Urban Views Weekly March 25, 2015

Mar.25, 2015

Scholar of the Week – Austyn Brown

Our History

in the making,

get involved

NEW LOCATION

The Deal

By Jason Alderman

Is Your Teen Ready for a Summer Job? For many teens, there’s nothing more exciting than receiving the first paycheck from a summer job – a sure-fire ticket to fun and freedom. It’s also a great opportunity for parents to encourage proper money management.

THURSDAY Short Pump Richmond 11

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Parents or guardians need to do some necessary paperwork first. Working teens will need their own Social Security Number (SSN) to legally apply for a job. They will also need a SSN to open a bank account to deposit their paychecks. Depending on state law, children under 18 may have to open bank accounts in their custodial name with their parents or guardians. It is also important for parents to check in with qualified tax or financial advisors about their teen’s earned income, particularly if it may affect any investments under the child’s name.

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Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

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Technology changes quickly, so tech-savvy teens may be ahead of the game when it comes to searching for work online. Leading job search engines are a destination for seasonal job openings,

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.

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Parents can also assist by monitoring job categories their kids are interested in, encouraging them to meet application deadlines and being aware of federal, state and local child labor laws (http:// www.youthrules.dol.gov/know-the-limits/ index.htm) to steer them from unscrupulous employers.

After that, it’s about encouraging teens to get a jump on their job search. The recent job market for American teens has been tough, and investigating particular kinds of openings

Letter To The Editor

Stratford University Richmond Campus

should start months in advance of summer hire. Networking is also important – teens can reach out to friends, neighbors and other trusted adults about potential jobs in the community. Also, it is never too early for teens to learn resume writing and job interviewing skills. The Practical Money Skills website’s Landing a Job (http://www. practicalmoneyskills.com/ personalfinance/lifeevents/ work/landingjob.php) page offers useful background to help teens get started.

Cover photo courtesy of Black History Museum

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Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs When she was younger, Austyn Brown was born with an extended tendon in her ankle. As she grew older and attended physical therapy, she observed and admired how the physical therapists worked with her. This experience inspired her to one day help others in the same way. As a senior at John Marshall High School, college is quickly approaching and Austyn intends to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. “As a young child I always had the dream of being an athletic trainer or physical therapist,” Austyn wrote in an essay.

Austyn Brown

of John Marshall High School

GPA: 4.13

Major Community Service: Church, Delta Sigma Theta, Highland Park Neighborhood Clean-Up, etc.

Strong Interests: Sports and Physical Therapy Favorite Activities: Community Service and Cheerleading

getting my doctorate is hard work and I try to learn as much as I can to help achieve getting it,” Austyn said.

In order to prepare for college and her future career, Austyn participates in many extracurricular activities. Her favorite activities include cheerleading and participating in community service. “They give me time to express myself and relieve all of the stress that school brings upon me,” Austyn said. During the summertime, she assists elementary school students at summer camps; she has volunteered at Trinity Family Life Center Childcare Austyn has worked with physical Center, and the senior center therapists in more than one in King William County. With instance because she has been her church, Austyn helps with involved with sports since she the vacation bible school every was 4 years old and started June. Another organization she ™ cheerleading. When she was is involved with is the Richmond k e e W 10, she had the desire to play Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma e h of t basketball which she did until she Theta who she helps with their turned 12. Most recently, she also annual Infinite Scholars Fair and played softball for her high school annual Oratorical Contest for area from 2012 to 2013. “Playing these sports helped influence me elementary, middle and high school students. By being in the in deciding what I want to do in the future,” Austyn said. From Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the National sprained ankles and concussions, playing sports gave her another Honor Society, she also receives opportunities to participate in opportunity to gain an appreciation for physical therapists. She community service at her high school. even sometimes goes to observe and shadow athletic trainers Austyn said her mother and father always encourage her and to get a better insight of the field she has aspired to be a part of even when she may want to give up, they always encourage her since the age of 10. to keep moving. They have continuously pushed and helped her As her last year in high school comes to a close, Austyn currently and she also wants to help others. Describing her personality has a 4.13 GPA. While she does not have a top college of choice, as outgoing and caring, Austyn is determined to help any and she has applied to numerous schools including George Mason “everyone in any way, shape or form” she can in the future.

University, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and others. “I know that

Scholar0

$100 Scholarships Awarded Every Week

Encourage your scholar to apply! www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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 25, 2015

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ViewPoints

By Dr. T

Outrage and outright denial….“pockets of racism?”

With Starbuck’s founder and CEO, Howard Schultz announcing last week the company’s RaceTogether initiative, conversations about race and racism continue to be pushed from the margins to the center of our national discussion.

The recent DOJ Report on Ferguson effectively indicted individuals and municipal, county, and state institutions of long-standing overt and systemic racial bias that is institutionally embedded in the policy and procedures of law enforcement and other governing bodies in Ferguson and the region.

demonstrated the truly endemic pathology of racial violence, institutional bias, and lack of equality within education, economics, law enforcement and justice.

These events have not been shocking or unbelievable to black folks in America. No. It may have been a wakeup call for some, and a deeply disappointing tearing open Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. Founder and Artistic Director of old wounds for others, The Conciliation Project and but not unbelievable. It is, Associate Professor as it has always been, a part Virginia Commonwealth University of being black and brown DrT@Margins2theCenter.com www.theconciliationproject.org in an America that refuses to address her history and acknowledge that the nation itself was built and designed on the premise of white supremacy.

Nationwide, there has been a newfound recognition of, however reluctantly embraced, There has been, since its inception, an just how deeply ingrained racism and racist affirmative action plan designed to privilege ideology is within the American cultural white-skinned people at every turn, and landscape and our national collective psyche. disadvantage black and brown people so that Yet, for many, the outrage at the most recent the wealth, land, and all other systems within killings and beatings of young unarmed the framing of America made white privilege black men, and the collective youth activist an embedded practice. movement of #BlackLivesMatter is less a State sponsored and sanctioned terrorism, problem of systems founded on and created segregation, predatory lending practice, redby white supremacy and white privilege, and more likely just a few isolated and unfortunate lining, mass incarceration, urban blight, white flight, lack of funding for public education, events where individuals just became Manifest Destiny, the Homestead Act, Jim victims of a “certain set of circumstances”, Crow, and many other institutionalized or a “particular mindset” only operating in policies and practices have assured that the a few “pockets” within the American (of ruling class in America would be white. course) mostly anti-racist society. “It’s simply unbelievable!” They cry out! “We are better For my white friends and colleagues to now than that as a nation.” This must surely just be be so astonished that “we” in America cannot a small group of miseducated or misinformed seem to overcome our racial predilections individuals “acting out” on a school bus and or get beyond race as our most profound certainly not the way most “well-intentioned” and malignant disease is an insult to my good white folks believe or act in the 21st intelligence. It has become clear that they century, 150 years since the Emancipation cling to oblivion and feign astonishment proclamation was signed? The outrage they because to recognize that it is not “we” that exhibit certainly seems sincere, however, have the problem or who have created the the absolute oblivion displayed has become problem…would mean that THEY would extremely difficult to justify or excuse at this have to DO something more than just talk point. about it.

Current events affecting the racial climate Up Next Week: Resurrection….really? in America right now have once again 4

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From The Deal: page 2

and many allow users to customize searches for specific positions and employers.

However, teens may need to be reminded about their social media activity before they begin any job search – anything a teen posts publicly on the Internet may be seen by a potential employer.

Banking is another major step in the life of the working teen, though they don’t need to wait for that first job to get started.

Many parents open bank accounts for their children as early as their first allowance – after all, digital banking makes it easier to monitor and transfer money without a trip to the branch or ATM. Paychecks – on paper or via digital deposit – make familiarity with the banking system an even greater necessity.

