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Challenger Community News • thechallengernews.com•May 17, 2017
AREA BRIEFS
The New Learning Paradigm Charter School
Successful Entrepreneur and Charter School Leader Donnie McQueen to Address Community Planning Meeting For Proposed New Charter
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Deja Thompson
Family & Friends to Celebrate Deja Thompson’s Graduation Family and friends will celebrate Deja Thompson’s graduation on Sunday, May 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at MES Lounge, 228 Franklin Street. Deja, who is graduating from The University at Buffalo, has been acepted to UB Law School for the Fall of 2017. Call 308-0945 for more information. Deja is the daughter of former State Senator Antoine M. Thompson and LaShawn Davis.
Rian Davis, an angel, currently resides in Heaven.
Walking With Rian
A one-mile walk to benefit “Rian’s Playground” will be held on Saturday, May 20 at 77 Fernhill at 12 noon. A picnic will follow the memorial walk in memory of oneyear-old Rian who was run over by a vehicle last year. Donation is $20. Children under 15 free. There will be a raffling off of two toddler bicycles and gift baskets. Wear something pink! For more information call 390-5056 or 838-2105.
EXHIBIT: The first Solo Exhibit by Buffalo artist Phyllis Thompson, Memories of Making Special, is at El Museo Gallery, 91 Allen Street, now thru May 27. Gallery hours: Wednesdays–Saturdays 12–6pm and by appointment. (716) 464-4692. Read the full story at thechallengernews.com
The Violence Continues
The Buffalo News has reported that last weekend two men were shot to death, six wounded and one stabbed in violence that began around 6:45 p.m. last Friday evening (May 12). No names had been released at press time. The two deaths took place on Friday and included a 23-year old man who was shot in the 100 block of Stevens Avenue and a 26-year-old who was shot in the 400 block of East Street, off Hertel Avenue. Additional shootings took place on Friday in the 1400 block of East Delavan Avenue between Bailey and Eggert. On Saturday a man in his 20s was stabbed in the back on South Division near Ellicott at about 6 p.m. and a 26 year old man was critically wounded in an apparent robbery attempt on Niagara Street near Grace Street at around 1:30 a.m.. Also on Saturday a man was shot near Jefferson and East Utica Street. In other shootings reported Saturday morning, a man shot himself at a house party on Courtland Avenue; another man was shot on Hewitt Avenue; and a man was shot while walking on East Delavan near Humboldt by unknown persons.
n Tuesday, May 23 at 6 p.m., a local community group will conduct a community meeting at the Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue. The meeting will feature Donnie McQueen, Executive Director of Torchlight Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. Under McQueen’s leadership Torchlight is a grade K-8 charter school that achieved the highest student academic growth of all public charter schools and was in the top one percent of all public schools in North Carolina for student academic growth for the 2015-2016 school year. Torchlight Academy serves a student population that is 100% minority (65% Black and 35% Hispanic), with 98% of students living below the federal poverty level (eligible for free or reduced price lunch). McQueen has over 15 years of experience as a charter school leader meeting the needs of at-risk student populations. He has been working with a local community planning group to organize the proposed New Learning Paradigm Charter School in Buffalo. The New Learning Paradigm Charter is planning to open in the 2018-2019 school year and will initially serve students in grades K-4. The planning group is seeking community input on the School Design Plan, recruiting prospective board members, and seeking parent and community involvement in the planning process. Over 25 Buffalo District schools are currently in receivership due to low academic performance. Current conditions for certain sections of the Buffalo community is suffering a crisis in educational opportunity and school choice. Amidst this crisis, local parents reached out to Mr. McQueen and his wife, Dr. Cynthia McQueen for guidance in improving the educational futures of children in Buffalo. The McQueen’s have been supporting the local effort over the past year. Dr. Cynthia McDonnie McQueen Queen is the current Principal of Torchlight. She serves as an Advisory Board Member for the North Carolina Public Charter School Alliance. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at St. Augustine College and also has over 15 years of leadership experience in charter school administration. The McQueens are natives of Buffalo. Mr. McQueen’s visit is designed to get the community involved in improving the educational opportunities for children in Buffalo. The agenda will include a presentation by Mr. McQueen, followed by a discussion regarding issues such as: School Discipline; Teacher Quality; Reading, Math and Science Programming; Academic Testing; Student Transportation; Student Nutrition; and other topics related to planning a new school. Parents and community leaders are invited to attend.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America Names Robert F. Lowery National Professional of the Year Boys & Girls Clubs of America has named Robert Lowery the 2017 National Professional of the Year. Lowery, who currently serves as Chief Program Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo (BGCB) had been named Northeast Professional of the Year in late 2016 prior to being named as the top professional nationally for the non-profit organization. As Northeast Professional of the Year, he was one of four Boys & Girls Clubs professionals chosen in distinct geographic locations. He accepted the award at a ceremony May 11, 2017 at Boys & Girls Clubs America National Conference held in Dallas, Texas. Robert F. Lowery Each year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America awardsProfessional of the Year Awards in each of four distinct geographic areas including the Northeast, Southwest, Midwest and Pacific regions who have made significant contributions to the work of professionals within Boys & Girls Clubs while in their current position. The award is presented to a national member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Professional Association who holds the title, duties and responsibilities of Assistant Executive Director, Director of Operations, Unit Director, or any Programmatic related full time staff member. Lowery, a 14-year veteran of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Lowery has served in a number of positions including as a Prevention Specialist and Director of Program Quality. He is a valued part of the BGCB team and has built a strong career track record of developing, implementing and overseeing programs that have a direct impact on youth and their ability to succeed. Lowery currently serves as the Trustee Chairmen of True Bethel Baptist Church. In addition, he is affiliated with the following community organizations Leadership Buffalo (Class of 2017), Resource Council of WNY, Emerging Philanthropists of Color, Say Yes Buffalo, and The President’s Committee Advisory Board at Buffalo State College.
Malcolm X
Malcolm X
African-American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X articulated concepts of race pride and Black nationalism in the 1950s and '60s. Born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm was the fourth of eight children born to Louise, a homemaker, and Earl Little, a preacher who was also an active member of the local chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and avid supporter of Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Due to Earl Little's civil rights activism, the family was subjected to frequent harassment from White supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan and one of its splinter factions, the Black Legion. In fact, Malcolm X had his first encounter with racism before he was even born. Malcolm X was a prominent Black nationalist leader who served as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam during the 1950s and '60s. Due largely to his efforts, the Nation of Islam grew from the time he was released from prison in 1952 to 40,000 members by 1960. Articulate, passionate and a naturally gifted and inspirational orator, Malcolm X exhorted Blacks to cast off the shackles of racism "by any means necessary," including violence. The fiery civil rights leader broke with the group shortly before his assassination on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, where he had been preparing to deliver a speech. He wouldl have been 92 years old this week had he lived.