COMMUNITY The Milwaukee
CHARLIE WILSON Returns to Brewtown and fire’s up the crowd with old and new hits Nine-time Grammy Nominee and co-founder of the iconic funk trio “The Gap Band,” performed recently at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. “Uncle Charlie” sang his classic hits from his Gap Band days and his current solo career. [Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
MilwaukeeandCreamCityLinksholdnewmemberinductionlunheon
The Cream City and Milwaukee Chapters of The Links Inc. held an induction luncheon for six new members at the River Club of Mequon, 12400 Ville du Parc Drive, Mequon WI. The six new members are: Danielle L. Bly, Kimberley C. Goode, Jasmine M. Johnson, Nancy Joseph, Wanda Montgomery, and Earnestine Willis. (Photo by Pat Robinson)
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY
Photos/question by Yvonne Kemp
CARYL WILLIS: “Well, there are so many. But one of my favorites was when he used to take us boys to baseball games during the summer and getting us anything we wanted. Also, I loved when he would fire up the grill on Father’s Day and stay outside that whole day and eat and talk about sports.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “What is one of your most memorable moments you spent with your father?
ANGELA WILLIS: “One of my most memorable moments with my father is when he would get off work and go get us kids a real Christmas Tree. We would get one of the largest and tallest trees we could find. We were so blessed to have so many xmas presents to put under the tree. Although he isn’t here any more, he will always be in my heart. Happy Father’s Day dad. We love you and miss you.”
NAACP criminal justice expert unveils new report by organization on racial profiling during education summit By Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
It may seem odd that a specialist in criminal justice would speak at a Wisconsin NAACP State Conference sponsored Education Summit. But when you consider the connection between education and crime and the prison industrial complex—the “school to prison pipeline”—it makes perfect sense. Atty. Carlton T. Mayers II, a criminal justice specialist for the national NAACP’s Criminal Justice Division, was in Milwaukee last week to address the state civil rights organization’s annual summit on the state of education in Wisconsin and it’s impact on children of color. Mayers also participated in a panel discussion on education with other educators and a former member of law enforcement. During his address and the panel discussion, Mayers spoke in detail about the school to prison
BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN PERMIT NO. 4668
W I S C O N S I N ’ S L A R G E S T A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N N E W S PA P E R
Mayor Barrett and Milwaukee Brewers players join “FEED THE KIDS” Kick Off
Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Brewers Shortstop Jean Segura (shown above) teamed up to make sandwiches with a number of other Brewers players, their wives and other community leaders as part of the Salvation Army’s Feed The Kids Summer Lunch Kick-off held at Red Arrow Park. (At right): Segura with teammate Wily Peralta. The celebrity sandwich makers prepared 1,800 lunches for the SA’s Feed The Kids mobile summer meals program, designed to provide a nourishing midday meal for kids in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Started in 1990, the lunch program has prepared and delivered more than 2 million meals in Milwaukee. In 2014, the program provided 124,152 meals to children between June and August. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
JOURNAL www.communityjournal.net 25 Cents
VOL. XXXIX Number 46 June 17, 2015
pipeline and a recently completed study by the civil rights organization detailing the impact of racial profiling and the police practice of “stopand-frisk” on Black Americans. Mayer was one of the contributing authors and the lead investigator of the study titled, “Born Suspect: Stop-and-Frisk Abuses & Continued Fight to End Racial Profiling in America,” the report contains a review of every state racial profiling law, breaking each down to better understand the law’s effectiveness and identify where improvements are needed. According to an NAACP press statement, the report calls for the need for much more effective anti-profiling legislation in every state and at the federal level—be it through passing news policies or strengthening existing and often deficient policies. In a MCJ interview a day before the summit, Mayers talked about racial profiling incidences in
Milwaukee, especially the most recent case: The shooting death Dontre Hamilton by a Milwaukee Police officer and the investigation by the state’s Department of Justice of the officer involved shooting that took Hamilton’s life. The DOJ’s involvement was the result of a relatively new state law—Assembly Bill (AB) 409— which calls for a law enforcement entity other than the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office to investigate MPD officer involved shootings. “But the law was misapplied in the Hamilton case because two retired Milwaukee Police officers investigated the case,” Mayer noted. “These cops are receiving $4,000 in pensions while investigating the case. The intent of the law (AB 409) was to remove all conflict of interests. It just goes to show there needs to be reform in using the legislation,” Mayer said. Mayer said the Hamilton case and other inci(continued on page 9)
MADALYN WILLIAMS: “One of my favorite memories is the time he spent with me as well as the other children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made me feel special. He would listen to me and would listen and give good advice. He would buy my favorite (food) dishes and always be there for me.”
JOHN W. DANIELS III: “One of my fondest memories of my father is seeing him take notes at my eighth grade debate competition. Him being a lawyer, a community leader, and philanthropist has never stopped him from being my dad.”
Atty. Carlton T. Mayers II
NAACP file photo by Dan Marschka
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 2
PERSPECTIVES SIGNIFYIN’ By Mikel Kweku Osei Holt
Medical College of Wisconsin researcher takes on Herculean task of changing the obesity paradigm for Black women Dr Melinda Stolley has taken on the Herculean task of trying to convince Black women to set aside cultural paradigms that lead to cancer.
While there is a host of medical maladies linked to obesity and poor diets, Dr. Stolley’s primary interest is abating cancer. The Medical College of Wisconsin’s newest researcher, Dr. Stolley’s quest is grounded in extensive research on the risks Black women shoulder by being overweight, and subscribing to unhealthy lifestyles. The recurrence of cancer among overweight postmenstrual Black women is significantly higher than any other ethnic group, the research revealed. Explained Anne Mathias of the MCW Cancer Center, “obesity and sedentary lifestyles will soon eclipse tobacco use as the most significant modifiable cancer risk factor.” But getting that potentially life saving message out, and introducing alternative lifestyle resources is easier said than done. Dr. Stolley, Associate Director of Prevention and Control at the MCW Cancer Center, is relatively new to Milwaukee, having been recruited from the University of Chicago by the MCW to help lead various projects to educate Black women on the link between obesity and cancer in postmenstrual women. Cancer is of paramount concern to Dr. Stolley and her colleagues but it is not the only danger linked to obesity among Black women. “We don’t know all of the factors for weight gain among cancer survivors,” she explained. “Chemotherapy is a factor; women gain weight with treatment.” But it is not the only (prerequisite).” The traditional African American diet, Dr. Stolley noted, cannot be factored out. Soul food---fatty meats like ham hocks and salt pork---can be contributing factors to weight gain in African American women cancer survivors. Interestingly, African American women in exercise programs lose weight at a slower rate than women of other ethnic groups. Dr. Stolley, doesn’t have an explanation for that, although she believes Black women may not see the same lost of pounds as women of other ethnic groups over a predetermined time frame, but they may be gaining more muscle, which is a positive outcome. “The reoccurrence of cancer in obese Black women is not the only medical concern,” she said, “There’ s high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.” That’s the primary reason why Dr. Stolley’s work in Chicago focused on “the whole woman,” addressing all of their medical concerns, leading to new, healthy lifestyles. Dr. Stolley created, “Moving Forward,” an exercise and nutrition program
THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL
(continued on page 9)
Published twice weekly, Wednesday & Friday
3612 North Martin Luther King Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: 414-265-5300 (Advertising and Administration) • 414-265-6647 (Editorial) • Website: communityjournal.net • Email: Editorial@communityjournal.net/Advertising@communityjournal.net MCJ STAFF: Patricia O’Flynn -Pattillo Publisher, CEO Robert J. Thomas Assoc. Publisher Todd Thomas, Vice Pres. Mikel Holt, Assoc. Publisher Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr., Editor Teretha Martin, Technical Consultant/Webmaster Billing Dept./Publisher’s Admin. Assist.
