The Westside Gazette

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This 11 Y ear Old Year College Freshman Is Studying Quantum Physics PAGE 2

In America Slaver Slaveryy and Jim Crow Was Justice In The Name of Christ PAGE 6

Record-Level Of Criminal Exonerations PAGE 9

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Dr. Bernice A. King brings more than five generations together I’ve been sentenced to life!

“We, the people, got to wake up the people” — Bernice King.

By Maria C. Montanez, Student intern, FMU LAUDERHILL, FL— On Feb. 7, 2015, celebrating the legacy of the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his daughter Bernice A. King stepped on stage at the Screen Post Ballroom to remind all of those who attended that the dream hasn’t been met.

With the help of Lauderhill City Commission, the MLK Task Force Committee and sponsorships, the 15th annual Dr. Mar-

tin Luther King, Jr. Black History Month Celebration was made possible.

We were able to hear from the offspring of an American icon and it was also possible to raise some funds that will go towards scholarships for high school students.

Commissioner Margaret Bates described this speech as “inspiring, challenging” and agreed with Dr. Bernice King that “knowing the dream hasn’t been met, it is still there” we have to work all together to see a change.

During the speech, Dr. King addressed two main points in what she assured is the issue that our society has not been able to fix. “It was not merely a racial issue, but also an economic issue” referring to Ferguson’s events.

Beyond the discrimination we still see in our society, Dr. King believes there is an “economic injustice”. “Inequality is affecting people to be able to mobilize. Along with this, Dr. King emphasized that idea that “there is still an ongoing freedom struggle.”

With an immense force in her voice, she reminded the audience that this and future generations cannot take steps backwards on what her father and other leaders have been trying to accomplish for an “advancement of our society.”

“The U.S Supreme Court has been taking actions in order to undermine the name of Civil and Human rights and the Fair Housing Act. The U.S Supreme Court is now dismantling some of the accomplishments from the movement,” Dr. Bernice King stressed to the audience.

After Dr. King finished her session of autographing her new book, Hard Questions, Heart Answers, Dr. King spoke about how the Millennials and future generations should act in order to witness and be part of the change we are looking for in our society.

Having a strategy and prioritizing one by one the issues we really need to work on is what Dr. King proposes. Thus, she encourages and believes that “every generation has to understand its responsibilities to make some sacrifices, to bring about change”.

As the founder of ‘Be a King’, Dr. King has been working to find leaders in order to have what she calls a society with “KINGdom mindset and a beloved community.”

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But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:5 (NASV)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. As humans, most of us hope to grow up and become outstanding people in our own homes, our churches and our communities; respectable and someone who others look up to. However, our journeys to reach that personification can be as different as there are grains of sand and as assorted as rain drops.

No matter the difficulty, the length of time or our status, with the help or involvement and influence of others, one can fall from respectability faster than tachyons move (tachyon is a particle that always moves faster than light. The word comes from the Greek tachys, meaning swift, quick, fast, rapid).

Perhaps the height and complications associated with failure from the ‘fall from grace’, if you will, that causes most of us to fear stepping into leadership roles, especially in the church; keeps one in the pews and not in the service of the church.

With essential and ordained positions in the church, one must approach this servitude with honesty, sincerity and a commitment to serve others.

It is a sentence to life meted out in the court of your integrity.

Allow me to tell you of a personal court appearance in which this person has been sentenced to life.

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Once, same-sex couples couldn’t wed; now, We did it! Dillard High School cheerleaders State champions Team was comprised of 29 girls;26 competed some employers say they must lumbia, some employers that formerly covered domestic partners

By Julie Appleby Until recently, same-sex couples could not legally marry. Now, some are finding they must wed if they want to keep their partner’s jobbased health insurance and other benefits.

With same-sex marriage now legal in 35 states and the District of Co-

say they will require marriage licenses for work-

ers who want those perks.

“We’re bringing our benefits in line, making them consistent with what we do for everyone else,” said Ray McConville, a spokesman for Verizon, which notified non-union employees in July that domestic partners in states where same-sex marriage is legal must wed if they want to qualify for such benefits.

Employers making the changes say that since couples now have the legal right to marry, they no longer need to provide an alternative. Such rule changes could also apply to opposite-sex partners covered under domestic partner arrangements.

“The biggest question is: Will companies get rid of benefit programs for unmarried partners?” said Todd Solomon, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago.

(Cont'd on Page 9)

Police killings underscore need for reform

Eric Garner and Michael Brown

By Freddie Allen, NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Blacks and Latinos are incar-

cerated at disproportionately higher rates in part because police target them for minor crimes, according to a report titled, “Black Lives Matter:

Pleading Our Own Cause

Eliminating Racial Inequity in the Criminal Justice System” by the Sentencing Project, a national, nonprofit group that advocates for criminal justice issues.

Researchers said disparities are punitive and can turn deadly over minor violations.

For example, Eric Garner, 43, was stopped and accused of selling untaxed cigarettes, a misdemeanor, before Officer Daniel Pantaleo choked him to death on a sidewalk of a Staten Island neighborhood.

Officer Darren Wilson stopped 19-year-old Ferguson resident Michael Brown for jaywalking, before a disputed confrontation led to Wilson fatally shooting Brown.

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Dillard High School cheerleaders, State champions.

By Torri P. Telfair In our second year as coaches of the Dillard High School cheerleaders, we did it, we are State Champions.

Last year we ranked third in the State and that placement made us very hungry and eager to become champions. We had very hard practices and long hours trying to execute our routine.

We started the season off by winning all four of the local mini school district cheer competitions. With each victory and our mounting success, we became the one of top contenders

to beat.

Searching for a way to encourage ourselves to reach our full potential we prayed at the beginning of each and every practice and ended with prayer every practice.

Coming into the Broward County Athletic Association Competition, we were favored to win, but we came up short when our All-Star cheerleader Asya Mills suffered a major injury. She tore ligaments and had a hairline fracture but kept going and completed the entire routine in severe pain. That’s the type of athletes we have on our team. She was recognized

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for her sportsmanship and strength.

The girls were eager to bounce back to the top.

Next was the big Regional Competition which was held at our own home in the Dillard Panthers’ gym.

It was very important for us to have a great performance, because we had to qualify to make it to Florida High School Athletic Association (State Competition).

Again we fell short, placing third and not making it to the wild card position.

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Page 2 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

Rape’s other victims

By Jazelle Hunt, NNPA Washington Correspondent (Second in a Series) WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – The first time Tiffany Perry learned about her conception, she was too innocent to

fully understand the gentle explanation her mother was offering, too young to process such a heavy and complicated behavior.

What she distinctly remembers is watching Oprah with her mom a few years later, as a 10-year-old. It was the tele-

This 11-year-old college freshman is studying Quantum Physics

Huey-You was accepted to Texas Christian University.

In this day and age, 11-yearolds don’t usually go to college. But it’s those who break the rules that get the most recognition.

Carson Huey-You is amazing and brilliant. The young prodigy was accepted to Texas Christian University at the age of 10, where he chose to study the difficult field of Quantum Physics. In case you’ve never heard of Quantum Physics, it is defined as: The study of the behavior of matter and energy at the molecular, atomic, nuclear, and even smaller microscopic levels.

The young student speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently, and got 1770 on his SAT. He is also a very good piano player, among other things. He was so

young that he wasn’t able to actually apply to the school online. It turns out that the software would not allow applicants to state that they were born in the year 2002.

The child is expected to be a college graduate by the age of 16, which would make him a year younger than the youngest graduate the school has ever had.

“I’m taking calculus, physics, history and religion. Those are my four classes,” Huey-You told CBS DFW. This is not the first time that young Carson showed such promise. He was reading by the age of one and doing pre-algebra by the age of five, according to his parents.

“He’s definitely very talented

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vision episode in which Oprah revealed to the world that she was a rape survivor.

“When [Oprah] said herself, and started crying… my mom just fell apart,” the 39-year-old Jersey City, N.J. native recounted. “I tried to console her, but she was inconsolable. It was just so intense.”

At 15 years old, Perry’s mother was raped by her foster mother’s 21-year-old married son. His wife had invited Perry’s and also he’s very serious about his work and he really enjoys it. And that’s the best that a professor can hope for his students, right?” Associate math professor Qao Zhang said to CBS DFW. Carson says that his first week of college was “overwhelming, but exciting and fun.”

In the spirit of family learning and growth, Carson’s mother expects to join him on campus to get an education of her own. Claretta Huey-You says that she herself is planning on going back to school to study nursing. Additionally, his brother is expected to finish high school by the age of 13.

This is what greatness looks like. Genetics are important in the quest to create outstanding children, but environment matters just as much or even more.

In an environment where genius is nurtured and developed, children can go on to do great things. If the opposite is true, it may stifle the child’s development.

There is rarely any investment greater and more important than your children. The investment isn’t only financial; it’s also an investment of time and love. In fact, loving your child, spending time with them and constructing a vision for their future is like aiming an airplane that will soon operate on autopilot. If you program the targeting mechanism early in the process, it will continue flying in that direction; long after you’ve left the situation.

This is how children tend to operate.

Aim your children for the top, and that is what they will give you. You are the captain of their destiny.

Tiffany Perry, a child of rape, says that there are no services targeted to people conceived through sexual assault.

(Photo by Tiffany Perry)

mother into their home to babysit their child and to escape her foster mother’s wrath.

Her foster brother raped her repeatedly for two weeks, sometimes at knifepoint. Despite being a virgin at the time and under the care of the state, few people bothered to inquire about the details of the pregnancy.

Plus, the fact that he had threatened to kill her, kept Perry’s mother silent.

“Maybe, as a Black person, they just saw this as another teenage pregnancy, and nobody really asked any questions,” Perry said, trying to explain the unexplainable. “I can’t say with certainty… but I’m thinking that if she was white in a foster home and her belly started to grow, then maybe a

flag would’ve went up somewhere and somebody would’ve investigated more as to why this foster child is pregnant.”

In subsequent years, freed by the Oprah episode, Perry’s mother became more forthcoming.

“As I grew up, she told me more details of the attack. It was like she had been carrying this around the whole time.”

But opening that door triggered another set of emotions in Perry.

“I went through different feelings of inadequacy, feeling like I had to overcompensate because I was a child of a rape.

Even now, when I say the word ‘inadequate,’ I get choked up,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Hastings recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- Recently, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement marking National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which was first observed in 1999: “Today I join millions of Americans in marking National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). While substantial gains have been made in the development of treatments designed to enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS and toward eradicating the disease, much work remains to be done. We must all do our part to create awareness of prevention, new treatment initiatives and support programs so that this disease does not continue to decimate our communities.

“In the United States today, more than 1.2 million people live with HIV/AIDS with almost 14 percent (one in seven) unaware that they are carriers of the potentially fatal infection.

Of those individuals with the disease, the African American

community is the hardest hit by the HIV epidemic, with gay African American males at highest risk. It is precisely for these reasons that observing NBHAAD is so important.

“This year’s theme, ‘I am my Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper.

Fight HIV/AIDS!’ reiterates the notion that we are all responsible for the future and health of our neighbors and our communities. While NBHAAD emerged as a grass roots initiative, hundreds of organizations now participate in advancing the cause and many have registered events to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. The core message of these events is the need for HIV testing, which is crucial to early detection of this disease.

“Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have remained as a staunch advocate for the HIV/ AIDS community and a member of the Congressional HIV/ AIDS Caucus. I will continue to support robust funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program, Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, and National AIDS Strategy, as well as HIV/AIDS research. I will continue to work to ensure that these successful programs are funded and that they remain adaptive to the changing geography and demographics of this disease.”

Beverly M. Williams appointed to National League of Cities Human Development Steering Committee

WILLIAMS WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beverly M. Williams, vice mayor, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2015 Human Development

Congratulations to Deborah Mizell, for being been chosen as one of the women in the City of Lauderhill to be the recipient of the Lauderhill Tribute to Women’s History Month. In celebrating this accomplishment, a presentation ceremony will be held on Monday, March 9, 2015 at the Lauderhill Annex, 3300 Inverrary Blvd. at the Lauderhill City Commission meeting in the City Hall Commission Chambers at 7 p.m.

