The New Tri-State Defender - November 3-9, 2022 by The Tri-State Defender

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November 3 - 9, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 44

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Council says ‘yes’ to mayor’s choice for MLGW’s CEO by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis City Council members wasted little time Tuesday (Nov. 1) in plotting the direction of the city’s utility company by overwhelmingly voting to confirm Memphis COO Doug McGowen as the new president and CEO of MLGW. In a related move, the council unanimously approved Mayor Jim Strickland’s nomination of Chandell Ryan as the city’s new COO. Ryan is an 18-year veteran of local government, most recently as deputy COO. She is the first woman to hold the job. Regarding McGowen, the vote was 12-1 with council Chairman

Martavius Jones casting the only no vote. Jones wanted Jim Strickland to conduct a national search to replace J.T. Young as head of the city-owned utility company. Early in the council’s Government and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee meeting, where McGowen’s nomination was deliberated, it was apparent that other council members did not agree with Jones. Introduced by Strickland at the beginning of the committee meeting, McGowen’s appointment comes amid upcoming fateful decisions regarding MLGW’s future, chief of which is a scheduled vote by the utility’s board of directors on whether to keep the Tennessee Valley Authority as ML-

GW’s electric energy supplier. Young had recommended that the utility stay with the federally-owned TVA. The board is scheduled to vote Nov. 16 on Doug a recommenMcGowen dation to sign a long-term contract with the TVA. During the council’s committee meeting, council members obliged Strickland’s request for same-night minutes to prevent the need for later votes. “First, the largest decision for

MLGW in our lifetime is the power supply RFP. Doug completely understands the issues. He co-chaired the integrated resource plan, which was the Chandell step right before Ryan the RFP. He’s been in meeting after meeting about this issue,” said Strickland. “I’ve heard him speak many times in public or in private about this issue. He understands it.” “The most important decision we’ll make as a community is where

we’ll get our power from for the next 50 years. I think there’s no one who’s got a better idea about what those issues are and can lead us to make a good decision than Mr. McGowen,” said council member Jeff Warren. Other work needs to be done, including implementing a broadband plan and installing LED streetlights. McGowen also faces nagging issues like annual ice and wind-storm-related outages, power lines that routinely need to be cleared of branches and customer service issues. Jones, wanting to hold the mayor to the standard he set during previous hirings, such as the current police Chief

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At 71, The TSD forges forward from ‘the baby’ born in 1951 by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

Relying upon the calculator in my cellular telephone, my math registers me as having served as the executive editor of the Tri-State Defender/The New Tri-State Defender for 21 percent of the time that the publication has been serving Greater Memphis, the African-American community in particular. This week, The TSD – as it now often is called – turns 71, with the first edition of the weekly newspaper having been distributed during the first week of November 1951. Several years ago, I was asked to take on the role of associate publisher and I have labored to fill both aspects of my combined title with TSD’s heritage in mind.

That heritage is anchored in a mission detailed on the editorial page of the very first edition. There – and elsewhere throughout that inaugural edition – is the recognition that the publication was a living entity designed for the people and done so in a way that it was expected to grow along with the African-American community. The community has grown and so has the TSD, the immense and numerous challenges facing a publication such as this notwithstanding. Today, the TSD is one of the longest, continuously published newspapers serving the African-American community in the South. In this edition, we take time to

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Bishop Brandon Porter teams up in preparation for “Christmas in November.” (Courtesy photo)

COGIC moves to give back on the way back

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Cartoon from the ﬁrst issue of the Tri-State Defender.

There is great cause for early celebration as Bishop Brandon Porter, Greater Community Temple, and the International Church of God in Christ, prepare for the largest “Christmas in November” event ever sponsored. After convening in St. Louis for the past 11 years, the Church of God in Christ brings its annual convocation back home, staging the most expansive Christmas in November celebration in the denomination’s history. Thousands are expected to attend on Friday, Friday (Nov. 4), from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. “We are returning home with great joy,” said Porter, a member of COGIC’s General Board since 2012. “The Church of God in Christ wants to give back on the way back. Coming home

is an exultant, triumphant return. This is the place of our beginning, and it is fitting that our traditional precursor to the Convocation will be our biggest yet. Already, more than 500 families have registered for the massive giveaway.” COGIC, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, held its convocation in Memphis, its mother city, for more than 100 years. In 2010, however, the denomination began holding its annual gathering in St. Louis. Church leaders cited high hotel rates and a lack of meeting space in Memphis as reasons for the move. Porter’s first Christmas in November was 25 years ago, in 1997. During the 11 years away, the event was hosted in St. Louis, but Porter never lost his passion for blessing families before every convocation. He knew that whenever the church

returned to Memphis, Christmas in November would also return. “We are so excited about this year,” said Porter. “All the clothing is brand new. There are over 20,000 items of clothing, food, toys, groceries, furniture, appliances, food trucks, a kid’s zone for our children, great gospel music, and so much more for our families. There are truckloads of so many things. Right on the ﬂyer, it says, ‘Come Experience Your Miracle in Memphis.’ And that’s exactly what it is.” Besides all the tangible giveaways, other benefits will be available — health screenings, haircuts from local barbers, empowerment sessions, such as financial literacy, voter registration, healthcare awareness for seniors, as well as COVID-19 testing, shots, and boosters.

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The New Tri-State Defender

November 3 - 9, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

Grant program rolls out as Ford moves to funnel BlueOval benefits by Paula Anderson

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Social and economic mobility – along with “general community betterment” – form the underpinning for the $1M capital grant program that the Ford Motor Company Fund has rolled out for West Tennessee nonprofits. The Ford Motor Company Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, which has embarked on the largest investment in the history of West Tennessee with Ford BlueOval City – a plant that will produce electric vehicles and advanced batteries for Ford F-150 trucks and Lincoln vehicles. “Community has always come first for Ford, and we are staying true to our legacy of giving back by investing in our new Tennessee neighbors,” said Mike Schmidt, director of Programs at Ford Motor Company Fund. “Our goal is to ensure that the communities where we build benefit from the investments we’re making and the jobs that Ford and SK On (a South Korean-based EV battery maker) are creating.” Since the September 2021 unveiling of plans for Ford BlueOval City, much of West Tennessee – namely Haywood, Fayette, Tipton, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Madison counties – has been repositioning to benefit from the expected

MLGW

CONTINUED FROM FRONT CJ Davis and her predecessor, Michael Rallings, did not back away from his insistence for a national search. “It’s going to be for that reason that I’m going to object to it and if this goes through, like with the police director, I’ll be the sole no vote. But I’ll work with her and continue to do all that I can to make her successful and I’ll do that with Mr. McGowen...,” said Jones. “If Mr. McGowen were the best person for the job, he would still emerge out of a national search.” Jones previously sponsored a resolution calling for a national search during the Tuesday, Oct. 11 meeting of the committee. It passed 5-0. Several members opted to keep their powder dry and abstained. “When we voted on doing a national search, I abstained. I might as well just put it out in the atmosphere. Everyone knows I was interested in that position, but it had nothing to do with

economic growth and development. T h e capital grants announced this week Mike will target Schmidt physical infrastructures such as playgrounds and the construction of new or renovated spaces. United Way of West Tennessee will serve as a fiscal sponsor for municipalities and organizations that are not tax-exempt. “I believe I speak for all West Te n n e s seans in stating the excitement our community Matthew feels for Marshall the coming Ford BlueOval City,” said Matthew Marshall, president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee. “As the largest single industry investment in the history of our state, it will have a profound impact on our region. But, there is so much work to be done be-

tween now and the time those all-new, electric F-150s roll off the assembly line” Ford BlueOval City is projected to bring approximately 6,000 jobs, with an investment of $5.6B to West Tennessee. “So, United Way is excited to partner with the Ford Fund as they make this $1 million investment to support improvements to the infrastructure of the communities surrounding Ford BlueOval City,” said Marshall. “This investment will build equity and create economic opportunities, which in turn will open pathways to education and high-quality jobs. … “Ford, like United Way, has a history of working with communities, for communities. Together, we will ensure that West TN continues to go further.” Grant applications are due by Feb. 2, 2023. To apply, organizations should visit https://fordfund.org/TNcapitalgrants. Grant awardees will be notified in April 2023. Non-tax-exempt municipalities and organizations are encouraged to contact United Way by email: at Give@UnitedWay.TN.org, with the subject line “Ford Fund Capital Grant.”

