March 2019

GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

â„¢ March 2019

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thepositivecommunity.com

CELEBRATING WOMEN:

SAVING OUR OWN COMMUNITY: THE CULTURAL NARATIVE TOUR

KAREN ALFORD RAMELLE MASSEY L. JOY WILLIAMS

Aisha Glover POSITIVEMUSIC

MATTERS

!

Brooklyn Native Leading Economic Transformation of Newark

418101 rwjbh NBI Top Hospital Fall'18 Pos.Community ad 8.25x11.10.75-m2.qxp 1/21/19 2:02 PM Page 1

One of the nation’s Top Teaching Hospitals One of 53 hospitals to earn national distinction for quality and safety.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI), a RWJBarnabas Health facility, has been named a Top Teaching Hospital by the Leapfrog Group, joining 53 elite hospitals across the nation with this distinction.

NBI is one of only 53 hospitals to earn this coveted national distinction for demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to delivering safe, high quality patient care.

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MONEY magazine says Touro’s NYSCAS is #1.

So do our students.

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Students choose from more than 45 associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs at seven convenient locations throughout the metro area. Choose NYSCAS. A division of Touro College.

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Touro is an equal opportunity institution. For Touro’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, visit www.touro.edu *Touro College was named #1 in the Value-added all star category.

MONEY is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. From MONEY Magazine, ©2017 Time Inc. Used under license. MONEY and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of Touro College.

MARCH 2019

Photograph: Harry Prott

CONTENTS

SECTIONS MONEY .................................. 14 HEALTH................................... 22 EDUCATION............................. 35 CULTURE ................................ 41

Features United Airlines Celebrates Diversity .......................... 14

29

AACCNJ Black History Awards ................................... 16 Shiloh Baptist Honors Entrepreneurs ....................... 18 FWPA Interfaith Service ............................................ 19 Former FLOTUS’ Birthday Celebrated ........................ 20

ON THE COVER:

PS 284 Elite Learners Receive Tablets ..................... 22

Newark Alliance President and CEO Aisha Glover works to move Newark forward

Local Women Making History ................................... 32

Cover Image: Regina Fleming

&also inside

World Cancer Day 2019 .......................................... 23 NYTS Winter Retreat ................................................ 35 Newark Public Lecture: Dr. Rudy Crew ..................... 36 Black History at Newark Beth Israel ......................... 38 GBCNJ Leaders & Laity Conference .......................... 39 Positive Music Masters at Minton’s ......................... 41

Editor's Desk ....................................... 8 Nyack College School of Music Concert ................... 42

My View ............................................. 10 Frontiers’ Annual MLK Breakfast .............................. 50 Fitness Doctor .................................... 26 Girl Power at the Colgate Games ............................. 51 Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project ........................... 52 Gospel Train ....................................... 44 Jesse Jackson Receives Key to Newark .................... 53 The Way Ahead .................................. 57 Cultural Narrative Tour ............................................. 54 The Last Word .................................... 58 Cybersecurity and You .............................................. 56 4

The Positive Community March 2019

www.thepositivecommunity.com

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THE 16TH ANNUAL

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2019 MANDARIN ORIENTAL NEW YORK 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street New York, NY 10023

Reception - 6:00 PM Dinner - 7:00 PM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of NEW YORK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ARE HONORED AND PLEASED TO PRESENT THE

2019 URBAN ANGEL AWARDEES Dr. Thelma C. Davidson Adair is a Presbyterian educator, leader, and lifetime advocate for human rights, peace and justice. She is lovingly called the “Village Mother of Harlem,” her home since 1942.

Join us in honoring her work on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Dr. Thelma C. Adair Presbyterian Educator and Human Rights Advocate

ALSO

HONORING:

Dr. Daniel Y. Kim Eye Physician and Surgeon Vision Care USA

Ms. Diane S. Reyes Group General Manager Global Head of Global Liquidity and Cash Management HSBC

For additional information, visit www.nyts.edu/gala or contact Sontaia Briggs at 212-870-1257; or e-mail: sbriggs@nyts.edu

NYTS | 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500, New York, NY 10115 | (T) 212-870-1211 | www.nyts.edu | info@nyts.edu

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MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

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he clergy organizations, churches, community businesses and institutions listed below have committed to the purchase of at least 50 magazines per month at $1.50 each or they support this publication through the purchase of advertising. Find out more by calling 973-233-9200 or email rollcall@thepositivecommunity.com.

Abundant Life Fellowship COGIC, Newark, NJ Supt. Edward Bohannon, Jr., Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Barry R. Miller, Pastor

Community Church of God, Plainfield, NJ Concord B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Pastor Convent Avenue Baptist Church, New York, NY Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor

Macedonia Baptist Church, Lakewood, NJ Dr. Edward D. Harper, Pastor

Ruth Fellowship Ministries, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Tracey Brown, Pastor

Mariners’ Temple B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter, Pastor

Shiloh AME Zion Church, Englewood, NJ Rev. John D. Givens, Pastor

Memorial, B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Senior Pastor

Shiloh B.C., New Rochelle, NY Rev. Dr. Quincy M. Hentz, Pastor

Aenon Baptist Church, Vauxhall, NJ Rev Alphonso Williams, Sr., Pastor

Cross and Crown Christian Church, Orange, NJ Rev. Lula A. Baker, Pastor

Agape Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Craig R. Jackson, Pastor

Ebenezer B.C. of Englewood, NJ Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr., Pastor

Messiah Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dana Owens, Pastor

Antioch Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Robert M. Waterman, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Anthony Trufant, Pastor

Metropolitan B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Pastor

Archdiocese of New York Brother Tyrone Davis, Office of Black Ministry

Empire Missionary Baptist Convention Rev. Dr. Carl T. Washington, Jr., Pastor

Mount Calvary B.C., Englewood, NJ Rev. Dr. Ed Spencer IV, Senior Pastor

Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater NY & Vicinity Rev. Dr. Charles A. Curtis, President

Evergreen Baptist Church, Palmyra, NJ Rev. Dr. Guy Campbell, Jr., Pastor

Mt. Neboh Baptist Church, Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green Jr., Pastor

Fellowship Missionary B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elton T. Byrd Pastor/Founder

Mt. Pisgah B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor

First B.C. of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ Rev. Dr. DeForest (Buster) Soaries, Pastor

Mount Olive Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Gregory J. Jackson, Pastor

Berean B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Arlee Griffin Jr., Pastor Bethany B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey, Sr. Pastor Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Timothy E. Jones, Pastor Bethlehem Missionary B.C., Roselle, NJ Rev. Jeffrey Bryan, Pastor Beulah Bible Cathedral Church, Newark, NJ Gerald Lydell Dickson, Senior Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Garfield, NJ Rev. Calvin McKinney, Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Morristown, NJ Rev. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor Canaan B. C. of Christ, Harlem, NY Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, Pastor Canaan B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Barry L. Graham, Pastor Cathedral International., Perth Amboy, NJ Bishop Donald Hilliard, Pastor Charity Baptist Church, Bronx, NY Rev. Reginald Williams, Pastor Christian Love B.C., Irvington, NJ Rev. Brandon Keith Washington, Pastor Clear View Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Curtis W. Belle, Jr., Pastor Community B.C., Englewood, NJ Rev. Dr. Lester Taylor, Pastor

First Baptist Church, East Elmhurst, NY Rev. Patrick Henry Young, Pastor First Baptist Church of Teaneck, NJ Rev. Dr. Marilyn Monroe Harris, Pastor First Corinthian Baptist Church, NY Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., Senior Pastor

Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport, CT Rev. James Logan, Pastor

Mt. Olivet B.C, Newark, NJ Rev. André W. Milteer, Pastor Mt. Zion AME Church, Trenton, NJ Rev. J. Stanley Justice, Pastor Mt. Zion B.C., Westwood, NJ

First Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Rufus McClendon, Jr., Pastor

New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, NJ Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Pastor

First Baptist Church, South Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Terry Richardson, Pastor

New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, Senior Pastor

General Baptist Convention, NJ Rev. Dr. Lester W. Taylor, Jr., President

Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ Rev. Hodari K. Hamilton, Sr., Senior Pastor Shiloh B.C., Trenton, NJ Rev. Darell Armstrong, Pastor St. Anthony Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Walter L. DeLoatch, Sr., Pastor St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, Pastor St. John Baptist Church, Camden, NJ Rev. Dr. Silas M. Townsend, Pastor St. John B.C., Scotch Plains, NJ Rev. Shawn T. Wallace, Pastor St. Luke Baptist Church of Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie McCann, Pastor St Luke B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, Pastor St. Mark Missionary B.C., Jamaica, NY Rev. Owen E. Williams, Pastor St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, NJ Rev. Melvin E. Wilson, Pastor St. Paul’s B.C., Montclair, NJ Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover, Pastor St. Paul Baptist Church, Red Bank, NJ Rev. Alexander Brown, Pastor St. Paul Community B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. David K. Brawley, Pastor

New Jerusalem Worship Center, Jamaica, NY Rev. Dr. Calvin Rice, Senior Pastor

The New Hope B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Joe Carter, Senior Pastor

New Life Cathedral, Mt. Holly, NJ Rev. Eric Wallace, Pastor

Union Baptist Temple,, Bridgeton, NJ Rev. Albert L. Morgan, Pastor

Greater Zion Hill B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Frank J. Blackshear, Pastor

North Selton AME Church, Piscataway, NJ Rev. Dr. Eric and Myra Billips, Pastors

United Fellowship B.C., Asbury Park, NJ Rev. James H. Brown, Sr., Pastor

Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) Malcolm A. Punter, President & CEO

Paradise B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Jethro James, Pastor

Good Neighbor B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. George A. Blackwell, III, Pastor Grace B. C., Mt. Vernon, NY Rev. Dr. Franklyn W. Richardson, Pastor

Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. William Derek Lee, Senior Pastor

Park Ave Christian Disciples of Christ, East Orange, NJ Rev. Harriet Wallace, Pastor

It Is Well Living Ministries, Clark, NJ Rev. Kahlil Carmichael, Pastor

Pilgrim B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson, Pastor

Walker Memorial B.C. Bronx, NY Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush Sr., Pastor Welcome Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elijah C. Williams, Pastor World Gospel Music Assoc., Newark, NJ Dr. Albert Lewis, Founder

“The Positive Community magazine does outstanding work in promoting the good works of the Black Church. All churches and businesses should subscribe to and advertise in The Positive Community. Please support this magazine, the only one that features good news about the black community.”—Rev. Buster Soaries, General Baptist Revival, May 20, 2010

JEAN JEAN NASH NASH WELLS WELLS EDITOR’S EDITOR’S DESK DESK

Black women spine that allowed our men to women were spinethat thatallowed allowedour ourmen mento to were the the mighty mighty spine stand tall and set out to change both history setout outto tochange changeboth bothhistory history and straight straight as as they they set and our circumstances. circumstances.

Don’t Stop the Celebration

O

ne month just just ne month just doesn’t doesn’t doesn’t seem seem long enough enough to to ne seem long highlight highlight and and and celebrate celebrate celebrate Women’s Women’s History. As As highlight Women’s History. the the saying saying saying goes, goes, goes, behind behind behind every every great man man there’s there’s the every great great woman. great woman. woman. III believe believe believe that; that; that; both both history and and my my own own aaa great both history personal experiences personal experiences experiences have have have proven proven proven it. it.

But in in these these days days of of personal it. But #MeToo and #MeToo and and #BlackGirlMagic, #BlackGirlMagic, #BlackGirlMagic, III find find myself wondering, wondering, #MeToo find myself who is behind who is is behind behind these these these great great great black black black women? women? who women?

The answer The answer answer is is is as as as plain plain plain as as as the the the knowing knowing expression on on my my The knowing expression face: other great face: other other great great black black black women. women. women. We’ve We’ve always been been the the backbackface: We’ve always bone bone bone of of of society society society on on on all all all levels. levels. levels. From From From the the the moment moment sistas sistas hit hit the the shores shores shores of of of what what what would would would become become become America, America, America, we’ve we’ve been been holding holding things things things down down down for for for ourselves ourselves ourselves and and and everyone everyone everyone else. else. When When Massa’s Massa’s wife wife wife needed needed needed aaa seamstress, seamstress, seamstress, aaa handmaid, handmaid, handmaid, aa cook, cook, aa baker, baker, or or aa wet wet wet nurse, nurse, nurse, she she she turned turned turned to to to aaa black black black woman. woman. woman. When When Massa Massa fracfractured tured tured aaa family family family by by by selling selling selling aaa black black black woman woman woman off off to to another another planplantation, tation, tation, sistas sistas sistas surrounded surrounded surrounded her her her children children children with with love love and and support, support, spreading themselves spreading spreading themselves themselves themselves ever ever ever thinner thinner thinner in in in an an effort to comfort spreading ever thinner in an effort effort to to comfort comfort children of the village and provide love and kindness. children children of of the the village village and and provide provide love love and kindness.

Up children of the village and provide love and kindness. Up Up until the 1960s, almost every child who grew up in the Ameruntil until the the 1960s, 1960s, almost almost every every child child who who grew up in the Ameruntil the 1960s, almost every child who grew up in the American South knew ican ican South South South knew knew knew the the the warm warm warm embrace embrace embrace of of of aaa black black woman. ican the warm embrace of black woman. woman.

During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, During During the the Civil Civil Rights Rights movement movement of the 1960s, sistas did During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s,sistas sistasdid did everything from supporting the male faces of the movement everything everything from from supporting supporting the the male male faces of the movement everything from supporting the male faces of the movement behind the scenes behind behind the the the scenes scenes scenes to to to providing providing providing transportation transportation transportation during during the behind to providing transportation during the the bus boycotts.

Black women were the mighty spine that bus bus boycotts. boycotts.

Black Black women women were were the the mighty spine that albus boycotts. Black women were the mighty spine that alallowed our men to stand tall and straight as they set out to lowed lowed our our men men to to stand stand tall tall and and straight straight as they set out lowed our men to stand tall and straight as they set out to to change both change change both both both history history history and and and our our our circumstances. circumstances. circumstances. change history and our circumstances.

That is what That That is is is what what what IIII strive strive strive to to to be be be for for for The The The Positive Positive Community.

As That strive to be for The Positive Community.

Community. As As editor-in-chief, III assign every story and peruse every page editor-in-chief, editor-in-chief, assign assign every every story story and and peruse every page editor-in-chief, I assign every story and peruse every page before it gets before before it itit gets gets gets printed printed printed and and and distributed distributed distributed to to our readers. black before printed and distributed to our our readers. readers.AA Ablack black woman with more than 50 years in the workforce and woman woman with with more more than than 50 50 years years in in the workforce and fowoman with more than 50 years in the workforce and fofocused on urban media, III strive to serve you, our community, cused cused on on urban urban media, media, strive strive to to serve serve you, our community, cused on urban media, I strive to serve you, our community, with all the good with with all all all the the the good good good news news news about about about who who who you you you are are and your everyday with news about who you are and and your youreveryday everyday amazing accomplishments. amazing amazing accomplishments. accomplishments. amazing accomplishments.

As we celebrate As As we we we celebrate celebrate celebrate the the the 20th 20th 20th anniversary anniversary anniversary year year of The Positive As the 20th anniversary year of of The The Positive Positive Community, III reflect upon how far we’ve come from an Community, Community, reflect reflect upon upon how how far far we’ve we’ve come from an idea, Community, I reflect upon how far we’ve come from anidea, idea, to aaa rudimentary newsletter, all the way to a full-fledged to to rudimentary rudimentary newsletter, newsletter, all all the the way to a full-fledged to a rudimentary newsletter, all the way to a full-fledged magazine that magazine magazine that that that sponsors sponsors sponsors initiatives initiatives initiatives like like like our our Roundtable semagazine sponsors initiatives like our Roundtable Roundtable seseries, the Cultural Narrative, Positive Music Matters, the Public ries, ries, the the Cultural Cultural Narrative, Narrative, Positive Positive Music Music Matters, the Public ries, the Cultural Narrative, Positive Music Matters, the Public Lecture Series, Lecture Lecture Series, Series, Series, and and and more. more. more. IIII hope hope hope our our our pages pages uplift and enLecture and more. hope our pages uplift uplift and and enenThe Positive Community 88 The The Community The Positive Positive Community 8 Positive Community

March 2019 March March 2019 2019 March 2019

courage people, giving them the motivation and strength courage toto courage courage people, people, giving giving them them the the motivation motivation and and strength strength to toto couragepeople, people,giving givingthem themthe themotivation motivationand andstrength strength spread love, faith, and positivity throughout their own comspread love, faith, and positivity throughout their own comspread spread love, love, faith, faith, and and positivity positivity throughout throughout their their own own comcomspread love, faith, and positivity throughout their own communities and networks.

I am am inspired by Katherine Dunham munities munities munities and and networks. networks. am inspired inspired by by Katherine Katherine Dunham Dunham munitiesand andnetworks. networks.IIIIam aminspired inspiredby byKatherine KatherineDunham Dunham who once said, “I used to want the words ‘She tried’ on my who once said, “I used to want the words ‘She tried’ who who once once said, said, “I “I used used to to want want the the words words ‘She ‘She tried’ tried’ on on my my who once said, “I used to want the words ‘She tried’on onmy my tombstone.