Steering Committee. This committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions on issues involving social services, children and learning, poverty and income support, employment and workforce development, equal opportunity, Social Security and seniors, individuals with disabilities, public health care, mental health parity and immigration reform.

The appointment was announced by NLC President Ralph E. Becker, mayor, Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I am humbled to accept this appointment to the steering committee. As a member of this committee, I will work to fulfill my campaign promise to bring additional services to my great city through best practice developed by the NLC. This appoint-

ment will allow me to better serve my community.”

As a member of the committee, Williams will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the Administration and at home.

The chair of this year’s Human Development Committee is Vicki Welch, Council member, Louisville, Ky. Serving as this year’s vice chairs are Mia Gregerson, Mayor, SeaTac, Wash. and William Bell, Sr., mayor, Birmingham, Ala. For more information on NLC’s other committees and councils, visit http:// www.nlc.org/influencefederal-policy/policycommittees.

Please allow me the pleasure of introducing you to a pretty incredible nine-year-old young man. His name is John Sumter and he is one of the youngest competitors featured on the Lifetime Network show Child Genius. John is the youngest member of Mensa in our region; he has been recognized by Johns Hopkins University for being a part of their gifted & talented program. John enjoys playing piano and swimming; he is also a red belt in karate. He also enjoys reading and started reading at age two.

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February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 3

In Florida consumers qualify for an average tax credit of $297 per month through the Health Insurance Marketplaces The Feb. 15 deadline is less than a week away; eight in 10 consumers can get coverage for $100 or less and 93 percent of those are estimated to qualify for an average of $297 per person/month in advanced premium tax credits. On average, premium

tax credits reduced consumers’ monthly premiums by 77 percent in Florida. Among all consumers who are signed up for 2015 coverage to date in the 37

Falsifying income to claim tax credits hits the IRS ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of tax scams for the 2015 filing season

They’ll ask you questions to determine your total income, deductions, tax credits and other items. Do not rely on a preparer who is willing to e-file your return using your last pay stub instead of your Form W-2. This is against IRS e-file rules. · Never sign a blank return.

Don’t use a tax preparer that asks you to sign an incomplete or blank tax form. · Review your return before signing. Before you sign your tax return, review it and ask questions if something is not clear. Make sure you’re comfortable with the accuracy of the return before you sign it. · Ensure the preparer signs and includes their PTIN. Paid preparers must sign returns and include their PTIN as required by law. The preparer must also give you a copy of the return. · Report abusive tax preparers to the IRS. You can report abusive tax return preparers and suspected tax fraud to the IRS. Use Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. If you suspect a return preparer filed or changed the return without your consent, you should also file Form 14157-A, Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit. You can get these forms on IRS.gov.

IRS.gov has general information on reporting tax fraud.

More specifically, you report abusive tax preparers to the IRS on Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. Download Form 14157 and fill it out or order by mail at 800-TAX FORM (800-829-3676). The form includes a return address.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that tax scams can take many forms beyond the “Dirty Dozen,” and people should be on the lookout for many other schemes. More information on tax scams is available at IRS.gov.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report recently outlining the impact of advanced premium tax credits on pre-

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service recently warned taxpayers about schemes to erroneously claim tax credits is on the annual list of tax scams known as the “Dirty Dozen” again for the 2015 filing season.

“Scam artists don’t miss a trick and they can entice taxpayers to falsely inflate income on returns to claim tax credits they are not entitled to receive,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for the information on their tax returns, and I urge everyone to file the most accurate return possible.”

Compiled annually, the “Dirty Dozen” lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire professionals to do so.

Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties and interest and possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to shutdown scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.

Don’t Create Fake Income to Qualify for a Credit Some people falsely increase the income they report to the IRS. This scam involves inflating or including income on a tax return that was never earned, either as wages or as self-employment income, usually in order to maximize refundable credits.

Just like falsely claiming an expense or deduction you did not pay, claiming income you did not earn in order to secure

miums in the Health Insurance Marketplaces. In Florida 1,339,791 individuals are signed up for coverage through the Marketplace as of Jan. 30,

larger refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit could have serious repercussions. This could result in taxpayers facing a large bill to repay the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties. In some cases, they can even face criminal prosecution.

Taxpayers may encounter unscrupulous return preparers who make them aware of this scam. Remember: Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else. Make sure the preparer you hire is up to the task.

Here are a few tips when choosing a tax preparer: · Check to be sure the preparer has an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

Anyone with a valid 2015 PTIN is authorized to prepare federal tax returns. Tax return preparers, however, have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. An important difference in the types of practitioners is “representation rights”. You can learn more about the several different types of return preparers on IRS.gov/chooseataxpro. · Ask the tax preparer if they have a professional credential (enrolled agent, certi-

fied public accountant, or attorney), belong to a professional organization or attend continuing education classes.

A number of tax law changes, including the Affordable Care Act provisions, can be complex.

A competent tax professional needs to be up-to-date in these matters. Tax return preparers aren’t required to have a professional credential, but make sure you understand the qualifications of the preparer you select. · Check on the service fees upfront. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who say they can get larger refunds than others can. · Always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into your bank account. Taxpayers should not deposit their refund into a preparer’s bank account. · Make sure your preparer offers IRS e-file and ask that your return be submitted to the IRS electronically. Any tax professional who gets paid to prepare and file more than 10 returns generally must file the returns electronically. It’s the safest and most accurate way to file a return, whether you do it alone or pay someone to prepare and file for you. · Make sure the preparer will be available. Make sure you’ll be able to contact the tax preparer after you file your return – even after the April 15 due date. This may be helpful in the event questions come up about your tax return. · Provide records and receipts. Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts.

HealthCare.gov states, eight in 10 could choose a plan with a premium of $100 or less after tax credits, based on available options.

These figures underscore the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in delivering quality, affordable health care coverage to millions of Americans. With only six days left until the Feb. 15 deadline to sign up for coverage through the Marketplaces, HHS encourages Florida consumers to check out their options for a quality, affordable health care plan. The vast majority – 93 percent – of individuals in Florida who are signed up through HealthCare.gov qualify for financial assistance.

“With just six days left before the Feb. 15 deadline and the end of this year’s Open Enrollment, millions of Americans already are counting on the financial assistance the Affordable Care Act provides to put quality, affordable health insurance coverage within reach,” HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said. “Consumers who sign up in Florida are saving $297 a month on their premiums on average, and in the 37 states using HealthCare.gov nearly eight in 10 could select a plan with a premium of $100 or less with tax credits. This is further proof that the Affordable Care Act is working for the middle

class.”

Among 6.5 million consumers in the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov platform who selected a plan with advanced premium tax credits, the average monthly premium for 2015 coverage dropped from $374 before tax credits to $105 after tax credits, for an average tax credit amount of $268 per person/month. This analysis includes plan selections from Nov. 15 through Jan. 30: depending on the characteristics of people who sign up prior to Feb. 15, the statistics in this report could change.

As we near the Feb. 15 deadline and end of Open Enrollment, officials from HHS are available for print, radio and television interviews. Satellite TV interviews are also available.

Sign up by Feb. 15 - Help is available: We are working to meet consumers where they are, whether that is online, over the phone or in person. · Online: Information is available at HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov. ·

By Phone: Marketplace call center representatives are available to help all day, every day at 1-800-318-2596.

TTY users should call 1-855889-4325. Assistance is available in more than 200 languages. The call is free. · In person: Consumers can find local help by visiting: Localhelp.healthcare.gov

Give it up for @ICareAtlanta #GiveItUpForGood

SOMETIMES GOOD FEEDS MORE THAN THE SOUL. Anthony Delgado founded I Care Atlanta an organization that partners with grocers to fight hunger and break the cycle of poverty among the city’s poor and homeless Celebrate inspirational people like Anthony and let their stories of good inspire you this Black History Month Visit Allstate comgiveitupforgood.

© 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.

Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

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Multi-cultural tourism generates major socio-economic impact and increased cultural awareness in Broward County

By Charles Moseley (Part One) As far back as the early 1960’s, tourism in Fort Lauderdale was synonymous with College Spring Break, made even more popular by the classic film about a group of white co-eds’ experience in, Where the Boys Are. Flash forward to the mid to late 1980’s and an interesting transformation began to emerge regarding the tourism landscape here in Fort Lauderdale.

Local government and local businesses who once welcomed or at least tolerated college spring breaks, which attracted tens of thousands of college students to Fort Lauderdale Beach annually, began a major shift toward changing the image of tourism in Fort Lauderdale.

Therein began a rebranding process by local public officials

and business leaders aimed at attracting more corporate as well as family oriented, tourism to Broward County.

This phenomenon did not escape the attention of the minority business community or Black governmental officials.

Black real estate developer R. Donahue Peeples’ seized upon the opportunity to bring the first Black owned major hotel to Fort Lauderdale Beach; however, it failed after several years in the making.

Undaunted by this earlier failed experiment by Peeples to test the willingness by governmental officials and the tourism powers that be, to indulge in the emerging world of multicultural tourism; a New York transplant by way of Washington, D.C., by the name of Albert Tucker representing the prestigious American Tennis Associa-

tion (ATA), had successfully helped bring one of the country’s leading Black sports organization’s for their annual championship events to Fort Lauderdale in 1997 and 1998.

He later was instrumental in bringing the ATA Championships again to Fort Lauderdale again in 2012 and 2013, but this time in the official role as Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (GFLCVB) Vice-President of Multi-Cultural Marketing.

In 1997, 1998, and again in 2012, 2013 the ATA hosted four successful national championship events in Fort Lauderdale.

In the late 90’s the event was noted that the economic impact exceeded more than $2.5 million, whereas on both occasions more than 2,500 participants were in the South Florida area to participate in matches at various tennis facilities within

Fort Lauderdale. In 2012, the event had grown with over 3,000 amateur adult and youth tennis players and their families in attendance. The growth of the event has also seen the economic impact more than double since the event was held in Fort Lauderdale in 1998.

Yes the ATA has had a very rich & rewarding experience in Fort Lauderdale. The city is enjoyed by both children & adults with its accommodations & culturally sensitive nature.

“We are proud to have selected Fort Lauderdale as our permanent home,” said Dr. Franklyn Scott, ATA president.

Armed with the experience of living in New York City and Washington D.C., Tucker witnessed firsthand the economic impact that African American tourism, had on both city’s local economy. He began doing some research in the area and created

Black Empowerment Summit lectures at AARLCC in February

DR. JOHNSON

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – During February (Black History Month), the Fort Lauderdale Community Center is hosting a three-week conference and will be presenting two lecture events at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of AARLCC, the African Student Union, Broward Health, Whole Foods, Broward Schools, Broward County, Broward College, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and the Children’s Service Council.

There will be two First annual Black Empowerment Summit lectures at the library. · Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 from 4 to 8 p.m., Dr. Umar Johnson will speak on learning disabilities and their effect on Black children. Johnson is a blood relative of Frederick Douglass, the great Black abolitionist and orator. Johnson is a school psychologist who evaluates children ages 3-21 in an effort to determine if they have educational disabilities and need special educational services. He is author of the book, Psycho-Academic Holocaust: The Special Edu-

Fourth Florida insurer agrees to cap cost of HIV drugs

By Nicholas Nehamas, Miami Herald The last of four Florida insurers blasted by AIDS activists for the high cost of their HIV drugs relented last week, saying it would cap what patients pay every month for four types of medication.

“We will voluntarily agree to set an out-of-pocket limitation of $200 per month on each of the following drugs: Atripla, Complera, Stribild, and Fuzeon,” Preferred Medical Plan CEO Tamara Meyerson wrote to Kevin McCarty, commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, in a Jan. 14 letter.

The other three companies — Coventry Health Care, Humana and Cigna — had earlier reached formal agreements with state regulators to lower their prices and to fill prescriptions without prior authorization for 2015.

Preferred did not violate Florida’s anti-discrimination laws, said Amy Bogner, a spokeswoman for the state’s insurance office.

An estimated 120,000 Floridians have HIV, and nearly half of them live in South Florida, according to state data.

The four Florida insurers were the focus of a federal civil rights complaint filed last May

Kevin McCarty, Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

by The AIDS Institute, a nonprofit group in Tampa. The complaint accused insurers of discriminating against people with HIV by making their medications too expensive — as much as $1,500 per month for drugs on some health plans offered in Florida last year.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is still investigating the complaint, according to spokeswoman Rachel Seeger.

