Urban Views Weekly March 4, 2015

Mar.4, 2015

Scholar of the Week - Chelsea Crawford

Dr. Pamela Hammond

shares her passion and plans for VSU

The Deal

THURSDAY MORNING MIXER Network with other African American business owners, managers, and professionals. This is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and your business to “family” members who did not know that you existed.

Make connections that can grow your business.

Make connections so you can refer others to someone that you just met.

March 12, 2015 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

Stratford University Richmond Campus 11104 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, VA 23060

By Jason Alderman

How to Avoid an Online Vacation Rental Scam Imagine renting a home on a beautiful beachfront from a trusted website, arriving to start your vacation and finding out you’ve been scammed?

This scenario reflects thousands of complaints placed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year involving local vacation rentals. The FTC reports some victims lost money by wiring cash to thieves posing as property owners.

Others lost money through fake websites replicating legitimate sites.

Be wary of your source. Legitimate property owners may use free print or web classified ads to save money, but it’s important to vet any free listing very carefully. Also, confirm with a live representative to ensure the site is legitimate.

In today’s economy in which home sharing has become more popular, how do travelers protect themselves from a range of potential online scams? Here are some suggestions: Review rental contracts carefully. Check the address of the property you’re interested in with on-the-ground resources like the local

Letter To The Editor

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

easily accessible from I-64, I-295 and Rt. 288.

Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce Email: Info@CVAACC.org • Phone: 804-823-7745

VOL. 8, ISSUE 9 Urban Views Weekly, LLC 6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (804) 441-6255 Fax: (888) 439-2534

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Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

Flora C. Clarke, Administrative Assistant flora@urbanviewsweekly.com Shelia O. Spurlock-Shaw, Advertising shelia@urbanviewsweekly.com Nickkol Lewis, Art Director Visual Appeal, LLC | visualappealstudio.com Follow us!

Sponsored by: A.W. Smith Financial Small Business Solutions

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Compare rental rates in the immediate area.

A good deal might be tempting to seize immediately, but the FTC notes that severely below-market pricing for rentals and other vacation services in a community might indicate a scam. Crosscheck the pricing of home rentals and continues on page 5 related services in

If you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number. We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste.

E-mail (without attachments) to editor@urbanviewsweekly. com. Mail letters to Editor Urban Views Weekly.

Stratford University’s Richmond Campus is

Free Admission for CVAACC members • Non-members $20.00 Please RSVP via the www.CVAACC.org Event Calendar

tourism office or the leading real estate brokerage in the community. While you’re speaking with the tourism office, ask if there have been any specific complaints against the rental service you have consulted or if there might be more reliable and possibly more affordable rental resources in town.

Cover photo: Ervin B. Clarke

Visit us!

Check out our website for the latest Articles and Information. www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs With her love for reading, one of Chelsea Crawford’s favorite activities is to share this activity with younger children. “I just read to kids and we go over books and try to increase their literacy rates,” Chelsea said about one of the programs she works with. She said by reading to kids, it helps them learn that you can go far by reading books and you can do anything. As a senior at Richmond Community High School, with a 3.87 GPA, she continues to excel academically and feed her passion to help others as well.

Chelsea Crawford

of Richmond Community High School

GPA: 3.87

College of Interest: Spelman College Major Community Service: Richmond SPCA, 10k events, MARSS Strong Interests: Reading, volunteering, being a student ambassador Favorite Activities: Mentoring and reading to students

She also wants to help the younger generation by serving as a tutor with Mu Alpha Beta and as the head mentor of Mentoring and Reading Student to Student. With MARSS, she is able to participate in a partnership of junior and senior high school students who work with second of the graders to improve their reading and literacy rates. Because of her history working and serving as a mentor, and previously as a mentee, Chelsea is the Director’s Assistant of MARSS. With this title, she said she ensures her peers are up to date on their mentors, and she provides guidance, reassurance and constructive feedback.

Camp Counselor in the entire Richmond metropolitan area. “I was very ecstatic about what I earned, but more importantly, I was proud of my growth,” Chelsea stated in an essay. Currently, she also serves as a student ambassador where she represents her principal and Richmond Community High School when visiting other schools.

