The Dayton Weekly News - Vol. 29, Issue 42

Shop Black Biz Dayton CEO, Chataun Denis Speaks to Students About Entrepreneurship

A Legendary DJ’s Celebratory Journey

from Hip Hop to Heavenly Anthems in Dayton’s 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop

One of 4 Career Pathways offered to Dayton Public School students, Wogaman Middle School offers young people the opportunity to choose a curriculum track that focuses on basic business concepts.

Taught by Danny Rodri-

students attend a 9-week course

share their

experi-

students. Stu-

dents receive grades based on the quality of their questions. Those interested can attend the course in 7th grade as well as 8th grade. The program is an effort to help students identify career paths early.

Undergraduate Student Success Center Works to Promote Freshmen Returning to Central State University

Wilberforce, Ohio -

LaKeisha Jenkins Washington, executive director for Central State University’s Undergraduate Student Success Center (USSC), is passionate about her duties in improving academic success for Marauders.

The metric by which Jenkins Washington and the nationwide academic arena measure this success on a practical, databased level is known as “retention,” or the percentage of how many first-year students return to the same university for a second year.

“We wear several different hats,” Jenkins Washington, who took on her role at the USSC one year ago, said. “Mainly, we work directly with incoming freshmen, freshmen transfers, continuing students as far as those aligning with freshmen status (29 credit hours or less), and students on academic probation.”

According to Jenkins Washington, students in academic distress are underprepared for college and struggle to maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Central State offers

LaKeisha Jenkins Washington, executive director for Central State University’s

Undergraduate Student Success Center (USSC)

these students specialized resources to achieve a higher GPA before facing consequences such as semester or even yearlong academic suspension. She says that comprehensive and integrated support programs designed improve students’ study and time management skills are essential to improve levels of student engagement, and student support. to foster active learning.

The USSC has four essential sections over which its department oversees: Academic advising, through which section

director LaKeisha Smith leads a group of student success coaches (formerly known as academic advisors).

Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS), which deals with tutoring and supplemental instruction (also superintended by Smith).

Freshman/first-year experience: provides retention-focused programming for first year and transfer students.

Retention and academic success: instrumental in the development, implementation and analysis of varied retention strategies for students’ success. This office integrates varied resources and collaborates with Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to ensure students have a solid educational foundation coupled with a rich collegiate experience.

All four of these sections together are tasked with strengthening student retention by focusing on a specific “cohort” (meaning the number of incoming students for that particular fall semester) of the freshman class. These various USCC sections

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DJ SKNO’s journey began in Dayton, Ohio, where he was raised in the C.O.G.I.C church community. As the son of a preacher, he grew up with strict rules against secular music. However, DJ SKNO’s (pronounced SKAY-NO) passion for music couldn’t be suppressed. He found a way to listen to radio stations like WDAO FM and WBLZ on a clock radio in his room, discovering new music and developing a love for all genres.

Inspired by his father’s trumpet playing, DJ SKNO also honed his skills as a talented trumpet player. Despite his musical talents, his parents insisted that he play in the “All City Orchestra” instead of joining the marching band, which frustrated him. As he grew older, DJ SKNO’s curiosity for all genres intensified, and he began sneaking out at night to experience new sounds led by DJs.

Determined to pursue his own path in music,

DJ SKNO sought the tutelage of Mark Jones, The Hustler, who owned various clubs in Dayton. Inspired by Jones, DJ SKNO learned the art of DJing through observation and imitation. He would sneak out to clubs like the Palladium, watching Jones skillfully command the turntables. Later, DJ SKNO would not only develop mentorship with Mark Jones, but also become acquainted

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2 Health Walks Taking Place this Weekend in Dayton

Day Air Ballpark will be hosting a pair of health walks this weekend.

The Greater Dayton Heart Walk will be Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to benefit the American Heart Association, a spokesperson said.

“The Dayton Heart Walk is one day to celebrate the work that’s being done year-round to promote heart health in the Miami Valley,” said Audrey Starr, Dayton Executive Director of the American

Heart Association. “We know that heart disease is the number one killer in America. Every walker who joins, every dollar raised, means more lives saved. These donations support groundbreaking research, CPR training in our community, and more lifesaving moments for hearts big and small.”

The Walk to Defeat ALS takes place Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

“The number of people we serve has grown by

40% in the last five years,” said Marlin Seymour, ALS Ohio spokesperson. “We’re asking everyone, especially those who have participated in years past and know the needs of families with ALS, to connect and donate to the Walk.”

The walks are for people of all ages and all proceeds will go towards research and education.

Dayton Unit NAACP to Host “Meet the Candidates” Forum

The Dayton Unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will host a “Meet the Candidates” forum on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 6:30 pm at Grace United Methodist Church located at 1001 Harvard Blvd. The distinguished guests will be several candidates with opposition for the offices of Dayton City Commission; Trotwood Mayor, Trotwood City Council; Jefferson Township Trustee; and Jefferson Township Fiscal Officer.

The moderator will be Tom Roberts, 2nd Vice

President and Chair of the Dayton Unit NAACP Political Action Committee. This year, the Dayton Unit NAACP will partner with the League of Wom-

en Voters of The Greater Dayton Area, Dayton Daily News, Dayton Montgomery County National PanHellenic Council and The Most Worshipful

largest collaborative inperson and social media gathering of diverse voters throughout the Dayton Region, and our expectation is leadership!

“This will be an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand from the candidates that are running for office, said Roberts. Every election is critically important. The candidates elected this November will make decisions at the Local level that will affect our lives on a daily basis, said Roberts.”

The Dayton Unit NAACP is a nonpartisan organization and does not make decisions based upon political preference.

