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‘A loss for the city. A loss for the Kingdom of God.’
Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Winsett called home at 87 Celebrated minister, mentor was pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church for 39 years by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
No matter how long the homegoing service for Rev. Dr. Joseph Van Alfred Winsett is on Friday, Dec. 17, according to those who knew and admired him, the service won’t be long enough to account his list
of accomplishments, milestones and teachings. Reverend Winsett, pastor emeritus of Ebenzer Baptist Church in the Hill District, died on Dec. 8. He was 87. Reverend Winsett, born in 1934 in Louisville, Ky., was the pastor of a church in Beloit, Wis., when he came
to Pittsburgh to attend the 1971 funeral of Rev. James Benjamin Cayce, the former pastor of Ebenezer. During the national search for Rev. Cayce’s successor, the powers-that-be soon learned that the right man for the position would be SEE WINSETT A5
REV DR.J.VAN ALFRED WINSETT, at the Pastoral Anniversary for Rev. Munson, July 28 2019. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)
Hays Manor one step closer to being demolished, rebuilt with townhomes
FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, a member of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2018.
Pilot program for Black women to be implemented in spring by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The spotlight is on Hays Manor in McKees Rocks, and for all the right reasons. The 138-unit housing
complex run by the Allegheny County Housing Authority recently became the focus of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods grant program. HUD awarded the ACHA
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with a $450,000 grant to begin plans to revitalize Hays Manor, jumpstart community improvements, and expand opportunities for its residents. Mix that with the Oct. 28 unveiling of the “M-PowerHouse Community Haven of McKees Rocks,” to be housed inside the Hays Manor Community Center which will provide a litany of services to Hays Manor residents, and there’s smiles going all around,
from the residents to the administrators. “This is something that really brings a good feeling for (Hays Manor) families, mental healing, and I would say that they get physical and spiritual benefits of a highly positive manner for them,” said Dr. Bev Moore, deputy executive director of the Allegheny County Housing Authority, in an interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Dec. 8.
The grant will allow the housing authority to begin plans for a complete demolition and rebuilding of Hays Manor. Over the next few months, the ACHA will be getting input from Hays Manor residents, local elected officials, developers, etc., as to how to fully revamp Hays Manor and the community around it. Frank Aggazio, executive director of the ACHA, told the Courier that while HUD allows for ACHA’s
plan to be submitted within two years, the plan for Hays Manor and McKees Rocks will be submitted far before Nov. 2023. That plan, Aggazio said, will definitely include tearing down each of the threestory-style apartment buildings that currently comprise Hays Manor, and replacing them with at least 138 townhome-like structures, where each SEE HAYS MANOR A3
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“Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men? - Philippians 2:6-7 REV. WALKER SAYS: What would life and history be like had Jesus NEVER been BORN to DIE for our SINS? How many animal Sacrifices would we or could we make for our Salvation?
Can the last-place Steelers still make a playoff run? How about starting with a win against Tennessee on Sunday, Dec. 19... Thirteen games into a 17-game schedule and the Pittsburgh Steelers sit alone in last place in the AFC North with a 6-6-1 record. Despite that mediocre record and the fact the team is dead last, they still have a way to sneak into the playoffs, most likely as a division winner. The Baltimore Ravens, who sit at 8-5, atop the division currently, are
finish their season. That would leave them with a final record of 8-9. Sounds crazy but it’s a realistic possibility. The Cleveland Browns, who are currently 7-6 and in second place, finish with the Raiders, Packers, Steelers and Bengals. Let’s again assume the Steelers win this one and the Browns go 2-1 in their other three, beating the Raid-
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Mike Pelaia starting to sink, ever since Pittsburgh beat them and it only gets harder for them as they have games remaining against the Packers, Bengals, Rams and then finish with the Steelers. Pittsburgh would have to win that last game in Baltimore and if they did, it’s not inconceivable for the Ravens to lose their other three, going 0-6 to
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ers and Bengals (which is no easy task); that leaves them at 9-8. Cincinnati currently sits third in the AFC North at 7-6 and they are the team that I believe is the best in the division, but they finish with the Broncos, Ravens, Chiefs and Browns. They could win all of those games but it’s not a hard sell to think they may go 2-2 down the stretch with that schedule, finishing at 9-8 as well. That all brings us to the Steelers, who don’t ex-
STEELERS RUNNING BACK NAJEE HARRIS, during the Steelers game against Minnesota, Dec. 9. (Photo by Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers) actly have it easy and are far from a good team, but they finish with the Ti-
tans, Chiefs, Browns and Ravens. I’ve already mentioned they need to beat the Browns and Ravens, which I think they can do and have done already this season, meaning if they can find a way to split with the Titans and Chiefs, most likely the Titans game at home this Sunday, Dec. 19, they will finish 3-1 down the stretch and 9-7-1 overall, winning the division by a half-game and slipping into the number four seed. With that all said, the Steelers have some serious issues and I think it would be hard to overcome a lot of those to go 3-1. First and foremost, they have far too many injuries to overcome. Stephon Tuitt in all likelihood will not return this season, Tyson Alualu is out of the year, Joe Haden has missed significant time, T.J. Watt has missed chunks of games despite his all-world season, and Alex Highsmith has found himself sidelined as well. Haden, Watt and Highsmith all need to play the last four games. Without them, the team has no chance. It’s not just injuries on the defense, however. Cam
Heyward and Watt have been Defensive Player of the Year-level players but the rest of the defense has been struggling. They rank 27th in overall defense allowing 232 passing yards per game and shockingly 140 rushing yards per game. These are unacceptable numbers for a unit that had expectations of being the best in the league coming into the season. Granted, it’s unrealistic to expect backups to play at the same level as starters but guys like Devin Bush need to step up. He’s not the only one but I’m singling him out because he’s been glaringly bad in both the run and pass game. The unit is talented enough to fix things and help make that 3-1 stretch a reality but it better start now. Offensively, Ben Roethlisberger isn’t what he used to be but he’s far from the problem. The offensive line is young, inexperienced and unable to protect Ben or create the necessary blocks for rookie sensation Najee Harris to break off long runs. Matt Canada and his play-calling is garbage. The sweeping chang-
es that he was going to implement haven’t happened and while he may prefer motion and mobility from his quarterback, a good coach will design schemes and call plays that fit the talent that he has. Roethlisberger can still sling it and does so when he calls his own plays. When Canada calls the plays, expect a dump off or a run up the middle. It’s not working. If the team allows Ben to call most of the plays from a no-huddle, utilize guys like Diontae Johnson and Harris and go deep to Chase Claypool (who needs to focus more). Then, the offense can ideally put together more complete games as opposed to these fourth-quarter comebacks that fall short, like what happened in Los Angeles and Minnesota. While I think the team is capable of doing these items, they’ve shown flashes, with it being this late in the season and a lot of work still needing to be done. I think it will be hard, yet not out of the realm of possibility for the Steelers to go 3-1, win the AFC North and play postseason football.
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Hays Manor one step closer to being demolished, rebuilt with townhomes
HAYS MANOR FROM A1
resident would have their own entry from the outside. Some of the new structures may be built at a site different from the current Hays Manor site. The existing Hays Manor complex was constructed in 1950. “Hays Manor is in need of a little more tender-loving care, so to speak,” Aggazio told the Courier in an exclusive interview, Dec. 13. “I’m a proponent that three-story walkups aren’t necessarily the best use of housing for families...it can be very crowded, sometimes the hallways are used as gathering spots for people who don’t live there...if you have your own house or townhouse front entry and back entry, that’s yours, you kind of take ownership in that.” Aggazio said the plan submitted would be reviewed by HUD for its competitive “Implementation Grant,” which could provide up to $50 million in funding for the project. “If we get the implementation grant, this will be very big for the community,” Aggazio said. Competition was fierce for the HUD Choice Neighborhood grants. There were
32 applicants this year, and with a lot of “prayer,” in the words of Dr. Moore, ACHA was chosen as one of just eight grant recipients. Other grants were awarded to housing authorities in Annapolis, Md., Augusta, Ga., Brownsville, Tex., Jackson, Mich., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Richmond, Va. The Choice Neighborhoods initiative has been in existence for 10 years, aiming to provide funds that revitalize distressed HUD-assisted housing communities and address challenges in its surrounding neighborhood. “The competitiveness is so fierce for those (grants),” Dr. Moore told the Courier. “We just took a chance.” “We were very excited to get it, to say the least,” added Aggazio. And beginning in January 2022, Terry Smith, president of M-PowerHouse, is bringing all of his community resources to the Hays Manor Community Center, including specialists for everything from violence prevention to time management, animals and learning services for children, and healthy eating and cooking classes. He’s also starting a pilot program that will provide 30
FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, a member of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2018.
FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, a member of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2018. African American women who are residents of Hays Manor with the opportunity to become a certified drone pilot, or a career in cryptocurrency, robotics, nursing or dietary. M-PowerHouse is a local organization dedicated to connecting underserved youth to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) careers and other educational opportunities. But Smith was troubled by the 2019 City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission report which revealed that Pittsburgh, overall, is the worst place for Black women to live. Smith told the Courier he presented to Dr. Moore at the ACHA a four-tier plan to help put Pittsburgh’s Black women in a more advantageous position. She was in favor of the pilot FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, a member of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2018. program, and secured the Hays Manor Community Center as a headquarters open inside the Hays Man- Smith said. Applications currency, robotics, nursing of sorts for Smith’s pro- or Community Center on will be taken from Hays or dietary. select afternoons from 2:30 Manor female residents, “We’re trying to give them gram to be housed. p.m. to 6 p.m., as there will and 30 will be selected to all the necessary tools, be“A lot of women have PTSD as African Amer- be COVID testing and di- enter what’s being called cause the average salaries icans in lower-income abetes screenings, cook- the “NOW Program” (Nur- for drone operators and communities,” Smith told ing classes from local chef turing Opportunities for careers in cryptocurrency the Courier in an exclu- Claudy Pierre, dance class- Workforce). The holistic can make $100,000-plus sive interview, Dec. 7. “We es, classes on food table approach to the program (per year),” Smith said. know someone who’s been etiquette from Pittsburgh involves women first going “This is the type of money killed...social ills from opi- Fogo de Chao restaurant through the etiquette pro- that transforms lives.” Smith said it’s important oids...we’re no different sales manager Gary White, gram, where women will from Iran or North Ko- and a number of special- tidy up their soft skills and that the program teaches rea or any of these other ists helping residents with life skills, and learn fiscal women financial responsicountries that go through violence prevention, drug responsibility from repre- bility, because when womPTSD, but no one has tak- and alcoholism, time man- sentatives with Key Bank en start making large salaen the time to examine agement and other soft and S&T Bank. The wom- ries, they will have a better en would next take a basic understanding of how to what African Americans go and life skills. The model pilot program coding course. Coding is handle money, including through at-large.” specifically for African otherwise known as com- savings and retirement acThe “M-PowerHouse American adult women is puter programming, and counts, investing, etc. Community Haven of set to begin in the spring, learning how to write code “This builds self-esteem McKees Rocks” will be gives you the ability to and pride, and it’s not just make computers “behave” about inspiring, but aspirin a desired manner. Cod- ing to be that next person ing is vitally important in who will make this world today’s workforce. a better place,” Smith told “Coding is actually the the Courier. “Bottom line thing that’s taking away is, creating a better future the ‘essential worker’ jobs,” for the next generation, Smith told the Courier. and it all starts with the The final step in the pro- parents.” gram for the women would be their certification as possibly a drone operator, or in cybersecurity, crypto-
FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, a member of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2018.
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HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY EDITH MCCALLUM
90YR OLD, Edith McCallum
EDITH MCCALLUM 90 and 3 yr old great grand child brave aguire
4 GENERATIONS OF THE FAMILY lavitta Gales edith mCCaullem Michelle Gales Cephas Nyjah cephas Nevaeh Cephas
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Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Winsett called home at 87
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Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 11 AM Rev. Thomas J. Burke- Pastor Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsParochial Vicar Rev. David H. TaylorSenior Parochial Vicar. www.sbtmparishpgh.com
East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800
Worship in person or Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship..........8:45am Sancutary worship.......11:00 a.m. Taize -Wednesdays.........7:00 p.m.
REV. DR. JOSEPH VAN ALFRED WINSETT, FIRST LADY JACQUELINE OWENS WINSETT(Photos by Jackie McDonald)
WINSETT FROM A1
Rev. Winsett. He did not disappoint. “An unselfish, sacrificial man,” is how Rev. Barbara Gunn, pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, in North Versailles, described Rev. Winsett to the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Just a wonderful preacher and a mentor. He knew how to teach and train preachers to love God and love people. He always said, you make sure that whatever you do, you love God first, and to love people” even if they, at times, didn’t show the love back. “We weren’t lovable and Jesus loved us,” she said Rev. Winsett would remind his understudies. Reverend Winsett led the Ebenezer Baptist congregation through a fire in 1976 that caused $300,000 worth of damage. He led the way in the construction of Ebenezer Towers, an 11-story high rise for senior citizens, which still stands today in the Hill District. Ebenezer Baptist featured a prominent health ministry and scholarship system under Rev. Winsett’s tutelage. And Rev. Winslett loved to mentor aspiring preachers—Rev. Gunn being one of many who were taught by him. “He exposed me and so many of his preachers to
foreign missions, especially Haiti and Africa,” Rev. Gunn told the Courier. Upwards of 50 ministers were mentored by Rev. Winsett, including Rev. Dr. Sheila Johnson-Hunt, president of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity, and her husband, Rev. James Hunt, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Penn Hills. Reverend Alonzo Murphy, pastor of Carrone Baptist Church in Homewood, was also mentored by Rev. Winsett. Reverend Gunn recalled how, in the early 1980s, Rev. Winsett was the first Baptist minister in Pittsburgh to license a female to become a fellow minister. She said that at the time, “so many of his fellow pastors distanced themselves” from him, as it was unheard of for there to be women in ministry in the Baptist church. But Rev. Gunn said that eventually, the pastors reunited with Rev. Winsett, whom she called a trailblazer for embracing women in the ministry. Rev. Gunn became a licensed minister in 1985 under Rev. Winsett. All the things that God blessed him with, he used them to glorify God, period,” Rev. Gunn told the Courier.
Brenda Tate became a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1988. She joined the church because of Rev. Winsett. “I was drawn to Ebenezer because he (Rev. Winsett) had a radio show on WAMO and I would hear his voice, and I think the calming effect of his drew me to Ebenezer,” she told the Courier. She said Rev. Winsett showed her how to “take the church outside of the walls of Ebenezer.” She traveled with him on missionary trips to Israel, Africa, and Germany; he even baptized her in the Jordan River. When he was in the pulpit, Tate said Rev. Winsett could be best described as a “quiet storm. He was a teacher. He brought the word in a way that was comelling, profound and it resonated with everyone.” On March 13, 2004, a devastating fire engulfed the entire church. It was a Saturday morning, around 8:30, and Rev. Winsett was inside the church with others when he was alerted to the fire. Everyone got out, but two Pittsburgh firefighters, Charles Brace and Richard Stefanakis, were killed fighting the blaze. Dozens more were injured. Tate was outside on that fateful day, too. “Reverend (Winsett) knew how to manage crises,” she told the Courier. “Even that day, he was aware that the congregation was out there with him and he always took control...he made people
feel as though it would be OK. And he kept the congregation that day all together.” It took two years before the current church building at 2001 Wylie Avenue was ready to be the new home of Ebenzer Baptist Church, but Tate recalled how Rev. Winsett didn’t miss a beat in between. The pastor of Hillcrest Seventh-Day Adventist Church offered Rev. Winsett to use its building for Sunday services, and each Sunday for the next two years after the fire, Ebenezer’s members worshipped there. “You would have thought he was preaching at Ebenezer,” Tate remembered about their time at Hillcrest Church, the passion that Rev. Winsett brought to the pulpit. “You never saw him falter,” she added. “He knew his people.” Reverend Winsett, the internationally-known preacher and teacher, mentor and motivator, retired as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 2012. His last sermon from the pulpit was on May 6, the sermon entitled, “It Ain’t Over, Till It’s Over,” (Ephesians 6: 9-10). Two weeks later, on May 20, there was a retirement celebration for the famed pastor, “A Man Named Winsett,” at the Churchill Valley Country Club. Though he had retired as the day-to-day pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, you could still find him at church services, mentoring others, showing young people
(and adults) the right way to live, and having a heart for those less fortunate. Reverend Winsett had served as Dean of Students for the American Baptist College, Liaison for the National and German Conventions, Assistant Director of the Department of Theology, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and President of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention. He is listed in Who’s Who Among Professionals and Executives and was cited for outstanding service by former President Jimmy Carter. But he wasn’t one to brag about any accolades or achievements that were on paper. For Rev. Winsett, it was always about putting God first, and uplifting others in His name. “He’s loved, respected and highly regarded,” Rev. Gunn told the Courier of Rev. Winsett. “A great family man. A loss for the city. A loss for the Kingdom of God.” Reverend Winsett is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and four children: Marie Winsett Ruple, John Andrew Winsett, Lisa Jo Winsett, and Delicha Lattaker. (Editor’s Note: The visitation for Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Winsett will be held, Friday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Paul Baptist Church, 6701 Penn Avenue, East Liberty. The homegoing service will be held, Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m., also at St. Paul Baptist Church.)
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PNC Bank appoints Gina Coleman as Chief Diversity Officer Coleman succeeds Marsha Jones, who will retire in early 2022 The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that PNC Bank announced December 8 that Gina Coleman will lead the bank’s diversity and inclusion efforts as Chief Diversity Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2022. She succeeds Marsha Jones, who has successfully led PNC’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts for the past decade, and who is retiring. As Chief Diversity Officer, Coleman will help to develop strategies and programs that allow PNC to build and sustain a talented, diverse workforce, and further a culture of inclusion at PNC. She will also co-chair the PNC Corporate Diversity Council with William S. Demchak, PNC chairman, president and chief executive officer, to focus on embedding inclusion
into every aspect of the organization. “PNC has long embraced diversity and inclusion as core values, and we are excited to have Gina in this role to be a partner in developing strategies that allow us to recruit, retain and advance diverse talent at PNC,” said Demchak in a statement. “Gina will also help to ensure that PNC continues our commitment to growing an increasingly diverse customer base by supporting business initiatives geared toward understanding the unique financial needs of our customers and the communities where our employees live and work.” Coleman has previously held roles within PNC, most recently as the Client and Community Relations director in the regional president’s office for the Detroit
market. In that role, she was responsible for managing PNC’s local PNC Foundation giving, corporate initiatives; marketing, client relations, and community outreach. She also has held roles within PNC’s Workplace Banking, Community Development Banking and Wealth Management. Coleman rejoined PNC in Aug. 2021 after serving as chief sales officer for MassMutual Great Lakes, where she led the new advisor sales teams, including a female financial services group, recruiting, strategic sales, and partnerships. In 2018, Coleman was recognized as a PNC Performance Award winner, the highest employee recognition honor. WithSEE PNC BANK B2
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Are you mentally struggling back at work? Use these tips by Sherri Kolade For New Pittsburgh Courier
(Michigan Chronicle)—Extroverts, office life has returned! Trips to the coffee pot, lunch breaks and office jockeying are back in full gear. For introverts, it’s a different ball game and we feel for you, especially those who want to stay home and WFH. Some who have a return-to-work date (or already have been back) might be overwhelmed at the thought of interacting with coworkers you are so used to seeing online in a small, square box while staying safe. Susan Albers, PsyD, said that going back to work doesn’t have to be stressful. Find out some of the psychological impacts behind this and prepare your mind while heading in. Why Are You Stressed? Returning to work can be a lot, everyone agrees especially as the pandemic nears to a close, but dangers can still lurk and cause apprehension in some. According to Dr. Albers it’s normal because people have been safe and at home in their “pods” and are now coming out. What people are feeling is called “reentry anxiety” and there are different elements to it. “The first form concerns safety. People are anxious that when they leave their house, they may unknowingly contract COVID-19 or possibly spread it. The second type is around social interactions. Over the past year, we have been social distancing and lost practice of how to meet with people in person, look them in the eyes and engage in everyday chitchat.” Albers added that anxiety can be good for some moments, but it can be bad when there is too much anxiety. “A little bit of anxiety is okay. It helps motivate you. For example, if you’re going to SEE MENTAL STRUGGLE B2
Debt collectors can now track you down on social media (Black Information Network)—You might want to be careful accepting friend and direct message requests on social media. Thanks to policy changes introduced under the Trump administration, debt collectors are legally allowed to track you down and contact you on social media. Changes to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act went into effect Tuesday (November 30) and now allow debt collectors to expand their tactics in reaching out to you—and it doesn’t stop at social media. Debt collectors can now text and email you, too. The changes to the Act were introduced by the former administration—who became friendlier to businesses. Trump-appointed Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Kathy
Kraninger said the new rules were proposed to “modernize the legal regime for debt collection.” Another cost of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, is an increase in amount of people who owe a debt. According to a report by The Washington Post, at the end of September 2021, 77.6 million consumers had at least one debt in collections totaling $188 billion in outstanding bills. Collection industry experts hailed the changes, noting that email and text is most people’s preferred method of communication. Mark Neeb, head of the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals called the new rule “a small step forward in modernizing communication with consumers.” So what exactly is in the new rule
to protect consumers from being bombarded with messages? Protecting Consumers from Harassment The new rules do provide some guidelines for the expanded communication allowed between debt collectors and consumers. For one, if a debt collector reaches out to you on social media, the message has to be private—they can’t just post on your timeline for friends and family to see. And, there’s no sneaky requests allowed either. If the collector messages you or friend requests on social media, they have to say upfront that they’re attempting to collect a debt. Debt collectors also have to give you a way to opt-out of social media communications, too.