Now IIwant want ‘She did it.’”

Those words would certombstone.

Now I ‘She did it.’”

Those words would certombstone. tombstone.

Now Now I want want ‘She ‘She did did it.’” it.’”

Those Those words words would would cercertombstone. Now I want ‘She did it.’” Those words would certainly be a fitting epitaph for any of the women in the pages tainly tainly tainly be be fitting fitting epitaph epitaph for for any any of of the the women women in in the the pages pages tainlybe beaaaafitting fittingepitaph epitaphfor forany anyof ofthe thewomen womenin inthe thepages pages of The Positive Community. of The Positive Community. of The Positive Community. of The Positive Community. of The Positive Community.

This March seems more celebratory with the historic This This March seems more celebratory with the historic This March seems more celebratory with the historic This March March seems seemsmore morecelebratory celebratorywith withthe thehistoric historic number of women serving in the U.S. Congress and other number of women serving in the U.S. Congress and number number of of women women serving serving in in the the U.S. U.S. Congress Congress and and other other number of women serving in the U.S. Congress andother other have each leadership positions.

And these women seem to have each leadership positions.

And these women seem to leadership positions.

And these women seem to have leadership positions. And these women seem to haveeach each other’s other’s backs.

So for the rest of March, and every day, let’s other’s backs.

So for the rest of March, and every day, let’s other’sbacks. backs.So Sofor forthe therest restof ofMarch, March,and andevery everyday, day,let’s let’s celebrate celebrate women both known and unsung.

Let’s turn “She celebrate women both known and unsung.

Let’s turn “She celebratewomen womenboth bothknown knownand andunsung. unsung.Let’s Let’sturn turn“She “She tried” tried” into “We tried,” and “She did it” into “We did it.” tried” into “We tried,” and “She did it” into “We did it.” tried”into into“We “Wetried,” tried,”and and“She “Shedid didit” it”into into“We “Wedid didit.” it.” www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com

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IN IN BRBR ANCH ANCHBROOK BROOK PARK PARK APRIL APRIL6 -14, 6 -14,2019 2019

Festival Events Festival Events Saturday, April 6April ~ 7am-1pm Saturday, 6 ~ 7am-1pm Cherry Cherry Blossom Challenge BikeBike Race Blossom Challenge Race Oval, Northern Division Oval, Northern Division Sunday,Sunday, April 7April ~ 10am 7 ~ 10am CherryCherry Blossom 10k Run Blossom 10k Run Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Saturday, April 13 ~ 10am Saturday, April 13 ~ 10am Fun Run/Walk 1-Mile1-Mile Fun Run/Walk Southern Division ConcertConcert Grove, Grove, Southern Division Saturday, 13 ~ 11am-3pm Saturday, April 13April ~ 11am-3pm Essex County Family Essex County Family Day Day Southern Division ConcertConcert Grove, Grove, Southern Division 14 ~ 11am-5pm Sunday,Sunday, April 14April ~ 11am-5pm Bloomfest!

Bloomfest!

Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Extension

our website fordetails more details information Visit ourVisit website for more and and information WWW. ESSEXCOUNTYNJ.ORG WWW. ESSEXCOUNTYNJ.ORG

Horizon Horizon PUTTING COUNTY PUTTING ESSEX ESSEX COUNTY FIRSTFIRST

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Invited Essex BrookPark Park enjoy EssexCounty County Branch Branch Brook to to enjoy the the mostmost diverse CherryBlossom Blossom Trees, even larger diversecollection collection of Cherry Trees, even larger thanthe thenational national display DC.DC. TheThe than displayininWashington, Washington, blossomingtrees trees create setting thatthat blossoming createaapicturesque picturesque setting transformsthe thepark park into spring fantasyland. transforms intoaastunning stunning spring fantasyland.

Weinvite inviteyou you and and your come outout andand We yourfamily familytoto come experience this wonder. experience thisnatural natural wonder.

Joseph N. Jr.Jr. Joseph N.DiVincenzo, DiVincenzo, Essex County Essex CountyExecutive Executive andthe the Board Board of and ofChosen ChosenFreeholders Freeholders

Guided Historic Tours Guided HistoricPark Park Tours Beginning Thursday, 18 18 Beginning Thursday,April April Haveour ourknowledgeable knowledgeable guides take youyou on aon a Have guides take 45-minute journey journey under of cherry 45-minute undera acanopy canopy of cherry blossoms,pointing pointing out hidden within blossoms, outthe thehistory history hidden within EssexCounty County Branch Branch Brook structure andand Essex BrookPark’s Park’s structure design!The The bus bus tours thethe Cherry design! toursleave leavefrom from Cherry BlossomWelcome Welcome Center. areare $8/person Blossom Center.Tickets Tickets $8/person andcan canbe bereserved reserved atatessexcountyparks.org. and essexcountyparks.org.

Advance reservations reservations are required.

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Historic Cell Historic CellPhone PhoneTours Tours Available ALL Available ALLSeason Season Thisfree freeself-guided self-guided historic tourtour cancan This historicwalking walking accessedby by cell cell phone phone.

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Spend dayexploring exploring all all 72 oror pick andand choose thethe day 72 tour tourstops stops pick choose your favorites.One One phone phone call a world of park your favorites. callunlocks unlocks a world of park history and and horticultural history horticulturalinformation. information. ¡Ahoraofrecido ofrecido en ¡Ahora enespañol! español!973.433.9047 973.433.9047

REV. REV. THERESA THERESA NANCE NANCE MY MY VIEW VIEW

Rev. Nance is pastor of The Church by the Side of Rev. Nance is pastor of The Church by the Side of the Road in Passaic, NJ. She is also a radio talk the Road in Passaic, NJ. She is also a radio talk show host and documentary filmmaker. show host and documentary filmmaker.

Could Could Kamala Kamala Harris Harris Have Have the the Black Black Girl Girl Magic Magic to to Take Take Her Her to to the the White White House?

House?

I

like her. I’m referring to U.S. Sen. Kamala like her. I’m referring to U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. The California popular politician has thrown her Harris. The California popular politician has thrown her proverbial hat in the crowded Democratic field of presiproverbial hat in the crowded Democratic field of presidential hopefuls. dential hopefuls.

Many blacks don’t like her. Yeah, she was a prosecutor.

Many blacks don’t like her. Yeah, she was a prosecutor.

No, she didn’t always rule the way you wanted, perhaps. But No, she didn’t always rule the way you wanted, perhaps. But why the scathing rhetoric? Oh, yeah, she’s a woman and she’s why the scathing rhetoric? Oh, yeah, she’s a woman and she’s black. Those are the reasons. Well, she’s in and, according to black. Those are the reasons. Well, she’s in and, according to social media, doing quite nicely. Now, what? social media, doing quite nicely. Now, what?

Women are hard on their female counterparts, everyWomen are hard on their female counterparts, everywhere. The same grace y’all gave Hillary is the same grace where. The same grace y’all gave Hillary is the same grace

10 Positive Community 10 The The Positive Community

March 2019 March 2019

you should give Harris. She’s got a long row to hoe and as you should give Harris. She’s got a long row to hoe and as the old black saints used to say, “If you don’t wanna’ go, the old black saints used to say, “If you don’t wanna’ go, don’t hinder me.” If you don’t want to play in Kamala’s yard, don’t hinder me.” If you don’t want to play in Kamala’s yard, play elsewhere, but for goodness sake, please play nicely, or play elsewhere, but for goodness sake, please play nicely, or at least play fair. at least play fair.

There are those who feel Harris is not “authentically” There are those who feel Harris is not “authentically” black. Can someone please tell me what that means? She black. Can someone please tell me what that means? She has had to explain her ethnicity and upbringing because her has had to explain her ethnicity and upbringing because her mother is from India. Her lighter skin and “proper” manner mother is from India. Her lighter skin and “proper” manner of speaking are reasons some think her suspect. Oh, and of speaking are reasons some think her suspect. Oh, and her husband is white… Then again, both of her parents imher husband is white… Then again, both of her parents immigrated to America from other countries, so there’s that. migrated to America from other countries, so there’s that.

Her father is from Jamaica; she grew up in Oakland, CaliforHer father is from Jamaica; she grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Hampton University. That sounds pretty nia, and attended Hampton University. That sounds pretty “black” to me, so get on with it. “black” to me, so get on with it.

There has to be some give here. No one believes she There has to be some give here. No one believes she doesn’t have the fire in the belly to run this political race. doesn’t have the fire in the belly to run this political race.

She does for sure. She’s got the ability to hold a crowd in her She does for sure. She’s got the ability to hold a crowd in her hand; 20,000 came to her “coming out party” to announce hand; 20,000 came to her “coming out party” to announce her candidacy. And that ain’t hay. Even President Trump her candidacy. And that ain’t hay. Even President Trump had to admit she had some impressive numbers. And we can had to admit she had some impressive numbers. And we can only imagine how difficult that was for him. only imagine how difficult that was for him.

November 2020 is yet a long way ahead. The campaign November 2020 is yet a long way ahead. The campaign road will be long and there will probably be a few twists and road will be long and there will probably be a few twists and turns. We don’t know the route Harris’ candidacy will take, turns. We don’t know the route Harris’ candidacy will take, but we know the desired destination and the scenery along but we know the desired destination and the scenery along the way will be interesting. the way will be interesting.

Anything can happen, and in this new day and age of Anything can happen, and in this new day and age of advanced mudslinging, fake news, and MAGA, we must be advanced mudslinging, fake news, and MAGA, we must be prepared for everything and anything that can go wrong to prepared for everything and anything that can go wrong to do exactly that. But, we are the people who practically indo exactly that. But, we are the people who practically invented hope and we’ve come this far by faith. So let’s have vented hope and we’ve come this far by faith. So let’s have faith that Kamala Harris will rise to the occasion and emerge faith that Kamala Harris will rise to the occasion and emerge victorious from the battle that will be the Democratic primavictorious from the battle that will be the Democratic primaries. Then, once she’s buckled in and safely on the road to ries. Then, once she’s buckled in and safely on the road to Washington, DC, let’s all take a collective deep breath and Washington, DC, let’s all take a collective deep breath and enjoy the ride. enjoy the ride. www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com

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iyanla vanzant Acts of Faith Remix Tour Fri, Jun 21 @ 7:30PM A new interactive event with the acclaimed spiritual teacher!

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African American Clergy and Elected Officials Photos: Raymond Hagans

L–R: Rev. Dr. Robert Waterman; Captain Victoria Perry, 79th Precinct; NYPD Assistant Chief Jeffrey Maddrey; Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, AACEO Vice President

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hey were first out of the box honoring women during Women’s History Month. On Friday morning, March 1 at their monthly breakfast, African American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO) paid tribute to women “who have impacted our community and world,” expressed Pastor Robert Waterman.

“We, AACEO, salute and honor them and recognize the importance of how women have been influential in our world system.” Rev. Waterman hosts the breakfast each month at Antioch Baptist Church, where he is the senior pastor.

—TPC Staff

L–R: Rev. Dr. Robert Waterman, AACEO President; AACEO Founder Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry; AACEO VP Assemblywoman Latrice Walker; and AACEO Chief of Operations Divinah Dee Bailey

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Black History Month in Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez Hosts L–R: Jennifer Jones Austin, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, and Esmeralda Simmons

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Photos: Lem Peterkin

rooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez hosted a special Black History Month celebration at the historic First Baptist Church of Crown Heights on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

Civil Rights and Human Rights Attorney Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. served as mistress of ceremony and also received a Citation of Honor. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and executive director of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), delivered a stirring keynote address and received the Community Service award. A moving musical performance by The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir concluded the spirited celebration.

—TPC Staff The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir directed by Frank A. Haye

Berkeley College Celebrates

Women’s History Month Save the Dates Women Entrepreneurship Week 2019 October 16-17, 2019 Join Berkeley College as it elevates the voices of women on key issues, and incubates the future of women entrepreneurs.

@BerkeleyCollege #WEW2019 For More Information: News@BerkeleyCollege.edu

www.thepositivecommunity.com

March 2019 The Positive Community

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M Money

buiness, finance + work

United Airlines VP of Community Affairs Sharon T. Grant

In celebration of Women’s History Month, United has launched a first-of-its-kind contest designed to find

Leon Ellis

and uplift underrepresented women artists

United Airlines’ 2019 Diversity Programs Faith & Love Black History and Women’s History Fuel His Vision

Photo: Raymond Hagans

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he Hub team at United Airlines celebrated Black History highlighting the importance of black stories, culture and experiences throughout Black History Month. #BeingUnitedFamily took time to share diverse stories with colleagues and customers. Sharon T Grant, vice president for Community Affairs at United Airlines, was welcomed at United’s Newark Airport Hub on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, United has launched a first-of-its-kind contest designed to find and uplift underrepresented women artists by providing a chance to paint a canvas like no other — a United Airlines aircraft. While 51% of today's artists are women, less than 13% of art on display in museums is by women artists according to The National Museum of Women in the Arts. Painting a Boeing 757 provides artists with a traveling canvas that flies on average 1.6 million miles a thepositivecommunity.com The Positive Community March 2019

14

year and 476 cross-country trips. The aircraft is roughly 3,666 times larger than the typical 18" x 24" canvas.

To enter, individuals are encouraged to visit united. com/HerArtHere and submit a design idea and examples of their work portfolio along with a short video

by March 24, 2019. Submissions will be judged and narrowed down to three finalists by a panel of judges Glenda Cadogan from each region, led byBy each region's president, Janet Lamkin in California and Jill Kaplan in New York/New Jersey from March 25–April 9, 2019; followed by a public vote from April 10–April 19, 2019 to determine the winning artists from each region. Finalists and winners will also receive their own open gallery show, have their art work on display inside United Airlines terminals through 2019 with their works available to purchase, and they will also be awarded 100,000 MileagePlus award miles. The final designs will take flight this fall.

— Courtesy United Airlines

Summer 2017 The Positive Community 17 www.thepositivecommunity.com

NJ Senator Ron L. Rice

PSE&G Regional Public Affairs Manager Calvin Ledford, Jr. Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver and NJ Governor Phil Murphy

African American Chamber of Commerce NJ L–R: AACCNJ CEO John E. Harmon, Sr. and NJ Governor Phil Murphy

Black History Month Awards Gala

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ith over 66,000 African American owned businesses in New Jersey generating over $4.4 Billion dollars in annual revenues in services, retail, trade, transportation, communication, utilities, and construction industries, The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) performs an essential role in New Jersey’s Economy. Headed by President John Harmon, the chamber works to empower and sustain African American communities, economically facilitating entrepreneurship and free

L–R: AACCNJ Board Chair Hosea Johnson; AACCNJ President and CEO John E. Harmon, Sr.; Leecia Eve, VP Gov. Affairs, Verizon; and AACCNJ Chair Marcus Dyer, CPA, ESQ.

enterprise activity within the state with direct outreach programs.

Each year during Black History Month, AACCNJ honors accomplished individuals at their annual black tie event. This year’s honorees have attained significant accomplishments not only in running their own Photos by Photoray Photography

L–R: Uli Diaz, VP Government Affairs, Horizon BCBS; Jennifer Young, field director, Verizon; Barbette Lherisson; Mark Bocchieri, Regional VP, Governorment Affairs, Verizon; Leecia Eve, VP Government Affairs, Verizon; Yoli Stancil, Regional Pres.

Mid-Atlantic North, Verizon; and Tony Lewis VP Mid-Atlantic Region, Verizon

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The Positive Community March 2019

businesses, but also in corporate and government positions. They are: Destiny Realty Owner Donnell Williams, working with buyers and sellers throughout the state; James Reynolds, Jr., owner of Loop Capital, a full-service investment bank, brokerage, and investment management firm; New Jersey Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver; and Leecia Eve, vice president for Government Affairs at Verizon.

The 2019 honorees represent the best of what America has to offer.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was the honored guest at the February 9, 2019 gala at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ. —JNW

Loop Capital Chairman and CEO James Reynolds, Jr.

Broker/Owner Destiny Realty Donnell Williams

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Honors for Entrepreneurs at Shiloh Baptist Church Black History Month Service cites Hidden Figures

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he Black History Month celebration at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, NJ took the form of a worship service, led by Assistant Pastor Rev. Sheila L. Thorpe. Themed “Hidden Figures: In Our Midst,” three women entrepreneurs who have made an impact in their communities received honors on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Julia Viola Amaker Porterfield is president

of Amaker and Porterfield Transportation, Inc.; Patricia Anne Fields, founder and president of Meetings of the Minds; and Chef Vonda Mcpherson, president of Vonda’s Kitchen are local entrepreneurs serving their customers and communities with exceptional service and commitment. — TPC Staff Photo: Karen Waters

L–R: Rev. Hodari K. Hamilton, Sr., pastor, Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ; Rev. Sheila L. Thorpe, asst. pastor, Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ; Patricia A. Fields, honoree, founder & president Meetings of the Minds; Julia Viola Porterfield and husband Rashad Shabazz, honorees, owners of Amaker & Porterfiled, Inc.; Honoree Vonda McPherson, chef and owner Vonda's Kitchen; Min. Geri Agurs, program chairperson and NJ Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter

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Photos: Bruce Moore

Jennifer Jones Austin, FPWA CEO

Back row: L–R: Candace Simpson, Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins, Rev. Dr. Marvin Anthony Moss, Imam Talib Rashid, Dr. Dennis Gunn, Rabbi Bob Kaplan and Jennifer Jones Austin.

