2.5.25 NPC

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Courier Staff Writer

As President Donald Trump continues his onslaught against Diversi-

ty, Equity and Inclusion, ridding of the programs on a federal level and DEI haters put pressure on private, Fortune 500 companies to do the same,

Carnegie Mellon University and The Advanced Leadership Institute have, in effect, told Trump to shove it. CMU and TALI have in-

troduced their next cohort of Black professionals, who, over the next seven months, will have been trained and equipped with all the skills needed

to attain a top-management-level position at a company, known as the C-Suite.

President Trump hinted that the reason why

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Standing outside the City-County Building on Thursday, Jan. 30, Tim Stevens, Daylon A. Davis and Lauren Lynch-Novakovic collectively told reporters they, along with other community advocates like Beth Pittinger of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board, had a "very productive" meeting with Pittsburgh Acting Police Chief Christopher Ragland and Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt. After all, with photos circulating around town of a bloodied Black man, Devlon Pridgen, following his arrest in December 2024 on the North Side, and a video of a Black woman, Morgan Daniels, physically being forced down her own house's steps to her arrest on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31, 2024), many community members felt the arrests had the smell of "excessive use of force" written all over them. Stevens, the leader of the Black Political Empowerment Project; Davis, the Pittsburgh NAACP President; and Lynch-Novakovic, civic engagement coordinator for the Alliance for Police Accountability, said they all agreed to not jump to conclusions about the arrests until the full investigation had been completed. But Acting Chief Ragland and Schmidt agreed to have public meetings in each police "zone" and disperse information about police use of force reports that the bureau will compile. Those reports will be given to "public safety councils" that are already established in each police zone. There are six Pittsburgh Police zones. Davis said the city officials also agreed to have some trainers from the Pittsburgh Police Academy come to the public meetings.

a fatal mid-air collision occurred on Wednesday night, Jan. 29, in Wash-

ACADEMY COHORT—Left-Right Back Row: Latasha Wilson-Batch, Sherlyn Harrison, Kiel Chapman, Lauren DeDomenic, Yalanda Wells, Kashif Henderson, Kwame Burroughs, Tere McKinney-Bundy, Sierra Parm, Jada Shirriel, Denise McGill-Delaney, Juel Smith. Left-Right Front Row: Jacques Moye, Gizelle Sherwood, Sylvia Smith, Tony Thompson, TaJane Nolen, Ja-Neen Jones, Kendra Ross, Tinisha Hunt, Mike Belgrove. (Photo by Joe Pucciarelli; Sean Means Photography)

Democrats silent as Trump’s authoritarian grip tightens, leaving

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

supporters outraged

Except for outspoken lawmakers Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Democrats have remained frustratingly silent as Donald Trump solidifies his grip on power. Despite his administration’s policies, a government funding freeze, and his allies pushing the racist and oppressive Project 2025 agenda onto Americans, Democratic leadership has offered no real response.

For many loyal Democratic voters, the past month has been a slap in the face.

As Trump and his enablers work to dismantle civil rights protections, former President Joe Biden walked out of the White House without a clear strategy to protect Black Americans, Latinos, women, and other marginalized communities. Instead, Biden’s departure sent a chilling message: You’re on your own. His silence and that of other complacent individuals have left many questioning the Democratic Party’s willingness to fight, with some likening it to abandoning its base to a modern-day Jim Crow era.

Yet, even with Trump’s administration moving rapidly to disenfranchise millions, Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have barely mustered a public outcry. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which boasts a record number of members this session, has been equally absent. With Trump’s allies openly threatening democracy, Black Americans and other marginalized groups expected their elected leaders to take an aggressive stand. Instead, they’ve been met with silence and inaction. What’s particularly infuriating to many is that the warnings about Trump’s return to power were clear. His policies were openly laid out, and his intentions were never hidden. The Supreme Court ruling that provided him with immunity also extended to Biden while he was still in office. Unlike Republicans, Biden and the Democrats chose not to use it. Some legal scholars argued that, based on the authority provided by the Court and the Constitution, Biden could have declared that the nation was facing a clear and present danger. With a strong legal team and a split Congress, he could have denied Trump the office, at least temporarily, while the courts sorted it out.

Instead, Biden, Bill Clinton, and especially Barack Obama attended Trump’s inauguration. That decision has fueled even more outrage among African Americans, who now feel utterly abandoned by a party they have historically supported.

Jeffries posted on X (formerly Twitter) on January 29:

“The illegal GOP funding freeze ends Medicaid as we know it, throws children off of Head Start, and starves seniors who rely on Meals on Wheels. Extreme MAGA Republicans support this scheme to rip off hardworking American families. House Democrats will Stop the Steal.”