Liberty, justice and contracting opportunities for all our entrepreneurs and innovators (NNPA)—Last week, ahead of Small Business Saturday, I stopped by Lee’s Flowers on historic U Street in Washington, D.C.—the oldest Black-owned florist in the city. During my visit, I picked up a beautiful floral arrangement and joined millions of Americans who shopped small this weekend to support our local economies. Together, we contributed a record $23.3 billion to Main Street businesses across the nation—which was a more than $4 billion increase over last year’s Small Business Saturday. Every time we choose to shop small, dine small or entertain small we’re helping to power America’s greatest economic engine. Small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs and generate more than 40 percent of our economic output. With their creativity and grit, they define our neighborhoods and build thriving communities in every corner of our nation. At the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), we’re working to nurture their economic potential to deliver an equitable and sustainable economic recovery. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden, we’ve partnered across the federal government to take “shopping small” to a whole new level by transforming how the U.S. government—the world’s largest buyer—spends billions of America’s tax dollars on goods and services each year. An equitable federal procurement strategy that prioritizes small, disadvantaged businesses will help level the playing field and rebuild our economy from the bottom up and
the middle out. ing goal will be a giant leap forward and At the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massa- make a big difference for many small busicre in June, President Biden laid out his vi- nesses and communities across the country, sion to open more doors to federal contracting putting an extra $50 billion into the hands of with an ambitious goal: Increase the share America’s small, disadvantaged businesses going to small, disadvantaged businesses by over the next five years. 50 percent by 2025. SBA is rising to the President’s challenge. In FY 2020, 1.9 percent of federal conWe’re disaggregating federal contracting tracts went to Black-owned firms while 2.1 data to track equity across racial and ethnic percent went to categories, and advancLatinx-owned ing reforms that will firms and 3.2 per- Isabella Casillas Guzman increase transparency, cent went to AAencourage accountability PI-owned firms, and, most importantly, even though they drive inclusion in the U.S. represent 9.9 pergovernment’s small busicent, 12.8 percent ness contracting system. and 8.1 percent of Included in these reall small businessforms is an effort to make es, respectively. certain that “category And SBA’s analymanagement,” a governsis found that half of all small business-eli- ment-wide initiative to strategically source gible contracts went to businesses in just 35 commonly purchased goods and services, congressional districts in the final year of the doesn’t shut out small businesses. We want previous administration. We must do better. to make it easier for more small businesses Buying from small, disadvantaged busi- owned by people of color, women and veternesses will leverage the federal government’s ans, to do business with the federal governpurchasing power to reestablish domestic ment. supply chains and Made in America prodTo support these improvements, the ucts—using market growth opportunities to Biden-Harris Administration is now directstrengthen our nation’s industrial base. ing over 40,000 federal contracting officers It will spur innovation—helping America’s across several federal agencies to spend tens entrepreneurs to develop and bring to mar- of billions of dollars more with small, disadvantaged businesses. ket the products and services of the future. In other words, America is about to shop Achieving President Biden’s new contract-
Commentary
small in a very big way and put equity at the heart of how we do business. We’re moving to implement these changes quickly to position small businesses for vast opportunities ahead. With the unprecedented opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $1.2 trillion in historic investments to upgrade America’s transportation, water, energy and broadband systems, we need to make sure all of our small businesses can get in the door to compete. The U.S. government spends $560 billion a year on federal acquisitions of products and services—we must ensure those taxpayer dollars are being used to fortify entrepreneurship, innovation and domestic supply chains, and in the process strengthen our democracy by creating equitable pathways to the American dream. We’re making big changes to deliver on President Biden’s vision and open federal contracting to America’s emerging entrepreneurs. Food, data analytics, solar cells, military uniforms, life-saving biotechnologies and even flowers—the federal government buys it all to fortify America today and tomorrow. We need all our great ideas from everywhere and anywhere working hard for us. And, today, we’re more committed than ever to ensuring the federal government shops small to help our nation build back better than ever.
(Isabella Casillas Guzman is the 27th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.)
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Record $1.7 trillion student debt drowns HBCU borrowers (TriceEdneyWire.com)—As the cost of a college education continues to rise, an estimated 45 million consumers collectively owe a record $1.7 trillion dollars in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve, —a $905 billion increase in just the past decade. For Black America, the struggle to gain a college education is an even more daunting challenge. While historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to provide value-priced higher education compared to non-HBCU institutions, financing college often means students and families alike taking on loans that can take decades to retire. An October 28 virtual panel of student debt experts and cancellation advocates discussed how the ongoing student debt crisis has generally impacted Black borrowers nationwide, and particularly Black borrowers at HBCUs. Co-convened by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), and funded by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, the forum emphasized the need for across-the-board student loan cancellation, as well as increased HBCU funding. “We were taught early on if you go to college, you do well, you can have a great life, only to find ourselves in a debt cycle that many will not be able to get out of,” said Derrick Johnson, a panel participant and President of the NAACP. “Almost half of Black graduates owe more on their undergraduate student loans four years after graduation than they did when they received their diplomas.” “Not only do they have less wealth to borrow on to pay back loans because of the racial wealth gap, but the underfunding of HBCUs compound the financial challenges which result in higher debt for students who attend these schools,” said Rep. Alma Adams.
Charlene Crowell
Commentary The North Carolina Congresswoman speaks from experience. An HBCU graduate and professor for 40 years before joining Congress, Adams is also the founder and chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. Since its inception in 2015, this bipartisan and bicameral caucus has procured $1.3 billion for HBCUs to rebuild campus infrastructure, and $40 million in HBCU scholarships for land grant colleges through the Farm Bill. For the estimated 300,000 HBCU students attending one of the 101 accredited campuses spread across 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, these funds help but do not fulfill the escalating costs of securing a college degree. Among these students, 80 percent are Black, 70 percent are from low-income families and 41 percent are the first generation of their family to attend college, according to UNCF. As a result, many HBCU students and their parents often need a combination of student loans, Pell Grants, and jobs to offset limited family contributions to college educations. As students increase job hours as part of financial aid packages, the amount of time required to complete a traditional four-year degree is also increasing. Today, most students—60 percent—earn their baccalaureate degrees in six years. Only 39 percent graduate in the traditional four years. And the longer it takes to graduate, the number of loans and their indebtedness increase as well. Pell Grants, a needs-based federal program designed to serve low-income students and their families, has also failed to keep pace with rising college costs. The maximum annual Pell Grant award for the 2020-2021 school year is $6,345; due to the program’s sliding scale that takes family income, size, and contributions into account, this aid can be as low as $639. In the 2019-2020 academic year, approximately 6.9 million students received a Pell Grant that averaged $4,117. While this amount of financial assistance is helpful, the actual annual cost of college surpasses the financial capabilities of most Black Americans. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the annual average cost of attending a moderately-priced, in-state public four-year institution is $26,820. For out-of-state students attending the same college, the annual cost jumps to $43,280, and the average cost of attending a private, four-year college is even higher at $54,880. By comparison, the annual average cost of attending an HBCU is 28 percent less than that of a non-HBCU institution, according to UNCF. Average public HBCU tuition and fees for the same academic year are $7,195 for state residents and $14,966 for out-of-state students. At private HBCUs, like Howard University, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, annual costs run higher, but are still less than $30,000. When median family incomes are compared by race, the ability to finance college education shows stark differences. In 2020, Black median family income was $57,480, while that of White families was $96,170, according to the College Board, a nonprofit institution that since 1900 has been dedicated to promoting excellence and equity through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools. In response to these and other educational concerns, a growing chorus of stakeholders are calling for federal student loan forgiveness to alleviate decades-long debt and give all college graduates the opportunity to build wealth. Graduates from many HBCUs earn starting salaries in excess of $50,000. Further, for STEM graduates, starting salaries can bring more than $60,000. At face value, these salaries seem sufficient to begin a career— until the cost of student loan repayment takes several hundred dollars each month away from net earnings. “HBCUs are known for their culture, homecomings, but more importantly, they produce the world’s greatest and top Black doctors, lawyers, engineers, and STEM graduates,” said Jaylon Herbin, panel moderator and a CRL Outreach Associate. “Without our HBCUs, Black America would not be what it is today. We must continue to leverage the support and funding for HBCUs, so that the graduates that they produce are not burdened by student debt.” (Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)
How JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways looks to help MBEs grow by Alan Hughes For New Pittsburgh Courier
(Michigan Chronicle)—In response to the pandemic’s devastating impact on minority-owned businesses and the social justices that mainstream America woke up to last year, JPMorgan Chase announced a five-year $30 billion commitment in October 2020 to provide economic opportunity to Black and Latinx communities. That commitment to Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) includes greater access to capital, coaching, technical assistance and a pledge to boost spending with Black and Latinx suppliers by an additional $750 million. As the head of Advancing Black Pathways, a strategy aimed at strengthening the economic foundation of the Black community, Byna Elliott plays a crucial role in putting that $30 billion to work. While at first glance, JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) may appear to be another corporate initiative that cynics may cite as window-dressing on the heels of BLM, it’s worth mentioning that it predates the movement by more than a year. While supporting minority-owned businesses is a big part of ABP, it also looks to improve the financial health of these communities and advance career opportunities for diverse talent. ABP grew out of a 2018 conversation between Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s chairman and CEO, and Thasunda Duckett, now president of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA). Dimon requested that Duckett works with the JPMorgan team to help them develop initiatives to address the racial wealth gap. ABP and its three components—education, entrepreneurship and financial health—came out of those discussions. “Dimon felt that the largest bank in the country ought
to have a role in addressing the racial wealth gap and really lead from the front and bring our partners along and be very intentional,” says Elliott. On the entrepreneurship front, ABP looks to address the lack of access to capital and other issues disproportionately challenging diverse entrepreneurs. Among the solutions: JPMorgan Chase invested about $42 million earlier this year to support the ecosystem around its Entrepreneurs of Color Fund and committed to investing an initial $50 million in Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). “We’ve doubled that commitment, and we’re going to end the year with $120 million invested in equity capital and other tools with Minority Depository Institutions,” says Elliott. “We know that if we can scale them, they can also be part of the ecosystem around providing capital. We’ll also be launching products and services around easier ways to access capital through JPMorgan Chase directly.” While capital access is one of the challenges that ABP looks to address, the program also offers mentorship and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs grow and manage their enterprises and become eligible for traditional bank capital. To that end, ABP partners with the National Urban League, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the US Black Chamber of Commerce on Advancing Black Entrepreneurs. This program was created to help provide those soft skills around getting a venture ready for capital— improving credit scores, having the proper accounts set up, understanding balance sheets and financial statements, knowing the cost of goods sold, profitability, etc. “Minorities are declined twice as fast as our majority counterparts,” says Elliott. “We want to make sure that when you do apply,
you don’t get a no.” Jennifer Lyle, who heads up Detroit-based Lush Yummies Pie Co. Lyle, began participating in Advancing Black Pathways about four months ago. Lyle, who turned her grandfather’s pie recipes into a growing business with 10 employees and an approximate 3,000-square-foot production facility, has received mentorship, financial guidance through the program. Lush Yummies Pie Co. also benefited substantially from a marketing perspective. “They’re really helping to grow my business from a financial standpoint and introducing me to a lot of opportunities,” she says. “We just participated in a campaign where I was able to shoot an audio commercial for Chase, and I’m on the billboards here in Detroit for the bank.” Lyle plans to grow Lush Yummies into a national player with a robust e-commerce platform. In the meantime, she’s busy working to open a flagship store in 2022 that would serve as a destination for foodies and pie-lovers alike in the Motor City. “I really want to grow our online sales and get us known in other states outside of Michigan,” she says. “Michigan is important—it’s our home. But it’s also my quest to be able to let the world know about what my grandfather had to offer.” Despite Lyle’s success, much work is still needed to level the playing field for minority entrepreneurs— and that means Elliott’s work in Advancing Black Pathways is far from done. Elliott says she will consider Advancing Black Pathways a success when its $30 billion commitment not only shows a measurable impact but also has procedures in place for accurate tracking and truthfulness in its numbers. “The other thing that would mean we’re successful is that this program is not a program anymore—it’s the way we do business.”
PNC Bank appoints Gina Coleman PNC BANK FROM B1
in PNC, Coleman is widely respected for her commitment to leading financial education efforts, building market and community partnerships, and driving engagement in PNC’s market-level diversity and inclusion initiatives. This includes serving as a PNC-Certified Women’s Business Advocate and a founding member of PNC’s Women Connect Employee Business Resource Group. “It is a privilege to lead
PNC’s diversity and inclusion efforts, particularly at this important moment in time,” said Coleman. “I do not take this responsibility lightly and understand that I am fortunate to be building on the foundation laid by Marsha Jones. She has led PNC through an inspiring D&I journey from inception of this role to present day. My vision is to move PNC’s efforts forward, with clear objectives and increased transparency that assess the impact
of our D&I strategy on our colleagues, customers, community members, and shareholders. I am excited about the journey ahead.” “As a long-time D&I champion and changeagent, Gina is the right person to receive this leadership baton from Marsha,” said Richard Bynum, PNC chief corporate responsibility officer. “Gina is committed to bringing her passion for people, her personal, entrepreneurial and business experience, and ‘drive
for impact’ to this transformational role.” Coleman currently serves as board chair for Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan, and a board member with Beyond Basics, Detroit Public Schools Foundation, and Inforum Michigan. She is a member of the Greater Wayne County Chapter, The Links, Inc. Coleman graduated from Montclair State University in 1991 and is a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class of XXXVI.
Mentally struggling back at work? MENTAL STRUGGLEFROM B1
take a test, having a little bit of anxiety is helpful because it motivates you to study. Too much anxiety shuts you down and you become isolated. Sometimes, you can’t even function.” Mentally prep for in-person work Dr. Albers suggests walking through scenarios that people might go through at work to help them feel calmer. “Imagery is powerful in helping people to cope with anxiety-filled situations.
When you do this, it’ll help you gear up emotionally.” She added that if you are not back to work yet but coming in soon, plan the return date carefully. “Don’t jump right in. Put your toe in the water. Go back to your office before your official start date. Look around. Sit in your chair. Remember that a lot has changed in a year, so expect that things are not going to look or feel like they did a year ago.” Spruce up Once inside the building, clean up the office space.
“If your office has been vacant for a year, it may need some refreshing or cleaning. When you do your dry run, take some cleaning products with you and spend some time getting your space ready. Add some new pictures and make it look nice and pleasant. A pleasing, clean and organized environment is good for your mental health. Being in one can also help reduce your stress level, particularly your cortisol hormone level (the stress hormone).” Dr. Albers added that bringing a plant to work can
“help reduce stress levels at the office and increase productivity by 15 percent.” Dress for the job you have When people look good, they feel good. Drop the sweatshirts and leggings and feel more confident in an outfit during work hours and look sharp while doing so. “The right wardrobe can help you transition back into your role. Consider buying a new outfit or refreshing your wardrobe a little by adding pieces that make you feel comfortable.”
OPINION
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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Who won it?
Guest Editorial
Wolf was right to veto permitless-gun bill Gov. Tom Wolf was right to follow through on his veto threat, rejecting Republican-sponsored legislation to allow people to carry a firearm openly or concealed, without a permit. Wolf correctly called the bill “dangerous.” The governor’s veto Dec. 2 comes amid a surge of deadly gun violence in Philadelphia, the state’s largest city. Philadelphia has reached a grim and tragic milestone of more than 500 homicides, the highest in decades. The same day that Wolf rejected Republican-sponsored legislation to allow people to carry a firearm openly or concealed without a permit, a lawmaker called for a state of emergency in Philadelphia. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta called on Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney to declare a state of emergency in Philadelphia to stop the gun violence in the city. “We need to treat this like the crisis and emergency like it is,” said Kenyatta. In September 2020, City Council voted unanimously to get Kenney to call for a state of emergency, but the mayor refused, and said it would result in fear and would be a distraction. We commend and support Wolf’s position of making the gun violence crisis a top priority, an issue affecting largely African Americans and other minority communities. But the Republican-controlled legislature has rejected nearly all the Democratic governor’s proposals. The bill Wolf vetoed would have removed the requirement that gun owners get a permit to carry a gun that is concealed, such as under clothing or in their vehicle’s glove box. It also would have eliminated a law, applying only to Philadelphia, that requires gun owners to get a permit to openly carry a firearm in the city. Pennsylvanians otherwise are generally allowed to openly carry loaded firearms, although the law is silent on it. The GOP-dominated state legislature is moving in the wrong direction on gun laws. Republican legislators should join Democratic lawmakers in passing several stalled pieces of common-sense gun-safety bills including requiring background checks on all gun sales except family transfer, increasing penalties for straw purchases, and a 72-hour waiting period before someone can purchase a semi-automatic assault rifle. Some have questioned the governor’s frequent use of the veto. In our view Wolf has not abused his power. When Republicans in the state legislature push unreasonable bills such as the permitless gun carry bill, the governor should exercise his veto powers. (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
Founded 1910
Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm
Rob Taylor Jr.