Front row: L–R: Rev. Michael Walrond, Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Natasha S. Alford and Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey

Our Calling to Fulfill

Raschaad Hoggard

FWPA Black History Interfaith Service

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www.thepositivecommunity.com

Dr. Gunn petitioned those of us who seek comfort and stability to become divine troublemakers for justice in our nation, heeding the cry of Bayard Rustin. Natasha Continued on page 46

Taking care of your family– that’s being good at life.

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ounds of African drumming transformed the sanctuary of Harlem’s historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with over 400 persons gathered to participate in “Our Calling to Fulfill,” a Black History Month Interfaith and Intergenerational Justice Service.

In collaboration with event host Federation of Protsestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), faith leaders and activists in New York City across religious traditions sought to inspire the broader community to do the same.

The unique and stirring program featured seven speakers who brought the words of iconic ancestors to life in a modern context. The speakers: Min. Candice Simpson, Rabbi Bob Kaplan, Natasha Alford, Iman Talib Abdul-Rashid, Rev. Michael Walrond, Dr. Dennis Gunn, and the Honorable Dr. Hazel N. Dukes identified quotes from Dr. Anna Julia Cooper; James Baldwin; Rev. Pauli Murray, Esq.; Malcolm X; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Bayard Ruston; and Ella Josephine Baker.

Min. Simpson began the program with a James Baldwin quote, “If the concept of God has any validity or use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving.

If God cannot do this, then it is time we get rid of God.” She brought to light the need for people of faith to recognize the ways our beliefs have incited emotional, psychological, and physical violence towards queer people and the LGBTQ community. Our vision of God here, in Simpson’s prophetic perspective, does not make us larger, freer, and more loving.

Hon. Dukes chose Ella Baker. “…until the killings of black mothers’ children is as important as the killings of white mothers’ children, we who believe in freedom cannot rest…” Ms. Baker’s words are just as piercing and powerful today as when she penned them in 1964.

BY RASCHAAD HOGGARD, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT, FPWA

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March 2019 The Positive Community S: 8

T: 8.5 B: 8.75

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L–R: Children Lawrence J. and Leah J. Good, Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Kim Nesbitt Good, and husband Teddy Good

L–R: Lawrence J. Good; Kevin White; William White; Deacon Branch; Teddy Good; Darnell Mickel; Lawrence Lindsey; Elliott Hale; and William H. Frye, Jr.

Former Newark Councilwoman Betsy Walker, Gloria Sykes Bell, Gwendolyn Carr, Kim Nesbitt Good, Cheryl Sykes, Brenda Bernard, Janet Hobson

Obama Supporter Minnie Flowers

Celebrating Our First Lady Michelle Obama Nesbitts Hold Birthday Tea for the First Lady

K

im Nesbitt Good and daughter Leah J. Good ushered in this New Year with a Pre-Birthday Tea in honor of First Lady Michelle Obama’s 55th birthday, with a group of family and friends on Sunday, January 13, 2019 The celebration narrative highlighted the achievements, resilience, and hurdles of the presidential family. Kim welcomed all and shared some of her hilarious personal moments from her White House visits with President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, stressing also to the diverse audience “Sisterhood” and “The Importance of Lifting Each Other.”

Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver served eloquently as keynote speaker. The creative, African American community-oriented funeral director was recently appointed to the State of New Jersey Board of Mortuary Science by NJ Governor Phil Murphy along with Kara Whigham of Whigham Funeral Home, Newark, NJ and Eleanor

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Rudolph of Bragg Funeral Home, Paterson, NJ. This is a monumental, historic, first-time achievement for three African American women professionals serving that board at any time and at once.

A few notables in the extraordinary mix of ladies were Gwendolyn Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Donna Lowe Alexander, president, Urban League of Union County; Brenda Bernard; Linda Carter, Union County Assemblywoman; Patricia Perkins Auguste, City of Elizabeth Councilwoman at Large; Anna Wilkins Daily, Thomas Mundy Peterson Organization; Bonita Stevens, OFA-Obama Organizing for Action; Myrtle Counts, president NAACP Roselle Branch; Medina A. Hawkins, NAACP, Elizabeth; and Yvonne Davis, Elizabeth Senior Awareness Organization.

All guests were gifted with a personalized event-themed Michelle Obama tote bag and mug reflecting our Former First Lady’s sentiments – “When they go low, we go high.”

— Courtesy Kim Nesbitt Good

The Positive Community March 2019

www.thepositivecommunity.com

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Health ideas for wellness

One Brooklyn Health Brookdale Hospital Working Together PS 284 Elite Learners Receive Tablets

L–R: Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Vice President of External Affairs Khari Edwards; Co-Founder of Elite Learners Camara L. Jackson; PS 284 Principal Keva Pitts-Girard; and Hon. Alicka Ampry-Samuel, New York City Council 41st District

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Photos courtesy Brookdale Hospital

L–R: Instructor Max-Kendy and Elite Learners Na-Kaylee Thompson, Savannah McGarrell, Giani Wright, and Amiyah Maxwell

ats off to One Brooklyn Health Brookdale Hospital and NYC Councilwoman Alicka Ampry-Samuels, who represents Brooklyn’s 41st District, Brownsville, where PS 284 is located. Recognizing a need at the school and its Elite Learners Robotics Program, Councilmember Samuels sought resources to provide electronic tablets for the students, and Brookdale Hospital’s Information Technology Department came through.

In January of this year, the program received 12 electronic tablets donated by Brookdale, which also currently co-sponsors another technology program at PS 284.

“This technology is used to promote literacy and learning in a non-traditional method. Technology also promotes creativity and effective, interactive group work,” said Camara L. Jackson, founder of the Elite Learners Robotic Program.

Who knows? One of these Elite Learners may come up with a robotic breakthrough that could help save lives at Brookdale one day.

— JNW

Students with their teachers, tablets, and robots

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The Positive Community March 2019

www.thepositivecommunity.com

World Cancer Day 2019

BY LIL NICKELSON

Cancer Survivors Celebrate at Sephora 34th Street Event

Photo: Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor

L–R: Darryl Warner, Pat Stevens , Keith Getter, Dr. Thandeka Mazibuko, Brand and Event Coordinator Sephora Stacey Compton-Maga, Shawna Vaughn, Phil Young, Linda J. Beckham Carr, and kneeling in the middle Sephora manager Tania-Seda Binke.

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orld Cancer Day is the one, singular initiative on Feb 4th each year under which the entire world can unite in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. This year, Dr. Thandeka Mazibuko, founder of SinomusaNothando Community Development Inc., is on a cancer awareness mission, so she partnered with Sephora NYC and Phil Young Blues Band to celebrate this special, life-changing day with the store’s customers and to honor cancer survivors who were present.

The event took place at 7 pm at Sephora’s store located at 112 West 34th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Music was provided by the Phil Young Blues Band and Phil Young personally had the event catered

by Chez Lucienne Restaurant in Harlem.

Cancer survivors, select organizations, and health care professionals were being honored with Women and Men of Magnitude Awards. Survivors were directed to arrive early and were provided with free makeovers and goodie bags before the event began.

Cancer survivors in attendance were: Keith Getter, Shawana Vaughn, Linda J. Beckham Carr and Harlem News Group, Inc.’s publisher Pat Stevenson. Darryl Warner, a health care professional who teaches future doctors about anatomy so they can help diagnose cancer, was also among the honorees along with Harlem Hospital Breast Clinic, Phil Young, and Sephora. Sephora realizes that radio therapy can affect cancer patients’ skin causing peeling, www.thepositivecommunity.com

and wanted to share products that can minimize the effects and add nourishment back into survivors’ lives.

Each of the honorees stepped forward one by one during the event to share their personal journey from the initial diagnosis to where they are today as cancer survivors. They spoke of the initial fear and numbness upon hearing the words “you have cancer,” the people who stepped forward to assist them, as well as discovering those who couldn’t handle their journey and how their faith, hope, and love of living productive lives made them into proactive warriors determined to face cancer head-on.

SinomusaNothando Community Development, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization since 2007, founded by Dr. Thandeka Mazibuko, they advocate for early detection of diseases, providing free health services to the rural community for more than 10 years. SinomusaNothando (Zulu word for we have care, love, and generosity) Community Development Inc. has had successful interventions not only in South Africa, but in Namibia and Kenya, Africa; and Texas and New York City in the U.S. Clinicians willing to help with the community screening in your community, please email your resume to findcancercure@gmail.com. The team will review and get back to you. Once a month they provide free and full health cancer screening to communities that are deprived of these health services. Always remember that early cancer detection saves lives.

March 2019 The Positive Community

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Saint Peter’s Family Health Center Provides New Model of Diabetes Care To Serve the Underserved SPH-191995 PC Midwife AA Ad 8x10.5_SPH-191995 PC Midwife AA Ad 8x10.5 2/21/19 10:34 AM Page 1

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nderserved populations in various areas of the country have an increased likelihood of developing diabetes and hypertension due to noncompliance with medications, financial concerns, lack of knowledge about disease processes, and lack of understanding about the relationship between lifestyle and developing diabetes with hypertension. The Diabetes and Hypertension Center at the Saint Peter’s University Hospital Family Health Center in New

Brunswick is helping these underserved communities better manage their health with a new model of diabetes care.

The patient-centered medical home has cared for hundreds of adults 18 years of age and older and non- pregnant women who have diabetes and hypertension and have no insurance or are underinsured.

The short-term goal of the program is to identify patients with both conditions and provide them with the care and resources they need in

Life’s little mirac one convenient The ourlocation. midwives ca long-term goal is to reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits. a labor of lov The fundamentals of care provided at the Saint Peter’s Diabetes and Hypertension Center focus on the patient’s medical and social needs.

In addition to primary care and followup care, the staff provides education on managing medications; living and coping with chronic disease; nutrition counseling; foot, skin and eye care; and information about additional community resources.

The Center’s patient success stories show how the Saint Peter’s Family Health Center is making a difference in the local underserved communities:

SAINT PETER’S NEW MIDWIFERY PROGRAM OFFERS MORE NATURAL BIRTHING OPTION

• A male patient weighing close to 400 pounds who was experiencing a severe decrease in kidney function is now on the road to better health because the Center helped him to dramatically change his diet and he is taking insulin to regulate his glucose levels.

Women experiencing a low risk pregnancy who are looking for more natural options birthing experience be cared for by ourwas certified nurse-midwives.

• A female patient who was unemployed and their living in New Jerseycan and elsewhere, referred to the Center for treatment. During her initial visit, an From A1C pregnancy test was through conducted to midwives measurewill what percentage of you wan birth, our support you in the way experience the birth of your child.with You may choose to move around hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen —was coated sugar (glycated).

A1C freely, test use birth tools, aand get the support you need to birth without medication. results reflect a patient’s average blood glucose over three-month period.

The result of the patient’s first this, and by the more birth ofthan your baby, will take place in one of our family-centered La A1C test at the Center was 14. Today, it has beenAll reduced 50 percent to 6.1. and Delivery suites.

When new patients come to the Center, they meet with a To learn more or to make an appointment with a midwife, primary care physician and then appointments are scheduled call 732.339.7879 or visit saintpetershcs.com/midwifery for a nutritional consultation and a separate session where patients are taught what they can do to better manage the disease. The Center also works with each patient to identify barriers to successful self-management and treatment. All patients are invited to Spanish- and English- language support groups that meet once a month at the Center.

254 EASTON AVENUE, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901

For more information, call The Diabetes and Hypertension Center at 732-339-7672.

■

732.745.8600

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Life’s Life’s little little miracles... miracles... our our midwives midwives call call it it a a labor labor of of love. love.

SAINT PETER’S NEW MIDWIFERY PROGRAM SAINT PETER’S NEW MIDWIFERY PROGRAM OFFERS MORE NATURAL BIRTHING OPTIONS. OFFERS MORE NATURAL BIRTHING OPTIONS.

Women experiencing a low risk pregnancy who are looking for more natural options for Women experiencing a low risk who looking for more natural options for their birthing experience can bepregnancy cared for by ourare certified nurse-midwives. their birthing experience can be cared for by our certified nurse-midwives.

From pregnancy through birth, our midwives will support you in the way you want to From pregnancy through birth, ourYou midwives will support in thefreely, way you to experience the birth of your child. may choose to moveyou around usewant birthing experience thethe birth of your child.

You tomedication. move around freely, use birthing tools, and get support you need tomay birthchoose without tools, and get the support you need to birth without medication.

All this, and the birth of your baby, will take place in one of our family-centered Labor All and the birth of your baby, will take place in one of our family-centered Labor andthis, Delivery suites. and Delivery suites.

To learn more or to make an appointment with a midwife, appointment with a midwife, learn more or toor make To call 732.339.7879 visitan saintpetershcs.com/midwifery call 732.339.7879 or visit saintpetershcs.com/midwifery

254 EASTON AVENUE, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901 ■ 732.745.8600 ■ 732.745.8600 254 EASTON AVENUE, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901 Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen

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KAHLIL CARMICHAEL THE FITNESS DOCTOR

Kahlil Carmichael MAPCC, MDIV, CPT is the pastor of Live Well Church, in Somerset, New Jersey.

He is a fitness specialist at The Fitness Doctor, a fitness and wellness consulting company; and the author of 50 Tips for a Better You. He is a contributor to Guideposts magazine. His first publication, Living Longer Living Better, is available now. Go to www.livewellchurch.org for more information.

Alive and Well

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love this season. We just finished celebrating Black History Month and now we are Celebrating Women’s History Month. I love listening to and learning about people who have made a decision to use their lives to contribute to history and contemporary society.

I started a new radio broadcast on 1450 WCTC AM Radio (you can listen online at wctcam.com) to help people live whole, live well, and live free. On this show, we ask the question, “Are you simply alive, or are you alive and living well?”

I want to live. I made a decision to move beyond existing and live about 20 years ago when I gave my life to Christ after listening to Louis Farrakhan at the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Here are some principles I apply to my life to make sure I am living a full life: • Start your day with prayer, meditation, or other soul care practices Both meditation and prayer are wonderful for reducing stress. Just 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference by bringing peace and relaxation to your body and mind.

A few minutes each day isn’t much, considering the positive effects will last hours.

• Make sure spending time with family is high on your priority list Spending time with family may benefit each member in more ways than you realize; it can extend to every part of a person’s life. Loved ones can encourage positive behaviors, like exercise and eating healthy; and discourage negative behaviors, like smoking and doing drugs.

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin concluded that when family and friends spend quality time together, they influence each other’s lifestyle behaviors.

If your best friend loves going running, chances are you might try it with her. If your parents tend to prepare healthy meals at family dinners, you’ll probably pick up on that habit. Spending quality time on positive relationships can help you make great choices.

10-10-80 rule (Tithe 10%, save/invest 10%, live off of 80%) Knowing that you’re one paycheck away from financial disaster is extremely stressful. Over time, it can lead to all sorts of health conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even heart problems. When you’ve saved money, you feel like you have a better grip on things and that feeling of control brings you one step closer to sanity.

• Exercise consistently and Eat healthier With my super busy schedule, I try to exercise minimum 3-4 days per week. I never diet, but have made a decision to eat healthier or eat clean.

These are just some tips to help you live life to the fullest.

Dr. Howard Thurman says, “Don’t ask what the world needs.

Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

I respectfully add: Come alive, Beloved! And live well.

As always, exercise consistently, eat healthier, live well.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is of a general nature. You should consult your physician or health care professional before beginning any exercise program or changing your dietary regimen.

• Try to save a minimum of 10% of your salary. I adhere to the www.thepositivecommunity.com 26 The Positive Community March 2019

March 2019 www.thepositivecommunity.com The Positive Community 27

Agitate! The Legacy of Frederick Douglass and Abolition in Newark

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utgers-Newark Will Celebrate Frederick Douglass’s visit to Newark Exactly 170 Years AgoTo commemorate the revered 19th century civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass’s visit to Newark 170 years ago, Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N) will celebrate the life and legacy of Douglass at the on-campus site that now bears his name, Frederick Douglass Field (at University Avenue and Warren Street), on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. In addition to honoring Douglass, “Agitate!