The post offered no concrete plan to counter Trump’s policies. It also failed to address the direct attacks on African Americans, even after Trump’s press secretary publicly signaled to journalist April Ryan of Black Press USA that the federal government would not recognize Black History Month. That exchange further infuriated Black voters, particularly given their longstanding loyalty to the Democratic Party. But the frustration boiled over when Professor Hassan Kwame Jeffries, a self-described longtime Democrat and podcast host, dismissed concerns about Democratic inaction. He posted on X:

“I’m seeing a lot of this, all versions of the same question: what’s the Democrats’ plan to deal with # Trump’s madness?? The plan was vote for #Harris. You said no to the plan.”

Rather than galvanizing support, Jeffries’ dismissive tone only alienated those who had backed former Vice President Kamala Harris. His post sparked widespread anger.

X user Ariana Jasmine expressed the growing outrage among those who supported Democrats, demanding action:

“The nation is falling apart; please, for the love of God, say or DO SOMETHING!!!”

Another user, @ArchangeAntoine, responded

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• FEBRUARY 5

bluntly to Jeffries:

“Weak statement! You are discounting the millions of people who said yes. Now again, what the fck is their plan?”

Despite Trump signing pardons for January 6 rioters and his allies openly embracing White nationalism, many 2028 Democratic hopefuls have remained silent. According to Politico, the shift in strategy is deliberate. Instead of directly challenging Trump’s authoritarian rule, Democratic leaders are focused on biding their time, avoiding “outrage cycles,” and looking for bipartisan opportunities. The article notes:

“Just a few thousand showed up to protest Trump’s inauguration.”

This is a sharp departure from 2017, when millions mobilized against Trump’s first term. Democrats appear paralyzed, unwilling to take the kind of resistance-driven approach that once defined their opposition to Trump. Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow spoke openly about the inaction, telling Politico:

“My advice is, call it out, be blunt, but don’t shriek about it.”

Meanwhile, Crockett and Ocasio-Cortez stand alone in calling out Trump’s attacks on Black Americans and marginalized communities. Despite their growing influence and millions of social media followers, Democratic leadership continues to ignore them.

The outrage over the party’s silence is growing. X user @WintersPolitics captured the frustration:

“Am I the only one who is mad as hell that AOC and Jasmine Crockett are seemingly the only members of the Democratic Party who are using their platforms to speak out against Trump and MAGA, the oligarchy?”

With Trump moving swiftly to consolidate power, the Democratic strategy of “hope” and “pray” appears to be failing. The party’s reluctance to fight back has left its most loyal supporters feeling abandoned—and many believe Democrats may never recover from this betrayal.

1866—Congressman Thaddeus Stevens , one of the great White heroes of Black history, offers his famous amendment to the Freedman’s Bureau bill to use land confiscated from former slave owners as well as some public lands to guarantee each adult former slave “40 acres and a mule.” However, even after the Civil War there was enough anti-Black and pro-South sentiment in Congress to defeat the measure 126 to 37. If the Stevens measure had passed, it may have changed the entire course of Black history in America because the former slaves would have had a solid economic foundation upon which to build their new lives and the poverty which plagued African Americans for the next 100 years could have been prevented.

1934—Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron was born on this day in Mobile, Ala. The baseball great and eventual home run king (until Barry Bonds) began his career with the old Negro Baseball League playing for the Indianapolis Clowns before joining the Atlanta Braves in 1954.

1945—Jamaican Reggae legend Bob Marley, is born on this day as Robert Nesta Marley in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica. He used his music not only to entertain but to tirelessly spread Reggae and the Rastafarian religion from Africa to Europe and the U.S. Much of his music deals with the struggles of the impoverished and the oppressed. Marley died from complications due to cancer in Miami in May 1981.

• FEBRUARY 6

1820—The first organized emigration of Blacks from the U.S. back to Africa occurs . Eighty-six free Blacks leave New York Harbor on a ship named the “Mayflower of Liberia.” The group lands on the West African coast on March 9 and joins with ex-slaves freed by Britain to help form what would eventually become the West African nation of Sierra Leone.

1993—Tennis star Arthur Ashe dies on this day after contracting AIDS from a 1988 blood transfusion. Ashe was the first African American to win at Wimbledon defeating Jimmy Connors in the finals in 1975. Born and raised in Richmond, Va., Ashe was also known for his activism in various social causes. Once asked what type of attitude was required of a champion, Ashe responded, “The ideal attitude is to be physically loose and mentally tight.”

•FEBRUARY 7

1871—Alcorn A&M College (later “University”) opens in Mississippi. The great Black legislator Hiram Revels resigns his seat in Congress to become the first president of the institution, which would grow to become one of the leading Black colleges in the nation. At first it was only open to men but began admitting women in 1895.

1883—Eubie Blake is born James Hubert Blake in Baltimore, Md. Along with Noble Sissle, he popularizes Ragtime music. The genre had its birth in Black bars and whore houses in Southern and Midwestern cities. But Sissle and Blake took it mainstream with hits ranging from the “Charleston Rag” to “I’m Just Wild about Harry” to “Shuffle Along.” Blake died when he was 100 years old on Feb. 12, 1983.