Check with their bank to see what types of accounts are offered for children and teens – some banks offer a wide variety of custodial accounts where parents can track and assist their child’s spending and saving activity.

A teen’s first job is a great opportunity to introduce budgeting, saving and longterm investment skills. Your child may be working over the summer to save for a particular desired item – a cellphone or a trip – or more extensive goals like future college expenses. The Practical Money Skills site offers a budgeting tutorial

(http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/ personalfinance/savingspending/budgeting/) and budgeting calculators (http://www. practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/ budgetGoals.php?calcCategory=budget) for a range of purposes.

When the job offer comes, there’s one more thing parents can do. Getting hired means a flurry of paperwork that can be confusing; parents can help their children review those documents before signature. Most will apply to tax withholding, but such documents might also include special workplace agreements that might not always be clear to young workers. When that first paycheck arrives, consider sitting down to inspect a teen’s first paper or electronic pay stub. Many people don’t understand their withholding even as adults, so children can benefit greatly from this lesson at the start of their working lives.

Bottom line: A teen’s first summer job is a great way for parents and children to collaborate on job-hunting and money management skills that will produce benefits for a lifetime.

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

TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll Are you frustrated with your daily morning and evening rush hour traffic commute? A solution is reportedly on the way that will literally allow you to fly over it all.

The “AeroMobil”, an automobile that transforms into an airplane, will be able to fly at a top speed of 124 mph. The gas-powered vehicle will be able to fly 435 miles before running out of gas.

What’s your take? Will you be flying over traffic in one of these vehicles when it becomes available?

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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Civic Beat

Micro-consulting ‘experiment’ yields strong short-term results Can just a few hours of fundraising counsel make a difference in the life of a nonprofit?

In early 2014, Dr. Jan Young, executive director of The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc., purchased 90 hours of fundraising counsel on behalf of six Mid-South nonprofits, ranging in focus from urban farming to performing arts.

Each organization received 5–20 hours of “micro-consulting” services with Saad&Shaw, a fund development firm whose counselOnDEMAND program provided a blueprint for Young’s strategy.

resources to date. Of the six participating organizations, four have secured new grant funding or major donations, and two have reshaped their fundraising operations in preparation for future activities. All reported that they gained new insights into fundraising, fund development, and donor cultivation, solicitation, retention, and engagement.

“As a funder, we were able to direct resources to a greater pool of grantees, “As a funder, we with sometimes better results than were able to direct if we had made resources to a greater a similarly sized pool of grantees, with grant to a single sometimes better results organization,” said Young. than if we had made a

Throughout the year, some of the selected nonprofits chose to develop a business plan or write a case for support.

Others prepared grant applications or conducted an similarly sized grant to a Young’s goal for organizational single organization,” this experiment assessment. Time was to explore the was also used most effective ways for coaching and to support the organizations served by strategy sessions, board workshops and The Assisi Foundation, which receives group exercises, and the creation of tools frequent requests for financial and for future work. technical support. “Many nonprofits think “Working within a specific block of time money is THE answer to their problems, seemed to help most of the organizations but when we engage with them, we more quickly focus on their priorities sometimes discover that their true needs or determine their level of readiness are more complex,” she said. for a major fundraising effort, strategic For more information, visit business plan, or project,” said Young. assisifoundation.org or Early results are positive — more than saadandshaw.com. $1.5 million in grants and in-kind

Intersection Improvements at Patterson Avenue and Parham Road Henrico County Public Information Meeting Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 5 – 7 p.m.

Tuckahoe Library 1901 Starling Drive Henrico, VA 23229 Come see and hear about plans to improve the intersection of Patterson Avenue (Route 6) and Parham Road in Henrico County. This improvement will increase the capacity and safety of the intersection and reduce traffic congestion, particularly during peak travel hours.

