Spring 2021

GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

™ Spring 2021

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FOCUS ON: EDUCATION

EXCLUSIVES:

PROFILES: CAROL H. WILLIAMS REUBEN MCDANIEL III STACY LYNCH

INTERVIEW WITH BILLIONAIRE ROBERT F. SMITH ECONOMIC JUSTICE TOWN HALL SERIES

Economic JusticE, inclusion and EmpowErmEnt Edition Robert F. Smith

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SPRING 2021

CONTENTS

SECTIONS Education ............................. 18 Money ................................... 33 Health ................................... 56 Culture ................................. 63

Features

38

AACEO 2021 Mayoral Forum ......................................... 16 UFT Virtual Fundraiser ................................................... 18 Newark Vaccine Site ..................................................... 24 Cover photo: Lev Radin | Shutterstock How School System Led Through Love ........................... 28 Rupert Hayles, Jr. Earns Ph.D. ........................................ 31 ON THE COVER: NJ Black Leaders Take Aim ............................................ 33 Why Black Entrepreneurship Matters ............................. 36 Billionaire Robert F. Smith Cox’s Journey to Administrative Chief ............................ 41 Advertising Legend Carol H. Williams ............................. 44 Robert F. Smith DASNY President Ruben McDaniel, III ........................... 46 A New Day for NJLBC .................................................... 52 Baraka Officially Announces Kawaida Towers ................. 53 Editorial: A Call to Boycott ..................... 6 Building Black Generational Wealth .............................. 54 Editorial: Don’t Treat Us This Way ........... 8 Ministers Demand Money and Vaccines ........................ 56 Why Are Minorities More at Risk for COVID? .................. 58 Editorial: 100 Years in Black Wealth ..... 10 Post-Pandemic Guide for Healing .................................. 60 Editorial: Will the Last Be the First? ...... 12 Mitigating Digital Divide Among Seniors ........................ 62 NAN Fights AAPI Hatred ................................................. 63 Editorial: Yours for the Taking .............. 48 TWW Celebrates Women Making A Difference ................ 65 The Last Word .................................... 74 Stacy Lynch Puts Her Experience to Work ...................... 66

&also inside

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0307724-00001-00

A Call to Boycott

BY BISHOP REGINALD T. JACKSON

O

n Tuesday, April 20, faith leaders called for a nationwide boycott of Home Depot, not only the largest corporation in Georgia, but also one of the largest corporations in the United States. Why did we call for this boycott? Because Home Depot has failed to live up to its corporate responsibility by failing to speak out against a nationwide effort to suppress the votes of Blacks and other voters of color. Last year across the nation, Blacks and voters of color turned out in huge numbers and determined the winner of the presidential race and who controlled the United States Senate. This was especially true in Georgia turning Georgia “blue” for the first time since 1992. Electing the first Black and the first Jewish United States Senators in the history of Georgia changed control of the United States Senate.

In response to Donald’s Trump “big lie,” the Georgia legislature passed and the governor signed SB 202, “The Election Integrity Act.” This legislation’s intent is to suppress and make it more difficult for Blacks and people of color to vote. Prior to the passing of this legislation, no corporation in Georgia spoke out against it. In fact, some applauded the legislation. When faith leaders threatened a boycott against companies for not speaking out, a number of them suddenly voiced their stance against the legislation, including Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, UPS, and Aflac.

Since then, more than 500 corporations nationwide have done the same. The legislation is a threat to the future of our democracy. It harkens back to the days of Jim Crow, a dark period in our nation’s history.

Home Depot has refused to speak out against this legislation. Faith leaders had several calls with corporate leaders seeking to persuade them to use their standings and influence to address the difficulty with the law. We have reached out to Home Depot. They have not been represented at any meetings, nor responded to our efforts to discuss the matter. We have no choice but to call for a boycott. Blacks in the United States are the nation’s number one consumer and make more than two trillion dollars a year. We cannot continue to buy products and spend our dollars with companies that do not support or speak up for us. The most important right we have in this democracy is the right to vote. This legislation punishes Blacks and people of color because we exercised our right to vote. Corporations who fail to speak out to protect the right to vote demonstrate a lack of values and principles. Silence equals complicity. This complicity must not be rewarded.

We are calling upon everyone, Black, Brown, white—everyone who loves this democracy and believes in government of the people, by the people, and for the people to join us in this boycott of Home Depot. It is not something we want to do; it is something we have to do. This matter is not Democrat or Republican. It is bipartisan. We have to hold our elected officials and corporations accountable. Hence the boycott of Home Depot.

Sixth Episcopal District AME Church (Georgia) Bishop Jackson is the former pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Orange, NJ and past president of the Black Ministers' Council of NJ, the organization instrumental for bringing an end to racial profiling on the NJ Turnpike.

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MAKE MAKE THE THE DIFFERENCE! DIFFERENCE!

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he he clergy clergy organizations, organizations, churches, churches, community community businesses businesses and and institutions institutions listed listed below below have have committed committed to to the the purchase purchase of of at at least 50 magazines per month at $1.50 each or they support this publication through the purchase of advertising.

Find out least 50 magazines per month at $1.50 each or they support this publication through the purchase of advertising. Find out more more by calling calling 973-233-9200 973-233-9200 or or email email rollcall@thepositivecommunity.com. rollcall@thepositivecommunity.com. by

Abundant Life Abundant Life Fellowship Fellowship COGIC, COGIC, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Supt.

Edward Bohannon, Jr., Supt. Edward Bohannon, Jr., Pastor Pastor Abyssinian Abyssinian B.C., B.C., Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Calvin Calvin O. O. Butts Butts III, III, Pastor Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Newark, Abyssinian B.C., Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Barry Barry R. R. Miller, Miller, Pastor Pastor Aenon Aenon Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Vauxhall, Vauxhall, NJ NJ Rev Rev Alphonso Alphonso Williams, Williams, Sr., Sr., Pastor Pastor Agape Agape Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Craig Craig R. R. Jackson, Jackson, Pastor Pastor Antioch Antioch Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Robert Robert M. M. Waterman, Waterman, Pastor Pastor Archdiocese Archdiocese of of New New York York Brother Brother Tyrone Tyrone Davis, Davis, Office Office of of Black Black Ministry Ministry Baptist Ministers Conference Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater NY & Vicinity of Greater NY & Vicinity Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Charles Charles A. A. Curtis, Curtis, President President BCT Partners, Newark, BCT Partners, Newark, NJ NJ Dr. Dr. Randal Randal Pinkett, Pinkett, CEO CEO Berean B.C., Berean B.C., Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Arlee Arlee Griffin Griffin Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Bethany Bethany B.C., B.C., Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Adolphus Adolphus C. C. Lacey, Lacey, Sr. Sr. Pastor Pastor Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Rev. Timothy Timothy E. E. Jones, Jones, Pastor Pastor Bethlehem Missionary Bethlehem Missionary B.C., B.C., Roselle, Roselle, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Jeffrey Jeffrey Bryan, Bryan, Pastor Pastor Beulah Beulah Bible Bible Cathedral Cathedral Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Gerald Gerald Lydell Lydell Dickson, Dickson, Senior Senior Pastor Pastor Calvary Calvary Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Garfield, Garfield, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Calvin Calvin McKinney, McKinney, Pastor Pastor Calvary Calvary Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Morristown, Morristown, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Jerry Jerry M. M. Carter, Carter, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Canaan Canaan B. B. C. C. of of Christ, Christ, Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Thomas Thomas D. D. Johnson, Johnson, Pastor Pastor Canaan Canaan B.C., B.C., Paterson, Paterson, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Barry Barry L. L. Graham, Graham, Pastor Pastor Cathedral International., Cathedral International., Perth Perth Amboy, Amboy, NJ NJ Bishop Donald Bishop Donald Hilliard, Hilliard, Pastor Pastor Charity Baptist Charity Baptist Church, Church, Bronx, Bronx, NY NY Rev. Rev. Reginald Reginald Williams, Williams, Pastor Pastor Christian Christian Love Love B.C., B.C., Irvington, Irvington, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Brandon Brandon Keith Keith Washington, Washington, Pastor Pastor Clear Clear View View Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Curtis Curtis W. W. Belle, Belle, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Community Community B.C., B.C., Englewood, Englewood, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Lester Lester Taylor, Taylor, Pastor Pastor Community Community Church Church of of God, God, Plainfield, Plainfield, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Antonio Antonio Porter, Porter, Pastor Pastor

Concord Concord B.C., B.C., Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Gary Gary V. V. Simpson, Simpson, Pastor Pastor Convent Avenue Convent Avenue Baptist Baptist Church, Church, New New York, York, NY NY Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor Cross and Cross and Crown Crown Christian Christian Church, Church, Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Lula Lula A. A. Baker, Baker, Pastor Pastor Ebenezer B.C. B.C. of of Englewood, Englewood, NJ NJ Ebenezer Rev. Rev. Preston Preston E. E. Thompson, Thompson, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Ebenezer Rev. Rev. H. H. William William Rutherford Rutherford III, III, Pastor Pastor Elizabeth, Elizabeth, NJ NJ Councilwoman-At-Large Councilwoman-At-Large Patricia Patricia Perkins-Auguste Perkins-Auguste Empire Empire Missionary Missionary Baptist Baptist Convention Convention Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Carl Carl T. T. Washington, Washington, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Evergreen Evergreen Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Palmyra, Palmyra, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Guy Guy Campbell, Campbell, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Fellowship Fellowship Missionary Missionary B.C., B.C., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Elton Elton T. T. Byrd Byrd Pastor/Founder Pastor/Founder First First B.C. B.C. of of Lincoln Lincoln Gardens, Gardens, Somerset Somerset NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. DeForest DeForest (Buster) (Buster) Soaries, Soaries, Pastor Pastor First First Baptist Baptist Church, Church, East East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, NY NY Rev. Rev. Patrick Patrick Henry Henry Young, Young, Pastor Pastor First First Baptist Baptist Church Church of of Kenilworth, Kenilworth, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Nathaniel Nathaniel Bullock Bullock Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor First First Baptist Baptist Church Church of of Teaneck, Teaneck, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Marilyn Marilyn Monroe Monroe Harris, Harris, Pastor Pastor First First Baptist Baptist of of Jericho, Jericho, Deptford, Deptford, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Derek Derek V. V. Gaitling, Gaitling, Pastor Pastor First First Corinthian Corinthian Baptist Baptist Church, Church, NY NY Rev. Rev. Michael Michael A. A. Walrond, Walrond, Jr., Jr., Senior Senior Pastor Pastor First First Park Park Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Plainfield, Plainfield, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Rufus Rufus McClendon, McClendon, Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor First First Baptist Baptist Church, Church, South South Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Terry Terry Richardson, Richardson, Pastor Pastor General General Baptist Baptist Convention, Convention, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Lester Lester W. W. Taylor, Taylor, Jr., Jr., President President Good Good Neighbor Neighbor B.C., B.C., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. George George A. A. Blackwell, Blackwell, III, III, Pastor Pastor Grace Grace B. B. C., C., Mt. Mt. Vernon, Vernon, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Franklyn Franklyn W. W. Richardson, Richardson, Pastor Pastor Greater Zion Hill B.C., Greater Zion Hill B.C., Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Frank Frank J. J. Blackshear, Blackshear, Pastor Pastor Harlem Congregations Harlem Congregations for for Community Community Improvement Improvement (HCCI) (HCCI) Malcolm A. Punter, Ed.D., Malcolm A. Punter, Ed.D., President President & & CEO CEO Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. William William Derek Derek Lee, Lee, Senior Senior Pastor Pastor ItIt Is Well Living Ministries, Is Well Living Ministries, Clark, Clark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Kahlil Kahlil Carmichael, Carmichael, Pastor Pastor

Macedonia Macedonia Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Lakewood, Lakewood, NJ NJ Dr. Dr. Edward Edward D. D. Harper, Harper, Pastor Pastor Mariners’ Mariners’ Temple Temple B.C., B.C., New New York, York, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Henrietta Henrietta Carter, Carter, Pastor Pastor Memorial, Memorial, B.C., B.C., New New York, York, NY NY Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Senior Pastor Senior Pastor Messiah Messiah Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT CT Rev. Rev. James James Logan, Logan, Pastor Pastor Messiah Messiah Baptist Baptist Church, Church, East East Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dana Dana Owens, Owens, Pastor Pastor Metropolitan Metropolitan B.C., B.C., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. David David Jefferson, Jefferson, Pastor Pastor Mother Mother A.M.E. A.M.E. Zion Zion Church Church Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Malcolm Malcolm J. J. Byrd, Byrd, Pastor Pastor Mt. Mt. Neboh Neboh Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Johnnie Johnnie Green Green Jr., Jr., Pastor Pastor Mt. Mt. Pisgah Pisgah B.C., B.C., Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Johnny Johnny Ray Ray Youngblood, Youngblood, Pastor Pastor Mount Church, Mount Olive Olive Baptist Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ Hackensack, NJ Rev. Rev. Gregory Gregory J. J. Jackson, Jackson, Pastor Pastor Mt. Olivet B.C, Mt. Olivet B.C, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. André André W. W. Milteer, Milteer, Pastor Pastor Mt. Mt. Zion Zion AME AME Church, Church, Trenton, Trenton, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. J. J. Stanley Stanley Justice, Justice, Pastor Pastor Mt. Mt. Zion Zion B.C., B.C., Westwood, Westwood, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Bernard Bernard Glee, Glee, Pastor Pastor New Beginnings New Beginnings Agape Agape NJ Christian Christian Center, Center, Freehold, Freehold, NJ Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire, Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire, Pastor Pastor New State New Garden Garden State Jurisdiction Jurisdiction COGIC NJ COGIC NJ Bishop Bishop William William Cahoon Cahoon New Hope Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, Metuchen, NJ NJ Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Pastor Pastor New Hope Baptist Church of New Hope Baptist Church of East East Orange, Orange, East East Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Vernard Vernard E. E. Hinton, Hinton, Pastor Pastor New Hope New Hope Baptist Baptist Church Church of of Hackensack, Hackensack, Hackensack, Hackensack, NJ NJ Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, Senior Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, Senior Pastor Pastor New New Life Life Cathedral, Cathedral, Mt. Mt. Holly, Holly, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Eric Eric Wallace, Wallace, Pastor Pastor New Reid Temple COGIC New Reid Temple COGIC East East Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Bishop Bishop William William Cahoon Cahoon North Selton Selton AME AME Church, Church, North Piscataway, Piscataway, NJ NJ Rev. Dr. Eric and Myra Rev. Dr. Eric and Myra Billips, Billips, Pastors Pastors Paradise B. C., Newark, Paradise B. C., Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Jethro Jethro James, James, Pastor Pastor

Park Ave Park Ave Christian Christian Disciples Disciples of of Christ, Christ, East East Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Harriet Wallace, Pastor Rev. Harriet Wallace, Pastor Pilgrim Pilgrim B. B. C., C., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Glenn Glenn Wilson, Wilson, Pastor Pastor Ruth Ruth Fellowship Fellowship Ministries, Ministries, Plainfield, Plainfield, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Tracey Tracey Brown, Brown, Pastor Pastor Shiloh Shiloh AME AME Zion Zion Church, Church, Englewood, Englewood, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. John John D. D. Givens, Givens, Pastor Pastor Shiloh Shiloh B.C., B.C., New New Rochelle, Rochelle, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. DeQuincy DeQuincy M. M. Hentz, Hentz, Pastor Pastor Shiloh Shiloh B.C., B.C., Plainfield, Plainfield, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Sheila Sheila L. L. Thorpe, Thorpe, Pastor Pastor Shiloh Shiloh B.C., B.C., Trenton, Trenton, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Darell Darell Armstrong, Armstrong, Pastor Pastor St. St. Anthony Anthony Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Walter Walter L. L. DeLoatch, DeLoatch, Sr., Sr., Pastor Pastor St. St. James James AME AME Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Ronald Ronald L. L. Slaughter, Slaughter, Pastor Pastor St. St. John John Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Camden, Camden, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Silas Silas M. M. Townsend, Townsend, Pastor Pastor St. St. John John B.C., B.C., Scotch Scotch Plains, Plains, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Shawn Shawn T. T. Wallace, Wallace, Pastor Pastor St. St. Luke Luke Baptist Baptist Church Church of of Harlem, Harlem, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Johnnie Johnnie McCann, McCann, Pastor Pastor St St Luke Luke B.C., B.C., Paterson, Paterson, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Kenneth Kenneth D.R. D.R. Clayton, Clayton, Pastor Pastor St. St. Mark Mark Missionary Missionary B.C., B.C., Jamaica, Jamaica, NY NY Rev. Rev. Owen Owen E. E. Williams, Williams, Pastor Pastor St. St. Matthew Matthew AME AME Church, Church, Orange, Orange, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Melvin Melvin E. E. Wilson, Wilson, Pastor Pastor St. St. Paul Paul Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Montclair, Montclair, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Bernadette Bernadette Glover, Glover, Pastor Pastor St. St. Paul Paul Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Red Red Bank, Bank, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Alexander Alexander Brown, Brown, Pastor Pastor St. St. Paul Paul Community Community B.C., B.C., Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY Rev. Rev. David David K. K. Brawley, Brawley, Pastor Pastor Tabernacle Tabernacle B.C., B.C., Burlington, Burlington, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Cory Cory L. L. Jones, Jones, Pastor Pastor The The New New Hope Hope B.C., B.C., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Joe Joe Carter, Carter, Senior Senior Pastor Pastor Union Union Baptist Baptist Temple,, Temple,, Bridgeton, Bridgeton, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Albert Albert L. L. Morgan, Morgan, Pastor Pastor United United Fellowship Fellowship B.C., B.C., Asbury Asbury Park, Park, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. James James H. H. Brown, Brown, Sr., Sr., Pastor Pastor Walker Walker Memorial Memorial B.C. B.C. Bronx, Bronx, NY NY Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. J. J. Albert Albert Bush Bush Sr., Sr., Pastor Pastor Welcome Welcome Baptist Baptist Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ NJ Rev. Rev. Dr. Dr. Elijah Elijah C. C. Williams, Williams, Pastor Pastor World Gospel Gospel Music Music Assoc., Assoc., Newark, Newark, NJ NJ World Dr. Dr. Albert Albert Lewis, Lewis, Founder Founder

““The The Positive Positive Community Community magazine magazine does does outstanding outstanding work work in in promoting promoting the the good good works works of of the the Black Black Church.

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

REV. REV. DAVID DAVID JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON, SR., SR., ESQ. ESQ. GUEST GUEST EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

The Democratic Party Cannot Allow Blacks to Be Treated This Way!

F

or nearly 60 years, Blacks have been the most reor or nearly nearly 60 60 years, years, Blacks Blacks have have been been the the most most rereliable Democratic voting block at the national, liable liable Democratic Democratic voting voting block block at at the the national, national, state, and local levels. Without this deep loyalty, state, state, and and local local levels. levels. Without Without this this deep deep loyalty, loyalty, Democratic successes at all these levels would be virtually Democratic Democratic successes successes at at all all these these levels levels would would be be virtually virtually non-existent.

Nowhere is this more evident than in my non-existent. non-existent. Nowhere Nowhere is is this this more more evident evident than than in in my my own state of New Jersey.

In 2017, 94% of the Black vote own state of New Jersey.

In 2017, 94% of the Black own state of New Jersey. In 2017, 94% of the Black vote vote supported Governor Phil Murphy and delivered him a supported supported Governor Governor Phil Phil Murphy Murphy and and delivered delivered him him aa victory he would not have otherwise enjoyed. victory victory he he would would not not have have otherwise otherwise enjoyed. enjoyed.

II could go on.

But II do not need to. We all know could go on.

But do I could go on. But I do not not need need to. to. We We all all know know that without the Black vote, there is no real prospect of that without the Black vote, there is no real prospect that without the Black vote, there is no real prospect of of Democratic success.

Sadly, we also know that far too ofDemocratic Democratic success. success. Sadly, Sadly, we we also also know know that that far far too too ofoften, after the Black community has delivered victory for ten, ten, after after the the Black Black community community has has delivered delivered victory victory for for Democrats, Democrats have not delivered for the Black Democrats, Democrats have not delivered for Democrats, Democrats have not delivered for the the Black Black community.

In doing so, these politicians not only betray community. community. In In doing doing so, so, these these politicians politicians not not only only betray betray this loyal community, but compound the deep injustices this loyal community, but compound the deep this loyal community, but compound the deep injustices injustices it has suffered and prolong the suffering. it it has has suffered suffered and and prolong prolong the the suffering. suffering.

If we care about this important voting constituency, If we care about this important If we care about this important voting voting constituency, constituency, we need candidates who walk the walk; believe in their we need candidates who walk the walk; we need candidates who walk the walk; believe believe in in their their promises; and deliver, or at least fight to deliver, on those promises; promises; and and deliver, deliver, or or at at least least fight fight to to deliver, deliver, on on those those promises.

Lip service and window dressing is not enough. promises. promises. Lip Lip service service and and window window dressing dressing is is not not enough. enough.

In the words of Reverend Al Sharpton, “We are giving In the words of Reverend Al Sharpton, “We In the words of Reverend Al Sharpton, “We are are giving giving votes away too cheaply.” votes votes away away too too cheaply.” cheaply.”

In New Jersey, we have a governor who is aa “postIn In New New Jersey, Jersey, we we have have aa governor governor who who is is a “post“poster-child” for the disingenuous politician talking the talk, er-child” for the disingenuous politician talking er-child” for the disingenuous politician talking the the talk, talk, but not walking the walk.

To be elected, Governor Murbut but not not walking walking the the walk. walk. To To be be elected, elected, Governor Governor MurMurphy loudly trumpeted his deep devotion to the Black phy phy loudly loudly trumpeted trumpeted his his deep deep devotion devotion to to the the Black Black community, to other minorities, and to women.

Once community, to other minorities, and to women. community, to other minorities, and to women. Once Once elected, he forgot about us and immediately focused inelected, elected, he he forgot forgot about about us us and and immediately immediately focused focused ininstead on his next political move and advancing his own stead stead on on his his next next political political move move and and advancing advancing his his own own personal prospects within the Democratic establishment personal personal prospects prospects within within the the Democratic Democratic establishment establishment on the national level. on on the the national national level. level.

This is not meant to be aa personal attack on Governor This This is is not not meant meant to to be be a personal personal attack attack on on Governor Governor Murphy.

This is a message to the party that those who Murphy.

Murphy. This This is is aa message message to to the the party party that that those those who who represent the party must be held accountable to those represent represent the the party party must must be be held held accountable accountable to to those those who support the party, namely Black voters. who who support support the the party, party, namely namely Black Black voters. voters.

The risk to the Democratic Party from exploitive, The risk to the Democratic The risk to the Democratic Party Party from from exploitive, exploitive, self-interested, and disingenuous politicians cannot be self-interested, self-interested, and and disingenuous disingenuous politicians politicians cannot cannot be be understated.

Moreover, if Black legislators continue in understated. understated. Moreover, Moreover, if if Black Black legislators legislators continue continue in in their denial and silence for personal and political gain, their their denial denial and and silence silence for for personal personal and and political political gain, gain, they are equally to blame for the conditions of their own they they are are equally equally to to blame blame for for the the conditions conditions of of their their own own people.

They need to ask themselves if selling out their people.

They need to ask themselves if selling people. They need to ask themselves if selling out out their their community for aa photo opportunity or a few state jobs community community for for a photo photo opportunity opportunity or or aa few few state state jobs jobs for their family members is worth it.