Colleen Newsom, Classified Advertising Jimmy V. Johnson, Sales Rep. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Taki S. Raton, Richard G. Carter, Fr. Carl Diederichs, Rev. Joe McLin PHOTOGRAPHER: Yvonne Kemp
Opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Letters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for content and length.
“NO TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE ALIKE, AND IT’S GOT TO BE THAT WAY IN MUSIC OR IT ISN’T MUSIC.”--BILLIE HOLIDAY (AT RIGHT)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 3
The Mckinney Pool Party: Where were the parents? Where were the adult supervision and training? By Taki S. Raton
Upon review of expanding headline postings of the Friday, June 5, 2015 McKinney, Texas pool party and after tirelessly working through story “spins” advanced by special interest treatments, this writer was reminded of two current realities in today’s America – one, the still ever present and seemingly increasing negative racial climate being fostered in our society, and second, the nearly complete absence of parent and Black adult community socialization, supervision and training for our African American young people as to how they should relate to and act around certain authority figures, White cops in particular. The afternoon’s unfolding of unfortunate events on June 5 began when a man and his wife were part of a small group of White adults who began to make racial slurs outside of the pool area. According to RawStory on June 8, 2015, these White residents of the Craig Ranch neighborhood where the pool party was hosted termed attendees as being “black f*ckers” and added that they should, “return to their Section 8 housing.” Do keep in mind that the majority of the pool partygoers do live in the Craig Ranch neighborhood. They gathered per invitation for an end-of-theschool-year celebration. RawStory reports that a young White girl, Grace Stone, walked up to her neighbors and told them it was not right to use racial slurs. “So then, they started verbally abusing her, saying she needs to do better for herself and cursing at her,” said Tatiana Rose, the 19-year-old who hosted the party with her siblings. “She’s 14, you should not say things like that to a 14-year-old,” Rose told the slandering neighbors. Another White woman in group, Tracey-Carver Albritton, is seen in a video slapping and attacking Rose. And due to this public action documentation per video, Albritton was placed on administrative leave – suspension – from her job pending investigation as noted in RawStory, June 10. 2015.
Eric Casebolt resigned from the McKinney Police Department after actions at a pool party on June 5, 2015. (Photo by: Youtube / Brandon Brooks)
The police were called only as a result of the confrontation between these few White people, Grace Stone and Tatiana Rose. That was the fight. There was apparently no fighting at the pool party itself among party goers. However, the “spin” on the story was that the party had gotten “out of control” with a whole bunch of Black people and that there was fighting. When the squads arrived, they did not at all check into reports of the incident between the few White people, Albritton and Rose at all. The police then directed their attention and actions only towards the pool party and the Black attendees present. There were over 100 teens at the pool party as cited in Reagan Ray’s “My East Tex” on June 7, 2015. This is where reports get confusing and one has to work through, as noted, the various “spins” on the account.
Benet Embry, host of the Benet Embry Radio Show in Dallas and author of “Emotional Response,” for an example lives in the neighborhood of Craig Ranch. Embry spoke exclusively with KETK about what he saw. And Embry, by the way, is Black. Embry claims in Ray that the teenage party did in fact in his words, got “out of control” which was also, he says, promoted on social media. Security began telling people they couldn’t come in and that they had to leave according to Embry. “That’s when people started jumping over fences to get into the pool area,” he says. He later adds that, “People are saying neighbors called the police because there were too many Black kids in the neighborhood. That’s not the case at all. Police rolled up to the scene and that’s when kids, who knew they weren’t supposed to be (continued on page 9)
The Black Community is at a Crossroads
My brothers and sisters, we’re at a very serious crossroads in our history as Black people in America and specifically in our urban core where nearly 75 percent of all Black people live. BREAKING NEWS!! BLACKS ARE MORE SEGREGATED THAN EVER BEFORE. Out of nearly 50,000 cities in America, most Blacks reside in approximately 50 ”majority minority“ cities like Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Detroit, Newark, etc. What we do or don’t do will determine the future of the Black community for the next several generations to come.
Some social scientists state that if we want real and meaningful change to occur, it will take the coordination and efforts of three generations to have the desired outcome for the fourth generation. Restated, if we are able to organize our elders, those in their primes, and our young adults, we can create a better life for the teenagers and younger generation. If you think the problems facing the Black community is bad now, if nothing serious is done with fidelity and speed, the future of Black people will worsen. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time studying the problems we face from a very simple and layman’s perspective. I don’t have a Ph.D. in Black studies nor do I have advanced degrees on research, but what I do have is a great desire to see progress for Black people and to turn around the negative trajectory that the Black community is now involved in. While I’m no academic scholar, I am an experienced businessman with nearly 40 years of experience in starting, running, and expanding business opportunities primarily in the Black community. I’ve worked in the Black community on a number of fronts, specifically in real estate development; neighborhood strategic and master planning, K-12 education; early childhood education; social and supportive services; small business lending; and behavioral health. I’ve developed, organized, started, implemented, and managed several large-scale operations (mini-movements) that were aimed at mobilizing and organizing the Black community on issues of fairness, equal rights, education, etc. During my business and organizing career, I’ve experienced a number of hard business and life like lessons resulting from taking risk in business. In business you come to truly understand terms like “nothing ventured, nothing gained” and “no risk, no reward.” During my career I’ve learned some very tough and meaningful life lessons. While losses and failures are never welcomed, these lessons that I’ve learned have laid the foundation for the many successes I’ve enjoyed in business and have equipped me with the knowledge, experience, and wisdom that I employ as I embark on the utilization of scarce resources (financial and human) to get traction on building an infrastructure to carry the load of establishing a working model on how to rebuild the Black community. Today, I’m merging my business network and infrastructure; tremendous experiences and lessons learned in business; ability to move from difficult concepts into reality (dust to industry); my in depth study of the structural and psychological conditions facing the Black community; vast communication and organization skills and expertise; coupled with my extreme personal desire to help Black people into building the Milwaukee Community of Leaders (MCOL).