Doug McGowen and who he is. “He has worked well with me, my district and any of the initiatives that I have talked to him about,” said council member Patrice Robinson, who until her retirement, was an MLGW supervisor for Assessment and Development. McGowen is a retired navy veteran and former commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Midsouth in Millington. McGowen was given every opportunity to diversify his resume during his stint in the Strickland administration. In addition to day-to-day operations, he also oversaw the repairs and improvements conducted on Memphis’ sewer system, which he considers a utility. It had been plagued with broken and clogged pipes for decades. He also holds a degree in civil engineering. McGowen also has overseen the implementation of Memphis 3.0, which is a comprehensive plan to revitalize underserved communities through infrastructure improvements. He also led the Mayor’s Inno-

vation Delivery Team. The nonprofit seeks innovative solutions for community improvement that the mayor prioritizes. He also plans to remain a member of the mayor’s cabinet. “I think I’m uniquely qualified to ensure that our utility division does more than just deliver day-to-day services, and that is critically important. But it has to power growth where we want it. “It has to power an economy that will drive, not only collective, but individual prosperity,” said McGowen. McGowen also drew the support of the Memphis business community. “Doug McGowen has done an incredible job at the city of Memphis, where he has set high standards and earned a reputation for getting things done. “Our business community looks forward to working with him and MLGW to find new and innovative ways to grow Memphis,” said Beverly Robertson, president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.

(Paula Anderson is a freelance business journalist. Contact her at writingbydesign7@ gmail.com.)

The grounds of Greater Community Temple have been inundated with almost countless boxes and containers of clothing for men, women, and children, household goods, furniture, toys and too many other items to name. This forklift driver had a big job unloading trucks in preparation for the big day on Saturday--Christmas in November.

COGIC

CONTINUED FROM FRONT School supplies, toiletries, hygiene products, and Home Goods, so many other miscellaneous things will be available because of the generosity of sponsors, such as Walmart and World Vision, and individuals who wanted to “bless the event.” Bishop J. Drew Sheard also recognized the immense importance of Christmas in November as forerunner of the 114th COGIC Holy Convocation, Nov. 8-15. He assigned Bishop David Hall, pastor of Temple COGIC and newly elected member of the General Board, to work together on this year’s affair. “Bishop Porter started Christmas in November 25 years ago at his church,” said Hall. “Now, the event has become a part of the Interna-

tional COGIC’s schedule of events. Bishop Porter is to be commended for his vision and initiative. “I worked mainly in a support role, pulling together volunteers and taking care of the tasks necessary to undergird the efforts of Bishop Porter, who spearheaded the effort as he has done in former years. I’m just so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful occasion. We were happy to assist in any way we could.” Porter, an accomplished pastor, author, singer, songwriter, and evangelist, has traveled the nation extensively, preaching the gospel. He succeeded his father, the late Bishop W.L. Porter, founder of Greater Community Temple COGIC, and organizing prelate of the Tennessee Central Jurisdiction. In 1991, Porter succeeded his father as pastor of Greater Community Temple COGIC,

at the original North Memphis location, 924 N. Dunlap. The church has expanded to more than 5,000 members. An additional, larger campus operates in southeast Memphis at 5151 Winchester Ave., in the Hickory Hill Community. Bishop W.L. Porter also was elected to the General Board. “You can’t make preparations for an event of this caliber a couple of months before it’s scheduled,” said Porter. Bishop Hall and I have been working all year to make sure Christmas in November comes off without a hitch. “Now, we’re just asking God to hold back the rain so people can be blessed, and our children can have a great day of fun.” (Families who would like to sign up should call 901-5279255.)

The New Tri-State Defender

November 3 - 9, 2022

Page 3

NEWS

Tenn. Gov. Lee looks past Democrat Martin in reelection bid by Jonathan Mattise and Kimberlee Kruesi NASHVILLE (AP) – Jason Martin has spent more than two years trying to get Gov. Bill Lee’s attention in Tennessee – first, as the critical care doctor urging more action against the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, as the Democratic nominee for governor trying to knock the Republican out of office. To date, Lee has yet to acknowledge he even has a challenger in his quest for reelection. The two haven’t talked, according to Martin, and that’s unlikely to change before Election Day. Lee, riding consistently strong polls in a state that favors the GOP, is taking a calculated approach to winning a second term and has paid no attention to his Democratic opponent. He has put a big fundraising advantage to work by deploying statewide TV ads that tout his first four years in office, while not mentioning that Tennesseans have a choice on the ballot. He has declined to debate Martin, saying he’s too busy running the state. “The Republican strategy is, ‘don’t let anyone get to your right.’ (Lee) was able to avoid opposition in the primary and now he’s expecting an easy reelection victory,” said Kent Syler, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee

State University. Lee sidestepped a primary challenge with a series of moves on time-tested conservative issues, including backing a permitless handgun carry law and signing off on expansive abortion restrictions. On fiery topics that have taken off more recently, he has signed laws that target transgender people, shifted his attention to the hot midterm topic of crime over his priorities for criminal justice reform, and approved restrictions against some discussions on race and sexuality in schools. “Parents now have a say in what’s taught and what isn’t,” Lee said in a campaign ad. “And kids are learning valuable skills, without the divisive politics.” Martin, meanwhile, said he hopes to make the kind of inroads in rural Tennessee that have long defied state Democrats, leaving them without a seat in the governor’s office for more than a decade. He said he thinks the path to winning the governor’s race “goes through red Tennessee, goes right through rural communities.” “I think previous campaigns have focused really a lot of resources and training on the cities, and Democrats are going to try to run the numbers up in the cities. The math isn’t there,” Martin told the Nash-

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Jason Martin campaigns Oct. 21, 2022, in Shelbyville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) ville Rotary Club recently. “You can’t win with a message that only appeals to the big five cities in the state of Tennessee.” Martin initially got in the race criticizing the way Lee has handled the COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee, where a statewide mask mandate was never enacted. Martin has since shifted away from making that his main focus. To date, researchers from Johns Hopkins University says Tennessee has seen roughly 28,000 COVID-19 related deaths. As of late October, that death count is the 12th highest in the country overall and sixth per capita. While speaking in front of the crowd, Martin admitted that a year ago he would not have said the gubernatorial race was winnable for a Dem-

ocrat in such a ruby red state. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion changed things, he said. Particularly, Martin is hoping to win over Tennessean voters discovering to their dismay that the state’s strict abortion ban doesn’t explicitly exempt those performed to save a mother’s life. To date, Lee has downplayed concerns that the ban’s current language surrounding exemptions has sparked confusion and fear from the medical community. As a vocal opponent to abortion, Lee has maintained that doctors can use “their best judgment” to save the life of the mother. “My sense and understanding from the law is that does exist now,” Lee told reporters