“We “Do Not Endorse” candidates however, we are an issue driven organization and reserve the right to publicize if a candidate does not

Continued on Page 2

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio - Free and Accepted Masons, five of the most influential organizations in Montgomery County. This will be the

guez,

that covers topics like business formation, branding, and market research. Local business owners are invited to

entrepreneur

ences with

Sheriff Streck Presents Free DML Program on Fraud

Dayton Metro Library welcomes Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck as he hosts Avoiding Scams, Fraud, and Identity Theft, on Saturday, September 23, from 11 am -12 pm, at the Miami Township Branch. Registration is required. Sheriff Streck will discuss ways that adult patrons can protect themselves and loved ones from being defrauded by criminals. A native of Montgomery County, Sheriff Streck graduated

in December 2014 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, is Vice President of the Police Athletic League, Director of the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition, and has served as the county’s sheriff since 2019.

The Miami Township Branch is located at 2718 Lyons Road, Miamisburg, 45342. For more information about Sheriff Streck and to register, 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.

SATURDAY 11 AM - 10 PM • SUNDAY 11 AM - 5 PM EASTWOOD METROPARK 1385 HARSHMAN RD., DAYTON, OHIO PRESENTED BY

DML Hosts Retired Air Force Activist

OCTOBER 7 & 8

Dayton Metro Library will host a unique program this month as part of its Social Justice Speaker Series. Comprised of award-winning speakers providing insights from their professional fields and personal journeys, the Series addresses some of the most critical social justice issues of today.

DML’s September’s program is From Active Duty to Activist, Melissa Rodriguez Speaks Up, Friday, September 22, from 4-5:30 pm in the Main Library’s Eichel-

Rodriguez will discuss her experience as a veteran and activist. Born in California, she is of Mexican and Indigenous descent. Rodriguez retired

from the United States Air Force in 2013, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, after serving 24 years of active duty. Her community and political activism includes supporting issues of veteran affairs, LGTBQ, healthcare, immigration, and women’s rights. She also leads Dayton Invisible for All (DIFA), a grassroots group that advocates and educates on social justice issues and voting.

found at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/socialjustice. Additional questions may also be direct to 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. THE MIDWEST’S PREMIERE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL FREE AND FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY - INCLUDING DOGS! • DOZENS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES • LIVE DEMOS • EXHIBITOR VIL GE • 12-HOUR ENDURANCE RUN • DOCK DOGS COMPETITION • KIDS ACTIVITIES • FREE CAMPING • FOOD TRUCKS • USED GEAR SALES • LIVE MUSIC

Dayton Unit NAACP to Host “Meet the Candidates” Forum...

Volunteers are needed to Rock-the-Block in Edgemont on Saturday, October 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, as area organizations partner to improve the neighborhood and build community spirit.

Volunteers must be 14 years of age but do not need previous experience or particular skills. Projects include landscape/ yard work, minor exterior home maintenance/painting, and trash clean-up/ removal. Materials, supplies and equipment will be provided and all volunteers will receive a free t-shirt, boxed lunch.

Rock-the-Block is a neighborhood revitalization effort where volunteers help complete beautification projects, at no cost to the homeowner. Following the clean-up, the public is invited to celebrate with the neighborhood at the outdoor Community Resource Fair, where more than 30 community partners and agencies will provide free resources, food, raffle prizes and more.

This community event is sponsored by Center-

point Energy, City of Dayton, County Corp, Fifth Third Bank, Five Rivers Health Centers, Greater Edgemont Community Coalition, Habitat for Humanity for Greater Dayton and Wright-Patt Credit Union.

For more information or to volunteer, visit https://daytonhabitat.org/ news-events/rock-theblock.html or call (937) 586-0860.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, the first Habitat affiliate in Ohio, was founded in March of 1983. Since then, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton has partnered with over 340 families to provide safe housing through an affordable Habitat mortgage and hundreds more through our critical repair program. Our Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. To learn more about our mission or how you can get involved visit us online at daytonhabitat.org.

Continued from Page 1 support our issues,” said Dr. Derrick L. Foward, President of the Dayton Unit NAACP. “We look forward to hearing about how the candidates plan to address the needs of the people and deliver upon the promises they make to the Citizens for the office they are seeking. When African Americans “VOTE,” we make a powerful difference in the outcome of elections. The candidates we support collectively as a people, “WIN” elections. Candi-

dates know this to be true, that’s why they court our “VOTE,” at the church house, at liquid beverage establishments and in private meetings,” said Foward. “Everyday Citizens have heard the terminology, “Swing States,” however candidates know and also understand the power of “Swing Votes,” said Foward. “Let’s make every election a difference maker by the sovereignty of our “VOTE.” When Middle-Class Caucasians and College Students as

well as Hispanics and Latinos join the African American community in the “VOTING PROCESS,” it creates an environment of change. We will continue to work with our brothers and sisters to ensure that all voices are heard,” said Foward. For more information on the Dayton Unit NAACP, please call (937) 222-2172 or visit www.naacpdayton.org

Arts & Entertainment

Centerville Fall Fest

Celebrate the season with more activities and family fun during the city of Centerville’s Fall Fest, a free openair market and festival on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Stubbs Park, 255 W. Spring Valley Pike in Centerville, Shopping and Family Fun Hours: 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Live Concert and Oktoberfest: 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.. Fall Fest 2023 will be bigger and better than ever. It all starts at 12:00 p.m. with a vendor village, free kids' activities,

A Legendary DJ’s Celebratory Journey from Hip Hop to Heavenly Anthems in Dayton’s 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop ...

Continued from Page 1

and lots of food trucks. Enjoy a curated shopping experience with more than 100 local vendors featuring art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, vintage items and more. The first 100 shoppers will also receive a free canvas bag to tote home all their finds. There will be games and giveaways in the vendor village in addition to free activities for the kids throughout Stubbs Park including face painting, balloon animals, hayrides throughout the park.

