April 2020 Volume 30/ Number 4 • Find Digital Version @ www.unitenewsonline.org •
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Learn the languages that results in wellpaying careers
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Building Empowering Connections
Springfield Now Under “Stay At Home Order” TAKE THE PLEDGE TO SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH
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April Is National Minority Health Month See Article on PAGE 10
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Ujima Kids Corner Mission: Literacy is the foundation of Ujima Language and Literacy. Ujima exists to educate, connect, and empower children and families. EASTER FUN! How many words can you unscramble? 1) tebkas ____________________ 2) lyjel bsane ____________________ 3) egsg ____________________ 4) dcnay ____________________ 5) layhoid ____________________ 6) nyunb ____________________ 7) uthn ____________________ 8) leatcoohc ____________________
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DIVERSE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Book of the Month
Ujima Family Literacy Nights
2nd Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm 1722 N. National (Turning Point Church) • Dinner • Literacy Enrichment (birth5th grade) • Take home a book Ujima Kids Corner powered by:
By: Yangsook Choi The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid is hard enough, but what about when no one can pronounce your name? After finding out that the jar of names selected by her peers goes missing, a classmate discovers her real name and its special meaning.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
How SBA is Helping Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus PAGE 8
Tableof Contents Community Unite News will continue to support it’s readers, advertisers, and subscribers through the COVID-19 pandemic
Page 4
Community Coronavirus (COVID-19: How to Talk to Your Child
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Health & Wellness April is Minority Health Month: The focus is being “Active and Healthy”
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Community Download an e-book, movie, music, audiobook, from The Library
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Community Francine Pratt is Presented the Athena Award Page 5
Business & Money Learn the languages that results in well-paying, and high-rewarding careers
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Arts & Entertainment Chillin’ and Flixin’— Highlighting several shows on Netflix to help pass the time
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Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 3
Unite News Continues To Serve Its Readers through COVID-19 Dear Unite News Readers: We know you all are dealing with considerable challenges having to work from home and manage your lives during this pandemic and our community’s (and our nation’s) response to it. We know you’re getting emails from everyone about their COVID-19 plans and we aren’t trying to add to the clutter, but it’s important to us to keep all of our readers updated on how it impacts you. We wanted to provide you with a heads up that we’re continuing to support our readers, advertisers, and subscribers— scaling our offerings to serve you while being compliant with health related orders and response plans to COVID-19. Please take some time to go to: springfieldmo.gov to take the Help Ozarks pledge and to stay updated on the latest news related to COVID -19. Thanks as always for your patience as we continue to work through this crisis. —Samuel Knox The Unite News Publication is published by Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc.
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The Unite. publication is a monthly newspaper published by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. Our mission is to promote a broader understanding and appreciation of the ethnically diverse talent, community resources and opportunities available in the Springfield/Greene County area. Distribution of Unite. is by free circulation at various locations. However, request for home delivery by mail may be directed to Unite. P. O. Box 1745, Springfield, Missouri 65801 and accompanied by $25. for one year’s postage and handling. Those wishing to make a contribution or become a monthly sponsor should direct correspondence to the same address. Reader’s comments and questions are welcomed. The opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. “The Unite Publication in accepting advertising in this publication, makes no independent investigation concerning the services of products advertised and neither endorses nor recommends the same and assumes no liability therefore.” For further information, you can contact us at (417) 864-7444. Email: unitepublication@ yahoo.com
Community: Events & People ATHENA: An afternoon of gratitude and empowering messages Download an e-book, movie, music, audiobook, from The Library
L to R: Ashley Norgard and Francine Pratt holding their awards. Article and photos by SGF Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield, MO—When the Chamber handed out the third annual ATHENA Award on March 4, honoree Francine Pratt was quick to tell the sold-out crowd of more than 400 that being in front of large groups is not her first choice. “I hope I don’t offend anyone, but it is my calling to do what I do – and those who know me know I prefer being behind the scenes,” she told the group assembled at White River Conference Center. But it’s precisely that attitude of selflessness and desire to help others first that made her the choice of the independent panel of judges for the ATHENA Award, which is designed to honor someone who meets three specific criteria: • Achieving the highest level of professional excellence • Contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community • Actively assisting others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential Pratt, the director of Prosper Springfield, meets all of those criteria and more. Through that initiative, she is working to increase the area’s post-secondary attainment level and reduce the area’s poverty rate. She also has a long career helping others, including serving as a board member for the Missouri College Access Network and a member of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development Equity Project. Her focus on others was on display in her acceptance speech as well, where she noted that her passion is for sharing what she has been given with others – and that the award really belongs to the Springfield community. “Thank you to Springfield for being bold enough to recognize the barriers that need to be challenged, the policies that need to be changed, and access that needs to be given through equitable solutions that Continued on page 9
The Library has partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to support the 2020 Census from March 12 – July 24, and we encourage everyone to respond when their census questionnaire arrives. The first census forms have been arriving this spring, and you can fill out the confidential document via home phone, cell phone, mail or from a computer at 2020Census.gov. The Library can help. If you or someone you know needs an internet-enabled computer to respond to the census, you’re welcome to use the Library’s public computers anytime during branch hours. You do not need to be a Greene County resident or have a library card. The computers will be available to all people at no cost to fill out your census form. Why is it important? Because the census helps our government figure out how much money each state gets for important programs. (This is some of the money returned to us from the taxes we pay to the federal government.) When every Missourian is counted, we get more money for roads and bridges, hospitals, schools and your libraries. It ensures Medicare Part B is fully funded so our seniors can get the care they need. Medicaid long-term care services can help more seniors stay in their homes. The census also determines each state’s representation in Congress. Finally, for every adult and every child that is not counted in the census, our state will lose $1,300 in federal dollars – every year. That adds up to $13,000 per person over the next 10 years. If we aren’t all counted in the 2020 Census, Missouri will be shortchanged for the next decade. ••• The recent concerns over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community forced the library to cancel programs and curtail services. But it also Continued on page 12
Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 5
Learn the languages that results in wellpaying, and highrewarding careers
O
’Reilly Automotive, Jack Henry and Associates, Expedia, Bass Pro Shops, CoxHealth, Mercy, Pitt Technology Group, and World Wide Technology. What do all of these businesses have in common besides having a base of operations within our community? They are all innovative companies with technological roots that employ a large number of professionals in the industry of IT, or Information Technology. IT departments, which make up the whole of tech operations at companies, generally consist of two areas of computer technology; programmers (software) and IT (hardware; computer diagnostics, networking, security). In this article, we will talk about computer programming, the software and programming languages side of IT. O’Reilly Automotive alone has several floors with hundreds of tech employees that encompass a variety of IT departments including areas that require computer programming languages like mobile and app development, software development, and website maintenance and development. Jack Henry and Associates and Expedia closely match those numbers on all levels, with additional departments of expertise at each company that ensure seamless operation of the vast technological needs of these Fortune 500 companies. Springfield has a massive tech landscape that extends even further outside these larger companies as well. Digital agencies like Mostly Serious, Classy Llama, Campaignium, Hook Creative, and ADsmith also call our region home, and they make up a large portion of tech employment in Springfield. A quick Google search for “digital agencies” in Springfield, MO comes up with 4 pages of results, and skim-
ming through them I am able to recall several agencies I’ve heard of in the past that aren’t even showing up in the immediate results. Like O’Reilly, Jack Henry & Associates, and Expedia, these smaller digital agencies also employ computer programmers for their web development needs. On top of designing websites, these agencies also generally offer a variety of marketing needs for companies like social media marketing, graphic design, and brand development. Springfield has even been known to house a few video game development companies; an area of programming that is in high demand across the nation and one that will hopefully find it’s way to our community again through future educational endeavors that will open doors to new opportunities for this type of creative development. But why is tech so big in our community? Nearly every business requires tech to operate on some level within modern times of social media, self-checkout lanes, and online
