Urban Views Weekly October 12, 2016

Oct. 12, 2016

#BlackWomenVote Campaign Launches Page 3

From Left to Right: Charles Edwards, Jamil Jasey, Chris Matthews, Chameika Darden, Tasha Thomas

Coalition of Singers, Poets and Comedian combat violence with the arts

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Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Yearend Solicitation – You want me to ask someone for a gift?!?

Fall is in the air. Time for football, warm sweaters, and the approach of the holidays. For those involved in fundraising, it is also time to focus on the year-end campaign. There are direct mail letters to write, holiday events to host, and on-line giving campaigns to launch and manage. There is also the process of personally asking select individuals to make a larger gift. “Soliciting major gifts” – as this is referred to – is not for the faint of heart. It is one of the most feared aspects of fundraising. It is also one of the most important. It is vital to nonprofits and provides donors with a way to make a meaningful difference.

Consider this: Most major donors want to be asked. They rarely approach an organization and say “how can I make a difference?” They want to be approached, typically in person. It is part of the “dance” of fundraising. What constitutes a major gift can vary greatly from one organization to another.

For some, $500 is a major gift. For universities and hospitals, the threshold for a major gift could be $10,000 or $25,000. It’s not the absolute size of the gift, it’s the relative size. Start where you are, and treat those who give at the highest level with a personal touch.

Here are some tips to help your nonprofit “dance with your donors.”

Tips for the executive director and/or development director. Take time to look at your list of current and prospective major donors. Determine who would be the right person to meet with each and ask for a gift. It might be you, it could be a board member, volunteer or another donor. Remember: you don’t have to be the person to meet

asking – others may believe in your cause but feel intimidated or fearful.

Tips for board members and fundraising volunteers. Reflect on your own experiences of asking and being asked. Think about the people you have agreed to solicit. What would be the ideal time to meet? What do you know of each person’s interests and how these connect to the organization?

Ask the executive director or development director for help in determining the right amount to ask for.

Most importantly, remember these five things: Make your own gift first. Be prepared. Don’t hide behind email. Prepare for objections. Ask for a specific amount.

“It is vital to nonprofits and provides donors with a way to make a meaningful difference. ” with all the major donors. In some cases, it might be best for another person with a closer connection to make the ask. Don’t “assign” people to ask donors for a gift. Be as intentional with your solicitors as you are with donors. Ask them if they are willing and comfortable to solicit specific people. Share why it is important to the organization and the people you serve.

Provide opportunities for volunteer solicitors to practice asking. Some may be veteran fundraisers who are comfortable

For more specific guidelines, download our free tool at http://bit.ly/MakeTheAsk. Even more information is available in our book The Fundraisers’ Guide to Soliciting Gifts.

Copyright 2016 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of the new book FUNdraising Good Times Classics Vol. 1 now available on Amazon.com. For help growing your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com, or call (901) 522-8727.

Letter To The Editor

Expand your network and Grow your business.

Join Today!

www.CVAACC.org Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

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Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

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.

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com VOL. 9, ISSUE 41 Urban Views Weekly, LLC 6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (804) 441-6255 Fax: (888) 439-2534 Cover photo submitted by: Divine Souls Coalition

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#BlackWomenVote Campaign Launches to Energize and Engage Black Women GOTV Effort

New Website Showcases Election News and Tools for Black Women to Prepare to Vote On October 6, 2016, Higher Heights, the leading, independent and trusted political voice for Black women leading up to, and beyond Election Day 2016 launched #BlackWomenVote Get Out The Vote, a nonpartisan campaign. The nationwide effort is to ensure Black women have the news and tools to get out the vote on November 8.

The campaign over the next month, will reach Black women across the country to activate their circles and give them the tools to raise their voice, cast their vote and flex their collective voting power.

women can pledge to vote and make a voting plan as well as connect them to tools like register to vote and find their polling location. The site also includes weekly commentary on news from Black women across the country about this election and current topics focused on issues affecting Black women.

