The Westside Gazette

THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

Grand Opening of Y AA Unemployment Rate YAA ArtHouse@Northwest For Black W omen Women Gardens Revitalizes Falls TTo o Single Digits Neighborhood PAGE 5 PAGE 2

Is The Picture That Rosy In Florida If Y ou Ar e You Are Black Or Hispanic?

PAGE 6

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971 VOL. 43 NO. 5 50¢ A Pr THURSDA Y,MARCH 13 - WEDNESDA Y MARCH 19, 2014 THURSDAY WEDNESDAY

The Heart and Soul of the community

Imagine Sistrunk looking like this. It could happen.

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. For once the plans laid by others who have beat back the tide of continual negligence by some of the City of Fort Lauderdale previous and seated leaders is coming to fruition.

A community meeting arranged by Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bobby DuBose was held on March 6, 2014 to

discuss the funding request put forward by the Sistrunk neighborhood and business community.

“We are always enthusiastic when our community turns out for a meeting relating to the future and quality of life issues.

The Sistrunk Marketing Plan Community meeting was not only well attended but the direct input from our neighbors was invaluable,” states Commis-

sioner Bobby B. DuBose.

Looking for ways to create an equal amount of spending in all Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA) seemed to be the underlining theme that created the need for this meeting.

“Thank you all for coming out this evening to show support for making the Sistrunk Corridor a better place to live, to do business work and play,” was

Al Battle, director of the NW Progesso Flagler Heights CRA's opening statement.

Battle’s area of assignment is commonly known as the Sistrunk CRA, where he wants to create better funding initiatives, making redeveloping a reality and to recreate a better message concerning the Sistrunk Corridor.

“We want to include all areas and not be seen as marketing to one section. We are trying to develop a comprehensive marketing approach to include all areas. Each area has a different twist with unique differences that are good for all,” Battle continued.

This plan is in the same vain that was presented to the City and the CRA, from the Flagler Village Improvement Association. The arrangement, with a concentration in three main areas: marketing, security, and events, was granted.

The funding request is similar and if approved may require an amendment to the FY 2014 budget and be included in budget requests for future years.

The residents, business and property owners who have composed and are requesting funding are get requests for future years.

(Cont'd on Page 3)

If you want to see heaven before you die, take a trip to Grand Canyon!

at the Shrine of the Ages. Earlier that day, I’d been introduced to the reigning Miss Teen Navajo, Krischel Augustine, and she eagerly showed up in her full regalia with members of her family.

I started by recognizing the Native Americans as the original conservationists, and mentioned how they had lived more than 10,000 years in the Grand Canyon area while maintaining the integrity of the land. I informed the audience that America was the first country in the world to establish a National Park System “for the benefit and enjoyment of this and future generations.” It protects close to 100 million acres of undeveloped land, and more than 100 countries around the world have since established park systems, thus protecting countless millions of acres of the firmament of Earth.

The Grand Canyon

Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (NASV)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. Have you ever witnessed children playing games and they lose their identity and become somebody else?

Well in games this may not seem to be such a problem, however in life it can lead to a lack of self-esteem, denial of one’s identity and destruction of a race of people.

(Cont'd on Page 9) ********

Sensible Sue's Rhetoric

A heartfelt letter to Rep. Elijah Cummings Dear Rep. Cummings, I do hope that this greeting finds you well, and your blood pressure back to normal levels. I am writing you because I would like to address your recent verbal release on Rep. Darrell Issa. While there have been many that have criticized you for standing up to the ridiculous antics of Mr. Issa, and those who foolishly follow him because they have REP. CUMMINGS somehow convinced themselves that any conspiracy theory that he manages to dream up in that very disturbed, maniacal, and twisted little mind of his actually makes sense; I, sir applaud you.

(Cont'd on Page 5)

Child abuse on the rise in South Florida – much of it attributed to overwhelmed parents

(Cont'd on Page 9)

By Audrey Peterman When I was invited to speak at the Grand Canyon in honor of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, my heart overflowed with gratitude. My husband Frank and I have toured 170 of the 401 units comprising the National Park System that extends from Alaska to Florida, and the Grand Canyon National Park is one of my top favorites.

Since I had the opportunity to address members of the public as well as the park’s staff, I chose as my topic “Our National Park System: The Glue That Holds America and the World Together” for the presentation

By K. Chandler

Al Sharpton led several hundred people in march against ‘Stand Your Ground’ .

(Read story on Page 5 )

Pleading Our Own Cause

All across the country there has been a significant uptick in the number of child abuse cases being reported to authorities with Palm Beach County being no exception.

A case in Las Vegas shook

WWW. thewestsidegazette.com Westside Gazette Newspaper

@_Westsidebiads

some of the most hardened investigators to the core after a three-year-old girl, weighing just 19 lbs. was discovered with scars, bruises and scabs that covered her entire body from neck to foot.

(Cont'd on Page 3) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM),

Page 2 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Grand opening of YAA ArtHouse@Northwest Gardens revitalizes neighborhood

The children of Northwest Gardens help (l to r), Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler; Tam English, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale; Young At Art Museum Executive Director/CEO Mindy Shrago; and Ed Hashek, the Art of Community Committee of the Community Foundation of Broward, cut the ribbon at the grand opening of ArtHouse@Northwest Gardens.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — ArtHouse@Northwest Gardens, located at 821 N.W. 12th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, officially opened with a festive ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by refreshments and hands-on art activities, including ceramics, painting drawing and print making.

Arthouse @ Northwest Gardens was established to provide free art classes and activities for Northwest Gardens residents of all ages.

Young At Art (YAA) Museum partnered with the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale and Community Foundation of Broward to create YAA ArtHouse@Northwest Gardens. The project was made possible with a $100,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Broward which was matched by the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale as part of a $100 million renovation of Northwest Gardens that includes planned development of townhomes, apartments, tree-lined streets,

Health law inspires hope but also worry among those with HIV

By Anna Gorman and Ankita Rao This KHN story was produced in collaboration with USAToday

Dr. John Hogan, a heptologist with Unity Health Care in Washington, has treated H.I.V. positive patients for over two decades. (Photo by Ankita Rao/KHN)

Matt Sharp had high hopes for the nation’s health law. The self-employed health consultant is HIV positive and has been denied insurance in the past because of his illness, so he was relieved to learn that the law wouldn’t allow that to happen again.

But now, the 57-year-old San Francisco Bay Area resident is less sure that Obamacare will live up to his expectations.

He plans to enroll in coverage through the state’s insur-

ance marketplace — but he still doesn’t know if his doctors will be included. And although he will get help with premiums and medications through an existing program for HIV patients, Sharp worries he won’t be able to afford co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses.

“I am apprehensive,” said Sharp, a former classical dancer.

“There is a lot of unease with the whole rollout. But when you are talking about a person in my situation, there is even more unease.”

The Affordable Care Act provides an unprecedented opportunity to reach the more than one million people nationwide living with HIV. The law requires private insurers to cover

them and others with preexisting conditions and bars companies from charging patients more because of their illness.

HIV-positive patients can also buy coverage through insurance marketplaces, often with the help of federal subsidies. And the law allows states to expand their Medicaid programs to cover low-income HIV patients who were not previously eligible.

Advocates and doctors agree that the changes will help a population that has struggled for decades to maintain regular access to care. New insurance options also could lead to more preventive care and earlier diagnosis and treatment, they said.

Northwest Gardens residents Jeff Louis, 15, (front) and Bryan Douglas, 12, get ready to work at the pottery wheels at YAA ArtHouse. an urban farm and farmer’s market for 293 low-income families.

YAA ArtHouse@Northwest Gardens is a creative hub that will enable professional artists and residents to participate the creation of art, community exhibitions, events and art-based programs that are designed to enhance the thriving, vibrant But they worry that the transition— along with confusion and unexpected costs— could lead to gaps in care for HIV patients, causing their illness to progress and be spread to others.

“Having an insurance card alone isn’t a guarantee that people will get high-quality HIV care,” said Jen Kates, who directs HIV policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation and helped put together an online guide about the health law for HIV patients. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent part of the foundation.)

“There are ongoing questions: Will people be able to see the doctors they need to see? Will all the benefits they need be covered?”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

planned community in which they live.

Join us as we welcome the newest edition to The Westside Gazette Newspaper/The Henry Family. Neva’eh Syrel Henry-Wells, born to parents Geneva Henry and Curtis Wells on Feb. 27, 2014 at 8:24 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. - 2oz. and was 19-1/2 inches long.

March 13 - March 19, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 3

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

A teachable moment

By Roberto Fernández, III In early February, it was reported that Boyd Anderson High School’s History Across Broward Initiative students discovered the grave marker of Dr. James Sistrunk and his family while documenting Fort Lauderdale’s Woodlawn Cemetery. On Feb. 4th students visited the Old Dillard Museum and met with museum staff, including Mr. James Bradley. Bradley spoke with students about growing up in Broward County, attending Dillard and then dropped a bombshell: “Dr. Sistrunk is not buried at Woodlawn. I was told that he has a marker at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.” The students were shocked. Club member Sharilee Francis recalled, “I was completely baffled because I was so sure he had to have been buried

[at Woodlawn]” she stated that she became “more curious as to where Dr. Sistrunk was actually buried.”

As the club advisor, I too was surprised with the news and went that week to Sunset Memorial Garden and found the marker for Dr. Sistrunk and his wife, Daisy. This discovery led students to ask several questions including is it possible that he was moved from Woodlawn Cemetery to Sunset Cemetery?

Students decided to invite Mickey Hinton, who has worked to preserve and protect Woodlawn Cemetery. Hinton agreed and came in to speak with students on Feb. 11th. During the interview Mickey informed the students “many families bought plots in Woodlawn.” He also spoke about the monument built by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2002 and how the

Respect for the Bros

By Candy Sims My first encounter with the Brothers (“the Bros”) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was when my brother, Stan Burns, returned home during break from Austin Peay State University. We got to see a lot of Purple and Gold… everything!! Often he would invite a couple of his friends home who were also obsessed with this Purple and Gold stuff – and barking! At the time, I did not know the history or significance behind this fraternity. As an older sibling, I worried that this would interfere with his studies (he was in school on a full football scholarship), so my advice was, “Remember you only have one opportunity at this, so don’t put too much time into this fraternity stuff.” After graduation, my advice was “let that frat stuff go…you need to get into your career.” He did settle into a career, and the “Bros” were still prominent in his life. When he proposed to Regina (Gina) Osgood, my advice again was “let that frat stuff go” – and the “Bros” were still prominent in his life and Gina seemed to understand and accepted this brotherhood. So I too began to accept the “Bros”…. they proved to be good guys; family, career, business and community oriented – and Stan, by now, also was well on his way with a successful career and marriage.

A few years ago I started to experience a new side of the “Men of Omega Psi Phi.” When Gina became ill, I noticed some of the Bros huddled a little closer to Stan and Gina (even taking time to check on our mother who was also ill). Local Bros Robert McKenzie, Kenneth Willingham, Kenneth Ivory, Gerald Crawford, Sam Lee, and Ricky Gardner, and Bros from outside Florida – Garth Jones (Atlanta, Ga.) and Larry Brown (Savannah, Ga.) were unceasing support for Stan and Gina. The Bros would check on them and then pop across town (or call) to say hi to our mom.

Sadly, Gina passed away recently. Robert McKenzie and Kenneth Willingham were there when Gina took her last breath and helped to catch Stan when his legs buckled. Within a matter of minutes other Bros seem to come from everywhere! During the week, Omega Brothers came in from all across the country. These guys set up a round the clock schedule of looking after our brother, Stan. They (and their wives or significant others) prayed with the family, bought supplies for the house, fed the family, greeted visitors and fed them, took care of Dungee (Stan and Gina’s “baby,” their Rottweiler), cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the floors, organized the kitchen, directed traffic, provided entertainment, picked up trash from the yard, planned and directed the repast dinner, and checked on our mom and Gina’s mom. This went way beyond being “My Brother’s Keeper.” I think if they could have… they would have breathed life back into Gina.