The meeting will be held in an open house format from 5 - 7 p.m. where individuals can talk one-on-one with project staff. This flexible format allows participants to arrive whenever their schedule will allow.

Give your written comments at the meeting or submit them by April 17, 2015 to Jason Zhang, P.E., project manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 238349002, 804-524-6153, 800-367-7623 or TDD/TTY 711. You may also email your comments to Jason.Zhang@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “Intersection improvements in Henrico comments” in the subject line.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information in regards to your civil rights on this project or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager at the telephone number listed above. * In the event of inclement weather on April 7, this meeting will be held April 15 at the same time at Gayton Library (10600 Gayton Road, Henrico, VA 23238).

State Project: 0006-043-760, P101, R201, C501 Federal Project: STP-5A27 (090)

Find out what we can do for your business. www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Call: (804) 441-6255 Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

5

Black History Museum and Cultural Center asks for public support

By Shea Tuttle

Richmond’s Black History Museum and Cultural Center is moving to a new home, and it needs your help.

After years of planning, extensive corporate fundraising, and a promising start to renovation and construction, it’s time now for the public to step up.

The Bold Vision, Bright Future fundraising campaign asks normal, everyday people to chip in toward the cost of the renovation. The campaign, housed on the online fundraising site Indiegogo, offers incentives for contributing as little as $25 and as much as $250.

“We are seeking funding from as many people as possible,” said Dr. Monroe Harris Jr., chair of the capital campaign, when I spoke with him by phone. “People like you, for instance!” he added with a chuckle. “It’s everyone’s museum and cultural center.”

There are many reasons to contribute, he said. “Preservation of our history. Telling the story. Making sure that the story is perpetuated now and into the future.

“We’re not only building a museum, but also a cultural center. It will be a gathering place for the community, a hub for activities, and the whole neighborhood will benefit. The new museum and cultural center will be a spotlight in the community.”

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia was founded 34 years ago, in 1981. Beginning ten years later, in 1991, it was located at 00 Clay Street in the 6

Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

historic Jackson Ward district of Richmond.

The museum’s website explains the house’s rich black history: “Under the leadership of Maggie L. Walker, the country’s first female and Black bank president, the Council of Colored Women purchased the house in 1922. In 1932, it became the Black branch of the Richmond Public library and was named for Rosa D. Bowser, the first Black female school teacher in Richmond.”

But the Black History Museum has outgrown its home on Clay Street. The museum recently suspended operations in order to focus on the renovation and to prepare to move to its new location: the Leigh Street Armory, at 122 W. Leigh Street, also in the historic Jackson Ward district.

The Leigh Street Armory also has a rich black history. It was built in 1895 for the First Battalion Virginia Volunteers Infantry, the first African American regiment in Virginia. It is the oldest armory building still standing in the state, and one of only three in the country built for an African American regiment. Four years after it was built, the regiment was disbanded, and the building was transformed into a school for black children. It served in this capacity for 40 years.

For several years during World War II, the armory was a reception center for thousands of African American soldiers. Following the war, it returned to various educational uses for area schools. For a brief time in the 80s, it was under consideration as a location for the Black History Museum and Cultural Center, but shortly thereafter, a fire damaged the roof and upper floors. The building has stood vacant ever since, falling into disrepair.

Now, after decades of vacancy, years of planning, and months of delays, construction is underway.

Construction began in the fall, and the official groundbreaking ceremony was in early November.

The museum’s Youtube channel has videos of excavation, ductwork installation, concrete-pouring, and welding work. It’s really happening.

The new Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia will have double the exhibit space of the Clay Street location. It will feature a grand exhibition hall and an interactive cafe that will evoke a civil rights movement-era lunch counter. The museum will also include offices and space for the Richmond Jazz society, and will be available for weddings, arts events, and other cultural programming.