On the other hand, for for their their family family members members is is worth worth it. it. On On the the other other hand, hand,

8

The Positive Community Spring 2021

should they be making “Good Trouble” in the name of should should they they be be making making “Good “Good Trouble” Trouble” in in the the name name of of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis and truly reprethe the late late civil civil rights rights icon icon Rep. Rep. John John Lewis Lewis and and truly truly reprerepresent their constituents? sent sent their their constituents? constituents?

Our young people are looking for us to provide the Our Our young young people people are are looking looking for for us us to to provide provide the the kind of uncompromising leadership our iconic civil kind kind of of uncompromising uncompromising leadership leadership our our iconic iconic civil civil rights leaders such as Dr. King, Rev. Jessie Jackson, Medrights rights leaders leaders such such as as Dr. Dr. King, King, Rev. Rev. Jessie Jessie Jackson, Jackson, MedMedgar Evers, Dr. Leon Sullivan, and Fannie Lou Hammer gar gar Evers, Evers, Dr. Dr. Leon Leon Sullivan, Sullivan, and and Fannie Fannie Lou Lou Hammer Hammer exhibited throughout the 1960s. The unrequited hope exhibited exhibited throughout throughout the the 1960s.

1960s. The The unrequited unrequited hope hope on the part of Blacks made them vulnerable to Governor on the part of Blacks made them vulnerable on the part of Blacks made them vulnerable to to Governor Governor Murphy’s loud rhetoric and passionate promises about Murphy’s Murphy’s loud loud rhetoric rhetoric and and passionate passionate promises promises about about “fairness” and “equality” in 2017.

He spoke from the pul“fairness” and “equality” in 2017.

He spoke “fairness” and “equality” in 2017. He spoke from from the the pulpulpits of our most prominent Black churches.

Surely, we all pits pits of of our our most most prominent prominent Black Black churches. churches. Surely, Surely, we we all all thought, no man would use that literally hallowed place thought, thought, no no man man would would use use that that literally literally hallowed hallowed place place in our most sacred and important institutions to lie to us in in our our most most sacred sacred and and important important institutions institutions to to lie lie to to us us to our faces.

But he did. to our faces.

But he did. to our faces. But he did.

Things have changed and as you know, after shedding Things Things have have changed changed and and as as you you know, know, after after shedding shedding tears for George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, and Breonna tears for George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, tears for George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, and and Breonna Breonna Taylor, many Black voters remain suspicious of their govTaylor, Taylor, many many Black Black voters voters remain remain suspicious suspicious of of their their govgovernment institutions and many still await the fulfillment ernment ernment institutions institutions and and many many still still await await the the fulfillment fulfillment of the promises made for generations. After watching of of the the promises promises made made for for generations. generations. After After watching watching Governor Murphy for three years, he has failed to do anyGovernor Governor Murphy Murphy for for three three years, years, he he has has failed failed to to do do anyanything of substance voluntarily for Blacks in New Jersey thing of substance voluntarily for Blacks in New thing of substance voluntarily for Blacks in New Jersey Jersey and has required constant reminders and often downand and has has required required constant constant reminders reminders and and often often downdownright begging to do the right thing.

Some of our elected right right begging begging to to do do the the right right thing. thing. Some Some of of our our elected elected officials have stood strong and challenged the adminisofficials officials have have stood stood strong strong and and challenged challenged the the adminisadministration.

We need more to step up and speak out in the tration. tration. We We need need more more to to step step up up and and speak speak out out in in the the name of economic justice and parity for the Black comname of economic justice and parity for the Black name of economic justice and parity for the Black comcommunity.

We also need our community leaders to unite munity. munity. We We also also need need our our community community leaders leaders to to unite unite and support our elected officials as they get into “Good and support our elected officials as they get into and support our elected officials as they get into “Good “Good Trouble” and push forward aa legislative agenda for a betTrouble” Trouble” and and push push forward forward a legislative legislative agenda agenda for for aa betbetter tomorrow for Black people.

We can do this! ter ter tomorrow tomorrow for for Black Black people. people. We We can can do do this! this!

Our moment in time is now and we cannot stand siOur Our moment moment in in time time is is now now and and we we cannot cannot stand stand sisilent while expecting whites to join the chorus for social, lent while expecting whites to join the chorus for lent while expecting whites to join the chorus for social, social, racial, and economic justice. Lean into this moment beracial, racial, and and economic economic justice. justice. Lean Lean into into this this moment moment bebefore it is too late.

History will remember those who coufore it is too late.

History will remember those fore it is too late. History will remember those who who coucourageously stood on the side of the underserved. II implore rageously rageously stood stood on on the the side side of of the the underserved. underserved. I implore implore you to stand on their side. you to stand on their side. you to stand on their side.

Reverend Dr. David Jefferson, Sr., Esq.; Pastor, Metropolitan Reverend Reverend Dr. Dr. David David Jefferson, Jefferson, Sr., Sr., Esq.; Esq.; Pastor, Pastor, Metropolitan Metropolitan Baptist Church, Newark, NJ; Chair, National Action Baptist Church, Church, Newark, Newark, NJ; NJ; Chair, Chair, National National Action Action Network, Network, Baptist Network, New Jersey; Jersey; Chair, New New Jersey Black Black Economic Justice Justice Coalition; New New Jersey; Chair, Chair, New Jersey Jersey Black Economic Economic Justice Coalition; Coalition; Host Organizer, New Jersey Economic Justice Town Halls; Legal Host Host Organizer, Organizer, New New Jersey Jersey Economic Economic Justice Justice Town Town Halls; Halls; Legal Legal Advisor to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC Advisor to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC Advisor to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC www.thepositivecommunity.com

Proud to be Black Owned Since 1934 Industrial Bank, the only African American family owned bank in the Washington, DC area, has expanded to Newark, NJ and Harlem, NY! We welcome you to stop by one of our branches TODAY!

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REV. REV. DEFOREST DEFOREST SOARIES SOARIES GUEST GUEST EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

100 100 years years in in Black Black Wealth Wealth

S S

pring 1921, one century ago, the economic founpring 1921, one century ago, the was economic dation known as Black Wall Street ripped founfrom dation known Blackmassacre Wall Street was ripped from our people as as a race ravaged the Greenour of people a race massacreby ravaged Greenwood area Tulsa,asOK. Millionaires today’sthe standards, wood area ofcreators Tulsa, OK. Millionaires byJ.B. today’s standards, Greenwood O.W. Gurley and Stradford lost Greenwood financially–yet creators O.W. Gurley and J.B. Stradford lost everything they didn’t lose faith, they everything financially–yet they lose didn’t lose faith,passed they didn’t lose hope and they didn’t their legacy, didn’t lose hope they didn’t lose their legacy, passed on through their and bloodlines. on Spring through2021, theirsome bloodlines. exciting things are happening for Spring 2021, some are happening for Black Americans, evenexciting thoughthings we worry that we may Blackanother Americans, even though may have century to go beforeweweworry realizethat truewe equity. have another go before we figure, realize was trueheld equity.

George Floyd’scentury killer, atowhite authority acGeorge Floyd’s killer, a white authority figure, held accountable for his heinous acts—raising hopeswas that we’re countable for histoheinous acts—raising we’re one step nearer where we should havehopes beenthat all along. ® should have been all along. one step where Closer tonearer home,tothe dfreewe Global Foundation’s Billion Closer to home, the dfree® aGlobal Billion Dollar Challenge exceeded recordFoundation’s $30 million in debt Dollar Challenge a record $30 million in been debt reduction for our exceeded people. That’s historic.

It’s never reduction forand ouryou’ve people.

That’s It’s itnever been done before, been parthistoric. of making happen. done before, and you’ve been part of making it happen.

Now let’s zoom into an even more localized yet amazNow let’s zoom intothe an recent even more localizedofyet amazingly inspiring event, graduation 125 stuingly inspiring event,® Academy the recentongraduation of 125 students from the dfree April 17, 2021.

In just ® dents fromthese the dfree Academy April 17, 2021. just 12 weeks, graduates have on changed their livesInand, 12 weeks, these graduates theiroflives potentially, the lives of the have manychanged generations theirand, depotentially,who the will livesinherit of thethe many generations their descendants, liberating spirit of of financial scendants,From who will inherit Mondays the liberating spirit on of financial freedom.

Fellowship to Wealth Wednesfreedom.

From Mondaysthese to Wealth on Wednesdays and all theFellowship days surrounding, determined peodaystook andthe all the surrounding, theseand determined people timedays to create a community support each ple took the time to create atocommunity and support each other in their commitment live debt free. other in have their put commitment to they’ve live debtlearned free. into immeThey the lessons They have put thefor lessons they’ve intovaledicimmediate practice.

Take, example, one learned of our class diate practice.

Take, for example, onea of our class valedictorians, Wynona Caldwell, who won $1,000 scholarship torians, Caldwell, who won a $1,000 scholarship from theWynona dfree® Academy.

She wanted everyone to know ® from Academy.

Shefirst wanted know duringthe thedfree ceremony that the 10%everyone was beingtodonatduring that the 10% wasthe being donated, the the nextceremony 10% was going to first savings and remainder ed, the next going savings and the Wynona remainder was going to10% pay was down her to credit card debt. is was goingthe to curriculum! pay down her credit card debt. Wynona is following following the curriculum!

I’ve always told you that the path to financial freedom I’ve always you the path to financial freedom is difficult yet told worth it. that It starts with your mindset.

That’s is difficult it. Itofstarts your mindset.

That’s why dfree® yet usesworth a variety toolswith to educate, motivate, and ® why dfreepeople uses aand variety of tools educate, motivate, and support is the only to faith-based, wealth-buildsupport people and isdesigned the onlywith faith-based, ing system specifically the Blackwealth-buildcommunity ing system specifically designed with the Black community

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

in mind. We purposefully address the cultural, psychologiin mind.

We purposefully address the cultural, psychological, and spiritual influences on financial wellness and offer cal, and spiritual influences on financial wellness practical strategies for achieving financial success.and offer practical forseem achieving financial success.

It maystrategies not always like it, but Black people like nottogether. always seem it, beauties but Blackofpeople like® to It domay things One like of the the dfree to do things together.

One of the beautiesinofa supportive the dfree® Academy is that it brings people together Academy As is that people together in aStembridge supportive network. dfreeit® brings Executive Director Tamika ® ® network.

As dfree Executiveceremony, Director Tamika Stembridge said during the graduation “The dfree sauce said during thecommunity. graduation You ceremony, dfree® sauce is really in the all have“The encouraged each is reallycheered in the community. all have encouraged other, each other You on, and discussed things each that other,people cheered eacheven other on, and discussedNow things that most don’t discuss in private.” isn’t it most people discuss in private.”

Now isn’t it ironic that wedon’t don’teven like to talk about our money but by ironic that weit,don’t like to talk money but by talking about we can figure outabout how toour follow the simple talkingand about it,®we can figure how to follow the simple steps, dfree offers 12, to aout new, empowered financial® steps, and ly-free life?dfree offers 12, to a new, empowered financially-free life? freedom is important. It’s always been imEconomic Economic freedom important.

It’s always portant.

It’s one of theis most important keys tobeen haveimin portant.

It’sIt’s one of the important to haveand in any society. about timemost we reclaim thatkeys knowledge any society.

It’s about we reclaim thatcreate knowledge and help each other, step time by step, so we can meaninghelplegacies each other, stepthe by globe. step, soIf we createjoined meaningful all over youcan haven’t the ful legacies all overyet, theI encourage globe. If you the dfree® movement youhaven’t to start joined by joining ® dfree® I encourage the nextmovement class of theyet, dfree Academy.you to start by joining theAfter next the classTulsa of themassacre, dfree® Academy.

Gurley wrote to Oklahoma’s After the wrote Oklahoma’s governor andTulsa said,massacre, “The costGurley in blood andtotreasure here governor and said, “The in feel blood and treasure has been staggering, and cost yet we that if this greathere cost has been yet we consciences feel that if this great cost shall servestaggering, to arouse and the moral of the Amershall people serve toand arouse thetomoral the of American serve bring consciences together theofbest the ican people and serve together the the bestcost of and the races in the working outto of bring a common destiny, races in the working of abeen common the sacrifice shall notout have madedestiny, in vain.”the cost and theMy sacrifice shall not have beenwe made vain.” friends, today we know payintoo steep a price My we friends, weand know we paytotoo steep a price when accepttoday frivolity continue focus on the mawhen instead we accept and continue to focus on material of frivolity the communal.

Let’s continue thisthe battle terial offreedom the communal.

Let’s continue this battle to wininstead financial so we can build our communities to win financial freedom so weLet’s can build and leave powerful legacies. createour ourcommunities new Greenand leave legacies. Let’s create our new Greenwoods, andpowerful protect them. woods, and protect them.

Reverend DeForest Blake “Buster” Soaries, Jr. is an African-American Reverend DeForest Blakeand “Buster” Soaries, Jr.from is Montclair, an African-American Baptist minister, author public advocate, New Jersey.

Baptist minister, author and public advocate, from Montclair, New Jersey.

He is the former Secretary of State of New Jersey and former chairman of the He is the formerAssistance Secretary ofCommission.

State of NewAdditionally, Jersey and former chairman of the federal Election he is the senior pastor federal Assistance Commission.

Additionally, he New is theJersey, senior pastor of First Election Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, www.thepositivecommunity.com

“ ... one hears a collective questioning in the Black community: Could we finally be at the threshold of historic change?

Will the Last Really Be First?

BY JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF FPWA, AN ANTI-POVERTY AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND UPWARD MOBILITY.

T

here is much talk today about a national racial reckoning. Thanks to developments such as Black Lives Matter, the election of Kamala Harris, and the Chauvin murder conviction, one hears a collective questioning in the Black community: Could we finally be at the threshold of historic change?

Ordinarily I would love to join in. Those who know me know I like to live in a joyful space. Injustices are real, plenty, and must be vanquished. Yet I believe we always have an opportunity to work for justice and equity.

That’s why many conversations about how to now secure economic change for Black Americans concern me. Often, they lean toward pushing for opportunities for the rising class, by growing Black entrepreneurship, for example, or promoting home ownership. These conversations are valid and exciting. When it comes to those who are of low-income, however, we seem again content to send them to the back of the line.

In two recently released reports, FPWA, the organization I lead, showed how stagnating wages, compounded by racial inequalities and structural barriers to opportunity, create daunting obstacles to self-sufficiency for low-income people. A single parent working a minimum wage job of $15 per hour in Queens, NY with a baby and preschooler, for example, would need to earn nearly three times her current wage just to make ends meet. Even if she relies – as she must – on safety net benefits, she will still only achieve 68% wage adequacy (the distance between income and the ability to meet basic needs). If she grows her hourly pay to $21, she will encounter a childcare subsidy cliff, plummeting her family to only 53% wage adequacy. The unsound design of our benefits programs confronts her with impossible choices.

Driving this are measures and policies that are deeply inadequate, yet we are without the will to change them.

Most federal benefits programs are tied to the Federal

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

Poverty Level, a 1960s standard that is antiquated and woefully unrealistic. It actually undercounts poverty and at best, measures deprivation. It must be changed.

We eschew more meaningful standards, such as the self-sufficiency standard, which encompasses a more realistic array of needs such as housing, childcare, food, health care, transportation, and the cost of taxes. We know that if we use these, the number in need will skyrocket.

Congress passed an historic economic recovery bill this year, but again denied a much-needed federal minimum wage increase. The last legislated increase was in 2007. Far-forward ideas such as a universal basic income barely see the light of day.

Even where we’ve adopted compensating measures, as in New York City, our focus is on the poverty line. Is that the measure of our aspiration? When will we act so people can reach self-sufficiency and true financial stability?

For low-income families, the manifestations of the rising class miss the point. Their lived daily experience tells them that they are not the priority. We must resist the urge to reinforce this deep, persistent flaw. Unless we change this paradigm, an historic transformation will elude us.

I am reminded of the parable of the vineyard workers.

Some laborers who had worked many hours became agitated at day’s end when they were paid last and received the same compensation as other workers who arrived later, worked less time, and were paid first. The vineyard owner explains his equitable approach and sums up by saying “So the last shall be first, and the first, last.”

The agitated laborers thought they had disparate merit and should be prioritized. This notion can be hard to discern in ourselves; it creeps into our thinking – even into our proposals for change – and into our systems. To be advocates for a truly equitable world, we must be like the vineyard owner: resist and challenge ourselves to choose a bolder path. www.thepositivecommunity.com

“I survived COVID-19, barely. Too many have not. Get valid information from reliable sources and get the vaccine.”

- Dr. James Pruden, Medical Director, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson Getting vaccinated helps protect you, your family and everyone around you. For more information or to register for your vaccination, visit covid19.nj.gov/vaccine or call 1-855-568-0545.

COVID-19 Vaccines Safe. Effective. Free.

Watch experts address your vaccine concerns on our YouTube channel: NJ.gov/health/vaxfacts

ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN FIGHTING COVID-19 IN THIS CRITICAL MOMENT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE FOLLOWING: Learn more about Covid-19 prevention methods and why it is important to educate your community about the vaccine.

Talk to your community about Covid-19 prevention.

Mobilize your community to get active in sharing verified information with others in the neighborhood.

DOWNLOAD AND SHARE OUR COVID-19 TOOLKIT FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES AT ROLLUPYOURSLEEVESNY.ORG

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

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Diversity United: For the People

o all who are part of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, we at Diversity United want to say that in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, we stand in COMPLETE SOLIDARITY with you and your community during these most difficult and trying times. As FELLOW AMERICANS we are APPALLED at the unparalleled Hate, Violence and Abuse being purported against the AAPI community and its women! Diversity United is DETERMINED and COMMITTED to Standing in Unity with you, “Side by Side Shoulder to Shoulder”! Please know that the VAST Majority of your FELLOW AMERICANS feel as such! It is both disheartening and frightening to realize that in March of 2021 we still must remind ourselves of the societal goals that our founding fathers envisioned for all men and women - “the preservation of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We at Diversity United RESENT that the AAPI community is being forced to live their lives in FEAR due to the constant Anti-Asian vitriol being spewed throughout the land. As FELLOW AMERICANS, we find this totally UNACCEPTABLE! As an African American and Jewish led organization, it is a BITTER reminder as to what UNCHECKED, senseless hatred and violence can do to a society and to a contributing, caring, committed and most decent community of people. Please KNOW that Diversity United CONFRONTS these evil forces/ugly circumstances alongside you. We UNEQUIVOCALLY support the AAPI community’s right to the pursuit of “Peace, Justice and Freedom” in their daily lives. While many people in our country feel FAIRNESS should only be bestowed upon themselves and their families, we at Diversity United continue to CHALLENGE the notion of RACE as an arbitrary means to Target, Isolate and Separate peoples and communities for the sole purpose of EXPLOITING one group for the benefit of another!

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

As an interracial - interfaith MOVEMENT, represented by persons of ALL colors, faiths and backgrounds, Diversity United EMBRACES Science-based facts and acknowledges them to be relevant to ALL our conversations! At Diversity United, we underscore the FACT that as HUMAN BEINGS, we SHARE 99.9% of the same genetic make-up; the same DNA! At Diversity United, we POSIT that the concept of RACE is nothing more than a “Social Construct” used to “define” and separate people to create a human hierarchy, with the purpose of exercising control, power and influence over certain groups of people for the convenience and benefit of others! At Diversity United, we POSTULATE that there exists ONE RACE ONLY on this planet of OURS! - the HUMAN RACE!! As FELLOW AMERICANS, we find REPULSIVE the idea that any specific group of people must live in FEAR of violence and hatred as they walk the streets of their neighborhoods across the USA! We remain UNDETERRED in the face of these heinous incidents and STEADFAST in our RESOLVE to help ERADICATE such abhorrent behavior from our midst! MOST IMPORTANTLY, Diversity United APPLAUDS and EMBRACES the “Richness of your Culture” and the VAST and VARIED CONTRIBUTIONS the AAPI community brings to our lives. We are BLESSED to have you amongst us!

The AAPI community is an INTEGRAL, INDISPENSABLE part of our AMERICAN MOSAIC!!

While largely symbolic, Diversity United pledges to continue to RAISE our VOICE and support the AAPI community in any way you deem appropriate! We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community and ALL well-intentioned Americans. All “Like-minded, Right-minded” FELLOW AMERICANS who are COMMITTED to supporting our shared democratic ideals and institutions in their communities throughout the United States of America are invited to JOIN US! DIVERSITY UNITED Co-Founders: Pres. Mildred Crump, City of Newark; Pastor Steffie Bartley, NAN; Rabbi Capers Funnye, Hebrew Israelites; Eric Freedman, Ahavas Sholom. www.thepositivecommunity.com

Rev. Dr. Steffie Bartley, Sr.

· Senior Pastor of the New Hope Memorial Baptist Church, Elizabeth, NJ · National Action Network’s North Eastern Regional Director · Founder of the NAN Tech World, Newark, NJ · Worked on several Administrative Advisory Committees regarding body cameras · Works closely with the State Troopers · Worked with several Attorney Generals · Served on the Transition Team for the Governor · Served on the Advisory Committee against police officers using excessive force · Chaplain for Newark, NJ Police Department · Works with multiple police departments and prosecutors · Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy as a member of the Task Force for the Continued Transformation of Youth Justice.

M

ildred C. Crump was sworn in as Newark’s first African-American Councilwom-

an in the 336 year history of this city, on July 1, 1994. She brought a much needed perspective to that governing body. A longtime community activist, she has been a consummate and consistent advocate for women, children, senior citizens, the disabled, working families and those in need. On July 1, 2006, she was again sworn in as Councilwoman at-Large. She created history once again when she was elected as the first female president of the Newark Municipal Council.

E

ric P. Freedman is the long time President of Congregation Ahavas Sholom, Newark’s last remaining synagogue born of the great Jewish immigration of the early 20th century. He is proprietor and president of Elegant Stucco & Stone Co., and Green Tech Solutions, LLC, Roselle, NJ. He is a member of the charter class of LEADERSHIP NEWARK, a fellowship program that aims to create a new generation of community leaders in Newark. Eric is the co-founder of The Jewish Museum of New Jersey. Eric has served as an active board member of two Newark based non-profit organizations, The Newark Literacy Campaign and F.O.C.U.S. Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc., as well as the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Essex County. Formerly, a board member and volunteer of Hudson County Special Olympics; and volunteer at Tomorrows Children’s Institute, Hackensack Hospital. Eric holds his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Rutgers School of Management, Newark, NJ and his B.A. from Drew University, Madison, NJ.

R

abbi Capers Funnye was born in South Carolina and raised on the South Side of Chicago. His paternal relatives are Gullahs from the barrier islands off Charleston,SC, a community that has retained many of its original African customs and much of its ancestral language. His mother was the sister of Michelle Obama’s grandfather. Rabbi Funnye has served as a consultant to The Du Sable Museum of African American History, The Chicago Historical Society, and The Spertus Museum of Judaica in Chicago; The Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, the Institute of Jewish and Community Research in San Francisco, and the Afro-American Museum in Los Angeles.

He has appeared on national and local television and radio programs and has lectured throughout the United States. Rabbi Funnye is vice president of the Israelite Board of Rabbis and serves on the Chicago Board of Rabbis, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and board of Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hebrew literature from the Israelite Board of Rabbis, Inc.; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jewish studies; and a Master of Science degree in human service administration from Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. He was ordained by the Israelite Board of Rabbis.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

15

Mayoral Candidate

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams

Mayoral Candidate

Mayoral Candidate

Ray McGuire, former Wall St. Executive

Maya Wiley, lawyer, professor, and civil rights activist Photos by Raymond Hagans

AACEO President Rev. Dr. Robert M. Waterman, senior pastor, Antioch B.C.,

Pastor Allen Hand Trinity Community Missionary B.C. and Rev. Karl A. Delk, Greater Rugged Cross B.C., Brooklyn. NY

Brooklyn CongressmanHakeem Jeffries, AACEO vice chairman

African American Clergy, Elected Officials 2021 Mayoral Forum

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n April 9, three mayoral candidates spoke at the African American Clergy Elected Officials (AACEO) Mayoral Forum at Antioch Baptist Church AACEO President Rev. Dr. Robert Waterman and the AACEO hosted its first Black Mayoral Candidates Forum, with mayoral candidates Maya Wiley, Eric Adams, and Ray McGuire.