At Gina’s homegoing service, the Bros walked Stan into the church, more than 20 Black men strong, and stood near as Stan tucked Gina in and said goodbye to his beloved – and again caught him as his legs buckled.

I now have a whole new level of respect for the “Brothers” of Omega Psi Phi. I am so proud and grateful that my brother did not take my advice and today is a proud and strong Omega Man. These “Bros” deserve and get full respect from me and thank you from my family (the Burns’). I know that Stan (and our family) would do the very same for any of the “Bros!”

Pictured is the monument recognizing many of those buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. (Photos by Roberto Fernández, III) The marker of Dr. James F. Sistrunk and Daisy Sistrunk at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. names inscribed on it were collected. Members of the community were asked in churches and through the radio to contribute the names of loved ones

buried at Woodlawn. The monument serves as a centograph for all those who are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery without a formal marker. This is im-

Tyrone Dickerson and Caleb Brown, Jr. inducted into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame

The residents, business and property owners who have composed and are requesting funding are members of the Midtown Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce and or property owners in the area.

Albert Tucker, vice president, multicultural business development for The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau(GFLCVB), sees the value of such a plan.

“The Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB is excited about the Sistrunk initiatives as it goes hand in hand with the CVB priority to push tourism through the community so that it can enhance the growth economically,"affirmed Tucker.

Tucker’s department is assigned to make certain that organizations and families of color choose Greater Fort Lauderdale as the destination of choice for conferences and family reunions.

As a part of this community meeting a well prepared and extremely professional Marketing Plan presentation entitled, ‘The Heart and Soul of the Community’ was presented by Dennis Wright, president of Simply I.T., a business designed to help small to medium size businesses grow through the use of cost ef-

fective technology.

This plan and proposal cause for a continual improvement in infrastructure and safety.

Wayfinding technology, and the effective use of media and community events at a cost of $1.3 million over a five year period. Wright was well received not only because of his professionalism but his foundation is built and rooted in the surrounding area of the Sistrunk Corridor. “ I was born and raised here in Fort Lauderdale as matter of fact my address was 420 NW 7th Ave." “There has been and continues to be significant improvements in the Sistrunk community that not only benefit the residents and businesses but surrounding communities as well. This marketing plan will ensure that people throughout the United States know that the Sistrunk community is a great destination rich with African-American history and opportunity," stated Wright.

Wright 's family owned Helen’s Nursery, started in 1954, one of the prominent nursery schools in the area. The school was named after his grandmother, Helen Morris, affectionately known as Ms. Helen. Her and her son Johnnie ‘Popsie’ Wright, Dennis’ father, were well know throughout the

provides burial information. A few days ago the death certificate arrived and shows that Dr. Sistrunk was buried at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Reflecting on this experience, Sharilee stated, “Historians are fact trapped with each new fact painting a more accurate picture of an event.”

This teachable moment allowed students to appreciate the responsibility of historical research and writing while immersing themselves into the historian’s craft.”

HISTORY ACROSS BROWARD NEEDS YOUR HELP If you have information about anyone buried at Woodlawn Cemetery and would like to help please contact the students at historybroward@gmail.com or call the club advisor Mr. Roberto Fernandez at (754) 322-0200.

Child abuse on the rise in South Florida (Cont'd from FP)

Tyrone Dickerson accepts the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame award from Felton Page, president of the CSU National Alumni Association.

WILBERFORCE, OH – Tyrone Dickerson ’65, Richmond businessman and community leader, and Caleb Brown Jr. ’70, attorney and Cincinnati area community leader were inducted into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame during the university’s 127th Charter Day Convocation on March 4, 2014.

The Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center auditorium was the venue for the historic event that featured a keynote address by noted dentist, military officer and CSU Class of 1975 alum Dr. Loren D. Alves, of San Antonio, Tex. The university also celebrated the recent 1890 land grant designation featuring special presentations from the offices of

Governor John R. Kasich, Representative Mike Turner, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Ohio State Representative Bob Hackett and Ohio State Representative Alicia Reese.

Dickerson was honored for both his distinguished career as a Certified Public Accountant, and exemplary service as chairman of the Virginia Board of Accountancy. In addition to currently serving as the MidAtlantic Regional Director of the National Association of State Boards of Accounting, he is the sole proprietor of a firm in Richmond. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Dickerson is married to Denise Palmer Dickerson.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

The Heart and Soul of the community (Cont'd from FP)

portant because as Mr. Hinton stated, “Many people left their own markers.” Some people planted trees, sticks, or stones in lieu of formal headstones or lawn style markers. The interview helped students gain a better understanding of the history of the cemetery and previous preservation efforts.

Students wondered how they could confirm where Dr. Sistrunk was buried. Club President Kristen Nguyen recalls, “All of us wanted to know the truth and get to the bottom of the mystery.”

Students searched Broward County records and found a will and affidavit belonging to Daisy Sistrunk, which proved their marriage. After some discussion it was decided that a death certificate would be requested from the state as it

Sistrunk Corridor now. community for their devoted service to educating the young.

The historic and viability of the Sistrunk Corridor was reemphasized by another homegrown and committed City employee, Greg Brewton, director, City of Fort Lauderdale, Department of Sustainable Development.

“Sistrunk has a history of having vibrant businesses like the Victory Theater and clothing stores/ dry cleaners, etc. and we had famous residents like Dr. Mizell and Dr. Sistrunk as well.

We need to bring that back.”

Commissioner DuBose reinforced the work of the people behind the objective and the willingness of the city to help.

“The overall presentation given by the Sistrunk Community Council did an excellent job of outlining the objectives that were used to identify the initiatives/projects that would be

submitted for funding by the Northwest Progresso Flagler Village CRA (NPF-CRA). While some of the initiatives are underway or have been identified by the NPF-CRA as priorities, it is important to note that objectives expressed in the presentation are in sync with the objectives of the NPF-CRA.” If the GFLCVB’s mission as a hospitality leader is to promote travel and drive visitation to and within Greater Fort Lauderdale, then this plan is a natural fit for the Heart and Soul of the community.

The Sistrunk Community Council will present the funding request to the NPFCRA advisory board on March 26, 2014. The meeting will be at City Hall, 8th Floor at 3:30 p.m. For more insight to the plan contact Dennis Wright at dwright@simplyitinc.com or (954) 519-0002.

During one alleged incident the stepfather is said to have beaten the little girl with a key chain holding 15 keys.

A North Carolina couple is also facing a slew of child abuse charges after a Union County deputy sheriff, out on an animal complaint call, spotted an 11year-old boy shivering from the cold and handcuffed by the ankles to the front porch with a dead chicken tied around his neck.

The boy, who was a foster child, was taken into protective custody along with four other adopted children. Incredibly, the boy’s foster mother was a supervisor at the Union County Department of Social Services, and the father an E.R. nurse.

Closer to home, a North Miami child paid the ultimate price in a case so horrific even seasoned law enforcement officials recoiled in disbelief and disgust.

In the short three-year window of his life, Ghanson Debrosse had been severely burned, beaten with extension cords and sexually violated. At the time of his death, investigators noted that every inch of the toddler’s body was covered with scars, bruises and burn marks.

Children’s lives at stake Each year in the United States six million children are reported to be victims of child abuse with the average perpetrator between the ages of 2029. Women perpetrators outnumber men 53.6 percent to 45.2 percent.

In Broward County over 1,525 children were removed from their homes between 2012 and 2013 compared with 1,129 the previous year.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Winter, director of Community Relations for ChildNet in Broward County (a foster home placement agency), the numbers have been skyrocketing.

“Beginning in April 2013, the number of children removed each month due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect began to rise significantly over the previous year. The 15 percent increase in removals over last year adds 300 children to the existing 2,000 children involved in the child welfare system in Broward County,” said Winter. “We desperately need more people in the community to open their hearts and their homes to children in foster care in order to make a difference in the lives of children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.”

The spike in Palm Beach County is even more pronounced. ChildNet reported that the number of children needing their services went from 55 to135 during the course of just three months.

Clinical Supervisor Andres Torrens, who is with the Center

for Family Services in West Palm Beach, said that children are being neglected today due to parents – many of whom are unemployed – being overwhelmed by today’s pressures.

“What we’re seeing is families being so taxed that they are leaving children at home for extended periods of time, leaving the house maybe at 7 a.m. and the parents don’t even see their kids until 7 or 8 p.m.

Torrens said it was a positive step in the right direction that there has been a heightened awareness in the community regarding child abuse. “More and more people are recognizing the signs and symptoms of child abuse. People are doing seminars in schools and churches today. Also treatment is being offered today not only for victims but also offenders,” he said adding that the emphasis is on “healing the whole family.”

Long-term effects of child abuse · According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Justice, children who were abused and/or neglected were 11 times more inclined to get involved in illegal activities and 2.7 times more likely to be arrested for engaging in violent criminal behavior. · Young adults who experienced child abuse and/or neglect as children were found to be 25 percent more prone to becoming pregnant or a delinquent. · In another study, a full 80 percent of abused or neglected teens were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder by the time they reached 21. · A full one-third of all abused or neglected children become abusers themselves when they have children. · The annual healthcare cost of child abuse across the U.S. is a staggering $124 billion.

Reports of child abuse are most often made by teachers, law enforcement officials, social workers, relatives as well as friends and neighbors.

Effective Oct. 1, 2013 a new law entitled the Protection of Vulnerable Persons law went on the books. The law makes it mandatory to report suspected child abuse incidents, increasing the penalty to a third degree felony for not reporting abuse.

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

Community Digest

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Founder’s Day

Florida Memorial University, South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), will conduct the 2014 Founder’s Day Convocation on Thursday, March 13, at 10 a.m., in the Susie C. Holley Religious Center, on FMU’s main campus at 15800 N.W. 42nd Avenue in Miami Gardens. Celebrating 135 years of the school’s existence. Highlights of the convocation events include musical performances by the FMU Ambassador Chorale, a panel discussion on the civil rights movement, and presentations of awards and honors. For more info contact Vanessa Loy at (305) 948-8063.

Event

Woman 2 Woman Ministries presents “The Change Event”, Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 9:30 a.m., at Universal Palms Hotel (formerly El Palacio Hotel) 4900 N. Powerline Rd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A full breakfast will be served. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Event

You are cordially invited to attend Saba Court #172 Daughters of Isis Annual Egyptian Tea and Fashion Show, Saturday, March 22, 201 4 at12 p.m., in the Ivory Mizell Community Center Annex, Dixie Court III Apartments, 306 W. Dixie Ct., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call Chair Daughter Ware-Mcphaul at (954) 8493404 or Co/Chair Daughter Princess Hill at (954) 482-2600.

Event

Reception

The Shepherd’s Care Ministry of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate their "First Anniversary" under new pastoral leadership, Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., on Sunday March 16 at 4 p.m.

1161 N.W. 29 Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rev. James Ray of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church and congregation will be our guest. All are invited to attend. For more information, visit www.mtzionmissionarybapt.com.

"A Meet the New Officers" Reception is being held March 16, 2014 at 4p.m. at the Northwest Federated Woman’s Clubhouse. Admission is free, but please R.S.V.P. at the clubhouse at (954) 730-3442 or with Mrs. Patricia Casterlow at (954) 7607519.

Trip

Yard Sale

Sell your goods and keep your profits, Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 7 a.m., at Northwest Federated Woman’s Club, 2161 N.W. 19 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. To reserve your space contact (754) 224-7317 or email barnzie1@gmail.com

Luncheon

The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Business Leaders Luncheon, Friday, March 24, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency, 400 S.E. Second Ave., Miami, Fla. Keynote speaker Neisen Kasdin, Managing Partner for Akerman LLP. For more info contact Vanessa Loy at (305) 948-8063.