“The #BlackWomenVote campaign is being launched on the birthday of Fannie Lou Hamer, because it is about The campaign was launched on the birthday of civil rights igniting a spark so that the voice of Black women and the During the course of the campaign #BlackWomenVote leader and voting rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer power that we hold can be fully put to work and recognized will also host a number of on and offline events like town organized and encouraged Blacks to register to vote. at the ballot box in November,” said Glynda C. Carr, cohalls, conversations and salons to further energize Black founder of Higher Heights. “The new campaign provides women and emphasize the importance to get out the vote She also worked for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Black women with tools they can use to vote and get their in November, as well as staying active beyond Election Day. Committee, which fought racial segregation and injustice networks to vote. We know that when you fire up a Black in the South. In 1964, she helped found the Mississippi “We have launched this campaign to provide meaningful woman she does not go to the polls alone, she brings her Freedom Democratic Party. Hamer died in 1977; October ways for Black women to organize their networks this house, her block, her church, her sorority, and her water 6 would have been her 99th birthday. election and demonstrate our collective power for change cooler. For us, this election is about harnessing the power in our communities and nationwide,” said Kimberly Peeler of Black women’s votes to address and support building The campaign is centered around the new website Allen, co- founder of Higher Heights. This is really about BlackWomenVote.com. The site provides the latest election economically stable communities and the other issues of harnessing the power of Black women to ensure we have a the greatest importance to Black women.” news, commentary and tools for Black women to prepare seat at political and economic decision making tables.” to vote, and get out the vote within their social networks.

The new website includes an Election Center, where

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Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

3

ViewPoints

By Dr. T

The “Normalization” of Rape Culture and Misogyny When the first response to a woman or girl’s account of being touched, groped, or sexually bullied and demeaned, verbally or physically assaulted is to trivialize, deny or blame her for her own victimization,THAT is participating in Rape Culture. “Boys will be boys” or “I was just a joking!” or “She asked for it!” are all classic defenses, deflections and excuses for misogyny, assault and the objectification and overt harassment of women and girls, and are a part of the culture in which we live.

Defending and excusing these abhorrent behaviors is so commonplace within the American cultural landscape that it is more often ignored than confronted even though most women do not reach adulthood without having had personal experience with the trauma of sexual assault and/or abuse of some kind.

are defined by sexual aggression and dominance, and femininity and womanhood are defined by submission and passivity. Gratuitous gendered violence in movies, television and music videos continue to permeate the industry and the public continues to passively accept those standards as normal and thereby valid.

We have a serious problem with how we, as a society, treat women and girls. The fact that women across the board still do not make equal pay for equal work exemplifies the value we place on the work they do.

The current attack on women’s reproductive rights displays a paternalistic intrusion into the autonomy a woman has over her own body, an argument that was constitutionally settled by the Supreme Court over four decades ago. Because we are in the midst of a highly We live in a culture where the objectification of women in advertising, media arts and contested political season, we find ourselves in heated and passionate discourse around culture is “normal.” The way a woman “looks” on television, in film and in the corridors sexism, reproductive rights and economic “kitchen table issues” where the discussion of business, halls of justice and throughout centers of academic discourse is more inevitably exposes both the active and passive misogyny of people who are running indicative of her worth or validity than her level of education, intellectual prowess, ability for public office. As mothers, fathers, daughters, sisters and brothers, we must STOP or business acumen. The standards by which women and girls are judged and evaluated the continuing culture of violence and humiliation of women and girls in what we feed into a culture where they are routinely put on public display and “scored” by a think, what we say, and what we DO. It is time to STOP teaching women and girls to physical standard created by a patriarchal system that routinely scrutinizes a woman avoid getting raped instead of teaching men not to rape. All of us MUST begin to think or girl’s dress, mental state, motives and personal history. Unlike the measurement critically about the media’s messages about women, men, relationships, and violence and and assessment of males for their accomplishments, resume, intelligence and character. take responsibility instead of blame shifting, excusing and ignoring. We MUST develop Where men’s “bad” behavior is almost celebrated, a respect for other people’s physical space even in casual expected, applauded and even ignored, women are most situations. Communication is key and it is essential in often shamed for behaviors that revolve around sexuality, sexual situations even in partnerships, you cannot assume Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. choice, body image or empowerment. Intelligence is consent.

Who we are and how we define ourselves should Founder and Artistic Director equated with an air of frigidness; assertiveness and not come from the media marketplace or the ingrained The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor confidence are connected with dysfunction or disorder. stereotypes we are saturated with. Ultimately, we must Virginia Commonwealth University All of this creates a culture whereby sexual harassment each define our own humanity and not allow others to DrT@Margins2theCenter.com | www.theconciliationproject.org and assault is tolerated because maleness and masculinity define it for us.