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shopping. Words like “automation”, “tech”, “programmers”, “coders”, and “engineers” can be downright confusing and even scary, but becoming a programmer that uses programming languages with technology to operate automation is attainable by learning the languages through educational classes online or in schools, which results in incredibly well-paying, and high-rewarding careers. The technological landscape is ever-changing, with infinite opportunities to learn new languages and new technologies, which creates opportunities to increase your value as an employee while simultaneously increasing your capacity for knowledge. The Bureau of Labor Statistics for Missouri shows median wages for IT jobs range from the lowest paying at $47k per year up to around $130k. Springfield, and Missouri at that, is largely known as an industrial and healthcare region, but technology sits at the root, making our businesses’ computers run, Continued on page 7
High-Rewarding Careers Continued from page 6
our machinery operate, our communication easier. Your cell phone runs on a programming language someone created that tells your phone what to do next when you voice-activate it, or allows you to send and receive texts that you can access at any moment. Your digital camera is likely run on C or C++ programming language, a versatile and quick-response language that’s capable of capturing those picture-perfect memories that you can view at the press of a button. Our lives, and the knowledge we can attain through computers and tech devices, are made more accessible by technology and programming languages. At the root, programming languages are essentially a series of letters, numbers, and
characters mixed together to create a language that communicates instructions that are understood by machinery. The code implemented has to be 100% accurate, otherwise, the machine cannot understand the instruction and will not perform the task. People that input the code into the machines are called by many different titles, which can be quite confusing, especially depending on the region you live in. For example, because Springfield is largely a healthcare region, I find it’s been confusing to refer to computer programming professionals as “coders”, (a title used more broadly across the nation), because that term is generally equated with medical coding here. The same goes for another popular title: “engineer”. Engineering in the midwest is largely related to electrical, mechanical, environmental and industrial rather than computers. There are a variety of titles that are synonymous with computer programming like “programmers”, “web developers”, “software developers”, “software engineers” and “coders”, and it can be a toss-up which companies refer to their employees as what, and varies depending on the employee’s role, but they all generally perform the same task; inputting programming languages into the things we use daily to make our lives accessible and shareable, and communication convenient.
Coronavirus (COVID-19: How to Talk to Your Child
Springfield, MO—Your child already knows and kids are hearing about ask questions geared school closings and to your child’s age people getting ill level. Try to keep due to Coronaviinformation simple rus (COVID-19) and remind them and they are that health and worried about school officials in themselves, Springfield and their friends and all over the world Gwen Marshall family. You are working hard Unite Writer want to make to keep everyone sure they are getting re- safe and healthy. liable information — and Tell them what COVyou want them to hear it ID-19 is: from you. Here’s how to COVID-19 is the talk about it. short name for “coronaFind out what your virus disease 2019.” It
is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it. Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick. Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy. Focus on helping your child feel safe, but be truthful. Don’t offer more details than your
child is interested in. For example, if kids ask about school closings, address their questions. But if the topic doesn’t come up, there’s no need to raise it unless it happens. Help Kids Feel in Control: Give your child specific things they can do to feel in control. Teach kids that getting lots of sleep and washing their hands often can help them stay strong and well. Explain that
regular hand washing also helps stop viruses from spreading to others. Be a good role model and let your kids see you washing your hands and following all recommend-
sation about non-news topics. Let them know that Springfield, Missouri is known for its spirit of cooperation and concern for others. That is especially important during
• Teach kids that getting lots of sleep and washing their hands often can help them stay strong and well. ed guidelines. Talk about all the things that are happening to keep people safe and healthy. Young children might be reassured to know that hospitals and doctors are prepared to treat people who get ill. Older children might feel better knowing that scientists are working to develop a vaccine. These talks are also important in the disruption of their normal routine as schools or childcare centers close. Keep the dialogue going: Keep talking to your child about coronavirus as a way to help them learn about their bodies, for example how the immune system fights off disease. Talk about current events with your kids often. It’s important to help them think through stories they hear about. Ask questions: What do you think about these events? How do you think these things happen? Such questions also encourage conver-
this unprecedented time. Let them know that we all can play an important role in protecting our families and others by following the guidance of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coming Events: Dear SPS staff and parents: The spread of COVID-19 in our community requires us to be flexible and make decisions that are in the best interest of public health. In consultation with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, SPS will close all SPS schools until further notice. As this situation continues to evolve, additional modifications may be necessary. As decisions are made, we will share information through our normal communication channels and post updates at www. sps.org/healthupdate.
Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 7
Business News & Personal Finance Unite News collaborates with business development resource agencies to update business readers Springfield, MO— The City of Springfield and surrounding counties have issued “stay at home” orders to protect the public health with new regulations that impact businesses, organizations and employees operating in the area. The orders began at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, and last 30 days unless renewed or withdrawn. Each order contains information about the types of businesses that are considered essential and can continue to operate and provide goods and services, within certain parameters, for the duration of the order. We know you all are dealing with considerable challenges that are changing rapidly related to the pandemic and our community’s (and our nation’s) response to it. We know some of you have had to scale back your services or shut down completely. We are working in collaboration with Minorities In Business, the local chamber, and other business development resource agencies to keep all of our business readers updated on the business news and resources available to you to with we all search for ways to manage our businesses, and families during this difficult period. As always, thanks for your patience as we continue to work through this health crisis and please don’t hesitate to let me know how we can best be helping your businesses throughout this crisis.
How SBA is Helping Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus
JEFFERSON CITY – The U.S. Small Business Administration approved Missouri’s request for assistance through the federal agency’s disaster loan program. This move makes low interest disaster loans available to small businesses and private non-profits severely impacted by
the Coronavirus (COVID-19). SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for each affected small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending The Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA today makes loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Applicants will be able to apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https:// disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@ sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process. Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
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The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020. For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/ Disaster.
The Minority Business Development Agency Launches the “Minority Business and Technology Initiative” with Amazon Business
This initiative is a nationwide training and development series for minority business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups to grow their business with e-commerce. WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Department of Commerce and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced an exciting new collaboration with Amazon Business, The Minority Business and Technology Initiative. The initiative will help thousands of minority entrepreneurs expand their businesses globally and increase sales exponentially through e-commerce technology. As the fastest-growing category of small businesses, minority-owned businesses are significant contributors to the economic vitality of U.S. communities. The Minority Business and Technology Initiative (MBTI) will provide participating minority-owned businesses with guidance, information, and resources to harness the power of the internet and reach more business customers in nine countries around the globe where Amazon Business is available. Continued on page 9
mission in 1962 and is about very well and in many ways a math genius is the glue that named Katherine holds the film Unite News Collaborates Continued from page 8 Johnson who had together. “This collaboration with Amazon Business is an important step into the an important role Kevin Costner future. After a yearlong pilot to test, gather feedback, and assess scalability, in calculating plays the role of we are excited to launch the MBTI,” said Henry Childs II, MBDA National flight trajectories supervisor and Director. “Global e-commerce sales are anticipated to hit over $3 trillion by for NASA. The as usual plays his the end of 2020. Further, Forrester, projects e-commerce sales in the U.S. other two women parttremendous in an inspiralone to reach $892 billion by 2022. The MBTI will provide profiled in thefor minority-owned businesses in the rapidly ing changing manner. world opportunities film also had The film is in of commerce.” significant roles limited release MBTI will leverage resources and content from the Amazon Small one beingAcademy, the Christmas dayof Business with a specific focus on acceleratingon B2B capabilities first black female minority-owned businesses through interactive programming. The and gets to initiative all of will feature training seminars, led by Amazon Business experts, that focus engineer and the the nation right on increasing other leading revenue, exporting, mentorship, job growth, afterand theraising new corporate capital. black women in year. I am hoping Universal Pictures 2016 “We are deeply committed to giving small business owners the help and the West Area that seeing these guidance they seek to take advantage of digital business opportunities,” computers division. The women sisters work their magic in mathsaid Anne Rung, Public Sector Director at Amazon Business. “The Minority are played by some easily recogematics will inspire some young Business and Technology Initiative will harness the educational content of nizable women in the person men andin women to become our Small Business Academy that was launched 2019. The Initiativeengiwill of Taraji P. Henson, Octavia neers and scientists and benefit small businesses in both urban and rural communities, as wildly well as Spencer Monae. technology as generawell. those thatand areJanelle brand-new companies to succeed those thatinhave existed for Their The real message of the film tions.”acting ability can bring anyAccording story to life and2019 the Amazon reality Smallmight be one for Report, our society to the Business Impact third that really partners, happenedwhich simply partyit selling consist ofstill primarily small and medium-sized and that is when you are businesses account more than half of everything in Amazon’s makes it even moreforpowerful. trying to get sold a man in space onlineThe stores and have created more than 1.6 million jobs worldwide. film doesn’t hide from you don’t have time and room Amazon Business and MBDA will launch the first Minority the racial and gender climate of for prejudice to get inBusiness your way. and Technology Initiative webinar event in April, hosted by the the day and with the lead charHopefully we will learnSan thatAntonio MBDA Export Center. The free program will provide minorityowned acters being black and female about everything else in life as businesses with insights, best practices, and skills needed to start and grow in a male dominated space race well. online, or to expand an existing business with e-commerce. and engineering field one can try to support these To learn more about Minority BusinessPlease and Technology Initiative and imagine the day to day challengincredible films and let me know webinar registration, visit www.mbda.gov/MBTI. es that they face. The film gives what you think! us a good idea of a few of the Fences…..93 out of 100 things that they faced and the Hidden Figures 92 out of 100
