The New Tri-State Defender - March 11-17, 2021

In Houston, the Tigers faced a problem they almost solved. Next: AAC Tournament, third seed.

Sports, Page 11

As Ghana turns 64, a nextlevel kinship with Memphis looms large.

Perspective, Page 4

Stimulus checks! Beware of scammers!

Tips to help you avoid trouble

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Tax refunds and the upcoming release of a new round of federal stimulus checks are expected to fuel another increase in scam phone calls aimed at stealing people’s money.

That’s the message from Sgt. Kevin Barrett with the Memphis Police Department’s Economic Crimes Bureau.

“In our department, we deal with bad checks, identity theft, embezzlement, and all types of fraud,” said Barrett.

TSD Newsroom

Anchored in five years of momentum, Black Restaurant Week No. 6 unfolded amid the ongoing pandemic, delivering strong evidence that an understanding of the concept and need is well rooted.

“This year we are supporting 21 restaurants,” Cynthia Daniels, the founder of Black Restaurant Week (BRW), said while dropping in on one of the participating restaurants on Tuesday. “We are making sure that we are safe. “You can delivery app and curbside service.

“So far the first two days have been amazing. The restaurants have doubled and tripled their sales on Sunday and Monday. A lot of

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Overall, good progress is being made in Shelby County as COVID-19 vaccination becomes more widely available, Dr. Bruce Randolph, the Shelby County Health Department medical director, told the Shelby County Board of Commissioners this week.

Shelby County is in phase 1C of vaccination distribution, according to the Tennessee Department of Health’s Vaccination Plan. In this

the restaurants ran out of food. It has been nothing but support.”

Raquel Brown of Meals For You Catering noted the “great reduction in sales due to the pandemic, especially our catering” and said, “Black Restaurant Week has already helped us out tremendously.”

The restaurant’s menu changes daily and lunch is served “all day, every day,” she said. With customers in mind, Menté, owner of Smooth Living Health Food Restaurant, said,

stage, a more inclusive list of chronic conditions and pre-existing conditions are covered.

Individuals now eligible for the vaccine are: household members age 16 and older living with a pregnant female, persons 16 and older with Down Syndrome, and persons 16 and older with progressive neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy.

Those fitting into Phase 1c are coming in for vaccination, but there

“Thank yall for coming out (to) patronize our business. It’s really helpful to us. It helps get our name out there, get my brand out. I appreciate the love, the service and the people.”

Felicia Farr stopped in to Smooth Living to get “my Purple Rain Smoothie … which I come and get often because I love the way it (the restaurant) smells, I love the atmosphere,” se said. “And I’m here celebrating Black Restaurant Week.”

At Uncle Lou’s Fried chicken, owner Fred Martin, heaped praise on Daniels. “We’ve really seen a positive increase in sales. We’ve seen positivity in people in general that have come out to support Black-owned businesses.

“There are three common phone scams that we are seeing right now. They can be convincing, very convincing. The caller creates a sense of urgency, and says a bill or some other obligation has to be paid ‘now.’”

Congress OKs $1.9T virus relief bill in win for Biden, Dems Page 6

The BBB of the Mid-South also is issuing a scam warning about fraudulent calls claiming to be from or on behalf of a doctor’s office.

Scammers have your cell phone number. They want your money, and they are getting more sophisticated in tricking victims out of their money.

There are three major fraudulent phone calls, ranging anywhere from $300 to $2,000 from each person – calls that claim to be from the Sheriff’s Department, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division and Social Security.

“Anyone can call from any number and spoof the call,” said Barrett. “That means the caller can disguise the number to look like a 901(from the Memphis area) call, when actually they are calling from overseas or anywhere. Sometimes, the number will look pretty similar to your number.”

With the Sheriff’s Department scam, the caller’s number will look like a real department number, except it is made up. They will claim to have a warrant out for your arrest, but due to COVID-19 or some other excuse, the warrant is not being served in person. They will ask for a payment, using a gift card or prepaid debit card. They will ask for the card number over the phone and say they can help you resolve the matter.

A customer at Bala’s Bistro, having made his choice from wings, burgers, fish, seafood, meal prep and African cuisine, conveys his selections during Black Restaurant Week. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

After getting a vaccine shot at the Walmart at 5255 Elvis Presley Blvd., the next step was a recommended 15-minute wait period.

(Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Harris appoints interim Health Department director

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Dr. LaSonya Harris Hall has been appointed interim director of the Shelby County Health Department.

A seasoned administrator, Hall currently serves as deputy chief administrative officer for Shelby County Government. Shel-

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

is a problem with access to vaccination sites and the distribution of available vaccines to certain parts of the county.

“A total of 33,000 vaccines were made available to three permanent vaccine sites,” said Randolph. “That supply was divided between Germantown Baptist Church, the Appling site and the Pipkin Building. There was comparatively much smaller supply available at the Southwest Community College Whitehaven site and Greater Imani Church. Each of them were only given 9 percent each.”

In association with that, vaccination rates in the highest ZIP codes are four times greater than the rates in lower, inner-city ZIP codes, Randolph said. “All five of the ZIP codes carrying the highest rates of vaccination are all in east Memphis,” said Randolph. “ZIP codes with the lower rates of vaxing are all in the inner city. It all boils down to allocating more resources in those ZIP codes where the vaxing rates are low. We’ve got to set up permanent sites in those areas. We really don’t have any sites in South Memphis or North Memphis.”

Weeks ago when Randolph sounded the alarm on growing vaccine disparity in certain communities, County Commissioner Van Turner Jr. talked about the intentional targeting of minority communities for mobile vaccination drives.

“As president of the Memphis Branch NAACP, I would certainly offer our office site as a good place to offer the vaccine,” Turner said. “People could just come up and receive their shots. Not only for this location, but other sites which are conveniently located in minority communities, such as churches and schools, would also be accessible.”

Randolph told county commissioners that more pop-up sites can be made available to help get the vaccine to people experiencing some difficulty.

“We had a pop-up vaccine site at a church on Saturday,

by County Mayor Lee Harris announced the appointment on Tuesday.

Hall is expected to serve up to 90 days as interim until a permanent director is identified. She will lead the search.

February at the Health Department ended with unsettling events. Now former Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter was

“All five of the ZIP codes carrying the highest rates of vaccination are all in east Memphis.”

— Dr. Bruce Randolph

and we can set up one for this weekend,” said Randolph.

Permanent vaccine sites operate at least five days a week, he said. Since health officials have a good sense of how the disparity has unfolded, more effort can go into continuing to open up both permanent and pop-up sites in under-served communities.

Appointments for the vaccine can be made under phase 1C for individuals with the following serious conditions:

• Chronic renal disease;

• COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or moderate-severe asthma;

• Obesity (BMI > 30);

• Heart conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and hypertension;

• Sickle cell disease; cerebrovascular disease or stroke;

• Dementia,

• and liver disease.

The vaccine will also be made available to caregivers of people with high-risk medical conditions and women who are pregnant. Individuals who fit into phases 1A and 1B and have not yet been vaccinated may also make an appointment.

For a more detailed list of the high-risk health conditions covered under phase 1C, refer to Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan posted online at https://bit.ly/3etOWcy.

The age-based criteria for vaccination will remain age 65 and older. Anyone in that age category is eligible for vaccination regardless of other risk conditions.

Appointment availabilities at City of Memphis and Shelby County vaccination locations will be posted at https:// covid19.memphistn.gov/ each Friday for the following week.

