7 17 2013

VOL. 62, No. 28

July 11 - 17, 2013

www.tsdmemphis.com

75 Cents

New move on homelessness Apartments made available

The two initiatives are: • An expanded Memphis Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing program.

• The launch of Memphis Strong Families Initiative, an $8.1million collaboration that links the city, county and federal governments, the Community Alliance for the Homeless, MIFA, North Memphis Community Development Corporation, Tennessee Community Services Agency, the Plough Foundation and six other local nonprofits.

In the mix is MIFA’s “repurposing” of its 73 apartments in the Midtown area to Rapid Rehousing and permanent residency. The apartments, which had been used for tran-

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson

Election of Kevin Johnson to head Black Mayors group ‘invalid’

Four years from now, 800 homeless families would have received short-term financial assistance and home-based support, and 100 “highly vulnerable” homeless families would have received long-term housing and intensive aid, if two major efforts unfold as envisioned by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. Wharton and Luttrell announced Thursday (July 11) what was labeled as “significant progress.” The announcement came on the second anniversary of the Memphis and Shelby County Action Plan to End Homelessness.

sitional housing, will house families served by the Memphis Strong Families Initiative.

“We are all grateful to MIFA for its willingness to donate its apartments to this important AC initiative and reWharton Jr. structure its homeless program to increase services through Rapid Rehousing,” said Wharton.

“MIFA’s vision for improving the community continues its legacy of helping our neighbors in need.”

Wharton touted the collaboration between public and private entities

that he credited with “making it possible for us to more rapidly move forward with our plans to end homelessness in this community in the next 5 years.”

“The synergy of these efforts Mark H. marks monuLuttrell Jr. mental progress in our work,” said Luttrell. “We are proud to lend support to these important efforts to end homelessness in our community.”

MIFA and a community partnerSEE HOMELESS ON PAGE 2

NNPA News Service

by George E. Curry

WASHINGTON – After accepting a determination by the attorney for the National Conference of Blacks Mayors that the organization’s May 30 election in Atlanta was invalid, more than half of the board members in good standing have written to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson directing him to “table all matters” until the board meets again, according to documents obtained by the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service.

Johnson was elected president of the NCBM at that election. The board of directors in place at the time has resumed control of the organization until a new election can be held, probably in September.

Efforts to reach Johnson for comment via telephone, text and email were unsuccessful.

A board meeting is scheduled for Friday (July 12) afternoon in Atlanta.

At the meeting, it is expected that the board of directors will set a date for the new elections.

The internal documents obtained by the NNPA detail an election that violated at least four provisions of the group’s bylaws. They also bring into view an ongoing clash between Ballard Spahr, a Philadelphia-based law firm brought in by Johnson, and General Counsel Susan “Sue” Winchester of Beverly Hills, Calif. and Atlantabased Executive Director Vanessa R. Williams.

Interviews with more than a halfdozen board members revealed a deep split between the board and Johnson, who has used Ballard Spahr and a special task force appointed by him – he serves as its chairman – to carry out many of the duties normally unSEE MAYORS ON PAGE 2

- INSIDE -

• Responding to racism is not reverse racism. See opinion, page 4.

• Expanding a student’s college options. See Business, page 5.

• Christians happier than atheists – on Twitter. See Religion, page 6.

• We remember Cool DJ Soni D. See Entertainment, page 11.

• GOOD BLUE: Captain Faith Cunningham. See Community, page 14.

MEMPHIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

H- 8 9o - L - 6 5o Su nny

SATURDAY

H- 9 0o - L - 7 0o S unn y

REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-91 L-67 H-86 L-62 H-92 L-68

SUNDAY

H- 9 2o - L - 7 3o Mo stl y Sun ny

Saturday H-91 L-69 H-88 L-68 H-91 L-70

Sunday H-93 L-73 H-89 L-71 H-90 L-71

Down to the wire

Defense attorney Mark OʼMara uses a foam dummy introduced by the prosecution to describe the fatal altercation between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin – the 17-year-old, unarmed teen that Zimmerman shot to death in Sanford, Fla. in 2012. The defense rested its case Wednesday (July 10). After final arguments, the race-tinged case that has gripped much of the nation will be in the hands of a six-person jury. Zimmerman said Wednesday he would not testify.

(Photo: Gary W. Green/POOL)

Summer Health Fair reunites Orange Mound and TSD Fifth Annual Health Fair and Family Fun Day on July 13

The New Tri-State Defender and the Orange Mound Community will be in full-collaboration mode on Saturday – and it’s all about good health.

Following two years of taking its annual Let’s Move Memphis Summer Health Fair and Family Fun Day to other parts of Greater Memphis, the TSD returns to The Mound. The 2013 event is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Orange Mound Community Center, 2572 Park Ave. Five years old, the TSD Health Fair and Family Fun Day was launched in Orange Mound. Last year, it was held at Douglas High School after being hosted at Manassas High School in 2011. Every year, the common denominator is health information and screenings in a fun interactive environment.

“It will be a day of food, fun and family with a focus on good health,” said TSD President and Publisher, Bernal E. Smith II. “There will be special booths for free screenings – blood pressure, diabetes, heart, dental, glaucoma, home safety, etc. – along with free follow-up appointments where necessary.”

The entire Memphis community is invited out to take advantage of

Functional fitness programs mimic activities done in daily life. See story page 8. (Photos: Jacque Wilson/CNN)

the available resources. This year’s major sponsors are Methodist Healthcare and Cigna.

Live entertainment will be provided, along with games and activities for children and adults. And yes, there will be bouncers and water slides for youngsters, in addition to face painting, various snacks and giveaways.

Exercise and dance demonstrations and lessons will help accent the day. Groups interested in per-

Health Tips and more in the TSD’s Health special section.

See pages, 7-10.

forming on the main stage should contact event coordinator Nina Johnson at 901-679-8545. She’s also the contact person for volunteers, which still are needed.

Some 600 adults and children attended last year’s Summer Health Fair.

(For general information on the event or about booths, call 901523-1818 or email advertising@tristatedefender.com.)

BlackVoices.com founder Barry Cooper joins Real Times Media

DETROIT – Real Times Media (RTM), the multimedia parent company of The New Tri-State Defender, has hired digital media expert Barry Cooper – the founder of the original BlackVoices.com – to “strategically transition its traditional print properties into a more robust digital platform.”

Focused on urban news and entertainment, RTM includes the nation’s largest African American-owned newspaper and digital media operation.

The multimedia company is focused on transiBarry tioning traditional Cooper Black Press properties into digital contenders for urban news, lifestyle information and entertainment.

“Barry’s extensive experience with, and comprehensive understanding of, digital media is a tremendous addition to Real Times Media and one I’m sure will become a valuable resource to our clients,” said Hiram E. Jackson, chief executive officer, Real Times Media. “It is truly exciting to have SEE COOPER ON PAGE 2

NEWS

Page 2

Rooftop benefit for Urban Equestrian Program

“Rockin’ on the Rooftop,” a benefit for the newly founded Urban Equestrian Program (UEP) presented by Southern Blues Equestrian Center in partnership with the City of Memphis, will be held on Aug. 17th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Peabody Hotel Skyway Ballroom and Rooftop Terrace.

UEP offers inner city Memphis children the chance to learn about horses in a way that promotes responsibility, confidence, discipline, and empathy.

The goal is to expose children to an opportunity they might otherwise never experience.

The program is currently offered at the Whitehaven Community Center and will gradually roll out to all Memphis community centers. After completing the classes, children who have shown an interest or skill may remain students

“We’ve noticed that there is not enough crossover in the demographic of our students. Horse riding has always been a very suburban, elitist sport, and we want that to change.”

McKrell Baier

at the Southern Blues Equestrian Center free of charge.

McKrell Baier of Southern Blues Equestrian Center said, “We’ve noticed that there is not enough crossover in the demographic of our students. Horse riding has always been a very suburban, elitist sport, and we want that to change.”

Janet P. Hooks, Director of Division of Parks and Neighborhoods, said, “When Southern Blues Equestrian Center

brought this opportunity to us, I was thrilled that we would be able to bring the world of horses to our youth. …Before they are able to mount a horse, kids must learn stable management and grounds maintenance, as well as sessions with equine professionals.”

The benefit will feature The Cadillac Band, members of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame coming all the way from Sweden.

The group was founded by Elvis’ drummer. DJ Fontana.

They will perform alongside special surprise guests and myriad local musicians and entertainers.

Advance tickets include dinner and are $65 for adults, $50 for children under 15, and $1,000 for a VIP table seating ten. Email mckrell@southernbluesequestrian.com for reservations.

President Barack Obama gave the commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and called 2013 valedictorian Betsegaw Tadele the “skinny guy with a funny name” – a nickname Obama has often called himself. “There is no impossible. There is no unbelievable,” Tadele said during his speech. (Photo: Courtesy Morehouse College)

Senate rejects plan to roll back student loan rate hike

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A Democratic measure to temporarily reverse the doubling of interest rates on millions of government-subsidized student loans fell short in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, but negotiations continued on a possible compromise to halt the increase.

Proponents needed 60 votes to succeed with the plan to roll back rates but got only 51, with the tally splitting along party lines.

Interest rates doubled to 6.8 percent on subsidized Stafford loans on July 1 because of congressional inaction to hold them steady heading into the next school year.

Republicans are pushing for a broader approach, saying any new costs for governmentbacked loans must be covered with budget cuts in other pro-

HOMELESS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

ship operate Memphis’s Rapid Rehousing program.

Sally Jones Heinz, MIFA executive director, said 90 percent of the families already assisted by Rapid ReHousing are “still in stable housing.”

“Homeless prevention has been part of MIFA’s focus for 30 years, and we are pleased to expand our contribution to meet the greatest needs in our community,” Heinz said.

The Memphis Strong Families Initiative is among five nationwide. Each is part of a mission to determine if “permanent supportive housing can save families from dissolution and foster care.” The goal of the local initiative is to “improve the safety, permanency

Tri-State Defender

July 11 - 17, 2013

grams.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said negotiations on a compromise are making progress.

This summer’s fight is similar to the one that took place last year when Congress acted to avert an increase in the middle of a presidential campaign.

Student loan debt has skyrocketed in recent years, as have delinquencies, making it a pressing political and financial issue for millions of Americans.

A Federal Reserve Bank of New York report last year highlighted the scope of the problem, showing that student loan debt increased to $956 billion. That is more than auto loan debt or credit card debt.

For the class of 2013, much of the debt is in government loans, with graduates owing an

and wellbeing of Memphis’ most vulnerable children and families through inter-agency communication, collaboration and coordinated service delivery.”

The North Memphis Community Development Corporation (NMCD) will manage the MIFA-donated apartments.

NMCD is a 13-year-old nonprofit committed to quality of life enhancement via affordable housing.

The Memphis and Shelby County Community Alliance for the Homeless will coordinate services provided by the Memphis Strong Families Initiative. The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a $5 million grant (over five years) for that purpose.

Other funding for the Memphis Strong Families Initiative

average of $26,000, according to a Fidelity survey of 750 college graduates.

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, the senior Republican on the Senate’s education committee, said Wednesday’s vote was “the failure of a bad idea – the Senate voted against a short-term political fix that would have left 7 million middle-income students twisting in the wind and helped low-income students for just one year.

“We must focus our attention now on a long-term solution such as the president supports, the House of Representatives has passed, and a group of Republican, Democratic, and Independent senators have proposed.”

(This story includes a TSD staff report.)

includes: • City of Memphis – $392,000; $100,000 for operating support and $292,000 for capital improvements; • Shelby County – $200,000 for capital renovations; • The Plough Foundation – $110,000 for start-up expenses.

“Ending homelessness can only happen when federal, state and local government align with nonprofits, philanthropies under the umbrella of a comprehensive strategic plan such as this,” said Katie Kitchin, executive director of the Community Alliance to End Homelessness.

“Homelessness is already down 13 percent in our community and with these two projects, we can expect even further reductions to come.”

MAYORS

According to minutes of the May 31 Special Business meeting, supplied by one of Johnson’s supporters on the board, “President Johnson said that given the duties of the Board and in light of the many legal, financial and ethical challenges that NCBM has faced in recent years, it is incumbent on the new Board of Directors to undertake a serious forensic audit of the organization’s operations, finances and management in order to put the NCBM on the right footing.”