The Legacy of Frederick Douglass and Abolition in Newark” will acknowledge the nearby underground railroad stop and the vibrant abolitionist community in Newark at the time. The event will culminate with a reception at the Paul Robeson Campus Center at 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Confirmed attendees include Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka; Newark Historian

Junius W. Williams; Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi; RU-N Chancellor Nancy Cantor; Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives Co-Founder and President Kenneth B. Morris Jr., the greatgreat-great grandson of Douglass; and more than 200 descendants of Greater Newark’s abolitionists.

According to research by entrepreneur Todd Allen, a member of the Board of Directors of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives; and RU-N graduate student Noelle Lorraine Williams, Douglass accepted the invitation of local abolitionist leaders to deliver an address at the Plane Street Colored Church located in Newark’s African-American community on April 17, 1849, to fundraise for the North Star newspaper and rally action around the abolition of slavery. The defunct church at which Douglass spoke stood where RU-N’s athletics field borders University Avenue between Warren Street and Raymond Boulevard. RU-N renamed the athletics field in honor of Douglass on July 18, 2018. The naming took place in a year when the country celebrated the 200th anniversary of Douglass’s birthday.

The commemoration and reception are free and open to the public. Register online at http://bit.ly/FDAgitate

WENDY RED STAR

A SCRATCH ON THE EARTH On View Thru June 16

Wendy Red Star, Winter—Four Seasons, 2006. Archival pigment print on photo paper, 23 x 26 in. (58.4 x 66 cm).

Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D., 2016 2016.46.1.3 © Wendy Red Star

Major support by:

Additional support by: Loren G. Lipson, M.D. The Marie and Joe Melone Exhibition Fund for American Art

newarkmuseum.org 28

The Positive Community March 2019

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AKING MOVES AND MAKING DEALS, MAKING EWARK HAS ITS VERY OWN ACTION NEWARK IGURE IN AISHA GLOVER

By R.L. Witter FIGURE Witter

W

hen Aisha Glover came came to to Newark, Newark, no no one had any idea how how consequential consequential her her arrival would be. Well, Well, one one person person did. did. “I “I

didn’t look anywhere else but the City City of of Newark.

Newark. II had had my my eye on Newark; I was aware of the transformation transformation of of the the leadership underway and I knew I wanted wanted to to be be part part of of it,” it,” she explained on a cold, March afternoon. afternoon. Our Our conversaconversation unfolded as she transitioned from from one one meeting meeting to to ananother. The sound of her heels let me know know she she was was moving moving at a rapid pace, a quality that seems to to serve serve her her well well in in her her new position as CEO of the Newark Alliance.

Alliance.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Glover wanted wanted to to be be an an actress. actress.

“My uncle was an off-Broadway performer performer and and my my mom, mom, an an educator and artist, was also his agent agent and and manager,” manager,” she she recalled. She had the looks and plenty plenty of of talent. talent. After After audiauditioning for the LaGuardia High School School for for the the Performing Performing Arts and not gaining admission, she she shifted shifted her her focus focus to to academics, earning a Bachelor of Arts Arts Degree Degree from from Hunter Hunter College of the City University of New York York in in Sociology Sociology and and Political Science, a Masters of Public Public Administration Administration from from Baruch College of the City University University of of New New York, York, and and aa leadership certificate from the Columbia Columbia Business Business School, School, School of Social Enterprise.

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cont’d cont’d on on next next page page

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AISHA GLOVER AISHA GLOVER

Twitter

Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter

AsofVPExternal of External the Brooklyn Navy As VP AffairsAffairs at the at Brooklyn Navy Yard De-Yard Development Corporation, Glover oversaw AISHA AISHA GLOVER cont’d fromGLOVER previouspage page As As VP VP of ofCorporation, External External Affairs Affairs at at the the Brooklyn Brooklyn Navy Navystrategic Yard Yard DeDe- partnervelopment Glover oversaw strategic partnercont’d from previous AISHA GLOVER Asship VP of Externalcommunity Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development velopment Corporation, Corporation, Glover Glover oversaw oversaw strategic strategic partnerpartnerdevelopment, community engagement, fundraising, cont’d cont’d from from previous previous page page ship development, engagement, fundraising, AISHA GLOVER As VP of External Affairs atengagement, the Brooklyn Navy Yard De- to the velopment Corporation, Glover oversaw strategic partnercont’d from previous page ship ship development, development, community community engagement, fundraising, fundraising, and many other projects that greatly contributed and many other projects that greatly contributed to the AISHA GLOVER As VP of External Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, Glover oversaw strategic partnership development, community engagement, fundraising, cont’d from previous page and and many many other other projects projects that that greatly greatly contributed contributed to to the the Yard’s economic development and growth.

That experiYard’s economic development and growth.

That experivelopment Corporation, Glover oversaw strategic partnercont’d from previous page ship development, community engagement, fundraising, many other projects that greatly contributed to the Yard’s Yard’s economic economic development development and and growth. growth.

That That experiexperience fueled her desire to do similar work on a more exship and development, community engagement, fundraising, ence fueled her desire to do similar work on a more exand many other projects that greatly contributed toexYard’s economic development and That experience ence fueled fueled her her desire desire to do do similar similar work work on on aa more more ex-the and many other projects that to greatly contributed torather the pansive scale, affecting an entire city,growth. rather than just one pansive scale, affecting an entire city, than just one Yard’s economic development andThat growth.

That experifueled her desire toand dogrowth. similar work on a changing more expansive pansive scale, scale, affecting affecting an an entire entire city, city, rather rather than than just just one one Yard’sence economic development experiarea.

It also made her acutely aware of how the area. It also made her acutely aware of how the changing enceItIther fueled heradversely desire doaware similar work on a just more exscale, affecting antoentire city, than one ence pansive fueled desire toher do acutely similar work on ahow more ex-changing area. area. also also made made her acutely aware of ofrather how the the changing landscape could affect Newark’s current populalandscape could adversely affect Newark’s current populapansive scale, affecting anher entire city, rather than just one pansive scale, affecting an entire city, rather than just one area.

It also made acutely aware of how the changing landscape landscape could could adversely adversely affect affect Newark’s Newark’s current current populapopulation.

“If you don’t work toward ways to prevent, alleviate, tion.

“If you don’t work toward ways to prevent, alleviate, area. landscape Itarea. also made her acutely of ways how the changing Ityou also made heraware acutely aware how thealleviate, changing could adversely affect Newark’s current population. tion.

“If “If you don’t don’t work work toward toward ways to toofprevent, prevent, alleviate, and minimize displacement we’ll be looking back later sayand minimize displacement we’ll be looking back later saylandscape could adversely affect Newark’s current populalandscape adversely affect Newark’s current population.

“Ifmissed you could don’t work toward to for prevent, alleviate, and and minimize minimize displacement displacement we’ll be be looking looking back back later later saysaying we the boat…

Wewe’ll haveways room growth and the ing we missed the boat…

We have room for growth tion. and “If you don’t work toward ways to prevent, alleviate, tion.

“If it. youWe don’t work toward ways to alleviate, minimize displacement be looking back say- and the ing ing we we missed missed the the boat… boat…

We We have have room room for forprevent, growth growth and and the the bones for just have towe’ll be intentional aboutlater sustainand minimize displacement we’ll be looking back later saybones for it.

We just have to be intentional about and minimize displacement we’ll be looking backsustainlaterthe say-sustaining we missed the boat…

We room for growth and bones bones for for it. it. We We just just have have to to have be be intentional intentional about about sustaindevelopment and equitable development.” ing weable missed the boat… We have room for growth and the able development and equitable development.” ing we boat…

Webe have room forabout growth and the bones formissed it. Wethe just have to intentional able able development development and and equitable equitable development.” development.”

Glover the the land in Newark.

Priorsustainto her bones for it. Weknows just have tolaybeofintentional about sustainGlover the lay land in Newark.

Prior to her bones for it. knows We just have toof bethe intentional about sustainable development and equitable development.”

Glover Glover knows knows the the lay lay of of the the land land in in Newark.

Newark.

Prior Prior to to her her position at the Newark Alliance, she served as president able development and equitable development.” able development and equitable development.”

Glover knows lay of the in Newark.

Prior toasher position at the Newark Alliance, shetoas served president position position at at the the Newark Alliance, Alliance, she she served served as president president and CEO of the Newark Community Economic DevelopGlover knows the layNewark of the land in land Newark.

Prior her Glover knows the lay of theserved land Newark. towaher position atNewark Newark Alliance, shein served as Prior president andat CEO ofthe the Newark Community Economic Developand CEO of the Newark Community Economic Developand of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep position theCEO Alliance, she as president position at theand Newark Alliance, she served asAmazon’s president and CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep wament There, she waded into waist-deep wament Corporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep waand CEO ofCorporation. the Newark Community Economic Developter, cast her rod almost landed the big fish, and CEO of the Newark Community Economic DevelopCorporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep water, cast her rod and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s ter, cast her rod and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s mentment Corporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep wasecond headquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly ter, cast her rod and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s ment Corporation.

There, she waded into waist-deep water, cast her rod and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s ter, cast her and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s second headquarters.

Theeven deal would’ve undoubtedly second headquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly been arod game-changer.

But without it, Glover succeedsecond headquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly second headquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly ter, cast her rod and almost landed the big fish, Amazon’s second headquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly been a game-changer.

But even without it, Glover succeedbeen a game-changer.

But even without it, Glover succeeded in raising Newark’s profile and garnering attention that been a game-changer. But even without it, Glover succeedbeenbeen a second game-changer.

But even it,the Glover succeedheadquarters.

The deal would’ve undoubtedly araising game-changer.

But even without Glover succeeded ed in in Newark’s Newark’s profile profile and and garnering garnering attention attention that that could bring thousands ofwithout jobs to cityit, and its residents, edraising in raising Newark’s profile and garnering attention that ed ined raising Newark’s profile and garnering attention that been a game-changer. even without it, Glover succeedin raising Newark’s profile and garnering attention that could could bring bring thousands thousands of ofBut jobs jobs to to the the city city and and its its residents, residents, as well as new retail and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“I could bring thousands of jobs to the city and its residents, couldcould bring thousands of jobs to the city and its residents, ed inbring raising Newark’s profile and garnering attention that thousands jobs to the city and its residents, as as well well as as new new retail retail and andof entrepreneurial entrepreneurial opportunities. opportunities.

“I “I Glover and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka as well as new retail and entrepreneurial “I as well as new retail and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“Iopportunities. of jobs to the cityopportunities. and its residents, as could well asbring new thousands retail and entrepreneurial “I Glover Glover and and Newark Newark Mayor Mayor Ras Ras J.J. Baraka Baraka Glover and Mayor Ras Ras J. Baraka Glover andNewark Newark Mayor Baraka as well as new retail and entrepreneurial opportunities. “I Glover and Newark Mayor Ras J. J. Baraka Raised with an awareness of Glover and Newark Mayor Ras J. social Barakaand justice issues, Raised Raised with with an an awareness awareness of of social and and justice justice issues, issues, Glover brings the confidence of social her performance backRaised with an awareness of social and justice issues, Raised with an awareness of social and justice issues, Raised with an awareness ofher social and justice issues, Glover Glover brings brings the the confidence confidence of of her her performance backbackground with her to whatever project sheperformance decides to tackle.

Glover brings the confidence of performance backGlover brings the confidence of her performance backRaised with an awareness of social and justice issues, Glover brings the confidence of her performance background ground with with her her to whatever whatever project project she she decides to to tackle. tackle. ground with her to to whatever project she decides to tackle.

These traits make her a formidable ally in decides creating change, Glover brings the confidence of her performance background with her to whatever project she decides to tackle. ground with herher to project she decides to These These traits traits make make her her aa formidable formidable ally ally in in allegiance creating creating change, change, These traits make awhatever formidable allyof in creating change, and her principles are an assurance her to tackle. the ground with her to project she decides toto tackle.

These traits make her formidable ally in creating and and her her principles are are an an assurance assurance of of her her allegiance allegiance to the the and her principles anawhatever ofto her allegiance tochange, the These traits make her aassurance formidable ally in creating change, people.

“Iprinciples have toare feel connected the work, the people, These traits make her ashe formidable ally in creating change, and her an assurance ofthe her allegiance to the people. have topicture,” feel connected to the work, the people. people.

“I “I have have to toare feel feel connected connected to to the work, work, the the people, and her principles are an assurance of her allegiance to the and the“Iprinciples bigger said.

“The work atpeople, thepeople, Brookand the bigger picture,” she said.

“The work atwork, the Brookand her principles are an assurance ofthe her allegiance to the people.

“I have to feel connected to the work, people, and and the the bigger bigger picture,” picture,” she she said. said.

“The “The work at atthe the the BrookBrookpeople.

“IYard have to feel connected to people, lyn Navy was so rewarding, I knew Iwork wanted tothe do that lyn Navy Yard was soto rewarding, I knew Itowanted to people.

“Iscale. have connected the work, the people, and bigger picture,” she said. work at do the Brooklyn lyn Navy Navy Yard Yard was was so sofeel rewarding, rewarding, II“The knew knew II wanted wanted tothat do do that that on athe larger I was very intentional about being in Newand the bigger picture,” she said.

“The work atto the Brookon a larger scale.

I was very intentional about being in Newand the bigger picture,” she said.

“The work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard was so rewarding, I knew I wanted to do that on on a a larger larger scale. scale.

I I was was very very intentional intentional about about being being in in NewNewark and now, it feels like my city—like where I grew up.that lyn Navynow, Yardit was solike rewarding, I knew I wanted to do ark feels myintentional city—like where Ibeing grew up. lyn Navynow, Yard was so rewarding, I knew Iwhere wanted to do that on aand larger scale.

Ilike was very about in Newark ark and and now, it it feels feels like like my my city—like city—like where I I grew grew up.

The people look me, many of the streets feel the same. on apeople largerlook scale.

I was very intentional about being inup.

NewThe like me, many of the streetswhere feel the same. on a larger scale.

I was very intentional about being in Newark and now, it feels like my city—like I grew up.

The The people people look look like like me, me, many many of ofsucks the the streets streetsin.” feel feel the the same. same.

People love here; kind just ark and now, it feels like my city—like People love itithere; it it kind of of just sucks youyou in.”where I grew up. ark and now, it feels like my I grew up.

The people look like many ofcity—like the streets feel the same.

People People love love itit here; here; itme, it kind kind of of just just sucks sucks you youwhere in.” in.”

The people me, the streets feelthe thesame. same.

The people looklike like me,many many of the you streets People love itlook here; it kind of just of sucks in.”feel People love it ithere; ititkind sucks you in.” to to Growing up inBrooklyn, Brooklyn, wanted Growing up inhere; Glover People love kindof of just justGlover suckswanted you in.”

plenty of talent.

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Growing Growing up up in in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Glover Glover wanted wanted to to Growing up in Brooklyn, Glover wanted to be an uncle was anan off-BroadbeGrowing anactress. actress. uncle was off-BroadGrowing up Brooklyn, Glover wantedtoto upin“My in“My Brooklyn, Glover wanted be be an an actress. actress.

“My “My uncle uncle was was an an off-Broadoff-Broadbe an actress.and “My uncle was off-Broadway performer my mom, anan educator way performer and my mom, an educator be an actress.

“My uncle an off-Broadbe an actress.

“My uncle was an off-Broadway way performer performer and and my my mom, mom, an an educator educator way performer and my mom, an educator and artist, was his agent and managand artist, wasalso also his agent and managway performer and my mom, an way mom,and an educator educator and andperformer artist, artist, was was and also also my his his agent agent and managmanager,” she recalled.

Shehis had the looks and and artist, was also agent and manager,” she recalled.

Shehis had the and looks and and artist, was also agent managand was also hishad agent manager,” er,”artist, she she recalled. recalled.

She She had the the and looks looks and and Aisha at Fashion Forward, Newark's first fashion weekend, one of the plenty of recalled. talent. er,” she She had the looks and “Wonder Woman” Glover proudly poses with many innovative events she put in place during her stint as executive plenty of talent.

“Wonder Glover proudly poses with er,” she recalled.

She had the looks and son, and NJofWoman” Governor Phil Murphy director Newark Community Economic Development Corporation plenty plenty ofrecalled. talent. talent. She had the looks her er,” sheof and “Wonder “Wonder Woman” Woman” Glover Glover proudly proudly poses poses with with her son, and NJ Governor Phil Murphy plenty of talent.

“Wonder Woman” Glover Phil proudly poses with her her son, son, and and NJ NJ Governor Governor Phil Murphy Murphy ofCommunity talent.March 2019 www.thepositivecommunity.com 30plenty The Positive her“Wonder son, andWoman” NJ Governor Murphy GloverPhil proudly poses with Glover poses with www.thepositivecommunity.com her“Wonder son, andWoman” NJ Governor Phil proudly Murphy www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com her son, and NJ Governor Phil Murphy

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look at Amazon as our ‘told you so’ moment where you look look at Amazon as our ‘told you so’ lookat atAmazon Amazonas asour our‘told ‘toldyou youso’ so’moment momentwhere where you you believed in yourself and knew what you could do, and believed in yourself and knew what you could do, and believed believed in in yourself yourself and and knew knew what what you could do, and somebody finally came along and gave you the validation somebody somebody finally came along and gave somebodyfinally finallycame camealong alongand andgave gaveyou youthe thevalidation validation you didn’t really need but everybody else needed,” she you didn’t really need but everybody else needed,” you you didn’t didn’t really really need need but but everybody everybody else needed,” she she chuckled.