I, like many of you, have a real desire to see our people do better but have come to realize that the problems that we face are real and near permanent. I said “near” permanent and not permanent. I use the term “near” to signal a sense of urgency and unless we act NOW, the near will disappear and the issues and problems facing the Black community will become forever permanent. We must do all we can to avoid this outcome for future generations of Black people. What do I mean when I speak of this permanency? When we examine the very serious demographics that the Black community faces today – for the most part, we’re only looking at half of the problem because were only focus on the outcomes. Yes, the outcomes are very extreme and damaging and, in many cases, represent a “CRISIS” that is getting very little response from the Black community. It appears that the Black leadership suffers from an acute level of paralysis that has crippled the movement. Let me give you just a few examples that should alarm every Black person: 1) Black men are approximately 1.5 million and 60 percent of the prison population – if parity was achieved, nearly 1.3 million Black men would be home contributing to the Black family and the Black community; 2) 80 percent of all Black families are now headed by single parent head of households – if we parity was achieved, nearly four million Black families would have two parents versus one parent; 3) Black male unemployment, specifically between the ages of 18 – 35 in urban areas range between the low of 30 percent to the high of 55 percent - if parity was achieved, nearly two million more men would be employed; and 4) Black income has exceeded $1 trillion annually and ownership of America’s wealth (est. $110 Trillion) is near zero – if parity was achieved, Black income would be approximately $4 trillion and Black wealth would increase by nearly $14 trillion. Brother and sisters these numbers are INSANE and what’s more insane is that these numbers have become ACCEPTABLE BY BLACK PEOPLE. The issues above are just the tip of the iceberg because most, if not all of the issues are the same people, the same group. When you add academic, health, income, and other social disparities, coupled with a “culture” of abnormal behavior being accepted as normal, the patient (the Black community) is very, very sick and by all accounts is on life support. Stay with me because I’m trying to make the argument that these issues (our sickness) will become permanent – meaning that every Black child born into this world going forward will be inflicted by this illness and while a few individuals will get treatment, the majority will suffer from this disease. I (continued on page 8)
RELIGION
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 4
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”--Jeremiah 29:11
t a H D t l
t C w r
a i p j e
MCJ Editor Thomas Mitchell, Jr. speaks to graduates at Central Church of Christ
m p E
Milwaukee Community Journal Editor Thomas Mitchell, Jr. (front, far left) was the keynote speaker at Central Church of Christ’s celebration of its graduates from grade school, high school and college. The graduates are: Grade SchoolMichael D. Butler, Jr.; David J. Osuocha and Zane Long; High School-Adam Paige, Destiny Peterson, Zahra LandRagland, Jhyaire Tatum, and Tatyana Westmoreland; College-Mark D. Carter, Ne’Kara Tatum, Chuncey B. Thompson, Steven N. Thompson II, and Ashley Truss. Bro. Steven N. Thompson (front, far right) is the minister at Central COC, located at 1830 W. Monroe (just off of North and Fond du Lac Streets. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
t c m n w g
c g s h m g t s t
Adult Learning Center holds graduation and recognition ceremony
Recently the Adult Learning Center held its annual graduation celebration of GED graduates. The event also recognized 10 students who are in the process of completing their tests. Above, Clarene Mitchell, wife of MCJ Editor Thomas Mitchell (second from right), poses with the two graduates: Jordan Taylor (second from left) and Zakhary Kopp (far right) and a representative of the Adult Learning Center, Helen Dahms. Mitchell, who is the Community Engagement Manager with ResCare Workforce Services, told the graduates about her own experiences as a single mother who earned a GED and went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Cardininal Stritch University. “The past doesn’t have to dictate your future. The future can be anything you want it to be. Keep moving forward and never stop learning.”The Adult Learning Center provides adults with basic education, life-long learning opportunities and resources to transform lives. The Adult Learning Center is located in and works in conjunction with St. Martin de Porres Parish. (Photo provided by the Adult Learning Center)
l o l t d
In Loving Memory
l c d n i a p
Quality Service... a tenured tradition sincere concern at your time of need.
Offering pre-need, at need and after-care services to families in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and other communities throughout our state.
Harris, Rose M. Age 84 yrs. June 10, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 19 at 11AM at King Solomon Baptist Church 2375 N. 4th St. Visitation Thursday 3-7PM(Family hr. 6-7PM) at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Rodgers, Helen C. Age 95 yrs. May 24, 2015. A Memorial service will be held on Friday, June 19 at 1PM at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church 2500 W. Medford Ave. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Miller, Warner Age 84 yrs. June 13, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 19 at 11AM at Mt. Zion Baptist Church 2207 N. 2nd St. Visitation Friday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Williams, Moddie Age 104 yrs. June 12, 2015. A Graveside service will be held on Friday, June 19 at 11AM at Graceland Cemetery 6401 N. 43rd St. The family is
J.C. Frazier, Funeral Director
served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Baker, Jacqueline Age 59 yrs. June 13, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 20 at 11AM at True Life Ministries 6416 W. Capitol Dr. Visitation Saturday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Sellers, Dorothy R. Age 71 yrs. June 12, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 19 at 5PM. Visitation Friday 3PM until time of services at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Irby, Arnold Age 89 yrs. June 11, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 20 at 11AM. Visitation Saturday 10AM until time of services at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Families served by:
Northwest Funeral Chapel O’Bee, Ford & Frazier
Milwaukee 6630 W. Hampton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218 Telephone: (414) 462-6020 Fax: (414) 462-9937
Racine 800 Barker St. Racine, WI 53402 Telephone: (262) 637-6400 Fax: (262) 637-6416
NEW Early Childhood Education and Head Start Partnership Program for Infants and Toddlers announced by Next Door and St.Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care is now enrolling children ages 6 weeks to 3 years old for Early Head Start, in partnership with Next Door, at their second intergenerational facility, the Bucyrus Campus, located at 2450 W. North Avenue. The partnership is made possible through a Federal Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant that was written by Next Door Executive Director, Carol Keintz. Carol sought out St. Ann Center as a partner, knowing the center’s president Sister Edna Lonergan, OSF’s, plans to build a second center and join the community on North Avenue. “There are so many good developments in the area and it is key that we partner, and add to them.” said Sister Edna. The new partnership between the two organizations will serve 105 children daily in Head Start Programming. It also combines Next Door’s national award-winning program with St. Ann Center’s unique intergenerational curriculum. According to Generations United, children in intergenerational programming: develop higher reading scores than their peers; experience higher personal and social development by the age of 11 months; and gain positive role models and relationships with experienced elders resulting in a more positive attitude toward their community. The intergenerational environment will enhance an already strong Head Start Federal program with curriculum that promotes school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in the following domains: language and literacy; cognition and general knowledge; physical development and health; social and emotional development; and approaches to learning.