African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG)

Come join the African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG), at it's gallery located on the 2nd floor of Central State's Dayton campus at 840 Germantown Street, Dayton as it celebrates the talents of its members:

Andrea Walker Cummings "A Stitch in Time"

Come see the meticulously hand stitched artistic needle work created by Andrea Walker Cummings. The subject of her textile work ranges from landscapes, to portraits, to lions, and ballerinas, with techniques including embroidery, applique, quilting, and crocheted. Some of her work, supported by indepth research, addresses societal concerns of our past as well as the present day.

Meet Andrea at a reception in her honor on Sunday, September 24, 2 to 4PM, at the AAVAG gallery located on the 2nd floor of Central State's Dayton campus at 840 Germantown Street, Dayton, OH. Program starts at 2:15P

Andrea will also be available in the gallery from 1 to 5 PM on the following Wednesdays: September 27th and October 11th.

Additional viewing

hours: Monday through Friday, 9A to 5P

Exposition Through Art - "What's New?" - A Traveling Exhibit "What's New?" is AAVAG's fourth 2-year exhibit under the program Exposition Through Art. Previous exhibits were The Wright Dunbar/ Wolf Creek Project, The Historic African American Churches of Southwest Ohio, and The Artists Life. For this new exhibit 15 AAVAG artist members provided 26 pieces of artwork indicating "What's New?" in their lives, the community in which they live, their world of art, something new they have learned, and /or something new in their social, political, or religious viewpoints. As usual they rose to the challenge.

Viewing Hours: October 18th thru December 15th, 2023, Monday thru Friday, 9A to 5P.

Artist Meet & Greet: Sunday, November 5, 2023, 2P to 4P

2-Year Calendars (2024 thru 2025) depicting the artwork available for $20 Drawing Workshop with Morris Howard: Sunday, November 12, 2023, 2P to 4P (to register contact Craig Screven at cscreven@gmail.com or 937-580-4288

with Mixmaster Ice of U.T.F.O. In 1983, Dayton was buzzing with dance contests, including Michael Jackson and breakdancing, which further fueled DJ SKNO’s passion for music.

DJ SKNO’s journey led him to become a DJ with a Dayton crew called “Unique Cut and TOOMB.” With two other members, Dr. Ease from the “Eastown Posse” and Russ d-kompose Pryor Embracing the nickname “scandalous” given by his peers, DJ SKNO became a legendary figure in Dayton’s DJing realm.

DJ SKNO’s moniker “Stay Paying Attention” refers to his ability to consistently provide exclusive mixtapes in Dayton, Ohio. The phrase “Stay Paying Attention” suggests that listeners should remain attentive and tuned in to DJ SKNO’s work, as he consistently delivers high-quality and exclusive content. By using this moniker, DJ SKNO emphasizes the importance of staying updated and engaged with his mixtapes, as they are considered to be the most exclusive in the Dayton area.

DJ SKNO’s unique style includes expert scratches, seamless mixes, electrifying blends, and fierce battle skills. He developed his own DJ twist, mastering the original techniques while relying on controllers. With his unmatched skills and passion for the craft, DJ SKNO continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of DJing.

DJ SKNO acknowledges the profound influence of funk on hip-hop, specifically mentioning funk groups from Dayton like Lakeside and Zapp. He highlights Faze-O as one of the most sampled groups of its time, showcasing the lasting impact of these funk pioneers.

with artists like Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and African Bambaataa. He explains that hip-hop evolved from DJing and has now become rap, which can be categorized into different styles such as conscious rap, mumble rap, and trap rap.

DJ SKNO emphasizes that hip-hop is not just about rap but also a lifestyle. He believes that elements like graffiti, fashion, and artistic creation shape the culture of hip hop. His top five hip hop artists are Jadakiss, Rakim, KRS One, Nas, and Ice Cube, all of whom have inspired him with their DJing skills and lyrical messages.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop, DJ SKNO reflects on his memories and embraces his gospel roots through his syndicated podcast show, “Power In Praise Gospel Mixshow.” He incorporates new sounds, DJ techniques, and scratches while featuring classic gospel singers. DJ SKNO aims to spread a better message for a better world and encourages future artists to create positive music that avoids demeaning content.

DJ SKNO has been a part of the esteemed DJ coalition known as the “Core DJs” and had a notable 15-plusyear stint on Sirius XM radio named Shade45. With over 38 years as a DJ, he continues his DJ career, representing positive music and inspiring the local hip-hop scene in Dayton.

According to DJ SKNO, hip-hop originated in the East Coast of New York his website at www.iamdjskno.com. DJ SKNO’s gospel podcast is motivational and worth listening to, offering uplifting messages to start the day or unwind before bed. He emphasizes the importance of supporting positive and uplifting messages in hip- hop while recognizing its prevalence in daily life. In addition to his gospel music podcast, DJ SKNO also hosts exclusive parties where he showcases his skills in DJing various genres, including old school R&B, rap, reggae, soca, Afro beats, gospel, funk, and of course, hip hop. With a diverse selection of music, DJ SKNO creates an atmosphere that caters to the tastes of a wide range of music lovers, celebrating the vibrant history and influence of hip hop as it reaches its 50th anniversary. Whether it’s the soulful melodies of old school R&B, the infectious rhythms of reggae, the energetic beats of Afro beats, or the uplifting sounds from his roots of gospel, DJ SKNO ensures that his parties are filled with joy, excitement, and a vibrant musical experience that pays homage to the trailblazing culture of hip hop. His versatility further solidifies his legendary status and reinforces his ability to connect with audiences of various backgrounds and musical preferences during this milestone celebration.