Ashley Johnson
Office Manager
Managing Editor
Sales Director
John. H. Sengstacke
Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Until this August, most students of history would say that the United States only lost one war. For those who remember, the airlift of Vietnamese refugees from the US Embassy to offshore ships, dumping millions of dollars of helicopters and other US materiel into the South China Sea to make room for refugees, and the plight of thousands of Vietnamese supporters of the US who were not evacuated and treated as collaborators are unpleasant memories of the end of the Vietnam War—an experience most now label wasteful. Few will describe that debacle as anything other than an embarrassing debacle of loss. Other, more sophisticated, analysts of the full scope of war, including its economic consequences will assert that, although we won the combat of World War Two, we lost the economic consequences of the war. After all, we bombed Germany and Japan into oblivion, but they used the consequences of their ‘defeat’ and reconstruction to develop the entirely new horizontal manufacturing process that was far more efficient than the vertical manufacturing commonly used in the US post-WW2. The four-story Saint Louis, MO Corvette manufacturing plant, which operated until 1981, is symbolic of the length of time it took to modernize US manufacturing processes. Arguably, the US lost that element of the war. While I’m more than willing to entertain a discussion around those
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Commentary two positions, I’m far more interested in exploring the nuances of the Civil War loss of the US to the Confederacy. Before you immediately reject that assertion, let me remind you of an admonition as old as 1865, “The South Shall Rise Again!” Objective observation provides clear evidence that, despite professed “best efforts,” we’re on the way to a resurgence and imposition of Confederate values upon the nation. Reflecting on the past, during the period of enslavement, other than the tryst in the slave quarter, the primary interest Whites had in us was the control of our minds and bodies. Using fear, disinformation, ego and superstition against us, the White man largely controlled our minds. Using fear, superstition, brutality, a social structure that promoted and supported a superior/inferior relationship between the races and the willing participation of an infinite number of vigilantes eager to enforce the written and implied rules of that society, Whites were able to maintain the vestiges and status quo of
a malignant social system. Before and since the murders of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin to the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, we’ve seen scores of murders committed under the cover of law and extra-legally by White renegades. Although many would attempt to justify them with a nuance(s) of the law, too many of these murders are only truly explained by a White miscreant’s malicious need to control the time and space occupied by a person of color. In the antebellum South, men controlled every aspect of a woman’s life. She was obligated to conform to every whim or wish made by his warped imagination. She had no voting rights, no right to her own thoughts and disposition. He would take care of her and she would bear his legal progeny. This was true, but not for all women. For those who it was not true, there came the freedom of thought and self-expression. That woman would demand the right to vote and the right of control over her own body. Her demands were met, but… The South has risen again. It has taken the lead in reversing the social gains of women by first attacking reproductive autonomy. It gives limited schedule to what she can do with her body. The outcomes under which we now live begs the question, “Who really won that war?”
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)
The Pain from White racism hurts, but the hurt from colorism runs deeper (TriceEdneyWire.com)—I do not believe you can totally separate the issue of colorism from White racism. One is a spin off from the other. While one is external in relation to the Black community, the other is internal within it. As a result, a person can actually be oppressed by others due to White racism and at the same time be the oppressor to others by way of colorism. Colorism happens often and it demands that more light and awareness be placed on the subject. The depth of the emotional pain and frustration justifies the discussion. So, how did we get here? While doing research for my book, I read “The Willie Lynch Letter and the Making of a Slave” multiple times. It is a message of divide and conquer. By keeping the slaves divided, it was believed they would be less of a threat and easily controlled. The letter was dated in 1712 and was delivered as a speech by Willie Lynch who was a British slave owner from the West Indies. He was invited to share his means of controlling slaves which was a growing problem for Virginia slave owners. A key part of his letter involves identifying two opposite groups and pitting them against each other. A section of the letter reads, “Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to the method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a foolproof method for controlling your Black slaves. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly, it will control the slaves for at least 300 years. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves and make the difference bigger. I use fear, distrust and envy for control.
David W. Marshall
Commentary These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple list of differences and think about them. On top of my list is “age” but its’ there only because it starts with an “A”. The second is “color” or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations and status on plantations, attitude of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, east, west, north, south, have fine hair, course hair or is tall or short. Now you have the differences…..Don’t forget you must pitch the old Black male vs. the young Black male, and the young Black male against the old Black male. You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves, and the light skin slaves vs. the dark skin slaves. You must use the female vs. the male. And the male vs. the female….” It has been said the letter is fake. Even if the document is not real, it still reflects the true mindset of White supremacy and the goal to undermine unity by promoting a light skin / dark skin divide. Colorism is very real. It is a very hurtful experience not only for adults, but for school-aged children and teenagers. Like White racism, colorism needs to be discussed more openly and often. We need to understand how we got to the point within the Black community where many people feel they are better than someone else due to their skin tone. The root causes goes back to slavery and priv-
ilege. It is true the house slaves were products from relationships between a slave master and a female slave, so they tended to have lighter skin and the privileges which came with it. They received special treatment by doing work inside the house and out of the hot sun. They ate better, often were taught to read and write, and they enjoyed many liberties of free citizens. The slaves with darker skin worked in the fields, therefore it is not hard to see how animosity between the two groups can develop when stroked. Today, light skin privilege is still obvious. We see the favoritism with job opportunities and greater acceptance within the workplace. The stereotype associated with an “angry Black woman” tends to be more with darker skin women who are seen as being more aggressive. The image of a darker skin man is deemed to be more angry, violent and threating. Especially in encounters with law enforcement. But colorism is actually a two-way street. It is not just dark skin individuals who are picked on by lighter skin individuals. It goes both ways where light skin, brown skin and albino individuals are the target. There is a stigma that you have to look a certain way to be considered “Black”. For that reason, bi-racial and light skin individuals struggle with their self-identify when society deems them as not being “Black” enough or truly “Black”. When the stigma is removed and society becomes inclusive of all types of hair features and skin tones the colorism healing can proceed. Then a person can feel safe in their own skin and walk with confidence in all of their blackness and beauty. (David W. Marshall is founder of the faith based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book “God Bless Our Divided America”. He can be reached at www. davidwmarshallauthor.com)
Why Stacey Abrams is important for Georgia (TriceEdneyWire.com)—You know the old game, two truths and a lie? Here are two truths and a lie about Georgia and Stacey Abrams, who recently announced that she’s running for governor. Let’s start with the lie. The big lie is that Donald Trump lost Georgia in 2020 because of illegal votes. The big truth is that Stacey Abrams helped achieve not one, not two, but three legal statewide victories in Georgia for President Joe Biden and Senators Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff. Another truth is that Brian Kemp was Georgia’s vote suppressor-in-chief long before he became the governor. In every cycle, he manages to come up with new strategies that are even more aggressive than ones he used before. Like a comic book villain, Kemp does not grow weary in his evildoing. He’s always hatching a new plan more dastardly than the last one. That’s why we cannot take anything for granted, even though Abrams demonstrated last year how effectively she can mobilize voters. She has seen every anti-voting-rights trick in the book. Many of them were used against her when she ran for governor in 2018. Back then, Kemp was secretary of state and used the power of his office
to shape election rules in his own favor. As Abrams said at the time, Kemp “won under the rules of the game, but the game was rigged against the voters of Georgia.” If we want Georgia to be safe for democracy, two things need to happen in the next 12 months. First, Congress must pass urgently needed voting rights legislation in time to go into effect by next fall. And second, everybody who showed up and turned out in Georgia in 2020 has to show up and turn out again— every individual and every group. I’m proud that the organization I lead, People For the American Way, was among those that Abrams credited with helping to achieve the historic victories of the past year. We’re going to spend the next 11 months fighting to help her get elected. And we’re asking everyone to join us in making the same level of commitment in Georgia that they made in 2020. Because here’s one more big truth. Stacey Abrams’ campaign is not only important for Georgia. It’s important for our democracy. It is easy to get discouraged by what’s happening across the country, where politicians are passing laws to discourage voting and protect their
own power. Right-wing activists who are angry that Donald Trump lost the election—who refuse to admit that he lost—are being put in positions with authority to oversee next year’s elections. The very basis of our democracy is being undermined. There’s something profoundly important about Stacey Abrams demonstrating leadership at this moment. Abrams has always been guided by a fundamental faith that people can make the system work. That faith has been at the heart of her organizing. It inspired her 2018 race and her work to make Georgia’s law fair for all voters. Many people might be tempted to lose faith in democracy when they see elected officials abusing their power to make it harder for some people to vote—and to limit the ability of their votes to make a difference. Stacey Abrams knows what she is up against. And knowing all that, she still isn’t giving up on our democracy. That’s inspiring. As governor, she will work tirelessly to make democracy, and Georgia, work for everyone. So let’s get to work for her.
(Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way.)
B4
FORUM
DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 NEW PITTSBURGH
Time to lower telephone rates to call prisoners in America (BlackPressUSA)—Disproportionate mass incarceration of people of color in America continues. The calls for prison reform include proposals to lower telephone rates for prisons throughout the United States. This would benefit African Americans and other communities of color who have family members currently incarcerated. Companies that provide communications services to prisons and jails have long drawn criticism for charging high prices for phone calls and emails between inmates and their families and friends. I’ve previously written about one such company—Securus Technologies—which in January 2020 did something rarely seen in corporate America, acknowledging past failures and making specific commitments to do better. So, what has the company done over the last year to deliver on its promises? They’ve brought in a number of outside advisors, including attorney and entrepreneur Yusef Jackson, who earlier this year joined the executive team of Aventiv, Securus’ parent company. Aventiv announced in April 2021 that Jackson, the son of Rainbow/PUSH founder The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, would be helping with the lowering of the price of calls and other services for the incarcerated as Aventiv worked to change some of its business practices and respond to criticism of the industry. The company also says they have renegotiated contracts with more than 100 correctional
Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
Commentary facilities to lower the cost of calls, and over 50 percent of their calls now cost less than $1. During the pandemic they also provided free calls, emails, and video chats – more than 95 million in total. According to Aventiv CEO Dave Abel, the next big step in their effort to lower costs is expanding a program that lets friends and family of the incarcerated subscribe to a monthly call package that charges a flat rate as an alternative to paying by the minute for talk time. Securus announced a pilot program last year, which has since expanded to nine facilities across the U.S. Across nine of the prison facilities, more than one third of calls have been made under the subscription plan, and the plan has reduced the per-minute cost of calls by over 50 percent, according to data shared by Securus. The company’s data also showed that under the subscription plan, users utilized 75 percent of the maximum call time afforded by facilities, reflecting a rise of 15 percent compared to per-minute calls. And in an initial customer survey, 80 percent of subscribers said they felt the service was easier to use, and 70 percent would recommend a subscription plan to family and friends. Securus is now working to expand the program across all its facilities, but would require approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which currently only allows per-minute phone plans. Securus has petitioned for a waiver that would exempt the pilot subscription plan from the FCC’s rulemaking on per-minute call requirements, allowing them to provide subscriptions in jails and prisons in all 50 states. This could ultimately have a big impact: there are over 2 million incarcerated Americans in thousands of facilities across the country. “Now that we have seen the positive impact of these subscription plans, we know we need to make them available to as many people as possible,” said Abel. “We’re in the process of working with the FCC to modernize the regulation to allow for this type of cost saving program, while ensuring there are still strong consumer protections in place.” Some prison reform advocates and critics, however, have still questioned Securus’ intentions with the subscription. Anything Securus does “is designed to … gouge the consumer and maximize their profits,” Human Rights Defense Center Executive Director Paul Wright said, according to Communications Daily. Others have criticized the level of detail offered by Securus with Prison Policy Initiative General Counsel Stephen Raher saying that the company’s petition to the FCC “doesn’t suggest that Securus is serious about doing that.” Abel, however, says the company has provided extensive detail to the FCC, and argues that any apprehensions about the program are misguided. “We began this program as a response to specific requests we heard from family and friends of incarcerated Americans,” he said. “Now that we have the data showing us that this is something the community values, we believe that we have a duty to expand these services.” While awaiting further instruction from the FCC, Abel said the company is continuing to look for other ways to help connect the incarcerated community to the outside world. “Those who are incarcerated deserve affordable access to the life-changing technology that the rest of us enjoy,” he said. “Our goal is to put a tablet in the hands of every incarcerated individual we serve.” (Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Executive Producer/Host of The Chavis Chronicles (TCC) on PBS TV Stations across the nation and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.)
Is the anti-choice agenda fueled by White supremacy? During the 1990s the term— White supremacy—was either a historical description of America’s social hierarchy before the success of the Civil Rights Movement or a reference to an archaic doctrine held by small Neo-Nazi groups. Shelby Steele, a Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, made an important observation in 2006. He stated: The most important event in the late 20th century, even more than the collapse of communism that happened in the 1980s, was the collapse of White supremacy. White supremacy was an idea in the world for centuries and organized the entire globe. After World War II revolutions began from one end of the globe to another, and these revolutions succeeded. The Western powers retreated. Britain and France withdrew from their colonies. The Civil Rights Movement in America was victorious. The idea that whiteness in and of itself constituted authority was killed off. Steele lamented the defeat of White supremacy had gone unacknowledged. Then Donald Trump ran for president in 2016. Suddenly, the term White supremacy was injected back into the mainstream discourse. Prominent liberals admitted the left labeled previous Republican candidates racists just to defeat them, but they never thought those individuals were racists. This time, the left was convinced Trump was a racist, but they overused the term and rendered it meaningless. So, the left insisted Trump was a White supremacist. But that’s politics, smear campaigns come with the territory. Unfortunately, the cohorts of the left didn’t restrict the term White supremacy to political gamesmanship, and the term has reemerged in the
J. Pharoah Doss
Check It Out national discourse in ways that don’t make sense. For example, Cosmopolitan just published an article titled Reality Check: The Anti-Choice Argument Has Always Been Fueled by White Supremacy. The author was deeply concerned about recent Supreme Court cases that challenged Roe v. Wade. The author asserted, “Attempts to restrict reproductive freedom are rooted in a racist agenda” bent on “preserving White supremacy”. “The reproductive justice movement has been connecting the dots between racism and attacks on reproductive freedom for decades. These attacks are motivated by an agenda to control people—especially women of color.” But this assertion is backward because the origins of “reproductive freedom” are rooted in White supremacy. The pioneers of the birth control movement claimed they were concerned about the hardships that childbirth and self-induced abortions brought to low-income women. However, Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, specifically explained, “Birth control is not contraception indiscriminately and thoughtlessly practiced. It means the release and cultivation of the better racial elements in our society, and the gradual suppression, elimination, and eventual extirpation of defective stocks— those human weeds which threaten the
blooming of the finest flowers of American civilization.” Who were the “finest flowers” and who were the “human weeds”? Blackfeminism.com went further and stated, “The eugenics movement evolved from biological determinism in the late 1800s. The movement used pseudo-scientific theories of race and heredity to promote the reproduction of ‘racially superior’ people … Over time, eugenicists started to embrace birth control advocacy and other population control policies, arguing that Black people and other ‘undesirables’ might gain political power if permitted to breed. Indeed, White feminists like Margaret Sanger engaged with White nationalists and eugenicists, forming alliances that helped build a political establishment that exerted racist population control at people of color’s expense.” In the 21st century race-conscious “people of color” brag about the “browning of America” and look forward to the estimated decade (2040 or 2050) when Whites are the minorities in the United States. White supremacists would do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. According to the Center for Disease Control, the Black abortion rate is currently 3.8 times greater than White abortion rates and 2.1 times higher than the Hispanic abortion rate. Proponents of the White supremacy Shelby Steele pronounced—defeated— would have encouraged the current high rates of abortion amongst Black women. Any headline that states there’s an anti-choice version of White supremacy is nothing but fake news to non-cosmopolitan White supremacists.
Parents raise the alarm about violence in schools, say their votes depends on improvement (NNPA)—A new poll revealed that parents continue to express “legitimate concerns” about violence in schools, increased bullying, and a lack of mental health resources. Alarmingly, the poll released by the National Parents Union found that 59 percent of parents are very or extremely concerned about how schools are teaching race and diversity. “Many Black parents are worried that schools are being harsher on students of color compared to White students,” researchers noted in the poll. The National Parents Union counts as a network of parent organizations and grassroots activists committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the United States. Conducted from November 19 to November 23, the survey included 1,233 parents who also count as registered voters. Researchers found that 84 percent of parents are concerned about how schools address the threat of violence, and 59 percent identified increased bullying or violence in school as a significant issue. About 52 percent said student mental health after coping with the pandemic is a significant issue, as well. “Parents have very legitimate concerns about violence in schools, increased bullying, and a lack of mental health resources,” Keri Rodrigues, co-founder, and President of the National Parents Union, said in a statement. “Now, it is incumbent on schools to do something about these issues, especially
Stacy M. Brown
Commentary given the federal funds available. It’s not rocket science. Rather than repaint a football field, first, make sure that there are enough counselors to help students cope with mental health issues,” Rodrigues asserted. The poll also asked the parents who responded that they were concerned about the threat of violence, which worries them the most. The top three most pressing concerns remain: • 44 percent: schools not having enough counselors, psychologists, or social workers to work with students • 42 percent: schools not having resources to keep weapons out of schools • 39 percent: schools not having school resource officers or police accessible on campus Further concerns included: • 59 percent of parents are extremely or very concerned about how schools are teaching about race and diversity; Among Black parents, 69 percent share this sentiment, which drops slightly to 67 percent among Hispanic parents. • Of the overall number of parents who
are at least somewhat concerned (79 percent): • 48 percent say what concerns them the most is schools are not teaching accurate information about the issue of race. • 42 percent are most concerned about schools pushing a progressive agenda onto students • 56 percent of GOP parents who are concerned say this is their top concern • 32 percent are most concerned that schools aren’t focused on the issue enough • 46 percent of Black parents who are concerned say this is their top concern • 78 percent of parents are concerned about how schools are handling disciplinary issues • Nearly half (46 percent) of Black parents who said they are concerned about how schools are handling disciplinary issues are worried that schools are harsher on students of color compared to White students • 38 percent of parents trust Democrats to do a better job of handling education; 31 percent trust Republicans; 14 percent trust both equally; 11 percent trust neither Among parents who identify as Independents, 28 percent trust Republicans and 20 percent trust Democrats. “These findings underscore the importance of the very thing we have been imploring school leaders across the country to do—listen to the parents in your community,” Rodrigues stated. “It also reinforces the need for those running for office to take the concerns of parents very seriously or risk losing elections.”
US Democracy at ‘critical risk’ by Marc Morial (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“If Congress fails to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, American democracy will be at critical risk … Defenders of democracy in America still have a slim window of opportunity to act. But time is ticking away, and midnight is approaching. To lose our democracy but preserve the filibuster in its current form— in which a minority can block popular legislation without even having to hold the floor—would be a short-sighted blunder that future historians will forever puzzle over.” — “Statement in Support of the Freedom to Vote Act,” an open letter signed by more than 150 scholars of US democracy This week, the Biden administration convened 111 world leaders in a virtual meeting dubbed the Summit for Democracy. Focused on three vital areas—defending democracy against authoritarianism, the fight against corruption, and respect for human rights—the summit will be followed by a “year of action.” In the United States, this “action” is to include new initiatives for supporting free media, combatting corruption, democratic reforms, civic technology, and electoral integrity. Unless reform of the filibuster is among these initiatives, all the others are likely to fail. American democracy is at a tipping point, and only filibuster reform can save it.