Two meetings set to inform residents how to maintain their FoodShare benefits
Two informational meetings for FoodShare recipients to learn how to maintain their FoodShare benefits will be held Monday, June 22 at 4:30 p.m., at St. Ben’s Catholic Church, 924 W. State St., and Tuesday, June 23 at 1 p.m., at Hephatha Lutheran Church, 1720 W. Locust St. At the meetings, crucial information will be given to able-bodied FoodShare recipients without dependents ages 18-49. As of April 1st, 2015, FoodShare recipients are required to participate in the FoodShare Employment & Training Program (FSET) to maintain their FoodShare benefits. If participants do not complete requirements, they may lose their Foodshare rights for 3 years! Clarene Mitchell of Rescare Workforce Services will be on site to explain how to remain eligible. “These meetings are ‘informational lifeboats’ since the news is only being communicated from the State by mail,” states leader and homeless advocate MacCanon Brown. “Our collaborative group chose to sponsor these meetings because we know some recipients are not perfectly served by the postal service.” “ResCare is dedicated to assisting participants reach their highest level of independence. “Our goals with FSET is to help people successfully enroll, explore exemption options and develop viable employment options," stated Mitchell. MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary along with the Cathedral Center, Dominican Center, and Hephatha Lutheran Church are sponsoring the information meetings. For more information, contact Brown at (414)-305-8997; or Clarene Mitchell at (414)-270-1821.
Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, including health, nutrition, social, and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage. Next Door has been serving innercity Milwaukee families since 1969 working with thousands of children and families each year to give them the skills they need, not just to get by, but to achieve sustainable success in school and in life. “The child is at the center of everything we do,” says Carol Keintz. “We are thrilled to partner with St. Ann’s to bring high quality early education to even more children. Together, we can address every aspect of the child’s learning experience so they become prepared for elementary school on the same level as their peers.” St. Ann Center’s new Director of
Childcare for the Bucyrus Campus, Sister Lucy Marindany, is excited about the possibilities that the partnership will bring. She says “I am looking forward to creating a loving community that brings parents, children and teachers together. I envision that our Head Start program will give all the children who attend, the chance to have their gifts and talents nourished, so that they will go on to become professionals, and who will return one day to continue the transformation of their community.” St. Ann Center extends a congratulations to all of this year’s graduates and is looking forward preparing the next generation of students through the Early Head Start Partnership with Next Door. St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care’s Bucyrus Campus is set to open on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. Enrollment is currently open for the September 1 start date. To enroll or request more information, call: (414) 977-5014 or visit stanncenternorth.org.
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 5
BUSINESS CORNER
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 6
Kathryn Jackson, the founder and owner of Protect Your Pumps, LLC, accepts congratulations from Eric Ness, district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration for being named “Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” during the 30th annual SBA Small Business Awards Breakfast, honoring the state’s 2015 small business award winners. Jackson was one of 13 award recipients in various small business. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
How To Navigate Today’s Entrepreneurial Landmines Without An MBA
The ‘Meat & Potatoes’ Approach To Efficiency And Success, From A Veteran Businessman
Steve Jobs. Bill Gates. Richard Branson. Marc Zuckerberg. Ted Turner. They are just some of the world’s business giants who’ve never earned a college degree. “Higher education certainly has its benefits; but based on experience, the data that’s out there and what others have told me, there can be better ways of preparing for a life in business than beginning one’s earning years tens of thousands of dollars in debt from college,” says Ed Basler, a veteran entrepreneur and CEO of E.J. Basler Co., (www.ejbasler.com). “Hard work, working smart, listening and abiding in the examples of those who’ve been successful are the keys to success in business. College doesn’t necessarily impart those attributes to students. The price of an MBA is certain, but its value is not.” Nearly 70 percent of seniors who graduated from public and nonprofit colleges in 2013 had student loan debt, which averaged $28,400 per borrower, according to The Institute for College Access and Success. If a costly college degree doesn’t necessarily deliver the goods on what works in business, then what does? Basler, author of “The Meat & Potatoes Guide to Business Survival: A Handbook for Non-MBA’s & College Dropouts,” briefly explains key principles. • Respect the power of your vision. It may sound hokey to some, but not to dreamers like Walt Disney – another giant who succeeded without a degree. In fact, those who criticize the dreams of visionaries are those who’ve either failed or never dared to dream in the first place. To put it simply, big vision = big results; small vision = small results; no vision = no results. Never mind the naysayers. Listen to those who have something to say, including those who fully support your dream, and those who offer constructive criticism. Talk it out with anyone who’ll listen. Be open to improvement.
• Fly with eagles. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Join your industry’s trade association. It is a wealth of ideas, information and networking opportunities. Meet the leaders in your fields. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and find a seasoned experienced mentor. They can be found. • Never pay retail. In some ways, a college degree is retail. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get the expected result, such as a good job, but you certainly pay a financial price. In business, frugality pays. The easiest and most frequently cited price is usually one that can be improved. You can buy office furniture at a store, or you can cut those prices by half or more by going to an auction. Always be on the lookout for a more cost-efficient way. • Use a checklist. No, this is not an
app or a new way of thinking about business. Instead, it’s an old, tried, tested and true way of accounting for the most important things that need to be done. As the leader of your business, you need it, but you should also encourage everyone under you to keep a list, too. If something is worth doing at work, then it’s worth the extra daily reminder. Put the most important item at the top and then check it off once done. This lets you know with certainty that the task has been accomplished and clearly indicates what’s needed next. • Deadlines orient your attention to goals with each passing hour. What if President John F. Kennedy did not announce his ambitious deadline on May 25, 1961, to safely send a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s? We may never have made it.