“It was less about landing Amazon and more chuckled.

“It was less about landing Amazon and more chuckled. chuckled. “It “It was was less less about about landing landing Amazon and more about making others begin to see what value and cherish about about making others begin to see what aboutmaking makingothers othersbegin beginto tosee seewhat whatIIIvalue valueand andcherish cherish about the city.” about the city.” about aboutthe thecity.” city.”

While economic development tends to be male-domWhile While economic development tends Whileeconomic economicdevelopment developmenttends tendsto tobe beaaamale-dommale-dominated field, Glover has built a skill set, accomplishments, inated field, Glover has built a skill set, accomplishments, inated inatedfield, field,Glover Gloverhas hasbuilt builtaaskill skillset, set, accomplishments, and reputation that have elevated her to an elite echeand and reputation that have elevated andaaaareputation reputationthat thathave haveelevated elevatedher herto toan anelite eliteecheechelon where she is often one of the few, if not only women lon where she is often one of the few, if not only women lon lon where where she she isis often often one one of of the the few, few, if not only women in the room.

“In those moments of clear inequity, point in in the room.

“In those moments of inthe theroom. room.“In “Inthose thosemoments momentsof ofclear clearinequity, inequity,IIIpoint point out,” she said confidently.

“I take it upon myself to say to ititit out,” she said confidently.

“I take it upon myself to say itout,” out,”she shesaid saidconfidently. confidently.“I“Itake takeitit upon myself to sayto to event organizers, ‘Not only did you not have any people event organizers, ‘Not only did you not have any people event event organizers, organizers, ‘Not ‘Not only only did did you you not have any people of color on the panel, but you didn’t have any women.’ of of color on the panel, but you didn’t ofcolor coloron onthe thepanel, panel,but butyou youdidn’t didn’thave haveany any women.’ women.’

Black women are the fastest growing sector of entrepreBlack women are the fastest growing sector of entrepreBlack Black women women are are the the fastest fastest growing growing sector of entrepreneurship in the country and find great joy in reminding neurship neurship in the country and find great neurshipin inthe thecountry countryand andIIIIfind findgreat greatjoy joyin inreminding reminding my male counterparts in all those opportunities that presmy male counterparts in all those opportunities my mymale malecounterparts counterpartsin inall allthose thoseopportunities opportunitiesthat thatprespresent themselves,” she said knowingly. ent themselves,” she said knowingly. ent entthemselves,” themselves,”she shesaid saidknowingly. knowingly.

When she’s not creating partnerships and collaboratWhen When she’s not creating partnerships Whenshe’s she’snot notcreating creatingpartnerships partnershipsand and collaboratcollaborating on plans that will affect Newark’s more than 300,000 ing on plans that will affect Newark’s more than ing ing on on plans plans that that will will affect affect Newark’s Newark’s more than300,000 300,000 residents, Glover puts in long hours with her other labor residents, Glover puts in long hours with her other residents, residents,Glover Gloverputs putsin inlong longhours hours with her otherlabor labor of love, her family.

The mother of five sneaks in date of love, her family.

The mother of five sneaks in of of love, love, her her family. family. The The mother mother of of five sneaks in date date nights with her husband at galas and often either brings nights with her husband at galas and often either brings nights nights with with her her husband husband at at galas galas and and often either brings work home or brings her children to work.

She laughed as work work home or brings her children to workhome homeor orbrings bringsher herchildren childrento towork. work.She Shelaughed laughedas as she recalled a moment when she realized just how closely she recalled a moment when she realized just how closely she sherecalled recalledaamoment momentwhen whenshe sherealized realized just how closely her children were watching and listening to her in her her her children were watching and listening herchildren childrenwere werewatching watchingand andlistening listening to to her her in in her her professional capacity and called her out on her own closeprofessional capacity and called her out on her own closeprofessional professionalcapacity capacityand andcalled calledher her out on her own closely-held principles.

“It was Halloween and my son asked, ly-held ly-held principles.

“It was Halloween ly-heldprinciples. principles.“It “Itwas wasHalloween Halloweenand and my my son son asked, asked, ‘Why aren’t we going to the local costume shop instead ‘Why aren’t we going to the local costume shop instead ‘Why ‘Why aren’t aren’t we we going going to to the the local local costume costume shop instead of Party City?’ referring to Hire.Buy.Live, Newark.”

As she of of Party City?’ referring to Hire.Buy.Live, ofParty PartyCity?’

City?’referring referringto toHire.Buy.Live, Hire.Buy.Live,Newark.”

Newark.”As Asshe she strives to pass those values on to her children, the family strives to pass those values on to her children, the family strives strives to to pass pass those those values values on on to to her her children, the family

When she’s she’s not not creating creating partnerships partnerships When When she’s not creating andcollaborating collaboratingon onplans plansthat that will will affect affect and and collaborating on Newark’s more more than than 300,000 300,000 residents, residents, Newark’s Newark’s more than

attends Agape Family Worship Center.

Worship Center.

“I grew grew up upvery veryspirspirattends attendsAgape AgapeFamily FamilyWorship WorshipCenter.

Center.“I itually grounded,” Glover revealed.

“We Glover revealed.

“We make God God aa part part itually itually grounded,” grounded,” Glover Glover revealed. revealed. “We “We make of our daily lives.” of ofour ourdaily dailylives.” lives.”

When asked what she likes about she likes about the work work she she does doesfor for When Whenasked askedwhat whatshe shelikes likesabout aboutthe the City of Newark, Glover answered Glover answered without hesitation. hesitation. the the City City of of Newark, Newark, Glover Glover answered answered without “Being able to serve under progressive under progressive leadership where where “Being “Being able able to to serve serve under under progressive progressive leadership you feel ideologically aligned and getting aligned and getting to work work on on bebeyou you feel feel ideologically ideologically aligned aligned and and getting getting to half of predominantly black and brown predominantly black and brown city. Being Being able able half half of of aaa predominantly predominantly black black and and brown brown city. to work on behalf of my people is truly my people truly inspiring.”She Sheconconto towork workon onbehalf behalfof ofmy mypeople peopleisis istruly trulyinspiring.” tinued, love when small business small business owner comes comes up up and and tinued, tinued,“I“I “Ilove lovewhen whenaaasmall smallbusiness businessowner gives me hug on the street and says street and says ‘Thank you!’ you!’You Youcan can gives givesme meaaahug hugon onthe thestreet streetand andsays says‘Thank really see the fruits of your labor.

It’s your labor.

It’s perfect size, size, aa perperreally really see see the the fruits fruits of of your your labor. labor. It’s It’s aa perfect fect city, and the perfect time for it.

The perfect time for it.

The country isis desperdesperfect fectcity, city,and andthe theperfect perfecttime timefor forit. it.The Thecountry ate for real change and the prospect and the prospect of being being aa model model for for ate atefor forreal realchange changeand andthe theprospect prospectof inclusion and equitable development equitable development make me me happy happy I’m I’m inclusion inclusionand andequitable equitabledevelopment developmentmake here.

When you align yourself with principles yourself with principles fundamental here. here.When Whenyou youalign alignyourself yourselfwith withprinciples principlesfundamental to your core, that are really all about really all about justice—whether it’s it’s to to your your core, core, that that are are really really all all about about justice—whether economic justice, social justice, or environmental social justice, or environmental justice— economic economicjustice, justice,social socialjustice, justice,or orenvironmental environmentaljustice— through that lens, could be doing could be doing anything. II could could be be through through that that lens, lens, III could could be be doing doing anything. doing something totally different in totally different in ten years, years, but but II know know doing doing something something totally totally different different in in ten those principles will stay the same.” stay the same.” those thoseprinciples principleswill willstay staythe thesame.” same.”

S

upported by corporate and corporate and community partpartupported upported by by corporate corporate and and community ners, the Newark Alliance, a Newark Alliance, a nonprofit organiners, the Newark Alliance, a nonprofit organiners, the Newark Alliance, a zation dedicated to the ongoing dedicated to the ongoing economic zation zation isis is dedicated dedicated to to the the ongoing ongoing economic revitalization of Newark.

The Alliance Newark.

The Alliance is invested in revitalization of Newark.

The Alliance is invested in revitalization of Newark. The Alliance enhancing Newark’s reputation as Newark’s reputation as a must-see destinaenhancing Newark’s reputation as a must-see destinaenhancing Newark’s reputation as tion city that draws robust economic robust economic growth and and taltaltion tion city city that that draws draws robust robust economic economic growth ent.

Through the strength and depth strength and depth of its memberent.

Through the strength and depth of its memberent. Through the strength and depth ship, the Alliance leverages resources leverages resources and expertise expertise ship, ship, the the Alliance Alliance leverages leverages resources resources and to fulfill its mission and commitment mission and commitment to Newark’s to fulfill its mission and commitment to Newark’s to fulfill its mission and commitment residents and businesses. businesses. residents and businesses. residents and businesses.

Supporting Organizations: Organizations: Supporting SupportingOrganizations: Organizations:

Glover puts puts in in long long hours hours with with her her other other Glover Glover puts in long labor of of love, love, her her family. family. The The mother mother of of labor labor of love, her five sneaks sneaks in in date date nights nights with with her her hushusfive five sneaks in date band at at galas galas and and often often either either brings brings band band at galas and workhome homeor orbrings bringsher herchildren children to to work. work. work work home or brings www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com

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C e l e b r a t i n g Wo m e n Karen Alford Vice President Of Elementary Schools United Federation Of Teachers

U

nited Federation of Teachers Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford is an impassioned advocate for the 1.1 million children in New York City Schools. “My life has been about education as a civil right and leaving this world better than I met it,” she says. In her journey to accomplish this goal, Karen is informed by her faith in God and honoring her ancestors. “My faith grounds me. But it’s also what makes me understand and remember that I am meant to be of service and in service. As such I begin each day with a simple prayer asking God to order my words and my actions.”

On this journey, Karen has been blessed with powerful advice from other women -- including her mother -- who said: “Stand in your power and do not play small.” This advice has served her in good stead toward overcoming obstacles such as other people’s attempts to define her.

“As a woman I have had to work hard to ensure that I am in the room,” she says. “Too often, being a woman and mother, people try to make choices for me of what I can and can’t do. So I make sure that as a woman in education, we have a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation.” With lessons learned along the way, she offers this advice to other women in her field: “Mistakes don’t define you. A mistake is just a moment a time. So pick yourself up; dust yourself off and get back in the fight. And, always remember you are no good to the movement if you are not good to yourself.” Karen attributes the current upsurge of women in business and government leadership to the fact that women are no longer asking for permission. “Women are now willing to say to the world that we will no longer be maligned or limited by what is defined as a woman’s issue. National security – yes that’s a woman’s issue; healthcare for all – yes that’s a woman issue. So we are not waiting for you to pass the baton or the mic; we are taking the mic and saying: every issue is a woman’s issue.” Given an opportunity to travel back in time, Karen will eagerly greet her younger self and say: “Girl, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Ramelle J. Massey

T

President The Massey Insurance Agency

he Massey Insurance Agency is a second generation, family-owned business that has been in Newark for 44 years. To not just survive but also thrive for this long means that its owners are doing something right.

President, Ramelle J. Massey, gives this advice to other women about the company’s secret to success: “Continuously reinvest and reinvent yourself and your business,” she says. “If you do the same thing all the time then you get stale and ultimately stagnant.” Being among a handful of African American woman, independently owned-insurance agencies, Ramelle is continuously challenged to prove herself despite her long history and outstanding record in business. “This is a male-dominated field and though we work at very high levels insuring cities and municipalities, I always have to prove to the other

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www.thepositivecommunity.com

C e l e b r a t i n g Wo m e n L. Joy Willaims Political Strategist/President Brooklyn NAACP

R

aised in a family of God believers, it is her faith that informs the lifework of L. Joy Williams, president of the Brooklyn NAACP. “My faith is not just important to my values and the way I treat other people, but it is what informs my work in the social justice arena,” she says. “It is my faith that centers my sense of self and is the guiding principle of why I do the work I do.”

Moreover, it is this faith that also helps L. Joy overcome challenges like people’s perception that being a woman means you are emotional, not smart enough, or deserve less. In overcoming these challenges she takes the direct, fearless approach. “I remember one time when a superior justified a male counterpart’s increase in salary over mine by suggesting it was because he had a family to care for. I not only challenged and demanded equitable compensation, but I ultimately left as I have done in every situation where my work was not valued.” It’s certainly not what her younger self may have done; that’s why given an opportunity she would tell little L. Joy to not be so fear-ridden. “I would tell her to let up on herself and not be so fearful of making a mistake; you don’t have to be so perfect and precise.” But whenever it was needed, there was timely advice from other women like the mentor who taught her that the key was to be observant about the motivations of people in the room and then use the information to her advantage. “It is a strategy I use to this day,” she says.

Her advice in turn to other women is: “Know your values. Do the internal work and know where you stand on the issues, rather than allow that to be defined by leaders and labels.”

Celebrating the rise of women in leadership, L. Joy says it’s indicative of the fact that -- just like the same for any marginalized group -- once the restraints begin to chip away, the greatness behind the mask is revealed. “Women are asserting themselves and breaking free of the societal restraints once placed on them,” she says. “We don’t know how great the world could be until people are free to fully be themselves.” To her own success she attributes her strong sense of self and a family that supports and encourages her to fearlessly and unapologetically embrace it all.

brokers that I am able to compete,” she said. But these challenges she ultimately overcomes with her unyielding faith in God and the support of her mother, Emma A. Massey, the matriarch of the family business, who to Ramelle is: “the wind beneath my wings. It is my mother who ran and grew this company over 20 years after my father died.”

She continues to actively work in the business giving advice and leadership to ensure that we learn and grow.” Advice that has served her best is: be true to your values. “I was advised that in life -- like in business-- you have to be true to yourself. If you do, you will always make the right decision.” It is part of the same advice she would give her younger self. But in addition, she would tell young Ramelle to remember how you got where you are. “This is important because in hindsight, I am happy that despite the repeated advice we received to move out of Newark, we chose to stay and support the people who supported us,” she explained. “Now, some of those same people who urged us to leave are coming back to the city.”

Proud of being a part of what she calls the dynamic duo of mother and daughter in business, Ramelle feels that more women are stepping forward in leadership because they have been prepared. “Women are managers by nature,” she affirmed. “As such we can adapt to change very easily. I think this is what puts us on the cutting edge of leadership at this point in history.” www.thepositivecommunity.com

March 2019 The Positive Community

33

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The Positive Community March 2019

“This book is not about formulas, even though we oftentimes wish tha

might be employed to insulate us from the harsh realities of life that g a book about faith. Notwww.thepositivecommunity.com a sentimental or simplistic whistling in the da

faith that is anchored in a God that empowers us to move on up the r

when all the external evidence tell us that we sho

Education the art + science of learning

President Dale Irvin in prayer

A Glorious Gathering Worship, Study, Celebration New York Theological Seminary’s Winter Retreat at Stony Point Conference Center

Dean Efrain Agosto Photos: Bob Gore

Bernice Swinton (purple) and Laura Adams

Bishop Liston Page

Celebrants Masters of Arts In Christian Education students www.thepositivecommunity.com

March 2019 The Positive Community

35

A Newark Public Lecture: Medgar Evers College President Speaks on the Role of Faith Institutions in Public Education

D

r. Rudy Crew, president of Medgar Evers College, former chancellor NYC Public Schools, received a warm welcome as featured lecturer at the fifth installment of the popular Newark Public Lecture Series on January 19, 2019. These events at the Newark Public Library, presented by The Positive Community and The Newark School of Theology (NST), feature perspectives and discussion on important topics necessary for our communities to grow and prosper.The subject of Dr. Crew’s lecture was “Education, Spirituality and Post-Secondary Attainment; Exploring Our Faith Institution’s Role in Public Education.” In his address, Dr. Crew expressed the need for families, churches, and schools to broaden and encourage creative post-secondary options for youngsters graduating from high school. He discussed how morals, values, ethics, and education must keep pace with advances in science

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The Positive Community March 2019

and technology if civilization is to move forward.

Dr. Marion Bolden, former superintendent of Newark Public Schools; and Marcia Wilson Brown, vice chancellor of External and Government Relations, Rutgers, Newark joined Dr. Crew for a post-lecture continuation of the discussion in a “fireside chat.”

Reginald Lewis, executive director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative, delivered the opening remarks.

Twelve year-old Sanaa Kelly read the Cultural Narrative.

The Rev. Dr. R. Douglas Bendall, founder and president of the Newark School of Theology, gave closing remarks.