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee leaves the stage after delivering his State of the State Address Feb. 8, 2021, in Nashville. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) earlier this summer. Martin says Lee’s statement means one of two things, either of which would be “painful.” “One, he doesn’t know what he signed. Or two, he’s not being truthful with you. And either way, in my opinion, he’s unqualified to be governor,” Martin said. Lee has also attracted criticism after he declined to rebut comments made by Hillsdale President Larry Arnn, who claimed earlier this year that teachers “are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges” during a reception the Republican attended. Lee has since distanced himself from Hillsdale’s attempt to expand their affiliated charter schools in Tennessee but has remained a vocal school choice advocate. Martin also said that, as

governor, he would sue to challenge a law that requires lawmakers’ approval to expand Medicaid in Tennessee under former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Lee has opposed Medicaid expansion, saying the current program is ﬂawed and that adding more money wouldn’t address those problems. His administration has spearheaded an overhaul to how Tennessee’s Medicaid program is funded and run. President Joe Biden’s administration has asked for changes to the program, which former President Donald Trump’s team approved. Lee defeated a Democratic opponent by 21 percentage points in 2018 after emerging from a bruising Republican primary. The last Democratic governor in Tennessee was Phil Bredesen, who served from 2003 until 2011.

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, November 3 - 9, 2022, Page 4

DIAGNOSIS DEBT

Knoxville’s Black community endured deeply rooted racism; Now there is medical debt by Noam N. Levey

store: “I don’t buy a lot of food. Just plain and simple.” She has adjusted, she said. “You just do what you have to do.” What angers Reed, though, is how she’s been treated by the cancer center where she goes for periodic checkups to make sure the cancer remains in remission. When she recently tried to make an appointment, a financial counselor told her she couldn’t schedule it until she made a plan to pay her bills. “I was so upset, I didn’t even find out how much I owed,” Reed said. “I mean, I wasn’t calling about a little toothache. This is something that affects someone’s life.”

About This Project

Kaiser Health News

When Dr. H.M. Green opened his new medical office building on East Vine Avenue in 1922, Black residents of this city on the Tennessee River could be seen only in the basement of Knoxville General Hospital. They were barred from the city’s other three medical centers. Green, one of America’s leading Black physicians, spent his life working to end health inequities like this. He installed an X-ray machine, an operating room, and a private infirmary in his building to serve Black patients. On the first ﬂoor was a pharmacy. Today the Green Medical Arts Building has been replaced by a tangle of freeways that were built after the city’s Black business district was bulldozed in a midcentury urban renewal project. But the health gaps Green labored to narrow still divide this community. And if segregation is less apparent in medical offices today, its legacy lives on in crushing medical debt that disproportionately burdens this city’s Black community. In and around Knoxville, residents of predominantly Black neighborhoods are more than twice as likely as those in largely white neighborhoods to owe money for medical bills, Urban Institute credit bureau data shows, one of the widest racial disparities in the country. That tracks with a disturbing national trend. Health care debt in the U.S. now affects more than 100 million people, a KHN-NPR investigation found. But the toll has been especially high on Black communities: 56 percent of Black adults owe money for a medical or dental bill, compared with 37 percent of white adults, according to a nationwide KFF poll conducted for this project. The explanation for that startling disparity is deeply rooted. Decades of discrimination in housing, employment, and health care blocked generations of Black families from building wealth — savings and assets that are increasingly critical to accessing America’s highpriced medical system. Against that backdrop, patients suffer. People with debt avoid seeking care and become sicker with treatable chronic conditions like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Worse still, hospitals and doctors sometimes won’t see patients with medical debt — even those in the middle of treatment. “African Americans don’t seek health care until we are really, really sick, and then it costs more,” said Tabace Burns, a former emergency room nurse in Knoxville. Burns, who is also a leader in her church, said she routinely helps members of her congregation find medical care they should have sought earlier. Nationwide, Black adults who have had health care debt are twice as likely as white adults with such debt to say they’ve been denied care because they owe money, the KFF poll found. Many Black Americans also ration their care out of fear of cost. Burns recalled a friend who came to see her about an oozing growth on her breast. “She didn’t have any insurance, so she just thought it would get better,” Burns said. Burns helped the woman find an oncologist to treat what turned out to be cancer. There was a cost to waiting so long, though. Because the cancer was so advanced, the friend had to undergo chemotherapy and have both breasts removed. It could have been worse. “What if she didn’t know me? What if she just continued to let her breast leak and it was necrotic?” Burns said. But, she added, if her friend hadn’t been so worried about going into debt, she would have gone to the doctor sooner. It’s a terrible cycle, said Berneta Haynes, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “This legacy of segregation and struc-

“Diagnosis: Debt” is a reporting partnership between KHN and NPR exploring the scale, impact, and causes of medical debt in America. Dr. H.M. Green was a leading Black physician in the early 20th century who fought discrimination in health care. His clinic was torn down when Knoxville, Tennessee, bulldozed Black neighborhoods during a midcentury urban renewal project. (Photo: Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville.)

Midcentury urban renewal and highway-building in Knoxville, Tennessee, wiped out the Black business district and neighborhoods like The Bottom. “We concentrated Black poverty,” says city council member Gwen McKenzie. (Photo: Jamar Coach for KHN and NPR) tural racism underlies the racial health gap,” she said. “It impacts health outcomes and access. And it impacts the level of medical debt.” In ‘The Bottom’ The story of how Knoxville’s Black residents came to be its primary victims of medical debt is written in the city’s changing landscape. Just outside downtown, below refurbished office buildings and former warehouses, is an area once called The Bottom, long the heart of the Black community. This area persevered through decades of Jim Crow segregation and violence. In one of the worst episodes, mobs of white rioters in 1919 vandalized Black-owned stores and shot residents after a young Black man was accused of killing a white woman. It was here that Black physicians like Green opened medical offices alongside grocers, pool halls, and funeral homes. Knoxville’s first Black millionaire, a former enslaved man who’d made a fortune in horse racing and saloons, built a YMCA. Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway performed at the Gem Theatre. Beginning in the late 1950s, the city systematically wiped out The Bottom and surrounding neighborhoods in an urban renewal and highway-building campaign. Officials razed more than 500 homes, 15 churches, and more than 100 Black-owned businesses, including Green’s medical building. More than 2,500 families were displaced. Many ended up in public housing projects. Others left Knoxville. Businesses never reopened. “It changed the whole landscape,” said the Rev. Reneé Kesler, director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, a nonprofit that preserves Knoxville’s Black history. “You’ll have generations that won’t recover from that.” What urban renewal left behind in East Knoxville was a neighborhood that’s the poorest in the city — and has the largest share of Black residents.

