THE INNER CITY NEWS

Finding Zora in a Connecticut Niece

Danielle Campbell, The Arts Paper newhavenarts.org

Lucy Ann Hurston grew up listening her father, Everett, tell stories about her Aunt Zora.

Yes. That Zora.

Hurston is the niece of famed author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. She also is the author of adult pop-up book she created from artifacts she found in her father’s attic about her legendary aunt. She spoke about her book, Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston as part of the Stetson Library’s Black History Month activities along with Sharde M. Davis, author of Being Black at the Ivory. Hurston's story of being a college professor is captured in Davis' book.

Hurston followed her aunt into the social sciences and became a sociologist, noting in her talk that both sociology and anthropology are disciplines that examine social life and the world around us.

“Who we are, how we fit into it. Who are those people next to us on either side that are not like us?” she said. “And that is why it is such a powerful tool.”

Hurston said learning about her aunt’s life inspired her and made her a bit envious of a woman who was a leader of the

Harlem Renaissance and whose writing was plucked from obscurity by fellow Black woman author, Alice Walker, so that today it exists in the Western canon of literature.

“I was so jealous,” she recalled of learning about her famed aunt during her own coming of age. “I wanted that life. I wanted to live that life. Okay. I wanted to know what inspired her. At that age, as I'm starting to find out about her and find out about me. Okay. It becomes her in the front driver's seat or me in the front driver’s seat.”

The book Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston is like a love letter to those who love her aunt. Featuring replicated pages from Zora Neale Hurston’s personal notes, letters, and other ephemera, the book provides clues into the life and mind of Zora Neale Hurston that only a family member could give to her fans.

Lucy Ann Hurston does not claim to know everything she can about her aunt, pointing out that many people have studied her more than she has. She said her book is a way for people to have a piece of her aunt in whatever way she shows up for them.

“I do not claim to be an all-knowing Hurston scholar,” she said. “What's love-

ly about this book is that this is for people who know Zora. Know her intimately and want to have like your own personal scrapbook.”

Manmita Dutta, director of advancement for the New Haven Free Public Library said she did not know of Zora Neale Hurston before coming to the United States from India. But she had “a deep interest in Black History and the Civil Rights Movement.”

“The nonviolent freedom movement of the Indians against the British colonial rule had inspired Dr. King,” said Dutta. “And as a South Asian immigrant, I stand on the shoulders of those brave women and men who fought with relentless passion and courage, breaking down barriers and opening doors for immigrants of color like myself.”

Dutta said she attended the book talk because she couldn’t miss the opportunity to hear about Zora Neale Hurston from a member of her family.

“This talk reminded me again about the courage and determination of those [who] came before us and accomplished great things under the most hostile circumstances," Dutta said. "We need to respect their legacy by practicing courage, creativity, and fairness."

High Schoolers To Middle Schoolers: Get Involved, Be Yourself

by MAYA MCFADDEN

Wilbur Cross junior Alejandro Zacatelco offered advice to 100 middle-schoolers transitioning to high school advice he never got due to the Covid pandemic.

His advice: Don’t be scared, ask questions, be yourself, and keep your record clean.

Zacatelco was one of eight current Cross and Hillhouse High School students on a student leadership panel

Monday for the district’s inaugural eighth=grade student leadership conference.

The conference was held at the Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) Adanti Student Center.

The event was organized by New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Youth, Family, and Community office supervisor Kermit Carolina; School Climate & Title IX Coordinator Michelle Kelly-Baker; and WOW! Creative Design Group

Founder and Owner Jackie Buster. Monday’s conference included a presentation about New Haven Promise opportunities and group discussions about what leadership is.

Students sat with their peers in a thirdfloor conference room decorated with posters reading, “Your speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward,” and “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.”

In addition to Zacatelco, the student panel included high schoolers Avery

Sutton, Lia Arboleda, Zulaikha Khan, Harmony Cruz Bustamante, John Carlos Serana Musser, Quran Hannans, and Kahsim Ryan.

The panelists talked about their leadership work, which included being in several honor societies, being Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) cer-

tified, being political educators in the community, and holding a student representative seat on the district’s Board of Education.

The panelists gave tips to the 100plus middle schoolers who hailed from all over the district as they would soon transition to their next academic move: high school.

When asked why the students got involved as student leaders, Zacatelco explained that his eighth and ninth grade years were impacted by the pandemic. In eighth grade, Zacatelco could only attend school remotely.

This caused for a difficult transition from middle to high school for Zacatelco. When he arrived at Wilbur Cross he also discovered the school hadn’t had an active Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) since 2007. In an attempt to create a safe space for himself and others, Zacatelco stepped into the leadership role and revived the school’s GSA. Cross senior Harmony Cruz Bustamante said they didn’t want always to be a student leader. But they realized New Haven students deserve more than schools with falling ceiling tiles and students with drug addictions. “I was

sick and tired of decisions being made for me,” they added.

Throughout the panelists offered firsthand advice like:

• Keep your school work first

• Aim to be a well-rounded human being

• Get involved

• Go to school

• Take mental health breaks

• Don’t be afraid to care

• Have fun

• Don’t do drugs

• Find the right friends

“I hope you are listening,” Carolina called out to the middle schoolers.

Hillhouse junior Avery Sutton added Monday that because he stayed focused on his academics throughout high school, he’s now received interest from several D1 colleges to continue his basketball career.

Carolina concluded Monday that he strives to offer high school and middle school youth with more opportunities to talk and learn about leadership. “These leaders deserve to be highlighted and it’s our responsibility as adults to give them that platform,” he said.

Lucy Ann Hurston is an author and niece of Zora Neale Hurston. Danielle Campbell Photos.

Organizers Jackie Buster, Kermit Carolina, and Michelle Kelly-Baker.

The new haven independent

Of Grounding, Wisdom in a Black Earth

By Danielle Campbell

Oliver Buzzard came to Connecticut from California’s Central Coast near Los Padres National Forest. They were used to being outside with trees to decompress from stressful situations in their life. It was when they came to New Haven that they felt more disconnected from the land than they were accustomed to at home.

“It just feels so different to me and I don't have a sense of the land here even though I've been here for like four years. Part of the reason is because [in] college I just felt really severed from being able to be in land relationship because everything was [about] doing school,” said Buzzard. They got a chance to share their disconnection and reconnection with other local nature lovers during an end of Black History Month book discussion about Leah Penniman’s Black Earth Wisdom led by Gather New Haven at Possible Futures book space.

Zion Jones, environmental educator at Gather New Haven, led the discussion with the help of Nyzae James, owner and creator of BAMN Books LLC. Jones prompted discussion by asking those in the room to share how they connect.

Some work with nature as a profession. Some have rituals in how they communicate with nature, and some have no current connection to the nature around them but want to establish one.

Buzzard said their favorite way to commune with the land is through grounding, or putting your bare feet to the earth. They also love singing to trees and plants and said that makes them feel more “attentive to them” in their relationship with the trees and plants.

“These are the things that sustain,” Jones said. “I don't know how I would survive without all of these things that we spoke about that touch our lives and help us feel more connected and a part of this earth.”

Babaláwo Onígbọ̀nná Enroue Halfkenny, who also is referenced as Awo Enroue Onigbonna Sangofemi Halfkenny, is featured in Black Earth Wisdom’s chapter, It is Time for a New Covenant along with Awise Agbaye Wande Abimbola and Yeye Luisah Teish. The chapter is about African traditional and diasporic religions and how they regard and revere the earth. Halfkenny talks about his relationship to water.

“What is this earth wisdom from the perspective of people of African heritage that is very often invisible and is not just through the narrative of people recovering from the trauma of the enslaved and kind of having to work the land in certain ways,” Halfkenny said. “So, it's this real kind of other like, what is this place of wisdom, of liberation, and struggle and wholeness and claiming and reclaiming and suffering and all those things.”

The book discussion was rich with learning about the Black indigenous way of communing with the earth and its many parts. The main lesson was to shift how everyone in the room saw nature and their relationship to it.

Halfkenny said we should integrate the messages of the earth into our lives

“I was actually sitting in a cafe reflecting on the river. And I was just looking at life going by, and I was like, ‘Everything is just a river.’ Right? So, change is everything. We're literally not the same being from moment to moment, right? It’s easy to see that in the river, right?” Halfkenny said. “The river’s not the same. It's always moving, right? [There] are these little drops, and each drop moves on the path of least resistance. That's the governing relationship that the water has to the land.”

There were a few people in the room who worked including Molly Babbin. They appreciated that the book wasn’t as negative as many of the climate conversations seem to be. They felt warned but hopeful.

“I think somehow just scaffolding in this book of a long lineage of knowledge and amazing work at the beginning with so many prayers. And it's so rooted, that I feel like all of those facts were there and more like scientifically backed by just brilliant people,” said Babbin.

The ability of the book to be in conversation with so many Black experts in different disciplines and communication with nature was a notable reflection amongst the group.

“The book is like a testament to the transcendental scientific understanding of African descended people to the earth,” Jones said, describing her love for the book as a Black ecologist by training wanting to connect with something she could see herself in.

Zion Jones of Gather New Haven and Nyzae James of BAMN Books curated a discussion of Leah Penniman's Black Earth Wisdom at Possible Futures. Danielle Campbell photos.

Halfkenny (center) is featured in Black Earth Wisdom.

Arts Council of greater New Haven

"She Was A Life Force:" Remembering Emalie Mayo

Lucy Gellman

Applause rang through the New Haven Pride Center, loud enough to reach the rafters and travel heavenward. People stood, one by one, until the whole room was on its feet. Within moments, cheers filled the space, floating from the floor to the ceiling.

It was a standing ovation for a life well lived, and cut short far too soon.

The moment marked a fitting—if surreal—farewell to Emalie Mayo, who died unexpectedly in her sleep earlier this month at 49 years old. A dedicated daughter, friend, arts advocate and truth teller, Mayo spent her life in service to other people, from students in the Yale School of Drama and Dwight Edgewood Project to Elm City LITFest, artEquity, and her elderly parents in New Haven.