Carl Schmid, deputy executive director of The AIDS Institute, said he was disappointed the state did not ask Preferred to sign a more extensive agreement.

“What’s in the letter is really nominal,” Schmid said. “It

doesn’t even say how long Preferred has to abide by these terms.”

But David Poole, a spokesman for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which worked with state regulators on the drug pricing issue, called the letter “acceptable” and said all insurers should ensure antiretroviral medications are “accessible and not economically out of reach.”

The news comes as Gov. Rick Scott confirmed that he was seeking to replace McCarty, who has led Florida’s insurance regulator since 2003.

AHF yesterday sent a letter to the governor praising McCarty’s work on the pricing of HIV drugs.

“The actions of the commissioner and his staff assured ... that public health in Florida would not suffer because of the restrictive actions the private insurance companies had instituted,” the letter said.

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

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

a Multi-Cultural Tourism Action Plan, which he submitted before the GFLCVB’s top brass, which was ultimately embraced by the GFLCVB. The rest, of course, is history. Major strides and major dollars began being generated in the area of multicultural tourism throughout the U.S., and due to the efforts of Tucker, the GFLCVB, and other dedicated people here in Broward, a commitment toward increasing economic empowerment in the African American community began to gain momentum.

Tucker outlined the direction, objectives, and goals of building a comprehensive approach at generating tourism from a multi-cultural perspective which focused on an ever emerging and diverse Black consumer travel market, as outlined in the proposal before the GFLCBB. “The primary objective of this plan is to attract a larger proportion of African American and other multicultural populations to choose Fort Lauderdale, and the surrounding areas, as the destination of choice for their vacations and conventions. Through the development of strategic partnerships, we anticipate that this plan will attract more than 5,000 new vacationers to Fort Lauderdale in its inaugural year. This plan focuses on implementing marketing strategies that are designed to increase Fort Lauderdale’s visibility in the multicultural market. Again, our primary strategy is to develop a series of premier Sports and Leisure, Entertainment and Convention activities

Albert Tucker, vice-president of Multi-Cultural Tourism at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been a big advocate for Black economic empowerment through promoting Black tourism for many years.

(Photo by David Muir) for the county that will attract travelers to Fort Lauderdale.”

100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale President and owner of Simply-It Inc., a computer network design company, Dennis Wright, has worked over the years to bring a greater awareness of the value of Black tourism, to the local business community as well as the public sector.

“One of the key components of improving our communities is sustainable economic development. Black tourism is serving as a catalyst for sustainable economic development here in Broward County. Travel and leisure companies have long recognized that Black tourism dollars are viable to their growth and rightfully so, Broward County with all it has to offer, should look to market itself as a destination rich in culture and diversity. Through the outstanding efforts of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, Broward County has begun to realize the value of Black tourism,” said Wright.

DR. ANDERSON cation & ADHD Wars Against Black Boys. · Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 from 4 to 8 p.m., Dr. Claud Anderson, president of PowerNomics Corporation of America, Inc., will be speaking on Black Economic Empowerment. He offers Black America a guide to becoming a more economically and politically competitive group in America. He has written several books—Black Labor, White Wealth; PowerNomics: The National Plan; and Dirty Little Secrets about Black History.

Accompanying each lecture event will be an appearance by the Dream Defenders (the next generation of radical leaders who exercise independent collective power and organize to disrupt the structures that oppress Black communities) and an African dance group, along with vendors selling arts and crafts, jewelry and food. There will also be door prizes at the event.

The Fort Lauderdale Community Center is a non-profit group dedicated to uniting Broward County through Arts, Education and Social Services.

The center is hosting a series of lectures and discussions on the subject of race relations in Broward County for three weeks, beginning on Feb. 2, 2015. The Fort Lauderdale Community Center sees a need for the Black community to build and maintain a strong economic support system for itself, a system that creates job opportunities not presently available in the community. It takes an interactive role in the education of Black children and in participating in the political process to create the changes that the Black community in Broward County would like to see.

For more information about the Fort Lauderdale Community Center, contact www.flccenter.org or call (754) 242-4778.

The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center is located at 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Call the Welcome Desk at (954) 357-6210.

ON VOTING DAY: Candidate Robert L. McKinzie, Jr. (l) and supporters stand outside Melrose Park polling place gaining momentum as he campaigns for the Fort Lauderdale City Commission for District III. As of Press time today McKinzie is winning.

I’ve been sentenced to life!

(Cont'd from FP) After a pretrial investigation and going before the One and only true Judge, Jury and Prosecutor; in the form of three persons he was found to be guilty. Guilty of all the sins that one can commit since all sins fall under the same category: Sin is sin no matter how big or how small, it is a sin.

He committed them all and now through the presentence investigation his records are beginning to speak for themselves.

There is no way that he could persuade the judge, the jury nor the prosecuting attorney for leniency, all that he had done was well known by the Chief Judge.

None of the things that he considered to be bad could be justifiable enough for the sentence that he was given.

For his protection, he had begun to search and call upon the name of the only One that could help him in preparation for life after the life sentence.

Yes, before the trial he was extremely nervous and petrified that the possibility of him receiving a life sentence was totally overwhelming and a bit too much for him to handle in his normal state of mind.

It wasn’t until he began to look at all the stuff that he had been through, then he began to realize there were times, let me say at all times I had no control of the predestined outcome that which I went through it had already been ordained.

I do realize now that if God brings you to it He can and will bring you through it.

Sometimes life holds very unpredictable outcomes to the problematic symptoms created by the choices we made.

Without divine intervention unbeknownst to us, we would continue down the path of unrighteousness.

NO, I’m not professing to be holier than thou, I’m just glad that I can open up and let the world know that I want to serve in another capacity and most importantly, I’m willing to be led by God. We all have our ‘cross to bear’. I will be carrying my cross over new territory this Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4pm when I and 12 other brothers become ordained as Deacons of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church.

Pray with us as we embark on our mission to’ “lead others to Christ”.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 (NASV) WHEN GOD HELPS YOU TO CARRY YOUR CROSS THE LOAD IS MUCH LIGHTER

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

February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 5

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Event

Happenings at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center

Rev. Moise Greek Unity Day, annually held on the third Sunday in February as a major component of Mt. Hermon AME Church’s month long Black History observance, will convene on Sunday, Feb.15, 2015, at the 10:30 am service. Mt. Hermon, under the astute, dynamic leadership of Reverend Henry E. Green, Jr., at 401 N.W. Seventh Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The featured organization for Greek Unity Day 2015 is the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Reverend Eddie Moise, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Pompano Beach, Florida and a member of the Eta Nu Chapter, will deliver the sermon, celebrating the 21st Greek Unity Day anniversary.

Greek Unity Day 2015, which began at Mt. Hermon under the stewardship of Reverend Michael A. Cousins, could potentially break all previous attendance records.

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 · 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.

African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderale, Fla. · Thursday, Feb. 12 – from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Basic computer literacy II · Saturday, Feb. 14 – from, 2 to 5 p.m., Participants will discuss Hidden Colors 1, a documentary about race relations, in the context of To Kill a Mockingbird. · Saturday, Feb. 14-21 – at 1 p.m., a Book Signing, Holocaust · Wednesday, Feb. 18 – at 4 p.m., First Annual Black Empowerment Summit, featuring Dr. Umar Johnson a blood relative of Fredrick Douglas.

There is a charge tickets on sale now and will be sold at the door.

Call for additional info (954) 242-4778. · Thursday, Feb. 19 – from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Resume writing · Saturday, Feb. 21 – from 2 to 5 p.m., Participants will discuss Hidden Colors 2 in the context of To Kill a Mocking-bird. · Saturday, Feb. 21 – from 2 to 4 p.m., A Spoken Word Explosion/Poetry Slam.

Poetry Workshop and performance for teens. Pre-registration required, call (954) 3576209 or inquire in the Youth Service section on the 2nd floor. · Thursday, Feb. 26- from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Job Resources · Saturday, Feb. 28 – from 2 to 5 p.m., participants will discuss Hidden Color 3 · Free Homework Help: After school help with homework for grades K-12, from 3 to 5 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-657. (Only homework and educational games are allowed on Children’s and Teen computers during homework help hours.

For additional info for Free classes being offered at the other library locations call (954) 3576236.

TO HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS POSTED CALL -- (954) 525-1489 OR FAX -- (954) 525-1861 FOR MORE INFO

The City of Fort Lauderdale Black History Events

The City of Fort Lauderdale invites the community to celebrate Black History Month with the following events: · Kijiji Moja, Saturday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 828-5411. · Sistrunk Parade & Festival, Saturday, Feb. 28 – Parade starts from 9-11 a.m., on Sistrunk Blvd., from N.W. Ninth to N.W. 22 Ave., the Festival starts at noon to 9 p.m., at Mills Ponds Park, 2201 N.W. Ninth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 687-3477 or www.sistrunkfestival.org · Fort Lauderdale neighbors hosting a night just for you! Neighbor Support Night, Thursday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the City Hall. For additional info call Junia Robinson at (954) 828-5289. · Relax at Friday Night Tunes, enjoy a Free concert with a broad range of musical varieties featuring a different live performance each month.

Friday Night Tunes takes place on the third Friday of each of month from 7 to 10 p.m., at Joseph C. Carter Park, 1450 Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Randy Corinathian kicks off Friday Night Tunes, Friday, Feb. 20. Bring your chairs and blankets and snacks to relax under the stars. For more info call (954) 828-5363

Clinic

Broward College Celebrates Black History Month

Throughout February, Broward College will celebrate Black History Month with several events on its campuses. · Mis-Education of the Negro and the ‘N’ Word, Thursday, Feb. 12, at 12:30 p.m., at Judson A. Samuels S. Campus.

7200 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Performing Cultural Arts Theater (PCAT), Bldg. 68b. For more info call Rudy Jean-Bart at (954) 201-8947. · Evolution of Black Women: From the Slave House to the White House, Monday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, 3501 Davie Rd., Davie, Bldg.

1008, room 105-108. For more info Jose Lopez at (954) 2016236. · Maya Angelou Tribute Festival, Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, 3501 Davie Rd., Davie, Bldg.

19, Patio. For more info call Jose Lopex at (954) 201-6236. · Evolution of Black Women: From the Slave House to the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at Broward College N. Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek, Building 46, Room 152. For more info call Joseph Pickering at (954) 2012009. · The Middle Passage and Beyond, Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., at Broward College N. Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek, Omni Auditorium. For more info call Oluyinka Tella at (954) 2012033. · African Skylore, Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., at A Huge Adams Central Campus, 3501 Davie Rd., Davie Buehler Planetarium and Observatory.

For more info call Susan Barnett at (954) 201-6681.

Meeting Free Boca Raton Sand Volleyball Clinic, Sand Turtles Volleyball training for adults and kids ages 8+, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015 from 6:45 to 8 p.m., at Meadows Park, Boca Raton, Fla. Twelve lesson training session starts Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015.

For additional info call (954) 345-0550.

Program Parents Coping After The Loss Of A Child (P.C.A.T.L.O.A.C.) every Second Tuesday starting at 7 p.m., at E. Pat Larkins Center, 520 MLK Blvd., Pompano Beach, Fla. For more info call Daisy Josey at (954) 943-7549.

The Broward County Alumni Chapter of Florida A&M University invites all graduates, supporters, family and friends to their monthly meeting, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at 10 a.m., at Osswald Park, 2220 N.W. 21st Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wear red instead of orange and green, in support of Heart Awareness Month.

Tickets for Rattlers Comedy Night at the Improv. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 will be available.

Valentine gift basket drawing.

For more info call (954) 4309760.

Black History Month Events

· Black History Month Festival and Parade, Wednesday.

