Challenger Community News April 29, 2020

WE’RE STILL ON PAUSE!

The Weather Is Breaking. But COVID-19 is Still Here! • Wear A Mask Wash Your Hands • Practice Social Distancing • STAY HOME WHEN YOU CAN ! STAY SAFE! STAY POSITIVE!

April 29, 2020 | FREE |

Testing For COVID-19 In Communities of Color

Legislator April Baskin’s Call For Eastside Testing Site Passes, Bringing COVID Testing To Delavan Avenue . Community Health Center Of Buffalo To Begin Offering Coronavirus Testing Next Week ; And G-Health’s Visionary Plan Includes Bringing Mobile Testing To Underserved Neighborhoods. Page 3

SPORTS

The 2020 NFL Draft & Rochester Roots Page 10

LOCAL

Update: Juneteenth is Still On! But It’s ON LINE! Page 8

VOICES

BRIEFS

People In The News Page 8

Antoine Thompson: Over 50 Years After Fair Housing Act, Unfair Housing In U.S. Still Exists Page 8

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUFFALO, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 164

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INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

“DeDe in the Morning” Brings Fun, Laughter and Love to Rochester on The Beat 105.5 Bluelight Communications-owned WLGZ-HD2 “The Beat 1055” in Rochester, N.Y. debuted “DeDe in the Morning” Monday, March 16 from 5-10 a.m.

“We are excited to have the DeDe in the Morning Show as an integral member of The Beat 1055 family,” says Director of Branding & Programming, Pamela Aniese. “DeDe and her team bring much needed “fun, laughter and love” in the morning to the City of Rochester with her unique and compelling brand of entertainment, information and sense of community.”

DeDe states, “We are blessed to wake up the City of Rochester on our new home on The Beat. We are ready to bring the fun, laughter and rock to Rochester each morning.”

Compass Media Networks officially launched DeDe in the Morning in partnership with Service Broadcasting in Dallas TX in mid-2018. The show now reaches 40 affiliates.

City Urges Residents to Delay Neighborhood Beautification Efforts Until NYS on PAUSE is Rescinded The City of Rochester is urging all residents, neighborhood groups and community organizations to continue social distancing and delay neighborhood clean-up efforts until stay-athome restrictions are lifted and the greater Rochester area has been declared safe to reopen.

“While I love this city dearly, and I love to see it looking its absolute best, there will be plenty of time to beautify our community when it is safe to do so,” said Norman Jones, Commissioner of the City’s Department of Environmental Services.“Right now, the most important thing is to protect yourself, protect your circle and protect those in our community who are most vulnerable to the ravaging effects of COVID-19.”

COVID-19 UPDATE MONROE COUNTY AND ROCHESTER As of Sunday, April 26 there were a total of 108 deaths in Monroe County and Rochester from COVID-19. Of the 1,296 confirmed cases, 100 people are hospitalized. 21 of the 100 patients are in the ICU on a ventilator.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

Testing For COVID-19 In Communities of Color Chairwoman April Baskin’s Call for Eastside G-Health Leads Community Response Plan to Combat COVID-19 Testing Site Passes Unanimously, Bringing r. Raul Vazquez has been leading the call for more COVID Testing Site to Delavan Ave. testing in the community since early March. That was After significant pressure from the 2nd District Legislator, Erie County partners with Kaleida to make testing more available in the 14215 zip code.

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resolution calling on Erie County to establish an easily accessible testing site on Buffalo’s Eastside, which was primarily sponsored by Chairwoman April Baskin (D- Buffalo), passed with unanimous support of the Erie County Legislature.

The Eastside site, located at the Leroy Coles branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System located at 1187 E. Delavan Avenue, began operating last Friday.

Legislator Baskin announced earlier this week that since last Friday, April 24, during 8 hours of operation, a total of 80 individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 were tested, demonstrating the need to exChairwoman April Baskin pand testing hours of operation.

“This site will now be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and increase the maximum number of specimens to 90 per day,” she said.

Although appointments are required, testing is available to ANY resident with symptoms, not just a symptomatic essential workers and their families. A prescription from a primary care provider ordering the test is preferred, but individuals with symptoms who do not have a primary care doctor can still contact Kaleida to schedule a testing appointment by way of their website at www.kaleidahealth.org or by calling 859-3222. Remember, you still need to schedule an appointment!