In over a dozen interviews, family members, friends, and former colleagues remembered her as a bridge builder and sometimes the bridge itself, as sharp-witted and hilarious as she was kind. At the time she died, she was working as a senior administrative assistant at the Yale Library, a position she started in August of last year. Her memory is so much larger than that, stretching from downtown New Haven to Atlanta to Spring Glen to New York to New Orleans and beyond.

"It’s a shock," said her mother, Henrietta Mayo, for whom Emalie was the primary and often sole caretaker. When she found out about her daughter’s death, "I said, ‘she can’t be gone.’ This is the end of a beautiful life."

"To be in Emalie's orbit, there was just this aura of love," said Grace O'Brien, a senior administrative assistant at the Yale School of Drama who described her as "my best friend, my ride or die.

"When you were with her, you felt that warmth and that protection,” she added. “Emalie was like the wagon wheel. She was the center and we were all of the spokes. She connected us to so many different communities."

“An Amazing Legacy”

It seems that Mayo grew into that role from the moment she was born. The only child of Donald and Henrietta Mayo, she started her life as a shy and curious kid in White Plains, N.Y. where her family lived until they moved to New Haven in the 1980s. A voracious reader and star student, Mayo “wanted to try everything,” remembered her mother.

At school, she excelled academically and developed her interests in the arts from an early age. At home, she and her dad were inseparable, with a tight bond that lasted until his passing in 2023.

That dedication to her family never wavered, remembered her older cousin, Lisa Bolling. Growing up together, Bolling

thought of Mayo as a younger sister, with whom she could (and did) keep secrets and speak openly about family matters. For decades, Mayo spent her holidays at Bolling’s home in New York, where she traveled for Christmas every year. While she was never the loudest voice in the room, Bolling said, she was often the sharpest and the most hilarious, with witty retorts that kept family members on their toes. Mayo was also endlessly kind, folding weekly trips to IHOP and The Greek Olive into her parents’ schedule as their health began to decline.

“To lose Emalie at 49 years young is a huge shock to the family,” Bolling said, remembering how Mayo played with her 4-year-old grandson for hours on Christmas Day last year. “She had this unassuming, very warm spirit. It’s clear to me that she has been impactful to so many … She was and is an amazing person and left an amazing legacy.”

In New Haven, Mayo soared, even as she carried an increasingly heavy load. After studying psychology at Southern

But she was known much more widely as a cheerleader, checking in on students during and after their time at the school, and making sure her colleagues were OK. For some, she was the plug that connected them to FOLKS, the school’s Black affinity group. For others, she was that encouragement they needed to get out of the Yale bubble, or through a particularly hard semester.

Al Heartley, who graduated in 2018, remembered visiting Yale for the first time in 2015, and feeling himself relax when he walked into the department and saw Mayo smiling back at him. In a department with few Black students and fewer Black staff members, she was a constant reminder that he wasn’t alone. When he started at the university, she introduced him to FOLKS, where he found a powerful place to grieve the police killings of unarmed Black men the following year.

“Seeing this Black woman in the middle of campus, in this white space, was just a huge relief for me,” Heartily recalled in a phone call last week. “Once I got to YSD, she became pivotal to my experience.”

Her care extended to staff, with whom she built a tight-knit and unlikely community of care. Carmen Morgan, founder and executive director of artEquity, remembered first meeting Mayo in 2015, when she began her work as a lecturer at Yale. After years in national civil rights work, Morgan still felt out of place on the school’s fortress-like campus, where a historic legacy of white supremacy was and is still palpable. Then she met Mayo, and her sense of overwhelm dissipated almost instantly.

“In Emalie’s hands, I felt like, ‘I got this,’” she remembered. “That was it. That’s all it took. We became beautiful friends, and I could not really come to that campus and feel satisfied until I’d had a moment with Emalie. I can’t even imagine what it’s gonna be like going there without her.”

When Morgan started calling her “Dean Mayo'' some years later, it was a nod to how deeply and clearly students loved Mayo—and how she loved them back. While facilitating an anti-racism training on campus, Morgan watched as Mayo entered the room—usually closed to staff— and received an impromptu standing ovation. That’s just who Mayo was.

“Her Spirit Is Here With Us”

Connecticut State University (SCSU), she started her career as an office assistant in the development office at Yale University, quickly moving to the Yale Divinity School and then the Yale School of Drama. It was there that she ultimately earned the sobriquet “Dean Mayo,” for the love and respect she commanded from students.

In her day-to-day work, “Emalie was the hub of the program,” said Joan Channick, a professor of practice in and chair of the theater management department.

Mayo’s work also never ended at 5 p.m. For several years, her care for New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) students steered her towards the August Wilson Monologue Competition, where she was a mentor, judge, and faithful attendee. She attended nearly every performance School of Drama students were in, from the Yale Rep to Shakespeare in Edgewood Park to shows on and off Broadway. She shouted

Emalie Mayo. Blaq Pearl Photography for Elm City LITFest.

IfeMichelle Gardin, Shamain (Sha) McAllister, Julius LaVaughn Stone Jr. and Emalie Mayo—the LITFest dream team—in 2021.

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Early Voting Kicks Off Tuesday

by THOMAS BREEN

New Haveners can start casting early ballots in person (but not for very long) next week for the first time even if this particular vote might not have much at stake.

The election is a Democratic and a Republican presidential primary. Officially the primary takes place April 2. But Connecticut is embarking on a newly approved plan to allow some days of early voting, which begins next Tuesday.

One catch: Some of the candidates whose names will appear on the ballots for Republicans and Democrats alike have already dropped out of the race.

This year’s presidential preference primary in New Haven turns out to be more of a test run for a general election rematch in November between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, and for how early voting itself works, than as a substantive political contest.

As detailed during a Friday afternoon press conference hosted by Mayor Justin Elicker, Democratic Registrar of Voters Shannel Evans, and Republican Registrar of Voters Marlene Napolitano in the groundfloor meeting room at 200 Orange St., registered voters across Connecticut will be able to vote early in person for the first time ever for the April 2 presidential preference primaries. That’s thanks to Connecticut voters’ approval in 2022 of a state constitutional amendment designed to make voting less of a hassle than making it to the polls on a random Tuesday.

Here’s what that means for New Haven voters this spring:

Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26; Wednesday, March 27; Thursday, March 28; and Saturday, March 30, registered Democratic and Republican voters can cast their ballots in this year’s presidential preference primaries at New Haven’s single in-person early voting location in the groundfloor meeting room at 200 Orange St. (The four days of early voting allowed for during the April 2 presidential preference primary in Connecticut will expand to seven days for the Aug. 13 primary election and 14 days for the Nov. 5 general election.)

There will be roughly 10 parking spots nearby 200 Orange reserved on those days for early voting electors, free of charge.

Registered voters can also, of course, cast their ballots on preference primary election day itself, on Tuesday, April 2, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. at their normal neighborhood polling place.

The last day to register to vote early at the registrar’s office on the second floor of 200 Orange St. is noon on Monday, March 25, and noon on Monday, April 1, if you want to vote on preference primary election day itself.

Click here to check if you are registered to vote and to find out where your election day polling place is. Again, the only in-person polling place for those looking to vote early in New Haven is 200 Orange St., meeting room G2.

Evans said that New Haveners who vote early during this year’s presidential preference primary will come to 200 Orange St., fill out their ballot, and put that ballot in a “tabulator box,” but not a tabulator itself. All of the early votingcast ballots will then be counted on primary election day on April 2.

As always, eligible voters can also vote via absentee ballot this year. Click here to read the rules governing who can vote absentee and why in Connecticut. This is an “important historic election,” Elicker said at Friday’s presser. “No matter who you vote for, it’s important to cast your vote.”

Which raises the question: Whose names will appear on this year’s presidential preference primary ballots?

On the Democratic ballot will appear the names Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Cenk Uygur, Joe Biden, and Uncommitted.

On the Republican ballot will appear

the names Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald J. Trump, Ryan Binkley, and Uncommitted.

Wait a minute. Haven’t Williamson, Phillips, DeSantis, and Haley all already dropped out of the 2024 presidential contest?

They have. But they were still running for their respective parties’ presidential nomination by Jan. 19, which was the deadline by which Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas had to decide which candidates should appear on the April 2 ballot. State law requires the secretary of the state to make such a determination by looking at which presidential primary candidates are “generally and seriously advocated or recognized by reports in the national or state news media” at that time. Weird.

Elicker recognized on Friday that this year’s presidential preference primaries in Connecticut are not “hotly contested.” Instead, they’re “a little bit of a test run for the general election,” when Democratic incumbent Biden and Republican challenger Trump will almost certainly be their respective parties’ nominees.

New Haveners should nevertheless come out and vote during the April 2 presidential preference primary ‚ including by voting early if they so choose because voting is a hard-won right that should not be taken for granted. It is one’s “responsibility and duty

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to come out and vote,” he said. Plus, voting is fun. You run into friends when voting, as you participate in a bedrock of civic life in this city, he said. And “people in this state look at New Haven to see how much turnout there is.” A large voting turnout in New Haven in any election, April 2’s included, “gives us more of a voice.”

Elicker was asked for his thoughts on the state-by-state push among some Democrats to vote “Uncommitted” during the primaries to signal their opposition to President Biden’s military support for Israel during its ongoing war in Gaza. He said he will be voting for Biden during this presidential preference primary because he believes the sitting president is “by far the best choice” on the ballot. He urged New Haveners not to use the primary to “register a protest vote,” but instead to coalesce behind the candidate who will almost certainly be the Democrat on the ballot in November. “The consequences if we do not elect President Biden” in November in his expected rematch against Trump, Elicker said, “would be disastrous.”

Nevertheless, Elicker conceded, it can be a bit confusing looking at the names on this year’s presidential preference primary ballot. After all, on the Democratic side, Williamson and Phillips have already dropped out. And who in the world is Cenk Uygur?

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THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Republican and Democratic registrars of voters Marlene Napolitano and Shannel Evans on Friday.

