Urban Views Weekly June 7, 2017

June 7, 2017

Scholar of the Week - Alexis Allen

Surviving cancer is a real possibility

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Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Planned Confusion

Part one of a two-part series

Does your board, committee, or team meet over and over again without gaining any traction, let alone achieving anything that could be considered success or just completion? If you answer “yes” you may be suffering from planned confusion.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. And, what’s worse, we don’t know it.

Or even worse, we know exactly what we are doing: we set things up so it’s hard to point fingers and difficult to remedy the situation. As the name implies, planned confusion is planned. Sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. It has symptoms and causes.

Here are a few – are any of these familiar?

Expand your network and Grow your business.

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Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

“...planned confusion is planned.

Sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously.”

More symptoms.

We have a culture of excuses and the result is that people don’t do what they say they will do. When we make decisions, the follow-up activities are not completed on time. We suspect that our Symptoms. We try to schedule meetings, team members or board members really but they keep getting postponed at the last don’t care – they are participating because minute. The person who is supposed to they have to. We lack the courage to look take notes or minutes doesn’t distribute at the underlying issues that need to be them, and when they do, they don’t addressed. We present issues, ideas and include action items or agreed upon next thoughts that go against our stated goals steps. When we meet we have to start and objectives, or proposed/identified from the beginning because many people solutions. We don’t have defined goals, were unable to attend the last meeting objectives and and need to be “brought up to speed.” expectations. continues to page 11

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

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And, we don’t have an agenda, or we have one that lacks specificity. As a board, we lack a quorum, so when we meet we are not conducting official business. At meetings we constantly hear from people with no track record or integrity – they don’t do what they say they will do. We get frustrated by our inability to neutralize “meeting bullies” – those who talk loud, flex their muscles, and intimidate others from participating.

VOL. 10, ISSUE 23 Urban Views Weekly, LLC 6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (804) 441-6255 Fax: (888) 439-2534

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Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs

Ever since taking a chemistry course in the tenth grade, Alexis Allen has wanted to get a degree in chemistry. “It was truly fascinating the way my teacher would break down the water molecule and explain the strength of the bonds and intermolecular forces between two water molecules,” Alexis explained in a personal essay. After researching careers she could work in with a chemistry degree, she decided to major in biochemistry on a prepharmacy track. She is currently in AP chemistry and is excited to learn more about her options in the medical field.

Alexis Allen

of Richmond Community High School GPA: 4.2 College of Interest: University of Virginia Major Community Service: Randolph Community Center Strong Interests: Pharmacy and Medicine Favorite Activities: Running track and volunteering

One of her career goals is to help find a cure for cancer. After losing an aunt to breast cancer a couple years ago, Alexis was encouraged to use what she learned in school to help others and their families.

“Watching such an amazing woman deteriorate before my eyes significantly affected the way I saw this life altering disease,” Alexis stated. She doesn’t want to delay the disease, but end it.

Center and a children’s track team. She enjoys working with children and seeing them excel and improve. “These people might run track for the rest of their lives and they might actually be able to recall that I was the one running the 200 with them and making sure that they did what they needed to do,” Alexis said.

Besides volunteering, her other favorite activity is running for her own school’s track and field team. She enjoys track because it is an individual sport. The fact that she has to rely on and push herself is one reason she likes the sport so much.

Along with volunteering and running track, Alexis is the current class vice president and was the chair class president two years ago. She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society, Sisters with ™ An Intuition and FBLA. Previously, ek she also was a step team co-captain of the We and played volleyball. Staying busy with extracurricular activities, Alexis still works hard and currently has a 4.2 GPA. One lesson she will take with her to college is “that it’s okay to be outspoken and have an opinion, This fall, Alexis will attend University of Virginia. After staying but I also have to be understanding as well.” at the university during her Spring Break weekend, she was encouraged to make UVA her top choice. “I just felt so welcomed,” One of Alexis’ biggest inspirations is her dad. “He gets up every Alexis said. “I felt like I was a part of the campus and so it was just morning and works really hard at his job,” Alexis said. Seeing different from the other campus tours I took.” how her father, one of the only African American workers with his position, works hard every day and pushes to do and be the Before going to college and receiving her degrees, Alexis already best, motivates her to do the same. In the future, Alexis hopes to works to give back to her community. One of her favorite motivate others and make an impact. Not only does she want to extracurricular activities is volunteering at Randolph Community make an impact in the medical field but for people in general.