Diagnosed with cancer five years ago, Monica Reed of Knoxville was left with nearly $10,000 in medical bills she couldn’t pay. She has sacrificed, including cutting back on food. “You just do without some things to pay other things,” she said. (Photo: Jamar Coach for KHN and NPR) A tiny fraction of residents are homeowners. Blocks are blighted by boarded-up buildings and overgrown lots. Down the street from Knoxville’s oldest Black cemetery, a Dollar General recently closed — one of the few stores around that sold groceries. The neighborhood’s residents are sicker than those elsewhere in Knoxville, with higher levels of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. They are less likely to have health insurance. They also have much more medical debt. More than 30 percent of the people have a medical bill on their credit record, according to credit bureau data collected by the nonprofit Urban Institute. A few miles west in Knoxville’s overwhelmingly white suburbs, fewer than 10 percent carry such debt. It’s not difficult to understand the difference, said Eboni Winford, a clinical psychologist at Cherokee Health Systems, a network of clinics that serve low-income patients. “Black people are less likely to have generational wealth to pass on, which means we don’t have the pockets of money that we can just use if medical bills arise.” Nationally, the median white family now has about $184,000 in assets such as homes, savings, and retirement accounts, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The assets of the median Black family total just $23,000. “What happened is we concentrated Black poverty,” said Gwen McKenzie, a Knoxville City Council member who grew up not far from The Bottom. “From there, that’s where it became generational.” ‘Always a Sacrifice’ Monica Reed lives just up the hill from where The Bottom once was. She considers herself luckier than most. Born in Knoxville and raised by a single mother, Reed became the first in her family to own a home, a small house built after the city demolished The Bottom. For the past 15 years, she’s worked for a faith-based nonprofit that assists low-income residents of Knoxville. “It hasn’t always been easy,” said Reed, who just turned 60. She raised her son by herself. And though she’s always worked, her modest salary made saving difficult. “I just tried to live a frugal kind of life,” she said. “And by the grace of God, I didn’t become homeless.” She couldn’t escape medical debt, though. Diagnosed with cancer five years ago, Reed underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Although she had health insurance through work, she was left with close to $10,000 in medical bills she couldn’t pay. She’s been pursued by debt collectors and even taken to court. That’s forced Reed to make difficult choices. “There’s always a sacrifice,” she said. “You just do without some things to pay other things.” Reed said she cut back on trips to the grocery

Locking in disparities Health insurance gains made possible by the Affordable Care Act have narrowed some racial health disparities, studies show. The expansion of Medicaid, in particular, has brought new financial security to millions of low-income Americans. In a recent analysis of credit bureau and census data, researchers estimated that Medicaid expansion helped enrollees avoid more than $1,200 in medical debt. But many of those gains have remained out of reach in Knoxville. Tennessee is among 12 states that have rejected federal funding to expand the Medicaid safety net through the 2010 health care law. Eight of the 12 are Southern states with large Black populations. The decision not to expand has disproportionately affected communities like East Knoxville that are already contending with deep racial disparities in health and wealth. Of the roughly 2.2 million people locked out of health coverage because these states rejected Medicaid expansion, nearly 60 percent are people of color, according to a KFF analysis. About a quarter are Black. Locked out of health insurance, many just try to hang on until they become eligible for Medicare, said Cynthia Finch, an advocate in Knoxville who has worked to improve health in the city’s Black community. “People pray they don’t get sick before they are 65,” she said. If Black patients go into debt, they face yet another challenge: a medical debt collections industry that targets Black debtors more aggressively than their white counterparts, particularly for smaller debts. About 6 in 10 Black adults with medical debts under $2,500 say they or someone in their household has been contacted by a collection agency in the past five years, the KFF poll found. By contrast, only about 4 in 10 white adults with similar debt said the same. At the courthouse in downtown Knoxville, the dockets are filled with debt collection lawsuits filed by some of the region’s largest hospitals: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and Parkwest Medical Center. That discourages many Black patients from seeking care even if they need it, said Cherokee Health’s Derrick Folsom, who helps patients enroll in health insurance. “Somebody knows somebody who’s getting sued for medical bills,” Folsom said. “So they stay away from medical centers.” Reﬂecting on her experience with medical debt, Reed said she tries to stay upbeat. “I don’t sweat the small stuff,” she said. “What am I going to do against this hospital?” But, she said, she has realized one thing about the nation’s health care system: “It’s not designed for poor people.” (KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonproﬁt organization providing information on health issues to the nation.)

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The New Tri-State Defender

November 3 - 9, 2022

RELIGION

Page 5

An installation – delayed by COVID– ‘was a great occasion’ TSD Newsroom After a two-year wait, the Dr. Noel G. L. Hutchinson Jr. has been installed as pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Baptist Church in Frayser. Dr. Hutchinson’s installation was originally scheduled for March 2020, but in-person worship shut down across the country the week before. With that backdrop, the installation service last Sunday (Oct. 30) at the church at 3735 N. Trezevant unfolded with the theme “never too late…on time for God.” Kingdom Fellowship, Hutchinson told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday (Nov. 2), is “a congregation of great people energized to live out the Gospel. It is a smaller church, where the members, in a colloquialism, ‘punch way past their weight’.” Citing an example, Hutchinson said at the height of the pandemic, Kingdom Fellowship served over 1200 families through collaboration with the Mid South Food Bank’s mobile food pantry. As a part of the installation celebration, the church also had a community “Parking Lot Picnic” at the church. Two weeks earlier, members canvassed the immediate blocks around the church, inviting the neighborhood to come by. Clergy from across Memphis and several elected officials joined in the celebration.

Dr. Michael Moore, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, was the keynote speaker during the formal installation service for Dr. Noel G. L. Hutchinson Jr. as pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Baptist Church. Hutchinson is the executive mission director for the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Many know him in association with the 22 years he and his wife, Rebecca Matlock Hutchinson, spent in service to First Baptist Church (Lauderdale). A native of The Bronx, New York, Hutchinson’s rootedness in Memphis is reﬂected in his

As much as an installation is a formal occasion publicly showing the union of pastor and people, the installation of Dr. Noel G. L. Hutchinson Jr. as pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Baptist Church had a strong feel of worship. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender) ongoing involvement in numerous civic and community efforts. At 10 a.m, the organizing pastor of Kingdom Fellowship, the Rev. Darryl Roberts, preached a sermon he titled “Even in the midst of a plague, keep moving” based on Joshua 1:1-9. At 3 p.m. for the formal installation worship, Dr. Michael Moore, Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, drew upon Isaiah 4:19 to preach on “A new thing.”

The President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), the Rev. David Peoples, and PNBC General Secretary, Dr. A. Wayne Johnson, sent congratulations. Several of Dr. Hutchinson’s family members, some from as far as London, England, did the same. “Yes, we had a wonderful time,” said Rebecca Matlock Hutchinson. “It was a great occasion,” said Dr. Hutchinson, “with great fellowship, and great people.”

“Giving Back & Paying It forward”

The Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association (MBMA) hosted The Legacy of Legends Gala Affair at Norris Ave. Baptist Church, 1437 Norris Rd. last Sunday (Oct. 28). Among the Recipient Awards were those bestowed upon the Sickle Cell Foundation and LeMoyne-Owen College. Pastor Rickey Dugger is MBMA president, with Pastor Carl Shields serving as vice president. Dr. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, was the guest speaker. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

The theme for MBMA’s Legacy of Legends Gala was “Giving Back & Paying It forward.” It was drawn from Philippians 3:13-16.

