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The Lauder hill MLK TTask ask Lauderhill Force Celebrates Black Histor Historyy Month-Gala Featuring Bernice King PAGE 3

Black Environmental Do Black Americans Leaders Eager TTo o Bring Care About The State Our Community Of The Union Address?

Up TTo o Speed PAGE 6 PAGE 12

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Clergy take photos to replace photos of I double dog dare you Black men police used for target practice

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Numbers 23:19 (NASB)

Woody, one of those on the actual target, was shaken.

“The picture actually has like bullet holes. One in my forehead and one in my eye... I was speechless.”

April V. Taylor National Guard Sergeant Valerie Deant, her fellow guardsmen, her family and people all over the country have been outraged about the fact that Deant discovered that North Miami Beach Police snipers were using pictures of Black men for target practice at

a Medley, Florida shooting range.

Deant was particularly outraged because one of the pictures that had multiple bullet holes in it was of her brother.

Some local residents have called for the police chief to resign, but the chief has maintained that the department did nothing wrong and that many

departments use real photographs for target practice.

As news has spread about the photographs, people have responded in different ways.

The Washington Post is reporting that some clergy in Florida decided to respond by sending in pictures of themselves for police marksmen to use instead of the photographs they were discovered to be using.

Ministers, priests, and seminarians from all over the country, including prominent progressive Christian author and pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, have chosen to protest the actions of the North Miami Beach Police Department through a Facebook page and by making social media posts using the hashtag #usemeinstead.

The idea started in a closed Facebook group of Lutheran clergy. The hashtag has been used by those posting pictures asking the department to use

pictures of them instead of pictures of Black youth.

Rev. Joy M. Gonnerman, who is part of the group of Lutheran clergy, discusses the motivation behind sending in the photos by stating, “Maybe we ought to make it harder to pull the trigger, and volunteer to put pictures of their family up.”

She goes on to say that the action was, “motivated by our service to Christ and His call to love our neighbors.”

Many of the clergy who decided to participate were white, and Gonnerman believes that officers using the pictures of Black men were becoming desensitized to the idea of shooting a Black person. She feels that using pictures of white people, particularly white clergy, may help officers think twice before pulling the trigger. Gonnerman is planning on mailing in more than sixty of the pictures she has received.

Legend Ernie Banks dead at 83 “It’s a sad day. My friend and client, Ernie Banks passed away last night. He was an incredible baseball legend and an even better human being.”

Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen Ernie Banks has passed away at the age of 83. “Mr. Cub” played his entire 19-year career

By B. Rossano

With ‘no more campaigns to run,’ Obama refuses to back down President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Banks at the White House on Nov. 20, 2013.

The medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

(Win McNamee, Getty Images)

By George E. Curry, NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – The strongest line in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address (SOTU) last week was adlibbed.

When he said toward the end of his one-hour speech, “I have no more campaigns to run,” Republicans laughed. He quickly shot back, “I know because I won both of them.”

That brief exchange tells us what we can expect in Obama’s final two years in office and reflects two different realities. A confident and relaxed Obama, making it very clear that he is not going to curl up in a corner and concede the next two years to Republicans, outlined his bold vision for the future, a vision that does not abandon his key policy positions.

(Cont'd on Page 8)

Pleading Our Own Cause

Can you remember as a young child playing in the rain and splashing in mud puddles; playing hopscotch, catching fireflies and shooting skeeter-hawks (dragonflies) with homemade rubber guns? How about, being dared to climbing trees to their highest point, and taking the fruits from the neighbors trees without asking?

I’m willing to bet you a dime to a donut, you have participated more than once in a ‘double dog dare you stuntand never once allowed the consequences to outweigh your level of courage, or as a child -stupidly.

Not once did anything register in your mind to how such an innocent challenge could perhaps result in serious injury.

In case you have selective amnesia let me reacquaint your understandings to what a ‘double dare-you’ is: After you have been given a challenge (no matter what kind) and you refused, the darer can then elevate the risks by double dog daring you; simply put it, means to up the method of persuasion when trying to get someone to do something.

As a child we were willing to go to almost any degree to show forth our integrity and go to almost any level to prove it. The significance of keeping one’s word is an issue of integrity!

(Cont'd on Page 9)

'Give us our Raises'and 'Stop the Blame Game'

with the Chicago Cubs and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Ernie Banks, known simply as “Mr. Cub” after hitting 512 home runs over a 19-year career spent entirely in Chicago, died recently (Friday, Jan. 23, 2015) at 83.

Best known for his effusive “Let’s Play Two” phrase that epitomized the joy he felt for the game and brought to Wrig-

President Obama

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

ley Field, Banks was an 11time All-Star, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and won consecutive National League MVP awards in 1958-59. Yet, he never appeared in a postseason game, toiling for Chicago Cubs teams that famously finished in the bottom half of the National League in his first 14 seasons.

His 277 home runs as a shortstop rank second in baseball history to Cal Ripken, Jr. Banks’ death was confirmed by the Cubs on Friday night.

Banks would have turned 84 on Jan. 31.

In 1977, Banks was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, but that simple honor hardly explained the greater significance he had for baseball fans in the Second City and beyond. In 2013, Banks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama, alongside former President Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and others.

“Michelle and I send our condolences to the family of Ernie Banks, and to every Chicagoan and baseball fan who loved him,” the Obamas said in a statement released early Saturday. “Ernie came up through the Negro Leagues, making $7 a day. He became the first African-American to play for the Chicago Cubs, and the first number the team retired.

“Along the way, he became known as much for his 512 home runs and back-to-back National League MVPs as for his cheer, his optimism, and his love of the game. As a Hall-of-Famer, Ernie was an incredible ambassador for baseball, and for the city of Chicago. He was beloved by baseball fans everywhere, including Michelle, who, when she was a girl, used to sit with her dad and watch him play on TV. (Cont'd on Page 10)

Broward county teachers are still awaiting the small pay raise the School Board of Broward County had promised them last year.

As negotiations went on inside the BTU building in Tamarac, teachers all over the county were wondering if a settlement would be reached. As tensions rose inside the building, a number of outspoken activists showed up to demonstrate in front of BTU. Teachers held up signs saying, “Give us our raises,” and “Stop the lame game” as cars passed and honked. The teacher advocates were hoping to send a message to the negotiators inside, and to the School Board of Broward County that it was time to keep the promises made to Broward’s teachers.

The rally was not sanctioned

by BTU. In fact, President Sharon Glickman tried to stop it from ever happening by sending every member an email message warning them not to show up!

BTU Alert was sent on the county email stating that, “a notice attempting to organize an unofficial rally has been circulated.”

“Organizing activities not born from the proper procedures risk undermining the efforts of the negotiations and the union as a whole, and therefore are strongly discouraged.”

Indeed, the rally had not been officially organized by BTU, but instead by a group of stewards who have found themselves frustrated at the union’s inaction. The main organizer, Joan King, still frustrated over what the teachers lost in last year’s negotiations, was excited to get out the picket signs and stand on the sidewalk

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Protestors outside of BTU office. in front of the BTU. She said that drastic hourly pay cuts for high school teachers working an extra period, loss of step increases, and how the contract was torn apart, and steps changed to letter codes has affected teacher morale as well as their pocket books!

“I only have one year left...but what are the young teachers I mentor going to do?

Many have lost any incentive they had to teach.”

King is not shy about expressing her feelings that she believes, “BTU President Sharon Glickman is incompetent. She is ruining BTU.” King said, “And everyone in the County knows it, from the teachers to the School Board. It’s embarassing. We need to get Glickman and this leader-ship out! Runcie is walking all over them!”

(Cont'd on Page 8) 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 • January 29 - February 4, 2015

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

Kennedy-King vision found in Indy school The Band of the Hour Association announces

CHAVOUS

By Kevin P. Chavous In the spring of 1968, while growing up in Indianapolis, my mother scooped up me and my three younger siblings and told us that she was going to take us to hear the next president of the United States speak. It was a misty, overcast night but I was excited to go - even if I had to stand in the rain. When we arrived at the near northeast park, the mainly African-American crowd was buzzing with expectation.

Though just 11-years-old, I knew that this was a big deal.

Soon, Robert Kennedy and his staff arrived at the park. But they didn’t look happy. We were about 30 yards away and I could see the tension on the faces of Kennedy and his team. I sensed something was wrong.

From the very beginning, they did not look like they were at a presidential campaign rally. Finally, Bobby Kennedy stood on the back of a truck and announced to all of us that Martin Luther King, Jr. had just been assassinated in Memphis.

The crowd, including my mother, all began to gasp, scream, and then cry.

As sad as I instantly felt, I was determined not to cry. I wanted to be strong. I do remember thinking, however, as the light drizzle fell on my face, it would help to camouflage my tears - but I did not cry. As people were dealing with the shock, some of the folks in the back were getting agitated. I

could feel the anger rising.

Bobby Kennedy then gave one of the most famous speeches in American political history. He quoted the poet, Aeschylus; talked about the need for love, not hate and then calmed the crowd in a way no one else could do by letting them know that he understood how they felt - especially since, as he said, “a white man killed my brother”. With each word he spoke, you could feel his anguish, his agony and his compassion.

That night, nearly every major American city burned in rioting because of the anger over Dr. King’s murder. All except Indianapolis. Bobby Kennedy did what no other white man in America could do that night: he connected with an African-American crowd in a way to dissuade them from striking out because of Dr. King’s death. A surreal spiritual energy descended on us all during that intense emotional moment. For those of us watching and listening to him, Bobby Kennedy was no longer a white man talking to Black folks; he was a man who had lost a loved one to a senseless act of violence consoling a group of people who had just lost a loved one to another senseless act of violence.

We were all connected through our humanity.

I thought of that night during a recent visit to my Indianapolis hometown. I was visiting the Oaks Academy, a private pre-K-8 elementary school located just five blocks from the park where Bobby Kennedy gave his now legendary speech.

The school is one of a kind.

Ninety-seven percent of the 600 plus kids are proficient in both reading and math. Indeed, the school’s scores are among the best in the state. Fifty percent of the kids are on free or reduced lunch. Almost 60 percent of the Oaks students are recipients of scholarships from the Indiana Opportunity Scholarship Program. But here is the really remarkable thing about Oaks Academy: the other 50 percent of the kids come from middle

class to upper middle class families. In fact, some of the wealthy parents drive from as far away as Carmel, a well-todo suburb, to enroll their kids in the school. The Head of School, Andrew Hart, works hard to keep the racial and socio-economic balance of the school in place.

His waiting list consists of equal parts poor kids and kids from wealthy families. Both groups benefit from the socialization experience of being exposed to someone from a totally different world. For instance, Mr. Hart shakes his head when talking about how extremely different Christmas break is for his kids. One set of kids may go to Vail to ski over the break, while another group of kids have the primary responsibility of taking care of and watching their younger siblings.

How does Oaks do it? “It helps that most of our kids enroll at our school in pre-K and remain here until they are ready for high school,” say Andrew Hart.

“So all of our kids and their families feel like they are part of a community. The kids all grow up together. And all are close, irrespective of their backgrounds. They are connected through their shared experience at our school, through our values and our humanity.”

