The Dayton Weekly News - Vol. 29, Issue 26

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Women Celebrate Annual Women’s Day Weekend

Downtown Dayton Outdoor Refreshment Area Boundaries to Expand

The City of Dayton has voted to approve a new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in Dayton. The new Downtown Dayton DORA includes a broader footprint of downtown Dayton and will incorporate the previously established Oregon District DORA into the new boundaries. Pending approval at the State level, the newly defined boundaries are expected to go into effect in mid-June of this year.

By: Carol Prewit

Contributing

Writer

Someone once said, “I want to be a woman quiet in spirit. I want to be a woman seen for her good heart. I want to be known as a servant.

I want to be a woman after God’s own heart.”

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church celebrated their

ECW Members

Annual Women’s Day Weekend

Saturday, May 20, 2023, and Sunday, May 21, 2023. This year’s theme was, “A Woman After God’s Own Heart”. A luncheon was held, Saturday, May 20th. The Episcopal Church Women and guests enjoyed an afternoon of great food, card games, a hat show, vendor shopping, and door prize drawings. Joy and laugh-

ter permeated the rooms and warmed the hearts of all in attendance. The guest speaker for Sunday worship service was the anointed and esteemed Servant Leader and change agent, the Rev. Dr. Vanessa O. Ward, president of the Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC) and retired co-pastor of the Omega

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Legendary “What’s Love Got to Do With It” Songstress Tina Turner Passes Away at

83

DORA was originally introduced in Dayton in 2020, centering in the Oregon District. Since that time, the program and its expansion has become a top priority to support businesses strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After extensive research and community outreach, and with the support of the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) and other downtown businesses and organizations, the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) submitted an application for an expanded DORA in early 2023.

“Our primary goal with

DORA and its expansion is to support our community of independent, small businesses that continue to struggle from COVID-19’s effects,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “The expansion of DORA has remained a top priority for downtown Dayton’s recovery from the pandemic and we are grateful we have been able to work closely with our constituents and city leaders to allow so much more of downtown to be included in the program.”

A DORA is a space that allows patrons 21 years and older to purchase alcoholic beverages in a designated cup from a permitted establishment and then carry those beverages outside within the defined boundary. Alcohol obtained from sources

other than participating businesses is not permitted inside the DORA boundary. Guests are encouraged to carry drinks served in designated DORA cups throughout the boundary, but all beverages must be finished or disposed of before entering another participating DORA establishment.

The Downtown Dayton DORA will be roughly bounded by Wilkinson Street to the west (with Main Street as the boundary south of Sixth Street), RiverScape MetroPark and the Great Miami River to the north (with First Street as the boundary east of Webster Street), Keowee Street to the east (with Webster Street as the boundary north of

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8/4 Memorial Design Proposal

Artist presentations will be available for viewing and public input on Dayton.com starting June 5.

Members of the community will soon be able to view the five possible designs for the 8/4 Memorial and share their opinions about the proposals. A panel of jurors will take all feedback into consideration before selecting one of the five designs to serve as a memorial for the victims of the tragic events that took place in the Oregon District neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, on August 4, 2019.

the goal of announcing the winner by August 4, 2023.

The five semi-finalist teams are (listed alphabetically by last name of Team Leader):

From her unique vocal style to her signature legs, Tina Turner was the epitome of style and success in the world of entertainment, having sold over 100 million records worldwide and becoming one of the world’s best-selling recording artists of all time.

Affectionally referred to as the “Queen of Rock n’ Roll,” Turner was a trailblazer who, in her own words, “battled hard to be the first Black female solo rock artist

to fill stadiums,” and who “played a part in clearing that path for women of the next generation — and the next.”

The story of Tina Turner is one that was filled with highs and lows. Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Brownsville, Tennessee, Tina Turner grew up singing in the choir at Spring Hill Baptist Church. As she grew older, she went from being abandoned by her mother when she was just 11 years old, to escaping an abusive marriage,

to eventually building a legendary singing career.

Tina Turner’s life journey is a story like no other. Turner gained her initial musical success as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. After meeting band leader Ike Turner, Turner joined the group, got married to Ike, and ended up performing with the group for 16 years until 1976, before forging a record-breaking solo career.

The iconic hitmaker, whose songs have become

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Artists selected as semi-finalists in the national search presented their final design ideas to the panel of jurors and members of the public last week at the Dayton Metro Library. Starting Monday, June 5, members of the public are encouraged to review those design proposals and share their feedback through an online portal at Dayton. com. The 8/4 Memorial Selection Committee will take all public feedback into consideration before making their final design selection in late June with

• Shane Albritton and Norman Lee, of “RE: site” based in Houston, TX

• Jon Barlow Hudson based in Yellow Springs, OH

• Stephen Canneto, Judith Spater, based in Columbus, OH; Mike Ruestchle & Tyler Rogan of Dayton, Ohio

• James Dinh, based in Los Angeles, CA; Amy Deal and Landon Crowell based in Dayton, OH

• Terry Welker, Jes McMillan & Sierra Leone based in Dayton, OH

The winning artist team will receive $200,000 to create the public art me-

morial. The goal of the 8/4 Memorial Committee is to unveil the finished work by August 4, 2024. The completed memorial will be located in the plaza adjacent to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth Street.