The minutes noted, “Upon a motion by Mayor Johnny Ford, which was seconded by Mayor Oliver Gilbert, the Board of Directors voted to delegate to the Special Task Force, the power of the Board for the following purposes: (1) to comprehensively investigate facts concerning NCBM’s 501 (c) (3) status, any litigation involving NCBM, and the financial and business affairs, obligations and duties of NCBM; (2) to supervise the management of the ordinary affairs of NCBM; and (3) to engage Ballard Spahr LLP, as its counsel, and such other professionals, and to take such other actions as the Special Task Force deems necessary and appropriate to accomplish these purposes.

The motion passed unanimously.”

However, Miami Gardens, Fla. Mayor Oliver G. Gilbert, III, who seconded the motion to confer certain powers on the special task force, is not a board member, according to NCBM records.

The 16 board members – more than half of the 25 currently in good standing – who wrote to Johnson said, “Both the report and the minutes that were provided to the members of the board are not consistent with the discussion that was held regarding NCBM receiving assistance from Ballard Spahr during the membership meeting.”

In addition to the 16 members who signed the letter, at least four other board members are also supportive of the move to void the election, Bowser said.

According to emails obtained by the NNPA News Service, Valerie Allen, a partner in Ballard Spahr, first contacted attorney Winchester by voicemail and email on June 5. The next day, Allen sent another email to Winchester demanding the immediate collection of NCBM “documents and information.” In what could be interpreted as a threat to Winchester’s ability to practice law in California, Allen wrote, “If you do not respond, as requested, we will be forced to pursue other avenues, including without limitation, seeking the assistance of the California Bar.” The law firm filed for a temporary restraining order in Atlanta to obtain more than 30 NCBM records, but the judge did not issue an order and the matter is scheduled to be addressed in court Friday morning.

In its letter to Kevin Johnson on June 20, the 16 board members said, “As members of the board we are very concerned about the recent activities of the Special Task Force and Ballard Spahr. We object to the recent tactics used by the law firm and do not approve of the way it is now handling the NCBM leadership and staff. Demands and actions are being taken that we as a board have not approved. The board of directors did not approve of Ballard Spahr filing papers in the Superior Court of Fulton County. If such filings have been made we ask that they be removed immediately; we did not approve of investigation of NCBM staff; we did not approve of any attempts to micro manage and/or limit the duties of the NCBM staff, nor did we approve of the removal of NCBM property nor were we made aware of or approve at any time the authority of the board of directors being given to a committee or third party. As a board we would not nor have we given to Ballard Spahr the authority to discipline and or terminate the contracts of NCBM staff.

These measures are extreme and we certainly do not approve.”

COOPER

Voices, an online destination for African American-geared news and information.

Cooper grew the company to 45 employees, with offices in L.A., Chicago and New York.

In 2004, Black Voices was sold to AOL and still ranks number one in its category as the leading social media destination targeting African Americans.

The hiring of Cooper is the first of several strategic moves for RTM in transitioning its iconic newspaper brands into large-scale digital contenders for urban news, lifestyle information and entertainment.

“The Real Times Media team is doing some things that I think will revolutionize the Black Press as we know it,” said Cooper. “From its digital evolution to the 360 degree integration approach it is serving clients, Real Times Media is creating a platform simply not found in black media today. I’m ecstatic to be partnering with the company in these early stages and am con-

fident that together we are going to create something amazing.”

Founded in 2006, the Real Times Media family of companies features Who’s Who Publishing Company, a platform for celebrating African American achievement; the nation’s largest AfricanAmerican owned and operated news organization, including the Atlanta Daily World (www.

ADWNews.com), Chicago Defender (www.ChicagoDefender.com), Michigan Chronicle (www.MichiganChronicle.com), FrontPage Detroit (www.Front PageDetroit.com), the New Tri-State Defender (www.

TSDMemphis.com), and the New Pittsburgh Courier ( w w w. N e w P i t t s b u r g h Courier.com); and RTM Digital Studios, an archival image licensing arm, which houses more than 2 million photos, articles and other artifacts documenting the past 100 years of the African-American experience.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

dertaken by the board of directors.

In a memorandum (dated June 13) to the National Conference of Black Mayors, attorney Winchester wrote, “Mayor Otis Wallace, Esq., Parliamentarian of the National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. (NCBM), has indicated to me that he has received complaints from several Mayors about the election process during the 39th annual convention in Atlanta, GA. Mayor Wallace has requested me to review this matter. Accordingly, as General Counsel of NCBM, I am writing this memo pursuant to Mayor Wallace’s request and set forth below I address the specific issues that Mayor Wallace has identified.”

Among the complaints listed: 1) Several mayors voted who were not qualified to vote because they did not pay dues in a timely manner or didn’t pay them at all. (Section 2.6 of the NCBM bylaws states only mayors who were current at least 10 days prior to the opening plenary session of the annual convention are eligible to vote).

2) The Nominating Committee consisted of only one mayor (Section 5.3 (a) provides for five mayors serving on the Nominating Committee.)

3) Voting by voice vote and by hand were used (Section 5.3 (d) states that the election of officers shall be by secret ballot).

4) The election was not properly supervised (Section 5.3 (d) also states that a supervisor be appointed for the elections).

“Please note, the above does not constitute a complete list of all violations,” Winchester wrote. On the first page of her memo, the board attorney wrote in all capital letters: THE BOARD AND OFFICERS OF NCBM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT MAYOR BOWSER IS STILL EFFECTIVE AND VALID.”

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

one of the founders of the digital black press as a part of our team as we flesh out a digital first strategy which will ensure a strong, vibrant future for our newspaper brands and a successful platform upon which we’ll launch new online brands.”

In an announcement on Monday, RTM said Cooper, a digital strategist who got his start as a journalist, possesses a deep understanding of traditional media. He has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor or newsroom manager for the largest newspaper chains in the country, including The New York Times Co., KnightRidder, Gannett, Tribune Co., and Landmark Communications. Cooper also has a Pulitzer Prize nomination to his credit.

In 1998, as an employee of Tribune Co., Cooper convinced Tribune to invest $5 million to launch Black

NEWS

Tri-State Defender

Page 3

July 11 - 17, 2013

SPECIAL REPORT

Fixing the miseducation African-American students need parent-school partnerships parents for volvement (volunteering at How to build s t u d e n t s ’ school) and 3) home-based inthose bridges t a r d i n e s s volvement (helping with homeby Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D The Root

On July 5, Ivory Kaleb Toldson was born. He is my first son and second child. During his birth I relived the joy, wonderment and jitters that I experienced in 2007 when my daughter, Makena, was born.

Like millions of parents, I want the best education for my children. As a black parent, I am cognizant of the persistent racial inequities and biases in the school system. Black children need to be exposed to a curriculum that builds on their strengths, affirms their culture and treats them with dignity and compassion.

Notwithstanding many problems that schools are having educating black children, I am optimistic that black children can succeed in any type of school (public, private or charter) in any environment (urban, suburban or rural). Through my years of research on academic success, I am convinced that the key to educating black children is to have schools build successful partnerships with black parents.

Today the relationship between black parents and schools is precarious, primarily because of antagonists and instigators. Most antagonists speak through a certain movement or organization. Teachers unions, reform movements and public-education advocates can be noble when they focus on children but destructive when they become antagonistic and defensive. For example, when public schools and teachers unions defend themselves against criticism, they often use apathetic black parents and poverty as scapegoats.

At the same time, black parents have become pawns of entities that are interested only in privatizing education in poor communities (while preserving segregated public education in affluent communities) and marginalizing teachers unions.

Divisive and ineffective strategies, such as establishing “parent trigger” laws, arresting

and instit u t i n g voucher programs, permeate from instigated conf l i c t s between Ivory A. parents Toldson a n d schools.

However, the antagonists would not have power if it weren’t for a minority of dreadfully negligent parents; racist, classist and classless teachers and school administrators; and policies aimed at berating parents and punishing students. In professional dealings with schools, I heard a white school administrator describe black parents as “ghetto,” witnessed black parents passing through metal detectors at the school and routinely heard teachers of all races stigmatize children from single-parent homes.

For this entry of Show Me the Numbers, the Journal of Negro Education‘s monthly series with The Root, I outline what black parents should do to promote academic success among their children and what schools need to do to engage black parents.

What do schools need from black parents?

Schools need black parents to participate in their children’s education, but without the best data, many schools have difficulty communicating what this means. The implicit messages that many schools give black parents are that they need to stop being single, turn off the television sets and help their children with their homework.

Based on the data, this advice is shortsighted and elusive.

Research from 2009 found three distinct categories of parental involvement that had an impact on children’s academic success: 1) academic socialization (socialization around the goals and purposes of education and strategies for success), 2) school-based in-

work). Many are surprised to learn that among the three, academic socialization has the strongest relationship with academic success, and homebased involvement ranks last.

When I analyzed data from Health Behaviours in SchoolAged Children for my first “Breaking Barriers” report, the strongest parenting indicators of academic success were holistic factors, including parents who often told children they were proud of them and parents who let students know when they did a good job. Interestingly, restricting children’s behavior, such as the amount of time they spend with friends or watch TV, did not produce significant effects on grades.

In a nutshell, parents who frequently express love and esteem for their children produced better scholars than parents who place a premium on discipline. In addition, parents who help their kids with school-related problems, are comfortable talking to teachers, encourage their children to do well in school and maintain high expectations have higherperforming children.

Schools should avoid placing unfair and unfounded judgments on race and household configurations. In a recent research study, Howard University doctoral student Brianna Lemmons and I found that beyond race and household composition, many sociodemographic variables influence parents’ participation in school. Parents who live in urban areas and unsafe neighborhoods and have young children in the home participate in school less often. In addition, parents participate in school less frequently when they have children with learning disorders, speak English as a second language, have low expectations for their children’s future and receive less communication from the school.

All of these factors have a stronger statistical relationship to children’s academic performance than household composition; however, these factors should not be used to

stigmatize parents. Rather, they can be used to assess the needs of parents and provide the appropriate school-level resources.

My analysis of the National Household Education Surveys Program’s Parent and Family Involvement Survey found that schools have distinct ways of communicating with parents across race. Parents of black children are significantly more likely to receive incidental phone calls from the school, while parents of white children are more likely to receive regular newsletters and memos.

Parents of black children were also significantly more likely to have schools contact them to complain about their children’s behavior or academic performance. These patterns create festering tensions with black parents and reduce their motivation to participate in the school.

In general, parents were more likely to visit the school when they described the environment as supportive. Supportive schools provide parents with the following: information about how to help children learn at home; information on community services to help their children; explanations of classes in terms of course content and learning goals; information about child development; opportunities for parents to volunteer; and updates on student progress between report cards. Parents also visit the school more frequently when they are satisfied

with the school’s standards regarding academics, teacher quality and discipline.

Building partnerships between black parents and schools

School leaders and parent advocates can implement many culturally responsive strategies to engage black parents in their children’s education. Schools should assess their services and accommodations for parents of diverse backgrounds, including parents who speak a language other than English. In addition, schools should evaluate communication strategies and make every effort to communicate with all groups of parents year-round.

Emphasis should be placed on communicating the positive achievements of students and parents. Be creative. Take pictures of parents bringing their children to school, and post them on the wall under the banner, “We Love Our Parents.”

Instead of stigmatizing parents, schools should broaden the scope and definition of parental involvement to include multiple forms of participation (such as school, home and community based) that accommodate various household compositions and family circumstances. Special accommodations, such as child-care services offered during school events, are another important

engagement strategy to consider for these groups. Furthermore, schools should assess their communities for safety issues and engage in partnerships with members of those surrounding neighborhoods to promote safety and cohesion.

Finally, school leaders and parent advocates should develop strategies to enhance parents’ academic orientation.

This may be particularly challenging for parents who have lower levels of education and may not completely understand the value of education to their children’s future. However, schools with highly involved parents are resourceful and adept at helping parents help their children. Strategies to help parents understand the value of education include providing college and career fairs; explanations of the importance of specific courses for college admissions and career development; guest speakers; career counseling services; and occupational information.

Together, parents and schools can build a positive learning environment for black children – if they avoid antagonists that place the needs of special interests and vanity over those of children. A good relationship between black parents and schools takes empathy, unconditional positive regard, compassion and a mutual interest in educating the whole child.

(Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., is a tenured associate professor at Howard University, senior research analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro Education and contributing education editor at The Root. He can be contacted at itoldson@howard.edu. Follow him on Twitter. (Photo: www.howard.edu))

Page 4

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-Southʼs Best Alternative Newspaper

A Real Times Newspaper

OPINION

Tri-State Defender

July 11 - 17, 2013

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

Spoiling vs nurturing – How to ensure that your child has it all

Responding to racism is not reverse racism

On July 1, CNN aired the special program “N-word vs ‘Cracker’: Which Is Worse?” moderated by Don Lemon. The segment stemmed from the George Zimmerman trial, coming as a result of the prosecution’s star witness’ claim that the late Trayvon Martin told her a “creepy ass cracker” was following him just moments before his life was unrightfully taken.

The defense attorney deftly took what Martin was purportedly to have called Zimmerman and successfully turned it into reverse racism. The use of the term “cracker” caused a fast and furious fallout throughout White America, raising the question over which term is most offensive – cracker or n**ger – and prompting the discussion of what is racism? …Some may believe that the word “cracker” is equally as derogatory, demeaning and dehumanizing as the n-word (n**ger/n**ga). … the unequivocal and unanimous consensus of the CNN panel was that “cracker” is not on the same plane by any means as the n-word given each term’s history, meaning, and purpose.

(To be clear, “n**ga” was undeniably meant to be racially offensive and dehumanizing, and was not based on the job/authority of the slave whipper [which is the origin of the word “cracker.”])

The defense attorney’s ability to take Mr. Martin’s use of the term “cracker” and turn it into a racist comment brought to light the question of whether or not black people can be racist? This question strongly resonated with the American public and has given great cause to address the issue of racism, and its relationship in the black community.

While it’s clear that when other races use the n-word it’s an issue of racism, deliberate efforts have been taken to refrain from making use of the n-word a racist issue in past commentaries. Instead, diligent care is taken to focus efforts of eradicating use of the n-word by the black community, and helping blacks see the slights being caused by their own hand within their own community by referring to one another as “n**gas.”

Frankly, black Americans’ self-internalization of the n-word is an issue all unto itself that must be addressed and fixed if Black America is to stand strongly, united, and effectively to fight the issue of racism external to the community. However, as a result of the CNN special, the denigrating question – “Which is worse?” – and the manner in which the discussion even came to be, an exception is being made in this case and racism will be given the attention it warrants.

To raise such a question of which term is more offensive is an invidious comparison and is really a slap in the face to the Black/African-American community. Until the Zimmerman trial, “cracker” was just another word, albeit one that can be contextualized in a derogatory fashion.

Redneck, honky, poor white trash are all derogatory terms, but are they racist terms?

Redneck and poor white trash are terms that originated amongst whites and when used by non-whites can take on a derogatory slant. Honky was ascribed to whites by black slaves – and literally means “redeared person” or “white person” in the West African language Wolof, but is it racism?

Up to the Zimmerman trial, white people have never reacted in an ethnocentric fashion over a word attributed to them – except during the ’60s when the Nation of Islam ascribed “Blue Eyed Devil” to white folks.

Cracker, redneck, and honky were just words but the term “Blue Eyed Devil” touched a nerve. Even Indians referred to the white man as “paleface” and as one who speaks with a fork tongue. But in any of these cases, can the minority groups really be considered racists? To answer the question, it is important to define, understand and analyze what racism means exactly.

Firstly, racism is an unnatural demeanor invented by white people and did not exist until the enslavement of blacks. Racism is a power relationship between two groups. To be a racist, “one” group must have power and wealth to exact injustice upon “another” group. Black people have not been able to come together to deprive or hurt another group and, thus, are not in a position to even practice racism.

Some will argue that Minister (Louis) Farrakhan (head of the Nation of Islam) is a racist but he IS NOT; rather, as opposed to kowtowing, going along just to get along, or being submissive to paternalism, he

is reacting to unwarranted bigotry and oppression. Farrakhan and no other black American is in a position to be a racist.

For more than five centuries, racism has legitimized assassinaH. Lewis tions, massacres Smith and genocides.

The doctrine of white supremacy has demonized, brutalized and dehumanized nonwhites of the earth. Racism has been the global driving force behind the dispossession of continents and the destruction of civilizations and the extermination of an entire people.

Despite the long struggle against racism, it continues to pollute people’s mental environment. Its enduring potency insures that people are denied opportunities, justice and human rights. Key institutions stay racially monolithic, and racial privilege endures as the recent Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Bill validates this truth.

The 1638 Maryland Doctrine of Exclusion became, and still is in this 21st century, the doctrine of racism towards black people. As such, when black people go along just to get along, accepting the notion being advanced to them that when they react to racism that the “reaction” itself can be construed as reverse racism, is inaccurate and misleading and must always be rejected.

Other than the word n**ger, perhaps, the only other word in the English language that’s as infamous and profane would be the term racist – not “cracker.” The histories between these two words pretty much coincide, like hand and glove. To call a white person a racist today is almost as bad as calling an African American n**ger/n**ga – both words remind each of their pasts and bring to light all of the negative feelings, struggle and strife experienced during a time of inequality, injustice, and inhumanity. It can be very injurious and hurtful to a white person to erroneously be labeled a racist, as both racist and the n-word are volatile terms. Neither the n-word (n**ga) or the term racist should be used as loosely as both are today.

A bit of advice to White America relative to those black Americans who use the n-word: The black community is divided on the use of the insidious word n**ger/n**ga, a problem that Black America is going to have to work out for itself without any outside interference. Some nonblacks are genuinely concerned but the last thing they should do is get in the middle of something that their white forefathers created.

Whether non-blacks are discouraging and/or encouraging blacks about the use of the n-word, they are better served by simply being spectators.

Some white people are making the egregious error of verbalizing the desire to use the n-word, using the excuse that if blacks are doing it why should the term be off limits to them?

The larger question, though, is why are whites fanning the flames of racism by voicing such a desire? Two types of people use the n-word – racist people and those with an 18th century slave mentality. Respectable and honorable people, blacks and non-blacks alike, refrain from such usage.

Plainly, to call a black person racist is nonsense. … Mr. Martin’s was a response out of fear and frustration to the extreme racism/racial profiling and prejudice he was experiencing. … Mr. Martin was truly being treated like a “n**ga” for absolutely no reason at all; this situation in itself proves the truth that racism does still exist in America, and if the old ghosts of the past are to be buried once and for all, this unfair treatment of black people must all come to an end, and Black America must also stop being complicit in their selfnegation of labeling themselves as the n-word (n**ga). Though you may not personally use the term, but condone use of it by others you are equally complicit.

(H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. (www.theunitedvoices.com); and author of “Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word.”

Follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thescoop1.)

Source: BlackNews.com

Cory Booker could reshape the Senate The Grio

by Perry Bacon Jr. Despite his popularity among Democrats nationally, Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s liberal bonafides have long been in question among some party activists.

Democrats in New Jersey criticize him for supporting school vouchers.

A New Republic story last year excoriated the mayor for his once-close alliance with Gov. Chris Christie. His defense of the private equity industry, in the midst of Democrats attacking last year Mitt Romney’s leadership of Bain Capital, drew sharp criticism from top party officials, including Obama adviser David Axelrod.

But in his U.S. Senate campaign, Booker is giving hints he may lead in Washington on an issue that will delight progressives: poverty.

On Monday, in the first formal policy announcement of his campaign, the Newark mayor delivered an antipoverty speech at a New Jersey high school, arguing “child poverty is a national epidemic.” The next day, Booker blasted the media for not covering poverty enough, asking “when are we going to start caring about poor people? Honestly, the only time the press shows up to my city, en masse, is when there’s blood on the sidewalk,” according to the Bergen Record‘s Michael Linhorst.

Steve Phillips, who leads a California-based group called Pac Plus that emphasizes the turnout of minority voters, told Buzzfeed that Booker was the “the most unapologetic and eloquent spokesperson about poverty in this country right now.”

“One of the reasons why I want to go to the U.S. Senate is that nobody wants to talk about poverty in the United States,” Booker, said at a recent event in New York, when he asked why he would want to go to the largely-ineffectual Senate, according to Yahoo News. “The challenge is that we’re not unified as a country to deal with issues like the crushing impact of poverty.”

Booker’s ideas on poverty are hardly novel; many of them have been proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. He calls for raising the minimum wage to $10.10 a per hour, increasing the value of the earned income tax credit, making pre-kindergarten universal (a big theme of Obama’s State of the Union address earlier this year that has went nowhere in Congress) and having the Federal Housing Finance Agency approval principal reductions for underwater mortgages.

Most of the ideas are likely to become law in today’s Washington as long as Republicans control more than 40 seats in the Senate and run the House of Representatives.

But Booker could fill a rhetorical void on the left. From implementing universal health care to the great expansion of the number of Americans on food stamps under his leadership, President Obama has tried to help the more than 45 million Americans living in poverty, including 16 million children, through his policies.

But Obama, as Bill Clinton did before him, usually frames economic issues around the middle class. The New York Times criticized Mitt Romney and Obama for not mentioning poverty during a single time during one of last year’s presidential debates. Bob Herbert, a former Times columnist and now a fellow at the liberal think tank Demos, wrote last year, “Barack Obama can barely bring himself to say the word ‘poor.”

It was one of the sharpest critiques by Obama from a prominent black voice in 2012.

A more frank discussion of poverty, particularly among children, by Booker could help galvanize action in Washington.

And while other Democrats, Cory particularly memBooker bers of the Congressional Black Caucus, do speak regularly about poverty, they don’t have much ability to draw the rest of Washington’s attention to their causes. Booker will.

If he wins this race in October, as expected, he will arrive in Washington with a set of very important credentials that will give him a much bigger megaphone that most members of Congress: more than 1 million Twitter followers, long, deep connections with the national press, and the notoriety of being both the only black Democrat in the Senate and a likely future presidential candidate.

To be sure, it’s hard for any member of the Senate to break through if they are not talking whatever legislation is on the floor or being proposed by the sitting president. Hillary Clinton and Obama entered the Senate with great fanfare, but were not the authors of any major legislation.

Elizabeth Warren, a liberal hero during her 2012 campaign, has barely made an imprint in the chamber in her few months there, as her antiWall Street politics can’t have much influence on a Congress that has spent weeks debating immigration reform and gun control.

And Booker’s record suggests he is an ambitious politician who could seek to move toward issues that better align with what has momentum in Washington or might help him in a future White House run.

But in his decade of service in electoral politics, Booker has demonstrated a deeper commitment to highlighting the plight of the disadvantaged than the average senator.

He lived for eight years in a public housing complex in Newark. He drew national attention last year by spending only $30 in a week for food to demonstrate the challenge of living on food stamps.

If he chooses, Booker could put poverty at the forefront of his Senate career, and potentially the Senate itself.

(Follow Perry Bacon Jr. on Twitter at @perrybaconjr.)

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Babies and young children often serve as the greatest sources of joy in our adult lives.

Maybe that’s why we are all guilty at times of going against our better judgment – spending beyond Tarrin our means or givMcGhee ing in to tearful requests even when we suspect it may not be the right thing to do.

This conflict leads many parents to worry whether they are “spoiling” their child. In common terms, a “spoiled” child is one who is used to getting whatever she wants – and prone to throw temper tantrums when she doesn’t.

Some parents believe that children should get what they want most of the time. Other parents believe that indulging children too often is bad for them. They believe that spoiled children become spoiled adults who lack independence and are illequipped to overcome life’s pitfalls and setbacks.

Let’s be clear. There is a stark difference between spoiling your child and meeting his or her needs. All children need significant amounts of love and one-on-one time with parents and caring adults to feel nurtured and protected. This sense of security is especially vital during the first three years of life, when children are acquiring skills that will serve them throughout childhood and adulthood.

But is it possible to give a child too much attention, or too many material things? It’s an important question, yet there is surprisingly little research on the subject. Most parents would probably agree that because a child’s needs and wants change drastically during the first few years of life, spoiling means different things at different stages of development.

Parents of infants often wonder how they should respond to their baby’s crying. Research shows that you cannot spoil your baby by attending to his cries. On the contrary, responsive parenting leads to less crying by the end of the first year as well as better behavior during the toddler period. There are long-term benefits as well, including better academic and social outcomes.

As your baby grows into a toddler, new concerns arise about how to deal with his increasing sense of independence. We often call this period the “terrible twos,” but a toddler’s desire to assert himself is a natural and necessary part of healthy development.

Make sure that you set consistent rules and limits, but keep in mind that conflicts are one way that children at this stage learn about selfcontrol, compromise and cooperation. This learning can be disrupted if parents are determined to win every battle or if they give in to a child’s every whim.