Great American Taco makes are excellent by the way are a great spot for lunch or dinner complimentary when you order and also offers a convenient an entre. I am not a big queso if you In her comments accepting her award,drive-through Norgard dedicated the need awardto to its fan but they have several vergrab and go. It can also be a namesake. She asked for a show of hands of those who had been personsions of it including a mac and ally mentored or had their lives positively good affected by Fry’s date nightinfluence, spot andwhich prices cheese, green chile and plain. solicited dozens of responses. can go up close to $10 for some The guacamole (which Supporting other womenI am of the menu items but if Santa becoming a fan of) is and Between handing outfresh the two awards, guests heard a moving keynote came to visit you it should not speech from Christa judicial in the U.S. District Court for the delicious. The tacoMoss, choices are law clerk break the bank. And that is one Western District of Missouri. abundant and they are good….. of the other reasons that I am Moss, who has professional and personal connections with both honowhether you want chicken, beef reviewing this– and spotthe because rees, talked about the strong influences that her mother experi- if orence some type of fish. There is a the holidays cleared out your of being a mother – have had on her life, as well as how her strong vegetarian option as well. I like faith has allowed her to believe in things beyond herself. finances it is an affordable the fish tacoevery and successful it was stuffed “Behind woman, there is a tribe option. of successful women who have hertasty. back,” Of shecourse said. “Empowering It women doesn’tatcome full and very is located 2915from E. selfishness. It comes from selflessness. Is there any better way to describe they do have the soft and hard Battlefield Road and is open Ashley and Francine than selfless? They would drop everything they’re shell options. Fish choices are Sunday through Thursday from doing to support another woman, to take up a new project or cause, simply also good with tilapia and ahi 11 to 9 and until 10 on Friday because they are a part of our tribe.” tuna. You may want to try the and Saturday. Four forks!!!
ATHENA Continued from page 5
benefit everyone that calls Springfield home – and I mean everyone,” she said. A new award And consistent with the cuisine This year was also the first for a new honor: the Virginia Fry Rising Star Award. there is an abundance of tequila continued 8 professional woman who is already making a difThe award, from given page to a young as well so if that is your drink ference in the community for herself and other women, is named for community much too early to find out but I or that is what you want to try visionary Virginia Fry – a woman known for her willingness to guide and mentor have been told by very reliable in the new year you are now others through their professional and personal journey. sources that the margaritas Oh and if you The first recipient of the award, attorneyinformed. Ashley Norgard, knows Fry’sjust legaare nice and Norgard well worth a try! to Springfield want tobysound getcy personally. was recruited Fry in like 2013you and are the two worked together for nearly six years, with Fry serving as her mentor.
Restaurant Column
Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 9
Health & Wellness News
April Is Minority Health Month
The focus is being “Active and Healthy.”
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etting healthy and active as a family, a community and a nation, to combat some of the major illnesses we face as minorities and people of color. This year’s theme provided by the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and minority health advocates around the nation is an opportunity to advance health outcomes by highlighting the benefits of incorporating small amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity into your daily routine as recommended by Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. One of the best things you can for your health is to move more. Making simple changes can transform your health tremendously by reducing risks of chronic illnesses that are common in minority groups. It doesn’t have to be anything dramatic just a commitment to physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, is all it takes to see and feel results. Only 1 in 4 adults and 1-5 high school kids meet the daily recommended activity guidelines for cardio and resistance training. Unfortunately these numbers are even lower in minority communities. Within minorities the prevalence of having some sort of chronic disease is greater. Physical activity is one way to improve your health both physically and mentally. Our children need physical movement at a younger age, now more than ever. Children and adolescents starting at age 6 should get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Remember that children imitate adults. You can start by adding
physical activity to your own daily routine and encouraging the children in your life to join you. It starts with you now, to control some of the health issues young adults are faced with earlier in life. Be the change for your legacy. Springfield is all about community and building a healthy community should be one of our greatest priorities. We can create easy and safe options for physical activity that can help every person in SouthMelesha Bailey west Missouri be more active as we live, learn, work, and play together. Teaming up with members of our churches, creating walking groups with your friends, visiting local gyms and forming groups that are dedicated to getting more physical activity is one way to start. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) along with CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) encourages the advancement of health equity by sharing why physical activity matters and the benefits of physical activity. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition outlines the amounts and types of physical activity needed to maintain or improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The Move Your Way Campaign provides resources to help explain the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. If you need help creating a healthy habit plan to get more physical activity, contact me for a special offer for the readers of Unite to help get you moving. Your life, health and well-being start with putting one step forward, making a commitment to yourself to do whatever it takes to live your life happy and in good health. Let me help you get started. Be the change for your legacy.