The impactful, informational forum allowed AACEO members and the community at large to receive firsthand information specifically from the Black candidates running for Mayor of New York City. The Forum was moderated by AACEO Vice President Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who has been a long-time participant in the important work of the AACEO. We are truly honored by his ongoing participation in community development along with clergy and 16 The Positive Community Spring 2021

Photos: Raymond Hagans

other leadership to help address issues impacting our community. The remarks by Congressman Jeffries and AACEO Chief of Operations Dee Bailey on Black empowerment and leadership were well received by all in attendance.

Special remarks were given by NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison, who addressed the increase in gun violence within our communities and the vow to work with community leaders—specifically the clergy—to get guns off of our streets. A Q&A also took place addressing issues of housing, education, health, and MWBE businesses.

The AACEO was founded over 30 years ago by a group of African American clergy and elected officials to serve, strengthen, and empower Brooklyn parishioners and constituents through advocacy and participation where social and economic injustice exist. This leaderwww.thepositivecommunity.com

AACEO AACEOPresident PresidentRev. Rev.Dr. Dr.Robert RobertM. M.Waterman, Waterman,senior seniorpastor, pastor,Antioch AntiochB.C. B.C.closes closesthe theforum forumwith withaaprayer. prayer.

ship ship coalition coalition continues continues to to play play aa significant significant role role in in the the election election of of some some of of our our city’s city’s most most important important officials, officials, including including the the late late HonorHonorable able Mayor Mayor David David N. N. Dinkins.

Dinkins. Our Our membermembership ship must must continue continue to to receive receive the the necessary necessary

information information needed needed to to make make enlightened enlightened dedecisions cisions in in their their communities. communities. We We are are honored honored to to be be aa part part of of this this historic historic legacy. legacy. We We are are enencouraged couraged by by the the possibility possibility of of another another AfriAfrican can American American Mayor Mayor of of the the City City of of New New York.

York.

COuRtEsy: COuRtEsy: AACEO AACEO

Driving isn’t easy, but saving a life is.

Slow down. www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

17

Education the art + science of learning

UFT Scores Big with Virtual Fundraiser

BY AUSTIN FENNER

Over $300K raised to help Needy New Yorkers

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ike so many New Yorkers, Michael Mulgrew felt a crushing concern for the multitudes of fellow citizens undergoing the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As president of the United Federation of Teachers, Mulgrew understood the day-to-day impact of the pandemic on families. Contending with the deaths of loved ones, severe illness, remote learning, unemployment, and underemployment leading to lack of food and other basic needs has become a new way of living during this global health crisis.

On his travels throughout the city visiting schools, Mulgrew saw the lines outside food pantries growing longer and longer. He knew he had to do something and he knew just who to call to get something done, his trusted, true, and tremendously able Chief of Staff Anthony Harmon. The Sunday morning call went something like this: Muldrew: “We need an action plan.”

Harmon: “When do you need it?”

Muldrew: “Monday.”

Harmon: “No problem.”

Anthony Harmon at Beulah Church in Brooklyn

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

Once Mulgrew tossed the project into his hands, the selfeffacing Harmon put his heart and soul into the project.

In no time, the action plan mushroomed into an exciting four-hour online We Feed NYC virtual event with the goal of raising $250,000. Students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and more loaned their varied talents in what turned out to be an enjoyable event. Kids from 22 New York City schools from elementary to high school took part. President Mulgrew opened the program with stirring remarks.

Harmon took on the job of hosting the show and enlisted the help of the legendary WBLS Radio Host Dr. Bob Lee to co-host the event with him.

The campaign exceeded all expectations as teachers, parents, students, community activists, and everyday New Yorkers rose to the occasion donating funds to feed others and give unemployed restaurant workers a job, at least temporarily. Much of the funding came in small amounts and bolstered by corporate donors the most recent count reached over $300.000, with every dollar going to support people in need.

“We had 1,000 meals prepared for each borough for four weeks,” said Harmon. “They made $6 dollar meals and we had them delivered to churches and food pantries.”

Among the participating churches and community groups were First Corinthians Baptist Church in Harlem, Beulah Church in Bedford Stuyvesant, Project Hospitality in Staten Island, North Bronx Islamic Center, and The Agape Church of God in Queens. “We gave these institutions money to keep the doors open,” explained Harmon.

“They were so appreciative of us giving them a check. This is what it’s all about. We were in a position to help.”

Even during the dark hours of the pandemic and social distancing, students were able to showcase their talents and contribute to a good cause. “ It showed how resilient they are, how strong our kids are,” said Harmon.

“They are succeeding against all odds.”

Although he keeps busy with his many duties at UFT, Harmon serves in many other organizations including the New York branch of the NAACP, where he is president. “I’m a proud union member,” remarked Harmon. ”I share in the values of the union movement.” www.thepositivecommunity.com

UNITED FEDERATION

OF

TEACHERS

New York City Public Schools are among the safest places in our city.

Come back !

United Federation of Teachers • A Union of Professionals 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 212.777.7500 www.uft.org Michael MulgrewPresident

Draw the Circle Wide

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hese are unprecedented times. In many ways, this country is in turmoil as we try to self-correct from the actions and inactions of the previous administration.

Last year George Floyd was murdered, very recently Daunte Wright was fatally shot during a traffic stop, and throughout this pandemic we have witnessed rising assaults on AAPI communities—all examples of injustice.

Drew Theological School is an engaged community of scholars, ministers and activists that has prepared rooted, courageous and innovative leaders for over 150 years. In times like this we need leaders committed to justice.

The next generation of faith leaders needs imaginations and courage to constructively engage the challenges and opportunities of this age. This is built into how we do things. No matter your degree program, a Drew Theological School education includes interdisciplinary training that addresses real-world issues and modes of learning that promote adaptability and innovation.

Drew’s faculty are adventurous scholars and engaging teachers. They are leaders in theology, biblical studies, preaching and worship, and social ethics. They don’t settle for easy answers or empty pieties. Drew’s alums say working with their faculty mentors was among the most valuable experiences of their Drew education.

At Drew, we firmly believe that real-world experiences— where you apply, test, challenge and assess what you learn in the classroom—are essential to a modern and relevant theological education. You’ll do all that through ministry placements, internships, cross-cultural courses around the world, and in virtual classrooms and community engagement.

If you're ready to commit to courageous Christianity, to be a champion for ecological and social justice and to change your world, you’ll find a home at Drew. God has called you. The world needs you.

Drew wants you. Join us.

Apply or Visit Today Ready to take the next step? We invite you to check out our extensive programs and degree offerings. Meet with an admissions counselor, take a tour of our campus, take a class—see what we’re about. Drew is proud to announce that all master degree programs commencing in fall 2021 will be offered in-person or online.

For more information on our various degree programs and what the Drew community offers you, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 973.408.3111 or visit https://www.drew.edu/academics/graduate-studies/

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www.thepositivecommunity.com

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY. Our circle is wide. Our engagement is deep. And diversity is not a slogan—it’s our reality. Students, faculty and staff pray, learn, sing and travel together. We disagree, misunderstand and struggle— together. Our community reflects the diversity, and the challenges and rewards that go with it, of the real world.

Commit to courageous Christianity.

Dive into ecological and social justice.

Inspire the church, the neighborhood, the city, the world.

ARE YOU? A Believer An Activist A Seeker A Thinker A Counselor A Preacher A Teacher A Poet A Dreamer

Learn more or apply online to one of our six specialized degree programs.

All master degree programs can be completed in residence or fully online.

Drew University | Madison, NJ | 973.408.3111 gradm@drew.edu | drew.edu/theo

Rooted.

Innovative.

Courageous.

Touro College’s NYSCAS: It’s All About YOU

A School With A Fully Customizable College Experience

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pplying for college can be overwhelming. There are endless questions: Am I making the right decision? Is this the right time? How do I select the school that best suits my needs? Can I afford the tuition?

With the right guidance, however, the admissions process can go smoothly. Touro College’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) has an efficient and responsive admissions process.

An undergraduate college, NYSCAS boasts campuses across the NYC metropolitan area. Offering degrees in multiple subjects and a small average class size, this school is the right fit for anyone looking for a custom-made college experience. Working full-time job, have a family? We believe you can pursue your education without compromising any of your responsibilities.

An Academic Experience with a Personal Touch “I have worked at NYSCAS for ten years and I’ve gotten to guide each student I’ve interacted with on a personal level, seeing them thrive and fulfilling their goals,” says Belkis Moquete-Defex, assistant director of Recruiting.

Belkis understands students’ needs on a deeply personal level. Just a decade ago she was a NYSCAS student.

“While I was a student, I enrolled in

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the Federal Work Study Program, and worked at the registrar’s office,” she explains. “It’s no surprise that I’m so invested in the school and the success of our students.”

“I remember one story in particular,” she recalls. “A student re-enrolled after taking a two-year hiatus due to personal issues. She said she wanted to go back to school and reclaim her life, but was concerned about succeeding while maintaining the responsibilities of a single parent of two.”

Belkis explained the free tutoring available to all NYSCAS students. “I told her that if she ever had any questions or concerns, the door to my office would always be open.

“Now, two semesters away from graduating, she is excited. It’s a priceless feeling for me to see her pursue her academic goals, and know that I was able to guide her through this process.”

A Custom-Made College Experience “NYSCAS is truly unique and different from other colleges in New York City. A majority of our students receive financial aid each year,” Belkis says. “We offer free tutoring in virtually all subjects. Our academic counselors are always there to help students pick the right major and the right classes.”

NYSCAS proudly serves students of all ages from different walks of life. Many

students enroll in college straight out of high school. Others, driven by the desire to pursue a career decide to pursue a college degree later in life. NYSCAS provides students the ability to personalize college schedules according to responsibilities, such as work and family life. Depending on your schedule, you will be able to enroll in daytime, evening, or Sunday classes currently offered in-person or online, via Zoom or at your convenience.

NYSCAS offers degrees in business, information technology, digital multimedia design, education, human services, social sciences, psychology, biology, nursing, medical imaging, paralegal studies, and more. All degrees are career-oriented and follow a curriculum focused on the professional knowledge necessary in the workplace.

Get to Know Us College can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences of your life. Visit our website https://nyscas.touro.edu/ or call us at 888-334-7992 to schedule a call with one of our admissions counselors, so that you can apply right away. We’re now accepting applications for the Summer 2021 term and the Fall 2021 semester.

Touro is an equal opportunity institution. For Touro’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please visit www.touro.edu www.thepositivecommunity.com

DO MORE FOR YOURSELF THIS YEAR. Between everything you do for everyone else, make this the year you do more for you. Let’s work together on a plan that gets you closer to your ideal career.

Wide variety of associate and bachelor’s degree programs Multiple locations throughout the metro area More flexibility through convenient class times Personalized one-on-one advising

JOIN US! Visit NYSCAS.Touro.edu 212.463.0400 x55500 Touro is an equal opportunity institution. For Touro’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, visit www.touro.edu

Gov. Murphy, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, and NJIT President Joel Bloom

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Hundreds wait in line for vaccination at NJIT Photos by Raymond Hagans

New Jersey’s Largest Coronavirus Vaccine Site Opens In Newark

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“game changer” in New Jersey’s fight against the coronavirus has officially opened its doors in Newark.

On March 31, Gov. Phil Murphy and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka were among those present for the launch of the “largest mass COVID-19 vaccination site” in the state, located on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) at 56 Lock Street.

The site has the capacity to give up to 6,000 doses per day, seven days per week. It is open Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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NJIT administrators said it’s still unknown how long the center will be operational, but they expect that it will run for “at least two to three months.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered for the first six weeks, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be given for the remaining two weeks, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Vaccines will be provided directly from the federal government, above and beyond the state’s regular allocations, officials said. — TPC Staff www.thepositivecommunity.com

HAVE FAITH IN LEADERSHIP Get a Masters in Organizational Leadership that’s grounded in faith. 95% of our students get financial aid, so apply now and become a leader with a higher calling.

E N R O L L N OW AT N YAC K . E D U

Essex County College Gets Bloomberg Terminals New Business Technology Now available for Students and Faculty

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he Bloomberg Terminal is a modern icon of financial markets and used by more than 325,000 of the world’s most influential decision makers. Now, Essex County College has full access to the same real-time financial market data as do the top business and financial industry experts.

Through the Federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), ECC recently received the funding required to add two Bloomberg Terminal software packages in the College’s Faculty Technology Resource Center.

The Bloomberg Terminal software is available to faculty in the Division of Business and students enrolled in the division’s eligible CTE programs. Essex is one of four New Jersey community colleges to have Bloomberg Terminal access on campus.

Entrepreneur, Mchael R. Bloomberg, who later became mayor of New York City serving three terms founded Bloomberg LP in 1981. The Bloomberg Terminal software provides real-time and historical data, market moving news, and analytics to help leading business and financial professionals worldwide make more informed investment decisions. The solution also trading functionality for every asset

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class, research and a global network to communicate securely and reliably.

“Having Bloomberg Terminal software on campus is a major selling point for our College,” said Professor Germaine Albuquerque, acting chair of the Division of Business. “The who’s who of the financial world use it and that’s very significant for our college.”

Required by the college to use the system,, Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certification takes 10 to 15 hours. Essex County College’s Bloomberg Terminal subscriptions will enable students to become familiar with tools used in financial services, and reinforce classroom theory, while faculty can use it to further their own research.

According to Chair Albuquerque, securing Bloomberg Terminal subscriptions has been in the works for several years. “It’s really the brainchild of Professor Alexandre. Then Professor Raquel Pernia, coordinator of the college’s Accounting program, was instrumental in putting the proposal together last year for grant submission. This was a true team effort,” added Chair Albuquerque. “The software is ideal across the business spectrum, including Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management and Marketing.

“I applaud the hard work of everyone in the Business Division in securing Bloomberg Terminals. Students will see how the certification and the many applications available to them provide huge career boosts,” said ECC President Dr. Augustine Boakye ECC student Tonhon Haba, a Business Administration major, has already started on her BMC certification. “I will be using the data for my school work and in my career. There’s just so much information available now,” she said.

Tonhon, a Newark resident, is interested in a finance career and believes being BMC certified means she can enhance her resume.

Fellow student Mina Michael, a Business Administration major from Bayonne, said he likes the real-time data he has at his fingertips. “This is something that has always interested me and being BMC certified will definitely help me going forward into the business world.”

“The next five months will be a good learning curve for us as we look to expand the availability of the program,” said Chair Albuquerque. Looking to expand ECC’s Bloomberg Terminals soon, Professor Alexandre said, “I would like all our Business students to become certified on the Bloomberg Terminal.” www.thepositivecommunity.com

How a School System Led Through Love

Jacobi Clifton, a principal at Uncommon Schools, prepares to greet students as they make their return to in-person learning..

During pandemic times, schools become more than just schools — they can become one of the most important places a child can feel heard and loved as they try to make sense of a world turned upside down.

Educators at Uncommon Schools quickly realized this need when all public schools shut down in March of 2020, and so they set out to create online and hybrid classrooms that reached out and connected with kids and families, while also continuing the learning.

“We spent a considerable amount of time thinking through what is the right virtual environment for our students because the connections we build are even more important at this time,” said Juliana Worrell, Chief Schools Officer, K-8, of Uncommon Schools, a network of 55 public schools in Newark and Camden, N.J., Brooklyn, Rochester and Troy, N.Y., and Boston, Mass.

“Our success is that our students still feel seen and heard and that we’re taking into account the whole child as well as their families,” she said.

That meant creating schools that students want to show up to every 28 The Positive Community Spring 2021

day — whether in person or online. Daily attendance is in the 80s and 90s percent, compared with attendance in the 90s during nonCovid times. That also meant making sure that students had the resources that they needed to be able to learn effectively from home.

Teachers and staff scrambled to get Chromebooks, devices and hot spots to every single student.

Open-source lessons In the spring of 2020, Uncommon’s remote learning platform was made open source so that schools and families across the country, and around the globe, could access lessons from Uncommon’s most experienced and skillful teachers.

This school year, all of Uncommon’s schools opened in the fall in a “hybrid” model, with about half of the students choosing to come into school for instruction. Uncommon opened even in cities where the local district had not yet opened.

Teachers and staff still continue to make thousands of calls weekly to check in with families — to see where Uncommon can help beyond school. Many families have been hard-hit by the pandemic,

whether medically or financially, and not much can be accomplished when families are focused on just surviving and staying safe.

Worrell said Uncommon Schools wanted families to know that the school is there for them and has done a lot of work to connect families with the resources they might need within their local communities.

Priortizing special education Uncommon Schools also prioritized special education students.

At its schools, special education students or struggling students came to school four days a week, rather than two as other students.

During remote learning days, Uncommon developed its program around the challenges of being on a computer for several hours — ensuring that every minute is impactful and engaging and fun.

Educators there scoured the country for the best technological platforms that allow teachers to watch student work in the moment even when they are in two locations.

Meanwhile, knowing that growing students, especially teenagers, need the connections with their peers, Uncommon continued to provide high school students with enrichment classes, where they were able to virtually cook together, do yoga, compete in spoken word contests and produce music.

Despite the challenges of remote and hybrid learning, Uncommon graduating high school seniors are still enrolling in top colleges for the fall of 2021, many with full scholarships.

Uncommon Schools student in Brooklyn returns to the classroom. www.thepositivecommunity.com

NEW YORK CITY

ENROLL YOUR CHILD TODAY!

We are free charter schools in Brooklyn.

English Language Learners (ELL) and students requiring special services are encouraged to apply.

UNCOMMONSCHOOLS.ORG/ENROLLNYC (718) 363-5024

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• Logistics and distribution • Market and manufacturing • Trend analysis • Legal practices & more Supply Chain Management Occupations: Logisticians, Industrial, Production Managers, Purchasing Managers, Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers, and more.

Learn more @ pillar.edu/degrees Project Management • Use of project management tools • Risk assessment skills • Critical and systems-based thinking • Understanding the core Project Management philosophies & more Project Managment Occupations: General and Operations Managers, Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialist, Personal Service Managers, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, and more.

Visit us at pillar.edu For more information, call 973-803-5000

Campus Locations: Newark, Somerset, Paterson, Plainfield and Jersey City

Pil l a r

C O L L E G E Truth in Education

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Pillar College COO Rupert A. Hayles, Jr. Earns his Ph.D. The focus of the Ph.D. was in the realm of organizational leadership, or organization behavior

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n February 3, 2021, Pillar College Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rupert A. Hayles, Jr. successfully defended his dissertation, The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Christian Virtues in Organizational Leadership, to receive his Ph.D. from Regent University.

“The focus of my Ph.D. was in the realm of organizational leadership, or organization behavior. My specific dissertation addressed the linkage between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Christian virtues (Fruit of the Spirit) as it relates to leaders in all realm of organization,” said Dr. Hayles. “Based on the results of this study, there was a statistically significant relationship between EI and virtue. Relationship with God, which consists of love, joy, and peace, was the strongest predictor of EI (self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal, and stress management), with the exception of one (decision-making). This study serves as a foundation with significant implications for further research in identifying other relational factors that could espouse causality and that are descriptive, predictive, or explanatory in relation to leaders’ growth.”

Hayles began his tenure at Pillar College two years ago. In this position, he is responsible for accurately administering the organizational, operational, strategic, and financial concerns of Pillar College for assuring organizational effectiveness, budget compliance, and financial stability. “All of us who work with Rupert Hayles are so pleased that he has received his doctorate. None of us are surprised,” expressed Dr. David E. Schroeder, president of Pillar College. With more than twenty years experience in leadership and management capacity, Hayles has worked for Cytec Industries, Prudential www.thepositivecommunity.com

Financial, and Merck Pharmaceutical. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Seton Hall University and a MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“Over 14 years ago, God put something on my heart to investigate and I have been on a journey since,” said Dr. Hayles. “The culmination of this journey is the completion of study and the delivery of this quantitative study.

The study can help all organizational leaders impart virtue development as part of leadership growth through EI. In the non-profit realm the knowledge can be used to advance new avenues in the discipleship process.”

In addition to his roles in corporate America, Hayles was previously executive pastor at The Life Christian Church in West Orange, NJ, a 3,500-member church where he was responsible for functional, ministerial, and operational effectiveness through conscious strategic planning and financial controls. Prior to that, he was the COO at Christ Church, an 8,000-member organization in both Montclair and Rockaway, New Jersey.

Hayles is also the chairman of Organization and People Dynamics, a holding company for two key organizations, The Center for Emotional Development and The Center for Emotional and Spiritual Development (consultancies dedicated to serving for-profit and non-profit industries). He is the author of The Church and Emotional Intelligence and Practical Strategy: Aligning Business and Information Technology.

Hayles previously served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, where he trained as a pilot in T-37 aircraft in the area of flight physiology, meteorology, and aircraft systems. He continues to hold a FAA Private Pilot License and has done so since 1987.

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PSEG Foundation Announces

$1 MILLION IN GRANTS to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

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he PSEG Foundation has announced $1 million in grant funding to three historically Black colleges and universities: Hampton University, Howard University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. This funding will provide qualifying students an opportunity to attend such prestigious universities and pursue their studies in STEM education.

Through these grants, the PSEG Foundation hopes to help diversify the STEM workforce by providing underrepresented students access to STEM education and generating a pipeline of competitive and capable talent for the future workforce, as well as the next generation of scientific and policy leaders in environmental science, sustainability and social justice.

“HBCUs have a long history of offering an exceptional educational experience while enriching the lives of Black students and families and providing the resources that empower students to succeed in various

STEM careers,” said Calvin Ledford Jr., president of the PSEG Foundation. “At PSEG, we have dozens of employees and their families that have attended HBCUs, including many alumni of Hampton University and Howard University. This support is exemplary of our vision to build equitable and prosperous communities, amplifying the direction we have been heading by providing support to organizations including the United Negro College Fund and Thurgood Marshall College Fund, just to name a few.”

Hampton University will use its grant for the PSEG STEM Scholars Program, designed to support promising high school seniors and undergraduate freshmen from underserved and minority populations in New Jersey who are studying STEM fields. Hampton’s comprehensive STEM programs have positioned the university as a leader, with more than 20% of students studying in one of several science programs. Through the PSEG STEM Scholars Program, students are eligible to receive one

of five two-year scholarships for New Jersey students, covering tuition, room and board.

Howard University will use its grant to offer scholarships to undergraduate Environmental Studies majors, specifically those from communities previously underrepresented in environmental science and clean energy research, yet overrepresented in areas that battle the highest levels of environmental pollution. The PSEG Scholars Program will provide scholarships for as many as six Howard University undergraduates who demonstrate financial need.

North Carolina A&T will use its grant for the Powered by PSEG Scholarship Program, which will educate a diverse and competitive talent pool, with high priority given to residents of New Jersey enrolled in the College of Engineering, College of Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences or the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics.

The PSEG Foundation has a longstanding history of support for programs that empower diverse and inclusive communities with a focus on addressing inequities. Further support to underserved and underrepresented communities includes: UNCF: The PSEG Foundation provided the organization with a grant for four-year scholarships for nine students, as well as support for the Emergency Student Aid program. The foundation has funded the scholarship program for more than 20 years.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund: The PSEG Foundation has provided sponsorship support to this organization for more than 20 years.