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Officials say 200-plus votes cast for wrong Nashville races by Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise NASHVILLE (AP) – More than 200 votes have been cast in the wrong races in Nashville since early voting began in Tennessee, election officials confirmed Wednesday. Davidson County election administrator Jeff Roberts said his office reviewed voter data throughout the night after The Associated Press alerted officials Tuesday that voters were receiving conﬂicting information on what race they could vote in for the midterm elections. That review determined that 190 voters cast ballots in a wrong congressional race, 16 cast votes in a wrong state Senate race and six cast votes in a wrong state House race. Roberts remained confident voters would receive the correct ballots for the remaining two days of early voting in Tennessee. “The fix has been put in place,” Roberts said, adding he had sent the correct updates to the secretary of state’s office earlier Wednesday. Secretary of state spokesperson Julia Bruck said the office was first made

Hendrell Remus, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, speaks Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn., after election officials confirmed more than 200 votes have been cast in the wrong races since early voting began. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) aware of the issue Tuesday afternoon. The district assignment information on the state’s GoVoteTN app was updated late Wednesday morning, she said. Officials say votes that have been already cast will be counted for those races. Voters do not have an option to retract their vote. The issue comes after Republican lawmakers split up multiple precincts throughout Davidson County while redrawing Nashville’s congressional maps in hopes of flipping a Democratic seat. As a result, voters now live in splintered precincts and some have been incorrectly grouped in the wrong district. But accord-

ing to the county, no issues surrounding ballots being cast in the wrong race were raised during the primary, which took place in August. Democratic leaders and candidates on Wednesday largely cast blame on state Republicans over how the redistricting map divided Nashville, diluting the voting power of communities of color. They called for an investigation into the errors while criticizing local election officials as well. Republican legislative leaders squared their criticisms on Nashville election officials. Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said it was a “ridiculous idea” that the congressional map is to blame,

and noted requirements to have equal populations in districts. He criticized Democrats for talking about suing over that map earlier this year, but never filing a challenge. “They’re complaining about something they could’ve sued about, but they didn’t sue because they couldn’t win,” Sexton told the AP. “So, it’s kind of hypocritical.” GOP Senate Speaker Randy McNally’s spokesperson called the Davidson County error “clearly regrettable” and urged the county to examine their internal processes to avoid repeat problems. Sexton said the issue will be a topic of discussion when the Legislature returns in January, and could result in lawmakers taking away “some autonomy” from Davidson election officials and installing more oversight over them. In Tennessee, local election commissions each have a 3-2 majority that favors the political party in charge of the Legislature – currently, Republican. Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser at the Washington-based Democracy Fund foundation, said similar mistakes have happened elsewhere in the U.S., and they usually come to light in

the first election cycle right after once-a-decade redistricting. Roberts confirmed that the problem was not contained solely to one voting precinct or just one congressional race. Instead, it affected multiple addresses across all of Davidson County – one of the state’s most populous regions. Under the redistricting plan, Republican state lawmakers carved Nashville into three different seats, spurring the city’s longtime Democratic representative, Jim Cooper, not to seek reelection. That created an open race in a newly drawn district – now snaking through six counties – that favored Donald Trump over Joe Biden by 12 percentage points in the 2020 presidential race. Republican Andy Ogles and Democrat Heidi Campbell are competing for the open 5th District seat. The 6th District is the most favorable Nashville seat for Republicans, where GOP U.S. Rep. John Rose of Cookeville is running for another term. Trump topped Biden there by 30 points. Rose faces Democrat Randal Cooper. Odessa Kelly, Democratic nominee in the 7th Congressional District, is running against incumbent Republican

U.S. Rep. Mark Green in the 7th District, which extends through 14 counties. Its voters favored Trump over Biden by 15 percentage points. Both Kelly and Green have criticized the redistricting map. “I’m shocked and disappointed to hear about the balloting issue in Davidson County,” Green said in a statement. “No one should ever have to worry about whether or not their vote was cast properly. The Davidson County Election Commission needs to fix this immediately.” Marie Campbell said her voter registration card showed she was in the 6th District, and that’s where the Nashville resident voted in the primary election and where she thought she would be voting in the general, despite her interest in supporting Kelly in the 7th. When she heard about the district assignment error, she noticed she should be in the 7th. When she cast her early voting ballot Wednesday, she was able to vote in the 7th District. “I just would have approached the campaign a lot differently if I had known my neighborhood was in (Kelly’s) district,” Campbell said. “I would have canvassed a lot.”

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125 baptized at ‘transformative’ T.H.U.G.S. Revival weekend in Frayser by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A blitz of evangelists, gospel rappers, singers and musicians recently heralded a “T.H.U.G.S. Revival” at Pursuit of God Transformation Center. “And, man, did we witness transformation,” said Pastor Ricky Floyd. “‘T.H.U.G.S.’ is an acronym for ‘Trusting, Hearing, Understanding God’s Spirit.’ Everyone was welcome: gangsters, OGs, gang bangers, young people, the unchurched. And they came: Black, white, young, old. It was phenomenal.” There have been three other such events in the church’s history. The Frayser ministry, located at 3759 N. Watkins, was planned this year as a post-pandemic pushback on the city’s most crime-riddled communities. The three-day event, from Oct. 28-30, intentionally targeted those who are living “in that street life.” “Friday night was “The Merge,” entreating the unchurched to change their lives through the Gospel of Jesus,” said Floyd. The gospel rappers and youth evangelists ministered to a capacity crowd. Saturday (Oct. 29) was the “Submerge,” the night of baptism. Sunday (Oct. 29) was the “Emerge,” coming up from baptism to a new life. Baptism was a new element added to the event. And leading the line-up of popular youth evangelists were Adrian “Fro” Johnson and Patrick Houston, who many would know as Memphis-based rapper, “Project Pat.” The altar filled with young and old, ready to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and leave the streets. Most of the converts wanted to be baptized. “Many were accepting Jesus for the very first time, but there were others who came up to the altar in a recommitment of their lives to Christ,” said Floyd. “Fro’s gospel rap was off the chain. He also preaches and prophesies. All our speakers were incredible. But everyone was inspired by Project Pat’s transformation.” Patrick Earl Houston, better known by his stage name, is a popular American rapper from Memphis. He has left gangsta rap and is now “on the Lord’s side.” “I don’t call myself a preacher or an evangelist,” said Houston. “I don’t give it a name. I’m God’s man. When I am led by Him, I see lives transformed. I got saved when I was a kid. I just wasn’t walking in it. I went the way of the world.”

Pastor Ricky Floyd prepares to lead this group in prayer before baptism. Houston’s father, the Rev. George Houston, is an evangelist. “God started dealing with me in 2020, right before the pandemic hit,” said Patrick Houston. “I was walking in the way of the world. I was putting money over everything. God began to show me the areas of my life which were wrong. And I just began to change them, to follow His direction.” Houston said 15 years ago, he attended a T.H.U.G.S. Revival, just out of prison. Houston embraced the gospel message. But from that point, he started to drift as back into street life. During the pandemic, Houston used the lockdown time for meditation, reading, and two years later, he had made a total transformation. His worldly rap career is behind him; an evolved, Godly person now lives in the rapper’s place.

“I’ve been shot on, and it wasn’t even my beef,” said Houston. “I was robbed at gunpoint in Harlem on the way to the radio station. That was just part of the life. But I left that all behind for God, and all the areas in my life are great: relationships, health, and money. God said, ‘If you draw nigh to me, I will draw nigh unto you.” Houston told his story Friday night (Oct. 28), and the message resonated with the crowd. People ﬂocked to the altar to get some of what Houston has. The next day, they lined up to get baptized. They came and they kept coming – 125 were baptized and awarded certificates. Andrew Thomas II, 29, said he’s been in and out of church his whole life. He has been living “in the streets, gang life.” “I wanted to re-dedicate myself to God, and I wanted to be baptized. My four-year-

Errand Williams will never forget his baptism.