Questions about the 8/4 Memorial Committee and the 8/4 Memorial may be directed to co-chairs Sandy Gudorf (email gudorf@downtowndayton.org or call 937-224-1518) and Sandy Hunt (email hunts@ mcohio.org or call 937225-6262). Questions about the RFP process should be directed to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant, The Contemporary Dayton, (cking@ codayton.org or call 937-224-3882)

Maintaining a Safe Place for Important Documents

Do you have a safe place where important documents are kept? Do family members know where to find them? Who is in charge of family health and endof-life affairs (if you cannot)? News Flash… Your cellular devices and computers may be handy, but important documents must be kept where you can put your hands on them (hard copies) when necessary.

Preparing for the known and unknown is a topic that many are not interested in discussing. While taking care of my mother, the repeated lesson learned and one

For mommy and me, it was the green (fireproof) metal box that stored all the important papers necessary for handling the business at hand. When

she would call me to discuss the green metal box contents, my anxiety level went from zero to one hundred!

I would ask myself… is mommy trying to tell me something?

The green box held life insurance policies, military papers (DD-214), birth certificates, social security documents, and government identification. Further, her healthcare directive and will was housed in the document location, and a notarized agreement stating the decision-making person… ME!

It is most important to be clear as to who will

oversee the loved ones under your care. Note… If you cannot make hard and sometimes painful decisions, you should Not be in

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S

What’s The Planning a Summer Vacation?

WORD On The Street

Downtown Dayton Outdoor Refreshment Area Boundaries to Expand...

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First Street), and Sixth Street to the south (with some areas stretching as far south as Washington Street and Jones/Bainbridge Street.) A map of the new DORA is available on the Downtown Dayton Partnership website. All boundaries will be marked with metal signs signaling when guests enter and exit the DORA.

DORA will operate seven days a week from noon until midnight.

Dayton’s City Man-

ager will have the ability to suspend the DORA in specific situations such as emergencies or threats to public safety. DORA may also be suspended in full or in specific areas when petitioned by the DDP, the Water Street District, or the ODBA. Other organizations wishing to request a suspension may work with the DDP to submit a formal request.

Eligible businesses will receive more detailed information about the cupordering process in the

coming days. A full list of rules, FAQ, and a map of the DORA are available at the Downtown Dayton Partnership DORA webpage. DORA guests may also easily access the information by scanning QR codes on Downtown Dayton DORA cups and signs.

The Downtown Dayton DORA is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and sponsored by Bonbright Distributors.

DML Offers Programs for Animal Lovers

Dayton Metro Library has teamed up with several community partners to give patrons of all ages a chance to get up close

and personal with a variety of Dayton-area twoand four-legged creatures this summer, as well as explore a little bit of natural history.

Library Card Day at the Boonshoft, Saturday, June 3, from 9 am-5 pm

Admission to Boonshoft, located at 2600 Deweese Parkway, is free with a Library card. DML and Washington Centerville Library staff will help with Library card and Summer Challenge signups, and special storytimes will be presented. All ages are welcome and registration is not required.

Jr. Raptor Readers

Meet two of Glen Helen’s raptors, listen to a story, and sing a song about owls! For ages 2-10

Main Library, Children’s Creativity Space,

Tuesday, June 6, 10:3011:15 am

Glen Helen Raptor Center Program

Learn about local wildlife with a few animal ambassadors. For Families Huber Heights Branch, Friday, June 9, 10:3011:30 am

The “Slow Birding” Movement

Learn about the art of the "slow birding" movement for a more thoughtful way to bird watch with Sam Romeo, an Aullwood Audubon Naturalist and Environmental Educator.

For Adults

Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Saturday, June

24, 2-3 pm

Petting Zoo with Honey Hill Farm

Connect with animals from Honey Hill Farm! For Families

Wilmington Stroop Branch, Tuesday, June 13, 10 am-12 pm

Burkhardt Branch, Tuesday, June 13, 2-4 pm

Northmont Branch, Wednesday, June 21, 10 am- 12 pm

Brookville Branch, Wednesday, June 21, 2-4 pm

Northwest Branch, Thursday, June 29, 10 am-12 pm

West Branch, Thursday, June 29, 2-4 pm

Wildlife Encounter with Brukner Nature Center

Learn about Ohio's wildlife and diverse habitats with animal ambassadors. Registration is required. For Pre-K/K

Huber Heights Branch, Friday, June 16, 11-11:45 am

Dayton Art Institute: Animal Tessellations

Create a STEAM art object while learning about tessellations (repeated shapes that cover a plane) and animal shapes. Presented by the Junior League of Dayton. For Families

Northwest Branch, Friday, June 16, 1-2:30 pm

For more information, and to register if required, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

By: LaTonya Victoria Staff Writer

This past Memorial Day weekend marked the unofficial start to summer and summer travel. According to vacasa.com 77% of travelers are choosing to take a two or more-day getaway and 49% were planning to travel during the Memorial Day weekend. I spoke with several people in the Miami Valley and asked them if they were planning to take a vacation this summer and received the following responses:

1) Greg Brown, who works for the Wright Dunbar District and lives in the Miami Valley, replied, “I have not had a vacation in 6 years. They take really good care of me here. I get plenty of days off, 4-day weekends and holidays, but I have not actually had a real vacation in over 6 years.”