1967—Comedian-actor Chris Rock is born on this day in Andrews, S.C. He is the oldest of seven children.

•FEBRUARY 8

1894—Congress repeals the Enforcement Act and thus made it easier for states, especially in the South, to take away Black voting rights. Originally passed in 1870, the Act had established criminal penalties for interfering with a person’s right to vote. After its repeal, Southern states passed a host of measures including poll taxes, literacy tests and so-called vouchers of “good character”—all designed to block or limit the number of Blacks who could vote.

1925—Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the “Black Moses,” enters federal prison in Atlanta, Ga., after being convicted of what many Blacks felt were trumped up mail fraud charges. Garvey, a master of grandeur and showmanship, had built the largest Black mass movement in African American history by emphasizing racial pride, economic empowerment and the building of a Black empire in Africa. Born in Jamaica and having traveled throughout South America, Garvey had become distressed with the plights of Blacks throughout the world and organized the Universal Negro Improvement Association—UNIA—in 1914. He brought the UNIA to Amer -

ica in 1915 and its growth exploded. At its height, the UNIA had several hundred thousand members and owned businesses ranging from bakeries to shipping lines. Garvey’s rapid growth and increasing power on masses of Blacks are what attracted negative attention from the federal government. After his imprisonment, the organization never recovered. He died in London, England in 1940.

1968— In what became known as “The Orangeburg Massacre” police opened fire on protesting Black students on the campus of South Carolina State University. The officers responded to rock-throwing with a volley of shots, which left three students dead and 27 wounded. The students were protesting a segregated bowling alley near the school’s campus in Orangeburg, S.C. The students killed were Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton and Henry Smith.

1978—Leon Spinks defeats Muhammad Ali and captures the heavyweight boxing championship. Ali regains the title in September of the same year becoming the first person to win the title three times.

•FEBRUARY

9

1944—Award winning novelist Alice Walker is born in Eatonton, Ga. She is known for “telling the Black woman’s story.” Perhaps her most famous novel was “The Color Purple.”

1995—Dr. Bernard Harris becomes the first African American to walk in space as part of a joint Russian and American mission. However, Harris was far from being the first Black person in space. That honor goes to a Black Cuban pilot who flew aboard the So

•FEBRUARY 10

1854— Educator Joseph Charles Price is born on this day in Elizabeth City, N.C. Largely unknown today, Price was a world-renowned scholar who founded North Carolina’s Livingstone University. He was also a powerful preacher and orator who raised funds to advance African American education throughout the nation. His basic educational theory was “educate the whole person”—hands, head and heart.

1927— Opera singer Leontyne Price is born Mary Violet Leontyne Price in Laurel, Miss. She first achieved international fame when she was selected to play “Bess” during the European tour of the George Gershwin Broadway production of “Porgy and Bess.” She became a sensation in Europe, signing contracts to sing in just about every European language. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in 1961.

1989—Ron Brown was elected chairman of the Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to head one of the two major political parties.

1992— Renowned author Alex Haley dies. He was also a biographer and scriptwriter. Haley is perhaps best known for the novel “Roots,” which became a major television series, and for the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Haley was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Ithaca, N.Y.

1992— Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of the rape of beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington.

•FEBRUARY 11

1644— Eleven Blacks confront the ruling Council of New Netherlands (later New York) with a petition demanding their freedom. This was probably the first legal protest action by Blacks in American history. The petition is granted and the Blacks are freed because they had worked off the terms of their indentured servant contracts which were usually for seven years. But these Blacks had worked for up to 18 years. Shortly after this victory, however, no more Blacks were allowed such contracts but were instead treated as slaves for life.

1990—Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is released from prison on Robben Island after 27 years. He had been jailed for his militant activities against the then White-ruled South African government and its system of rule known as Apartheid. Mandela would go on to become the first Black and first democratically elected president of South Africa (19941999). He enabled a peaceful transition to Black majority rule. Mandela was one of the most respected and admired men in the world. In South Africa, he was known as “Madiba”— an honorary title given to elders in his tribe.

JAIME HARRISON—DNC CHAIR

TALI continues pushing African Americans higher and higher

Seventh cohort of the 'Executive Leadership Academy'

ington, D.C., was because of "diversity hires" that were not the best individuals that could be found in the air traffic control room.

The founder of TALI, Evan Frazier, has always said that many African Americans are the best candidates for a particular "high-up" position in a company, but companies

"I believe timing is everything, and I've known about the program for a couple years, but this year was my year," Shirriel told the Courier. "I had the time and the capacity to apply and make the commitment, and really be present and engaged, where I can get the most out the program."

Frazier, unafraid to use the word "diversity" unlike the current U.S.

TALI EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2025 COHORT MEMBER JADA SHIRRIEL.

seem to not choose those candidates, most times.