The renovation will modernize the existing structure and build an addition of several thousand square feet. The project’s designers, in

“The new Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia offers us this opportunity. It gives us a place to learn, to discuss, to share, preserve, and celebrate our past. ” collaboration with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, have made a point of blending the new with the historic, refurbishing old windows, repairing plaster, and restoring paint work.

The newly renovated museum is expected to open in late 2015.

“I want people to have great anticipation for the opening,” Harris said. “This institution will be a great source of pride.”

In the application for the armory’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, architectural historian Selden Richardson writes about the armory’s first opening, in October of 1895: “Such was the immense pride in the Jackson Ward community that the opening of the armory began a weeklong Military Bazaar, including a series of celebrations, drill exhibitions, and receptions. There were dances, concerts and speeches. … The African American newspaper, The Richmond Planet, proudly reported a few days later, ‘On last Wednesday night,

the beautifully lighted armory could be seen from this section glowing in magnificent splendor.’”

It’s important for us to know what has provided for such great opportunity now and going into the future.”

The Bold Vision, Bright Future campaign offers you the chance to be a part of the armory’s next opening, as the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, when the historic building is restored to its former glory and the museum extends its expanded resources to the community.

A $100 contribution through the Indiegogo site earns you a complimentary invitation to the grand reopening celebration. (It also includes the incentive for the $25 contribution: a piece of the original brick from the armory.)

Make your contribution at blackhistorymuseum.org by becoming a member. Or visit indiegogo.com/projects/boldvision-bright-future-campaign to watch the campaign video and earn your grand reopening invitations and small piece of history.

So get on board. For the incentives, for the preservation of a historic building, for the opportunities the expanded Black History Museum and Cultural Center will offer to Jackson Ward.

And for the sake of the future.

Harris told me, “You know the old saying, ‘We have to know where we came from in order to know where we’re going.’ In order for us to fulfill our full destiny and our potential, we have to understand the past. We don’t live in a vacuum. Everything is built on something else.

“We need to take pride in our history, the mistakes and the good things, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes and to build on the positives.

The video, which you can watch in full at either site, features the voices of dozens of people, past and present, young and old, black and white. Though speaking one by one, they make a collective case: “The preservation of our history is important. It records our struggles. It celebrates our accomplishments. It helps us understand ourselves. So we have to tell our story, through words, pictures, artifacts, sounds, interactive displays.

“The new Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia offers us this opportunity. It gives us a place to learn, to discuss, to share, preserve, and celebrate our past. ” “I’ve been waiting all my life for a place like this.”

Learn more at blackhistorymuseum.org, and follow the project on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

Photos courtesy of the Black History Museum www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Healthcare Revitalization

Healthcare is always in the news: advances in healthcare technology, groundbreaking research, and healthcare disparities are just a few. Yet, there’s one story we rarely hear: the role of hospital or medical center related healthcare foundations. These foundations play important roles in communities across the country, bringing together leadership, vision, money and initiative to help improve the delivery of healthcare.

and more. But, according to Ritchey, fundraising isn’t always the most important role.

“A less visible role is the work of keeping the mission and vision of the healthcare system in the public’s mind,” Ritchey shared. “The relationships a foundation forges with donors translates into the making of very strong advocates for not only the system it represents but also for improved community health care.”

“A less visible role is Wanting to learn more, we spoke with Tammie Ritchey, Vice President of the work of keeping the Here’s an example she shared, related to Development and Executive Director mission and vision of the the health system’s challenges in 2010, and of Regional One Health Foundation in healthcare system in the how things have changed. “The system was losing a great deal of money; we were Memphis, Tennessee. For the past 10 public’s mind,” downsizing staff, looking at service lines to years, Ritchey and the foundation board of cut, and working with an interim executive directors have worked behind the scenes to team for a couple of years. Now, we have stable permanent help improve healthcare across the mid-South. leadership; progressive-minded, thought-provoking We started our conversation wanting to know – in general visionary leaders who have created a clear mission and terms – the role of a foundation in the life of a nonprofit vision for the system; and are putting together the strategies healthcare system. Not surprisingly, fundraising is a to make the vision a reality. We have a formal physician’s foundation’s most obvious role. Foundations raise money group to care for our patients now, which we did not have for research, new buildings, and investments in projects that before, and all team members are playing from the same improve patient outcomes and increase employee training, playbook, all pointed in the same direction.”