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FISH FRY The Westside Gazette Fish Fry, Friday, March 14, 2014 from 4 to 9 p.m., at 545 N.W. Seventh Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. We’re taking pre-orders stop by MondayThursday, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Inspired

by Westside Gazette’s Generation Next.

St. Christopher Episcopal Church of Fort Lauderdale, host a one day trip, to Holy Land Theme Park (Orlando), Fla., Saturday, March 22, 2014 (One day Trip). For more info call Zarline Scott at (954) 731-6139 or Cynthia Williams at (954) 245-3650.

Old Dillard Museum Calendar of Events

Old Dillard Museum,1009 N.W. Fourth St., Fort , Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For time and additional info call (754) 3228828. * Featuring local musicians and artists from our South Florida Community. * Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. "A Tribute to Nina Simone" featuring Jazz Singer & Entertainer Jus' Cynthia. To reserve a seat, call (754) 3228828 or visit our website at www.olddillardmuseum.org

Yard Sale

Concert Series

Friday Night Tunes a concert series at Joseph C. Carter Park, from 7 to 10 p.m., at 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Enjoy a FREE concert series with a broad range of musical varieties featuring a different live performer each month! Bring your chairs, picnic blankets, and snacks to relax under the stars. From jazz to Top 40, the Friday Night Tunes has it all. ∗ Friday, March 21 – Shawn Kelly (Neo Soul and Old School Covers) EnVee (soft and jazz) ∗ Friday, April 18 – Nio Devine (Jazz and Neo Soul) ∗ Friday, May 16 – Lavie (Top 40).

Conference

Fest Fortner’s Garden at Garden Fest 2014 in Plantation Acres, Saturday, March 22, at 9 a.m., and Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 4 a.m., Eastern Time, at Volunteer Park, 12050 W Sunrise Blvd, Plantation, Fla. Make it a family day at this year’s gardenfest plant and garden event! Nature trail, kiddie park, food, indoor facilities...and of course an awesome array of plant and garden vendors! For additional info contact fortnersgarden@gmail.com

Classes Take Control of Your Money Seven Baby Steps to Build Wealth & Give With Financial Peace University classes schedule, Monday, March 24, 2014 from 7 to 9 p.m., childcare will be provided for ages three to 11. For location and additional info contact Brenda Charles or Nichola Madry email – bcharles4fpu@gamil.com Pick up your copy of the Westside Gazette Newspaper Today!

Bethel Apostolic Temple and the Bethel Temple C.D.C. invites the community to join them for the Ultimate Yard Sale, Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the church, 1855 N.W. 199 St., Miami, Fla. This event is free and open to the community to attend. There is a nominal vendor fee required for booth space. To reserve your booth space and/or for more info call (305) 688-1612.

Classes Miami Theatre Center (MIC) Teaching Artist, Mr. Jeremiah Musgrove, will conduct Free Acting Classes/Workshops, February thru April 2014, Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., at Artz-N-The Hood, Inc., Carrie P. Meeks Center/Hadley Park, 1350 N.W. 50 St., Miami, Fla. For children ages six-11. Designed to teach interpersonal skills, build confidence and encourage imagination. Culminating in an original play written and performed by the kids.

For additional info call Florence Nichols call (305) 758-1577 http://www.childrendance.net./

ATTENTION RADIO LISTENERS We have Free gifts for everybody who call into the show and share their opinion. Listen every Saturday at 4:00 O’clock to Spiritual Downloads with Anna Stephenson on WWNN Radio AM 1470. It’s a live Call in talk show that discuss everything from Spiritual Matters to what matters to you. The show can also be heard on the Internet at wwnnradio.com just click on the listen live button. Your voice is the most important part of the show. So call in and let us hear what you have to say. The toll free call in number is 1-888-565-1470. Also e-mail Anna Stephenson at annasmiami@aol.com with a subject you want to hear discussed on the show. The show also interview’s special guest Like Jessica Reedy from Sunday Best. Shelia Raye Charles, Melba Moore and different Preachers and gospel musical artist and Politicians.

Calling all pastors, church leaders, prospective leaders and entrepreneurs, are invited to attend the 2014 Pastors and Leaders Conference, hosted by Dr. W.L. Mitchell, senior pastor of Judah Worship Word Ministries International, Wednesday, March 26 and Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m., nightly, and workshops will be conducted Thursday and Friday, at 10 a.m., at 4441 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 791-2999.

Affair

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., South Broward Alumnae Chapter (SBAC) proudly presents the Fifth Annual Red Shoe Affair, Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Dr., Miramar, Fla. For more info and ticket purchases can be made by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com/o/ delta-sigma/theta/sorority-incsouth-broward-alumnaechapter-sbac 7952752229. For more info about the Red Shoe Affair, contact (954) 303-3585 or info@dstsouthbroward.org

Event

SAVE THE DATE Friday, Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, 2014 Relay For Life of Carter Park, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderhill 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., at Joseph C. Carter Park 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This is an organized, overnight community fundraising event. For more info contact Ms. Pam Beasley-Pittman, Chair (954) 445-0244 or Ms. Audrey Campbell (954) 564-0880 ext.

7533, audrey.campbell@cancer.org

Happenings at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center

African-American Research Library Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderale, Fla. March 2014 Program Highlights Celebrating Women's History Month * On Display - Broward County Schools: Explore how education in Broward County grew from those two small schoolhouses as the County itself developed. * Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – Free homework help available for students grades K-thru 12 from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Call for more info (954) 3576157 * Retired Educator reaches out to youth at AARLCC. Educator Joyce H. Clark will be holding five class sessions for families, adults and young people For dates, times and other info call (954) 357-6210. * Friday, March 21 - Senior Computer Class: Learn basic functions for better computer operation, from 12 to 3 p.m. For more info call (954) 288-8702. * Saturday, March 22 Khepera Study Group: Featured book The Healing Wisdom of Africa by Some Malidoma Patrice, at 2 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-5950. * Monday, March 24 Discovering Myself: Who Am I? A Journey of Cultural Regeneration for children and families.

Lecture series featuring Dr. Joyce H. Clark, at 6 p.m. * Wednesday, March 26 Self-Guided Credit Repair &Filing Bankruptcy Chapter 7 workshop, at 6 p.m. For additional info call (954) 357-5950.

Fundraiser

Help benefit Broward House on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

You can help fight HIV/AIDS just by going out to eat! Restaurants throughout South Florida will pledge a percentage of their daily receipts to help in the fight of HIV/AIDS. You don’t need to do anything more but visit one of the participating restaurants on this day and have a fabulous meal! Find a participating South Florida restaurant online right now at: DiningOutForLife.com/ SouthFlorida.

Scholarship Applications

Workshop

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Center opens on Sistrunk Blvd., 930 Sistrunk Blvd., Suite A, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. To help our community calculate subsidies enroll for medical insurance (‘Obamacare”) Newbridge Insurance offers free daily workshop to assist with forms and plan selections.

Licensed and insured agents can help free of charge. For more info call (954) 357-2715.

The Broward County Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is proud to announce the 2014 Kathleen C. Wright, and the Cora Eaves Braynon Academic Scholarship applications are available.

Please visit www.bcacdst.org to download the application. If you would like more info about the scholarship application and/or its process, contact the Scholarship Committee at (954) 5222840 or email at scholarship@bcacdst.org.

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

March 13 - March 19, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 5

Protesters threaten boycott over ‘Stand Your Ground’ Unemployment rate for Black

By James L. Rosica Tribune/Scripps Capital Bureau TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Rev. Al Sharpton and other leaders of a protest march on the Capitol rallied more than 1,000 people against the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law Monday, threatening a boycott of Walt Disney World and Tropicana products.

“This is your ‘warning shot,’” said Jamal Harrison Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore.

The reference was to a Jacksonville case in which a woman, convicted after firing a shot in the direction of her estranged husband, wasn’t allowed to claim immunity under “Stand Your Ground.”

The law allows people who are attacked to counter deadly force with deadly force in selfdefense without any requirement that they flee. Republican lawmakers who control the Legislature, now in session, have said they see no need to repeal or modify the law.

Bryant and others said the tourism and beverage giants, both indelibly tied to the public image of Florida, were complicit in the state’s moral failure for allowing the “Stand Your Ground” law to remain on the books. He gave them until April 4, the 46th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death, to meet with him before facing a full-on boycott.

As he spoke, volunteers handed out cards with a picture of a hand squeezing an orange with the state’s outline and Tropicana’s toll-free customer service number.

On the back was the number for Disney World’s corporate office and the headline, “We Are Standing Our Ground.”

“Florida understands that ‘money answereth all things,’” Bryant said, quoting from Ecclesiastes.

Representatives for both companies couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

Although speakers said the contentious self-defense law was “not a Black issue, but an American issue,” a persistent theme was that Whites have been killing Blacks with impunity under “stand your ground,” while Blacks have been punished for asserting their same right to self-defense.

“We’re here because Florida is stuck on stupid,” said U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat.

The drive against the law started with the death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Black teen shot and killed by community watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford in February 2012.

Zimmerman was later acquitted. He didn’t claim a “stand your ground” defense but parts of the law were used in jury instructions.

Several in the crowd wore shirts that said, “I am Trayvon,”

A heartfelt letter to Rep. Elijah Cummings (Cont'd from FP) You, sir, have had the courage to stand up for the American people. Even more importantly, Rep. Cummings, you stood up for BLACK and brown people all over this country when you said, “I am a member of the Congress of the United States of America! I am tired of this.” I do believe that I speak for myself as well as the millions of African Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, and Chinese Americans when I say that we have been tired of the nonsense and tomfoolery that has gone on in that legislative deathtrap that we know as Washington, D.C..

Specifically, if you really want to get down to the grit and the grind of it all, and if there is any confusion as to just exactly what it is that we the true patriots of America are sick and tired of, let me clear things up for you and the rest of your colleagues on both sides of the aisle. We are tired of the disrespect of our President. Never before has any American president been treated with the level of disrespect that President Obama has been subjected to.

From the attacks on the President regarding whether or not he is a true American, to South Carolina’s finest Rep. Joe Wilson calling him a liar during a State of the Union Address, the level of blatant disregard and hatred of our President, and frankly anyone that dares to be born with any level of pigmentation in his or her skin whatsoever, has been beyond the pale.

Within the last five years we have seen it all, and to say that what we the people of this country have been through as we have had to stand by and watch our leaders endure, has been exacerbating, would perhaps be the biggest understatement ever made. We have seen Congressional leaders be spat upon, we have watched as Darrel Issa and his friends manufactured one ridiculous conspiracy after the other. We have listened as Grover Norquist asserted that he would use the United States Congress to keep the President on a leash, and we have watched in sheer disgust, and were appalled as a Confederate flag was unfolded and hurled in front of the White House.

The thing that has been the hardest for most of us to come to terms with, is why is it so hard for members of Congress to call out what is actually happening in this country right now for what it is. Not enough of you appear to have the courage to call out racism for what it is. Racism is not the pink elephant in the room, and it is beyond time that we stop concerning ourselves with who might be made to feel uncomfortable if we dare to call them and any of their little dirty little deeds racist. Racism is a malignant cancer that is causing the United States of America to die a slow and painful death.

Here is a message from the American population whose ancestors befriended those who sailed over to this land on a ship that we know today as the Mayflower only to be betrayed, and those who were captured like schools of fish in nets, packed into the bowels of the Good Ship Jesus like cargo shipments, and forced to work in fields of cotton, tobacco, and indigo, those who were forced to build this country’s railroad system; those who survived the Holocaust, and all of those who currently work in our fields, on top of our houses, yet have to cower in fear of deportation, we say to you and all of your Congressional counterparts, we are America, and we are tired of being uncomfortable.