2) Pastor Jewell Jones Sr., who lives in Cleveland said, “We will travel to a few places this summer, some for pleasure and some for work. I’m looking forward to going to our family reunion in Kentucky during the Labor Day holiday weekend. We have been getting together for over 60 years and I can’t wait to reminisce, reflect on our family legacy, and teach the newest generations.”

Trotwood Mayor Initiates a New Training Program in Response to Recent Customer Service Concerns

Recent discussions with Dollar General management regarding their responsibility as a community partner to provide good customer service while maintaining a clean and healthy environment led Trotwood Mayor Mary A. McDonald to initiate a collaborative effort with Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley. As a result, businesses in Trotwood will have an opportunity for their employees to participate in a customer service training program designed by the non-profit agency, which recently opened a West Campus Service Center at 735 East Main Street in Trotwood.

“As Mayor, I have an obligation to look for strategies aimed at im-

proving and maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare in the community at-large. Therefore, I intend to work with the City’s Fire and Rescue Department and Code Enforcement Division, along with community partners like the Dayton-Montgomery County Health District, to ensure negligent business owners are held accountable,“ said Trotwood Mayor Mary A. McDonald.

Under the municipal powers of local selfgovernment, the “Home Rule“ authorizes the City of Trotwood to exercise all powers of local sellgovernance to enforce within limits such things as public health, safety, and welfare. Therefore, the City intends to crack

down on negligent business owners who fail to meet standard community norms of maintaining healthy and safe environments for our residents.

“We have a fundamental responsibility to make sure the public health, safety, and welfare are a top priority, and we are going to do that,” said Trotwood City Manager Quincy E. Pope Sr. Businesses interested in the customer service training offered by Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley should contact Lavar Glover, Director of Operations for the West Campus Community Service Center, at (937) 5286075 or by e-mail to l.glover@gesmv.org.

Greg Brown Pastor Jewell Jones Sr.

Arts & Entertainment

Legendary “What’s Love Got to Do With It” Songstress Tina Turner Passes Away at 83...

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staples in music history, sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in music history and had live performances that were seen by millions of concertgoers. Turner also became an actress and an author.

Other accolades that Turner received include: winning twelve (12) Grammy Awards; three Grammy Hall of Fame awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; being a 2005 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and Women of the Year awards; being the first Black artist and the first woman to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine; having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; having a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame; being ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 Greatest

Artists of All Time and one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time; and being twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—the first in 1991 as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and in 2021 as a solo artist.

Turner has also acted in films such as Tommy (1975) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and her inspiring life story was captured on film in the forever classic movie What’s Love Got to Do with It, where actress Angela Bassett skillfully portrayed Turner in this biographical film adaptation from Turner’s personal autobiography, I, Tina: My Life Story.

Turner retired from live performances in 2009, after completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which stands as the 15th highest-grossing tour in the 2000s. In 2018, she played a part in having her life’s story once

again told on stage, with the Tina: The Tina Turner Musical hit show. In 2021, Turner appeared in a documentary film entitled Tina, which tells the story and chronicles the life and career of the legendary icon.

In October 2021, Turner had sold the rights to her music catalog spanning six decades—including songs “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and “The Best”—to music publishing company BMG. Simultaneously, Turner also sold the artist’s share of her recordings, her music publishing writer’s share, neighboring rights, and name, image, and likeness as part of the deal, according to BMG, which did not disclose financial terms, but according to industry experts, the deal was estimated to be worth more than $50 million.

Long live the Queen of Rock N’ Roll…Ms. Tina Turner!

The Contemporary Dayton Announces Deadline Extension for RFQ: The University of Dayton Roger Glass Center for the Arts

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) is pleased to announce the extension of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) submission deadline for the University of Dayton’s (UD) Roger Glass Center for the Arts wall artwork. Artists interested in contributing to the new performing and visual arts center now have until July 1, 2023, to submit their application, available at codayton.org/ events/calls-for-entry.

The Co is administering the RFQ through their ArtSource program, providing consultation, commissions, and installation of artist's work for local business and non-profit organizations. The University of Dayton Roger Glass Center for the Arts seeks to bring together the vibrant artistic community and provide a space that nurtures creativity

and innovation. The Center is seeking both largescale 2D and 3D artwork, showcasing the talents of local and national artists.

Interested artists can choose to create new large-scale 2D or 3D wall works specifically for the Roger Glass Center for the Arts or submit existing works that align with the center's vision. The center offers four locations for commissioned works, providing artists with a range of possibilities to make their artistic mark.

For more information about the Roger Glass Center for the Arts and to access the RFQ guidelines, please visit codayton.org/events/calls-forentry.

GALLERY & CoSHOP HOURS

Wednesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday 11

a.m.–4 p.m.

Closed Monday and Tuesday

First Fridays June–Aug ‘til 10 p.m. ALWAYS FREE

ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY DAYTON Mission: To provide art for the community and a community for artists.