That's why he started The Advanced Leadership Initiative (now Institute), to make sure that even more African Americans had the chance to get the proper training and mentorship to be the "best candidate," while applying pressure on companies in Pittsburgh and elsewhere to hire more African Americans for top-level positions...not just because they're Black, but because they are also, oftentimes, the best candidates.

Now in its seventh cohort, the 21 participants were introduced on Jan. 24 at the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business. The cohort is known as the Executive Leadership Academy.

The cohort members will embark on a seven-month journey, which includes two days per month of intense training, mentorship, classes and real-world scenarios.

Many of the cohort members were "sponsored" by their own companies or organizations, a sign that their employer is invested in seeing their employees gain even more skills and, possibly, become a top leader in that company one day.

Many of the cohort members are past recipients of the New Pittsburgh Courier's "Fab 40 under 40," "Men of Excellence" or "Women of Excellence" awards. As an example, Sherlyn Harrison, a cohort member, was just honored as a Courier "Woman of Excellence" in December 2024. Kiel Chapman, another cohort member, was honored as a Courier "Man of Excellence" in September 2024.

The Courier has featured Jada Shirriel, Healthy Start Pittsburgh CEO, in a number of articles over the years. Shirriel told the Courier that now is the time for her to take on the challenge of being a cohort member for TALI.

on campus during the program.

"I'm ready to get some new skills and some new connections to look at my leadership in a different way," Shirriel said. She's been CEO of Healthy Start Pittsburgh since 2016. "We've done a lot, we've grown a lot under my leadership and I never want to be stagnant. So I felt that it was the right time to engage in this kind of opportunity to keep me in a space where I'm feeling like I'm moving forward, and therefore can move the organization forward."

president, has told the Courier in previous interviews that "Black or African American leadership is important as we think about how critical having diverse leadership is for helping companies, as well as institutions and regions, be able to grow. When you have diverse leadership, it allows you greater ability to understand multiple perspectives, which is critical in being successful.”

That's the mission of TALI, Frazier has said. "To cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions and communities."

In 2019, Sierra Parm was one of the Courier's Fab 40 recipients. She's ready to take the next step in her professional journey as a cohort member this year for TALI's Executive Leadership Academy.

In 2022, Lauren DeDomenic was celebrated as one of the Courier's Fab 40 recipients. She's ready as well to take that next leap towards the top of the professional food chain as a TALI cohort member in 2025.

When you're the CEO, or the boss, it sounds good, but you better know what you're doing. You're the face of the company, and when good things happen, you may not get the credit, but when bad things happen, you get all the blame. The cohort members are ready to have that opportunity. As for Shirriel, she actually is the boss at Healthy Start Pittsburgh. She told the Courier she's unsure what to exactly expect out the program, but whatever happens, it will be for her betterment. A 1997 graduate of Schenley High School, Shirriel then earned a bachelor's degree at the HBCU Morgan State University, and later a Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003.

Safe to say Shirriel, the CMU grad, won't get lost

FRAZIER,

The New Pittsburgh Courier

PAC of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., holds community health forum

and mental wellness.

A packed room gathered on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Rivers Casino for “The Beat Goes On: Building Better Habits for Stronger Hearts,” a community health forum hosted by the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter (PAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., in partnership with the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund of Western PA (KSEF) and sponsored in part by UPMC.

The FAB 4O Under 40 Award celebrates local African American women and men who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements and participation in community service. The selected honorees will join an exclusive society of professional women and men who have previously received this distinction.

1. The nominee must be a man or woman (Under 4O years of age) who resides in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

2. The nominee must be active in his or her career or profession. Career or profession is defined as paid employment in his or her field. Nominees must agree to have their photograph and biographical information published in the New Pittsburgh Courier

All nominees selected as a FAB 4O Under 40 will be featured in a 2025 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier

3. Evaluations will be based on the quality of a nominee’s achievements rather than the quantity of information submitted.

4. Selections will be made by the New Pittsburgh Courier FAB 4O Under 4O Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

• Local African American executive or business owner

• Proven success in career/profession

• Positive role model

• Demonstrative community service

Nomination deadline is Monday, February 10, 2025, by 4 p.m.

To submit nominations, visit: www.newpittsburghcourier.com/fab40nominations

“We all know that heart health is essential for living a vibrant and fulfilling life. Yet, heart disease remains one of the leading health challenges, particularly in our community,” said Doris Smith, President of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. “That’s why today is about empowerment, action, and taking

The first panel featured LaJuana Fuller, Director of Women’s Imaging at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital, and Roxanne Watson, American Heart Association Panelist & WomenHeart Champion. They emphasized the importance of recognizing heart attack warning signs. Watson, a heart transplant recipient, shared her compelling story of surviving a silent heart attack in 2006. She ultimately received a life-saving transplant after spending over two years on the transplant waitlist and 104 days in the hospital. Watson credited U.S. Coast Guard Fireman Michael Bovill, her heart donor, and urged attendees to be vigilant about heart health

Counseling and Consulting Group; and Dr. Tina Russell-Brown, Ph.D., of Chatham University. University of Pittsburgh’s Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Division of Student Affairs, Linda Williams-Moore, moderated both discussions.