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Science Museum of Virginia Announces Access Program for Low-Income Families The Science Museum of Virginia is proud to announce that it has joined Museums for All, a national initiative to make quality museum learning experiences available to everyone. Enabling low-income families to visit for a nominal fee, the Museum is expanding its commitment to being an accessible and inclusive community resource.

As part of the Museums for All program, the Museum will offer an exhibit admission rate of $2 per adult and $1 per child to families presenting an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Museum guests can also opt to watch a movie in The Dome theater for an additional $1 per person.

“It is our fundamental role to use science to inspire the greater community,” said Richard Conti, Chief Wonder Officer, Science Museum of Virginia. “Joining the Museums for All initiative strengthens our commitment to making our experiences more accessible.”

Developed by the Association of Children’s Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, Museums for All allows guests to visit any participating museum year-round for a minimal fee. Families are encouraged to participate and experience museums across the country – from children’s museums to science centers.

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TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll Some Republican leaders have condemned newly leaked comments by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who bragged about groping women in a 2005 recording obtained by the Washington Post. Other GOP leaders have even called for Trump to “step aside” for the sake of the party.

What’s your take? Will these latest comments lead to the demise of Trumps’ Presidential aspirations?

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

Ask us how: (804) 441-6255

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9/29/16 9:18 AM

Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

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Combating Viole

Divine Souls Coalition Brings A There’s no denying that when it comes to our inner city youth, channel their energy into something positive, something that the odds have been stacked against them for quite some time. creates real change?

Many families live in poverty, with parents constantly away from home, working multiple jobs to keep the lights on and food on For Richmond native Jamil Jasey, he believes the arts is the the table. Not coincidentally, the schools in those same districts answer. Growing up in Richmond’s inner city in the 1980s are severely underfunded and understaffed, and our children and graduating from George Wythe High School in the often graduate lacking the late 90s, Jasey has seen basic knowledge needed the aforementioned cycle to truly succeed in both perpetuate far too many times. higher education and life.

He’s witnessed first-hand peers With the lack of proper who’d involved themselves education comes struggles in the lifestyle he knew he finding good-paying jobs, needed to avoid, and thanks to only perpetuating the his solid foundation, he found cycle of poverty. It’s no an outlet. His involvement in surprise that for many the arts began in 1997, and youth, turning to a life today, he’s the proud Founder of crime seems like the of Divine Souls Coalition, an only way to make a living, organization whose mission honest or not. For them, is to use the arts to combat it’s all about survival, and violence in our communities. they’re willing to risk Jamil Jasey and Zan Delaine everything in order to “I got my start in the arts in provide for themselves and those they love. Whether for violent Richmond Public Schools in 1997,” he recalls. “Mrs. Lewis, my or non-violent offenses, our youth make up the majority of English teacher, convinced me to take up poetry during my 11th the incarcerated population, and our younger boys and girls grade year after reading my writing. At first I said, ‘oh no, that’s are faced with criminal records that continue to haunt them not my thing’, but I eventually joined the Forensics team. I was through adulthood. in the prose and poetry division, so I had to memorize a poem, perform it, and act it out. That really helped when I started How can we break this cycle? What will it take for our youth performing.” who see poverty, crime, and incarceration as the norm, to

Yaminah, Ch

“...Divine Souls Coalition brin who might never otherwi Thankfully for Jasey, his newfound love of poetry and performing garnered the support from his family and friends, friends who saw his potential and refused to let him follow in their footsteps. What started out as high school Forensics competitions led to a long career in the arts. After trying his hand at a few performance groups with fellow artist friends, he went on to start Divine Souls Coalition.

Comprised of 11 members—six singers, four poets, and one comedian—Divine Souls Coalition brings the arts into communities who might never otherwise be exposed to them.

From soul to pop to blues, the members perform both original and cover songs on stages across Richmond.

“We try to do an event the first Saturday of each month,” he says.

“It’s open to all artists—poets, singers, dancers, visual artists—we support all types of art, and want the community to see that there’s more than one outlet out here. At our monthly events, we usually end up having 16 artists perform, and then for the finale we all perform together.”

Rosie, Jamil, Kayla 6

Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

While his outreach events are meant to attract all community members regardless of age, Jasey spends a great deal of his time reaching youth through his partnership with the Richmond Public Library’s Black Male Emergent Leaders (BMER) program.

With BMER, students from ages 12-18 who the school system

ence Through Art

Art to the Richmond Inner Cities their own classes one day. With the mission of using the arts to combat violence combined with his unique connection to inner city youth, Jasey plans to make his organization more family oriented, providing a place where families can bring their children and they can bond, learn the arts, and explore their own talents and passions together—again, as a unit.