Those without Internet access and those needing assistance in setting an appointment may call 901-222-7468 (SHOT).

under fire for lost, expired and possibly stolen vaccines being investigated first by the state, and later, a probe by the federal government. Shots were also alleged to have been given to children.

Haushalter submitted her resignation to Harris on February 26 as findings of the investigations went public, although she had initially expressed a desire to

continue in the post. Harris accepted Haushalter’s resignation and announced to county commissioners during a special session that he would quickly appoint an interim. Commissioners were displeased that Haushalter was not present to answer questions. Hall has served in leadership capacities with the City of Memphis, Leadership

Memphis and Shelby County Schools. She also served in a managerial role with the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

All county health directors, including interim appointees, must be approved by the State of Tennessee and Hall has been approved.

Dr. LaSonya Harris Hall

Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says

by Mike Stobbe

The Associated Press

NEW YORK – Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials.

The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way — in a single household — with people considered at lowrisk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the guidance Monday.

The guidance is designed to address a growing demand, as more adults have been getting vaccinated and wondering if it gives them greater freedom to visit family members, travel, or do other things like they did before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world last year.

“With more and more people vaccinated each day, we are starting to turn a corner,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

During a press briefing Monday, she called the guidance a “first step” toward restoring normalcy in how people come together. She said more activities would be ok’d for vaccinated individuals once caseloads and deaths decline, more Americans are vaccinated, and as more science emerges on the ability of those who have been vaccinated to get and spread the virus.

The CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people still wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

The CDC guidance did not speak to people who may have gained some level of immunity from being infected, and

recovering from, the coronavirus.

Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 31 million Americans –or only about 9 percent of the U.S. population – have been fully vaccinated with a federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine so far, according to the CDC.

Authorized vaccine doses first became available in December, and they were products that required two doses spaced weeks apart. But since January, a small but growing number of Americans have been fully vaccinated, and have been asking questions like: Do I still have to wear a mask? Can I go to a bar now? Can I finally see my grandchildren?

The guidance was “welcome news to a nation that is understandably tired of the pandemic and longs to safely resume normal activities,” said Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

and a former acting director of the CDC.

“I hope that this new guidance provides the momentum for everyone to get vaccinated when they can and gives states the patience to follow the public health roadmap needed to reopen their economies and communities safely,” said Besser, in a statement.

But some said the guidance is too cautious.

Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Public Health, said the guidance is reasonable in many respects – with the exception of travel.

The CDC did not change its recommendations on travel, which discourages unnecessary travel and calls for getting tested within a few days of the trip. That could seem confusing to vaccinated people hoping to visit family across the country or abroad.

“They need to relax travel for those vaccinated” and to immediately publish electronic standards for documents that show whether a person is fully vaccinated, said Khan,

who formerly was a leading CDC disease detective.

The new guidance also says nothing about going to restaurants or other places, even though governors are lifting restrictions on businesses, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who formerly was Baltimore’s health commissioner.

Wen has said the CDC should have had some kind of post-vaccination guidance ready in January, when some people first began to finish their second doses. And she called the guidance that came out Monday “far too cautious.”

“The CDC is missing a major opportunity to tie vaccination status with reopening guidance. By coming out with such limited guidance, they are missing the window to influence state and national policy,” Wen said, in an email.

(Associated Press reporters Phil Marcelo in Boston and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.)

LOC takes fresh look at legacy of Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis

by Dr. Carol Johnson Dean

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

While Black American history and women’s history are celebrated year-round at LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC), we are pleased that both February and March have offered us another opportunity to highlight the contributions of many in our community whose legacy and impact continue long beyond their physical presence in our midst.

In January, we said farewell to one of our trailblazers, Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis, who touched many in our college community and beyond.

The proof of someone’s work is seen in the voices of their students and peers who speak passionately about how they were challenged to learn and excel.

Dr. DeCosta-Willis never settled for mediocrity from herself or from any student, regardless of background.

A brilliant scholar, she was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wellesley College and went on to earn her doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, although she was denied admission into Memphis State University in 1957.

We are pleased that the now-University of Memphis

Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis never settled for mediocrity from herself or from any student, regardless of background. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

saluted her as its first Black professor and recognized her pivotal role in breaking the glass ceiling for Blacks there in 1966.

We are proud that Dr. DeCosta-Willis began her scholarly journey in the classrooms of Steele Hall at LeMoyne-Owen College.

Professor Phillip R. Dotson, a long-time artist and historian at the college, described Dr. DeCosta-Willis as one of the most intellectually brilliant and prolific writers he has had the opportunity to work with during his career.

Dr. DeCosta-Willis first joined the former S.A. Owen Junior College faculty, where she taught Spanish and introduced many first-generation college students to Romance

languages in the 1950s and 1960s.

As co-founder of the Black Writer’s Workshop, she convened African-American writers, creating a renaissance for networking outstanding authors, historians and artists.

She went on to write and edit nine books and numerous articles, and was a speaker at a host of conferences and events.

LOC professor and attorney Charlotte Bush recounted first meeting Dr. DeCosta-Willis through the Upward Bound Program at Booker T. Washington High School, where she inspired students in the summer and emphasized to them that they would come to LOC to define their voice.

“She taught us about ‘Hidden Figures’ long before the movie documented the contributions of Black female scientists,” Bush said. “She put the fire in all of us to succeed,”

Former school board Commissioner Sara Lewis described Dr. DeCosta-Willis as having high standards and willing to take the time to explain and give students feedback.

“Some professors boast about having high standards, but she went the extra mile to ensure success,” she said.

Dr. Sandra Vaughn, LOC Interim Vice President for Ac-

ademic Affairs, was exposed to notable writers Paula Giddings, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez through Dr. DeCosta-Willis’ invitation to visit the campus.

She also emphasized the importance of documenting the history of Memphis. Examples of her advocacy for Black history are represented in, “The Memphis Diary of Ida B. Wells,” “Notable Black Memphians” and “Black Memphis Landmarks.”

Whether it was her excursions to the Holy Land or Ghana, she had a way of pulling together scientists, politicians, artists and poets. She always found ways to stir our inspirational juices and model for us how to construct meaning from other authors.

Dr. DeCosta-Willis founded the W.E.B. Honors Program at LOC based on his belief that “the Black College exists to prepare Black men and women to perform at a high level the work the world wants done.” The program continues to recruit outstanding scholars today.

She had a tremendous impact on many in our community, including Dr. Reginald Martin, professor of English at the U of M professors; Otis L. Sanford, professor, newspaper columnist and author, and Dr. Beverly Bond, University of

Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis signing a copy of “Homespun Images: An Anthology of Black Memphis Writers and Artists,” which she co-edited. (Photo: LOC Professor Phillip Dotson)

Memphis African-American History professor.

Along with NAACP activist and community leader, the late Maxine Smith, she transformed the Memphis landscape and trajectory for many. West Tennessee Regional Medical Director Dr. Shavetta Conner, a biology major at LeMoyne-Owen College and Dr. DeCosta-Willis’ mentee, described her as an impactful professor.

“She introduced me to (noted authors) Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison. She opened up a whole new world

for me.”

Because Conner was so inspired, her mother, who had not attended college, joined her in class to hear Dr. DeCosta-Willis’ lectures. Dr. DeCosta-Willis’ legacy lives on in the Memphis community and beyond.

(Dr. Carol Johnson Dean recently served as interim president of LeMoyne-Owen College. She served as executive director of New Leaders – South Region in Memphis, and is a former superintendent of the legacy Memphis City School.)

As Ghana turns 64, a next-level kinship with Memphis looms large

by Fred D. Thompson Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Ghana – the West African country the Memphis in May International Festival has been trying to salute since 2020 – turned 64 on March 6, with a delayed holiday observed on Monday.