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www.thepositivecommunity.com

Money

buiness, finance + work

New Jersey is Ground Zero: Black Education Leaders Take Aim the art + science of learning at an Unlikely Adversary Courtesy of The New Jersey Black Economic Justice Coalition

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ew Jersey, a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one, has suddenly become a battleground state in the minds of local and national social justice and Black business leaders.

Democratic leaders such as State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and former New Jersey Black Caucus Leader Ronald Rice have responded with commitments to sponsor legislation to bring about government accountability and economic parity.

New Jersey is Ground Zero for Economic Injustice

In four virtual town hall meetings organized by Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, pastor of the iconic Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark; and Jacob Walthour, CEO of Newark’s Blueprint Capital Advisors, some of the nation’s most powerful business, media, and social justice leaders, including National Urban League President Marc Morial, Rev. Al Sharpton of National Action Network, Radio Host/Social Justice Leader Jennifer Jones Austin, Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host Roland Martin, Money Manager John Rogers and billionaire Robert Smith, CEO of Vista Equity Partners have voiced support for the effort to create sustainable Black communities, and in addition, sent messages to the democratic establishment. They believe the Black vote must not be given away cheaply to the governor or any other elected official in New Jersey.

“It is imperative we use this moment in time where there is an awareness. We can change this dynamic. We can change the wealth dynamic in our community and the time is now,” said Smith.

An Unlikely Adversary

These leaders are not fighting their traditional adversary, the Republican Party, and its orbit of conservative minded party leaders like Senator Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The administration of Governor Phil Murphy has been under attack from local civil rights groups and clergy on a number of issues including school segregation, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, marijuana decriminalization, and the administration’s refusal to release data detailing how much business it does with Black businesses. They feel the governor made promises during his campaign, but has betrayed the very community that elected him to office in 2017 when he received 94% of the Black vote. www.thepositivecommunity.com

Silence among Murphy and Democrats

According to Walthour, the Murphy Administration has not offered any support for the town halls or developed a plan for Black communities like Newark, where over one-third of the population lives in poverty. A number of Black elected officials, community, and business leaders have declined to participate in the town halls, which over 50,000 consumers on Facebook, YouTube, and other streaming platforms have seen.

“The unwillingness of some leaders to join us and their silence on these important economic issues can only be attributed to their fear of retribution from Murphy and the prioritization of their own self-interests over that of their constituencies,” said Walthour.

He knows firsthand the power of the Murphy administration’s threats and their willingness to deliver on them.

His firm has filed a federal lawsuit in New Jersey against Governor Murphy, Division of Investment Director Corey Amon, Chief of Staff George Helmy, and others who he alleges have discriminated against his firm and others

The administration of Governor Phil Murphy has been under attack from local civil rights groups and clergy on a number of issues including school segregation, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, marijuana decriminalization, and the administration’s refusal to release data detailing how much business it does with black businesses. cont’d on next page Spring 2021 The Positive Community

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BLACK LEADERS TAKE AIM cont’d from previous page

owned by Blacks and women.

When he complained about the unlawful treatment, the state defendants retaliated by refusing to honor his contract and directly reaching out to his clients in order to interfere in those relationships.

Both Senators Rice and Sweeney have been vocal about the need for the MurJacob Walthour phy administration to address the Blueprint legal matter, which is now becoming a central issue in the 2021 election. Murphy has denied any wrongdoing, but attorneys representing the state have refused to turn over emails and other documents Walthour says will prove his firm’s allegations.

“Phil Murphy and his staff think they can treat Black people any way they want. We are placing our faith in the court system to do the right things like releasing the public documents because he won’t,” exclaimed Walthour.

“If his staff is telling the truth then he should not fear producing public documents,” he concluded.

Sharpton’s Sharp Warning

The National Action Network’s Rev. Al Sharpton kickedoff the latest meeting with a direct call for Black voters in New Jersey and elsewhere to make economic parity an election issue. “Not enough focus has been put on the fact that many of those who are running for office in New Jersey this year can promise charity but not parity,” said Sharpton. “We are giving our votes away too cheaply. You cannot have us elect you and then you do business in a

According to Jacob Walthour, CEO of Newark’s Blueprint Capital Advisors, the Murphy Administration has not offered any support for the town halls or developed a plan for Black communities like Newark, where over one-third of the population lives in poverty.

STREAMING NOW!

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www.thepositivecommunity.com

segregated way,” he said. “We should not deal with folks who are not in business with us. If you are not in business with us, then you have business with those that may be adversarial to our interests; you ought to go get your votes from them,” Sharpton concluded.

Jefferson, who also serves as New Jersey president of National Action Network and legal counsel to Blueprint, is spearheading the plan. He said, “We will draft a pledge to get every elected official to make a commitment to economic justice legislation before individuals vote for them.” Jefferson and Walthour have created the New Jersey Black Economic Justice Coalition, which will host events including additional town halls, debates, and rallies to educate and inspire Black communities to fight for their share of the economic pie in the state.

Access to Capital Is Access to Opportunity

While Sharpton focused on the political solution, the billionaire private equity investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith focused on the financial and technological needs of Black businesses who struggle to scale without access to capital from banks, pension funds, and other financial institutions. Smith also warned that the near future would require businesses to digitize, modernize, and use software in order to thrive in the “new economy.” According to Smith, over 70% of Black communities do not have a bank branch. He also discussed the US pension system including state, local, and federal monies, which has a total of $19 trillion in assets. Smith said despite the significant contributions by Black teachers and other public employees, Black asset professionals manage less than 1%.

“The access to capital is access to opportunity. It has been something our community has been starved of,” said Smith. ”If we don’t have access to the banks and the banking system to support the financial architecture and we don’t have access to managing capital to drive the returns of that capital into our infrastructure, we will continue to starve the infrastructure of our community.”

It’s Our Money

Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host Roland Martin has moderated two of the panels. He leveraged Smith’s comments and added, “For folks who are watching, that may

They (Black Leaders) feel the governor made promises during his campaign, but has betrayed the very community that elected him to office in 2017 when he received 94% of the Black vote. www.thepositivecommunity.com

have gone over their heads when you say $19 trillion in pension funds. If you know somebody who is a teacher or a firefighter, a police officer—they could be a secretary or an administrative assistant for the state or federal government— they all have pensions. It is estimated that 40% of people who are part of the pension system in New Jersey are African American,” Martin said. “And so what’s happening is we have white folks at every level managing, directing, and controlling those funds.”

Sharpton remarked, ”What effectively happens is white developers go to pension funds to borrow money to do their development. They take that money, go into the communities and do their development. So grandma’s pension is being used to gentrify grandma out of her own community.” Martin added, “And, so essentially, the work of Black people, everyday Black people, is funding all these things across the country and largely white people are benefiting and becoming billionaires and millionaires.

Institutional Barriers Must Be Addressed

Racial and Social Justice Advocate, Radio Host, Chair of the New York City Racial Justice Commission, and daughter of legendary pastor and civil rights leader William Augustus Jones, Jennifer Jones Austin brought attention to the public policies, laws, and methods that government agencies use to systematically exclude Black businesses from winning government contracts. “We need to break down the structural and institutional barriers,” said Austin. “If you get it into the laws, it becomes the way things have to be done. Fifty to sixty percent of our households have women as primary breadwinners who have depressed wages. Our children are growing up in poverty and we don’t have enough to make ends meet.

They can’t even think about raising the capital to take advantage of some of these wealth-building opportunities.

John Rogers, the nation’s longest standing Black asset manager, said that institutions must consider Black law firms and accounting firms and stop considering Black people only qualified for janitorial, construction, and catering contracts. He believes the focus of the economic justice movement has to extend beyond government and must target hospitals, universities, and museums that receive federal funds to make sure those institutions have contracts with Black businesses “We have to get these institutions to do the right thing,” said Rogers. “We need to get those contracts. The fight for Black business and economic survival is now. I’d say it’s a modern-day Jim Crow. Black and Brown people get to do catering and construction, which are important, while the White guys get all of the other opportunities in private equity and hedge funds and technology to become billionaires.”

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BY RANDAL PINKETT, PH.D., MBA; CO-FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, BCT PARTNERS; AND JEFFREY A. ROBINSON, PH.D.; ACADEMIC DIRECTOR, THE CENTER FOR URBAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL

Why Black Entrepreneurship MATTERS

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ver since we co-founded our first company while undergraduates at Rutgers University, entrepreneurship has been at the center of our community building strategies. Entrepreneurship is about creating value in the world. In our forthcoming book, Black Faces in High Places: 10 Strategic Actions to Reach the Top and Stay There, we explain why we are such big proponents of Black entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurs can make a difference in our neighborhoods, communities, and regions by building businesses that create jobs and invest in the organizations and institutions. In fact, in a research study by Karen Parker of University of Delaware that appeared in Urban Affairs Review, a rise in Black business ownership in urban neighborhoods during the 1990s into the 2000s led to a decrease in youth violence in those same neighborhoods. And it wasn’t coincidence. After controlling for other possible variables (poverty, unemployment, etc.), Dr. Parker found that as the number of Black businesses rose in these neighborhoods, Black youth violence decreased. Why? Dr. Parker speculates Black businesses bring three things to a community: role models, reshaping, and resources. Black entrepreneurs become role models for young people who are trying to figure out what they want to do. Black entrepreneurs cause all residents, but especially youth, to reshape their perceptions of their community. Black entrepreneurs bring resources to the community that strengthen it.

We believe this entrepreneurial mindset is the key to the Black community’s future economic development.

Entrepreneurs are the major wealth creators in America but unfortunately less than 5% of the Black population is self-employed or engaged in founding and running registered businesses. Furthermore, the entrepreneurs who are making money in Black communities are too often not Black. Paradoxically, the wealth that is created from Black communities doesn’t stay in Black communities and therefore Black people do not reap the benefits of the kind of entrepreneurship that also invests in the local community.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

We see three strategies to increase the effectiveness of entrepreneurship as an economic development tool for the Black community: 1. We must recognize the importance of entrepreneurship as the most important vehicle of economic development in the Black community.

In a study conducted by the Kauffman Foundation, it was noted that Black Americans, and in particular Black males, were the most likely to say they wanted to open their own business. Unfortunately, the statistics also tell us that Blacks are the least likely to actually open business. There may be several explanations for this paradox, but it points towards the untapped potential for entrepreneurial activity in our community. In fact, based on a study conducted by the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency, if we raised the participation rate of Black and other minority entrepreneurs to a level that is even with our percentage of the U.S. population we would not only create more wealth in the community, but we

Black entrepreneurs cause all residents, but especially youth, to reshape their perceptions of their community.

Black entrepreneurs bring resources to the community that strengthen it. www.thepositivecommunity.com

would wipe out the unemployment problem in minority communities. When we ran the same models specifically on Black entrepreneurship in New Jersey, we found that by doubling the number of Blackowned businesses we would create an additional 56,000 jobs in the state. These findings should make building entrepreneurs and supporting entrepreneurship a priority in our community.

2. We must shift the mindset from being small business owners to being executives of business enterprises.

We meet many “solopreneurs” who are running small businesses without any business partners and we know that their potential is limited. In order to truly transform our neighborhoods into thriving communities, we need to build more “business enterprises.” A business enterprise is an entity that builds wealth that can be passed on to future generations or simultaneously creates community wealth through job creation and other social impacts. In fact, the most impactful entrepreneurship occurs when teams of entrepreneurial individuals join together to create enterprises that leverage the five “Ms” – money, marketing, management, mentors, and mergers/acquisitions/strategic partnerships – to create wealth. In our book, we discuss examples of successful Black entrepreneurs who have used these five “Ms” to become incredibly successful.

3. We must use double- and triple-bottom line thinking to make economic progress, social impact, and address issues of environmental justice and degradation. To use this kind of logic in your business endeavors means achieving financial goals and social and/or environmental goals simultaneously. These “social entrepreneurs” blur the lines between making a profit and making a difference by combining them into a holistic agenda. Just as entrepreneurs change the face of industry by focusing on the “bottom line” of making a profit, social entrepreneurs change the face of society by focusing on the “doublebottom line” of making a profit and making a difference; building organizations and building communities; doing good business and goodwill; and implementing solid business practices and socially responsible behavior (and environmentally-friendly practices, which reflects a “triplebottom line”). In this age of “buying local” and building “sustainable” communities, this double- and triple-bottom line logic is a must for all, but especially for our Black businesses if we are ever going to make a significant impact on the social and economic problems we face as a community.

These examples underscore the need to support Black social entrepreneurs in every community. If we want to see significant economic improvement across our nation in the 21st century, we must increase the number of Black business enterprises, entrepreneurs, and social entrepreneurs in our communities. Black entrepreneurship matters!

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Spring 2021 The Positive Community

37

RobeRt F. Smith

Behind the

Billionaire A Man of Faith, Wisdom, and Generosity

By R.L. Witter “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”— Acts 20:35 NIV

R

aised in Northeast Denver in “a community that was filled with hard working folks from various walks of life,” Smith came by his generous spirit honestly. “My mother instilled in me the importance of giving,” he recalled. “And even though we did not have much growing up, she wrote a check every month to the United Negro College Fund.” That

act would inform Robert’s life in a way that would impact hundreds of other Black families in America.

Dr. William Robert Smith and Dr. Sylvia Myrna Smith were both teachers. While they weren’t financially rich, inside their home was a wealth of love, knowledge, culture, and faith. “My parents both embraced and challenged my brother and me, pushing us to think critically and realize our full potential, but always with a great deal of support and love,” Smith said.

“Among other things, my father taught me to love music—he played percussion and the piano — and when he was home the house was often filled with the sounds of records playing jazz, classical, opera, and all things in between. My mother instilled in me the importance of giving. Both were active in the community and I learned from them how family can extend far beyond the walls of the home.”

That family extended into a neighborhood comprised of “dentists, teachers, politicians, Pullman porters, contractors and pharmacists — all focused on serving the Black community and providing a safe and nurturing environment for the kids in our neighborhood,” Smith explained. “One of the things I’m most proud of … was how we all grew to become hardworking professionals ourselves — so many are now elected officials, doctors, lawyers, and business leaders.”

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”— Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

One member of the community may have unwittingly set the trajectory for young Robert Smith and his friends to aim for the stars. “There was a man in our community who knew about rocketry, and so he started an unofficial ‘rocket club.’ He would teach us about the inner workings of rockets and how to make them,” explained Smith.

“As it turns out, a significant proportion of the kids in that unofficial rocket club, including myself, went on to become engineers. It was an important formative experience for each of us, and it planted the seed of an idea for me of what I could go on to become.”

Smith watered that seed with his own mixture of dedication and tenacity. He applied for an internship for college students despite being in high school. He called

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

to plead his case every Friday for five months; when a college student didn’t show up, Smith took his spot. That seed bore fruit in the form of a degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University, then grew into a career at Kraft where Smith earned patents for designs in coffee brewing. His aspirations were greater than that and he recalled the support he received and the confidence instilled in him from his family and community. He decided business school would be his next accomplishment.

“I was inspired seeing magazine covers with Black business leaders like Ray McGuire, Reginald Lewis, and Stan O’Neal. At a Black Business Student Association event at Columbia Business School, I met John Utendahl, who was already an icon in the investment world,” Smith recalled. “He asked if I had considered investment bankcont’d on page 6 www.thepositivecommunity.com

Generosity is mentioned repeatedly in the Bible.

Several passages remind us to focus on the treasures that await us in Heaven, rather than the earthly ones so many of us covet. Billionaire Robert F. Smith’s generosity was put on full display around the world when as he delivered the commencement speech at Morehouse College, he announced he would payoff the student debt of the more than 400 members of the Class of 2019, “On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in my family in this country,” he began; “…My family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans.” The words did not appear in the teleprompter; they came from Smith’s heart.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

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3

BEHIND THE BILLIONAIRE cont’d from page 4

these maxims is ‘You are enough,’ by which I mean they are enough to bring about the change they want to see in the world. And that statement is important to remind your kids and anyone else you love because everyone needs to be reminded that what they have to bring to the world is enough to make a lasting impact on it.”

His second maxim draws from Smith’s love of problem solving. “Discover the joy of figuring things out. It is the engineer in me, and a lesson I really came to appreciate early in my career as an intern at Bell Labs. There’s so much we can do – individually and collectively – to make a difference and doing it with passion is ultimately fulfilling.” His third maxim is “simply that love is all that matters. It’s the answer to all problems and when we act with love in our hearts, there’s nothing we cannot overcome.”

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”— Luke 6:38 ESV

ing… With encouragement from John, and Ray McGuire, who took the time to advise me, I joined Goldman Sachs.

I became determined to join the ownership class and to found Vista Equity Partners. In the Black community, we don’t take on enough risk. This is so important. We need to honor the risks that our ancestors took—without risk, our rewards will be limited.”

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”

— Proverbs 19:17 NIV

Smith’s hard work, generosity, risk-taking, and faith have been rewarded handsomely. Among a population of 7.9 billion people on Earth, Smith is one of only 3,288 billionaires, one of 15 Black billionaires, and the only Black one who made his money in private equity. But despite the trappings of wealth and fame, Smith holds close the lessons of his youth and incorporated his parents’ words and methods into raising his own children. “The importance of giving back, of deriving strength from and contributing to one’s community, and of pushing yourself to realize your full potential are all lessons my parents instilled in me. And they are the foundation on which I have built the three key ‘maxims’ I have drilled into the hearts of my children,” he explained. “The first one of

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

Now in his fifties, Smith’s life is filled with both professional and personal accomplishments, which include his philanthropy and the legacy he is cultivating with and will leave behind for his children. “I’ve found the most rewarding philanthropic pursuits come from the time I devote,” Smith opined. “It meant a great deal to me to be able to give the young men of the Morehouse College Class of 2019 the freedom to pursue their dreams without the burden of student debt. But what has been even more meaningful has been the time that I get to spend every month, when the members of that graduating class and I gather on a Zoom call for an open and honest discussion about life and their responsibilities and what it means to be a good citizen in today’s world.” Smith makes a point to remind people generosity isn’t only about money, rather it’s also about time and purpose. “Your time can often be the most valuable thing you can give to someone else . . . Not everyone has the resources to make large financial contributions. But everyone can give their time.”

Having touched on the wealth of love, knowledge, and culture that has informed his life and career, Smith ended talking about his faith. “I try to implement values of doing well by doing good in my daily life, starting every morning by meditating and thinking about how I can fill my cup and what my purpose is. My faith is a central pillar that grounds me and motivates me to serve and lift others.” He continued, “I like to say that doing better in business is, of course, really good. And doing good in life is better. But doing both is best. So be thoughtful about being ‘best’ in all that you do and in all the organizations you take part in.”

Robert F. Smith: educated, accomplished, wealthy, committed to helping those less fortunate, particularly Black people, and guided by his faith. Godspeed, Mr. Smith. www.thepositivecommunity.com

Janet Cox’s Road from Aspiring Chef To Administrative Chief

A

s a whip-smart 16-year-old at SUNY/Stony Brook, Janet Cox never thought of a career at the Port Authority. Not long after earning an undergraduate degree in Social Work, Cox trained to be a chef, operating a small catering business before deciding to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Cox did not have “Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the Port Authority” on her bucket list of professional aspirations at that time. But after 35 years at the agency in key management positions, she’s become the right hand to Executive Director Rick Cotton.

“Coming to the agency as a social worker, this was not a career I could have ever imagined for myself. But the Port Authority afforded me many opportunities to learn and expand my career,” Cox said. “When I started here, there were no long-tenured Black women in front of me. However, I am fortunate because of a diverse group of influential colleagues who embraced and supported me throughout my career.”

Cox started her Port Authority journey in the Management Training Program -- predecessor of the current Leadership Fellows Program – and rotated through a variety of departments and positions, including a stint in the Executive Director’s Office. Prior to becoming chief of staff, she headed up the Management and Budget Office for five years. Her outstanding work on the 2021 Operating, Capital, and Debt Service budget was critical to the continuation of major capital construction projects and prioritizing the safety and security of agency facilities during the pandemic. www.thepositivecommunity.com

Her career launched in departments that would be unrecognizable to Port Authority entrants today. She held managerial positions in the now-defunct XPORT Trading Company and the World Trade Institute that were focused on international business opportunities. Once a year she traveled to Asia to see buyers, sometimes working out of the Port Authority’s Tokyo office. She was there when the office received its first fax machine.

Cox also helped establish important processes and projects to guide the Port Authority in achieving its mission. During her role in what is now the Technology Department, she led training for the agency’s first online payment system and employee portals. Later, as General Manager of Ferry Transportation, she oversaw construction of the Battery Park City Terminal and the rehabilitation of the historic Hoboken Ferry Terminal, post-9/11.

She credits communication and listening skills learned from her social work training with helping advance her Port Authority career. During a key meeting following Superstorm Sandy to discuss closure of the World Trade Center PATH tubes on the weekends, Cox was asked if ferries could supplement service to customers while the tunnels were undergoing repairs. She replied that they could and outlined how it could be facilitated.

She was responding to the needs of the traveling public; to her colleagues, she would later learn, she was being an effective leader and efficiently getting the job done.

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

41

Black Lives Matter: Black Lives Matter: F F F

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inally there is a conversation inally there is a of conversation about inequity opportunities inally there is conversation inally there is aa of conversation about inequity opportunities for African American owned about inequity of about inequity of opportunities opportunities for African American owned companies.

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Many at the top of Fortune 500 corporations are now saying companies.

Many top of companies.

Many at at the theare top of ForFortune 500 corporations now saying “yes” to requests for fairness.

Within tune 500 corporations are saying tune 500 corporations are now now saying “yes” to requests for fairness.

Within the corporate structure, theseWithin public “yes” to requests for fairness. “yes” to requests for fairness.

Within the corporate structure, these to public mandates should travel down those the corporate structure, these public the corporate structure, these to public mandates should travel down those who execute them to ensure the goals mandates should travel down to mandates should travel downthe to those those who execute them to ensure goals of diversity and inclusion are met. who execute them to ensure the who execute them to ensure the goals of diversity and inclusion arework met.goals As a community, we must of diversity and inclusion are met. of diversity and inclusion are met.

As a community, we must together better; we must findwork creative, As we work As aa community, community, we must must work together better; we must find creative, inspiring ways to share top talent together better; we must find creative, together better; we must find creative, inspiring ways to share top talent experience, grow our businesses, and inspiring ways to share top talent inspiring ways to share top talent experience, grow our businesses, keep our people employed.

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contracts, we must maintain open lines contracts, we must maintain lines of communications with ouropen political contracts, we open lines contracts, we must must maintain maintain open lines of communications with our political leaders and stay updated so we are not of communications with our political of communications with our political leaders and stay updated so we are not asking for assistance and protection at leaders and stay updated so we are not leaders and stay updated so we are not asking for assistance and protection at the 9thfor hour. asking assistance asking assistance and and protection protection at at theWomen 9thfor hour. currently make up only the 9th theWomen 9th hour. hour. currently make up only three percent of those running and Women currently make up Women currently make up only only three percent of those running andWe operating a construction company. three percent of and three percent of those those running running and operating a construction company. have a longa way to go to really makeWe a operating construction company.

We operating a way construction company.

We have a long to go to really make a dent on the construction side, but for have a long way to go to really make have a long way to go to really make dent onare themaking construction side, but foraa sure we strides in research, dent on the construction but dent onare themaking construction side, but for for sure we stridesside, inscience. research, engineering, and computer sure we are making strides in research, sure we are making strides inscience. research, engineering, and computer We must encourage, support,science. and engineering, and engineering, and computer computer science.