Overview: The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) is the region’s contemporary art center. Established in 1991 as The Dayton Visual Arts Center, a 501c3, The Co produces and presents original exhibitions and educational programs, events, community partnerships, and artist opportunities. Exhibitions and education programs

Editorial & Comments

Jim Brown and Social Activism

Black Lives Matter movement. Jackson believes the NBA has evolved since his time and has become too political for his liking.

“They even had slogans on the floor and the baseline,” Jackson said.

“It was trying ….to bring a certain audience to the game, and they didn’t know it was turning other people off. People want to see sports as non-political. Politics stays out of the game; it doesn’t need to be there.”

Since most players in professional basketball and football are Black, it should come as no surprise that many high-profile Black athletes have become role models to young admirers who are also Black. Athletes such as football legend Jim Brown reached the professional ranks by overcoming tremendous odds with determination, perseverance, and commitment.

Any confident and successful pro athlete can easily become an example for a child or young adult to look up to. Charles Barkley is a former NBA star whose 16-year career covered stints in Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston. The outspoken Barkley once declared in a Nike commercial that kids should be taught to emulate their parents, not athletes or celebrities.

“Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids,” Barkley concluded.

In an essay titled, One Role Model to Another published in a 1993 issue of Sports Illustrated, Utah Jazz star Karl Malone wrote that being a role model was not Barkley’s decision to make.

“We don’t choose to be role models,” Malone wrote. “We are chosen. Our only choice

is whether to be a good role model or a bad one. I don’t think we can accept all the glory and the money that comes with being a famous athlete and not accept the responsibility of being a role model, of knowing that kids and even some adults are watching us and looking for us to set an example.”

I agree with Karl Malone’s assessment that being a role model means not always knowing when a child has chosen your example to follow, especially when that child is without parents worthy of emulation. The danger of a child looking up to the wrong individual is a risk that automatically comes with the position being in the public arena.

In the spirit of Barkley’s point, is it wrong for professional athletes to use their public platforms for social activism?

Long before the infamous “shut up and dribble” kerfuffle, it has been widely believed that sports and politics should remain separate. Some see sports as a refuge to escape the mental exhaustion of politics and social conflicts.

Former NBA coach Phil Jackson is well known for having won 11 championships as a player and coach. The 77-year-old Jackson recently claimed he no longer watches the NBA due to politics. He references the slogans used in support of the

In his comments, Jackson highlighted how the modern NBA attempts to support awareness of specific social issues that are not connecting with older generations. Having slogans such as ”End Racism” placed on basketball courts and football fields does nothing to address the actual root causes behind the problem.

While it is desired that athletes refrain from bringing political messages into the games, some players cannot simply put on a jersey, play ball, and then go home and remain publicly silent about the injustices we face. It is not wrong if a player is compelled to speak out on social issues. It just needs to be calculated and strategic to be effective.

Jim Brown was not silent when it came to separating his athletic dominance on the football field from being a relevant voice in addressing the social matters impacting the Black community. He was never hesitant to speak out publicly, as many athletes were during the 1950s and ‘60s. Brown was a social activist who often took a stand for Black citizens and other minorities whose rights were denied.

Because he believed in Black empowerment, Brown became a key player with the Black Economic Union; an organization focused on

creating careers for minorities by helping them get business loans to be self-sufficient.

Brown was never a lone ranger, and he knew when to bring in other high-profile athletes because there is strength in numbers. He played a key role in organizing the “Cleveland Summit” in 1967, which concluded with a group of prominent players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Davis, and Bobby Mitchell providing public support for Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted based on his religious beliefs.

On the football field, he is often ranked as one of

the greatest NFL players to play the game. Off the field, his leadership and messages of motivation inspired future players and prepared them for future activism. Jim Brown passed the social activism torch to Ray Lewis and others like him. Just like Ray Lewis studied Jim Brown, Calais Campbell is a current NFL player who grew up learning Ray Lewis.

To be effective, today’s athlete-activist must take advantage of their role model status by focusing on our youth and young adults’ awareness, engagement, and empowerment. Jim Brown’s

politics were not radical. He believed that Black people do not achieve advancement through the politics of protest but through the politics of earning as much money as possible to build economic self-sufficiency. We lost another icon. Rest in peace, Jim Brown.

David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America. He can be reached at www. davidwmarshallauthor. com.

Education

Meet 4 Successful HBCU Grads

Turned STEM Professionals, Products of a Black-Owned Non-Profit

'High' School: Teachers Say Students are IncreasinglyComing to School High

As we know, the new millennium ushered in great advancements in technology and globalization. Countless scholars and analysts have said it over and over again — it is critical for our students in the US to have an education grounded in science, technology, engineering and math — preparing them to compete in the modern economy.

As President Obama stated during the 2014 White House College Opportunity Summit — the key is to “expose students to STEM disciplines in elementary and middle school, increase college access, and maintain postsecondary affordability.” For African American students, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are playing a key role in this — by providing affordable education, providing support to excel in college, graduate and thrive in successful STEM careers, according to UNCF. But, how do we build a sustainable pipeline for this?