This is not a partisan observation. Last month, for the first time, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance added the United States to its list of “backsliding” democracies. IDEA defines democracy as based on five core attributes: Representative Government, Fundamental Rights, Checks on Government, Impartial Administration and Participatory Engagement. As long as the filibuster can be used to block legislation to protect voting rights and reverse states’ efforts to overturn and undermine free and fair elections, the United States cannot guarantee democracy. According to IDEA’s report: “Unlike outright authoritarian regimes or even hybrid regimes, backsliding democracies use parliamentary majorities, obtained by initially free and fair elections and high levels of electoral support, to gradually dismantle checks on government, freedom of expression, a free media and minority rights from within the democratic system.” Though this process “is often gradual,” the report called Donald Trump’s baseless attack on the 2020 election results a “historic turning point” that “undermined fundamental trust in the electoral process.” Our nation faces an existential choice between an arcane and outdated procedural Senate rule and democracy itself. The Freedom to Vote Act expands opportunities to vote, thwarts voter suppression,
limits partisan gerrymandering, prevents election sabotage, and promotes election security. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore a requirement in the Voting Rights Act that jurisdictions with recent histories of discrimination secure federal “preclearance” before altering their voting laws and allow the bill the U.S. Department of Justice and other stakeholders to more effectively challenge discriminatory voting laws. Very simply, American democracy cannot survive if these measures are not enacted, and these measures cannot be enacted as long as the filibuster exists in its current form. Currently, there are more than160 exemptions from the filibuster, for issues ranging from foreign policy and defense to judicial confirmations and health care. Unless we create an exemption for voting rights, none of the other exceptions will matter. The extended minority rule that will result from the Senate’s failure will endanger not only democracy but our economic stability and national security. As International IDEA Secretary General wrote, “This is about more than safeguarding abstract principles or winning geopolitical battles—it is about protecting the dignity of real human beings, which democracy does better than any other political arrangement. Every democratic reversal is not a geopolitical battle lost—it is a constellation of lives that goes dark.”
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PRODUCT MANAGER POSITION Proofpoint has a Product Manager (Req #M1920) job opening in Pittsburgh, PA: Manage the product life cycle from strategic planning to tactical activities. Send resume to Global Mobility: globalmobility@proofpoint.com. Must include Req # to be considered.
HACP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DECEMBER MEETING Due to the COVID-19 protective guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local governments, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for December on December 16, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. on a remote basis. The meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http://www.hacp.org, in advance of the meeting.
COORDINATOR OF YOUNG ADULT AND YOUTH PROGRAMS at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/. Preferred application date is before January 1. QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER AND TESTER CiberSQL, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has work-from-home Quality Assurance Engineer and Tester position (w/ability to telecommute w/appropriate telecommuting sys.) responsible for ensuring overall quality of clients’ technology services & solutions by prfrmng testing as well as developing, executing & logging all defects for web & mobile apps. Send resume & cvr ltr to hr@cibersql.com.
HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a BUILDING CUSTODIAN Complete job description is available at: www.southfayette.org Please e-mail your application to SFAPPLY@Southfayette.org Place in the subject line last name, first name, position Deadline: 4:00 P.M., December 22, 2021, or until position is filled EOE
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Estate of NANCY R. VON VRECKIN, Deceased of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, Estate No.: 02-21-08287, Joyce Von Vreckin, Executor, P.O. Box 22 Wildwood, PA 15091, or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of WAYNE G. WEHRER, Deceased of Munhall, Pennsylvania, Estate No.: 02-21-08616, Bobbie Gale Wehrer, Executor, or to Travis J. Dunn, Atty; 6 Clairton Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Estate of RONALD CLAYDELL WILLIAMS, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No.: 022104476 of 2021, Administrator & Attorney: Zenford A. Mitchell, Esquire, P.O. Box 99937, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Estate of HALL, FRANCIS G. of Pittsburgh PA PROBATE NUMBER 08805 OF 2021 Heather Manuel, PNC Bank The Tower at PNC Plaza 300 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) The Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, on behalf of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), is requesting Technical Proposals and Price Proposals (together, the Proposal package) for Regional Ridesharing Software Consultant Services. The selected firm or team of firms will provide SPC with a comprehensive and dynamic regional ridesharing software platform for the 10-county SPC region, along with staff training, software maintenance and technical support. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released by SPC on December 15, 2021. Copies may be downloaded from the SPC Website (www.spcregion.org) or may be obtained by e-mail request to Anthony Hickton at Ahickton@spcregion.org. Electronic submissions will be required via SPC’s SharePoint site. Full submission details are provided in the RFP document. Proposal packages are due on January 21, 2022. OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on January 11, 2022, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pittsburgh King PreK-8 Steam & Chilled Water Site Piping General and Mechanical Primes Pittsburgh Chartiers Elementary (ECC) Various Asphalt and Concrete Repairs General Prime Pittsburgh West Liberty Elementary (K-5) Various Asphalt and Concrete Repairs General Prime Various Buildings Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Phase IV) Mechanical and Electrical Primes
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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER & GAP FINANCING PROGRAM 2021 RFP #600-40-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that specifications and proposal forms for furnishing all labor and materials and professional consulting and/ or construction services for the following project(s) entitled: • Gladstone Residence PHFA Project #: TC2021-462 Bid documents may be obtained from Sota Construction Services, Inc by contacting Chris Michaels at cmichaels@sotaconstruction.com or calling 412-766-4630 x 101 beginning December 15th, 2021. ALL BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED until 1:00 PM on January, 11th, 2022 at the offices of Sota Construction Services. Bids will be publicly opened at 1:30 PM on January, 11th, 2022 at the Sota Construction Services, Inc. offices at 80 Union Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Bids must be on standard proposal forms in the manner therein described in the bid documents and be enclosed in a sealed envelope, bearing the name and address of the bidder on the outside, addressed to the Sota Construction Services, Inc. and marked with the project name. “Compliance is required with the Davis-Bacon Act and other Federal Labor Standard Provisions; Title VI and other applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Clause (41 CFR 60 – 1.4); Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; Executive Order 11625 (Utilization of Minority Business Enterprise); Executive Order 12138 (Utilization of Female Business Enterprise); in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Allegheny County MBE/WBE Program enacted July, 1981, which sets forth goals of 13 percent Minority and 2 percent Female Business Enterprise; and the Allegheny County Ordinance #6867-12, setting forth goals of 5 percent Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Further, notice is hereby given that this is a Section 3 Project under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, (as amended) and must to the greatest extent feasible, utilize lower income residents for employment and training opportunities and Section 3 Business concerns and all contracts and subcontracts for this project shall contain the “Section 3 Clause” as set forth in 24 CFR, Part 135.38. Moreover, compliance is required by the prime contractor and all subcontractors with the Federal General Conditions included in the contract documents between ACED and the operating agency. These Federal General Conditions are to be incorporated by reference into all construction contracts between operating agency and contractor, contractor and subcontractor(s), and subcontractor(s) and lower tiered subcontractor(s).” If there are additional questions, please contact Chris Michaels, Director of Preconstruction, at Sota Construction Services, Inc.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time January 4, 2022 and will be opened at the same hour in the administration building cafeteria: REFUSE CONTAINER SERVICEVARIOUS LOCATIONS General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Purchasing Office, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, RM 349 Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pghschools.org The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.
RFP documents will be available on or about December 6th, 2021. Copies of RFP documents are not available for in-person pickup. Firms interested in responding may obtain a copy of the RFP documents from the Business Opportunities Section of the HACP Website, www.hacp.org. Prospective Offerors may register as a vendor on the website and download the documents free of charge. A pre-submission meeting via audio conference will be held via Zoom on December 17, 2021 at 10:00 A.M.: https://zoom.usj/99759708499?p wd=bEljYWtud1h3UWlhVDV wd0Z1UzlYUT09 Meeting ID: 997 5970 8499 Passcode: 262374 Call-In: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) LEGAL ADVERTISING
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SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HIGH SCHOOL LONG-TERM ENGLISH SUBSTITUTE TEACHER Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM, December 21, 2021 SENECA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT – CONTENT MARKETING SPECIALIST Seneca Valley is seeking someone to assist and support the Communications Department in efficiently and expertly providing communications/marketing to effectively connect with our public and positively impact the District and those affiliated with it. This individual should possess a strong writing background, ideally five years of full-time writing experience, and either a Journalism, Communications or English degree. Three writing/portfolio samples from published works will be required during the interview process. Submit required information to www.svsd.net/Employment. Applications accepted until position is filled. Salary commensurate with experience. Seneca Valley School District is committed to advancing equity and embracing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. E.O.E
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The deadline for final submission of written questions is January 7, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. The deadline for submission of proposals is January 20, 2022 at 10:00A.M. Proposals must be sent to: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Procurement Department, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing of 10:00 AM on January 20, 2022. Proposals may still be submitted electronically at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/ mSF7sVpOKMoZ5hNyhKBC and can still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH S T R O N G LY E N C O U R A G E S CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) Recovery Housing. Due Date: 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 11, 2022. For more details and submission information, visit: w w w . a l l e g h e n y c o u n t y. u s / Human-Services/Resources/ Doing-Business/Solicitations-(RFP/ RFQ/RFI).aspx.
Various Buildings Water Cooler Replacement (Phase 5) Plumbing and Electrical Primes
Erin Dalton Director
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on December 13, 2021, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
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ADVERTISEMENT Bids are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 on the following: RFP 3128 – COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies - Design and Installation Services Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 Any proposals received after this deadline will be considered as a “late bid” and will be returned unopened to the offerer. Proposals may require Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Payment Bonds, and Surety as dictated by the specifications. No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Community College of Allegheny County is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/ Disadvantaged owned businesses. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.
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We are an equal rights and opportunity school district HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR COMBUSTION AND HOT WATER SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE REBID IFB #300-26-21-REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Combustion and Hot Water Services Authority Wide The documents will be available no later than December 6, 2021 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 AM on December 28, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on December 28, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on December 17, 2021 at 9:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 916 1836 1085 Passcode: 187917 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
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OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on December 21, 2021, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pittsburgh Grandview K-5 Domestic Water Booster Pump Plumbing Prime Project Manual and Drawings will b e av ailable f or pu rc h a s e o n November 29, 2021, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND LEGACY HONOREE
TALK SHOW HOST, KDKA-TV AND RADIO The late, great Nelson Mandela, first field producer for “Evening Magazine,” Black head of state and first president of and producer of a variety of other pubSouth Africa, once told a story of how lic affairs programs including “Weekend African Americans could assist Blacks Magazine,” “Vibrations” and the station’s in South Africa by sharing their business annual Children’s Hospital Telethon. acumen, for, at the time, there were many In 1989, Hayes-Freeland moved to the more Black-owned businesses in America KDKA-TV news department as a general than in South Africa. assignment reporter. He also dismissed any notion that he In addition to covering the news of the was solely responsible for dismantling day, Hayes-Freeland was the face of KDapartheid in his native land; rather it was KA-TV’s “Waiting Child” segment for negotiations done by an organization of more than 15 years. This bi-weekly pre“individuals acting collectively.” sentation was designed to find adoptive Mandela made these comments, among homes for special needs or hard-to-place others, in 1991, during an exclusive, sit- children. During her tenure at the station down television interview with none oth- nearly 70 percent of the children featured er than Lynne Hayes-Freeland. were placed with forever families. Yes, that Lynne Hayes-Freeland, Hayes-Freeland has also worked the Pittsburgh native who spent closely with Dollar Bank, as the decades interviewing notable face of their highly successfigures, parents who wanted to ful “Mortgages for Mothers” adopt children, Pittsburghers home-buying seminar dewho lost loved ones, Pittsbursigned to help women in ghers who just had the best the Pittsburgh area become day of their lives, or politicians first-time home-buyers. who were up to no good. In addition to Nelson ManYes, that Lynne Hayes-Freedela, some of Hayes-Freeland, who made history by land’s most memorabecoming the first Afble guests on her rican American full“Lynne Hayes Freetime weekday talk land” TV show show host on the were Rosa Parks, legendary KDKA James Baldwin, Radio (1020 AM, Maya Angelou, 100.1 FM) three Toni Morrison, years ago. Oprah Winfrey, The New Pittsand Louis Farraburgh Courier has khan. named Hayes-FreeE a r l i land as the “legaer this year, cy honoree” for the Hayes-Freeland, “Women of Excela member of Allence” Class of 2021, pha Kappa Alpha which means that on Sorority Inc., anthe night of Dec. 16, nounced on her she can sit back, reradio show that lax, and let the rest she would be headof Pittsburgh cherish ing into semi-retirement. She had her and her accomdone this thing plishments. called media for 45 Hayes-Freeland, a years. It was time to graduate of Duquesne be with her family University, began more, her two children her broadcast career in Atlanta, and spend as the producer of more time being a the Roy Fox Show on grandma. Those are the KDKA Radio in 1976. memories that will truly A year later, she moved last forever. to KDKA-TV where she held a variety of positions including LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Class of 2021 Honorees Lynne Hayes-Freeland Legacy Honoree Dr. Amy Alexander Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas Olivia Bennett Christine Bethea Kenya Boswell Dannielle N. Brown Dr. Elizabeth A. Carter Leslie Carter Chandi Chapman Dr. Lisa Coffey Dr. Charlene Hill-Coleman Dayna Delgado Joi Edmonds Tonya Edmonds LaJuana Fuller Corinne Gibson Pamela Golden Dr. Terrie Griffin Dr. Lora Hubbard Tinisha Hunt Rev. Helen Jackson Gladys Jelks Elaine B. Jenkins Ja-Neen Jones Dorothea Leftwich Deborah Marshall Dr. Tammi McMillan Marshall Lois Toni McClendon Erica McDill Bilita McIntosh Muffy Mendoza Shatara Murphy Mary Nesby Rev. Carrie Pugh Sharon L. Robinson Shemaria Scharmann Jervonne Singletary Denise Sinkler Rev. Eileen Smith Cheryl Smith Carol Speaks-Haddock Jamila Sykes Ngozi D. Tibbs Kiya Tomlin Jerimaine Ward Ernestine Watts-Taylor Janice White Teraya White Terri Williams Dr. Bonnie Young
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Message from The Editor and Publisher I offer my congratulations example of how hard work, into the New Pittsburgh Coutegrity and determination leads rier’s Women of Excellence to success. We hope they in“Class of 2021!” spire others to pursue excelThey join the list of prelence in their field of endeavor. vious honorees that have We are especially pleased to left their indelible mark of recognize Lynne Hayes-Freeaccomplishment, sacrifice land as our Legacy Honoree. and service on the commuLynne recently announced her nity. A listing of all previous retirement bringing to a close honorees is included in this a 45-year career of the iconic ROD DOSS publication. broadcaster’s work in television The “Class of 2021” memand radio in Pittsburgh. bers are resplendent in deed, and unselfChris Moore brings his unique style to ish in valor, commitment and dedicated this event as he joins us as our Celebrity purpose. Their individual acts have lifted Host. this city and its people to new heights. We are appreciative of our sponsors and Such are the women we honor today. advertisers for their generous support in To assist us in the selection process, our helping make this publication and awards readers submitted nominations of women reception possible. Let this publication who met the established criteria. We con- serve as a record of accomplishment, tinue to be pleased with the extensive list a historical landmark and an indelible of submissions that serve as a testament mark in the fabric of our community. We to the outstanding array of luminous and encourage you to share it with both the gifted personalities throughout our area. young and the old. The “Women of Excellence” now appear Once again, congratulations to the Couon the following pages of this special trib- rier’s “Women of Excellence, Class of ute publication. Each woman is a living 2021!”
DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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EDUCATION
DR. AMY ALEXANDER Counselor Penn Hills Senior High School
Born in Pittsburgh, Dr. Alexander attended CalU, earning her B.S. in Education, her MS. Ed. & K-12 School Counseling certification, and her PhD in Counseling and Supervision from Duquesne University. Dr. Alexander’s research interests focus on counseling diverse populations and Transgenerational, Historical, and Cultural Trauma in the African American community. Dr. Alexander has presented at national conferences, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, as well as state and community organizations like the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, local universities, high schools, and community organizations, on diversity, transferred trauma, and the importance of mental health treatment in minority communities. She served as president of the Penn Hills NAACP and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She is also a contributing
author of Counseling Ethics: Philosophical and Professional Foundations and Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions 2nd edition. Dr. Alexander has been awarded Who’s Who Among American Teachers (2000 and 2002), and National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers (2005-2006). She is also a recipient of the 2021 The State of Black Learning, Black Excellence in Education Award. In addition to being a School Counselor, Dr. Alexander established her Consulting firm LegAAcy, Culturally Aware Advising and Consulting, as a way to educate and engage people and communities of color around mental health, trauma, and equity. She earned her Sports Counseling Certification, and completed writing her chapter on trauma and school violence this year as well. Dr. Alexander’s career spans the fields of mental health and education, as those worlds often over-lap, affecting our personal and work lives and our ability to function healthily. Dr. Alexander’s dissertation, Examining the Legacy of Transgenerational Trauma and its Effects on Contemporary African American adults in Parenting and Caregiver Roles to African American Adolescents, has been viewed, downloaded, and referenced thousands of times, including in South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, and Tanzania.
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Class of 2019 Honorees VALERIE MCDONALD ROBERTS LEGACY HONOREE DONNA ALLEN-ROSEMOND SONITA BELL
JOANNE BOYD
SIMQUITA BRIDGES
REV. TALEETA CANADY AURELIA CARTER ELAINE COLE INEZ COLON
DR. RANDI CONGLETON BETH CRAWFORD
BETHANY CRISSWELL SUSAN DOPICO
DR. WILLA DOSWELL LISA EPPS
KATHRYN FITZGERALD
KIMBERLY FRANCETTE DR. TRISHA GADSON DR. TYRA GOOD
DR. ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH DR. SHARON HIGGINBOTHAN
MAISHA HOWZE
PHYLLISS JOHNSON
LATOYA JOHNSO-RAINEY DR. DAWNDRA JONES
JACQUELINE JONES-MITCHELL FRANCES JORDAN
CARLEEN KING, MBA DENA LAMAR
NICOLE NARVAEZ MANNS
Class of 2018 Honorees
EDUCATION
DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS Principal and Chief Academic Officer Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas, Principal/Chief Academic Officer at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, is a native of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Westinghouse High School. She has an Ed.D. in Leadership and Administration from Point Park University where she proudly studied African American Female Leaders: A Qualitative Study that Explored the Lived Experiences of African-American Female Superintendents and CEOs of Traditional Public and Charter Schools in Pennsylvania. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Edinboro University, and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Principal Certification from Carnegie Mellon University. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she obtained employment at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA as a Prevention Specialist providing grief counseling, male and female mentoring, college preparation and other community outreach services as needed for Pittsburgh Public Schools until she gained full-time employment with PPS. She worked her way up to the position of grades 6-12 Math Curriculum Supervisor and Co-Principal at University Preparatory School 6-12. Her other roles as a PPS employee included Instructional Teacher Leader, Math Coach, and Intervention Specialist. Dr. Allen-Thomas is the wife of Charles Thomas and the mother of Isaac and Faith who have served as an inspiration in her call to education. She is an active member of her church and recognizes her dreams and aspirations have been given by God to impact her community. She is an active board member of Nabhi Ministries and PROOF, a network of professional women, and a member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW).
PUBLIC SERVICE
OLIVIA BENNETT
Councilmember, Allegheny County
SHARON MCINTOSH
JUDITH WOODSON MCNEIL ANGELA MIKE
TERRI MINOR-SPENCER TONI MURPHY
AMANDA NEATROUR EVELYN NEWSOME
DR. JOYLETTE PORTLOCK DR. RUTHIE REA
CAMILA RIVERA-TINSLEY TIMIRA RUSH
TRICIA SHELTON AMBER SLOAN
CHARLISE SMITH LISA SYLVESTER FLO TAYLOR
JUEL THOMAS-SMITH TAMMY THOMPSON NATALIE S. TYLER
RAMONA RUTH WILKES JUDY WRIGHT
Raised in Manchester, Olivia Bennett is passionate about improving social equity. She is currently a resident of Northview Heights, a HUD community, where she has been, and continues to be, a community activist. Bennett graduated Magna Cum Laude from Carlow University in May 2018 and is currently attending graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh at GSPIA where she is studying Public Policy Management. Sworn onto Allegheny County Council in January 2020, Bennett quickly got to work. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition (PBEOC) and has worked to advance policy that will improve the lives of Black and other marginalized individuals in the county. Bennett has sponsored and passed legislation banning conversion therapy for those in the LGBTQIA+ community, banned hair
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
discrimination, made Juneteenth a countywide holiday, declared racism as a public health crisis and passed legislation to create a countywide Independent Police Review Board. Bennett also serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee as well as the Policy Committee through the Black Equity Coalition, of which she helped to convene as a member of PBEOC as a response to the inequitable response specifically for Black people in the pandemic. She was recently awarded the 2021 Run For Something Getting It Done Award. She also works as a consultant for Take Action Mon Valley. Bennett lives with her husband, Terrence, and her 19-yearold son. She has three other children and three grandchildren.