We mustour encourage, support, and at redirect young women to look We must encourage, support, and We must encourage, support, and at redirect our young women to look the world of construction. redirect our young women to look redirect our women to look at at the world of young construction.

Maya Angelou said: “And still we rise.’’ the world of construction. the world of construction.

Maya Angelou said: “And still we rise.’’

Maya Maya Angelou Angelou said: said: “And “And still still we we rise.’’ rise.’’

Marjorie Perry Marjorie PresidentPerry and CEO Marjorie Perry President and CEO MZM Construction Marjorie Perry President and CEO MZM Construction & Management Company President and CEO MZM Construction & Management Company MZM Construction & Management Company & Management Company

Quality •• Commitment •• Reliability Quality Commitment Reliability Quality Commitment • Reliability Our 30 years of•experience in construction management and transportation, Our 30 years of experience in construction management and transportation, Our 30 of experience in management transportation, combined with problem-solving skills, integrity, and and commitment to be Our 30 years years of our experience in construction construction management transportation, combined with our problem-solving skills, integrity, and and commitment to be combined with our problem-solving integrity, and commitment the best, means we strive to buildskills, greatness in every project we do. to combined with our problem-solving skills, integrity, and commitment to be be the best, means we strive to build greatness in every project we do. the best, best, means means we we strive strive to to build build greatness greatness in in every every project project we do. the we do. the best, means we strive to build greatness in every project we do.

• •• •• • • •• • • •• •• • •• •• • •• •• • •• • • ••

Transportation Transportation Transportation Transportation Transportation Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Waste Removal Hazardous & Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Non-Hazardous Waste Removal Waste Removal Waste Removal Safety Protection Safety Protection Safety Protection Safety Protection Rough Carpentry Rough Carpentry Rough Carpentry Rough Carpentry Rough Carpentry Construction Management Construction Management Construction Management Construction Management Construction Management New Construction & New Construction & Renovations Renovations New Construction & Renovations New & Renovations New Construction Construction & programs Renovations Contactor Training Contactor Training programs Contactor Contactor Training Training programs programs

105 Lock Street • Suite 405 • Newark, NJ 07103 • teL: 973.242.7100 • Fax: 973.242.1612 105 Lock Street • Suite 405 • Newark, NJ 07103 • teL: 973.242.7100 • Fax: 973.242.1612 105 ewark NJ • :: 973.242.7100 .eL coM 105 L Lock ock S Street treet • •S Suite uite 405 405 • •N Nwww ewark,, .MZM NJ 07103 07103cc •t t eL 973.242.7100 • •F Fax ax:: 973.242.1612 973.242.1612 www.MZM cc . coM www .MZM cc . coM www.MZM cc . coM www.thepositivecommunity.com 42 The Positive Community Spring 2021

Rendering of the Outreach Event Virtual Lobby

: www.njtransit.com/PNBEvent Stackie@argdiversity.com.

From MadMen Mento to From Mad From Mad Men to From Mad Men to Black LivesMatter, Matter, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives AdvertisingLegend Legend Advertising Legend Advertising Legend Advertising Carol H. Williams Carol H. Williams Carol H. Williams Carol H. Williams

By Fern Gillespie Photos: Carol Williams Agency By Gillespie Photos: Carol Williams Agency By Fern Gillespie Photos: Carol H. Williams Agency ByFern Fern Gillespie Photos: Carol H.H. Williams Agency

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I was honored my boss andand peers thoughtfor I my was achievement.” achievement.” achievement.” achievement.” worthy enough to be recognized and rewarded for my In1986, 1986,she she decided to launch the H. Williams In Carol H. Williams In 1986, she decided to launch the Carol H. Williams In 1986, shedecided decidedto tolaunch launchthe theCarol Carol H. Williams achievement.”

Agency in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

“I don’t know ifififIifI II Agency in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

“I don’t know Agency in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

“I don’t know Agency in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

“I don’t know In 1986, she decided tomy launch theclients Caroldecided H. Williams really decided.

Perhaps former for really decided.

Perhaps my former clients decided for really decided.

Perhaps clients decided reallyin decided.

Perhaps my my former clients decided for Agency San contracting Francisco’s Bayformer Area.

“I don’t know iffor I me.

I began work at the big agencies with me.

I began contracting work at the big agencies with me. me. II began began contracting contracting work work at at the the big big agencies agencies with with really decided. Perhaps my former clients decided for me. I began contracting work at the big agencies with

Executivesat at Leo Burnett Executives noticed Executives Executives at atLeo Leo LeoBurnett Burnett Burnettnoticed noticed noticed Executives at Leo Burnett noticed Williams’creativity creativity and her Williams’ and her more Williams’ Williams’ creativity creativity and andgave gave gave her hermore more more

Williams’ and gave her she more projects.creativity Seizing the opportunity, projects.

Seizing opportunity, she went projects. projects.

Seizing Seizingthe the the opportunity, opportunity, she shewent went went onto tocreate create some of projects.

Seizing theof opportunity, she went on some the memorable on on to to create create some some of of the themost most mostmemorable memorable memorable advertising campaigns history. on to create campaigns some of the memorable advertising inin history. advertising advertising campaigns campaigns inmost history. history. advertising campaigns in history.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Today, the Carol H. Williams Agency Today, Today, the the Carol Carol H. H. Williams Williams Agency Agency is the longest-running, independent, is is the the longest-running, longest-running, independent, independent, multicultural ad agency in the country. multicultural multicultural ad ad agency agency in in the the country. country.

While other major Black-owned ad While While other other major major Black-owned Black-owned ad ad agencies like Burrell and UniWorld agencies agencies like like Burrell Burrell and and UniWorld UniWorld Group have partnerships with major Group Group have have partnerships partnerships with with major major global advertising conglomerates, CHWA global global advertising advertising conglomerates, conglomerates, CHWA CHWA has remained independent. has has remained remained independent. independent. these former clients,” she said.

“I was initially creating for these former clients,” said.

“I was creating for these former clients,” she she said.

“Igoing was initially initially creatingand for aa lot of new products that were into research lot of new products that were going into research and asome lot ofstraight new products that were going into research and to market. One day aa client asked me if some straight to One asked if some straight to market. market.

Onetoday day a client client asked me meOf if II could do target advertising African Americans. could do target advertising to African Americans.

Of Icourse, could given do target advertising to African Americans.

Of I was African American and knew advertiscourse, given African American and knew advertiscourse, given IIitwas was African American and knew advertising.

However, requires a lot more than that to do target ing.

However, it requires a lot more than that to do target ing.

However, it requires a lot more than that to do target advertising.

It requires brilliance, among the obvious.” advertising.

It requires brilliance, among the obvious.” advertising.

It requires brilliance, among the obvious.”

Now, her multicultural agency is headquartered in Now, multicultural agency is headquartered in Now, her her multicultural agency is New headquartered in Oakland with offices in Chicago and York.

Her noOakland with offices in Chicago and New York.

Her noOakland with offices in Chicago and New York.

Her notable ads include the Walt Disney Company’s famous table ads include Walt Company’s famous table ads include the the Walt Disney Disney Company’s famous “Signs” commercial in 2007, featuring a boy using sign “Signs” commercial in 2007, featuring a boy using sign “Signs” commercial in 2007, featuring a boy using sign language to communicate with his grandfather.

Also, Dislanguage to communicate with his grandfather.

Also, Dislanguage to communicate with his grandfather.

Also, Disney’s groundbreaking “Imagination” television ad.

Other ney’s groundbreaking “Imagination” television ad.

Other ney’s groundbreaking “Imagination” television ad.

Other CHWA’s renowned ads encompass Lactaid’s “Pass Those CHWA’s renowned ads Lactaid’s “Pass CHWA’s renowned ads encompass encompass Lactaid’s “Pass Those Those Cookies”; Effe Award-winning “Our Stand” television ad Cookies”; Effe Award-winning “Our Stand” television ad Cookies”; Effe Award-winning “Our Stand” television ad for Allstate Insurance television; and Procter & Gamble’s for Allstate Insurance television; and Procter & Gamble’s for Allstate Insurance television; and Procter & Gamble’s “My Black Is Beautiful,” Pantene, and CoverGirl.

CHWA “My Black Is Pantene, and CoverGirl.

CHWA “My Black Is Beautiful,” Beautiful,” Pantene, and the CoverGirl.

CHWA clients include Wells Fargo, Buick, United States clients include Wells Fargo, Buick, the United States clients include Wells Fargo, Buick, the United States Army, Coors Brewing Co, U.S. Army, General Mills, Kraft, Army, Coors Brewing Co, U.S. Army, General Mills, Kraft, Army, Coors Brewing Co, U.S. Army, General Mills, Kraft, Gilead Sciences, HP, Marriott, Partnership for a DrugGilead Sciences, HP, Marriott, Partnership for a DrugGilead Sciences, HP, Marriott, Partnership for a DrugFree America, and the U.S. Census. Her work ranges Free America, and the U.S. Her ranges Free America, and the U.S. Census.

Census.

Her work work ranges from traditional ads to specialized corporate social refrom traditional ads to specialized corporate social refrom traditional ads to specialized corporate social responsibility campaigns connecting with Black consumers sponsibility campaigns connecting with Black consumers sponsibility campaigns connecting with Black consumers and influencers. and influencers. and Today, influencers. the Carol H. Williams Agency is the lonToday, the Carol Agency the Today, theindependent, Carol H. H. Williams Williams Agencyadis isagency the lonlongest-running, multicultural in gest-running, independent, multicultural ad agency in gest-running, independent, multicultural ad agency in the country.

While other major Black-owned ad agenthe country.

While other major Black-owned ad agenthe country.

While other major Black-owned ad agencies like Burrell and UniWorld Group have partnerships cies like Burrell and UniWorld Group cies like Burrell and UniWorldconglomerates, Group have have partnerships partnerships with major global advertising CHWA has with major global advertising conglomerates, CHWA has with major global advertising conglomerates, CHWA has remained independent.

“I was happy building Carol H. remained independent.

“I was happy building Carol H. remained independent.

“I was happy building Carol H. Williams Agency and enjoyed making a brand,” she said.

Williams Agency and enjoyed making a brand,” she said.

Williams Agency and enjoyed making a brand,” she said.

In recent years, Williams witnessed aa decrease in the In years, Williams the In recent recent years,Black-oriented Williams witnessed witnessed a decrease decrease in in the number of major and Black-owned agennumber of major Black-oriented and Black-owned agennumber of major Black-oriented and Black-owned agencies.

Many believe it’s due to the Total Market Approach cies.

Many believe it’s to Total Market cies.

Many believe TMA, it’s due due to the themass Total Market Approach Approach (TMA).

Through major marketing agencies (TMA).

Through TMA, major mass marketing agencies (TMA).

Through TMA, major mass marketing agencies have added more people of color to the ads, but this is have added more people of color to the ads, but this have added more people of color to the ads, but this is is not reflected in hiring more Black advertising executives. not reflected in hiring more Black advertising executives. not“TMA, reflected in hiring more Black advertising executives. initiated under the guise of efficiency, literally “TMA, initiated under the guise efficiency, literally “TMA,the initiated under thedollars guise of of efficiency, literally justified shift of minority back to mass market justified the shift of minority dollars back to mass market justified the shift of minority dollars back to mass market agencies,” she observed.

“Yes, there has been a major inagencies,” she observed.

“Yes, there has been a major inagencies,” she observed.

“Yes, there has been a major increase in featuring Black actors in ads and commercials. crease in featuring Black actors in ads and commercials. crease in featuring Black actors in ads and commercials. www.thepositivecommunity.com

African American roles in many of these ads and commerAfrican American roles in of and African American roles in many many of these these ads ads Black and commercommercials are primarily presented as consumers. women cials are primarily presented as consumers.

Black women cials are primarily presented as consumers.

Black women spend a tremendous amount of dollars in the hair and spend a tremendous amount of dollars in the hair and spend a tremendous amount of dollars in the hair and beauty industry,” Williams explained.

“To protect the dolbeauty industry,” Williams explained.

“To protect the dolbeauty industry,” Williams explained.

“To protect the dollars for mass marketing agencies, they would cast white lars for mass marketing agencies, they would cast white lars for mass marketing agencies, they would cast white and black actors to eliminate the need for an entire Afriand black to the for Afriand black actors actors to eliminate eliminate the need need for an an entire entire African American commercial.

These commercials were once can American commercial.

These commercials were once can American commercial.

These commercials were once created by Black agencies.

Mass market said that was not created by agencies.

Mass market that was created

by Black Black agencies.

Mass market itsaid said thatoutcome was not not the reason TMA was created; however, is the the reason TMA was created; however, it is the outcome the reason TMA was created; however, it is the outcome TMA attained.”

TMA attained.”

TMA attained.”

Williams, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, Williams, who grew up the Side of Williams, who grew upinon onbiology the South South Side of Chicago, Chicago, holds both a B.S. degree and her M.A. degree holds both aa B.S. degree in biology and her M.A. degree holds both B.S. degree in biology and her M.A. degree in arts and sciences from Northwestern University.

She in arts and sciences from Northwestern University.

She in arts and sciences from Northwestern University.

She is passionate about community service and has used her is passionate about community service and has used her is passionate about community service and has used her talent and resources to help dozens of philanthropic entalent and resources to help dozens of philanthropic entalent and resources to help dozens of philanthropic endeavors, including the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the deavors, including the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the deavors, including the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, U.S. Dream AcadCongressional Black NAACP, U.S. AcadCongressional Black Caucus, Caucus, NAACP,Association, U.S. Dream Dream Academy, National Newspaper Publishers and nuemy, National Newspaper Publishers Association, and nuemy, National Newspaper Publishers Association, and numerous local community organizations. merous local community organizations. merous local community organizations.

Referred to as “the most recognized woman in adverReferred to “the most woman Referred to as ashas “the most recognized recognized woman in in adveradvertising,” Williams received numerous professional hontising,” Williams has received numerous professional hontising,” Williams has received numerous professional honors and community awards during her career, including ors and community awards during her career, including ors and community awards during her career, including becoming the first African American female creative dibecoming the first American female creative dibecoming the first African African American female creativeFeddirector to be inducted into the American Advertising rector to be inducted into the American Advertising Fedrector to be inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Fame. eration’s Advertising Hall of eration’s Advertising Hall of Fame.

Fame.

The Black Lives Matter movement has impacted The Black Lives Matter movement has The Black Lives Matter movement has impacted impacted CHWA, with more clients interested in corporate social CHWA, with more clients interested in corporate social CHWA, with more clients interested in corporate social responsibility campaigns directed at Black consumers. responsibility campaigns directed at Black consumers. responsibility campaigns directed at Black consumers.

Unlike mass marketing agencies, CHWA knows how to Unlike mass agencies, CHWA knows how Unlike mass marketing marketing agencies, CHWA knows how to to tailor campaigns to reach the needs of Black consumers. tailor campaigns to reach the needs of Black consumers. tailor campaigns to reach the needs of Black consumers.

“The insights that motivate them, the life experiences “The insights that motivate them, life experiences “The insights that motivateinitiative, them, the the life experiences create a sense of strength, and faith that drive create a sense of strength, initiative, and faith that create a sense of strength, initiative, and faith that drive drive their motivation to the finish line of accomplishments,” their motivation to the finish line of accomplishments,” their motivation to the finish line of accomplishments,” she said. she said. sheThroughout said. her career, Williams has broken barriers as Throughout her Williams has barriers as Throughout her career, career, Williams has broken broken barriers as aa “first” woman and “first” Black executive in the ad indus“first” woman and “first” Black executive in the ad indusatry. “first” woman and “first” Black executive in the ad indusShe believes being aa “first” also endows aa responsibility try.

She being endows responsibility try.

She believes believes being a “first” “first” also also endows abe responsibility in giving back and mentoring.

“You must committed in giving back and mentoring.

“You must be committed in giving back and mentoring.

“You must be committed not to be the last,” she stressed.

“The first person opens not to be the last,” she stressed.

“The first person opens not to be the last,” she stressed.

“The first person opens the door.

Your job is to help others come through it.

To the door.

Your job is to help others come through it. the door.

Your job is to help others come through it. To To accomplish that we share, teach, and lead by example.” accomplish accomplish that that we we share, share, teach, teach, and and lead lead by by example.” example.”

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

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Profile Profile Profile

R mccd iii euben aniel Reuben euben mc daniel aniel iii

His Blessed Life Informs His Career His His Blessed Blessed Life Life Informs Informs His His Career Career Glenda Cadogan Glenda Glenda Cadogan Cadogan

A A

ss the president/CEO of DASNY (Dormitory Authe of (Dormitory Austhority the president/CEO president/CEO of DASNY DASNY (Dormitory Auof the State of New York), Reuben McDanthority of the State of New York), Reuben McDanthority of the State of New York), Reuben McDaniel’s job may not be what some consider to be “sexy.” iel’s not be what some consider be iel’s job jobitmay may not of be the whatmost someimportant consider to to be “sexy.” “sexy.”

Nevertheless, is one cabinet poNevertheless, it is one of the most important cabinet poNevertheless, it is one of the most important cabinet positions in the state.

As a public entity, the State’s physical sitions in the state.

As a public entity, the State’s physical sitions in the state.

As a public entity, the State’s physical infrastructures—from campus buildings to criminal justice infrastructures—from campus to justice infrastructures—from campus buildings buildings to criminal criminal justice centers and the transportation system—all need to be ficenters and the transportation system—all need to be centers and the transportation system—all need to be fifinanced and constructed.

As its main function, DASNY nanced and constructed.

As its main function, DASNY nanced and constructed.

As its main function, DASNY helps execute many of the state’s capital programs and ashelps execute many of the capital and ashelps execute manyin oftheir the state’s state’s capital programs programs and assists other agencies construction projects.

In fiscal sists other agencies in their construction projects.

In fiscal sists other agencies in their construction projects.

In fiscal year 2019-20, DASNY completed more than two dozen fiyear 2019-20, DASNY completed more than dozen fiyear 2019-20, DASNY completed more than two twomore dozen financings worth nearly $10 billion and managed than nancings worth nearly $10 billion and managed more than nancings worth nearly $10 billion and managed more than 1,000 construction projects totaling hundreds of millions 1,000 construction projects hundreds of millions 1,000 construction projects totaling totaling hundreds of universimillions of dollars.

“Our contributions allowed hospitals, of dollars.

“Our contributions allowed hospitals, universiof dollars.

“Our contributions allowed hospitals, universities, and state and local governments to meet the growing ties, and state local governments to meet growing ties, and state and and local governments toefficiently meet the the and growing and changing needs of our taxpayers cost and changing needs of our taxpayers efficiently and cost and changing needs of our taxpayers efficiently and cost effectively,” says McDaniel. effectively,” says McDaniel. effectively,” says McDaniel.

MWBEs Goals are a Priority MWBEs Goals are a Priority MWBEs Goals are ahistory Priorityin investment banking, public With a professional

With aa professional history in banking, public With professional history in investment investment banking, public policy, and education, McDaniel assumed his position at policy, and education, McDaniel assumed his position at policy, and education, McDaniel assumed his position at DASNY in 2019.

And, he is not shy about stating his resolve DASNY in 2019.

And, he is not shy about stating his resolve DASNY in 2019.

And, he is not shy about stating his resolve to making more opportunities available to people of color. to making more opportunities available to people of to making moreare opportunities available toset people of color. color.

His intentions backed by a mandate by Governor His intentions are backed by aa mandate set by Governor His intentions are backed by mandate set by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014, long before his arrival.

“Like lots Andrew Cuomo in before his arrival.

“Like lots Andrew Cuomo in 2014, 2014,itlong long before histop,” arrival.

“Like lots of other commitments, starts at the says McDanof other commitments, it starts at the top,” says McDanof other commitments, it starts at the top,” says McDaniel, adding, “Governor Cuomo mandated that Minority iel, adding, “Governor Cuomo mandated that iel, adding, “Governor Cuomo mandated that Minority Minority and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs) participate in the and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs) participate in and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs) participate in the thea economics of the construction and finance sectors.”

With economics of the construction and finance sectors.”

With aa economics of the construction and finance sectors.”

With bar set at 30 percent participation in public projects, New bar set at 30 percent participation in public projects, New bar set at 30has percent participation in public projects, New York State one of the most robust MWBE programs York State has one of the most robust MWBE programs York State has one of the most robust MWBE programs in the country.

And in McDaniel, these MWBEs have one in the country.

And in these MWBEs have one in themost country.

And in McDaniel, McDaniel, these MWBEs have one of its hardy advocates.

To his credit, he has met and of its most hardy advocates.

To his credit, he has met and of its most hardy advocates.

To his credit, he has met and in some cases exceeded the goal during his short tenure in some cases exceeded the goal during his short tenure in some cases exceeded the goal during his short tenure at DASNY. In fact since 2011, more than $1.5 billion in at DASNY. In 2011, than $1.5 billion at DASNY.construction In fact fact since since 2011, more morehas than $1.5 billion in in DASNY’s expenditures gone to MWBEs. DASNY’s DASNY’s construction construction expenditures expenditures has has gone gone to to MWBEs. MWBEs. A Blessed Life A Blessed Life A BlessedMcDaniel Life Humbly, acknowledges this is particularly im-

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Humbly, McDaniel acknowledges this particularly imHumbly, McDaniel acknowledges this is islife.” particularly important to him.

He has lived “a blessed He grew up portant to him.

He has lived “a blessed life.”

He grew up portant to him.

He has lived “a blessed life.”

He grew up in a two-parent household with a mother who was the first in a two-parent household with a mother who was the first in a two-parent household with a mother who was the first African American Secretary of State in Texas and father, aa African American Secretary State in and African American Secretaryofof ofTexas.

StateHis in Texas Texas and father, father, professor at the University only sister is now aaa professor at the University of Texas.

His only sister is now professor at the University of Texas.

His only sister is now a professor there as well.

“One of the things of my upbringprofessor there as well.

“One of the things of my upbringprofessor there as well.

“One of the things of my upbringing that II did not realize before, but certainly now appreing ing that that I did did not not realize realize before, before, but but certainly certainly now now appreappreThe Positive Community Spring 2021

www.thepositivecommunity.com

ciate its value, is that my parents never talked about going ciate its value, is that my parents never talked about going to college. In our household it was just understood that it’s to college. In our household it was just understood that it’s something you do. They both also took me to professional something you do. They both also took me to professional events where I was exposed to people who were doing well. events where I was exposed to people who were doing well.

I did not realize how much that’s unique in today’s society.”

I did not realize how much that’s unique in today’s society.”

Recognizing the big difference this made in his life, Recognizing the big difference this made in his life, McDaniel’s entire career was informed by a determined McDaniel’s entire career was informed by a determined effort to provide similar outcomes to others. “I look at peoeffort to provide similar outcomes to others. “I look at people who may have come from more fragile backgrounds ple who may have come from more fragile backgrounds and I work toward creating the environment for positive and I work toward creating the environment for positive exposure no matter what their family history.” In a brief exposure no matter what their family history.” In a brief departure from his career in investment banking and pubdeparture from his career in investment banking and public policy, McDaniel served for four years as chair of the lic policy, McDaniel served for four years as chair of the Atlanta School Board. But to whom much is given, much Atlanta School Board. But to whom much is given, much is required; so when he landed at the doors of DASNY, he is required; so when he landed at the doors of DASNY, he embraced it as the intersection of his passions for math, embraced it as the intersection of his passions for math, finance, and public policy. finance, and public policy.