We are uncomfortable every time we turn on our television screens to learn that another Trayvon Martin or another Jordan Davis is dead because someone with personal biases, and a disdain for BLACK and brown people believes that he has the right to take a life without repercussions, because of a law that was created by some who are against equal justice. We are uncomfortable each time we hear of a mass shooting, like the one at Sandy Hook, we are uncomfortable and tired of watching helplessly as our elected leadership allows a handful of people to use the money that they have made off of the backs of others to influence the outcomes of our elections, and manipulate the political system so that they can fill our state legislatures with people who propose and ultimately pass laws like the Stand Your Ground law.

So I say to you Rep. Cummings, I do hope that you will continue to speak out loudly, and I do applaud you for accepting Daryl Issa’s apology, but accept it with the understanding that as a good Christian you must do so, but just as Jesus Christ was aware of the fact that Judas would one day betray him, you also need to remember that a snake is always going to be a snake.

Sincerely, Sensible Sue

women falls to single digits

From left, participants including Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan Davis; Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of National Action Network; and Phyllis Giles, mother of Michael Giles, march to the Florida Capitol in a protest against the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

(The Associated Press) “Never Again” and “Legalized Murder,” with the words “stand your ground” circled and slashed out.

Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old Black teen, was shot and killed

by Michael Dunn, a white software developer, in Jacksonville in November 2012.

Dunn was recently convicted on charges related to shooting into a car full of teenagers, Davis included, after a loudmusic incident. The jury, however, deadlocked on a firstdegree murder charge in Davis’ death. “‘Stand Your Ground’ needs to be repealed – it’s a license to kill,” said Jabari Mickles, 21, of Detroit, Mich. “The law dehumanizes people by making the assumption that we’re all criminals that have to be killed.”

On the other hand, Marissa Alexander, 33, of Jacksonville, was convicted on aggravated assault charges for her warning shot. An appeals court later overturned the conviction because of errors in jury instructions.

Alexander, who is Black, will be retried; she could face a 60year sentence if convicted.

“Our Black youth are already struggling, and now they’re getting gunned down under a wrongful law,” said Niger Ali, a Tallahassee woman who attended the rally. “This has to stop. It’s gone too far.”

The parents of Martin and Davis also attended the rally, as did family members of Emmett Till, the Black 14-year-old murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after he reportedly flirted with a White woman.

“We never imagined how many people would be hurting because of this law,” said Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother. It’s “absolutely, positively wrong.”

Sharpton, a longtime civil rights activist and talk show host, said he was in Tallahassee to call attention to an unjust law.

“I didn’t come down here to start trouble,” Sharpton told the crowd. “I came to stop trouble.” jrosica@tampatrib.com

By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – During another slow month of economic recovery, the unemployment rate for Black women 20 years and older fell to 9.9 percent in February, the lowest rate for that group in five years, according to the Labor Department.

Meanwhile, Black men and Black teenagers continue to lag behind other major worker groups.

In March 2009, the unemployment rate for Black men 20 years and over was 15.4 percent. According to the latest jobs report, the jobless rate for Black men is 12.9 percent, the same rate recorded in February 2013.

The unemployment rate for white men 20 years and older was 6.3 percent a year ago and now it is down to 5.5 percent.

The unemployment rate for white women was 6 percent in February 2013 and has declined to 5.1 percent in February 2014.

The economy added 175,000 jobs in February and the jobs numbers for December and January were revised up for a net gain of 25,000 jobs.

Sixty thousand with HIV left uninsured in states not expanding Medicaid

By Jenny Gold The Affordable Care Act is generally a win for people living with HIV and AIDS, about 30 percent of who are uninsured.

It offers new health insurance options — both private and public — to a group that had been largely locked out of the individual insurance market because of rules about preexisting conditions. In 2010, just 17 percent of people with HIV and AIDS had private insurance, compared to 65 percent of the general U.S. population. Many others are low-income and childless, making them ineligible for Medicaid in most states.

If all states chose to expand Medicaid, nearly 115,000 people with HIV and AIDS would gain coverage, according to a study published in Health Affairs recently. But nearly 60,000 people with the virus live in states that are not expanding their Medicaid programs and are likely to remain uninsured. More than half live in Florida, Texas and Georgia alone.

“It costs money to run Medicaid, and you have to weigh that against the benefits,” says lead study author Julia Thornton Snider, a senior economist at Precision Health Economics, a research and consulting firm in Los Angeles. “Because antiretroviral therapy is so effective in reducing disability, extending life and improving quality of life, if people with HIV/AIDS don’t have access to it up front, there will be costs down the line.”

Because anti-retroviral therapy, known as ART, also reduces the risk of transmission, Snider explains, making sure people are covered and getting care can also stem the spread of the disease. About 70 percent of

the group living in states not expanding Medicaid earns too little to qualify for financial help to buy insurance in the marketplaces created by the health law. The study was based on national HIV surveillance data and data from the National Health Interview Study.

Right now, uninsured Americans with HIV and AIDS can seek treatment under the Ryan White Program, which serves as a payer of last resort and is administered through federal grants. The program is not comprehensive health insurance, however, and it does not cover inpatient care.

Nonetheless, the Ryan White Program is likely to remain critical, says Jennifer Kates, vice president and director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation,

which released a separate study in January that drew similar conclusions. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

“We’re lucky that it’s going to be there,” says Kates, “but will it be there going forward?”

The program has limited funding and is dependent on congressional funding. “There’s support for it, but it’s not a guarantee,” she adds.

This article was reprinted from Kaiser Health News with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

The unemployment rate ticked up a little to 6.7 percent, most likely because some workers became more optimistic about finding a job and re-entered the labor force, said Bernard Anderson, an economist and professor emeritus at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“The February report is an accurate indication of where the economy is now,” said Valerie Wilson, who was recently named director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute. “We are in a recovery.

Things are moving in the right direction, but they are moving very slowly and until we are able to increase demand to a point where employers start hiring again, we are going to continue to see these slow job reports.”

The number of long-term unemployed workers increased by 203,000 according to the Labor Department, accounting for 37 percent of the unemployed.

Blacks account for 23 percent of the long-term unemployed in the United States.

“The longer people are out of work their skills erode more and they face discrimination in hiring,” said Wilson. “They have a difficult time getting into the labor force the longer they’ve been out. It’s a matter of labor underutilization. We have people that are willing ready and able to work, but are unable to find jobs.”

Wilson said that increasing the minimum wage and extending emergency unemployment compensation to millions of Americans would likely increase demand and stimulate the economy, two proposals that have come under fire on Capitol Hill.

In a statement on the Labor Department’s jobs report, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and a member of the Joint Economic Committee, said that we must ensure that every American has the opportunity to participate in the job market and receive fair compensation for that work.

“It is past time for an up-ordown vote on raising the minimum wage, which would lift hundreds of thousands of Americans out of poverty and help us address the growing economic inequality in our nation,” said Cummings. “America succeeds when we can all earn a livable wage.”

Northwest Federated Woman’s Club tours the Motherland

Mary Lesesne, Meredith McCleary, Sandra Hunter, Socorro Ramirez and Carolyn Harris.

Addie Owens, president of the Northwest Federated Woman’s Club invited Meredith McCleary, Travel Consultant, to do a special presentation on Africa for the Adult Daycare attendees in celebration of Black History Month. The staff and attendees celebrated with a virtual trip to Africa with McCleary. She was accompanied by frequent travel companions Carolyn Harris and Mary Lesesne. Together, they displayed and described collections

of fabrics and artifacts accumulated on many previous trips.

Clad in authentic African garments, they provided a mini fashion parade augmented with explanation of the fabric, design and country of origin.

Their shared highlights of travel experiences throughout the continent prompted one of the Center participants to recall childhood memories of vicarious travel through her father’s Cruise ship employment.

An attentive audience engaged in examination of items on display and animated questions about possibilities for a real trip.

A most enjoyable experience was shared by all. Expressed interested in a future presentation is gladly being considered.

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Page 6 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

Opinion

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.

Black Women’s History is all women’s history?

By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Columnist Since March is Women’s History month, who are the women you are celebrating? Do you know about Elizabeth Keckley? Maggie Lena Walker, Sarann Knight Preddy, Gertrude Pocte Geddes-Willis, Trish Millines Dziko, Addie L Wyatt or Marie-Therese Metoyer? What about Ernesta Procope, Dr. Sadie Alexander, Or Dr. Phyllis Wallace? What about Bettiann Gardner, Lillian Lambert, or Emma Chappell? What about Ellen Holly, Mary Alice, or Edmonia Lewis? If we knew anything about these women, it might cause all of us, as African American men and women, to walk a bit more lightly; hold our heads a bit higher; and revel in the accomplishments of our foremothers and forefathers.

March is Women’s History Month, so it’s an ideal time to celebrate Black women who often get overlooked by other women as well as their own race.

History belongs to she who holds the pen, she who will speak up, speak out and tell the whole story. If the names of the sisters listed above aren’t as well known as others MALVEAUX – like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Mary McLeod Bethune – it is because no one has chosen to tell their stories.

There are thousands of unsung heroines for every one we lift up and know, women who have made phenomenal contributions to the arts, literature, money, finance, and economic development.

Why write this now? African American History month (February) is usually about notable Black men. Women’s History Month (March) is usually about notable White women.

Is the picture that rosy in Florida if you are Black or Hispanic?

By Roger Caldwell Last week Governor Scott gave his fourth State of the State Address and I thought that he could walk on water, after he spoke.

From his perspective, CALDWELL

Westside Gazette Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM) Bobby R. Henry, Sr. - PUBLISHER Pamela D. Henry - SENIOR EDITOR Sonia M. Henry Robinson COMPTROLLER Elizabeth D. Henry CIRCULATION MANAGER Carma L. Henry - DATA ENTRY Charles Moseley MARKETING DIRECTOR Tarrence Crawford & Ron Lyons PHOTOGRAPHER Levi Henry Jr. - CHAIRMAN Yvonne F. Henry EDITOR (Emeritus)

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he is doing a great job, and Floridians are fortunate that he spent $70 million of his own money to be governor.

If we listen to him long enough, we will start believing that he cares about public education, senior citizens, poor and middle class Floridians, and healthcare.

“And if we continue to cut back taxes on small businesses-by cutting the tax on business leases and rolling back the business tax to now exempt four out of five. Florida businesses paying it. If we do all this, we can make Florida not just the land of 700,000 new jobs. We will make Florida the land of opportunity,” says Governor Scott.

As Scott continued to give his speech, I expected him to show us that he could also walk through fire. But everyone in the state knows that Scott’s administration has been rocked with corruption starting with his Lieutenant Governor, his Chief of Staff, and the Education Chancellor.

Recently there are accusations that Enterprise Florida has been wasting thousands of dollars on parties, dinners, and business lunches and no one in the administration is accountable.

Scott continues to sell his re-election campaign as the state’s shrinking middle class and poor are hit with higher electric utility bills, property insurance premiums and flood insurance rates.

Our Governor also seems to forget in 2012, when the state was embarrassed because it took three days to finish counting ballots. Also on the news, voters in the state were shown waiting six hours to vote, because our governor cut back the hours and days for early voting. Instead of our governor making it easier for Floridians to vote, he makes it harder by suppressing the vote.

In a Tampa Bay Times Editorial they said, “On public school funding, Scott boasted that he proposes record spending for 2014-15. Actually, Florida spends less per student now than when the governor took office. Even with his proposed increase next year, per student spending would be $177 less than what the state spent in 200708 before the economic recession.”

There is no way that Floridians can trust our governor who owned a company, which was fined $1.6 billion for cheating. Our governor is not cutting taxes to help save money for Floridians, but make it easier for large companies to increase their bottom lines and pay their stockholders more profit.