The resolution from April 13th identified the significant health disparities made worse during the COVID19 crisis and called on Erie County to proactively implement a “drivethru” style testing site with minimal person to person contact on Buffalo’s Eastside, as has been done in several suburbs including Amherst and Lancaster. Three of the zip codes (14208, 14211, 14215) in this area have a proportionately high number of positive COVID19 cases. These locations also happen to be the home of numerous low-wage essential workers and their families. National data suggests that neighborhood testing is crucial to guaranteeing positive health outcomes, especially in communities that lack access to quality preventive care.

“I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the men and women of the African American Health Disparities Task Force,” said Baskin. “Reverend George Nicholas and Reverend Kinzer Pointer were crucial to making this testing site a reality. Their counsel and insight helped me as I negotiated with my partners in government, and our community owes them a debt of gratitude for their work.”

“We must advocate for our communities now that testing is more widely available,” said Baskin. “Many of our essenContinued Page 7

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when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

He, along with Rev. George Nicholas, convener of the African American Health Disparities Task Force, were encouraged by the opening of the community’s first coronavirus testing site inside the Leroy R. Coles Branch Library on East Delavan last week.

“It’s an absolute positive for the community and it’s going to help,” noted Pastor Nicholas.

Dr. Vazquez, the visionary president and CEO of G- Health Enterprises, a health care organization which encompasses several affiliates including GBUAHN and the Urban Family Practice in the Jefferson Plaza, has launched a Community Action Response Plan to unite churches, community based organizations, and medical partners in Western New York for a comprehensive approach to combat the coronavirus and lessen its effects on the community.

G-Health has begun to test the high risk patients of Urban Family Practice and is opening the testing to those patients of providers that participate in The Greater Buffalo United Independent Physician’s Association Network (GBUACO), also an affiliate of G-Health. Erie County recently added a zip code feature to its COVID-19 map. So far, one of Dr. Raul Vazquez the largest cluster of cases includes people in 14215, which is the City of Buffalo’s East Side.

The outcomes of the community response plan are to improve treatment, reduce mortality, and reduce the burden on the hospitals.

This past Monday, testing vehicles secured from two health insurers by Dr. Vazquez, set up outside the Urban Family Practice on Jefferson to do testing on Medicaid patients. The staff returned the next day to do more testing.

The vans will be parked in various other parking lots in the zip codes where positive results have been among the highest. Churches, community centers and other health practices will serve as testing sites going forward.

What G-Health is doing, and the Community Health Center of Buffalo is doing, compliments the testing taking place at the Coles Library. Last week Urban Family Practice began testing people in a tent in the parking lot of its Niagara Street headquarters. It’s scheduled to continue from 9 to 11 a.m. daily

If a person experiences any elevated symptoms, home isolation is recommended. Plans are in the works to establish a hotel that will be available to isolate anyone who cannot isolate at home. Included in this plan is clinical support staff to monitor these patients, collaboration with pharmacists to deliver and administer medications, and connecting with social services to offer any resources needed for families during this time.

If any members or patients are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please download the GBUAHN, GBUACO, or UFP apps to complete a COVID-19 survey or call the nurse triage line at 716-604-0504.

For more details about G-Health’s Community Response Plan

see their advertorial on Page 4.

We’re Here, We’re Open, and We’re offering Coronavirus Testing!

“We are playing an important role in containing the spread of the COVID-19 Virus. We are conducting diagnostic testing and seeing patients through telemedicine." Dr. LaVonne Ansari, CEO

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uring the world’s worst health crisis in over a century, the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. (CHCB) is open and ready to serve you. On Tuesday, May 7, CHCB will begin offering weekly diagnostic Corona COVID-19 testing for their patients on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 am to 4 p.m. at the Health Center's 34 Benwood Avenue location.

If you are one of the Commuity Dr. LaVonne Ansari Health Center of Buffalo's patients and are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, chills, dry cough, low energy), call our office at (716) 986-9199, ext. 5100 to schedule a COVID-19 test.

You must have a prescription from your CHCB primary care provider to be tested.

If you are not one of the Health Center's current patients and do not have a primary care provider or insurance, the center can still help you by scheduling you with one of their doctors and one of their NYS certified insurance enrollers will help you obtain insurance.

"In addition, we welcome new patients. We are still scheduling regular in-person and Telemedicine medical care and counseling appointments," according to a statment from CHCB. Telemedicine visits are conducted using a computer or a smartphone and allow doctors to see or talk to patients in the safety of their homes. Emergency dental and physical therapy appointments are also available by calling 986-9199.