To access DJ SKNO’s podcast and learn more about his latest ventures, visit

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL

Sealed proposals will be received in the office of the Director of Procurement, GREATER DAYTON REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY, 4 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402, for the following:

Legal Notice: RFP GD 23-21

Title: WiFi Installation

Due Date: 10/18/23 at 10:00 a.m.

Copies of the Request for Proposal are available from the office of the Director of Procurement, RTA, 4 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402 or online at http:// proc.greaterdaytonrta.org/ . All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements set forth in the RFP.

Deborah Howard Director of Procurement

Editorial & Comments

Something to Consider:

By: Brenda Cochran

Contributing Writer

Do you have questions about your faith?

Are you an individual who does understands faith and how it works?

The major question is what kind of faith do you really have?

You could ask questions such as does faith save you? Is baptism necessary?

Here is another question – what is the gospel?

Perhaps you have found that there are five different kinds of faith, but before we discuss the different types, here is a definition: Faith is the sign that the belief in or having confidence in God. There should be an obvious commitment to God and His will for your life. One fact is true. Everyone’s

What Kind of Faith Do You Have?

faith is not the same, but everyone has some.

If we look at Romans, chapter twelve, verse three, it tells us that God has given every person some measure of faith. This measure may be small as a grain of mustard seed or as large as something else.

Faith, in a general term because there are at least there at least five main types, one individual may actually have all of them from time to time. They also may overlap, but there is always a dominate one that is operating in one’s life.

The following are five different major kinds of faith: Doctrinal Faith. Whenever your faith is weak, then you could read about the faith of Abraham, David, Paul and the other faithful men from the Bible who could en-

COMMENTARY

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux,

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Several states have a higher minimum, but a predictable few, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina and Alabama, are stuck at that low minimum. If the minimum wage kept up with inflation, it would be at least $10 an hour today. However, twenty-two states are stuck on exploitation and refuse to raise their minimum wage. Restaurant workers get the short end of the stick. The minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour, which means they are expected to earn up to the minimum wage or more with their tips. But tips are discretionary and arbitrary; sometimes people tip the expected 15 to 20 percent, and sometimes they don’t.

How can they eke out

courage you.

Saving Faith -is faith based on your belief that Jesus died for your sins and God raised Him from the dead. Once you confess that Jesus was crucified, and the Holy Spirit lives in you, it makes it possible for you to operate in this type of faith.

Justifying Faith -is based on your faith

that if you confess your sins, God is faithful and forgives your sins and cleanse you from all the insightfulness. This faith is an indication that you have not sinned before. Therefore, people can live, move and have their faith on justifying faith.

Indwelling Faith- is based on practicing the presence of God and always communing with Him. It means practicing the faith at all times and it also communing with God and believing that He is always with you. When you have indwelling faith, you can say like David – Psalm 23 -God is with you even when you walk in the valley of the shadow of death.

Daily Faith -is faith based on God for all of our daily provisions. It is something that happens every day and is believ-

ing God is going to meet all of your needs on a dato- day basis even when it is not evident. If we look at Matthew 6:11, it says give us this day our daily bread. If you have daily faith, you can rely on God to provide for you twentyfour hours a day, therefore you can focus on today without worrying about what will happen tomorrow. The faith you have is your own personal attachment to God. It is somewhat like an umbilical chord to His blessings. God wants you to rely on Him and be committed to Him. You can check your faith monitor to determine if you are living by any of the five types of faith. The following are the conclusions of faith that hopefully we can keep in mind:

• Faith allows us to please God

When Will We Raise the Minimum Wage?

a living wage on other people’s arbitrary judgment? Were they likable? Friendly? Kind? It doesn’t matter. Did you get your food? Was it hot and delivered in a timely way? If I had my way, I’d charge enough for food to pay workers properly.

Tipping is a practice that harkens back to enslavement. People should be paid for their work and not have to skin and grin to make a living wage. In the wake of Labor Day, though, it makes sense to consider how workers experience exploitation and what we must do about it. Workers around the country are resisting exploitation, whether it is Hollywood writers or on university campuses.

As of this writing, the United Auto Workers is on the cusp of a strike, which will have significant repercussions for our economy. A United Parcel Service strike was narrowly averted, and it, too, would have weakened the economy. With

labor productivity up, workers are unwilling to settle for pay 2 and 3 percent annual increases when food and gas prices are rising by 5 and 6 percent. There seems to be no willingness to increase wages to keep workers “even”, and President Biden, with his “Bidenomics” seems to see the big picture, but not the small one. People are hurting, and employers are pocketing profits and exploiting workers.

The Institute for Policy Studies released a report, Executive Excess 2023, in which they highlight the 100 companies that have the lowest pay and

the greater ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay. Some of these companies have federal contracts, which means when they offer low pay to workers, they also get subsidies from the rest of us, the taxpayers who support food stamps, medical care, and other amenities that workers who earn little qualify for.

The report shows that the ratio between CEO and median worker pay is 603-1. The average CEO in the Low Wage 100 earned $15.3 million a year, while the average worker earned a scant $31,672 a year. The most

significant offender was Live Nation Entertainment. CEO Michael Rufino earned $139 million, 5,414 times more than the average worker who earned $25,673 a year. Amazon, a large federal contractor, is among the most exploitative. But they aren’t alone. Too many companies rip their workers off and also enjoy federal largesse.

Given these massive paychecks and massive profits, why can’t we raise the federal minimum wage, and why can’t we pay workers more? Predatory capitalism suggests that employers must extract surplus value from workers. That means that, despite rising worker productivity, employers should attempt to pay as little as they can. The outrageous CEO to worker pay ratios suggest that companies benefit from paying so little. Will workers revolt? Can they?

Too many workers are frightened to strike.