Scholar0

FOR A WORLD WITHOUT

CANCER. CANCER Another discovery. Another positive outcome. Another life saved. That’s how we are moving toward a future without cancer. It takes dedication, perseverance, tenacity. But we won’t stop. We are taking on cancer one cell at a time. And we’re getting there. Together. Masseycancercenter.org

VCU3079_1_Cancer_Print_9_89x3.09_D1.indd 1

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Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

5/12/17 1:31 PM

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ViewPoints

By Dr. T

To Tell the Truth “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” –Flannery O’Connor “To Tell the Truth” was a game show that ran on network television from 1956-1968. Briefly, the premise of this classic game show was that a person of some notoriety or fame and two impostors try to match wits with a panel of four celebrities. The object of the game is to try to fool the celebrities into voting for one of the two impostors as the “real deal” instead of choosing the actual famous person. They would ask a series of questions to get to the TRUTH. The imposters continued to “make up stories” and lie outright while the genuine person only told the truth. Ahhhhh…. the “genuine person” only told the TRUTH? How elusive telling the truth has become these days. In fact, telling lies and altering the truth has become such a finely tuned skillset that it feels like we are soon going to need some type of filter or lie detector on our television sets and mobile devices to simply watch the news.

with diverse perspectives or a “different way” of looking at the same set of facts and coming to a different conclusion. No. More specifically, this has to do with asserting and touting things that are false, documented as false, false on their face and calling those things true. Unfortunately for many people they trust in falsehood as truth and mistake what is presented as “alternate facts” as actual facts instead. Because of the trust these people place in certain famous persons of “some notoriety,” they are dangerously misled. They do not do their “due diligence” and check out the information that they’ve been given for themselves.

Which, unfortunately, predisposes them to making decisions based only on the information they have been given, which remains fundamentally FALSE.

“Unfortunately for many people they trust in falsehood as truth and mistake what is presented as “alternate facts...”

The classic television show “To Tell the Truth” gave out small monetary prizes as a reward for ferreting out the Truth and choosing the genuine famous person over the impostor. The show’s basic premise demonstrated that the TRUTH is not always easy to see and it is something that one must be looking Today, “fact based” media is almost a joke. Why to find. There must be a pursuit of Truth. It also do we always need a panel of 6 or 8 pundits to recognized that not everyone is interested in telling the truth, because hiding the truth deconstruct and reconstruct what is true and what is false? The “SPIN” has taken over through deception and false facts or lies served their purpose better. For those people legitimate discussion and informed discourse, and we have lost our ability to interrogate “winning” the game was the more important accomplishment, or making certain that and critically analyze the so-called truth that we are being told. The inability to recognize others LOST. Actually telling the truth would have not the truth or to tell the truth has become painfully allowed them to win. So they lied instead. Recently, obvious even when people place their hand on top our social interactions, political discourse and online Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. of the Bible, before witnesses, and swear that they media memes are more reminiscent of a “game show” Founder and Artistic Director are telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing or reality-TV show atmosphere where truth is elusive, The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor but the truth. There seems to be a growing sphere of facts are alternate, and reality is unbelievable! It’s deception and the “normalizing” of things that are Virginia Commonwealth University “unprecedented”! So they say? clearly false as true? It seems to have nothing to do DrT@Margins2theCenter.com | www.theconciliationproject.org

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The Deal

By Nathaniel Sillin

The Keys to Outfitting Your First Apartment on a Budget Moving into a place of your own for the first time is a huge step. I remember my first post-college apartment move. It was nothing special, but it was mine. It came with a few new challenges and responsibilities and all sorts of opportunities. For the first time, I was able to decide how to decorate an entire living area and turn a blank slate into a home.