Feb. 11, 2015 from 9 to 11:50 a.m. at Miami Dade College W. Campus, 3800 N.W. 115 Ave, Room 1102 · Black Freedom Exhibit Artist Reception, Saturday, Feb. 14, at 9 p.m., at Opening February 14 - May 2 - Yeelen Gallery, 294 N.W. 54 St., Miami, Fla. · Trayvon Martin Foundation’s Remembrance Weekend “Walk and Peace Talk” Saturday, Feb. 14, registration at 8 a.m., at Carol City Park, 3201 N.W. 185 St., Miami Gardens · The Peace Walk participants include youth, community activists, faith leaders, and celebrities including families who have lost a child to gun violence to all stands in solidarity. The Peace Talk follows the Peach Walk with an engaging community dialogue on how to empower youth and curtail violence. The Peace Talk will be at Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, 3000 N.W. 199 St., Miami Gardens, Fla. To register for the walk at eventbrite.com/e/trayvonmartin-3rd-annual-peacewalk-tickets-15368673115. · Trayvon Martin’s 20th Birthday Gala & Annual Remembrance Dinner Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m., at Doubletree Hotel, 711 N.W. 72nd Ave, Miami, Fla. For tickets info call (786) 504-4235 or visit TrayvonMartinFoundation.org. · Village Dialogue: Miami’s Black World Community’s Presence and Future Thursday, Feb. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at South Dade Library, 10750 S.W. 211th St., Cutler Bay · Ankara Miami presents Africa Fashion Week, Thursday, Feb. 19 - Sunday, Feb. 22 - various locations. Tickets can be purchase at AnkaraMiamiFashionWeek.com.

Event lineup: · Thursday, Feb. 19, VIP Meet & Greet, private location · Friday, Feb. 20, Runway Showcase, Toyota of North Miami (ticketed event) · Saturday, Feb. 21, Runway Showcase, Kovens Conference Center (ticketed event) · Sunday, Feb. 22, Ankara Miami Pop-Up Shop, Alessandra Gold Concept Store · Miami Dade College’s African-American Closing Celebration Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5:40 to 7 p.m., at MDC W. Campus, 3800 N.W. 115th Ave, Room 1102, Miami, Fla. Black Tech Week · February 23 - 28 - Miami Dade College North Campus, 11380 N.W. 27th Ave., Miami, Fla. For info and registration details, visit BlackTechWeek.com. · Black History Month Heritage Tour, Saturday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. and at 1 p.m., at The Historic Lyric Theater, 819 N.W. Second Ave, Miami the Black Archives History & for info, call (786) 708-4610.

Tickets can be purchased at miamiblackhistorytours.eventbrite.com. · An Evening of Praise: Our Story Through Song · Saturday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m., at Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church, 17800 N.W. 25th Ave., Miami Gardens. Fla. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/ evening-of-praise-our-storythrough-song-tickets15524530288. · Caribe Film Fest February 27 - 28 - Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 N.E. 59th Terr, Miami.

Visit CaribFilmFest.com for more info. · Art of Haiti and Quebec at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. More than 20 artists from Quebec and Haiti are featured in an exhibit showcasing paintings and sculptures of great cultural diversity.

FAU Event for Black History Month

Florida Atlantic University will celebrates Black History Month with a series of events · Black History Month Movie Night: ‘Dear White People”, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 from 4 to 6 p.m., at Oasis Lounge, 3200 College Ave., Davis campus. For more info call Gary Santos Mendoza at (954) 236-1264. · Black Alumni Society reception, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m., at Great Hall Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center, Media attendance only. For more info call (561) 297-7026 · Black History Month Celebration, Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Heritage Hall, 3200 College Ave., Davie Campus. For more info call (954) 236-1264. · Fashion and Hair Show, Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Live Oak B-D, Student Union. For more info rhogan9@fau.edu. · LGBTQ People of Color Discussion Panel, Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 6 to 7 p.m., Live Oak A-D, Student Union. For more info ecohen2009@fau.edu. · Black History Month Movie Night: “Dear White People”, Monday, Feb. 16, from 7 to 11 p.m., at Burrow, Student union.

For more info (561) 799-8696. · Spiritual Songs: Naima Johnston Bush, Ph.D., Thursday, Feb. 26, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Auditorium, AD 119. For more info call (561) 799-8696.

Seminar

BrightStar Credit Union’s Free financial and investment monthly seminars Credit Matters – Understanding Your Credit Score, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at 3175 N. State Rd. 7 Margate, Fla. For more info call (945) 487-2728 ext. 5017.

Carnival

The City of Lauderdale Lakes will host its Seventh Annual Black History Month Parade & Community Carnival, “Who We Are”, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 at 9 a.m., at Willie Webb Sr. Park, Northwest 37th Ave., and Northwest 23rd St., Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. If you would like to participate in the parade visit our website at www.lauderdalelakes.org or (954) 535-2785.

Event

Spring Party, Run & Rally for Teen Dating Violence Awareness, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at 1901 N.W. 49 Ave., Lauderhill, Fla. For more info contact Mizanne Laud at (954) 7609800 x 1215. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, please join Lauderhill 6-12 to help spread awareness to our community.

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

Page 6 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

Opinion

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

"Healing the racial divide"

By Pastor Rasheed Z Baaith “Be of the same mind one toward another” (Romans 12:16) What if America finally had an honest and open conversation about race? What if non-Black people would finally listen to Black people recite the impact racism has had on their lives and the lives of their families and listened without anger? And what if non-Black people would admit they

benefit from the legacy of slavery without their having ever owned a slave?

What if 7,000 people, Black and white have already begun that conversation?

You may not have heard of the Fort Lauderdale Community Center, located at 1033 Sistrunk Blvd. but I’m sure you will. Under the leadership of Hope Gary, the Center is presenting during Black History Month two important and major events. One is “Healing the Racial Divide,” a learning tool event “focused on educating

Black history reflects a perception of the politics tury, but has origins in the Roman of education holiday, Lupercalia.

By Derek Joy Black History Month rolls right along with Ground Hog Day in the rearview mirror and St. JOY Valentine’s Day - Feb. 14 - on the horizon.

So interesting how the shortest month of the year can boast Black History Month, Ground Hog Day, St. Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. St. Valentine’s Day, called the Day of Romance, is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to fifth cen-

Here in America, like so many other countries of the world, the custom is to give a card with a box of candy to that very special Valentine in our lives. A meaningful expression.

Even more interesting, obviously, is the fact that St. Valentine’s Day is linked to Christianity. Sure makes one wonder.

Less than a week before St. Valentine’s Day, Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church celebrated its 114th Anniversary. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Zachary W. Royal, pastor of St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church in Coconut Grove.

Royal talked about “Living at the bottom of the barrel.” The message was understood and sound in the religious context. But it made me wonder, when will that message hit home among the wealthiest of the wealthy in America.?

The sitting Congress, with its Republican majority in both Houses, is playing deceitful political games with the money.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

When fashion clashes with religious customs

By Lekan Oguntoyinbo, NNPA Columnist I believe customs generally fall into three categories: inexcusable, curious if a little questionable, and fascinating. OGUNTOYINBO Some customs – the rigid caste system in India, the practice by in-laws in many parts of Africa of putting newlywidowed women and their kids out on the streets, as well as deeply held racist beliefs and practices in the United States, particularly in the Deep South – easily qualify as abhorrent. So do others such as the murders of female rape victims in many Middle Eastern countries by male relatives, female genital mutilation and ritual human sacrifices in many African countries.

Most right thinking people would agree that such practices are just plain wrong.

Often times, though, it is the curious customs that stir things up. They amaze us and maybe even cause us to shake our heads.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

non-Black people to the effects slavery, racism and discrimination has had on society.” I cannot BAAITH think of a more needed elucidation. There is a group think among both Black and non-Black people about the enduring effects of slavery that needs a new filter for thought. This event is a real step towards shifting the way we think about what slavery has done to America.

The sites will be the African-American Research Library and NOVA Southeastern University.

As part of “Healing the Racial Divide” the First Annual Black Empowerment Summit is also being held. It too is part of the Fort Lauderdale effort to educate our people. The summit is “focused on education the Black community on their identity, unity, what has happened to them, the importance of taking an active role in our children’s education, the importance of supporting Black businesses and going into business, the importance of politics and what politics is supposed to produce, and after acquiring all that knowledge, what do we do now?”

Ms. Gary says the summit is a “community education” event.

To that end, the Center is bringing in educators of the first rank. They include Dr. Umar Johnson who will speak on the “ADHD Wars against Black Boys;” Dr. Joy DeGruy, author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing; Dr. Claud Anderson, who will speak on Black Economic Development; and Tim Wise, author of Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority”and whose new book is Culture of Cruelty: How America’s Elite Demonize the Poor, Valorize the Rich and Jeopardize the Future.

We do a lot of things during Black History Month. We have parades, we will invite speakers who have notoriety and renown because of how they have struggled for the freedom of our people, we have breakfasts and we will have dinners, there will be countless recitations of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech by very talented and undeniably adorable children all over America. But rarely if ever do we have occasions where there is something of value to be learned and people of educational worth to be heard. The Fort Lauderdale Community Center is offering our community a new door to consciousness.

There is something else that needs to be noted. This event is the result of someone with vision; with awareness the needs of our community are unique but necessary. Someone who is willing to move away from the crowd but even more importantly, someone who understands that if we do not move to save ourselves, we won’t be saved.

Hope Gary is a sister-warrior determined for us to redeem the time.

Do yourself a favor and register online; the costs for each presentation go from $10-$15 in advance and from $20 - $25 at the door. Before you grumble, just remember anything of value has a cost and while we can never pay the full cost of knowledge, we should be willing to make a contribution. Think about it.

Each generation has something to offer

By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA Columnist Whether it is in an inner city neighborhood across America, the Caribbean, in Europe or in a sprawling mass of people in an African or Brazilian urban area, millions of Black youth throughout the world are crying out for a better quality of life. They should always have a better life than their parents.

I always try to keep my eyes and ears open to see and hear what our youth are saying and doing. The axiom that the future is in the hands of the young is certainly true today. I admire and support young people who stand up and speak out for freedom and equal justice.

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.

Despite what you may have heard, I have been impressed by the new generation of young activists, freedom fighters and community mobilizers who are emerging from Ferguson, Mo. to CHAVIS New York City, Rio, Soweto, Cape Town, Kingston, Havana, Luanda, and Lagos to Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Congo.

Over the past several years, we have witnessed Black youth in the United States and throughout the Pan African world rise to challenge the lingering vestiges of racial oppression, neo-colonialism and economic inequity. There is a hunger and thirst for new movements for social, political and economic change by a generation of youth who appear to be ready to move forward.

Unfortunately, there are many young activists and leaders who are not receiving the kind of encouragement that they deserve and need to be successful. That’s especially true in the case of those of us who have learned the contours and dynamics of power, institution building and what it means to sustain an effective movement for change. We need to show our youth more love, concern and support, even when we have a different opinion about how they should approach a particular task.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

In America, slavery and Jim Crow was justified in the name of Christ

By Roger Caldwell There is an uproar in America because President Obama was telling the truth at the National Prayer Breakfast. Somewhere in the CALDWELL American mind we only want to hear the good things that happened in our history. But our President was historically correct when he acknowledged during the Crusades that people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.

“Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ,” says President Obama in his speech at the Prayer Breakfast.

It is time for Republicans, Democrats and Conservatives to acknowledge that slavery was an inhumane institution that was morally and politically wrong and justified by the Christian church. This year, America will celebrate 150 years that African Americans have been free from slavery, but the majority of Americans will try to sweep this knowledge under the rug.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Did NBC’S BrianWilliams also lie about Hurricane Katrina?

By George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams CURRY has finally admitted that he had incorrectly asserted that a helicopter he traveled aboard in 2002 while reporting on the Iraq War in 2003 was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, forcing an emergency landing.

“This was a bungled attempt by me to thank one special veteran and by extension our brave military men and women veterans everywhere…” he said on air.

Williams’ admission came on the heels of a story published in the military publication Stars & Stripes that challenged his retelling of events.

“NBC News anchor Brian Williams has told a war story over the years since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It grew to where he was claiming to be on a Chinook helicopter that was forced down after taking rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire,” the newspaper reported. “In his on-air apology Wednesday, he backed off that, but said that he ‘was instead in a following aircraft.’ Soldiers who were in two Chinook companies say he was not in, nor ever near, a helicopter that was being fired upon.”