Today, with America’s schools more segregated than when the1954 Brown v Board of Education Supreme Court decision legally struck down the practice of ‘separate but equal,’ it is exceedingly rare to see a school with such a diverse socio economic mix of students. It is rarer to see a school community so dedicated to preserve that mix.

When I left the amazing Oaks Academy, I drove by Martin Luther King Park, where I witnessed history that tragic night in 1968. As I glanced at the memorial located on the spot where Bobby Kennedy spoke, I thought about both Kennedy and King’s dream of a colorblind society and the irony of how that society is more evident at the tiny elementary school down the street than in most places in America.

the Hall of Fame Class of 2014

First African American Inductee Reverend Charles Damon, and Sherry Sue Schnell Hancock.

The University of Miami Band of the Hour Association (BOTHA) is proud to announce its Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

In November, the BOTHA will induct three new members into the Band of the Hour Hall of Fame.

The honorees in the Hall of Fame Class of 2014 are: Reverend Charles Damon, Walter Etling and Sherry Sue Schnell Hancock.

Founded in 1993, the BOTHA has been drumming up support for the “Band of the Hour” for over 20 years.

BOTHA is the official Alumni group of the University of Miami Band of the Hour and official affiliate group within the University of Miami Alumni Association.

The University of Miami BOTHA of Alumni and Friends established a Hall of Fame in 1994 to identify and honor, in a permanent manner, those individuals who have achieved excellence in performance and or musicianship in the Band of the Hour or who have contri-

buted to the Band by support in time, resources or talent. 2014 marks the 20th year of the Hall of Fame.

The Band of the Hour Class of 2014 Reverend Charles Damon has served as Assistant Director of Programs for the Band of the Hour for the past 15 years, working closely with the students and staff of the band, other university officials, and band alumni. Charles has been the face of constancy for the athletic bands for well over a decade.

For years, Charles has facilitated the activities of the Band of the Hour, participating fully in all performances and events of the band program, including marching band performances, travel, festivals, and concerts.

Charles provides not only logistical support but the wisdom of his experience.

His demeanor and compassion are some of his greatest attributes, which have bene-

fited the band so greatly. His daily presence is calming in nature to all faculty, Teaching Assistants, and undergraduates. His concern for everyone affiliated with the band is genuine to a point of altruism.

Everyone who has been a part of the band knows they can come to Charles for the answer to a question, advice, or a shoulder to lean on.

Charles voluntarily coordinates the Hurricane Flags section of the band, recruiting and training them for their performance contributions to the band.

The logistical assistance from this group of students is invaluable to the success of the band at each performance.

It is not much hyperbole to state that everyone on the UM campus knows Charles Damon respects him, and considers him a friend.

Rev. Damon is the son of Deaconess Catherine J. Mason, of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and is the first African American to be inducted into The Band of the Hour Association’s Hall of Fame Walter Etling is being honored posthumously as a member of the Class of 2014. Walter played saxophone in the Band of the Hour and served as Drum Major prior to graduating with a degree in economics in 1948.

Etling left a legacy that will long be remembered.

Sherry Sue Schnell Hancock, while married to William B. Russell, who served as the Director of Bands at the University of Miami, often offered their home to many of the band students for Thanksgiving and other holidays. Sherry was commonly and affectionately known as the “Band Mom” who cared for the band students as if they were her own.

The 2014 Band of the HourHall of Fame Ceremony was held during Alumni Weekend on Oct. 31, 2014 in Fillmore Hall.

RECOGNIZING OUR GLORIOUS BLACK HISTORY ALL YEAR LONG

January 29 - February 4, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 3

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

‘Chief Jimmie Brown Show’to debut Feb. 1 on WMBM Sergeant Willie A. Jones: A life

BROWN

By Rose Reeder MIAMI, FL – Rev. Dr. Jimmie Brown, known as Chief Jimmie Brown to the South Florida Urban community, is one of the most successful and well-known legendary radio personalities.

After hosting “Hot Talk” for 25 years, he is making his return to the radio airwaves with the “Chief Jimmie Brown” show.

Starting Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015 from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on WMBM 1490 AM Radio. Listen live by streaming on line via mobile app and/or computer.

The “Chief Jimmie Brown” show will offer listeners a fresh take on the issues affecting the community – from politics and history relevant to the community, to youth issues and community empowerment issues.

Chief Brown – a multi-talented host, author, pastor, war veteran with accomplishments that span law enforcement, radio and education. Brown’s unprecedented achievement in

Urban Radio remains unrivaled and over the years has built a strong reputation for developing his diverse audience throughout the Tri-County market.

Over two decades on the radio, Brown received numerous awards and prestigious recognition for excellence and outstanding achievement in the radio industry and community service.

Brown also serves on several boards.

For more information on WMBM: http:// www.wmbm.com. Call-in numbers are: (305) 953-9626 MiamiDade County, (954) 525-1490 Broward County, toll free (888) 599-WMBM Dr. Chief Jimmie Brown Dr. Brown served as a United Methodist Pastor for 37 years, retiring in 2011. During this time Dr. Brown led the congregations of Saint Paul UMC, Mount Sinai UMC, Kerr Memorial UMC, Ebenezer UMC, and Harris Chapel UMC. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force (1962 – 1969). He received the Bronze Star and the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service during the Vietnam War. Dr. Brown is a retired Division Chief of Miami-Dade Police Department, 30 years. During his tenure, Dr. Brown rose through the ranks from Police Officer to Division Chief. Upon his retirement in 1999, he was Chief of the Special Investigation Division.

Additionally, he has hosted the popular talk show “Hot Talk” for over 25 years. He is currently an adjunct professor at Barry and Everest Universities. He is the co-author of No Glory

New education official wants to “I didn’t know why he would reform NCLB forget things,” King recalled,

John King Jr., the new deputy secretary for the Department of Education, wants to reform the No Child Left Behind Act. (Freddie Allen/NNPA)

By Freddie Allen, NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – John King, Jr., a highly-respected educator from New York City, says that teachers saved his life and in his new post as the deputy secretary at the Department of Education (DOE), he wants all children to have the support in school that he had growing up.

Both of King’s parents were life-long educators. His father, John King, Sr., was the first Black principal at an integrated school in Brooklyn, N.Y. and also served as the deputy superintendent for New York City schools after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education banned “separate, but equal” practices in public schools.

In elementary school, King used to ride to work with his mother, Adalinda, who worked as a guidance counselor at the middle school. When King was in the fourth grade, his mother suffered a heart attack at work.

That night, he went to the hospital with his father and the next morning, his father broke the news to him. His mother was gone. She was just 48. It was hard for the younger King to understand at eight years old.

“Losing my mom in a lot of ways was the moment when school took on this much larger importance in my life,” said King. School became the safe harbor from the turmoil in his home life that slowly deteriorated after his mother passed away.

His father, then in his 70s, started to forget things.

though he later learned that his father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. “I didn’t know why he would be upset one moment and not upset the next.”

In an environment where there was a lot of instability, King said school was a source of stability, structure and support and for three years, from the fourth grade to the sixth grade, Alan Osterweil’s classroom anchored that stability.

In that class, King read the New York Times every day, memorized the capital and leader for every country in the world and performed Shakespeare. King said he felt free to be a kid.

“He set very high expectations for us,” said King. “Sometimes people think that kids will be overwhelmed by higher expectations, but I think that kids rise to higher expectations and one of the things that I experienced in his classroom was that his high expectations were motivating and encouraging to all of us. He also paid a lot of attention to a full range of subjects.”

King said that Osterweil saw his role as a teacher wasn’t just about conveying knowledge, but it was also about mentoring and supporting students.

John, Sr. died at 79, when John Jr., was 12 years old. He then lived with a half brother on Long Island and later, an uncle and aunt in Cherry Hill, N.J. King said that he carried the lessons he learned in Osterweil’s class with him when he taught his own social studies class and co-founded a charter school in Boston, Mass., after attending Harvard University and earning a master’s degree at the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, King dedicated his life to education, rising through ranks to become the first New York State Education Commissioner of African American and Puerto Rican descent in 2011. King was recently selected to become the Deputy Secretary of the DOE. “Not only am I here doing this today because of that teacher, but I’m alive, because [Osterweil] provided stability during that period in my life,” said King.

(Cont'd on Page 9)

Without a Story, author God Wants You to Win, Save Your Marriage and Develop A Lifelong Love (with Michelle), “Inexpensive (Legal) Ways to lower Your Credit Score”, “The Top Ten Reasons Why You Aren’t Where

You Want to Be Yet (And how to get there)” and other books. Website: http://www/ chiefjimmiebrown; Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/ pub/chief-jim-brown/a/540/ 230 ;Profile on facebook https:/ /www.facebook.com/ chiefjimmy.brown?fref=ts

The Lauderhill MLK Task Force celebrates Black History Month-Gala featuring Bernice King From Leslie Johnson The City of Lauderhill and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force are happy to announce the MLK / Black History Month Gala is scheduled for Feb. 7th at 4 p.m. featuring Bernice King.

The MLK Task Force has hosted civil rights programming for people of all ages for 15 years now. Elementary school aged students from the region have competed in the City’s Annual Civil Rights Spelling Bees while middle school students participate in a yearly Civil Rights Brain Bowl.

With that, proceeds from all of the events have benefited college bound high school students via MLK Scholarships. Finally, the annual galas have featured special guest speakers such as MLK III, Lee Daniels, Spike Lee, and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.

Commissioner M. Margaret Bates, MLK Task Force Founder explains, “It is the Task Force’s 15th year anniversary.

We had to bring a very special guest in order to commemorate this exceptional milestone. We are so honored to have Corretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s youngest daughter, Bernice King!”

The location for the Gala will be at Screen Post Production located at 3500 N.W. 15 St. in Lauderhill, 33311 on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person and are currently on sale. You can purchase tickets at Lauderhill City Hall, 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd. or call us at (954)730-3000 for

KING over the phone credit card purchases. This event ALWAYS sells out so don’t miss out!

For more information, please call (954)730-3000 or visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/ LauderhillMLKTaskforce.

Congratulations to Lauderhill six-12 as the 2015 winners of the Brain Bowl. Congratulations to Amya Wallace (Paul Turner) Third Grade, Menyelek Shaw (Phyl’s academy); Fourth Grade, and Jordan Johnson (Royal Palm) Fifth grade as the 2015 Spelling Bee winners.

Sponsored by the City of Lauderhill, Humana, Lauderhill Police Department, Law Firm of Becker & Poliakoff, Rhodes Insurance, International Longshoremen Association of Miami, Federation of Public Employees, Westside Gazette, and National Weekly.

Governor Scott holds a majestic M.L. King event at the mansion

By Roger Caldwell On Jan. 19, Gov. Rick Scott, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and First Lady Ann Scott took time out of their busy schedules and held a wonderful Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. At this event, the majority of attendees were Black community leaders and elected officials. The affair was intimate and warm; the governor, first lady, and Lt. governor welcomed everyone to the mansion with a hello, a handshake, and their assistants took personal cell phone photos.

The event lasted from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with finger food appetizers, tasty drinks, and everyone that attended felt pampered. As I spoke to various individuals at the affair, it was evident that more Blacks voted for Governor Scott the second time around, and he is reaching out to our community. Many of the attendees that were invited to the event have been appointed to sit on different boards and commissions by the governor.