Here’s some advice for finding what you’ll need on a budget and a few inexpensive ideas to make otherwise unimaginative rooms come to life.

Look for hand-me-down and used furniture. Furniture — tables, chairs, bookshelves etc. — often takes up the most websites’ free sections and the nonprofit Freecycle space and can be the biggest drain on your budget. You Network™, which hosts message boards where you can find could start by mapping out your home using online floor local people giving away their unwanted belongings. plan software and determining what might fit where.

To find used furniture that’s for sale, head to consignment When it comes to finding furniture, friends, family stores, garage and buy-sell-trade social media groups. members and friends of family members may have There are even startups creating online marketplaces something they want to get rid of and simply haven’t had specifically for furniture, although they’re generally limited the time or energy to do so. Also consider marketplace to large cities.

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Get your kitchen in order. Many kitchen essentials, such as silverware, can also be found for cheap at second-hand stores. But if you’re looking for something new, you can save money by shopping at discount stores and online clearance sites.

Avid cooks who want to invest in a few kitchen appliances might consider waiting for large seasonal sales. For instance, standing mixers, slow cookers and other small appliances often go on sale every Black Friday.

Brighten up the place. While your apartment may have overhead lighting, a few standing lamps can set a much nicer mood. The good news is lamps often stay in the corner and won’t necessarily show a lot of wear and tear.

In other words, this is another great buy-used opportunity.

Don’t shop second-hand for everything. There are a few things you don’t want to buy used: towels and bedding.

Add mattresses to that list as well if you’ll be looking for a new one.

Continues to Page 11

Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

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sponsored by VCU Health

Nearly 14 million Americans have been diagnosed with cancer. Although the rate of people who get cancer is going down, the overall number of people who have cancer is going up. The number of people who are 65 years old or older is expected Dr. Masey Ross to grow to 71 million by 2030—twice the number of people in this age group as compared to 2000. People also are living longer after being told they have cancer, due to improvements in finding cancer early and better cancer treatments.

In this Health News article, we will highlight tips for cancer survivors given by Dr. Masey Ross, HematologyOncology Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Massey Cancer Center and VCU Health. We will also recognize several people in our community who are celebrating being cancer survivors.

“Cancer survivorship begins at diagnosis.” says Dr. Ross.

“For patients who are nearing completion of their cancer treatment and in remission, there are several goals of survivorship care. These include preventing new and recurrent cancers, developing a tailored strategy for surveillance and follow-up, addressing any residual or late effects of cancer treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

Below are some general guidelines that might help get you thinking about how best to achieve these goals: • As you are nearing completion of the active treatment portion of your cancer care, ask your cancer care provider to create a summary outlining the treatment you received as well as the dates of treatment.

• Some chemotherapy agents and radiation treatments can have side effects that persist or occur later in life, after your therapy has finished. These are known as late effects or late toxicities. Having a summary of your prior treatments can help your doctors monitor for late toxicities.

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Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

Cancer Survivorship

• It is important for cancer survivors to keep up with regular cancer screening. In some cases, having a diagnosis of a particular type of cancer can increase the risk of developing a second cancer. This can be due to genetic susceptibilities or to shared exposures.

For example, patients with a smoking history who are diagnosed with lung cancer may be at increased risk of developing head and neck cancer due to the damage smoking causes to the aerodigestive tract. Ask your oncologist or primary care doctor about tailoring your cancer screening.

• It is important to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity and exercise regimens should be tailored in conjunction with your doctor to account for your abilities and preferences. General recommendations are to strive to engage in daily physical activity.