Williams, who makes $13 million a year, has drastically altered his story over the years, according to a timeline published by CNN. Lt. Col. Jerry Pearman, the mission commander when one of the three Chinooks took fire, told Stars & Stripes, “I can say with 100 percent certainty that no NBC reporters were on any of the aircrafts.”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

An Open Letter to Faith and Politics Institute concerning Bloody Sunday From Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders I appreciate your bringing a group of congresspersons and other dignitaries each year to Selma and other places in Alabama for Bloody Sunday and related events. Every person in a leadership position ought to have this experience so that they may better understand how the right to vote was forged with blood and lost lives and suffering and sacrifice and struggle. Thank you for exposing these dignitaries to this historic and sacred struggle. We welcome you and all. We are especially glad that President Barack Obama is coming for we also invited him and the First Family.

Faith and Politics, I am extremely concerned. I considered writing you on several occasions but held back. However, after Representative John Lewis talked to a reporter, who then contacted me, I had to write. Other leaders of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee have written you in years past, but you never answered a single letter. I do not expect an answer to this letter, so I am making it an open letter.

The Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday is a oncein-a-lifetime event. It should be a time of great unity, but you have shattered that possibility. The great challenges to the right to vote also demand unity.

These challenges include the gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act; the wave of voter photo ID laws, which are modern-day poll taxes; the proof of citizenship laws, which are modern-day literacy tests; and the many and varied other schemes that suppress and deny the right to vote. We should be united, but your actions divide us.

This Commemoration must be more than a celebration. Many workshops and other activities were scheduled for Saturday, March 7th, to forge a more effective effort to restore the Voting Rights Act and expand voting rights generally. Your actions disrupted these critical work sessions.

The reporter I mentioned, Mary Orndorff Troyan, said one of the reasons you wanted a march on Saturday was to ensure that it was a “dignified” march.

Faith and Politics, the Bloody Sunday March has been reenacted each year since the '70s. No one has ever said that it was not dignified. Was the Bloody Sunday March not dignified when President Bill Clinton came to Selma in 2000, as a sitting president, for the 35th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday? Was the March not dignified when President Barack Obama came as Senator Obama to Selma on Bloody Sunday in 2007? Was the March not dignified when Vice President Joe Biden came in 2013?

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Poverty doesn’t have to be a state of mind

By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Columnist

‘The DetroitWalker,’ a study in resilience

By Lee A. Daniels, NNPA Columnist

The racial differential in the poverty rate is staggering. Last time MALVEAUX I checked, about 12 percent people in the United States, one in eight people are poor. Depending on race and ethnicity, however, poverty is differently experienced. Fewer than one in 10 whites are poor; more than one in four African Americans and Latinos are poor.

Differences in occupation, income, employment and education are considered the main reasons for poverty, with current and past discrimination playing a role in educational, employment and occupational attainment.

We see the discrimination when we consider that African American women with a doctoral degree have median earnings of about $1,000 a week, compared to about $1,200 a week for Black men and white women, and $1,600 a week for white men. White men earn 60 percent more than African American women, and a third more than Black men and white women.

For most of the last decade, James Robert-son, a 56-yearold Detroiter, walked DANIELS to work every day.

Of course, anyone who’s not been on planet Saturn this month knows that simple sentence is a gross understatement, akin to saying Brazil’s mighty Amazon River is just an ordinary waterway.

In the space of three days as January turned to February, the fact that James Robertson has walked a total of 21 miles to and from work most of his working days since 2005 became an Internet sensation, attracting legions of admirers and donations totaling at least $300,000. All because thousands of people both in Detroit and far from the Motor City recognized the quality that James Robertson embodies most of all.

That quality is resilience.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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

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

Church Directory

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

February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 7

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 SUNDAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson,

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 HOLMES Funeral services for the late Shanta Michelle Holmes - 42 were held Feb. 7 at Mount Bethel Ministries with Bishop C.E. Glover officiating.

MCINTYRE Funeral services for the late Beatrice Ponder McIntyre - 88 were held Feb. 7 at New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church with Evangelist Catherine McIntyre-Jones officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

SNELL Funeral services for the late Mary Ann Foulkes Snell - 68 were held Feb. 7 at Mount Bethel Ministries with Bishop C.E. Glover officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

TAYLOR Funeral services for the late Patrick Hugh Taylor - 51 were held Feb. 7 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Maudy Brown officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

WILKINS Funeral services for the late Lonzie Wilkins, Sr. 88 were held Feb. 7 at New Hope Baptist Church with Pastor Ricky Scott officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

WRIGHT Funeral services for the late Deaconess Sarah Elizabeth Wright 79 - were held Feb. 7 at True Tabernacle of God with Bishop Tony Mitchell officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

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!

A FAMIL Y THA T AMILY THAT PRA YS PRAY TOGETHER ST AYS STA T OGETHER

“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

McWhite's Funeral Home BARZEY Funeral services for the late Calvin Barzey - 51 were held Feb. 7 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Glen Malcolm officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Central.

LEWIS Funeral services for the late Jeremiah Lewis - 51were held Feb. 7 at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor James Ray officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

PRATT Funeral services for the late Ruby Jane Pratt - 83 were held Feb. 7 at Star of Bethlehem M.B. Church with Rev. I.W. Hepburn, Jr officiating. Interment: Hallandale Beach Cemetery.

TURNER Funeral services for the late Demaris Lewis - 30 were held Feb. 7 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Apostle J.L. Butler officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Central.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home BROWN Funeral services for the late Deacon Arthur Lee Brown - 73 were held Feb. 7 at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Sylvester Davis officiating. Interment: South Florida VA National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL. FUCE Funeral services for the late Mildred A. McMillian Jones Fuce 84 were held Feb. 7 at Mount Hermon AME Church with Henry

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!”

KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD

If God queen,

made wha whatt

y ou a yo w ould wo

By Carey Kinsolving and friends “I would get all the ice cream I could and I would buy a lot of puppies,” says Erica, 9.

I think I see the connection, Erica. You obviously like food you can lick and animals that like to lick you.

“I would say no school for the rest of your life, you can go to the movies for free, and you get paid $50 if you go to school,” says Jared, 10.

If kids could vote, Jared, this could be a platform that could take you all the way to the White House.

“If I were king, I would make the queen get out of the castle,” says Trevor, 5.

I predict that one day Trevor will want to build a castle for his queen.

“I would tell everybody that everything was free except houses. I would also tell people that they have to pay the king or queen half of their paycheck,” says Jamie.

Jamie, you already sound like a veteran politician.

E. Green, Jr. officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central).

GREEN Funeral services for the late Allie Frances Murphy Green - 89 were held Feb. 7 at Mount Olive Baptist Church with Dr. Marcus D. Davidson officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

king or a y ou do? yo

“I would teach people about God and how to pray.

I would donate money to hospitals and to New York City,” says Ashley, 8.

“I would give a billion dollars to the United States to rebuild the World Trade Center.

I would tell them not to pay me back,” says Hannah Beth, 9.

“I would let people know about the Lord Jesus Christ by giving them Bibles, and I would give all the money to New York and to the poor,” says Christine, 8.

Thank you, Ashley, Hannah Beth and Christine for your compassionate comments. Most people use power to serve their own interests, but some, by God’s grace, use it to help people and further God’s kingdom.

One of my favorite comments about being queen comes from Marjorie, 9: “There would not be any more wars. There would be less work at school and more games. There would be a whole bunch of parties. Everybody would be happy and enjoy each other.”

Marjorie, I believe you’d make a great queen. A kingdom with a lot of parties diverges from Hollywood’s stereotype of heaven. Forget about people sitting on clouds adjusting their halos while they pluck harps. Jesus spoke of a wedding feast. It’s a huge celebration. Make sure you’re on the invitation list.

At the end of the Bible, we read, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9). The word “supper” should be translated as “feast.” The invitation list includes all who have trusted the Lord Jesus as their savior. He’s the bridegroom.

“I would probably make people gather and read the Bible.

That way, many people would get saved,” says Bailee, 10.

I’m sure your intentions are noble, Bailee, but your method violates the freedom people must have to accept or reject God. We can’t force anyone into God’s kingdom. Forced love is no love at all. God woos us more ardently than any human lover, but he never violates our freedom to spurn his attempts to win our hearts.

If Michael, 11, were king, his method of spreading the good news would be more effective: “I would help the poor.

I would try to teach everyone the word of God, and I would tell them about God and his son Jesus.”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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

Page 8 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

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YOU NHAVE READ THE REST, NOW READ THE BEST THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE NEWSPAPER

Dr. Todd Robinson is a navy pilot and flight surgeon, author, film producer, medical school faculty member, and a practicing physician. He is an MD and a PhD. But until now there was one area in which he had no experience: fundraising. ROBINSON Here’s the background: Getting ready for the world premier of renowned composer Earnestine Rodgers Robinson’s oratorio “Exodus” required fundraising. Dr. Robinson (Mrs. Robinson's eldest son), and family members needed to raise $140,000 to $170,000 to bring 200 diverse choir members to New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The family organized supporters as Chicago Voices United. But, surprisingly, not as an independent 501c3 organization.

“One of the FUNdraising Good Times! articles talked about being creative in looking for funding sources as it pertained to nonprofits. This was very encouraging as we struggled in the early phases. Initially, we used personal funds and a loan as start-up capital for Chicago Voices United. But we quickly realized that we needed the nonprofit status to be more attractive for donations,” Dr. Robinson shared.

Instead of becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, Dr. Robinson asked an existing nonprofit if Chicago Voices United could become a “sponsored project” of that nonprofit. The answer was yes, and months of paperwork and filing fees were saved, allowing the group to focus on their goal: fundraising for choir members.

They launched a website (www.ChicagoVoicesUnited.org), attempted crowdsource funding, website marketing, and social media but found each to be “extremely ineffective.”

“We decided to go a different approach. Like the article I read and resonated with, we had to get creative with our fundraising,” Dr. Robinson shared. “As a result, we decided to pursue industries/companies directly involved in our fundraising needs: hotels and airlines based in Chicago. We figured it would easier for a company to donate their time or services to a home-grown project instead of just forking over cash.”

The results? “Requesting donations in the way of services, we quickly landed a sponsorship from Hyatt who made a donation in the form of “discounted” room prices; and in the world of expensive hotel rates of downtown Manhattan, this was a big win. Now, the price of lodging during the concert event was more within reasonable reach for our average choir member,” Dr. Robinson continued. “This also made it easier for us to recruit choir members. Recently, United Airlines has expressed interest in making a donation of its services.”

A January “sneak preview” of Exodus in Chicago was well-received, and part of the Robinsons’ fundraising strategy: potential donors and influencers had the opportunity to experience the oratorio and become inspired. Follow up meetings are in progress as we go to press.

Dr. Robinson’s advice: “Constantly monitor your efforts with a critical eye; be adaptive and flexible enough to quickly change directions if needed; and think creative.”

You can donate at www.chicagovoicesunited.org or by calling Dr. Robinson at (901) 414-3366. Contact him by email at info@chicagovoicesunited.org Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Dear Alma, GILL I’m a single mother supporting my three children with no help from my ex-husband. I am thankful to have a great job that I like very much. I referred my BFF’s husband to the company who has since become a regular employee and he is very happy here as well. Once you pass the 90 day probation, the employee who referred you is given a referral bonus. My friend’s husband recently approached me and said boldly in my face that he expects me to split the money with him.

Needless to say, I was shocked. My BFF has a full time job and they know it’s just me caring for my kids. I’m not sure how to handle him and maintain our friendship. What should I do?

E.S., Jackson, Miss.

Dear E.S., Double-check your forehead. Did you miss seeing “sucker” tattooed between your eyebrows when you washed the sleep from your eyes this morning? LOL. Now, double, double-check the conversations between the two of you, replaying them in your mind’s eye. Did you fist bump on an agreement in advance? You know how it goes when you’re fast talking, excited and all. For example, when discussing the vacancy, did you jokingly say, “If you get hired, I’ll split the bonus with you?” That’s the only reason I can see him expecting a few coins heading his way.

In all honesty, I don’t get the feeling that’s what happened here. You didn’t mention it did, in your very detailed email. Seems to me, you feel like you’re caught between a rock (your BFF) and a hard place (her husband), not wanting to disturb the friendship. That’s kool, I understand. This incident isn’t a reason for this friendship to be shaken. If anything, he’s trying to take advantage of the relationship. Because he is your BFF’s husband, dismiss him. You owe him nothing! Don’t allow him to manipulate and get you all in a tizzy. Stand tall, shoulders straight, pumps pointed forward, ready to deal with him directly. Say it once, you don’t even need to practice. This should come off as sweet as pineapple pie. Repeat after me “I’m not splitting any money with you.” That’s it, don’t ever discuss it again.