Ambitious deadlines foster excitement for accomplishment. Our attention as human beings is prone to wandering. Deadlines guide us back to our ambition. • There’s no end to improvement. There’s no end to improvement. Everything you are currently doing can be improved. Ignore this at your own peril. Your competition believes this and is ready to pass you up the moment you become complacent and settle for the status quo. If you are not growing in innova-
tion, quality, and customer service, you may soon find yourself out of business. About Ed Basler Ed Basler is a longtime entrepreneur and CEO of E.J. Basler Co., (www.ejbasler.com), which provides precision-machined parts and solutions to companies worldwide. He is a sought-after motivational speaker and president of Fresh Eyes Coaching, a firm that helps small businesses identify profit opportunities and obstacles. Ed and his wife, Cathi, also
founded and ran a nationally recognized not-for-profit youth organization for 15 years. He is the author of “The Meat & Potatoes Guide to Business Survival: A Handbook for Non-MBA’s & College Dropouts.” If you would like to run the above article, please feel free to do so. I can also provide images to accompany it. If you’re interested in interviewing Ed Basler or having him write an exclusive article for you, let me know and I’ll gladly work out the details. Lastly, please
KALEIDOSCOPE
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 7
the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section
39th Annual Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Brunch Honors “Men Who Empower Men”
On Sunday, August 2, 2015, at 12 Noon, the Milwaukee Community Journal will host its 39th Annual Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Brunch at the Italian Conference Center, located at 631 E Chicago Street. This year’s theme is “Men Who Empower Men,” as a tribute to the men in the community who build strong families, communities and a strong nation. Among this year’s honorees are Dr. Howard Fuller, Marquette University; Dr. Eric Gallien, Racine Unified School District; Rob Jeter, UW-Milwaukee Men’s Basketball; George Walker, MillerCoors; and Milwaukee Aldermen Willie Wade and Joe Davis, Sr., just to name a few. “The impact of fathers, grandfathers, teachers, pastors, counselors, neighbors and community-thought leaders on young men is without question one of the greatest contributors to developing strong men—our future,” said Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo, publisher of the Milwaukee Community Journal. “Too frequently, we are saddened by the loss of young men from various communi-
Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo MCJ Publisher
Mikel Holt Editor Emeritus, event’s keynote speaker
“...daily, there are so many men in our community who are working quietly, interfacing and supporting other men, determined to give them a solid opportunity for education, networking and traversing adolescence into adulthood.” --Pattillo ties. “We decry and mourn their deaths, recognizing that far too many young lives are
Milwaukee native Nathaniel Stampley honored as one of America’s top actors
lost senselessly. While justice must prevail and the final epitaphs have yet to be written, daily, there are so many men in our commu-
munities more inspired and more inspiring - offering great benefits to other actors, to individual theatres, to students, to communities across the country, and to American theatre as a whole. Mr. Stampley was nominated by Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Mark Clements, Artistic Director at Milwaukee Rep, said of Stampley: "Nate Stampley grew up in Milwaukee, the son of a well known minister. He's made Milwaukee incredibly proud with a career spanning continents and that also includes incredible performances here in Milwaukee. Stampley to participate in I had the joy and honor of directing Lunt-Fontanne Nate in 'The Color Purple' earlier this season at MRT. Not only did Nate's Fellowship Program with performance as Mister showcase his inPhylicia Rashad at credible voice and nuanced acting talhistoric Ten Chimneys ent, but he also proved unequivocally that he is a natural and inspirational July 12-19, 2015 company leader of the highest caliber. Nathaniel Stampley has been seIn addition to this, he may just possess lected as a 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow, the most infectious laugh in our indusnominated by Milwaukee Repertory try. Theater. Mr. Stampley is one of ten ac- Nathaniel Stampley He brought great empathy to a diffitors in the entire country who will participate in the 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program. cult character and approached this role with enormous July 12-19, Stampley will join Tony Award winner sensitivity and an openness to his fellow performers. With roles on Broadway, the West End, and a recent Phylicia Rashad for an intensive weeklong master class national tour of 'Porgy and Bess', Nate's career has taken at Ten Chimneys, the National Historic Landmark estate exciting turns and I look forward to seeing where such of theatre legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, in he goes next. It is an absolute pleasure to nominate him Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. for the 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program. The 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program will I know Nate will embrace this opportunity with his focus on roles that are "against type" and will allow the typically open heart & will generously impart his learnactors to engage in parts that differentiate from the charing and discoveries to all of his colleagues - both in Milacters they may typically play. waukee and afar." Mark Clements. As a result, the Fellows will return to their home com-
IN THE BLACK
Four local families selected to compete in seventh annual Project Money
MADISON, Wisconsin — “Surviving recession job losses have significantly affected our relationship with money.” “Rent, in addition to my other expenses, left me drowning for months and months, living paycheck to paycheck.” “We tend to make a lot of decisions that, financially, are not very healthy.” These are a few comments from the four teams who have just begun competing in the seventh annual Summit Credit Union Project Money reality-based financial challenge. Project Money provides an opportunity for participants—as well as the community at large—to learn how to do more with their money and achieve financial success. From more than 150 applicants, four teams were selected, each with different backgrounds and financial situations. Between June and December, each of the teams works one-on-one with a Summit financial coach who provides them with the plans, tools and advice they need to accomplish their financial goals. “Project money is so much more than a competition. It’s a financial education program,” said Kim Sponem, CEO and President of Summit Credit Union. “It continues to be successful because when people take control of their finances, they help so many aspects of their lives. It’s empowering.” The 2015 Project Money teams include: • Carrie and Chris Bennett with sons Logan and Ryan, from Madison, Wisconsin — a family who has struggled with recession job losses and failed business start-up attempts, working to repair their relationship with money— and finally finish the remodel on their home. • Alane Conn with son Bishop, from Madison, Wiscon-
sin — a single mom who works as a non-profit case manager, with her sights set on paying off student loans and credit card debt, and looking forward to sharing some of the strategies she learns with the homeless families with whom she works. • Sheba McCants and Karim Njie, from Madison, Wisconsin — a young couple with big dreams, including buying their first home and starting a family, working to reduce their stress and begin making smart financial choices together. • Becca Reisdorf and Joel Wallschlaeger with Becca’s daughter Taytum, from Verona, Wisconsin — a recently engaged couple who has just purchased a new home and is motivated to make changes to stop living paycheck-topaycheck and start building their lives together. “Project Money teams are selected from a variety of stages of life, so there’s a situation or scenario that many people in the community can relate to and learn from,” said Sponem. “We appreciate the courage of these four teams who are committed to making positive changes and sharing their financial stories on television and online so others can learn from their experiences.” Their ongoing progress and unique stories will be chronicled through weekly blogs, Facebook and Twitter posts, as well as videos at https://www.summitcreditunion.com/projectmoney/. Participants will share advice and tips they receive from their coaches so that anyone following along can relate and apply the advice to their own financial goals. Additionally, starting in July, WMTV will report on the participants’ challenges and progress in an ongoing series airing on Channel 15 during the 5 p.m. newscast. In February 2016, a $10,000 prize will be awarded to the team that earns the most points during the competition. Points are awarded for percent increase in savings, decrease in debt and participation in program events. Runners-up will each receive $2,500. In its first six years, Summit Credit Union’s Project Money challenge has helped 24 teams make a huge difference in their financial lives. In the seven-month challenge seasons alone, they collectively boosted their savings by $192,110 and decreased their debt by more than a quarter million dollars—$256,485. By sharing their lessons and tips along the way, they also helped teach members of the community how to do more with their money and achieve financial success.
nity who are working quietly, interfacing and supporting other men, determined to give them a solid opportunity for education, networking and traversing adolescence into adulthood. “We want to honor and encourage them during this year’s scholarship brunch,” she said. Pattillo created the annual event in honor of her deceased and beloved son, Dr. Terence N. Thomas. Proceeds from the event help fund the memorial scholarship established in his memory in 1996. To date, the newspaper has used those funds to award almost $550,000 in academic stipends to students who retain a 3.0 cumulative grade average or better. For more information about this event, or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, please contact Patricia Pattillo at (770) 251-9076.