“Our job is to make sure this is the state that whatever country you came from, whatever zip code, whatever family, you have the dream of this country.

This is everybody’s state and everybody should have the shot at the dream of the country.

That’s what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in and that’s what we all believe in,” said Governor Scott at his reception.

At Scott’s classy M.L. King affair he talked inclusion and

equality, but many of his policies reflect a different reality.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr reception in Tallahassee was wonderful, but the hard work to achieve his dream is complicated with many institutional barriers. It is easy to say you believe in the dream, but many social, political and financial inequalities still exist in the state.

Monday evening in Tallahassee was wonderful, and Governor Scott was a great host.

There are many opportunities for the Black community to get engaged in the state by working on boards and commissions.

However, many in the Black community do not have information, feel they are ignored, and there is a need for more outreach from the Scott administration.

There is a pressing moral obligation to live up to the name of this holiday, and the reception was great, but it takes more.

We must all live and examine our decisions every day to determine if we are honoring those who fought for freedom before us.

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and legacy worth celebrating

By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson Life beyond the shield intuitively captures the essence of Sergeant Willie A. Jones, who recently celebrated a long and distinguished career in law enforcement on Nov. 15, 2014 at the Marriott in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Born in Miami, Fla. his parents, Eleman and Essie Jones, understood the value of and stressed education at an early age, imploring him to excel academically.

He attended Gladeview Elementary, Madison Junior High and graduated from Miami Central High School in 1973. While at Central he excelled academically and athletically both as an honor roll student and as an outstanding linebacker for the Rockets football team.

Choosing a career in law enforcement, he began as a corrections officer with Metro Dade County, gaining invaluable experience in booking, releasing, classifying and transporting individuals remanded into the custody and control of the agency. That experience and perspective ignited a desire to higher education, inspiring his enrollment in St. Thomas University. His passion for higher education subsequently led to BS and MS degrees in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix.

In 1980 after graduating from the police academy, he joined the FLPD as a road patrol officer, which became his passion and calling, because it allowed him positive interaction with the people and communities he so passionately swore to serve. In this capacity as a positive role model, especially for children and young Black males who so often through personal experience see law enforcement negatively, he dramatically changed that dynamic, accepting without pause the late Sheriff Ron Cochran’s offer for him to expand his expertise in community policing by becoming the first African American to join the newly formed Mount Unit, one of several first in his distinguished career.

Steadfast in his conviction that police departments and their leadership too often failed to address minority concerns, he along with other Black officers formed A.I.M - Alliance of Involved Minorities - to improve relations with minority communities and the police.

Sergeant Jones became the organization’s first president and though the name has changed (Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officer Association) the goals remain the same. Sgt. Jones left law enforcement in1987, resigning from the FLPD, accepting a position with the Oasis Institute/Federal Housing Department.

Not only did he travel all the country speaking to community groups and leaders, law enforcement and police departments regarding strategies for creating workable partnerships while endeavoring to change slum and blighted communities, he also assisted with developing techniques for national and international implementation of Oasis concepts.

After resigning this position in 1989, he joined The National Urban League as a Project Manager. Duties included managing day to day operations dealing with substance abuse prevention, developing and implementing projects which raised awareness of teenage pregnancy prevention, and authoring or co-authoring programs dealing with bringing boys into manhood. While employed with the Urban League, he also became a certified birth instructor.

In1995, he returned to his passion and roots, accepting a position with the Broward Sheriff’s Office in unincorporated

SERGEANT JONES District 9, as a patrol officer in District 2, Dania Beach, and as a school resource officer at Collins Elementary. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he was transferred to District 5 where he supervised the drug S.E.T Unit with a directive to reduce citizen complaints against deputies in the unit, a mission he accomplished with great aplomb.

Sergeant Jones, always an effective fundraiser, successfully chaired the Special Olympics Charity, doubling the amount raised the previous year in Dania.

His transfer to District 11, Pompano Beach, allowed him to cement his legacy as a visionary in community/police relations, spending the last 13 years of his career of service in the following assignments: organizing town hall meetings with community leaders to address concerns, supervising special events from a law enforcement perspective, overseeing tangible assets of the district as the Administrative Sergeant, managing the emergency operation center’s equipment and supplies, Echo Field Force Supervisor, Records Manager and Housing and Nuisance Abatement coordinator.

Willie states with great pride, “I have enjoyed the 39 plus years of service to all of the communities I’ve been privileged to serve, both from the law enforcement and civilian sides. It’s been a great ride and I would not have given it up for any other.” His years of service, community involve-ment and dedication as an officer of the law was recognized by his being featured in the 2006-7 edition of Global Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, a well-deserved honor and recognition of a tremendously successful, professional career dedicated to public service.

A devoted husband to his lovely wife of 28 years, Lareta, he is also a dedicated father and grandfather to daughters Keisha and Nikki and five grandchildren. Sgt. Jones is also a joyous, devoted member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church where Reverend Robert C. Stanley is senior pastor.

Additional affiliations include membership in the Eta Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.; Police Benevolent Association, Free Masonry, Pompano Beach Kiwanis and the MLK Planning Committee among others. Citations, proclamations and reflections were heartfelt and varied, coming from dignitaries such as former Pompano Beach Commissioner Woodrow Poitier, Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Smit, Pastor Robert Stanley, Virginia Jones from the Coral Springs Police Department and Jim Schott, retired Broward Sheriff’s Deputy. We joined them in saluting an exemplary man who performed an often difficult profession in exemplary fashion.

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

Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 29 - February 4, 2015

Community Digest

Publix is Proud to Support Community News WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE

Walk

Community to bring Awareness to Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and support Walk against Human Trafficking, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Central Broward Regional Park, 3700 N.W. 11 Place, Lauderhill, Fla. For info on Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children visit www.211-broward.org or call (954) 377-1119. For more info on the Children’s Services Council of Broward and its funded programs, visit www.cscbroward.org

Classes

Free SAT & ACT Prep at Regional Libraries program schedule 2015 All Sessions mandatory attendance · Session 1: SAT/ACT Grammar and Reading Techniques and Strategies · Session 2: SAT/ACT Grammar and Reading Practice · Session 3: SAT/ACT Math Techniques and Strategies · Session 4: SAT/ACT Math Practice and Science Techniques and Strategies · Session 5: SAT/ACT Science Practice and Essay Techniques and Strategies North Regional Library – (954) 201-2600 · Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 – Session 1: from 5 to 7 p.m. · Saturday, Feb. 14 Session 2: from 12 to 2:30 p.m. · Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Session 3: from 5 to 7 p.m. · Saturday, Feb. 21 – Session 4: from 12 to 2:30 p.m. · Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Session 5: from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Event A free Black History Fair/ Exhibit will be held at the E. Pat. Larkins Center, 520 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Pompano Beach, Fla. on Feb. 5 through 8, 2015, open to the public and designed for the community to celebrate AfricanAmerican contributions to the American experience.

The following events have been scheduled for public enjoyment: Thursday, Feb. 5 from 69 p.m., opening Reception/ Black History Exhibits; Friday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. - Black History Exhibits, students are welcome; Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. - Black History Exhibits, health screenings by Broward Health North Dental Education by Managed Care of North America, there will be live entertainment - Omega 3 DJS and HBCUs college information. Sunday, Feb. 8 1-5 p.m.

- Black History Exhibits, live jazz entertainment by RC Music Group and a Classic Car Show, there is a fee.

EDUCATION MATTERS Every Child Deserves a Chance to Succeed.

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ATTENTION RADIO LISTENERS

We have free gifts for everybody who calls into the show and shares their opinion. Listen every Saturday at 4 p.m. to Spiritual Downloads with Anna Stephen-son on WWNN Radio AM 1470. It’s a live Call in talk show that discusses 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 1-888-5651470. Also e-mail Anna Stephenson at annasmiami@aol.com with a subject you want to hear dis-cussed on the show. The show al-so interviews special guests Like Jessica Reedy from Sunday Best. Shelia Raye Charles, Melba Moore and different preachers and gospel musical artists and politicians.

Together 50 years and Telling our Story on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, 11:30 a.m., NW Classmates, this luncheon is coming together beautifully, and we have gotten a lot of community excitement. The three schools are working together like clockwork, and we will have updates for you as things move forward. Check your email often.

Each of the three collaborating schools - Booker T Washington, North Dade, and Northwestern - are selling tickets to the luncheon. Our best benefit, is in selling OUR tickets first. However, it is better for your friends to buy a ticket SOMEWHERE, than not at all.

We get some benefit from tickets sold at sites in the community.

Tickets: NW tickets are with our classmate, Laura Gallon Jones. Contact her ASAP. Deadline: 1/18/2015. 305-8364829-hm, or 305-733-0672cell. She does text. Yes, we want the most tables there!!!

Payment - Cash or Check: Checks are payable to BTW Class of 1965, Inc. Not to worry, we will get our share.

Each school has assignments to do, and this is theirs.

Parents: As we celebrate our successful accomplishments throughout the civil rights developments, no one is more deserving of recognition than our parents who witnessed us go through challenges that they probably did not even understand. If you are attending the luncheon we will give a tribute to your parents. We will get the names later.

Hot 105: The committee will be recording a message about the event on this coming Monday. Listen for it throughout the month.

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

Opinion

January 29 - February 4, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 5

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.

Letter to the Editor

President Glickman is the right leader for BTU

By Ted Florival-Victor Let me start by saying: I am not someone who would normally write to a newspaper. After seeing the outlandish attack printed against BTU President Sharon Glickman that was riddled with lies, I couldn’t help but feel that it would be an injustice not to tell your readers the REAL story.

President Glickman is the right leader for BTU. She stepped up at a time when the union and the hard-working educators of Broward County needed it the most. She was the first presi-

dent of the Broward Teachers Union following a criminal scandal by the previous, long-term president.

President Glickman has been a BTU member since the union’s inception.

She taught in Broward schools for 34 years, she served as a union steward for over 20 years, and was an executive board member for more than six years. President Glickman has been dedicated to fighting for educators long before her tenure as BTU President.

When she decided to run for president, it wasn’t because it was a glamorous or powerful position. She did it

because she so desperately wanted to see BTU be the organization that it’s members deserve.

Since being elected BTU President in 2012 and re-elected in 2014 (both victories by a landslide), President Glickman has worked tirelessly to rebuild BTU. She has fought to increase membership and has members more engaged in their union than ever before.

There are numerous examples of her leadership during her time as president. She instituted a policy that gives members the training necessary to be

THE GLICKMAN SAGA HOUR

This is a very difficult letter for me to write Amidst controversy and low morale, Broward Teachers Union (BTU) President, Sharon Glickman has a host of supporters and many have called our office to voice their concerns and some who are submitting letters of resignation because of disappointments.

Many of the BTU members are not rejoining due to what a lot of them are

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 Norman Edwards & Ron Lyons PHOTOGRAPHERS Levi Henry, Jr. - CHAIRMAN Yvonne F. Henry EDITOR (Emeritus)

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

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claiming dissatisfaction that they have not received last year's raises and yet BTU has raised dues, the president increased her salary and teachers have gained nothing but a reduction in hourly pay for working extra periods.

