THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
Future Family Center Plans Financial Justice Justice a Key Focus at 2016 NAACPUnderway Convention New Haven, Bridgeport
INNER-CITYNEWS Volume 27 . No. 2235
Volume 21 No. 2194
Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:
“DMC” BEAUTIFUL!
Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime”
Father And Son Graduate Together!
Color Struck?
Lenny Kravitz: Rawls-Ivy moderates. “Love What You’ve Got”
Snow in July?
7 Ways Black 5th Annual Future Educators Symposium on the Men Can FOLLOW US campus ON of Southern Connecticut State University 1
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
5th Annual Future Educators Symposium on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University
On Friday, May 12, 2017 the ACES Minority Teacher Recruiting (MTR) Advisory Council, in conjunction with the Regional Educational Service Center MTR Alliance (RESC MTR Alliance) and the Southern Connecticut State University School of Education hosted the 5th Annual Future Educators Symposium on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. The ACES MTR Advisory Council is responsible for planning, developing and implementing strategies to improve the recruitment, support and retention of a diverse educator workforce for school districts in New Haven County. The RESC MTR Alliance works collaboratively to recruit, hire, develop, support and retain a racially, ethnically and culturally diverse teaching and administrative workforce statewide. One-hundred thirty (130) male high school students of color from ACES, Hamden, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven and Waterbury Public Schools participated in in several activities throughout the day, including two (2) panel discussions and a focus group, that were designed to introduce them to the education profession. The day began with a welcome by Southern Connecticut State University School of Education Associate Dean Deborah Newton. ConnCAT President and CEO Erik Clemons, captivated the audience with stories of perseverance, first impressions, mentors and finding passion in your life. “Erik has a story to tell; we were excited to have him be a part of the Symposium. Young men need to hear stories of successful adults who highlight their educational journey as the basis of their success” said ACES Human Resources Specialist and event coordinator Kevin Walton. “The panel discussions are a significant part of the Future Educators Symposium because it gives the panelists the opportunity to share their personal and professional experiences with a captive audience” said Walton, who also serves as the ACES MTR Coordinator. ACES Director of Curriculum William Rice, shared his unconventional journey to education which involved him leaving his position
as an engineer to pursue a career in education. Mr. Rice, who will assume the role of Assistant Executive Director at ACES on July 1st, shared that quitting his job placed a financial strain on his family because he had no income while he did his student teaching. This was undoubtedly a risky proposition, however, given his love for children, he felt this was the correct decision for him. In the end, Mr. Rice stated, he was motivated not by money but by his passion to influence the lives of young people. Other panelists included Manny Zaldivar, a first grade ELD Teacher at Smalley Academy in New Britain, Carey Edwards, Middle School Principal Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Hector Cardona 8th Grade U.S. History Teacher at Washington Middle School in Meriden and Ada DeYoung a Spanish teacher at Hillhouse High School in New Haven. As the urgency to diversify the educator workforce has increased over the last couple of years, there have been several strategies that have been developed and implemented to increase the diversity in the educator workforce. One of those strategies has been to focus on students at Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU’S). Seeing that more than half of the black teachers in the United States are educated at HBCU’s, we thought it prudent to have a panel of HBCU educators who would be able to share their HBCU experiences and how those experiences contributed to who they are as educators. Olafemi Hunter, School Counselor at Hillhouse High School in New Haven shared how Morehouse College “prepared him for real life situations.” Mr. Hunter also stated that his Morehouse experience “gave him the confidence to set goals and attain those goals.” Keisha Redd, Principal at Celentano School in New Haven, stated that she made her decision to attend Howard University while on campus for accepted student’s day because it “felt like home.” Ms. Redd stated that Howard’s “nurturing environment” allowed her to excel and she tries to provide that same type of environment for her students. The other HBCU panelists included Joseph Johnson, Principal of King Robinson in New Haven, Sean Mosely, English Department Head at Crosby High School in Waterbury
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and Eugene Foreman, Assistant Principal at Barnard Environmental School in New Haven. Dr. Johnson, Mr. Mosley and Mr. Foreman all attended Howard University, respectively. The ultimate goal of the Future Educator Symposium is give young people first-hand knowledge of the education profession. But it also a way to let young people know that education is a viable and rewarding profession. “Our panelists did a great job providing honest insight into the profession” said Walton. They also did a great job of dispelling the myth that there is no money in education. The fact of the matter is that, like a lot of industries, the higher up you go the more money you can make. But a recurring theme from the panelists was it’s less about the money and more about being motivated to have an impact on their student’s lives. “While there has been a slight movement in the effort to diversify the educator workforce, we feel that it is important for us to talk directly to high school students, who are potentially the next generation of educators and education leaders” said Walton. We are facing a looming teacher shortage in the United States and it is incumbent upon us to market the profession as cool and viable to the next generation who will be soon entering the workforce. Everyone may not want to be a teacher, but there are other positions throughout the profession that are just as impactful such as School Counselor, Social Worker and School Psychologist, to name a few. In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, seemingly, all students would benefit from having a culturally diverse educational experience including a diverse educator workforce. There are many cultural differences that children need to explore, experience and share and what better place to do so but in the classroom? If we are serious about increasing the diversity in the educator workforce, we must be diligent in our efforts to develop and implement innovative strategies, including the necessary funding, to recruit, support and retain educators of color. The Future Educators Symposium is a first step in achieving our goal.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
BEAUTIFUL! Father And Son Graduate Together! by Barry Anderson, BDO Contributing Writer
One of the proudest moments a father can have is when he sees his son become a success. What’s even greater is for that father to take part in his son’s success. That’s just what a father and a son did when they graduated from William Patterson University in New Jersey. In doing so, they beElm City Club came the first members of their family to earn college degrees. Thursday 2335 Dixwell Ave. Benjamin Jeanty, 27, said he Jun. 29, 2017 Hamden, CT 06518 was a senior in high school when 6pm-9pm 203-407-0111 his father, a Haitian immigrant, Duvinson Jeanty, 63, decided to go to college, who was 53 years old at the time. 20% of the sales* will be given to Elm City Club. By joining us for Watching his dad walk across this meal, you help raise money for Funds for The Elm City Youth the stage and receive his diploma Club. was an indescribable feeling, he said. “Never in a million years did I Interested in helping out the community? ever dream of going to school Visit facebook.com/tgifridays.eastcoast to with my father,” Jeanty added. discover other benefit events®happening at other neighborhood Friday’s . “He was my biggest cheerleader and inspiration. There were sometimes I’d come home from work or class late and I’d see him studying and it would encourage me.” On Friday morning, they both got their diplomas — Ben in psychology and Duvinson in finance. “It was amazing,” Benjamin Jeanty told Fox News, just hours after he and his dad, Duvinson, moved their tassels from right to left at their graduation ceremony at William Paterson University. Peter Haskell/WCBS880/CBSNewYork.com) Duvinson emigrated to the U.S. but left a year later to work… I thought I was going to finish from Haiti in the 1980s. He didn’t …full-time at Smashburger. before him becuase I thought have a high school diploma, but Three years later, he was itching I knew it all back then,” Jeanty decided in 2007 to take classes. to do something new, taking a said. Duvinson then graduated gradcue from his father’s advice. “Graduation was unbelievable. uated with an associate’s degree “I starting making good money, This morning I was getting so four years ago. After that, he reand making money is cool, but emotional getting ready and tired from his job as a bus driver how am I serving the commu- listening to my favorite song,” and enrolled full-time to study nity? How am I helping others?” Jeanty recalled. finance. he said. Jeanty said he will be work“He was taking one class at a Jeanty went back to college and ing full-time at the special needs time because he was working enrolled part-time while work- school after graduation. His faa full-time job and taking care ing at a special needs school. ther, who is also looking to get of my grandmother,” Benjamin Meanwhile, his father continued his masters in finance, will be said. He gave us the example that to take classes at William Pater- running his real estate company we should always look to better son University while working as he started. ourselves.” a N.J. Transit bus driver. Jeanty The younger Jeanty began classtransferred to the university last Way to go! es at Rutgers University in 2008, year.
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Elm City Club Thursday Jun. 29, 2017 6pm-9pm
2335 Dixwell Ave. Hamden, CT 06518 203-407-0111
20% of the sales* will be given to Elm City Club. By joining us for this meal, you help raise money for Funds for The Elm City Youth Club.
Interested in helping out the community? Visit facebook.com/tgifridays.eastcoast to discover other benefit events happening at other neighborhood Friday’s®.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
BOWLERO BRINGS EPIC ENTERTAINMENT TO MILFORD Bowling's Hippest Brand Makes Its Grand Debut in Connecticut
Milford, CT, June 2017 – Bowlmor AMF, the world leader in bowling entertainment, announced today the opening of Bowlero Milford—the newest destination for parties and casual fun in New Haven and Fairfield Counties. Formerly AMF Milford Lanes, the new Bowlero Milford offers a fresh approach to America’s most beloved pastime, combining bowling and cutting-edge arcade games with a delicious new menu of oversized, shareable eats. Located at 1717 Boston Post Road, the redesigned venue features 60 lanes of blacklight bowling, plush laneside lounge seating, and high-definition video walls that broadcast everything from music videos and sporting events to classic family films. The first of its kind in Connecticut, Bowlero Milford is one of the brand’s newest locations and features an interactive arcade packed with a captivating selection of games including Jurassic Park Arcade, the Giant Crane, Sink It!, and NBA Hoops basketball. For grown-up guests looking for a little friendly competition, Bowlero Milford also features fan favorites like Beer Pong and Cornhole. Inspired design is at the heart of every Bowlero—and the brand’s Milford location proves to be no exception. Totally revamped from top to bottom, the new Bowlero Milford radiates a unique retro charm and provides the ideal backdrop for every occasion, from birthday parties and private events to unforgettable corporate outings. Exceptional Eats for All Bowlero Milford will delight local foodies with its new and improved menu—a stunning collection of inventive eats that includes the XXL Pretzel and Bowlero’s signature Behemoth Burger—a 5-lb, 14-inch-round party burger named one of the top burgers in America by USA Today. For those craving something sweet, Bowlero will also offer a variety of tasty treats like the Monster Cookie Melt— a warm, jumbo chocolate chip cookie that’s topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and delicious whipped cream. Sports fans will flock to Bowlero’s sports bar, which includes
John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO
Babz Rawls Ivy
Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com
Advertising/Sales Team Trenda Lucky Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III
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Photo Credit: Samantha Annette Photography
four hi-def flat-screen TVs and an engaging design that invites guests to mix, mingle, and indulge in the venue’s new lineup of specialty cocktails, like the Mad Mai Tai, Old-School Moscow Mule, or the Dunk Tank—a fishbowl cocktail that’s perfect for sharing with friends. The ideal destination for date night, family night, birthday parties, and corporate get-togethers, Bowlero provides total entertainment for every occasion. Bowlero Milford is located at 1717 Boston Post Road and is open Monday through Thursday starting at 4
p.m., Fridays beginning at 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. For lane availability, reservations, or to plan a party or corporate event, please call (203) 8784658. For more information on Bowlero Milford, please visit bowlero.com. About Bowlmor AMF Bowlmor AMF is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, with nearly 300 domestic locations, 8 locations in Mexico, and 3 locations in Canada specializing in corporate and special events, as well as league and walk-
in retail bowling. The company was created in 2013 following the merger of Bowlmor, an upscale bowling and entertainment company, and AMF Bowling Worldwide. Bowlmor AMF acquired Brunswick’s bowling center business in 2014 and has been named to the INC 500 list of America’s fastest growing private companies for the past three years. The company’s portfolio of bowling retail brands includes AMF, Bowlmor Lanes, Bowlero, Brunswick Bowling, Brunswick Zone, and Brunswick Zone XL.
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The Inner-City Newspaper is published weekly by Penfield Communications, Inc. from offices located at 50 Fitch Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06515. 203-3870354 phone; 203-387-2684 fax. Subscriptions:$260 per year (does not include sales tax for the in State subscriptions). Send name, address, zip code with payment. Postmaster, send address changes to 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Display ad deadline Friday prior to insertion date at 5:00pm Advertisers are responsible for checking ads for error in publication. Penfield Communications, Inc d.b.a., “The Inner-City Newspaper” , shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors or errors in publication, except to the extent of the cost of the space in which actual error appeared in the first insertion. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The entire contents of The Inner-City Newspaper are copyright 2012, Penfield Communications, Inc. and no portion may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Coop High Poet Publishes “Blue-ish” Book by SAMUEL HADELMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
Erica Cardona may not be old enough to vote, but she is old enough to have her own book signing. Erica is a 17-year-old high school sophomore at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School. She is heavily involved in her academics and is described by her mentor/teacher Judith Katz as having a “very special voice.” While at Co-Op, Erica channelled her passion into writing and published a book of poems entitled Blue-ish — a title she picked because because “didn’t feel happy, didn’t feel sad,” but “felt bluefish.” The book is organized like a di-
SAMUEL HADELMAN PHOTO
Cardona surrounded by friends and well-wishers at City Hall book signing.
ary, revealing the insecurities that come with being a teenager but also divulging deeper into Erica’s thoughts and ideas. These poems are a direct insight into the life of a highly observant and talented young writer. An example of a poem in the book: Dear Diary, I know not what to do; I have both the world at my hands and nothing at all. I try to kill all the bits of hope because I know there is none, but a dreamer’s got to dream. But then again I have to do it; I have to murder the beast that claws at the cage that safeguards my soul. My heart no longer matters; it’s just a decoy. After all, you can’t break a broken heart, so therefore do what you want with it. Now my
soul is hidden where not even I know. So you can try but you can’t hurt me. I’m bulletproof ... On Tuesday Erica had a bookrelease and signing ceremony at City Hall. It was filled with friends from Co-Op. Though many of her friends were aware of her writing abilities, they did not know about the deep themes that were present in her life. “It’s a different side of her,” said classmate Yashaira Leguisamon. “For people to now know about it is really cool.” Those present at the event included Mayor Toni Harp and Coop Principal Val-Jean Belton. M Mayor Harp said she hopes the book inspires other young people to pursue artistic dreams.
Labor Deal Will Save Nearly $5 Billion In First Five Years by Christine Stuart CT. JUNKIE NEWS
HARTFORD, CT —Facing criticism following a concession package he negotiated with the state employee workforce in 2011, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy obtained an actuarial analysis for the tentative framework his administration reached last month for the latest deal. The analysis by Cavanaugh MacDonald Consulting and Segal Consulting found the plan that still needs to be ratified by the rank-and-file union members provides $700.9 million in savings in the first year and $868.6 million in the second year for a cumulative savings of $1.569 billion over the next two fiscal years. “The materials affirm that the proposed structural reforms to pension and benefit costs will result in billions in savings to the state, obtaining significant annual savings for taxpayers over each of the next twenty years,” Malloy said in a press release. It’s estimated to save nearly $5 billion in the first five years, and $24 billion over the next 20 years. The contract for health and pension benefits would be extended another five years from 2022 to 2027. “Our state’s employee unions came to the table, entered discussions in good faith, and arrived at an ambitious framework that achieves sig-
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Rep. Pat Boyd at celebration of agriculture outside the state Capitol
nificant long-term savings,” Malloy said.” Should this agreement be adopted, it will deliver substantial structural reforms that will produce billions in savings for our taxpayers while continuing to provide for essential government services.” The individual bargaining groups are expected to vote on the contract over the next few weeks. Voting could go well into July. Union officials declined to comment on the analysis Tuesday.