Since 2002, Kevin Mondy, Sr., founder of Project Still I Rise, has answered the call by bridging the education equity gap amongst African American students in underserved communities. He is building a pipeline by:

• Stimulating interest in STEM beginning in elementary school

• Providing exciting and challenging STEMbased programming like robotics and coding

• Extending wraparound support services in math and science subjects

• Creating STEM professional mentorship opportunities

• Working alongside inner-city school counselors to guide students in their educational journey

Several of PSIR program alumni are now successful STEM professionals, graduating from HBCUs across the country:

George Polk – PSIR program participant (from 4th grade through 12th grade), majored in Electrical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. He is currently employed at ConocoPhillips.

The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest

in engineering are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team.

Nickalas Lampkin –PSIR program participant (from 4th grade through 12th grade), majored in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is currently employed at Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in engineering are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team

Kevin Mondy, Jr. – PSIR program participant (from 5th grade through 12th grade), majored in Cybersecurity and Information Assurances at Hampton University. He is currently employed with the Department of Defense, Naval Warfare and Intelligence Command Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in technology are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team

Taylor Brooks – PSIR program participant (from 5th grade through 12th grade), majoring in Computer Science at The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He recently accepted an internship with Medtronic.

The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in science are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative and PSIR Urban Scholars Program

The successful programming that PSIR has utilized since 2010 to activate and engage youth in STEM includes:

Urban STEM Initiative — The engagement of this initiative originated through a summer experience at The University of Texas at Dallas known as the ‘Urban STEM Camp’ — a camp that gives 35 middle school students an opportunity to experience college life, gain exposure to STEM professionals and receive instruction on advanced math principles and robotics. The camp also includes a math skills competition and an engi-

neering design competition, along with Youth Hackathons and our Urban STEM Pop-Ups. PSIR partnered with the Johnson School of Engineering and industry professionals from Google, Microsoft and Titus HVAC at UT Dallas to provide a yearlong STEM outreach opportunity for students. The Pop-Ups engage university faculty and staff, industry professionals, and community members and are held on the third Saturday of each month. At initial enrollment, PSIR had 58 students to register for the program in fall 2022.

Community STEM Empowerment Conference — This annual conference included a town hall and panel discussion for STEM professionals, community members, parents, educators and students. The goal of the conference is to engage the participants on the critical importance of STEM and the relevancy in today’s society. The panel discussions are followed by industry professional-led workshops.

About Project Still I Rise

Project Still I Rise (PSIR), a nonprofit organization based in Dallas, Texas, has served the Dallas community and beyond for over twenty years — empowering youth in underserved communities with the tools to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. PSIR’s signature programs include the Urban STEM Initiative, National Youth Chamber of Commerce, PSIR’s Books and Banking, Urban Scholars and more. For more information regarding the organization and its program offerings, please visit PSIR.org or contact their headquarters at 972-546-0977.

About Urban Media Group of Texas

Urban Media Group of Texas is a boutique marketing, communications and creative agency specializing in brand storytelling or “the art of storytelling” through design, content, copywriting, branding, public relations and social media. Urban Media Group of Texas infuses traditional marketing with a modern, more eclectic approach to connect with audiences on multimedia platforms in an engaging and relevant way. For more information, please visit UrbanMediaGroupofTX.com

An increasing number of students are showing up to class high, and in many cases late, which in turn has created discord in public, private, and charter school classrooms, according to teachers who spoke to The New York Times.

While there is no absolute data on marijuana usage among schoolchildren, data from the New York City Department of Education showed a 10% increase in the number of drug and alcohol-related offenses in 2023 compared to figures from 2019, The Times reported.

In 2021, New York State legalized recreational marijuana, with much of

the tax revenue set to be directed toward communities of color, which for decades bore the brunt of marijuana arrests.

But more than two years after the massive policy change, teachers reveal that many students are struggling to handle the aftereffects of cannabis given its widespread availability. Many instructors point to the growing number of smoke shops in the city, as well as the ease of obtaining and using vape pens, in reasoning why some kids are unable to focus once they're in the classroom.

Several teachers told The Times of kids taking out vape pens when their

backs are turned to the students, as well as bathrooms and stairwells that smell of marijuana.

But given how quickly students can hide cannabis or vape pens, teachers often have to use their judgment when assessing whether or not a pupil is high.

"It really feels like this unstoppable tide that we're futilely trying to suppress," America Billy, a public high school in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, told the newspaper, adding that she couldn't tell if a student was lethargic because of sleep deprivation, personal issues at home, or potentially drugs.

28-Year-Old Makes History, Youngest Black Professor to Simultaneously Teach at Columbia, NYU and UCLA

Meet 28-year-old Dr. Eli Joseph, the youngest Black instructor to teach simultaneously at three prestigious universities – Columbia University, New York University, and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). This year, he gave the ceremonial speech to the class of 2023 graduates at the School of Professional Studies at both Columbia and NYU.

Despite his distinguished accomplishments, however, Dr. Joseph is no stranger to failure and rejection. In his lifetime, he’s been turned down by more than 1,500 employers, 30 colleges, and 75 scholarship foundations. He was denied admission to other elite institutions like Princeton, UPenn, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, and Brown University.