The Memphis in May (MIM) salute now is scheduled for 2022, bowing to the wisdom of two postponements because of COVID-19 and the ongoing public health emergency.

As an international total quality management and performance management systems consultant, I’ve been consulting in Africa since 1993. I was in Ghana last year when the MIM contingent visited and had brief exchanges with key MIM representatives.

The MIM “Salute” to Ghana represents a unique opportunity for the Mid-South and especially its people of African descent. A large number of African descendants reside in the region and Ghana is a leader in reaching out to Africa’s diaspora in the Americas. The year 2019 – designated by Ghana as the “year of return” – was an enormous success measured by the visits of so many Africans from the diaspora to the continent.

Over the last 18 months, I have been working fervently, doing my part to make Ghana’s salute a well-conceived, broad scale economic opportunity for Memphis and the Mid-South. I traveled to Ghana from my base in South Africa to explore potential business-to-business (B2) and economic development opportunities for the Memphis region, Ghana, and West Africa.

In the fall of 2019, it became clear to me that the potential economic development opportunities that could benefit Memphis and the Tri-State region far exceed what the planning up to this point would yield. And to that I add the unique opportunity for Black businesses to lead.

Ghana is in West Africa situated on the Atlantic Ocean. Operating under the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the country is aggressive in pursuit of involving the continent’s diaspora (and friends) in Africa’s development.

The African Union (AU) has established a 6th region referred to as the Diaspora and most of Africa’s 54 countries have diaspora outreach strategies.

Ghana’s approach to the Diaspora reflects a warm extension of a welcoming mat. Entry travel visa requirements were relaxed. The duration of allowed stay was flexible, with some from the Diaspora awarded citizenship. The involvement and/or return of slave descendants and Africans who left the continent in search of greener pastures is serious business.

Ghana’s tourism increased two-fold during the year of return. The country now has a decade-long (2020-2030) strategy, with a special focus on key projects aimed at the diaspora.

The recently passed “African Continental Free Trade Agreement” (ACFTA) is touted as the most significant event that has happened on the continent since the 188485 Berlin Conference, where Africa was divided without any Africans’ presence. The division created geographical boundaries, trade barriers, visa requirements, no common currency and languages foreign to the indigenous people.

Current efforts to eradicate and/or eliminate the “clause for the continuation of colonialism” imposed by France on its colonies makes West Africa a key continental development region.

Memphis and the Tri-State area have a lot in common with Ghana and West Africa.

The USA’s “Africa Growth Opportunity Act” (AGOA) provides duty-free entry of selective products and services produced on the continent. Economic opportunities are available on both sides of the Atlantic and across the Americas. Memphis to Accra, cargo and passenger logistics are possibilities.

Ghana is one of the largest producers of high-quality gold. It is also a major producer of Shea Butter, along with cocoa. The country has a variety of plants, herbs and vegetation that are organic in nature. Beneficiation, fabrication and continuous processing of the country’s resources are priorities.

The country is a digital leader and is home to numerous tech companies. Possible B2B exchanges include digital platforms for education and healthcare.

Local artist Carl Moore created the official Memphis in May International Festival poster honoring Ghana. It was unveiled in February 2020 before the first of two postponements forced by COVID-19. (Courtesy photo)

Kwame Nkruma, Ghana’s first prime minister, announces the West African nation’s independence from the United Kingdom at midnight on March 6, 1957. (Screen capture)

My view is that while the USA and China scramble to position in Africa, and the colonialists grapple with holding on to their vestiges on the continent, Memphis and the Tri-State region can uniquely position the Mid-South for economic opportunities internationally.

I envision the Salute to Ghana as a springboard for sustainable exchanges with Ghana, ECOWAS and the continent. A few practical solutions could be, but are not limited to:

• Develop a stronger B2B and economic exchange focus for the MIM Salute;

• Create minority-majority business partnerships to venture into Ghana, West Africa and the continent as a whole;

• Create educational and research exchanges with universities, hospitals and other entities focused on Africa;

• Invite the five previously honored African countries to Ghana’s Salute and benchmark Ghana’s Diaspora efforts as a possible best practice;

• Establish an African Business Centre as a joint venture between the Memphis Minority Business Council Continuum, Greater Memphis Chamber, the Black Business Association and other interested parties as a sustainability strategy after the MIM salute to Ghana;

• Support the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc. because of its continuous focus on the continent.

• Encourage even more collaboration between Africa in April and Memphis in May.

(Fred D. Thompson is an international Total Quality Management (TQM) and Performance Management System’s (PMS) consultant, has consulted in Africa since 1993. His view is that integrating QMS, PMS and digitization can be the means for Africa to become globally competitive. Reach him at fredtqm@yahoo. com.)

The slippery slope of legislating by phone –is Tennessee ready?

by Deborah Fisher Special to The New Tri-State Defender

During the pandemic, members of local and state governing bodies have been allowed to conduct meetings electronically per executive order by Gov. Bill Lee.

They have not had to hold physical meetings in a physical place. They can hold meetings on Zoom or even by telephone conference call, as long as they allow the public real-time live audio or video access and follow other rules.

In some instances, this has meant that the governing body is on videoconference, and the public must show up physically at city hall to watch them through a government computer. It has not been ideal for citizens, who have lost the benefit of interaction with their representatives before and after physical meetings of county commissions, city councils and zoning boards. But the minimum – the ability to follow the discussion, know who is speaking and how a person is voting – has been protected under provisions in the governor’s executive order.

After the pandemic eases, the regular rules of Tennessee’s Sunshine Law will go back into effect. But some local elected officials, county commissioners specifically, want to continue to be able to patch into a meeting and vote by phone instead of physically attend. Problem is, this time around, the protections for the public that were carefully preserved in the governor’s executive order would disappear.

House Bill 327 and Senate Bill 301, sponsored by two Knoxville lawmakers at the request of the Knox County Commission, would permit almost half of a county legislative body to participate and vote in a given meeting by calling in instead of appearing in person if they meet certain requirements. A healthy debate should take place on whether legislating by phone and not in front of constituents is a good idea. The Tennessee Constitution prevents state lawmakers from doing this.

But if the General Assembly thinks it’s important to allow county commission members to call in and debate and vote by phone, then surely the public needs protections to assure that citizens can hear and understand who is talking on the phone at any given time and how those members vote.

How did such legislation emerge?

The idea as presented by its sponsors is noble and kind. It would allow county commissioners who are having a family emergency or medical emergency to stay at home and still participate and vote in a meeting. However, it’s unclear what would constitute a “family emergency” or even “medical emergency.” The legislation gives authority for that determination to the county commission, raising questions about potential misuse or abuse.

Another reason is more straightforward – the member is out of the county for work, but even that could be abused. The fourth reason

Deborah Fisher

is specific and seems unlikely to be abused — the member is called into military service. The bill requires that a quorum of the county legislative body be at the physical location of the meeting before other members are allowed to call in and vote by phone.

For example, on a county commission with 25 members, only 12 members could call in for any given meeting. On the 40-member Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, only 19 members could participate electronically at the same time.

While it may seem an unlikely scenario for so many to call in, the bill permits it. And it would not be completely outside the imagination that with such large governing bodies, you might have six or seven people taking advantage of the electronic participation. Like with any slippery slope, we ease into new realities slowly.

The legislation creates an exception to the entirety of the Open Meetings Act, not just the section that sets out rules on how electronic participation in meetings should take place — rules that have been developed largely for state boards. This means if the legislation became law, it would trump where it conflicts with any part of Tennessee’s open meetings law.