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Dear readers, this month my Autism article is going to look a little bit different. This is new territory for all of us and we’re all trying to get through in our own ways. On top of that, we also have been having a little bit extra on our plates living day to day in a home with children with special needs and trying to navigate that world is a daily marathon. That being said, I just wanted to give a few resources I’ve found to be helpful during this time. If you haven’t already joined the Facebook group for local Greene County Moms, please do so! I promise this resource is so helpful! Facebook Group: M.O.C.H.A (Moms of Children who have Autism) https://www.facebook.com/groups/MothersOfChildrenwhoHaveAutism/ Social Stories help put things into perspective that might be hard to explain. I know my son clutches to new stories and reads them over and over again. That being said, he’s a social story written about the Coronavirus: https://littlepuddins.ie/coronavirus-social-story/ Another good thing to work on is Social-Emotional Learning. Here’s a website that lists over 100+ resources that talk about things like self-management, coping strategies, etc. https://www.thepathway2success.com/free-social-emotional-learning-resources/ Making sure that you have an established routine will help everyone get through this time, also make sure that you are taking the time for yourself for a break, build this into your schedule. You don’t have to be the only one teaching your child during this time; there are plenty of resources online (especially through social media) that are giving children lesson time hours during the day. Joining this Facebook group has helped me to find some of these resources to build into our own schedule: https://www.facebook.com/groups/445786889466638/. Make sure you put your schedule on the wall and if your child can check off their list that is helpful as well. April is Autism Awareness month. I’m sure there will be even more resources posted online in the days to come. Box breathing is a great technique to help if you’re feeling overwhelmed. You’ve got this! It’s only for a short period of time and we’re all in it together! — Amber Donaldson, Unite News Writer
Arts & Entertainment News
Chillin’ and Flixin’
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ell, we know we are in unprecedented times and so we are collectively hoping for the best. Please know that prayers and positive thoughts towards everyone for this to pass and we all come out as well as possible. The movie theaters are closed which is completely unusual in itself and that means that option is off of the table as we social distance, hibernate, quarantine and doing what we need to do. As most of you know the Hollywood studios are also releasing their new movies online because those films cost considerable millions to make….it is a huge financial loss for them to not get those new blockbusters to the big screen. The initial reports are that the costs will be about $20.00 for 48 hours. I suppose for a family that is cheaper than going to the actual theater but if you are a single or a couple of students you may want to think twice. Of course, you can watch it several times if that is your thing. This month I want to highlight several things on Netflix that we can check out to help pass the time until things get brighter. The most anticipated thing to watch is actually a series that began towards the end of March titled “Self Made:Inspired by the life of Madam C. J. Walker”. It is a mniseries so that will take up some additional time. This column is not going to allow me to go into depth because I want to give some other recommendations. Please keep in mind that it is not an actual account but rather loosely based on the biography written by Madam Walker’s great-greatgrandaughter. But a real powerhouse in the form of Octavia Spencer is playing the part and
the producers include Spencer and no other than LeBron James. Perhaps the best way to describe it is to say don’t look for a real life account of Madame Walker but rather an interpretation of some aspects of her life. Netflix has made a lot of strides in having content that appeals to diverse audiences and there are a considerable number of films that you may describe as Black movies. I want to just mention a few to you in case you need some recommendations and of course we know on Netflix once you start to watch something a lot more suggestions will come up. A lot of older films are also. Please know that most films will have some language in them even the Christian ones so I am just sharing that as a disclaimer.