CECILE M. SPRINGER LEGACY HONOREE TIA BAKER SALOAM BEY BETTY BRAXTER LAKEISHA “KI KI” BROWN BRITTEE CLAY LORI CRISWELL LARAE CULLENS LATIKA DAVIS-JONES, PHD, MPH, MSW DEBRA DENNISON MALESIA DUNN CHRISTIN DURHAM MAMAR GELAYE VICTORIA A. GARNER MARITA GARRETT JUDITH K. GINYARD ARAINA GRAHAM MARSHA GRAYSON LASHAUNDRA HAMMONDS SHERDINA HARPER ALETA HEARD REV. CARMEN D. HOLT NIKKIA INGRAM MINIKA JENKINS DIANE JOHNSON CHERYL JOHNSON SHEILA L. JOHNSON, PHD, DMIN. NICHOLE KINDRED VALERIE KINLOCH CLAUDIA M. KREGG-BYERS, PHD REV. SHANEA D. LEONARD JANET K. MANUEL NICKEIA MASON GRACE WANKIIRI ORSATTI, ESQ. DIANE POWELL SIMONE QUINERLY ALETA RICHARDS BONITA L. RICHARDSON DIONNA ROJAS YASMIN SHAHEED M. SHERNELL SMITH SHAWNA SOLOMON KARLA STALLWORTH DEVON TALIAFERRO IRIS TOWNSEND RUTH WALKER FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY LENORE WILLIAMS LINDA WILLIAMS-MOORE ROWINEA WOOTEN
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Class of 2016 Honorees DIANE NEELY BATES TYIAN BATTLE MARIA LEWIS BETHEL TAMMY SPENCER BEY DINA ‘FREE’ BLACKWELL REV. MAUREEN F. CROSS BOLDEN SONYA R. CHAMBERS LORRAINE CROSS DIANE I. DANIELS TAMMY L. DAVIS TENEL DORSEY AMY LYN ELLIOTT KATHI R. ELLIOTT JACQUE FIELDER RHONDA L. FLEMING RENEE GALLOWAY, PhD CAROL LYNN GREER RONELL GUY ERICA COCHRAN HAMEEN, PhD NICOLA HENRY-TAYLOR, ESQ. KIM HOOTS LINDA J. IVERSON, PhD CHARMELLE JACKSON LORIE JOHNSON-OSHO, EdD MARCELLA L. LEE BISHOP CYNTHIA MOORE-KOIKOI REV. NICHELLE NELSON TORY N. PARRISH ERIN PERRY TAMARE P. PIERSAINT, PhD ERIN E. POTTER DARLENE L. POWELL LUCILLE PRATERHOLLIDAY REV. DR. JOAN PRENTICE THERAINE A. RANSOME YOLANDA ROBERTS RENA A.S. ROBINSON REV. APRIL D. ROEBUCK JESSICA RUFFIN TAMARA SANDERSWOODS, EdD ROXANNE NORMAN SEWELL DANIELLE M. SMITH MATHILDA SPENCER, PhD ARZELLA STEWARTMCCAULEY, PhD CHRISTEL N. TEMPLE, PhD RENEE D. THOMAS TE’ONA M. WILLIAMS BOFTA YIMAM
Class of 2014 Honorees
ARTS
CHRISTINE BETHEA
President, Women of Visions, Inc. Creative Strategist, ULeadx Christine McCray-Bethea is an award-winning visual artist, curator, and a 20 year veteran of arts administration, who has worked with national organizations, nonprofits, and local governments to advance the visibility of Pittsburgh through its arts community. Her work as a Western Pennsylvania quilter has been archived by the Senator John Heinz History Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate. Selected to showcase at the 100th Folklorist Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Bethea’s film direction on immigrant resettlement; sponsored by BCAP, Pittsburgh’s Office of Public Art, and National Endowment for the Arts, features community engagement events videotaped and edited by Bhutanese teenagers. Bethea is a popular Teaching Artist whose mediums include: fiber, painting, glass, ceramic and mixed media. She led Pittsburgh in the founding of its first eco-tech festival, GAGI which ran from 2010 to 2019 earning her a Data Award for her collaborative team-building from the
Pittsburgh Technology Council. Bethea has served on the boards of directors at East Liberty Development, Friendship Development, and Union Project. She is currently on the board of Contemporary Craft and serves as President of Women of Visions, Inc. (WoV) which is, in 2021, the country’s longest-running visual arts collective of African American Women. Recently, WIth WoV, Bethea joined Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Brewhouse Association, Boom, Bunker Projects, Casey Droege Cultural Productions, Nafasi, and Silver Eye in founding VACE, an organization dedicated to equity in all facets of the visual arts. WIth Uleadx, a leadership consulting firm, Bethea is also the co-creator of Argyle Studio, a project of Oakland Business Improvement District and InnovatePGH. Argyle Studio features hand-crafted and locally resourced fashion, jewelry, and home goods by over thirty-five of the city’s top creatives.
CORPORATE
KENYA BOSWELL
Sr. Vice President of Community Affairs Highmark Health Kenya Boswell is the senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Health, a $21 billion national, blended health organization that includes one of America’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Highmark Health’s 37,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization’s affiliated businesses including Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental, HM Health Solutions and Helion. Ms. Boswell brings over 20 years of leading community affairs, philanthropic and nonprofit management to the enterprise. Her role at Highmark Health involves overseeing community affairs for all markets in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York. The community affairs team takes care of corporate giving, grants and sponsorships, community programs, employee volunteerism, and the Highmark Foundation. Before joining Highmark Health, Ms. Boswell served as the director of global impact citizenship at BNY Mellon, as well as the President for BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern PA. During her tenure at BNY Mellon, Ms. Boswell created a social innovation challenge that had a great impact on marginalized communities known as UpPrize. Ms. Boswell’s creation of UpPrize exceeded $2.5M in investments, grants and technical assistance to social entrepreneurs and tech-start-ups. Ms. Boswell also worked at Duquesne Light Company as a senior community relations representative prior to
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
joining BNY Mellon. She developed the Power of Warmth project and incorporated changes to the employee volunteer program, which led to achievement in employee participation and engagement. Ms. Boswell obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s in nonprofit management from Robert Morris University. She also participated in the Leadership and Negotiation Academy for Women along with Leading Innovation: Creating a Dynamic Organization, both at Carnegie Mellon University. Ms. Boswell was named a Woman of Influence by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2020.
MURIEL FOX ALIM ANGELA ALLIE CARMEN ANDERSON TERRI L. BALTIMORE CHARLENE FOGGIE BARNETT RASHALL M. BRACKNEY ANDREA D. BROWN TERRY L. BURDEN LASHAWN BURTON-FAULK BRIDGETTE N. COFIELD, JD, SPHR KAREN COLBERT ALIYA D. DURHAM MAXINE ENGRAM SHARON FLAKE ALMA SPEED FOX LEGACY HONOREE LISA B. FREELAND MINISTER DEBRA GERMANY VALIDIA M. GIDDENS AMERA GILCHRIST MICHELE GOODMANJONES DEANNE HAMILTON VERA HEFFLIN-EDWARDS BIBIANA HILL REGINA B. HOLLEY, PHD FRANCES TAGGERT HOLLY ELIZABETH L. HUGHES, ESQ. ERIN ISSAC, DMD KIMBERLY M. JACKSON NATALIE D. JACKSON DIANA JAMES LORETTA JETER KATIE EVERETTE JOHNSON LEGACY HONOREE PAMELA JOHNSON REV. MARIE KELLY CHARLESE MCKINNEY VELVET V. MICKENS SHAUNDA MILES MARIMBA MILLIONES CAROL W. MOHAMED REV. DR. JUDITH C. MOORE CHRISTINA PRESTON SHEILA L. RAWLINGS LA DAWN ROBINSON CHERYL RUFFIN, MDIV CARYL J. SHEFFIELD DIANNE BILLIE SWAN SONYA M. TOLER ERICA L. UPSHAW-GIVNER LISA STROTHER UPSHER, MS TISHEKIA E. WILLIAMS
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
DANNIELLE N. BROWN Executive Director Marquis Jaylen Brown Foundation
Dannielle “Mama” Brown has not consumed food since July 4th, 2020. Her ongoing Hunger Strike is meant to draw attention to unanswered questions surrounding the death of her son, Marquis “Jaylen” Brown. On Oct. 4, 2018, Jaylen Brown mysteriously fell 16 stories from his dorm room window at Duquesne University. Three campus law
DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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enforcement officers and a residential assistant were in the dorm room at the time of Jaylen’s fall. Due to a lack of officer-worn body cameras and the university’s refusal to cooperate with Brown’s request to conduct her own independent investigation, Brown may never fully know the circumstances that led to Jaylen’s death. Tired of not having answers, Brown traveled to Pittsburgh from her home in D.C. with nothing but a rocking chair. She placed her rocking chair at Freedom Corner, an African American memorial near Duquesne’s campus, and began her Hunger Strike. Brown sat outdoors at Freedom Corner for two days before Pittsburgh citizens began to take notice. Over the next weeks and months, a 24/7 encampment of volunteers and supporters formed at Freedom Corner as the #Justice4JaylenBrown movement spread rapidly online, demanding that Duquesne University take steps to prevent such a tragedy from befalling another student. Brown is not just the mother of a student who inexplicably died while in the care of university law enforcement officers; she holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice, a master’s degree in counseling psychology, is a former law enforcement officer, and she currently works in the field of national security for the Department of Defense. Her unique set of personal circumstances and professional background has garnered her recognition as an important advocate for fundamental change to campus policing and expansion of mental health resources for students and staff.
CORPORATE
DR. ELIZABETH A. CARTER Director of Market Segment Finance Highmark, Inc.
Elizabeth A. Carter, Ph.D., MBA, CPCU, is a director of market segment finance for Highmark, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA. She is also a performance improvement leader, speaker and best-selling author. Dr. Carter has more than 25 years’ experience in the insurance industry, having held financial roles at Allstate, The Hartford, AIG, and Farmers Insurance. During that time, she had direct responsibilities in the areas of corporate finance, product management, technology, sales and distribution, and market segments. She has a unique passion for financial acumen and knowledge empowerment that has provided her the opportunity to lead, mentor and develop others in the areas of strategy, financial analysis, and performance improvement for profit and nonprofit organizations. Always being one of the few minorities in the room in her finance career, she has a personal mission to “Break the Eight”, which has been the percentage of African Americans holding leadership positions in corporate. Offering her insight and mentorship has been valuable to others who aspire to climb the corporate ladder and empower them to change the trajectory of that ratio. Dr. Carter holds a Ph.D. in Education
specializing in training and performance improvement from Capella University. She holds an MS in education in the same specialization from Capella University and an MBA in management from the New York Institute of Technology. She holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. As resident of Cranberry Township, PA, Elizabeth is the Treasurer of two boards; Gwen’s Girls and Silver Eye Photography.
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Class of 2013 Honorees CAROL L. ADAMS MARLA D. BRADFORD CHARLOTTE BROWN, PhD VICTORIA E. BRYANT FRANCINE B. CAMERON MESSENGER ANNETTE CARSWELL RENEE SMITH CLARK, PhD TRACY L. CLARK LUTITIA A. CLIPPER PhD MARY L. COFFEY PAMELA COLLIER DR. ESA MATIUS DAVIS MPH STEPHANIE DURRETT MONICA EARLY KIM EL ROBYN E. FRANCIS OLGA T. GEORGE RONITA S. GILES ROBYN GREER TERINA JETT HICKS IMOGENE MILES HINES RUTH J. HOWZE SHANICKA L. KENNEDY, ESQ. MONICA D. LAMAR DESIREE S. LEE KILOLO LUCKETT A. KELLY MCCORMICK MONIQUE MCINTOSH, MEd DONNA MICHEAUX, PhD CYNTHIA MOORE TRACEY NASH CAROL AWKARD NEYLAND CONSTANCE PARKER STAYCEE R. PEARL EBONY RENEE PUGH MINETTE SEATE BEV SMITH––2013 LEGACY HONOREE DEBRA VALENTINE-GRAY ALLEGRA WAKEFIELD ANITA B. WALKER CAROL A. WASHINGTON CHRISTINE B. WHITE-TAYLOR EdD GAIL L. WHITEHEAD TAMARA L. WHITING LISA A. WILDS ARLETTA SCOTT WILLIAMS DETECTIVE CHRISTINE WILLIAMS DENISE L. WILLIAMS ERROLINE WILLIAMS EdD GAYLE M. YOUNG
CORPORATE
Class of 2012 Honorees
LESLIE CARTER
Vice President, Enablement and Automation Solutions Highmark Health Leslie A. Carter lives by a simple but poignant mindset; “No matter what obstacles one faces, strive to operate in the spirit of excellence.” Carter also embraces strategic risk-taking, “the kind that makes others uncomfortable, but ultimately results in personal and professional growth.” As a business executive, board member, entrepreneur, minister and author, Carter lives her life with passion, commitment and resilience. A champion of transformation, diversity and leadership development, Carter is Vice President at Highmark Health managing a team of talented professionals providing innovation, optimization, and automation solutions. Carter has over 25 years of healthcare expertise in managed care, behavioral health, disability and revenue cycle management. She has held leadership positions with United Health Group, Food & Drug Administration, Magellan, Aetna, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. A global thinker, Carter, the Chicago native, has traveled to over 37 countries. She lived in Brazil where she learned to speak Portuguese. One of Carter’s most memorable travel experiences was during
her trip to Ghana, where she helped women who had breast cancer. In addition to Carter’s business acumen and career success, she is an ordained minister, involved in community affairs volunteering at food banks, prison ministries, and women’s organizations. She co-authored “Fueled by Greatness – 10 Cutting Edge Strategies for Accelerating Your Destiny Now.” Carter graduated from the Wharton Executive Leadership program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Massachusetts. Carter serves on the Trustee Board of HBCU Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., Strong Women Strong Girls, United Way Tocqueville Society and Women’s Leadership Council. Crediting her parents for her strong work ethic, Carter said: “Throughout my life, my parents encouraged me, providing unconditional support.” In her leisure time, Carter enjoys travel, theatre, music, time spent with family and especially being “Gigi” to her 4-year-old granddaughter.
MEDIA
CHANDI CHAPMAN Reporter, WTAE-TV
Chandi Chapman is a multi-national, award-winning and multi-Emmy award-winning reporter for WTAETV (4). Chapman’s Mid-Atlantic Emmy wins and nominations have highlighted breaking news, weather, combating the heroin epidemic, confronting bullying in schools, fighting racial inequality and uncovering the culture behind our favorite cuisines. They have also focused on her community service and her skills as a writer. When she worked in Allentown, Pa., she was given a proclamation from the city for being the first African American female anchor at WFMZ-TV and has earned two National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Awards. She was part of a team that won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for a special program called “Chronicle: Being Black in Pittsburgh.” Chapman has won numerous Associated Press and state broadcast association awards, including Best TV Personality and Best Anchor/Reporter. Her reporting has been featured on national television shows. Chapman has held positions in the industry that include producing, editing, shooting, web producing, assignment desk duties and managing. Chapman holds several pageant and scholarship program titles, including the first African American to hold the title of Lawrence County Junior Miss. She’s also the first person to win that competition’s talent portion doing martial arts. Chapman has been the only person to win Lawrence County Junior Miss, Pennsylvania’s Homecoming Queen and place in America’s Homecoming Queen in the same year. Chapman enjoys engaging in the community by visiting schools and universities to talk to students about journalism. She has been involved in Circles in Columbus, which is a part of a national movement to end poverty and Girls, Inc, an organization that helps young women, especially those who come from low-income households. She volunteers to host and judge programs from national organizations to local churches.
DARA WARE ALLEN, PhD JERRY ANN ALLEN ELAYNE ARRINGTON, PhD JARENE BARNES TiANDA BLOUNT NANCY TRAVIS BOLDEN JEAN BRYANT JEANNE V. CRICHLOW JUDITH M. DAVENPORT, DMD LYNETTE DRAWN-WILLIAMSON BARBARA EVANS, EdD CHERYL SQUIRE FLINT KAREN FLORENCE LISA M. FORD, MSW, LSW LOVETTA FORD, MSW LISA MICHELLE GARLAND, MBA CHERYL HALL-RUSSELL ELAINE HARRIS-FULTON GINA R. HICKMAN DIANE R. HUGHLEY MICHELLE JACKSON SHIRLEY A. JOHNSON OLIVIA JONES TONI S. KENDRICK MARGARET L. LANIER LISA M. MCBRIDE, PhD ROBIN M. MUNGO DENISE L. NORRIS ROCHELLE OAKS, PhD CASSANDRA ODEN JOELYNN H. PARHAM GEORGETTE D. POWELL CHARLEEDA REDMAN, RN, MSN, ACM MELISSA RICE MICHELE RICE FELICIA LANE SAVAGE MARY L. SHIELDS MARCIA M. STURDIVANT, PhD SARAH L. SUMPTER LYNNETTE TAYLOR-CRIEGO LENALL THOMAS, PhD, MSW DR. CATHERINE UDEKWU CHLOE VELASQUEZ DEBORAH L. WALKER LARA WASHINGTON GWENDOLYN L. WATKINS REV. LAURAN B. WEBB BRENDA B. WELLS REV. ELEANOR WILLIAMS LATASHA WILSON-BATCH
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
CORPORATE
DR. LISA COFFEY
Director of Administration All Purpose Cleaning Service, Inc. Dr. Lisa M. Coffey describes herself as a “faithful and obedient servant leader.” She is the Director of Administration at All Purpose Cleaning Service, Incorporated, a family-owned business established in 1978. Utilizing 34 years of leadership and education, Dr. Coffey is a dynamic leader with a robust hunger to lead her organization to new levels. Passionate about business, executive leadership, human capital development, and athletics, Lisa’s research object is to provide individuals, professionals, and administrators with the tools necessary to create harmony in their lives. Dr. Coffey published her first book titled: iDid and uCan 2: balancing the four pillars of foundation, faith, finance, and future to live a purposeful and successful life. Lisa holds an AS degree from Community College of Allegheny County in Business Management, Certifi-
cates from Dartmouth University/Tuck School of Business, and Roger Williams University/University College in executive leadership. Lisa has BS degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in human resource and business management. In addition, Lisa holds a MS degree from Duquesne University in organizational leadership with a concentration in sports leadership and a Ph.D. from Robert Morris University in instructional management and leadership studies. Lisa is a mother to three sons and four amazing grandkids who call her “Chi Chi.” She enjoys spending time with the family making memories, working in her garden, painting, taking pictures, and dancing in her spare time. As an advocate of empowering young women, Dr. Coffey has dedicated 28 years to the Penn Hills community as a cheerleading coach. She is a National High School Federation certified coach who enjoys sharing her knowledge, and experiences with her squad to build community ambassadors and develop emerging leaders. Dr. Coffey has developed a passion for writing and writes a blog titled: Life’s lessons In 5 minutes or less.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
DAYNA DELGADO
Owner Dayna Delgado Photography Dayna Delgado’s superb eye for capturing beauty developed when she was just a teenager in school. She took a photography class called digital communications and fell in love. She loved it so much she’d often spend her lunch hours in the dark room, developing her film. Years later when digital methods of photography hit the scene, Delgado taught herself all aspects of the medium. When photography changed, she changed with it.