The workers’ agreement provides for wage freezes that save $716.4 million over the biennium and nearly $500 million per year thereafter, according to the analysis. The analysis sought by Malloy also showed that proposed pension changes will save the state $210 million in fiscal year 2018 and $238 million in fiscal year 2019. It determined over the course of the deal the amount the state would have to contribute would decline by
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$400 to $500 million per year. Proposed health changes will save $136 million in the first two years, but both the premium cost sharing and formulary changes increase those savings to well over $100 million per year into the late 2020s and early 2030s, according to the analysis Retirement savings, according to the analysis, will eclipse $200 million per year in the 2020s as retirees move to the Medicare Advantage
program. Malloy said an added benefit of the deal is at least a quarter of our workforce is likely going to retire before the existing State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition agreement ends, allowing the state to change the benefits structure five years sooner, meaning there will be more than 10,000 employees with the new Tier IV pensions on July 1, 2022. This attrition will save the state almost $77 million in the first two years, with the savings increasing to $97 million annually by 2037, according to Malloy. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said she appreciated the work. “We appreciate the governor’s attempts to validate the savings he hopes to derive through the professional assessments he has provided,” Klarides said. “The report presents a rosier picture than we have seen to this point.” She added that a previous SEBAC agreement hatched in 2011 failed to
live up to its promises. Senate Republican President Len Fasano, R-North Haven, has argued that the state would save more money if they made changes to the health and pension benefits of state employees through statute, instead of allowing them to be collectively bargained by the unions and the governor.
Jack Kramer contributed to this report.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Challenger Takes On Joyner For Ed Board by CHRISTOPHER PEAK NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
A challenger has entered the race for a Board of Education seat, an election that could serve as a referendum on where the school district is headed after the mayor’s controversial chairmanship. Edward Joyner, Jr., 70, a semiretired education consultant finishing a truncated, two-year term, is up for reelection to a full term. Jamell Cotto, 40, parent of two students at Career High School and director of the Centro San Jose Family Center in Fair Haven, has filed papers to run against Joyner in a Democratic Party primary. The race has become a proxy battle for opposition to the way Mayor Toni Harp chaired the Board of Education after it transitioned two years ago from a slate of mayoral appointees to a “hybrid” board with two elected members. Harp argued that she served a one-year tenure as board president to advance the board’s work on issues like boosting students’ reading abilities. Others called it a power grab. The split in the board’s opinions played out in several high-profile disputes last year, as elected members repeatedly overruled the mayor’s decisions: by allowing Alicia Caraballo to stay on the school board after Harp booted her by ousting Garth Harries, the former super-
CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO
Candidate Jamell Cotto outside the Greek Olive. intendent Harp had championed; by downsizing Hillhouse’s administrative team from multiple principals to one; and by denying an application from an all-boys charter school Harp had endorsed. Ed Joyner often led the charge against Harp and her policies. In January, the board members elected new leaders, picking Joyner to serve as vice-president. Joyner, an avid Harp supporter in her 2013 mayoral campaign, has already switched allegiances, donating this time to her Democratic Party challenger Marcus Paca. He has clashed openly with her at board meetings. Of Harp, Joyner commented, “The mayor is not the mayor of the board. And I thought it was
a major error when Mayor Harp decided to be president,” he said, calling it an “unprecedented” conflict of interest. Cotto, on the other hand, said he hopes Harp will endorse him in the race. He praised her focus on the Elm City’s young people, particularly through a data-sharing and strategizing program called Youth Stat aimed at helping students in trouble turn around rather than get suspended and incarcerated. (He participates in the the program.) “What mayor runs on youth?” Cotto asked, over cups of coffee at the Greek Olive on Monday morning. “This is not going to make her popular. That’s why youth are so disconnected and disengaged.”
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The divide between the candidates was perhaps clearest when the Independent asked both for their opinion on how the board should have handled Hillhouse High School’s split into several independent academies — a policy it reversed last year. Joyner said paring the high school’s leadership from three principals back down to one principal was among his proudest accomplishments as a school board member. Mayor Harp “said things were fine; parents and kids said no, they’re not. And she turned a deaf ear to that,” Joyner said. “I think it was a major strategic error to take the oldest high school in the state and turn it into a strip mall, because that’s what I think was done. It’s an example of mismanagement to have four captains on one ship.” Harp defended the experiment as offering more focused, smaller, specialized learning environments for students. Cotto said he supported Harp’s strategy at Hillhouse. “The more support that our kids have, the better,” he argued. “Does it make sense to have that many principals at a school? I’d say yes, if there’s a need.” Cotto said he was unaware that students had complained. He added that if he were on the board at the time, he would have sat down to have a dialogue with students about their concerns. Aside from being so divided on City Hall, the two candidates laid
out similar visions for other major overhauls that the board needs to make: Both called for an end to the political posturing that’s strangled the board’s work and for transparency in budgeting. Both said they want to see New Haven hire a new superintendent who can carry out their vision. Cotto said his priorities include creating more opportunities to listen to teachers, support staff and parents at district-wide forums; implementing “restorative justice” practices by lessening the use of expulsions and suspensions and adding socio-emotional learning to the curriculum; and finally, partnering with neighborhood centers and other nonprofits to assist in boosting kids’ reading and math scores. A former foster youth himself, Cotto said he recognizes that “education is the foundation of any community, and I think in New Haven we’ve kind of lost sight of that.” He said he believes he can help right the district’s direction by strengthening the bonds with parents, school staffers and community members. He pointed to his work with Catholic Charities, where he’s started a basketball team and a lifeguard certification and job placement program. At the top of Joyner’s list are setting out plans for individual school to achieve gains in test scores, grades and attendance that board Con’t on page 12
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Ending Solitary Confinement in Connecticut By Barbara Fair, Social Justice Activist and ICN Contributing Writer
After months of tireless work to bring awareness to state legislators who likely know very little about solitary confinement a bill was passed recently that doesn’t even scratch the surface of what must happen to humanize criminal justice in this state. Several states have already begun the process of doing so, obviously Connecticut is not ready. But why not? Connecticut legislation ,HB7302 began with Sen Gary Winfield, State Rep Robyn Porter and several conversations with Commissioner of Corrections, Scott Semple whom we were confident would support in every way a more compassionate and humane prison system. This piece of legislation would have significantly reduced the use of isolation, closely monitored who was in solitary, how long and why they were there. It would also end the use of solitary for children under the age of 18, the mentally ill and physically challenged. Several months of effort and actions went into supporting the legislation. A coalition of religious leaders, Yale student prison activists, Yale law school students and their professor, survivors of solitary confinement and their family members staged a rally outside the capitol, testified before the US Commission on Human Rights and the Judiciary Committee, held meetings at the NHFPL where a replica of a solitary cell was on exhibit at the library for a week, on Yale campus, at the state capitol and a film featuring “The Worst of the Worst” a documentary of solitary confinement in Connecticut. In the end the opposition won. Corrections union, and legislators whose constituents are not impacted by this abuse of power were able to water the bill down so much that the compromised version made minimal changes compared with what needs to be done. The mentally ill and physically challenged will continue to face isolation and there will be limited data recording and no change to the process of who gets placed in solitary as well as no limit to how
long they can remain there. Experts in the field of mental health, the International community as well as the Human Rights Commission have determined that solitary confinement is torture. They further determined that as little as 15 days of isolation can cause irreparable harm to one’s psyche. So why are we so opposed to ending this practice? Year after year hundreds return to depressed communities where the bulk of the prison population in Connecticut comes from, pri-
marily New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. After a period of incarceration many minds have been shattered and spirits broken. Thousands have been medicated to cope with the trauma of being caged for months, years, decades. Many return to our communities unable to function in civil society .Many can’t get jobs , housing or other basic needs met. They find difficulty reuniting with families because of the rage and sense of helplessness within. Many pose a real threat to public safety in our
community. We simply can’t continue to be sideline spectators in this quest for justice. Solitary confinement undermines public safety . Legislators whose constituents are rarely represented in that population can turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the collateral consequences. We cannot and should not. Our coalition has committed to continuing this fight for justice and humanity. We are not defeated by this insult to our work. It took 8 years to pass legislation to provide formerly incarcerated
people with a state id. Hopefully it won’t take 8 to begin the process of ending isolation within prisons. We are judged as a society by how we treat our most vulnerable. Our criminal justice system is clear evidence of who we are. Join us in our relentless commitment to restore civility to criminal justice. If interested in getting involved in this movement contact me via justicepeace75@hotmail.com. Barbara Fair, My Brother’s Keeper. “I refuse to adjust to injustice and inhumanity”
Booker Focuses More on Criminal Justice Than Trump At Annual Dinner by Christine Stuart
HARTFORD, CT — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said it wasn’t a tough sell to get him to headline the biggest Connecticut fundraising dinner of the year. He said he would do anything for U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. In introducing Booker, Murphy read for the first time publicly a text Booker sent him last year when he was still deciding whether to move forward with what ended up being nearly 15-hour filibuster until Republicans agreed to hold a vote on two measures. Murphy said the text was so thoughtful and gave him the extra push he needed to move forward with the filibuster just days after the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando. “I will meet you on the floor and
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker Saturday speaks at the Connecticut Convention Center
be with you for the duration. It may not work out this way, but I believe this could be a powerful moment in time. I hope you will err on the side of being daring,” Booker texted. “America needs that now. Don’t just think of this
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through the Senate view, but what our nation needs amidst a very difficult time and during an ongoing national tragedy. Be that voice, cautious and courageous, tactical and bold.” Murphy said he had the confi-
dence to start the filibuster because he had Blumenthal by his side and Booker. “He is a true American original,” Murphy said. In a 42-minute often meandering speech Booker spoke about his visit earlier in the day to Danbury Federal prison. He also spoke about mental health and criminal justice. He said he asked the warden how many of the women inmates are victims of sexual assault and was told 95 percent. “Shame on us as society,” Booker said. “Since 1980 alone the federal prison population has increased 800 percent. We are taking huge potential and throwing it in prison at rates that have never before been seen.” He said government is spending billions of dollars putting the most Con’t on page
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
City Gets The Lead (Word) Out At Lighthouse by BETSY KIM NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
Temperatures soared into the high 80s on Sunday, creating an ideal day for the beach — and for the New Haven Health Department 17th annual lead education picnic. Free to the public, with hot dogs, Italian ices, cotton candy, carousel rides, and activities such as potting plants, tie-dying shirts, face painting, and singing and dancing with disc jockey “Uncle Chip,” the city’s all-day event signaled the start of summer at Lighthouse Point Park. Amidst the carnival-like atmosphere, the city underscored a serious message, emblazoned on the T-shirts that it distributed: “Be Lead Safe!” Exposure to lead can cause irreparable bodily injury to children and adults, including to the brain, heart, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. “There are about 52,000 rental units within the City of New Haven; 32,000 still have lead-based paint,” said Paul Kowalski, the City of New Haven’s environmental health program director. Although lead was banned in paint in 1978, it remains in painted surfaces. Due to the stock of older houses, lead paint poisoning continues to persist as a problem in New Haven. “It’s not really the ingestion of lead paint chips as much as the hand-tomouth activity with lead dust,” he said. Although lead paint is present throughout town, historically the highest number of lead poisoned
Marcos Martinez, Julia Valdez, Rafael Martinez, Celi Martinez, Yaritza Vila enjoy a family day.
children routinely have lived within the Hill, Dixwell, Newhallville, and Fair Haven neighborhoods, according to Kowalski. This is due to those areas being the most prevalent sections of the city with older housing and rental units having more frequent turnover of tenants. The rate of toxic lead poisoning has dramatically declined in the last 30 years. However, Kowalski said, “We still have roughly 300 kids with about 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.” The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] states experts use this reference level to identify blood lead levels that are much higher than most
children’s levels. The CDC stresses that even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to diminish IQ, attention abilities, and capabilities for academic achievement. The agency notes that although the damage cannot be corrected, lead exposure can be prevented. Julia Velez, a Waterbury resident, came to the educational picnic with her extended family. “Friends told me about it,” she said. “I was concerned because the kids can get sick from it. It is good that there’s a lot of information that’s good for the kids.” Sarah Collins, a New Haven resident, came to the festivities with
her daughter, Braelyn. Although she was not concerned about lead paint in her home, this is the third year she has attended the event. “It brings the community together and it gives important information to the inner city and to surrounding towns, and there is such fun stuff for kids to do,” Collins said. The backside of the city’s T-shirts were printed with a billboard checklist of lead safety tips: • Stay away from peeling paint. • Wash your hands before eating and after playing. • Eat healthful, well-balanced meals. • Keep toys clean. Children tie-dyed the shirts as a
recreational and motivational activity. “They are reading it. They understand it, and actually a lot of kids want to come because they want a T-shirt,” Kowalski said. “You’ll see these t-shirts floating around neighborhoods.” Lakeisha Green, an account specialist at the New Haven Department of Health, distributed gift bags throughout the day. They contained knapsacks, the T-shirts, yellow duck soap, sponges, pencil cases with crayons, pens, pencils, erasers and rubber bracelets, all bearing reminders to stay lead safe. The bags also included pamphlets on lead poisoning and prevention, and information on loans for lead paint removal. Green noted the department distributed more than 700 bags to the public. Kowalski emphasized that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development loan offers up to $9,000 per unit for lead-based paint remediation. The loans could be fully forgiven if the property owner fit within HUD guidelines and a child under the age of seven lived in the unit. For eligibility with rental housing, at least 50 percent of the units must be occupied or made available to families with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income level as defined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOME Program. The fully forgiven loans would also be for units occupied or made available to families with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income level.