The new haven independent

Shack Student Raises Money For Studio

by ULISSES SANTOS

The new haven independent

My name is Ulisses Santos, and I moved to New Haven in February 2024 from New Bedford, Mass. I made this video because I come to The Shack at least three days a week. The Shack has become a place that I can easily walk to, to learn English from the community and dive deeper into my interest in media production and journalism through its weekly programs.

When I first came to The Shack, Alder Honda Smith and her team welcomed me with open arms to the space. I was interested in her idea to bring a music studio to the neighborhood. I want to help The Shack make this happen because it has helped me significantly. In Media Production with instructor Brian McCall I learned to edit and produce promotional videos. He taught me to use a camera for the first time, and I came up with idea to use my newly learned skills while working with instructors Brian and Maya McFadden to make a video promoting The Shack.

I did interviews with The Shack’s regulars and practiced my video editing skills. My hope is that people will

give donations to The Shack to keep its programs going, build a music studio, and continue to support my dream to one day produce videos, and be a sports journalist and TV personality.

Donations to the Shack can be dropped off to 333 Valley St. or checks can be made out to 333 Valley St., New Haven CT 06515.

Expansion Of Paid Sick Leave Advances On Party Line Vote

by Hudson Kamphausen

HARTFORD, CT – The Labor and Public Employees Committee voted along party lines Thursday advanced a bill that would expand paid sick leave in the state. Republicans in the legislature remain in opposition.

Senate Bill 7 would change the current paid sick leave system, which currently only applies to employees of businesses with 50 or more employees. Workers for businesses of as few as one employee would accrue paid sick hours at a rate of one hour per every 30 hours worked, as workers for larger businesses do under the current system.

The bill has strong support from the governor, who said at a news conference Tuesday that the time is right to update the state’s paid sick leave system.

Gov. Ned Lamont said that expanding paid sick leave is important for domestic workers who do not work for large employers, and that it is time for Connecticut to catch up to other states on the issue.

“This day has been a long time coming,” Lamont said. “This is the right thing to do. This is the right thing to do for taking care of the people who are doing the work in our communities, and it also sends a message: this is the type of state where we welcome you [domestic workers], we re-

spect workers, respect what they have to do in respect to taking care of their families – let’s get it done.”

Sen. Julie Kushner spoke after the governor.

“We have this opportunity to really recognize the needs of working people,” she said. “And so we need to fix this – it’s a hole in the way we treat workers in our state.”

Kushner said that workers shouldn’t have to choose between taking care of a sick child or going to work.

“It’s bad public policy to put workers in a situation where they have to choose between paying their rent and staying home with a sick child. So we’re going to fix that this session – I feel confident,” she said.

Republicans in the General Assembly argue that the program does not need more weight on its back, but instead needs to be fixed.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said after the governor’s news conference that before the state institutes another paid sick leave program, it should fix the one it currently has, because it is “clearly broken.”

Continue from page 1 7

This article were submitted by West Rock resident Ulisses Santos, who has been a student at 333 Valley St., an intergenerational community center known as “The Shack,” for the past two months.

Mom Seeks Answers About Daughter’s Death

by THOMAS BREEN

Aseelah Mohammed liked to get her nails done. She had a warm smile and frequently called her mom and cousin and siblings just to check in, even when her own life in New Haven was less than stable.

Mohammed died on George Street leading family and friends to pressure police to treat the case like a murder, not just an overdose.

City cops, meanwhile, have arrested a 62-year-old for illegal disposal of Mohammed’s body, but have declined to charge anyone with murder after a state medical examiner’s report listed Mohammed’s cause of death as “undetermined.”

On Thursday morning, Mohammed’s mother, Imani Mohammed-Denny, joined Mohammed’s first cousin Yolanda Ragland, Mohammed’s ex-boyfriend Ted Smith, Civilian Review Board member Jewu Richardson, and another half dozen of Mohammed’s friends and family for a protest on the front steps of police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. Wearing shirts showing Mohammed’s smiling face and bearing the words “Justice for Aseelah Mohammed,” the protesters called out what they described as an incomplete police investigation, disrespectful treatment, and inadequate charges against those they believe harmed Mohammed.

According to Mohammed-Denny, Mohammed, 41, was pronounced dead on Dec. 28 after arriving several days earlier at a George Street homelessness services housing facility.

She did not live at that property, Mohammed-Denny said, but instead was apparently visiting someone.

Mohammed-Denny said that city police have told her that her daughter died of an overdose. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has listed the cause and manner of her death as “undetermined.” A city police statement provided to the Independent for this article said that the OCME also “noted a combination of narcotic substances in her body” following an autopsy. (See more below for the police’s take on what happened.)

After reportedly seeing her daughter’s bruised head and watching a video showing her daughter’s body wrapped in a sheet and dragged down the stairs of the George Street building, Mohammed-Denny said, she’s convinced this was more than just an overdose. She wants to see the man or men her daughter was with at the Liberty Community Services-owned George Street building charged with murder.

“I’m here. I’m grieving. I’m hurt-

ing,” said Mohammed-Denny, who has moved back from North Carolina to New Haven to advocate for her daughter’s case. “My daughter’s life mattered. … She was a truly loved person. She had a beautiful heart. This should not have happened.”

A press release rally organizers sent out in advance of Thursday’s protest stated that Mohammed’s death “was swept under the rug because of her race, mental illness and drug addiction.”

“She was a very kind person,” added Mohammed’s ex-boyfriend, Smith, on Thursday. “I miss her. I loved her.”

Mohammed-Denny said that the detective investigating her daughter’s death told her that Mohammed “might have been selling sex for drugs” at the time of her death. She described that as a disrespectful thing to say to a mother grieving the death of her daughter. And even if that were true, added Richardson, “that doesn’t justify her being murdered.”

A police statement provided to the Independent empathizes with the hurt Mohammed-Denny is feeling following “the tragic death of her daughter, Aseelah Mohammed. We recognize that the loss of Aseelah is extremely difficult for her and share her desire to determine what happened. To that end, we appreciate any media attention that this may bring in the hope that anyone who has additional information will come forward.”

The statement also “respectfully” ad-

dresses Mohammed-Denny’s criticism the police: “Our investigation has been conducted in a professional manner and was in no way affected by Aseelah’s race, mental health diagnoses, or substance use issues.”

The police statement notes that detectives stayed in touch with Mohammed’s family after her death, reviewed “numerous hours” of surveillance video footage from the facility where Mohammed’s body was found, and ultimately made an arrest of “an individual associated with her, charging him with Illegal Disposal of a Body.”

The 62-year-old arrestee was reinterviewed after his arrest. City police and the state’s attorney’s office “ultimately decided there was not enough evidence at that time to conclude that Aseelah was murdered. That may change should

in a rear common area entryway of the building. She was wearing a shirt, hoodie, and jeans, was wrapped in a dark comforter with a white sheet by her shoulder, and her face was “lying near a heater located on the floor.”

Police interviewed a resident of the building whom they observed on a surveillance video from the evening of Dec. 27 “dragging something with his right hand and walking backwards into the rear common area entryway.” The room was dark, but the surveillance footage clearly showed a “sheet being dragged into the room.”

Detectives later obtained a search warrant for the resident’s second-floor bedroom, where they found “drug paraphernalia” and assorted pieces of clothing. The resident told police in an interview that he did not have any knowledge of Mohammed’s presence at the site. He also said he had smoked crack “as recently as yesterday.”

After police showed the man a screenshot from the surveillance video depicting him dragging something in a sheet, the man changed his story. He said that he did know Mohammed, had met her several days prior on Whalley Avenue, and that they had agreed to exchange “drugs for sex,” as the police report put it.

After they spent a night or two together smoking crack, the resident said, on the morning of Dec. 27, he realized Mohammed, whom he knew only as “Priscilla,” was dead.

He said he dressed her naked body, wrapped her in a black quilt from his bedroom, and used a sheet from his bed to wrap her head. He then described moving “Priscilla” into a blanket on the floor, and then “dragged her down the stairs while she was wrapped in the quilt, her face up and close to his body, her feet were extended away from him.”

new information come to light.”

State court records show that the 62-year-old man was arrested on March 8 and has been charged with one felony count related to the illegal disposal of a dead body. He has not yet entered a plea to the charge, and is next scheduled to appear in court on April 9.

Police Report Details Case

An arrest warrant affidavit written on March 7 by city police Det. Jessica Stone notes that officers responded to the Liberty Community Services “housing and homeless services” building at 515 George St. at 1:43 p.m. on Dec. 28 for the “report of a medical.”

City police spoke with a staffer at the site who had discovered Mohammed’s body “underneath a piece of sheetrock”

The man said “it took a few hours” to get her as far as he did, then he “placed the sheet rock over her body.”

Other surveillance footage showed the 62-year-old male resident and Mohammed entering the George Street facility together on the morning of Dec. 24.

The arrest warrant affidavit states that the chief medical examiner’s report found a mix of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs in Mohammed’s body. “Additionally, the medical examiner found blunt force trauma of neck and extremities, with abrasions of lower extremities as well as intramuscular hemorrhage of right posterior neck.”

Stone’s affidavit concludes by stating the detective believes there is probable cause to arrest the 62-year-old male resident of Disposal of Bodies in violation of Connecticut General Statute 7 – 64.

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Cousin Yolanda Ragland at Thursday's protest outside police HQ.

Mohammed's cousin Yolanda Ragland ...

The new haven independent

“Urban” Trump Fan Seeks DeLauro’s Seat

by PAUL BASS

Michael Massey found Donald Trump in prison. Now he’s living straight and running for Congress with a mission to boost the role of fellow ”Urban Black” Republicans in their party.

Massey didn’t find Trump in his cell. He found him on TV. And everything changed.

“I set a plan,” Massey said, “because of Donald Trump.”