Back in 2012, Dr. Jo-

Dr. Eli Joseph seph received a letter of rejection from Columbia University. Today, he serves as an associate faculty in the Applied Analytics program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies.

Back in 2016, he was also rejected by the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Now, he teaches graduate students at the NYU School of Professional Studies.

Additionally, he has seen thousands of rejection notices from various firms in finance, technology, and managerial consulting. Some of these companies include JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Google, Amazon, Facebook, BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, and Bain.

Though Dr. Joseph experienced a plethora of rejections from various firms and institutions, he has successfully overcome

various personal and professional challenges – including the recent loss of his older brother last year.

Through it all, he uses his failures as fuel for motivation to succeed. He recently delivered two TEDx talks this past fall entitled “Time Is Your Biggest Competition” and “No Trace, No Case”.

Dr. Joseph earned his Doctorate in Business Administration from Felician University and was he first-ever graduate to complete the curriculum at the age of 24. He is also the author of a best-selling book entitled The Perfect Rejection Resume: A Reader’s Guide to Building a Career Through Failure.

Be sure to follow Eli Joseph on Instagram @ DrEliJoseph

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Women Celebrate Annual Women’s Day Weekend ...

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Baptist Church. As president of the Omega CDC, she over sees the organization’s mission of providing services that help and improve the lives of the youth, families, and community of Northwest Dayton.

Rev. Ward clearly defined the true meaning of what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart. Being a woman after God’s own heart means having a high honor for God and giving Him all the glory. Any success she acquires she knows comes from the Lord. Women after the heart of her Heavenly Father waits expectantly as He strengthens her. She keeps believing that she will see God’s goodness. Rather than act hastily and carelessly, she rests in the expectation that her Lord will come to her aid. Other characteristics include talking with God, having a love for humanity, be quick to repent, be obedient, and allow the word of the Lord to be rooted in her heart.

Women after God’s own heart are equipped to create positive change in their churches and communities. They are reminded that each day is God’s gift of new oppor-

tunities to live according to His priorities, His word, and in harmony with Him. May we remember, women after God’s own heart will always lead, love, and live in accordance with the word of God, and maintain a strong relationship with

God, to effect the changes God desires in our lives.

Thank you to the Episcopal Women of St. Margaret’s for an opportunity to serve the Lord in joy and gladness. It was certainly a weekend filled with fun, food, and spiritual fellowship.

“On another occasion, Jesus spoke to the crowds again. Jesus: I am the light that shines through the cosmos; if you walk with Me, you will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life and will not know darkness.” John 8:12 The Voice Version

“Guide me, O, Thou Great Jehovah.” Father God! When I worshipped at the Third Street Church of God in Washington D. C. the first time in 1967, as I entered the sanctuary, the church was singing, “Guide me, O, Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy Pow’rful hand: Bread of heaven, Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Feed me till I want no more.”

Three of us became bosom buddies until Claudia died in November 1990. She was the last friend I spoke with before I was recalled to serve in desert shield desert storm. Yet, I often think of the light she projected.

On another note, pun intended, I grew up in church singing “Walk in the Light, the Beautiful Light. Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright. Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the light of the world.”

My, how those great hymns spring up in my soul from time to time.

The late Charles Stanley preached a sermon over twenty years ago, about walking in a manner that is wise and pleases God. He explains the “how” in detail.

He continues, “Listening to God is essential to walking with God. If I am not listening to God, who am I listening to? A purposeful listener listens intently to learn and apply Truth. Otherwise, one will be easily deceived, drift into sin, and make excuses for listening to and walking with Satan. When you invite and receive Jesus into your heart, God gives you His nature.” II Corinthians 5:17 puts it this way. “Therefore, if anyone is united with Jesus, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun!”

It takes a minute to fully Trust God’s Process and Jesus, my Commander in Chief. He is the Word, however, and He is the Light. His Light shines brighter through us as we meditate on God’s Word. Listen prayerfully, expectantly, patiently, and submit to Holy Spirit.

My fellow Veterans plus, I have had enough abuse living in the darkness, serving the Empire. Please join me. Let’s walk in the Light so as to BE a light in the darkness. DrPj

ECW President Carol Prewitt, Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Vanessa O. Ward

Rev. Dr. Vanessa Ward, Guest Speaker, Rev. Abeoseh Flemister, Celebrant. Rev. Dr. Benjamin E.K. SpeareHardy II,

and First Lady Stacy

Dayton Weekly Sports Hot Topics

(1) Wright State

Headed to Northern Iowa Regional

The Wright State Raiders crushed their opponent in the Horizon League Championship game and will head to Terre Haute (Indiana State) for the Regionals of the World Series bracket.

The Raiders scratched by Oakland 9-8 to force a final game, then punished them 14-0 in the winner take all final.

With the win, it sent the Raiders to back to back appearances and solidified themselves as the elite squad in the Horizon League. Don’t be surprised to see the Raiders advance through the Regionals bracket as well.

Andrew Patrick, a MLB prospect, hit his 19th home run grand slam style while Tristian Haught pitched 7 strong shutout innings to lead the Raiders to their 6th Horizon league title in the last eight tournaments.