Currently The Community Health Center of Buffalo is only testing its own patients and people who don’t have a primary care provider. However plans are underway for the Center to become a testing site where anyone can get tested and once that is finalized in the upcoming weeks, CHCB will announce it to the community.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

BUILDING COMMUNITY AMID Positive Examples of Working Together Within Our Communities To Support Ourselves And Our Neighbors During The Covid-19 Crisis FEEDING BUFFALO! Feed Buf-

falo, the city’s first healthy, organic and halal safe food pantry, had a successful food giveaway for the Ramadan food drive, feeding more than 163 fasting families in one week! Drea D’Nur, owner/operator of this unique and very much needed healthy pantry, managed to successfully accomplish this with the help of her dedicated community volunteers and participant leaders who helped organize the orders. The pantry has had an outpouring of support in our City Of Good Neighbors. D’Nur plans to open an Eastside location in the very near future. Need food? Go to feed buffalo.org (Photo by Dr. Samina Raja )

Drea D'Nur

GOOD NEIGHBORS! Hats off to ABC Hardware & Rental, 3336 Bailey Avenue, where free masks and gloves were recently distributed to residents. ABC also provided supplies to Betty Jean Grant’s one-woman "Protect Yourself Against the Coronavirus" messaging campaign. Sister Grant secured a donation from ABC for the Challenger’s staff and drivers as well. Pictured above (left ) is owner Brett C. Begley and general manager John Koch. Great eighbors! Challenger Photo

PROTECTING THE PEOPLE: Thanks to Buffalo Common Council President and Ellicott District Councilmember Darius Pridgen free disposable masks and gloves were handed out at the JFK Center last Friday afternoon. The distribution was for the Ellicott District’s most vulnerable residents, seniors, and those with pre-existing conditions and those who cannot afford or find masks. Pictured above, Marc Pope, Chief of Staff to Common Council President Pridgen, gives a mask/gloves packet to a local resident.

Challenger Photo

Four Distance Learning Ideas

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ith the national economy coming to a grinding halt and educational institutions shutting down to help flatten the coronavirus curve, many parents and guardians now find ourselves in a unique homeschooling situation that we, and many of our school districts, were not prepared for. I would like to share some of those ideas to make the best out of teaching our children at home.

1. Don't Worry, Be Resourceful. Find out what your child's grade level learning targets are. If you want to know for sure what your child's learning targets are reach out to their teacher and find out. I am sure they would be more than happy to give you that information! As parents and guardians our job is to provide added resources to support our child's learning targets and competency standards. In other words, if your child has a Social Studies assignment about Ancient Egypt, there are many resources online, especially on YouTube, that you can share with them. If it is Math, no problem. You may not know the weird math your child is learning but someone does and there are resources online and offline to support them.

2.Physical Education is Every Day. According to various studies regarding life spans, the present generation is the first generation that is expected to not outlive their parents and guardians. A combination of sedentary lifestyles, obesity, poor diets and other issues are the causative factors. With the social climate around COVID-19, this is an excellent opportunity to reinforce the importance of health and wellness. Encourage some form of physical activity for your child EVERY DAY. Use the TikTok app or YouTube for some fun dance activity. Also, join them! In regards to diet and eating the right foods, include healthy snacks in your daily routine and easy to prepare healthy meals that promote optimum health. Health is Wealth!

3. Don't Forget The Life Skills. Use this time to incorporate basic life skills in your daily routine. Teaching a child how to separate, wash and dry clothes, garden, how to use certain computer programs, clean the bathroom and nu-

merous other tasks that they will need later in life is priceless. These tasks are usually not even taught in school and this is a unique opportunity to school them. Plus you can make these tasks fun.

4. Your Home is the Classroom. Distance learning does not mean to replicate our child's classroom at home. You are now the teacher, again. I say "again" because you were the first teacher to begin with.

So make your child's learning environment yours. You determine the structure, time period and resources to support

your child's learning environment. If the first thing in the morning you want your child to do is read for fifteen minutes, cool. If you want them

to watch a ten-minute national geographic video while they eat breakfast, do it. If they usually have math after lunch Continued Page 11

Join Betty Jean Grant & Sherry Sherrill Co-Hosts of

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Spirited • Informative • Relevant • Community News & Views To Join in the Conversation Call 716-674-9555.