April Suggestions:
• Spenser Confidential -This is a cop film…. well sort of …..and it has a bit of a comedic flavor to it…..and I stumbled on it and surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it. • She Did That……profiling the lives of extraordinary black female entrepreneurs….. learn and be entertained. • Marching Orders…….OMG…..nothing gets me going like the bands at our HBCU’s and this show is dope! It shows behind the scenes and what it takes for Bethune-Cookman to be the band of bands. I had to go to the Homecoming there and see for myself….the best of the best!
• Freshman Year…….. Well, this is a coming of age movie of sorts about a church boy who goes to a secular college and of course discovers the “world”. It is not a big budget film but it is entertaining and of course there are some spiritual lessons in it. The young man is a PK……so need I say more? We didn’t forget the kids…. there are a lot of kids flicks on Netflix and you probably already know but Raising Dion (how would you like a kid with super powers?) and Miss Virginia which of course is based on a true story of one mom who wanted her son to get a good education. Don’t we all? Before I forget Pure Flix has a seven day free trial and this is a chance to watch some “clean” movies and inspirational as well. Just remember if you don’t want another monthly bill to cancel in seven days or less. Most of you remember War Room, well you might enjoy God’s Compass. This again is not a big budget film but if you believe in second chances you might enjoy it. In the meantime let’s be kind to one another, prayerful and careful and let’s all come out of this thing on the other side! by Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer
Janelle Monae on Austin City Limits | Saturday, April 11, 2020, 10 pm
Singer and actress Janelle Monae performs progressive rhythm and blues with songs from her album “Dirty Computer.” on KOZK 21 OPT Length: 60 mins. | Original Airdate 4/11/20
Unite News Building Empowering Connections | Page 11
Black Entrepreneurs File Federal Lawsuit In Washington State Against U.S. Attorney General For Discrimination in the Cannabis Industry
cannabis community. Participation in the economic opportunities generated by the regulation and sale of cannabis should be inclusive and reflective of that community,” said Barfield, who also acts as the current director of Black Excellence In Cannabis. Blacks were arrested at four times the rate of whites for cannabis violations yet only own and operate less than 1% of Washington’s licensed cannabis businesses. Many may be inclined to believe that the Plaintiffs are just disgruntled failed applicants who were unable to transition from the unregulated world of medical cannabis providers, to the regulated, WSLCB, seed-to-sale traceability system and meet their compliance requirements. For more details about Black Excellence In Cannabis, visit www.BlackExcellenceinCannabis.com
Plaintiffs: Aaron Barfield left & Peter Manning Right. Members of Black Excellence In Cannabis
Seattle, WA — Members of a group called Black Excellence In Cannabis filed a federal lawsuit in March 2020 against Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) for what they see as state officials running a corrupt and discriminatory licensing and regulatory scheme in the guise of a legal recreational cannabis industry. U.S. Attorney General, William Barr is also included as a defendant, as the U.S. federal government has been acting as an accessory by funding Washington State to enforce federal laws while regulators operate and profit from an illicit licensing and taxation racket at the expense of African Americans’ Constitutional Rights. Constitutionally protected Civil Rights at the center of this suit are; Title 42 US Code § 1981, 1983 and 1985. Plaintiffs Aaron Barfield and Peter Manning
are turning to the U.S. federal courts for justice after years of working for inclusion for African Americans in their state’s lucrative recreational cannabis market. They have pled their case in administrative proceedings, meetings with WSLCB Executive Director Rick Garza and Board Members Jane Rushford, Ollie Garrett and Russ Hauge. Also, in meetings with multiple public officials and state legislators, at public hearings and finally granted an audience to plead their case directly to Governor Jay Inslee. All to no avail. “What we have in Washington is a system where wealthy white men have performed a hostile takeover of our State’s entire cannabis market,” said Manning. Minorities and Medical Cannabis activists who are on the frontlines of the fight for cannabis legalization are almost entirely excluded from the legal market. “Washington has a strong and diverse
Page 12 Building Empowering Connections | Unite News
Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee
Library Continued from page 5 gave us a chance to remind people about all the things they can read, watch or research through the “24-hour library” – the online site thelibrary. org. Download an e-book, movie, music, audiobook, learn a language, take a business course – it’s all there. See you online soon! Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.