(2) Denver vs Miami in NBA Finals

The Miami Heat held off a pesky Boston Celtics team who almost made history by coming

back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series and advance back to the finals after losing to Boston last year.

Jimmy Butler will lead this Heat squad against the #1 seed and most consistent team all season in the Denver Nuggets who swept Lebron James led Los Angeles Lakers.

Nikola Jokic, the twotime MVP and Jamaal Murray are leading the Nuggets to the Finals for the 1st time in their lengthy NBA history. The first game starts this week in Denver.

(3) Chaminade, Russia, Waynesville Head to OHSAA Regionals For Baseball; Greenville goes to the State in Softball

The Chaminade-Julienne Eagles have been able to reach another OHSAA Regional semifinals, after being a #7 seed. They will face a tough opponent in the Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy on Thursday at Mason HS. Russia was also able to land in the D-4 Regional

A copy of the Dayton Weekly News can be purchased at the following locations:

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Semifinals as well, and the Rockets have shown

they are here for the long haul, making it back to back trips to the State. They will face Sugar Grove Berne Union on Thursday as well.

Waynesville also will have a shot at a State berth, as they take on #20 Heath at Wright State.

On the softball side, the Greenville Green Wave have also reached the OHSAA State Semifinals after a banner season in the Miami Valley League.

(4) Hoop Moves Galore; Amari Davis to Leave Raiders Men Team While Tanner Holden Comes Back; Dickey Heads to UD Basketball Team as Walk On

In off season hoop moves… Amari Davis will transfer in his last season to Tampa University (D-2) as the State Champion for the Trotwood Rams will finish his heralded career in Florida. After leaving Missouri, Davis played for Wright State last season.

While he didn’t have the statistical season he wanted, he did get to showcase his talents in front of his home city crowd and will look to get back to All-American status at Tampa.

In another move, Tanner Holden heads back to Wright State after a season at Ohio State. Holden would hit a game winner for the Buckeyes in a tough season, nevertheless. Nagy is thrilled to have Holden back.

Evan Dickey has accepted and will be a preferred walk-on next season for the UD Flyers. Dickey, a senior, had a very good season with the Chaminade Julienne Eagles last season, in which the Flyers noticed. The Flyers decided to bring the talented combo guard with a 4.2 GPA on the roster who helped guide the Eagles to back to back OHSAA Semifinal State appearances. Follow us on the Journey at @DaytonWeek @SE-

Maintaining a Safe Place for Important Documents...

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charge!

I get it. Losing a loved one will never be easy. A caregiver’s role is not always glamorous, especially when the end of life is in view. I encourage you to consider the circumstances of your situation. If placing someone on palliative care, hospice care, or removing someone from life support is necessary, know that it demonstrates the ultimate display of a caregiver’s love.

I placed my mother in hospice care. It was the hardest decision of a lifetime, but the right one for her and my fam-

ily. I must tell you, not all family was initially on board with my decision. I had to block out the noise and do what was comforting, while painfully necessary.

Being a nurse did not make the decision easier. Life and my profession guided me to understand that life is an art and a science and while we may be able to prolong someone’s life, what kind of existence would that be? Life on earth is temporal.

Mother smiled at us until the end. She understood life was temporal. She was grateful to be out of the hospital and home. She was grateful to be with her

family. She was grateful!

As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, acknowledge that we live between the dots of life and death. None of us will get out of here alive. So, let us prepare! Be safe! Be well!

Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a retired registered nurse and case manager; CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate and author of From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers. Website: www.cynthiajhickman.com.

DML Promotes Youth Well-Being with Programs

Dayton Metro Library is offering a variety of health and wellness programs for kids this summer.

The Trotwood Branch will host a Mental Health Activity Time for Children Monday, June 5, 12, and 26, from 6-7 pm. This activity time is intended to promote healthy mental health and self-care routines for ages 6-13 and will be facilitated by Breaking the Cycle of Dysfunction. They are dedicated to helping children and families cultivate healthy communication skills, establish healthy boundaries, and more. Registration

is not required.

Mindful Judo will be held at the Miami Township Branch on Monday, June 12, July 10, and August 7, from 6-7 pm. Kids and Grades 1-4 will be able to practice this gentle Japanese form of martial arts with Galen Curry, a judo instructor. The social and emotional management of martial arts will be explored while learning self-awareness, self-regulation, and responsible decision making. Registration is required.

The Burkhardt Branch will offer a Zumba for Families program on Tuesday, June 20, from 4-5 pm. Dance away the day’s stress with Miss

Trina. Registration is not required.

For more information and to register if required, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

DML is committed to providing access to all of our events. Please contact the Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665 to request accommodations for sign language interpretation, audio amplification, and/ or language translation. Additional accommodations may be available upon request. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Boost Memory With a Multivitamin? Here’s What You Need to Know

The multivitamins may work by providing micronutrients that enhance function of the hippocampus.

Millions of American adults take daily multivitamins, even though the pills have not been shown to prevent ailments like heart disease or cancer and experts say it’s better to get nutrients from food.

The latest research looks at whether taking a daily vitamin can have an effect on memory.