You don’t owe him a reason, excuse or justification for your response. Nope, nada, nothing. Let me remind you that in this economy, jobs are tough to come by. The best reference anyone can have is an employee, who’s a friend that already works for the company. His act of appreciation should be nothing more than, “Thank you for helping me get a job,” cause that my friend, is priceless.

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

Dr. BerniceA. King brings more than five generations together

A quote from Coretta Scott King may sum up Bernice’s current state. ‘My mother used to say that struggle is a never-ending process,’ she says. ‘You earn it and win it in every generation'."

Record-level of criminal exonerations

By Freddie Allen, NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – Black criminal defendants accounted for roughly 46 percent of the 125 known exonerations in 2014, the highest annual number of exonerations recorded since 1989, according to a national registry that tracks wrongful convictions.

According to a recent report by the National Registry of Exonerations, the next highest total for exonerations was 88 recorded in 2012 and 87 in 2013. Researchers said that prosecutors have increasingly taken a harder look at flawed cases, which contributed to a jump in exonerations.

The powerful role that prosecutors play in the criminal justice system has increasingly drawn sharp public criticism following grand jury proceedings involving the highly publicized deaths of unarmed Black men at the hands of white police officers.

Once, same-sex couples couldn’t wed; now, some employers say they must (Cont'd from FP)

THE KING FAMILY -- Dr. King has his arm on daughter Yolanda. Standing in front of Yolanda is Dexter; sitting on Coretta’s lap is Bernice and standing far right is Martin, III.

February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 9

It is legal for employers to set eligibility requirements for the benefits they offer workers and their families — although some states, such as California, bar employers from excluding same-sex partners from benefits. But some benefit consultants and advocacy groups say there are legal, financial and other reasons why couples may not want to marry.

Requiring marriage licenses is “a little bossy� and feels like “it’s not a voluntary choice at that point,� said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel at Lambda Legal, an organization advocating for gay, lesbian and transgender people.

About two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits, but only a minority is changing the rules to require tying the knot, said Deena Fidas, director of the Workplace Equality Program at the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.

Because same-sex marriage isn’t legal in all states, “many employers operating in multiple states ... are retaining their partner benefit structures,� said Fidas.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

In the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y. and shooting deaths of John Crawford in Beavercreek, Ohio and the teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., grand juries chose not to indict police officers.

Attorney General Eric Holder has called for reform in sentencing practices and urged federal prosecutors to exercise greater discretion in non-violent drug cases.

Researchers with the exonerations registry reported 716 exonerations of Black criminal defendants, compared to 624 whites through Feb. 6, 2015.

That includes 330 exonerations for homicides, 167 for sexual assaults and another 179 for other crimes including drug crimes.

Blacks accounted for roughly 46 percent of the known exon-

erations in 2014. The number of Black criminal defendants exonerated in 2013 accounted for 47 percent of known cases, compared to 40 percent for whites.

In a press release about the report, Samuel Gross, a law professor at the University of Michigan and the editor of the Na-

That helpsexplain why Blacks and Latinos account for about 30 percent of the United States population, but 56 percent of the incarcerated population.

In Ferguson, police stopped white drivers for moving violations 68 percent of the time, and the majority of Black drivers were stopped for license or equipment problems, the report said. Once they were stopped, Black drivers were searched at almost twice the rate as white drivers (12 percent vs. 7 percent), but white drivers were more likely to have contraband than Blacks (34 percent vs. 22 percent). “Yet Blacks were twice as likely as whites to be arrested during a traffic stop (10 percent versus 5 percent),� the report continued, partly because, “Black drivers were more likely to have arrest warrants compared to their white counterparts. Black drivers were more likely to have these warrants in part because of unpaid fines related to their dispropor-tionate exposure to traffic enforcement.�

tional Registry of Exonerations, said that the big story is that more prosecutors are working hard to identify and investigate claims of innocence.

The report credited the rise of conviction integrity units (CIU), “long-term operations that work to prevent, to identify and to remedy false convictions� for contributing to an increase in criminal exonerations. “There were 49 CIU exonerations in 2014, including 10 murder exonerations in Brooklyn, and 29 of the 33 Harris County (Texas) drug-crime exonerations,� stated the report.

Gross said that many more innocent defendants were exonerated after pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit.

The report said that 47 of the 125 defendants (38 percent) who were exonerated in 2014 were cleared of criminal convictions to which they had pled guilty, also a record. In fact, in 58 of the 125 known exonerations from last year, no crime occurred, according to the report, and that number is likely to grow. “The states with the most exonerations in 2014 are Texas (39), New York (17), Illinois (7), Michigan (7), Ohio (6), North Carolina (4), Louisiana (3), Maryland (3), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (3), and Tennessee (3),� stated the report. “The states with the most recorded exonerations are not necessarily those where most false convictions have occurred.�

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Police killings underscore need for reform (Cont'd from FP) Targeting low-level lawbreakers epitomizes “broken windows� popularized during William Bratton’s first tenure as commissioner of the New York Police Department under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Mayor Bill de Blasio reappointed Bratton to that position and he remains “committed to this style of order-maintenance policing,� even though only spurious correlations to its efficacy in crime prevention remain.

The report said that “flawed research� plagued an early study cited by proponents of the “broken windows� policies. “More recent studies have found that high misdemeanor arrest volume, high summons volume, and other factors, have had only a modest association or no association at all with the city’s violent crime drop,� stated the report. “‘Stop and frisk’ activity has also been shown to have no impact on precincts’ robbery and burglary rates.�

Racial disparities that exist at every step in the criminal justice system, the report noted.

We did it!

(Cont' from FP)

Commissioner M. Margaret Bates presents Bernice King with an award.

(Cont'd from FP) In the interview, she described this ideal society as: “It is a society where there is a rule of engagement. It is learning how to communicate, how to dialogue, how to exchange those differences‌ I’m not spending time trying to change you as much as I spend time trying to understand you."

Finally, asking her about her future plans, the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wants to continue working with the King Center not only raising funds for scholarships, but also creating a scholar intern program where college students can prepare themselves as leaders by “learning and studying the leadership of my father� as Dr. King said.

Aaliyah McCrary was one of the students who earned the scholarship that this event offered to students from Piper High School and Lauderhill 6-

12 STEM-MED Magnet school.

This young student wants to major in Business and minor in Fashion Merchandise. Asking her about Dr. King’s speech, McCrary mentioned, “I wants to follow the steps of Dr. King of being a leader to help the community. I want to be a voice not for myself, but a voice for everyone as a whole."

After almost 60 years, the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., still prevails in the heart of Americans and those who have been touched by his words. Dr. Bernice King, not only a representation of her Legionary father, who was a soldier in the war against injustices, she is also a strong voice for civil and human rights.

She gave us, the people, the opportunity to listen one more time to the importance for each generation to communicate and to really understand that her father’s dream is not near us. “We, the people, got to wake up the people.� (Bernice King)

The team fought through their fear of losing one flyer that impacted the entire team, but the girls and Coach Ernest changed the routine and we were a new team with so much Panther Pride....we are on our way to State, to win but we still needed to make it to the finals.

We hit the blue mat with our faith strong and our 3D mentality (Desire, Dedication and Determination). Yes! We placed to go on to the next and final round.

Once we made it to the finals, I saw a different team - a team that was decreeing and declaring that WE are State Champs, we even started looking and picking our State rings (walking by Faith) SO, we hit the blue mat for the last time.......There was no stopping us! (See the score), we blew out our competition We are State Champs!

We give special thanks for the opportunity to coach to our principal, Mrs. Casandra Robinson, and assistant principal, Mr. Kenneth Walton, and for our dynamic group of girls who gave us their best when we seemed lost.

Even though we will lose 10 seniors this year, we can never lose our faith and the Panther Pride that caused us to fight through adversities to become State Champions.

We are looking for sponsors who are willing to support us financially to go out of state to a UCA/NCA cheer camp. Contact Torri P. Telfair at Dillard High School, (754) 322-0800.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND FOCUS FEATURES PRESENT A MICHAELMUSIC DE LUCA PRODUCTION “FIFTYEXECUTIVE SHADES OF GREY� DAKOTA JOHNSON PRODUCERS MARCUS VISCIDI JEB BRODY JAMIE DORNAN JENNIFER EHLE AND MARCIA GAY HARDEN BY DANNY ELFMAN B SED O SCREE P Y PRODUCED

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BY MICHAEL DE LUCA p.g.a. E L JAMES p.g.a. DANA BRUNETTI p.g.a. T E OVE BY E L JAMES DIRECTED JOHNSON A UNIVERSAL PICTURE

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LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

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

Dolphins Cycling Challenge V caps successful weekend to raise funds for cancer research

“The fifth Dolphins Cycling Challenge was an enormous success thanks to the Miami Dolphins and our partner in UM. A big thank you to all who rode, ran, walked, volunteered or donated.”

From Theresa Manahan and Michael Farnham, Dolphins Communications MIAMI, FL – The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami (UM) Miller School of Medicine capped another successful Dolphins Cycling Challenge (DCC) this weekend. The fifth edition of this annual community endeavor boasted nearly 3,000 participants who cycled, ran, walked, volunteered and donated throughout all of South Florida with a goal to tackle cancer. A special edition of the Dolphins Ride from Doctor’s Hospital Training Facility included DT Anthony Johnson singing the national anthem.

“We are thrilled with the results of DCC V. In addition to raising a record amount of money for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC), we brought the message to a broad range of people in all three counties,” said DCC V Chair Richard Berkowitz. “I have been honored to lead the event this year and I’m confident next year’s Chair Tom Garfinkel will build upon the momentum we have created. Thank you to all of our returning and new sponsors and teams. We look forward to seeing everyone next February for DCC VI.” The major community initiative continued its journey and dedication to improving people’s lives through the fi-

LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and professional services.

Interested vendors can view and download the solicitation documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/purchasing. current solicitations and results.

Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2015

MISCELLANEOUS Mt. Pisgah MB Church of Pompano, Inc. at 891 NW 27th Ave, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 is now receiving resumes for the position of PASTOR.. Those interested must be called by God, meet the criteria of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and should meet the following criteria: 1. Must be a Baptist ordained member in good standings 2. Must serve in a Baptist church that will give letter of recommendation 3. Position will be bi-vocational 4. 5 years of church leadership experience 5. High school graduate or higher Must submit to background check and home visit. Resumes are accepted between July 27 – Aug 24. Please send resume, video or links to : Mt. Pisgah c/o Nathaniel Lowe - 2613 NW 8th Street, Pompano Beach, FL. 33069 or email to mtpisgahpompano@att.net

nancial support of innovative cancer research at SCCC. Due to the generosity of corporate partners, 100 percent of riderraised funds go directly to Sylvester. Funds are still being collected through Feb. 28.

“The Dolphins Cycling Challenge has made an enormous difference in the fight against cancer,” UM SCCC Director Dr. Stephen D. Nimer said. “All of us at Sylvester are humbled and proud to benefit so profoundly from the funds raised by the DCC. Every dollar raised by riders funds cancer research right here at Sylvester. We are so very grateful to every rider, donor, volunteer and sponsor — all of whom have helped

bring us closer to a world without cancer.”

Riders in 2015 had the option of six routes over one or two days. This year, a new 5K was added around Sun Life Stadium. The event continues to solidify its position as one of the largest athletic fundraisers in South Florida history as a record number of attendees participated in the weekend this year.

Riders included former Tour de France rider and professional cyclist George Hincapie, Survivor Africa winner and cancer survivor Ethan Zohn, MiamiDade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn, U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy

from Florida’s 18th District, 2013 Indy 500 champion and Racing for Cancer founder Ryan Hunter-Reay, “Paul & Young Ron” show host Paul Castronovo, Local and national hero Jim Sayih, whose story of supporting his son through races has inspired the South Florida community, Miami Dolphins General Manager Dennis Hickey, DCC CEO Michael Mandich, DCC V Chair Richard Berkowitz, SCCC Director Dr. Stephen Nimer, Miami Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel, Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President for Special Projects & Alumni Relations Nat Moore, University of Miami Senior Vice President &

Chief Financial Officer Joe Natoli, Miami Dolphins Senior Director of Community Affairs Twan Russell, SCCC Dr. Jerry Goodwin and Miami Dolphins alumni Zach Thomas, A.J. Duhe, Kim Bokamper, Dick Anderson, Chris Conlin, John Offerdahl, Mark Duper and Troy Drayton.