Massey, a 44-year-old native New Havener who co-owns the Black Corner Store on Edgewood Avenue, said that Tuesday during an interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. He came on air to discuss his just-announced candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Third U.S. District Congressional seat, which Democrat Rosa DeLauro has held since 1991. Massey is so far contending with one

other known GOP hopeful for the nomination, Rafael Irizary.

Massey grew up in New Haven. He said was never into politics until he was deep into a decade-long federal prison sentence on firearms, bank robbery, and drug charges.

“There was this old Black dude I used to pay chess with,” he recalled. One day he noticed the man watching “white TV” instead of the box the Black inmates watched

“Why you always sitting over here with these racist white people?” Massey remembered asking. The man replied that the other TV had stations like CNN that distorted the news.

So Massey watched a speech with the man. A speech by then-President Donald Trump. He liked the speech. “It seemed like he wanted to do good things for the country.”

Afterwards, his friend suggested Massey watch how CNN covered the speech.

“They’re going to say it was racist, it was sexist,” the man told Massey.

“It was like he had a crystal ball.”

So Massey started listening to more Trump speeches. He read a Donald Trump book.

“I found myself moving over to the conservative side,” he said. “I set a plan because of Donald Trump. I was going to come home, write a couple books. I was going to get a store so I could be more involved with my people. And I was going to run for Congress.”

Massey left prison in 2018. He didn’t look back.

He and his wife Kenia opened the community-minded Black Corner Store at Platt and Edgewood across from Troup School. He wrote an “action adventure book” coming out next month called Burn and Break. Michael stayed interested in Trump. He crafted a set of issues based on his experience living in New Haven. He watched inmates he know get released early and receive a second chance at life thanks to the First Step Act Trump signed in December 2018. And this month he launched that Congres-

sional campaign. He’s promoting the idea of an “Urban Republican Movement” breaking the Democrats’ stranglehold the Black vote. “Our cities are a disaster. Our schools are a disaster” under failed Democratic leadership, he argued.

Massey has crafted a set of proposals based on his life experiences.

For instance: He may be the first Congressional candidate in recent memory to call for a different approach to “EBT” (electronic benefits transfer) cards through which people receive food stamps. The government restricts what people can buy with those cards. Massey wants to change that.

If people feel they need toilet paper, for instance, they should be able to buy toilet paper at his store, he said.

If they feel it makes sense and saves money to eat at McDonald’s instead of buying groceries, they should be able to do that, he said.

“If I’m making fried chicken at the corner

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Legislature Approves Resolution To Increase Wages, Benefits For 12,000 Home Care Workers

by Hudson Kamphausen

The General Assembly passed a resolution Monday approving an agreement that will mean wage and fringe benefit increases for self-directed personal care attendants in the state.

House Resolution 9 approved a memorandum between the PCA Workforce Council and the New England Healthcare Employees Union District 1199 SEIU which will result in higher wages and better fringe benefits such as paid time off, holiday pay, and longevity bonuses.

The agreement does not apply to agency/non-profit PCAs, but it does apply to about 12,000 home care workers with 1199 SEIU who provide care to about 8,000 consumers of the state’s Medicaid self-directed programs, which are funded under the departments of Social Services and Developmental Services.

Wages will increase from $18.25 to $23 per hour by January 2026, and the agreement will remain in effect until June 2026. The resolution will apply to 12,000 of the PCAs in the state. The agreement will increase the cost of these workers over three years by:

• About $5 million in FY 2024;

• About $12 million in FY 2025, and;

• About $20 million in FY 2026. The resolution has the support of the Lamont administration, which released a statement from Gov. Ned Lamont in support of the resolution shortly after it passed the House, having already been approved by the Senate a few minutes earlier. Lamont said in the written statement that it will benefit all those who par-

take in the home healthcare system.

Home Care Workers Edge Closer to Wage Increase and Benefits

Last year at this time, Connecticut’s home care workers were staging a die-in

at the Legislative Office Building. But today they are one step closer to getting the wage increase and benefits for which they’ve been asking.

“This agreement will help both the

12,000 personal care assistants and the 8,000 consumers of Connecticut’s Medicaid self-directed programs,” the statement said. “Personal care assistants provide essential services to help some of our most vulnerable residents stay in their homes and in their communities. I am incredibly thankful to the General Assembly for their swift action approving this agreement, and I appreciate all of those who helped negotiate it.”

However, Republicans had concerns about whether the resolution should pass. Republicans in both chambers said the resolution, and the approval by the legislature of the wage increase, was unfair to employees of non-profit organizations that do not engage in collective bargaining.

Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, voiced her concern over only raising the hourly rates for self-directed PCAs, and urged for the resolution to be rejected.

“If we’re going to increase those who are self-directed PCAs, we need to look at those PCAs working for our non-profits,” Somers said. “I don’t want to hear that we will do it at a later time. It should be done together in full transparency and also for fairness.”

Senate President Martin Looney said he was in support of the resolution, and that the benefits of increasing wages and benefits for at least a portion of PCAs, if not all, is still beneficial for patients.

“People thrive better when they are in a home setting. They find it much more nurturing. They find it much more often that they develop relationships with their personal care attendants,” Looney said.

“These increases, I think, will help significantly reduce turnover.”

There was also discussion in the House about the validity of leaving out agency PCAs.

Rep. Tony Case, R-Torrington, said during debate that he thinks that it is unbalanced to increase wages for one portion of PCAs but not all.

“We’re picking one, not the other. We should be doing both,” Case said. “We have no money going to the non-profits, so far, within the budget, but we have money going toward those that are organizing.”

Rep. Mike D’Agastino, D-Hamden, said that while the legislature is looking at solutions for helping non-profit care workers, the resolution that passed Monday would apply to “100%” of self-directed PCAs – not just those that engage in collective bargaining. Still, the agreement does not apply to non-profit or agency PCAs.

Additionally, some representatives expressed concern about the possible economic impacts of dramatically raising wages. Part of the reason wage increases are necessary, Case said, is because of previous actions taken by the General Assembly which made the state more expensive to live in.

The resolution passed in the Senate along party lines while the House vote was 98-49 with four not voting. Four Republicans – Reps. Tom Delnicki of South Windsor, Greg Howard of Stonington, Kathleen McCarty of Waterford, and Kurt Vail of Stafford – joined the Democrats in supporting the resolution.

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Massey at WNHH FM: "Let people do what they want with their money.”

CTNewsJunkie

The new haven independent

Cops Seek “Health & Wellness” Supervisor

by THOMAS BREEN

Sometimes police respond over and over again to the same address for mental health calls that would best be served by an agency like Clifford Beers or COMPASS or the Veterans Affairs medical center.

So the city’s police department wants to add a new lieutenant position focused on making sure those connections take place for the betterment of community and officer “health and wellness” alike.

Police Chief Karl Jacobson pitched that position during his department’s budget workshop before the Board of Alders Finance Committee on Thursday night at City Hall.

The workshop marked the latest step in local legislators’ review of Mayor Justin Elicker’s proposed $680 million general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2024 – 25 (FY25), which begins on July 1.

During the meeting, Jacobson described how the New Haven Police Department is looking to add four new full-time positions next year: one lieutenant, two sergeants, and one detective. Those positions would add a total of $360,045 in new salary costs to the budget. (The city budget does not break out line by line how much these new positions would add in healthcare and pension costs.)

The lieutenant position, Jacobson said, would have a “twofold” mandate: “one for officer health and wellness,” the other for “community health and wellness.”

For the former, “we deal with officers dealing with things a normal person doesn’t deal with,” he said.

“We’re shorthanded. We’ve had a tough few years in policing. We see what happens if our officers aren’t well.”

This new lieutenant position “would be responsible for having debriefs [with officers] every time we have a serious incident in the city,” Jacobson said. While such check-ins already take place, “we need oversight to make sure officers are dealing” with such incidents in a healthy way.

The mayor’s proposed budget elaborates that this new lieutenant would “work hand in hand with Peer Support, Comfort Dogs and outside agencies to ensure good mental health for Officers. Good mental and psychological health is just as essential as good physical health for law enforcement officers to be effective in keeping our country and our communities safe from crime and violence.” This lieutenant would also ensure that officers undertake the annual wellness checks required by the state’s police accountability act from 2020.

On the community health side, Jacobson

said, “if we go to a certain address numerous times for mental health issues, and it’s flagged in our system, this person [the new lieutenant] would then bring those concerns to COMPASS, to the other agencies we work with, [to] Clifford Beers, so that we get help for people. … So we’re not constantly going to these houses.”

Have you noticed a big difference in officers proactively seeking mental healthcare, particularly in the wake of the state police accountability act’s wellness check requirements? asked Board of Alders President and West River Alder Tyisha Walker-Myers.

Yes, Jacobson replied, “I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve seen that it works. I see how important it is.”

Jacobson noted the department has 17 supervisor vacancies and dozens of vacancies in the patrol division.

He said the department is about to hold a sergeant’s test on March 27, and a lieutenant’s test soon thereafter. He said the department could fill 17 to 20 supervisor positions “within the next six months.”

More than half of the patrol division, or 123 officers in total, have under five years experience as police officers, Jacobson noted. “We need that supervision to help these younger kids. Yes, we do have a lot of positions to fill, but we will get those positions filled on the supervisor end.”

Newhallville Presses Zinn On Speed Bumps, School Traffic Safety

by MAYA MCFADDEN

That news was delivered, and question discussed, Thursday evening at LincolnBassett Community School. It was the latest community meeting hosted by new Newhallville Alder Brittiany MaberyNiblack. Twenty neighbors gathered at the school for the two-and-a-half-hour meeting.

A major focus of the meeting was neighbors’ sidewalk and speed bump concerns. Mabery-Niblack invited City Engineer Giovanni Zinn to the meeting to address the concerns.

Zinn told attendees that six streets are in queue to get sidewalk repairs in Newhallville. Meanwhile, Butler, Lilac, Newhall, and West Hazel streets are on his list of requests to have speed bumps added.

Shepard Street resident Addie Kimbrough asked Zinn why no speed bumps or other traffic-calming tools are planned right at Lincoln-Bassett. “Every other school has it,” she said. “Our children go to this school, and there is nothing to keep them safe.”