Andrew Thomas II and his son, Mekhi Thomas, 4, got baptized together. old son, Mekhi Thomas, also got baptized. I explained it to him, and we got baptized together. Stacy Payton, mother of Andrew Thomas II, was also baptized. Thomas told her he was getting baptized. Payton followed his lead, as she remembered “how the Lord had blessed and kept her family.” “The Lord protected my son all those years he was in those streets, and he even lost his mind at one time. He didn’t even know who I was. I am so grateful for how good God has been to us. We want to live for Him.” Lonnie Gauldin, 58, is involved in the Husband Institute and Security for the church. He is grateful for how Pastor Floyd is genuinely interested in leaders who have fallen. “Pastor Floyd asked me if I would work with young boys in the Husband Institute. There is this 14-year-old twin, Keyon, who suffered some defects at birth. He said to me, ‘Bro. Lonnie, God loves you, and we just appreciate you working with the Husband Institute. I’d like to pray for you.’ “As he began to pray, a lot of that anger and hardness fell away. Past hurt just melted away. It changed me. I decided to get baptized and recommit myself to Christ.”

‘Ms. Millie’ baptized anew at 99

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Monica Stanberry Walker is no thug, but she came to the T.H.U.G.S. Revival Friday (Oct. 28) night. Like other regular people who attended, she came with those who were living “that street life.” “Gramps doesn’t even live in Memphis,” said Walker. “She was just up here in Memphis to celebrate her birthday. She turned 99 on Oct. 25.” “Gramps” is Walker’s nickname for her grandmother, Millie Stanberry. Like scores of others, Walker heard the message of the Gospel of Jesus, inspired by the speakers and performers, especially Memphis rapper Project Pat, who now is evangelizing, and has recommitted her life to God. Baptism was scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 29) night, but Walker was ready on Friday. “I was just remembering all that God had done for me, in spite of how I had been living, and I wanted to be baptized on Friday,” said Walker. “And I was baptized. All day Saturday, I was real emotional, you know, like good emotional. I told Gramps

I got baptized, and that’s when she said, ‘I want to be baptized again, too.’” Stanberry, 99, was born somewhere in Mississippi. Presently, she lives in Greenwood, Mississippi. “Mama was born in Sunﬂower County, I believe,” said Walker’s mother, Lizzie Stanberry. “I used to know where she was born when we were growing up, but I have forgotten now, and Mama doesn’t remember, either.” According to Lizzie Stanberry, Mrs. Stanberry dropped out of school in the third grade. Growing up, the family worked on a farm, but did not own their own land. The elder Stanberry married at the age of 15 to a much older man. Walker said all day Saturday, Stanberry kept telling her granddaughter that she wanted to be baptized again. “My grandmother never talked about why she wanted to be baptized a second time,” said Walker. “Was it something she wanted to do before she leaves this life? Did she feel the Lord telling her to be baptized once again? We don’t know. She never talked about the reasons why, only that she wanted to be baptized.” Loved ones concerned about her health were telling her not to do it,

because she gets cold. The water could be chilly and uncomfortable. And though she felt a little concern about how cold the water would be, Mrs. Stanberry was determined to go to the water. Back in Mississippi all those years ago, baptism would take place in a muddy river or creek nearby. Walker wondered what memories her grandmother was keeping, what secrets she had not shared. “Since my grandmother dropped out of school so young, she taught herself how to read,” Walker said. “I would tease her, trying to be funny, but that never stopped her from trying. Gramps was born in 1923, and she married in November of 1938. She was baptized the first time in 1949.” Stanberry had 12 children. When her husband died, she was left to raise them alone. It was hard, but she did it. “Mama made our dresses out of the 25-lb. ﬂower sacks,” said Lizzie Stanberry. “There were ﬂowers all around the bottom. We thought we were really dressed.” Saturday night, Walker got Stanberry ready for church, but there was still hesitation. So, she didn’t get baptized Saturday night.

Millie Stanberry’s resolve yielded her second baptism. (Courtesy photo) “By Sunday, whatever reservations she had were gone, “said Walker. “She was ready to go into the water. I brought a bunch of blankets and towels so she wouldn’t be cold. When we got to church and said that my grandmother wanted to be baptized, the people said, ‘No baptism today. Baptism was last night.’” But Pastor Ricky Floyd of Pursuit of God Transformation Center in Frayser, who hosted the event, had promised Mrs. Stanberry that if she made up her mind by Sunday that she wanted to be baptized, he would baptize her. “That’s just what happened,” according to Walker. “We rolled Gramps up to the pool in the wheel-

chair, and she didn’t want to be helped into the pool. “Gramps said she was going to walk into the pool by herself, and she did. There were steps you had to walk up and then steps leading down into the pool. She did it by herself, and it was so emotional for everyone. It was the power of God.” Now, Mrs. Stanberry is satisfied after going into the water for the second time. “We know she already loved God,” said Walker. “When she wasn’t well, and people called on the phone to pray for her, she would let them pray, and turn around and pray for them. … She didn’t even get cold. Her soul is satisfied.”

The New Tri-State Defender

TSD

CONTINUED FROM FRONT acknowledge all the laborers that have contributed to sustaining the TSD, notably beginning with founding publisher Robert Sengstacke and founding editor L.O. Swingler. Over the years, several – former editor and general manager L. Alex Wilson among them – literally have put their lives and livelihood on the line in the course of that pursuit. One year ago, the TSD took special note of its 70th anniversary and embarked on a yearlong recommitment to its beginning. Now, we take time to make a fresh embrace of our intention to continue serving the community that has continued to support us. To do so, we know that we must push on

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toward mastering new tools in a changing industry. So many of our readers now access us through our digital portals and we are beefing up our efforts to make sure they have access to the news and information they seek. The fact that what once was called the community’s “baby” is still about the business of service seven decades later is a testament to the need and its roots. During the build-up to last year’s 70th, Calvin Anderson, president of Best Media Properties, the TSD’s parent company, made this observation: “In this environment when a number of newspapers are dying, we are celebrating the continuity and strength of TSD in this community and the Black Press in general.” Thank you for your support. We are working hard to continue to earn it.

John Herman Henry Sengstacke, founding publisher

L.O. Swingler, founding editor

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, November 3 - 9, 2022, Page 10

The mayoral ‘Meet & Greet’ that did not go according to plan by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

From the outset, the Shelby County Young Democrats’ “Meet & Greet” with the party’s Memphis mayoral hopefuls did not go as planned. Two of the four mayoral hopefuls announced as invited and confirmed – Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. and Memphis-Shelby County School Board Commissioner Michelle McKissack – did not show, citing prior engagements, according to organizers. The venue was The Pocket, a Downtown spot at 115 Union Ave. The affair, which was held Oct. 27 and about a year out from the election, drew about 150 attendees, some standing. The other two scheduled candidates, Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young and attorney Van Turner Jr., Shelby County Commissioner and Memphis Branch NAACP President, would not share the stage alone, however. Former Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Joe Brown, better known by many as the star of television’s “Judge Joe Brown,” arrived early for the event, declared his candidacy and took a seat on stage. Several days later, one is arguably more apt to hear conversations about what Brown said than anything else. At times, colorful and other times contentious, the exchanges between Brown and the scheduled candidates made for some memorable moments on their first shared platform. The format was clearly defined: moderator Kirsten Cheers would ask a question and each candidate had two minutes to answer. After getting all three to give a brief bio, the stage

was set. An early question seeking the announced candidates’ positions regarding stimulate growth and economic development, drew this exchange: “The first thing we need to do is take the city’s money and deposit it in multiple banks,” said Brown. “All of our money is deposited in First Horizon, which is a Canada bank. The money needs to be deposited in several banks. We need to spread that money around. “And with the (Ford) BlueOval plant (being built) just outside of Memphis, thousands of jobs should be coming to us. We need vocational training and a greater investment in academic excellence to prepare our young people to qualify for those jobs.” Turner said, “We need to follow the example of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor. They were about to build the airport and Maynard said he would not build the airport unless diverse businesses are participating in the project. And he didn’t build until minority businesses were significantly involved. “And from that time, Atlanta became a city of diverse businesses. We need that kind of commitment to promote economic development and growth in Memphis.” Young: “We have the largest technically diverse workforce in the country, that means women and Black. We need to invest in more initiatives like CodeCrew and other technical training programs to grow a workforce that can fill high-paying, technical jobs. “Also, small businesses are one-person shops. We need to invest in assisting them with the back-of-