Most recent on their list of local events was their biggest yet, their Unity Walk in Monroe Park on September 24, something they plan to make an annual event.

harles, Tasha

ngs the arts into communities ise be exposed to them.” considers to be “at-risk” are given the opportunity to gain mentorship, build positive relationships, and get in-depth exposure to the arts in a way they’d never had before. Jasey’s specific focus is on performance art—writing and performing poetry—while other members teach hip-hop, acting, and a myriad of other art forms. His involvement affords him an opportunity to bond and connect with the inner city youth and impart wisdom that he knows will help them choose the right path.

Working with 12 students, Jasey focuses on showing them how far they’ve come from the very first day they arrived. They reflect on their progress at the end of the eight-week program, and they’re able to actually see for themselves how much they’ve changed. He admits that in the beginning, some youth don’t always get along, but he takes pride in the fact that by the end of the program, he’s created an environment in which they can learn, grow, and develop friendships.

“We’ve done a lot of shows together, but our first community event is our Unity Concert. We’re bringing together members from city council and the school board, and it’s all about using the arts to give back. We want to feed the homeless and donate clothes.

Growing up, VCU wasn’t as big as it is now. Having this event in Monroe Park will bring everyone together; that’s why we call it the ‘Unity Concert’.”

For an organization that’s yet to reach its full official year, Divine Souls Coalition has already made its mark on Richmond city.

Last year, they hosted an event in Mosby Court that drew in unforeseen numbers. Even in 53-degree weather, a whopping

By Janna M. Hall

175 people congregated at the basketball court on Redd Street and enjoyed performances of all kinds. The city council, police department, and various organizations in Richmond all pitched in to be a part of the event, and through their collaborative effort, were able to bring the neighbors together for three hours despite the cold. Only anticipating 50 people, residents watched performances from their windows for lack of seating.

Even those without chairs fellowshipped with other residents and vowed to stay in contact with Divine Souls Coalition as they make their way through the Richmond area.

As for plans to expand, Jasey’s looking forward to bringing his showcases to other areas in Richmond.

He’s working with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to host events in 2017, and has his eyes on spaces in the Hillside, Fairfield, and Whitcomb Court communities. When asked if he’d ever imagined that he’d be making such incredible strides to make a difference in Richmond, he says absolutely not.

“To be honest, I’d never thought I’d stay in Richmond after leaving VCU,” he admits. “I moved to DC and thought I’d stay in that area forever. But things worked continues on page 11

“I stress that at the end of the day, the group has to be one. One cohesive unit. In the beginning, I’d hear a lot of members carrying the ‘oh, I don’t care about you’ attitude, but now they encourage each other and have really established a family unit.

We’re a team.”

It is his hope that Divine Souls Coalition may be able to teach

Keohana, Chameika, Chris & Andrew Photos submitted by: Divine Souls Coalition

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7

The Deal

Graduated and On Your Own: Now What?

Fall is here and school is back in session but for many graduates, it’s out for good. If you’re a recent high school or college graduate, this might be the first time you’re on your own. Living away from home and paying for your own housing, food and other necessities can be a tough adjustment.

But being on your own for the first time is a new and exciting experience and it offers a perfect opportunity to set yourself up for success.

Make sure you have the right bank account for you. A lot may have changed since you opened your account, so consider changing your account to find the best one for your needs. If you are still sharing a bank account with your parents, consider opening your own. Opening an account can be simple and it’s possible to do so online or over the phone — but you’ll need a minimum deposit amount and documentation like your Social Security Number. For helpful tips, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) guide on opening a checking account.

Live within your means. As you begin your career, it’s essential to have reliable income and use it responsibly. A good budgeting guideline to start with is the 50/20/30 rule. Allot 50 percent of your income to necessary costs like housing, 20 percent to financial goals like repaying student loans and 30 percent to spending money. Remember that this is a rule of thumb and you can adjust it to fit your needs. Never spend more than you have, and always pay your bills on time.

Figure out taxes. The most important thing to know about

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Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

By Nathaniel Sillin

your situation and pay as much as you can immediately while prioritizing paying off the rest.