Special thanks to Newark Council President, Mildred C. Crump and our community partners: RWJ Barnabas Health, Pillar College, Newark Ecumenical Clergy Alliance, and NAACP Newark Branch. See the lecture and photos online: www.thepositivecommunity.com —TPC Staff www.thepositivecommunity.com

Presenting the Cultural Narrative L–R: NST Trustee Adrian A. Council, Hon. Mildred C. Crump, Dr. Douglas Bendall, Sanaa Kelly, Dr. Crew, Dr. Bendall, and Rev. Louise Rountree

L–R: Dr. Marian Bolden; Dr. Crew; and Marcia Brown, Esq.

Dr. Albert Lewis delivers opening prayer L–R: Rev. Douglas Bendall, Reginald Lewis, Dr. Crew, Angela Harrington of Berkley College L–R: Dr. Marian Bolden, Dr. Crew

Sanaar Kelly reads the Cultural Narrative

L–R: Dr. Crew with Rev. Dr. Cornell Edmunds, Church of the Covenant, NYC

Photos: Raymond Hagans and Karen Waters

Newark City of Learning Collaborative Executive Director Reginald Lewis www.thepositivecommunity.com

L–R: NST Trustee Rev. Dr. Miguel Hernandez, Christopher Li, Dr. Bendall and his wife, Jennifer Fell Hayes.

March 2019 The Positive Community

37

Black History at Newark Beth Israel Photo courtesy of RWJ Barnabas Health

L–R: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey (NBIMC & CHoNJ) Chief Operating Officer Douglas A. Zehner; Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D- 28); President and Chief Executive Officer NBIMC & CHoNJ Darrell K. Terry, Sr.; Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-29); Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer RWJBarnabas Health, Michellene Davis; Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10); Master Hilton Rawls, III; New Jersey Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver; Vice Chair Board of Trustees RWJBarnabas Health and Chair, Board of Trustees, NBIMC & CHoNJ Marc E. Berson; Vice Chair Board of Trustees NBIMC & ChoNJ Frank Giantomasi; and Walter Bryant, Legislative Aide to Newark City Council President Mildred Crump.

N

ew Jersey Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver delivered the keynote address at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey’s annual Black History Month celebration on February 22, 2019. She is the first woman of color to serve in statewide elected office in New Jersey.

“It is an honor and a privilege to share our annual Black History Month celebration with the distinguished Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. Her career of service is an inspiration to all New Jersey residents and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn from her experiences as a trailblazer in our state and country,” said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., MHA, MPH, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.

In 2016, Darrell K. Terry, Sr. became the first AfricanAmerican president and chief executive officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the first man of color to hold this position within the RWJBarnabas Health System.

“Black History Month is a time to reflect on the tremendous impact the African American community has had on our nation and to pay respect to the many trailblazers from New Jersey whose legacies continue to pave the way for others,” said Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver,

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The Positive Community March 2019

who also serves as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. “As we celebrate these individuals and their accomplishments, we also acknowledge the many sacrifices and struggles we have had to overcome as we continue on this path for equality and justice for all.”

Acting Governor Oliver began making history in the state of New Jersey in 2010 when she became the first African-American woman in the state’s history to serve as speaker of the General Assembly, and just second in the country to lead a state legislative house. She is a 40-year resident of East Orange, and a native of Newark.

The afternoon celebration also included a moving recitation of an excerpt from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Mountaintop” speech, delivered by Master Hilton Rawls, III. Quincy Hepburn, RN, BSN, CCRN; Tawana Ellis; and Maria Southerland were recognized for their commitment to providing high quality, safe care and an excellent patient experience.

Newark Beth Israel began celebrating Black History Month more than 30 years ago under the direction of Ms. Alma Beatty, a dedicated executive and community champion. Since its inception, the celebration has evolved into a month-long set of cultural and educational events for employees and local residents.

— Courtesy of RWJ Barnabas Health www.thepositivecommunity.com

GBCNJ Christian Education Conference for Leaders & Laity

O

ver 550 clergy leaders and church workers attended the 2019 Leadership/Workers Conference of the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey – a full day of Christian education workshops and forums. Employing the theme, Restructuring for Relevance: Preparing Leaders and Workers to Serve in the Present Age, the conference covered a number of topics, i.e. Tools for Assessing Your Social Culture, Managing Conflict Resolution in the Church, Leadership Paradigms for Growing the Church, Redesigning Christian Education for This Present Age, and multiple forums for pastors, associate ministers, congressional leaders, and the laity.

The conference was held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Community Baptist Church of Englewood, NJ, where Dr. Lester W. Taylor, Jr. is senior pastor and president of General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, Inc. United Healthcare of NJ and The Positive Community served as community partners and sponsors of the annual event.

—TPC Staff

L–R: Rev. Evans Spagner, assistant to the president GBCNJ and Sis. Beverly Dawkins, Aenon Baptist Church, Union, NJ

Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover, pastor, St. Paul’s BC, Montclair, NJ Photos: Vincent Bryant

Rev. Caffie Risher, associate minister at CBC Englewood and Rev. Dr. Daniell L. Brown, pastor of Church Life at Cathedral International

Host Pastor and Convention President Dr. Lester W. Taylor

L–R: Deacon Darryl Koon, president of Layman’s Ministry General Baptist Convention NJ With Deacon Richard Stanard, Community BC Englewood, NJ United Healthcare Community Plan Community Outreach Manager Diana Riveria

www.thepositivecommunity.com

March 2019 The Positive Community

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NJ Chapter

Culture

music, art + literature

Foreground L–R: Dean Wallace Shomburg, grandson of Arturo Schomburg and member of the Board of Directors of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem; Marilyn Blackstone and guests. Background: L–R: Sharon Mackey and Karen Mackey Witherspoon, Mackey Twins Art Gallery

Positive Music Masters Series Launched At Historic Minton’s Playhouse

T

he Positive Community celebrated Black History Month at Minton's Playhouse by launching its “Positive Music Masters Series.” Produced by Raymond P. Lewis of RPL Consulting, LLC, the first program of the series featured Jazz greats Kenny Barron, and TS Monk, III. Xylophonist Nikara Warren, granddaughter of Kenny Barron, performed with her grandfather. Guest artists included Ms. Melba Joyce, formerly of the Count Basie Band; and Aria Nedege, a jazz neo soul vocalist.

The emcee for the evening was none other than Raoul Roach, son of jazz great Max Roach.

The intergenerational jazz narrative and historical introspective included not only wonderful performances by celebrated artists, but inspiring conversations with them, as well.

— TPC Staff Special thanks to Sheila Anderson of WBGO Jazz 88

Raoul Roach, host of PositiveMusicMasters

L–R: Eric Pryor, executive director, Harlem School of the Arts; Dr. George Williams, DDS; and Lloyd Williams, CEO, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.

ABOVE: L–R: Raymond P. Lewis, CEO RPL Consulting, LLC; Rafael Benaivades, CEO Arts in Common, Minton's Playhouse; Laura Santana, director of Operations, Minton’s

Photos: Bruce Moore

L–R: Kenny Barron; Nikara Warren; and TS Monk, III in serious conversation www.thepositivecommunity.com

L–R: Jazz piano master Kenny Barron; his son, Niles Barron; Lydia Carlston; Aria Carlston; and TS Monk, III March 2019 The Positive Community

41

Yesterday, Today, Forever Professor Willa Mack

Prof. Darryl Jordan conducts at Lincoln Center

The Nyack College School of Music in Concert Stephanie Fisher

P

repare to be astounded by the 100-voice Chorale, the gospel ensemble and gospel choir, when they take the stage at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center on Friday, April 12. “Yesterday, Today, Forever,” a concert showcasing Nyack College School of Music singers and instrumentalists, returns to the world-class venue in a phenomenal performance for Nyack’s biennial event.

“Yesterday, Today, Forever” is a musical journey that introduces you to rising stars on a stage typically occupied by celebrated national and international artists.

The repertoire of opera, spirituals, hymns, gospel, and contemporary selections is as diverse as the company of performers, which includes faculty who are performing artists on stages across the nation and around the world.

Among the featured conductors are Prof. Willa Mack, Stephanie Fisher, and Prof. Darryl Jordan. Prof. Mack, a mezzo-soprano, is a Nyack College alumna who is a pioneering faculty member in Nyack’s new bachelor’s degree program in gospel music performance. She is a conductor of the School of Music’s touring gospel ensemble, Purpose.

With a successful career touring and as a background singer for many R&B and gospel greats, Stephanie’s first love and home was and is the church. She is currently assistant minister of music at Greater Allen AME Cathedral in Queens, NY. While fully engaged as a dynamic singer, songwriter, vocal producer, and private instructor for

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musicians and aspiring singers, she is currently completing a degree in vocal music performance at Nyack’s Manhattan campus.

Prof. Daryl Jordan, a singer/songwriter, has served as chair of Performing Arts and Vocal Music at the Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts and is currently Director of Music of the Harlem Village Academies.

Daryl is a baritone/tenor soloist with Opera Ebony, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and a cantor with St. Frances De Sales R.C. Church.

The evening is one of total praise—a display of giftedness that is developed and honed at the more than 80-year old division of the college, which was founded in Manhattan in 1882. “Yesterday, Today, Forever” is a theme that speaks to the endurance of the institution and of music as a timeless and universal language that uplifts and celebrates shared and different musical preferences. Indeed, there is something for everyone.

Influences of a broad array of great performers like Jessye Norman, Paul Robeson, Yolanda Adams, Andrea Bocelli, Wynton Marsalis, Kathleen Battle, Yo-Yo Ma, Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, and many more permeate the program. College students from a broad array of backgrounds perform and give praise and the Nyack Jazz Ensemble will perform for those who gather in the Grand Promenade during intermission.

It’s a night in New York music aficionados will not want to miss. — Nyack College www.thepositivecommunity.com

THE NYACK COLLEGE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IN CONCERT AT DAVID GEFFEN HALL, LINCOLN CENTER Columbus Avenue and 65th Street, New York City

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

7:30 PM (Doors open at 7:00 PM)

For information and tickets, visit

nyack.edu/april12concert

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“The Responsibl “Nobody Like You Lord” are on radio rotation and her appreciation of the Jesus.

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Seeking God first was the response directions. from Maranda lives by the belief, “Worship is spent the first weekend of itGod at her Responsible Worship ofther’sdisconnect the weight and responsibility of the title Maranda’s life.

Seeking first was the response ingstrength.” strength.” well-needed balance. balance. balance.

Her Her Her songs “Open “Open Heaven” Heaven” and soof the individual can be a student and receive rejuvena awell-needed worshipper’s desire to songs preserve herHeaven” lifestyleand witha matter aing skill; it’s can a lifestyle!” where worship leaders, pastors, musicians, and so the individual a student and receive rejuvenataClinic, worshipper’s desire to Her preserve her“Open lifestyleHeaven” with anotand Women, integrity,be intuition, intuition, and and independence independence (in (inany any Women, integrity, independence (in any “Nobody “Nobody Like Likebalance.

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Her songs “Open Heaven” and Women, integrity, intuition, and independence (in an “Nobody Like You Lord” are on radio rotation and her within your life an an ability ability toto live live accordingly accordingly by by our our FaFawithin your life accordingly by our FaMarch March isis Women’s Women’s Women’s History History Month, Month, and and and Maranda Maranda Maranda Women, integrity, intuition, and independence (in any “Nobody Like You Lord”March are 2019 on radio rotation her order) willisisput you in the face of a high king.

Include www.thepositivecommunity.com testimony toCommunity date.

44 The Positive ther’s directions.

Maranda Maranda lives lives by by the the belief, belief, “Worship “Worship is is our F ther’s directions. the belief, “Worship spent spent the the first first weekend weekend weekend of of it it at at her her Responsible Responsible Responsible Worship Worship Worship order)within will put youlife in the face of a to high Includedisby testimony date. your is an ability liveking. accordingly Marchto is Women’s History Month, and Maranda notaamatter matterof ofskill; it’s it’saalifestyle!” lifestyle!” not Clinic, Clinic, where where worship worship worship leaders, leaders, pastors, pastors, musicians, musicians, musicians, and and within your life is skill; an ability to live accordingly our Father’s directions.

Maranda lives by thebybelief, “Worship March isfirst Women’s History and Maranda spent the weekend of it atMonth, her Responsible Worship not a matter of skill; it’s a lifestyle!” ther’s directions. Maranda lives by the belief, “Worship is Clinic, worship pastors, musicians, spent thewhere first weekend of itleaders, at her Responsible Worship and Clinic, where worship leaders, pastors, musicians, and not a matter of skill; it’s a lifestyle!” www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com

44 44 44The The ThePositive Positive PositiveCommunity Community Community Community March March March2019 2019 2019

44

The Positive Community March 2019

44 The Positive Community

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45

Calling to Fullfill

Continued from page 19 Alford spoke boldly of the need for journalists, media professionals, and storytellers to recognize their call to choose justice over objectivity. Iman Talib Rashid charged those assembled to be true lights in a world of oppressive darkness. Rabbi Kaplan reminded us that we must wait no longer for a holy person to rise and remedy the ills of this world, but find the holy within.

Rev. Walrond, the final speaker, ended the program with the words of Dr. King: “Being Negro in America means trying to smile when you want to cry. It means trying to hold on to physical life amid psychological death. It means the pain of watching your children grow up with clouds of inferiority in the mental skies.

It means having their legs cut off, and then being condemned for being a cripple.” Rev. Walrond helped listeners in the room detangle ourselves from the need to be accepted and approved by those who oppress us.

The impact of the evening was immediate. After the service, Dr. Kenya Murray declared, “A verbal contract was forged.” Rev. Erika Jones, assistant minister at Metropolitan AME Church in Harlem, came away with the challenge to think more critically about her work, reflecting on a time when she did not believe all ministries should include social justice.

Our calling at that moment became clear. It will not be the work of Muslims, Christians, or Jews individually, but the collective work of all interfaith leaders that will guide us to justice.

46

The Positive Community March 2019

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11:30am – 4:00pm at Merion Caterers

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47

JOANNE JOANNE J.JOANNE NOEL J. J.NOEL NOEL THE THE THE PREACHING PREACHING PREACHING PROFESSOR PROFESSOR PROFESSOR

Professor Joanne J. Noel, B.A., M.A., M. DIV., DMIN is Professor Joanne J.J.Noel, B.A., M.A., DIV., is Professor JoanneStudies Noel,and B.A., M.A., M. M.Professor DIV., DMIN DMIN Chair of General Associate of Chair ofofGeneral Studies and Associate Professor of Chair General Studies and Associate Professor of English, Pillar College.

English, English,Pillar PillarCollege.

College.

AA Talking Talking Donkey: That’s What What II Need Need A Need Talking Donkey: Donkey: That’s

II

do not need another gym membership, tips on how to do gym tips on to notneed needanother another gymmembership, membership, tips onhow how to bedonot successful, or strategies on how to gain friends and be successful, or strategies on how to gain friends and be successful, or strategies on how to gain friends and influence colleagues. What I need is a talking donkey influence What I Ineed isisaatalking donkey influence colleagues.

What need talking donkey to hinder me colleagues. from making foolish mistakes that take me to hinder me from making foolish mistakes that take me to hinder me from making foolish mistakes that take me out of divine alignment and especially as a leader, from out of divine alignment and especially as a leader, from out of divine alignment and especially as a leader, from jeopardizing the destiny of God’s people and from blockjeopardizing the God’s people jeopardizing thedestiny destinyofofof God’s peopleand andfrom fromblockblocking the plan and purposes God. ing the plan and purposes of God. ing the plan and purposes of God. As foolish as that idea may seem, I have lived long AsAsfoolish asasthat seem, have lived long foolish that idea may seem, IIuses havethe lived long enough to know thatidea Godmay sometimes foolish enough to know that God sometimes uses the foolish enough to know that God sometimes uses the foolish things to confound the wise. From a secular humanistic things wise.

From aasecular thingstotoconfound confound the wise.is From secular humanistic perspective, a talkingthe donkey the epitome ofhumanistic irrationalperspective, a talking donkey is the epitome of irrationalperspective, a talking donkey is the epitome of irrationality. Yet, in the political satire Animal Farm, when George ity.

Yet, in the political satire Animal Farm, when ity.

Yet, in the political satire Animal Farm, when George Orwell wanted to point to the cyclical oppressiveGeorge effects Orwell wanted to point to the cyclical oppressive effects Orwell wanted to point to the cyclical oppressive effects of leadership and government, he had animals do the of leadership and government, he had animals do the of leadership and government, he had animals do the talking. Characters in the novel, Moses the raven, Napotalking.

Characters in the novel, Moses the raven, Napotalking.

Characters in the novel, Moses the raven, Napoleon the Pig, Benjamin the donkey, and Muriel the goat leon the Benjamin the and thePig, Pig,political Benjamin thedonkey, donkey, andMuriel Murielthe the goat goat allleon represent figures of the time. allallrepresent political figures of the time. represent political figures of the time.