Delgado began to sell and print on-thespot photos at local establishments. Patrons began to ask if she did other kinds of photography, such as portraits or weddings. Even if she hadn’t before, Delgado always responded with a resounding, “Yes,” and then taught herself before the event. She began to build her craft through experience, self-education, and her God-given gift. Now a seasoned and trusted photographer, Delgado has won multiple awards for her work. She has had the opportunity to capture many weddings, graduations, and she has also shot various politicians and celebrities like Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin New Edition, Ashanti, Cameo, Mint Condition and many more. Delgado has expanded her repertoire to include product, real estate, and wedding photography. She is also known as the goto photographer for fashion photoshoots, as well as corporate and personal headshots. Delgado has also had many of her photos make the front page of the New Pittsburgh Courier. Delgado never returned to that office setting and has been building a life and business capturing beauty and realness.
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Class of 2011 Honorees ATIYA ABDELMALIK-JOHNSON, RN, BSN RENEE P. ALDRICH MARIA D. ANDERSON THE HON. CYNTHIA A. BALDWIN ROBIN D. BECKHAM JACKIE BLAKEY-TATE CYNTHIA BRADLEY-KING, PhD TAMMY MILES BROWN, PhD CARLOTTA K. BURGESS KARLA THREADGILL BYRD PAULA B. CASTLEBERRY VALIRE CARR COPELAND, PhD, MPH MAGALI CURIEL SHARON DANIELS KAREN EADY-LOCKETT GLADYS E. EDMUNDS REV. BRENDA J. GREGG LINDA CAWTHON GRIFFIN MELANIE HARRINGTON LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND ANNA E. HOLLIS LAVERNE BAKER HOTEP KIM L. JEFFERSON CECELIA JENKINS PATRICIA PRATTIS JENNINGS RHONDA JONES-FITCH KIM LAMPKINS CARMEN J. LEE DEBRA L. MASON SHARON L. MCDANIEL, PhD COLLEEN MCMULLEN LISA E. MINOR KIMBERLY MOSES, ESQ. DARLENE GAMBILL MOTLEY, PhD MAELENE J. MYERS CHARLENE NEWKIRK, JD CONNIE PORTIS GRACE ROBINSON, LUTC, MBA LATONYA SALLEY-SHARIF MARY HAITH SAVAGE JENNIFER BRUCE SCOTT, RN, BSN ROBIN HORSTON SPENCER, MHS, MS, MBA EVANGELIST LOLA M. THORPE SHELLEY FANT UKU CRYSTAL McCORMICK WARE CHRISTINA L. WILDS, PhD ANDREA M. WILLIAMS JACQUELINE WILSON SYLVIA WILSON KIMBERLY L. WOOD
REAL ESTATE
Class of 2010Honorees
JOI EDMONDS
Realtor Berkshire Hathaway Home Services The Preferred Realty Joi Edmonds is a dynamic and knowledgeable agent who has achieved the titles of Preferred Masters Accreditation and Multi-Million Dollar Producer in just three short years. She is an expert in residential and commercial real estate as well as new construction. As a full-time realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) The Preferred Realty, Squirrel Hill office, Edmonds is a Broker candidate, on track to get her Real Estate Broker’s license. She has sold over $5 million of real estate throughout the Pittsburgh region, during a global pandemic no less, advancing her to be a Leading Edge Society awardee, an award given to the top 10 percent of BHHS real estate agents nationally as well as being a Top 200 Sales Associate. Edmonds is a mentor with the BHHS New Agent Mentor Program and has nine mentees assigned to her. Most recently, she became a licensed Real Estate Educator teaching pre-license courses to individuals who want to get into the real estate profession. With a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in School Counseling, Edmonds has spent the past 20 years helping people improve their lives and real estate is just one way to do that. Edmonds has also been licensed in five states helping individuals and families with their life insurance needs. Prior to that, Edmonds was the owner of N-Joi Event Planning & Staffing Services. N-Joi outsourced waitstaff and bartenders to various clientele and event centers within the Pittsburgh area. N-Joi provided corporate event staffing service to The National
PRODUCT MANAGER
TONYA EDMONDS
Sr. Product Manager, MongoDB Adjunct Professor, University of Pittsburgh
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Aviary, The Children’s Museum and August Wilson African American Cultural Center, among others. Born and raised in Manchester, she now lives in the Eastern suburbs and has raised two beautiful adult children, Kelcei J and J. Brannon Tindal. When not selling real estate, Edmonds likes to spend her time traveling, listening to live music and surrounding herself with positive people. Edmonds is also a member of the National Association of Realtors and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Tonya Edmonds received both her Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. During her time at Pitt, she conducted research about the pipeline of minority students completing Computer Science and Information Technology degrees. This research strengthened her hypothesis of a “leaking pipeline” and led her to take action. In 2006, she convinced the computer science department and other local foundations to support a pre-college program to help strengthen the pipeline. Fifteen years later, Technology Leadership Initiative (TLI) continues to help underrepresented and underserved high school students build the knowledge and skills necessary to gain admission into competitive college programs in computer science and information science. Edmonds later went on to become the initial Lead Computer Science Teacher at the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy. During her time as a teacher, she wrote the curriculum for the computer science program and taught classes. Although she loved being in the classroom, Edmonds eventually decided it was time to work in the field. She worked as a software engineer in healthcare and education for almost a decade and also taught undergraduate and graduate classes in Computer and Information Science at Pitt. Edmonds is currently working as a Sr. Product Manager at MongoDB.
MIYOSHI ANDERSON GAYLE LIGHTFOOT BALL KIMBERLY WADDELL BARR LINDA ?IMANI? BARRETT SHEILA BEASLEY DR. WILMA SMITH BEAUFORD JEANETTE BLACKSTON, EdD GLORIA MCGHEE BROWN PATRICE KING BROWN JOANNE COBB BURLEY, PhD OPHELIA COLEMAN TENE CROOM AMARGIE DAVIS DR. CAROLYN GEE DAVIS ELIZABETH NIECY DENNIS ORLANA DARKINS-DREWERY JOYCE ELLIS ALMA SPEED FOX ALBERTHA GRAHAM-ELLISON, PhD REV. BARBARA GUNN HOLLY HATCHER-FRAZIER PASTOR CHARLAYNE HENRY MARLENE GARY HOGAN DEBORAH HOLLAND LISA HALEY HUFF MARGUERITA V. JOHNSON PATRICE WADE JOHNSON AMELIA MICHELE JOINER, ESQ. GERALDINE M. JONES, PROVOST MARSHA ELLIS JONES LINDA S. LANE, EdD ALLISON LEE-MANN DR. EMMA LUCAS-DARBY DARCEL MADKINS TARA MARKS LA’TASHA D. MAYES LAUREL RAGLAND DR. BEVERLY ROBERTS-ATWATER FLORENCE ROUZIER CECILE SHELLMAN JOY STARZL BRENDA TATE EMMA THORNTON KATHY MAYLE TOWNS CHATON T. TURNER, ESQ. MARGARET SMITH WASHINGTON SHEILA A. WASHINGTON REV. B. De NEICE WELCH VALERIE WHEATLEY ELISE ROBY YANDERS
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
Class of 2009 Honorees CLAUDIA L. ALLEN TIMYKA ARTIST MARILYN BARNETT JO-ANNE BATES DEMEATRIA GIBSON BOCCELLA YVONNE BURNS KATHY BYNUM SHEILA CARTER-JONES DINA CLARK MICHELE RONE-COOPER PHYLLIS COMER ETTA COX ROSEMARY C. CRAWFORD DARIA CRAWLEY LUCILLE DABNEY HELEN DAVIS TOI DERRICOTTE VALERIE DIXON TRACY L. EDMUNDS GAIL D. EDWARDS YVONNE ENGLISH-ROEBUCK KIVA FISHER-GREEN DARRYL FORD-WILLIAMS MONA GENERETT KAREN HALL MARVA H. HARRIS GERRI HOLDEN KARRIS JACKSON OLA R. JACKSON DENISE JONES RHONDA CARSON LEACH CLAUDETTE R. LEWIS EVANGELIST BARBARA MANN LYZONA MARSHALL MARCIA A. MARTIN INEZ K. MILES ARLINDA MORIARTY AUDREY J. MURRELL JANE PRESSLEY NICHOLSON CARMELLE NICKENS PHILLIPS GREER REED-JONES DIANE RICHARD ELISA SANDERS CHARENA SWANN DAWN R. WEBB TURNER CURTISTINE WALKER OLGA WELCH KAREN FARMER WHITE CAMEIL D. WILLIAMS MARY A. WINSTON
DIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT
LAJUANA FULLER
Director, Womens Imaging Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
Lajuana Fuller, Director of Womens Imaging and Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, has more than 30 years combined clinical and administrative experience, holding an undergraduate degree in Radiologic Technology, a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration, and is currently completing her doctoral degree. Women’s health, particularly breast health and breast cancer screening, is Fuller’s personal and professional passion. She actively speaks on disparities and the importance of breast cancer screening. She is a member of and was president of the chartering chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) in Pittsburgh. She is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE), having served as Diversity Advisory Board Chair for the Western Pa. chapter. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and served a term as Board Chair. She is currently a member of the Three Rivers Youth (TRY) Board of Directors and serves as Chair of the fundraising committee. She is a proud, active member of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys baking, loves traveling and all things historical. A preeminent interest of hers is genealogy. She has been able to trace her family history to the early 1800s.
DIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT
CORINNE J. GIBSON
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Community Engagement Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Corinne Gibson finds her passion in restructuring more diverse cultures and developing strategies for equitable and inclusive communities. Because of this talent, she was named the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Community Engagement for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. Gibson provides leadership in building more equitable and inclusive initiatives and collaborations throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities. Previously, as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Office of the Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Gibson oversaw the diversity and equity efforts of the 14 universities from a state-wide, systemic level while maintaining her student-centered lens. She mobilized champions of diversity via committees and initiatives to begin enhancing universities’ efforts to value every student, staff, and faculty member at their respective institution. She honed these skills during her tenure as the Director of the Office for Inclusive Excellence at Slippery Rock University where Gibson established the mission of providing a holistic approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion through programs and experiences for all students to explore and celebrate cultures and identities in a safe and supportive atmosphere. She accomplished this effort through four concentrations: transition, mentoring, inclusion, and advocacy.
Gibson received her B. S. degree in Public Health Education from Richard Stockton University and her M. A. in Higher Education Administration from Rowan University. She is currently completing her doctorate degree in Higher Education Management at the University of Pittsburgh. She has experience in presenting at various conferences and colleges on the topics of multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion especially as it relates to access to higher education. She serves as a mentor to many and volunteers both in Pittsburgh and in her hometown of Camden, N.J., where she serves in various community activities that address hunger, homelessness and academic achievement.
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Class of 2008 Honorees CHERYL ALLEN DONNA BAXTER TINA WILLIAMS BREWER MARILYN BROOKS JEAN BRYANT ESTHER BUSH RUTH BYRD-SMITH CANDI CASTLEBERRY SINGLETON DARIETH CHISOLM KIM BERKELY CLARK YVONNE COOK VERNA CRICHLOW PAULA DAVIS JACKIE DIXON ELAINE EFFORT HELEN FAISON LILLIA MICHELLE FERGUSON SYLVIA HILL FIELDS KAREN GARLAND JUDITH GRIGGS ERNESTINE HARRIS PEGGY HARRIS ELSIE HENDERSON KATHY HUMPHREY RHONDA MOORE JOHNSON PHYLLIS JONES MARGARET LARKINS-PETTIGREW VERNELL LILLIE LOIS MUFUKA MARTIN JOYCE MEGGERSON-MOORE VELMA MONTEIRO-TRIBBLE M. GAYLE MOSS SHIRLEY MUHAMMAD MARY SMITH PETERS VALERIE MCDONALD ROBERTS ALICE SCALES TONI Y. SILVA BEV SMITH JEANNETTE SOUTH-PAUL CECILE SPRINGER CELESTE TAYLOR WINIFRED TORBERT NANCY WASHINGTON BRENDA WATERS DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS LEAH WILLIAMS-DUNCAN JANIS BURLEY WILSON JOY MAXBERRY WOODRUFF JULIE ZEIGLER
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
DIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT
PAMELA GOLDEN
Executive Director Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation For the past nine years, Pamela Golden has had the privilege of serving as Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, a private, non-profit grant making organization that focuses on improving the well-being of children in Allegheny County. She has also worked as a consultant for regional and national organizations on long-range planning, communications, marketing, media relations and board governance initiatives. Pamela is an active member of the community. Currently, she serves on the boards of directors for Allegheny County Library Association, The Children’s Institute, Pittsburgh’s FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association as President, and Staunton Farm Foundation. She is a
COMMUNTIY SERVICE
DR. CHARLENE HILL-COLEMAN Vice President and Executive Director United We Stand
“Excellence is an acknowledgement of God’s quality. As a Servant Leader, from humble beginnings, I remain humble to serve others. My accomplishments are to further my reach in assisting others. Love is the key.” “Raising my daughters, as a single parent, I realized the importance of teaching them about helping others. Demonstrating my love for them and that I had plenty love to share with other children was our introduction to foster parenting.” Dr. Hill-Coleman founded Alyce In Wonderland Child Care, and assisted others in the startup process. She returned to college while her children were teenagers and attained an Associates in Child and Family Services from CCAC, a BS in Human Resources and an MS in Organizational Leadership, from Geneva College, a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary with a Leadership and Preaching focus. Rev. Dr. Charlene A. Hill-Coleman is an Associate Minister at Mt. Ararat Church and was interim Pastor at Squirrel Christian Church and West Elizabeth Presbyterian Church. She founded the SEAL Program (Self-Empowerment Actualization and Love), innovatively addressing social and emotional issues of at-risk individuals. Formerly Executive Director of
member of the RAD Advisory Board (Allegheny Regional Asset District). Over the years, Ms. Golden has worked as a volunteer at a hospice care facility and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. She is a member of The Aurora Reading Club of Pittsburgh, one of the nation’s oldest African American literary and cultural clubs and recently joined the Pittsburgh Chapter of the national Circle-Lets organization. Mayor Tom Murphy appointed Pamela to the City of Pittsburgh’s Human Relations Commission, where she served for eight years, including three as Chair of the Commission. Previously, she served on the boards of directors for Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures as its first African American Board President; the Pittsburgh Film Office and the Urban League of Pittsburgh. She holds a Master’s of Public Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s H. John Heinz School of Public Policy and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Pam has won numerous regional and national awards for her work in marketing and communications and for her community service. Good Orderly Direction, she merged the two programs with United We Stand, a program for life skills, life coaching and mentoring through sports, where she is Vice President and Executive Director. Instrumental in its initiation, Dr. Hill-Coleman began consulting with LIFE Male STEAM Academy and now is the Human Resource Director. She is a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., member. She volunteers time to many organizations and creates strategic initiatives for Vision Enterprises JASON Project, a criminal justice reform program. Dr. Hill-Coleman is a contributing Author in “Free to Fly,” published articles in “Havin’ Church” Magazine, and is Author of “Mirror Mirror” (Selfie), with an upcoming publication, “Children Experiencing Science and Math Fun Through Cooking.”
PUBLIC SERVICE
DR. TERRIE GRIFFIN
President League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Dr. Terrie Elizabeth Griffin was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. The youngest of three children, she was educated in and graduated from both the Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg Public Schools. She furthered her education earning three graduate degrees: a Masters’ in Human Services from Lincoln University, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Virginia Union University, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology (STVU) in Richmond, Virginia. Her doctoral dissertation was entitled, AIDS and the Black Church: Preparing Persons for Ministry (1994). As an associate professor of preventive health and practical theology, her curriculum became the first accredited graduate course on HIV/AIDS for students who were combining theology and social work studies. Dr. Griffin comes from a family known for their firsts. She is serving a second term as the first African American woman elected president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania whose mission is “defending democracy and empowering voters.” She is the first African American woman to chair the diversity, equity and inclusion committee of the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh. Her grandfather, Charles Hinton Harper was the first African American builder contractor in the City of Pittsburgh. And her uncle, jazz pianist Walt Harper, was the first African American night club owner
COUNSELING
DR. LORA HUBBARD
Professional Counselor for Mt. Ararat Counseling Center Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Lora is a native Pittsburgher and a faithful member of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. She was licensed as a Minister of the Gospel by Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Senior Pastor in August 2018. In addition to her ministerial duties, Lora has served as a facilitator for Mt. Ararat’s small group Bible Study Ministry since its inception in 2013. She taught Women’s Sunday School for over twelve years, with additional women’s ministry beyond her church. One such outside ministry is Journey to Freedom (JTF). With its global focus, Lora currently serves as one of its ministers and as an officer on its Board of Directors. Lora is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at the Mt. Ararat Counseling Center. She holds a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked in the counseling field for almost fifty years, including owning and operating her own disability management company. She recently earned her Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree from United Theological Seminary, focusing on Pastoral Care and Counseling. As a talented writer, Lora was a 10-year contributor to Mt. Ararat’s Christian lifestyle magazine, The Mount. In 2016, she published her first
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in Market Square, Walt Harper’s Attic. Prior to returning to her hometown of Pittsburgh, she was a member of the League of Women Voters of Lynchburg, Virginia where she held several positions. Because of her work with the League of Women Voters, in 2015 she was appointed to the Virginia State Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights where she served two terms through June of 2019. After she retired, Dr. Griffin relocated to Pittsburgh in 2017 when she began serving Pittsburgh’s homeless as the Director of Women’s Ministry with L.I.V.I.N.G. Inc. She also returned to her AME Zion roots. She is on the pastoral staff of the Wesley Center AME Zion Church under the leadership of Rev. Glenn Grayson. Dr. Griffin’s civic engagement includes supporting the NAACP as a Silver Life Member. Currently, Dr. Griffin resides in Pittsburgh with her husband Michael Sable, a retired real estate attorney and mental health advocate. Her daughter Kaiya and granddaughter Amber are both educators in the Pittsburgh Public School system, and her grandson Aidan is a student at CCAC.
award-winning novel, Not Off the Hook at 491: When Unforgiveness Feels as Natural as Breathing. The book deals with the challenging subject of forgiveness and has created numerous opportunities to minister at local conferences and abroad with JTF in Kenya and Uganda. Lora became a widow in 2011 after being married for 32 years to her beloved husband, Minister Lawrence Drew Hubbard. She is blessed with two grown sons and an armful of precious grandchildren and great grandchildren. When she is not spending time with family and friends, she enjoys listening to music, studying God’s Word, watching sports and writing. One scripture that has given Lora great assurance through the years is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” She would add, “Even when I don’t know the details of God’s plan for my life, be it personal or ministerial, I can take great comfort in the knowledge that God knows the plans— and God alone will bring them to pass.”