When asked who influenced her the most, Chelsea said her mother. “My mother being a single parent, she helped out a lot and taught me pretty much how to be a woman,” Chelsea said. With encouragement from her mother and an obvious interest in giving back, she hopes to continue her education by attending college and majoring in sociology. She said this area of study will give her a ™ chance to learn about other people Week and her own culture. She plans to attend Spelman College in Atlanta. The school, which is dedicated to African American women, will give her the opportunity to learn from people just like her. In a school with a senior class of about 36 people, Chelsea said she is looking forward to broadening her horizons at Spelman College. One lesson she learned from high school and plans to take to college is to stay focused and be yourself.

Scholar0

To prepare for college, along with mentoring and tutoring, Chelsea is involved in many other extracurricular activities.

Her interest in reading encouraged her to become involved with the book club where she gets another opportunity to read to second graders. As a junior, Chelsea was the president of her class and is currently the Homecoming chair. With the homecoming committee, she helped raise about $1,000 to go to her senior class. After a summer experience working under Richmond’s Mayor Dwight C. Jones, she won the title of Best

In the future, Chelsea plans to also get her Master’s degree in sociology and start her own mentorship program between younger children and high school juniors and seniors. Chelsea said sometimes kids do not have the resources they need to fully succeed and she hopes to change this. “I love when people pretty much inspire me to do better so I want to inspire younger kids to do better as well.”

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Do you know a High School Senior who can meet the following criteria?

1. Have a 3.0 grade point average or better 2. Participates in extracurricular community service activities 3. Attends public school in Central Virginia Go to UrbanViewsWeekly.com for application and details.

Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

3

ViewPoints

By Dr. T

Women doing the Work without the Compensation As we enter Women’s History Month, the conversation regarding equal pay for equal work continues to be on the front burner of women’s issues. Women STILL earn $0.77 to every $1.00 that a man earns, and that disparity increases significantly when applied to women of color and, specifically, Black women. This is true regardless of the level of education or training. Although President Obama, as one of his first acts as president, signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, equal pay for women has made no significant improvement since the legislation was signed in 2009. Regardless of this legislation, it is still extremely difficult for women to pursue equal pay in the workplace for many reasons, foremost among them being a lack of equity or inclusion at work that would allow women to sit at the table when decisions are made and policy is determined.

Twitter was abuzz on Oscar night when Best Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette made comments regarding equal pay for women and went further to claim that it’s now time for people of color, gay people, and others to fight for women’s rights ”…just like “we” (women) have fought for them.” Fundamentally, Arquette “meant well,” her intentions were good, but her comments were completely ignorant. The “We” to whom she referred seemed to embrace white privileged women like her and exclude those women whose identities comprised the “people of color” and “gays” who she included in her previous remarks. This is a classic oversight within the feminist movement that continues to marginalize people who have multiple identities that intersect with being female. Sojourner Truth spoke to this all the way back in 1851 when she made her famous “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech. When you are black and female, there are multiple

intersections of oppression that you deal with on a daily basis; and when you are also a gay or transgendered woman, the complexities of that intersectionality compound exponentially. Clearly Arquette, in her comments, did not intend to exclude these women but the comments were woefully misinformed, insensitive and based on a white privileged position. Race and sexuality continue to desperately effect women of color over white women and denial of that fact diminishes the struggle for the equality of all women.

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.

Founder and Artistic Director The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor Virginia Commonwealth University DrT@Margins2theCenter.com www.theconciliationproject.org

Octavia Spencer became “the help” all over again when Neil Patrick Harris enlisted her participation in his running “gag” throughout the Oscar broadcast. He kept calling out her name and directing the camera to focus on her as he continued using her as a sidepiece (prop) in his awkward attempts at inclusion. Neil Patrick Harris got a big time paycheck as the host of the nearly 5 hour-long broadcast, while I am certain Ms. Spencer received a pittance, if any compensation at all, underscoring the clear inequity in the value of women’s work and contributions as compared to our male counterparts and, more specifically, the distinct disparity in the value placed on Black women in particular. It should be noted that Octavia Spencer has been both an Oscar nominee and winner while Neil Patrick Harris has been neither. The old adage, spoken by our elders, “You have to be twice as good to be even with white folks” rings hauntingly true, and if you are Black AND a woman you carry more than your share of that load without appropriate compensation.

Up Next Week: Some women you should know

TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll Americans now view Cuba more favorably than they have in nearly 20 years according to a recent poll.