They need their jobs, and their unions may not

• Faith leads to our justification

• Faith allows us to be sons of God

• Faith lets God dwell in our hearts

• Faith gives us understanding

• Faith is the standard from which we live

• Faith gives us stability

• Faith is a shield to protect us

• Faith is a victory over the world

• Faith saves us.

In the end, as our time on earth draws to a close, all that will matter is that we make this affirmation: I have fought the good faith, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

If we keep the faith, we will receive the reward.

have sufficient strike funds to allow them to be out for a long period of time. Do they need their jobs with exploitative terms and conditions of work? Must they work with unfair pay? Is it time for workers to unite? What would happen if you went to your morning coffee shop to find no one there?

Waited for a bus to find no driver, no bus? Managed to get to work to find no coworkers? Wandered to lunch to find no one serving?

Tried to stop at a supermarket heading home to find no one working and no food available? Managed home to sort out a mess?

We depend on workers, but we don’t want to pay them. We agree with their labor actions but don’t want to manage inconvenience. We thought about Labor Day, but we don’t think about workers.

Brenda Cochran

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author and educator. She can be reached at juliannemalveaux. com. (Courtesy Photo)

Ohio McDonald's Restaurants to Donate 20 Percent of Sales to Local High School Athletics

DAYTON, OH – McDonald's owner operators throughout Ohio will be raising funds for local high school athletic programs, including Belmont, Miamisburg, Waynesville, Trotwood-Madison, Butler and Stebbins High Schools, on October 6. During the High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day, 20 percent of all sales purchased through the McDonald’s app will be donated to local sports programs.

Continued from Page 1

track this cohort over the duration of one fall semester to the subsequent fall semester.

Jenkins Washington added that these cohorts — the number of incoming freshmen calculated for that academic year’s fall semester — are exclusively those first-year students who have no previous college experience prior to attending Central State. Some students are part-time Marauders, but that demographic is considered, as Jenkins Washington put it, a specific grouping within that year’s cohort.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, sixty-four percent of students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year institution in fall 2014 completed that degree at the same institution within 6 years.“

Jenkins Washington believes Central State’s retention can and will improve, explaining that

she “likes to believe that COVID has taken a toll on all HBCUs on so many different levels, and we’re still dealing with the results of that, as are many other institutions.”

Jenkins Washington has already seen visible improvement in how CSU’s retention rate is being addressed from an institutional level.

Smith, Jenkins Washington said, “has a very robust strategy that she uses to advise our freshmen.”

Complementing Smith’s work, Jenkins Washington added that the USSC has “utilized a tool that will assist students with early alert systems.”

Such an alarm system, Jenkins Washington continued, will greatly aid students who may be in academic distress by recording pertinent data about that specific student’s scholastic journey and relaying this intel to the student’s academic advisor for analysis and, hopefully, viable resolution measures.

“We are doing what we can to be intrusive in the academic workflow of our students, making sure they are properly advised

through courses that they need to take so that they can more properly achieve their goals of success,”

Jenkins Washington said.

Other means of supporting Central State students come from the centralizing of tutoring services and supplemental instruction through Smith’s OASIS, whose location is now based outside of the Hallie Q. Brown Memorial Library.

“To achieve better retention rates, we also work closely with incoming freshmen students prior to their arrival date in order to make sure they’re introduced to the resources offered here at Central State,” Smith said. “We work through the entire summer to do this.”

Such resources include the Student, Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) programs. It is through these programs that USSC works closely with Central State’s Enrollment Management, Admissions, Registrar’s, Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Cash Management offices to aid, throughout the summer, the transition of high school graduates becoming Central State students.

These advising services are in place to assist Central State freshmen who may not have acquired enough credits to move into sophomore status. This initiative helps them better accomplish their credits in the new academic year, as well.

Jenkins Washington recalled one student who was a “re-admit,” meaning said student “stopped out” (exited the school) at some point. The student decided to return to Central State under the status of being in academic distress.

The student took a USS 1200 course, which is a class for Marauders who may need an ex-

panded comprehension of necessary study and scholastic work skills in order to be more academically successful. Such skills include time management and, as Jenkins Washington defined it, understanding what it means to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timebound) goals.

“I celebrate the fact that the student was able to get off academic probation the following semester,” Jenkins Washington said. “It doesn’t frequently happen that a student leaves and comes back. ”

Jenkins Washington asked the student to join a student summit that involved students such as the one in question who had been in academic distress and had gotten themselves out of that status.

These students were given the stage on a panel speaking with others in the audience who were still currently on academic probation with the purpose of telling their stories, answering questions, and giving tips on how to get out of academic distress.

That original student of Jenkins Washington’s story now, after having graduated, works for Central State, helping students who may need the same brand of support, encouragement, and resources she had been given to find their own paths toward academic achievement.

Although she had to refrain from revealing any specific number due to lack of specific census data, Smith said she is hopeful about the future due to a markedly improved projected retention rate for the next academic year.

“We’ve definitely been seeing an improved retention rate,” Smith said. “And that is due to the activities presented by Mrs. Jenkins Washington and the advising staff and USSC staff working hard year-round and throughout the summer. We are really looking forward to building our relationships across the college to show even more improvement in the very near future.”

Operator Eric Godlove.

“This is the first time all Ohio area owner operators have come together on one day to show our support for athletics in the communities we serve. Our hope is that the community will come out to support their local high school and help us make the High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day a success throughout the state.”

High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day was created by local McDonald’s owner/operators in Ohio as a way to support the high school athletics in the communities they serve. Each locally owned McDonald’s restaurant has chosen a high school in their community to donate 20 percent of all sales on October 6. Each identified high school will receive a minimum of $250.

“We are proud to be a part of the Dayton, Miamisburg, Waynesville Trotwood, Vandalia and Dayton Communities ,” said McDonald’s Owner/

The McDonald’s app is available for download in the Apple App Store and the Android Google Play Store. With the McDonald’s app, customers get access to exclusive deals, they can order ahead and pass the line with Mobile Order & Pay, plus they can join MyMcDonald’s Rewards to earn points on every order to redeem for free McDonald's.