The bill instead envisions that the county legislative bodies would come up with their own rules to protect the public’s interest in open meetings.

This assumes that each of the state’s 95 county legislative bodies would impose stricter standards on themselves than what is required in the open meetings law — an idea that deserves more examination and thought.

Finally, the bill’s sponsors point to a natural limitation in the legislation: An elected official could participate electronically in only two commission meetings a year.

It’s a seemingly small hole in the open meetings law for the state’s 95 county legislative bodies. But if passed, it likely won’t be long before city councils, boards of aldermen and other local governing bodies ask for the same. And the limits of twice a year? Why not three? And how about expanding it to county budget committee meetings, too?

We should proceed cautiously and thoughtfully down this route of permanent exceptions to the open meetings law.

The enthusiasm of an elected official for more personal convenience should be tempered with the duty of appearing before the public they represent and conducting business in the open.

(Deborah Fisher is executive director of Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization working to promote transparency in the state since its founding in 2003.)

Stress and Wellness Clinic: help in the time of COVID-19

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A fully staffed medical clinic — social workers, physicians, nurses, medical students, nursing students, support medical personnel — operates each Monday on the campus of The Healing Center in Oakhaven.

Compassionate smiles are carefully covered by masks because of the pandemic, but there is no masking of the cheerful voices — from the intake desk all the way back to the medical examination rooms.

Anyone can walk into the Stress and Wellness Clinic and get help. Whether it’s a medical condition, psychological issue, or some mental challenge, a caring staff of professionals is on hand to assist.

“This dream is 47 years in the making,” said Bishop William Young, founder of The Healing Center Church at 3885 Tchulahoma Rd.. and the clinic’s visionary.

“Back in 1977, I became the first black chaplain at the mental institution (Western Mental Health Institute) up in Bolivar. Four years later, I became the first black chaplain in the Methodist Hospital system. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted

Faith among Black Americans

The Pew Research Center has issued its most comprehensive, in-depth attempt to explore religion among Black Americans. Its centerpiece is a nationally representative survey of 8,660 Black adults (ages 18 and older), featuring questions designed to examine Black religious experiences.

The sample consists of a wide range of adults who identify as Black or African American, including some who identify as both Black and Hispanic or Black and another race (such as Black and White, or Black and Asian).

Such a large sample was recruited to examine the diversity of the U.S. Black population.

The New Tri-State Defender will explore aspects of the study in periodic stories and updates.

to help our people.”

Counseling services, referrals, answers to questions about the COVID-19 and medical assistance in the pandemic have been invaluable for a community struggling with blatant disparity in healthcare.

Many families do not have medical coverage. Free medical and social services have been a lifeline.

Young said because African-Americans have a long history of mistrust of the medical and psychiatric communities, mental health and undiagnosed chronic conditions hit minori-

ties especially hard.

“Early in my ministry, I found that black people won’t go see a psychiatrist or seek treatment for depression and other mental disorders,” said Young, “but they will come and counsel with their pastor. That’s how ‘Suicide and the Black Church Conference’ came about.”

The Stress and Wellness Clinic is an ambitious expansion of outreach to the community. Entire families come in, children and all. Everyone gets checked out. Everyone gets the help they need “without money and

without price.”

“We work with families to access all of their needs,” said Julie Meiman, an intern working on a master’s degree in social work at the University of Memphis.

“Whether it’s housing, or food — whatever the need is, we are here to direct them to the place where help is available. This is so much more than just a clinic. I have learned so much.”

A drive-thru COVID-19 testing center was set up on the parking lot.

“We were testing people by appointment,” said Pastor Dianne Young, a facilitator of the clinic and Young’s wife. “But of course, if people come up here without an appointment, we never turned them away. If they walked up and didn’t have a vehicle, we didn’t turn them away.”

Since the first rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in mid-December, emphasis has shifted from testing to vaccinations, Pastor Dianne said.

The clinic just completed inspec-

tion as a potential site for the vaccine.

“I think inspection of our facilities went well,” said Pastor Dianne. “Becoming a vaccination center will be extremely important for the Oakhaven community. Residents who can’t go far because of transportation challenges can come right up here to the clinic and take their shots.”

Clinic Director Peter Hossler, a professor of Urban and Community Health at Rhodes College, said it has been important for the clinic to be a place where right information about the pandemic can be dispensed, in addition to medical services.

“There is a great fear of COVID, and that’s understandable,” said Hossler. “We make an intentional effort in creating a safe place at the Stress and Wellness Clinic. Anyone coming in for medical screenings will find every staff volunteer masked and taking every possible precaution.”

The clinic is open every Monday evening from 5-8 p.m. For more information, call 901-370-4673.

Safely masked and matched …

The Rev. Roosevelt Jackson, a member of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, observes the weara-mask safety protocol in style.

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

This teamwork exchanges involves (l-r) Peter Hossler, clinic director; Linda K. Brown, administrator, and Pastor Dianne Young, facilitator. (Photos: Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell)

Julie Meiman (left), a masters student in social work and intern, consults with her University of Memphis professor of social work, Cherry Malone.

Bishop William Young

Congress OKs $1.9T virus relief bill in win for Biden, Dems

by Alan Fram The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – A Congress riven along party lines approved a landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill Wednesday, as President Joe Biden and Democrats claimed a triumph on a bill that marshals the government’s spending might against twin pandemic and economic crises that have upended a nation.

The House gave final congressional approval to the sweeping package by a near party line 220-211 vote precisely seven weeks after Biden entered the White House and four days after the Senate passed the bill. Republicans in both chambers opposed the bill unanimously, characterizing it as bloated, crammed with liberal policies and heedless of signs the crises are easing.

“Help is here,” Biden tweeted moments after the roll call, which ended with applause from Democratic lawmakers. Biden said he’d sign the measure Friday.

Most noticeable to many Americans are provisions providing up to $1,400 direct payments this year to most adults and extending $300 weekly emergency unemployment benefits into early September. But the legislation goes far beyond that.

The measure addresses Democrats’ campaign promises and Biden’s top initial priority of easing a one-two punch that first hit the country a year ago. Since then, many Americans have been relegated to hermit-like lifestyles in their homes to avoid a disease that’s killed over 525,000 people — about the population of Wichita, Kansas — and plunged the economy to its deepest depths since the Great Depression.

“Today we have a decision to make of tremendous consequence,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., “a decision that will make a difference for millions of Americans, saving lives and livelihoods.”

For Biden and Democrats, the bill is essentially a canvas on which they’ve painted their core beliefs — that government programs can be a benefit, not a bane, to millions of people and that spending huge sums on such efforts can be a cure, not a curse. The measure so closely tracks Democrats’ priorities that several rank it with the top achievements of their careers, and despite their slender congressional majorities there was never real suspense over its fate.

They were also empowered by three dynamics: their unfettered control of the White House and Congress, polls showing robust support for Biden’s approach and a moment

SCAM

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

The scammer creates a sense of urgency and tells the person the matter must be handled now, said Barnett.

The Sheriff’s Department will never ask for personal information over the phone.

The MLGW sting calls actually look like MLGW is calling. Instead of a phone number, the letters may show up on the caller ID.

The scammer says that the power is about to be cut off because of non-payment. Again, a person is asked to make a payment from a pre-paid or gift credit card. MLGW does not call and ask for personal information.

The third scam involves the Social Security Administration or some federal law enforcement agency. The caller will say that the SSN number has been compromised and that a rental car is in the person’s name.