Forty-six percent say they have a favorable opinion of Cuba, up eight percentage points from last year. While Americans have not always viewed Cuba favorably, they have consistently wanted to re-establish diplomatic ties with the island.

What’s Your Take? What is your overall opinion of Cuba?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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From The Deal: page 2

the community before you make a reservation. Given the example above, don’t rely on the Internet alone. Pick up the phone and talk directly to a representative.

Check transient license law in your destination city. Transient licenses regulate properties rented to guests for time periods generally 30 days or less. Call your destination city to get details on their transient license law and whether you can confirm the registration of the property you’re considering. Ask the property owner for a copy of his or her transient license and see if the city will share the same license for your inspection to make sure they match. Also ask the city whether any specific complaints are available for the property you are considering.

Be wary of phishing scams. Be on the lookout for email and phone scammers who masquerade as employees of businesses you trust – they’re after your bank or credit information. If you receive emails or phone calls demanding advance payments, contact the original website to confirm your reservation and payment policy. Recently,

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travel site Booking.com had to pay out compensation to more than 10,000 customers from the U.S., UK, France, Italy, Portugal, and the UAE who were victims of a phishing scam.

Follow recommendations. Personal recommendations from friends and family can ensure a safe transaction. If you know someone who has visited a destination or rented property recently, ask which companies or individuals they would recommend.

Report fraud. Inform the local police at your vacation destination, the local Better Business Bureau, and the FTC. When you get home, notify your local police or your state attorney general’s consumer protection office to alert them to this particular cybercrime if you made the money transfer from your home state.

Bottom line: As online vacation rentals grow, so does cybercrime. Be cautious when booking arrangements online to protect your payments data.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney.

Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

5

VSU’s I Presiden in A Ne

High Above the

When she first arrived on Virginia State University’s campus in December, Dr. Pamela V. Hammond felt like a foreigner. With the university in the midst of financial struggles, declining enrollment, and an attack against the brand and image of the HBCU, Hammond was unsure if she had taken on too much. However, with previous positions as a provost, dean, and even a nursing supervisor, Hammond soon learned the issues at VSU were all ones she had dealt with in the past. She soon felt at home with her new family and has been working hard to lift the university’s morale. After four years, Dr. Keith T. Miller stepped down as president, and Hammond soon took on the role to help the struggling campus. Urban Views Weekly publisher, Ervin Clarke, had the chance to sit down and speak with Hammond about some of the changes the school has experienced since her arrival. “I don’t want anyone to think that it’s been easy,” Hammond said. “There’s a lot of hard work left to do but I have a great team on this campus with the students, the faculty and the staff, and all of them are on my team.”

Three things Hammond has already begun to improve include financial stability, enrollment rates and the brand of the university as a whole. In meetings with students, faculty, alumni, board members and other constituents in the community, Hammond is adamant about telling the truth. This includes being transparent about the school’s financial status. As with any business, things may come up where more money is needed; however, Hammond said the budget has been balanced until June 30. She hopes to maintain the budget by extending the school-wide freeze she initiated over hiring, purchasing and traveling expenses. Not only has this freeze on spending helped, but since her arrival, donor support of VSU has 6

Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

increased. Hammond said since January 1, 2015, the school received up to $400,000 in support. Hammond said this increase of new donor support is proof that people think the school is doing the right thing and worth investing in.

Though Hammond is hopeful for the financial future of VSU, the school’s past struggles negatively impacted the school’s enrollment rate. Federal policy changes affected how much money schools had available and Hammond said these changes, specifically, hurt Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These policy changes include changes to Pell Grants which can no longer be used for summer school and qualifications for the Parent PLUS Loan. About 75 percent of the students qualify for Pell Grants. “If you qualify for Pell Grants the underlying message is low income, so when people are talking about how many people qualify for Pell grants, they’re really talking about how many the federal government considers as low income students,” Hammond said. With this lack of federal funding, fewer students began to apply to VSU. VSU’s number of applicants has gone down in previous years with their latest high being close to 6,000 students. “People don’t know if they should invest in Virginia State, if they should help recruit for Virginia State, or if they should even enroll in Virginia State,” Hammond said. Despite this, Hammond proudly revealed this year the school received over 9,000 applicants for the upcoming academic year. Of the 9,000, 2,500 have already been accepted, and because they always anticipate a lower number of accepted students to attend the school, they are still looking at the applications. Their goal is to have an incoming class of about 1,000 students, at least

4,200 full time students, and a total class of close to 4,600 students.