Six Charged With Disorderly Conduct and Interference with the General Assembly by Jack Kramer CT. Junkie News
HARTFORD, CT — Six activists who believe budget proposals being bandied about would make devastating cuts to human services were arrested Monday after singing, chanting, and demonstrating against the spending plans inside the state Capitol. The rally was led by Moral Monday CT — a social and racial justice organization founded by Bishop John Selders and other faith leaders from across the state. The group gathered in the north rotunda of the capitol while the House of Representatives and Senate were conducting business on Monday after-
noon. The group started to sing loudly and chant, which according to State Capitol Police Public Information Officer Scott Driscoll “caused a distur-
bance in the building.” The group was asked to stop and exit the building, Driscoll continued. Several did, but those who refused were
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arrested. Those charged with Disorderly Conduct and Interference with the General Assembly were: Kent J. Siladi, 61, of Middletown; Carleen R. Gerber, 68, of Lyme; Joshua M. Pawelek, 50, of Glastonbury; Michael J. Reardon, 53, of Glastonbury; and Elizabeth Marie Alford-Harkey, 51, of Milford. Selders, 54, of Hartford was charged with Interference with the General Assembly. All charged were issued a misdemeanor summons and released on a promise to appear at Hartford Superior Court on Thursday, June 8. Moral Monday CT and interfaith clergy, along with labor, education and advocacy group leaders, said they were
calling on lawmakers to reject drastic cuts to human services and to embrace revenue options that will “create greater equity and justice.” They are looking to modernize the sales tax by extending it to services and increasing income taxes on the wealthy. They also support a fine for large employers who don’t pay their employees $15 an hour and a sugary beverage tax. Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy have agreed to continue budget discussions. All parties have admitted they won’t get a deal before midnight June 7, but they are largely trying to avoid increases in taxes or fees. The budget deficit over the next two years is estimated at $5.1 billion.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Alder Race Pits Native Against Newcomer by CHRISTOPHER PEAK NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
A race for an open alder seat in Newhallville and Prospect Hill confronts voters with a question: Who has greater perspective on a neighborhood — a lifelong resident who knows how it has worked since her grandparents’ time? Or a newcomer who brings an outsider’s fresh eyes? Two active community members have filed papers to run as Democrats for the Ward 19 seat: Sarah Ofosu, 28, a Ghanaian immigrant, and Kimberly Edwards, 43, the current alder’s daughter. replace retiring incumbent incumbent Alder Alfreda Edwards, who has held the seat (with one six-month break) since 1999. Whoever wins will represent an economically stratified ward that tips from East Rock’s hilltop estates to Winchester Avenue and surrounding streets in Newhallville below. Ofosu said she first noticed that “gap” when she came to New Haven four years ago, interviewing for a job as an instructional coach for Teach for America. “There’s this inequity when it comes to education in this city and this state — something I wasn’t aware of,” she said. “Depending on where kids lived, their education experience was very different.” The problem so moved Ofosu, she said, that she accepted the offer and moved here. Ofosu said she is running for office “to make people who are already living in New Haven more involved [or] to get them to stay, like I did.” After officially filing her papers Thursday, Ofosu sat outside the Hall of Records and ran through her life story and the planks of her platform. At age 13, Ofosu immigrated to Germantown, Maryland, leaving her three younger siblings behind in West Africa. She graduated from Washington College, a small liberal arts college in Maryland, with a double major in political science and psychology. Since then, she has worked at several of the big organizations in the education reform movement. Strongly believing in TFA’s mis-
CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO
Ward 19 candidates Kim Edwards, Sarah Ofosu.
Sarah Ofosu files her papers Thursday at the Hall of Records.
sion of “mak[ing] education equitable,” she taught special education in Phoenix, Ariz., while earning her masters in the field. Then, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to oversee special education compliance in the KIPP Schools’ charter network. Most recently, she took a job as operations director for Relay Connecticut, a not-for-profit offering fast-track certifications to help paraprofessionals quickly get to the front of the classroom as teachers. Ofosu argued that it’s an asset that she is so new to town. “Moving here and having to form all these relationships helps me come at this position, asking, ‘What are the conditions that need
to be present for people to feel like they have a voice, to try civic engagement?’ Having gone through that process myself, I’m able to better relate to individuals who are moving here or maybe those who’ve lived here forever but just don’t feel like they have a voice,” she said., “Knowing that, OK, I’m coming at this as someone who wasn’t born here, it has forced me to really communicate to people to find out what matters to you.” In other words, Ofosu hasn’t been able to take anything for granted in learning about her adopted home. As proof of the lengths she has gone to get involved, Ofosu cited her participation in the East Rock Community Management
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Team, her help running SoHu Blockwatch for the neighborhood south of Humphrey Street and attendance at many school events. Her early backers include several participants from Home Haven, a movement to help East Rock seniors age in place instead of nursing facilities: artist Louis Audette, musicologist Kerala Snyder and her husband Richard, and epidemiologist Nancy Ruddle. Ofosu pledged that if they elect her, her neighbors can expect three results: “accessibility” to bring concerns to City Hall and share more information digitally about her record; “inclusivity” in her push to expanding participatory budgeting and transit options like a bike-share; and “transparency” in her demand for answers about how tax dollars are spent, particularly at the Board of Education. Kimberly Edwards is a homegrown product of Newhallville. The youngest of seven children, she was raised in the same house her grandparents bought with income from their jobs at the OlinWinchester factory. “They planted roots here, and I’m the seed of that,” she said. Edwards attended Lincoln-Bassett, Jackie Robinson (now combined into an interdistrict magnet school) and Wilbur Cross, and she spent summers at the Ulysses S. Grant Foundation. From dragging her to ParentTeacher Organization and Newhallville Neighborhood Corporation meetings, Edwards said, her mother taught her the importance of civic engagement. “My mother, she didn’t go to Yale or Southern; in fact, she didn’t go to college. But I remember her and her friends, they did Girl Scout groups and things for the community,” Edwards recalled. “It made me see how a regular person can make change happen.” She added, “A lot of people just don’t know the value of being involved.” A mother of two, the younger at New Haven Academy, Edwards has worked as a customer service representative for Southern New England Telephone Company since 1996, back when caller identification was first introduced.
Speaking animatedly Thursday at a table outside Koffee?, Edwards waved at passersby she recognized and repeatedly apologized to a reporter for her “straight talk.” Edwards said there was a time when she didn’t want to follow in her mom’s alder footsteps until something clicked recently. “I almost felt like it was my duty. You see some people that want to run for office just because they’re looking for the next big thing to do,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious. I just want positive change, that’s it. What’s working, let’s make sure it keeps working, and what needs to be changed, let’s fix it.” Asked about her platform, the candidate said she cares about reducing the tax burden on homeowners “by getting more out of properties” — she pointed behind her, toward Yale — “that aren’t taxed”; connecting youth with jobs by pressuring businesses to hire locally; adding more police officers and outreach workers to the city’s workforce; and calming traffic out to East Rock. Edwards said she considers her years in Newhallville to be her best asset. “All I know is New Haven; all I know is my neighborhood,” Edwards said. “I think that’s the best asset you could ever have: It’s familiarity with the people, familiarity with your surroundings, knowing which streets have a certain kind of crime, knowing which neighbors are going to call it in and which neighbors are doing what they need to do. You know the issues, whether you’re politically involved or not. You talk to the police when they come by, talk to the neighbors: it’s a network.” Mayor Toni Harp, State Sen. Robyn Porter and, of course, her mother have all lent her endorsements. While sharing the current alder’s last name is a big plus, Edwards said she wants voters to know that she’s her own person. “I ask a lot of questions; I look for clarity. I’m not saying she doesn’t, but I’m a little more analytical,” she said, comparing herself to her mom. “I don’t mind standing out.”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Future Family Justice Center Plans Underway by STAFF
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
domestic violence reduction work together.
Members of the Board of Alders received an update about efforts to launch a one-stop Family Justice Center as one part of a plan to decrease domestic violence in the city. And they’ll soon hear a lot more from that future center’s project coordinator Julie Johnson. Alders will get to hear the plans for the center in an upcoming meeting of the Public Safety Committee Johnson, a retired New Haven Police Department captain, has been working with BHcare and the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services to help establish a family justice center. New city Police Chief Anthony Campbell has made the establishment of the center and the quest to combat domestic violence a top priority. The Umbrella Center held a twoday planning session for the future family justice center last month to bring professionals involved in
The team of people trying to stop family violence. Johnson stated in a press release that the family justice center will have a team of those professionals with different backgrounds under one roof to provide coordinated services for victims of family violence. But first money and a building have to be found to make the center a reality. “The core concept is to provide one place where victims can go to talk to an advocate, plan for their safety, interview with a police officer, meet with a prosecutor, receive medical assistance, receive information on shelter, and get help with transportation,” she said. “The Family Justice Center model has been identified as a best practice in the field of domestic violence intervention and prevention services by the U.S. Department of Justice. “There are many documented and
Campbell, Johnson and command staff at 1 Union Ave.
The team of people trying to stop family violence.
published outcomes in the Family Justice Center model including reduced homicides, increased victim safety and reduced fear and anxiety for victims and their children,” Johnson added. The Family Justice Center is a community project and anyone interested in learning more or getting involved should contact Johnson at (203) 203- 780-2033 or j_johnson@bhcare.org. Following The New Haven Family Justice Center at www.facebook. com/NewHavenFJC and www. twitter.com/NHFJC_CT. If you need immediate domestic violence assistance, please call our 24-hour domestic violence hotline 1-888-774- 2900. UCDVS is a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, over 6,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help and hope. Learn more at www.bhcare.org.
Greenberg Announces Quest For 3rd Term by HAILEY FUCHS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
As he officially launched a bid for a third term as Wooster Square’s alder on a hot Sunday afternoon, Aaron Greenberg had some good news to report: Conte West Hills School’s pool will now open to the community for public swimming. That brought a cheer from the 30 people in attendance, and reflected the neighborhood-level issues that Greenberg, like any alder, has focused on in his four years in office. Greenberg a Democrat, made his formal reelection announcement for the Ward 8 seat at a potluck part in Lenzi Park. Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker, City Clerk (and former ward Alder) Michael Smart, State Rep. Roland Lemar, Board of Education member Edward Joyner, and Mayor Toni Harp were among those who showed up to support him. So far no challengers have filed papers to run against him.
Asked to name an experience that has taught him how to do the job, Greenberg cited the efforts he made last year along with community activists to support the conversion of the former C. Cowles & Company factory into an apartment complex. Despite their efforts, U-Haul won the right instead to turn the Water Streetfacing property into a storage facility. Greenberg called it a learning experience. “Politics can be frustrating,” Greenberg said. Nevertheless, he added that the neighborhood was “still a team” and that now discussions must move to ensuring that U-Haul is a “good neighbor.” Attendees praised Greenberg’s efforts to promote traffic-calming infrastructure to Olive Street. In 2015, 81-year-old Dolores Dogolo was struck and killed by a passing car. As the neighborhood recovered from this tragedy, residents united to advocate for greater safety measures. Resident Naomi
Aaron Greenberg with fellow Alder Alphonse Paolillo and City Clerk Michael Smart.
Campbell called the Alderman “a dog with a bone” for his advocacy for better lighting and trafficslowing infrastructre. Throughout his remarks, Greenberg stressed teamwork and neighborhood unit. When he described an accomplishment or challenge, he used the first person plural “we” as to underscore that his work was in conjunction with residents. Ward 8 includes Wooster Square, Farnam Courts, and part of Fair
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Haven, meaning that the area is a cross section of many socioeconomic groups. Eric Feltham, a new resident of the area who knows Greenberg from involvement in Local 33, underscored the need to maintain the ward’s diversity by committing to affordable housing. “it is important to have someone that acknowledges that this neighborhood is made up of a broader band of people,” said board President Walker, who used to live in
the neibhborhood. In regard to the diversity of the neighborhood, Greenberg noted a common theme among all residents. He said that all of Ward 8 wants to feel safe, to have access to government services, and to feel proud of their city and where they live. As renovations began on Farnam Courts public-housing development, Greenberg assured that all displaced residents found housing so that no one was evicted. Gerard Schmitz, pastor of the local St. Michael’s Church, said that he hopes the alder focusses on budgeting in his next term after “so much cutback on the federal level” so that the government provides its constituents with basic social and physical services. Schmitz worked with Greenberg to provide families in Farnam Courts with turkeys and hams for the holiday season. He said that Greenberg has “good knowledge
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Harp To State: Don’t Bail Out Hartford At New Haven’s Expense Greenberg Con’t on page 11
by PAUL BASS
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
Mayor Toni Harp sent a message to state lawmakers struggling to pass a new budget: If they bail out near-bankrupt Hartford, they shouldn’t endanger New Haven’s finances in the process and punish the city for having been more fiscally responsible. Harp made the comments during her latest appearance on her “Mayor Monday” radio program on WNHH FM. She addressed the upcoming special session the state legislature has scheduled to pass a two-year budget amid a projected $5.1 billion deficit. “The state can push us into the same position that Hartford is in,” Harp said. “The real question for me is: How do we stop them from doing that? We have a strong [state legislative] delegation. And I think they know what our needs are. They’re going to be fighting on our behalf.” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has proposed that the legislature somehow find up to $50 million in new aid to send to Hartford to bail out that city so it can avoid declaring bankruptcy. Unlike Hartford, New Haven is not facing bankruptcy. It has generally been balancing its budgets. But the Harp administration counted on $31 million in promised new state aid when it initially proposed a new city operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. As the budget news worsened at the state Capitol, it lopped around $15 million off that proposal by the time the Board of Alders last week voted approval of the final $538.9 million version. The budget does not raise taxes. Now the waiting game begins for New Haven and municipalities across the state, to see how much the state cuts promised aid in its new budget. That will determine whether cities and towns must revise their own budgets, with new cuts, raised taxes, and/or other sources of outside aid. On “Mayor Monday,” Harp argued that the city shouldn’t bail out Hartford at the expense of New Haven, a city that has built up its tax base (including an 8.4 percent leap this past year) and for years has dramatically cut the budgets of departments like public works and
MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO
State Senate votes displayed on the final night of the regular session.
parks and rec. “My argument to my delegation is: If they take on the problem of Hartford and the other towns that are near bankruptcy in our state, then they cannot not take on the problems of a New Haven, that has 53 percent of its property that we can’t tax. We can only raise the 47 percent. Our delegation has got to argue to the state that we’ve got to be able to continue doing what we’ve doing. “In New Haven we have led the way for economic stability and growth in our state. I’m believing that our delegation will not allow this state legislature to push back New Haven from what it absolutely needs. Because it’s key to the development of the state.” And if the state ignores the plea, and New Haven has to fill a gap of millions of dollars in its new budget? “We will likely to have to find some places to cut. But we can’t cut enough” to meet that kind of gap, Harp said. To avoid raising taxes, she said, the city would “take a look at our friends that give us voluntary payments in lieu of taxes.” “Friends” as in Yale University and Yale-New Haven Hospital. The governor has proposed allowing cities to tax the property owned by not-for-profit hospitals like Yale-New Haven Hospital as a way to make up for the lost state aid. The hospitals have opposed the idea. Harp, who hasn’t embraced the idea, either, said that the city estimates it would collect $50 million from Yale-New Haven in property taxes. Rather, she said Monday, she might pitch the hospital on “stepping up” by increasing the annual
$3 million in voluntary payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) it currently makes to New Haven. Yale makes about $8 million in such payments, she said. She argued that the university, too, has the ability to rally behind the city and increase that amount in the face of potential state aid cutbacks. Also on “Mayor Monday,” Harp fielded questions from listeners, including one about the city’s decision to increase to $200,000 its contribution to the Connecticut Open tennis tournament this year. The question came via email from regular Independent commenter “Average Taxpayer.” It read: “The city budget just increased aid to the CT Tennis Center from $100,000/ yr to $200,000/yr. In light of that, do you think the alders should be accepting free VIP tickets to the Tennis tournament and the upcoming Aretha Franklin concert? What is the official city ethics policy in this regard? Will you be accepting free tickets to Tennis Center events? What about city staffers?” Harp responded that city officials do consider attending the tennis tournament part of the deal in providing public support — in part because they use the event as an opportunity to promote New Haven to businesses. “I don’t know if you whether or not you would consider the [the tickets] free when we’ve invested $200,000. What is free once we’ve done that?” Harp said. “With the investment comes a certain number of tickets. They’re actually paid for. “What I do every year, and we pay for it, is invite women leaders, some of whom are elected officials, some of whom are not, to come
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and have a luncheon and watch a tennis match. I think it’s improtant for us to support the Connecticut Open. The economic development administration has a small business initiative there where they invite small businesses. They pay for it. They also invite bigger businesses so they can have an opportunity to chat and see if there are ways to work together.” Meanwhile, Harp said that no final agreement has been struck on an Aretha Franklin concert, which promoters hope to stage at the tennis center on Sept. 16. Harp in general endorsed the idea of testing out the idea of bringing concerts back to the stadium, which used to host them in the 1990s.