Listen online on the WJJL Old Time Rock And Roll App, or live on Facebook at the Betty Jean Grant Facebook Homepage (To Become A Weekly Sponsor Call 716-602-5877)

G-Health Enterprises Leads Community Response Plan G-Health Enterprises is once again leading the way in redesigning what it means to be a community medical organization. G-Health has launched a Community Response Plan. This Community Action Response Plan’s initiative is to unite churches, community based organizations, and medical partners in Western New York for a comprehensive approach to combat the coronavirus and mitigate its effects on the community.

To achieve these goals, they will be conducting outreach efforts to provide education and connections with primary care providers, social support, and community resources, launching accessible, multi-site testing centers to test high risk, symptomatic patients, utilizing tele-health and tele-monitoring systems to address the virus and maintain patient health, and creating a voluntary isolation unit within hotels to reduce the burden on hospitals and families for those with mild-to-moderate coronavirus symptoms.

G-Health has begun to test the high risk patients of Urban Family Practice and is opening the testing to those patients of providers that participate in the GBUACO Network. Erie County recently added a zip code feature to its COVID-19 map. So far, one of the largest cluster of cases includes people in 14215, which is the City of Buffalo’s East Side. The outcomes of the community response plan are to improve treatment, reduce mortality, and reduce the burden on the hospitals.

G-Health has developed a detailed protocol for patients that test positive for COVID-19. If people experience mild/moderate symptoms the nurse tele-triage team will evaluate the patient and continue to educate them on COVID-19.

Self-isolation is recommended and performance of evaluations to determine if other household members should be tested.

If a person experiences any elevated symptoms, home isolation is recommended. Plans are in the works to establish a hotel that will be available to isolate anyone who cannot isolate at home due to other family members and etc. Included in this plan is clinical support staff to monitor these patients using tytocare, collaboration with pharmacists to deliver and administer medications, and connecting with social services to offer any resources needed for families during this time.

If any members or patients are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please download the GBUAHN, GBUACO, or UFP apps to complete a COVID-19 survey or call the nurse triage line at 716-604-0504. The nurses will walk you through symptoms to evaluate if symptoms are life threatening and require emergency assistance. They will then set up a tele-health visit with a provider who will determine the necessary next steps.

G-Health Enterprises is a health care organization which encompasses several affiliates: The Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network (GBUAHN), The Great Buffalo United Accountable Care Organization (GBUACO), Urban Family Practice (UFP) and The Greater Buffalo United Independent Physician’s Association (GBUIPA) facilitated by CEO and President Raul Vazquez, MD. G-Health Enterprise’s mission is to cultivate hope and quality healthcare in children, families, and communities.

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

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FAITH & FAMILY

Beyond COVID-19: "Why Would You Ever Want To Go Back?"

By Pastor George Nicholas hen Jesus returned after his crucifixion he did not come back to return the status quo. The power of the Resurrection is not the renewal of old life but it is the beginning of a new reality.

I don’t know about you, but I am expecting God to do something brand new in our season of triumph over COVID-19. Let’s change our vision from recovering from this pandemic to prospering in a new season of renewal. When Jesus returned He found the disciples slipping back into familiar behaviors, but He wanted them to have a new vision for a new Kingdom reality. They failed in their attempts to be prolific fishermen, because that was no longer their purpose. The Spirit of God wanted to propel them into a season of abundance, of overflow but they had to do things in a new way to experience it. When they embraced the new vision then they experienced blessings greater than they had ever experienced in the past.

In John 21:6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

I believe we are going to enter into a season of abundance and new net busting blessings as we emerge out of this pandemic.

My message is: “Why would you ever want to go back?"

(This mesage was posted on the Lincoln Memorial UMC Facebook Page, where Rev. Nicholas is pastor. Please tune in Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. for worship on Facebook Live and YouTube)

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

CDC Adds New COVID-19 Symptoms The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added several new symptoms to its existing list of symptoms for COVID-19.

The CDC-has long said that fever, cough and shortness of breath are indications that someone might have the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. It has now added six more conditions that may come with the disease: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

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he Universal African Black Cross Nurses Hand Sanitizer Initiative is growing!

We would like to thank all those who have purchased sanitizer or donated to the mission. This act of group economics has allowed the local Black Cross to provide sanitizer to youth and elders around the city. You can now support by donating via CashApp: $Buffalo433, ordering online at Melanatedgreats. com or purchasing from The Ink Spot at 1440 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208. These times are proving that "we are all we got!" Hopefully, on the other side of this pandemic we will be stronger as a village unit.