Seniors are targets, as well as other populations viewed as being vulnerable.

When the caller says payment should be made from a pre-paid card, as the card number is being given over the phone, the scammer is taking the money off of the card while the phone call is in progress.

Sometimes, account information will be taken and money transferred out of a person’s account. When funds are transferred onto a pre-paid card, the money is impossible to trace.

Again, Social Security will never call and ask for payment information over the phone.

One other scam involves “Cash App” on a smart phone. If someone is having some issue with the app, the only legitimate way to get someone is through written communication on the website. There is no Cash App phone number. Yet, Google will offer

when most voters care little that the national debt is soaring toward a stratospheric $22 trillion. Neither party seems much troubled by surging red ink, either, except when the other is using it to finance its priorities, be they Democratic spending or GOP tax cuts.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat to oppose the measure. He said in a written statement that some of the bill’s spending wasn’t urgent.

Republicans noted that they’ve overwhelmingly supported five previous relief bills that Congress has approved since the pandemic struck a year ago, when divided government under then-President Donald Trump forced the parties to negotiate. They said this one solely reflected Democratic goals by setting aside money for family planning programs and federal workers who take leave to cope with COVID-19 and failing to require that shuttered schools accepting aid reopen their doors.

“If you’re a member of the swamp, you do pretty well under this bill. But for the American people, it means serious problems immediately on the horizon,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., referring to the added federal borrowing the measure will force.

A dominant feature of the 628-page bill is initiatives making it one of the biggest federal efforts in years to assist lower- and middle-income families. Included are expanded tax credits over the next year for children, child care and family leave — some of them credits that Democrats have signaled they’d like to make permanent — plus spending for renters, feeding programs and people’s utility bills.

Besides the direct payments and jobless-benefit extension, the measure has hundreds of billions for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, schools, state and local governments and ailing industries from airlines to concert halls. There is aid for farmers of color, pension systems and student borrowers, and subsidies for consumers buying health insurance and states expanding Medicaid coverage for lower earners.

“Who’s going to help? Do we say this is all survival of the fittest? No,” said House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky. “We rise to the occasion. We deliver.”

Republicans said the country will pay a price for the extra spending.

“It’s certainly good politics to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to hand you a check for $1,400,’” said Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C. “But what they don’t talk about is what this bill costs.”

several phone numbers for the app’s customer service. All of the phone numbers are fraudulent.

Regarding the BBB alert, all of the intended victims have been seniors.

One report was filed by the intended victim’s doctor’s office and in another case, the doctor’s office told the intended victim they had received multiple calls in the same day from patients about the scam.

The calls took two forms. In most of them, the scammer claimed to be with a doctor’s office and needed Medicare and/or payment information to pay an unpaid balance on a medical bill or the victim would be dropped as a patient.

In other cases, the scammers claimed a doctor had prescribed a back or knee brace for the victim and they needed Medicare or payment information.

The BBB offered these helpful tips:

• If you’re contacted by a “friend” online about a free government grant, it’s likely a scam. Report the fake contact to the social media platform.

• Don’t give out your personal or banking account information to anyone you don’t know.

• Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a “free” grant, it isn’t really free.

• Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” doesn’t mean he is. This and other names used are fakes.

• Remember that caller ID can be spoofed. They could be calling from anywhere in the world.

• To reduce the number of telemarketing calls, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

BRW PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:

• Sage

• SugaShack

• Curry N Jerk

• 901 Wings

• Evelyn & Olive

• Mahogany Memphis

• Arnold’s Bar-B-Q & Grill

• Chef Tam’s Underground Café

• The Four Way

• Ball Hoggerz BBQ

• Bala’s Bistro

• Trap Fusion

• Eggxactly Breakfast & Deli

• Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken

• Electrolyfe Juice Bar

• Smooth Living Health Food Restaurant

• A&R Barbeque

• Meals For You

• Mr. P’s Buffalo Wings Hacks Cross

• Big Momma’s and Granny’s

• Bones & Yams

(To participate in Black Restaurant Week, go to:www.blackrestaurantweek.com.)

EAT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

And not just African Americans. … all races across the spectrum. …

“Last year we saw an increase and it had a little lasting effect,” Martin said. “Hopefully we’ll have the same thing. I really, really hope and pray that a lot of our smaller, struggling restaurants … get a lot of kickback from this restaurant week.”

(To participate in Black Restaurant Week, go to: www.blackrestaurantweek.com.)

Black Restaurant Week was in full effect at Stein’s on Lauderdale in South Memphis. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)

Black Restaurant Week customers enjoy eating outside at Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken. ((Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

Felicia Farr, long-time customer of the Smooth Living Health Food Restaurant, loves the Purple Rain Smoothie and Black Restaurant Week. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

Raquel Brown, an owner at Meals For You, said the flow of Black Restaurant Week customers was really needed after losses suffered during the pandemic. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)

Memphis’ ‘Cooking Nurse’ showcases culinary skills on the Food Network

by Brianna Smith-Herman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis Chef

Krissie Scott

– known to most as “The Cooking Nurse” – was introduced to a panel of three judges as a contestant on “Chopped,” the Food Network’s hit reality TV series, on Tuesday.

A professionally-trained chef with 30plus years of cooking experience, Scott splits time between nursing and cooking, her dual passions. She works part time as a nursing supervisor in a care facility and is dedicated to her cooking business, Elite Dinner Parties.

“I love cooking and representing health care,” Scott said to host Ted Allen. “Being ‘The Cooking Nurse’ it’s all about making healthier cooking options that are good for the body.”

“Thank you, nurses!” was the theme of the episode.

Scott competed against three other chefs. Her appetizer dish was a pan-seared mahi mahi taco with candied bacon, followed by the entré: surf & turf grilled beef tenderloin, with onion soup and kale saute. Her dessert was a cake pop parfait.

A focused, fun and calm competitor throughout the show, she drew praise from the “Chopped” judges – Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Marcus Samuelsson. They spoke highly of her cooking, dedication to healthcare and a loving spirit.

“It is an honor and privilege to have you here,” said Freitag. “This was a very close competition.”

The four chefs were tasked with preparing a spectacular three-course. In each round, they had to use all the ingredients the show provided. At the end of each course, the judges “chopped” the chef who failed to measure up in terms of taste, presentation and creativity. The last chef standing took home bragging rights and the $10,000 prize.

“Working as a Nurse and Chef with a moral compass in holistic care go hand in hand. Proper and adequate nutrition play a key role in how the foods we eat are medicine and therapy for our body and soul.”

— Krissie Scott

Prior to the episode’s airing on Tuesday, Scott said she hoped to “make Memphis and women all over proud!”

And while she did not win, she certainly succeeded in pursuit of the latter goal.

“My heart is fi lled with joy! I fulfi lled a dream,” she said. “I was able to showcase my talent as a chef and represent nursing.”

Scott holds an AAS Degree in Culinary & Restaurant Management from L’Ecole Culinaire, a nursing diploma from NWCC and she is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

With both professions requiring studies in nutrition, she understands the importance of dietary values and preferences of each client.

“Working as a Nurse and Chef with a moral compass in holistic care go hand in hand,” she said. “Proper and adequate nutrition play a key role in how the foods we eat are medicine and therapy for our body and soul.”

In January of 2020, she launched a successful personal chef business called Elite Dinner Parties.

“COVID put me in demand!” she said. “My personal chef services offer private dining in the comfort of your own home, with impressive service and delicious food, just as you would expect in an upscale restaurant.”

(Check out Chef Krissie Scott on the Food Network’s “Chopped” Season 49, Episode 7.)