Con’t from page 6
Challenger Takes
members will review quarterly, as well as training teachers in the education field’s emerging best practices with more professional development days. As for Joyner’s qualifications, he said in a phone interview that he regularly travels to each of the district’s schools, so he’s familiar with the needs of faculty and students. And his work as a consultant has kept him up to date on what other school systems (even internationally) are doing to better their instruction. Before the campaigns ramp up, Cotto asked the Independent to transmit a statement directly to Joyner: “I thank Dr. Joyner for all his hard work and accomplishments, the positive changes he’s made. But I’d ask him to partner with me right now, by passing the baton to new leadership to implement new ideas and new innovations.” Not so fast, Joyner retorted. “I have no idea about how Mr. Cotto feels about education, about charter schools, how he feels about three principals in one building,” Joyner said. “It’s really absurd he would [ask] that. Typically, when someone cares about something, they don’t just come to it late. He’s coming to this late, and I see that for what it is.” Asked to expand on what he meant, Joyner added, “If he’s supporting somebody my age for mayor and then labeling me as ‘old blood,’ I know too much about logic and rhetoric for that one.” Both told the Independent that they’re looking forward to meeting at a public debate.
Announces
of the city for someone from California.” Campaign treasurer Charlie Murphy said he supports Greenberg for his commitment to transparency and communication. An active email list and newsletter ensures that hundreds of residents are aware of community meetings and neighborhood news. Greenberg has made himself available via phone, Facebook, and email. But Greenberg did not gain trust from the community right away. When he first ran for the position after living in the city for only a year, residents were concerned about an outsider running for office, according to Mona Berman. But as he campaigned door to door, the residents of Ward 8 slowly accepted him, she said. Some who attended the potluck were just meeting Greenberg. When asked why she supported the alder, Esther “Mimi” Torres said that she still has to learn more about his goals since this was her first encounter. She added that she is looking for an alder who will pay attention to the crime in the area. In terms of the future of city planning, Greenberg looks to the mistakes of the past, suggesting that “redevelopment tour the city apart” and caused State Street to become a “very divided chasm.” He said he plans to involve residents in the development that affects them. In his third term, Greenberg said, he plans to further the work to turn the street’s Ninth Square stretch into a “transitional” avenue between corporate and residential buildings. Last year, Greenberg spearheaded a planning study to link downtown and Wooster Square by transportation development. A political science graduate student at Yale, Greenberg also chairs the Yale’s graduate student union Local 33, with which he recently concluded a two-week long hunger strike aimed to pushing the university to negotiate a first contract. When Michael Smart mentioned the recent fast Sunday night , the crowd cheered; the crowd included current and former members of the union.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
New Park Opens In “New Hamden”
JU NE 3- 24
AR TI DE A. OR G
by HAILEY FUCHS
tic ut Ne w Ha ve n, Co nn ec
TROKER + FULASO
Mayor Toni Harp helps with the new garden.
JUNE 17
JIMMY GREENE QUARTET AND NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Jimmy Katz
When Connie Vereen first arrived on Cherry Ann Street 21 years ago, the neighborhood was dominated by Southern Connecticut State University students. As the university slowly shifted its campus, more and more young families filled the street’s apartment buildings. But the city line that runs in the middle of Cherry Ann Street fragmented the community — children on the Hamden side rarely crossed over to play with the kids in New Haven and vice versa. Saturday, a dedication of a new park took place on Cherry Ann, showing how that has all changed. “Ms. Connie,” as she is affectionately known, realized all the children lacked a safe space to play. And in just three years, a community once divided along city lines coalesced to create an expansive park for the entire neighborhood at the formerly overgrown terminus of the dead-end street. “We call it ‘New Hamden’ now,” Ms. Connie said. “We live together, love together, play together, build together.” Earlier Saturday morning, children eagerly asked Ms. Connie’s daughter Barbara Vereen when they would finally be allowed to play in the park. Vereen replied that they would have to wait until 10 am. Nonetheless the zealous children lined up outside Ms. Connie’s house by 9:30, ready to go. At Saturday’s dedication ceremony, Cherry Ann Street residents celebrated the inauguration of the new park, complete with a meadow, two playgrounds, and a vegetable garden. Mayor Toni Harp came joined in the celebration of the inauguration of this new safe space, along with representatives from Common Ground, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Land Trust, Urban Resources Initiative, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Su Lok from the Scotts MiracleGro Foundation, which promises to donate money to help create 1,000 gardens and green spaces across the globe, presented Mayor Harp with a $40,000 check for the project (Read about the grant here). Commending the community engagement that shaped the park, the mayor said, “That’s really what a democracy is all about.” “It really does take a village,” Harp said. City Parks Director Rebecca
Calavera Estudio
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
JUNE 18
Harp accepts a check for the new park from Scotts Miracle-Gro.
Bombero, reminded the audience, “We’re still in the city still, guys!” Only three years ago, when Joel Tolman from Common Ground High School arrived at the plot, the desolate land was inaccessible, rife with trees, weeds, and garbage. Kathiana Torres, a graduate of Common Ground who has worked on the project since its beginning, felt “a lot of pressure on” her and her peers to transform the massive plot of land. But during the project, Saturday park cleanups also included cookouts in Ms. Connie’s backyard. Torres said that she now feels like a member of the community. “[The park is] supposed to be a safe space for the kids, but it became my safe space,” Torres said. “This is my second home.” Work will continue. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve plans to plant wildflowers in the meadow — after it removes a few snapping turtles that reside in the area. According to the agency’s Ivette Lopez, the meadow should be flowering by the end of July. Colleen Murphy-Dunning from the Urban Resources Initiative explained that more trees and shrubs need to be removed to clear the area and ensure that everyone feels safe in the park. And though Cherry Ann Street is
united, Murphy-Dunning explained that community partners must still reach out to other residents in the area. In fact, there were only two attendees from nearby Pond Street, one of whom was Ms. Connie’s daughter. URI plans to add additional entrances to the park on the adjacent streets. The park also has the potential to provide a dynamic classroom space for the nearby Jackie Robinson School. In addition to the Cherry Ann Street entrance, the park has a gateway exclusive to teachers and students. Common Ground already introduced teachers to the space to discuss the potential learning opportunities and challenges to outdoor teaching, according to Susannah Holsenbeck, Common Ground Schoolyard program manager. She added that early elementary school teachers already plan to teach students how to map the park. The role of the space is ultimately up to the imagination of the neighborhood’s kids. On this hot Saturday afternoon, children from both sides of the street joined for a pickup game of football. A symbol of Cherry Ann Street’s unification, the new park signifies the end of the street’s divide.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
“Munchies” Solve Streetlight Snag by LUCY GELLMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
A dark East Rock underpass is about to get brighter, thanks to a few rounds of happy hour drinks. That outcome emerged from the fifth-ever “Munchies & Mingle,” a community happy hour organized by Cedar Hill activist Camille Ansley. Held at Dashi on upper State Street, the regular happy hour brings together New Haveners from different neighborhoods together to talk through municipal hurdles they’re facing, from school enrollment and the Board of Education to illegal dumping in their driveways. Ansley said she never knows who will show up at Munchies & Mingle. She sends email notices to friends, organizers, and city officials a few weeks before each event, then hopes some of them will show up. As city transit chief Doug Hausladen (pictured), Youth Services Director Jason Bartlett, and Mayor Toni Harp rolled in to the latest convening this past Wednesday evening, the conversation turned to a nearby concern: the dearth of streetlights on the I-91 underpass between Trumbull and Bradley Streets, which falls into complete darkness after dusk. That underpass, along with six others just like it on State Street, has been a concern for over a year, said Hausladen. He sees it as a public safety hazard. Pedestrians and cyclists walking beneath it can’t see what’s happening around them, and
LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO
Ansley with Hausladen at problem-solving happy hour.
cars barrel through. But the city’s Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking can’t do anything about it. I-91 is a state road, and updates or renovations are overseen by the state’s Department of Transportation. Hausladen has been making requests to them “for a year and a half” without result, he said. Until Wednesday, that is. Welcoming Harp over platters of shrimp and avocado sushi and half-priced mixed drinks (Harp stuck to fizzy water), Ansley spoke about her concerns about underpass lighting as a concerned citizen and as a mom. Her
Fill That Library!
son attends Hooker School in East Rock, and she sees how many of his peers walk under other I-91 underpasses to get to and from school in the morning. She, meanwhile, drives under the Trumbull-to-Bradley underpass on her way home from work each day, and doesn’t think it’s safe for the drivers or walkers who use it. “It’s dark and dangerous,” she said. Harp turned to squint at the underpass directly behind her. “We really should have lights under there,” she said, casting an eye toward Hausladen. “Is there an opportunity to light
up that bridge?” Hausladen had just gotten off the phone with Paul Holmes, who manages New Haven with the Connecticut Bureau of Highway Operations and Maintenance, for another transit issue. At the mayor’s urging, he pulled out his phone, and sent an email off to Holmes. “I was with the mayor today at Dashi, and the staff complained about the lights under the bridge for Exit 3,” he wrote. “Can you prioritize the bridges over State Street lighting? The employees were mentioning
that all the bridges from Hamden to Downtown are dark,” he wrote. He added an image of the underpass in relation to Dashi. Just a little over two hours later, Holmes had responded with news that a work order has been opened to get the job done. Once lights have been added to the underpass, Bartlett said, he’ll try to find resources for youth to paint the underpass, a request that would require another work order. Having watched how the Humphrey street mural brightened that neighborhood and helped tie together State Street and Jocelyn Square — he said it’s an exciting idea. And while “we [Youth Services] don’t have the capacity to lead this,” he’s totally on board. “There’s a lot of kids who have real talent, and it really allows them to show it,” he said. One of the reasons Hausladen is so keen to light the underpass is public safety, he said. But if an art project like Bartlett’s loosely proposed youth mural, or another crowdfunded underpass campaign were to follow, there’s no promise that it wouldn’t be vandalized. It may be reason enough to pause and think about how best to deter vandals, said Ansley. But it’s not reason enough not to try. “We’ll reach for the stars, and we might get some of them, though maybe not the whole constellation,” she said, noting her own plans for a graffiti wall where I-91 heads into Cedar Hill.
The following was submitted by Peter Schaller, communications director at the United Way of Greater New Haven. United Way’s Women United is committed to filling the library at the new Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School in New Haven. United Way’s Women United joined Mayor Toni Harp, Interim Superintendent Reginald Mayo, Principal Myrna Montalvo and United Way’s President and CEO Jennifer Heath on Wednesday to tour the library and update supporters on the initiative. “In my mission to make sure New Haven is a ‘city that reads,’ I can think of no better place than this library to get our young students started on the path to lifelong learning and reading,” said Mayor Toni Harp. Investing in children during their earliest years is important. The first five years of a child’s life are a time of enormous social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. “Reading aloud to children during this time is one of the best ways we can help them develop a rich vocabulary,” said Jennifer Heath, United Way of Greater New Haven President and CEO. Women United’s specific programmatic focus area is education. They are working closely with the staff at the new preschool to ensure that the library is filled with curriculum-based books. The school serves about 500 of our community’s neediest children. Built in 2016, the school is a beautiful learning center that is providing a strong start for young children. United Way believes every child in every community should enter kindergarten well prepared. This effort is part of our larger strategy to work toward that goal. “This school is my legacy, and the children who pass through these halls deserve every opportunity to succeed,” said Superintendent Reginald Mayo. “Filling this library is a way for all of us to make a lasting impact.” Learn more about this Women United initiative here.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
LEAP Launches Free Youth Community Swim Team
What: With support from the USA Swimming Foundation, LEAP is starting a seven-week competitive community swim team this summer for youth ages 6 to 15 to join with no cost. Children do not need to be in other LEAP programs to participate in the swim team. Where: LEAP Community Center at 31 Jefferson Street, New Haven, CT 06511 When: Swim team tryouts for all skill levels will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017, 6 pm - 8 pm, and Saturday, June 24, 2017, 10 am - 12 pm. It is mandatory that kids try out so that we can place them in the appropriate group based on skill level. Participants must demonstrate their ability to swim the length of the pool without stopping. If children are not able to meet this standard, we will recommend they instead join LEAP’s swim lessons that occur year-round. Evening swim team practices will be from 6-7:30 pm at the heated LEAP pool at 31 Jefferson Street in New Haven. Practice will begin Wednesday, June 28th, and meets will be held Saturdays starting July
15th (10 am-1 pm). Contact: Elvert Eden, Director of Aquatics at LEAP 31 Jefferson St New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 773-0770 eeden@leapforkids. org Leapforkids.org Who: LEAPs mission is to develop the strengths and talents of young leaders who implement year-round, community and school-based programming designed to achieve positive academic and social outcomes for children living in high poverty urban neighborhoods. Since 1992, LEAP (www.leapforkids.org) has led the movement to provide children and youth with opportunities to thrive in all areas of their lives. Through a year-round after-school and summer camp program, LEAP serves more than 1,000 young people each year, ages 7 through 15, with a literacy-based curriculum and classes in the arts, computer science, swimming, athletics, camping, cooking, and team building. In addition, LEAP trains and employs more than 200 high school and college students to help run these programs.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Murphy, Blumenthal See Hope At Ballot Box For Gun Reforms by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News
HARTFORD, CT — On the anniversary of Pulse Nightclub shooting that claimed the lives of 49 people and left 53 injured, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal remain furious that Congress has done nothing to prevent dangerous people from obtaining firearms. “If Newtown and Orlando didn’t inspire Congress to action then it may be that we have to use the political process to change who is sent to Congress,” Murphy said Monday during a press conference at the Legislative Office Building. He said ISIS has been “very clear that they want their recruits inside the United States to go to gun shows and to buy assault weapons. The weapon of choice for terrorists today in the United States is not an airplane, it’s not an explosive device
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE
U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, along with Ron Pinciaro, executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence
that’s made in your basement, it’s an assault weapon.” He said since Orlando ISIS has been even more explicit in their recruitment materials.