Instead of speed bumps, Starr Street resident and veteran educator Claudine Wilkins-Chambers said, “I’d like to see some of that hump money transferred over to the public education for the city of New Haven.”

Zinn responded that “a critical part of having a good education for children is getting them to and from school safely. If

they’re fearing for their lives walking to school, that’s a problem.”

Democratic Ward 20 Committee CoChair Latoya Agnew asked Zinn if there

are other ways to slow down speeding in the neighborhood besides speed bumps. “It’s ridiculous to have the whole neighborhood full of speed bumps,” she said.

She suggested more signage or roundabouts.

“The most effective thing on a street is something that causes vertical deflection, meaning some raised feature in the roadway that motorists have to slow down for,” Zinn said. “It’s 100 percent the most effective thing to slow someone down.”

He added that a roundabout is typically put at an intersection and often needs a lot more land to build.

Stacy Leslie, a new transplant to Newhallville who arrived three months ago, has a son who attends Lincoln-Bassett.

Leslie said when she picks her son up from school in the afternoon, the traffic is hectic. She asked Zinn what he would suggest as a solution.

Zinn responded that there could be a place for raised elements near the school but added that because it’s an urban environment, bus traffic often presents complications.

Zinn also offered the community with an update on the soon-to-be adult education building at 188 Bassett St. He said his team is working on creating the building design with a goal of completing the design by the end of year.

Ward Committee Co-Chair Kim Har-

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PAUL BASS PHOTO Chief Jacobson: "We see what happens if our officers aren't well.”

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTO Lincoln-Bassett parent Stacy Leslie: school pick-up is hectic.

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Fan Seeks

store,” he noted, “they can’t buy it.” And people do love the fried chicken he makes at the store.

He argued that the restrictions “force” people to sell food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar so they can buy what they want. He’d change that by lifting the restrictions.

He was asked about a scheme in which some people in New Haven addicted to drugs were found to sell food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar to a shopowner. They bought drugs; the shopowner bought supplies at half cost. Should government try to restrict that from happening?

“Restricting it doesn’t stop that,” he said. Instead, allowing people to get cash at ATMs with their EBT cards would prevent them from selling their benefits at a loss instead.

And if they spend that money on drugs?

“Let people do what they want with their money. You can’t say because somebody’s going to do something bad with it, you’re going to punish everyone else.”

Another policy proposal: Let private companies pay inmates who volunteer for jobs $5 an hour to do work for them inside prisons.

That would help rehabilitate prisoners, he said. And over 10 years, a prisoner could accumulate up to $50,000 with which to start life fresh upon release.

Massey was asked if that plan would take away minimum-wage for higher-paying New Haveners who don’t go to prison. He responded that he would envision the jobs coming back from overseas, where companies had sought cheaper labor.

“This policy will put a whole lot of money in the hands of these urban neighborhoods. Of course not every job is going to be done by people in jail. However, at the very least, it will curb recidivism. People come home now strong, mad, ten years removed from anything they knew. They angry and they broke. You shove these people back into our neighborhoods we have to deal with.

“We’re not going to have answers to everything. It’s a super plus, especially for urban neighborhoods that move the vote.”

Massey borrowed a proposal from Trump to create $5,000 “baby bonuses” for single moms over 18 and $10,000 for married couples to “create a financial incentive to wait to have a child until they are adults” and “increase the likelihood of men becoming fathers instead of baby daddies.” He called the plan a constructive way to combat abortion; while not setting a firm number, he said he opposes abortions in the eighth or ninth month but believes they should be legal earlier in pregnancies.

And he called for ending governmentprovided shelter and other aid to undocumented immigrants; the country’s too far in debt and should first take care of people in need who are already here.

Meet Blair Caldwell, the photographer behind Beyonce’s new ‘Cowboy Carter’ album cover

by Dollita Okine Face2FaceAfrica.com

Blair Caldwell is receiving recognition for his outstanding work on Beyoncé’s “Act II: Cowboy Carter” album cover.

Tyler shared his journey and excitement on Instagram, saying, “Mannnn I just woke up and I’m pretty numb, I can’t believe my eyes or I’m even typing this, I’ve waited my whole career for this moment and it’s finally here!! wowwww thank you @beyonce & @parkwood , @lens_face for making this possible, this means more than anything, never stop dreaming no matter how long it takes or what you face in life, Most importantly I thank God (Jesus) he has brought me through so much and been there every step of the way, I moved to LA from Tyler,Tx 10 years ago, yo I can’t even keep typing I’ll be back with more!”

Caldwell’s skill knows no limitations, according to his Parkwood Entertainment biography, and his career exemplifies his perseverance, faith, and self-

belief.

It read, “He is a force to be reckoned with, weaving his artistry through images that capture the essence of the extraordinary. Blair is on his inspiring quest as he continues to ignite the world with his artistry, one captivating photograph at a time. Armed with his camera, he has had the privilege of capturing the essence of renowned artists, from the incomparable Beyoncé to the trendsetting Kylie Jenner, the charismatic Michael B. Jordan, and the soulfully talented SZA. Blair’s lens has immortalized the moments that resonate with us,” according to CBS19.

According to Because of Them We Can, Caldwell was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, and began photography in his junior year of high school, motivated by his fascination with music videos, magazines, album covers, and award shows, as well as his desire to contribute his vision to that world.

After moving to Los Angeles, he was surrounded by a thriving creative scene with numerous chances that completely altered the course of his career especially

when he realized that taking pictures of Black women was his niche.

From his first famous client, R&B singer Chrisette Michele, to his meetings with Beyoncé and Taraji P. Henson, Caldwell’s portfolio features an amazing selection of pictures that perfectly capture the personality and spirit of his subjects.

In a 2021 interview with CR Fashion Book, Caldwell shared his incredible first experiences working with Beyoncé and recalled the exhilarating and nervewracking times he had behind the camera, saying, “I thought I was going to be surrounded by security… but it was super laid back.”

His multi-year partnership with Beyoncé demonstrates his skill and ability to capture the soul of his subjects with honesty.

The Tyler ISD Foundation commended Caldwell, an alumni, on being the incredible photographer behind Beyoncé’s latest endeavor.

Caldwell has taken pictures of several famous people, such as Normani, Kylie Jenner, and others.

How April Showers’ Afro Unicorn became 1st female, Black-owned business to own a licensed character brand in major retail

by Abu Mubarik, Face2FaceAfrica.com

April Showers is the CEO of Afro Unicorn, a brand designed to represent the uniqueness of women and children of color in a truly diverse and inclusive fashion. She was inspired to start her business after a chat with a friend who referred to her as a “unicorn” owing to her ability to run multiple businesses, her children, and a bustling personal life.

With the unicorn becoming her favorite emoji, she started working with a graphic designer to create a unicorn of her likeness since the unicorn only available was in white and lacked representation. She, in turn, created multiple shades to “represent a range of women of color,” she said. Afro Unicorn was born.

A real estate agent and insurance business owner, she started her Afro Unicorn business in 2019 printing T-shirts. She would leverage social media to boost sales and grow her market base. She also dedicated Saturdays to going live on Instagram and interacting with her customers.

Today, her brand has 25 categories, ranging from apparel and accessories to toys, puzzles, books, bedding, bandages, backpacks, and collectibles, all with the design of a black unicorn. Her designs aim to inspire and remind women and children of color about the unique, divine, and magical nature of the universe.

“I have always believed that Afro

Unicorn® would become a household name. Afro Unicorn is a movement to create representation in everything children touch. It’s a fantastic feeling,” she told OK Magazine.

“The brand represents the beauty and uniqueness of vanilla, caramel, and mocha complexions,” she noted of how it all began. “The name Afro Unicorn signifies two ideas. The first is to empower and elevate emerging entrepreneurs. The second is an homage to Africa and a promise to amplify representation through my fully-licensed character brand. Building the brand from the ground up, Afro Unicorn started in the e-commerce industry in 2019. By then, it was an organic, grassroots brand, and I was pressing shirts and selling them through my eCommerce store, adding logos to T-shirts and bags at my customers’ request.”

In May 2022, she launched in Walmart, making her the first female black-owned business to own a licensed character brand in major retail.

“It was a surreal experience,” she said about her historic success. “Overcome with emotions; I was shaking, I cried, and I felt overwhelming joy to see my dream realized,” the CEO and founder added.

Today, Target, Kohl’s, Amazon, JCPenney, HomeGoods, NovaKids, and more than 3800 Walmart stores nationwide carry the brand in various categories.

According to Forbes, the company recorded $15 million in sales in 2023, up from $5 million in 2022.

Tyler native Blair Caldwell is receiving recognition for his outstanding work on Beyonce's "Act II: Cowboy Carter" album cover. Photo Credit: Instagram, Blair Caldwell

Blood Cancers and Recent Advancements in Treatment

Blood cancers are a major health concern in the Black community. They include conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. A recent study showed that Black patients actually experience better survival rates when they were treated similarly to white patients. There is no cure for blood cancers, but there have been significant advancements in its treatment in recent years. The most recent advancements involve Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, treatment options for newly diagnosed disease, and maintenance therapy.

CAR T-cell therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has shown great success in treating some blood cancers. This type of treatment uses a personal approach to target and destroy cancer cells using the immune system.

CAR T-cell therapy uses gene changes to the T-cells to effectively target cancer cells. Over the past several years, CAR T-cell therapies have been FDA approved for the treatment of different blood cancers.

Treatment for newly diagnosed disease Treatment options for blood cancers have evolved in recent years. There are several new treatment options and strategies. The treatment used depends on many factors including age, overall health, genetics, and the cancer characteristics.

When newly diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to work closely with the healthcare team to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan. The treatment plan should be based on individual circumstances and the latest treatment advancements. Early diagnosis is key.