One God, One Aim, One Destiny!

Three Initiatives Must Be Implemented ASAP To Reduce The Number Of New COVID-19 Infections In The Minority Community

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hree initiatives must be implemented ASAP to reduce the number of new COVID 19 infections in the minority community and on the eastside of Buffalo.

1. Establish a centrally located, county-run, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) distribution center where government issued disposable masks, vinyl gloves and hand sanitizer can be secured by residents at no cost to them.

2. Develop a community driven, COVID 19 Intervention Plan that focuses on identifying, targeting and testing, at random, individuals from highly impacted zip codes for the Coronavirus, to reduce the effect of virus transmission from asymptomatic carriers.

Betty Jean

GRANT

3. Initiate a Stay, Stand and Stop media and public relations campaign to increase community awareness of COVID 19: STAY AT HOME! STAND 6 FEET APART! STOP CONGREGATING IN CROWDS! (Activist and former Legislator Betty Jean Grant can be reached at 716-602-5877 )

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

APRIL BASKIN continued from page 3 tial workers on the front line live in this area and need convenient access to these resources so they can make positive health decisions for themselves and their families. I am grateful to the County Executive Mark Poloncarz for listening to and addressing the concerns I brought to him when my community was suffering.

I applaud the willingness of Mayor Byron Brown to make this city owned facility available so quickly, and I’m equally thankful to Kaleida for being such willing partners,” stated Baskin.

Baskin continued, “We must still be vigilant in our homes and when we go out to protect ourselves – wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and continuing to wash our hands or use sanitizer is crucially important. I’m grateful that Erie County has delivered on my request and now our com-

munity has the additional resources needed to continue the fight against this virus.”

All Things COVID: New Website On Monday Mayor Byron W. Brown announced a new city informational website for all local things that are Covid-19-related. Go to Covid19.buffalony.gov

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VOICES

Over 50 Years Since Signing of The Fair Housing Act, Unfair Housing Persists

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he Fair Housing Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on April 11, 1968, one week after the Assassination of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Initially heralded as a major victory in the movement for Civil Rights in the U.S., the Fair Housing Law prohibited much of the overt or in your face discrimination based largely on race. However, the law lacked teeth for enforcement due to loopholes and much more. Just over 50 years later, housing in the U.S. remains largely racially segregated and very unequal.

Discrimination in Purchasing a Home Last year, Newsday released a report, “Long Island Divided-Investigation,” a Antoine M. two-year investigation of housing discrimTHOMPSON ination of major southern suburbs of New York City. Prospective Black homebuyers were usually steered to mostly Black neighborhoods, and often required to provide a pre-approval letter from a lender before being shown a home by a real estate agent. The opposite was true for prospective White homebuyers. In fact, at least one Black buyer was told to provide a copy of their tax return prior to being shown a home. This pattern of housing discrimination is not unique only to New York State.

Discrimination by Race and Income When the Fair Housing Act was passed it permitted an owneroccupied, two-family home or duplex to engage a limited form of discrimination. Also, religious organizations and private clubs can discriminately limit housing to its members. Further, we know that organizations like the National Fair Housing Alliance and many of their local affiliates often bust unscrupulous landlords for racial bias in renting apartments. Unfortunately, in some neighborhoods in Maryland and across the country it is not uncommon for Black persons to be told that an apartment has been rented, only to be made available for a White person.

Additionally, sometimes Black people may have to pay twice the amount of deposit compared to a White person. There remains constant bias in housing against persons on public assistance programs like Section 8 (which provides financial assistance to help pay the rent).

Discrimination by Family Composition While the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on family status or composition, there continues to be ads on social media, newspapers and other public places where property owners and landlords blatantly break the law. In recent years, Craigslist and Facebook were busted for allowing advertising on their website and social media networks that had postings such as “No tenants with Children.” In recent years, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development has sued and had various male landlords prosecuted for trying to exchange sex for rent payments with female tenants.

More Must Be Done to Stop Housing Discrimination Although the signs may not say, “No Blacks” or “Whites Only,” the legacy of Jim Crow and racial discrimination persists in the housing system with one process for Black people and another for White people. Renting an apartment or buying a home “while Black” needs to become a thing of the past.

Increased funding for fair housing monitoring, education and outreach must be expanded at the local, state, regional and national level.