The study found multivitamins may boost memory function in some people, by the equivalent of three years of normal, age-related memory loss.

While the study isn’t comprehensive enough to warrant broad recommendations to take vitamins, it provides important information about their use, said Adam Brickman, the Columbia University professor of neuropsychology who led the study.

“Well-designed research studies are showing that there might indeed be some benefits ” to taking multivitamins, he said.

Further study is needed to determine exactly which nutrients might make a difference.

Here’s what to know about the new research published Wednesday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

About the study

Researchers at New York’s Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston tracked more than 3,500 people over age 60 for three years.

Close-up with different colorful pills and drugs. Shallow DOF.

The participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin or a dummy pill. They were evaluated annually for three years with internet-based exams that measure memory function.

One test gave participants a list of 20 words, one at a time, for 3 seconds each, then asked them to type all of the words they remembered

immediately and after 15 minutes. The exam measured the function of the hippocampus, an area in the brain that controls learning and memory, Brickman said.

After one year, participants who took daily vitamins had better memory function, moving from correctly recalling 7.10 words at the start to 7.81 words. Participants who got dummy pills went from recalling 7.21 words to 7.65 words. The researchers calculated that the difference amounted to an improvement in memory equal to about three years of normal, age-related change. That improvement was maintained for at least the remaining two years of the study and was more pronounced in people with heart disease, the study found.

The multivitamins may work by providing micronutrients that enhance function of the hippocampus, Brickman said. This is the second large study conducted by the researchers to show that memory improved in older adults who took daily multivitamins.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and also by Mars Edge, a division of Mars, which makes candy, pet food and other products; and Pfizer and Haleon, both makers of multivitamins.

Even simple exercise may help aging brain, study hints

About multivitamin use

About 60% of U.S. adults and about 35% of children take daily vitamins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The pills are part of nearly $56 billion Americans spend each year on dietary supplements.

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Isolation While Caregiving Times Two!

U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that Americans should get their nutrients from food, unless they have specific needs or are advised to take vitamins by a health care provider. Vitamins can provide missing nutrients in the diet, but taking high amounts can result in side effects ranging from stomach upset to serious heart and liver problems.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a national advisory group, said last year that current evidence is “insufficient” to assess the risks and benefits of multivitamin supplements to prevent heart disease and cancer. The group recommended against beta carotene and vitamin E for that purpose.

What it means

The new study shows that vitamin pills may provide missing micronutrients, especially in the diets of older adults, said Robert Hackman, a research nutritionist with the University of California, Davis, who was not involved in the research. About a third of adults older than 60 fail to get adequate vitamins, minerals and fiber from food alone.

Still, the Alzheimer’s Association does not recommend the use of multivitamins to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.

Most of the participants in the new study were white and college-educated, with access and ability to take internet exams, noted Heather Snyder, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“It would be important to see independent confirmation of these results, in particular in more representative study populations,” she said.

by Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman, Ph.D., RN. MSN/E.

I am very intentional when blogging. Much of what I have learned, either through my professional career or caregiving experiences, lies a hope that the knowledge will help all who read my work. I stand on the premise that it is vital that lived experiences are shared. There is something about hearing information from the horses’ mouths. This is my mission!

We know caregiving has many twists and turns. We also know that twists and turns can catch a caregiver off guard. They often do not have all the tools in their toolbox to navigate the journey of care and isolation. This is where I come in!

While away at my sorority conference last week, I had the pleasure of spending some time with an elderly neighbor I lived next door to in Toledo, Ohio, in the 1980s. She now lives in New Orleans with her daughter, who is her caregiver. Let me just say, God sent me to visit them!

It reminded me of the scripture… Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

They needed “Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate” for a host of reasons.

One of the first observations I noted was a sense of isolation.

If you observe in a caregiving space the volleying for one’s attention (for example-like when a visitor appears), this is a classic sign and the time to discuss boundaries and

expectations of those living the caregiving journey.

Taking care of self is first on the list, especially if the caregiver has health challenges, which is the case in this dialogue. While they had each other, they did not have a ‘real out’…meaning the ability to understand the atmosphere of feeling alone and the need for self-care. The needs of the caregiver were not managed, causing a ripple effect of discord in the caregiving space.

The outcome is… anything said or done, prompted a non-verbal and sometimes verbal debate that eventually got on each other’s nerves. The tones were sharp, sometimes flat when responding. In cases like these, required care becomes delayed. Stress levels increase and next comes burnout.

Supporting someone on oxygen can be challenging. If you are caring for someone on oxygen all the time, forgetfulness is common as well as energy deficits. One must under-

stand, someone with a diagnosis that is attached to respiratory disease cannot do the things they once did.

Caregivers need to understand this!

It is necessary to determine what they can do safely. Autonomy and having a sense of control while aging is important. Remember, if they could, they would!

As much as self-sufficiency can be had safely, allow it. Do not do what your loved one can do for themselves, but make sure you are paying attention in case you need to step in.

As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, know that there are actual adjustments that take place, mentally and physically, when living life on oxygen.

Caregivers must understand the journey in a supportive way and practice self-care. It is vital. When this knowledge is known, the level of stress and anxiety will decrease. Be safe! Be well!