Hammond not only wants to continue attracting students but also keep them in school. Whether students are homesick, unable to balance social life with their academic life, have problems with roommates, classmates or teachers, Hammond said there are a variety of reasons why students may not return to college. With a focus on getting first-year students comfortable, she plans to specifically focus on first-generation students. “I’m a first-generation student so I know some of the issues that first- generation students have,” Hammond said. “When you’re the first generation, you don’t really have parents that can help you through the maze. More than half of the student body are first-generation students, and Hammond has been working with the provost to make sure that in the upcoming semesters, “every freshman, first generation or not, gets assistance in getting enrolled, getting in their dorms and getting off on the right foot.” One way

Photos courtesy of Vir

Interim nt Ushers ew Day,

e Appomattox

By Janeal Downs

to assist the first-year students is by requiring all students with 60 hours or less to live on campus in order to develop a living learning community. Along with this requirement, the freshmen will be encouraged to meet with advisors and counselors specific to not only first year students, but also their respective majors.

For other ways to improve the school’s retention rate, Hammond said she always encourages students to call home and learn to balance their social life and academic life. “I had to learn as a freshman and a first generation that I could not just stay in my room and study all day because that is just not what college is about,” Hammond said, “You’ve got to learn how to balance that academic with that social, so I spend a lot of time talking with students about that balance.”

With a more hopeful financial status, enrollment rate and plan to better assist the future students, Hammond is positive about the

rginia State University

future of VSU. “If you can stabilize your finances, stabilize your enrollment then your brand looks a little bit better,” Hammond said.

While many schools impact the community with medical and nursing programs, VSU is using an alternative method with their agricultural program which is currently researching food deserts. The study focuses on the lack of fresh food and grocery stores in urban communities. Students in the VSU College of Agriculture joined Virginia’s first lady Dorothy McAuliffe to help the community better understand what food deserts are. Over the summer, students at VSU helped grow crops, distribute the food in the community, and are helping teach people what and how to eat better. VSU’s nursing program also does work within the community with things such as health fairs. “That’s so important that the communities see us, because some of the people in the communities may not even think about going to college, may not think much of their health, may not ever want to go to the hospital, because so many people see it as a place to go to die,” Hammond said. “So our students are out there teaching the communities, and I just think that’s so exciting for us.”

While Hammond’s success with the school’s financial stability, enrollment rates and brand are doing well in the present, there are three things Hammond wishes for in the university’s future.

Her goal for the future is that all graduating students be required to either have completed an internship, had an international experience, or a significant community service learning experience.

“It doesn’t matter whether they’re Pell grant eligible, first generation, how much financial aid we had to go find for them, they deserve to have some real world experiences while they’re here so they’ll be ready for the work world.”

Many majors lend themselves to internships or international experiences in order to gain real world experience and Hammond wants students to put themselves out there and understand there is so much more than “our little community called the United States.”

If they do not get an internship or travel abroad, Hammond wants to make sure students are out working in their community. “That’s on my wish list that one day I’ll be able to say to the freshman class that you will not graduate, you will not be able to leave here if you do not do one of these three things,” Hammond said. “That means you have to be different when you leave college than when you first came and I want my students prepared for the workforce.”

Hammond has big dreams for the students of Virginia State University and encourages them to come to her for motivation, advice or inquiries about the school. A few weeks ago, Hammond held a town hall meeting and answered uncensored questions from the students. With questions about the cafeteria, positions open at the school and financial aid and living situations, Hammond makes sure to stay involved with the students and stay open to their opinions. She often attends sporting events and was even honored by the band at a previous basketball game. A new idea for more connection with the students is “Take the President to Lunch” which students can do if they want to schedule time to talk with Hammond. With a meeting in the cafeteria, students will be able to meet with her one on one or invite a group so they can spend time with their president. Hammond said the one reason she is at VSU is for the students, otherwise she would have chosen the wrong profession. “The students know I’m out and about,” Hammond said.

“They need to know that they can talk to me.” www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

7

Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Women and philanthropy “Women rock!” “Women rule!” “If you want something done, ask a woman.” “Women hold up half the sky.” It’s women’s history month and time to highlight women’s roles as philanthropists and fundraisers.