In a resignation letter dated January 17, 2015, Executive Board member Dr. Leslie Janin-Starr painfully writes: Dear President Glickman: This is a very difficult letter for me to write. My whole entire life has been helping others for the betterment of all. As soon as I started my career as an educator my first thought was joining the union. That was over 20 years ago and I still remember as if it were yesterday turning around and running right into Ralph Eckhart, I signed up with him immediately. From that moment on I was not just a member of BTU, but truly felt and believed, that members WERE the BTU. I became very active during my time with our union; participating on a multitude of committees, a lobbyist, political organizer, trainer at steward workshops and workshops for our Para’s’ so they could be “highly qualified" along with other trainings, Ex-

ecutive Board member, AFL-CIO representative, AFT and FEA delegate, along with other activities.

Our union has grown and changed over the years. Some changes were for the better while others I did not agree with; however, those changes were obviously meant for the betterment of our union and so I stood by them.

Since AFT turned the BTU back over to us, the BTU has encountered many changes that I do not agree with and can no longer stand up and represent. While all of these issues were occurring we have kept AFT and FEA in the loop, asking for help and support only to find it falling on deaf ears.

The BTU has lost 19 out of 22 long term staff employees along with others that left who were not counted due to the short time they were employed

by BTU. We hear the BTU tout transparency but there is less transparency then when Mr. Santeramo was president. For example, the last BTU budget report posted on the BTU website was December, 2013 when we were in receivership with AFT. Read Full Letter At: The Westside Gazette.com

Cultural legacies embrace the politics of political history

By Derek Joy Black History Month is on the horizon.

Two days in, and presto! Ground Hog Day. Happy Birthday, June.

So, let me tell you a story. . .

Turns out that Bobby Henry, Sr., publisher of the Westside Gazette, asked me for a Bio. A bit of irony is that my classmates at Miami Northwestern High School collaborated with our counterparts at Booker T. Washington and North Dade High Schools.

The gist of it is they’ve detailed some of their most notable experiences with racism and discrimination from then until now. And, on Feb. 7, at the Miami Shores Country Club, they will sort of dramatize those experiences on a Black History Month Program.

Interestingly enough, there is a link between that program and my Bio. There we were. Eager, yet reserved, impressionable crumb crushers entering first grade as the Korean War was at its end. And near the end of our first year in school the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision in the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education (Kansas) on May 17, 1954.

That ruling struck down the segregationist principle of “Equal but separate” in public education institutions.

This was a legal decision nearly 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments became law.

Moreover, 10 years after the Brown v. Board of Education, we were still largely using second hand text books given to us by Anglo schools. The same was true after we entered 12th grade.

Shameful.

Then I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force,

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.

where I served in Texas, Illinois and North Dakota during the Viet Nam War. Anglo men of draft age created a mass exodus into Canada to escape the draft.

I ran into some on weekend visits to Canada before I stuck JOY my neck in the noose - marriage. But these draft dodgers were later pardoned after an all volunteer U.S. Armed Forces became reality.

It was troubling to see 58,000 plus American military men and women killed, with even more disabled by wounds and injuries. Even more troubling to see how they have been, and still are, grossly neglected, especially since the draft dodgers have been pardoned for their crimes.

No matter. My journalism career had its runs in junior and senior high school, in the Air Force and Florida International University, where I graduated in 1978. It took a while getting there.

A somewhat obscure recognition came in 1987, when a series I wrote for the Miami Times in 1986 captured first place in the “Feature Story Category” of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Annual Competition.

The series was titled, “Drugs In Liberty City”. It was published in the Miami Times during the month of May 1986. Then it was on to the Westside Gazette, a trip to Jamaica to report on tourism opportunities and features, courtesy of the Jamaica Tourist Marketing Board.

Of course, being the lead writer for the lead paper in publishing NNPA’s first ever desktop newspaper at the NNPA Mid Winter Workshop in Daytona Beach, Fla., in 1989.

Yes, there was another attempt at self publishing a book of poetry titled, From The Ghetto To Infinity, and poetic recognition when International Society of Poets made me a candidate for “Poet of the Year,” an honor I did not win.

For sure some call me a trouble maker and the like. I prefer to say I’ve continued to share public opinion, share public information and, hopefully, arouse human intellect to action.

an important part of the contract negotiation teams. As a result, last year, edu- GLICKMAN cators got their first real salary increase in four years. She has rebuilt a strong support system of field staff and assistants to be a resource for members.

Also under her leadership, BTU created joint task forces with the Broward School District to reexamine the future of teacher evaluations and high school schedules. In addition, BTU has built a robust professional development program to give teachers the tools they need to continue to grow professionally, including the ESE training all educators need for recertification.

During her tenure, President Glickman has worked cooperatively with our state and national affiliates, numerous partners from around the community, and all BTU members. Sharon Glickman has exhibited all of the qualities and dedication any member could hope for in a BTU President. Anybody who would say otherwise has motivations that are not in the best interest of Broward Teachers Union.

Jimmie Lee Jackson inspired Selma march

By George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis captured the headlines, it was the death of 26-year-old FIELDS Jimmie Lee Jackson that inspired the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March.

After fighting in the Vietnam War, Jackson had returned home to Marion, Ala., which also happens to be the birthplace of Coretta Scott King, about 30 miles northwest of Selma in the soil-rich Black Belt region of Alabama.

Although Blacks made up a majority of Black Belt counties, they were less than 1 percent of the registered voters.

A pulpwood worker, Jackson had attempted five times to register, none successfully. In an effort to expand voter registration in the area, James Orange, a Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) field organizer, and George Best of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had moved to Perry County in early 1965. Before long, local residents were trying to register to vote, most of them for the first time.

On Feb. 18, Orange, who included students in the movement, was arrested, allegedly for contributing to delinquency of minors. That set off a round of protests shortly after being released from jail in Selma, C. T. Vivian of SCLC was sent to Marion to address a mass meeting at Zion Chapel Methodist Church.

Do Black Americans (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com) care about the State of the Union Address?

Why are so many Black

By Roger Caldwell girls suspended?

President Obama gave his sixth State of the Union address, and only 31.7 million Americans watched the speech on television. CALDWELL This was the lowest number on record according to Nielsen, and the Obama Administration is trying to increase that number of viewers on 12 networks. During the first State of the Union address there were 59 million viewers and it appeared that the American public was more engaged.

Americans in 2015 do not trust politicians and it is reflected at the ballot box, and when the president makes a speech. During the 2014 election, many of the voters left early in Maryland, when the president gave a campaign speech. The Republicans won the majority in both Houses in 2014 because the Democrats never showed up at the ballot box. Ninety-three percent of Blacks are Democrats, and it appeared they thought the 2014 election was not important.

Everyone in the Democratic Party is making excuses for the beating they took in that election, but it seems that no one cares. Starting with the Chairlady of the party, Debbie WassermanSchultz acts like it is okay to lose, and quite frankly she needs to be fired.

But the leadership of the party looks the other way and the party operates as an exclusive social club.

Somewhere in their $2,500 dinners and long gowns, they have forgotten the grass root folks who get the people out to vote. When the Democratic leadership is always asking for money, and refusing to fund Black candidates, many Black Democrats argue that the party is racist.

At the State of the Union address last week, the President was charged up, and he laid out a number of proposals, but Blacks are starting to think that he was just talking. Many Blacks believe, based on their mistreatment by police and the president talking about there is only one America, “The United States of America,” something is fundamentally wrong. Maybe when President Obama gives a State of the Union address, he puts on his blinders and tries to find a middle ground.

“Understand—a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine. A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than ‘gotcha’ moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives” says the president at his State of the Union address.

On paper these words sound great, but everyone knows the Republicans have waited six years to control both Houses, and they are not planning to be civil, or compromise with the Democrats. They plan to push their conservative agenda forward, and Blacks and poor folks are the first to be eliminated in their policies.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

By Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu We all know about the plight of Black males being suspended. Twenty-four percent of Black KUNJUFU males are suspended.

Did you know 12 percent of Black females are suspended? Have Black girls been overlooked? Is the Black community comfortable and okay with 12 percent? I am not.

There are many reasons why Black girls are suspended. Sometimes, they are suspended because they chose to wear their hair in puffs, braids, or twists. Other times, they said God bless you after someone sneezed. Oftentimes, they rolled their eyes, rotated their neck, put their hands on their hips and said “whatever”. Some teachers are intimidated and afraid of Black girls. Some teachers feel Black girls are too loud and have too much attitude. Do you think that some teachers want Black girls to act like white girls and tone it down?

Can you imagine your five-yearold daughter was being disruptive and rather than the school calling you they called the police? They handcuffed her, put her in the police car and drove her by herself to the police station and then they called the parents!

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Selma:White savior not required

By Walter L Fields, NNPA Columnist The fierce and aligned, if not coordinated, campaign to smear FIELDS the motion picture “Selma” by suggesting it inaccurately portrays the role of President Lyndon Johnson in the fight for Blacks’ civil rights is par for the course. Critics of the movie that focuses on the campaign for voting rights in Selma, Ala. suggest that Johnson was a champion for civil rights and is principally responsible for securing voting rights for African Americans.

At best that point of view is a misunderstanding, and at worst, and what I firmly believe, it is a deliberate attempt to create a false narrative to diminish the principal and central role of Blacks in advocating for their own freedom.

It is ironic, and sad, that the first full-length theater released movie chronicling the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is being trashed in an attempt to exalt a White president.

The criticism of “Selma” betrays the truth and common sense. Lyndon Johnson was a southerner; a Texas politician firmly entrenched as a Dixiecrat. His selection as John F. Kennedy’s vice presidential running mate was a political calculation to secure southern votes and resulted in an uneasy alliance between the Texan and the young Bostonian.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Page 6 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 29 - Februray 4, 2015

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

Church Directory

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

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

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

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”

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

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"

Bishop Victor T. Curry Senior Pastor/Teacher WORSHIP SERVICES

6201 NW 57 Street Tamarac, FL 33319 954-721-1232 uccfaith@bellsouth.net faithbroward.org "Historically the First Church in the City of Tamarac!”

Rev. Dr. Ileana Bosenbark, Senior Pastor WEEKLY SERVICES & EVENTS SUNDAY Worship Service (Communion 1st & 3rd Sunday) ........................................................... 10 a.m.

F.A.I.T.H. Academy for Children (Spiritual Formation) K-12 ................................ 10 a.m.

TUESDAY F.A.I.T.H. Academy for Adults (Spiritual Formation) - Office Complex ...... 10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Worship & Arts Ministry Rehearsals (Open Auditions) - Sanctuary .............................. 7 p.m.

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 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.

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

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

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

Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home COLLINS Funeral services for the late Minister Ora Lee Wilson Collins 74 were held Jan. 24 at St. Thomas Truth Tabernacle with Bishop John H. Burron, Sr officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central).

ENGLISH Funeral services for the late Bishop Lerony English – 88 were held Jan. 24 at Emmanuel House Of Prayer, Inc., with Elder Wilfred Gooden officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Central Cemetery.

McWhite's Funeral Home BURRELL Funeral services for the late Sophia Rosemarie Burrell - 47 were held Jan. 24 at Rivers of Living Water Deliverance Ministries, Inc., with Bishop Frank Eluett officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn North Memorial Gardens.

SUNDAY

"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.

HAYDEN Funeral services for the late Arthur George Hayden - 82 were held Jan. 24 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Clinton Eaton officiating.