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
TINISHA HUNT
Chief Program Officer Macedonia FACE Center
MEDIA
GLADYS JELKS
Assistant Director and Programming Director Pittsburgh Community Television Gladys Jelks is the Assistant Director and Programming Director at Pittsburgh Community Television (PCTV). In her 40-year career, she has trained many community residents in video production in order to empower them through the use of media. She gets great satisfaction in encouraging people not to be afraid to use media to express their views, talents and passions. Over the years she has seen many interns and volunteers go on to pursue careers in television and film after having started at PCTV. In 1981 as a production trainer with Warner Cable, the prospect of turning television watchers into television content creators was very exciting. Having a hand in guiding the raw talent and ideas waiting for an outlet for expression, and providing nonprofit organizations the opportunity of having more than a sound bite was an added bonus. Although Jelks served as a trainer, she learned a lot as well. She developed listening skills and understanding for helping community producers clarify and execute program ideas while finding ways to help demystify and take the fear out of the production process. Maintaining attention to detail, patience and a positive, encouraging attitude contin-
Tinisha Crunkleton Hunt is currently the Chief Program Officer at Macedonia FACE. For the past six years, Hunt has been responsible for the implementation and oversight of high-quality services to more than 3,000 people who include families with children, individuals in need and senior citizens within the Pittsburgh region. Hunt is a seasoned nonprofit and human services professional with experience spanning more than 20 years. In previous roles, she has worked with children with behavioral diagnoses, foster and adoptive families, and families in need of intensive services. A Pittsburgh native and Schenley High School alum, Hunt earned a bachelor of arts in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in business ethics and leadership from Duquesne University. As a servant leader, Hunt is grateful for the opportunity to support programming in her hometown that positively impacts women, children and communities of color alike. Hunt lives by the motto: “Hard things are possible,” rooted in Philippians 4:13 from which she draws strength to accomplish difficult tasks. This was evident as she led a talented team of staff during a pandemic to respond to an unprecedented volume of requests for assistance from the community. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Hunt is dedicated to scholarship, sisterhood and service. In addition, she serves as a member of the board of directors for the Northside Christian Health Center and a youth volunteer at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh. ue to be important components for success. Valuable leadership skills gained through 4 years experience as treasurer and vice-president of NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications), Western Pennsylvania chapter, helped during times as PCTV Interim Director. It is said when you do something you love you never work a day in your life. Not sure if that’s quite true, but for her it has made work much easier!
MINISTRY
REV. HELEN M. JACKSON Executive Director Center for Urban Biblical Ministry
Rev. Helen M. Jackson is retired from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County where she served for 32 years. She most recently accepted the role as Executive Director for CUBM, the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry-Geneva College Pittsburgh Campus. In addition, she still holds her staff position as a Recruiter, and Adjunct Professor, teaching in the leadership and Bible departments. While at CUBM she was awarded the Execu-
COMMUNITY SERVICE
ELAINE B. JENKINS
Program Director of Senior Care Coordination Bethany Community Ministries Elaine B. Jenkins, RN, is a Licensed Professional Registered Nurse, patient advocate, a Parish Nurse, life coach, wife, and grandmother. She is the Program Director for Bethany Community Ministries’ Senior Care Coordination Team. They have provided COVID-19 vaccinations for over a thousand people, primarily in our marginalized Pittsburgh communities. Her career as a nurse has led her to many areas in the profession including community health, home health, mental health, sales and surgery with over 40 years in the clinical practice. She spent 27 years in corporate America as an Executive Professional Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for Johnson & Johnson where she demonstrated an outstanding sales career with excellent marketing and training skills. She has been awarded many training and performance awards. She was successful to accomplish the highest position as a representative in the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. She was appointed by Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf and approved by the U.S. Senate as an official member of the Pa. Council on Aging and recently became the Vice Chairman of the Council.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
tive Director’s Award of Distinction as well as the Biblical Studies award. In college, she not only tended to the books, but also served as board member of several associations such as The Heritage Chorale of Pittsburgh as Chaplain. Rev. Jackson attended Pittsburgh Public Schools but completed all academic degrees from Geneva College including her master’s. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Point Park University in Community Engagement, where it all began. In addition, Rev. Jackson serves as Sunday School and Bible Study teacher at her church. She is the past chaplain of the Harty Bible School class of 2006. In 2021, Rev. Jackson received The Pittsburgh Circle of Courage Award, featuring inspiring stories of Faith and Courage, awarded by Bynum Marketing Firm and Brown Chapel AME Church. The above mentioned notwithstanding, Rev. Jackson is pleased to mention that she is married to her best friend and partner in life, Rev. Andrew Jackson. Together they founded the Abundant Mercy Ministries, a community outreach evangelistic ministry in 2002. They have a blended family of five children and 13 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. She serves in ministry alongside her husband at Webster Avenue Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Pittsburgh. Their newest ministry endeavor: “The Marriage Works,” operating in their local church and community. She and Andrew have written a book: “The Modern Couple,” with a workbook to follow. Jenkins serves on the Advisory Board of the FBHC (Faith-Based Health Collaborative). She is a member of the Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action (PBNIA), a member of the Gateway Medical Society, as well as a member of the CRAB (Community Research Advisory Board) at the University of Pittsburgh. She has always believed in the meaning of health, that the harmony of the body, mind and spirit and living in relationship with God and each other is paramount for a fruitful life. Jenkins’ career objective is to provide the most exclusive and innovative health care to the community which she serves, and to be a resource and asset to the needs of the position which she holds.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
SOCIAL SERVICE
JA-NEEN JONES
Director of Adoption & Foster Care Services TRAC Services for Families Ja-Neen Jones is the Director of Adoption & Foster Care Services at TRAC Services for Families where she has been employed for 16 years. She is accountable for overseeing TRAC’s Black Adoption Services (BAS). As a member of the executive team, she is actively involved in program development and assists with the fiscal and budgetary processes. Some of her responsibilities include: es-
tablishing TRAC’s marketing and communications efforts, developing recruiting and retention activities, overseeing the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, and other grant-funded programs. She also serves as the North American Council for Adoptable Children (NACAC) adoption subsidy representative for Western Pa. While this position holds multiple responsibilities, she is known as the “resource person” regarding foster/adoption focus issues. Jones’ leadership style has been instrumental in motivating and empowering others to lead. She has a vast network of professional connections throughout the country including locally as the coordinator for the “Waiting Child” segments featured on KDKA-TV (2). She attends dozens of events annually allowing her to speak on behalf of the thousands of children in Pennsylvania that are waiting for a family. Jones is honored to be an HBCU graduate of Wilberforce University and holds a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Geneva College. She is a former adjunct professor at CCAC helping students succeed in their educational journey. A proud mother of two young adult children, Jaylen and Jaz-zee, Jones is an active member of Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, serving as the leader of the Companionship Ministry and recently appointed to the Board of Elders.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
DOROTHEA LEFTWICH Detective Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Dorothea Leftwich is a detective with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Detective Leftwich has been on the police force for 14 years. She has served the last seven years in her current role within the Office of Municipal Investigations conducting internal affairs investigations against City of Pittsburgh employees such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, laborers and all other personnel except elected officials. Prior to working within the Office of Municipal Investigations, she served in the Narcotics/Vice Unit, Burglary Unit, Bicycle Unit and Patrol Unit. She has worked with the City of Pittsburgh Personnel Department as a Recruiter for the Bureau of Police. Detective Leftwich has also been involved in the Middle School Mentoring Program steered by the city. She has worked as a team leader for Cops and Kids Summer Camps. She is currently preparing for Polygraph School to become a Polygrapher. Personally, Detective Leftwich has been a Certified Spinning and Group Exercise Instructor since 1999. She currently instructs spinning at the Thelma Lovette YMCA. She began a voluntary fitness program from 2017 until the beginning of COVID working with a small group of University Prep
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High School females. She collaborated with the YMCA, who provided the girls free gym memberships. She meets twice a week with the girls for group exercise workouts. She partnered with P3R, who provided free sneakers to the girls, free memberships to run in their running program and free registrations for the Pittsburgh Marathon 5K. P3R also provided a nutritionist, who came weekly at the end of workout sessions and provided cooking lessons. Detective Leftwich’s passion is health and wellness and plans on venturing in this arena in her retirement years to be a vessel to others.
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DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
SOCIAL SERVICE
DEBORAH MARSHALL
Retired, Clairton City School District Minister, Morning Star Baptist Church Retired, Retooled and Repurposed! Minister Deboarah A. Marshall is a graduate of Clairton High School. She attended Duquesne University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is a certified Principal K-12. Minister Marshall was employed by the Clairton City School District, until March 31, as a K-12 Principal and Safety and Security Coordinator and Cheerleading Coach. Fifty-one years of service. Minister Marshall is also active in her community. She is a member of the Unity Committee, Mon-Valley Ship, Library Trustee, Design Team, Community Choir, and Ecumenical Council. Minister Marshall is a lifelong member of the Morning Star Baptist
SOCIAL SERVICE
LOIS ‘TONI’ MCCLENDON Co-Founder New Voices for Reproductive Justice
Lois “Toni” McClendon is a founder of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, a member of the Advisory Committee, and currently serves as community organizer. She is affectionately known as the Grande Dame. In 2004, New Voices for Reproductive Justice (NVRJ) was founded to build a social change movement dedicated to achieving the complete health and well-being of Black women and girls, their families and communities. Their vision is to expand the Reproductive Justice movement, which is rooted in the fundamental human right of
Church in Clairton. She is active in the EDUCATION following ministries: Victorious Praise, Combined Choir, Women’s Choir, Praise and Worship Team, Sunday School, Junior Church, Morning Star Leadership, Ani- Director, The Power of One Program ta Kay Missionary and Lott Carey Foreign Missions. Minister Marshall has traveled to Assistant Professor Palestine, Israel, and Nigeria with Women In Carlow University Service Everywhere. She is a 2014 graduate of the Jerome Stevenson Bible School and is Dr. Tammi McMillan Marshall, Ed.D, currently a Licensed Minister at the Mornserves at Carlow University as an Assistant ing Star Baptist Church. Minister Marshall also delivers the Word at Kane Regional Professor and the Director of The Power Center in McKeesport on the third Sundays. of One Program, working to diversify the She is a Psalmist and has served as Worship teacher pipeline by eliminating barriers that Leader at local churches. Minister Marshall prevent people of color in obtaining teachwas one of the 2019 recipients of the Women of Distinction Award presented by the Allegheny Union Baptist Association. Minister Marshall is the founder and facilitator of Caring and Sharing with Deborah, which addresses the spiritual needs of the residents of the South Hills Square Retirement Resort located in the Castle Shannon section of Pittsburgh. She also facilitates the Educational Advisory Ministry (EAM) for the Morning Star Baptist Church.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
er certification. Dr. McMillan was instrumental in conceptualizing Carlow’s Power of One, ACES, and the Early Childhood Apprenticeship programs. These programs are aimed at providing seamless degree pathways for teacher certification and principalship for teachers of color. Dr. McMillan came to Carlow in 2019, with over 20 years of educational leadership and early childhood education. She embodies a commitment to early childhood education with core strengths in working with diverse populations and specializing in the unique needs of early childhood. Dr. McMillan’s expertise aligns beautifully with Carlow’s mission to nurture and support current and future Carlow Scholar-Practitioners who are reflective in action, capable of creating and serving in high-performance learning environments, and who support and respect the dignity and diversity of all learners. Dr. McMillan’s goal is to transform tomorrow today, by impacting multiple generations to come. A native of Pittsburgh, she received her Ed.D from Point Park University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. One of her favorite quotes is by John Dewey, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterdays, we rob them of tomorrow.”
DR. TAMMI MCMILLAN MARSHALL
us all to control our bodies, sexuality, reproduction, gender, work, and ability to form our families. Over the past 17 years, New Voices has amassed a rich “Herstory” of advancing health care access, youth organizing, policy advocacy, voter engagement, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and ending gender-based violence and mass incarceration. They have served 120,000+ Black women, femmes and girls, women of color and LGBTQ+ people of color through New Voices Pittsburgh, New Voices Cleveland and New Voices Philadelphia. McClendon is proud to have seen the growth of New Voices Pittsburgh to become a powerhouse for reproductive justice. In addition to her work with New Voices for Reproductive Justice, McClendon has been a peace and social justice activist and cultural worker in Pittsburgh for over 40 years. She is a storyteller in the African American Oral Tradition, a performer with ABAFASI (a women’s West African-based drumming group), a member of United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh, and a Certified InterPlay Leader and Life Practice Teacher who also serves on the National Body Wisdom Board for InterPlay. She has been the Lead Writer/Editor for The Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence and the Producer and Co-Host of “B-PEP Community Moments” Radio on WGBN-AM. She has two children, Sanza and Brandon McClendon, and two grandchildren, Imani and Alana.
EDUCATION
ERICA MCDILL
Educator, Westinghouse High School Pittsburgh Public Schools Erica McDill is an educator with nearly three decades of experience spanning the state of Pennsylvania. A Pittsburgh native, McDill is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She earned a master’s degree in multicultural education with certifications in special education and middle years English from Eastern University. Over the past 30 years, McDill has exemplified her commitment to young people, culture, and her faith through both her career achievements as well as in her extra-curricular pursuits. McDill has taught both special and general education in elementary, middle, and high school settings in both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Public Schools districts. Early in her career, McDill taught grade school for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, including ELA, science, geography, and African American history, and became a program coordinator for Catholic Charities. Currently, McDill serves as a social studies teacher at Westinghouse High School. McDill is a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. For nearly 25 years, she has served as a member of the
Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter and currently holds the office of graduate adviser for Kappa Beta, her alma mater’s undergraduate chapter. Mother, daughter, sister and aunt, McDill is a member of St. Benedict the Moor in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. Her son, Christopher, is 16 and a junior at Winchester Thurston School. McDill is an avid and lifelong Steelers fan and enjoys spending time with her family.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
IT SERVICES
COMMUNITY SERVICE
BILITA MCINTOSH
MUFFY MENDOZA
Client Analyst, IT Department Community College of Allegheny County Bilita McIntosh will tell you first she is a woman of God, then an IT professional serving as a client analyst in the IT department at Community College of Allegheny County. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at the school where she teaches students Computer Science. She earned her associate’s degrees from CCAC. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration of Networking in Computers at Robert Morris University. Shortly
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Executive Director Brown Mamas after graduating from RMU, she enrolled in the graduate program for Journalism and Mass Communication at Point Park University. She also served the Pittsburgh Public Schools System as a seventh- and eighthgrade communications teacher. During that time, McIntosh was appointed Commissioner for the City of Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Commission and is previous board member for PCTV, where she produced and hosted a show called W.I.N. with her twin sister. McIntosh also does web development and design consulting and has worked in retail for over 15 years specifically in customer service. In 2014, McIntosh was hired as an adjunct instructor in the Computer Information Technology Department at CCAC. She was so grateful to have the opportunity to come back and work for the college that prepared her for her professional journey. This past May, McIntosh transitioned into her current role as a Client Analyst. McIntosh’s mission is to love and empower those she encounters, show diversity in the technology industry, and serve her community. She credits accomplishments to an outstanding mom (Sharon McIntosh) who raised her and her sisters to serve God and others. McIntosh gives all glory to God for her journey and success.
Muffy Mendoza’s life mission was initially inspired by the desire to express gratitude to her mother for all that she was to her growing up and all that she did to usher her into adulthood. Becoming a mother herself further solidified the need for recognition of the multi-faceted work that goes into rearing children and building a life for them. Through her life’s journey as a daughter and mother, Mendoza identified a void that so clearly needed to be filled and “Brown Mamas” was born. Starting as a small group of fired up, African American mothers, meeting in each other’s homes, growing into an online and offline membership of 5,000 mothers of color, Mendoza has built a powerful nation of impassioned change-makers. A trusted subject matter expert on all things Brown Mama related, Mendoza has had the opportunity to share her expertise and wisdom as an author (“The Brown Mama Mindset”) and on the big stage of TEDx. She’s been recognized as an influential voice as #63 on The Root 100 List of Most Influential African-Americans and was selected in 2021 to join Facebook’s Community Accelerator Program. Through the Brown Mamas journey, Men-
doza has cultivated a variety of transferable skills that have prepared her to offer her acumen in social media dominance, content creation, and principle development to the masses, whether they are mothers or not. Mendoza is also a fully engaged mother of three sons and happily married wife of one awesome husband.
18 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
PUBLIC SERVICE
SHATARA MURPHY
Deputy Director of Community Affairs, Department of Public Safety City of Pittsburgh In 2016, Shatara Murphy joined the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety as the Community Affairs Manager. She now proudly serves as the Deputy Director of Community Affairs. In this role she oversees of the offices of Nighttime Economy, Disruptive Properties, Park Rangers, Victim Services and the Office of Community Services and Violence Prevention – a new office that
MINISTRY
REV. CARRIE PUGH Associate Minister Jerusalem Baptist Church
Rev. Carrie Pugh was born in West Virginia to Henry and Bennie Minter. She accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life at the age of 7 and was baptized at Ebenezer Baptist Church. She remained a member of Ebenezer until moving to
was created under her leadership. A major part of her role as Deputy Director is improving the relationship with Public Safety and the residents of the City of Pittsburgh. Through the analysis of crime data, she is changing the narrative regarding perceived and actual crime throughout the city. Community partnership and meaningful collaboration is affording Murphy the opportunity to take a purposeful approach to repairing the relationship between the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the residents of the City of Pittsburgh, with a focus on diverse communities. Ms. Murphy played an integral role in the formation of the City of Pittsburgh Multicultural Liaison Unit which resulted in the creation of a cross cultural training that will equip first responders with the necessary knowledge and tools to best serve the immigrant and refugee community. Murphy obtained her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, concentrating in the areas of Marketing and Strategy. In addition to public service and advocacy efforts, she enjoys traveling, karaoke, a good book, mentoring young women and spending time with her family and friends – especially her children, Sania and Charles.
Pittsburgh. At Ebenezer, she served in many areas, including Church Clerk, Usher, Custodian, Youth Choir Director, and Junior Missionary. Rev. Pugh acknowledged her call to preach and was licensed on March 20, 2003. Going before council on June 27, 2005, she was recommended for ordination as a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ordination service took place on July 17, 2005, at First Baptist Church of Penn Hills. Rev. Pugh is a graduate of East Bank High School, East Bank, W.Va. attended Duquesne University, Greater Works School of Ministry, the Victoria Faith Outreach Evangelism Training, and earned the Certificate in Christian Training from the American Baptist College. Rev. Pugh is married to Pastor Theodore E. Pugh and serves as an Associate Minister at Jerusalem Baptist Church. She is also the Minister of Evangelism and Servant Leader of the Women’s Ministry. One-hundred percent of the Jerusalem Baptist Church congregation are registered She is the mother of four children and grandmother of nine. Her favorite scripture is Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being.”
PUBLIC SERVICE
MARY NESBY
Councilwoman, Borough of Homestead Owner and Proprietor Mary’s Little Lambs, LLC Mary Nesby was re-elected for her second term in office this past election a councilmember of the Borough of Homestead. Nesby’s first priorities were to change the composition of the borough council, strategically handpicking fellow members of the Homestead Council to maintain integrity, accountability and leadership ensuring public trust. Nesby is a small business owner and active community leader. She runs a professional mobile notary service out of the Entrepre-
MINISTRY
SHARON L. ROBINSON Co-Pastor Kingdom Come Ministries
Sharon Robinson is a certified International Life Coach and founder of Sharon Robinson Coaching where she’s known as the “Never2Late Coach and Prophetic Destiny Pusher”. Her coaching focuses on Women 50+ who feel stuck and wonder if it’s too late for them to come alive again to pursue their goals and dreams. She skillfully assists women in Gaining Clarity, Increasing Confidence, and Embracing the Courage they need to take what she calls their “Destiny God Jumps!”
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neurial Women’s Incubator known as the Hollander Building. She is also the owner/proprietor of Mary’s Little Lambs, LLC. Nesby is all about community leadership, youth mentoring, entrepreneurship and networking. She is always looking for new ways to teach others and share her knowledge and experiences as much as possible. The local leader is continually expanding her network and work with other individuals interested in advocacy. Nesby partnered with the University of Pittsburgh and became a facilitator in training and a key stakeholder on their creating peace initiative, where local leaders come together to create a curriculum for youth advocacy. Nesby has spearheaded anti-violence initiatives, partnering with the Neighborhood Resilience Project to offer trauma support to families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. In recognition of her community involvement, Nesby was the 2019 recipient of the Harriet Tubman Shining Star Award for her commitment and service to her community. Nesby is the proud mother of three sons and has dedicated her life to helping her children and many of the families in her community to navigate, deal and cope in our society. Advocacy became a passion of hers after one of her sons was diagnosed with PDD, which is a disorder associated with Autism Spectrum. Nesby will continue to educate, encourage, and build up a foundation of support for all who seek her help.