Join us in paying tribute to women and girls who nurture and support families and communities across the country and around the globe. Sometimes we are recognized, often we are not. We are the grandmother putting money in her granddaughter’s pocket as she heads off to college. We are girl scouts selling cookies;, sorority sisters raising money for scholarships;, and girls running in St. Jude’s fundraising marathons across the country. We are Oseola McCarty, a Hattiesburg Mississippi washerwoman, giving $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi, and Wylodine Taylor Patton, the alumna leaving $487,500 to LeMoyneOwen College. We are Helen LaKelly Hunt and Ambassador Swanee Hunt launching “Women Moving Millions,” encouraging women to give $1 million gifts and raising over $500 million to change the lives of women and girls. We are Gayle Rose creator of Team Max, a “vigilante philanthropy” group of young people giving to others in honor of her generous son Max who lost his life in a car accident.

We give as individuals, and we give collectively through women’s foundations and giving circles. We are the Women’s Funding Network, founded 30 years ago, and now the largest philanthropic network in the world devoted to women and girls with 160 members from 30 countries on six continents. We promote philanthropy, encouraging others to give through online portals such as Black Gives Back, started by Tracey Webb, a woman of course.

We are presidents and CEOs of regional and national foundations, setting the philanthropic agenda, funding research, and making grants that affect every aspect of life.

We are Jan Young (The Assisi Foundation of Memphis), Judy Belk (The California Wellness Foundation), Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), Carol S. Larson (David and Lucile Packard Foundation), Patricia E. Harris (Bloomberg Philanthropies), Audrey Yamamoto (Asian Pacific Fund), and Helene D. Gayle (CARE).

As professional fundraisers we raise funds for social organizations, political parties, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, arts institutions, and more. We are Jann Honore, a fundraising executive with more than 30 years experience with UNCF, raising money for generations of college students.

We are Maricar Boyle, focused on health, education and the environment; Dionne Jackson with Lehigh University; Gurdeep Sihota He’Bert, executive director State Center Community College Foundation; and Iris R. Ramey, Vice President for Development, Hampton University. We are Marianne G. Briscoe, President and Managing Director of Brakeley Briscoe, a leading fundraising consulting firm that provides services across the Americas.

The list of women who make a difference is longer than long. If you want to meet a woman philanthropist, look in the mirror or into the eyes of the women and girls in your life.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success.

For help with your fundraising, visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Find out what we can do for your business.

Call (804) 441-6255

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Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

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Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

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If you’re in the market to buy a new home, congratulations! Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make in your life. It is also the most rewarding.

If you are searching for a home in an existing community, you are probably thinking about your future life. Close your eyes and imagine how you want to feel. What do you need to make your dreams a reality?

These days, purchasing a home can be a stressful experience. There are lots of things to consider.

Everyone has their own idea of perfection.

Finding a home that fits your idea and budget is vital to choosing the right house for your situation.

LOCATION When real estate agents tell you that location is everything, they mean it. When you purchase a house, you are also investing in a community.

You should feel comfortable in your new community.

Choosing the community and neighborhood is your first step. Most people want a convenient location near shops, jobs, parks and schools. As a result, the most desirable neighborhoods are usually the most expensive.

Think about what you value. If you have www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

New homes often have open floor plans, modern kitchens and bathrooms, “flex” rooms for multiple purposes and walk-in closets. You might be able to customize your home as well.

children, perhaps you want to live within a specific school district. Maybe you are looking for a shorter commute to work. Understand that a more expensive location near your job may equal the expense of commuting from a longer distance.

To many people, the attractiveness of the neighborhood and how well it is maintained is extremely important. A community with new, well-maintained homes and yards is more likely to increase in value over the long term. It is also a better environment.

Live in a community where you can find friends and have a social life. A great house is one thing; finding that house in the right community can make all the difference.

AMENITIES Surrounding yourself with the right amenities inside and outside your home will help you feel comfortable and happy.

Outside your house, bonus amenities include in-ground utilities, lighting, landscaping and playgrounds. There might even be a community pool or clubhouse. Always be aware if there are ongoing fees associated with these amenities, such as homeowner’s association dues or maintenance fees for any community areas.

Make sure you create and stick to a strict budget.

Before looking at any homes, make sure your budget is in place so you do not waste time looking at homes you may love, but won’t be able to afford.

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Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

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Urban Views Weekly | March 4, 2015

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