• Try to maintain a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and limit your intake of red meats, and refined sugars. It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Limit alcohol intake. If you are currently a smoker, try to quit smoking. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about the best way to approach your smoking cessation as they may have some ideas about behavior changes or medications that can help. Practice sun safety. Wear a sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 that is water resistant.

Wear hats and long sleeves, and avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours whenever possible.

• It is not uncommon for survivors to experience anxiety, worry, or mood changes that persist beyond cancer diagnosis and treatment. If you experience these feelings, talk to your doctor. Depending on the severity, there are a variety of interventions that may be helpful including support groups, individual counseling, meditation, creative therapies like art or music, or others.

The above recommendations are based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Survivorship Guidelines. Please talk to your doctor for specific recommendations about your survivorship care. It is our hope that with implementation of some of these practices, you will live a long, healthy and fulfilling life.

Urban Views Weekly also wants to celebrate the cancer survivors and heroes right in our own Richmond community!

Name: Keisha Harris Age: 39 In 2012, I was living in Hawaii with my then-fiancé when my life went from a dream to a nightmare. What was originally diagnosed as a kidney infection turned out to be stage 4 cervical cancer that had spread to my kidney and spinal cord. After enduring countless treatments, I moved back to the East Coast to be closer to my family.

The treatments had damaged my organs so badly that I had to undergo a very risky procedure called a total pelvic exenteration, which involved the removal of my gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive organs.

Without the procedure, I was told I had less than seven weeks to live.

I took recovery one step at a time and in 6 months I was back at the gym. I encourage others to draw positivity from those around them and to never lose hope. I have written a book about my experience called Warrior 917: Lessons Before Living, and volunteer regularly at VCU Massey Cancer Center.

p Begins at Diagnosis

By J. Chevonte’ Alexander

CANCER SURVIVORS Name: Erinn Budd Age: 24

Name: Anita Whitlow Age: 56

In September 2015 I was diagnosed with Adrenal Cancer, after many months of testing from my doctors.

I had surgery one month later to remove the tumor and my left adrenal gland. Post surgery, I was in and out of the hospital for a few months before I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in June 2016.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in December of 2014. It has been a rough journey. I have had plenty of reasons to give up, but I consider myself blessed and choose to stay strong and remain positive.

Nobody ever expects to get colorectal cancer, but you need to get screened if you’re over 50 so you can catch it early. And if you think something is wrong, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. If you do have cancer, be strong, stay positive and fight. Don’t give up, don’t skip appointments and always make sure you ask questions and follow up with your doctor.

Since my diagnosis, I have worked with my doctors to closely monitor the growth of the 5 tumors on my pancreas. If they do grow in any size, I will have to have surgery. Until then, I’m just thankful to wake up every day.

Name: Carrie Persing Age: 46 I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in May of 2014, the same weekend I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Due to a prior suspicious biopsy and a family history of breast cancer, I was having biopsies taken every six months.

I elected to undergo a double mastectomy, followed by microsurgical reconstruction. The surgery lasted 15 hours, but I am now cancer free almost three years later.

I feel fortunate that my cancer was caught early when others have had to endure so much. I encourage everyone to be vigilant; to talk to their doctor about a personalized screening plan based on their family’s health; and to ask questions and play a role in determining the right course of care if they are diagnosed.

Carrie Persing with son Ryan Persing Continues to Page 9 Photos Contributed by VCU Massey Cancer Center

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SAVOR

Family Features Courtesy Dole

5 Tips to Avoid Binge-Watching Guilt Dozens of streaming video providers are making it easier than ever to watch the TV programming you want when you want it, and exclusive programming released an entire season at a time is transforming the way Americans watch TV. The flip side of this convenience is a surge in binge-watching, which can have some negative side effects, including binge eating.

2. Keep your kitchen stocked with ingredients such as high quality, ready-to-eat jarred fruit so you can create quick and easy snacks with a serving of fruit in between episodes or during a commercial break.