fice functions for their growth and so they can compete for government contracting.” And, said Young, “We have to lean into what works. Raleigh Town Center, Liberty Park, historic Melrose – none of that happens without Paul Young. As director of Housing and Community Development, I was committed to the construction of affordable housing and other projects. I can go and stand in front of my receipts.” Things got noticeably more tense in The Pocket when Brown associated Turner and Young with questionable motives and actions regarding two public-eye projects. Turner, he said, had attempted to sell and profit from the acquisition of two cityowned parks that a Turned-led entity called Memphis Greenspace bought as part of a move to remove two Confederate-era monuments. Young, said Brown, was getting some kind of financial kickback on building a “$200 million project downtown.” Turner assured the audience that the two parks purchased by Memphis Greenspace cannot be sold and must continue as public parks, according to the terms of the sale. “If you can read, you can see that,” Turner hit back. Young said the building Brown referenced was the Hyatt Hotel, asserting that he championed “Black investment” in the project, which he said had more than 18 percent minority contracting of products and services. “Also, what Mr. Brown failed to tell you is that 15 percent of this development project is locally owned,” said Young. “We want the mailbox income. We want to make sure that

Each of these three announced candidates – (l-r) Judge Joe Brown, Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner Jr. and Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young – have set a course to become the next mayor of Memphis. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender) minorities in our community are able to participate on the ownership side.” Then came the question that produced an answer from Brown that continues to reverberate. Asked if he would support a woman for mayor, Brown answered that at this point in time, women have no place in the race. “I don’t want to get crude about it, but some places you need to go to exercise leadership … some of the good ladies in here would get drug into an abandoned apartment and raped,” said Brown. “That’s one of the problems. “Maybe when we get things cleaned up and squared away, then a lady can come in here and she can have something that is decent.” There was some pushback from the audience. Brown stood his ground. Both Turner and Young said they would support a woman for mayor. The City of Memphis Municipal Election will be held on October 5, 2023. If a run-off election is required, it will be held on November 16, 2023. With that time frame as a point of reference, here are some final thoughts shared by the three announced candidates at the Young Dems’ Meet & Greet: Brown: “I want to be mayor of the 14th

largest city in the country. With the Blue Oval project, Memphis is the new Detroit. We should be the distribution center of the world. We could ship out those electric cars using barges down on the river. And we can generate our own power using hydroelectric generators right there in the river. We should be fully ready to take advantage of the thousands of jobs from that auto plant.” Turner: “Memphis needs a mayor who legislates from the community, not from an office on Main Street. We need to reinvest in education and support our children, K-12. The city pulled out of supporting education, but education is the greatest crime-fighting institution we have. I am ready to be your mayor.… We shouldn’t vote for someone who has four years (of) experience in law enforcement … just locking our young people up is not the answer.” Young: “The mayor of Memphis runs a corporation of more than 8,000 employees, with an operating budget of more than $750 million. I am the best qualified to take on that job. I have been preparing for this my whole life.”

Alzheimer’s awareness raised at Arts & Hor D’oeuvres event by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

An inaugural Arts & Hor D’oeuvres fundraiser on Sunday (Oct. 30) treated sponsors, caregivers, and community supporters with a unique opportunity to learn more about the devastation of Alzheimer’s. “Of course, the fundraising is important, but this Open House was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about how Alzheimer’s and dementia devastates,” said Dr. Judy Martin, executive director of Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Memphis, Inc. The Open House and Silent Auction on Oct. 30, welcomed volunteers, friends and loved ones of Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers to fellowship with the organization’s staff and sponsors as local artists displayed their works for sale to support the day services facilities providing daily activities to seniors suffering with dementia-related issues. “Of course, the fellowship was great as well,” said Martin. “But there is such strength found in families just sharing and listening to each other’s stories. …. We are already looking to host similar events in the future.” Dorothy’s Place, the organization’s facility in Hickory Hill, provides adult daycare services and supervision for seniors experiencing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Activities, snacks, and meals are provided while caregivers take a day off or go to work. “I’m actually a nurse, an RN, and I have been for 45 years,” said Martin. “Research shows that when those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and de-

Dr. Judy Martin

Katrina Thompson

Signing up for the art auction to further awareness about the effects of Alzheimer’s. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/ The New Tri-State Defender)

Local artists displayed their works for sale to support the cause. mentia socialize with friends, engage in games, and group activities, deterioration in the brain actually slows down significantly. Those findings are actually very important.” Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Memphis President Katrina Thompson said she got involved as a volunteer watching a friend care for her husband. “The disease can be emotionally painful to friends and loved ones as it progresses in the patient,” said Thompson. “Although I have not personally had a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, I have seen friends and other people take that

journey. We were elated to see community supporters, elected officials, and sponsors come out and support Sunday’s event.” Thompson said attendees made generous bids for paintings offered in the silent auction, and Memphis artists were allowed to show off some of their creations. Martin said she developed an interest as well as knowledge in the organization because both her mother and aunt suffered from dementia-related illnesses. “My mother was 5 years older than her sister,” said Martin. “My aunt was out in California, but we

moved her here in my mother’s house because my mom wanted to care for her sister. Of course, I went over several times a day to check on them both.” Martin said her mother was able to remain in her home until age 97, and her aunt had to go into a skilled nursing facility sometime before her mother went. “They ended up in different facilities,” said Martin. “Mother didn’t begin to see a real decline until age 97, and she suffered from infections as well. But God is so good. My aunt lived to be 95, and my mother was 100. They passed within three weeks

of each other.” Martin said Alzheimer’s and dementia feel like “a long journey.” The illnesses last a long time for caregivers and other loved ones, she said. “I have taken that journey firsthand, myself,” said Martin. “The work we do is important, uplifting and supporting caregivers as well as providing a place of fellowship for our memory-loss sufferers.” The organization opened a second location, Kennedy Park Center, 4585 Raleigh LaGrange Road, in the Frayser-Raleigh community. Dorothy’s Place is located at 3185 Hickory Hill Road.

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To address teacher shortages, Tennessee may drop major test for many teacher candidates by Marta W. Aldrich Chalkbeat

Amid worries about teacher shortages, Tennessee is considering reducing requirements for some nontraditional candidates to earn their teacher licenses, despite concerns that the change could hurt teacher quality. In the first of two votes on a controversial proposal, the State Board of Education approved Friday dropping EdTPA, a licensing test required currently of about 900 “job-embedded” candidates, who comprise about a third of the state’s teacher pipeline. That pathway lets people with non-teaching bachelor’s degrees work as classroom teachers while simultaneously pursuing licensure by taking graduate-level coursework through partnerships between their school districts and approved teacher training programs. The proposal to drop edTPA, which would take effect next September, is among numerous ways Tennessee is trying to increase its teacher pool after seeing a gradual decline in the number of aspiring educators graduating from the state’s 40-plus teacher training programs. However, both state and national data suggest that current shortages are limited to certain districts, schools, grades, and subjects, not an across-theboard problem. Some higher education leaders question the rush to revamp rules with statewide application. In their preliminary vote, board members voted unanimously to drop the EdTPA requirement for job-embedded candidates. But they emphasized that they want more feedback from teacher prep programs before their final vote set for February. “There’s a fear of lowering the quality, lowering the bar. And there’s a fear of not having enough people to fill the classrooms. So we’re trying to manage these two fears that are real,” said Nate Morrow, a board member from Williamson County, prior to the vote. EdTPA has been used since

