Niagara Falls Native Delivers Benediction at Biden Inauguration

CAO Appoints Thomas U. Kim New President: Retiring CEO Nate Hare Calls Him “Inspiring Leader”

Living with the “Silent Thief”: Is It Time for a Glaucoma Screening? By Dr. Deepan Selvadurai

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, but what do we really know about glaucoma? It is the second leading cause of blindness in the world in adults over the age of 60, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. In black populations, for instance, glaucoma occurs about ten years earlier on average, more frequently, and with higher rates of blindness. There are a few reasons why glaucoma — “the silent thief of sight” — can be more concerning than other diseases that affect vision. We’ll talk about some here, and why scheduling regular glaucoma screenings can be a step to saving your long-term vision. The first step to understanding glaucoma is to understand a little about the eye’s anatomy. Light enters the eye where it’s focused — or “refracted” — onto the retina, which contains millions of light-sensitive cells. These cells organize the information the eye receives and sends it to the brain. The “cable” that carries these signals is called the optic nerve. Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes the pressure inside of the eye to rise, damaging the optic nerve, resulting in the loss of peripheral (side) vision. It’s a chronic, progressing illness that will continue to worsen over time, and unlike some other eye diseases, the vision loss that occurs is permanent. This makes early detection critical. There are a variety of different ways to stop or slow glaucoma’s progression — but only if it’s caught in time.

Why Is Glaucoma So Concerning?

There are three main sources of blindness in older Americans: macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma. There’s a key difference between glaucoma and the other two, however, and it has to do with the way it affects your vision. AMD and cataracts affect the central vision, while glaucoma causes vision loss from the outside in. This is a part of why glaucoma is called the “silent thief of sight”. It slowly steals away your peripheral vision and it does it with very few symptoms. Because this vision is key to mobility and overall function, most people don’t notice the loss of peripheral vision until it starts to have huge impacts on their overall independence — and at that point, vision loss may be too severe to overcome.

Early Detection is Key

A number of risk factors contribute to glaucoma, including age, ethnicity, and genetics, and lifestyle habits. While we’re not sure why exactly black Americans are affected much more heavily than other ethnic groups, glaucoma is also hereditary. If glaucoma runs in your family, you’re significantly more at risk for it. Other conditions that can put you at a greater risk for developing glaucoma include diabetes, hypertension, and even extreme nearsightedness. All this is to say that having regular glaucoma screenings is so important to the long-term preservation of your vision. You may not notice your peripheral vision as much as your central vision, but there’s a reason why it’s said that glaucoma is “the worst way to go blind” — your side vision is critical to mobility, driving, and staying independent later in life. Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, but preventable. It’s never too early to be screened for eye diseases, especially if you have a family member with the disease or are in a high risk group, as African Americans tend to be. Dr. Selvadurai ,one of Buffalo’s premiere glaucoma specialists, is a fellowship trained and board certified cataract and glaucoma specialist, completing training at Northwestern University, The Mayo Clinic, and the University of Toronto on advanced methods for treating and managing complex cases of glaucoma.

The Community Action Organization of WNY’s (CAO) Board of Directors has selected Thomas U. Kim as its new President and CEO. Kim has a 30+ year career of extensive organizational, management, and fiscal leadership experience across non-profit, government, military, and for-profit sectors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Primo Center in Chicago, an organization that serves the city’s homeless population Kim’s life experience also stood out to CAO’s Board. He grew up in extreme poverty while being raised by a single immigrant mother. His family experienced racial injustice first-hand. The Honorable Craig D. Hannah, CAO’s Board President, said he looks forward to working with Kim. “The Board, with the help of an extensive search process conducted by the executive search firm Catapult Executive Consulting, selected Kim because of his high-level leadership and management experience with many non-profit organizations across the nation.” Hannah added: “His passion for driving change in low-income communities stems from a first-hand understanding of the issues they face.” Retiring President and CEO of CAO, L. Nathan Hare, said he is impressed by Kim’s record of leadership. “Mr. Kim is an inspiring leader who can carry our mission forward with a new vision, ideas, and enthusiasm,” Hare said. In September of last year Mr. Hare announced plans to retire after serving the antipoverty agency for 18 years. Hare, a lifelong resident of the City of Buffalo , has worked in youth employment, youth training and education, foster care, social services, and juvenile justice for more than 40 years. He served as leader of the CAO since 2002. Between 2002 and the present, he increased the agency’s operating revenue from under $20,000,000 to well over $40,000,000 and brought the agency’s employee headcount from just over 300 to well over 800. He also dramatically expanded the number and quality of program offerings that were aimed more broadly at eliminating the root causes of poverty and the lack of opportunity. The Community Action Organization of WNY was incorporated in 1965 and operates anti-poverty programs in Erie and Niagara counties. Annually, CAO serves more than 50,000 families and individuals . Hare will continue his work in the community as an antipoverty leader, activist,

FREE THE BUFFALO 5! The community is asked to call D.A. John Flynn (716) 858-2424 Extension 1, and ask him to NOT oppose the Motion To Vacate Indictment 41-413.