In the story of Balaam and the talking donkey in the InInthe story and the the storyofofBalaam Balaam and thetalking talking donkey in the book ofthe Numbers, when God wants to blockdonkey Balaamin from book of Numbers, when God wants to block Balaam from book of Numbers, when God wants to block Balaam from cursing those whom he has blessed, he allows a donkey cursing thosewhom whomhe hehas hasblessed, blessed,he heallows allows aa donkey donkey tocursing talk. those tototalk. talk.

Afraid of the Israelites, King Balak commissioned BaAfraid ofofthe King Balak BaAfraid theIsraelites, King(Num. Balakcommissioned commissioned Balaam, a diviner, toIsraelites, curse them 22–24). However, laam, a diviner, to curse them (Num. 22–24).

However, laam, a diviner, to curse them (Num. 22–24).

However, a donkey circumvented his progress. According to the awriter: adonkey donkeycircumvented circumventedhis hisprogress. progress. According According to to the the writer: writer: When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord in the road When the the angel in the When thedonkey donkey saw thehand, angelof theLord Lord inthe theroad road with a drawn sword saw in his itofthe turned off road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field; Balaam beat the donkey. The donkey again into a afield; beat The donkey again into field;Balaam Balaam beatthe thedonkey. donkey.off The donkey again saw the angel in the road and turned the path toward saw the angel ininthe road and turned off the path toward saw the angel the road and turned off the path toward a wall, crushing Balaam’s feet. He was beaten, again. The aangel crushing Balaam’s feet. beaten, again.

The awall, wall,of crushing Balaam’s feet.He He beaten, again.

The the Lord then stood in was awas narrow place where angel of the Lord then stood in a narrow place where angel of the Lord then stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, so the donkey laid down unthere was room to turn, there wasno no room turn,so sothe thedonkey donkeylaid laiddown down ununder Balaam, and was to beaten again. der Balaam, and was beaten again. der Balaam, and was beaten again.

Donkey: “What have I done to you to make you beat “What have Donkey: “What haveI Idone donetotoyou youto tomake make you you beat beat meDonkey: these three times?” me these three times?” me these three times?”

Balaam: “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a Balaam: made aafool IfIfonly Balaam: “Youhave have made foolof ofme! me! onlyII had had aa sword in my“You hand, I would kill you right now.” sword ininmy hand, I Iwould kill you right now.” sword my hand, would kill you right now.”

Donkey: “Am I not your own donkey, which you have Donkey: “Am not have Donkey: “Am notyour yourown owndonkey, donkey, which you have always ridden, toI Ithis day?

Have I been which in theyou habit of always ridden, to this day?

Have I been in the habit of always ridden, to this day?

Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” doing doingthis thistotoyou?” you?”

48 The Positive Community March 2019 48 48TheThePositive PositiveCommunity CommunityMarch March2019 2019

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Then the Lord opened Balaam’s Balaam’s eyes, and and he he saw sawthe the Then angel of the the Lord standing with hiseyes, sword drawn.

If the angel of the Lord standing with his his sword sword drawn. drawn. IfIf the the angel of the donkey had not turned off the road, the angel would donkey had not turned off the road, road, the the angel angel would would donkey hadBalaam. have killed have killed Balaam. have killed As rational beings, how many times have we made As beings, many times times have have we we made made As rational rational many choices that derailed how us? Christians sometimes allow choices that derailed us? Christians Christians sometimes sometimes allow allow choices that the business of life, our proclivities, and predilections to the of life, our proclivities, and and predilections predilections to the business business to muffle and muzzle the proclivities, voice of the Holy Spirit. Somemuffle and muzzle the voice of the the Holy Holy Spirit.

Spirit. SomeSomemuffle and times we need something to keep us from making fools times we need keep us us from from making making fools fools times need something to keep of ourwe selves. of selves. of our our selves.

When I am acting outside of the will and purposes of When II am acting outside of the the will will and and purposesof of When God and muzzle the voice of the Holy Spirit,purposes for me that God and muzzle the voice of the Holy Holy Spirit, Spirit, for for me methat that God and muzzle donkey would be symbolic of the things, people, or ocdonkey be symbolic the things, things, people, people, or ococdonkey would would the currences that heighten myofperception, block meorfrom currences that heighten my perception, perception, block block me me from from currences acting outside of the will of God, and re-direct my course. acting outside of the will God, and and re-direct re-direct mycourse. course. acting outside The donkey does that forofBalaam and brings amy change in The donkey does that for Balaam Balaam and and brings brings aa change changein in The donkey his mindset. his mindset. hisThis mindset. talking donkey creates the turning point for a faThis donkey the turning turning point point foraafafaThis talking talking the vorable outcome in thiscreates narrative.

Ultimately thisfor talking vorable outcome in this narrative. narrative. Ultimately Ultimately this this talking talking vorable outcome donkey was Balaam’s catalytic agent in several ways: donkey agent in in several several ways: ways: donkey was was Balaam’s catalytic agent • Stopped him from being killed killed •• Stopped Stopped him from being killed • Was a conduit for the mercy of God •• Was of God God Was aa conduit for the mercy of • Stopped him from prophesying for money •• Stopped prophesying for for money money Stopped him from prophesying • Increased his obedience to God God •• Increased Increased his obedience to God • Allowed him to collaborate with God concerning •• Allowed him to collaborate with God concerning Allowed God’s purposes collaborate with God concerning God’s God’s purposes • Allowed him to move himself out of the way himself out out of of the the way way •• Allowed Allowed him to move himself • Allowed him to bless and not curse •• Allowed not curse curse Allowed him to bless and not I need a talking donkey.

II need need aa talking donkey.

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PURCHASE TIX at WWW.HCCI.ORG CALL 212-281-4887, ext 200 or VISIT HCCI 256 W. 153RD ST. NEW YORK, NY 10039 March 2019 The Positive Community

49

Frontiers International Plainfield Area Club 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast

T

he Frontiers International of Plainfield celebrated their 43rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, the longest running tribute of its kind in New Jersey, this past January 21. Nayaba Arinde, the keynote speaker and editor of the historic Amsterdam News, addressed the theme “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.”

Honored at the breakfast with the Westry Horne awards were: Dr. Willa Cofield, the Lifetime Achievement Award for her pioneering civil rights activities; Victoria Griswold, Community Service Award, a classical pianist for her longtime ownership of the Plainfield Music Store, which shipped sheet music all over the world; and Danielle Tucker, the Community Spirit Award for having directed a number of successful plays and artistic events in Plainfield. Scholarship winners included: Saira Cooper; Tracy Naa Djanie; YannahGail Litchmore; and McRae Nkellefack.

According to Frontiers President Rev. Louis Slade: “Despite the cold weather, we are pleased with the tremendous turnout to honor Dr. King, our young scholars and performers, and those Westry Horne awardees who help make our city a Beloved Community”. —TPC Staff

Frontiers President, Rev. Louis Slade and a young student reciting poetry

L–R: Honoree Dr. Willa Cofield and Frontiers member Michael Pyne Photos: Karen Waters

Amsterdam News Editor Nayaba Arinde

L–R: Pres. Rev. Louis Slade with Scholarship Awardees McRae Nkellefack, Saira Cooper, Tracy Naa Djanie, and Yannah-Gail Litchmore: Scholarship Committee Wally Torian and Vincent Chiles

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The Positive Community March 2019

L–R: Frontiers President, Rev. Louis Slade honoree Danielle Tucker and Frontiers VP Saafir Jenkins www.thepositivecommunity.com

Brooklyn:

s e m a G s ’ n e m Colgate Wo Semi-Finals L–R: Ele B 400m Kaddel Howard and Juila Grant

Mid School 400m Kanai Bey -English

College 800m Tiguida Toure

Ele B 800m Jenai Berry

Ele B 800m Da’ Mira Allen High School 800m Jasmine Muhammad L–R: Ele A 800m Olivia Solomon, Jasmine Parran

GIRL POWER

Annual Colgate Women’s Games Track and field Series —Action from the 45th Annual Season Semi Finalists.

T

High school 400m Kadija Soumauro and Alanni Cannon

High School 400m Kaitlyn Cepeda

Photos: Lem Peterkin

he nation’s first all-female track series began in 1973 with 5,000 New York area applicants. Since then it has doubled in size with applicants from all over the United States. More than $1 million in educational grants and aid is awarded.

Mid School 200m Avery Lewis

30's Plus 200m Lisa Edward Ele B 200m Jayleciah Wilson

Ele A 200m Maya Wyche

www.thepositivecommunity.com

High School 1500m Isabel Stronski and Lily Janjigian

Mid School 1500m Julietta Salaza and Rainn Sheppard March 2019 The Positive Community

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L–R: Susan A. Taylor, Dale Favors, Marjorie Harris, and Gloria Dulan-Wilson Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson reunite

Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit 22nd Anniversary of the Rainbow Push, Wall Street Project

F

or the 22nd consecutive year, The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund brought its 22nd Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit to New York February 20–22, 2019 at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. This year's theme "400 Years Later: Closing the Wealth Gap, Expanding Opportunity,” focused the 400 years since Africans were brought to these shores and forced into slavery.

“There is still much more work to be done in terms of our freedom, equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in today's political climate if we want to close the wealth gap

and expand opportunity," declared Rev. Jackson.

Featured sessions included discussion on closing the racial wealth gap, advancing consumer protection, the state of telecom and evolution of digital currencies, the tech industry's expanding wealth opportunities, supplier diversity opportunities, diversity and inclusion on corporate boards and in C-suites, investing in Africa and globally, and the State of Black America. Highlights of the conference were the in-depth chats with President and CEO Larry J. Merlo of CVS Health and Microsoft Corporate VP of Industry Toni Townes Whitley. —TPC Staff

Photos: Bruce Moore and Seitu Oronde

St. John’s B.C., Scotch Plains Trustee Michael Smith and Adaptive Growth Leadership Managing Partner Dale Favors

Preachers’ Kids: Dominique Sharpton-Bright with Santita Jackson

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The Positive Community March 2019

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New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan and Derrick Green, aide to NJ Gov. Phil Murphy

Rev. Jesse Jackson and Hon. Mildred Crump

Newark Mayor Ras Braka, Jesse Jackson, and former Mayor Sharpe James

Rev. Jesse Jackson Receives Key to the City of Newark Hon. Judge Sybil M. Elias and Marilyn Davis, Altice USA

Rev. Lula Baker, pastor, Cross & Crown Christian Church

F

ollowing his successful Wall Street Project conference in New York City (2/20-22/19), Reverend Jesse L. Jackson travelled to Newark, NJ on February 23 for a celebratory dinner at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Hosted by Rev. Dr. and Mrs. David (Linda) Jefferson, guests and speakers were eager to show their appreciation for Rev. Jackson’s lifetime of Civil Rights activism. In keeping with his iconic message “Keep the Faith,” Rev. Jackson spoke about his strong relationships in New Jersey and his gratefulness for those community leaders and activists who have heeded that call.

Rev. Jackson graciously received the key to the City of Newark presented to him by Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

L–R: Civil rights activist and chairman of Newark-based People’s Organization for Progress Larry Hamm; President, Newark NAACP Deborah Gregory; Democratic State Party Chair John Currie; Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter; and NJ Commissioner for Police Training Jiles H. Ship Photo: by Raymond Hagans

L–R: Min. David Jefferson, Jr.; Kenny Howard; Rev. Jackson; and Chris Galloway. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity brothers www.thepositivecommunity.com

L–R: Rev. David Jefferson, Sr.; Councilwoman Mildred Crump; Mrs. Jesse (Jacqueline) Jackson; and First Lady Linda Jefferson March 2019 The Positive Community

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Saving Our Own Community

The Great Cultural Narrative Tour Coming soon to a Faith Institution and Community Organization near You!

T

he Positive Community’s cultural literacy initiative featuring a narrative that tells our American story—our claim on the American Dream—is now in full effect. Publisher Adrian A. Council, Sr. will tour our Role Call member churches, schools, and community institutions in the coming months. The objective is to see to it that every single, forward thinking man, woman, and child of God will own, possess, read, speak, and comprehend this urgently important message for our times—A Story about Our Future!

Let us inspire a hunger for truth and a thirst for righteousness in the souls our young people—today!

Ultimately, the progress of our children and the integrity of our African American culture, values, and traditions mean everything! Ideally every American of every race and ethnicity should know this important narrative! —AAC

Presenting Cultural Narrative to Civil Rights legend Rev. Herbert Daughtry and leadership of African American Clergy and Elected Officials at the organization’s monthly meeting in Brooklyn

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The Positive Community March 2019

At New York Theological Seminary Retreat, Stony Point, NY L–R: NYTS President Rev. Dale Irvin, PhD; NYTS Student Government President June Carrington, PhD; Dean Efran Augusto, NYTS

Frontiers International’s annual MLK Day event Plainfield, NJ. L–R: Mike Pyne, Frontiers VP Laurel Edwards Clark, Frontiers President Rev. Louis Slade, and Saafir Jenkins www.thepositivecommunity.com

Photos: Bob Gore, Vincent Bryant, Raymond Hagans, Karen Waters

Friends of the New Jersey Legacy Foundation’s 2019 Juneteenth Celebration, in Elizabeth, NJ. L–R: Anika Dorsey, Leah J, Lawrence, Kim & Teddy Nesbitt Good

General Baptist Convention (GBCNJ) Workers’ Conference L-R: Convention President Rev. Dr. Lester W Taylor, Jr., who is also pastor of Community Baptist Church of Englewood; and Congress President Rev. Shawn Wallace, pastor, St. John B.C. Scotch Plains

Our American Story IN CLASSIC BLACK

R E A D I T, S P E A K I T, T E A C H I T, O W N I T

T O D AY !

The Great African American Cultural Narrative

A

The African American Cultural Narrative

frican Americans are a unique people with a peculiar history in this land. Brought to these shores in chains from Africa in the early 1600s, our people toiled and suffered as captives in brutal bondage for a quarter of a millennium (250 years).

On January 1, 1863, two years into the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, became law, signaling an end to slavery. On that day, the African American community of the United States of America was born.

One hundred years later, in August, 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial, as he led hundreds of thousands to a March on Washington, seeking an end to discrimination and 90 years of Jim Crow segregation in the South. It was a demand for full and equal citizen’s rights for the people in what has been called “the Second Emancipation.”

Forty years after Martin Luther King’s tragic assassination in 1968, America elects its first black president, the Honorable Barack Obama (2008).

In the 100 years between the first and second emancipation, in the midst of bitter persecution, humiliation, lynching; enduring the denial of basic human rights, the resiliency of the African American spirit continued to shine brightly in religion, business, education, medicine, invention, sports, and in the creative arts—music, fashion, dance, language, literature, and theater. Indeed, original American art forms and a popular culture which has become the envy of the world were founded upon the souls of a forlorn people! And that is our story—the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of a loving and gifted race—revealed!

An Extraordinary History Ours is an extraordinary history of trial, tribulation, and triumph that we must never, ever forget! This is the very story we must tell our children and ever be remembered for all future generations. We the people, descendants of the Great Emancipation must tell our story and sing our greatest songs to each other and to the entire world! We must remind ourselves over and over again of the noble struggle, human dignity, sacrifices and wisdom of our torch-bearing forefathers; of our goodly heritage, our divine inheritance; our great music legacy—Positive Music Matters!

This is our story—the cultural narrative— a new language of freedom; a springboard toward a great and prosperous future; a spiritually enlightened ideal. A vision of hope, opportunity, and progress; liberty and happiness; health and wholeness—peace and goodwill!

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH…! —Adrian A. Council, Sr.

Teach the Truth! Teach the children their American story in just 281 words! . . .

And may they commit this very narrative to memory,and pass it along.

Affirm the positive—our claim on the American Dream! Own this beautiful 25x19 poster with a rich, majestic, presidential blue background color in large print; which includes images of two American presidents, alongside images of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, poet Maya Angolu and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Frame this poster and proudly display it on the walls of your home, office, places of business; in the classrooms and your houses of worship; in barbershops, beauty salons and restaurants. Your $10.00 investment will pay dividends one thousand fold when you teach it to a young child and in return, they speak it back to you. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Order your copy today for only $10.00; 2 for $15.00.

Become a valued contributor to The Story about Our Future—today!

Special Rates for Bulk Purchases.

Include $7.60 for priority shipping and handling. Tax included.

Send Check or money order to: The Positive Community Corporation, 133 Glenridge Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042 PayPal and Credit Card accepted Order by phone 973 233 9200

Order online: www.thepositivecommunity.com

N

Cybersecurity and You

o industry changes more on a day-to-day basis than cybersecurity. New hacks, breaches, and viruses pop up all the time, while the methods that cyber thieves use to deploy such attacks evolve just as quickly.

In January, a double-pronged attack highlighted these illegal and ever-shifting strategies. A combination of malware to steal data, followed by ransomware to demand payment for the return of that stolen data afflicted many through so-called “malvertising,” which tricks users into clicking on real-looking advertisements that lead to suspicious sites,

then installs both malware and ransomware on a user’s computer.

Hear are some of the things we hear when talking about cyber security: “We’ve never had a virus.” “No data breach has ever affected us.” “I’m completely covered.”