Following the panels, yoga instructor Tamika Chambers led a guided breathing exercise to promote relaxation and mindfulness, equipping participants with a simple yet effective wellness strategy.

Through events like “The Beat Goes On,” the 300 members of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter remain committed to promoting self-care and advocating for a healthier Pittsburgh by encour-

the steps needed to prioritize heart health, mental wellness, and overall well-being.”

The forum provided attendees with essential tools and knowledge to support both their physical and mental health.

Two engaging panel discussions, featuring local women leaders in healthcare, explored healthy habits to strengthen heart

symptoms.

A second panel discussion explored the vital connection between mental and heart health. Panelists included Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, Senior Vice President/ Chief Clinical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at AHN; Dr. Channing L. Moreland, Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of Moreland

aging physical wellness, emotional balance, and health awareness.

The Feb. 1 event was held at Rivers Casino as part of activities taking place during the East Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated’s 2025 Founders’ Day Weekend.

CAMILLE TAYLOR YOUNG, IKEYA CRAIG SWATSON, HELEN BOWERS (PHOTO BY CHIEF IKHANA HAL-MAKINA)

Community groups meet with acting police chief, safety director

Public meetings to occur, as use of force investigation continues

"The fact that we're here and the fact that you're here as media, it sends a signal to the administration, to the Bureau of Police, that we expect our police officers, every one, to protect and serve, and not abuse," Stevens added. "Officers have awesome power...they have handcuffs, batons, tasers, guns. That is a tremendous amount of power. We ask that those officers use that power ef -

fectively, correctly and with sensitivity. That's our goal. And we ask that the city's training emphasize that at the highest level possible, so we can avoid these incidents as much as possible."

In the Pridgen arrest (Dec. 29, 2024), a bystander video shown on local television outlets captured multiple police officers trying to apprehend Pridgen, with a woman screaming off-camera that Pridgen didn’t have any weapons

on him. Pridgen suffered cuts to his face and photos made the rounds on social media and in the New Pittsburgh Courier of Pridgen’s face bloodied and bruised following the arrest. Daniels was arrested by Pittsburgh Police by being “forcibly removed from her home,” according to a joint statement by B-PEP, the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch and the Alliance for Police Accountability, dated

Jan. 9. A video of the encounter, which was circulated on social media, showed, in the opinion of B-PEP and the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, “an officer” pushing and falling on Daniels, “forcing her to fall down her front steps,” before being “violently handcuffed.”

B-PEP, the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch and the Alliance for Police Accountability said in their Jan. 9 statement

that a “female police officer appears to be seen forcibly dragging another member of the household down the steps and pulling them over the cement edge of the wall of the steps. She then proceeded to punch that household member at least once while she was in handcuffs, before another male officer was seen dragging that same family member several feet across the concrete.”

Stevens, during the Jan. 30 press conference, reiterated the stance. "We were concerned about what we saw (in the videos). Many citizens were concerned about what they saw," Stevens said. "However...we will await the full investigation because sometimes, what you see may deceive what is reality, on either side."

Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering named Top 20 school by Minority Engineer Magazine

For the second year in a

row, “Minority Engineer Magazine” has included the undergraduate engineering program at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering in its annual Top 20 Universities List. The magazine, published by Equal Opportunity Publications Inc., randomly surveys readers, asking them to name the top universities that have diverse

student body and faculty and that diversify undergraduate curriculum and promote diversity and inclusivity.

“It is a great honor to be selected again by Minority Engineer Magazine,” said Mary Besterfield-Sacre, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor in Industrial Engineering. “This recognition validates efforts such as

Pitt EXCEL, which understand that the Swanson School of Engineering and the broader field is stronger when students of all backgrounds and experiences can access the resources and the support they need to thrive.” The Pitt EXCEL program seeks to recruit, retain, and graduate exceptional engineers, with a focus on those historically underrepresented in the

field. Students in the program can access resources such as summer academies and research internships as well as tutoring and academic advising. The program helps to ensure participating students can pursue their desired field in engineering while forming meaningful connections with peers, professors, staff, alumni, and industry relations that can last far beyond

graduation.

“This honor acknowledges the outstanding and diligent effort at the Swanson School,” said Clyde Wilson Pickett (EDUC ’17G), Pitt’s vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion. “It’s the result of collective investment and hard work by everyone on the faculty and staff, especially the EXCEL program, to uplift students, including groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in STEM fields, and give them the tools they need to succeed and thrive at the top of a very demanding program.”

- by Steinur Bell, University of Pittsburgh

ABOVE FROM LEFT: FELIPE CORREA, SPENCER ARAMBURU-PERKINS, JORDAN DURING, AND CAMREN CORBETT; LEADERS FROM THE SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS. (PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY

NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH PRESIDENT DAYLON A. DAVIS ADDRESSES THE MEDIA, JAN. 30.