– – –

Maintenance therapy

After the first round of treatment, maintenance drug therapy is usually next. Maintenance therapy is a type of longterm treatment that is often used in blood cancers. Maintenance therapy can help prolong remission and improve overall patient survival. The choice of maintenance therapy should be personalized. There should be shared decision-making with the healthcare team.

Looking forward

The recent advancements in the treatment of blood cancers represent progress in managing these complex and challenging types of cancer. The development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies are promising.

Research and clinical trials continue to promote progress. We must continue to raise awareness by collaborating with healthcare providers and researchers in the ongoing fight against blood cancers.

References

• American Society of Hematology. Blood cancers.

• National Cancer Institute. Multiple Myeloma Awareness and African American Disparities

• International Myeloma Foundation. Disparities in African Americans

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Understanding Blood Cancers and Treatment Options.

• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The latest myeloma treatment advances from ASCO 2023

• Blood Cancer Journal. Black patients with multiple myeloma have better survival than white patients when treated equally: a matched cohort study

• National Cancer Institute. CAR T Cells: Engineering Patients’ Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancers

• University of Colorado Cancer Center. Blood Cancer.

• American Society of Hematology Education Program. Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: making sense of the menu

From a 4-year-old orphan to an international award-winning actress The inspiring story of Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu

by Ben Ebuka, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Growing up in the early 1990s, Thuso Mbedu never dreamt of being an entertainment figure. At a very young age, she wanted to be a dermatologist, but after taking a dramatic arts class in the 10th grade, she became interested in acting.

Her acting career has earned her fame and fortune locally and internationally, rising to become one of the most sought after actresses from South Africa. At 27, she was named in the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 List, and one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine.

Born on July 8, 1991, at the Midlands Medical Center in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, to a Zulu mother and Xhosa and Sotho father, she never enjoyed the care of her parents who died when she was barely four years old. She was raised by her grandmother, a very strict school principal in school and at home. Her name reflected the multicultural tribes of her parents – Thuso is a Sotho name, Nokwanda is a Zulu name, and Mbedu is Xhosa.

Mbedu went to Pelham Primary School and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School and graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in 2013, where she studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. Earlier in 2012, she took a summer course at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.

Her acting career began in 2014 when she played a minor role of ‘Nosisa’ in the popular South African Soap Opera ‘Isibaya’ from Mzansi Magic. In 2015, she played a guest role as ‘Kheti’ in the Second Season of the SABC 2 youth drama series ‘Snake Park.’

She got her first starring role in the teen drama television series ‘IS’THUNZI’ from Mzansi Magic where she played ‘Winnie.’ Her international debut was in ‘The Underground Railroad’ an American fantasy historical drama series based on the novel ‘The Underground Railroad’ written by Colson Whitehead.

‘Black Reel Awards’ (Outstanding Actress – TV Movie / Limited Series), the ‘Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards’ (Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthropology Series or Television Movie), the ‘Gotham Awards’ (Outstanding Performance in New

Awards’ for ‘Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie’ for her role ‘Cora Randall’ in ‘The Underground Railroad.’

In 2022, she starred in her first film ‘The Woman King’ an epic historical drama about Agosie, where an entire female warrior unit protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 17 – 19th century. She played ‘Nawi’, a zealous recruit in the

In 2017, Mbedu was nominated for the ‘DSTV Viewers Choice Awards’ and the ‘International Emmy Awards for the ‘Best Performance by an Actress’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the 2016 -2017 television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’

In her keynote speech at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit, Thuso Mbedu tearfully spoke of how she overcame the loss of her dear parents, grandmother, and aunt. But her role in Amanda Lane’s ‘IS’THUNZI’ gradually renewed her hope in life.

Connecticut’s first choice for Urban News

In 2018, she won the ‘South African Film and Television Awards’ for ‘ Best Actress – TV Drama’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the 2016 -2017 television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’ She was also nominated for the ‘International Emmy Awards for ‘Best Performance by an Actress’ for her role ‘Winnie Bhengu’ in the television drama series ‘IS’THUNZI.’

In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Television Critics Association Award’ (Individual Achievement in Drama), the

“…my world was that blur, until Amanda Lane happened in 2016. The role that Amanda Lane gave me was the difference between life and death for me. Receiving that audition brief, I told myself that tion. I gave it the last of everything that I had, that at the time I got the callback, I had nothing left. I secretly made the decision ing left to give. But fortunately, I received the callback. So I didn’t do the callback because the role was mine. I had given up. I was in a very dark place at the time, and the character, the role, the opportunity, was a much needed light. And I told myself that I will act as if it was the last character that I will play. And through a great script and an amazing director, I earned two International Emmy Awards for that role…”

How Vanessa Brooks became 1st Black woman to be dual certified as athletic trainer and physical therapist in NBA

by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com

When Vanessa Brooks joined the NBA in 2019, she became the first Black woman to hold dual certifications as a physical therapist and athletic trainer.

The trailblazer told Essence that “I knew my goal was to work in the NBA,” and despite her determination, her mentors were less than enthused anytime she disclosed her plans.

“My mentors were coming from the right place. They just told me the truth, ‘there’s no one there that’s before you.

Are you sure you don’t mean the NCAA or WNBA?’ There’s nothing’s wrong with those entities, but I said I actually wanted to do that one first,” Brooks recounted.

Indeed, Black women are not fully represented in athletic training. This research says that “between 2003 and 2016, the average total membership of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) was 34,635 members…[and] Black women have accounted for only 2%-4% of the total female membership. These data are similar to the demographics of sister allied health professions.”

Nevertheless, Brooks made a breakthrough, and she pointed out, “We’ve had more and more coming into the league” after she started. “It’s like a sisterhood that’s started to grow, which has been amazing.”

Brooks’ mother is from Jamaica while her

father is from England. Growing up in Miramar, Florida, Brooks said she always liked basketball.

“Unfortunately basketball did not like me,” she told The Oklahoman, adding that she tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus while playing AAU ball before her senior year of high school.

“That’s when I found out a lot more about physical therapy,” Brooks said.

Before Brooks joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, the NBATA indicates that she worked as the head athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s Gatorade League (G League) affiliate.

While earning her PT Sports Fellowship, Brooks worked in Wake Forest University’s Division I Athletics. She earned her

certification as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in 2019.

She also spent some years in Duke’s Sports Medicine Clinic, provided part-time outreach to nearby high schools and a semiprofessional football team, and completed her PT Sports Residency.

The pioneer completed her training as an EMT while working in the Ortho-

Trauma unit at Grady Hospital and as a Head Athletic Trainer for an Atlanta Public School. She started an Athletic Trainers’ Union with AFSCME during her twoyear tenure with Atlanta Public Schools.

Brooks also co-founded a preventative injury sports medicine program that bridged local Durham AAU basketball teams with Duke Sports Medicine.

Brooks encountered her first exposure to sports medicine in equestrian, women’s basketball, volleyball, and football while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training at The University of Georgia.

She completed her doctorate in physical therapy at Emory University in Atlanta, where she obtained further certifications in strength and conditioning and dry needling.

She was honored for her community service and professional excellence as she was given the Francis A. Curtiss and the Emory University Division of Physical Therapy Award. On top of that, Brooks was awarded the Dr. Butch Mulherin, Soule, and Marion Hubert honors for her outstanding work ethic, support of female athletes, and dedication to the area of athletic training.

Brooks said that her dream job is “worth it,” despite being demanding and requiring her to be on the go frequently.

The achiever urges others, “Please do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”

When Vanessa Brooks joined the NBA in 2019, she became the first Black woman to hold dual certifications as a physical therapist and athletic trainer. Photo Credit:Instagram, Vanessa Brooks

Expansion Of Paid Sick

“The fact is that we already have this program in place, under our Paid Family Leave Program,” he said. “So the question is why are we adding this on as a stopgap because employees are already paying half a percent of their paychecks a year for this, and that’s the program we should be relying on to give them these benefits.”

Ranking Member Rep. Steve Weir, RHebron, said legislation like SB 7 could give Connecticut a reputation as a state that is “bad for business.”

“There’s a presumption that I see in this building that if we want a certain initiative, that we will push it through, and the businesses will figure it out,” he said. Weir said that the bill should not go forward, and that it would kill the viability of small business in the state.

There is substitute language in the bill, which defines the term “family” the same way it is defined in the Paid Family Medical Leave Program.

The senate bill and governor’s bill have a different effective date from the house bill that covers the same, and the amount of days that a new employee would have to work before qualifying for paid sick leave are also different.

“This is the year we’re going to get this over the finish line,” Lamont said.

Public hearing testimony on SB 7 was submitted by 207 individuals and organizations.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that SB 7 was advanced to the House instead of the Senate.

Continue from page 12

School Traffic Safety

ris asked about the construction process for the adult ed building and what safety measures will be in place to protect nearby residents. Zinn said an inspection of the building revealed a small percentage of trapped asbestos in floor glue used to place carpet on top of old tiles. When cleaning happens, it will be done in containment and in a controlled space by the state’s health department until the air is cleared.

Mabery-Niblack concluded Thursday’s meeting by updating residents that the first two monthly meetings she held with neighbors had focused on concerns about 911 calls being put on hold or not answered at all. She said Police Chief Karl Jacobson attributed delays to a shortage of 911 operators. As a result, MaberyNiblack plans to host a community job fair for police and fire 911 call operators.

During the months that Mabery-Niblack doesn’t host a community meeting like Thursday night’s, she joins Newhallville community management team meetings to update and talk to residents.

The next community meeting is scheduled at Lincoln-Bassett on May 21, July 18, Sept 19, and Oct 17, all at 6 p.m.

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PARA

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

(PLAN ADMIN)

THE ELM CITYCOMMUNITIES, AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DE NEW HAVEN (ECC/HANH) PROPUESTA DE ENMIENDA AL PLAN ADMINISTRATIVO DE AVC

Elm City Communities, la Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de New Haven (ECC/ HANH) propone modificar secciones de su Plan Administrativo de Vales de Elección de Vivienda (HCV) (Plan Administrativo).