Buffalo native and former NYS Senator Antoine M. Thompson is the Chair of the Board of Housing Options Planning Enterprises (H.O.P.E.) a local community development corporation in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He is also the National Executive Director for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

“We wish to plead our own cause.

Too long have others spoken for us.”

- John Russwurm, Freedom’s Journal.

1827 America’s 1st Black Newspaper

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

Juneteenth Festival Of Buffalo Update

Juneteenth is Still On - But It's ON LINE! No, it’s not a rumor that’s running through the grapevine! The 45th consecutive Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo is still on, but online! The Board of Directors has decided to initiate a bold and innovative approach to presenting this year’s festival, by taking advantage of technology and all that it affords through social media. Their hope for Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo 2020 Online - “Free and Clear; the Evolution of Juneteenth”- is to deliver a quality festival, via non-traditional formats and mediums.

The estimated dates to view and participate in Festivalspecific events, including Sankofa Days and the Maafa Memorial, are June 1 - June 22, 2020, with full days of virtual activities and events on Festival weekend, June 13-14.

“We want the internet community, our sponsors, committees, and all Festival supporters to enjoy the festival, while watching on the web, but eating their fish and fresh fruits and veggies on their own front porches or backyards,” says Jennifer Strickland, Juneteenth board member and Public Relations chair.

This is the first time, in the 45-year history of Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival, that it has not been held outdoors.

Originating in the 1970s on Jefferson Ave., it has been a constant for decades, in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, on the first "teen" weekend of June.

The festival’s committees are preparing for the virtual events by emailing proposals of their visions, and meeting via conference calls. Using the electronic platform, viewers will be able to ‘attend and participate’ in musical, dramatic, dance, and spoken word performances; medical and financial programs; children’s activities, book-sharing, and so much more. Prospective vendors will also be allowed to advertise, free of charge. And, yes, the parade of all parades, will also be highlighted!

For more information, or to submit your request to participate in this year’s virtual festival, please send your email to jlynstrick3@gmail.com.

Please continue to monitor the Festival’s Facebook page (Juneteenth of Buffalo Festival) and the Challenger News for continued updates.

Covid Conversations This Thursday April 29th Composer, pianist and professor Walter Kemp will be kicking it with jazz pianist George Caldwell live on Instagram so tune in on @walterkemp3 for his Covid Conversations Series.

Discussion will be about life and music during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tune in this Thursday at 8 p.m.!

(Walter Kemp pictured up top and George Caldwell bottom)

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AREA BRIEFS Dr. Collins Re-Appointed to Five Year Term on Board of Regents Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins of Buffalo has been reappointed to the State Board of Regents for another 5-year term. She was commended for her steadfast work to ensure that every student in New York has access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they come from, where they live or where they go to school. Regent Collins was noted for playing an invaluable role in shaping the

Richard Hill Legionnaire Of The Year!

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ommander Minister Paulette Woods recently presented the Jesse Clipper Post #430 2020 Legionnaire Of The Year award to 2nd ViceCommander Richard Hill.

Richard Hill is a leader that commands respect, whether he is volunteering at the Veterans Freedom Lounge located in the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, or raising donations for the Post from area car dealerships.

He has faithfully marched on Flag Day with 500 hundred Buffalo School children from School 54 to the Forest Lawn Cemetery. He can be found supporting Veterans Hospital events, speaking to veterans at our senior citizen centers, and giving the final salute as a member of our Honor Guard Unit at veteran’s funerals.

Vice-Commander Hill assisted with the Memorial Day dedication of the Jesse Clipper Square, and the 100 Anniversary Banquet at Salvatore’s. He met with the Colored Musician Club officials regarding joint ventures

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Board’s work on many critically important issues .

In a related development the distinguished educa- Dr. Collins tor and author was also named to serve on the Board of Regent’s Commissioner Search Committee.

Congratulations Dr. Collins!

We respectfully submit that the opinions expressed on the editorial pages of this newspaper are not necessairly those of Challenger Community News Corporation or its advertisers.

Richard Hill

with the Post. On April 22nd Jesse Clipper Post saluted Vice-Commander Hill for his excellent service. When presented with this award, Vice-Commander Hill said: “I was only doing my job, I never expected this honor.”