As always, customers can customize their orders to match their personal taste preferences, including asking for no onions or pickles, or holding the sauce on their favorite burger.

National Recognition for Central State University

Central State University, Ohio’s only public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and 1890 Land-Grant Institution, has been designated a 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader. Central State is one of only 19 HBCUs so honored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

It is for its notable connections to the Fulbright Program that the University has received this noteworthy recognition. The school has additionally been honored for its dedication to engaging with diverse communities around the world, since 2019.

The Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader designation was first established in 2019 to acknowledge strong partnerships between selected HBCUs and the Fulbright Program. The goal for the Fulbright Program with this designation is to encourage and promote further engagement between HBCUs and itself.

“Central State University’s designation as a 2023 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader is a testament to [the] Institution’s dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding among peoples and nations,” noted a congratulatory letter addressed to Central State Interim President Alex Johnson from the office of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Blinken also lauded Central State’s “longstanding commitment to build

diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within all of [its] international exchange programs.” Blinken furthermore thanked Johnson and Central State for their hard work via participation across the full range of Fulbright awards and on-campus engagement.

The announcement of the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders designations was made earlier today as part of the kickoff of the White House Initiative on HBCUs National HBCU Week Conference in Washington, D.C.

"We at Central State University are grateful to the Fulbright Program for its recognizing our University as an HBCU leader within its prestigious community,” Johnson said. “We will continue to promote diversity, inclusivity, and innovation through our continued work with the Fulbright Program and across the academic field at large.”

About Central State University: Central State University is a public HBCU and 1890 LandGrant Institution with a 135-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research, and service. Central State ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s best colleges in five categories, including Best Undergraduate Engineering Program and Top Public Schools.

Undergraduate Student Success Center Works to Promote Freshmen Returning to Central State University...

By: Nicholas Kristof

While much of the rest of the industrialized world has become more secular over the last half-century, the United States has appeared to be an exception.

Politicians still end their speeches with “God bless America.” At least until recently, more Americans believed in the virgin birth of Jesus (66 percent) than in evolution (54 percent).

Yet evidence is growing that Americans are becoming significantly less religious. They are drifting away from churches, they are praying less and they are less likely to say religion is very important in their lives. For the first time in Gallup polling, only a minority of adults in the United States belong to a church, synagogue or mosque. (Most of the research is on Christians because they account for roughly 90 percent of believers in the United States.)

“We are currently experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country,” Jim Davis and Michael Graham write in a book published this week, “The Great Dechurching.”

The big religious shifts of the past were the periodic Great Awakenings that beginning in the mid-1700s led to surges in religious attendance. This is the opposite: Some 40 million American adults once went to church

Worship At The Church Of Your Choice

Merritt Worthen, PhD

Rev. Merritt Worthen, PhD, Senior Pastor (corner Philadelphia Dr. and Cornell Dr.) www.collegehillcommunitychurch.org 937-278-4203 We are a

multi-lingual

America Is Losing Religious Faith

but have stopped going, mostly in the last quartercentury.

“More people have left the church in the last 25 years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening and Billy Graham crusades combined,” Davis and Graham write.

This “dechurching,” as they call it, is apparent in most denominations, reducing the numbers of Presbyterians and Episcopalians and also of evangelicals like Southern Baptists. White and Black congregants have left churches in similar percentages, but Hispanic religious attendance has dipped less.

To be clear, the United States remains an unusually pious nation by the standards of the rich world. Pew reports that 63 percent of American adults identify as Christian — but that’s down from 78 percent in 2007. And in that same period the percentage of adults who say they have no religion has risen to 29 percent from 16 percent.

If this trend continues at the same pace, by the mid2030s fewer than half of Americans may identify as Christian.

There are various theories for what is behind the struggles of Christianity, and multiple factors are probably at work. One noted by Davis and Graham is that to many people the church hasn’t seemed very Christian.

When the Rev. Jerry Falwell dismissed AIDS as

God’s lethal judgment on promiscuity, he conveyed a sanctimoniousness that in the 1980s and 1990s allowed much of the religious right to turn a cold shoulder to the suffering of people with the virus.

Jesse Helms, a leader of the religious right in the Senate, even suggested in 1995 that funds for fighting AIDS should be reduced because gay men contract the virus through “deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct.” In retrospect, the most immoral conduct in America in the late 20th century was not taking place in gay bathhouses but in conservative churches where blowhards preached homophobia, embraced bigots like Helms and resisted efforts to counter AIDS — allowing millions of people, gay and straight alike, to die around the world. That is not morally inspiring.

Then in 2001, Falwell and the Rev. Pat Robertson suggested that the Sept. 11 terror attacks were God’s punishment for the behavior of feminists, gay people and secularists. My view was that God should have sued them for defamation.

The embrace of Donald

Trump by many Christian leaders, even as he boasted about assaulting women, separated children from parents at the border and backed an insurrection, was for some a final indication of moral decay.

(It’s important to note that conservative churches had another side that worked tirelessly and without much recognition to address disease and poverty, as I’ve often written. It was evangelicals like Michael Gerson who in 2003 helped persuade President George W. Bush to adopt a huge initiative to fight AIDS worldwide. That may be the single best American program of my lifetime, saving some 25 million lives around the world so far. We owe Bush and evangelicals our thanks for that.)

The loss of religious community has far-reaching implications. Congregations are a crucial part of America’s social capital, providing companionship, food pantries and a pillar of community life. There’s also some evidence that religious faith is associated with increased happiness and better physical and mental health.

One of the most thoughtful contemporary religious commentators, Russell Moore, an evangelical who is now editor of Christianity Today, bluntly acknowledges the challenges ahead.