Such thinking can be dangerous—especially if it leads you or your business to skimp on cybersecurity protection. So we’ve put together six of the most common myths about cyber security we’ve heard.

1. “We don’t get viruses.”

Every computer user in the history of computer use thinks this—right up until they get hit with an unexpected issue. What you may not know is that some of the most dangerous computer viruses out there don’t announce themselves. Instead, they’re designed to secretly work in the background harvesting your data without raising any red flags. Just because you don’t know about an infection doesn’t mean you haven’t been compromised.

2. “I’ve never had my data stolen. That means I’m safe, right?”

The truth is most data breaches don’t reveal themselves until months after they start—long after your most critical information may have been compromised. Even then, most data breaches are only revealed when customers report them or public pressure rises and demands a response. Comprehensive data security requires a multi-layered approach: enterprise-grade anti-virus and anti-malware software that keeps up with changes in the industry, robust firewalls that monitor and analyze Internet traffic, and other tools that are custom-fitted to your business, your industry, and your computing environment.

3. A strong password is enough to repel hackers.

No matter how unique your password is, cyber thieves are out there somewhere trying to figure out how to crack it. The key is to use different login credentials for different accounts and different platforms. That way, if one password is stolen, the hackers won’t immediately gain access to all of your accounts.

In addition, two-factor authentication—logging in with something you know, like your password, and something you have, like a unique code delivered by text message or email—is a must. Proactive monitoring to track user access and look for illicit login attempts also provides another layer of security.

4. My data gets backed up every day… somewhere… I think.

Many businesses understand the immense importance of the data they store and use; many, many more don’t place the right amount of value on information, particularly customer information, which can represent a treasure trove for hackers. That’s why remote, regular, and redundant data backup executed automatically by a trusted IT provider is so important. Backing up your data on an external drive that sits right next to your computer isn’t safe in any number of scenarios, from natural or manmade disasters to data theft to ransomware infections that can plague any device plugged into a server.

5. I’m completely covered by cybersecurity protection.

The hard truth is that cybersecurity changes every day—sometimes every hour, and sometimes every minute. True protection and preparedness requires 24/7 efforts, research and development that stays current with online threats, and ongoing education. Think of cybersecurity as a never-ending ultra-marathon, not a one-time sprint with a defined finish line.

BONUS MYTH: “Cybersecurity is IT’s job, not mine.”

A trusted IT provider can help your business thrive. The best kind of partnership, however, represents both sides of the coin: trained security experts work wonders defending the computing environment while the employees that represent your business serve as the first line of defense. There’s the savvy computer user that may spot a suspicious email or raise a red flag about a questionable link. The manager that may make sure his or her employees stay up to date on cybersecurity education and training. And the business owner that empowers his or her employees with the most efficient equipment and the most robust cybersecurity protection possible.

Here’s one big cybersecurity truth: Every computer, every user, and every business deserves real data and network security. But it doesn’t come easy—and it requires hard work. With CMIT Solutions by your side, you can keep your company, your people, and your information safe.

56

The Positive Community March 2019

Want to learn more about the everchanging threats to your technology environment and what you can do to make a cybersecurity difference?

CONTACT US TODAY.

CMIT Solutions of Northern Union 973.325.3663• 800.399.CMIT www.cmitsolutions.com/nunioncounty www.thepositivecommunity.com

MWANDIKAJI K. MWANAFUNZI THE WAY AHEAD

Harriet Tubman Anti-Slavery Activist, in Historical Context

F

or Women’s History Month, let’s examine the role in history of the dynamic black woman named Harriet Tubman. When the American Revolution occurred from the 1770s to the early 1780s, chattel slavery was legal and practiced in all of the 13 colonies. After the original 13 colonies won independence from Great Britain, black enslavement continued in all of the 13 states, both the North and the South.

During the late 1700s, however, northern states abolished slavery. Slavery legally ended in New York State on July 4, 1827, via the Gradual Abolition Act of 1799. I suspect that this trend in New York and elsewhere in the North resulted from the impact of the Great Awakening, during which increasing numbers of people accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for real, not just nominally.

According to Civil Rights and the American Negro, a book, edited by Albert P. Blaustein and Robert L. Zangrando,

www.thepositivecommunity.com www.thepositivecommunity.com

after 1830, black folks’ position in American society deteriorated in the United States. In fact, state statutes even restricted free blacks’ position in society.

The book also records that, during this period, leading black abolitionists in the North, including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and others, allied themselves with white abolitionists to put pressure on both the North and South to acknowledge the evils of chattel slavery.

Harriet Tubman had been born into slavery in the South in or about 1820. As an adult, she operated as a “conductor“ within the Underground Railroad, meaning that she helped guide escaped slaves out of southern states to places where slavery had been abolished. Her first such trip was to Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 1850.

She went back to the South 19 times, and brought enslaved men, women, and children out of the South and up into Canada. Over the years, she led all of her own family out of slavery except for one sister. And, of course, she led out hundreds of strangers. In Canada, she collected clothing for runaways and organized the escaped slaves into societies.

Regarding Harriet Tubman, Rebels Against Slavery records that, “African-Americans called her the Moses of her people.” Slaveholders and Southern authorities, however, offered a $40,000 bounty for Harriet Tubman dead or alive. She nonetheless continued her liberation work, moving escaped slaves at night and hiding during the day.

After serving the Union Army as a nurse and a spy during the Civil War, she moved to Auburn, NY. Later, she donated her home to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as a home for the needy. She died at age 93 in 1913.

Tubman escaped to freedom in Philadelphia, PA, in 1849. Thereafter, she not only spoke out against slavery, but also repeatedly risked her life by returning to the South to escort others to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She did carry a firearm – whether a revolver or a rifle—that she was prepared to use against anyone who tried to intercept her, or against any slave who lost his or her nerve and wanted to turn back.

March 2019 2019 The The Positive Positive Community Community March

Photos: Raymond Hagans, Nina Nicholson, Cynthia L Black

57

GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

thepositivecommunity.com

March 2019

Vol. 20 No. 2

Publisher

Adrian A. Council, Sr.

Editor-in-Chief Jean Nash Wells

Associate Editor R. L. Witter

Sales

Angela Ridenour Adrian Council, Jr. Marc Williams Burton Waddy NGS Communications, Inc. Satori MPR

Contributing Writers Patricia Baldwin Glenda Cadogan Fern Gillespie Derrel Jazz Johnson g.r. mattox Mwandikaji K. Mwanafunzi Rev. Theresa Nance

Photographers

Vincent Bryant Risasi Dias Regina Flemming Bob Gore Raymond Hagans Bruce Moore Wali Amin Muhammad Seitu Oronde Karen Waters Rev. Dr. William L. Watkins, Jr.

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All Rights Reserved. This publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, stored in a computerized or other retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission of The Positive Community Corporation. Any opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Positive CommunityTM its management or staff. The Positive CommunityTM reserves the right to retain all materials and does not assume reponsibility for unsolicited materials.

thepositivecommunity.com thepositivecommunity.com thepositivecommunity.com thepositivecommunity.com thepositivecommunity.com 58 The Positive Community March 2019

The The Last Last Word Word The Last BY R.L. WITTER BY R.L. WITTER BYR.L. R.L.WITTER WITTER BY BY R.L. WITTER

NO REST NO REST FOR THE WEARY NOREST RESTFOR FORTHE THEWEARY WEARY NO NO REST FOR FOR THE THE WEARY WEARY

III

love you, love you, Harriet, Sojourner, love you, you, Harriet, Harriet, Sojourner, Sojourner, love love you, Harriet, Harriet, Sojourner, Sojourner, Coretta, Michelle, et al.

But Coretta, Michelle, et al.

But this Coretta, Michelle, et al.

Butthis this Coretta, Coretta,Michelle, Michelle, et et al. al. But But this this Women’s History Month IIIwant Women’s History Month want Women’s History Month want Women’s Women’s History History Month Month IIblack want want to focus on to focus on some other black to focus focus on on some some other other black black to to focus on some some other other black women.

In the women.

In the wake of the College women.In Inthe thewake wakeof ofthe theCollege College women. women.

In the wake wake of of the the College College Bribery Scandal of 2019, IIIwant to Bribery Scandal of 2019, want to Bribery Scandal of 2019, want to Bribery Briberyout Scandal Scandal of of McDowell, 2019, 2019, II want want to to shout Tanya the shout out Tanya McDowell, the shout out Tanya McDowell, the shout shout out out Tanya Tanya McDowell, McDowell, the the homeless woman homeless woman who was sentenced homelesswoman womanwho whowas wassentenced sentenced homeless homeless woman who who was was sentenced sentenced to years in prison to years in prison for enrolling her to55555years yearsin inprison prisonfor forenrolling enrollingher her to to years in prison for for enrolling enrolling her her child in a Norwalk, Connecticut child in aa Norwalk, Connecticut child in Norwalk, Connecticut child child inin aa Norwalk, Norwalk, staying Connecticut Connecticut school, despite school, despite often staying at school, despite despite often often staying staying at at aaaaa school, school, despite often often staying at at Norwalk shelter.

I see you, Kelley Norwalk shelter. see you, Kelley Norwalkshelter. shelter. IIII see see you, you, Kelley Kelley Norwalk Norwalk shelter. see you, Kelley Williams-Bolar.

III remember when Williams-Bolar. remember when Williams-Bolar. remember when Williams-Bolar.

Williams-Bolar.

IIdays remember remember when when you served nine in jail, were you served nine days in jail, were you served nine days in jail, were you youserved servedtonine nine days days in inon jail, jail, were were sentenced three years probasentenced to three years on probasentenced to three years on probasentenced sentenced tototo three three years years on on probaprobation, and had tion, and had to pay $30,000 in restition,and andhad hadto topay pay$30,000 $30,000in inrestirestition, tion, and had to pay pay $30,000 $30,000 in in restirestitution for using your father’s address tution for using your father’s address tution for using your father’s address tution tution for forusing usingchildren your yourfather’s father’saaddress address to enroll your to enroll your children in better toenroll enrollyour yourchildren childrenin in aaaabetter better to to enroll your children in in better better school in Ohio. school in Ohio. school in Ohio. school school in inOhio.

Ohio.

To be black To be black woman isisto to know Tobe beaaaaablack blackwoman womanisis toknow know To To be black woman woman is to to know know the exhaustion of Sisyphus, but the exhaustion of Sisyphus, but the exhaustion of Sisyphus, but the the exhaustion exhaustion of of Sisyphus, Sisyphus, but but instead of perpetually pushing aaa instead of perpetually pushing instead of perpetually pushing instead instead ofof perpetually perpetually pushing pushing aa rock uphill, you're constantly runrock uphill, you're constantly runrockuphill, uphill,you're you're constantly constantly runrunrock rock uphill, you're constantly running race you ning race you KNOW isis rigged rigged ningaaaaarace race you you KNOW KNOW isis rigged ning ning race you KNOW KNOW is rigged rigged against you, but you cannot stop runagainst you, but you cannot stop runagainst you, but you cannot stop runagainst against you, you,but butyou youcannot cannotisstop stop runrunning because stopping tantaning because stopping isis tantaning because stopping tantaning ning because because stopping stopping isis tantatantamount to death mount to death and you desperately mountto todeath deathand andyou youdesperately desperately mount mount to death and and you you desperately desperately want to live. want to live. wantto tolive. live. want want live.

III to hope these hope these words land hope these words words land land I I hope hope on these these words words land land SQUARELY the hearts and SQUARELY on the hearts and SQUARELY on the hearts and SQUARELY SQUARELY on on the theregardless hearts hearts and and minds of all people, of minds of all people, regardless of minds of all people, regardless of minds mindsand ofof all all people, people, regardless regardless of of creed color and I hope they creed and color and II hope they creed and color and hope they creed creedfeel and and color color and and II hope hope they they both and contemplate both feel and contemplate them to bothfeel feeland andcontemplate contemplatethem themto to both both feel and contemplate them them to to the same depths people of color do the same depths people of color do the same depths people of color do the thesame same depths depths people people every of of color color do do all-day, every day. all-day, every day. hope every poor, all-day,every everyday. day.IIIIIhope hopeevery everypoor, poor, all-day, all-day, every day. hope hope every poor, poor, white person white person isis enraged enraged by the white person person is enraged by by the the white white person isis enraged enraged by by the the knowledge their privilege only goes knowledge their privilege only goes knowledge their privilege only goes knowledge knowledge their their privilege privilege only only goes goes so far. hope every so far. hope every brilliant poor kid sofar. far.IIIIIhope hopeevery everybrilliant brilliantpoor poorkid kid so so far. hope every brilliant brilliant poor poor kid kid and every talented but underpriviand every talented but underpriviand every talented but underpriviand andevery every talented talented but but underpriviunderprivileged athlete who leged athlete who ever applied to legedathlete athletewho whoever everapplied appliedto toaaaaa leged leged athlete who ever ever applied applied to to prestigious college or university prestigious college or university isis prestigious college college or or university university isis prestigious prestigious college or university is motivated by this knowledge to excel motivated by this knowledge to excel motivated by this knowledge to excel motivated motivatedby bythis thisknowledge knowledgeto to excel excel

and lending and break every record, lending and break break every every record, record, lending and break every every record, record, lending lending prestige to that second-tier school prestige to that second-tier school prestige to that second-tier school prestige to that that second-tier second-tier school school they’re attending despite having they’re attending despite having they’re attending despite having they’re attending attending despite despite having having the school. the talent for tier-1 school. thetalent talentfor foraaatier-1 tier-1 school. the talent for aa tier-1 tier-1 school. school.

IIIhope these words summon aaa hope these words summon hope these words summon I hope these these words words summon summon aa righteous anger that fuels the fire righteous fuels the fire righteous anger anger that that fuels the fire righteous anger anger that that fuels fuels the the fire fire of years of oppresof more than 500 years of oppresofmore morethan than500 500 years of oppresof more than than 500 500 years years of of oppresoppression and genocide on stolen land sion and genocide on stolen land sion and genocide on stolen land sion and genocide genocide on on stolen stolen land land that American History classes will that American History classes will that American History classes will that American American History History classes classes will will NOT teach you.

And IIIhope you NOT teach you.

And hope you NOT teach you.

And hope you NOT teach you. you.

And And I I hope hope you you will learn the true will be motivated to learn the true willbe bemotivated motivatedto to learn the true will be motivated motivated to to learn learn the the true true history that doesn’t paint history that doesn’t paint history that doesn’t paint history that that doesn’t doesn’t paint paint Christopher and later, Christopher Columbus and later, Christopher Columbus Columbus and later, Christopher Columbus Columbus and and later, later, America’s Founding Fathers as America’s Founding Fathers as America’s Founding Fathers as America’s Founding Founding Fathers Fathers as as admirable adventurers. admirable adventurers. admirable adventurers. admirable adventurers. adventurers.

“Being in America “Being Negro in America “Being aaa Negro Negro in America “Being a to Negro Negro in in America America means trying smile when you means trying to smile when you means trying to smile when you means trying trying to to smile smile when when you you want to cry.

It means trying to hold want to cry.

ItIt means trying to hold want to cry. means trying to hold want to cry.

It It means means trying trying to to hold hold on amid psychologion to physical life amid psychologionto tophysical physicallife life amid psychologion to physical physical life life amid amid psychologipsychological death.

It means the pain of cal death.

ItIt means the pain of cal death. means the pain of cal death.

It It means means the the pain painupof of watching your children grow watching your children grow up watching your children grow up watching your your children children grow grow up up with in their with clouds of inferiority in their withclouds cloudsof ofinferiority inferiority in their with clouds of of inferiority inferiority in inyour their their mental skies.

It means having mental skies.

ItIt means having your mental skies. means having your mental skies.

It It means means having having your your legs then being conlegs cut off, and then being conlegscut cutoff, off,and and then being conlegs cut off, and and then then being being concondemned aaa cripple.

ItItIt demned for being cripple. demned for for being being cripple. demned for being being a a cripple. cripple.

ItIt means seeing your mother and means mother and means seeing seeing your your mother and means seeing seeing your your mother mother and and father by the father spiritually murdered by the fatherspiritually spirituallymurdered murdered by the father spiritually spiritually murdered murdered by by the the slings and arrows of daily exploitaslings and arrows of daily exploitaslings and arrows of daily exploitaslings and arrows arrows of of daily daily exploitaexploitation, hated for tion, and then being hated for tion, and and then then being being hated for tion, and then then being beingDr. hated hated for for being an orphan.”—Rev. Martin being an orphan.”—Rev. Dr. Martin being an orphan.”—Rev. Dr. Martin being an orphan.”—Rev. orphan.”—Rev. Dr. Dr. Martin Martin Luther, Luther, King, Jr. Luther,King, King,Jr. Jr. Luther, King, King, Jr. Jr. March 2019 The Positive Community 59 March March 2019 2019 The The Positive Positive Community Community 59 59 March 2019 The The Positive Positive Community Community59 59 www.thepositivecommunity.com

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