With With a a professional professional history history in in investment investment banking, banking, public public policy policy and and education, education,

Beyond Covid Beyond Covid

through its tragedy and destruction-—is now more accesthrough its tragedy and destruction-—is now more accessible and residential in nature. “I think we are going to see sible and residential in nature. “I think we are going to see this again after this crisis. And what comes out on the other this again after this crisis. And what comes out on the other side will be a newer, better, more thoughtful version of New side will be a newer, better, more thoughtful version of New York as a place to live, work, and learn.”

York as a place to live, work, and learn.”

It is common for anyone in authority to have a pet projIt is common for anyone in authority to have a pet project that warms the heart even on cold days. For McDanect that warms the heart even on cold days. For McDaniel, this is the South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten iel, this is the South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten Island. “We built this whole new, wonderful center and Island. “We built this whole new, wonderful center and then COVID hit. In a matter of 30 days, we took those resthen COVID hit. In a matter of 30 days, we took those residential rooms and made them into healthcare stations idential rooms and made them into healthcare stations complete with plugs and sinks, and opened it up to COVID complete with plugs and sinks, and opened it up to COVID patients. To see that happen so quickly is rewarding.” patients. To see that happen so quickly is rewarding.”

In a COVID-world where many people are working remoteIn a COVID-world where many people are working remotely and crises in healthcare and economics rule the world, ly and crises in healthcare and economics rule the world, McDaniel says it would have been easy for his agency to put McDaniel says it would have been easy for his agency to put their goals and requirements on the back burner. “But we their goals and requirements on the back burner. “But we felt it was even more important to reach out to minority felt it was even more important to reach out to minority and women businesses to make sure they are competing and women businesses to make sure they are competing for business in this economic recovery. We did not sleep on for business in this economic recovery. We did not sleep on the job and I am very pleased with our execution during the job and I am very pleased with our execution during this time,” he added. this time,” he added.

According to McDaniel, one of the bright spots to come According to McDaniel, one of the bright spots to come out of the pandemic is an increased commitment to the out of the pandemic is an increased commitment to the infrastructure of the State of New York. “With the federal infrastructure of the State of New York. “With the federal infrastructure package, state programs, as well as allocainfrastructure package, state programs, as well as allocations in the state budget, there are a lot of opportunities tions in the state budget, there are a lot of opportunities for MWBEs to participate in the economic recovery of New for MWBEs to participate in the economic recovery of New York,” he says. “As a cabinet member I am committed to York,” he says. “As a cabinet member I am committed to not only making sure DASNY plays our part but also other not only making sure DASNY plays our part but also other state agencies keep their eyes on the ball as well.” state agencies keep their eyes on the ball as well.”

Reimagining New York Reimagining New York

Looking through his professional crystal ball, McDaniel Looking through his professional crystal ball, McDaniel says he sees “a reimagined New York.” In it, there are two says he sees “a reimagined New York.” In it, there are two major positive impacts: “Anyone who has a construction or major positive impacts: “Anyone who has a construction or financial background or an ancillary business that works financial background or an ancillary business that works with construction, will see a lot of economic opportunity in with construction, will see a lot of economic opportunity in the next few years,” he explained. “Secondly, in New York the next few years,” he explained. “Secondly, in New York we have an opportunity to rethink communities and do we have an opportunity to rethink communities and do things differently that will benefit all of us as citizens. And things differently that will benefit all of us as citizens. And I am excited about this.”

I am excited about this.”

To emphasize his point, McDaniel points to an area like To emphasize his point, McDaniel points to an area like the World Trade Center in Manhattan, which he says— the World Trade Center in Manhattan, which he says— www.thepositivecommunity.com

McDaniel McDaniel assumed assumed his his position position at at DASNY DASNY in in 2019.

2019. And, And, he he is is not not shy shy about about stating stating his his resolve resolve to to making making more more opportunities opportunities available available to to people people of of color. color.

His His intentions intentions are are backed backed by by a a mandate mandate set set by

by Governor Governor Andrew Andrew Cuomo Cuomo in in 2014, 2014, long long before before his his arrival. arrival.

People are Not Paper People are Not Paper

With 30 years of experience in financial services, McDaniel With 30 years of experience in financial services, McDaniel also founded an investment advisory firm where he manalso founded an investment advisory firm where he managed more than $50 million in investment portfolios and aged more than $50 million in investment portfolios and business assets for a variety of professionals. This gives him business assets for a variety of professionals. This gives him superstar-type status in the world of figures and numbers. superstar-type status in the world of figures and numbers.

But his drive and motivation are cradled in his life view But his drive and motivation are cradled in his life view that can be summed up simply as: “People are not paper. that can be summed up simply as: “People are not paper.

Nor are they figures or policy. People are people!” And this Nor are they figures or policy. People are people!” And this thought, says McDaniel, is what keeps him going. “You have thought, says McDaniel, is what keeps him going. “You have to take it down to the people you are helping,” he said. “I to take it down to the people you are helping,” he said. “I do not think about the $2 billion transaction on the paper. do not think about the $2 billion transaction on the paper.

I think about the people who are going to benefit. I think I think about the people who are going to benefit. I think of the people in New York City housing; I think about the of the people in New York City housing; I think about the face of the kid in a new learning facility and, to him, it’s the face of the kid in a new learning facility and, to him, it’s the best building he goes to every day. The work we do helps best building he goes to every day. The work we do helps people. So it’s important for me to keep in communion people. So it’s important for me to keep in communion with them; and that keeps me going!” with them; and that keeps me going!”

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

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“Yours for the Taking.”

BY JOHN E. HARMON, SR., IOM, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF NEW JERSEY 609-571-1620 INFO@AACCNJ.COM

Through this awakening, what should Black men and women who possess the requisite skills to pursue desired career opportunities do: corporate board seats or to grow their business enterprise? We should just seize the moment!

A

s I often reflect on the greatness of our ancestors and their many contributions to the United States, the most envied country in the world, I smile and express my gratitude for that legacy. For those who arrived in America in 1619 shackled to the bottom of a vessel, forcibly removed from their native land and culture, forced to generate wealth for those who enslaved them. Once emancipated in 1863 and again in 1865, a multitude of my ancestors immediately headed north for what they envisioned was a better life.

Booker T. Washington was the most influential spokesperson for Black Americans between 1895 and 1915. In 1900, Washington founded the National Negro Business League (NNBL), an organization whose mission was to teach entrepreneurship, capitalism, and free enterprise to those inspiring individuals who had worked for years without wages, and would be now afforded an opportunity to write their own narrative.

The NNBL consisted of 40 chapters between Maryland and Texas. Several of the fellows from NNBL settled in Greenwood, Oklahoma and later contributed to the establishment of Black Wall Street in 1905, an enterprising community of thriving Black businesses, which consisted of a bank, hotel, post office, hospital, barbershop, doctor and dentist’s office, retail shops, and movie theater. Many of the homes of these establishments had indoor plumbing while many of the white residents had outdoor bath facilities. This way of living for approximately 10,000 Blacks came to a violent end during the Tulsa Race Riots.

Ironically, the death of George Floyd has sparked an outpouring of outrage that led to a flow of resources from philanthropic entities, financial institutions, and state and federal government seeking to mitigate relations and false perceptions of the value of Blacks and their abilities, and a host of structural impediments that keep Blacks from partaking in the US Economy in an equitable way.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

Through this awakening, what should Black men and women who possess the requisite skills to pursue desired career opportunities do: corporate board seats or to grow their business enterprise? We should just seize the moment!

If what I just described resonates with you, seize the moment with an immediate call to your Black Chamber of Commerce: your partner for success. Washington’s vision remains relevant today and I encourage your engagement. The mainstream business community has aligned with this strategy, i.e., there are over 141 chambers of commerce in NJ – each of these organizations are laser focused on public policies, and initiatives that lead to economic opportunities and wealth creation.

The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC), the largest business federation in the world was established twelve years after the formation of the NNBL. As a people, we have demonstrated great resolve over the years; through slavery, lynching, racial Segregation, and Jim Crow Laws which were meant to marginalize Blacks, by denying them the rights to vote, and access to other opportunities.

As a testament to the enduring Legacy of Greatness, Blacks have amassed an annual consumer spend over $1.4 Trillion Dollars annually; they have also elected this country’s first two-term Black president and first Black woman vice president. It was also a Black woman, a virologist, whose research led to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine; while another Black woman, Mellody Hobson, was recently named co-CEO of ARIEL Investments, a company with $15 billion under management. Hobson also chairs the Board of Starbucks and lastly, had her name etched on a building that was formerly named after Woodrow Wilson on the campus of Princeton University.

I challenge every Black person who reads these words to seize this moment and pursue your dreams with all you have – success is in your DNA and the possibilities are yours for the taking! www.thepositivecommunity.com

BY DR. MALCOM A. PUNTER PRESIDENT & CEO HARLEM CONGREGATIONS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT

Serving Harlem for 35 Years

H

CCI boasts numerous accomplishments in community development in Harlem for the last 35 years. Economic development has been a hallmark of HCCI’s mission since 1986. Our achievements include: Affordable Housing & Retail Locations HCCI’s 80-building portfolio yields more than 4,000 units of affordable housing enabling low-to moderateincome residents to live, work, and spend in Harlem.

Our buildings also provide 70-retail stores in Harlem.

Landmark businesses including: Settepani, Chocolat, Vinateria, Sexy Taco, ESO Harlem, Peque Vino, Popeyes 145th, Pathmark 145th, Raw Space, Grandma’s Toys, Mia’s Bathhouse for Pets, Silicon Harlem at HCCI Bradhurst, Mount Sinai-St. Luke’s Clinic, the Victoria Theater Housing Development Fund Corp 125th project, and many more demonstrate HCCI’s commitment and promise of community development.

Small Business Development HCCI nurtures small business through the provision of affordable commercial spaces; counseling; and the Bradhurst Merchants Association, Inc. (BMA). Established by HCCI, the BMA is a 501(c)(6) organization located in Harlem’s Bradhurst District. This effort was initiated for business-to-business networking and relations purposes. The Mission of the Bradhurst Merchants Association (BMA) is to promote and sustain the Bradhurst Business District as a unified shopping area.

Homeownership HCCI believes homeownership is wealth creation.

Our HUD certified housing counselors have tutored over 2,500 low-to middle-income households providing them with the tools needed to realize the American dream of homeownership. HCCI has also developed 400 limited equity cooperatives to help low-income residents achieve homeownership.

Workforce Development HCCI provides job referrals, training seminars, interview preparation, and resume assistance. More than 2,000 residents have been employed through HCCI’s workforce development programs. The scope of this article can only present a brief summary of our accomplishments in the area of economic empowerment.

We also provide impactful programs related to health & wellness and social services.

As we continue to impact our community in positive ways, we appeal to our partners, supporters, and benefactors to continue their generosity and contributions to our vision for the future of Harlem.

There is no donation too small or too great. Your gifts will help to achieve measurable economic impact designed to continue to revitalize our community. To give or learn more visit us at www.hcci.org.

"We Can Always Do More to Make A Difference!"

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

www.thepositivecommunity.com

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

51

A New Day for NJ Legislative Black Caucus NJLBC intends to continue with policy changes to uproot the systemic and racial disparities within government structures

Shavonda Sumpter Elected Chair

F

ocusing on staying safe from COVID-19, yet working for their constituents, The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus (NJLBC) election for their 2021-22 leadership team proceeded virtually, successfully voting- in an uncontested slate with the confidence of the full body and the endorsement of Senator Ron Rice.

Elected Chair Shavonda Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic) takes the lead from Senator Rice, who has served as NJLBC chair since 2003. Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer) as vice-chairs. The following members were reelected: Treasurer-Assemblyman Herb Conaway (DBurlington), Secretary-Assemblyman Jamel Holley (DUnion), and Sergeant-at-Arms-Assemblyman Gordon Jonson (D-Bergen). A new officeholder, Assemblyman William Spearman (D-Camden, Gloucester), will serve as chaplain.

“The devastation of COVID-19 last year laid bare the disparate impact of the loss of life to the disease.

African Americans make up only 12% of the New Jersey population, but we made up 16% of all deaths last year.

This glaring alarm charged the NJLBC into action,” said Sumter. “We began weekly meetings to work in unison from Cape May County to Bergen County to be sure that we were elevating the health disparities and economic needs of the African Americans in our state.”

We fast-tracked multiple bills throughout last summer to cover many concerns raised by the pandemic—legislation that required the Department of Health to work with hospitals and local health departments to report racial and demographic data on COVID-19 outcomes.

Recently, the NJLBC worked diligently to ensure fairness in pivotal legislation spurring social change—the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana.

In the last year alone NJLBC fought to codify moratoriums on evictions, provide gap funding for food banks,

52

The Positive Community Spring 2021

and target grants to small and mid-size businesses. Then, with the historic pandemic compounded by civil unrest, we united with civil rights leaders and social justice partners to fight for the passage of over 40 policy changes to combat systemic and structural racism. The passage of a law mandating enforcement of the use of body cameras, defining the chokehold as a use of force, safe reporting of peers in law enforcement for excessive use of force, and a community civilian review board with subpoena power, was timely and most significant.

NJLBC intends to continue with policy changes to uproot the systemic and racial disparities within government structures. Sen. Rice will work in this capacity with statewide Black elected officials.

“We will continue to fight for the health of our communities and demand vaccines be supplied to African Americans with ease of access,” said Senator Rice. “This will be achieved through partnerships with our faithbased community. We will be undeterred in securing these life-saving resources even if it means that we must pursue legal recourse. Further, we will continue our fight for environmental justice, fair housing, economic opportunities, and equity inclusion at all levels of government.” Continuing to be engaged in the promotion of the NJLBC’s civil rights and social justice agenda, Senator Rice remains an advisor to Assemblywoman Sumter. He also chairs a newly created committee, InterGovernment Affairs In the coming months, NJLBC will engage in monitoring the apportionment of legislative districts; re-engage the African American Elected Officials Statewide Alliance; push for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer as a cabinet level position; monitor the use of force; and continue to stand strong with civil rights leaders and social justice partners to champion policy reforms and criminal justice reforms. — NJLBC www.thepositivecommunity.com

CityCity of Newark of Newark Council Council President President Mildred Mildred Crump Crump joinsjoins Mayor Mayor Baraka Baraka to announce to announce Kawaida Kawaida Towers Towers

Photos by Raymond Hagans

Photos by Raymond Hagans

Rev.Rev. Dr. Steffie Dr. Steffie Bartley, Bartley, pastor pastor NewNew Hope Hope Church, Church, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, NJ NJ

Rutgers-Newark Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Chancellor Nancy Nancy Cantor Cantor

MAYOR MAYORBARAKA BARAKAOFFICIALLY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES ANNOUNCESKAWAIDA KAWAIDATOWERS TOWERS

O O

n March n March 17,17, 2021, 2021, Mayor Mayor RasRas J. Baraka J. Baraka andand a a

three-organization three-organization development development team team andand ed-education ucation leaders leaders officially officially announced announced Kawaida Kawaida Towers, Towers, a 16-story a 16-story approximately approximately 66-unit 66-unit apartment apartment buildbuildinging that that willwill replace replace a deteriorated a deteriorated City-owned City-owned building building at at 17-21 17-21 Halsey Halsey Street, Street, corner corner of Central of Central Avenue, Avenue, at aatcerea ceremony mony on-site. on-site.

These These features features were were part part of the of the vision vision 50 50 years years agoago forfor thethe never-completed never-completed community-backed community-backed development development named named Kawaida Kawaida Towers.

Towers.

Kawaida Kawaida Towers Towers willwill be be built built under under Mayor Mayor Baraka’s Baraka’s Equitable Equitable Growth Growth Principles Principles andand benefits benefits from from thethe advice advice of elder of elder advisors advisors with with intimate intimate knowledge knowledge of the of the originally originally proposed proposed project. project.

It will It will feature feature space space forfor technology technology educaeducation tion provided provided jointly jointly by by thethe National National Action Action Network Network andand Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers-Newark, incorporate incorporate retail retail as well as well as permanent as permanent exhiexhibition bition space, space, andand serve serve as aasmodel a model forfor other other development. development.

Kawaida’s Kawaida’s features features unique unique to to Newark: Newark: • 100 • 100 percent percent affordable affordable develodeveloment ment in in downtown downtown Newark Newark • Partnership • Partnership with with a minority a minority co-developer co-developer with with Newark Newark roots roots • Community • Community space space with with ongoing ongoing education education and and cultural cultural program program forfor community community residents residents • Studio, • Studio, one, one, two, two, and and three-bedthree-bedroom room apartments apartments forfor families families of of allall sizes sizes Photos: Raymond Hagans

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

53

Building Black Generational Wealth

By Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo

E

veryone speaks of the need for economic empowerment in the Black community-—the need to obtain wealth and overcome the barriers that come with not having adequate means. But what’s the value in achieving personal wealth if the majority of the people around you are struggling and the lion’s share of people who don’t look like you associate your being with powerlessness, regardless of what you’ve achieved or how much money you have in the bank?

It is from this set of sentiments that many of the greatest Pan-African thought leaders preached the need for a collective economic mindset that prioritizes collaborative and meaningful business endeavors that not only provide our community with jobs, but also extend beyond their revenuegenerating activities to deliver philanthropic programming that rectifies the countless challenges plaguing our race.

Though we cannot change racism, we can shift the weapons leveraged to exercise it, and building sustainable generational wealth through intentional financial planning, community-minded business, and strategic Black-centered philanthropy are powerful places to start. These are the guiding principles that led me to write DIFFvelopment’s book, Understanding How to Build Black Generational Wealth: A Historically and Culturally Centered Self-Help Book. The first book of its kind, leveraging history and statistics to motivate the reader to do something about longstanding endemic Black economic disparity, it empowers them to take hold of their own personal, generational, and communal wealth-building processes in order to more effectively make change in our global community.

If more of us were willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to take on, withstand, and succeed at developing profitable businesses, there would be more opportunity for us to recognize the real power in Black entrepreneurial success: Black prosperity and philanthropy.

For one, research has confirmed the power of business ownership when it comes to closing the wealth gap. The Association for Enterprise Opportunity’s 2016 report, “The Tapestry of Black Business Ownership in America: Untapped Opportunities for Success,” states that: • The median net worth for Black business owners is 12 times higher than Black nonbusiness owners • Business ownership is a path to narrowing the racial wealth gap • White adults have 13 times the wealth of Black adults • The median wealth gap between of Black and white business owners, decreases to a multiplier of three.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

In Understanding How to Build Black Generational Wealth, beyond emphasizing the need for a disciplined mindset when it comes to consistently paying off debt, saving, investing and working with wealth management professionals to plan financially for the next generation, I encourage Black people to look beyond themselves and their immediate families to make the greater, much-needed sacrifice of giving back to the Black community at large. Doing so is a true indicator of success, considering that all of the most powerful businesses engage in some form of charitable giving, consistent not only with our own belief that “giving back to society is an integral component of success,” but also in line with the important and often overlooked fact that charitable tax breaks offer lucrative companies the opportunity to hold on to and reinvest more of their profits.

When it comes to Black people more specifically, I declare that: Business owners have the agency to curate charitable contributions satisfying their desire to make change in specific ways, while giving others the opportunity to get involved.

We want Black people to be alive to the power inherent in sharing a strategically-crafted collective future that prioritizes building generational wealth and giving back to the Black community.

Purchase a copy of Understanding How to Build Black Generational Wealth: A Historically and Culturally Centered Self-Help Book on Amazon and be encouraged to take your wealth-building journey to the next level, not only for yourself, but for our community!

Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo co-founded the nonprofit organization DIFFvelopment with her husband, Peter Markeeo Gillo, in 2015 and is relentlessly committed to developing unique ways to foster sustainable global Black empowerment. She has an MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford and a BA in Psychology and Afro-American Studies from Smith College. www.thepositivecommunity.com

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Health ideas for wellness

Rev. Dr Sheldon Williams, Co-op City Baptist Church, Pastor

Ministers Demand Money and Vaccines Urge Governor Cuomo to Release More of Both

T

he National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 150,000 churches representing 27.7 million African Americans, urges Gov. Cuomo to release more vaccines to the Black and Latino church communities. We believe that Gov. Cuomo and his staff are playing politics with the vaccine.

The last two stimulus packages encouraged the state to work closely with the faith-based community. It has become clear to faith leaders that the Governor is trying to use them to get us on his side in light of his deep personal issues.

“It is important to work with the state, not to be used by them,” said Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams, senior pastor of Co-Op City Baptist Church.”We demand action – we need the money and the vaccine so we can get back to church!”

The ministers demand that Gov. Cuomo release enough vaccines to vaccinate all of the approximately 60,000 Co-Op City residents — especially the seniors, and work with NBCI’s

56

The Positive Community Spring 2021

comprehensive plan to vaccinate 106 million Blacks and Latinos.

National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a coalition of 150,000 African American and Latino Churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment.

NBCI’s mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches, and the public. Their methodology utilizes faith and sound health science.

NBCI partners with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-thebox, and cutting-edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI’s programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science-based strategies and techniques, and methods that work. Visit www.naltBlackChurch. com for more information.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

The first hospital in New Jersey to standardize needleless blood work.

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Learn more at HolyName.org/PIVO

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COVID-19: Why are minorities more at risk?

Help and hope are on the way for communities that have suffered most.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the country, but African American and Latino populations have been among the most affected.

Why has the coronavirus been so devastating for these communities, and what can be done to help?

Frederick Waldron, MD, DrPH, MS, an Emergency Medicine Specialist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, who has done research on healthcare disparities, explains.

What has COVID-19 revealed about healthcare in the U.S.?

COVID-19 is shining a spotlight on the special challenges faced by vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged communities in a healthcare crisis.

These populations have a higher prevalence of health conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They have higher rates of obesity and smoking. All of these are risk factors for more severe cases of COVID-19.

Those health conditions relate to the lack of resources these groups tend to have—less access to healthcare, lower health literacy, food insecurity and economic instability. Also, because many African Americans and Latinos have jobs that are considered essential, they don’t have the luxury of protecting themselves by working from home.

Frederick Waldron, MD

58

On top of all this, marginalized groups face an inherent bias in healthcare.

The Positive Community Spring 2021

COVID-19 Hospitalization and Death Rates

Rate ratios compared to white, non-Hispanic persons

Black or African American persons

Hispanic or Latino persons

Cases

1.1x

1.3x

Hospitalization

2.9x

3.1x

Death

1.9x

2.3x

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2021

Studies have documented that care is not provided equally to all groups, from testing through treatment.

All of these factors existed before the pandemic, but the pandemic crisis has drawn attention to the other, ongoing health crisis that also adversely impacts outcomes: social injustice.

This awareness is cause for hope and optimism that we may have reached an inflection point for addressing systemic healthcare disparities.

The national conscience has been awakened.

What steps are being taken to address disparities?

There is a general recognition among hospitals that the “social determinants of health”—the conditions in which people are born, live, work and play— may explain why some populations are healthier than others.

At RWJBarnabas Health and Newark Beth Israel, we are very actively addressing social determinants of health. We are paying closer attention to the socioeconomic problems when we see patients, acknowledging that these problems account for up to 80 percent of healthcare outcomes. We are not only concerned with whether a patient has pneumonia or diabetes, but with whether they have access to food, a safe place to live and the ability to pay for their medications.

We can connect them with agencies and programs that can help with all of those issues.

What healthcare advice would you give to members of disadvantaged communities?

The first step is to pay attention to their health. To the best of their ability, they need to follow state guidelines regarding testing and getting vaccinated, and protect themselves by masking, hand-washing and social distancing.