Las copias de la enmienda al Plan Administrativo estarán disponibles el lunes 25 de marzo de 2024 en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o vía Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities o vía Facebook www.facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities o vía Instagram, @elmcitycommunities_hanh.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

NOTICIA

Le invitamos a proporcionar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Revisiones del plan administrativo; A la atención de: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/ HANH) is proposing to amend sections of its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan (Admin Plan).

Copies of the amendment to the Administrative Plan will be made available on Monday, March 25, 2024 on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ ElmCityCommunities or via Instagram, @elmcitycommunities_hanh.

You are invited to provide written comments addressed to: ECC/HANH, Admin Plan Revisions; Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

Una audiencia pública donde se aceptarán y grabarán los comentarios públicos está programada para el lunes 22 de abril de 2024 a las 4:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral:

https://v.ringcentral.com/join/307751545?pw=8265 ba3239c2e37a306d11180624e736

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

ID de reunión: 307751545

Contraseña: vTft9zu5Mh

NEW HAVEN

Cualquier persona que requiera una Adaptación Razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Adaptación Razonable (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 o al Número TDD (203) 497-8434.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the

A public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2024 at 4:00pm via RingCentral:

https://v.ringcentral.com/join/307751545?pw=8265ba3239c2e37a306d11180624e736

Meeting ID: 307751545

Password: vTft9zu5Mh

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing

Wednesday,

NOTICE

Town of Greenwich, Connecticut Firefighter

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

VALENTINA

MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Do You Want A Job That Makes A Difference? Become a Town of Greenwich Firefighter.

Salary Range: $87,727 to $136,071

Deputy Finance Director/Controller

Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE.

For Details go to  www.bloomfieldct.org

South Central Regional Council of Governments Draft Fiscal Year 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program

The public is invited to offer comments until April 22, 2024 as the mayors and first selectmen of the South Central Region of Connecticut shape the Draft Fiscal Year 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the companion Draft State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Copies of the Draft TIP and STIP are available at www,scrcog.org. Hard copies of the draft documents will be mailed upon a request made by email to jrode@scrcog.org.

The TIP document, framed together with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, guides the flow of funding for major improvements to the region’s roadways, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems. The public comment period for the TIP/STIP also satisfies the public participation requirements of the Greater New Haven Transit District’s and the Milford Transit District’s Program of Projects (POP). Public comments may be emailed to jrode@scrcog.org or mailed, postage prepaid, to James Rode, Principal Transportation Planner, South Central Regional Council of Governments, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven, CT 06473 with receipt in both cases by no later than April 22, 2024. Public comments may also be offered at a Hybrid Public Meeting on April 10, 2024 at 11 am. Instructions for participating in the Public Meeting will be posted at www.scrcog.org no later than 10 days before the event.

Candidates must fulfill several basic requirements including:

°Be legally authorized to work in the United States

°Be at least 18 years of age

°Possess a High School Diploma or State Approved G.E.D.

Current Salary: $62,189-$85,980 Annually, plus benefits

To view detailed information and apply online visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/greenwichct

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 NEW HAVEN

MONROE HOUSING AUTHORITY/FAIRWAY ACRES IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ELDERLY HOUSING!

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

*Application Deadline: 5/20/2024 4:00 p.m.

The Town of Greenwich is dedicated to Diversity & Equal Opportunity Employment

Secretary: The Town of East Haven

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM FEBRUARY 1st, 2024 – MAY 1st, 2024. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED AFTER MAY 1st, 2024, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Eligible applicants must be 62+ OR 18+ if disabled. Rent calculation is based on 30% of your income. Tenants cannot pay lower than the base rent: $420/efficiency, $430/one -bedroom and ADA. Applications can be picked up at the office Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9-2 pm at: 358 Wheeler Road, Monroe, CT 06468, or by email at: housing@monroect.gov. Those that need assistance with obtaining the application and/or applying can call 203-261-7685. Assistance in another language will be made available to those that need it. Eligible applications will be chosen by lottery system and subject to background checking. The Monroe Housing Authority does not determine eligibility based on age, ancestry, color, sex, race, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, lawful source of income, familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

is currently conducting an examination for the position of Secretary I, Grade Level 9-$19.98 per hour for 31.25 hours per week. Qualified candidates must possess a High School Diploma or GED and two (2) years of secretarial or related experience. Prior experience in a school system or related work with children preferred. The deadline to apply is April 12, 2024 and applications are available at http://www.townofeasthavenct.org/civiltest.shtml or The Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven CT. The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Females, Veterans and Handicapped are encouraged to apply.

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Invitation for Bids

Moving Services for Elm City Communities/Housing Authority

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

HCC

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Moving Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Andrea M. Liquori Chief Examiner Civil Service Commission 250

Main Street East Haven  CT 06512

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 3:00PM.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

NOTICE

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

Construction

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Sale of Surplus Rolling Stock

New Haven, Connecticut

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Contact: Tom Dunay

Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 6211720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

New Haven Parking Authority Project #24-024

Bids due April 15, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Bid Documents will be available beginning April 1, 2024 at no cost by downloading from the New Haven Parking Authority/Park New Haven website at https://parknewhaven.com/request-for-bids/ or visit the Temple Street Garage Office at One Temple Street, New Haven, CT to obtain a copy.

New Haven Parking Authority is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

NOTICIA

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Union Company seeks:

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Large CT Fence Company looking for an individual for our PVC Fence Production Shop. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Must be familiar with carpentry hand & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawing and tape measure. Use of CNC Router machine a plus but not required, will train the right person. This is an in-shop production position. Duties include building fence panels, posts, gates and more. Must have a valid CT driver’s license & be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com.

AA/EOE-MF

MAINTAINER IV

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Full Time Administrative assistant position for a steel & misc metals fabrication shop who will oversee the daily operations of clerical duties such as answering phones, accounts payable purchase orders/invoicing and certified payroll. Email resumes to jillherbert@gwfabrication.com

TOWN OF EAST HAVEN PURCHASING AGENT

The Town of East Haven seeks a qualified candidate to serve in the position of Purchasing Agent. This is a highly responsible position involving purchasing and directing the purchasing functions of the municipality. Qualified candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field preferably including or supplemented with special course work in purchasing/municipal bid processes and materials management plus five (5) years’ of progressively responsible purchasing work or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience. Must have valid class 3 Connecticut Driver’s License. The salary for this position is $62,841/year, 35 hours per week and the Town offers an excellent benefit package. Please send cover letter and resume with references to: Town of East Haven, Ed Sabatino, Assistant Director of Administration and Management, 250 Main Street, East Haven, CT 06512 or jobs@easthaven-ct.gov. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a work force of diverse individuals. Minorities, females, handicapped and veterans are encouraged to apply. The Town of East Haven is an equal opportunity employer.

CT.

242-258 Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

Andrea

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Town of Wallingford’s Department of Public Works is seeking an experienced heavy equipment operator to operate equipment such as a payloader, backhoe, bulldozer, grader, Gradall, excavator and dump truck Applicants must have 5 years’ experience in a field related to heavy construction of which 3 years shall have been in a special skill, or 1 year of training in a skilled trade substituted for 1 year of experience up to 4 years and 1 year of construction experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. Must possess and maintain a valid (CDL) Class B to operate equipment. Wages: $27.28 to $32.32 hourly. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, individual and family medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. Applications may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be faxed or mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@ wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of April 3, 2024. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Water Utility

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Senior Sales Representative

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

Water Treatment and Pumping Supervisor. The Town of Wallingford Water Division is seeking qualified applicants to perform highly technical and supervisory work involving the operation and maintenance of the municipality's water treatment facilities, pump stations, and well facilities. Applicants must have 4 years of progressively responsible experience with 2 years as a supervisor in the operation of a municipal water treatment and pumping system, plus an A.S. degree in engineering or chemistry, or any equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience. Must possess or have the ability to obtain within the probation period, State of Connecticut Department of Health Services Class IV Water Treatment Plant Operator and Class II Distribution System Operator Certifications. Must possess and maintain a CT driver’s license. Salary: $73,068 to $93,488 annually, plus an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, medical insurance, life insurance, paid sick and vacation time. Applications may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of April 23, 2024. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

SMALL MINORITY SUBCONTRACTOR OPPORTUNITY – New Building – St. Vincent Commons, Middletown, CT SOLICITATION OF SBE/MBE CONTRACTORS:

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Enterprise Builders, Inc. seeks State of CT DAS-Certified SBE and MBE Subcontractors and/or suppliers to bid applicable sections of work/equipment/supplies for the following new construction project: St. Vincent Commons, Middletown, CT. Bid Due Date and Time: 3:00 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Electronic Plans and specifications can be obtained at no charge by contacting the Estimating Department at Enterprise Builders at (860)466-5188 or by email to bids@enterbuilders. com. Project is Tax Exempt and Prevailing Wage Rates apply. EBI encourages the participation of certified SBE and MBE subcontractors. This project is subject to State set-aside and contract compliance requirements. EBI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Black-Owned College Prep School With 100% Graduation Rate Continues to Make History

The Wilson Academy, a Black-owned College Prep School based in the Atlanta area known for its unique academic approach and consistently high-performing students, is making history again. The school will be hosting its first-ever Legacy Leaders Gala on March 23, 2024, at 7:30pm to celebrate community leaders and raise funds to support students like Sodiq Adeniyi, Isaac Machot Majok Gol, and James Turic Chol Gol; young men whose lives were transformed through education and basketball.

Here are several of the students’ personal stories:

Sodiq Adeniyi, born in Lagos, Nigeria, overcame tremendous personal challenges including the tragic loss of his mother.

Sodiq secured an academic scholarship to The Wilson Academy, where he also excels on the basketball court. His story exemplifies the impact of education and mentorship on young lives.

Isaac Machot Majok Gol, 17 years old, from Rumbek, South Sudan, found a passion for basketball at a young age. With the support of his uncle, Isaac moved to the United States to escape poverty and violence, and pursue his dreams of a better life. He is currently a student at The Wilson Academy where he continues to

develop his skills in the classroom and on the court.