As children approach school age, many parents begin to wonder how to handle their child’s frequent requests for new toys, gadgets or clothes. Although purchasing such items can be a quick way to bring a smile to your child’s face – or to silence incessant whining – there is no evidence to suggest that designer clothes and high-priced toys will make a child feel better, smarter or more loved.

Our society glorifies outward appearances and often equates human value with economic status. It’s possible that excessive spending by parents might send children the same message. According to The Urban Child Institute, non-monetary investments by parents will yield greater returns in the long run.

One thing is certain: When it comes to affection, patience and time, there’s no such thing as giving too much or going overboard. Intangible gifts such as these do not depreciate as the years go by. In fact, their benefits continue to produce healthy outcomes throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Sure, it is human nature for parents to want their children to have it all. But without balance and moderation, the commitment to do whatever it takes to give their child the world can leave many scrambling to make ends meet or striving for perfection in all of the wrong areas.

If the true purpose of our giving and generosity is to ensure our young children are healthy, well-adjusted and ready for the world, then nurturing them with the gifts of boundless love and attentive care is the most effective way to accomplish this goal.

(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.)

Tri-State Defender

BUSINESS

July 11 - 17, 2013

ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

Entrepreneurship:

Life after layoffs, downsizing and retirement Part 1

Summer Owens, a former FedEx marketing specialist advisor, is living proof that there is entrepreneurial life after layoffs, downsizing and retirment.

Carlee McCullough: Tell us a little about yourself.

Summer Owens: I am originally from Jackson, Carlee Tenn., but have lived in McCullough Memphis since 1997. I moved here to attend the University of Memphis, where I graduated with a BBA in Marketing in 2001 and was also named Miss University of Memphis. Last year I was named the Fogelman College of Business and Economics Young Alumna of the Year. I also earned an MBA from Belhaven College. I am the 34-year-old mother of an 18-year-old son and the author of “Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother.” I am also the founder and president of S.O. What! LLC and founder and executive director of The S.O. What! Foundation.

CM: Tell us about your professional background.

SO: I worked at FedEx for six years. … Prior to that, I worked at ServiceMaster for almost two years as a marketing manager. But I started my career as a marketing manager with the Memphis Grizzlies and was there for five years, starting with the team’s inaugural season in Memphis.

CM: Tell us about the buyout for the (FedEx) employees. Were you looking forward to participating?

SO: Yes, I had hoped to be able to participate in the voluntary buyout FedEx was offering.

However, I was not.

CM: What made you decide to pursue entrepreneurship even though you did not receive the buyout offer?

SO: I had published my book almost three years earlier and began to get requests for speaking engagements. I also was asked about having a curriculum to go with my book. I developed the curriculum and had it implemented in several schools and churches.

I continued doing up to three speaking engagements per week often on my lunch break or right after work for nearly three years.

When I had speaking engagements out of town, I took vacation time from work to do them.

I was a single mother working a full-time job and also balancing my new life as an author and a speaker. Although I loved my job in advertising at FedEx, it could not compare to the feeling I got when I spoke. I realized God had given me a gift with my life story and my ability to share it and the lessons learned to impact the lives of others.

A year after writing my book I knew I wanted to use my life to help others full time.

The buyout offer had just given me the timeline and the push to make the leap, so even when I did not get the buyout I knew it was time for me to begin my journey as an entrepreneur.

CM: How did you prepare to go without your stable income and pursue your dream full time?

SO: As I talk about in my book, I have always been a big saver. When I began to see the potential for a new career with my own business, I increased my savings. I lived off only the money I absolutely needed to pay my bills

Summer Owens

and put the rest directly into savings accounts.

I did this for about two years until I had saved enough money to pay my bills for at least a year even if my business was not profitable, or if I chose to not pay myself from the business in the first year.

CM: What is your plan as it relates to your business?

SO: I am very excited about the future of S.O. What! Right now, the plan is to continue doing speaking engagements in schools, colleges, churches and other events. “The Life After Birth” curriculum is also currently being modified to include common core standards so that teachers will be able to use the book to teach on many life lessons as well as basic school subjects, including math, science, vocabulary, and geography.

I am working with some school systems who want to develop an elective course using the “Life After Birth” book and curriculum as well. S.O. What! trainings and workshops are being developed which will focus on topics like self-esteem building, budgeting and saving, balancing multiple priorities, time management and goal setting. Additionally, new S.O. What! motivational products will be released soon.

CM: How can people book you to speak?

SO: Just click on the “Contact Us” link on www.SummerOwens.com and complete the short form with information about your event program.

CM: How can they buy the book?

SO: “Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother” is available on my website, www.SummerOwens.com. I sign each copy ordered from my site and even write encouraging notes when requested. It is also available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and wherever books are sold.

(For additional information visit www.SummerOwens.com.)

(Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 5308 Cottonwood Road, Suite 1A, Memphis, TN 38118, or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)

MONEY MATTERS

Expanding a student’s college options

Would you be disappointed if your child or grandchild was not able to attend his or her “dream” college solely for financial reasons? If you aspire to help a student cover rising higher-education costs, it may be wise to start saving as early as possible.

Parents and other family members can contribute to state- and college-sponsored 529 plans that feature tax-deferred accumulation. Withdrawals are tax-free if used to pay qualified higher-education expenses. There are no income restrictions for participation, although each state sets a maximum annual contribution limit.

When 529 plan withdrawals are not used for qualified expenses, earnings may be subject to ordinary income tax plus a 10 percent federal income tax penalty. The tax implications of a 529 plan should be discussed with your legal and/or tax advisors because they can vary significantly from state to state. Most states offer their own Section 529 plans, which may provide advantages and benefits exclusively for their residents and taxpayers.

As with other investments, there are generally fees and expenses associated with participa-

tion in a 529 plan. There is also the risk that the investments may lose money or not perform well enough to cover college costs as anticipated.

Before investing in a 529 savings plan, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully. The official disclosure statements Charles Sims Jr., CFP and applicable prospectuses — which contain this and other information about the investment options, underlying investments, and investment company can be obtained by contacting your financial professional. You should read these materials carefully before investing.

(Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancial Group.com.)

Page 5

RELIGION

Page 6

July 11 - 17, 2013

Tri-State Defender

Christians happier than atheists – on Twitter CNN

by Jessica Ravitz Christians tweet from the heart, atheists from the head, according to a new study.

The study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tapped Twitter as a research tool and compared the messages of Christians and atheists.

The conclusion: When they are limited to 140 characters or less, these researchers say, believers are happier than their counterparts.

Two doctoral students in social psychology and an adviser analyzed the casual language of nearly 2 million tweets from more than 16,000 active users to come up with their findings, which were published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.

The team identified subjects by finding Twitter users who followed the feeds of five prominent public figures. In the case of Christians, those select five were Pope Benedict XVI, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, conservative political commentator Dinesh D’Souza and Joyce Meyer, an evangelical author and speaker.

In the case of atheists, the five followed feeds included Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Monica Salcedo and

Michael Shermer – the latter two respectively being a self-described “fiercely outspoken atheist” blogger, and a science writer who founded The Skeptics Society.

With the help of a text analysis program, the researchers found that Christians tweet with higher frequency words reflecting positive emotions, social relationships and an intuitive style of thinking – the sort that’s gut-driven.

This isn’t to say that atheists don’t use these words, too, but they out-tweet Christians when it comes to analytic words and words associated with negative emotions.

Christians, they found, are more likely to use words like “love,” “happy” and “great”; “family,” “friend” and “team.”

Atheists win when it comes to using words like “bad,” “wrong,” and “awful” or “think,” “reason” and “question,” said Ryan Ritter, one of the students behind the study.

While not perfect – for example, this sort of word examination can’t account for sarcasm – word choices, Ritter and his colleagues argue, reflect something about a person’s mindset.

An analytical thinker (atheist) is more likely to be skeptical or critical, for example, whereas an intuitive thinker (Christian) is guided by emotion and certainty.

Based on previous studies cited by these re-

searchers, analytical thinking may “diminish the capacity for optimism and positive self-illusions that typify good mental health.”

Likewise, mentions of social connections, which they say are often provided in a “tightknit moral community,” suggest stronger relationships among Christian tweeters and are, they add, often an indicator of happiness.

The takeaway, Ritter wrote in an e-mail, is “not that religion is associated with more happiness, per se, but why?”

“If we can understand the factors that facilitate happiness (e.g., increased social support), ideally we can use these insights to increase well-being for believers and nonbelievers alike,” Ritter said.

But the Twitter study doesn’t fly with everyone.

After reading an article about the study on Pacific Standard magazine’s website, Richard Wade, an advice columnist for the blog Friendly Atheist, called it “useless and misleading” and based on “sloppy research.”

He wrote, “The take away for most lay people is ‘Atheists are unhappy people.’ ... How do you quantify ‘happiness’? How do you quantify ‘analytical thinking’?”

“Even in their acknowledgments about the possible biases in their study, the authors still

(Illustration: Liz Starin/CNNMoney)

use absurd and meaningless terms like ‘militant atheist,’” he added. “This study suffers from the same negative stereotypes about atheists that most of society has, and it has simply reinforced that prejudice with more muddled thinking.”

Ritter, who happens to describe himself as a happy atheist, said in hindsight he wishes they hadn’t used the word “militant” and that no ill will was intended. They simply wanted to describe those who have “extremely negative attitudes” when it comes to religion.

“I am a friend of the atheists! My response to Richard would be that he should apply the ‘principle of charity’ when interpreting other’s research (i.e., that it’s possible we’re NOT incompetent,” he wrote in an e-mail.

“This is not an assumption; this is the pattern we observed in the data.”

RELIGION BRIEFS

‘Gospel According To Soul’ – back at it

The play “Gospel According To Soul,” makes a highly-anticipated return to the Abundant Grace stage on July 19-21.

Memphis’ own R&B/ soul singer, Tim Terry, stars as Judas in the play that was a big local hit in 2012. Terry is best known for his hits, “Ooowee” and “Loyalty.” Gospel recording artist Jeff Murdock steps into the lead role as Jesus, and American Idol’s Equoia Coleman portrays Mary Magdalene. Other cast members include Michael Adrian Davis of WHAL FM 95.7, Mike Barnes and Pam Steward.

Dwayne Hunt is the writer and director of “Gospel According To Soul,” and this year he is joined by Clear Channel Entertainment and Media in the presentation of the original musical.

“I’m excited to have an award winning entertainment group partner with me in taking the sound that is felt down in the soul and use it to tell the story that resounds in the spirit,” said Hunt.

Abundant Grace is located at 1574 E. Shelby Dr. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.Stage88.com, at Abundant Grace, or by calling 901-789GRACE (4722). Discount tickets are available for groups of 20 or more.

A ‘growing’ conference…

Dr. Arthur Jackson of Miami, Fla., was the guest speaker Tuesday (July 9) during a segment of the 11th Annual Expository Preaching, Teaching Church Growth Conference at New Salem Baptist Church at 2237 South Parkway East.

Host Pastor Dr. Frank E. Ray (center stage) and conferences attendees stand in appreciation of a special performance. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

Pastor and wife service set for Castalia Baptist

Castalia Baptist Church pastor Dr. Randolph Meade Walker and his wife, first lady Deloris Adair Walker, have been fixtures at the church for 15 years. On Sunday, Castalia’s congregation will celebrate the couple’s service to the church.

Dr. Eric Winston, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Praise Team will be on hand for the 8 a.m. service at Castalia, which is located at 1540 Castalia St. During the 11 a.m. service, the Rev. Ed Parker, pastor of Berean Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker.

BRIEFLY: The Church Health Center is now offering a bible study class every Thursday at 11 a.m. at Church Health Center Wellness, 1115 Union Ave. For more information, call 901-259-4673.

Now presenting…

Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr. and Metropolitan Baptist Church began the celebration of the churchʼs 117th Anniversary last Friday (July 5) with a concert by jazz pianist Donald Brown – a two time Grammy nominee and “one of our own.” Left: Brown and Johnny Yancey salute the late jazz musician Mulgrew Miller, who died May 29. Right: Pictured are (l-r) Clifton Brown, Donald Brown, Davena Brown Porter and Dr. Porter. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHES-

METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor

767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

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

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

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

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

— Proverbs 1:7

—Ecclesiastes 9:11

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

(901) 948-3441

Early Morning..........7:45 AM Church School..........9:45 AM Morning Worship......11:00 AM Bible Study For Youth and Adults Tuesday - 7:00 PM “Spirit, Soul, and Body!”