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Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

Communication and relationships were key to changing the situation. “During difficult economic times, the foundation spent a great deal of time communicating what was going on inside the walls of the hospital with those who support us. We helped tell the story that was not getting told in the papers. We were able to strengthen a lot of relationships with community leaders even though we were not raising a lot of money. With the changes in our financial situation, we are now raising a great deal more money, and much of that is because we had established such strong relationships with donors during our lean years.”

You can learn more about Regional One Health Foundation at www.regionalonehealthfoundation.org or by calling (901) 545-8773.

Next week: the role of the board 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.

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Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

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ViewPoints

The Scandalous Empire According to a Nielsen consumer report, African Americans are voracious consumers of media, watching 37 percent more television than any other slice of American demography.

While that’s not new news, it is disturbing that we don’t completely understand the connection between our TV consumption and the huge profits generated by our connection to television.

NO TELECOM GIANT has a plan for meaningful participation/inclusion of Black business in their day-to-day procurement activity; NO PROGRAMMING GIANT has a plan to include, develop or support the development of positive Black portrayals to any meaningful degree;

To be fair, some TV programming can actually be beneficial. The recent coverage of the 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” opened the eyes of generations of Americans who were unaware of the brutality of racial oppression in America. Much of television, however, is simply escapist entertainment for us, but a tremendous cash cow for programmers and advertisers. Take, for example, Empire on Fox. The network is known for its history of racist banter and has exploited Black America while simultaneously benefiting from Black consumers. Statistics show that Empire is Fox’s highest grossing show in three years, which translates into a huge payoff for Fox.

How big?

NO ADVERTISER using the TV/PayTV medium includes Black business in any significant way in the development, production, delivery/distribution of their products to this loyal consumer base.

Telecom companies and consumer product companies are gearing up for an assault on your wallets like nothing you’ve ever seen, and if you’re riveted by the latest episode, or game-of-the-week, you may not even notice your pocket being picked.

Statistics show that Decisions about your money are being made right now. These decisions are Empire is Fox’s being made by people who don’t know highest grossing show you, and whose only interest is how long in three years, which you’re in front of your TV before you buy the products they sold while you translates into a huge go were watching.

How about the $45.2 billion Comcast/ Time Warner merger? How about the $48.5 billion AT&T acquisition of DirecTV or the estimated $1.3 trillion spent by Black consumers? Not to payoff mention the $20 billion lawsuit filed by the National Association of African American Owned Media and Entertainment Studios Networks, against Comcast, Time Warner, and other civil rights organizations as party to a plan to ensure that profits from Black viewership continue pouring into the same pockets?

We’ve watched with interest and commented on this situation in an earlier President’s Message, but the situation has not improved. We will reserve judgment on the soundness of Entertainment Studios Network’s CEO Byron Allen’s pending legal action, but there are a few things of which we are absolutely certain:

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NO CABLE/PayTV provider makes programming targeting Black consumers available at their basic service level - requiring their BEST CONSUMERS pay extra to view their favorite shows;

Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

for Fox.

We understand it’s about business - BIG business. We also understand that it is Black consumers’ money that makes the business so big. But if Black businesses don’t flourish as a result of all this activity designed to move dollars out of Black pockets... well, we’ll be back to Good Times in the projects instead of building Empires. All the more reason to invest money into the Black community. If you can devote time to watching your favorite television show, then you can also devote time to buying from your local Black businesses. Make #Blackdollarsmatters not just a hashtag, but a way of life.