Florida is losing millions each month because Scott refuses to expand Medicare and help over one million residents who are uninsured.

From the very beginning, our governor had an agenda and Blacks and Latinos know that the Florida justice system is opening more jails, to keep them locked up longer. When we look at what happened in the trials of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, Blacks understand that the Florida justice system is not operating in their best interest. All the minorities know that Scott does not support immigration, and the only opportunity we have is to vote him out of office with all Floridians.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GUIDELINES The Westside Gazette welcomes your letters. Letters must be signed with name clearly legible along with a phone number and complete address. No unsigned or anonymous letters will be considered for publication. The Westside Gazette reserves the right to edit letters. The letters should be 500 words or less.

A book edited by Gloria T Hull, Patricia Bell Scott, and Barbara Smith is titled, But Some Of Us Are Brave: All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men: Black Women’s Studies. As the title suggests, some of us are brave – and our young girls need to know that.

What difference would it make to our daughter and nieces if they knew about Septima Clark or Claudette Colvin? Had they read Lucille Clifton’s poetry, would they find it easier to breathe life into their words?

It pains me to watch Black Women’s History so swallowed that we are almost invisible. The most benign interpretation of this phenomenon is that those who lift history up are too myopic to consider African American women. Is there is a sinister interpretation? Is it that both racism and patriarchy combine to swallow Black women’s history?

International Women’s Day was March 8. Annually, the United Nations sets a theme for the commemoration. This year it was, “Equality for Women is Progress for All.” According to the UN, countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women “means progress for all.”

We can’t make progress if we bury our history. We can’t put Melody Hobson in context if we don’t understand Maggie Lena Walker. We can’t truly celebrate women’s history unless we celebrate Black women’s history. Black women’s history is women’s history, too. It should be realized that both the African American community and the world community cannot progress if any segment of that community is relegated to the sidelines.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Respect begins with us

By Jineea Butler NNPA Columnist What are we talking about? We talking about fiction or we talking about fact? You BUTLER talking about fiction?

Hold up pardon my back…

Excerpt from Jay – Z, What We Talking About I’ve been at a loss for words lately watching all the New World Orderlike advancements unravel before our eyes. From Stand Your Ground to Stop and Frisk, war is being waged on those who refuse to follow the ‘logical’ standards of our society. And there have been a long list of murders, both old and new: Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant murder and Ramarley Graham. Why have people lost what little respect they had for our community? Why have they turned their backs and begun to raise deadly guns again?

Another sign of the times is that the NFL has to ban the N-word so people, including men of color, won’t continue to wreak havoc on those around them.

Municipalities are stepping up to place some limits on unacceptable words and behavior.

Mound Mall in central Indiana, for example, has placed a ban on wearing raised hoodies while shopping. This is to insure that mall security can see your face. Many municipalities are banning sagging jeans because no one wants to see our men’s underwear, dirty or clean.

But why should others do what we should be doing for ourselves?

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Civil Rights Movement and Hip-Hop

By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. NNPA Columnist Part IV CHAVIS Movements for social change do not just happen in a vacuum. The historical and contemporary contexts of all effective movements for change have to be understood to make a proper analysis of the movement’s lasting impact. The history of racism and racial oppression against Africans for more than 700 years reached its zenith during the transatlantic slave trade from the middle of the 15th to the 19th century. No legitimate effort to understand either the 60 years of

12 Years a Slave’s and the tides of history

By Lee A. Daniels NNPA Columnist Now, the world knows something of the story of Solomon Northrup, a “free” Black American from New York who was kidnapped by slave-hunters in the 1840s and for the next 12 years suffered the DANIELS life of a captive in America’s manmade hell of Negro Slavery. And now, the world knows a truer version of what antebellum America’s “peculiar institution” – its peculiar evil – was and the pain it caused the nearly four million Africans and African-Americans directly ensnared in it and the half-million other Blacks who, like Northrup, endured a precarious status that was far from true freedom.

Twelve Years a Slave gained Hollywood’s highest honor, the Academy Award for the best picture of 2013, capping a spectacular run of film-world honors and “buzz” from its opening last year. It became the first feature film directed by a Black man to win the top Academy Award; and its victory was made all the sweeter by Lupita Nyong’o winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Understandably, the glow of the acclaim rightly awarded the film and the emergence of its director, Steve McQueen, and Nyong’o as artists of the first rank is still neonbright.

So, it may be difficult for some to see the broader current of history that envelops both the film and Northrup’s 1853 written narrative of the same title—to understand what his experience of pain and brutality, countered most importantly, by an indomitable will to regain his freedom shares with some recent developments that at first glance seem far removed in time and distance.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Cummings exposes“Dead End’ Republican politics

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist When Darrell Issa (RCalif.), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, shares more information with conserCURRY vative Fox News than with Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, that’s enough to make Cummings go ballistic.

And that’s just what he did when Issa sought to forcibly silence him on March 5. The heated exchange took place shortly after Lois Lerner, a former IRS official, refused to testify before the committee, citing her Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

Issa was on a crusade to prove that the White House was behind the IRS’ decision to target conservative organizations seeking tax exempt status.

Cummings contended no proof existed for such a claim.

Here’s a transcript provided by MediaMatters: CUMMINGS: For the past year, the central Republican accusation in this investigation [microphone cut] ISSA: We’re adjourned, close it down.

CUMMINGS: — that this was political collusion directed by, or on behalf of, the White House. Before our committee received a single document or interviewed one witness, Chairman Issa went on national television and said, and I quote, “This was the targeting of the President’s political enemies effectively and lies about it during the election year.” End of quote.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

The Gantt Report Why we don’t progress

By Lucius Gantt Why we don’t progress is a question that so-called Black scholars have debated for hundreds of years.

Booker T. Washington had an idea about GANTT how we could improve our lives and so did WE.B. Dubois. Martin Luther King had a path he suggested we could take for racial progress and so did Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. The Gantt Report says Blacks in America will never realize their best as a group until we shed the shackles of slavery and not the ones that have been taken off of our ankles. We must remove the shackles from our minds!

Slavery is not merely the Black man’s burden. The things that went on during slavery have negatively impacted everybody in the United States!

Can I prove it? Yes! We cannot construct a bright future for African Americans if Black people continue to use the building blocks of a dark past.

“All men are created equal” in the eyes of the Lord but that phrase is a government joke!

The United States government once considered Black men to be one-fifth of a White man as far as rights are concerned and in 2014 it appears we have even fewer rights than that!

Black people don’t have equal rights under the law, we don’t have equal protection under the law and we certainly don’t have equal opportunities for government or private sector jobs, contracts and desired services!

There is power in Black unity but Black Americans find it difficult to unite. There is no need for slave masters and overseers to divide us, pit us against each other and separate us from our family and community brothers and sisters because African Americans do it on their own.

We only want to join the organizations and groups that the people that oppress Black people want us to join, we only want to support the efforts and the causes of Black people that the exploiters of Black people want us to support and we only want to love the people, the religions and the cultures that non-Black people tell us to love!

We don’t trust each other. If what we say or what we write or what we do is not done in the way that will allow us to be controlled, we consider it the wrong thing.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

To Be Equal President Obama rallies help for young males of color

By Marc H. Morial NNPA Columnist

the Civil Rights Movement or 30 years of Hip-Hop can be presented without first acknowledging the inextricable link between the history of slavery and the oppression of people of African descent with the centuries-long struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), among others, have confirmed that transatlantic slave trade was tragically unique and unprecedented in the entire history of humanity for three key reasons: “its duration – four centuries; those victimized: Black African men, women and children; and the intellectual legitimization attempted on its behalf – the development of an anti-Black ideology and its legal organization, the notorious Code noir.”

There are some Americans who, in the aggregate, are consistently doing worse in our society — groups MORIAL that have had the odds stacked against them in unique ways that require unique solutions…And by almost every measure, the group that is facing some of the most severe challenges in the 21st century in this country are boys and young men of color.”

- President Barack Obama Last Thursday at the White House, I was on hand for one of the most inspiring and important presidential announcements in recent history. In the aftermath of the killings of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, and in response to data showing how badly the odds are stacked against millions of boys and young men of color in the United States, President Obama kicked-off “My Brother’s Keeper,” an unprecedented public-private initiative aimed at improving life outcomes and addressing opportunity gaps for the nation’s most vulnerable population.

The President made the announcement before an audience of young males of color and a coalition of government, business, civic and philanthropic leaders. I was proud to be there to represent the National Urban League. In unusually personal terms, President Obama spoke about his own struggles with drugs and alienation as a young boy growing up without a father. He called on all Americans to do more to improve the prospects for young males of color who are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to be unemployed or end up in jail than any other group in America.

Framing the initiative as both a moral and economic imperative, President Obama has done what Congress has failed to do over the past five years – convene a diverse and bipartisan coalition of Americans committed to targeted help for communities and populations most in need.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

AF amily T hat Prays T ogether, Stays T ogether Family That Together, Together

Church Directory

March 13 - March 19, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 7

St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church 145 NW 5th Avenue Dania Beach, FL 33004 Office: (954) 922-2529

Bishop Victor T. Curry Senior Pastor/Teacher

Worship T his and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice This

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net

Reverend Jimmy L. English PASTOR WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m.

Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m.

"Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"

First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc. 4699 West Oakland Park Blvd.

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 Office: (954) 735-1500 Fax: (954) 735-1939 fbcpg@bellsouth.net

Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes, Pastor SUNDAY SERVICES Worship Services .......................................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Children's Church ........................................................ 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Communion (First Sunday) ......................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.

New Members' Class .................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Church School .............................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Baptist Training Union (BTU) .................................................... 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ...................................... 11:15 a.m.. & 7:00 p.m.

Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Juana Jordan, M.Div E-MAIL:juana.jordan@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520 Church Fax: (954) 731-6290

SERVICES Sunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mount Calvary Baptist Church

800 N.W. 8th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422 Church Fax: (954) 943-2186 E-mail Address: Mtcalvarypompano@bellsouth.net

Reverend Anthony Burrell, Pastor SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ............................................... 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study ..................................................... 7:00 p.m.

"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"

New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167

ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.

1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org

New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICES Bible Study (Wednesday Night) ...................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 8:45 a.m.

Sunday Morning Service ............................................................. 10:00 a.m.

Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” 644-646 NW 13th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net (Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)

Rev. Cal Hopkins.

M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher

The WITNESS of “The WILL” Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power} Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m.

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”

Obituaries BAILEY Funeral services for the late Theodore Bailey - 88. Arrangements by James C. Boyd Funeral Home.

HAYES Funeral services for the late Eddie Jimmy Hayes-78 were held March 8 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Asst. Pastor Sylvester Davis officiating. Arrangements

by McWhite’s Funeral Home.

HUTSON Funeral services for the late Richard Hutson Jr. -75 were held March 8 at Pilgrim Christian Universal Church with Rev. George Derico officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by James C. Boyd Funeral Home.

JAMES Funeral services for the late Lester A. James-55 were held March 8 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Gamaliel Neil Souffrant officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements

by James C. Boyd Funeral Home.

JONES Funeral services for the late Eula Lee Jones-79 were held March 8 at Mount Bethel Baptist Church with Bishop C.E. Glover officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Mc-White’s Funeral Home.

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY Sunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship.

Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmissionarybapt.com

Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship Service .............................................................................. 8:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 10:00 a.m.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) ......................................................................... 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ........................................................................... 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (2nd & 4th) Growth & Orientation ........................................................... 9 a.m.

But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”

MARSHALL Funeral services for the late James Louis Marshall, Sr.-75 were held March 8 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center with Rev. Margaret Johnson officiating. Interment: South Florida VA National Cemetery. Lake Worth, Fl. Arrangements by Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home.