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 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!

WORSHIP THIS AND EVERY SUNDAY AT THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE

“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

Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Senior Pastor

PASTOR

Faith United Church of Christ

Williams Memorial CME

HYLTON Funeral services for the late Freda C. Hylton – 80 were held Jan. 24 at McWhites Funeral Home. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home ALDRED Funeral services for the late Clematine Aldred - 93 were held Jan. 24 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Anthony Teasley officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

BREEDLOVE Funeral services for the late James Allen Breedlove, Sr. - 77 were held Jan. 24 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center Rev. Ricky Scott officiating.

JENKINS Funeral services for the late Ervin Jenkins 87 were held Jan. 24 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center with Pastor Emmanuel L. Jenkins officiating.

PENN Funeral services for the late Lucye Mae Catherine Williams Penn - 74 were held Jan. 24 at Golden Heights Church of God with Dr. W. F. Washington officiating.

Interment: Dania Westlawn Cemetery.

SEABROOKS Funeral services for the late Adell Smalls Seabrooks - 86 were held Jan. 24 at Roy Mizell and Kurtz Worship Center with Rev. Cyrus Pettis officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

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!”

Josephus Eggelletion, Sr., succumbs On Thursday evening, January 22, 2015, Mr. Josephus Eggelletion, Sr. passed away peacefully at his home in Oak Grove, Florida at 5 p.m. He was 91 years old.

Josephus was born on October 20, 1923 in Sneads, Florida where he was raised until age 17. He moved to Coconut Grove, Florida in 1940, where on December 20, 1943 he married Annie Lee Allen. They moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on August 13, 1955 and attended Piney Grove First Baptist Church.

“Mr. Joe” as he is best remembered, operated the 27th Avenue Barber shop from April 1, 1965 until he retired on October 9, 1989. He was a generous and kind barber who gave free haircuts to those with large families of little boys that he knew could not afford to pay him. He always had a piece of peppermint stick candy for the children. The community loved and respected him for his wisdom, kindness, and generosity.

After retiring, he and his wife settled in the dream home he built for her in the quiet Gadsden County community of Oak Grove. While living

EGGELLETION, SR. there, he attended Beulah Hill Baptist Church, where he was ordained into the ministry.

Josephus Eggelletion, Sr. leaves behind nine Children, 10 Grandchildren, seven Great Grandchildren, five nieces and three nephews along with their children, grandchildren and the many friends he had in South and North Florida.

His memorial service will be held in Gretna, Florida. He will be laid to rest in Oak Grove, Florida.

KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD

Wha e learn fr om Jesus hatt can w we from resisting tempta tion? temptation?

By Carey Kinsolving and friends “Satan tempted Jesus because he is mean and he does not like God,” says Drew, 6. “I was riding my bike, and the devil said, ‘Why don’t you call your mama a bad word?’ I almost did, but I thought about it and I didn’t.”

Isn’t that just like the devil to tempt you to call your mama a bad word? If you did it, he’d turn around and heap so much guilt on you that you wouldn’t be able to look your dear mom in the eye. Sin not only separates us from God, but it also builds barriers between people.

Drew said he “thought about it.” This is our first line of defense against temptation.

The Bible speaks of a spiritual war in which every thought must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ (II Corinthians 10:1-5). At times, our thoughts can be like enemy soldiers shooting at us.

Let’s see how Katie, 9, captures enemy thoughts: “I just quote Scripture, and say, ‘Katie, it’s not right. Don’t do it. The devil’s gonna try to wedge his way through, but just pray, Katie, and you can handle it.’ And God helps me through everything I do.”

Memorial Service for Mrs. Katie fights the battle Arbuary Jones Henry will against temptation with three be held on Monday, Febpowerful weapons: Scripture, ruary 2, 2015 at 11 a.m. at prayer and faith. After Jesus New Mount Olive Baptist fasted for 40 days, the devil tempted him to turn stones into Church, 400 N.W. Ninth bread.

Ave. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Arrangements by Mc(Read full story on White Funeral Home. www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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President Barack Obama Bush loaned his name and political expertise (contacts and so forth) to InnoVida, which never delivered on promises made, but saw its CEO Claudio Osorio land in federal prison serving more than 12 years for fraud and running a $500-million Ponzi Scheme.

“Tonight, President Obama delivered an inspiring plan that puts the foundation of this country first - working families,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, Dem., District 24.

“At this critical time, with an improving economy and increased job growth, the stage is set for real change for our nation. We must do our part to restore ability for American families to own homes, secure well paying jobs and pay taxes,” added Wilson.

“The President has made remarkable progress over the last six years, reviving a struggling economy, including 58 consecutive months of private sector growth.”

That appears to be the exact opposite of what Republicans have been doing, as evidenced by what became public about Jeb Bush’s activities. When Scott’s first Lt. Gov., Jennifer Carroll, was exposed as a consultant for a questionable Veterans Charitable Organization, she was forced to resign.

Carroll, of course, is a Black American, the first such female to be elected Florida’s Lt. Gov. Bush, of course, is Anglo, in a well connected political family.

All that leaves tons of room for speculation about Bush, about Republicans and the American voter.

“The President talked a good game. It doesn’t matter. The Senate and House have a majority of Republicans and they’re about exercising their power,” said Yani Andre, who immigrated with her parents from her native Haiti to Chicago when she was 10-yearsold.

“They invited the leader of Israel without approval and undermining his Iran talks ‘cause they don’t want him to have any additional success before he leaves office.”

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It was President Barack Obama’s next to last State of the Union Address (SOTU).

As expected, Democrats applauded while most Republicans showed stoic faces and disapproval.

Perhaps, the disagreement among Republicans was just another publicity ploy for the Iowa Caucus that soon followed, hosting six Republican Presidential Nominee hopefuls.

“Yes,” replied Janet Saunders, a Miami resident, when asked did she see President Obama’s speech. “My President called them out and slapped them over the head.”

Could have been just that when President Obama told the people whether they like or agreed with his plans, they could work together on things they agree with.

Such an invitation challenges even the most hateful and disagreeable politician and citizen to get busy in a positive direction rather than persist with destructive efforts. A definite unmasking of evil intents, circumspect agenda.

“I saw excerpts of it (SOTU Address), said Bishop Victor T. Curry, senior pastor/teacher of New Birth Cathedral of Faith.

“I was in church, of course. Like any leader, the President has a powerful and prolific vision for the nation. The only problem is that both Houses of Congress are vision killers - Proverbs 29:18.”

Much of that point was obvious during the Address, in Republican assessments afterward, and during interviews of Republican Presidential hopefuls in Iowa. Even more so with the chain of events among Republicans since the Address.

Florida’s Junior Senator, Marco Rubio, the first Cuban American elected to the U.S. Senate, is hearing the voices saying, “Run, Rubio, run,” and there’s former two-term Republican Governor Jeb Bush. Bush is a Presidential son and Presidential brother. He became the first Republican to win two terms as Florida’s Governor.

Incumbent Governor Rick Scott is the second Republican to win two terms. But the hang up is the recent Miami Herald report citing Bush as being paid $15,000 a month as a consultant to InnoVida, a Miami startup that promised affordable housing.

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Part Two of a Two Part Series Software is at the heart of so many nonprofit functions. You can’t afford down time. And you don’t want to find out your new system won’t talk to an existing one after its up and running.

What’s a nonprofit leader to do? In search of guidance we Pearl and Mel Shaw talked with Janna Finch of Software Advice an online firm that reviews nonprofit technology.

Here’s her suggestion. “Many vendors have developed their products to integrate well with commonly used third-party software—especially accounting programs—so look for a list on their website or ask a sales rep. The vendor’s developers should also know which products integrate well, which integrate with some work and which don’t integrate at all. If the product you’re evaluating doesn’t work with the programs you need, you can choose to operate them independently, evaluate different software, or replace the software you’re currently using with something you know will work with the new software.”

It’s one thing to purchase software, it’s another to manage it.

Finch reminded us that the type of person a nonprofit needs to manage their technology “depends on the complexity of the system, your organization’s needs and whether or not the software is hosted on or off-site. Usually, the larger the organization, the more complex its IT requirements.”

Yet with hosted services such as software as a service (SaaS) smaller organizations don’t have to worry about updates and keeping the system up and running. They now have access to high quality software without the maintenance responsibilities.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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

CDTC receives over $168,000 from SMART Ride

Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center Team.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – On Jan. 10, Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) received its largest donation, $168,196, from the SMART (Southern Most AIDS) Ride 11 at a special ceremony held at Elan 16forty in Fort Lauderdale.

CDTC has participated in the SMART Ride, a two-day bike ride from Miami to Key West, for the past three years. The event supports Florida organizations dedicated to HIV/AIDS. CDTC is the only agency selected that serves children and families infected and affected

by HIV/AIDS. Over the past three years close to half a million dollars has been donated by the SMART

U. S. Department of Transportation selects U. S. Black Chambers, Inc. for Minority and Women-owned Small Business Resource Grant Partnership designed to help increase Small Business Bonding Education, Short-Term Lending, Women in Transportation Initiative WASHINGTON, D. C. — The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Community Economic Development Corporation (USBCCEDC) is proud to announce that it has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) as a Capital Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center.

USBC, along with the Native American Development Center, were chosen in an effort to further the mission of USDOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and increase its impact on the small business community.

Focusing on advocacy, access to capital, contracting and entrepreneur training, USBCCEDC was chosen based on an impressive background of as-

sisting minority business owners and developing strong stakeholder relationships.

As a Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC), USBC-CEDC will develop and manage two annual Bonding Education Programs, support eligible businesses through USDOT’s Short-Term Lending Program, and facilitate Women in Transportation Initiative, dedicated to placing college students in transportation internships during the summer.

These programs will pro-vide small minority women-owned businesses bond readiness training, access to capital lending options up to $750,000 for transportation specific projects, and hands on experience within the transportation industry.

“The USBC-CEDC will now have the ability to help more minority and women-owned businesses, including current members, gain more access to capital and secure contracts with USDOT,” said Ron Busby, Sr., President and CEO, of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., “We are proud to partner with the Department, and look forward to the Chambers and our members sustained growth over the next three years.”

USBC’s partnership with USDOT will increase awareness of resources, and financial assistance programs in the Capital region. For more information regarding SBTRCs near you, please contact the OSDBU Regional Assistance Division at (202) 366-1930 or visit www.dot.gov/osdbu.

Black History Month 2015

The SMART Ride raises funds and awareness for Florida agencies that support individuals infected, affected and at risk for HIV/AIDS. The SMART Ride guarantee is that 100 percent of the pledges raised by the riders will go to direct services for persons infected and affected by HIV/ AIDS. SMART Ride 11 raised a record breaking $1.15 million to support seven agencies. In the past 10 years, The SMART Ride has raised and distributed six million dollars to community agencies.

The CDTC is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 11,000 children with special healthcare needs in Broward County annually. As a facility of Broward Health, CDTC’s mission is to promote the optimal health and wellbeing of children with special healthcare needs by providing comprehensive prevention, intervention and treatment services within a medical home environment. CDTC is a nationally recognized center of excellence offering a unique system of care for infants, children and youth with chronic illnesses, disabilities and developmental delays.