FROM THE BLACK By Tony Courtney
Father’s Day Celebration – Fathers for Progress will host their 27th Annual Father’s Day Event at Sherman Park (located on Sherman Blvd & Hadley on Sunday, June 21st beginning at 12PM There will be all kinds of activities for adults and children and free food. The N’COBRA National Conference June 25-28 will be held in Milwaukee,
39th Annual Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Brunch THIS YEAR’S PRESTIGIOUS HONOREES Donnell Brice, Kappa Alpha Psi, Alumnae Chapter Ronald Byrd, Clement Zablocki Veterans Medical Center G. Spencer Coggs, City of Milwaukee, City Treasurer Ald. Joe Davis, Milwaukee Common Council Tracey Dent, Peace for Change Alliance Andre Lee Ellis, Andre Lee Ellis & Company and “We Got This!” Dr. Howard Fuller, Marquette University Jim Gaillard, Pyramid Electric/Ezekiel Project Dr. Eric Gallien, Racine Unified School District Evans Gant, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee Victor Jackson, State of Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office Rob Jeter, UW-Milwaukee Men’s Basketball Coach Tim John, Owner of Blue Mound Graphics, Inc., former Gubernatorial candidate Michael Jones, City of Milwaukee (Retired) Assistant Fire Chief Kendall Keith, Kappa Alpha Psi, Student Chapter Dr. Richard Lightsey, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. Gervis Myles, Department of Natural Resources/Conservation Warden Don Pannell, (Retired) Firefighter/Paramedic Aaron Perry, “Ironman” African American Triathlon Competitor Jeffrey Roman, Community Advocates’ Public Policy Institute Kim Robinson, Milwaukee Police Department Ald. Willie Wade, Milwaukee Common Council George Walker, MillerCoors Ray Walker, City of Milwaukee Police Department Roger Weathersby, City of Milwaukee Fire Department PLUS… Keynote Address, "Our Healing" by Mikel Holt, Editor Emeritus, MCJ and Pundit from the Charlie Sykes Show Music by Christopher's Project, Stepping by the UWM Undergrad Kappa Alpha Psi Chapter, and Emcee Larry Waters Silent Auction and art exhibits by Fresh Perspective Art Collective Proceeds support the Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship $32,000 will be awarded to students on August 2, 2015
Wisconsin at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center 3020 W. Vliet St. We are looking for drummers to participate in our opening night intergenerational drum circle and poets to participate in our intergenerational open mike sessions. There will be people attending this conference from all over the country and we want to showcase Milwaukee’s conscious talent at our Meet and Greet event on the opening night of the conference at our meet and greet session. The opening night of the conference is free to the public so you can also find out what N’COBRA is all about. In the mean time check out N’Cobra on Google to learn about its history and what is going on with the reparations movement around the world. If you are interested in participating as a drummer or poet, call Tony Courtney 414-3742364, Josephine Hill 933-1652 or Janette Herrera 828-1410. Old School: We Ain’t Through Yet! There will be two meetings of Black men over 60 years old that will take place at
the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center 3020 W. Vliet St. on Monday, June 22nd at 4:30PM and on Tuesday, June 23rd at 12pm noon. The discussion will be about how we can play a role as Elder Black Men to provide solutions to change our community. If you are interested, call 374-2364 for more information. “Dedicated to Black Men That Got Black Men’s Backs – The deadline for Black Men participating on this page is Saturday, June 27th. Brothers, take this opportunity to honor the Black men in your life that help to steer you on the right road in your life whether still living or deceased (joined the world of your ancestors). These men could have been or is currently your Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, Cousin, Teacher, Coach, etc. It is time that as Black men that we pay tribute to these men that looked out for us when we were young and ignorant of what was going on in the world. The cost to recognize the man you want to honor is only $25.00. If you are interested, call Tony Courtney at 414-374-2364.
The Black Community Social Development is at a Crossroads Foundation Names
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 8
(continued from page 3) use the term permanent because if we examine the outcomes, while alarming, they represent only half of the problem (outcomes) – what we must also be examining with the same vigor is the continuum (pipeline) that is producing these staggering and alarming outcomes for Black people. When we only focus on the outcomes and the “backend” we will never be able to determine whether the outcomes will change (i.e. improve, stay the same, worsen) – there has to be “frontend” approach. Most, if not all, of the current Black infrastructure is built around the backend solutions versus the frontend solutions which furthers speaks to the permanency of the Black sickness. When we examine the continuums that produce the alarming outcomes that threaten the Black community, you begin to look at the systems and how they are organized to maintain the status quo. You must begin to study the number of institutions that represent the continuum and how they operate based on existing laws, rules and regulations, and the overarching policies that have been crafted by politicians and are being implemented by bureaucrats – most, if not all of this is shaped by public opinion. How the public thinks and behaves is essential – to the key question is who the public is? When the Black community fails to vote or organize its voice, and is silent on the issues that impact them, then they give their voice to others that many times work totally against them (vocal minority) as a result legislation is crafted and passed that handicaps even further an institution’s ability to be effective and support a real solution for the Black community and/or budgets are adopted in many cases that reduce the resources being allocated to the system. All of these and more impact how these systems interact and work for or against people at every level. The people are influenced at every level from entering the system and the exiting of the system. This is how defined the continuum (pipeline). Let’s take a look at the criminal justice systems which is made up of the several institutions, specifically the criminal justice system that deals with upholding laws, protecting citizens and prosecuting those who break the law. There are three main areas in the criminal justice system: law enforcement, judicial, and corrections. • Law Enforcement – Law enforcement involves all levels of the police forces (i.e. local police, sheriffs, state police, specialized criminal task forces, etc.). The law enforcement function is perhaps the most visible because the police are typically the first contact an individual has with the criminal justice system. Police patrol communities to help prevent crimes, investigate incidences of crime, and have the power to arrest people that are suspected of committing crimes. When this aspect of the judicial is flawed and/or challenged, the input into the judicial system becomes skewed. There are a number of conflicts that exist between the police and the Black community and in many cases many parts of the Black community live in a “police” state. Police state is a term that denotes when a majority group (government) exercises abusive power arbitrarily through the use of the police on a minority group. Many Black citizens living in urban communities are victims of a police state and live in a state of fear experiencing restrictions of their civil liberties through a number of methods including failed and abusive strategies like “stop and frisk” (i.e. restricted mobility, aggressive search and seizure policies, extremely loose conspiracy interpretations, etc.). While many of these practices resemble times of national emergency or war – in essence, they have become levels of police harassment which has become a daily experience for many Black youth today that have severely strained the relationship between police and the community. TO CHANGE THE MASS INCRCERATION OF BLACK MALES WILL REQUIRE A CHANGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. • Court System – The court system involves all levels of the judicial courts (i.e. municipal, appellate, and state supreme courts); the volumes and volumes of laws and precedent that is operated and performed by attorneys (i.e. district attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, etc.); and the use of private citizens in the form of juries (i.e. grand juries, and juries, etc.). The general position of the courts is that everyone is to be viewed as innocent until the court proves them guilty. In the courts, the guilt or innocence of the suspect is determined. After the evidence is presented and weighed, and after the suspect, now defendant, is offered the opportunity to confront his accusers, he is either released or is found to have committed the alleged crimes. The U.S. court system is divided into two administratively separate systems, the federal and the state, each of which is independent of the executive (i.e. President) and legislative branches of government (i.e. Congress). The federal district court system has at least one bench in each of the 50 states, as well as one each in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. There are up to 20 judges in each district, and, as with most federal jurists, district court judges are appointed by the President and serve for life. Cases handled by the federal district courts include those relating to alleged violations of the Constitution or other federal laws, maritime disputes, cases directly involving a state or the federal government, and cases in which foreign governments, citizens of foreign countries, and citizens of two or more different states are involved, and federally designated crimes. The state court system has a hierarchical system oforganizationwhich includes general courts along with a group of special courts with the lowest level of courts being magistrate court, municipal court, justice of the peace court, police court, traffic court, and county court. These courts handle both civil and criminal cases. More serious offenses are heard in superior court, also known as state district court, circuit court, and by a variety of other names. The superior courts, usually organized by counties, hear appeals from the lower courts and have original jurisdiction over major civil suits and serious crimes. The highest state court is the state supreme court which generally hears appeals from the state superior courts. All of the judges on the state courts (lower and supreme court) are elected which means that many of them are both judges and politicians. This is very troubling for poor Black males especially when there is an “air” of punishment that prevails in public opinion and judges are influence by public opinion versus their knowledge and expertise of the problems. There is a significant disparity between those that have resources versus those that don’t. Also, the disparities are magnified when an overwhelming number of defendants are Black males that are poor and are fast-tracked through the convictions and sentence process into jail. Nearly 95 percent of all cases tried in criminal court involve poor Black participants that result in plea-bargains. This is because they lack the resources to adequately defend themselves and a general perception that they are guilty even before they are tried. • Corrections - The corrections system incorporates all forms of sentencing and punishment. It includes incarceration, probation, and parole. A convicted criminal is the responsibility of corrections until his full sentence is served or commuted. Corrections include prisons, jails and probation and community control officers. The American criminal justice system is the largest in the world and imprisons the largest minority in the world. In part two of this article, I will further elaborate on the criminal justice system, specifically corrections, and discuss how a number of “other” challenges threaten to increase and/or maintain the high level of Black incarcerated males. Finally, I will refocus the discussion to further examine the unfavorable outcomes Black people must rise above to develop an “informed” response. THE BLACK COMMUNIY IS AT A CROSSROADS.