Memphis chef/nurse Krissie Scott competes against three other chefs on “Chopped,” the Food Network’s hit reality TV series. (Courtesy photos)

LPN Krissie Scott, “The Cooking Nurse,” competing on “Chopped,” the Food Network’s hit reality TV series.

COMMUNITY

The New Tri-State Defender, March 11 - 17, 2021, Page 8

COVID-19’s ongoing grip reflected in County Commission’s focus

by Jim Coleman Special to The New Tri-State Defender

With the first case of coronavirus in Shelby County occurring exactly a year ago, the County Commission marked the anniversary by hearing a breakdown of COVID-19 vaccination numbers during its Monday (March 8) meeting.

Commissioners also passed a couple of key coronavirus-related items, dealing with more funding to help those facing eviction and where Shelby County Health Department nursing employees can live.

Like many communities, there have been disparities in populations affected by the pandemic and how COVID vaccinations are being administered.

For example, African Americans in Shelby Co. have only received 29.4 percent of doses. Multiracial individuals only netted 15 percent, while 45 percent of vaccinations went to whites.

“Our demographic breakdown in terms of who received the vaccine continues to become more reflective of the community. It’s not there yet, but it’s more so,” said Health Department Chief of Epidemiology David Sweat.

The vast majority of doses have gone to senior citizens, the most vulnerable demographic. A slight majority of those 75 and older have received a shot.

The update was the first since former Shelby County Health Director Alisa Haushalter resigned amid investigations by state and federal investigations over, among other things, the mismanagement of doses and theft of doses.

Tuesday (March 9) county Mayor Lee Harris announced that Dr. LaSonya Harris Hall would be interim Health Department director.

The city of Memphis inherited the vaccination program and continues to make assessments and expand on it.

So far, early data shows nearly 130,000 Shelby County residents have been vaccinated, which covers 17.4 percent of the goal of having 70 percent vaccinated by Sept. 1.

The Health Department continues many duties like epidemiology services, contract tracing, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, service coordination, community care coordination for individuals needing assistance during isolation or quarantine and infection control prevention inspections in nursing homes.

“All of those operations remain with the Health Department under my administration. We continue to do the work. I receive no instruction at this point on a termination date on those response activities,” said Sweat.

The problematic sign-up system that has left many

users frustrated also was addressed.

“We have really educated people in Memphis that are hitting the enter button over and over and over again. They are getting lucky if they finally get the appointment.

“A lot of older people, as you know, don’t have the ability to constantly hit the send button with Sign Up Genius. Is there a date certain with the new online format that we’ll use instead of Sign Up Genius?” asked Commissioner Mark Billingsley.

Shelby County also passed down the scheduling process to the city of Memphis. The city has made plans to transition to another system.

“My understanding was their intent was to do it by March. But I need an update by Chief (Doug) McGowan or Director (Gina)Sweat over at the Fire Department,” said the Health Department’s Sweat. Gina Sweat and McGowan, Memphis’ chief operating officer, are heading the vaccination effort.

As vaccinations increase, so do the incidents of variant strain infections.

“We did have reported this morning that 10 additional individuals that have the UK strain variant confirmed by sequencing over the weekend.

“We continue to have a small amount of growth every week in the percentage of people with the variant strain. We are running, right now, about 10% of the strain variants,” said David Sweat.

The commission voted 12-0 to allocate over $17 million in CARES Act funding to back an eviction settlement fund. The money will cover back rent for unemployed workers struggling to keep a roof over their heads through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The action amends the FY 2021 Grant Fund operating budget. It is retroactive to March 1 and expires on December 2021. The money will be administered by the city of Memphis.

“This item comes to us with a favorable recommendation from the committee,” said Commissioner Brandon Morrison, who chairs its Community Service Committee.

It was an add-on to the special meeting called on March 3.

Also voting in favor were Van Turner, Michael Whaley, Mick Wright, Reginald Milton, Willie F. Brooks, Jr., David C. Bradford, Edmund Ford Jr., Amber Mills, Mickell M. Lowery, Morrison, Eddie Jones and Billingsley. Tami Sawyer was not present.

The body also voted by the same margin to exempt certain Health Department nursing employees from the requirement they be county residents. The ordinance amends the county charter. It is effective March 1 through Sept. 30, 2021.

SCS middle, high schoolers stay virtual, mostly

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Monday (March 8) kicked off in-person learning for students, grades 6-12, in Shelby County Schools.

But like students, grades K-5 last week, “#Return Stronger,” was given a resounding ‘No, thank you,” by thousands of students.

SCS officials said only about 30 percent of the system’s 110,000 students actually returned to the classroom. The rest will continue using the virtual model to finish out the year.

The SCS Facebook page posted Monday: “It’s a beautiful day and we are excited to see our 6-12 grade students back in the classroom learning SAFELY! Thank you to the parents, teachers, staff, and students who made today a success! #ReturnStronger.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic reared in its traumatic head in the United States a year ago, Shelby County students were abruptly removed from the classroom setting as the Shelby County Health Department struggled to get a handle on rampant community spread.

A total virtual model of learning was adopted to keep students safe at home from community spread. Earlier this year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced it was time to put children back into the classroom. But many parents are just not convinced.

“A lot of the feedback I am getting from parents is that many of them are still afraid,” said Angela Moore, a sixth-grade teacher at Humes Middle School. “Some of our parents have serious, underlying conditions, and they are just afraid to send children to school. They may unknowingly bring the virus back home.”

Moore is facilitator of a girls’ program called, “It’s a Girl’s World.” The majority of young ladies in this mentoring organ are inner-city residents living in multi-generational households.

Economic and social factors make

parents and guardians feel unsafe about sending children back right now.

“There might be a few more coming back into the classroom before the year is out,” said Moore. “But right now, parents are afraid, bottom line. That’s just what it is right now.”

For the Kimbro family, virtual learning has brought everyone closer together. Long periods of sheltering at home have been good for everyone.

“I guess we were in a routine,” said Arnita Kimbro, mother of two East T-STEM Academy students. “My husband and I both worked. I would rush home, cook dinner, and then, the kids got ready for school the next day. It was a vicious cycle.”

Now, Kimbro said learning, everyone is closer — her husband, her two children. Working from home and seeing so many lose family members has inspired the family to create a new routine.

“We have all reconnected again,” said Kimbro. “We have tuned back in to one another. Every evening, we actually sit down together and talk around the dinner table. I get a chance to ask both my kids, ‘So, what’s going on with you?’ The pandemic has been a meaningful time

for us.”

Jaila Kimbro, a 10th-grader at East, agreed with her mom that virtual was the way to go for the rest of the year.

“I do miss interacting with other students and the administration,” said Jaila. “But we only have threeand-a-half months left in the school year. Breaking our routine would be a disruption in our virtual learning schedule. So, I think continuing to learn at home is the right decision.”

Jaila and brother Jaden Kimbro, an East High senior, have adapted well to the virtual model. Both are straight-A students.

“I knew from the beginning of the school year I wanted to remain in virtual learning,” said Jaden. “I like the sense of freedom I have in the virtual classroom.”

Arnita Kimbro said she has kept a small circle of friends around the children to fulfill their need to socialize.

Christie Stroggins, a pharmacy technician who works during the day, chose to send her middle schooler back into the classroom.

“While I was working, my older sister would keep the kids for me,” said Stroggins. “She monitored them while they were in their virtual classrooms. I also have a daughter in pre-K-3 at Career Academy in the Klondyke neighborhood in North Memphis.

