him the idea of doing a sports show to which his initial response was…”you’re trippin’.” But a year later ‘A Little R&R on Sports’ is nationally syndicated on 175 radio affiliates of the San Francisco-based Sports Byline Network as well as: American Forces Radio (over 500 outlets), iHeart Radio, ITunes, Tune-In App, CRN (Cable Radio Network) and other media platforms. So who’s trippin’ now? It became R&R after the “R” as in Robinson contacted the “R” as in Robertson. – that would be Howard Robertson, also a Memphis-based marketer – to be co-creator and co-host of the show. “A Little R&R on Sports” is purposefully different. It’s different because it’s the only nationally syndicated sports radio show with African-American co-hosts. It’s different because it brings a southern flavor to sports radio, which is traditionally overwhelmed with northeastern hosts. The co-hosts interact from the generational perspectives of Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers too, which is very different. But perhaps the biggest difference is based in its originality. “R&R” is a sports entertainment show versus another sports talk show. Each week, there are already more than enough sports talk shows full of scores, recaps, self indulgent hosts and crazy callers. This is a weekend program that just happens to share an acronym with the most desirable and appealing part of anybody’s weekend or vacation (Rest & Relaxation). So it’s got to be engaging, interesting and fun. Going into the 20th show, it has been all that and more. The show features interesting perspectives, lively repartee, good natured “jonesing” and a good-feeling chemistry between Robinson and Robertson. They even do sports satire, characters and spoken word in features like “Fly on the Wall,” “Larry’s Lament” and “Uncle Ragus.” They’ve interviewed great guests including: the iconic Julius “Dr. J” Erv-
M
Larry Robinson
Howard Robertson
ing, veteran coach Lionel Hollins, sports super agent David Falk, Detroit Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski, WNBA star Tameka Catchings and NBA Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond. The guests are “originals” in their own right, plus their views and voices don’t typically proliferate on sports radio shows. Instead of a random call-in segment, there’s “Street Talk,” which Larry likes to call a virtual barbershop. It’s a free flowing, roundtable discussion with three sports fan from around the country on a conference call. Speaking of originality, what other sports show uses the appeal and platform of sports to reach and affect men (the most stubborn, hardheaded, hardto-reach audience of all) about the responsibility for their own health? The segment, called TAP, was created as an acronym for There’s A Problem, based on the reality that much too large numbers of men know more about the prognosis and health status of their favorite athletes than they know about their own health. Through TAP, Robinson and Robert-
son can “tap” guys on their shoulders about looking out for their health in the words of a popular TV sports segment…”Come on man!” And of course, with the show originating here in Memphis, it would be sacrilegious not to have music. So, thanks to hip hop/old school mixes of DJ Superman (Chris McNeil) live in the studio, music is the tie that binds this program together. This week’s show (May 31st) features an interview with former Milwaukee Bucks great Junior Bridgeman, a phenomenal businessman and entrepreneur with a reported net worth of over $400 million. “A Little R&R on Sports” can be heard every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. on AM 790 ESPN Radio in Memphis. It’s also streamed on www.sportsbyline.com on Saturdays at 10 a.m. CDT, Sundays at 7 a.m. CDT and Mondays at 11 a.m. CDT. Log onto www.randronsports.com for more information. Watch for sports commentary from “A Little R&R on Sports” regularly featured here in The New Tri-State Defender.
Thanks to the hip hop/old school mixes of DJ Superman (Chris McNeil) live in the studio, music is the tie that binds “A Little R&R on Sports.”
AAU Boys Basketball National Championships set for Memphis run June 29-July 6 The Youth of Memphis Competitors Association (YOMCA) will host the AAU Boys’ Basketball National Championships for 2nd Grade and 7th Grade Division I and 7th Grade Division II from June 29th through July 6th. Nearly 5,000 players, coaches, parents and supporters participate in the annual AAU divisional contests, which have been hosted in Memphis more than 20 years. The opening ceremony for the AAU National Boys Basketball Champi-
onship for 7th Grade Division I will be held June 29th beginning at 7 p.m. at Southwind High School, 7900 East Shelby Dr. The opening ceremonies for 2nd Grade and 7th Grade-Division II will be held on June 30 beginning at 9:30 a.m. also at Southwind. The opening game in 7th Grade Division I will begin at 8 p.m. after the opening festivities. Admission for the opening ceremonies is $7 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 14. Admission is free for
children under six years old. An AllEvent Pass is $45 for ages 15 and up and $35 for children 6-14. Daily passes are $13 for ages 15 and up and $10 for ages 6-14. Children under six are free. The championship teams will compete at more than a dozen Memphis area sites. For more information, visit http://www.aauboysbasketball.org or call the YOMCA office at 901-3629550.