Nate Hare Thomas Kim and educator, and will continue to empower the vulnerable and unheard. He is hopeful for what the future will bring under new leadership at CAO.

6 "THIS IS OUR COUNTRY" Niagara Falls Native Reverend Dr.Silvester Beaman Delivers A

Powerful Benediction at Presidential Inauguaration

Western New York was well represented at the Nations Capital Wednesday for PresidentElect Joe Biden's inauguration when Niagara Falls native, Reverend Dr. Silvester Beaman delivered the benediction. Rev. Dr.Beaman ended his powerful, spirit-filled prayer with these words. “…This is our benediction, that from these hallowed grounds, where slaves labored to build this shrine and citadel to liberty and democracy let us all acknowledge from the indigenous native American, to those who recently received their citizenship, from the African American to those whose foreparents came from Europe and every corner of the globe from the wealthy to those struggling to make it…from every human being regardless of their choices…that this is our country..as such teach us O God…to live in it, love in it, be healed in it and reconciled to one another in it, less we miss Kingdom’s goal." Reverend Dr. Silvester Beaman is a graduate of Niagara Falls High School and a longtime friend of the Biden family. Reverend Beaman's mother still lives in Niagara Falls as well as his mother-in-law and five of his eight siblings. "Niagara Falls is very dear to me. When I go home, I go to Viola’s to pick up my sub, I go to Mr. Ventry’s to get my pizza. ... I go to Ted’s to get my hot dogs," Pastor Beamen told 2 On Your Side last week. Reverend Dr. Silvester Baeman is currently the Pastor of Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington Delaware.

Go Bills: Playoffs on the Patios Returns to Chippewa

Cast of Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible

Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible. January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

This is not a feel good cause, it is a life or death cause -- it is a global crime that is hidden and unreported because traffickers can be anybody - including your next door neighbor, the high school coach, the bartender, the hair salon owner, the minister, the judge, the lawyer - hence nobody wants to talk about it or the system continues to discredit and let down the victims of these crimes. They come from all walks of life, they are every age, they are every color, they are women, girls, men and boys, the disabled, and the unwanted. Sold, beaten, drugged, or killed for body parts in organ harvesting.

The United States is the largest exporter of trafficking victims, and they are the largest consumer of trafficking human contraband. More than 40 million people world wide are enslaved or indentured, in the United States it is estimated at hundreds of thousands - it is difficult to give an accurate count because it is a hidden crime - in factories, low cost hotels and motels, private homes, small businesses, agriculture, you name it. Often hiding in plain sight and we just don't know how to recognize the signs and what steps to take to help the victims. It's important to remember that it can happen to anybody...and it does.

For those of you who have not seen the video, Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible. It is available for rent on VIMEO and proceeds are for efforts in the war against human trafficking and Project Mona's House, a transitional home for women who have escaped and are seeking to restore and rebuild their lives.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/towiamnotinvisible2

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Please share and support. No amount is too small. Every penny matters.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-am-not-invisible You can also go to projectmonashouse.com for more info on its mission . Restaurant operators at Soho and Rec Room are working with the Small Business Social Distancing Initiative for the return of "Playoffs on the Patios," a safe, socially distant dining experience for Bills Fans as they cheer on the Buffalo Bills during their game against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday January 24.

"Playoffs on the Patios" is part of Reopen Buffalo, the Brown Administration's ongoing effort to support City businesses during the COVID-19 emergency.

On Sunday Chippewa Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 1pm - 11:30pm from Franklin Street to the Buffalo Tap House as crews set up additional dining tables and chairs and two large LED video screens for patrons to enjoy great food and Buffalo Bills football. Gates open at 5:30 pm and you must be 21 years of age or older for admittance.

Tables are limited and reservations are required, to reserve a table email reservations@recroombuffalo.com or text 716-939-1279. National Museum of African American Music The long awaited ribbon cutting for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. took place on Monday, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, in the heart of the city's tourist district. It is a 56,000-square-foot tribute to the makers of the first music that was truly American — “one nation under a groove,” as the museum’s tagline puts it in a nod to the George Clinton song. Beginning with the musical traditions of enslaved people, its interactive exhibits celebrate the brilliant legacy that has followed the first Black Americans through more than 50 musical genres and subgenres — classical, country, gospel, jazz, blues and hip-hop, just for starters — during the past 400 years. According to the museum’s website, no other museum with this purpose exists in the world.

OPENING NIGHT: Pictured above, a scene from opening night Kwanzaa 1980. Sounds and Echoes along with special invited guests Art of Black Dance and Music perform at 11 E. Utica , then known as The Center for Positive Thought. The late Alene Barnes Hardin took the photo. It was a very exciting opening night! Emile Latimer and Gey Lyons in foreground. Gaynell Sherrod and Yvonne Hicks in background. Classic photo classic time! (Submitted by Gail “Gey” Lyons)