“American Christianity is in crisis,” Moore writes in his new book, “Losing Our Religion.” “The church is a scandal in all the worst ways.”

Moore is deeply critical of the way many evangelical leaders embraced Trump, and he is pained by church sex abuse scandals. In his own ministry, Moore said that he increasingly has heard from committed young Christians who are upset that their parents have been politically radicalized: “I was less likely to hear about wayward children going

out into ‘the real world’ and losing their faith as I was to hear about wayward parents retreating into an imaginary world and losing their minds.”

Moore cites data suggesting that the reason people leave churches is not that they lose their belief in God so much as that they lose confidence in religious leaders and in the church’s moral leadership. He thinks faith can still recover; I’m not so sure.

Religious charlatans like Falwell may have meant to usher in a new Great Awakening, but in fact they taught millions of Americans to be wary of preening ventriloquists who claim to speak for God.

Nicholas Kristof joined The New York Times in 1984 and has been a columnist since 2001. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for his coverage of China and of the genocide in Darfur. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. His latest book is “Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope.” @ NickKristof • Facebook

COLLEGE HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH

Rev.

Maritza McClendon Joins the Dayton Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority to Teach Water Safety

Who: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will be joined by U.S. Olympic Swimmer Maritza McClendon to teach water safety at Dayton’s first Swim 1922 clinic. In addition, Central State University President Dr. Alex Johnson, and Sigma Gamma Rho Syntaktes/Regional Director, Loreal "Lori" Marshall will give remarks and welcome the community.

Interview opportunities available, and visuals of 100+ kids and adults in the pool learning water safety with instructors.

What: To promote water safety and help reduce incidents of drowning, the Epsilon Kappa Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will host a Swim 1922 clinic in support of the national Initiative with USA Swimming.

The event will be held at Central State University– Ohio’s only public Historically Black College or University (HBCU). In keeping with USA Swimming’s core objectives: “Build

the Base – Promote the Sport – Achieve Competitive Success” and Sigma Gamma Rho’s motto of “Greater Service, Greater Progress”, the two organizations have come together to provide a fun and educational experience. Swim 1922 was created to address the unfortunate truth that according to the CDC, approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S. An even more startling fact is that 70 percent of African American children and 60 percent of Hispanic children in the U.S. do not know how to swim. This one-day FREE event is open to children and adults.

When: Saturday, September 16 at 8 A.M.-1 P.M., Welcome Ceremony at 8:15 A.M.

Where: Central State University Beacon Lewis Gymnasium, 1400 Brush Row Road Wilberforce, OH 45384

More: Maritza McClendon is a 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist and the first African American woman to make a US Olympic Swim team and medal. At the age of 7, she was diagnosed with severe

scoliosis and her doctor recommended swimming as a medical remedy.

Swimming under Olympic Coach Peter Banks, in Brandon, Florida she emerged as one of the top recruits in the country out of High School. Earning a full scholarship to the University of Georgia (BA in Sociology, 2005) under Olympic Coach Jack Bauerle, she ended her college career as a 27-time All American, 11 NCAA titles, the first African American female to break an individual American record (2002), and to break a World Record (2000) in swimming. By the time Maritza’s competitive swimming career ended, she had earned 12 international medals. While no longer swimming competitively, Maritza continues to actively engage communities nationwide to inspire people to lead a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially swimming. Additionally, she is a passionate advocate for the importance of water safety among minorities of all ages and travels the country to speak about

this life-saving skill. She candidly shares her life lessons in hopes to inspire others to overcome hesitation, fear, and disappointment. Her motto is "Turn any negative situation into something positive and never give up." Maritza is a wife, mom of two children, a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, and serves as the Director of Talent Development and Corporate Communications for Carter’s Inc.

Registration will be available onsite or online at https://form.jotform.com/mscrankin75/ swim1922eks

About Sigma Gamma Rho

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., an interna-

tional collegiate and nonprofit community service organization, was founded in 1922 on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the mission of the sorority to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally through community service. Programs, initiatives, and partnerships are devoted to progress in the areas of education, healthcare, political action, and leadership development.

It has welcomed more than 90,000 members who have joined the organization as undergraduates and professionals. Official affiliate groups include Rhosebud Club (Girls 8-11 years old), Rhoer

Club (Girls 12-18 years old) and Philos (nondegreed Adult women).

The sorority has more than 500 chapters in the United States and internationally. For more information, visit www.sgrhodayton.com, About USA Swimming USA Swimming is the national governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States. It is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through teams, events and education.

Joe Burrow Says It's too Early to Tell if a Calf Injury Will Keep Him Out of Monday Night's Game

CINCINNATI — (AP)

— Bengals quarterback

Joe Burrow said he's day to day and doesn't know yet if a lingering calf injury will keep him out of Monday's night's game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Burrow said he “tweaked” the calf injury late in Sunday's loss to the Ravens. He wore a compression sleeve on his entire right leg Thursday but said the calf “is not as sore.” He did not participate in practice.

“I’m preparing like I’m going to go out and play a Monday night football game,” he said. “Whether that happens, I don’t know.

“Time heals,” he said, “so we'll see.”

Burrow strained his right calf muscle on the second day of on-field

workouts in training camp on July 27. That sidelined him for more than a month, depriving him of valuable preseason reps with his offense.

Burrow said he aggravated the injury on the Bengals' final drive of Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Ravens. He found Tee Higgins in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, then limped to the sideline favoring his right leg.

Asked if the Bengals' 0-2 start creates more urgency for him to get back on the field, he said: “It's in my head, for sure. I'm thinking about it.”

But he said he's not panicking and nobody else is, either.