When your favorite show is available back-to-back, it’s easy to let substantial blocks of time get away as you watch “just one more” episode to follow the twists and turns of the plot. In fact, according to a recent survey by Dole, the average binge-watching session clocks in around 5 hours. The same survey found that more than two-thirds of people prefer healthy snacks to fuel their marathon viewing.

4. Avoid waste or spoilage with convenient, re-sealable lids that let you use what you need for a single serving and save the rest for later.

Treating yourself to an occasional binge session may give your brain a well-earned break, and it’s easy to do many forms of exercise in front of the screen. The trick to keeping your binge-watching session in check and getting

Fruity Flatbread

rid of the guilt is to exercise good habits when you head to the kitchen.

Peach Parfaits

Cover flatbread with chopped broccoli rabe, turkey bacon and oranges.

In cup or jar, alternate layering yogurt, granola and chopped peaches. Top with mint and serve immediately.

Slice avocado in half, remove pit and scoop out avocado into bowl. Smash until desired consistency.

Toast bread, layer with avocado and top with peaches. Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.

Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

Find more quick and easy snacks that can be made during a commercial break at dolesunshine.com.

1. Opt for snacks that include valuable vitamins and minerals.

Low-fat yogurt Granola Jarred sliced peaches Mint

Avocado Whole-wheat bread Jarred sliced peaches Salt Pepper Crushed red pepper flakes

Look for quick solutions that help trim prep time and skip the cutting, peeling and mess.

5. Get creative to satisfy cravings. Instead of reaching for cookies or cake, dip fruit in melted chocolate and pop it in the freezer. Let it sit while you watch a few episodes of your favorite show and then enjoy.

Pre-made flatbread crust Broccoli rabe Cooked and chopped turkey bacon Jarred Mandarin oranges

Avocado Toast

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3.

Brightened Up Caprese Salad Fresh mozzarella cheese Jarred sliced peaches Fresh basil Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Balsamic glaze Arrange alternate slices of mozzarella and peaches. Sprinkle fresh basil, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

1-2-3 Chicken Wrap Whole-wheat tortilla Spinach Jarred Mandarin oranges Cooked chicken, chopped Yogurt-based dressing of choice Lay tortilla flat and add spinach, oranges and chicken. Top with dressing. Fold, cut and serve. Substitution: Preferred greens can be added in place of or in addition to spinach.

Tropical Fruit Salsa Jarred tropical fruit 1 white onion 1 bunch cilantro 1 jalapeno 1 lime, juiced Tortilla chips Chop 2 cups fruit, dice onion, chop cilantro and seed and mince jalapeno. Combine ingredients and stir in lime juice. Serve alongside tortilla chips.

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Cancer from page 7

CANCER SURVIVORS Name: Roberta Carter Age: 56

Name: Donna Sarver Age: 53

I have been fighting breast cancer since I was first diagnosed in 2003. I have had several recurrences, but I choose to be positive and trust in my care team at VCU Massey Cancer Center. I’ve learned throughout the years that you must stay focused, determined, unmovable, and remain on the course to the finish line.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in December of 2011 despite having never smoked.

It was a shock. I was in disbelief when I heard the cancer had already spread throughout my body.

My oncologist ordered a test and found my cancer was caused by a rare genetic mutation. Fortunately, there was a drug that targeted this mutation and after only a few treatments I went from barely being able to breathe to feeling almost normal.

I try to use my experience to help others who are going through the same thing I did. When you’re first diagnosed you can feel secluded, so I try to open the door a little bit to let people know there is hope and to keep the faith.

I am not cured, but my cancer is being controlled by my current treatments. I have been able to see my son and daughter graduate high school and start college. I’ve come to realize that every day is truly a blessing, and I plan to use my energy to spread love and happiness.

Name: Tim Sanderson Age: 50 I have been diagnosed with cancer twice. More than 20 years ago, I was treated for a tumor on one of my salivary glands. Then, nearly 10 years later after becoming a father to my twins, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Both experiences were terrifying, but I will never forget the incredible support that I received from everyone around me.