Murphy, who waged a nearly 15 hour filibuster last year to get a vote to increase background checks and one to stop people on the no-fly list from purchasing firearms, said they
got more Republican support for those two measures than ever before and the filibuster drew millions more across the country into this advocacy movement, Murphy said. “We’re stronger today because of it,” Murphy said. However, they didn’t get the outcome they wanted. The votes on the measure failed to get enough support. “What we’ve seen is that massacres have no effect on Congress. Elections have effects on Congress,” Blumenthal added. In 2016 there were four states with referendums to tighten gun laws and three of those referendums passed, according to Murphy. Next, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, Charles Schumer, and U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Robin Kelly, joined with Murphy in forming the Fund to End Gun Violence. The funding raised went to six
Democratic candidates who supported their cause. Three of them won. “We’re not going to give up. We thought the world had changed after Sandy Hook. It hadn’t. It didn’t,” Murphy said. That doesn’t mean the two Connecticut Senators are giving up. Murphy said they may have to win a few more races to get the laws changed. “We are not going away. We are not giving up. We are not surrendering this cause even if it isn’t achieved in this session,” Blumenthal said. The Fund to End Gun Violence, which was managed through the candidates campaign committees, raised $191,000 from over 12,000 individual donors. Murphy said they plan to use raise money again through the fund and distribute it to candidates in 2018.
No End In Sight For Budget Negotiations by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News
HARTFORD, CT — Legislative leaders say they remain hopeful they will reach a budget compromise by June 30, but there was little if any substantial progress made during Tuesday’s closed door budget session. Senate Republican President Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said his gut tells him that they will go beyond July 1 before they have a two-year budget, even if they continue conversations. “How much past July 1? I don’t know,” Fasano said. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told legislative leaders Tuesday that he would release a set of principles that would help guide how he manages the state without a state budget—an increasingly likely scenario. “There are thousands of decisions that are made in a budgetary document,” Malloy said Tuesday. “I will speak to the issue of how we will make those interim decisions without such a document.” The last time the state went beyond June 30 without a two-year budget in place was 2009. Former Republican Gov. M. Jodi
CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE
L to R: Sen. Cathy Osten, Sen. Republican President Len Fasano, House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter
Rell vetoed the budget lawmakers sent her on July 1, 2009 and issued two executive orders. One on July 30 and another on August 11 . In 2003, former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland also vetoed budgets and a continuing resolution passed by the Democrat-controll
General Assembly. That year Rowland signed a series of five executive orders (29, 29A, 29B, 29C, and 29D) in response to the lack of a budget. “What I want to do is protect the state from expending too much money,” Malloy said. “With the
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appreciation that this is a very tight budget.” Last week Malloy said “If the Republican budget had been passed I would have vetoed it. If the Democratic outline passed I would veto it, so at some point we’ll have to find a budget we can agree on.” In the meantime, there’s a lot of questions Malloy would need to answer without a two-year budget agreement in place. How much municipal aid would be given to cities and towns and would layoffs proceed absent an agreement with labor? Malloy said he’s unable to answer the question about municipal aid since there are various grants that go out to cities and towns on a monthly and quarterly basis. As far as labor is concerned, Malloy said he didn’t believe he would have to move forward with layoffs if the executive boards of the unions agreed to their renegotiated contracts for wages. That’s suppose to happen later this week. The union vote on the health and pension portion negotiated by the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition is expected to happen later this summer. Fasano and Republicans have been critical of Democratic legis-
lative leaders for not having a lineby-line budget proposal. Malloy said it’s his understanding Democrats in the House and Senate are “actively working on that.” Malloy said he wishes they would pass his budget and send it to him. However, legislative leaders still can’t find agreement on some of Malloy’s proposals that would reduce the $5 billion the state gives to cities and towns. Legislative leaders and Malloy are expected to get back together before the end of next week. Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, were not in attendance. Looney was preparing for surgery and Aresimowicz was “unavailable,” according to his spokesman. Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, sat in for Looney Tuesday and was happy to spar with Fasano during a question and answer session with the media. Osten and Fasano traded barbs over the state employee concession package and the fiscal health of the UConn Health Center, which is running a $59.4 million deficit.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Venus & Serena’s Father, Richard Williams, To Be Inducted Into Tennis Hall Of Fame shopping cart full of balls and taught his youngest daughters the game a whole two years before they were even born.
by Carter Higgins, BDO Contributor
Richard Williams, tennis superstars Serena and Venus’ father, will be inducted into the American Tennis Association’s Tennis Hall of Fame for his contribution to coaching his famous daughters. Male or female, Serena Williams is the greatest athlete of all time and has to be included on any short list of the greatest athletes ever, right up there with Babe Ruth and Jesse Owens, Sandy Koufax and Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, Jackie Stewart and Pele. And Richard Williams’s coaching of his daughters is pretty epic too. The Williams sisters have 30 grand slam singles titles each. They played each other in the finals nine times. They also have 17 doubles titles playing together in only 33 major appearances along with three gold medals in Olympic doubles. Now, even for the most competitive players in sports today, those results are still remarkable. Especially considering their backstory: As a former sharecropper, Richard Williams saw a tennis match on TV
That is nothing short of a miracle. Williams was a controversial figure in the tennis world, where his unorthodox teaching methods, tough love discipline and unapologetic blackness often rubbed the world of tennis the wrong way. But you can’t argue with his results. His methods worked, and his daughters still impacted the tennis game despite being some of the oldest players on the women’s circuit. Not to mention, it was also found that Serena won her last match while she was pregnant. How’s that for Black girl magic? Williams, now 75, had a stroke in summer 2016, shortly before Williams’s sister Serena won Wimbledon. He had not seen either of them play in person for about a year, since he accompanied… and was shocked at the size of the check being handed to the winner. So, as a middle aged black man,
he decided to teach himself this remarkably complex game. He then wrote a 78-page plan, scrounged a
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…Venus to the Volvo Open in Charleston, S.C., in early April 2016. That is until he showed up cheering his eldest daughter on in
March of 2017. According to Williams’ third wife, Lakeisha Williams, the patriarch of the Williams family has and still is recovering. “His condition is fair” Lakeisha Williams said. “He needs speech therapy, psychological therapy and physical therapy, but for now, he refused,” she said. “I’m trying to get him under control and relaxed so that when we come back from out of town we could try to get that going. But he doesn’t wish to be bothered with anybody,” Lakeisha went on to say in her 2016 interview. MUST READ: How Aspirin Can Help Stop You From Getting Strokes Up To 80% “His mind is thinking that they’re going to put him back in ‘prison’— which is what he calls the hospital,” she said. “He thinks we are just going to take him back to the hospital, but that is not correct.” She added: “His mind is telling him that since he was once in charge of his life, after what’s happened he’s not accepting it.”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
HBCU Students “Discover The Unexpected” with the Black Press
HBCU Students “Discover The Unexpected” with the Black Press By Noni Marshall and Alexa Imani Spencer, NNPA/DTU Journalism Fellows The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) kicked off the second year of the “Discover The Unexpected” (DTU) Journalism Fellowship program with an “Immersion” event in Detroit, Mich. Chevrolet, the sponsor of the program, hosted the student scholars and a handful of NNPA publishers and editors for an interactive experience designed to prepare the fellows for a summer of working with the Black Press. The 2017 DTU journalism fellows are: Alexa Imani Spencer and Noni Marshall from Howard University; Kelsey Jones and Taylor Burris from Spelman College; Jordan Fisher and Tiana Hunt from Clark Atlanta University; and Ayron Lewallen and Darrell Williams from Morehouse College. The trip commenced with a welcome ceremony at a repurposed firehouse that serves as the commercial studio of Ed Welburn, the former vice president of Global Design at General Motors (GM). Representatives from GM and the NNPA greeted the fellows. The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was parked at the entrance. Chevrolet sent an all-new Equinox to each of the participating NNPA member publications for the DTU fellows to use for a month during the program.
Jordan Fisher, a 2017 NNPA DTU Journalism Fellow and student at Clark Atlanta University, poses for a photo with the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. (Chevrolet)
After a joyous welcome from the program’s team, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA and Michelle Alexander, the diversity marketing manager for Chevrolet, delivered remarks. Serving as this year’s Road Trip Navigator, Jamilah Lemieux, the vice president of News and Men’s Programming for Interactive One’s, expressed the importance of Black media. “I am firm believer in the urgency of protecting the future of Black media, of making sure that we have ample
opportunity to not just tell our stories well, because we’ve always been able to tell our stories well, but to amplify them,” Lemieux said. After Lemieux’s poignant remarks, the scholars were led outside of the firehouse where one bright red and three splashy orange Chevrolet Equinoxes awaited them. The DTU fellows in teams of two, accompanied by Chevrolet staffers and coordinators from the program, piled into the four SUVs ready to explore Detroit. Scavenger hunt clues rang clearly through the speakers of the Equinox
and they were off to navigate the city. The clues led the teams to four, distinct locations: Dilla’s Delights, Detroit vs. Everybody, N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. At each stop, the students interviewed the shop owners, clerks, curators, and museum guides, documenting their visits for their first assignments as DTU fellows. Burris said that speaking to the clerk at Detroit vs. Everybody, a boutique clothing store, was her favorite part of the
scavenger hunt. “It was obvious that Sade, the clerk, was very knowledgeable about what their brand means and how it is continuously uplifting the community and defying the odds,” said Burris, who will partner with Ayron Lewallen at The Carolinian this summer. The scavenger hunt ended with a tour of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Ken Barrett, the chief diversity officer for GM, gave brief remarks about the importance of the program and the role of journalists in society. The final day of the Detroit immersion event included an inspirational speech from Dr. Chavis at GM headquarters. The DTU fellows sat quietly around a conference room table, focused closely on his words, as he reminded them that they represented an emerging generation of journalists. Chavis also noted that this year marks the 190th anniversary of the Black Press in America. “This is an opportunity not just to reaffirm [our] 190 year legacy, but to represent that legacy in new and more profound ways that match the challenges and opportunities we face in our communities,” Chavis said. The DTU fellows were given the opportunity to meet with representatives from the NNPA member newspapers, where they will work this summer; Shalon Bell from The Atlanta Voice; Adria Jervay of The Con’t on page 19
Sally Brown Tapped For New City Hall Assignment by PAUL BASS
NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT
Rather than a disciplinary hearing, Deputy City Clerk Sally Brown has been handed a new assignment. Mayor Toni Harp has temporarily reassigned Brown from the clerk’s office to help pick up the slack in the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) suite on the third floor of City Hall. The deputy chief administrative officer, Jennifer Pugh, is out on long-term leave. And work has piled up. Harp said Friday that she has exercised her statutory authority to transfer Brown to cover some of the work Pugh does. Brown said Friday she is also taking on special projects that have piled up. CAO
Mike Carter said the projects include a “vulnerability analysis, looking at department strengths and areas to improve; documentation of department achievements; [and] a ‘Clean City’ strategy.” Harp has also assigned Maggie Targrove to assume some of Pugh’s duties in addition to Targrove’s existing duties as deputy director of emergency management. Brown will continue earning her $93,897 annual salary in the temporary assignment, which does not have a set expiration date, according to city human resources chief Steve Librandi. Targrove is eligible under her union contract to receive an extra $3 an hour on top of her $79,851 salary for performing work usually done by someone at a higher pay grade.
PAUL BASS PHOTO
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Sally Brown in her temporary new quarters in City Hall.
Brown’s regular supervisor, City Clerk Michael Smart, had sus-
pended her in May 2016 for allegedly certifying absentee ballots
and nominating petitions that he said she had no authority to do. She disagreed. The State Elections Enforcement Commission ruled this February in Brown’s favor, and she returned to work. Smart said at the time he still planned to proceed with a disciplinary hearing. On Friday Smart said he “didn’t have an issue” when the request came to transfer Brown temporarily to help out in the CAO’s suite. He said no disciplinary hearing is scheduled. “At this point, we’re moving forward,” he said. “As long as I’m busy, I’m happy. I’m busy now,” Brown, who has worked for the city since 1980, said Friday in her office overlooking the Green. “I’m a worker.”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Con’t from page 18
“Discover The Unexpected” Carolinian, based in Raleigh, N.C.; David Baker of The Louisiana Weekly, based in New Orleans; and Kevin McNeir from The Washington Informer, based in Washington, D.C. In these breakout sessions, the senior newspaper staffers shared their expectations with their new writers. Anxious to get started, the fellows asked questions and marveled at the history of the newspapers they were soon to join. There was a fresh excitement in the air after the student scholars connected with the editors and representatives from the NNPA member publications. Next on the schedule, was a trip to the Content Studio, an organization within GM, that develops communications resources for the brand and improves how the company operates efficiently, strategically, and consistently within the public social web. There, the fellows were able to see how the marketing side of Chevrolet has expanded, technologically, by partnering with many different agencies in order to have a worldwide impact. According to Alexander, the NNPA/ DTU journalism program is an extension of the partnerships that Chevrolet holds in high esteem. “As a brand, [Discover The Unexpected], ties into our philosophy of finding new roads and ingenuity,” Alexander said. “We, as a brand, feel like this is something important that we are committed to.” As the trip came to an end, the DTU fellows shared final hugs and goodbyes. For some of them, the Detroit Immersion event was a life-changing experience; most of them had never been exposed to the Motor City’s rich history. For all of them, one thing was true: “Discover The Unexpected” was far more than just a program. It’s a family. “I was impressed by the immense love we have received from the whole General Motors staff, NNPA, and the fellows,” said Jordan Fisher, who will join Kelsey Jones at The Atlanta Voice. “I don’t take that for granted. It’s refreshing to see that and feel it.” To learn more about NNPA “Discover The Unexpected” Journalism Fellowship program, visit www.nnpa. org/dtu. Alexa Spencer and Noni Marshall are 2017 DTU Journalism Fellows and Howard University students, who are creating content for The Washington Informer this summer. Follow Alexa on Twitter @alexaimani. Follow Noni on Twitter @noni_nnpadtu.