In the Spirit of Success, Ron Busby, Sr., President U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

My Brother’s Keeper of Greater Richmond Preparing Men for Success with Suits and Two-Day Workshop My Brother’s Keeper of Greater Richmond (MBK) will conduct a two-day workshop, May 1 and May 2, 2015 to promote the advantages of a professional mindset and professional attire to economically disadvantaged young men. After completing the workshop, MBK will provide each participant with professional attire to secure employment, but “Suits for Success” “Suits for Success” is is much more than one of our community simply a new outfit!

outreach solutions that encourage young men to break the cycle of poverty: mentally, physically and spiritually,”

“Suits for Success” is one of our community outreach solutions that encourage young men to break the cycle of poverty: mentally, physically and spiritually,” said MBK Founder and Executive Director Stephan “Coach” Hicks. “In addition to physically equipping each young man with apparel and accessories, our authentic manhood programs, career development tools and resources, and our network of support will equip, empower and encourage young men to thrive in work and in life!”

MBK is accepting young men, ages 16-25. The workshop will be held May 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and May 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the offices of My Brother’s Keeper of Greater Richmond, 1618 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224.

The organization is also accepting donations of suits, dress shirts, ties, accessories, garment cleaning services, or men’s toiletries, as well as financial contributions.

Those interested in making donations, being a presenter, or recommending a participant should contact Stephan “Coach” Hicks by email at manhoodcoach@ gmail.com.

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How to Guide

How to Choose a Document Shredding Service With more people becoming victims of identity theft each year, it is essential that you find a document shredding service. Shredding documents will protect the future of your business, as well as your clients. No one needs to know your strategic plans, minutes to meetings, and financial spreadsheets.

Confidentiality is important, particularly in business. Unfortunately, many businesses opt to handle their business documents by throwing them in a public trash receptacle or using a compact shredder. These options are not reliable. A compact shredder breaks easily and is also cumbersome to manage.

Document shredding services will handle confidential paperwork easily and efficiently.

Medical professionals, attorneys, and banks are particularly in need of shredding services. If sensitive, confidential information is leaked, your business might be legally liable.

Why risk a lawsuit? Find a good document shredding service that will take care of your needs.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Trust is the key word when looking for a document shredding company.

After all, they will be handling your confidential papers.

Ask other area businesses which shredding company they use. Getting

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of security. Ask how and where waste is disposed. If your company values environmentally-friendly products, using a document shredding service that recycles can be a fantastic choice.

Classifieds PLACE YOUR AD TODAY

804.649.6868

Office: (

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM

CERTIFICATION Choose a company that is certified through the National Association of Information Destruction. Proper certification means your documents will be handled with the utmost professionalism. A certified service takes superior precautions so that your documents will not wind up in criminal hands.

a good recommendation from a fellow business owner is a great way to guarantee your satisfaction with a shredding company.

Look for a company with a long track record. The more experience they have, the better service they can provide.

Inquire about their method of destruction. It is a key consideration, as you need to be certain these documents are handled with great care. Some services use a mobile document shredder for added security. They will bring the shredders to your business, which eliminates the possibility of some sensitive documents leaking to competitors. It provides an exceptional level of security. If you are comfortable with using an offsite service, ask for references before determining if they have a high level

When interviewing service companies, ask about liability insurance. You need to know that your business is protected in the event something happens while your records and documents are being transported.

Take your budget into consideration.

Ask for written quotes from several companies. Comparing these prices and service details will help you understand what you are paying ahead of time.

When choosing a document shredding service, always consider confidentiality and safety first. The lowest price quote will not always be the best. Remember, the reputation of your company is at stake. Select a company that makes you feel comfortable. It will leave you and your company feeling more secure and satisfied.

Don’t take chances with your company or personal identity. With identity theft growing daily, you need to take every precaution to protect yourself and your business.

Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

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Urban Views Weekly | March 25, 2015

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