There are certain groups, African American men in particular, who do not engage with the system because of a lack of trust. Ultimately, they present to the hospital with health conditions sometimes so deteriorated that their medical options are limited.

If you have symptoms, see a doctor or go to the hospital; don’t assume they’ll go away.

If cost is a problem, or if they are lacking healthcare insurance, patients should know that we can help to connect them to the appropriate services. At Newark Beth Israel, we’re developing programs that are specifically designed to improve access to healthcare and to facilitate early screening, diagnosis and treatment, which usually result in better outcomes.

To find a doctor at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, call 888-724-7123 or visit rwjbh.org/newarkbeth

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Whoever heart Whoever your heart beats beats for, our you. our hearts hearts beat for you.

New Jersey’s top TAVR program.

New NewJersey’s Jersey’stop topTAVR TAVRprogram. program.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center has a passion for heart health. In addition to having one of New Newark Newarkhighest Beth BethIsrael Israel Medical Medical Center Centerhas has a apassion passion forheart hearthealth. health.

InInaddition addition totohaving having one one ofofNew New Jersey’s volume Transcatheter Aortic Valvefor Replacement (TAVR) programs, we have access to Jersey’s Jersey’s highestvolume volume Transcatheter Transcatheter Aortic Aortic Valve Valve Replacement Replacement (TAVR) (TAVR) programs, programs, we we have have access accesstoto the mosthighest sophisticated technology and renowned clinical trials. We’re advancing the latest techniques the most mostsophisticated sophisticated technology technology and and renowned renowned clinical clinicaltrials. trials.

We’re We’re advancing advancing thelatest latest techniques techniques inthe minimally invasive heart surgery, valve replacement and repair, and much the more.

And our heart in inminimally minimally invasive invasive heart heartsurgery, surgery, replacement replacement andrepair, repair, andmuch muchmore. more.

And Andour ourheart heart transplant program is among the top valve 15valve in the nation, withand more than and 1,100 transplants performed so far. transplant transplant program program is is among among the the top top 15 15 in in the the nation, nation, with with more more than than 1,100 1,100 transplants transplants performed performed so so far. far.

Learn more at rwjbh.org/heart Learn Learnmore moreatatrwjbh.org/heart rwjbh.org/heart

We’ve taken every precaution to keep you safe.

We’ve taken takencare every every precaution precaution totokeep keep you yousafe. safe.delay it any longer.

So if you’ve put off We’ve any medical due to COVID-19, please don’t So Soif ifyou’ve you’veput putoff offany anymedical medicalcare caredue duetotoCOVID-19, COVID-19,please pleasedon’t don’tdelay delayititany anylonger. longer.

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3/29/21 2:31 PM

A Post COVID-19 Pandemic Guide for Healing

REV. DR. RAYNARD D. SMITH, PH.D., IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PASTORAL CARE/PASTORAL THEOLOGY AT NEW BRUNSWICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ. HE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER IN THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.

W There will be church members whom we have worshipped with for years who will be missing from our congregations 60

The Positive Community Spring 2021

hen we regather in our houses of worship, once we can fully reopen, we will encounter a stark reality. The coronavirus has dramatically impacted the Black community and has caused unimaginable numbers of deaths. Many church members who died lived in densely populated areas and were essential workers in service industries where they were at greater risk of exposure to the virus. Many already had pre-existing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, obesity, and asthma, which predisposed them to contract the virus and subsequent death. Because of this, there will be church members whom we have worshipped with for years who will be missing from our congregations. Many may have been the backbone of the church, serving in pivotal leadership positions. Pastors, associate ministers, church mothers, deacons and deaconesses, other administrators and auxiliary members, and brothers and sisters will be missing from our pulpits and congregations. And thus, there will be grief and trauma to address.

Drawing upon the work of psychologist J. William Worden Ph.D., I suggest the following “prescription” to deal with the grief and trauma this pandemic has caused. www.thepositivecommunity.com

For the most part, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the traditional ways we deal with our grief.

Due to the strict precautions of social distancing and restricted visitation, the coronavirus has deprived us of two vital functions funerals provide. First, paying our last respects to honor those we have shared time with and are now gone. Second, to convey our sympathies and love in support and comfort to the living.

For the most part, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the traditional ways we deal with our grief.

The strict precautions of social distancing have caused a limited number of family members and friends who could gather for funerals to pay their last respects. The need to wear masks and sit in separate pews has stymied our need to embrace and support those grieving and attending to our own grief needs. Worden outlines a pathway for doing our grief work, which he calls the Four Tasks of Mourning. The implementation of these tasks will allow us to regain some sense of healing from the trauma of deaths we have sustained.

The first task of mourning is for individuals and churches to come to terms with the reality of the loss.

[1] Members will be missing from our congregations.

They may not have had the usual home-going service well associated with the Black church. The sheer volume of deaths and the unknown lingering effects of the virus have disrupted the way Black congregations have sought to respect the lives of their dearly departed. So, we must acknowledge and accept that the person is gone and will not be coming back to assemble ever again with the congregation. We will never again hear the inspiring sermons of some of our dear bishops and pastors. The voices of singers who led us in praise of God’s majesty and power can no longer rise to the rafters. Deacons and deaconesses who ushered the congregation before the throne of grace will have prayed their last prayer. Because the virus had no respect of persons, leaders will be missing from all levels of the church, from pastors to Sunday school teachers.

Acknowledging and accepting the losses allows one to break through the denial that seeks to maintain the emotional bond that developed with a revered pastor, church mother, or church member. www.thepositivecommunity.com

The second task of mourning is to experience the pain of grief.[2] This pain is literal. You can feel it in your body like an injured limb, as well as emotional and psychological pain one feels in the heart. The scripture states, “… to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.”[3] What a wonderful thought. They have returned to God, but another part of the reality is that these individuals are no longer with us. While “the saints have been enriched,” those who remain are bereft. The sadness, the pain, the sorrow must be let in and expressed.

The third task of mourning is to adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing.[4] For the losses congregations suffer, appointments of new church mothers, deaconesses, deacons, auxiliary leaders, and even trustees will happen.

Once elected to serve, they will seek to fill the vacated positions of those who have died. Their ascendancy into their new roles will secure the future of the church, staving off decline.

And finally, the fourth task of mourning is to withdraw emotional energy and reinvest it in another relationship.[5] People with whom congregations have formed strong bonds of affection will be hard to replace.

However, if the ministry is to continue functioning, it will have to be willing to let go of the deceased and be receptive to new leadership. The membership—those who remain—must be open to accepting them for the unique gifts and talents they may bring, not holding them to the way it used to be.

Once we accomplish these four tasks of mourning, Black church congregations will resume our usual rhythms of worship. We will gather to give adoration to God, who has sustained us and never left us, and allowed us to come together one more time. Yes, there will be glory after this coronavirus pandemic is over, and we shall see God’s glory in its new splendor.

The strict precautions of social distancing have caused a limited number of family members and friends who could gather for funerals to pay their last respects.

If you wish to contact Rev. Dr. Smith, he can be reached at rsmith@nbts.edu

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Worden, pp. 11-13.

Ibid., pp.13-14.

II Corinthians 5:8.

Worden, pp. 14-15.

Ibid., pp. 15-16.

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

61

Rutgers-Newark and and Rutgers-Newark Community Allies Allies Community Help Mitigate Mitigate Digital Digital Help Divide Among Among Seniors Seniors Divide

By Ferlanda Fox Nixon

By Ferlanda By Ferlanda Fox Fox Nixon Nixon

T

he internet has been a source of survival for many he internet has been of for he internet been aa source source of survival survival for many many during the has coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately, too many elderly adults lag behind the rest of the too many adults lag the rest of too many elderly elderly adults lag behind behind thethe restinternet of the the population in their ability to access population in their ability to access the internet population in their ability to access the internet as a resource to connect and socialize with family as resource to connect and with family as aaand resource tohealthy connectliving. and socialize socialize withdivide family and friends support The digital is and friends and support healthy living.

The digital divide is and friends and support healthy living.

The digital divide is even more profound among senior citizens who live alone even more profound even more profound among among senior senior citizens citizens who who live live alone alone in urban areas. in urban areas. in urban areas.

“The adverse effects of social isolation among seniors are “The of isolation among seniors are “The adverse adverse effects effects of social social isolation seniorsInstiare well-documented in a study by the AARP among Public Policy well-documented in a study by the AARP Public Policy Instiwell-documented in a study by the AARP Public Policy Institute, Stanford University and Harvard University,” said Ditute, Stanford University and Harvard University,” Ditute, Stanford University andfor Harvard University,” said saidpartDiane Hill, assistant chancellor university-community ane Hill, assistant chancellor for university-community partane Hill, assistant chancellor for university-community partnerships at Rutgers University–Newark. “The use of digital nerships at Rutgers University–Newark.

“The use digital nerships at has Rutgers University–Newark. use of ofthe digital technology proven to be a useful tool“The for closing gap, technology has proven to be a useful tool for closing the gap, technology has proven to be a useful tool for closing the gap, however, many lack access to user-friendly devices, technical however, many lack access to however, access to user-friendly user-friendly devices, devices, technical technical assistance,many and lack Internet access.” assistance, and Internet access.” assistance, and Internet access.”

To help mitigate the digital divide that persists among To mitigate the divide that persists among To help help mitigateNewark, the digital digital that for persists among seniors of Greater the divide Advocates Healthy Livseniors of Greater Newark, the Advocates for Healthy Livseniors of Greater Newark, the Advocates for Healthy Living Initiative (AHLI), Rutgers-Newark’s Office of Universiing Initiative Rutgers-Newark’s Office of ing Initiative (AHLI), (AHLI), Rutgers-Newark’s Office of UniversiUniversity-Community Partnerships (OUCP), and several commuty-Community Partnerships (OUCP), and several ty-Community Partnerships (OUCP), and several commucommuDonated tablets, which come Donated tablets, tablets, which come come Donated preinstalled with which software, preinstalled with with software, software, preinstalled allow individuals to participate allow individuals individuals to to participate participate allow in virtual events, receive in virtual virtual events, events, receive receive in telemedicine services, and telemedicine services, and telemedicine services, make appointments forand other make appointments appointments for for other other make essential services—all within essential services—all services—all within within essential the comfort of their own homes. the comfort of their own homes. the comfort of their own homes.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

nity partners joined forces. Through the Senior Connect nity partners joined forces.

Through the Connect nity partners forces. the Senior Senior Connect initiative, theyjoined procured 205Through Fire 7 tablets for senior citiinitiative, they procured 205 Fire 7 tablets for senior citiinitiative, they procured 205 Fire 7 tablets for senior citizens who participate in AHLI’s virtual health and wellness zens who in virtual health and wellness zens who participate participate in AHLI’s AHLI’s virtual health wellness programs.

Rutgers-Newark student coaches andand staff at Rutprograms.

Rutgers-Newark student coaches and staff at programs.

Rutgers-Newark student coaches and staff at RutRutgers-Newark’s Office of Information and Technology-Newgers-Newark’s Office of Information and Technology-Newgers-Newark’s Office of Information and Technology-Newark Computing Services received 25 of the tablets to provide ark Computing Services 25 tablets provide ark Computing Services received received 25 of of the theservices. tablets to toAmazon. provide participants instruction and supportive participants instruction and supportive services.

Amazon. participants instruction and supportive services.

Amazon. com, Inc., as well as Rotary Clubs of Newark, Roselle-Roselle com, Inc., as Clubs Newark, Roselle-Roselle com, Inc., as as well welland as Rotary Rotary Clubs of of Newark,the Roselle-Roselle Park (Hillside), East Orange donated tablets.

Park (Hillside), and East Orange donated the tablets.

Park (Hillside), and East Orange donated the Grateful for the efforts of AHLI through thetablets.

Senior ConGrateful for the of through the Senior Grateful for Mildred the efforts efforts of AHLI AHLI through theprincipal Senior ConConnect initiative, English, a retired vice who nect initiative, Mildred English, aa retired vice principal who nect initiative, Mildred English, retired vice principal who has served on the AHLI Advisory Board for the past 10 years, has served the Board for the 10 has served on on the AHLI AHLI Advisory Advisory Board theapast past 10 years, years, confirmed, “Personally, the internet hasfor been lifeline in so confirmed, “Personally, the internet has been a lifeline in so confirmed, “Personally, the internet has been a lifeline so many ways and has helped me to remain connected tointhe many ways and has helped me to remain connected to the many ways and has helped me to remain connected to the outside world. So, I’m sure those who received the Fire 7 outside world.

So, those who the Fire 77 outside world. appreciate So, I’m I’m sure sure who received received theand Firethe tablets greatly thethose generosity of Amazon tablets greatly appreciate the generosity of Amazon and the tablets variousgreatly Rotaryappreciate Clubs.” the generosity of Amazon and the various Rotary Clubs.” various Rotary Clubs.”

The donated tablets, which come preinstalled with softThe donated tablets, which come with Theallow donated tablets, to which come preinstalled preinstalled with softsoftware, individuals participate in virtual events, reware, allow individuals to participate in virtual events, reware, allow individuals to participate in virtual events, receive telemedicine services, and make appointments for ceive telemedicine services, make appointments for ceive services, and and make for other telemedicine essential services—all within the appointments comfort of their other essential services—all within the comfort of their other essential services—all within the comfort of their own homes. To reduce the anxiety of those who may not own homes. the anxiety of who not own homes. To To reduce reduce anxietytrained of those those who may may not be technologically savvy,the OUCP’s student workers be technologically savvy, OUCP’s trained student workers be technologically savvy, OUCP’s trained student workers provide group or one-on-one support to any senior who provide group provide group or or one-on-one one-on-one support support to to any any senior senior who who needs assistance. needs assistance. needs assistance.

“It is good to know that our seniors will be able to use “It is to that seniors be use “It Fire is good good to know know that our our seniorsorwill will be able able to to their 7 tablets to receive updates participate in use our their Fire 7 tablets to receive updates or participate in our their 7 tablets to programs,” receive updates participate in our healthFire and wellness Hill or declared.

AHLI has health and programs,” Hill declared.

AHLI has health and wellness wellness Hill and declared. has been hosting weekly programs,” exercise classes healthAHLI and wellbeen hosting weekly exercise classes and health wellbeen hosting for weekly exercise classes and“Moreover, health and and wellness sessions seniors since July 2020. the Seness sessions for seniors since July 2020.

“Moreover, the Seness sessions for seniors since July 2020.

“Moreover, the Senior Connect initiative will conduct a pilot research study nior Connect initiative will conduct aa pilot research study nior initiative pilotand research study with Connect the Rutgers Schoolwill of conduct Public Affairs Administrawith the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administrawith the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration to ascertain other ways we can keep our seniors ention to other tion to ascertain ascertain other ways ways we we can can keep keep our our seniors seniors enengaged,” added Hill. gaged,” added Hill. gaged,” added Hill.

“The importance of connectivity has been underscored “The importance of connectivity has underscored importance connectivity has been been underscored by “The the pandemic andofthose at the Senior Connect initiative by the pandemic and those at the Senior Connect initiative by the pandemic and those at the Senior Connect initiative are dedicated to ensuring our seniors stay connected while are dedicated to our seniors stay while are dedicated to ensuring ensuring our seniors stay connected connected while socially distant,” said Jillian Irvin, Amazon’s senior managsocially distant,” said Jillian Amazon’s managsocially distant,” said“Amazon Jillian Irvin, Irvin, Amazon’stosenior senior manager of public policy. is committed bridging the er of public policy.

“Amazon is committed to bridging the er of public policy.

“Amazon is committed to bridging the digital divide and making sure everyone in our community, digital divide and making sure in community, digital divide making sure everyone everyone in our our especially theand most vulnerable, have access to community, technology. especially the most vulnerable, have access to technology. especially the mostworking vulnerable, have access technology.

We will continue toward that goal to with our local We will working We will continue continue working toward toward that that goal goal with with our our local local partners in Newark.” partners partners in in Newark.”

Newark.” www.thepositivecommunity.com

Culture Culture

music, music,art art++literature literature

National National Action ActionNetwork Network Weekly Weekly Saturday SaturdayAction ActionRally Rally

R

ev. Al Sharpton and National Action ev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network (NAN) hosted their weekly Network (NAN) hosted their weekly Saturday Action Rally on February Saturday Action Rally on February 20, 2021. Along with guest speakers Attor20, 2021.

Along with guest speakers Attorney Ben Crump, NY State Senator John Liu, ney Ben Crump, NY State Senator John and local Asian American advocates, the Liu, and local Asian American advocates, rally focused on combatting the rise ofthe hate rally focused on combatting thethroughout rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans crimes against Asian believe Americans throughout the country.

Officials the horrencous the country.

Officials believe the attacks are primarily due to formerhorrencous President attacks are primarily dueagainst to former President Trump’s hateful rhetoric Asian AmerTrump’s hateful rhetoric against Asian icans, coining the term “China Virus.” Americans, coining the term “China Virus.”

Photos: Seitu Oronde

National Action Network Founder Rev. Al Sharpton and Attorney Ben Crump National Action Network Founder Rev. Al Sharpton and Attorney Ben Crump

Reverend Al Sharpton with Nicole Henriquez, cousin of the slain Asian teenager Christian Hall; State Senator JohnHenriquez, Liu and Attorney Crump Reverend Alwith Sharpton with Nicole cousin Ben of the slain Asian teenager

Christian Hall; with State Senator John Liu and Attorney Ben Crump

Rev. Dr. Robert M. Waterman, candidate for NY City Council

Rev. Dr. Robert M. Waterman, candidate for NY City Council

State Senator John Liu

State Senator John Liu

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021 The Positive Community

63

AS FOOD INSECURITIES IN OUR COMMUINTIES AASS FFO OO ODD IIN NSSEECCUURRIITTIIEESS IIN N O OUURR CCO OM MM MUUIIN NTTIIEESS CONTINUE TO GROW, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE CCO ON NTTIIN NUUEE TTO O GGRRO OW W,, W WEE AARREE RREEM MIIN NDDEEDD O OFF TTHHEE WWOORRKKTTHHAATTLLIEIESSAAHHEEAADDININTTHHEEMMOONNTTHHSS TTOO CCOOM E! WORK THAT LIES AHEAD IN THE MONTHS TO COM MEE !!

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SUPPORT SUPPORT

HARLEM HARLEM

NOW! NOW!

Please take a moment to make a donation to combat Please take to make to PleaseINSECURITIES take aa moment moment make aa donation donation to combat combat FOOD ininto communities of color and to FOOD INSECURITIES communities of color FOOD INSECURITIES in communities of color and and to to assist us so that we may focus our energy and assist us so that we may focus our energy and assist us so that we may focus our energy and resources on supporting our communities in this resources resources on on supporting supporting our our communities communities in in this this time of need, including initiatives that: time of need, including initiatives that: time of need, including initiatives that: • • Feed needy seniors, hungry families, and the • Feed Feed needy needy seniors, seniors, hungry hungry families, families, and and the the homeless.

We now currently feed well homeless. We We now now currently currently feed feed well well in in access access of of homeless. in access of 2000 persons per day, 66days aaweek; 2000 persons per day, days week; 2000 persons per day, 6 days a week; • • Address the need for PPE - Personal Protection • Address Address the the need need for for PPE PPE -- Personal Personal Protection Protection Equipment – distributing masks, gloves, gowns, Equipment – distributing masks, Equipment – distributing masks, gloves, gloves, gowns, gowns, hand sanitizer &&thermometers; hand thermometers; hand sanitizer sanitizer & thermometers; • • • Combat Combat the ever deepening chasm of the Technology Combatthe theever everdeepening deepeningchasm chasmof of the the Technology Technology Digital Divide by providing devices, connectivity, Digital Divide by providing devices, connectivity, Digital Divide by providing devices, connectivity, and and digital digital literacy children, seniors, families; digitalliteracy literacytoto tochildren, children,seniors, seniors,&& & families; families; Provide connectivity information to prevent • • • Provide Provideconnectivity connectivity&& &information informationto to prevent prevent small small business closures and link businesses to PPPbusiness closures and link businesses to PPPbusiness closures and link businesses to PPPPaycheck Protection Programs that secure Paycheck PaycheckProtection ProtectionPrograms Programsthat thatsecure secure employment. employment. employment.

HELP

YOUR YOUR NEEDED ISIS NEEDED

NOW! MORE THAN THAN EVER EVER MORE

NOAMOUNT AMOUNT NO TOOLARGE LARGE ISISTOO ORTOO TOOSMALL SMALL OR PLEASE MAIL CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS TO:

PLEASE M MAIL AIL CCHECKS HECKS OOR R M MONEY ONEY O ORDERS RDERS TTO: O: PLEASE GHCC GHCC C COMMUNITY OMMUNITY FFUND UND GHCC COMMUNITY FUND 200A 200A W WEST EST 1 136TH 36TH SSTREET TREET N NEW EW YYORK,10030 ORK,10030 200A WEST 136TH S TREET

N EW Y ORK,10030 YOU YOU C CAN AN A ALSO LSO D DONATE ONATE O ONLINE: NLINE: YOU SUPPORTHARLEMNOW.ORG CAN ALSO DONATE ONLINE: SUPPORTHARLEMNOW.ORG SUPPORTHARLEMNOW.ORG OR OR T TEXT EXT SSUPPORT21 UPPORT21 T TO O 4 474747 74747 OR T EXT S UPPORT21 T O 4 74747 FOR I NFORMATION C ALL: ( 212) 8 62-­‐7200 FOR INFORMATION CALL: (212) 862-­‐7200 FOR INFORMATION CALL: (212) 862-­‐7200

Leader Leader Leader

h ’S o SStacy l :P h h aRlem wn tacy ynch utting eR haRlem aRlem’’SS o own wn S tacy l lynch ynch:: P Putting utting h heR eR l and exPeRience to woRk FoR diStRict 7 egacy legacy egacy and and exPeRience xPeRience to to woRk oRk FoR FoR diStRict iStRict 7 By R.L. Witter By

By R.L. R.L. Witter Witter

Photos courtesy of Stacy Lynch

W W

e’ve all heard that good things come in small e’ve all that good things in e’ve all heard heard that goodworld, thingsifcome come in small small packages.

In a perfect you Googled e’ve all heard that good things come in small packages.

In aa perfect world, if you Googled packages.

In perfect world, if you Googled that saying, you’d find a photo of Stacy Lynch, packages.

In a perfect world, if you Googled that saying, find photo of Stacy Lynch, thatDistrict saying, 7you’d you’d find aa in photo of Stacy Lynch, City Council candidate New York City.

The thatDistrict saying, 7you’d find a in photo of Stacy Lynch, City Council candidate New York City.

The City Council District 7 candidate in New York City.

The only thing small about her is her stature and I promise, City Council District 7 candidate in New York City.

The only thing small about her is her stature and I promise, only thing small about her is her stature and I promise, once she begins speaking, you’ll think she’s ten feet tall. only thing small about her is her stature and I promise, once she begins you’ll think she’s ten feet tall. once shesomething begins speaking, speaking, you’ll think she’sthe tenfirst feettime tall.

There’s familiar about Lynch once she begins speaking, you’ll think she’s ten feet tall.

There’s something familiar about Lynch the first time There’s something familiar about Lynch the first time you meet her.

She smiles brightly and laughs easily.

She There’s something familiar about Lynch the first time you meet her.

She smiles brightly and laughs She you meet her.

She smiles brightly andopponent laughs easily. easily.

She knows her stuff and she’s a formidable if you’re you meet her.

She smiles brightly and laughs easily.