James Turic Chol Gol, 13 years old, also from South Sudan, feels fortunate to have escaped the ills of civil war. Since coming to The Wilson Academy, James has made significant strides in both academics and athletics, thanks to the support of his teachers and coaches.

“The Legacy Gala is a unique opportunity for us to gather and celebrate community leaders, honor the accomplishments of our students and their families, and invest in establishing a legacy of excellence,” said Byron F. Wilson, Headmaster and Founder of The Wilson Academy.

“Every year, our graduates earn millions of dollars in college scholarships, as we

have fostered a proven path to academic success. But our students still need support.”

The gala will honor exceptional leaders and entrepreneurs who have demonstrated a commitment to community and creating lasting legacies, including: Shareef Abdul-Malik: Founder of WeBuyBlack.com; he has pioneered a global

movement that has become the largest outlet promoting Black-owned businesses.

Jhavaun and Maudelyne Green: Owners of Green Love Kitchen; they have designed innovative, vegan and healthy culinary experiences for underserved communities and beyond.

Mario Johnson: A visionary restaurateur and real estate investor from Metro Atlanta, GA, whose entrepreneurial spirit has opened doors for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

The Legacy Leaders Gala is an opportunity for everyone to play a vital role in shaping a legacy of excellence. Through generous donations and active participation, supporters can contribute to scholarships, resources, and opportunities to empower young minds like Sodiq, Isaac, and James, to reach their full potential. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at TheWilsonAcademyGala. com

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The Wilson Academy is an independent, coed K-12 school in Conyers, Georgia. Emphasizing critical thinking, exposure, and financial education, the academy’s mission is to provide an education that is valuable, adaptable, practical, and capable of empowering our students.

How Dr. Ted Love, a cardiologist turned biotech executive, sold his sickle cell company to Pfizer for $5.4B

by Abu Mubarik, Face2FaceAfrica.com

Get to know Dr. Ted Love, a cardiologist turned biotech executive. A decade ago, he set out to find a cure for sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that affects more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and more than 19 million people worldwide.

He led a team of scientists and researchers at Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) to bring the sickle cell disease drug Oxbryta into the market. According to Forbes, Dr. Love did not plan to have a career in biotechnology, or pharmaceuticals. He studied molecular biology at Haverford College, trained as a physician at Yale Medical School and completed residency and a cardiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

He ventured into biotech after one of his mentors was recruited from Head of Cardiology at Harvard to be Head of R&D at Bristol Myers Squibb. By 1992, Dr. Love had started his career in biotech at Genentech.

“I basically decided that Genentech was…the Harvard of biotechnology, it was the place with the most sophisticated science. [Of course] I knew nothing about getting drugs approved, or designing clinical studies. But I thought, you

know, I can learn all that stuff.”

He was soon promoted to head of all drug development at Genentech after one of his mentors, Dr. David Stump, helped him acquire the skills needed in

the art and science of drug development

After six years, Dr. Love was recruited by Roy Vagelos, former CEO of Merck, who called Dr. Love “the best drug developer west of the Mississippi River!”

He later joined Theravance as Senior Vice President of Development and helped to grow the company, supporting its first drug through FDA approval. He was subsequently recruited to

join biopharmaceutical company Nuvelo, Inc. (Nuvelo) as CEO in 2001. He would learn “how to run a company… how to lead people, how to motivate people [and] how to inspire people” in his new role. Not only that, he played a key role in taking Nuvelo public and also merging it with ARCA biopharma, Inc. in 2009.

While on retirement in 2014, Dr. Love was called to join GBT as president and CEO, and would soon successfully lead a team to develop an FDA-approved drug to cure sickle cell disease called Oxbryta®. The drug was brought to the market in 2019 and in 2022, GBT created GBT021601 (GBT601), which Dr. Love claimed was 15 times better than Oxbryta®.

Soon, investors became interested in Dr. Love’s GBT and several offers started rolling in, including offers from Johnson & Johnson. However, it was Pfizer that acquired GBT for $5.4 billion in all cash in August 2022, according to Forbes.

After the acquisition of GBT, Dr. Love exited the firm and retired. Nonetheless, he remains active in the sickle cell community while serving on the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Royalty Pharma and Structure Therapeutics boards.

Dr. Ted Love, former CEO of GBT. Photo: Linkedin/Ted Love

Why Experts Say Keep Land in Your Family if You Can

With Black families losing their land at alarming rates, splitting property among relatives can build wealth when done right.

By Bria Overs, WordInBlack.com

Will Edmond, vegan chef and travel content creator, had had enough. After spending 13 years living in Atlanta and a couple of years in Louisiana, he decided it was time for a change. It was time to return to his roots.

“Cities are becoming more stressful,”

Edmond, 39, tells Word In Black. The appeal of urban living has declined for some due to the traffic, crime, and the rising cost of living. “I know my family has land back in East Texas. I can go back, clean it up, get it together, and build some unique structures on it. And that’s what led me here.”

In 2022, Edmond and his partner, Austyn Rich, moved back to Edmond’s ancestral hometown in East Texas, also known as Piney Woods. It’s a rural area known for its beauty, pine trees, lakes, and nature trails. And it’s here that Edmond’s family land — a whole 45-acres passed down through generations — is located.

But this experience, where Black folks keep land in the family, is rare.

Financial experts frequently laud homeownership as the key to wealth building.

Yet, the Black homeownership rate has never been above 50% — a level other ethnic and racial groups have reached and surpassed. For the Black community, the loss of land and property contributes to the widening homeownership gap and the even wider racial wealth gap.

“The immediate cause of home loss is the lack of estate planning,” says Nketiah “Ink” Berko, an equal justice works fellow at the National Consumer Law Center. “Either someone didn’t write a will, or maybe they did, but in the will, they left the home to five or six people. And by doing that, they’ve fractured the homeownership interests in the property.”

According to a 2022 Consumer Reports survey, one in three Americans has a will, but 77% of Black Americans lack one.

Estimates vary on the exact amount of Black-owned land lost. The Land Trust Alliance, a land conservation advocacy organization, estimates that between 1865 and 1919, Black folks in the South owned 15 million acres of land. By 2015, Black Americans had lost 97% of their land.

The American Bar Association offers a similar statistic: between 1910 and 1997, Black farmers and families lost more than 90% of the 16 million acres they owned and the organization considers

that to be a conservative estimate.

Splitting Land Between Family

Berko says that land initially divided by a few children can become further divided by several grandchildren and even more so by subsequent generations. This division, known as “heirs property” or “tangled title,” creates challenges and difficulties in maintaining and keeping the property within the family.

This phenomenon also affected Edmond’s family. “My family, we own

about six acres, and then my cousins up the street own some of the land as well,” he says. “We have all of the land still in our family to this day.”

On his father’s side of the family — which also owns a lot of land — a relative sold off their portion. Selling is one way to lose land, but other ways are incredibly burdensome to families.

A National Consumer Law Center report co-authored by Berko highlights laws and policies that could protect, resolve, or

prevent heirs property. According to the report, heirs property owners are at greater risk of property tax lien foreclosure and frequently miss out on benefits or disaster relief.

Or, mortgage companies may refuse payments from “people who are not the borrower, refuse to provide information about how much is owed, and refuse to consider heirs for loan modifications or other foreclosure avoidance options,” according to the report.

“A lot of people lose their land for $4,000 because nobody in the family can agree to even pay anything on it, and then they lose it,” Edmond says. “Well, you only owe that much on it, and the land was worth $100,000. Now somebody else has it. I see that a lot around here.”

Tax and mortgage foreclosures leave families vulnerable to investors who offer to purchase the property for much less than it is worth, adding to the racial wealth gap.

Keeping it in the Family

In 2023, Edmond, Rich, and their family members turned the abandoned land into a homestead and “glamping” destination called Glamping Remote. When the project was complete, they shared their story publicly.

Edmond says it was important for him to share his journey and his family’s story because it can serve as an example of what’s possible for Black people. With it being unlikely that houses and property will get cheaper, Edmond believes if people can work with the property in their family or help pay the property taxes, they should.

“If people want to have any type of wealth or to hold on to land that’s been passed down from generation to generation, they need to come back to their grandfather’s and uncle’s land,” he says. “Land is something that’s only made one time.”

Breaking News: Schumer Calls for New Elections in Israel, Criticizing Netanyahu’s Leadership

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., has delivered a scathing critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for new elections in Israel amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas. Speaking from the Senate floor, Schumer emphasized that Netanyahu’s leadership no longer serves Israel’s best interests. “The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7,” Schumer proclaimed in a scathing takedown of Israel’s leader.

Schumer’s declaration marks a significant departure from traditional U.S. support for Israel’s government and highlights a pivotal moment in American-Israeli relations.

As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, Schumer’s call for Netanyahu’s ouster carries substantial weight, signaling a notable shift in the Democratic Party’s stance toward Israeli politics.

“The world has changed — radically — since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” Schumer declared as he noted the urgency for change in Israel’s leadership.

Accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over Israel’s best interests, Schumer condemned the Prime Minister’s alignment with “far-right extremists” within his government, warning that such alliances risk isolating Israel on the global stage.

“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer demanded, stressing the need for Israel to recalibrate its approach to the conflict with Hamas and prioritize the protection of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Schumer voiced support for a temporary cease-fire, echoing President Joe Biden’s efforts to alleviate suffering in the

region. However, he cautioned against a permanent cease-fire, citing concerns that it could encourage Hamas to launch further attacks on Israeli civilians.

“There can never be a two-state solution if Hamas has any significant power,” Schumer emphasized while reiterating the importance of safeguarding Israel’s security.

Political watchers noted that Schumer’s bold stance underscores the complex dynamics at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy as American lawmakers grapple with how best to support Israel while advocating for the rights of Palestinians.

Will Edmond (left) and Austyn Rich (right) left Atlanta to move back to Edmond's ancestral land in East Texas with the goal of creating a homestead and "glamping" destination. Credit: Will Edmond

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

(Photo: Senate Democrats)

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