Making the Case for Investing in HBCUs By Rushern Baker, County Executive, Prince George’s
UNCF’s iconic, “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” advertising campaign remains the goldstandard for shining light on the urency of investing in Black colleges and universities. No nation, the stories in the campaign reminded us, can be great if it leaves behind a large portion of its residents. More than 40 years later, the need for sustained investment in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) remains as great as ever. With the change in presidential administrations, HBCUs have once again returned to the national conversation, with some openly questioning the need for such institutions, particularly in the face of advances over the past several decades. The conversation is not new and the answer has not changed. We need HBCU’s to continue to exist and they need all of us helping to support their coffers and make the case to decision-makers about the continued value they provide. HBCUs represent only three percent of all two- and four-year U.S. colleges and universities, but they enroll 10 percent of all African American undergraduates. They produce 17 percent of all African American college graduates and generate 24 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields earned by African Americans annually, according to UNCF’s Patterson Research Institute. Part of the reason is that Black graduates of HBCUs are significantly more likely to have felt supported while in college, according to 2015 data from an ongoing Gallup-Purdue University study. But statistics are only part of the story. HBCUs have produced influential Americans including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, filmmaker Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey and many other business, civic leaders and entrepreneurs. On campuses around the nation, parents beamed last month as newly minted graduates of HBCUs set out to make names for themselves
and to fulfill their dreams. At Howard University, my alma mater, I witnessed U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris remind graduates that the world will not always be welcoming and that they have a duty to serve. “That is your duty—the duty of your degree,” Harris said. “That is the charge of a Howard graduate. So whatever you plan to do next—whether you want to design the latest app or cure cancer or run a business. Whether you’re going to be a dentist, a lawyer, a teacher, or an accountant—let your guiding principle be truth and service. At a
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time when there are Americans— disproportionately Black and brown men—trapped in a broken system of mass incarceration… peak truth—and serve.” It is advice that we should also— no matter our age—aspire to. And one truth is surely that the nation’s HBCUs are as relevant and necessary now as when some of them were founded over 150 years ago. These institutions were an antidote to the racist policies that, in some cases, banned educating Black students. At a time where college costs are going up, and attacks on Black
students on predominantly White campuses are on the rise, the need for Black colleges is greater than ever. As a government, we have to continue to ensure that funding is there to keep this pipeline going. And as private citizens, we have to open our wallets to ensure the long-term viability of the institutions that are working for us and our communities. Rushern Baker, a graduate of Howard University, is the county executive in Prince George’s County, Maryland. You can follow him on Twitter at @CountyExecBaker.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Lenny Kravitz: “Love What You’ve Got” by Carter Higgins, BDO Contributor
At 53, Lenny Kravitz is still one of the coolest (and sexiest) musicians ever. The singer-songwriter, actor and designer (he owns a boutique design firm for high end hotels) is not just an award-winning rockstar: He won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row from 1999 to 2002, breaking the record for most wins in that category as well as setting the record for most consecutive wins in one category by a male. He’s also dad to one of the coolest young actresses out there, Zoe Kravitz, and cousin to weatherman and Good Morning America anchor, Al Roker, which makes him cool too. So what makes him so cool? He’s not afraid to learn from his mistakes, his victories and his journey. Here are four pieces of wisdom Lenny has learned that made him the man he is today: 1. Be the Better Man “I believe in God, and I’m trying to always to be a better man,” Lenny Tells Men’s Health. “I was in my hotel waiting for the elevator and this old man started yelling at me. He wanted to get on the elevator and in his mind, though I was standing against the wall, I was somehow in his way. He just started yelling at me. At that moment, you have a choice to make: you can yell back, you can curse him. But I said, ‘Oh, sir. God bless you. Have a beautiful day.’ Which just pissed him off more. [Laughs] He just kept yelling at me. But you have a choice, always, about how you’re going to behave and what kind of point of view and action you’re going to live.” 2. Love What You’ve Got “I appreciate the blessings that I have. I don’t have a sense of entitlement. I don’t take anything for granted. I’m not owed anything in this life. Having appreciation is a gift unto itself. There are a lot of people I see who have everything—no limit, everything—and many of them have no gratitude for it and they don’t enjoy anything. That’s horrible. ‘I’ll be happy when. . .’ is a death sentence,
man. You’d better be happy now! You can’t wait for the job or the house or the woman. Love what you’ve got.” 3. Follow Your Body “I was vegetarian for many, many years, but I woke up one day craving meat. After, like, 15 years, I woke up and it was, like, ‘I need meat.’ So I followed my body. I did the whole grass-fed, organic, best-quality thing. Now… … I’m eating more vegetables and fish, especially being in the Bahamas so many months of the year. I have my own organic farm and I eat fish. Eat light. Eat four or five little meals a day, even if a couple of them are juices or shakes. I do a lot of coconut water. You’ve gotta take care of your body.” 4. Be Cool “I’ve heard this advice from two people in my life—one was my mother and one was Robert Plant. It sounds cliché and it sounds re-
ally simple, but two important people in my life told me the same thing: Don’t take life so seriously. They used bigger words and fancier sentences, but that’s what it boils down to: take the ride, let go, don’t control things, just ride the wave with a smile on your face. Those are some real words of wisdom.” But when it comes to women, he only has one wish. “I wish more women would be more natural,” admits Kravitz. “I think a lot of women are pulling for what society says they need to look like…changing themselves with so much plastic work. I think aging gracefully is the most beautiful. When you see an older woman who has aged naturally and takes care of herself, that’s so much sexier. I’m down for natural vibes.” We see you Lenny!
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Arizona Leaders Call For Removal Of Confederate Monuments By Floyd Alvin Galloway, Arizona Informant/
The Arizona Confederate monuments controversy has risen once again. Two years ago, it was over the naming of the Jefferson Davis Highway in the Southeast Valley. Other cities across the country in Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, and Maryland have or are in the process of removing Confederate monuments from prominent public lands. Metro-Phoenix Black leaders held a news conference at the Arizona Informant office June 5 to call on Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) to remove monuments honoring those who were at war with the country and pushed to protect slavery and hate. There are six monuments around the state honoring Confederate soldiers, who died in the Civil War including one at the State Capitol’s Wesley Bolin Plaza and Arizona Confederate Veterans Monument in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, erected in 1999 by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Other locations include the Memorial Cemetery area of the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Cemetery in Sierra Vista. The monument was erected in 2010 to honor the 21 soldiers interred in that cemetery who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and later fought in Indian wars in Arizona as members of the U.S. Army; a road named the Jefferson Davis Highway in the far East Valley near Apache Junction, Picacho Peak, known as the westernmost battle in the Civil War; and a monument at the four graves of the
only Confederate soldiers killed in action, by Native Americans in Arizona, Dragoon Springs stagecoach station east of Tucson. “The confederacy in their articles of succession, wrote that they are protecting states rights; states rights to protect the peculiar institution of slavery,” explained Rev. Reginald Walton, the pastor of Phillips Memorial CME Church and president of Black Lives Matter of Greater Phoenix. The monuments are a tool of terror, the Black leaders stated. “This is a slap in the face of all Americans, as those who seceded, were at that time seceding from the Union, they became traitors to our county. To have monuments on state land honoring this institution of slavery is honoring terrorism,” noted Rev. Walton.
Rep. Reginald Bolding, who represents District 27, read a letter he sent to the Gov. Ducey, encouraging the governor and the Arizona State Board of Geographic Names and State Legislature, to put words into action this time. Two years ago, Rep. Bolding sent a request to Gov. Ducey asking the governor to take action and strike the name of Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway from the portion of U.S. 60 in the east valley, following the horrific murder of nine Black church worshippers at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., by white supremacist Dylan Roof, who used the confederate symbols and ideology as a justification for the killing spree. “Today, I call on you, again, to stand on the right side of American history,” said Bolding, sending a di-
rect message to Gov. Ducey. Bolding asked for immediate action on this issue. Cloves Campbell Jr., co-publisher of the Arizona Informant, said that, the biggest issue discussed at the press conference was doing what’s right. “This issue of having monuments and memorializing things that are against everything and principals the United States constitution stands for is something we don’t need to reminded of,” said Campbell. “Lets not honor something that is wrong. Having these monuments are a slap in the face of not just African Americans, but every Arizonan.” “For many African Americans, the symbol of the confederate flag is a symbol of racial terrorism,” said Dr. Ann Hart, president of the Maricopa County branch of the NAACP. She said the flag and monuments
are a symbol of resistance to the civil rights of Black people. “The confederate flag] represents years of lynching, Jim Crow and Black suffering.” Symbols honoring the Civil Warera confederacy should not be on land paid for by state taxes, Hart added. “The NAACP vehemently opposes any confederate monuments on public property,” said Roy Tatem Jr., the president of the East Valley branch of the NAACP. “We call on Gov. Ducey to take immediate action. We do not tolerate him passing the buck to a board that he appoints, to a board he has influence over.” The group says that the governor needs to show leadership on this issue. The leaders said they want to know exactly how the governor feels on this issue. The civil rights and community leaders asked: “Does Governor Ducey support the idea of a terrorist group and its symbols, the Confederate Army, and its defense of slavery and hate on public land?” Tatem called on Gov. Ducey to be a leader in the community and represent all Arizonans and not just a specific group, like the Daughters of the Confederacy. Tatem continued: “These monuments are not only offensive to the descendants of African slaves, they are offensive to any American who celebrates the principles of liberty and justice on which our nation was founded.” The Arizona Informant is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Learn more about becoming a member at www.nnpa.org.
Pfizer’s Kevin Williams to Pen Health Column on Sickle Cell Disease for the Black Press
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor Dr. Kevin Williams, the vice president of global medical affairs in Pfizer’s rare disease unit, plans to help educate the masses about sickle cell disease in a new column for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Earlier this year, Pfizer Inc. and the NNPA, a trade association of more than 200 African-American–owned
media companies in the United States, announced a collaboration to raise awareness of sickle cell disease (SCD), a lifelong and debilitating genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SCD occurs in 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births. Williams said that the column is a part of the collaboration between Pfizer and the NNPA to raise awareness about SCD and the importance of clinical trial participation in the process for developing new medications. “We’ll be covering a number of topics including tips for living with sickle cell disease, common myths
about the disease, and how to support a friend or family member with the disease,” said Williams. “We’ll also be discussing information about clinical trials, common myths, and how people can learn more or get involved.” Individuals with rare diseases, like SCD, have unique and complex challenges, officials said, noting that the first initiative under the collaboration is a national poll, conducted in partnership with an interdisciplinary research team from Howard University in Washington, D.C. “This collaboration with Pfizer provides an opportunity for NNPA to inform and educate the readers of our 211-member Black-owned newspa-
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pers in more than 70 markets across the country on sickle cell disease, an often-misunderstood disease that has a profound impact on the health and well-being of those affected,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA. “Together with Pfizer, we look forward to providing sickle cell disease education that can underscore the importance of improving quality of care in the community.” SCD is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting nearly 100,000 Americans. Although it affects many different ethnic groups, most people with SCD are of African descent. Access to care and delivery of innovative
treatments prove to be among the most significant challenges faced by people living with SCD in America, medical experts said. “As an African-American man, I am personally excited to be part of the sickle cell disease collaboration between Pfizer and the NNPA,” said Williams, who joined Pfizer in January 2004 as a medical director on the HIV field-based medical team and has been in multiple roles across several therapeutic areas within the organization over the years. Williams earned his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1986 and, after completing an InCon’t on page 25
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Former NBA Star Chris Webber Becomes First-Time Dad After 8 Years Of Trying! T. R. Causay, Social Reporter, BlackDoctor.org
Five-time NBA All-Star and retired pro basketball player Chris Webber has done a lot in his career. Webber went to two straight NCAA national championships with the “Fab Five” Michigan Wolverines and transformed the franchise of the Sacramento Kings. Today, he is one of the best NBA analysts around, filling chairs on TNT and NBA TV. But he just achieved one of the biggest milestones in his life, just in time for Father’s Day: He became a first time dad! Webber and wife Erika Dates Webber just welcomed their twins into the world, but not without a fight--an eight year long fight at that! Webber captioned the post, “So thankful. After many years of trying and more than a few heartbreaks we were blessed with these little ones. Thank you @mrserikawebber.” Dates Webber also posted this beautiful photo of the family on Instagram with the following inspirational message: “Grateful… 7 years waiting for our family to grow, and we were double blessed. Never underestimate the power of prayer,
MrsErikaWebber instagram)
even when “they” tell you it’s impossible… All in his time. Thank you to all of our family and friends and even strangers who shared our journey and kept us encouraged.” “But it’s amazing just seeing something that’s your own grow and develop,” Webber tells Esquire. I’m just in awe. I’m just happy. Most days is laughing and crying at the fact that something like this hap-
pened.” According to Dr. Desiree McCarthy-Keith, a Reproductive Endocrinologist at Georgia Reproductive Specialists, research shows that among the 7.3 million women in the United States, nearly 13% of African American women experience a variety of infertility problems compared to 7% of white women. Unfortunately, even though these
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alarming rates of infertility among African American women exist, studies show that women kissed by nature’s sun utilize fertility services less often and seek medical care too late. There are many reasons why African- American women fail to seek out infertility care. The following are few examples: – Cost of Infertility Services
– Access to Infertility Services – Lack of Education and Awareness – Shame and Fear – Lack of Health Care – Lack of Support – Culture In addition to lack of education and awareness, one of the leading causes of infertility among African American women is uterine fibroids. Many black women struggle with the pain and distress of uterine fibroids, which sometimes leads them to the road of obtaining infertility services and often times seeking out procedures such as hysterectomies and others as well “It’s something my wife and I have been praying for and working toward for years,” continues Webber. “To have it happen is just—shit, I don’t know what to say. It’s the best feeling in the world. I don’t get any sleep, but I’m the oldest of 5, and I used to do a lot of babysitting growing up. I have a big family, so we’re used to that.” The 44-year-old former NBA star has plans to still analyze NBA games. There’s no word yet if his twins are basketball material. But we’ll be on the lookout!
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017 Con’t from page 7
Booker Focuses More on Criminal Justice Than Trump At Annual Dinner
went for $185 per person so the party raised more than $203,000. Last year, upset with Democrats who voted in favor of a state budget that cut spending and laid off more than 1,000 state employees, labor leaders protested the dinner. This year, faced with selling their members a $1.5 billion concession package, many public sector union members and officials didn’t show up. However, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a local from the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the New England Regional Council of Carpenters purchased ads in the ad book and many attended the event.
MANUAL CINEMA
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Con’t from page 22
Pfizer’s Kevin Williams
ternal Medicine residency at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he returned to UCLA where he did a two-year fellowship in Health Services Research through the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research in the UCLA Department of Medicine. During his fellowship, he also graduated from the UCLA School of Public Health with a Masters in Public Health. “Sickle cell disease is a lifelong, devastating, and often misunderstood disease,” said Williams. “By raising awareness and increasing understanding of sickle cell disease and the importance of clinical trial participation, we hope to be able to make a real difference in the lives of people living with sickle cell disease.” A lack of African-American participation in clinical trials poses a significant hurdle to developing new treatments for those suffering with the disease, Williams added. “In fact, despite comprising 12 percent of the U.S. population, AfricanAmericans make up only 5 percent of clinical trial participants,” said Williams. Williams continued: “There are still tremendous knowledge gaps and challenges ensuring access to healthcare for African-Americans. So, while there may be greater awareness within the AfricanAmerican community and a stronger voice, this has not necessarily translated into better outcomes for this community.”