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

TV Cable Access Broadcast Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Channel 17 Website:www.saintandrewamec.org Child Care Center (901) 948-6441 Monday-Friday 6 AM- 5:30 PM Emergency Food Pantry & Clothes Closet Wednesday 6 PM-8 PM

Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, Pastor Rev. Marilynn S. Robinson, Pastor

“Ministering to Memphis-Spirit, Soul and Body”

HEALTH Tri-State Defender, Thursday, July 11 - 17, 2013, Page 7

Avoid the rush, plan ahead

School immunizations As the new school year approaches, the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) is reminding parents about immunization requirements before the school year begins.

Individuals falling into any of the following groups are required to receive immunizations: childcare facilities, preschool and pre-kindergarten; kindergarten; entering seventh grade; new students to Tennessee; and higher education.

The most common vaccinations required include: • diphtheria, tetanus, pertus-

sis (DTaP); • hepatitis B (HepB – 3 shot series); • polio (OPV or IPV); • measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

In preparation for the fall semester, the SCHD will offer special hours at public health clinics to accommodate busy schedules and help alleviate long lines during the back-toschool rush.

Public health clinics (listed below) will be open four Saturdays: (July 13, July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 24) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Galloway Clinic, 757 Galloway, (901) 222-9750; • Hickory Hill Clinic, 6590 Kirby Center Cove, (901) 222-9910; • Millington Clinic, 8225 Highway 51 N., (901) 222-9940; • Shelby Crossing Clinic, 6170 Macon Road, 901) 2229800; • Southland Mall Clinic, 1215 Southland Mall, (901) 222-9828; • Cawthon Clinic, 1000 Haynes, (901) 222-9866; • Collierville Clinic,167 Washington, (901) 222-9900.

School immunizations are also available weekdays (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the SCHD main office located at 814 Jefferson Ave. If a parent does not have a copy of their child’s shot records, they are encouraged to contact the SCHD Immunization program (222-9329) or their primary care provider during normal business hours. Additionally, individuals should bring the child’s documentation of insurance coverage, including those on TennCare.

During an editing break, TSD Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku, who spends a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, uses a stretching technique he learned for the golf course. (Photo: Shirley Jackson)

Does posture really matter?

Your health may depend on it NNPA News Service

The Sparks Family Reunion was held at the Baker Community Center in Millington on June 15.

(Photos: Shirley Jackson)

Healthy habits & family reunions A perfect match

by Stacy Simon

Family reunions are a chance to reconnect with family members and meet new ones. They’re a time to reminisce about the old days and create new traditions. If you’re planning or attending a family reunion this summer, make healthy living a part of the activities for young and old alike.

Choose a healthier menu

This year, adapt some family recipes to incorporate ingredients that are lower in fat, salt, and calories. You’ll be teaching a new generation to love a healthier version of your family’s treasured favorites. At the same time, you’ll be helping the older folks who may have high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or other conditions that require special attention to eating healthy.

Follow food safety tips

Food spoils quicker in warmer temperatures. Make sure you follow safety tips like these from the US Department of Agriculture: Wash hands, utensils, containers, and work surfaces before handling food to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading.

Cook food the same day you plan to serve it, not in advance, to give bacteria less time to grow. Cool food quickly by spreading it out in shallow containers and refrigerating.

Keep mayonnaise-based foods cold.

Wash melons and tomatoes before cutting, in case bacteria are present

‘Functional fitness’ keeps seniors moving Page 8

on the rind or peel. Refrigerate the cut pieces immediately.

Throw out leftovers that have been sitting out for more than 1 hour.

Store the rest in a cooler with ice. If all the ice has melted, throw away the food.

Get the kinfolk moving

Include activities in the reunion schedule that incorporate fun and exercise – such as walking, hiking, dancing, tennis, golf, or bowling.

Along with eating well, remaining active can lower the risk for conditions like obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity activity each week, preferably spread throughout the week.

Share health history

Use the reunion as a time to talk

‘Biggest Losers’ a good thing at Methodist Hospital South Page 8

about family health information. Families often share genes, habits, and environments that may affect their risk for chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. If you know a health problem runs in your family, you may be able take steps to reduce your risk. You can’t change your genes, but you can change behaviors that affect your health such as smoking, inactivity, and poor eating habits.

Share any new information with your doctor to find out whether you should start cancer screening earlier or get tested more often. Most cancer screening tests find cancer early, when it is easier to treat, and a few tests lead to treatments that prevent cancer.

If you know a health problem runs in your family, you may be able take steps to reduce your risk.

Source: American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/)

President crashes Kids’ ‘state dinner’ Page 9

Atten-Hut! Is that what we think of when we hear the phrase, “good posture?”

Talk of good posture often generates images of women walking in a circle with books balanced on their heads or soldiers standing at attention. But good posture does not have to be rigid or ridiculous. In fact, far from ridiculous, it may be the key to good health.

Many women complain of lower back pain, stiff necks and shoulders, most of which have a direct correlation to poor posture. If you sit hunched in front of a computer screen all day, it’s likely the head hovers towards the screen, the lower back has collapsed and the tail bone is supporting the weight, and legs are crossed or splayed. Remember the phrase, “put yo hands on yo hips and let yo backbone slip.” Bad standing posture includes the same hunching or lateral misalignment, like standing with a hip cocked to one side.

These common forms of less-than-perfect posture mean less-than-healthy consequences for the body. Let me tell you…I know. I’m in physical therapy right now because of hovering over a computer too long.

Does posture really matter?

Ever feel low on energy? Get sick often?

Experience headaches or digestive upset, like constipation or diarrhea?

Feel less agile than you used to be? Your postural habits may be behind these symptoms.

Proper posture means the body is aligned so that all the muscles work as they were designed to. On the other hand, poor posture leads to inefficient movement, causing the muscles to have to do extra work. For instance, if the head isn’t resting correctly on top of the neck and spine but hovers over the chest instead, the muscles at the back of the neck have to remain contracted to hold the head up.

The results? Circulation becomes hindered, and oxygen and nutrients have a hard time flowing through the body. Contracted muscles are less able to receive hydration and energy, and the tissue eventually becomes hard and fibrous. Eventually, muscles

Chef Timothy: Learning to live gluten-free Page 9

can pull bones out of alignment and cause serious problems and discomfort.

The bottom line is, poor posture can lead to muscular stress and fatigue, which can in turn lead to deficient circulation, compromised immunity, and poor lymph flow –which brings us back to low energy, frequent illness, headaches, digestive issues, and waning agility.

So to answer our earlier question, yes, posture DOES matter!

Perfecting Posture

Correcting poor posture requires undoing the hardening, or fibrosis, of the muscles that have been habitually contracted, allowing them to relax and the bones to move back into place. Perhaps a simple concept, but not an easy task.

Swedish massage can help increase circulation and release chronically held areas.

Deep tissue massage helps wake up the body and reverse some of the fibrosis in the tissue.

What’s a Body To Do?

Desk jobs are notorious for wreaking havoc and causing postural impairments. If you spend a lot of time sitting, make sure both feet are flat on the ground to give yourself a “tripod” of stability for the spine to rest on. Also, be sure to take frequent breaks, even if it just means walking to the window for a moment, or getting a glass of water. When standing, distribute weight evenly between both feet; and don’t lock the knees or ankles.

Good posture takes practice, practice, practice and constant reminding. Old habits die hard, and this is true for muscular habits too.

Be sure to schedule a series of massage treatments to help retrain the body. And talk to your massage practitioner about stretches and posture tips that can enhance your massage sessions.

(For more questions on the benefit of Massage Therapy, contact Valecia at vktw@yahoo.com.)

(Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times)

American Cancer Society answers call in Shelby County Page 9

HEALTH

Page 8

Tri-State Defender

July 11 - 17, 2013

‘Functional fitness’ keeps seniors moving CNN

by Jacque Wilson

John Moses plays tennis every week. He does pushups and planks, shoulder presses and squats. He attends group fitness classes at an activity center three times a week, often taking two classes on Wednesdays and Fridays.

His strength, flexibility and six-pack abs have earned him a spot on the center’s Wall of Youth and Fame. But the 75year-old Atlanta man is just glad his joints don’t hurt anymore. “(Exercise) helps you capture the vim, vigor and vitality of your youth,” he says.

“You can do the things you did when you were younger.”

Moses credits his energy to functional fitness, a type of exercise program that mimics the activities of daily life. For instance, lifting grocery bags out of the car requires forearm strength and balance.

Putting those groceries away on high kitchen shelves could require shoulder flexibility and calf muscle stability.

“In real life you don’t do an activity that singularly involves the bicep,” explains Karyn Loughridge-Petty, program supervisor at the Center for Functional Fitness in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

“Functional fitness is focused on multi-joint activity. ... You rotate your body, put the strap over your shoulder, twist to put (the bag) in the car.”

Functional fitness ranked eighth on the American College of Sports Medicine’s list of the top 2013 fitness trends.

Exercise programs for older adults ranked sixth.

The two are often one in the same, says Walt Thompson, professor of kinesiology at Georgia State University and lead author of the ACSM survey – although functional fitness can apply to the younger generation as well.

Take, for example, a young man working on an assembly line in the automotive indus-

Methodist South Hospital “Biggest Loser” first-place winner Richard Schnatterly and second-place winner Vera Lewis show off their winnings after losing the most pounds in the recently held weight loss challenge. (Courtesy photo)

‘Biggest Losers’ a good thing at Methodist Hospital South Many seniors take functional fitness classes to stay independent. Moves focus on endurance, balance, core strength, joint flexibility. (Photos: Jacque Wilson/CNN)

try. He might not have the upper-body strength to manipulate large objects above his head. Or a restaurant server might need to increase her endurance so her feet don’t hurt at the end of a long night.

“A personal trainer can imitate that kind of activity in the gym,” Thompson says.

Smart commercial gyms are starting to offer senior functional fitness programs in the midmorning and early afternoon, Thompson says, when other exercisers are scarce.

“If they’re not doing it, they’re losing out on the potential revenue source that is huge. About the only demographic that has any discretionary money left is the elderly.”

And it’s a large demographic – more than 41 million Americans were over the age of 65 in 2011. But as with any other age group in the United States, getting seniors to work out can be a challenge; in 2009, approximately

32 percent of older adults reported having no physical activity time in the last month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A gymnastics coach and group fitness instructor for more than 35 years, Loughridge-Petty designed the Forever Young program for baby boomers in her area to provide a place for them to exercise at their own pace.

“I’m a physical person.

I’ve always been a physical person,” she says. “Do I want to be working out with 20and 30-year-olds? Probably not.”

As people age, there’s wear and tear on the body. They lose muscle mass, bone strength and their sense of balance. Functional fitness focuses on keeping seniors independent as long as possible. Frequent exercise can help relieve arthritis pain, reduce the risk of falling and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC.

The Forever Young program still has boot camp and Zumba classes, but they’re different than the ones offered at the main building.

The intensity and tempo aren’t as high because seniors are more focused on building strength and flexibility. Another class has stations that mimic moves you would need to attend a theater performance: stair climbing; walking sideways down the aisle; sitting and standing up.

Basically, the end goal for functional fitness is different than your typical gym program, Loughridge-Petty says.

“What I want isn’t a size 2,” she says. “What I want is to be able to go to Hawaii and have a good time and not be worried about not being able to get my luggage in the overhead compartment. My leg muscles are strong not because I want to look great in a 4-inch heel, but because I want to be able to get in and out of a cab without help.”

Weight-loss competition accents wellness program Undaunted by uncertainty, Linda Smith – Methodist South Hospital community development manager – took on the task of putting a positive spin on the term biggest loser.

Her resolve is paying off.

As part of Methodist Healthcare’s myHealthy Life wellness program, Methodist South Hospital recently held a “Biggest Losers” competition.

Smith designed the program, which also includes fitness speaker sessions, walks with administrators and exercise classes.

“We weren’t sure what kind of participation we would have when we started,” said Smith. “But we had 54 to signup and most have kept a great deal of interest and motivation in the program.”

During fitness speaker sessions, Methodist dietitians, wellness experts, clinical coordinators and EAP Associates presented such topics as “Nutrition Myths and Facts,” “My personal weight-loss journey,” “Exercise? Do I have to?” and “Behavioral changes for successful weight loss.” In one

session, Methodist South chef Seth Feibelman prepared a breakfast wrap with creamy guacamole sauce while putting on a healthy cooking demonstration.

Associates were also encouraged to add a fitness component – like boot camp, cardio Boom!, line dancing, pilates, yoga, Zumba and Jazzercise fitness classes – to help their weight loss strategy.