'Give us our raises'and 'Stop the blame game' (Cont'd From FP) About the U.S. Black Chambers USBC is an association of over 115 self-sustaining, viable Black Chambers and small business associations nationwide whose collaboration with strategic partners increases our capacity to serve. We serve our members through our 5 pillars of service, Advocacy, Access to Capital, Contracting, Entrepreneurial Training, and Chamber Development.

Through the creation of resources and initiatives, we support African American Chambers of Commerce and business organizations in their work of developing and growing Black enterprises.

For more information about the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., please visit our website at www.usblackchamber.org

Disappointed that BTU did not sanction any rallies to boost negotiations efforts, and that BTU Leadership actually discouraged members from showing support for the rally she organized.

King is sending letters to union leaders in the hopes of getting the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) back in to run BTU. In fact, Janet Conner, an AFT representative was at BTU offices on January the 14 because members of the BTU Executive Board had made a motion to bring AFT back in to help the union in crisis.

However, instead of bringing support for Broward teachers, King, who has been attending all the Executive Board meetings held on the second Wednesday of the month, said the AFT representative seemed to be there to dissuade the BTU Board members. “It seemed like

“A union president that discourages the Constitution Rights to Assembly & Freedom of Association when fighting for wages & better working conditions,” Joan King stated. a scare tactic to me,” said King, “BTU needs a new leadership, and AFT needs to help, otherwise the teachers in Broward have no hope.”

With ‘no more campaigns to run,’ Obama refuses to back down (Con't from FP)

VITAS Celebrates a Century of Black Life, History and Culture

“

Ride to CDTC. These funds support the Center’s Comprehensive Family AIDS Program, which provides medical care and lab work for the uninsured, transportation to improve access to care, nutritional support, health education, and emergency assistance. At a time when federal and state grant funds are being reduced, this gift allows the Center to enhance its services to children, teenagers and women infected with HIV/AIDS in Broward County.

“Glen Weinzimer, John Rogatzki, and the members of the SMART Ride have had a tremendous impact on the services we are able to provide to families. We cannot thank them enough for the passion and dedication they have for helping those faced with this terrible disease in our community,” said Ana E. Calderon Randazzo, Ph.D., executive director of CDTC. “CDTC is incredibly grateful for the continued partnership with the SMART Ride. It has been a life changing experience for everyone involved,” said Marie Hayes, director of CDTC’s Comprehensive Family AIDS Program.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

”

—Maya Angelou

800.723.3233 VITAS.com For more information on VITAS in Broward County, please contact Deborah Mizell, community liaison, at 954.777.1824.

Though Obama did indeed win both times his name was on the ballot, Democrats suffered major losses in the 2014 midterm elections. Consequently, Republicans hold a 247-188 edge in the House. In the Senate, there are 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats and two Independents who usually vote with Democrats.

On Tuesday night, President Obama seemed to be setting the stage for 2016 when in addition to the White House; there will be a major battle for control of the Senate, where 25 Republicans will be up for re-election, compared to only 10 Democrats.

Though it will be difficult to get many of the proposals President Obama said will be in his budget when it is delivered to Capitol Hill in two weeks, he argued forcefully that his polices had worked, despite strident Republican opposition over the past six years.

“We are 15 years into this new century,” he began in his address to a joint session of Congress. “Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.

“But tonight, we turn the page. Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before. More of our people are

insured than ever before. And we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years.

“Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service.

“America, for all that we have endured; for all the grit and hard work required coming back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, knowing this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong.”

As has become customary during SOTU speeches, Democrats stood and applauded when Obama made a point that appealed to them while dourfaced Republicans remained seated. Unlike 2009 when Rep. Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, violated congressional decorum by shouting, “You lie,” Republicans were mostly polite, while making it clear they were not endorsing Obama’s vision for his final two years in Office.

Noticeably absent from the SOTU were three of the most conservative members of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. Thomas has called the event so partisan that it makes him feel uncomfortable. Scalia has dismissed it as a “childish spectacle” and Roberts has likened it to “a political pep rally.” In modern years, regardless of a court member’s

personal views, the robed justices have attended the yearly event, most of the time displaying no emotions.

Reviewing his accomplishments over the past six years, Obama boasted, “We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.

“We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about $750 at the pump.”

With Democrats applauding, Obama continued, “We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. More Americans finish college than ever before.

“We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayerfunded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices.

And in the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage.”

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

January 29 - February 4, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 9

Poor communities lose billions to predatory lenders

Payday lenders and pawn shops are more common in poor neighborhoods.

(Wikipedia Commons)

By Freddie Allen, NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – Predatory lenders continue to target poor, Black and Latino communities, siphoning off $103 billion in fees and interests every year, and the rest of us are paying for it, according to a recent report by United for a Fair Economy.

“This is more money lost in poor communities than the United States spends on domestic food aid annually,” the report said. “We as a society end up subsidizing that lost income (an average of $3,029 per affected household) through a social safety net that is already underfunded and overcapacity.”

In State of the Dream 2015: Underbanked and Overcharged, United for a Fair Economy (UFE), an independent research group that advocates for economic equality across race, gender and class lines, chronicled the disparities that continue to plague the banking industry.

Mike Leyba, the communications director at UFE and coauthor of the report said that systemic economic exclusion, largely based on race, has existed for hundreds of years in the United States.

The free labor of kidnapped and enslaved Africans enabled white male land owners and

the financial institutions that supported them to accumulate massive amounts of wealth over hundreds of years.

Following the Civil War, Jim Crow laws and “The Black Codes,” continued to deprive freed African slaves of economic opportunities for decades.

After World War II, the GI Bill provided white male veterans a pathway to college, professional careers and a boost into the middle class, a bridge that was closed to Black veterans who also fought and spilled blood overseas. Later, the Federal Housing Administration blocked Black families from moving into suburban neighborhoods, built with and partially funded by government subsidies.

“More than a quarter of all white families shifted from renting to owning in the 20 years following WWII,” stated the report. “Despite laws to the contrary, Black people were excluded from buying homes in white neighborhoods and were forced instead to live in urban ghettos.”

According to the UFE report, less than 1 percent of all mortgages from 1930 to 1960 were issued to Black people.

By 2013, the median wealth held by white families ($141,900), dwarfed the median wealth ($11,000) of Black families.

“As an estimated 80 percent of assets come from transfers from prior generations, the history of the financial situations of prior generations is a primary cause of the racial wealth gap,” stated the report.

Leyba said that economic exclusion, largely based on race still exists, but it’s much harder to pinpoint.

“It may not be legalized or sanctioned by the federal government,” said Leyba. “But it still exists.”

Economic exclusion continues to plague the banking sector, leaving 93 million Americans “unbanked” or “underbanked.”

“The unbanked are people that do not have any type of

In his new role, King will manage the agency’s major initiatives that include working to revise President George W. Bush’s 2002 “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) law.

King noted that, by some measures, student achievement has improved since NCLB updated the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), originally signed into law in 1965.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, high school graduation rates for Black students (measured as the average freshman graduation rates) increased from 59 percent in 2006 to 68 percent in 2012, compared to white students who saw their graduation rates rise from 80 percent to 85 percent over the same time period.

The 2014 study “Building a Grad Nation” reported that when researchers began analyzing the effects of “dropout factories,” defined as schools where less than 60 percent of the students were graduating, almost half of all Black students attended one of them. By 2012, the report said, the number of Black students attended one of those schools had been slashed in half to 23 percent.

King said ESEA is really a civil rights law that was intended to ensure equity for all students across the country and there is still a lot of work to do.

“One of the problems with the NCLB law is that it focused just on absolute performance,” said King. “What we’ve tried to do at the department with the ‘waiver process’ is to focus on growth.”

Through the waiver process, the Obama administration freed more than 30 states and Washington, D.C. from NCLB’s stringent testing requirements, which often faced sharp criticism from educators and

school administrators. Exempt school districts tracked the individual progress of students independent of how they ranked against other students on a standardized test.

More than a decade since NCLB was enacted, civil rights groups and Washington lawmakers are now focused on improving it.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, recently issued a draft proposal aimed at reforming NCLB. He suggested shifting more responsibility for designing programs that measure student achievement to state and local jurisdictions and also proposed limiting the Education Secretary’s ability to craft guidelines that direct instructional material, evaluation systems and “definitions of teacher, principal, or school leader effectiveness.”

While Senator Alexander’s proposal shifts responsibility for targeted funding for at-risk students and teacher evaluation tools back to the states, civil rights groups want more federal oversight.

Nearly 30 civil rights and education advocacy groups united to express their concerns about the reauthorization of the ESEA in a joint statement.

The coalition recommended that each state provide annual assessments for all students in the third grade through the eighth grade and high school and that targeted funding be used to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children in our nation’s schools including youth in juvenile and criminal justice system. The group also said that states should expand data collection and reporting to parents and the public on student achievement, course-completion and graduation rates.

Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban

contraction and consolidation in the financial sector following the Great Recession have placed traditional banks out of reach for millions of Americans.

AFSPs moved in to fill that void.

“Payday lenders are nearly eight times as concentrated in neighborhoods with the largest shares of Blacks and Latinos compared to white neighborhoods, draining nearly $247 million in fees per year from these communities,” the report said. “Even after controlling for income and a variety of other factors, payday lenders are 2.4 times more concentrated in Black and Latino communities.”

As local bank branches fade away, Leyba said, community businesses dry up.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette)

Missouri ranks #1 for Black homicide victimization State’s Black homicide victimization rate is far above national average, 87 percent of victims killed with guns WASHINGTON, D.C. — Missouri leads the nation in the rate of Black homicide victimization with a rate of 34.98 per 100,000, nearly two times the national Black homicide victimization rate and more than seven times the overall homicide rate nationwide, according to a new analysis by the Violence Policy Center (VPC).

The annual VPC study, Black Homicide Victimization in the United States: An Analysis of 2012 Homicide Data, ranks the states according to their Black homicide victimization rates. It is based on unpublished data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR). The study details homicide rates for 2012, the most recent year for which comprehensive national data is available.

This is the ninth year the VPC has released the study.

Missouri’s Black homicide victimization rate was the highest in the nation for four of the

New education official wants to reform NCLB (Cont'd from Page 3)

consumer checking account, and are outside the entire banking system,” the report explained.

“The underbanked are people that have a checking account, but also rely on Alternate Financial Service Providers (AFSP).”

According to the report more than 20 percent (20.5 percent) of Black households were unbanked in 2013, compared to 3.6 percent of white households.

Forty percent of Black households were full-banked compared to 75.4 percent of white households.

AFSPs include payday loans, auto title loans, rent-to-own shops, subprime credit cards, high-interest rate installment loans, check cashing, prepaid

reloadable debit cards, and money orders, the report said.

Researchers found that people shun traditional banks in favor of AFSPs for a number of reasons. Fifty-eight percent said that they didn’t have enough money to meet minimum balance requirements to keep an account open, while others (17 percent) said that past credit problems made it difficult for them to open new accounts.

In recent years, following the housing crisis banks, Chevy Chase Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America paid out multimillion dollar settlements in mortgage lending discrimination lawsuits involving Black and Latino borrowers.