Check up on your healthcare. Under the Affordable Care Act, you can stay on your parents’ plan until you’re 26. If you aren’t currently on your parents’ plan or wish to leave their plan, you have several options to explore. Under federal law, if you’re not covered by health insurance you must pay a fee on your next federal tax return. You can explore the different levels of coverage available and estimate how much a plan will cost you at Healthcare.gov, the federal healthcare website.

taxes is that you must pay them on time or request a six month extension. If you’ve missed the deadline, don’t ignore the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — follow their guidelines for repayment. There are multiple ways to pay your taxes and you can download the IRS2Go mobile app to make payments.

Check with your parents before filing: If they claim you as a dependent, you won’t be able to claim tax exemptions. Finally, check if you qualify for special exemptions like a student loan deduction.

Get ready for retirement — yes, really. The younger you start saving, the more valuable your savings are. According to this Bankrate example, starting your savings at age 25 at $2,000 a year will yield a retirement account of $560,000 (assuming your earnings grow at 8 percent every year). But starting10 years later at age 35 will yield just $245,000 at retirement — less than half the money you’d have if you started saving ten years earlier. The earlier you start saving, the more money you’ll end up with — and if you take advantage of an employer-matched 401(k) fund, you can put away extra money for free.

Take charge of your student loans. First, confirm your loan status at the official Federal Student Aid website where you can also explore your payment options and estimate how long it will take to repay your loans. Always make the minimum payments on time, and if you’re having trouble paying off your loans, don’t ignore them. Contact your lender, explain

Charge up your credit score. Building up credit as a young adult is important for big purchases down the road. Buying a house or purchasing a car are often significantly harder without a good credit score. It’s smart to start building good credit while your expenses are relatively small. For more information, the CFPB has a database of frequently Continues to Page 11

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SAVOR

Family Features Courtesy Idahoan Mashed Potatoes

Wonderful Weeknight Dining Make any day taste like Sunday With school, work and evening activities all spiraling in different directions, most families find that some things have to give.

Make sure quality time around the dinner table isn’t one of them with these savvy solutions that can help make weekday meals a cinch.

Go for the gold When it comes to mealtime, Sunday dinner is the gold standard. It’s the one day of the week when you’re most likely to go “all out” and prepare a great-tasting meal. But you can achieve similar meals during the week using delicious, time-saving sides such as packaged mashed potatoes, which

can be made in just 5 minutes. The smooth flavor of mashed potatoes with just a hint of butter and cream – makes any day taste like Sunday.

Quick-prep proteins Every family has its favorite go-to meals that stand the test of time. Build your repertoire with a few recipes centered on proteins that take next to no time to prepare.

For more tips to increase family time and get quick meals on the weeknight dinner table, visit www.idahoan.com/idahoan. com.

Seared Halibut with Lemon Butter Sauce Serves: 4

Lemon Butter Sauce

salt, pepper, lemon zest, herbs

1/2 cup white wine

Vegetables

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2

8

2 small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch strips

tablespoons whipping cream

3/4 teaspoon fresh garlic, chopped

turmeric, to taste; salt, to taste;

white pepper, to taste 8

tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

Halibut 4

teaspoons olive oil

4

halibut filets (6-8 ounces each)

For lemon butter sauce, add white wine, lemon juice, cream, garlic, turmeric, salt and pepper to saute pan. Heat on high heat and reduce to half its original volume.

While lemon sauce is reducing, prepare fish and vegetables. Once reduced, remove from heat and swirl in diced butter.

For halibut, heat non-stick skillet on www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

butter sauce and garnish with lemon zest and fresh herbs.

To serve, plate mashed potatoes, vegetables and halibut. Drizzle halibut with lemon

Note: Haddock or striped bass can be substituted for halibut.

Roasted Chicken Provencal

tablespoons olive oil

2

small yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch strips

2

small red peppers, washed, seeded and sliced into strips

Potatoes 2

For potatoes, prepare mashed potatoes following package instructions.

cups mashed potatoes (from 16.23-ounce package)

medium-high heat with olive oil. Season halibut with salt and pepper. Sear until deep golden brown, approximately 5 minutes each side. Remove from heat and cover with foil.

For vegetables, add olive oil to skillet over medium-high heat. Saute zucchini, squash and pepper until crisp-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Keep warm.

Serves: 4

8

chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1

tablespoon olive oil

garlic cloves, crushed

2

cups mashed Potatoes (from 16.23-ounce package)

1

cup sliced cremini mushrooms

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup pitted black olives, halved

sauteed green beans

1/4 cup chicken broth 2

2

thyme sprigs

Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In 12-inch skillet over mediumhigh heat, brown chicken thighs on both sides in hot oil. Add white wine, chicken broth, thyme sprigs and garlic.