“What an amazing weekend.

I am continually inspired by the commitment of the South Florida community to cancer research,” Mandich said. “The fifth Dolphins Cycling Challenge was an enormous success thanks to the Miami Dolphins and our partner in UM. A big thank you to all who rode, ran, walked, volunteered or donated.”

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

February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11

Mount Tabor celebrates 114th church anniversary

Rev. Royal delivered the sermon.

By Derek Joy In Black History Month; no less.

A religious journey reached a spiritual crescendo when Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Miami celebrated its 114 th anniversary with theme: “By Faith We Have the Victory”.

The essence of worship was captured on a program that incorporated the young, middle aged and elderly.

“At the top,” replied Rev. Dr. George E. McRae, who celebrates his 26th anniversary at Mount Tabor in April, replied, when asked; how does this celebration compare with the others he has presided over.

The program was even more notable for its incorporation of participants and congregants of all ages, from youth to senior citizens.

Among the youth were S’avanna Smith with the welcome and Tyrone N. Harris presenting a moment in Black History with a brief historical sketch of Muhammad Ali, who

won a golden gloves championship, an Olympic Gold Medal and multiple world heavyweight boxing titles?

The Rev. Zachary W. Royal, pastor of St. Mary’s First Missionary Baptist Church in Coconut Grove, delivered the sermon based on 1 Kings, 17:8.

“This text is about “Living at the bottom of the barrel,” said Royal, a native of Wichita, Kan. “This is about Ahab and his preoccupation with getting plenty. Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, were notorious for the wickedness they did. God put restrictions on him. God told him you have to learn to live with less.

“How do you learn to live at the bottom of the barrel? First, you have to learn to witness.

Second, you have to learn to worship. And once you learn to worship that’s when you start working.”

Zachary went a step further in telling a story of poor woman with a rebellious son questioning her for feeding a preacher, who was a stranger to him.

When it was all said and done, the son experienced an epiphany.

The son found that it was enough, and very good, too.

His mother then explained, in the words of Zachary. “Whatever is on your plate; thank God for it. The blessing was

Critics pounce after Obama talks Crusades, slavery at prayer breakfast much like the summit on bullying reset the conversation around LGBT youth.”

President Obama emphasized the need to respect minorities in his speech, saying it was part of the obligation Americans face as members of a diverse and open society. “And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such insults — and stand shoulder to shoulder with religious communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks.”

For the President, the prayer breakfast represented a role he has played before: explaining to Americans why others might President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2015.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post President Obama has never been one to go easy on America.

As a new President, he dismissed the idea of American exceptionalism, noting that Greeks think their country is special, too. He labeled the Bushera interrogation practices, euphemistically called “harsh” for years, as torture. America, he has suggested, has much to answer given its history in Latin America and the Middle East.

His latest challenge came recently at the National Prayer Breakfast. At a time of global anxiety over Islamist terrorism, Obama noted pointedly that his fellow Christians, who make up a vast majority of Americans, should perhaps not be the ones who cast the first stone.

“Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history,” he told the group, speaking of the tension between the compassionate and murderous acts religion can inspire. “And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.”

Some Republicans were outraged. “The President’s comments this morning at the prayer breakfast are the most offensive I’ve ever heard a President make in my lifetime,” said former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore (R). “He has offended every believing Christian in the United States. This goes further to the point that Mr. Obama does not believe in America or the values we all share.”

Obama’s remarks spoke to his unsparing, sometimes controversial, view of the United States — where triumphalism is often overshadowed by a harsh assessment of where Americans must try harder to

live up to their own self-image.

Only by admitting these shortcomings, he has argued, can we fix problems and move beyond them.

“There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency, that can pervert and distort our faith,” he said at the breakfast.

But many critics believe that the President needs to focus more on enemies of the United States.

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, called President Obama’s comments about Christianity “an unfortunate attempt at a wrongheaded moral comparison.” What we need more is a “moral framework from the Administration and a clear strategy for defeating ISIS,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.

President Obama spoke a day after meeting with Muslim leaders, in what participants said was his first roundtable with a Muslim-only group since taking office. The Muslim leaders argued that their community has faced unfair scrutiny in the wake of terrorist attacks overseas. Although the White House released only a broad description of the meeting — which touched on issues including racial profiling — participants said it gave them a chance to express their concerns directly to the President.

Farhana Khera, executive director of the civil rights group Muslim Advocates, one of 13 participants, said the session gave President Obama a chance to focus on Muslim Americans the way he has done with other constituencies, such as African American and Jewish groups.

“I started off by saying the biggest concern I hear from Muslim parents is their fear that their children will be ashamed to be Muslim because of discrimination,” Khera said.

“We are asking him to use his bully pulpit to have a White House summit on hate crimes against religious minorities,

see things differently. Joshua DuBois, who headed the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under President Obama and has served as an informal spiritual adviser, said the President is conscious of the fact that Islam is an abstraction for much of the general public.

“The President, as a Christian, knows many American Muslims,” DuBois said. “Unfortunately, a lot of folks in our country don’t have close relationships with Muslims. The only time they’re hearing about Islam is in the context of the foreign policy crisis or what’s happening with ISIS.” (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

REV. MCRAE never at the top. It was at the bottom,” said Zachary.

Knowing the history of Mount Tabor brings an easy link to the present day congregation; from its humble beginnings in the Lemon City of Miami during the segregated era, to the 17th Avenue location, on to its present location at 10500 N.W. Seventh Ave. “Back in the 40’s and 50’s,” said McRae, a native of Palatka, Fla., “living with 13 brothers and sisters you were going to do some living at the bottom of the barrel. And the bottom of the barrel didn’t stop until I left there.”

Added Rev. John Taylor, chairperson of the event: “I didn’t get here early enough to hear the entire message. I had a full responsibility at Mount Zion, where I’m the organist.

“I couldn’t just abandon my responsibilities there. I waited until Rev. Moss got started and I tipped out. I got here early enough to hear a lot of the sermon. What I heard was what I needed.”

McRae, a member of Greater Shiloh in Palatka, where Mt. Tabor’s sister church, Mount Tabor of Palatka, finds an added blessing in the celebration.

“That was my joy because it hooked me up to Mount Tabor in Palatka, said McRae of his appointment as pastor 26 years ago. It was a blessing.

“A lot of people don’t like the work we’ve done. God has blessed us. We’ve gotten people to come here from everywhere, from the streets, crack addicts, drug addicts that we’ve helped recover. By faith we have the victory.”

Page 12 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

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

Thank Edward for that car

General Motors Vice President Global Design, Ed Welburn, addresses the gathering after receiving the 2015 Black Engineer of the Year award at the BEYA STEM Conference, Black Engineer of the Year Gala.

By Khari Arnold, From Howard University News Service WASHINGTON, D.C. – If you love the sexy, sleekness of the Chevrolet Corvette, the elegance and luxury of the Cadillac Escalade, the cool truck/SUV look of the Chevrolet Avalanche or the pure brawn

of the Hummer H2, you can thank Edward Welburn Jr. Welburn is not exactly a household name, but for more than 20 years the Howard University graduate and one of the top executives for General Motors, has been overseeing the design of many of the world’s top cars and winning awards

and accolades, including from President Barack Obama.

For that work, Welburn, vice president for General Motors Global Design, was honored this past weekend as the Engineer of the Year by engineers from the automobile, space, science and technology industries at the 29th annual BEYA STEM Conference in Washington.

The conference is dedicated to building diversity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, an issue Welburn has led on during his 43 years in the automotive industry.

Welburn said while he has received many honors, BEYA’s was truly special.

“It’s still sinking in,” he said.

“To be recognized for something you love to do, and have fun doing, it’s kind of cool. It’s real cool.”

To honor his alma mater and to aid increased diversity and curriculum development in the STEM field, Welburn presented a $110,000 check to Howard University on behalf of General Motors.

“In achieving my goals, one of the defining chapters in my life was the time I spent at Howard University,” Welburn said. “There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t think about the instructors and professors and the guidance that I received from them and what I learned.”

Bethel AME—Pompano Beach hosts Rev. FredrickA. Davis at Men’s Day celebration service

REV. DAVIS

By Johnny L. McCray, Jr., Esquire Bethel A.M.E. Church, Pompano Beach, 405 Esther Rolle Ave. (formerly 405 N.W. Third Ave.), where Rev. Eddy Moise, Jr. is senior pastor, will hold its annual Men’s Day Celebration service on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, 10:45 a.m.

Rev. Fredrick A. Davis, pastor of First Cavalry Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. since 1991, will be guest preacher for the special Men’s Day service.

Rev. Davis, affectionately known as “Fred”, is a native of Broward County, 1974 graduate of Nova High School and is a respected preacher and community activist. In 1977, Rev. Davis was licensed to preach as a Christian Minister at the New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale under the pastorate of Rev. George E. Wea-

ver; four years later, he was ordained by Pastor Weaver.

He is married to Judith Hayes Davis and they have three sons.

Rev. Davis entered college and graduated in 1977 from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., earning a B.A. Degree (magna cum laude) in philosophy and religion. He continued his studies in the area of Philosophy and Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center at Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Ga., and graduated with honors in May 1980 with a Masters of Divinity Degree in Philosophy and graduate work in the area of counseling at the Tuskegee Veterans Administration Medical Center Department of Clinical Education (1982-1983.)

He has most recently completed a year’s seminary at Duke University dealing with more in-depth racial issues. Rev. Davis has worked in various fields of ministry and received numerous awards for community involvement and activism.

Rev. Davis presently serves as a Christian Education Consultant for Urban Ministries of Chicago, Ill. and is the National Alumni President and a board member for the Morehouse School of Religion, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Ga. Additionally, he serves as the chaplain for the National Alumni Association for Johnson C. Smith University.

He is affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and its auxiliaries; the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina; the East Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association, Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and American Baptist Churches, USA. He in the recent past served as school board member for the Durham District School Board.

His priorities were vocational education, equity in student disciplinary action and seeking greater diversity in student and staff populations.

Rev. Davis’ Bethel visit will be the highlight of the annual men’s day celebration. His message to the men in particular expects to be powerfully uplifting. The theme this year is — “Christian Men: Living in Christ Abundantly”. Rev. Davis’ sermon will mark the culmination of the men’s day celebration which will include a Feb. 14 public forum Real Talk: Our Community Relations and Law Enforcement. Most in our community agree that much needs to be done to rid the community of police brutality, racial profiling, and questionable, civil gun violence, etc.

The Piper High School Gospel Chorale will be the in-service choir. Several Greek-letter organizations are expected to attend as well as the BethuneCookman University (B-CU) football team and local and state elected officials.

General Motors Vice President Global Design, Ed Welburn (left), receives the 2015 Black Engineer of the Year award from GM Board of Directors member Errol Davis (c) and GM Executive Vice President Global Product Development Mark Reuss at the BEYA Conference, Black Engineer of the Year Gala, Feb. 7, 2015 in Washington, D. C. (Photos by Tony Powell for General Motors) LaWanda Peace, the assistant dean of Howard’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences, said Welburn’s contribution by example and his donation can point more Howard students to STEM. “It’s really important to get our young Black people into the STEM area,” Peace said.

“STEM is where it is now. It really is.

“Back in 1972, when we first started trying to get young Black people into engineering, it probably wasn’t even 3 percent of the workforce that was Black at that time.”

When Welburn was 11, he wrote General Motors asking

for information on how to become a car designer. Eleven years later, he joined General Motors as an associate designer in the Advanced Design Studios.

Welburn, who also interned at the company the summer before he graduated, would go on to become the first AfricanAmerican designer at General Motors. In Welburn’s current position, every car that General Motors develops globally is created under his design direction.

Welburn, the highestranked African-American in the automotive industry, said he wants to see more African-Americans and other people of

color to follow on his path.

“I just want to see Black folks do well,” Welburn said. “I want to see them succeed. Car design was what I wanted, and I know there are people out there who have the same dreams, whether it’s car design or whatever it is that they’re interested in. We need to do everything we can to open doors and help them realize their dreams.