All the components are offered at South, Wellworx or other Methodist hospitals.

The “biggest losers” competition winnings are determined by a “pot,” which includes participation sign-up money and dollars collected during weekly weigh-ins. Participants were charged $1 each time their weight increased.

The first-place winner receives 70 percent of the pot and the second-place winner receives 30 percent.

Richard Schnatterly and Vera Lewis came up the “biggest losers” at the conclusion of the competition.

The next challenge ends in August.

HEALTH

Tri-State Defender

Page 9

July 11 - 17, 2013

American Cancer Society answers call in Shelby County

Following diagnosis, cancer patients and their loved ones often seek any information they can find to help them navigate the baffling disease.

To cut through the confusion, the American Cancer So-

ciety has developed information resources available to anyone, anywhere, anytime at 1-800-227-2345 or cancer.org.

By contacting the American Cancer Society, cancer patients can quickly receive treatment

information or local support programs. Caregivers can access information on coping.

General information, including facts and statistics about cancer, is also readily available.

“A cancer diagnosis is a

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House – an event thrown by the first lady to welcome the winners of the second annual “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.”

“Usually at a state dinner I get invited, so I don’t know what happened on this one,” the president joked. “I hear the food is pretty good.”

Obama went around to each table to congratulate the kids before leaving to get back to official business.

“This is what it’s like to be a part of an official state dinner,” Michelle Obama told the children and their parents gathered in the East Room.

“We mirrored it exactly to what people experience when we host world leaders here.”

The kids, ranging in age from 8 to 12, even got to experience an arrival ceremony as they were officially announced as they made their way through the booksellers’ entrance of the White House.

The “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge” is a recipe contest for kids across the country, first launched in 2012 by Epicurious – a website about food – to promote healthy eating

support from donations to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

For information about cancer, call toll-free, day or night, to 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Learning to live gluten-free

President crashes Kids’ ‘state dinner’ CNN

Cancer Society helps people easily connect with information to lessen the burden, calm the fears and prepare for the road ahead.”

The information resources are made possible in part by

CHEF TIMOTHY

President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at Tuesdayʼs kidsʼ “State Dinner” at the White House – an event thrown by the the first lady to welcome the winners of the second annual “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.” (Photo: Pool)

by Lindy RoyceBartlett

devastating experience, not only for the patient but for everyone around them,” said Greg Broy, spokesperson for the American Cancer Society in Tennessee. “Knowledge truly is power. The American

for children in the United States. It is part of first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative – a program developed to “solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation,” according to the program’s website.

Last week, the White House, Epicurious, and the departments of Education and Agriculture announced 54 winners from more than 1,300 entries. One winner was chosen from each of the 50 states, plus three territories and the District of Columbia.

Each recipe had to meet USDA’s healthy meal criteria and had to represent each of the five food groups. Fruits and vegetables were required to be part of at least half of the recipe.

“We have seen that when kids like all of you get involved in creating your own healthy meals the results can really be amazing and delicious and fun,” Mrs. Obama told the young chefs. “You’ll come up with ideas that none of us grownups ever thought of.”

Winning recipes included “Picky Eater Pita Pizza Pockets,” made by 8-year-old Jacob Hirsch from West Bloomfield, Michigan; and “Bring it on, Brussels Sprout Wrap!” by 9-year-old Corbin Jackson from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Tuesday’s event featured

some of the winning recipes – many of which are considered finger food.

“Using your fingers is completely fine here... the first lady has said that it is OK!” Michelle Obama exclaimed.

The president took mockoffense at his wife’s comment.

“Michelle never said to me I can just pick up something with my fingers at a state dinner – that’s not fair!” he joked.

Amber Kelley traveled to the White House from Woodinville, Wash., for the special event. The 10-year-old won for her “Nummy No-Noodle Lasagna” recipe and got to sit next to Mrs. Obama during lunch.

Amber explained to CNN the big secret to her winning recipe: “Instead of putting in the noodles you put in really thinly sliced zucchini,” she said. “It tastes really good.

Some people told me that you can barely tell.”

Amber’s mother, Yoko, was “thrilled” about her daughter’s win and the visit to the White House.

“She’s kind of been dedicating herself to healthy cooking for a while now and this is the big crescendo at the end,” she said.

After lunch, recipe winners were treated to a performance by 15-year-old singer Rachel Crow before geting a tour of the White House kitchen garden.

Do you know that something you’re eating every day may be harming you – and it is called gluten. This protein is found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut and oats.

It is hidden in your pizza, pasta, breads, wraps, rolls and most of your processed foods.

Gluten may cause serious health complications for many people, even health conscious people Dr. Timothy like you. As you look at ways to change or imMoore prove your overall health, consider living gluten-free and start enjoying the benefits of a healthier life.

Rice Cereal with Almonds, Pecans, Flax Seeds, Walnuts and / or Fruit Makes: 4 servings (2/3 cup serving)

INGREDIENTS MEASUREMENTS Brown rice cereal, dry 1 cup Unsweetened soy milk 3 cups Ground cinnamon 1 tsp.

Apple – diced with skin 1 large Walnuts and almonds, chopped ½ cup Ground flax seeds 1 tbsp.

Method: Place brown rice cereal, soy or almond milk, cinnamon and an apple in a twoquart saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cover pan and simmer on low heat for approximately 25-30 minutes until the rice cereal is cooked. Top with flax seeds, chopped walnuts and almonds and serve.

To save time in the morning, you may combine all ingredients except the walnuts and almonds in a covered saucepan the night before.

Store the mixture in your refrigerator and cook in the morning. Store leftover cereal in glass bowl and freeze for a busy day.

Chef’s Tip: Use only gluten-free soy milks; some brands are fortified with calcium, vitamin B12 and other nutrients; thus the vitamin and mineral content may be higher than in the analysis provided if fortified products are used.

Veggies with Tofu Scramble over Brown Rice Makes: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS MEASUREMENTS Spinach, chopped 2 cups Mushrooms ½ cup Red onion, thinly sliced ½ small onion Firm tofu, crumbled 1 package, 14 ounces Raw pumpkin seeds or sesame ¼ cup Turmeric 1 tsp.

Method: Combine spinach, mushroom, onions, in a large, deep skillet or flat- bottom wok. Sauté over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes with water.

Drain and rinse tofu. Crumble by squeezing the tofu through your fingers.

Add to skillet along with pumpkin seeds and toss to heat through.

Sprinkle with turmeric and stir well.

Serve with brown rice.

Makes: 4 servings

Three Bean Veggie Chili Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 60 minutes

INGREDIENTS MEASUREMENTS Onion cup Garlic 1 clove Celery cup Poblano pepper cup Black eyed peas, canned 1 cup Chickpeas, canned cups Great northern beans, canned cup UltraBroth or organic vegetable broth 2 cups Chili powder 1 Tbsp Parsley, fresh tsp.

Cumin tsp.

Thyme, fresh tsp.

Cayenne pepper tsp.

Method: Dice peppers, onions and celery.

Mince garlic. Drain and rinse beans.

In a stockpot over medium heat sauté onions, peppers, garlic and celery for 5–7 minutes.

Add vegetable broth, beans and all herbs and spices. Cover.

Simmer for approximately1 hour or until beans are tender and liquid thickens slightly.

Remove from heat and chill.

Chef ’s Tip: Best the next day.

Chef Dressing for All Occasion

Meet my replacement for ranch dressing, mayonnaise and rice. Yep you heard me!

I make a batch of this every week and use it as a veg dip, sandwich spread and rice replacement. This diverse concoction has a lot of flavor without the sun-dried tomatoes being too overpowering. But my favorite use for this is to replace sushi rice.

INGREDIENTS 3/4 c cashews, soaked overnight 1/3 c sun-dried tomatoes, chopped 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast flakes (optional) 1/2 of alLemon juice 1/2 c filtered water

Method: Add all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until a thick creamy consistency.

(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, international wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He is the author of “47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes.” He can be reached by email at cheftimothy@ cheftimothymoore.com, visit him at www.cheftimothymoore.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)

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HEALTH

July 11 - 17, 2013

Tri-State Defender

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, July 11 - 17, 2013, Page 11

We remember Cool DJ Soni D Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Myron Mays

Nearly every DJ from nearly every radio station and the club scene in Memphis came out to the Hard Rock Café on Beale Street Monday night to pay homage to the late Cool DJ Soni D, who died in a traffic accident in California on July 1. It was kind of a “who’s who” of Memphis radio.

From past to present, almost every station had a presence in the room.

People meters weren’t important and neither was competition.

In what had the feel of a historic night, more than music set the Cool DJ tone. Heartfelt Soni D sentiments filled the room as some of Soni’s closest friends and colleagues shared stories of how they met, of how he gave them their names and how he influenced their careers. I looked at all of the legends in attendance and thought to myself, “This was Memphis.”

Over the course of the night, various deejays took over the “Wheels of Steel” spinning some of Memphis’ favorite old school R&B and Hip Hop, such as Strafe’s “Set it Off,” Planet Patrol’s “Play at your own Risk” and The Showboys’s “Drap Rap (Triggerman).” This was music that defined an era in the Memphis Club scene. It was the “mix show” music I grew up listening to on the radio. It was so engaging that I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go to the clubs. Not so I could party, but so I could just be where all the DJ action was.

“This was Memphis.”

Veteran radio personality Melvin “A Cooking” Jones took the stage, along with Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission Executive Director Johnnie Walker, to thank everyone for their support and to share the purpose for having such an event. Melvin actually hired Soni years ago to do the first mix show on what was then Magic 101, now V101.

Johnnie also pointed out that Melvin also was the source of her first radio job. V101’s Stan Bell, whose afternoon radio show Soni’s “Drive” at 5 mixes air on, came up to share a couple of stories of their friendship. He also called out a seemingly endless list of radio personalities both past and present who were in attendance.

The legendary DJ Jus Born was the last DJ to take over the music.

Earlier he shared a story about how Soni gave him his name. Later in the night, he went on to perform a set that only included music that Soni D would have included in his mixes.

As a kid who came up on Soni’s mixes, this was a defining moment in my career. It was a for-real honor to be a part of such a great tribute and an even greater honor to have known him. I hate that there had to be a loss of life to celebrate him. He touched a lot of lives – both personally and professionally – and Cool DJ Soni D will most definitely not be forgotten.

All proceeds from the event benefit the family of Soni D. If you couldn’t make it to the event but would still like to help out, you can call Johnnie Walker at the Music Commission at 901-576-6850.

The Bar-Kays are crowd pleasers. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

At home with the ‘funk’ The Bar-Kays jam Minglewood Hall Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Angela Jackson

The parking lots around Minglewood Hall in Midtown were packed Friday (July 5) night for a show that got underway about 9 p.m., two hours after the doors opened. This was a highly-anticipated evening – a hometown performance by The Bar-Kays – and funk fans turned out in droves despite the rain.

Comedian and Memphis funnyman Prescott warmed up the sold-old crowd. Laughs bounced across the room as he spoke of real-life experiences while tying in other funny relatable topics.

“Hilarious,” said one fan, Denise Parker, who Angela declared that she wouldn’t have missed the conJackson cert for anything.

Parker grew up listening to the Bar-Kays on the radio but had never seen them in concert. Other concertgoers said jamming with The Bar-Kays was like attending a family reunion. It seemed that Minglewood had transformed into just that, a playground for old friends and neighbors, with dignitaries such as former Judge D’Army Bailey and record executive Al Bell sprinkled throughout the crowd.

The Bar-Kays’ play list included No. 1 hit singles, stretching back to the ’60s and extending to today. They opened the show with favorites such as “Holy Ghost,” “Do It (Let Me See you Shake)” and “Sexomatic.”

Fans moved, grooved and jumped up and down. Some stood the entire show. The band’s lead singer, Larry Dodson, finally slowed the pace down after asking the crowd if it wanted to take a break.

“No! Keep it going,” was the response. After jamming for an hour non-stop, The Bar-Kays’ served up the ballads “Attitudes,” “Anticipation,” “Unforgettable Dream” and then their most recent single, “Grown Folks,” produced by Phalon “Jazze Phae” Alexander, son of bassist, James Alexander, an original band member.

Finally, break time arrived for Dodson, with Archie Love showcasing his vocals while the drummer, Carlos Sargent, kept the beat going as dancers captivated the crowd with their moves. After changing costume and returning to the stage, Dodson complimented the band and the crowd and introduced violinist Lila Hood, passionately known as the “Blue Violinist,” and quickly brought out another Memphian, vocalist Sarah Simmons, who was recently featured on the TV show, “The Voice.” Hood and Simmons blended in with their soulful style adding to the flow.