Sharon became a Christian at the age of 16 and has served in ministry for over 30 years. She is a licensed Minister with a passion for evangelism, reaching out to those in need and building a generation that will make a Kingdom impact. She started Blooming Hearts Women’s ministry, hosted “Not Your Ordinary Tea” events, and signature panel discussions with “Views From the Heart.” A true exhorter and encourager, she has a heart to lead people to Jesus Christ and to see them fulfill their purpose with joy. For the past 20 years she, along with her husband, has led Kingdom Come Ministries, a local church in an urban community. Sharon is a creative, multi-talented, multi-gifted entrepreneur. She is the owner of CoCo Couture Fashions” where she sells women’s clothing and accessories, she has authored a book, “Words That Speak Life.” Sharon loves her family and she is most proud of being married to her husband and friend, Pastor Jonathan Robinson for over 40years. She is the mother of two outstanding adults Sha’on and Jonathan (Jaye) and one grandson, Taevon. Sharon loves to laugh and live life fully as one of her favorite hashtags clearly describes her #LivingLifeWithExclamationMarks. Sharon has many goals but her overall goal in whatever she does is to reflect God’s love so her good works can be seen and the Father can be glorified.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMUNITY SERVICE
SHEMARIA SCHARMANN
JERVONNE SINGLETARY
Owner MiMi’s Kinder Connection
As a compassionate advocate for mothers, babies and the families that support them, Shemaria Scharmann is a DONA Certified Birth/Postpartum Doula and Gentle Birth Educator with over 1,000 births during the course of her career. Scharmann serves families who desire an empowering, autonomous, and transformative birth. As the founder of MiMi’s Kinder Connection,
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Government and Community Relations Manager goodblend Scharmann’s goal is to provide educational consulting, birth/postpartum overnight services, and community events for families. Scharmann also provides birth support for Healthy Start participants to increase prenatal care, healthy deliveries, and postpartum services for mom and baby. Scharmann is a board member for two organizations that have a special place in her heart because of their mission in the community. VolunTots of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which is a volunteer group for kids that spans from pre-school through fifth grade who want to become more involved with their families in the community with projects such as collecting food for Thanksgiving and dressing up for a parade for senior citizens. The other organization Scharmann is a board member of is Evolve, which provides specialized coaching and support services for neurodiverse young adults through education, employment, and the arts. When she is not supporting families through birthwork, Scharmann enjoys teaching children during the homeschool co-op as a K-4 early educator and most importantly, being with her family.
Jervonne Singletary was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a bachelor’s in Political Science from Howard University and a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Singletary has over a decade of experience working with marginalized communities, coalition-building, and advocating. She began her career at the New York State Assembly as Chief of Staff where she tirelessly advocated for changes to New York City’s “stop and frisk” policy and other criminal justice reforms. Singletary was also instrumental in the passage of an assembly bill that codified the decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis, moving it from a misdemeanor to a violation. She also worked with the Black and Hispanic Caucus on redistricting, gun violence and other issues facing minority communities throughout the state. While working at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Singletary advanced cannabis legalization and equity planning for the city. She was appointed to the Mayor’s Task Force for Cannabis Legalization and worked with the Land Use and Licensing and Economic Opportunity subcommittees and crafted recommendations that sought to increase opportunity for New Yorkers that had
been harmed by past cannabis prohibition. Jervonne recently returned to Pittsburgh to work with goodblend, a retail division of Parallel. She now works as the Government and Community Relations Manager. Singletary currently resides in Squirrel Hill with her partner, Alisia, and their two daughters.
20 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
ALUMNI SERVICE
DENISE SINKLER Chairman Emeritus Clark Atlanta University Alumni Mentor Program
MINISTRY
REV. EILEEN O. SMITH
Executive Director, South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace Founder and Director, Minority Emergency Preparedness Task Force A registered nurse, Rev. Eileen O. Smith retired in 2014 from the Pa. Dept. of Health but continues to be a community servant in various ways. An advocate for gun violence prevention, she is the Executive Director of the South Pittsburgh Coalition of Peace where she directs the violence prevention component including the Peacemakers street violence interruption outreach team, and the Annual Dare to Dream Youth Session, which showcases youth accomplishments. Rev. Smith is also the Founder and Director of the Minority Emergency Preparedness Task Force (MEPTF). Under the direction of Rev. Smith, MEPTF has been successful in working with low- income housing communities to empower them to take responsibility for their preparedness needs in the event of a major disaster or pandemic through education, resources and the training of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). Through MEPTF she is also involved in COVID-19 testing and vaccine roll outs in these communities. Rev. Smith has been the pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, West Newton, Pa., for
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EDUCATION Denise Sinkler grew up in McKeesport. Her parents were her favorite role models. They were the kindest people in the neighborhood. While attending McKeesport Junior and Senior High School, she played the violin in the orchestra. Sinkler also enjoyed being active in sports, joining the basketball and softball teams. After graduating from college with a B.A. in Mass Media Arts Journalism, Sinkler became passionate about outreach involving youth embracing higher education. She has served quite successfully as Chairman for Clark Atlanta University’s’ Alumni Mentor Program. Her alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, ranks among the top 20 HBCUs. Sinkler is an active member of the Western Pennsylvania Council Of HBCU Alumni. This esteemed organization’s recent HBCU College Fair was held at PNC Park. The HBCU Times Magazine has recognized Sinkler for her leadership within the CAUAA Alumni Mentor Program. She was given the National President’s and Service to the Alumni Award. Sinkler has a strong track record of 18-plus years of community service nationwide and continues to pay it forward. Her main suggestion for youth is a quote inspired by Colin Kaepernick. “Know Your Power.”
the past 18 years and is a member of many community boards including: the Birmingham Foundation; Ceasefire PA; Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP)/Coalition Against Violence; Black Equity Health Committee; Monessen Communities That Care; PA Health Consortium; COVID-19 Community Corp; and the Medical Reserve Corp. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including: the B-PEP Trailblazer Award; Black Women for Positive Change Violence Prevention Award; Greater Pittsburgh YWCA Women of Excellence Health and Human Services Award; the American Red Cross Hero Preparedness Health and Human Safety Award and many other commendations. Rev. Smith’s her favorite Scripture is, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 3:14)
CHERYL SMITH
Director of Early Learning, Child Development and Education Programs YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Cheryl R. Smith, M.Ed., serves as YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Early Learning, Child Development and Education Programs Director with over 19 years of Early Care and Education experience. Smith is a Peabody High School graduate. She received her B.A. from Edinboro University of Pa. where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Smith received her first master’s degree from Carlow University in Early Childhood Education, and is currently enrolled at Carlow to obtain her second master’s degree in Early Childhood Supervision. Smith is a wife and a mother of two teenage girls. Smith’s professional career has extended across Allegheny, Beaver, and Fayette counties working as a Lead Teacher, Keystone STARS Specialist (now called a STARS Quality Coach), Child Health and Safety Supervisor, Health and Safety Nutrition Services Advisor, PA Pre-K Counts Project Supervisor, director at several childcare centers, and as Adjunct Faculty at Carlow University for their Apprenticeship program. Smith’s long-term goal is to close the oppor-
tunity gaps that minority children face. She strongly believes the best way to address these inequities is by providing youth with high-quality and affordable education. She believes that when we provide young children with positive racial identities, they grow up to be the adults of the world who will fuel the economy and progress the social change.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
CAROL SPEAKS-HADDOCK Founder & Executive Director Ukombozi
Carol Ann Speaks, a committee person, judge of election, civil rights activist, fighting to end DBI and mass incarceration advocate and founder of the non-profit organization, Ukombozi, was born on Jan. 27, 1956 in Pittsburgh. Born to a teenage mother living in the hood, Speaks-Haddock’s earliest memories are of the gritty, inner-city streets of the Steel City. Moving to the suburbs when her mother married her stepfather, Speaks-Haddock had to adjust to new surroundings and a whole new way of life. Marrying at the age of 16 and starting a family, Speaks-Haddock left school early because her husband, Charles Speaks Sr.’s naval career required them to travel frequently. Speaks-Haddock went on to have five children and achieve numerous accolades despite her withdrawal from school. Attaining her G.E.D. and engrossing herself in community organizations has resulted in her being awarded in 2004 for dedication and excellence in coaching the twerps at Lawrenceville Youth Association. Speaks-Haddock also received a Pittsburgh City Council Proclamation for CLI (Citizens Leadership Initiative) in 2010. While devoting herself to service and the improvement of her community, Speaks- Haddock suffered multiple tragedies in her home life. Her firstborn son, Charles Squeak Speaks,
was murdered in 2010 and his case remains unsolved. Her grandson was murdered in 2013. Her other son, James, is currently serving a DBI (Death by Incarceration) sentence. Her nephew, Donny, was murdered in 2003 and these are just a few of the many tragic events that drive Speaks-Haddock’s journey for reformation. She has channeled all of her pain and loss into founding and spearheading a non-profit organization named, Ukombozi, which means liberation, redemption, deliberation and emancipation in Swahili. Ukombozi is a rallying cry to abolish mass incarceration and all of its forms.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
JAMILA SYKES
Director, Provider Experience and voice analytics Highmark Inc. Jamila Sykes currently serves as Director of Provider Experience and Voice Analytics at Highmark Inc. She previously served as Chief of Staff to the CEO at Crisis Text Line, a leading health tech
ENTREPRENEUR
KIYA TOMLIN
Owner & Designer Kiya Tomlin Fashions She is a story of many titles. Kiya Tomlin, Fashion Designer, Founder, Entrepreneur. Proud wife and mother. Lifelong artist and woman of brave and boundless energy. Tomlin had an ongoing relationship with fashion, sewing her own clothes at the age of 10 and even making her own prom dress. She went to college to study pre-med, but getting married, starting a family, and having the opportunity to take fashion courses at the University of Cincinnati, the serendipity of life led her to launch her own fashion business. In 2014, Tomlin opened a storefront in Pittsburgh for her namesake line, which unites glamor with comfort and ease, embodying femininity, versatility, and the constant pursuit of the place where style, function and luxurious comfort intersect. Now, seven years later, her list of accomplishments is even longer, adding her Kiya Tomlin X Steelers collection (which is officially licensed by the NFL) and a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list to her resume in 2021.
innovator using data to customize rapid-response crisis intervention services. Sykes successfully established the first business operations team and secured more than $4 million in investments for global and multilingual service expansion. Prior to Crisis Text Line, Sykes worked as a management consultant with Accenture focusing on health information systems implementations. In previous roles she was a Public and Government Affairs Advisor at ExxonMobil and health systems improvement strategist through Yale University. During her formal education she worked at Georgetown University Hospital, The Economist, and the African Development Bank. Sykes led a collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, University of Ghana, and Ghana National Service to deploy more than 200 community mental health workers and address a 98 percent mental health treatment gap. Sykes coordinated this deployment in a resource-constrained context and during a regional Ebola outbreak at no additional cost to government partners. This was a significant win to enhance patient care through medication adherence programs and promotion of mental health resources. Sykes volunteers as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line. One conversation at a time, Sykes supports individuals through personal moments of crisis including suicide, substance abuse, financial distress, anxiety and bullying.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
NGOZI D. TIBBS
Founder, Sankofa Childbirth Education and Lactation Services Founder, Journeylighter Coaching Ngozi Doreen D. Tibbs, MPH, LCCE, IBCLC, CHC, PN1, LU, is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on cultural humility, diversity, childbirth education, lactation and health equity. She has a bachelor’s degree in Maternal Child Health and a master’s degree in Public Health. In addition, Tibbs is a Certified Childbirth Trainer and Educator through Lamaze International (LCCE), an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) plus Co-Founder of The Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle (PBBC) and The New Awesome 45-hour foundational training called The Black Course. Tibbs attended her first birth in 1999 and knew from that day that she had found her calling. Often known to share her wonderful personal birth stories (including her fifth child’s birth in the car), she believes the best way to approach birth and breastfeeding is through informed eyes with lots of support and yes, even humor. Tibbs loves learning and always looks for ways to expand her expertise. As a result, she also completed evidence-based certifications in health and nutrition
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from Precision Nutrition and the American Council on Exercise, plus she is proud to be a Loveologist, Master Sexpert, and Relationship Coach through Loveology University. On the personal side, Tibbs is married to her college sweetheart for the past 30 years, and they are the parents to five awesome children and one fantastic grandson. She is known to tell stories of how her husband and children have been her best teachers on what real love is and how to communicate effectively.
22 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
PUBLIC SERVICE
JERIMAINE WARD
Procurement Manager of Professional Services Contract Administration Port Authority of Allegheny County Jerimaine Ward is a contract management professional with over 18 years of experience concentrated in finance, government, and transit industries. As the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Procurement Manager of Professional Services Contract Administration, she has successfully driven results
with building strategically-focused teams and enhancing business practices through her proven leadership and management abilities. Ward is a Robert Morris University graduate with a bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership with undergraduate studies in Information Technologies, and she most recently became the Vice President of the COMTO (Conferene of Minority Transportation Officials) Pittsburgh Chapter Board of Directors. She’s been a member of the National Contract Management Association since 2009, a member of the WTS International, and a 2021 graduate of EnoMax Leadership Academy. She has a high level of energy and enthusiasm; and has proven to be an inspiration and motivator to those around her. She leads by example and is well respected by her staff, colleagues, community, friends, family, and most importantly, her daughter. Ward is kind, compassionate and always ready and willing to help those in need. She never hesitates to help and believes that the support of self-improvement is through mentorship. Ward provides guidance, life experiences, and awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion through her mentorships of other women and young adults. Ward is a Pittsburgh native who utilized Port Authority of Allegheny County transit since she was a toddler; and is extremely excited to be a part of the transit agency in helping in implementing innovative initiatives and to continue to serve our Pittsburgh communities.
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PUBLIC SERVICE
ERNESTINE WATTS-TAYLOR National Editor National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees
Ernestine Watts-Taylor is a native of Pittsburgh. She graduated from South Hills High School and attended the University of Pittsburgh and Point Park College (now Point Park University). Watts-Taylor joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1970 as a clerk at the Pittsburgh General Mail Facility, and later transferred to the Pittsburgh Bulk Mail Center in Warrendale, and was promoted to the position of Network Specialist (Transportation Dept.). Watts-Taylor is a proud member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, West End, under the leadership of Rev. Theodore E. Pugh. She serves in a variety of capacities including Public Relations Chair. Watts-Taylor served on boards and as a volunteer, and is a member of the following organizations: Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE), Wilkinsburg & Pittsburgh NAACP, National Council of Negro Women Black Family Reunion (WDC), Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Leadership Conference and ushered for the Historic Lincoln Theater, WDC. Watts-Taylor is proud mother of sons
Apaulo and Dorian, grandmother of Jasmine & London, and wife of 37 years to the late Paul K. Taylor.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
JANICE WHITE
Property Management Professional Beacon Communities, LLC Janice White, an affordable housing expert, whose career spans two decades, has vast affordable housing management experience with troubled properties, new construction, substantial moderate rehabilitation, compliance, and regulatory review management. She has expertise across multiple affordable
housing programs including low-income housing tax credit, project-based section 8, public housing, section 504 housing and fair housing. You could say that White is a housing practitioner whose mission is making sure that everyone is held accountable in complying with the mission of HUD and other programmatic agencies. White believes that everyone deserves a roof over their head whether it is by renting or owning. White has assisted low-income residents with disputes that they might have with their residential management provider. She sees her future work as a compliance and housing consultant who provides services to residential housing providers and residents that fosters mediation between the affordable housing program expectations and the resident responsibilities. White holds industry designation(s) of Certified Apartment Manager (CAM), Tax Credit Compliance Specialist (TaCC’s) and Certified Apartment Housing Manager (AHM). She is a licensed Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson. She’s a member of the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), Professional Affordable Housing Management Association (PAHMA), National Apartment Association (NAA), and Pennsylvania Apartment Association (PAA).
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
TERAYA WHITE
Academic & Career Advisor, Master of Statistical Practice Program Carnegie Mellon University A proud graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools and a North Side native, Teraya White leverages 20-plus years of experience identifying and developing resources to actively contribute to the region’s emergence as an innovation hub and destination for top talent. As the Academic & Career Advisor for Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Statistical Practice (MSP) Program in the Department of Statistics & Data Science, White counsels students on developing industry-valued competencies and navigating a highly dynamic job market. She is a champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, expanding CMU’s recruiting presence at HBCUs and presenting educational opportunities to historically underrepresented groups at the American Statistical Society-sponsored StatFest conference. White also assists with the popular Pittsburgh Women in Data Science conference (WiDS), featuring thought leadership shared by women speakers from academia and industry. Prior to joining CMU, White managed Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC’s summer
EDUCATION associate talent acquisition process, hiring law students in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Tampa. She worked closely with the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Summer Clerkship Program, the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, and the National Association for Law Placement in that role. White earned her master’s in Higher Education Management from Pitt’s School of Education and her B.A. in English from Penn State. White is a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her most rewarding honor is being the mother to Zharia, who is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh.
EDUCATION
DR. BONNIE YOUNG
Associate Professor, Social Work Department of Health and Human Services Professions California University of Pennsylvania Bonnie Young is a native of Pittsburgh’s Hill District and a faculty member at California University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Young is an accomplished educator and scholar with more than 17 years of experi-
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ence in college-level teaching. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, a MSW with a concentration in community health and mental health from West Virginia University and a doctorate in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Young also has more than 25 years of experience in macro community practice, much of which was with the Hill District Consensus Group. As a community-advocate she has focused on working to gather data and perspectives from community residents and service providers on what they believe represents fair and just community development. Her research helped to build the case for Pittsburgh’s civilian review of policing and local community anti-displacement strategies. She helped to form a community advisory body to inform the work of the Allegheny Public Health Department in developing a public health response to community violence in Pittsburgh. Also, as a member of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s transition team, Dr. Young helped to create policy recommendations to ensure resident driven decision making on Pittsburgh’s neighborhood-level community development projects. She has given numerous conference presentations on her work and she has consulted with numerous organizations on strategies for equitable community development.
TERRI WILLIAMS
Director of Operations & Innovation Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship Terri D. Williams was born in McKeesport. Williams graduated from Turtle Creek High School and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1985 and retired in June 2008. While enlisted in the United States Navy her duty stations included: boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Orlando; HC 1 in San Diego; Naval Air Station, Guam; Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia; Fleet Composite Six, Virginia; and Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group (Atlantic), Virginia. In May 1998, she was commissioned as an Ensign, Medical Service Corps (Health Care Administration). As a commissioned officer she was assigned to duty stations at Bethesda, Maryland; Okinawa, Japan; and Naval Operational Support Center, Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for instructing and assisting Marine and Navy reserve units to maintain a continuous state of readiness for mobilization; inspect and render technical advice to those units in command functions including administration, logistical support, and public affairs; and execute such collateral functions as directed by higher authority. She retired after 23 years of service.
Ms. Williams received her Master of Science in Health Sciences, Health Care Management graduating Magna Cum Laude from Touro University International, a Master of Education from Troy State University and Principal’s Certification from Point Park University, a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Saint Leo College and an Associate in Arts from University of Maryland. She currently serves as the Director of Operations and Innovation at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship.
24 DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2021
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