New President
Patricia Lindsey will preside as president of the board of directors for the Social Development Foundation (SDF). Prior to serving as president, Lindsey was affiliated with the SDF for six years and recently served as secretary. She is employed by Johnson Controls, Inc. in the Enterprise Project Management Office. Born in Jackson, MissisPatricia Lindsey sippi, Lindsey has spent much of her life in Milwaukee and considers herself to be a native Milwaukeean. “I was instilled with the value of serving and giving back to my community and the Social Development Foundation allows me to extend my passion for servitude,” said Lindsey. She continued, “I love the work we do and to see and seeing the change affected by the hard work and dedication of the SDF board of directors.” The Social Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that supports the programs and services of the Social Development Commission
New report by NAACP on impact of racial profiling on Black America
(continued from page 1) dents in Milwaukee have made the city a textbook example of the problem of the racial profiling/justice disparity. Mayer noted Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn admitted the MPD focuses on the Black community based on data collected by the department as to who commits crime and where. “Stop-and-Frisk” is based on an overall theory that if police focus on low-level, quality of life offenses, it will prevent bigger, more serious offenses from occurring. “The Black community (in Milwaukee) is not happy with the Milwaukee Police Department’s (racial profiling and “Stop-and-Frisk”) practices,” Mayer said. “They feel disrespected.” Mayer then ran down the list of profiling practices that have led to tragedy: Ferguson, MO (jaywalking); New York (selling single cigarettes on street corners, and most recently Baltimore, MD (riding a bike and looking at police officers), and Milwaukee (sleeping in a public park). “Why do we (Black people) run?” Mayer asked rhetorically. “Because they (Black people, especially Black men) are being harassed by police on the basis of quality of life ordinances.” Mayer said the report includes a number of recommendations and suggested campaign components for NAACP leaders interested in creat-
ing an issue-based initiative on racial profiling: • Advocate for passage of the national End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) • Call on U.S. Department of Justice to update the federal racial profiling guidance • Advocate for strong anti-racial profiling bills on the local and state level Mayer said the report also pushes for the creation of Civil Complaint Review Boards that are independent of government, have subpoena powers of police evidence, and disciplinary powers. The NAACP criminal justice specialist said the MPD officers (and officers across the country) need training and retraining in cultural sensitivity, crisis intervention/de-escalation and communication skills. He also said police officers engaging in racial profiling and kills or assaults someone as a result is held criminally liable. Mayer added the report includes an Anti-Racial Profiling Model Bill, sample End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) letter to Congress, Principles for an Effective Civilian Review Board, Police Misconduct Incident Reporting Form and more. #BornSuspect is also a social media campaign that brings to light everyday racial profiling that occurs with people of color across the U.S.
The Mckinney Pool Party
(continued from page 3) there, began running. Police then told them to sit down until things got straightened out.” However, one police officer on the scene, Corporal David Eric Casebolt, became overzealous in the performance of his duties. A nearly 10-year veteran of the McKinney police department, Casebolt is seen aggressively gathering up teens, hollering at teens, cursing and telling them to sit down on the grass. The one incident which went viral and caught national if not international attention was his encounter with 15-year-old Dajerria Becton. Again, “spin” control is definitely called for at this point and we might want to see what comes out upon further in depth investigations. Arturo Garcia in RawStory on June 8, 2015 comments on Fox News’ Megyn Kelly’s account, while not defending Casebolt’s actions, that Becton was not without total blame. “He told her to leave, and she continued to linger. When a cop tells you to leave, get out,” says Kelly. Now Becton was in the process of complying with Casebolt’s orders. However, as cited by Tom Cleary in HEAVY news on June 7, 2015, Casebolt goes up to these group of girls of which Becton was a part and “warns them not to keep standing there running your mouths,” and tells them to leave, “now.” Becton does begin to walk away with the group. But, she then stops and turns back towards Casebolt and it is not clear what, but she says something to him. He then grabs her, twist her arm, throws her to the ground, grabs her braids, and drags her across the grass. As he wrestles her to the ground, two other Black male teen run up on Casebolt. That’s when he pulls his gun from his holster and points it towards the two teens. Casebolt was then assisted by two other policemen. He then returns to Becton, continuing to detain her on the ground. Two other officers take off after the teens. Casebolt resigned from the McKinney police department after his actions with Becton and other Black teens with viral. According to Rebecca Lopez of WFAA, his resignation was confirmed by attorney Jane Bishkin who told WFAA that the decision was made after a meeting with the department’s internal affairs unit to review possible charges he, Casebolt, could face. The 7-minute video clip of Case-
bolt’s overly aggressive interaction with Becton was viewed nearly 9.5 million times according to Lopez. Reports writer Clearly, the ACLU of Texas released a statement saying that, “While we don’t know all the facts about the party, the crowd, or whether a fight broke out, what we do know is that the police response, as seen on the video, appears to be a textbook case of overuse of force.” ACLU further notes that a welltrained police department “would have responded more cautiously, with less hostility, and using sophisticated crowd control methods that favor de-escalation, not escalation. Without question, guns were not needed and in fact risked turning a group of partying teenagers into a violent encounter that could have turned deadly.” It was the focus of this writer to posit this background in order to put in proper perspective a sad and frightening reality of this incident. Where were the parents? Why was there no Black adult supervision at this pool party? Why didn’t the young people know how to conduct themselves properly in the face of armed police authority? Dallas mother Kisa Jackson was interviewed on Steve Doocy’s Fox & Friends and she claims that the, “kids were out of control. I will never be in dispute that the office was also, but he was not my concern. These kids are out future.” She adds that, “they did not know how to conduct themselves with the authorities. What bothered me was that their safety was in danger;” and that the young people out there had no clue as to how to act around them. “The parents, Jackson continues, “are not letting the kids know how to conduct themselves when these situations occur. It (the pool party) was bad. But it could have been so much worse.” To her credit, Lashing Burks, the mother of Tatiana Rose, was seemingly the only adult of record who was on site at the event. In brief, there should have been more parent chaperons present from the Craig Ranch neighborhood from which most of the invitees reside. There should have been more security and a better handle on how to take care of those folk who did not have a pool pass or an invitation. And if it is true per the comments of Embry, the occasion should have been quiet, low key, invitation only and not put out there on social media. We as a Black people need to re-
ABOUT...