MESSAM Funeral services for the late Henry William Messam-71 were held March 8 at Full Gospel Church with Pastor Wayne Parks officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central). Arrangements by Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home.

A FFAMIL AMIL Y THA T AMILY THAT PRA YS TOGETHER PRAYS ST AYS TOGETHER STA

RUSHIN Funeral services for the late Johnny Lee Rushin, Jr. -71 were held March 8 at New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Ricky Scott officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home.

SUTHERLAND Funeral services for the late Mary Francis Sutherland-45 were held March 8 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Witherspoon officiating. Interment: Bailey Memorial gardens. Arrangements

by McWhite’s Funeral Home.

WILLIAMS Funeral services for the late Daphne Orlando Williams - 96 were held March 8 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church.

Interment: Forest Lawn Cemeteries. Arrangements by McWhite’s Funeral Home.

WILLIAMS Funeral services for the late Rockey Feller Williams, Jr. – 55 were held March 8 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Bishop Slagie Poole, Jr., officiating.

Arrangements by James C. Boyd’s Funeral Home.

WORSHIP THIS AND EVERY SUNDAY, AT THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE

Local entrepreneur succumbs Lisa Franchesca Williams Smith of Palm Beach County died on March 6, after a lengthy bout with cancer.

Born in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 28, 1960, she was raised in Philadelphia and relocated to Palm Beach County about 20 years ago. Dedicated to entrepreneurship early in life, she founded her first non-profit, Young Artists Unlimited, at the age of 15. As a resident of the West Palm Beach area she established an executive business management consulting business and a community newspaper, the Palm Beach Executive Beach Executive News. She also served as program manager of The Business Loan Fund of the Palm Beaches. And, last year she was elected to serve on the Palm Beach County Community Action Program Advisory Board.

Ms. Smith attended Temple University in Philadelphia and received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwood University in West Palm Beach. At the time of her death she was a doctoral candidate in education at Lynne University in Boca Raton, Fla. While business was her forte she was an accomplished dancer and musician. She was a member of Omo Ife, the junior company of the Arthur Hall

SMITH Afro American Dance Company and she was the recipient of a scholarship to the famed Alvin Ailey School in New York City. A talented percussionist, she performed with many Caribbean bands in the Palm Beach area.

A member of Hilltop Baptist Church in Riviera Beach, Fla. she is mourned by her mother Karen Warrington, her father Harold Williams, siblings Stephen, Nicholas and Ngai, as well as nephews, Basir, Nicholas, Jeremy and Ahmir.

Spiritually Speaking…Pick your friends wisely

By James Washington Special to the NNPA from the Dallas Weekly This past weekend I was supported by friends as I humbly spoke to the male members of a local church at a prayer breakfast and was reminded of how much I was impacted

by Mark 2:5. The parable of the paralytic struck me in a way that has never left my consciousness. If you remember, Jesus gave us all a candid perspective on how we should select our friends. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.’” The operative words here are their faith.

I don’t know why at this particular time all those sermons about choosing your friends wisely, became crystal clear. Can you imagine the strength and power behind individuals who believe in you so strongly, who love the Lord so much, that He heals you because of them? If there was ever a place in the bible that should make you realize that people who love God and you can make a difference in your life, this is it. For all you praying mothers out there, here’s proof that God through Christ is indeed listening.

I know I don’t have to remind some of you about the grief we’ve put those who love us through. I won’t force any of you about the only course of action we left open for them.

Putting us in the hands of the Lord (through prayer) was their only alternative because, as the old folks used to say, our heads were so hard that not only did we bruise ourselves,

we also made their hearts bleed. I believe I’m here today because the Lord entertained the pleas of others on my behalf. I was too WASHINGTON dumb, too young and too spiritually immature to do so for myself.

Mark 2:5 lets us know that the people you associate with, the people you hang out with, the family you’re born into can save you from you, even if you don’t believe they can.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Fort Lauderdale Aglow Lighthouse (954) 536-0126 A. McMiillan MorningStar International Ministries, Inc. (954) 554-5600 Chaplain V. Hendrix Aglow International www.aglow.org Broward, Miami- Dade and Monroe County "Be aglow and burning with the Spirit" Romans 12:11 Call for the Lighthouse meeting near you!

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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Page 8 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

BUSINESS

The Unity in the Community The Unity in the Community

PROFILE PROFILE Franklin Bail Bonds

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Rochelle Franklin has owned and operated Franklin Bail Bonds since 1966. Franklin Bail Bonds is conveniently located in the heart of the African American community at 771 N.W. 22nd Rd. in Fort Lauderdale. Rochelle Franklin is a native of Evergreen, Alabama. He moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1946.

He is a graduate of Dillard High School and a member of the ‘Class of 52’. He has been a strong supporter of the Dillard Panthers for over 50 years. He’s always had a knack for earning a dollar starting with having his own paper route which he used the proceeds from to save up to go to college. He worked his way through college delivering mail on campus while attending Florida A & M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. Throughout college he had a full work scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from FAMU. Over the years he has served as the President of FAMU’s Broward Alumni Chapter. He began doing bookkeeping for local businesses and built up his own clientele. Over the past 40 years Franklin Bail Bonds has offered professional and courteous service and is considered among the most highly respected bail bond agencies in Broward County. Franklin also offers income tax services for both businesses and private individuals. He is a former member of the Broward Kiwanis and has been the Exalted Ruler of the Pride of Fort Lauderdale Elk’s Lodge 652 in Fort Lauderdale. He also is a member of the Piney Grove First Baptist Church. He says the key to running a successful business is treating customers fairly and managing your finances so that you can survive during the good as well as the bad times. Franklin Bail Bonds offers NOTARY SERVICE and WILL COME TO YOU. Call them today for all your BAIL BOND and INCOME TAX needs. (954)-581-2915.

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Do you need to raise money for your nonprofit? If you answer “yes”, you are in good company. Fundraising is critical for most nonprofits and it takes time to build relationships that generate the revenue needed to operate. Organizing your fundraising into a campaign with specific financial goals and timelines is one way to focus on revenue and invite others to join you in fundraising.

The most common campaign is the annual campaign. This is a campaign to raise funds for annual programs and operations. Funding may come from foundation or corporate grants, individuals and families, events, and/or government sources. Gifts may be large or small.

Another type of campaign is the capital campaign. This is a campaign to raise funds for assets such as buildings, equipment, furnishings or an endowment. The financial goal is typically such that it cannot be paid for with an increase in annual funds. It is a milestone occurrence within the life of the nonprofit that requires major investment.

A major gifts campaign refers to a campaign to raise funds through large gifts. Unlike the other campaigns, funds may be used for multiple purposes as the name refers to the types of gifts a nonprofit seeks to secure. A comprehensive campaign is a campaign that coordinates multiple campaigns into one.

A major benefit of conducting a comprehensive campaign is that it focuses an organization’s energies into one campaign with multiple goals and revenue sources.

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Pearl and Mel Shaw duplication of efforts on the part of the nonprofit. For example, if you are raising funds for annual needs and simultaneously raising funds for a building you may find that an annual solicitation was made of an individual with the capacity and interest to give to your capital campaign.

If the two campaigns are not coordinated you may receive a meaningful annual gift, but lose the opportunity to ask for a gift that combines annual and capital giving. Returning to donors multiple times within a year is not always possible, and the donor may have thought the first solicitation represented your needs for the year.

A comprehensive campaign also allows donors who give small gifts to feel a part of a major campaign. The value of their annual giving is made clear through campaign marketing messages and they are encouraged to be a part of the larger campaign as well.

With a larger financial goal a comprehensive campaign can create buzz and excitement that re-engages lapsed annual donors, or encourages annual donors to increase their giving.

A comprehensive campaign is not “business as usual” and that excitement can attract new donors and fundraising volunteers. Next week: comprehensive campaign challenges.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

March 13 - March 19, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 9

Black prosecutors share life lessons

By Attorney Melba Pearson This past week, the National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) hosted a series of panel discussions entitled “Real Talk: Lessons Learned from Trayvon Martin”. The panels were geared towards young African American men attending high school and middle school. Both Atlanta and Miami held these discussions in recognition of the

two year anniversary of the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.

Six high schools in Atlanta participated, including Benjamin Banneker, and Southwest Dekalb High.

In Miami, 75 male students of color at Miami Central High School engaged in small group discussions on the topics of Crime, Consequences, and Options. The Crime panel included

Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

(Cont'd from FP) In the early 40’s there was an experiment done with Back children using White baby dolls.

Kenneth B. and Mamie Phipps Clark were Black psychologists who as a married team, conducted significant studies among Black children, one in particular was the one using the white dolls to prove inferiority complex created by racial segregation.

Some 40-50 years after the Clarks' experiment, a documentary was done and the same thing existed and validated associating White with being “pretty” or “good” and Black with “ugly” or “bad”. The dolls used in the documentary were identical except for skin color.

Here we are today, suffering from this mind set created thousands of years ago and yet we have not been able to shake it.

In the case of Nathanael, he found favor in God’s eye even though he asked the question, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

For whatever reasons that some of us have chosen to disbelieve that we are of any value, conscience or significance, let’s go back to when we first encountered this misconception of our self worth.

At what point did we realize we came from stock that was inferior, that our parents and grandparents were subhuman and downright pitiful?

Now think about what propelled you to succeed when we had to overcome from having less and needing more?

When did we lose our compassion of helping our own and replacing it with the need to push them down so society would not see our kindred looks of similarity?

Who do you root for in the confines of your secluded homes, hidden from the outside world where no one can see you or hear you yell your preference on to victory?

Don’t forget that we are just a generation away from ripping the head off someone when they called you the Nword.

Oh, perhaps you believe that Mr. Charlie’s ice is colder than Mr. Leroy’s and that, “You are not like them”, is a pass that you can use to escape being the N-word?

When I reread the Book of John Chapter 1:35-49 as it talks about the first disciples, I understand Nathanael a little better.

Even though he questioned the probability of something good coming from a place associated with anything but good, his heart was in the right place.

Jesus knew that Nathanael’s heart was good because He said Nathanael had no guile (deceit).

Can the same thing be said of us when we ostracize, condemn and profane the character of our own?

Are we subjecting others that look like us to humiliating circumstances because we are suffering from the White doll baby syndrome or is it that we want to be the that White doll baby and we know damn well that we can’t!

Its time for us to move on pass wanting to bleach our skin, and add long silky blonde hair to our beautiful nappy hair and quit trying to improve on God given attributes through a false sense of being accepted by them.

When we are shaped by and react to the expectations of others, we are lost and trying to find our way is a deadly game.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27 (NASV) WHAT GOD HAS MADE NEEDS NO MAN MADE APPROVALS OR IMPROVEMENTS.

If you want to see heaven before you die

Miss Teen's aunt Rena Rob, Miss Teen Navajo, Krischel Augustine, (c) and Audrey Peterman.

(Cont'd from FP) iards in the 1660s to protect the European presence in America.

I shared that the National Then I relayed the five-month, Park System protects the land 1200-mile journey of Juan where pivotal events in our his- Bautista de Anza and the Afro tory took place, and that every ethnic and racial group can and Native Latinos who trekked walk upon and touch the legacy with him across deserts, that their ancestors contributed through wilderness and over in the development of our coun- rivers to reach San Francisco which they settled in 1776. try.

Pointing to the Castillo de Their route and legacy is proSan Marcos National Monu- tected in the Juan Bautista de ment in St. Augustine, I shared Anza National Historic Trail that it was built by the Span- which stretches from Arizona

Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Det. Closel Pierre, who talked about seeing the tragedies that violence brings on a daily basis. Federal prosecutor and NBPA National President Bruce Brown hammered home the importance of finding a positive influence. “My positive influence was my mom; one, because I was afraid of her, and two because I didn’t

Blacks more likely to bully and be bullied than other groups

First row, l to r: Lita Thompson, vice principal; Melba Pearson, Ronald Dowdy, Gera Peoples, Sgts. Lewis and Pierre, Gregory Bethune, principal. Back row, l to r: Markenzy Lapointe, Bruce Brown and Brian Kirlew. Not pictured: Pastor Carl Johnson.