After “Soul Finger,” The Bar-Kays shifted to their tribute to Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes. Dodson took time to tell the story of how

the band got started. Soon after, they covered “Try a Little Tenderness” and “Theme from Shaft” while video footage of Redding played in the background.

As the show turned toward its close, Dodson flashed fire on the stage and greeted fans with the signature snake that long has been a part of The Bar-Kays’ unique funk act. Dodson pointed at his watch, told the packed house that it was time to go and issued a reminder that the party would continue at a meet-and-greet after the show.

They ended with the 1984 hit, “Freak Show on the Dance Floor.”

With the band waving good-by, Dodson – who had donned a glitzy jacket with the aid of a gentleman on stage – extended an invitation for everyone to join them in the lobby for autographs, pictures and exclusive Bar-Kays memorabilia.

Moments later, I took my turn speaking to Dodson, who called the concert amazing. Really happy about the turnout in his hometown, Dodson said the concert was one of the group’s best ever.

Alexander, Love and the other band members were all elated to be embraced by fans. And Dodson said that it was not over.

“We will give fans what they want,” he declared, including continuing to travel and make “real” music.

The Bar-Kays have a new single produced by “Jazze Phae” that’s set for release in late fall.

Seeking Maxwell Landers Center crowd finds its man Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Angela Jackson

WHAT’S HAPPENING MYRON?

Gone Fishin’…

If you’re so tired that you don’t realize your socks don’t match, and neither did the suit you wore a couple of Fridays ago, you might be forced to accept the fact that you need a vacation.

Myron While my Mays mind might be able to convince me that I’m some sort of superhero, my body ain’t buying it, lol. So, after months of putting in countless numbers of late night hours and being bound by an event schedule, I’m gonna get away from all of my jobs for a few days and relax a little.

When I get back, not only am I planning to be recharged and reenergized, I am also planning to go through my sock drawer and make sure my socks are all matched up correctly.

See you soon!

The Bar-Kays at Minglewood Hall during the groupʼs July 4th weekend concert.

A gracious Maxwell said Memphis and Mississippi is where the real music got started. (Photos: Warren Roseborough)

“Where is he? Where is he?” The question bounced around the Landers Center in Southaven, Miss., as Maxwell seekers could hardly contain their desire to see the multi-talented singer-songwriter, record producer and instrumentalist in concert last week (July 3).

Thirty-minutes after a crowdpleasing performance by Marsha Ambrosius, music blasted and then the lights dimmed as Maxell’s slender silhouette pierced through a cloud of smoke. The crowd screamed.

With a tapered haircut and trimmed beard and the audience on its feet, Maxwell opened the show with, “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” a 1996 hit from his album, “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite. With the crowd in tow, he eased into “Bad Habits” and other selections from his latest album, “BLACKsummer’snight.” At one point, he even asked permission to sing new music, explaining that he didn’t want to bore us. The tune was, “Gods,” which was well accepted.

He repeatedly controlled the band with the use of his hands stretched out behind him.

More hits followed, including “This Woman’s Work,” and “Fire We make,” his latest duet with Alicia Keys, who graced the stage via video. Moving across the stage and

onto the floor, Maxwell gyrated his hips with moves à la Prince, with whom he has been compared. The crowd was in an uproar!

Thanking the crowd for supporting him through the years, Maxwell noted that he is from Brooklyn, N.Y. and that Memphis and Mississippi is where the real music got started. He called his band the best, pointing out that it featured Grammy award winning artists that he was pleased had taken the time to travel and work with him.

As his one-hour set moved closer to the end, he wooed us with “Fist full of Tears,” “Fortunate” and other hits. He blushed as women on the front row showered him with gifts and screams!

Introducing the band, Maxwell gave a special shout out to Memphisborn horn player, Kenneth Whalum III. After another hit, “Shouldn’t I Wouldn’t,” he exited the stage.

With fans shouting his name, Maxwell returned, telling the audience members that he would sing only if they would sing along. His finale was “Pretty Wings,” with the crowd singing along as feathers fell in the background.

Some were disappointed that he didn’t sing “Til the Cops Come Knockin’,” but overall, the crowed was elated that Maxwell stopped through The Lander’s Center en route to his next stop, Essence Festival 2013 in New Orleans.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Tri-State Defender

July 11 - 17, 201

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kam Williams

For movies opening July 12, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS

“Grown Ups 2” (PG-13 profanity, crude humor, partial male nudity and suggestive content) Adam Sandler and the rest of the principal cast reprise their roles as childhood pals now reuniting in their hometown for another round of nostalgia and middle-age mischief. Ensemble includes Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Maya Rudolph and Salma Hayek.

Marsha Ambrosius (Photo: Warren Roseborough)

Marsha Ambrosius hitting the high notes with ease Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Angela Jackson

Marsha Ambrosius – formerly of Floetry – has been a consistent figure at the top of the charts since she went solo. As the opening act for Maxwell (July 3), she stepped right into a warm welcome at the Landers Center in Southaven, Miss.

The image? Stilettos and a black short-set suit, with her natural hair pinned up in a bun unlike her normal over-the-top big hair frizzy look.

In full control of her falsetto skills, she crooned hits from her latest album, “Late Nights and Early Mornings.” Halfway through her 45-minute live-band set, Ambrosis belted out high notes from her chart busters, the “Late Nights & Early Mornings” title track, “Say Yes” and “Hope She Cheats on You (With A Basketball Player,” which drew cheers from a mostly-female audience.

She calmed the crowd with soprano pitches that brought to mind Mariah Carey – an often-made comparison. She ended the show with, “Far Away,” by far her biggest hit.

No matter whether she is stacked in heels or sporting tennis shoes and a baseball cap, Ambrosius continues to build on her fan base. Count Maxwell among them. Closing his show, he complimented Ambrosius, adding that he loved her British accent and that she sounded so smart!

“Pacific Rim” (PG-13 for pervasive violence and brief profanity) Sci-fi adventure about the team of pilot-controlled robots called upon to save the day when the Earth’s surface is suddenly invaded by a hostile race of subterranean monsters. Starring Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kinkuchi and Ron Perlman.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

“Beneath” (Unrated) Harrowing horror flick about a half-dozen high school seniors’ attempt to make it safely back to shore from the middle of a lake after their rowboat is attacked by man-eating fish. Ensemble includes Daniel Zovatto, Bonnie Dennison, Chris Conroy, Jonny Orsini, Griffin Newman and Mackenzie Rrosman.

“Crystal Fairy” (Unrated) Road trip comedy about a hedonistic tourist (Michael Cera) who befriends an eccentric free spirit (Gaby Hoffman) while crisscrossing Chile in search of a legendary hallucinogen derived from a cactus plant. Co-starring Agustin, Jose and Juan Silva.

“Dealin’ with Idiots” (Unrated) Jeff Garlin directed and stars in this social satire about a famous comedian who finds inspiration for his next movie after observing the absurd behavior of parents and coaches at his son’s Little League baseball games. Ensemble includes Gina Gershon, JB Smoove, Nia Vardalos, Jami Gertz, Kerri Kenny, Fred Willard, Timothy Oliphant, Bob Odenkirk, Christopher Guest and Richard Kind.

“Fruitvale Station” (Unrated) Bittersweet biopic recounting the serendipitous events which transpired during the final hours in the life of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a young black man shot in the back on New Year’s day by a white police officer while being detained on an Oakland train platform.

With Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz and Kevin Durand.

“The Hot Flashes” (R for sexuality and drug use) Midlife crisis comedy about a bas-

Rinko Kikuchi (left) and Idris Elba in “Pacific Rim.” (Photo: Kerry Hayes/Warner Bros. Pictures)

ketball team comprised of menopausal women who challenge Texas’ reigning high school girls’ state champs for the benefit of a breast cancer charity. Starring Brooke Shields, Wanda Sykes, Virginia Madsen, Robin Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Eric Roberts.

“The Hunt” (R for violence, profanity and graphic sexuality) Rush to judgment drama, set in tiny Taastrup, Denmark, about a kindergarten teacher (Mads Mikkelsen) who finds himself fired from his job, dumped by his girlfriend (Alexandra Rapaport) and shunned by his tight-knit community after being unfairly accused of exposing himself to one of his students (Annika Wedderkopp). With Susse Wold, Lars Ranthe and Thomas Bo Larsen. (In Danish, English and Polish with subtitles)

“Israel: A Home Movie” (Unrated) Reverential retrospective painting a poignant portrait of daily life in Israel as preserved on Super 8 between the Thirties and the Seventies by amateur filmmakers capturing everything from recently-arriving refugees to shell-shocked soldiers.

“Killing Season” (R for graphic violence, torture, profanity and sexual references) Catand-mouse survival saga, set in the Appalachian hinterlands, about an American veteran (Robert De Niro) of the war in Bosnia who

finds himself targeted by a revenge-minded, former Serbian soldier (John Travolta) posing as a tourist. With Milo Ventimiglia, Elizabeth Olin and Diana Lubenova.

“Still Mine” (PG-13 for brief sensuality, partial nudity and mature themes) Golden Years drama highlighting a retiree’s (James Cromwell) frustrating legal fight with a callous bureaucracy to build a house suitable to meet the needs of his gravely-ill wife (Genevieve Bujold). Support cast includes Campbell Scott, Julie Stewart and Rick Roberts.

“Terms and Conditions May Apply” (Unrated) Cautionary documentary warning of the wholesale surrender of privacy transpiring as a consequence of consumers visiting websites, downloading apps and clicking on online use agreements without reading the fine print. Featuring appearances by visionary Ray Kurzweil, musician Moby and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

“V/H/S 2” (Unrated) Found-footage horror sequel revolving around a couple of private investigators (Kelsy Abbott and Lawrence Michael Levine) whose only clues to a college student’s mysterious disappearance are contained in a pile of videotapes he left behind.

With J.C. Holt, Simon Barrett and Mindy Robinson.

Tri-State Defender

Legal notices

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF STATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION BIDS TO BE RECEIVED 8/1/2013 Sealed Bids will be received by the City of Milan, at their offices located at 1061 South Main Street, Milan, Tennessee 38358, until 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 1, 2013 and opened publicly at 1061 South Main Street, Milan, Tennessee 38358 at that hour. The reading of the bids will begin at 1:00 P.M. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on July 18, 2013, at 1:00 PM CST at 1061 South Main St., Milan, TN 38358.

The project consists of the resurfacing Kefauver Drive from east of railroad to HWY 45E. Resurfacing and curb and gutter replacement on Highland Street from S.R. 76 to HWY 45E. The total mile resurfaced is 2.14 miles. Sealed bids are to be marked “Highland Street and Kefauver Drive – City of Milan” and addressed to the attention of Mayor Chris Crider delivered to the following address: City of Milan 1061 South Main Street Milan, Tennessee 38358.

The Information for Bidders, Form of Bid, Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance and Payment Bond, and other contract documents may be examined at the following: 1) CITY OF MILAN 1061 SOUTH MAIN MILAN, TN 38358 2) A2H, INC. 3009 DAVIES PLANTATION ROAD LAKELAND, TN 38002 3) BUILDERS EXCHANGE 642 SOUTH COOPER MEMPHIS, TN 38104 4) WEST TENNESSEE PLANS ROOM 439 AIRWAYS BLVD. JACKSON, TN 38301 Printed copies may be obtained at A2H, INC., located at 3009 Davies Plantation Road, Lakeland, TN 38002, Phone: 901372-0404 upon payment of $50.00 (nonrefundable).

PROPOSAL CONTRACTS WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL THE TIME SET FOR OPENING BIDS A Prime Contractor must prequalify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5-117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation Rule 16805-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

The City of Milan hereby notifies all bidders that a 3.65 % Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal has been set for this project and must be met or exceeded.

The City of Milan hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises 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, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability in consideration for an award.

The City of Milan is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS PROJECT NAME: MAURY CITY – TE FY 2010 PHASE 1 – FIRST STREET Federal Project #STP-EN-1700(19) State Project #17LPLM-F3-005 PIN #113917.00 Description: The project includes removal and replacement of asphalt parking

CLASSIFIEDS

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July 11 - 17, 2013

TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 203 Beale Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm

DEADLINES; Display ads Monday 5 p.m.

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for ADA compliance and surface drainage corrections. Also included are concrete curb, decorative crosswalk, landscape planting, landscape irrigation, site furnishings.