I’ve been cancer free for nearly 10 years. I started running in an effort to be healthier and get back in touch with my body. I also got involved with the Cancer Hope Network, which pairs cancer survivors with patients currently undergoing treatment. I encourage everyone to listen to their body and see their doctor if they think anything is out of the ordinary.

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Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

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How to Guide

Family Features

How to Choose the Best Cuts of Meat The taste of the best cuts of meat prepared exactly to perfection is heavenly. But finding the right cuts of meat is no straightforward task. There are a variety of choices and grades on the market, including USDA prime, choice and select grades. These options are intimidating enough. So how do you know you are getting what you want?

The good news is cooking a great meal doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Whether you are creating a meal for a dinner party or informal event, you can always find what you need and pull off a great event.

When in doubt, talk to someone who is in the know. Find a store with friendly, knowledgeable staff who will help you decide on beef, pork, poultry, lamb or something more exotic.

Sometimes stores have specialists who can guide you through the process.

In fact, most supermarket meat departments or butcher shops employ people who are happy to give advice and inform you about different cuts and how each one should be prepared.

They might be able to stop you from making a costly mistake.

The following are a few more tips to help you through the process of finding the best cut of meat.

1. Choose the right cut of meat for your recipe.

Consider how you are cooking the meat and what you want your result to be. Traditional barbecue uses cheap, tough cuts and cooks them slowly until they become soft and tender. On the other hand, a barbecue brisket is chewy and tough because it is cooked quickly over a full blast of heat. But that same meat can become delicious and smooth if you smoke it slowly over low heat for hours.

Other cuts of meat will become tough and flavorless if you grill them too slowly. For example, Porterhouse or T-bone are best cooked over high, direct heat for a short time.

2. Consider the density or toughness of the meat and its fat content.

Great cooks know that a good recipe needs a tender, delicious piece of meat with the perfect texture.

Density can be hard to ascertain, so usually the cut indicates the density or toughness. Meats culled from different areas of

Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

Marbling - small streaks of fat running through the cut - can sometimes tell you about the fat content. Many people think marbling gives meat its best flavor.

However, the quality of the marbling is important. Big veins of fat don’t cook very easily, so thick and consistent cuts of marbled meat would need to be slow-cooked to release the flavor. Small, thin ribbons of fat are usually excellent for a traditional steak cooked over high heat.

3. Examine the color of the meat and ask whether carbon monoxide is used to keep it looking red.

Meat browns quickly when exposed to air. If you find brightred meat without additives used to preserve that vivid color, then it is an ultra-fresh cut.

At quality shops, you could have meats custom cut for your needs. Custom cuts often deliver better results than off-theshelf items.

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an animal tend to be more or less tender.

Novice cooks might start with a cheaper cut of meat, such as sirloin steak for grilling.

Once you have practiced your grilling skills, work your way up to expensive meats such as New York strips, T-bones, filet mignon and Porterhouse.

Ultimately, it is the quality of your cooking skills coupled with your selection of meat that will make a great meal.

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FUNdraising from page 2

We don’t know what we are trying to achieve and we don’t have a timeline.

When we do move forward, people are unable to “stay in their lane” – they focus on the work and responsibilities of others, instead of their project. We don’t need anyone from the outside to undercut our momentum: we do it ourselves.

Causes. Underneath these symptoms there are usually a few causes. These include a lack of defined purpose or an outdated vision; the wrong people on the board or team; lack of leadership; poor communication; and/or lack of consistent follow-up between meetings. Being honest is the first step in finding out what’s really

going on. If you are committed, then you need to speak up. Talk to your team/board members off line. Learn their perspectives.

Be sure to keep your word, and then begin the process of holding people accountable to their word.

Next week is Part Two: Suggestions for how to combat planned confusion Copyright 2017 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of four books on fundraising available on Amazon. com. For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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The Deal from page 5

When it comes to sheets, ultra-high thread counts could be more of a marketing gimmick than an indicator of quality. Try to focus on how the fabric feels, find a weave that you like and you might be pleasantly surprised by the low-cost options at big box retailers. The same test works for towels.