“This is the art of ‘Live Film’”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUAL CINEMA
vulnerable people in society in prison. “When I was growing up at Stanford I saw a whole lot of drug use,” Booker said. “But they didn’t have sting operations at universities. No one was getting stopped and frisked on the way home from fraternity parties.” But the young people in the inner cities are going to prison for doing things “that two of the last three presidents admitted to doing,” he added. Booker largely steered clear of focusing on Republican President Donald Trump, but he did say he misses Obama. “I miss Obama,” Booker said. The crowd roared and he waited for them to fall silent before finishing his through. ”I miss Obama and I miss her husband, too.” Booker and Murphy have both been mentioned as possible challengers to Trump in 2020. “I am sick and tired of turning on my TV and watching a president of the United States evidence everything but honor,” Booker said toward the end of his remarks. He used it to pivot back to his thoughts about America. “If you are here and your heart has not been broken by America. If you’re here and you haven’t felt pain for your country and you just feel like you’ve gotten body slammed, like what Republicans are doing to reporters these days,” Booker said to laughs. “If you haven’t looked at your country and hurt because it’s fallen short.” He then went back to his time in Newark where in 2004 there was a shooting in his neighborhood and he ended up helping a gunshot victim before paramedics arrived. The boy died. “I was so angry,” Booker said as he described having to wash the victim’s blood off his hands. “We allow injustice to reign on streets.” He said the tenant president saw him the day after the shooting and hugged him while repeating two words: “stay faithful.” He implied that’s what the Democratic Party must do. The Connecticut Democratic Party said about 1,100 attended the Saturday dinner. The average ticket
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
7 Ways Black Men Can Jumpstart Generational Health by Team BlackDoctor.org
Kick the habit with a friend who is ready to quit also. Find a support group. Use nicotine replacement products.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12 percent of men age 18 and older are in fair or poor health leading to obesity, hypertension and even mortality. Medical professionals from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have provided a few tips to help men get healthy.
“Don’t be afraid of failure,” Wells said. “If you have a relapse, pick yourself up and try again. Cessation for any amount of time is a success. If it were easy, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
1. Take the right vitamins Americans spend more than $20 billion per year on multivitamins, but not every vitamin is appropriate for every person. Identify the health problems you have to better evaluate your daily vitamin needs. “For the average person, there is no evidence that multivitamins improve health or help one avoid disease,” said William Curry, M.D., professor in the UAB School of Medicine. “There is no proven value of multivitamins unless a man has a known deficiency or specific condition. However, the doses of various vitamins — vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E — in the standard multivitamin products are typically in a safe range.” Curry recommends a multivitamin for those with malabsorption of the gut, alcoholism, previous gastric bypass surgery, severe kidney disease, on dialysis, or rare metabolic defects. Those who follow a strict vegetarian diet should also consider a general multivitamin. Antioxidants including Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamins C and E are heavily promoted and advocated; but studies have not found benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer, according to Curry. Men with higher risk for cardiovascular disease, especially heart attack and stroke, may consider a vitamin with anti-oxidants. However, high doses of Vitamin A can result in fractures and visual problems. Curry warns that high doses of Vitamin E, 400 units per day or more, may cause higher mortality. “Vitamin E can interact with blood thinners to increase their effects,” Curry said. 2. Get moving for heart and brain health Regular physical exercise is recommended to keep your cardiovascular system and brain healthy. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improve lipid profile, and better control and possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes, as well as provide a longer life. Multiple studies have shown men who exercise regularly have better erections than men who do not exercise. “A healthy exercise program keeps the
heart, lungs and blood vessels working at their best,” said David Geldmacher, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Memory Disorders. “We recommend two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week, like brisk walking, or lesser totals of more intense exercise.” Although it represents only about 2 percent of the total body weight, the brain gets about 15 percent of the total blood output from the heart, and consumes 20 percent of the body’s oxygen. Geldmacher recommends keeping the delivery systems working at their best with exercise. Research studies indicate that persistent exercise triggers hormonal pathways that actually help brain cells increase the number of connections with other cells, as well as strengthen the chemical mechanisms of memory. A combination of resistance or strengthening exercise with endurance exercise is ideal for heart and brain health. “The time to act is now, while the brain is healthy,” Geldmacher said. “Nowhere in the neurosciences are we able to get the brain to grow new, functioning neurons. However, brainprotective mechanisms, like exercise, get their best shot to work a little bit at a time over long periods.” Those with medical issues should maintain regular checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes using medications as prescribed to keep those numbers in the healthy range, recommends Geldmacher. 3. Say goodbye to tobacco Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco can be very challenging. Kicking the habit can be beneficial for sexual performance, and heart and lung health. It is a preventable driver of mortality through cancer and cardiovascular disease. “Tobacco is a major cause of damage to the blood vessels that flow to the penis,” said J. Patrick Selph, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Urology. “If the blood vessels to the penis are damaged, erectile dysfunction may result. Tobacco is also a
major cause of cardiovascular disease, and in some cases where the heart or its blood vessels are damaged, a man may be too unhealthy to engage in intercourse.” Studies have shown that smokers are at a higher risk of having a reduced sperm count and lower sperm motility, affecting male fertility. Side effects are worse in moderate or heavy smokers. “I always tell my male patients that anything that is heart-healthy is penishealthy,” Selph said. “One of the major causes of both erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease is smoking. In fact, studies have shown that men who have erectile dysfunction are at risk for having a major cardiac event within five years. Quitting smoking is a key tool in the prevention of these problems.” “Those who stop smoking will see an immediate impact on their blood pressure with a decrease within minutes, and the toxic levels of carbon monoxide decrease within a day,” said J. Michael Wells, M.D., assistant professor in UAB’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine. “Within three months, lung function begins to improve, and the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases will decrease by at least four times.”In addition to the overall issues with tobacco, chewing tobacco poses a risk for throat and next cancer, as well as many dental problems.Selph recommends a multifaceted approach, including counseling and sometimes medication. The most important thing to kicking the habit is being ready to do so. A few additional tips from Selph and Wells to quit: If you are not motivated to quit, you probably will not succeed. Set a stop date. Get rid of paraphernalia lying around the house such as ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes. Avoid stopping at the store where you typically purchased your tobacco products. Don’t be afraid to lean on a family member or friend.
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4. Be cautious of what you are drinking Around 11 percent of men will be affected by kidney stones sometime in their lives, and a higher number in the Southeastern United States, also known as the kidney “stone belt.” It is a multifactorial disease influenced by events in the kidney, gastrointestinal system and bone health, certain endocrine disorders, genetics, diet, and environmental factors. “Warmer climates may cause individuals to perspire excessively, causing them to become dehydrated. This results in urine’s becoming concentrated and the chemicals’ forming kidney stones. Crystals of these chemicals can arise, which is a prerequisite for kidney stone formation,” said Dean Assimos, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Urology. “The more fluid you consume, the less likely you are to have kidney stones, but it is important to consume the right fluids.” Assimos recommends drinking 10 to 12 ounces of water every couple of hours while you are awake. If you are exercising or perspiring, drink more due to losing these fluids more rapidly. “The consumption of coffee, tea, beer and wine in moderate amounts has been associated with reduced risk of developing kidney stones in epidemiology studies,” Assimos said.Sugary drinks that include high levels of fructose corn syrup, like sodas, should be avoided. Studies have shown a correlation between drinks with high fructose and kidney stones, as well as links between obesity and kidney stones. UAB nurse practitioner Jody Gilchrist recommends not drinking anything other than water or black coffee. Soft drinks contain sodium and sugar or artificial sweeteners, which may contribute to obesity and diabetes. Carbonation causes calcium to be pulled from bones into the blood stream, which causes osteoporosis and kidney stones. Sports drinks often contain more sodium than you should eat in a day. “Alcohol is another ‘simple’ sugar and is burned before other calorie sources, more likely to lead to diabetes and obesity,” Gilchrist said. “Alcohol should be limited to one to two servings a day. High amounts of alcohol
lead to poor judgment and eating more unhealthy foods.” Excessive alcohol use can be a cause of sexual dysfunction, because it can lead to decreased testosterone, decreased libido and difficulty getting an erection. It is also important that a man with erectile dysfunction not drink too much alcohol while using certain medications for erectile dysfunction, as the combination can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure and impair the ability of the medication to work. 5. Eat more fruits and veggies The most important thing a man can do for his overall health is eat a healthy diet. Heart health, diabetes and hormones levels are tied to maintaining a proper diet, including eating the daily recommended fruits and vegetables. Many of the books and courses for complicated diets have sustained benefit for the average man. Extremely low-fat diets may be dangerous, because the fats are replaced by more carbohydrates, usually simple sugars, which have a variety of bad effects, including Type 2 diabetes. He recommends the DASH diet as a reliable model that is affordable and tasty due to its reduction in sodium and variety of foods rich in nutrients. The Mediterranean Diet and its variations also can be worked into a healthy approach to dieting, according to a recent UAB study. Both diets have been associated with maintaining brain health, as well.“Moderate restriction of sodium is a good idea,” Curry said. “Processed foods and snacks are usually loaded with it, as are canned vegetables and soups unless labeled low in sodium. A wise dietitian once said that there are no good or bad foods — just too much or too little.” The production of testosterone, getting and maintaining an erection, and proper urinary function can also be tied to a healthy diet. “The best time to start eating a healthy diet is when one is young,” Selph said. “It helps set the stage for eating healthy throughout life, and can prevent problems that come with poor eating choices.” 6. Protect your skin Human skin is the body’s largest organ, providing protection to muscles, bones, ligaments and organs. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun directly damages the skin DNA in susceptible people. Over time, this damage can build up, leading to the formation of cancerous cells, which grow into tumors. Know the types of skin cancer and what they look like to help better idenCon’t on page 30
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) PROJECT-BASED VOCUHER FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR MARINA VILLAGE REPLACEMENT UNITS Solicitation Number: 086-S8-17-S
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC)
is seeking proposals from developers and owners of New Construction Units that desire to enter into an Agreement for a Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) Contract for Project Base Vouchers (PBVs) for Contract Units under PCC’s Project Based Voucher Program. Under this Request for Proposals, PCC will make available PBVs for units that will house extremely low and very low income households. A complete set of RFP documents can be obtained on June 5, 2017 by emailing your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at PCC’s Administrative Offices at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on June 21, 2017 at 11 a.m. Although not mandatory, all applicants are encouraged to attend to better understand the PCC’s requirements under this RFP. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered to 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. This RFP will remain Open until Completion of PBV Units.
Westbrook Housing Authority Request for Proposal
Notice is hereby given that the Housing Authority of Westbrook in Westbrook, CT is requesting proposals from qualified fire protection firms or individuals to obtain bids for a service and inspection contract at a housing complex for the elderly and disabled in Westbrook, CT. The Housing Authority of the Town of Westbrook strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women owned business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. Parties or individuals interested in responding may contact Robert Piscitelli, Project Manager by June 15, 2017 at (203) 415-5055 for details. Aviso por este medio es que la autoridad de vivienda de Westbrook en Westbrook, CT está solicitando propuestas de las empresas de protección de fuego calificado o individuos para obtener las ofertas para un servicio y la inspección de contrato en un complejo de viviendas para los ancianos y discapacitados en Westbrook, CT. La autoridad de vivienda de la ciudad de Westbrook recomienda empresas certificadas minoría y mujeres negocios empresas para responder a esta solicitud. Las partes o personas interesadas en la respuesta pueden comunicarse con Roberto Piscitelli, Gerente de proyecto por 15 de junio de 2017 en (203) 415-5055 para más detalles.
Town of Bloomfield
The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT is requesting qualifications from
experienced firms for Internet, Internet Voice Bundle and Hosted Voice service. RFQ documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the business tab, RFPs/ RFQs. Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY
is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one bedroom apartments At Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or Federal Disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until June 30th , 2017. Credit, Police and Landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke Free Housing. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING
VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and parttime flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids
McConaughy Terrace Furnace and Hot Water Heaters Replacement The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for McConaughy Terrace Furnace and Hot Water Heaters Replacement. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 3:00PM. TRANSFER STATION LABORER Off load trailers, reload for trans/disp. Lift 50 lbs., operate industrial powered trucks and forklift. Asbestos Worker Handler Training a +. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 173 Pickering St., Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860-342-1022; or Email to lkelly@redtransfer.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
Assistant Building Official $36.19 hourly For details and how to apply, go to www.bloomfieldct.org. Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE
Class A Driver Class A CDL Driver with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed. (Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off) Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480.
Translator/Clerk (Part-time)
Wallingford Public Schools is seeking candidates for a part-time Clerk/Translator position. 19.5 hours per week/$19.16 per hour/12 months per year. Must be fluent in written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish. Bachelor’s degree in Spanish or related field preferred. Apply on-line through our website - www.wallingford.k12.ct.us. EOE
The City of Norwalk Housing Authority
Program Manager – Town of Manchester
is seeking qualifications from photographers, videographers, journalists and graphic production professionals to create documentary materials related to a major urban redevelopment project. The Washington Village / South Norwalk Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) is a $150 milliondollar housing and neighborhood revitalization strategy being implemented with federal, state, municipal and private investments. The transformative nature of this collaboration provides a unique and extraordinary opportunity to tell a story and share the lessons learned over a 4 to 5-year period. It is also an opportunity to engage local residents including children in documenting this transformation. This Request for Qualifications is directed to firms, collaborations, partnerships or individuals with the pre-requisite skills to produce professional quality video productions, photo journals, graphic illustrations and journalistic copy to document this historical transformation. A complete copy of the Request for Qualifications can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the Business tab, RFPs/RFQs or the project website: www.norwalkcni.org Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director
KMK Insulation Inc.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Portland
Mechanical Insulator
Administrative Assistant for reception, phones, filing, and corporate staff support. Working knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., Manifests, AP & billing. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
Main Street Meeting Center $60,000 Salary CLOSING DATE: Friday, June 23, 2017 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: www.townofmanchester.org.
1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473 Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits. Please forward resume via REGULAR MAIL only. This company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
***HELP WANTED***
DEEP RIVER HOUSING AUTHORITY OPENING WAITING LIST FOR SENIOR/DISABLED
Total Fence LLC currently has an opening for a fence/guardrail installer. We offer competitive wages, medical, and a Simple IRA plan. Must have 5 years minimum fence/guardrail installation experience and a valid CT Driver’s License. Applicant must be fluent in English.