But even if Black customers were able to meet the minimum requirements, had good credit and confidence in banks, the

League, said his organization is deeply opposed to Senator Alexander’s approach to reauthorize ESEA. “When President Johnson signed ESEA into law he said that the bill represented ‘the commitment of the federal government to quality and equality in the schooling we offer our young people,’” said Morial in a statement. “Yet, with this draft, Chairman Alexander moves our nation in the opposite direction and strikes at our most cherished civil rights principle: that every child has fair and equal access to a quality education regardless of family income, ZIP code, disability, language or race.”

Morial said that lawmakers must rewrite the bill and commit to strong federal oversight in education and equity in access to high quality instruction and resources for all students.

Morial continued: “This partisan bill, drafted with little input from civil rights partners, cannot be tweaked to meet the needs of the communities in which we serve. We believe that Chairman Alexander’s ESEA draft moves us backwards—it ignores equity, guts federal accountability and shifts resources away from children in most need.”

King echoed Morial’s concerns and said that the fear is that some of what has been proposed would be a step backwards from equity and opportunity.

“We know that for our kids, their best shot is if they have a high quality education that prepares them to be successful after they graduate from high school,” said King. “We have no future as a country if we don’t ensure that African American students get a high quality education, that Latino students get a high quality education, that our English language learners get a high quality education. Our future depends on ensuring that every student has the full range of opportunities.”

past five years.

In Missouri, there were 247 Black homicide victims in 2012, resulting in a homicide rate of 34.98 per 100,000. That year, the national Black homicide rate was 18.03 per 100,000, and the overall national homicide rate was 4.50 per 100,000.

For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 87 percent of the Black homicide victims in Missouri were shot and killed with guns. Nationwide, 84 percent of Black homicide victims were killed with guns.

The study warns: “The devastation homicide inflicts on Black teens and adults are a national crisis, yet it is all too often ignored outside of affected communities.”

“America’s gun violence epidemic affects everyone, but it has a disproportionate impact on Black men and women,” states VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. “Gun violence destroys lives, tears families apart, and traumatizes entire communities — and too many elected officials have ignored this ongoing crisis.

It is time for action.”

“With continuing dysfunction in Washington, we call on state legislators to address this national emergency,” says Cathie Whittenburg, communications director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence. “We cannot call ourselves a moral nation yet tolerate losing 6,565 Black men and women to homicide in one year.”

The 10 states with the highest Black homicide victimization rates in 2012 were: Rank State Black Homicide Rate Per 100,000 1 Missouri 34.98 2 Nebraska 34.93 3 Michigan 34.77 4 Pennsylvania 31.02 5 Louisiana 25.75 6 Indiana 25.48 7 Oklahoma 25.04 8 Wisconsin 24.38 9 California 23.25

10

Tennessee

22.40

For MISSOURI, the study finds that in 2012: · Of the 247 Black homicide victims, 207 were male and 40 were female. · Twenty-three Black homicide victims (9 percent) were less than 18 years old. The average age was 29 years old. · When the weapon used could be identified, 87 percent of the Black homicide victims (212 out of 243) were killed with guns. Of these, 53 percent (113 victims) were killed with handguns. · For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 73 percent of Black homicide victims (70 out of 96) were killed by someone they knew.

Twenty-six victims were killed by strangers. · For homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 58 percent (63 out of 109) were not related to the commission of any other felony.

Of these, 76 percent (48 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and the offender.

I double dog dare you (Cont'd from FP) Psalms 25:20-21: O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Righteousness and truthfulness are the two most imperative characteristics for a Christian to have. Respectability and truthfulness demonstrate what we trust, and how unswerving a walk we have with Jesus.

When a man/woman has an elevated degree of integrity they have a high level of real self-respect and genuine character. “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

Ephesians 4:24-25 (NASB) When we operate like Godly people clothed with honor and self-respect, we are doing as God would want us to do.

When we meet anyone they should be able to see God in our lifestyle. Leaving our sins behind daily and picking up Godly habits should be our focus.

We should act on God’s impulses not some dare created to test us.

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” Luke 4:12 (NASB) My dare to you is hold God accountable to His Word and what He said that He would do for you.

Let your fear subside and approach Your Heavenly Father and fervently ask Him for what you need-I double dog dare you.

“Dear God I dare not, not to trust and depend on You. For without you I am nothing, but with you I can do all things.

Amen” GOD’S ONLY DARE IS TO TRUST HIM!

For the entire UNITED STATES, the study finds that in 2012: · There were 6,565 Black homicide victims in the United States. Blacks represented 13 percent of the nation’s population, yet accounted for 50 percent of all homicide victims. · The Black homicide victimization rate in the United States was 18.03 per 100,000.

In comparison, the overall national homicide victimization rate was 4.50 per 100,000. For whites, the national homicide victimization rate was 2.65 per 100,000. · Of the 6,565 Black homicide victims, 5,708 were male, 856 were female, and onwwas of unknown gender. The homicide rate for black male victims was 32.78 per 100,000.

The homi-cide rate for female Black victims was 4.51 per 100,000. · For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 84 percent of Black victims (5,276 out of 6,289) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 76 percent (4,015 victims) were killed with handguns. · For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 70 percent of Black victims (2,075 out of 2,946) were killed by someone they knew. The number of victims killed by strangers was 871. · For homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 69 percent (2,747 out of 3,954) were not related to the commission of any other felony.

Of these, 52 percent (1,427 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and the offender.

The study calculates Black homicide victimization rates by dividing the number of Black homicide victims by the Black population, and multiplying the result by 100,000. This is the standard and accepted method of comparing fatal levels of gun violence.

The full study is available at http://www.vpc.org/studies/ blackhomicide15.pdf.

The Violence Policy Center (www.vpc.org) is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury.

Follow the Violence Policy Center on Facebook and follow @VPCinfo on Twitter.

States United to Prevent Gun V i o l e n c e (www.CeasefireUSA.org) is a national non-profit or-ganization working to support statebased gun violence prevention groups and help build new state-led organizations. States United believes that all Americans deserve to live in a country free from the fear, threat, and devastation caused by gun vio-

Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 29 - February 4, 2015

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

Legend Ernie Banks dead at 83

(Cont'd from FP) “Somewhere, the sun is shining, the air is fresh, his team’s behind him and Mr. Class – ‘Mr. Cub’ – is ready to play two.”

“He was one of the great crossover baseball players of his day,” The Rev. Jesse Jackson said. “His personality was a racial bridge builder. He treated all people with dignity and respect. He never stopped reaching out to bridge the racial chasms.”

“Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I’ve ever known.”

“Approachable, ever opti-

mistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie’s life in the days ahead.”

Banks’ infectious smile and non-stop good humor despite his team’s dismal record endeared him to Chicago fans, who voted him the best player in franchise history. One famous admirer, Saturday Night Live star Bill Murray, named his son Homer Banks Murray.

Banks won’t live to see the next World Series flag atop Wrigley Field, which hasn’t been home to a world champion since 1908.

But his career - and life spanned countless historic checkpoints in the game.

Banks was playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues when the Cubs discovered him and purchased his contract for $10,000. He made his major league debut at shortstop on Sept. 17, 1953, just six years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.

The Cubs’ futility - they produced just one winning season in his first 14 years with the club - scarcely overshadowed his mammoth accomplishments

Ebony Magazine is selling one of its most valuable assets in order to survive

By Ashley Naples Ebony Magazine, owned by the Johnson Publishing Company, is one of the most storied and respected media outlets in the country. The publishing industry has come upon hard times, and companies are struggling to survive. Johnson is one of the last holdouts in an industry where many black companies are selling themselves for the protection of a large corporate white knight.

But the struggle hasn’t been easy.

LEGAL NOTICES 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.

Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 2015 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO: FMCE 14-013703 DIVISION: 37 KEVIN WINT, Petitioner and VIOLETTE WILLIAMS, Respondent

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: VIOLETTE WILLIAMS {Respondent’s last known address} Address/Residence Unknown 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 KEVIN WINT, c/o DEBORAH PINO ESQ, whose address is 2701 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 410-15, Oakland Park, Florida 33311 on or before February 2, 2015, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 201 Southeast Sixth Street, 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 December 17, 2014 HOWARD C. FORMAN, Clerk of the Circuit Court Jasmine Shivers, Deputy Clerk Jan. 15, 22, 29, Feb. 2, 2015

Johnson has announced that it is seeking to raise $40 million in much-needed capital in order to continue its operations. The company is selling five million pictures that have been taken by the magazine since its inception, an archive that is considered priceless for the African American community.

Over the last 70 years, the company has become a recording mechanism for many of the biggest moments in Black history, including the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Sammy Davis Jr. and many others. The collection has been appraised and Johnson Publishing is now looking for its buyer.

“It’s just sitting here,” said Johnson Publishing CEO Desiree Rogers. “We really need to monetize that in order to ensure growth in our core businesses.”

Ebony was founded in 1945.

One of its most valuable photos is the one of Coretta Scott King standing with her daughter Bernice at the casket of their father, Martin Luther King Jr. at his funeral in 1968. The image won a Pulitzer prize for Moneta Sleet Jr. the first African American to receive such an award.

“This is an incredibly important archive.” said Mark Lubell, executive director of New York’s International Center of Photography. “It is the definition of the African American experience in the latter half of the 20th century, and it’s an amazing, valuable asset.”

SUPPORT THE BLACK PRESS, IT'S THE VOICE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. CALL FOR YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! (954) 525-1489

on the field and his undeniable charisma off it.

By 1969, expansion and divisional play came to baseball and the Cubs nearly capitalized, winning 92 games and holding a five-game lead on Sept. 3. But they promptly lost eight consecutive games and 17 of 25 in September, and so went Banks’ best chance to play for a pennant winner.

He retired at the age of 40, in 1971, with no shortage of resounding achievements. From 1955-1960, Banks hit at least 41 home runs in five of six seasons, all of them coming at shortstop before a move to first base in 1962. He had a lifetime .500 slugging percentage, and

NEW IMPROVED ELKS LODGE - 652 Special Treat For The Ladies on FRIDAYS

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Banks 2,583 hits.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

We Invite the Community to Come and Support Your Community Lodge 712 N.W. 2 St., Ft. Laud., FL 33311 (954) 463-7474

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

January 29 - February 4, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11

BECON-TV announces fifth season of School Duel—South Florida’s first academic quiz show From Noel Hyatt and Jim Guarasci FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — BECON-TV (Broward Education Communications

Network) WBEC-TV a nonprofit, noncommercial television station owned and operated by the School Board of Broward County, announced the 20

participating teams and broadcast schedule for the fifth season of School Duel, presented by Chick-fil-A and BrightStar Credit Union. School Duel is de-

AT&T surprises 25 Foster Care students with Samsung Tablets Skills-To-Go Program focuses on preparing young adults for college and careers

Malita Gabriel and Karl Blanco, AT&T. BROWARD/PALM BEACH COUNTY – AT&T Aspire, an initiative focused on raising high school graduation rates and preparing students for college and careers, partnered with the Department of Children & Families (DCF) and ChildNet, the community-based care lead agency in Broward and Palm Beach counties, to surprise 25 students in foster care with Samsung tablets. The students, ages 18-22, have been recognized for their hard work,

determination and perseverance despite life’s setbacks.

AT&T and ChildNet’s understanding of the importance of education in a young person’s success has provided abused, abandoned and neglected children in Broward and Palm Beach County access to tools and programs that will help them graduate and pursue their career aspirations.