Prosecutors speak to audience.

Maha Mohammad Albdour documents Blacks are bullied at higher rates.

(Courtesy photo)

By Jazelle Hunt Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – Blacks, who are already more likely than other racial groups to be involved in situations that involve bullying, both as a victim and as a perpetrator, are subjected to additional bullying because of other complicating factors, including poverty, according to scholars and experts on the subject.

“African Americans have higher rates of bullying. When I looked at the factors, they were all overlapping with health and social disparity,” said Maha Mohammad Albdour, who is examining bullying as part of her doctoral studies in Community Health Nursing at Wayne State University.

Her research findings were published this month in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

“There is a lot of interest in bullying, but…. [t]his population has a lot going on related to social and health disparities, so maybe the experience is different from other populations,” Albdour stated.

(Read full story on www.thewetsidegazette.com) to the Presidio of San Francisco that they helped to build.

To show that Americans of Asian descent were an integral part of the development of the National Park System, I shared how Tie Sing distinguished himself as part of the Mather Mountain Party that explored Sequoia National Park in 1915, to the extent that a 10,000-foot high peak in the park was named Sing Peak in his honor. To illustrate the leadership of women in achieving their Godgiven rights as fully functioning members of society, I shared the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in New York where the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848 and women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth changed history.

To highlight the contributions of African Americans, I told the audience that the spot where Crispus Attucks was shot down in the opening salvo of the Boston Massacre of 1770 is protected in Boston National Historical Park; that I have walked the trails in Valley Forge National Historical Park where Black, Hispanic and Native Americans soldiered with George Washington’s Continental Army in the dire winter of 1777-78, and Black women served as nurses and cooks.

I shared the Buffalo Soldiers’ legacy at Fort Davis National Historic Site in Texas, where they protected settlers on the Great Western Migration to California; the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Alaska, where they kept the peace in the Gold Rush frontier town in 1897.

want to let her down.” Sgt. Lewis of the Miami-Dade Police Crime Suppression Team opened up about his own challenges of growing up in a tough area.

His focus during his youth was on sports activities. Lewis reminded the boys that “nothing short term is going to last. Where would I be if I had let people talk me into hanging out instead of going to practice? Don’t let peer pressure get the best of you.”

The Consequences panel featured a state prosecutor, a federal prosecutor, and a public defender. This panel encouraged the young men to think about the consequences of their actions, and what the repercussions can be of being in the criminal justice system. Brian Kirlew, a public defender, echoed the sentiments of staying away from crime, but also told the boys, “America is a very forgiving place if you are willing to change your behavior. Don’t

let past mistakes hold you back.”

Federal Prosecutor Gera Peoples took a different tactic, by informing the boys of the realities of going to prison. “Think about the consequences to your family,” he implored.

The last panel, Options, included a stirring message from Pastor Carl Johnson of the 93rd Street Community Baptist Church, and Mark Lapointe, partner at the firm Boies, Schiller and Flexner, LLP. Pastor Johnson rallied the boys to action, stating, “Your ways determine your walk; get your personality on track, and don’t leave high school without a plan.” On the topic of violence he stated, “If you are confronted with violence, do not let someone draw you out of your personality and lead you down the path of wrong. Stand firm in who you are and walk away.”

Much like some students, a number of the speakers came from single parent families –

but found success through positive role models. The message that was reiterated by all of the speakers was access. As the event closed, Principal Bethune informed the boys that all of the speakers agreed to be available at any time in the future to give guidance, and answer questions.

The event was an overwhelming success, and will be repeated in Miami schools throughout the next few weeks.

This program is critical to bringing encouragement to young men that are often labeled and forgotten.

Melba Pearson is an attorney in Florida. Follow her on Twitter at @ResLegalDiva. She is also the Southeast Regional Director for the National Black Prosecutors Association. For more information about NBPA go to www.blackprosecutors.org.

Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Nova Southeastern wins second SSC Tournament Championship, earns berth to NCAA Tournament

Nova Southeastern wins second SSC Tournament Championship.

KISSIMMEE, FL (Women’s Basketball) – The third-seeded Nova Southeastern Sharks upset the top-seeded Tampa Spartans, 64-55, in the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Women’s Basketball Championship final to claim

their second conference tournament title, first since 200708. Nova Southeastern (25-4) was picked by the conference coaches to win the SSC regular-season title, but the Sharks finished the conference slate tied for second with Rollins and

Miami Dolphins re-sign Pro Bowl CB Brent Grimes to 4-year deal, release CB Dimitri Patterson, and sign S Louis Delmas

By Omar Kelly and ESPN The four-year, $32 million contract, which features $16 million in guaranteed money, means Grimes will continue to work where the family now plans to call home. On Monday the Miami Dolphins and new General Manager Dennis Hickey’s top priority was signing

LEGAL NOTICES

CB Brent Grimes re-signs a four-year $32 million dollar contract with the Miami Dolphins.

PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/ purchasing.

March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2014 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO: FMCE 14002429 DIVISION: 41-91 DWAYNE D. ALLEN, Petitioner and GRACE E. WILLIAMS, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: GRACE E. WILLIAMS-ALLEN Respondent's last known addressunknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defense, if any, to it on DWAYNE D. ALLEN, whose address is 4420 Northwest 107 Avenue, Coral Spring, Florida 33065 on or before April 17, 2014, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 201 Southeast Sixth Street, Room 230, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address: (You may file Notice of Current Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: March 5, 2014 HOWARD C. FORMAN, Clerk of the Circuit Court Lashon Bynes, Deputy Clerk March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2014

HELP WANTED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Position for a part-time Musician (keyboardist) is available. Must be a B.A. Degree in music. Must pass a background check. Resumes may be sent to: Att: Dr. Dorothy Cook First Baptist Church Piney Grove 4699 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33313 Deadline for resume March 24, 2014 March 13, 20, 2014

Releasing CB Dimitri Patterson gives the Miami Dolphins $5 million in salary cap space.

The Miami Dolphins signed S Louis Delmas to a 1-year deal worth a maximum of $3.5 million.

CB Brent Grimes, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, to a multiyear deal. Getting a cap-friendly, multi-year commitment from Grimes provides the franchise roughly $36 million to play with when free agent conversations begin on Saturday.

The Miami Dolphins released veteran cornerback Dimitri Patterson and signed free agent safety Louis Delmas to a oneyear contract on Monday.

Delmas’ deal is worth a maximum of $3.5 million, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The release of Patterson will save the Dolphins about $5 million in salary cap space before Tuesday’s start to free agency.

Patterson began the 2013 season as a starter but because of injuries played in only six games. He was put on injured reserve in December with a groin injury. The 5-11, 202pound Delmas, a South Florida native, joins Miami after spending the past five seasons with the Detroit Lions (2009-13).

During the 2013 season Delmas started 15 of 16 games in the Lions secondary and finished the season with 64 tackles, eight passes deflections, three interceptions and two sacks. Over the course of his career he has appeared in 65 games with 64 starts, compiling 331 tackles, six interceptions, five sacks and 24 passes deflections. He was originally selected by Detroit in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Delmas, 26, was released by Detroit with one year remaining on his contract in February, in part due to having a cap number of $6.5 million in 2014.

The Dolphins have 40 roster spots to fill before training camp opens in July.

Miami plans to rebuild the entire offensive line, and the possibility of any returning offensive line starters being resigned is slim based on the unit’s lackluster performance, and their role in the bullying scandal that sideswiped last year’s 8-8 season.

were positioned as the third seed due to tiebreakers. The Sharks defeated the Tars, 80-70, in the tournament semifinals before taking down Tampa (22-6).

Nova Southeastern will earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament, where it advanced to the quarterfinal (EliteEight) round a season ago.

The Sharks took a 37-26 lead over the Spartans at halftime and then opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Danielle Robinson.

Robinson finished the game with 14 points shooting 3-of-6 from behind the arc and 5-of10 from the field. Nova Southeastern’s Taylor Buie was on fire from behind the arc all tournament long.

The sophomore hit a tournament-best 11 3-pointers to averaging nearly four per game.

Buie was named the 2014 SSC Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player. She was also named to the All-SSC Second Team on Friday. Seniors Amanda Burakoski (12 points) and Richelle Carach (13 points) also finished in double figures for the Sharks.

Tampa’s Ellen Nurmi (10 points) and Aisha Rodney (13 points) finished with doubledigits. Buie, Burakoski, Robinson and Rodney were all named to the 2014 SSC Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team. Joining them were Chachi Guzman (Saint Leo) and Illyssa Vivo (Tampa).

Danielle Robinson finished with 14 points shooting 3-of6 from behind the arc and 5 of 10 from the field. Danielle is the daughter of Earnest Robinson, Jr. and Jennifer Lee...Has four siblings: Earnest III, Sherrod, Jakia and Omari. She is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science.

(Photos by Jim Hogue)

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

March 13 - March 19, 2014 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11

Sheila Crump Johnson: Brilliant business owner, entrepreneur and renaissance woman

Born in 1949, Sheila Johnson is a businesswoman, a musician, a philanthropist and reportedly the first African-American woman to become a billionaire.

By Malik A. Azeez Sheila Crump Johnson has been blessed to have phenomenal talents as a business owner and entrepreneur. She is the owner of Salamander Hospitality, LLC, founded in 2005, in Middleburg, Va. Under this company, she has expanded in the hotel and resort business to open up eight resorts: Salamander Resort and Spa (Middleburg, Va.); Innisbrook (Palm Harbor, Fla.); Woodlands Inn (Summerville, S.C.); Reunion Resort (Orlando, Fla.); Hammock Beach Resort (Palm Coast, Fla.); The Grand Resorts at Cap Cana(two Resorts The Dominican Republic).

Next, Miss Johnson’s business genius has been multi-faceted and passionate in television and media. She cofounded Black Entertainment Television (BET) with Robert Johnson in 1980-1999. While at BET, she was Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and she created the award winning show-Teen Summit in 1989. Later, BET was sold to Viacom in 2000 for $3 billion.

With regard to her works in the arenas of sports and film, Johnson has been extraordinary as a businesswoman. Today, she is Vice Chairwoman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

Similarly, Miss Johnson is Majority owner and President of the WNBA’s Washington My-

stics. She is Minority owner of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals.

Moreover, as a documentary filmmaker, she has done four films. These include the following: She Is The Matador(2010); The Other City (2010); Kicking It(2008) and A Powerful Noise(2008).

Innisbrook’s Copperhead golf course is this year's host for The Valspar Golf Championship. The Valspar Golf Championship is presented by BB&T from March 10-16, 2014. Also, Sheila Johnson is the business owner of Innisbrook and the event features 156 PGA Tour golfers in an official 72-hole event in Palm Harbor, Fla. Creatively, Sheila Johnson has put her heart, mind and soul in her entrepreneurial projects that reflect her spirit. Salamander Resort and Spa which opened in August 2013 in Middleburg, Va. is set on 340 acres.

The resort is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and consist of 168 guest rooms.

Some of the other accomodations include: A Spa; Harrimans Restaurant; Market Salamander; Gold Cup Wine Bar; an Equestrian Center; golf courses; tennis courts and a Library. Indeed, Salamander Resort and Spa is designed to cultivate a “coming home” environment while enhancing holistic development.

On another level, Johnson has been most dedicated to educational and humanitarian causes. Today, The State University of New York (SUNY) in Morrisville has established the Sheila Crump Johnson Institute. The Institute awards scholarships, fellowships and aims to build character and leadership skills in college students.