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

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SPORTS

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

The 2020 NFL Draft & Rochester Roots Let’s start with 16th over-

all draft pick in 2020 NFL Draft Aundell A.J. Terrell, Jr. cornerback out of Clemson. He’s a standout cornerback on National Champion Clemson Tigers and was raised in Atlanta, Ga. A.J. Terrell Jr.'s Terrell parents both were raised in Rochester, NY. A.J. Terrell Sr. was born in Auburn, New York, the home of Harriett Tubman and Aliya Terrell born in Rochester NY is a 1995 graduate from Edison Technology High School.

Aquinas High School standouts Earnest Edwards and Jamir Jones were picked up as Undrafted Free Agents by the LA Rams and Houston Texans respectively. They won State Championships together as key players on Aquinas Football and basketball teams in 2015 & 2016. I will never forget the outstanding performance by Earnest Edwards in the State Championship game in the Syracuse Carrier Dome. He had five receptions for 286 yards and four touchdowns in their blowout win. I saw Earnest and Jamir play Edwards (L) & Jones on several occasions as a Sports Broadcaster for CBS Sports Radio’s live coverage of the Section V Game of the Week. I think Earnest Edwards has NFL breakaway speed and can make an NFL roster as a punt or kickoff returner. Jamir Jones can also make an NFL roster on Special Teams. He can also move into a Safety or free safety position on defense and possibly make the switch to offense and play tight end position.

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Rise Up Right Sports Highlights

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elcome to Rise Up Right, where we give you the best sports news, ,highlights and updates taking full circle in the sports world. Thank you for your continued support....and with that being said Let's Rise Up....!

NFL Draft The Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL Draft started early during the free agency period when the organization decided to give Josh Allen who is now in his third year at starting quarterback a sure shot consistent deep threat by trading their 22nd overall pick to the Minnesota Admissions Advisor Vikings for Stephon Diggs. The Bills were more than ecstatic to already have Day 1 taken care weeks before the draft. So on Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of Day 2 and Day 3 this is what the Bills decided to do in the NFL Admissions Advisor.

Draft.

For a full job description and to apply: https://jobs.buffalostate.edu.

Round 2, pick 54: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa Round 3, pick 86: Zack Moss, RB, Utah Round 4, pick 128: Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF Round 5, pick 167: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia Round 6, pick 188 (from Browns): Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern Round 6, pick 207 (from Ravens through Patriots): Isaiah Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer Hodgins, WR, Oregon State and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences.

Round 7, pick 239 (from Vikings): Dane Jackson, CB, Pitt NBA News According to many sources, the NBA will be looking to open Assistant Director, Honors Program practice facilities to players who live in cities and states that have eased their stay at home orders. The NBA has also made Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of it clear that just because this will be taking place starting May Assistant Director, Honors Program.

1st it doesn't mean that the NBA season will take place. Do you For a full job description and to apply: https://jobs.buffalostate.edu. think that it is too early for the NBA to be opening practice facilities to the players?

For more sports talk and news follow me on Facebook @Andre Robinson or D'Andre Torch Robin-son.

Join the Rise Up Family Sports Network for a look at all the daily sports shows. therealtorch716 or riseupfamilyseven16 on Instagram.

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer Watch Rise Up Unlimited TV Show every Thursdays at 130pm and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences. and Saturdays at 730am on Channel 1302 for Spectrum Cable Subscribers. Also tune in to Power 96.5 FM WUFO Sport Report as I am one of a few greatest correspondents on the Assistant for Institutional Research phenomenal panel of sports hosts.

-The Bills DraftThe Buffalo Bills draft went pretty much as expected with an edge rusher/defensive tackle pick of A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa along with injury prone running back Zack Moss out of Utah.

Buffalo’s best pick of the draft was Gabriel Davis, a 6”2 wide receiver out of the University of Central Florida. Davis played in a lot of big games and will complement the Bills current receiving corps. He also has excellent receiving skills and can catch the ball in tight quarters. The Bills selection of Kicker Tyler Bass could help on kick offs, but his field goal ability is quite questionable. The Bills selected former Georgia Bull- LEGAL NOTICE BID dog QB Jake Fromm, who evREQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES eryone knows has a spaghetti The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority requests sealed proposals to proarm and not enough foot speed all professional Architectural/Engineering Services necessary or incidental to avoid on coming pass rush- vide to provide site investigation, design services, preparation of plans and specifiers in the NFL. Jake would cations and construction management services for the bidding and implemenhave been a perfect candidate tation of the following project: Improvements At LaSalle Courts & Jasper Parrish Homes for the now defunct XFL. Let’s BMHA Job #AE-19-27. get serious. If the Bills want The Request for Proposals may be obtained at the BMHA Capital Improveto have a chance at playoffs ments Office located at 320 Perry Street, Buffalo, New York 14204. Sealed and Super Bowl dreams, then proposals must be received by 3:00 PM, local time, on May 19, 2020 at the they must sign Cam Newton Capital Improvements Office, 320 Perry Street, Buffalo, New York 14204. received after this time will not be accepted. Perspective offerors before another team does like Proposals are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-submittal meeting. The pre-submittal the New England Patriots. If meeting will be held on May 19, 2020 @ 10:00 AM @ 320 Perry Street 14204.