Stroggins’ son, Cortez Woods, is a sixth-grader at Humes. Her daughter, Chasity Woods, went back to school on Wednesday (March 10) this week.

“I was apprehensive about sending them back into a classroom situation at first,” said Stroggins. “But I talked to Ms. Moore, Cortez’s teacher, and she helped me feel more assured about the precautions being taken to keep children safe at school. And, I wanted both of them to have the classroom experience, especially Cortez in middle school.”

Besides, “we can see an end to the pandemic now,” said Stroggins.

“Thank God, we can see the end, finally.”

The Kimbro family (l-r): Arnita Kimbro with her children, Jaila Kimbro and Jaden Kimbro, and her husband, Jeff Kimbro.

For Christie Stroggins, the choice for her two children, Chasity Woods and Cortez Woods, was to return to the classroom. (Courtesy photos)

Angela Moore

UPPs to enter new phase after upcoming closure

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The Universal Parenting Places will continue in a new phase of operation, despite the ACE Awareness Foundation’s management of the places ending March 31, it was announced last week.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Awareness Foundation opened in 2015, operating Universal Parenting Places (UPPs) across Shelby County to offer no-cost counseling services, emotional support, and other assistance to families experiencing trauma or crisis.

Late last year, foundation board Chair Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams and the organization’s executive director Dr. Renee Wilson-Simmons, announced the parenting places would close at the end of March due to loss of funding.

“Unless funding comes from another source, we will be closing down operations,” Johnson-Williams said.

Another announcement later was made, indicating that two potential fund sources had stepped forward. However, the stipulation for funding was that a new operator of UPPs could be found.

Last week’s announcement boded well for the continued family work and advocacy of UPPs. Funding is secured, and a new operator was named — Kindred Place.

Kindred Place offers similar services, specializing in family counseling and education for both adults and children.

“The work of mitigating childhood trauma and helping families is such important work,” said Kindred Place Executive Director Jennifer Balink. “We are just so honored to be chosen to carry on this crucial work.”

Johnson-Williams said seven candidates stepped forward, meeting the basic criteria specified by the search committee.

Kindred Place, which offers services in English and Spanish, was chosen.

“We’re pleased that the nationally recognized UPP model created in Shelby County will continue to support families, especially since these services are needed now more than ever,” said Johnson-Williams.

Balink said Kindred Place principals right now will simply “listen and learn” from ACE officials.

“In the midst of so much racial strife and economic stress, Kindred Place is excited to continue the great work of ACE Foundation,” said Balink. “We have watched this work over the years with great admiration and respect. But we want to just listen and learn. We want to be careful in our deliberations about this work moving forward.”

Balink said a collaborative effort between the ACE Awareness board of directors and the directors of Kindred Place.

Kindred Place Executive Director

Jennifer Balink

Dr. Adriane JohnsonWilliams

“We are mindful that UPPs will close on Mar. 31,” Balink said. “And with that date in mind, we will be working with ACE on an ad hoc (as needed) basis with the intent that the work is carried forward continuously.”

Johnson-Williams explained that not all UPPs will necessarily remain open, but nothing about the new operations has been decided as yet.

Kindred Place’s website posts on its home page:

“As a counseling center, guided by universal principles of empathy, understanding, and growth, Kindred Place stands unequivocally with Black and Brown people against racial inequities and injustice. We stand with children whose schools have more armed officers than counselors. We stand with mothers and fathers who fear for their children’s safety and for their own, every single day.”

Johnson-Williams said that the two donors will remain anonymous until they choose to be publicly named during their association with Kindred Place. She said that ACE is delighted to see the work go on.

“While ACE Awareness Foundation is dissolving March 31, we’re excited that the new operator is able to continue providing this valuable and transformative work,” said Johnson-Williams. “And we’re appreciative of all the hard work and commitment of Dr. Renee Wilson-Simmons to make our programs so successful.”

Memphis Urban League offers grant relief to workers impacted by COVID-19

TSD Newsroom

The Memphis Urban League (MUL) has opened applications for $1,000 grants to restaurant and hotel workers financially impacted by COVID-19.

Earlier this year, Shelby County Government awarded $2,500,000 to the Memphis Urban League to support local restaurant and hotel workers impacted by the fight against COVID-19. The relief benefit is a one-time disbursement.

“The Memphis Urban League is appreciative of Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commission for providing grant funds to empower and provide economic relief our county’s restaurant and hotel workers amid the pandemic,” said Tonja Sesley Baymon, president/ CEO of the Memphis Urban League.

“The Urban League has always stood ready to support our community in challenging times, and we are humbled by this opportunity to serve our County.”

Shelby County Commission Chairman Eddie S. Jones said the goal is for the MUL program to “help as many of our local workers as possible to recapture loss income. This group of essential workers have endured unbelievable financial hardship and played an important role in helping to keep our community safe. …

“Shelby County residents have highlighted the importance of supporting our local restaurant and hospitality workers. They have organized and rallied in support of these workers. We have listened and tried to answer the call.”

Applicants must reside and work in Shelby County, be 18 or older and be a restaurant or hotel worker directly financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Grant applications remain open until April 1, 2021 at 11:59 pm.

Qualified applicants can apply at www.memul. org. Grant funds will be disbursed via direct deposit until all funds have been exhausted.

LIVING WITH COVID-19

Grant notes nonprofit’s supporting role during pandemic

by Jerome Wright jwright@tsdmemphis.com

I Am My Sister’s Keeper, which helps single working mothers increase their earning potential, has received a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis.

Margaret Cowan, the nonprofit’s founding keeper, said the money is for operational expenses that will help the organization increase its profile, efficiency and reach.

“It’s a one-time grant that will allow me to receive a small stipend, which I included in the grant application. It also will help us with marketing and to boost the stipend for our communications person,” Cowan said.

That also includes possibly adding office equipment that could boost operational efficiency.

She also hopes the Community Foundation grant will boost the nonprofit’s chances of receiving grants from other funding agencies.

Cowan is among three people — along with barber and musician William Gandy Jr. and James Cook, who owns and operates restaurants at Memphis International Airport — The New Tri-State Defender has followed since April, documenting how the pandemic has impacted their professional and personal lives.

Sutton Mora, the Community Foundation’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, the grant was issued from the MidSouth COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.

“The city (Jim Strickland) and county (Lee Harris) mayors contacted us about starting a philanthropic fund. We launched last March. The fund is designed to support nonprofits serving those most impacted by the (COVID-19) outbreak,” Mora said.

Margaret Cowan

The grant to I Am My Sister’s Keeper came out of phase three of that effort, which is about “resiliency,” Mora said.

“We want to support organizations that have been supporting those impacted (by the pandemic) … This will help them continue their work.

“(Cowan’s) grant was targeted for smaller organizations that don’t have the resources. These are operating dollars to help them (continue their efforts),” Mora said, adding that 46 organizations had received grants under phase three.

Phase one grants were for emergency response.

Phase two was about helping organizations “recover” from the pandemic’s negative impacts.

In all three phases, so for, between 150 to 200 organizations have received $7.5 million in grants, Mora said.

In another funding development, Mora said a national source has provided funding that will allow the foundation to continue the program through 2021, along with other projects.

“One of those projects is $750,000 to River City Capital to help small businesses, with a focus on people of color,” Mora said.

Sutton Mora

(Jerome Wright is deputy editor for The New Tri-State Defender.)

SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, March 11 - 17, 2021, Page 11

In Houston, the Tigers faced a problem they almost solved

Next: AAC Tournament, third seed

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Let’s start with what is self-evident to Memphis Tigers head basketball coach Penny Hardaway: “We’re Memphis, of course we have to win (this week’s American Athletic Conference Tournament title) to get in (the NCAA Tournament). Nobody is going to give us anything.”