LAUREN LYNCH-NOVAKOVIC, WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABLILITY. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

Harvard under fire for slashing slavery initiative staff as Black History faces nationwide attacks

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Harvard University

abruptly terminated staff contributing to the research component of its Slavery Remembrance Program on January 23, leaving employees without notice and sparking outrage about the institution’s commitment to its $100 million Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Initiative. The decision comes during a national wave of setbacks to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) efforts, widespread layoffs of minority employees, and actions by states and schools to diminish the teaching of Black history.

The Slavery Remembrance Program, a cornerstone of the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, was implemented to address Harvard’s extensive entanglements with slavery.

Harvard says the latest developments would not affect ongoing research and activities. The 2022 report by the university’s Presidential Initiative on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery detailed how Harvard enslaved over 70 individuals, benefited financially from slavery-related industries, and upheld racial hierarchies through “race science” and eugenics.

Richard J. Cellini, the program’s director, was also dismissed after he reportedly challenged the university’s administration for allegedly inter-

fering with the research’s scope. Cellini had accused Sara Bleich, the initiative’s overseer, of attempting to suppress findings that uncovered descendants tied to Harvard’s slavery legacy. According to reports, Cellini gave the administration an ultimatum: either allow the program to conduct its research without obstruction or fire him. Days later, his termination followed.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from within and beyond the university. Staff told The Harvard Crimson they had no prior indication that their roles were at risk. One former employee described the layoffs as devastating. “We were conducting vital work, uncovering Harvard’s ties to slavery and its legacies. Cutting this program sends a clear and troubling signal about where priorities lie,” the employee told the newspaper.

Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Advisory Council member Henry Louis Gates Jr. publicly praised Cellini’s contributions, stating in a university press release, “Richard Cellini’s superb efforts launched us on our way on this historically important mission. We are indebted to Richard for his early guidance and his ambitious leadership.”

Harvard announced the program’s next phase will proceed under the leadership of American Ancestors, a genealogical organization. However, critics

argue the abrupt staff dismissals undermine the credibility of the university’s stated commitment to reckoning with its history. “Institutions like Harvard have the resources to set an example for accountability,” said one academic familiar with the initiative. “But actions like these raise serious doubts.”

The controversy follows Harvard’s 2022 acknowledgment of its historical reliance on slavery. According to its report, the university’s leaders, faculty, and donors directly profited from slavery, with more than a third of donations during the first half of the 19th century coming from five individuals tied to the slave economy.

Some enslaved individuals lived and worked on Harvard’s campus, serving presidents, professors, and students. The report also revealed that the university played a prominent role in the proliferation of racial pseudoscience, with faculty conducting dehumanizing research and promoting eugenics.

Former Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, who launched the initiative in 2019, described the program as essential to addressing Harvard’s past. “We must do what we can to understand and confront our history and the harm it caused, while building a future rooted in equity and inclusion,” Bacow said in 2022. The

initiative’s recommendations included memorializing enslaved individuals, supporting descendant communities, and funding scholarships for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

However, the layoffs have led some to question Harvard’s willingness to fully embrace these recommendations, especially when Black history and DE&I programs face unprecedented threats nationwide. Across the country, states are banning or restricting the teaching of topics related to slavery and systemic racism. Several major corporations have scaled back DE&I initiatives, and schools have faced backlash for

attempts to promote racial equity.

The report acknowledged that Harvard’s very existence was intertwined with slavery, stating, “Harvard depended upon the expropriation of land and labor—land acquired through dispossession of Native territories and labor extracted from enslaved people.”  Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. has raised the call for continued accountability. “This will be a systematic, scholarly, sustained effort to establish the facts about this dark chapter in our university’s history and begin the long journey of healing,” Gates said.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY-GETTY IMAGES STOCK PHOTO

Maya Angelou’s newly uncovered writing from Egypt and Ghana reveals a more radical side to her career

by Alex White PhD Candidate in History, University of Cambridge

On August 28 1963, a group of activists gathered opposite the US Embassy in the Ghanaian capital of Accra. Inspired by the March on Washington unfolding 5,000 miles away, the protesters carried placards urging the US government to “wipe out racism” and claiming that the US now faced a choice between “civil liberties and civil war”.

In the front row of the demonstration was a face that would later become famous – the American author and poet Maya Angelou.

The Accra march reflected Angelou’s growing engagement with radical politics. Frustrated by American racism and fascinated by African decolonization, she moved to Egypt in 1961 and then Ghana in 1963. In both countries, she found work as a journalist within the state-controlled media.

While Angelou’s memoirs give few details about this political work, I’ve spent the last three years tracking down surviving copies of her writing from Egypt and Ghana. These newly uncovered texts demonstrate Angelou’s efforts to link the struggle for civil rights in the US to global campaigns against racism and imperialism.

However, they also suggest she faced censorship and discrimination which tested her skill as a writer and may have ultimately encouraged her to return to the US.