"That’s the ups and downs of the year,” Burrow said. “The teams that come out on top at the end of it are going to be the teams that handle that ad-

versity the best. You can’t let it snowball on you. That’s what we’ve done in the past. And if you go back and look year to year, the teams that are still in at the end, everybody has adversity at some point in

the year.”

If Burrow can’t go Monday, backup Jake Browning, who was on the practice squad last season, would get the nod.

“When you don’t have your starting quarterback, that’s a challenge," coach Zac Taylor said. "But again, you’ve invested time and effort into Jake, and Jake’s matched that. The guys on our 53-man roster are here for a reason. We believe in them. We know we’re going to call upon everybody at some point, and the quarterback position is no different.”

Browning is not used to the media attention he received in the locker room Thursday.

“It’s my job to be prepared if Joe goes down, and so really for me, the week is no different,” he said. “Even when I was on the (practice) squad, I knew there was zero chance of me playing, but I was fully prepared and I would go through the whole game plan like I was going to be the backup, like I had a chance of playing. It’s my job to be ready if Joe goes down,

and I’m in my third week of doing that.”

If Burrow's teammates are worried, they're not showing it.

“Coach is going to put us in the best position to win, and it’s our job to go out and execute,” Higgins said. “If Joe doesn’t play, at the end of the day, we still have to go do what we do.”

Thanks in large part to rain in Cleveland during the opener, Burrow never could find a rhythm and passed for just 82 yards, the lowest total in his pro career. The Browns thumped the Bengals 243.

He came out flat again last Sunday against the Ravens, passing for 35

yards in the first half. He began to look like his old self in the second half, moving the ball and throwing a pair of short touchdown passes to Higgins — but also throwing an interception in the red zone when a score would have given the Bengals the lead.

The highest-paid player in the NFL has some experience with health issues. During the 2021 season, he was still rehabbing from major knee surgery late in the previous season but ended up leading Cincinnati to the Super Bowl and was honored as the AP Comeback Player of the Year.

Just before the start of training camp in 2022, Burrow had an emergency appendectomy. He has acknowledged he wasn't back to full strength for the first part of the season.

The Bengals started 0-2 in 2022, and a loss in Cleveland on Halloween evened their record at 4-4. They won the next eight games to finish the regular season and capture the AFC North title for the second straight season. They beat Baltimore and Buffalo in the playoffs before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks off the field following an NFLfootball game against the Baltimore Ravens.

CareFlight Air and Mobile Services completed its rst patient transport from St. Marys, Ohio in 1983 – the o cial start of lifesaving, critical-care transport in the Miami Valley. Today, CareFlight is the fastest eet in the region, transporting and caring for more than 78,000 patients since that rst ight.

WE WANT TO HEAR HOW CAREFLIGHT HAS TOUCHED YOUR LIFE.

Help us celebrate this milestone by sharing your story – it could end up being part of our o cial 40th anniversary recognition!

Introducing the First Animated Series for Black Children that Addresses Mental Health

By: Yaba Baker

An exciting new animated series called Super CJ: The Animated Series has been launched on YouTube to bring muchneeded awareness to the critical mental health crisis facing Black children today. The series features a Black superhero, Super CJ, and his sarcastically funny sidekick, Rex the super dog.

Super CJ is an extraordinary character with a unique flaw in his superpowers; He loses his powers when he gets angry but can regain them by calming down. With 450,000+ views on YouTube, the series is resonating with audiences around the world, inspiring children, and shedding light on an important issue — children’s mental health.

Super CJ Children’s Mental Health 365 is a groundbreaking campaign that will be spearheaded by Super CJ himself. With its launch during the month of September, the campaign intends to bring muchneeded awareness to the critical mental health crisis facing Black children today. Black children, ages 5 to 12, are now twice as likely to die by suicide as their white

counterparts, and Black teen suicide rates have increased by 78%.

The animated series follows the thrilling adventures of Super CJ as he navigates difficult situations, confronts challenges, and learns valuable life lessons. Each episode will highlight the importance of emotional well-being and self-regulation, showing children that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions, but finding calmness and positive coping mechanisms are key to overcoming obstacles. Super CJ’s journey promotes understanding, empathy, and resilience.

The Super CJ Children’s

Mental Health 365 campaign will encompass a comprehensive range of initiatives, designed to address various aspects of children’s mental health. The campaign will include a monthly newsletter with educational resources, online forums, social media campaigns, and collaborations with mental health professionals, educators, and child advocates. Through these efforts, the campaign will strive to foster an environment that supports the mental wellbeing of children every day of the year.

“We are proud to introduce Super CJ and his mission to promote children’s

mental health,” said Yaba Baker, creator of the series.

“With the animated series and the Children’s Mental Health 365 campaign, we aim to encourage open conversations about mental health, provide support to children and families, and ultimately make a positive impact on the lives of children around the world.”

Baker’s own struggles with mental health and anger management inspired him to create Super CJ and the campaign.

Those who want to support the Super CJ animated series and the campaign are encouraged to watch the show and fill out a brief 2-minute survey by

going to this Google form https://forms.gle/nFbvnmwQMQDMx42q6.

The information gained from this survey will be used to prove there is a need and a desire for this kind of campaign and animated content.

The goal of the company is to create a 10-episode season featuring Super CJ that is picked up by a major streaming platform which would expose a larger audience to Super CJ’s entertaining storylines with embedded mental health tools weaved into each episode.

Supporters can also go to ShopJustLikeMeWorld. com to purchase items like

books, t-shirts, mugs, etc. and a portion of each sale will be donated to non-profit organizations providing mental health resources to children across the country.

Join the movement this September as @JustLikeMeWorld embarks on this transformative journey to safeguard the well-being of our children with the Super CJ Children’s Mental Health 365 campaign. People can also be a part of this journey to save our children by following @JustLikeMeWorld on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.