In 2006, she was named global ambassador for CARE, a humanitarian organization

fighting global poverty by empowering women. Her “Sheila’s I Am Powerful Challenge”, launched in 2007, raised over $8 million dollars. In addition, in 2008, President Obama appointed her to the President’s committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – Administrators of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) have announced with great fanfare that they are overhauling the standardized tool that helps determine whether an applicant will get accepted into the college of his or her choice. But in revamping the test, SAT officials are facing a test of their own.

“The redesign is trying to get a sense of what students learned in high school…and trying to help students demonstrate their critical thinking skills instead of just picking an answer. And that’s all well and good,” said Michelle Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), a collegeaccess policy think tank. “But the real ques-tion is, are all students getting the same opportunity to learn those skills before they get to college? Students, especially low-income Black students, often go to schools that are under-resourced. Will they have ever been exposed to the type of questions to be asked on this test, or will it all just reinforce the bias we already see?”

In part because of what some perceive as racial and cultural bias – along with poor schools – many Blacks don’t do well on the standardized test.

Last year, only 15.6 percent of African American students who took the SAT reached or exceeded College Board’s ‘SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmark’ score of 1550 (out of 2400 possible points). According to College Board, the nonprofit education giant that

Featuring MSNBC Hosts Ed Schultz of The Ed Show, Joy Reid of The Reid Report and Touré of The Cycle

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — The City of Miami Gardens is proud to welcome MSNBC, the fastest growing cable news network in the country, to its Ninth Annual Jazz in the Gardens music festival at Sun Life Stadium March 15-16, 2014.

MSNBC will host a unique fan experience for Jazz in the Garden's festival attendees.

Network hosts Ed Schultz of The Ed Show, Joy Reid of The Reid Report, and Touré, co-host of The Cycle, will contribute to the festivities.

Attendees will be able to meet show hosts, receive giveaways and participate in the “Growing Hope” experience.

Coverage of the event and Growing Hope will be available on msnbc.com and theGrio.com.

MSNBC kicks off its multi-market “Growing Hope” tour at the festival.

The tour, which will reach colleges, local festivals and events across the country, is a cornerstone of MSNBC’s yearlong national “Growing Hope” initiative inviting people to share hopes for their community and speak out about issues that matter to them. By sharing hopes online, at an event, through social media, we can come together as a community.

And as a community we have the power to make a difference.

“As an avid MSNBC viewer I am personally thrilled to meet some of the hosts I enjoy watching on the network. As the Mayor of the beautiful City of Miami Gardens, and on behalf of the City Council, we are honored to team up with MSNBC as they launch this important campaign inspired by hope and volunteerism,” said Miami Gardens Mayor, Oliver Gilbert III. “This is a great opportunity to meet our fans in Miami. We have seen and experienced the powerful connection MSNBC has with our community.

Through ‘Growing Hope,’ we will turn that connection into a force for good,” said Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC. MSNBC joins an already star studded line-up of national artists which includes Grammy Award winners LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx and Anthony Hamilton, bass guitar legend Stanley Clarke, the beloved Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, R&B artist Trey Songz, original Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, R&B funk group Mint Condition, six octave vocal songstress Rachelle Farrell and 2014 Grammy nominee jazz artist Boney James. Continu-

ses and the arts. Through Salamander Hospitality, LLC, and Salamander Hotels and Resorts, she is making human life better and more wholesome.

Johnson’s architectural designs of her hotels and the Salamander brand embodies her spirit, supreme beauty, the love

of humanity and her love for being the greatest business owner in the world. Futhermore, Salamander Hospitality LLC focuses on hospitality/management. And Salamander Hotels and Resorts offers Managemant and Consulting Services.

SAT officials hope to score high in eliminating racial bias

The City of Miami Gardens welcomes MSNBC’s ‘Growing Hope’ to Ninth Annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival

REID, SCHULTZ and TOURÉ

Lastly, Miss Johnson’s works as a business owner, entrepreneur and renaissance woman has been brilliant and life enriching. Her achievements clearly have influenced the arenas of television, media, hospitality, sports, education, philanthropy, humanitarian cau-

ing the magical annual tradition, Jazz in the Gardens, powered by Music Choice and hosted

by D.L. Hughley, celebrates its ninth year as one of the most highly regarded and anticipated music events in the country. In 2013, more than 63,000 fans attended, attracting both locals and thousands of out-oftowners to the beautiful City of Miami Gardens.

The 2014 Jazz in the Gardens will surely surpass last years’ experience with another illustrious lineup that continues to make this festival second to none. The weekend exeperience includes pre-festival events; the Women’s Impact Conference & Luncheon at Shulas Hotel & Golf Club featuring actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and the Official Opening Night Party with old school funk performances by the Dazz Band and the S.O.S Band.

Sponsors of the Ninth Annual Jazz in the Gardens include presenting sponsor Music Choice; Platinum sponsors Sun-Life Stadium, Miami Dolphins, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Volkswagen; Gold sponsors MSNBC, Comcast, Tootsies, WHQT, ADT and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For more information about Jazz in the Gardens, visit www.jazzinthegardens.com, “like” us at www.facebook.com/ jazzinthegardens, follow twitter.com/jazzgardens and instagram.com/jitg9 #JITG9.

For more information about MSNBC’s “Growing Hope” initiative, visit: msnbc.com/ growinghope or add your voice to the conversation using the hashtag #growinghope. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MSNBC or follow us on Twitter @MSNBC.

created and develops the exam, this score is associated with a 65 percent chance of earning a college freshman year GPA of a B- or higher. This figure was up from 14.8 percent in 2012.

Averaged scores for individual sections of the SAT were lowest among African American test takers, hovering around 430 (out of 800) per section.

The average scores for their White and Asian American counterparts were in the midto upper-500s. Everyone else’s scores – Native Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, “Other” Latinos, and students identifying as “other”— averaged about 450 and above.

Although the test’s intended use is to assess college readiness, researchers, educators, and policy makers allege that it has had a hand in creating the access disparities it now intends to fight.

For example, there are the test-prep courses and books that give students an edge—if they can afford it. College Board’s online course is currently $69.95 and the book is $31.99; another popular option is Kaplan’s SAT classroom prep for $699, or if on a budget, its online course is $299.

“Testing is a big moneymaking industry at this point.

The SAT is inherently flawed,” says Okaikor Aryee-Price, who taught 11th grade for 11 years and now teaches seventh grade while pursuing a doctorate in Instructional Design. “Standardized tests came out of the eugenics movement, to say that people of color were not as in-

SAT revamp might help Blacks (The redesigned SAT aims to address college access disparities. (Photo by Flickr user ecastro under CC license). telligent as Whites. They’re not used the same way anymore, but they still test the same things. These access gaps were intentionally created.”

Even post-secondary institutions have begun to wonder whether the SAT is worth their time. According to a list compiled by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, more than 800 colleges and universities have gone “test-optional” or “testflexible” (meaning it is either only partially counts toward admissions considerations, or not at all). The list includes highly ranked institutions such as New York University, American University, and University of Texas at Austin.

However, the majority of colleges and universities require

SAT scores (or its competitor, the ACT) as part of the application. Many schools (and organizations) also use these scores as thresholds for awarding grants and scholarships.

Still, College Board says the redesign is in direct response to these and other questions and criticisms.

For starters, they’re expanding two existing programs that provide personalized college information packets along with four college application fee waivers, to high-achieving lowincome students. The organization will also make free testprep programs and practice materials available for all students.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Page 12 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • March 13 - March 19, 2014

Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Black male initiative must address structural racism Like George Zimmerman before him, Dunn was found not guilty of a first-degree murder charge in the death of Davis.

Unlike Zimmerman, Dunn was convicted of three counts of attempted murder.

Jawanza Kunjufu, a prominent educated who has written extensively about Black males,

said that he’s in total support of what the President is doing with his initiative, worries that financial support pledged so far will be enough to prevent more parents from mourning the loss of their young sons due to gun violence.

“I don’t know if money could have eliminated what happened to Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis,” said Kunjufu.

While some openly express doubts about the President’s

new plan, many others applauded President Obama for raising the visibility of the startling racial disparities that exist in education, the labor market and the criminal justice system that cripple a generation that must shoulder the future economic prosperity of a country that has largely forgotten them.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Sex, lies and HIV: When what you don’t tell your partner is a crime 35 States (in red) with criminal laws related to HIV-Postive transmission

Obama Brothers' Keeper

By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – If President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative expands educational and work opportunities for young Black and Hispanic males, but fails to address the burdens of structural racism that threaten their lives, the program might not succeed, some community activists believe.

“Let’s say they do all the right things, let’s say they excel in the classroom, let’s say they are involved in community activities, but then they go out on the street and they are harassed by police, profiled and arrested,” said Walter Fields, executive editor of the NorthStar News a news website that caters to

African Americans. “Or they go to college and they get a degree, then they go out on the labor market and they are discriminated against. How do we control that, after you have told these young men that they have to rise above it and be better, then they run into a system that is designed to cut them down?”

President Obama launched the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in the East Room of the White House, joined by key players in business, philanthropy and public policy. Philanthropic foundations and private corporations have pledged $200 million over the next five years in an effort to “to make sure that every young man of color who is willing to work hard and lift himself up has an opportunity to get ahead and reach

his full potential,” the President said.

President Obama said that he was inspired to create the initiative following the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed, Black teen who was pursued, shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla. Martin’s shooting and Zimmerman’s ultimate acquittal of murder, sparked nationwide protests and an investigation by the Justice Department.

Since then, a similar case has been in the news.

Michael Dunn, a White computer programmer, shot to death Jordan Davis, another Black teenager in Florida in the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Fla., convenience store following an argument over what Dunn described as “thug music” playing in the teen’s SUV.

By Sergio Hernandez, Special to ProPublica This story was co-published with BuzzFeed.

(Part VI) One consequence of the viral exposure legislation is that public health activities and law enforcement, which have traditionally been kept separate, can now overlap. In some states, such as Mississippi, people who test HIV-positive are routinely asked to sign a document called a “Form 917.” By signing it, patients acknowledge they have been counseled about the basics of living with HIV, including the legal consequences of not telling partners they have the virus. Similar forms have also been used in Arkansas, Michigan and North Dakota.

In several states, including Idaho, Missouri, Indiana, Mi-

chigan and Iowa, ProPublica found, prosecutors and judges have used subpoenas and warrants to force health officials to hand over these forms along with other medical records, such as test results, as evidence against patients charged with violating viral exposure laws.

County prosecutors in Indiana, for example, have served at least 20 such subpoenas to the state health department since 2010.

Sometimes, health officials have initiated criminal proceedings. In Grand Traverse County, Mich., former county health officer Fred Keeslar sent a memo to the local prosecutor headlined “Recalcitrant Behavior,” suggesting that police set up a sting operation to arrest and prosecute an HIV-positive man suspected of cruising for sex in

public bathrooms without disclosing his status. Keeslar did not respond to requests for comment.

On the federal level, Obama Administration officials have come out against HIV-specific criminal laws. In 2010, the White House’s Office of National AIDS Policy issued a white paper saying that the “continued existence and enforcement of these types of laws run counter to scientific evidence about routes of HIV transmission and may undermine the public health goals of promoting HIV screening and treatment.” The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS has also condemned these laws.

In 2011, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, or NASTAD, also endorsed the repeal of laws that criminalize HIV exposure or nondisclosure. (Last June, NASTAD also filed a friend-ofthe-court brief in the Rhoades case.)

But across the states, health officials have varying opinions.

“The existence of the statutes does not affect our prevention, diagnosis and treatment efforts,” a spokesman for the Virginia state health department said. But Jill Midkiff, a spokeswoman for Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said that “imposing harsher sentences on individuals with HIV or treating HIV-positive patients differently in the eyes of the law may impact the effectiveness of the Department of Public Health’s HIV prevention efforts.”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)