“There are (districts) and subject areas that need more teachers, but not across the board. This is a blanket policy that I think will weaken the quality of teachers we have in Tennessee.” — Bill Estes 2013 by numerous teacher training programs, including some of the largest ones at the University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. In 2019, it became a statewide requirement to gain licensure as the state set new goals for training new teachers. The assessment measures teaching skills and was developed by researchers at the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity. It requires candidates to submit a portfolio of materials for review, including a series of lesson plans, video of themselves teaching, and written analysis of their instructional practices. Teacher prep leaders disagree about whether to remove EdTPA as a job-embedded requirement for licensure. Critics call the portfolio stressful and needlessly time-consuming, while supporters say it’s a valuable way to measure teaching readiness. “A year ago, we had to have the highest edTPA scores in the country. So what changed during that time so that we don’t need edTPA at all?” asked Bill Estes, dean of the college of education at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, during an interview with Chalkbeat. Without more data and a deeper analysis, Estes said, it would be a “step backward” for Tennessee to have differing standards and requirements for its various pathways to licensure. “There are (districts) and subject areas that need more teachers, but not across the board. This is a blanket policy that I think will weaken the quality of teachers we have in Tennessee,” he said. Claude Pressnell, president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, said there’s no con-

sensus within his group about whether to drop edTPA. The bigger concern, he said, is any change that treats teacher candidates differently by saying that one group has to pass it, and the other group doesn’t. “Our members want to keep a level playing field related to requirements of all ed prep programs,” Pressnell told Chalkbeat. During Friday’s meeting, Sara Morrison, the board’s executive director, said the proposal is a starting point to discuss ways to eliminate duplications and streamline requirements for the state’s various pathways toward teacher licensure. EdTPA merits consideration, she added. “For job-embedded candidates, since they are being evaluated (by school leaders), they have an assigned mentor, they’re getting a lot of that same reﬂective practice and feedback that is part of edTPA, it seemed duplicative to also do the EdTPA while they’re also classroom teachers of record,” Morrison said. Darrell Cobbins, who represents Memphis on the board, said he has lots of questions about how to ensure teacher quality without driving candidates from entering the profession. But for now, he said, many school leaders seem most worried about the latter. “There’s a recurring theme around teacher shortages, teacher retention, career advancement,” Cobbins said. “There seems to be a pleading from district leaders, from teachers themselves, that we employ some avenues of ﬂexibility and creative thinking around how we support districts in addressing their challenges.” (Marta Aldrich is a senior correspondent and covers the statehouse for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact her at maldrich@chalkbeat.org.)

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Bubbling up in Memphis … Robert “Kool” Bell, the longtime leader and co-founder of the legendary band, Kool & the Gang, recently brought his brand of champagne to Memphis. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

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Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m. Classiﬁeds ads Monday 5 p.m.

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Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com. GENERAL INFORMATION: Some categories require prepayment. All ads subject to credit approval. The

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My worst fears became my greatest moment of thanks. ANGELA BAKER Thankful Cardiology Patient

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When Angela Baker was admitted of any sort. Shelby County Land Bank 584 Adams Avenue

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to the hospital for chest pain, she needed a team of dedicated cardiologists to diagnose and treat her, but she also needed supportive caregivers who reassured her when she was most vulnerable. In a letter, she writes, “Because you were with me every step of the way, I was never fearful, not even for a second. I cannot thank you enough for the care you provided. Your kindness, dedication and healing touch were nothing short of amazing. You will always be in my heart.”

Hear Angela’s full story of thanks at methodisthealth.org/angela.

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SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, November 3 - 9, 2022, Page 14

PREP FOOTBALL

MASE head football coach Cedric Miller on the team’s undefeated regular season: “It feels good … I am excited for the kids.”

The defense of the MASE Phoenix looked – size-wise – as if they could dominate the Gray Wolves of Bluff City and they did with a shutout in a 56-0 victory last Friday (Oct. 29). (Photos: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender)

Undefeated season in the book, MASE now focused on step-by-step run to a state title by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The MASE Phoenix football team earned a little more respect each week of the regular season, which ended without a blemish last Friday (Oct. 29). The Phoenix completed their first undefeated (10-0) season with a 56-6 win over Bluff City. Yes, this is the same school that went winless in 2017. It’s also the school guided by veteran head coach Cedric Miller, who netted his first undefeated season. The feat came in Miller’s first Terry year at MASE after Davis moving over from the now-closed Memphis Academy of Health Sciences (MAHS). MAHS won the Region 7 AA District championship last season and made it to the third round of the playoffs. All the eligible players from that team enrolled at MASE and brought with them the experience of making a deep postseason run. Now, MASE is one of the teams favored to make it to Chattanooga for the state championship game. “It feels good,” said Miller, adding, “We are still not respected. Everyone feels we had a cupcake schedule. We can only play who they put in front of us. I am excited for the kids.” After MASE’s winless 2017-18 campaign, the Phoenix went 7-4 the next year. The 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. Last year, the team finished with a 3-6 record. As for the lack of respect Miller reference, that largely has to do with playing in a region that generally does not garner much respect. Still, the Phoenix was ranked third in the state in the final regular season Associated

A MASE player stretches and focuses ahead of the kickoff against Bluff City.

“We are still not respected. Everyone feels we had a cupcake schedule. We can only play who they put in front of us. I am excited for the kids.” — Cedric Miller Press poll. Miller credits the offensive line, which may be the largest in the city, for the lion share of the team’s undefeated season. Kristian Miller, Andrew Wells, Tyler Wren and Charles Humphrey are the core of that line, which ranges from 6’1” to 6’7. And they play a physical brand of high school Kumaro Brown has been MASE’s bell cow this season with over 1,400 all-purpose yards and 28 total touchdowns.

As things stand, MASE is in a position to bring the first state football championship to Memphis since the Whitehaven and East State championships a few years ago.

football. The offense has averaged 46 points per game, with Kurmaro Brown as a standout playmaker. “He has been our bell cow this year,” said Miller. (He had 71 touches for 1,033 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has over 1,400 all-purpose yards and 28 total touchdowns. He does it for us in all different ways, offense, defense and special teams.” Miller noted that he “returned seven starters returned from last season. The base of the defense was there. We just filled in a few spots. We had six kids that had to sit out last season because they transferred from private schools. They just filled the void.” MASE scrimmaged against Germantown and Lausanne in the summer. Miller wanted to see how the team would react when they were faced with some adversity. Both schools only scored once against MASE, which has nearly 60 players on the team. The team only had 28 players last season. As things stand, MASE is in a position to bring the first state football championship to Memphis since the Whitehaven and East State championships a few years ago. MASE will kick off the first round of the playoffs at Crump Stadium on Friday (November 4) at 7 p.m. The Phoenix will not have to leave Memphis until they play in the championship, if they advance that far. Miller prefers to play his home games at Crump, saying the team feels more comfortable there. Asked about keeping the team motivated, Miller said, “I challenge them every day. We do certain drills to put them to the test. I try to keep them on the edge. It is hard, but I have had similar problems when I was at MAHS. I just brought those same tactics over to MASE.” Miller knows that team focus is essential. “I tell them, we are trying to go 1-0 every week. We will deal with whoever we play. We have West Carroll this week; that is who we focusing on.”