She knows her stuff and she’s a formidable opponent if you’re knows her stuff and she’s a formidable opponent if you’re running against her, and valuable ally if you’re with her. knows her stuff and she’s a formidable opponent if you’re running running against against her, her, and and a valuable valuable ally ally if if you’re you’re with with her. her. running against her, and a valuable ally if you’re with her.

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The Positive Community Spring 2021

The daughter of Mary and William “Bill” (the RumThe daughter of and William “Bill” (the RumThe daughter of Mary Mary and William “Bill” and (thecomes Rumpled Genius) Lynch, Stacy grew up in Harlem The daughter of Mary and William “Bill” (the Rumpled Genius) Lynch, Stacy grew up in Harlem and comes pled Genius) Lynch, Stacy grew up in Harlem and comes by her love of New York City and political prowess honpled Genius) Lynch, Stacy grew up in Harlem and comes by her of New York City political prowess honby her“Ilove love of New Yorkpolitics City and and political prowess honestly. ran away from for a number of reasons by her love of New York City and political prowess honestly.

“I ran away from politics for a number of reasons estly. “I ran away from politics for a number of reasons because I saw the toll politics and the political arena estly.

“I ran away from politics for a number of reasons because I saw politics and the political arena because saw the the toll toll politics and the the political arena takes on aaII candidate, the people behind scenes, and because saw the toll politics and the the political arena takes on candidate, the people behind scenes, takes on a candidate, the people behind the scenes, and and their families,” she explained.

“But at the same time, takes on a candidate, the people behind the scenes, andII their families,” she explained.

“But at the same time, their families,” she explained.

“But at the same time, I was aware of the impact this very intense and grueling their families,” she explained.

“But at the same time, I was aware of the impact this very intense and grueling was aware of the impact this very intense and grueling career has on people and families.

Public service was a rewas aware of the impact this very intense and grueling career has people and Public service was aa recareer has on on people and families. families.

Public service wastheir responsibility in our household.”

The Lynches started career has on people and families.

Public service wastheir a responsibility in our household.”

The Lynches started sponsibility in our household.”

The Lynches started their children young with cleaning up the street and handing sponsibility in our household.”

The Lynches started their children young with cleaning up the street and handing children young withThe cleaning up the street andhas handing out food at church. calling to be of service always children young with cleaning up the street and handing out food at The out food at church. church.

The calling calling to to be be of of service service has has always always been inside Stacy. out food at church.

The calling to be of service has always been inside Stacy. been inside Stacy.

With aa B.A. in Political Science from Hampton Univerbeen inside Stacy.

With in Science from UniverWith aa B.A. B.A. in Political Political Science from Hampton Hampton University and law degree from Quinnipiac University, Lynch With a B.A. in Political Science from Hampton University and a law degree from Quinnipiac University, Lynch sity and a law degree from Quinnipiac University, Lynch possesses both the educational and political pedigrees to sity and a law degree from Quinnipiac University, Lynch possesses both the educational and political pedigrees to possesses both the educational and political pedigrees to be a major player and make a difference in New York polpossesses both the educational and political pedigrees to be a major player and make a difference in New York polbe a major player and make a difference in New York politics.

“I learned from the greatest—my dad, and Mayor be a major player and make a difference in New York politics.

“I from the dad, and Mayor itics.

“I learned learned from the greatest—my greatest—my dad, andwomen Mayor Dinkins.

My dad surrounded himself with strong itics.

“I learned from the greatest—my dad, andwomen Mayor Dinkins.

My dad surrounded himself with strong Dinkins.

My dad surrounded himself with strong women who were leaders in the community like Betty Shabazz, Dinkins.

My dad surrounded himself with strong women who were leaders in like Betty Shabazz, who wereHeight, leadersHazel in the the community community like BettyEdelman, Shabazz, Dorothy Marian Wright who wereHeight, leadersHazel in theDukes, community like BettyEdelman, Shabazz, Dorothy Dukes, Marian Wright Dorothy Height, Hazel Dukes, Marian Wright Edelman, and list goes on.

He was brilliant in that way,” she said.

“I Dorothy Height, Hazel Dukes, Marian Wright Edelman, and list on.

He was in way,” said.

“I and list goes goes on.

He was brilliant brilliant in that that way,” she she said.

“I learned part of it is your educational pedigree and your and list goes on.

He was brilliant in that way,” she said.

“I learned part of it is your educational pedigree and your learned part of it is your educational pedigree and your life experiences, but a whole lot of it is staying connected learned part of it is your educational pedigree and your life experiences, but whole lot of connected life experiences, but aaAnd whole lothelps of it it is is staying staying connected with the community. that my decisions life experiences, but aAnd whole lothelps of it inform is staying connected with the community. that inform my decisions with the community.

And that helps inform my decisions regarding what policies should look like for District 7 or with the community.

And that helps inform my decisions regarding what policies should look like for District 7 or regarding what policies should look like for District 7civil or the City.”

She can also pick up the phone and call regarding what policies should look like for District 7 or the City.”

She can also pick up the phone and call civil the City.”

She can also pick up the phone and call civil rights icons and elected officials and talk to them as if the City.”

She can also pick up the phone and call civil rights icons and officials rights icons and elected elected officials and and talk talk to to them them as as if if they’re just hanging out. rights icons and elected officials and talk to them as if they’re they’re just just hanging hanging out. out.

Lynch slipped under the radar to take a job as assistant they’re just hanging out.

Lynch under the to aa job Lynch slipped slipped under the radar radar tointake take job as as assistant assistant commissioner for External Affairs the of Lynch slipped under the radar tointake aDepartment job as assistant commissioner for External Affairs the Department of commissioner for External Affairs in the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

“I was commissioner for External Affairs in the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

“I was Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

“I was able to do good things and give away beautiful things to Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

“I was able to things and give away beautiful things to able to do do good good And things and to give away was beautiful things to the community. giving others healing for me able to do good things and give away beautiful things to the community.

And giving to others was healing for me the community.

And giving to others was healing for me after my dad passed.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blathe community.

And giving to others was healing for me after my dad New City Mayor Bill after myhearing dad passed.” passed.”

New York York City Mayor go-getter Bill de de BlaBlasio was good things about aa young in after myhearing dad passed.”

New York City Mayor go-getter Bill de Blasio was good things about young in sio was hearing good things about a young go-getter in DCYD and when he got word the person was Bill Lynch’s sio was hearing good things about a young go-getter in DCYD and when he got word the person was Bill Lynch’s DCYD and when he got word the person was Bill Lynch’s daughter, he asked her to take a position in City Hall.

As DCYD and when he got word the person was Bill Lynch’s daughter, he her in Hall.

As daughter, he asked asked her to to take take aa position position in City City Hall.

As deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Maydaughter, he asked her to take a position in City Hall.

As deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Maydeputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Mayor’s Office, Lynch was empowered to make a difference deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Mayor’s Office, Lynch was to or’s Office, Lynch was empowered empowered to make make aa difference difference in the lives of members of underrepresented communior’s Office, Lynch was empowered to make a difference in the lives of members of underrepresented communiin the lives of members of underrepresented communities.

“I worked closely with the First Lady and her team to in the lives of members of underrepresented communities.

“I worked closely with the First Lady and her team to ties.

“I worked closely with the First Lady and her team to create Brothers and Sisters Thrive.

It’s a coalition of the ties.

“I worked closely with the First Lady and her team to create Brothers and Sisters Thrive.

It’s a coalition of the create Brothers and Sisters Thrive. It’s a coalition of the on next page create Brothers and Sisters Thrive. It’s cont’d a coalition of the cont’d on next page cont’d on next page cont’d on next page www.thepositivecommunity.com

STACY LYNCH cont’d from previous page STACY LYNCH cont’d from previous page STACY LYNCH cont’d from previous page

Thrive mental health initiative that is First Lady Chirlane Thrive mental health initiative thatisisFirst FirstLady LadyChirlane Thrive mental health that McCray’s baby and initiative working with the Divine 9 toChirlane address McCray’s baby and working withthe theDivine Divine99to to address address McCray’s baby and working with mental health in the Black community,” said Lynch.

“My mental health in the Black community,” said Lynch.

“My mental the Black said Lynch. finalhealth projectinbefore I left community,” the administration was the“My Rafinal project before I left the administration was the Rafinalcial project before I left the administration was the RaInclusion and Equity Taskforce.

There was aa sense cial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce.

There was sense cial within Inclusion administration and Equity Taskforce.

There wascolor a sense within the the administration that that communities communities of of color felt felt within the administration that communities of color felt unheard unheard during during the the pandemic.” pandemic.” unheard during the pandemic.”

Lynch’s Lynch’s platform platform covers covers aa range range of of topics topics that that affect affect Lynch’s platform covers a range of topics that affect the entire city, but especially communities of color. the entire city, but especially communities of color. “What “What the entire but especially communities of color. affects city, us today is eventually going to affect the “What Upper affects us today is eventually going to affect the Upper West Side too,” she cautioned. “I’m going to fight for WestmySide too,”When she cautioned.

“I’m going to everyone. fight for people.

I say ‘my people,’ I mean my It people.

I say ‘my people,’ mean everyone. doesn’tWhen have to be someone from IHarlem.

It can be It doesn’t have toWashington be someone from Harlem.

It can be someone from Heights; Brownsville, Brooksomeone from Washington Heights; Brownsville, Brooklyn; Heights, the Upper or someone from Washington Heights; Brooklyn; Jackson Jackson Heights, Queens; Queens; the Brownsville, Upper West West Side Side or else in the city.

If I feel community members lyn; anywhere Jackson Heights, Queens; the Upper West Side or anywhere else in the city. If I feel community members or have valid point, to anywhere else in groups the city.

If Iaa feel members or community community groups have validcommunity point, I’m I’m going going to adadvocate for you inside City Hall.”

Her father once told or community groups validHer point, I’monce going toher, advocate for you insidehave City aHall.” father told her, “When you’re in city particularly the Mayvocate for you inside Citygovernment, Hall.” Her father once told her, “When you’re in city government, particularly the Mayor’s Office, there’s nothing you can’t do.

You just have “When city government, particularly or’s you’re Office, in there’s nothing you can’t do. You the just Mayhave decide what you want to do.” Stacy didn’t get it at the or’s to Office, there’s nothing can’t do.

Yougetjust to decide whatshe you want“Let’s toyou do.”

Stacy didn’t it athave the time, but now does. start paying for things that to decide what you want to do.”

Stacy didn’t get it at that the time, but now she does.

“Let’s start paying for things will actually change the lives of the people who are suftime, but now she does.is“Let’s paying forwho things that will actually livesstart ofofthe arework suffering.

Somechange of that the quality life people issues like the will fering. actually change the lives of the people who are sufSome of that is quality of life issues like the work environment, health care, child care, and mental health.” fering. of that is quality ofsolve life like the work environment, health care, child care,issues and issues, mental health.”

She Some continued, “I think if you core the enerenvironment, health care, child care, and mental health.”

Shewill continued, you solve core issues, energy lighten up“Iathink little if bit.

If people don’t havethe to worry Sheabout continued, “Iup think if you core issues, the energy will their lighten a little bit.

Ifsolve people don’t have to worry rent because they’re making more than just a gy will lighten a because littlepeople bit.they’re If will people don’t havethan toaworry living wage, I think live differently.

If childa about their up rent making more just is getting a proper culturally sensitive, about their rent they’re making more than a living wage, I because think education people willthat live isdifferently.

If a just child if go to a therapist anddifferently. worry If about the living wage, Ican people will live a child is people getting athink proper education that isnot culturally sensitive, cost orathe stigma with we’llworry see aabout different is getting proper that isit,culturally sensitive, if people can go education toassociated a therapist and not the society.

People need to stop talking about it and put their if people can go to a therapist and not worry about the cost or the stigma associated with it, we’ll see a different mouths are.” costmoney or thewhere stigmatheir associated it, about we’ll see a different society.

People need to stopwith talking it and put their There’s an amazing authenticity about Lynch.

She society.

People need stop talking it and put their money where theirtomouths are.” about comes across as truly genuine, unscripted, and authenmoneyThere’s where their mouths authenticity are.” an amazing about Lynch. She tically herself. “I am at my best when people feel I am There’s an amazing authenticity about Lynch.

She comes across as truly genuine, unscripted, and authenwarm, listening to them, and real. My father and a whole comes across as truly genuine, unscripted, and authentically herself. “I am at my best when people feel I am tically herself.

“I am at myand bestreal. when peopleand feel I am warm, listening to them, My father a whole www.thepositivecommunity.com warm, listening to them, and real. My father and a whole

Lynch’s platform covers a range of topics Lynch’s of of topics Lynch’splatform platformcovers coversa arange range topics that affect the entire city, but especially that but especially that affect affectthe theentire entirecity, city, but especially communities of color.

“What affects us communities affects us us communitiesofofcolor. color.“What “What affects today is eventually going to affect the today affect thethe today isiseventually eventuallygoing goingtoto affect Upper West Side too,” she cautioned.

Upper West Side too,” she cautioned.

“I’m going to fight for my people.

“I’m going to fight for my people. bunch of people who have nurtured me and poured into bunch people nurtured pouredtointo me are me are of with me onwho this have journey.

But it isme soand important me II am my authentic self, going me that are with this journey.

Butor is so I’m important me that amme myon authentic self, win win orit lose. lose.

I’m going to to say what I think the community wants to be said me that I am my authentic self, win or lose.

I’m going to say what I think the community wants to be said and and either people vote me in or some people start thinking to say what I think the community wants to be said either people vote me in or some people start thinkingand differently.”

She once asked Mayor Blasio, “How can either people in or somede differently.”

Shevote onceme asked Mayor depeople Blasio,start “Howthinking can you and some of your colleagues ask people who don’t differently.” oncecolleagues asked Mayor de Blasio, you and someShe of your ask people who“How don’t can live these communities what needs happen?” you in and some of your colleagues askto whoShe don’t live in these communities what needs topeople happen?”

She told him, “That is foreign to me. It’s like going in and relive him, in these communities what needs to happen?”

She told “That is foreign to me.

It’s like going in and redecorating someone’s entire home without asking what told him, “That is foreign to me.

It’s like going in and decorating someone’s entire home without asking what rethey like, want, or need.” decorating someone’s entire home without asking what they like,other want,thing or need.”

One about Stacy Lynch is her committhey like, want, or need.”

One other thing about Stacy is her ofcommitment.

She’s a lifelong Knicks fan, Lynch the epitome loyalty One other thing about Stacy Lynch is her commitment.

She’s a lifelong Knicks fan, the epitome of loyalty and dedication. Even the staunchest of Knicks fans waivment.

She’s a lifelong Knicks fan, the epitome of loyalty and dedication.

Even the staunchest of Knicks fans waiver occasionally. Not Stacy. She also loves dogs and Janet and dedication.

Even the staunchest of Knicks fans er occasionally.

Not Stacy.

She also lovesN.dogs and Janet Jackson.

Her father and Mayor David Dinkins oncewaiver occasionally.

Not Stacy.

She also loves dogs and Janet arranged for her to meet Ms. Jackson performing Jackson. Her father and Mayor Davidwhile N. Dinkins once Jackson.

HerCity. father and Mayor David N.performing Dinkins once in New York “That was RHYTHM NATION JANET arranged for her to meet Ms. Jackson while JACKSON!” Despite chalarranged forshe herexcitedly to meet Ms. Jackson while the performing in New York City.

“That wasexplained.

RHYTHM NATION JANET lenges campaigning during a pandemic, Stacy in NewofYork City.

“That was RHYTHM NATION JANET JACKSON!” she excitedly explained.

Despite theLynch chalis confident, dedicated, and determined to be of service.

JACKSON!” she excitedly explained.

Despite the challenges of campaigning during a pandemic, Stacy Lynch She’s committed to improving lives, buttoyou also have lenges of campaigning during a pandemic, Stacy Lynch is confident, dedicated, and determined be of service. to watch out for her.

By the end of our time together is confident, dedicated, and determined to be service.

She’s committed to improving lives, but you alsoofhave she had threatened to run a Boston on me in a game She’s committed to improving you also have to watch out for her.

By the end lives, of ourbut time together of spades at my own family reunion. “I am my father’s to watch out for her.

By the end of together she had threatened to run a Boston onour me time in a game daughter,” she chuckled. shespades had threatened to runreunion. a Boston on me in a game of at my own family “I am my father’s of spades she at my own family reunion. “I am my father’s daughter,” chuckled.

Spring 2021 The Positive Community 67 daughter,” she chuckled.

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America’s America’sBest BestMusic; Music;aaWorld-Class World-ClassSound!

Sound!

Streaming StreamingLive Live24/7: 24/7:“In “InClassic ClassicBlack” Black”

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Positive PositiveCommunity CommunityRadio Radio As AsSeen Seenin: in:

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hehePositive PositiveCommunity Communityhas hasintroduced introduceda abig bigdeal dealplayplaylist listthat thatroars roarswith withgood goodmusic; music;there thereare arenonocategories categories orordistinctions distinctionsbetween betweentheir theirflow: flow:Doowop, Doowop,bebop, bebop,hip hip hop hopare arefamily familymembers membersofofthe theBlack BlackDiaspora Diasporasharing sharing a acultural, cultural,historical historicaland andspiritual spirituallineage lineageofofmusic. music.“We “Wewant wanttotoplay play allallthe themusic musicold oldand andnew,” new,”said saidCOO COOand andco-founder co-founderJean JeanNash NashWells.

Wells.

“We “Wewant wantour ourmusic musictotoinfluence influenceyounger youngerpeople peopletotobroaden broadentheir theirmumusical sicalpalate palateand andget getexcited excitedabout aboutBlack Blackmusic musicininitsitsmany manycreative creative forms, forms,asaswell wellasasolder olderlisteners listenershearing hearingother othergenres genresofofBlack Blackmusic music they theywouldn’t wouldn’tordinarily ordinarilylisten listento.” to.”ItItisisa asimilar similarconcept concepttotoInner-City Inner-City Broadcasting Broadcastingearly earlyononwhen whenit itowned ownedand andoperated operatedWBLS-FM WBLS-FMknown known asas“The “TheTotal TotalBlack BlackExperience ExperienceininSound,” Sound,”a acatchphrase catchphraseused usedbybyitsits program programdirector directorFrankie FrankieCrocker.

Crocker.The Theradio radiostation stationWWRL-AM WWRL-AMwas was known knownasasThe TheSound SoundofofSoul/Progressive Soul/ProgressiveRadio.”

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Music MusicCritic, Critic,NY NYAmsterdam AmsterdamNews News

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The GreaT african american culTural narraTive

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Read, speak and comprehend— a new language of freedom.

Read and download the great Cultural Narrative View the video online. Go to thepositivecommunity.com

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GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

thepositivecommunity.com

Spring 2021

Vol. 21 No. 3

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Adrian A. Council, Sr.

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Sales

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

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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.

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The Last Word BY

BY R.L. R.L. WITTER WITTER

PLEASE, PLEASE, LET LET ME ME BREATHE BREATHE

A

fter fter nearly nearly aa year year of of anxiety, anxiety, pain, tears, and pain, tears, and righteous righteous anger, anger, II stood stood in in my my living living room in front of the television room in front of the television set. set.

II clutched clutched the the remote remote control control and and held held my my breath breath as as II waited waited to to hear hear the verdict read.

As the judge the verdict read. As the judge read read the the first first charge charge followed followed by by the the word, word, “GUILTY,” “GUILTY,” II yelped. yelped. There There was was aa lump lump in in my my throat throat and and the the tears tears began to slide down my face. began to slide down my face. The The second second charge charge was was read: read: “GUILTY.” “GUILTY.” Then Then the the third, third, “GUILTY.” “GUILTY.” By By then, then, II was sobbing, gasping for was sobbing, gasping for breaths breaths while while doubled doubled over. over. II finally finally collapsed collapsed into the couch, full-on into the couch, full-on bawling—no bawling—no BLUBBERING!!

BLUBBERING!!

My My shoulders shoulders heaved heaved and and my my hands hands reached upward toward the reached upward toward the sky. sky. All All II could say was, “Thank you, Lord.” could say was, “Thank you, Lord.” It It was was as as if if these these were were the the first first breaths breaths II had had taken taken in in aa year. year. II realized realized II had had held my breath quite a held my breath quite a bit bit since since May May 25, 25, 2020.

2020. When When II initially initially saw saw the the video video of George Floyd’s last breath, I of George Floyd’s last breath, I held held my my breath breath in in shock. shock. Sadly, Sadly, II wasn’t wasn’t shocked shocked by by what what happened; happened; II was was shocked shocked we we all all got to see it. got to see it.

After After seeing seeing the the video, video, II held held my my breath as protesters took to the breath as protesters took to the streets. streets.

II took took shallow shallow breaths breaths as as people people around around the world made signs, donned the world made signs, donned masks, masks, gathered gathered en en masse, masse, and and marched marched through through streets streets with with fists fists raised raised chantchanting, “No justice, no peace!” ing, “No justice, no peace!” II gasped gasped and and squealed squealed when when II saw saw aa corner corner near near the White House renamed “Black the White House renamed “Black Lives Lives Matter Matter Plaza.”

Plaza.”

II gagged gagged when when aa shriveled, shriveled, white white couple brandished weapons couple brandished weapons at at peacepeaceful ful protesters protesters in in their their neighborhood. neighborhood.

II nearly hyperventilated nearly hyperventilated when when exactexactly two months to the day ly two months to the day of of George George Floyd’s Floyd’s murder, murder, the the Kenosha Kenosha Shooter Shooter killed two people and killed two people and wounded wounded anan-

other other at at one one of of the the aforementioned aforementioned protests. protests.

The The afternoon afternoon of of April April 20, 20, 2021 2021 climaxed in a moment of suspiration. climaxed in a moment of suspiration.

After After holding holding my my breath, breath, gasping, gasping, and and choking I finally breathed choking I finally breathed aa long, long, deep deep sigh sigh of of relief. relief. I’m I’m hardly hardly naïve. naïve. II know know this is but one guilty verdict. this is but one guilty verdict. But But II am am going going to to celebrate celebrate this this one one time time when when aa Black Black man man slain slain by by aa police police officer officer was seen and heard around was seen and heard around the the world world and and his his death death birthed birthed aa movement movement that that sought sought to to help help the the arc arc of of the the moral moral uniuniverse verse bend bend toward toward justice. justice. After After aa sixsixweek week trial, trial, George George Floyd’s Floyd’s family family could could finally finally breathe. breathe.

America America has has stifled stifled and and suffocated suffocated the lives of Black people the lives of Black people since since before before it it was was officially officially America.

America. It It felt felt surreal surreal to to fill fill my my lungs lungs with with an an air air of of justice. justice. II found myself holding my breath found myself holding my breath again. again.

II wanted wanted to to savor savor the the rare rare air air of of redress. redress.

Only Only moments moments after after that that exhalaexhalation of relief, my chest tightened, tion of relief, my chest tightened, my my breaths breaths again again became became shallow, shallow, and and II cried cried more more tears. tears. As As we we celebrated celebrated the the verdict, 16-year-old Ma’Khia verdict, 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant Bryant breathed breathed her her last last breath breath in in Columbus, Columbus, Ohio.

Bryant was shot four Ohio. Bryant was shot four times times in in the the back within seconds of police arriving back within seconds of police arriving on on scene. scene. To To add add insult insult to to injury, injury, aa trio trio of police officers were recorded of police officers were recorded aa few few minutes minutes later later at at the the scene scene saying, saying, “Blue “Blue lives lives matter.” matter.”

Once Once again, again, II can’t can’t breathe. breathe. We We can’t breathe.

The air and can’t breathe. The air and the the life life are are literally literally being being sucked sucked out out of of us. us. www.thepositivecommunity.com

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