OWNER: TOWN OF MAURY CITY, TENNESSEE Sealed bids for the MAURY CITY – TE FY 2010 PHASE 1 – FIRST STREET will be received by Mayor Rayce Castellaw at the Town of Maury City - City Hall at 332 North Broadway St., Maury City, TN on August 1, 2013 no later than 2 p.m. and then bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

A pre-bid conference will be held on July 17, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Town of Maury City - City Hall at 332 North Broadway St., Maury City, TN PROPOSAL CONTRACTS WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL THE TIME SET FOR OPENING BIDS The Information for Bidders, and other contract documents may be examined at the following: 1) Town of Maury City, TN 332 North Broadway Street Maury City, TN 38050 2) A2H, INC. 3009 DAVIES PLANTATION ROAD LAKELAND, TN 38002 3) BUILDERS EXCHANGE 642 SOUTH COOPER MEMPHIS, TN 38104 4) WEST TENNESSEE PLANS ROOM 439 AIRWAYS BLVD. JACKSON, TN 38301 Copies may be obtained at the office of A2H, INC. located at 3009 DAVIES PLANTATION ROAD, LAKELAND, TENNESSEE 38002, PHONE: 901-372-0404 upon payment of $150.00 (non-refundable).

A Prime Contractor must prequalify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5-117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation Rule 1680-5-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

List of pre-qualified contractors: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/prequal/prequal.pdf To become pre-qualified: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/forms/Prequalification_Questionnaire_5-10-07.pdf To be added to the official bidders list, each prospective bidder and subcontractor will be required to file a document entitled “Pre-qualification Questionnaires.” The

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GENERAL INFORMATION Some categories require prepayment.

All ads subject to credit approval. TriState Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy, or to reject or cancel any ad at any time.

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ADJUSTMENTS; PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call 901-523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

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foregoing shall be filed on a form provided by the Department of Transportation. The form must be filled out completely, and the truth and accuracy of the information provided must be certified by a sworn affidavit signed by an officer, partner, owner or other authorized representative of the applicant who has authority to sign contracts or other legal documents on behalf of the applicant. A prospective bidder must be pre-qualified by and in good standing with the Department of Transportation prior to being given authorization to bid. A prospective subcontractor must be pre-qualified by and in good standing with the Department of Transportation prior to being approved as a subcontractor. Each prospective bidder or subcontractor shall notify the Department of Transportation if there is any subsequent change in the name, organization or contact information provided.

Maury City in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, 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, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Town of Maury City is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drugfree with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

The Owner reserves the right to waive any informalities or to reject any or all bids.

No bidder may withdraw his bid within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED. Bidding documents and information, and plans, may be obtained by contacting: Town of Maury City, TN 332 Broadway Street Maury City, TN 38050 At least the following information must appear on the outside of the envelope containing bid.

1. NAME OF BIDDER 2. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF BIDDER

3. NAME OF PROJECT FOR WHICH BID IS SUBMITTED Any bid submitted from a bidder not on the official bidders list, that is maintained at the office of Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates, Inc., and/or not containing the above information will not be opened.

Thursday, July 11, 2013 The Honorable Rayce Castellaw, Mayor LEGAL NOTICE TO BIDDERS DeWitt Spain Hangars Siding Replacement – Construction Memphis International Airport MSCAA Project Number 11-1334-07 Sealed bids for the DeWitt Spain Hangars Siding Replacement – Construction, MSCAA Project No. 11-1334-07, 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, August 8, 2013, and immediately thereafter will be opened and publicly read. BIDS WILL NOT BE RECEIVED AT ANY OTHER LOCATION. The scope of work generally consists of metal building repairs at the General DeWitt Spain Airport. Work efforts include, but are not necessarily limited to, replacement of perimeter siding and trim, replacement of roof panels and skylights, repainting of metal roof panels, replacement of insulation, replacement of deteriorated steel door tracks, replacement of steel sliding door supports, repair and/or rehabilitation of deteriorated concrete, replacement of pedestrian doors, and other efforts as required.

Bid Documents may be obtained and found on our website (www.mscaa.com) on or after Monday, July 15, 2013. 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. Information regarding obtaining bid documents, addenda to these documents and any other additional information may be found on our website (www.mscaa.com).

All Respondents are hereby notified that all updates, addenda and additional information, if any, shall be posted to the MSCAA website 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 Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at 9:00 AM at the General DeWitt Spain Airport, 2787 North Second Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38127. 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, 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, Minority and Women Business Enterprises (D/M/WBE) 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 D/M/WBE participation goal for this contract is 19% in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. This project is Federal Grant

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Funded. 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. MBE and WBE participation is encouraged but may NOT be counted toward the goal.

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 or heating ventilation 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.

MSCAA reserves the right to reject any or all bids 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 Larry D. Cox, President & CEO

I, Lawrence King, on June 11,2013 declare this NOTICE to any person, individual, or being that has CLAIMS or LIABILITIES against ( Estate Known As Monza Trust) along with any attachments or interests in said properties: 3474 Fox Meadows, 2883 Emmet, 6039 Rosewind, 5112 Ginger, 6228 Scarletcrest, 5423 Kindlecreek, 5407 Riverdale, 7226 Woodshire, 7355 Woodshire, 5484 Chinkapin Oak, 7126 Country Oak, and 5995 Seminary are hereby notice to come forward and make public any such CLAIMS or LIABILITIES within 30 days of first notice, after which time any and all said claims shall be null and void. Send claims to P.O.Box 40723, Memphis, TN 38174.

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Page 14

COMMUNITY

July 11 - 17, 2013

☺ ☺D BLUE G☺

Captain Faith Cunningham Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Kelvin Cowans

(Just as a neighborhood should not be judged by the actions of a few bad apples, neither should law enforcement agencies. In partnership with the new Community Police Relations Project, The New TriState Defender’s “Good Blue” column spotlights law enforcement officers who do it right.

This week’s focus is on Captain Faith Cunningham of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.)

“Grande Mocha is a mixture of coffee, hot chocolate and milk. If I had my way I’d definitely go by Starbucks every morning.

Unfortunately, there’s not one in my area, so I get by here as often as I can,” said Captain Faith Cunningham of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

Starbucks was a cool enough place for me, so I focused in on the interview. I’d read that she’d been on the force for 16 years, having spent eight years before that in the Reserves.

Kelvin Cowans: Tell me, what have you learned about people in all this time?

Capt. Faith Cunningham: “People all want to be treated with respect and dignity. Even the bad guys want to be treated nice and of course there are times when that works out and sometimes it doesn’t work out.

But even when you’re a victim of a crime or a suspect of a crime, they still want that level of respect. It can be a challenge, but as a police officer you have to know to give that until it’s not time to give it. It’s important that you don’t start out raising your voice although the situation may lead to that.

But in the end, it is police work and you may just have to lay hands on someone.”

KC: And when you say, “Lay hands on someone” I take it that you’re not talking about praying for them.

Capt. Cunningham: No, I’m not talking about praying for them, although throwing some holy oil on some of them might just work, ha. However, I do pray for them at the beginning of my day.

KC: What got you involved in CPR (Community Police Relations.)

Capt. Cunningham: I was actually volunteered to go and check it out, and when I did, I really liked it. This group is coming from a different angle and I’m all for fresh ideas in a progressive group.

KC: I feel you on that. I was thinking myself that it’s a rather old idea when you look at it from the grandfather neighborhood watch group.

Yet, this group is not necessarily about who broke in the candy lady’s house. This group is about talking directly

SCS registration info available online now

Registration day for all Shelby County Schools is July 30, and classes start August 5.

Visit www.scsk12.org/ uf/backtoschool for complete registration details, including: • Times • Proof of residence requirements • Shared residence requirements • Immunization information • Kindergarten and new student registration • Important dates and 201314 school holidays • School start times • Dress code information • 2013 sales tax holiday Additional information is available at the Facts First website at www.scsfactsfirst .com.

‘Classic’ Tiger Lane spots to go on sale

Tickets and tailgating spots for the Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx will go on sale Friday (July 12) at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations.

The Southern Heritage Classic featuring Tennessee State University and Jackson State University is set for Sept. 14.

To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-

“You have to know that in our line of work you may not get a chance to see us or interact with us unless itʼs the worse day of your life, and weʼre judged a lot during just that time.” – Capt. Faith Cunningham (Photo: Kelvin Cowans)

to the police about how you feel about them and later we’ll get around to talking about the candy lady and who may have did what.

Capt. Cunningham: Exactly, and I think it’s going to be a force. I think we still have some work to do by getting our name out there in the neighborhoods and all. The first question that people are going to ask is, ”What is CPR?” And then, why should they care.

I know for a fact that us law enforcement guys, we have the power to help push anything in the right direction.

You have to know that in our line of work you may not get a chance to see us or interact with us unless it’s the worse day of your life, and we’re judged a lot during just that time. Is it fair? I’m not sure, but it comes with the job.

KC: Speaking of coming with the job, Memphis City and Shelby County Schools have now merged. This obviously means more officers in the schools. … I graduated from Kirby High School in the mid 1990’s when it was a County School, and although we had an officer in our school he didn’t see much action. As a matter of fact, I remember him joking with us for like three years that sooner or later somebody was going to do something to get in trouble and he’d be right there and ready. I believe that you have to agree with me that the jig is up.

Capt. Cunningham: True.

Not counting the merger, we’re currently already in 15

BRIEFS & THINGS 3000, go on line at www.ticketmaster.com or visit a local Ticketmaster location.

For more tailgating information, log onto www. southernheritageclassic.com and select the “Classic Information” tab or call the Southern Heritage Classic office at 901398-6655 or 1-800-332-1991 or the Liberty Bowl Stadium Office at 901-729-4344.

BRIEFLY: The Our Children. Our Success. Campaign holds its first community forum from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (July 11) at the Bellevue Impact Ministry Center in Frayser. (For more information, visit www. ourchildrenoursuccess.com.)

BRIEFLY: The Healthcare Organizations Of Greater Memphis Coalition Celebrates its 25th Anniversary on Thursday (July 11) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Amro Music Studio (Auditorium) at 2918 Poplar Ave. The awards ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. It is being hosted by the Mid-South Transplant Foundation.

BRIEFLY: The Global Lens 2013 foreign film series will continue at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (3030 Poplar Avenue) with screenings on Sunday, July 14 and Sunday, July 28.

BRIEFLY: “The 24/7 Café” – the last show of the Bluff City Theatre Company’s Season VII – is taking its mark for

schools in the county. If I’m not mistaken, we’re headed into at least 18 more schools.

And yes, many of those schools are going to have two officers in them. It’s going to take a lot of patience on our behalf, but overall kids are kids are kids.

I see us having to really work with the community as this evolves and again that comes right back around to community and police relations. Being in urban schools now the public has to know that weekend issues will sometimes spill into the schools on Mondays, so we have to be ready as law enforcement and the community.

We have to be one.

KC: I see that you see this entire thing as a cup of mocha half full. Where did you learn that behavior, in your upbringing?

Capt. Cunningham: Yes, I was raised a church girl. Born and raised in Michigan, then when I was about 13 years old we moved to Marion, Ark., and then on to Memphis, Tenn. My Mom named me Faith and I hated that name as a child because all the kids would tease me so bad. They would say I talked funny and everything.

KC: Well, have you noticed the irony of that? They teased you because your name was Faith, and now it’s obvious that we all had better have some faith in something if we want to accomplish anything.

(Kelvin Cowans can be reached at kelvincowans@hotmail.com.) a July run. The play written by Memphian Ruby O’Gray will run July 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 each night, and July 21 at 3 p.m. at the Evergreen Theatre, 1705 Poplar Ave. Standard ticket prices are $20, with seniors (50), students, and military (with I.D ), $15. All opening night, July 12, seats are $15 with reservations. For reservations and other information call 901-946-6140.

Note on the reservation if you would need seating for the physically challenged.

BRIEFLY: The 25th annual Citywide Back-to-School Health Fair will take place on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) campus – 800 Madison Avenue (between Dunlap and Manassas) – on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will provide physical exams and immunizations to students going back to school.

Parents or guardians must bring shot records for each student. Immunizations will also be provided for entering college freshmen ages 18 and under. A backpack will be given to each student participant.

BRIEFLY: The 15th Annual Spirit of SRVS Auction, Food and Wine Tasting benefiting SRVS and people with disabilities will be held July 27 at the Hilton Memphis (939 Ridge Lake Blvd.) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For tickets and details, visit www.srvs.org.

Tri-State Defender