Today, Angelou – who was born on April 4 1928 – is best known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), a vivid account of her childhood in Arkansas. In 1993, she recited one of her most famous poems, On the Pulse of Morning, at the inauguration of US president Bill Clinton.

Angelou’s anti-colonial journalism, by contrast, reveals a new and more radical side to her career during the 1960s.

Escape from New York

Angelou’s political writing began in New York. Moving to the city to work as a nightclub singer, she soon became close to leftist groups like the Harlem Writers’ Guild and Fair Play for Cuba Committee. These ties encouraged Angelou to submit writ-

ing to Lunes de Revolución (The Revolution on Monday) – a literary magazine operated by Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba. By searching the magazine’s digital archives, I was able to track down Angelou’s very first publication, Entre Memphis y Cleveland (Between Memphis and Cleveland).

This tense short story follows an African American man narrowly escaping a racist assault, and was printed in a special edition of Lunes devoted to the struggle for civil rights.

In late 1960, Angelou met the South African anti-apartheid activist Vusumzi Make at a Harlem Writers Guild party. The two formed an immediate romantic connection and moved to Cairo together in late 1961 to support Make’s work at the African Association,

a network of anti-colonial activists sponsored by the Egyptian government.

To pay off Make’s considerable debts, Angelou found work as the Africa editor at the Arab Observer, a news magazine with a close relationship to the Egyptian regime. She also began writing for Radio Cairo, Egypt’s international broadcasting service, and received extra pay for every script she read herself.

This work encouraged Angelou to develop her skills as a political writer.

At the Arab Observer, Angelou recalls in her memoirs, she learned how to produce propaganda “with such subtlety that the reader would think the opinion his own”.

Surviving copies of the magazine suggest that her work was radical and anti-colonial, arguing for “real militancy” in the struggle against apart-

heid and imperial rule.

Radio Cairo, meanwhile, was locked in a competition with British, French, Soviet and Israeli broadcasters to win audiences

across Africa.

Egyptian broadcasts certainly helped to intimidate imperial authorities, who grew anxious about the influence of “vitriolic anti-colonial propaganda” in their own territories. In response, broadcasters like the BBC began creating and expanding their own radio services in an attempt to “counteract the effects of Radio Cairo”.

As her relationship with Make broke down, Ange-

lou moved again – this time to Ghana, then led by the charismatic socialist Kwame Nkrumah. In Accra, she found a supportive community of African American radicals who, like her, had moved to Africa in the hope of contributing to progressive anti-colonial causes. She also began working as a journalist for state-funded newspapers like the Ghanaian Times and The African Review. By cross-referencing texts from Angelou’s personal archive with radio transcripts produced by the BBC, I discovered that she also continued writing for radio. This time, her scripts were broadcast on the African Service of the Ghana Broadcasting System, another international broadcaster which British officials were convinced was “detrimental to [their] interests” in Africa. Her writing continued to attack racism and imperialism, urging Africans and African Americans to unite against the “common foe” of white supremacy. In her articles and radio talks, Angelou argued that the liberation of Africa from colonial rule could pave the way for the liberation of African Americans from segregationist violence.

Comparing Angelou’s original scripts to broadcast transcripts, however, suggests that her writing also faced political censorship by the Nkrumah regime. In one 1964 programme, for example, her references to Ghana’s “token military machine” were replaced with praise for its “military power”, while a critical reference to Africa’s “self-imposed redeemers” was cut entirely.

Angelou also began to face political discrimination. In the wake of a failed assassination attempt on Nkrumah in 1964, paranoid Ghanaian authorities began accusing the African American community of acting as agents for the US. In her memoirs, Angelou claims to have kept her head down to “avoid the flaming tongues” – but she also wrote an article in the Ghanaian Times denouncing African American moderates as “Uncle Toms” and “slave sellers” who failed to recognize their own bondage. As the Nkrumah government began to expel prominent American activists, Angelou may have felt obliged to play to these popular prejudices to avoid being caught up in them herself.

Africa in review Angelou returned to the US in February 1965, hoping to work for the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Inspired by Malcolm X’s tours of Africa in 1964, the group aimed to support Black liberation by adopting the tactics of African anti-colonial parties.

Angelou’s plans fell apart, however, after Malcolm X’s shocking assassination. While she continued to write for The African Review, she gradually moved away from journalism and toward the poetry and memoirs which would later make her famous.

Together, Angelou’s political writing sheds light on a fascinating moment of solidarity. At the height of the civil rights movement, she joined other African American radicals in turning away from the US and toward Africa. To do so, however, she had to navigate complicated systems of patronage, discrimination and censorship. Ultimately, Angelou’s early writing paints a complex, compelling and all-too-human picture of her career as an anti-colonial activist.