CARLTON T. MAYERS, II, ESQ. is the
Criminal Justice Specialist for the Criminal Justice Division of the NAACP National office in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and his J.D. and Master’s in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vermont. Mr. Mayers is also an active volunteer in the Alternatives to Violence Project in Maryland, where he and other volunteers participate in activities and engage in discussions with incarcerants who are serving time in the Maryland Department of Corrections about violence and alternatives to violence. In addition, he is an active volunteer in the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform, whose purpose is to establish and introduce reentry reform legislation within the Maryland State Legislature.
store our own moral guidance for our children. We as a Black people need to restore our own parental authority over our children. We as Black people and as a community need to set boundaries and limitations for our children and make sure that they are followed. We as a Black people need to be able to discipline our children and set consequences. We as a Black people need to be the modeled examples for them. We need to teach our children how to conduct themselves in each, every, and all situations. We were this way during our Black “Old School” era and before the onset of integration. Failure to do the foregoing, we should then not be surprised when our children “act out” in the face of or in the presence of a White cop or an authority figure such as Zimmerman and something bad happens as a result. A lot of lives could have been saved if only our children knew how to conduct themselves properly and safely in such circumstances or if only our young people would have listened to and abided by the training and advice of mother as in the case of Emmitt Till back in August 28,1955. Till knew what to do. Mother Mamie told him how to act before he left Chicago when he got around White folk in Money, Mississippi. But he chose to act otherwise. In order to be “equal to” or the “same as” or “accepted by others,” we don’t want to appear “different from” but “the same as” other folk, so we do not want to outwardly exhibit any form of adult guidance, upbringing or teachings towards our children that is unique, separate from, above, apart and beyond the standard, imagery and behavior of White people. But we are not the same. We are not them. No matter where we may live, our children are not White. We are not White. We have a wonderful and beautiful Black/African uniqueness that is ancestrally and historically ours and our children’s alone to inherit. And such cultural uniqueness needs to be safeguarded, protected, cultivated and perpetuated and we should raise our children and teach our children accordingly, regardless of where we reside. As Carter G. Woodson said 82 years ago in his work, “The Mis-Education of the Negro” in 1933: “The difference of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess. It is by the development of these gifts that every race must justify its right to exist.” But in the final analysis with all the
SIGNIFYIN’
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 9
misgivings, poor planning, absence of adult chaperones/supervision and just plain naiveté on the part of Black Craig Ranch residents relative to the attitudes of certain White neighbors, we all could feel at ease that that no one got hurt or that no one Black got arrested. As Kisa Jackson very well expressed, the pool party was bad. “But it could have been so much worse.”
(continued from page 3) with a research component that targets Black women. Working with the Chicago Park District, the program included classes on nutrition as well as a spirited exercise program. One of the findings researchers of the project noted was that while Black women didn’t lose any more weight in faith-based exercise programs than non-secular classes, they enjoyed the former much more. The Black women involved in the program also established relationships with other cancer survivors that proved to be beneficial as they progressed in their training regimens. While Moving Forward has proven to be successful (most of the participants continued their exercise routines after the six month program) there was little coordinators could do to resolve environmental factors that contribute to poor health. “Environmental concerns (often) play a role,” she said, “and while we can’t change their circumstances (poverty and public safety), we can lead them to various affordable resources that can significantly impact their lives.” Many obese Black women want to adapt healthier lifestyles but don’t know how or where to get help, she said. A related project Dr. Stolley was involved in while in Chicago focused on obesity in children. “We started with pre-school children and by elementary the disparity (weight gap) had closed, “ she said explaining that the sponsors created a ‘hip hop for health’ program that included exercise and diet changes. “The children were able to reduce weight, and grow up, and not out.” Dr. Stolley is a firm believer that a piece of the puzzle on a larger scale should come from both the community and government. She applauded a successful campaign by the community organization Walnut Way to stop the construction of a fast food restaurant on the corner of 17th and North Avenue several years ago. Walnut Way, which is known for advocating healthy lifestyle for central city residents, including community gardens, noted that a disproportionate number of fast food chains operate in the central city, where access to fresh foods and vegetables are at a minimum. Government has a role in restricting detrimental food and beverage choices, Stolley believes. “I appreciate the fast food boycotts,” she said. “One way to change obesity, (systemically), is through policy changes. “Look at what (government) has done to (highlight the dangers) of tobacco. We need to take policy changes and apply it to obesity; we need a truth campaign. “I think government should empower.” Don’t be surprised if several of the healthy lifestyle initiatives Dr. Stolley led in Chicago, are introduced here in Milwaukee, a city known for its obesity, among children and adults. “I was listening to a radio program and someone was talking about weight and this woman said ‘she’s Wisconsin skinny,’ which I guess is a different kind of (body mass),” she said humorously. Obesity is not unique to Wisconsin. It is a national problem that has prompted the First Lady to take it on as her personal crusade. The problem is more acute, research shows, in the African American community. And among postmenopausal Black women, it is a contributing factor to several aliments, including cancer. Dr. Stolley is emerging at the vanguard of a MCW campaign to reverse that phenomenon.
Read the news paper with its finger on the pulse of YOUR community in print or online! YOUR Milwaukee Community Journal!
“Mister Speaker, I am proud that the MilwaukeeCommunity Journal hails from the 4th Congressional District. It has consistently informed, analysed and entertained readers for nearly 38 years. I am pleased to give praise to Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo and her staff for providing a voice to the community and providing educational opportunities to students. I wish them many more years of success.” The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 10
--A segment from Cong. Gwen Moore’s remarks she made on the Congressional Record paying tribute to the Milwaukee Community Journal’s Dr.
Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Annual Brunch
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 11
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 17, 2015 Page 12