“There are so many creative young people that are looking for an outlet, and I want to help them realize their dreams. I know from my many years designing automobiles for General Motors that having a diverse workforce has huge benefits in developing a design for a car.”

Minority groups back energy companies in fight against solar power

By Evan Halper Support from minority organizations has given power companies a potent ally in their fight to slow the spread of solar energy installations. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) When Florida officials pulled the plug on a significant incentive for rooftop solar systems, the move came at the urging of big power companies with a heavy reliance on fossil fuels — and of the state chapter of the NAACP. The Florida chapter is one of a number of minority organizations that have aligned with utilities. Their backing has given power companies a potent ally in their fight to slow the spread of solar energy installations. The groups are pressing their case aggressively even as the national NAACP and other large civil rights organizations back solar incentives, arguing they are key to shutting down dirty power plants that contribute to elevated rates of asthma and other diseases in low-income communities.

The groups that have lined up on the utilities’ side are showing up in legislative hearing rooms, regulatory proceedings and on newspaper op-ed pages to make the case that what they call unjust incentives favoring the wealthy undermine the virtues of solar power. Lowincome households, they say, are paying higher electric bills to subsidize solar arrays that only wealthier people can afford.

Competing environmental justice groups say other economics are at play, pointing to generous campaign and charitable contributions that utilities have made to some of the groups. Whatever the motivation, groups such as the Florida NAACP are tapping into a long-

running tension over renewable energy and a perception in many minority communities that environmental causes are a preserve of the affluent. “It has become a very complex fight,” said Arturo Carmona, executive director of Presente.org, a Los Angelesbased Latino group that is working with environmentalists to promote solar incentives.

“These are good programs.

But there is a stigma the utilities are exploiting.” The issue of whether access to solar power is skewed toward the affluent has caught the attention of White House officials. Recently the Obama Administration announced a series of efforts with California authorities aimed at bringing rooftop solar to less expensive dwellings, including apartments, condos and affordable-housing projects.

The fight in the states centers on a policy called net metering, which guarantees homeowners or businesses that have solar panels the right to sell excess electricity back to the power grid at attractive rates. It is key to making solar energy costcompetitive.

“We want solar available for everybody, not just people who are wealthy,” said Joe Gibbons, a former Florida lawmaker. He persuaded the National Black Caucus of State Legislators to pass a resolution that closely resembles one drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, the conservative advocacy group partially funded by utility companies. In October, Gibbons traveled to Capitol Hill to enlist Black members of Congress into his campaign.

At a briefing for staff, he was joined by a representative of the Edison Electric Institute, an influential energy industry group. Tax records show the institute gave $10,000 to the National Black Caucus of State

Legislators in 2013, the most recent year for which records are available. In the two previous years, the institute gave $17,500 to the National Policy Alliance. It contributed $120,000 to organizations run by the Congressional Black Caucus between 2008 and 2013. The Florida chapter of the NAACP acknowledges utilities are among its donors, but does not disclose how much they give. Alton Drew, an attorney for the group, took exception to the question.

“It is insulting to say that these civil rights groups are on the take because they have a position that may seem aligned with that of energy providers,” he said. “You can draw the conclusion that the program is good, but there is a real question about whether we [minorities] are being included.”

Other civil rights groups say attacking the policy driving the boom in rooftop solar is misguided. “The transition to solar is disproportionately to the benefit of these communities, no matter who owns the systems,” said Jacqui Patterson, the national NAACP’s environmental justice director. Patterson rattled off sobering statistics about the health problems afflicting African Americans living near power plants.

In Indiana, Denise AbdulRahman, the environmental coordinator for that state’s NAACP chapter, said her group advocated net metering, even though she doubted any of the 600 customers in Indiana’s fledgling program were African American. Indiana, like Florida, is among the states where the program is under attack.

Abdul-Rahman said the Indiana NAACP supported net metering for reasons not only of environmental justice but economic opportunity. “I don’t see any benefit in helping the energy monopolies continue with the status quo,” she said.

“Our communities can benefit much more by homing in on the green-energy economic movement.” Still, the debate reveals a political vulnerability for solar advocates. “I don’t blame folks who are afraid that the deck is stacked against them,” Patterson said. “The environmental community and solar industry have a ways to go in engaging with communities of color.” evan.halper@latimes.com Twitter: @evanhalper

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

February 12 - February 18, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 13

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to have artistic residency and performances at the Broward Center Performances include Matthew Rushing’s ‘Odetta’, a tribute to ‘the voice of the Civil Rights Movement, and Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece, ‘Revelations’ FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AADT), beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, will hold an artistic residency, Thursday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts including five performances featuring three programs of repertoire, a student performance and a public master class.

Prior to the launch of Ailey’s exciting new season, Artistic Director Robert Battle visited the White House to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor - on behalf of Alvin Ailey.

Bestowed 25 years after the passing of the company’s legendary founder, President Obama proclaimed that “through him, African-American history was told in a way that it had never been told before — with passionate, virtuoso dance performances that transfixed audiences worldwide.”

The company carries on Ailey’s pioneering legacy of uplifting, uniting and celebrating the human spirit as Ailey’s extraordinary dancers bring life to a wide variety of premieres, new productions and classic works.

The Associated Press proclaimed that “… the timing could hardly be more apt for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s new civil rights-themed piece” Odetta. The world premiere choreographed by renowned Ailey dancer Matthew Rushing is a tribute set to the musical repertoire of celebrated singer and civil rights activist Odetta Holmes. Holmes was known as “the voice of the Civil Rights Movement” and anointed as “the queen of American folk music” by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Alvin Ailey “Revelations”.

In addition to this season’s world premiere of Odetta, Broward Center audiences will be introduced to different and respected choreographers whose works are being performed by Ailey for the first time. After The Rain Pas de Deux, the iconic and sensual duet by famed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, “… is set to Arvo Pärt’s ‘Spiegel Im Spiegel’…which prompts languid and soaring moves that Mr. Wheel-don’s choreography inventively embodies….” stated The Wall Street Journal.

Suspended Women, created by celebrated former Martha Graham dancer, choreographer and master teacher Jacqulyn Buglisi, to a score by Maurice Ravel is called a “… complicated delight…” by New York magazine.

Other premieres and new productions to be performed at the Broward Center include Awassa Astrige/Ostrich, by Sierra Leone-born choreo-

(Photo by Gert Krautbauer) grapher Asadata Dafora; Polish Pieces by Hans van Manen; and Bad Blood, by former Ailey dancer and renowned choreographer Ulysses Dove with music by Laurie Anderson and Peter Gabriel.

Alvin Ailey’s signature work Revelations, which celebrates African-American culture using gospel and blues, will be danced at all performances and will be one of the works performed for students at the Broward Center.

AADT will offer many educational and enriching programs during the residency. On Friday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m., AADT presents a Smart Stage Matinee. Student group tickets can be purchased by calling (954) 660-6307. AADT presents a master class for experienced dancers ages 14 years to adult on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. This 90-minute session will be conducted by an Ailey company member and will focus on the Horton Technique. Space in the class is limited and there is a fee to participate. A limited number of observer seats are

Alvin Alley Matthew Rushing’s “Odetta” (Photo by Mike Strong) The performances and artisavailable. Reservations for the Alvin Ailey master class are tic residency are generously supavailable by calling (954) 468- ported by Funding Arts Broward, Inc. and by a grant from 2689.

South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Performances on Thursday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. will feature Polish Pieces, After the Rain Pas de Deux, Bad Blood and Revelations. Performances on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. feature Odetta, Suspended Women and Revelations. The program on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. features LIFT, Awassa Astrige/ Ostrich, D-Man in the Waters (Part 1) and Revelations.

Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, Parker Playhouse and affiliated venues.

Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org or, Ticketmaster.com; by phone at (954) 462-0222 or TTD/TTY at (800) 359-2525; in person at Ticketmaster outlets or the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. Know who you are buying from when you purchase tickets; we cannot provide refunds or customer service for tickets purchased from unauthorized sites, brokers or secondary ticket sellers.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Page 14 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • February 12 - February 18, 2015

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

Polishing the jewel: President to invest two billion dollars, connect national parks to public breakthrough, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) stands out, as it should. The organization was founded in 1919 by the very first superintendent of the National Park System, to be an advocate and watchdog for the parks. As a member of the board since 2001, I’ve had the luxury of contributing a black citizen’s perspective to the extraordinary work they’ve helped to lead, including striving to get Congress to fund the parks appropriately. So we’re on a happy roll, and you can be part of it as well.

Meanwhile, members of the Diverse Environmental Leaders (DEL) National Speakers Bureau that we launched last summer are making a differ-

ence for parks and people through their speaking engagements across the country.

Please check out our website to see what we’ve been up to, and note the diversity of communities represented and our areas of focus.

Our President’s vision for a Park System that is inclusive and reflective of all can be achieved in a very short time if our country mobilizes and takes advantage of the talent we have amassed in DEL. Whether the need is to prepare young people for careers on our public lands, Angelou Ezeilo; or provide tours that connect communities to their heritage in the parks, Sid Wilson; whether it’s helping organizations shift to a more

inclusive culture, Jarid Manos; or using land management experience to reach more diverse communities, Mamie Parker, PhD, DEL Speakers’ experience and expertise can be of invaluable assistance.

So here’s the ask: Now that we’ve put all this together and we’re in the right place at the right time, all that’s left is for you to contact us to discuss who is best suited to help address your issues!

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Can you imagine seeing this view with your own two eyes? Such is the awesome splendor of our Crown Jewel National Parks, illustrated by Grand Teton in Wyoming.

(Dept. of Interior photo) In a powerful demonstration of the value of our National Park System, President Obama has proposed an investment of approximately two billion dollars to “polish” our jewels in time for its managing agency’s 100th anniversary in 2016.

And true to his focus on engaging all people, his 2016 budget request to Congress includes $20 million each year to transport over one million young people from urban communities to national parks and public lands, where dedicated youth coordinators will welcome them and their families.

Have I died and gone to heaven?!

True, it’s not a done deal yet since the budget has to be approved by Congress. But I feel for the first time since I laid eyes on my first national park in 1995 that we are finally giving them their rightful attention as “America’s Crown Jewels.”

Do you know what the British do with their “Crown Jewels?” They keep them under lock and key in the Tower of London. While our Crown Jewels are spread out in a living necklace from the flawless aquamarine of Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida to that massive diamond that is Mount Denali in Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska. Oooh!

I can hardly think of a better way to start the year and Black History Month than to have President Obama’s gleaming vision of the future of our national parks as places of healing and self-discovery for our young people, for individuals and families.

His proposal lays the foundation for all Americans to weigh in on the future of our national parks as the budget is negotiated. No doubt we will need to mobilize to show our support of the President’s bud-

get request and let our re-presentatives in Congress know that it is important to us that we have the funds and mechanisms to protect our parks into perpetuity “for the benefit of this and future generations.” ”America, Go See It!” we declared in our first issue of Pickup & GO! published November, 1995, exhorting our peers to turn their eyes to the scintillating world of national parks we had found just beyond city limits. We were so enthusiastic and persistent that it took a while for us to notice that some of our friends’ eyes would start to glaze over as we approached.

Between that time and now, a movement has grown so expansively that the invitation is now coming from the President, with a focus on underexposed communities. How cool is that?

Among all the people and groups working toward this

DR. BALLARD SHARED LOVE OF THE SEA WITH STUDENTS AT BB&T CENTER – Feb. 2, 2015, The Florida Panthers hosted underwater explorer Dr. Ballard to share his incredible discoveries and passion for the sea with the students of Broward County. The event was held in the BB&T Center where the students were able to view pictures and accounts from exciting expeditions like the German battleship Bismarck, as well as the natural wonders under the surface of the sea.

Additionally, Dr. Ballard shared insights from his 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic as well as his latest 2014 expedition aboard the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus. It was a fantastic event and the students truly appreciated the firsthand account from Dr. Ballard. This event was made possible by the Florida Panthers Foundation. The Foundation partnered with the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) and Dr. Ballard for the 2014 exploration voyage throughout the Florida Straits, Gulf Coast, and Caribbean as well as OET’s STEM initiatives in Broward County schools.