That was after the No. 7-ranked Houston Cougars took away the Tigers’ bid at forcing overtime and securing the high-caliber win (67-64) Memphis needed on its NCAA Tournament resume. With 1.7 seconds left in the game, Houston’s Tramon Mark took the inbound pass, dribbled and heaved a 30-foot shot that became a buzzer-beater when it banged off the backboard into the net.

“We have shown that we are a tournament team,” Hardaway said. “No one comes into Houston and plays the way that we played with 1.7 seconds left and not be an NCAA tournament team.”

In pursuit of the AAC Tournament’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid, the Tigers now will play a second-round game against the winner of the Tulsa-UCF matchup on Friday (March 12). A win in the regular-season finale, according to some college basketball observers, would have put the Tigers into the March Madness field for the first time since 2014.

The game had a lot of off-the-court tension attached to it long before tipoff. It originally was scheduled to be played in Memphis. However, COVID-19 protocols established at the start of the season dictated the switch to Houston.

“It was a tough environment on the road against a top ten team,” Hardaway said.

“I felt we had a great game plan, but that game plan could not be effective if we could not rebound the basketball. We knew we would make them miss plenty of shots.

But what they prepare to do on a daily basis is offensive rebound and that’s what they did again.

“We fell short of doing that (rebounding) and therefore we have a loss, another loss against this team.”

His post-game message to the team: “To learn from this game. They (Houston) are a team that plays hard for 40 minutes. They don’t take plays off. We have to get to that level. We are very talented. We take too many plays off.”

Memphis got off to a good start, going on a 7-0 run to take the early lead. The pressure of the Tigers’ defense made the Cougars uncomfortable on offense, resulting in turnovers.

As the first half unfolded, the Tigers were in control until the fouls began to mount up. Every starter finished the half with at least two fouls. Notably, center Moussa Cissé and forward DeAndre Williams only played five minutes and six minutes respectively in the first half.

Prior to the game, Hardaway had a conversation with Williams on controlling how he play against Houston, telling him that he was too aggressive at times and that he could not get into foul trouble against

the Cougars.

In the second half, Williams stepped up to for the Tigers when he was in the game.

He scored 11 points and ended the night with three rebounds and four assists.

The Tigers were called for 15 personal fouls, with Houston making 12 of 18 free throws in the first half. The Cougars led 39-35 at the halftime break.

The second half started like the first, with Memphis hot, taking the lead with a 7-0 spurt. In the back-and-forth affair that ensued, Memphis’ largest lead was seven points, Houston’s six.

Boogie Ellis, Memphis’ leading scorer for the last few games, had an off-shooting game before hitting on a huge three-pointer to tie the game at 64 with 1.7 seconds left.

Lester Nolley II was Memphis’ leading scorer with 14 points. Quinones had 11 points and Malcolm Dandridge contributed nine points and five rebounds.

NOTES:

In the AAC Tournament on Friday, Memphis will play at approximately 9 p.m. CDT after the conclusion of the Houston game at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kennedy Chandler named to McDonald’s All-American team

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis has a history of placing players on the McDonald’s All-American team. Former East High School star James Wiseman, the last local talent recognized, now is running the court in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors.

The newest member to that distinguished list is Kennedy Chandler, although he is not currently playing in Memphis, Chandler, the former point guard who led Briarcrest High School to multiple tournament appearances, is playing basketball this season at Sunrise Christian Academy prep school in Bel Aire, Kansas.

Sunrise (20-2) is the No. 3-ranked school in the Max Preps High School basketball rankings. The school has impressive victories over some of the top schools in the country. They have their sights on winning the national championship at the end of the season. Chandler, a 6’0” point guard, is ranked the No. 1 point guard in the country by several ranking services. He has committed to play college basketball at the University of Ten-

nessee, but that may not be a done deal. The NBA has been luring the top players to commit to playing in the elite team with the G-League.

Chandler took Briarcrest to three state tournament appearances. He won his sophomore year, loss in the championship game his junior year. He was named Mr. Basketball Tennessee for two years. He is in the running to be the Gatorade Player of the year and Mr. Basketball Kansas this year.

Kylan Chandler wanted his son to go to Sunrise because the AAU (MoKan Elite) team that Kennedy plays on has a lot of the same players who play for Sunrise. It also was a chance for him to play against higher caliber players all season long.

“I sent him to Sunrise because he is being challenged every day. He had accomplished a lot here in the city. The goal was for him to get better. He is playing against some of the best players in the country and getting him ready for college,” Kylan Chandler said.

Regarding his son being named to the McDonald’s team, the elder Chandler said, “I was just a proud

parent. That was one of his dreams and goals. I am very excited and humbled for the honor.

“He has worked hard; 5 in the morning with Javonte Holmes and Drew Grant with Excel. I tell him all the time you get out of what you put into it.”

Kennedy improved his game in the summer by playing with Lester Hud-

son and Ja Morant. Both players have taken the younger player under their wings and he has benefited from their knowledge. On getting the award Kennedy said, “This is a great accomplishment. It shows that you are recognized as one of the top players in the country. This is one of the reasons I did not go to

college early. I wanted to be a part of this team. My last goal to try to win a national championship.”

He continued, “It has been tough being away from home. ... It has been a great experience not only getting to know my teammates, but also meeting new friends off the basketball court.

“It has been a great experience. It was tough in the beginning, but once I got to know the players, I did not know it got better. Now we are all like brothers.”

Kennedy wants to play college basketball. He is not being pressured by his friends and family of going the elite team of the G-League.

“I am looking forward to going to Tennessee and lead them to their first ever Final Four appearance,” he said. Memphians can see Kennedy play in his last high school in Memphis on Friday (March 12) at Arlington High School. Sunrise will play Monteverde at 7:30 p.m. for the number one seed in the GEICO National Championship that will be played in Florida. A limited number of tickets are on sale on EventBrite. The event is called the NIBC Conference Championship. The tickets are $25 and all floor seats are sold out.

Kennedy Chandler led Briarcrest to multiple tournament appearances. (Photo: Terry Davis)

Underdogs on the road in Houston to the No. 7-ranked Cougars, the Memphis Tigers huddle for an in-game adjustment before falling short (67-64). (Photo: Courtesy of the University of Houston)

Terry Davis

Byhalia Connection Pipeline

We’re doing more than building a pipeline, we are building up communities.

The Byhalia Connection pipeline is a 49-mile pipeline connecting people, communities and local businesses to the safe and reliable energy we need.

We’re not just building a pipeline, we are:

Helping to strengthen communities

• Investing more than $1 million to support organizations in Shelby, DeSoto and Marshall County.

Supporting local schools, jobs, roads and public services

• During construction, $14 million in revenue spent at local businesses, including hotels and restaurants that have been hit hard by the pandemic.

• More than $3 million per year in property taxes that can be used to support schools and emergency responders.

Taking the safety of the community seriously

• In Memphis today, most homes or businesses are located within 5 miles of an existing oil or gas transmission line. These pipelines operate safely everyday; we expect Byhalia Connection to be no different.

• This pipeline will meet or exceed local, regional and federal safety standards for construction and operation.

• The pipeline will be built with greater pipe wall thickness than is required by federal standards.

• Highly trained operators use advanced technology to carefully monitor our pipelines — 24/7/365 — and we complete regular aerial and ground safety inspections along the route.

@ByhaliaPipeline

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