The contract for professional services will only be awarded to a single prothe Patriots sign Newton the firm; no joint ventures. The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority reBills won’t beat them for an- fessional serves the right to waive irregularities and to reject any and/or all proposals other two to three years! submitted.

Once again, the good team Date: April 29, 2020 got even better with the draft.

Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens continue to impress with draft day picks like middle linebacker Patrick Queen from LSU and JK Dobbins, running back from Ohio IT'S SPRING WILLIAM COLSTON State to assist MVP QB Lamar ASE Certified Technician TUNE-UP TIME! Jackson. How about those Kansas City Chiefs picking stud running back Edwards Phone: 716.896.3910 • 720 E. Ferry St. Helaire to assist former league MVP and current Super Bowl Diagnostic Testing, NYS Inspection, Towing Service MVP Patrick Mahomes? Yes, T ire Repair, Brake Repair, Air Conditioning Service indeed the rich got richer!

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Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of Assistant for Institutional Research.

The Assistant for Institutional Research is responsible for coordination, preparation and the submission of Federal, State, and SUNY mandated reports as well as external commercial surveys. The incumbent will maintain data integrity and accuracy to support the needs of Buffalo State’s many external publics, senior administration, and other internal constituents. The incumbent will utilize Banner, SUNY database systems, Tableau, Qualtrics, Slate, Starfish and other similar systems to extract, analyze and present data to the college community. The position is responsible for managing PC/ Cloud based software systems to support campus decision-making and planning. The position will support strategic data analyses and interpretation as it relates to enrollment and retention studies. Accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to work comfortably within many processing environments and executive strata are critical components of the position, as the information products created often have great impact on local, State and Federal policy decisions. The position reports directly to the Director of Institutional Research.

Required Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree • Experience as a research analyst or related function • Familiarity with research methods • Proficiency in various software packages and systems (such as Argos, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Banner and SQL Query Language, Slate, Starfish, Tableau, Microsoft BI, Qualtrics) • Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills Preferred Qualifications: • Master’s degree • Demonstrated experience working in a complex, deadline driven office environment, preferably in higher education. This experience should include the capture, analysis, and presentation of information in support of institutional research efforts, including the rapid creation of Ad hoc queries utilizing modern desktop database tools to further support executive inquiry.

Background in exploring data using modern visualization tools such as Tableau Qualified applicants may apply online at https://jobs.buffalostate.edu.

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020

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June 2, 1863 •Harriet Tubman led Union Army guerillas into Maryland, freeing more than 700 enslaved Africans June 2, 1875 •James Augustine Healey became the first Black Catholic Bishop in the US, 1875 June 3, 1904 •Dr Charles Richard Drew, pioneer of blood plasma research, born, 1904 June 6,1831 First annual convention of "people of color" held in Philadelphia 1831 June 6, 1866 •Stokely Carmichael ªKwame Ture) launched "Black Power" movement June 8,1886 •First Civil Rights Act passed, 1886 LEARNING IDEAS continued from page 4

in school and you want them to knock it out in the morning, that is all good. Do what works for them, and you, and don't be afraid to make adjustments. Also, if you have children in different grade levels, delegate, delegate, delegate.

The older children are your TA [Teacher's Assistant].

In closing, I hope that these ideas are not only helpful in making distance learning run smoother but also minimize the stress that many of you are feeling from being thrown in this unpredictable position.

You have more skills, tools and resources than you may know or even give yourself credit for. So don't stress, you got this, and when you want support that is what we are here for as teachers.

Saladin Allah is an Author [S. Quanaah], Educator, Human Rights Commissioner in the City of Niagara Falls and Founder of the Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters [Google #AtlantisBuild] who attended Central State University. Email: atlantisbuild@ gmail.com

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •April 29, 2020