“These students have made great progress in both their studies and their commitment to

pursuing a better future,” said Elizabeth Wynter, director of community relations at ChildNet. “We are incredibly grateful for the contributions AT&T has made to help support our community’s most vulnerable population. The tablets and the Skills-To-Go workshops have helped these students prepare for interviews, create and update their résumés and fill out job applications.”

The AT&T Skills-To-Go program has been successful in introducing youth to career opportunities in the technology and telecommunications fields.

During the workshop, AT&T Pioneers, a group of current and retired AT&T executives, staff and volunteers dedicated to community service, surprised the students with the tablets and also encouraged to fill out and submit applications for any current AT&T openings they were interested in.

The contribution from Samsung is in conjunction with its Samsung Hope for Children corporate giving program. The program, which focuses on children’s education, helps to create possibilities for children through financial and technology resources.

As the single private nonprofit entity responsible for administration of the local child welfare system, ChildNet brings years of dedication to protecting abused, abandoned and neglected children in the communities it serves.

Disney Dreamers Academy selects 100 students for 2015 program Local Dreamers selected from nearly 10,000 applicants at eighthannual career and mentoring event in March

STUDENTS FROM FLORIDA -- Alec Estrill, Dandre Ragin, Danyscia Jarvis, Jelani Herrington and Keno Tate.

STUDENTS FROM FLORIDA -- Lionel Wright, Regina Carson, Roniesha Alexander and Shanese Campbell.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – Walt Disney World Resort has announced the 100 high school students selected for the 2015 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine, March 5-8. The teens, along with a parent or guardian, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort, where they will take part in a once-in-a-lifetime educational and mentoring program designed to inspire them to dream big, discover a world of possibilities and prepare for their future.

In the magical setting of Walt Disney World Resort, participants – also identified as “Dreamers” – learn important skills such as communication techniques and networking strategies, build confidence and

create fun memories to cherish for a lifetime.

During Disney Dreamers Academy, the Walt Disney World theme parks become vibrant “classrooms,” where Dreamers participate in handson, full-immersion workshops led by industry experts. Covering a bevy of career paths, ranging from animation to zoology, the workshops do more than expose students to a career choice; they bring to life an opportunity that otherwise might seem distant or impossible.

Each year, motivational speakers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, executives and Disney cast members gather at Disney Dreamers Academy to share their stories and provide insight on charting a positive course and achievement.

“Year after year, Disney Dreamers Academy continues to help students dream big and achieve those dreams,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Vice President of Deluxe Resorts and Disney Dreamers Academy Executive Champion Tracey D. Powell. “Entering our eighth year, it is rewarding to hear the success stories of past Dreamers and how the program has inspired them. From starting their own businesses to travelling the world helping others, to serving as inspirational speakers, our Dreamers have already had tremendous success in impacting the world.

Once again, we look forward to welcoming yet another group of amazing teens.”

Walt Disney World Resort, along with Steve Harvey, syndicated television and radio personality, and Essence Magazine, will host the selected Dreamers during their four-day power packed career and educational exploration.

Harvey, speaking on the program, says, “Disney Dreamers Academy gives hope and inspiration, and exposes youth to a world of possibilities. We are excited about another opportunity to transform lives and give students an inside look at what their future can hold.”

School Duel signed to reward and showcase intellectual talent in South Florida’s high schools, as well as serving as a positive educational tool for students.

The 19-show series features 20 high schools from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Over 50 local high schools competed in an online test to be part of the “televised” tournament. The four-person teams will compete in a single elimination tournament to determine South Florida’s School Duel champion.

Last season’s champions were Chaminade-Madonna High located in Broward County.

The 2015 high schools participating in the televised rounds include returning champion Chaminade-Madonna High and runner up Cypress Bay, along with Broward entries Somerset Academy, Stoneman Douglas, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Cooper City, Miramar, West Broward, Coral Glades and Western.

The Miami-Dade contingents are Westminster Christian, Archimedean Upper Conservatory, School for Advanced Studies and Ransom Ever-

glades. The Palm Beach County participating schools are Spanish River, Suncoast, West Boca Raton and Wellington.

The fifth season of School Duel airs every Thursday at 7 p.m. on BECON-TV. Repeat airings take place on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The Championship match airs on Thursday, June 5, 2015.

BECON-TV reaches homes throughout Broward, MiamiDade and Palm Beach counties on Comcast and Advanced Cable (channel 19), DirecTV, DISH Network and AT&T UVerse (channel 63). BECONTV reaches a potential audience of over 5.5 million people across the tricounty area.

The entire season will be rebroadcast, in chronological order, during the summer and the following fall in preparation for next season’s show.

This season, the players on the winning team will each receive $1,000 from Chick-fil-A and BrightStar Credit Union, a championship trophy from EDCO Awards and Specialties, gift certificates and much more.

The 2015 season of School Duel is also supported by parti-

cipating sponsors; Flashback Diner, Museum of Discovery & Science, International Fishing Hall of Fame, McFatter Technical College and Schakolad Chocolate Factory. The School Duel web site, (www.schoolduel.tv), powered

by BrightStar Credit Union, allows viewers the chance to vote for their favorite players, compete in online contests, win prizes and much more.

BECON-TV (WBEC) is a broadcast television station licensed by the FCC to provide noncommercial educational programming to the South Florida community. For more information on BECON classroom and community programming, visit (www.becon.tv) and for more information on School Duel, visit (www.schoolduel.tv) or call 1-877-TV-BECON. You can become a fan of BECON-TV on Facebook, watch BECON-TV on YouTube and follow us on Twitter.

YOU HAVE READ THE REST, NOW READ THE BEST -WESTSIDE GAZETTE

Page 12 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 29 - February 4, 2015

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

Black environmental leaders eager to bring our community up to speed

Diverse Environmental Leaders (DEL) National Speakers Bureau.

As Black Americans, we are way behind the curve on environmental issues – what they are; how they affect us, and what we must do to address them. We are seldom shown as experts on the national news in conversations about climate change, environmental protection or the green economy.

Our estrangement from this sector will work to our detriment, as the Congressional Black Caucus warned in their 2004 report, African Americans & Climate Change: An Unequal Burden.

To bring our communities up to speed, the Diverse Environmental Leaders (DEL) National Speakers Bureau has brought together some of the most experienced and knowledgeable Black environmental experts in the country. Leaders from Congress, business, civic and community organizations now have an easy way to find the expertise they need in order to make sound decisions, as the environment is increasingly affecting business and every aspect of life.

DEL is the brainchild of Frank and Audrey Peterman, national award-winning Black

environmentalists who have been among a small minority working in this field over the past 20 years. The Bureau includes experts that can help communities improve their health and economy through green technologies; Black leaders from the Sea Islands off the Carolinas that are already adapting to climate change, and young millennials who are leading their peers back to Nature and teaching them to pursue a healthful lifestyle. Being intimately involved with the needs of their communities, DEL speakers’ are able to offer guidance and solutions that match communities with available resources.

BEFORE PLANNING YOUR NEXT MEETING OR EVENT, CONSIDER CHOOSING A DEL SPEAKER TO HELP BRING YOUR AUDIENCE UP TO SPEED ON URGENT, IMPORTANT, EXCITING ISSUES! Let Majora Carter show you how the Environment can Change Your Economy The MacArthur Genius Award Winner and urban re-

vitalization strategist transformed her trash-burdened South Bronx neighborhood into an environmental showcase including a riverside park, while providing jobs for community members. The founder and CEO of the Majora Carter Group serves on the board of the Andrew Goodman Foundation and consults with corporations and cities around the country.

Queen Quet – Get Caught up on Climate Change & How Blacks are Adapting When you think of the Gullah Geechee on the Low Country Sea Islands, you probably think of shrimp and grits, cultural festivals and basket making. But as they are located in the Atlantic Ocean, the Sea Islands are already experiencing the effects of climate change and rising sea levels eating away at their land. The Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, Queen Quet is the emissary taking the plight of her people to the world while leading efforts to adapt on the islands.

Dorien Blythers – Orienting Youth to Careers in

Conservation Many young people in our communities are missing out on the career opportunities in the environmental and conservation sector. Dorien Blythers parlayed his interest in the environment into a career that includes working with Congress, People for the American Way, The Outdoor Foundation, Sierra Club, U.S. Green Building Council and The White House.

This dynamic young leader is a strong role model and motivator for young people to look at an increasing growth sector where our numbers are under-represented.

Great Inspiration!

Many DEL Speakers have achieved incredible feats of daring and persistence on the world stage. As Keynote Speakers at your event they can rekindle excitement in your audience and inspire them to strive toward their own goals. From sailing solo around the globe to climbing four of the world’s seven highest mountains, they are also authors and social scientists on the cutting edge of change in our country.

Captain Bill Pinkney – What Does it Take to Reach your Most Extravagant Goals?

At the age of 50, Bill Pinkney left his job as a marketing executive to sail solo around the globe. On his 47-foot sailboat he traveled 27,000 miles via the most challenging Southern Route, arriving back in Boston 22 months later. Alone in the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean, Captain Pinkney recalls nights when he was enveloped in the canopy of stars above reflected in the water below, so beautiful and poignant that it was hard for him to tell what was up and what was down. He is a leader in the movement to connect all people to the protection of our oceans and our planetary home.

Stephen Shobe – Striving for the Pinnacles of Earth Stephen Shobe is the managing director of Pioneer Climbing Expedition (PCE), whose goal is to be the first African-American team to climb all Seven Summits – the highest mountain on each of our seven continents. Having already reached the summit on seven continents, in 2013 the 57-yearold leader narrowly missed the summit of North America when catastrophic weather stopped the team just 700 feet from the top of 20,320-foot high Mount Denali in Alaska. Shobe is a role model who inspires people around the globe and particularly young Black people in urban America to strive and reach their goals.

Carolyn Finney, Ph.D. – Why are Black People Afraid of the Great Outdoors?

After backpacking around the world and living for years in Africa and Asia, Carolyn Finney returned to the US with a burning desire to understand the relationship between African Americans and our forests, parks and wilderness areas.

Although these areas are sought after by millions of white Americans and foreign tourists each year, Blacks are virtually shut out of the opportunities including billions of federal dollars invested in managing them.

The UC Berkley professor’s new book, Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Land is the definitive work providing answers.

Frank & Audrey Peterman – Building a Heritage Tourism Business in the National Parks The predominant image of Blacks in America is as enslaved people doing chattel service on southern plantations. But in the National Park System that protects the places where history was made, Audrey and Frank Peterman can show the legendary contributions of Black men and women from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights Movement.

From Boston African American Historical Park which commemorates the spot where Crispus Attucks was shot dead in the opening volleys of the Revolutionary War, to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California where the Buffalo Soldiers protected Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, to the shores of South Florida where Black Sir Lancelot Jones sold his island to the National Park Service to create Biscayne National Park, the Petermans will hold your audience in rapt attention with the incredible legacy that has been left for us.

Choose one or both of the Petermans to Keynote your next event.

This is the opportune time for the Black community to get more involved with the enjoyment and protection of our environment. Contact DEL Speakers at www.delnsb.com, Audrey@legacyontheland.com, (404) 432-2839.