Purchasing a new mattress can take a big chunk of your budget. Consider one of the new online mattress retailers that sell highquality goods for less. Buying a mattress without testing it first may seem weird, but many offer free returns within the first few months.

Add a few personal touches. You’ve got the necessities covered, but how do you turn a generic apartment into a place that feels like home? Think walls, windows and floors.

Rather than painting, consider a cheaper (and easier) route by opting for removable wall decals or wallpaper. There are all sorts of shapes, designs, prints and even adhesive chalkboards for under $20. You www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

could also decorate with paper, canvas or metal prints of your favorite photographs.

Windows can get a cover-up treatment as well, but rather than spending a lot of money on brand new blinds you can get curtains that add color or a pattern to your room.

An area rug can help tie a room together, but they can also be prohibitively expensive. This is another item that you might not want to buy used unless you know the seller. Luckily, home good stores and some big box retailers usually have at least a few inexpensive options.

Congratulations on the move. Outfitting a new apartment doesn’t happen overnight.

Especially if this is the first time you get to pick what to buy, it can take time to find your style and items to match. However, even with a limited budget, there’s a lot you can do to make a space your own.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney

Classifieds

PUBLIC NOTICE The Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning FY 2018 Unified Transportation Planning Work Program is ready for review; written comments on the Transportation Improvement Program should be addressed to Crater Planning District Commission, P.O. Box 1808, Petersburg, Virginia 23805 or by email at dhyder@ craterpdc.org and should be received within the review period ending June 25, 2017.

PUBLIC NOTICE Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135; 49 U.S.C 5303 and 5304, the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) hereby provides area citizens an opportunity to review and comment on the Transportation Improvement Program.

This transportation plan has been developed by local and State agencies represented on the Tri-Cities Area MPO. A copy of this draft document has been made available for public viewing during regular visiting hours at public libraries in the Tri-Cities Area during a 30 day public review period beginning May 28, 2017 and ending June 25, 2017.

One public meeting will be scheduled to receive comments on this draft plan on June 22, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m (During the MPO Policy Committee Meeting) at the Petersburg Multi-Modal Station located 100 W. Washington Street in

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY

Petersburg, VA. Persons in need of special accommodations to participate in these public meetings are requested to forward this information either by contacting the Crater Planning District Commission at 804-861-1666 or by email using the address listed below one week prior to the meeting date.

Persons with a hearing impairment may contact the Virginia Relay Center at 1-800-828-1120 to forward information to the Crater Planning District Commission and Tri-Cities Area MPO. A copy of this draft plan and other information related to the Tri-Cities Area MPO has been made available in electronic format located http:// craterpdc.org/transportation/mpo. htm The Crater Planning District Commission and the Tri-Cities Area MPO assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, handicap, sex, age or income status, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent nondiscrimination laws, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of , or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity. Written comments on Transportation Improvement Program should be addressed Crater Planning District Commission, P.O. Box 1808, Petersburg, Virginia 23805 and or sent email dhyder@craterpdc.org and received within the review period ending June 25, 2017.

804.649.6868

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APARTMENTS UNFURN. MAISONETTE APARTMENTS 6745 Jefferson Davis Highway 1 bdrm., A/C, util. incl., $190/wk.

804-275-7355. www.richmondmaisonettes.com

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TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll it fast and The 45th President ofSell the United States recently proclaimed the U.S. is a easy with withdrawing from the Paris climate accord. The internationallow-cost agreement aimed at combating climate classified change involves ad. more than 190 countries. The President Call repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” during the presidential campaign.

649.6868

What’s Your Take? Do you believe climate change is real?

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. You can now watch us LIVE at TanyaFree.com and ustream.tv

Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

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Urban Views Weekly | June 7, 2017

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