Over high heat, heat mixture to boiling.

Cover and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, prepare mashed potatoes according to package directions.

In skillet, add mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and olives; cover and simmer 5 minutes longer until chicken is tender.

Serve chicken thighs with mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans.

Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

9

How to Guide

How to Choose a Chimney Professional A dirty chimney can cost you and your family your lives.

Here are a couple of little known facts: Chimneys packed with soot and creosote can trigger house fires. And chimneys that are not properly vented can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. You can avoid any potential health hazards by hiring a chimney maintenance professional to inspect your chimney and ensure that it is in safe, working order.

about the services they provided. Did they do a thorough job? Did they keep their work space neat and tidy, cleaning up any messes? Did they charge a reasonable price and show up on time to do the job?

Keep these tips in mind when looking for a chimney sweep.

You could also look for complaints and feedback from the Better Business Bureau or consumer-oriented websites.

And you could ask the chimney cleaner if they have any certifications or current testimonials from happy customers.

Cleaning Frequency

Insurance

How often do you need to have your chimney cleaned? There are two different guidelines.

One, according to the National Fire Protection Agency’s standards, “Chimneys, fireplaces and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

The annual inspection and cleaning is a great idea, but far too few homeowners follow that advice, leaving them at risk for a chimney fire or other dangerous conditions.

There is a second guideline you can follow, too. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends a chimney be swept when there is 1/8 inch of sooty buildup. It should also be swept any time “there is any glaze present in the system,” according to the institute.

There’s one thing you should always do before hiring someone to work at your house: Check on their insurance coverage.

What to Look For

Choosing someone to clean or fix your chimney is a lot like picking any professional to work on your home. They need to be experienced, knowledgeable, capable and great at serving their customers — but that type of professional isn’t always easy to find.

One thing you can do is ask around for references. If any of your friends, family or co-workers have used chimney maintenance providers in the past, ask what they thought

Because most homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover injuries or damage that occur from people working on your property, the individual or company you hire will need to carry their own coverage. Otherwise, without a proper insurance policy, you could find yourself personally liable for any injuries or damage that happen at your house.

You don’t want to be on the hook for paying the bills if a chimney sweep hurts your property — or worse, hurts himself — while doing a job on your property. Always ask about insurance coverage and verify it, just to be safe.

Other Considerations

Chimney maintenance people may

Continues to Page 11

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Urban Views Weekly | October 12, 2016

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The Deal from page 8

Divine Souls from page 7

themselves out differently. I’m so glad I’m back and doing what I’m doing.

asked questions with everything you need to know about credit want to help other youth find that same outlet. If art can save me, it can save others.” cards and credit scores.

“The people in my life supported me because they wanted to keep me from going in that route, perpetuating that cycle. An idle mind is the Devil’s playground, so I just

Learn about upcoming Divine Souls Coalition events, visit them at Facebook.com/ DivineSoulsCoalition.

Fall Job Fair at Reynolds Community College Reynolds Community College will host a Fall Job Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the commons area of Burnette Hall on the Parham Road Campus located at 1651 E. Parham Road in Richmond.

The job fair gives students and the general public the opportunity to meet face-to-face with local, regional and national employers.

The fair will connect participants to employers from a variety of industries, including business (sales and marketing), accounting, health

care, technology, and more. For a full list of employers attending the job fair, visit http://bit. ly/2aQd5cK Participants are encouraged to dress for success and bring their resumes as recruiters will be interviewing potential employees to fill open positions.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Reynolds Career, Employment and Transfer Center at 523-5464.

Bottom line: Though the transition from student to independent adult may feel overwhelming, you can take this opportunity to get your finances organized and prepare for working life. Building a strong financial foundation early on will help you worry less about your money and allow you to fully enjoy other new aspects of your life after college.

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804.649.6868

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Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs.

To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney This article is intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal, tax or financial advice.

It’s always a good idea to consult a legal, tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to you and about your individual financial situation.

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find themselves very busy in the fall and winter, which is the heaviest season for fireplace usage.

If you notice anything unusual about your fireplace, such as smoke coming into the house or a buildup of soot, you should call a professional to check it out.

Fireplaces are wonderful things that keep our homes warm and cozy, but they can quickly turn dangerous if not properly cleaned and maintained over time. If you haven’t had your chimney inspected and cleaned recently, a good chimney professional will give you peace of mind.

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