Please apply in person to:
TOTAL FENCE LLC 525 ELLA GRASSO BOULEVARD NEW HAVEN, CT 06519 ***No phone calls*** Total Fence LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The Deep River Housing Authority will open it’s waiting list for Senior/Disabled Housing on June 1st, 2017. This list will remain open until July 31st, 2017. To request an application, please call 860-526-5119. Applications will be accepted by mail (must be postmarked by 7/31/17) Housing is available to anyone over 62 or handicapped/disabled that meet the income guidelines. Monthly rates are based on income with a minimum base rent requirement of $697.
Deep River Housing 60 Main Street Deep River, CT 06417
***HELP WANTED***
J & S General Contractors LLC currently has an opening for a fence/ guardrail installer. We offer competitive wages, medical, and a Simple IRA plan. Must have 5 years minimum fence/guardrail installation experience and a valid CT Driver’s License. Applicant must be fluent in English. Please apply in person to: J & S GENERAL CONTRACTORS LLC 525 ELLA GRASSO BOULEVARD NEW HAVEN, CT 06519 ***No phone calls*** J & S General Contractors LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one bedroom apartments At Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or Federal Disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until June 30th , 2017. Credit, Police and Landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke Free Housing. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING
Listing: Senior Accountant
2+ years public accounting or 4 + years corporate accounting experience. CPA preferred. Monthly tax prep, assist w/monthly closing, account analysis/reconciliation, maintain subledgers, assist managing network and system projects. Must be able to work independently with little/no supervision. Report to Dir. of Acctg. w/heavy exposure to CFO. Strong Excel and analytical skills a must. Great growth potential! Benefit package. Petroleum industry experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**
The Glendower Group, Inc Request for Qualifications
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PORTFOLIO- GROUP IV AND V The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate of Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PORTFOLIOGROUP IV AND v. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, June 12, 2017 at 9:00AM
Police Services Aide – Town of Manchester $38,820.08/yr. - 40 hrs./wk.
CLOSING DATE: Friday, June 30, 2017 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: www.townofmanchester.org.
The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT is requesting proposals from experienced firms for Internet, Internet Voice Bundle and Hosted Voice service or equivalent. Request for Proposal (RFP) documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the business tab, RFPs/RFQs. Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director
Field Engineer
BA/BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. 2-5 yrs. experience. OSHA Certified. Proficient in reading contract plans and specifications. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; Email resumes to info@redtechllc.com. RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
Translator/Clerk (Part-time)
Wallingford Public Schools is seeking candidates for a part-time Clerk/Translator position. 19.5 hours per week/$19.16 per hour/12 months per year. Must be fluent in written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish. Bachelor’s degree in Spanish or related field preferred. Apply on-line through our website - www.wallingford.k12.ct.us. EOE
Project Manager Environmental Remediation Division 3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY is currently accepting applications for COUPLES
ONLY for its one bedroom apartments At Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or Federal Disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until June 30th , 2017. Credit, Police and Landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke Free Housing. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Help Wanted:
Immediate opening for construction laborer for Heavy and Highway Construction. Please call PJF Construction Corp.@ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Dump Truck Driver for Heavy and Highway Construction. CDL A license and clean driving record required. Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Portland Administrative Assistant for reception, phones, filing, and corporate staff support. Working knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., Manifests, AP & billing. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc. com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.
The Town of East Haven is currently accepting applications for the following positions: Firefighter D/Paramedic-Lateral Transfer: Salary- $48,972/year Firefighter/Paramedic-New Recruit: $48,972/year
Requirements for both positions and the application is available online at www.FirefighterApp.com/EastHavenFD. East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply. The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Assistant Building Official – Town of Manchester $62,434.71 - $75,071.06 CLOSING DATE: Friday, May 26, 2017 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: www.townofmanchester.org.
OFFICE ACCOUNTING HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Immediate opening for organized, self motivated, multitask person. Skills & Duties required: Microsoft Word, EXCEL a must/ Timberline Software a plus Classify-Scan documents to Timberline files Manage Subcontractor Service Agreements, Certificates of Insurance & W-9 requests Assist with: Certified Payroll reports & Lien Wavers Bond Filings on delinquent AR accounts Municipal Bids Contract documents Monthly, quarterly federal/ various state tax reporting Other duties as required Equal Opportunity Employer Minority and female candidates encouraged to apply
2BR Bristol, CT $950-$990 Zbikowski Park Neighborhood now taking applications for newly rehabbed 2BR apartment. Available immediately. Income restrictions apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. Contact Beatrice Nieves at (860) 585-2042 or at bnieves@bristolhousing.org
Apply at Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming 22 Peters Rd Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone: 860-243-2300 Fax: 860-243-3100 Send resumes & salary requirements to : Email: garrity.careers@garrityasphalt.com
Listing: Senior Accountant
Construction oriented company seeking full-time Accounting/Administrative Assistant to answer phones, schedule sales appts, filing, typing & other general office duties. Will also have accounting responsibilities-data entry, sales order billing, and processing A/P transactions, supporting our overthe-counter sales person, the controller & CFO. Min 5 yrs. Related experience, excellent written & verbal skills, ability to multitask, knowledge of basic accounting principles, excellent computer skills (5+ yrs. Experience) with Excel & Word, accounting software knowledge a plus. $31,200 annual salary-negotiable based on experience & qualifications. AA/EOE Email resume to mmunzner@atlasoutdoor.com
2+ years public accounting or 4 + years corporate accounting experience. CPA preferred. Monthly tax prep, assist w/monthly closing, account analysis/reconciliation, maintain subledgers, assist managing network and system projects. Must be able to work independently with little/no supervision. Report to Dir. of Acctg. w/heavy exposure to CFO. Strong Excel and analytical skills a must. Great growth potential! Benefit package. Petroleum industry experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer** VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and parttime flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F
VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and part-time flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@ vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F
KMK Insulation Inc.
1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473
Mechanical Insulator
Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits. Please forward resume via REGULAR MAIL only. This company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
Class A CDL Driver
with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed. (Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off) Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480. RED Technologies, LLC is An EOE.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Black Girls Hike: What You Need To Know Before Hitting The Trails by Ruthie Hawkins, BlackDoctor.org Contributor
One of the best parts of living in Phoenix, AZ is the variety of magnificent mountainous trails, like “The Superstitions,” Papago Park, Deem Hills West or small climbs like Tempe’s Hayden Butte – all which are lined with diverse cacti, critters, and creative juice. Of course, I can’t leave out the amazing views. There’s tons of reasons to get moving, but like many outdoor adventures, making sure you properly prepare yourself before hitting the trails is key to having a good time and staying safe. Organizations like GirlTrek, the largest public health movement and nonprofit for Black women and girls in the country, are helping to get more Black women in green spaces and equipping them to be nature pros. “GirlTrek believes that Black women have the solutions to make the world healthier and stronger. When women get outside, they notice their environments and opportunities to act. This leads to the greening of communities, greater interest in environmental issues and a desire to explore more of the great outdoors.,” leaders of GirlTrek said in a recent interview with the American Hiking Society. Every summer, GirlTrek brings Black women and girls on hikes in some of the country’s most beautiful places like the Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite National Park as part of the GirlTrek Summer Trek Series. The hikes are led by GirlTrek’s trained and certified trip leaders. “These hikes are ways to bring even more Black women and girls out into nature and experience the wonder of the great outdoors and the sisterhood of the GirlTrek health movement,” GirlTrek explained. With summer temps climbing day by day, here’s what you should know before trekking it out. Wear the right shoes. Leave the sandals and flip flops at home. For short hikes or more level terrain, a sturdy pair of sneakers are fine. For longer hikes or trekking through the mountains or over rocks, investing in a pair of hiking boots will offer more support. Whatever the footwear, always
Photo: GirlTrek.org
check to make sure you’re laced up and tied tight. Dress in layers. The weather can be unpredictable, and your body temperature will likely change throughout the hike. Dressing in layers helps you to adjust accordingly. Two important rules that the American Hiking Society recommends are: avoid cotton because it keeps moisture close to your skin and always carry a hat, which will protect you from the blazing sun (or other elements). There are numerous fabrics that wick moisture, dry quickly or conserve heat. Opt for these. Wear brightly colored clothing. Bright colors help you to be identifiable to your group or in the event that you become lost and someone is sent to rescue you. Hike with others. While no one heads out with the intent to get lost, it happens. Use the good old fashioned buddy system. Or, if you’re in need of some solo soul searching and the peace of a solo hike, ping your location to close friends and family. When hiking with children, it’s not a bad idea to post pics periodically, including a location and landmarks. Stay hydrated. Don’t wait until the morning of your hike to start guzzling water (your bladder may not enjoy that very much). Instead, get hydrated leading up to the hike and carry water with you on the trail. According to the American Hiking Society,”Without enough water, your body’s muscles and organs simply can’t perform as well.
Consuming too little water will not only make you thirsty, but susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness.” Carry an emergency kit. Your kit should include a rain coat, lots of water, first aid essentials, a whistle, small flashlight, and snack food (preferably high in protein). Communicate. Spare your loved ones the scare and check in with them before your hike, during (if possible) and definitely when you return. Carry a map. Technology makes it easier these days to navigate, but learning to read a map is an invaluable skill. Relying on cell phones and GPS could prove to be a disaster should you lose signal or your battery dies. Stay on the trail. While this may sound like common sense, you may be tempted to take shortcuts, which in unknown territory greatly increases your risk of getting lost or hurt. Though most popular trails are marked, I have come across some which can be tricky. Keep track of paint marks on trees and landmarks as a backup. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Your layers will help to protect you from the elements, but a quality sunscreen should still be worn. You may encounter areas during your hike where you are completely exposed to the scorching rays of the sun and you’ll want to protect your eyes and skin. Use a daypack. In the words of
30
Erykah Badu “pack light”! Instead of carrying a large purse or tote – which will be cumbersome – carry a small daypack or fanny pack. This will be perfect to hold your hiking essentials, like your rain coat, emergency kit, etc. Prep children. Hiking is a great family activity. When hiking with children, attach a whistle to their clothing. Never dress them in camouflage. Also, talk to them about what to do in the event of getting lost or separated (they should stay put). Leave no trace. The only thing you should leave or take from the trail are your memories. Dispose of garbage in designated areas or hold onto it until you get back to the trailhead; keep voices low; practice trail etiquette by walking on one side of the trail and allowing people who may be walking faster to pass by; do not disturb plants or wildlife. Leave the trail as you found it or better. Don’t panic. In the event you do get lost (God forbid) stay put. You’ll need to save your strength to ensure a timely, safe rescue. Build shelter if necessary. Select an open space where visibility is clear should a search team be sent out. Use your rain coat or poncho to stay warm/dry. Make yourself heard (whistle). Get out and see the world, and now, you can do it safely.
Con’t from page 26
7 Ways Black Men Can
tify markings that may have you concerned. Three common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. “Skin cancer, like all types of cancer, is capable of destroying healthy tissue and spreading to distant body sites,” said C. Blake Phillips, M.D., a fellow in the UAB Department of Dermatology. “If undetected or untreated, skin cancers lead to loss of vital functions or death. It is important to keep an eye on your skin and watch for changes that could be a sign of skin cancer.” Wear sunscreen with an SPF value of 30 or higher every day to exposed areas.The most important aspect of protecting your skin is to avoid UV radiation exposure from the sun. Phillips recommends: Look for products that don’t feel greasy, and block both UVA and UVB. Wear protective clothing and widebrimmed hats with sunglasses when out in the sun. Avoid peak sun hours of the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., choosing to do outdoor activities in morning or evening hours. Avoid indoor tanning, and choose pigmented lotion, spray tan or no tan instead. 7. Know your family health history Next to skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men. Men age 50 and older should be screened during their annual physical exam with a discussion regarding prostate cancer risk. A routine blood test can measure a biomarker called prostate-specific antigen or PSA, which can identify a man’s risk of prostate cancer along with a digital rectal exam. Concern based on the PSA blood test level or digital rectal exam can prompt a biopsy of the prostate gland, which can be further evaluated to determine the presence of prostate cancer and, if found, the aggressiveness of the cancer. “It is important to discuss family history due to the significantly higher risk for men with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.”“Many men do not know their family history of prostate cancer because men tend not to talk about their health concerns, even with their children and other family members,” said Soroush Rais-Bahrami, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Urology. Certain men may have a higher risk of prostate cancer based on family history or ethnicity, race, and ancestry and should receive their first screening discussions at the age of 40.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
N O T WO C AREER P ATHS A RE T HE S AME We Offer: • Employer Incentives to Hire • On-the-Job Training • Job Search Assistance • Re-Training • Transportation Assistance • Hiring Events
4 Locations: New Haven: (203) 624-1493 Meriden: (203) 238-3688 Middletown: (860) 347-7691 Hamden: (203) 859-3200 Open Mon-Fri, 8:30am – 4:30pm Hamden opens at 8am
Visit www.workforcealliance.biz/services/wheredoistart Be Part of the South Central CT Economy
*There is never a fee for the jobseeker or the employer. Services are funded through state and federal grants.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS June 14, 2017 - June 20, 2017
ONE DAY SALE 20 OFF
$
OUR LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON— JUST IN TIME FOR FATHER’S DAY!
TILL 2PM
SELECT PURCHASES OF $50+ Exclusions apply; see below
% 20 OFF
ALL DAY
SELECT SALE ITEMS
Exclusions apply; see below
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$
FREE SHIPPING ONLINE 6/16-6/17
Exclusions apply; see macys.com/freereturns
SHOP 3PM-CLOSING THURS, JUNE 15 & 9AM-11PM FRI & SAT, JUNE 16 & 17 Hours may vary by store. See macys.com & click on stores for local information.
JUST FOR MACY’S CARDHOLDERS! USE YOUR CARD & GET AN
EXTRA
20% OFF
SELECT SALE CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
EXTRA 15% OFF
USE THIS SAVINGS PASS THURS 3PM-CLOSING OR ’TIL 2PM FRI OR SAT EXTRA DOLLARS OFF SELECT SALE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS
$
2O OFF
YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER.
SELECT SALE JEWELRY, WATCHES, SHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, LINGERIE, SWIM FOR HER, MEN’S SUIT SEPARATES & SPORT COATS & HOME ITEMS
VALID 3PM-CLOSE 6/15-6/17/2017. EXCLUSIONS APPLY.
EXCLUSIONS APPLY.
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EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/ accessories, baby gear, cosmetics/fragrances, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electrics/electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, maternity, select licensed depts., previous purchases, rugs, services, shoes for her, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, Apple Products, Avec Les Filles, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Movado Bold, Natori, Original Penguin, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsthof. Macys. com is excluded from $20 off pass. PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or applied as payment or credit to your account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices. Purchase must be $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.
ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 3PM-CLOSING 6/15-6/17/2017. Our lowest prices of the season refers to our summer season May 1-July 31, 2017; prices may be lowered for clearance.