(This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)

MAYA ANGELOU’S POLITICAL JOURNALISM, WRITTEN IN THE 1960S, WAS RADICAL AND ANTI-COLONIAL. PICTORIAL PRESS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

FOUR PORTRAITS OF MAYA ANGELOU TAKEN BY RYAN MARTY (1972). THE FRESNO BEE/WIKI COMMONS

MAYA ANGELOU IN 1955. THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER/ WIKI COMMONS

by Cheryl Thompson Toronto Metropolitan University

How does a 100-year-old racist stereotype still impact Black women in North American institutions?

When I was a PhD student, a White woman professor was interested in my research, even though I was not her student. After I voiced concern about the similarities between her work and mine, the professor reprimanded me over email. Like “the mammy” who was often punished if she did not appear warm and nurturing, I was told to stay in my lane and to remember my PhD status.

When Black women are treated like this, we can sometimes feel disempowered to do anything about it. Instead, through the act of what one scholar has called “Mammy-ism,” we might feel the need to accommodate white people by acquiescing to their needs and assuming an inferior position.

In my opinion, Mammy-ism is often a response to the problem of niceness.

In a recent article for The Guardian, critical whiteness expert Robin diAngelo says that White people assume that niceness is the answer to racial inequality. She explains that niceness is conveyed through a light tone of voice, eye contact accompanied by over-smiling and pointing out some similarity or affinity between a Black person and White person.

But this creates a racial dynamic where people of color are required to maintain White comfort to survive.

Therefore, niceness can be a form of manipulation. According to wellness experts, there is a difference between kindness and niceness. Where kindness emerges from someone who is compassionate and comfortable in their own skin, niceness is often about feelings of inadequacy, a tactic used to get something from the other person — be it approval, acceptance or emotional labor.

Being a nice White person helps to reinforce one of the myths about racism — that racism is only perpetrated by mean self-proclaimed White supremacists. A nice person cannot be racist because they don’t have bad intentions, or so the argument goes.

‘Controlling images’

In the 2011 film The Help, when Cicely Tyson as Constantine Jefferson, the mammy to Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), is abruptly fired by her “nice” White

family despite decades of loyalty, and at the expense of her own family, many Black women likely said “hmmhmm” out loud because we have either seen,

heard or experienced similar abrupt dismissals.

In 1991, Black feminist scholar Patricia Hill Collins coined the term “controlling images” to describe how the dominant ideology of slavery created socially constructed depictions of Black womanhood. In addition to “the welfare mother,” and “the Jezebel,” “the mammy” has had a tight grip on how Black women are viewed and treated in western institutions.

The names mammy and aunt were both used in southern antebellum fiction to describe both a person and a role within the plantation home. Real

mammies did exist, but they did not look or act like the fictional mammies created on stage, in novels, advertising, film and television who were rotund, dark-skinned and always happy to please with a smile.

One of the first fictional mammies appears in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) as the character Aunt Chloe. Mammy lives on through the advertising trademark Aunt Jemima, which has graced store shelves since her debut in 1893. U.S. songs like “Mammy’s Little Coal Black Rose” (1916) were played in local communi-

ties across North America, and served as a reminder that the dominant culture considered Black women to be their caregivers. When Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind (1939), it also naturalized the role of the mammy in Hollywood.

Mammy was so enduring that in 1923, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) almost succeeded in their campaign to get the U.S. government to approve a monument “in memory of the faithful slave mammies of the South.”

Many have written about institutional racism, racial microaggressions and the lack of equity/diversity, especially at Canadian universities, and therefore, many may understand that these depictions of the mammy are racist.

However, in the 21st century, racism is not necessarily so overt. It is often perpetrated by people who feel threatened by Black people who are self-assured.

When a Black woman resists playing a subordinate role, some White people in institutional settings find issue with it. How to end this centuries-long racial dynamic I believe self-awareness is the starting point of any transformation. Unless we take active steps to do something about it, we can remain in the dark about unconscious racial bias. Once we become selfaware, we might become one step closer to laying the mammy to rest once and for all.

Ryerson University Prof. Beverly-Jean Daniel argues that many White women in the Canadian academy lack awareness of their role in reproducing racial dynamics. Daniel explains that many White women have the power to reproduce patriarchy, marginalize and exclude Black women, but they are seldom called out as racist because, as a gender minority, they fit into marginalized categories created under multiculturalism and inclusion policies.

In a speech at the Stanford Graduate School of Business years ago, Oprah Winfrey said that all relationships are rooted in three questions: Did you hear me? Did you see me? And did what I say mean anything to you? Instead of putting on a veil of niceness, creating genuine connections by asking questions such as the ones Oprah Winfrey suggests would improve white-Black woman racial dynamics. Cheryl Thompson, Assistant Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)

RACIST STEREOTYPE—The historical depiction of “the mammy” is a racist stereotype, with an enduring impact. Hattie McDaniel (right) won an Oscar for her role in “Gone with the Wind” with Vivien Leigh. Selznick International Pictures

ACADEMY AWARD—Hattie McDaniel, left, is given the Academy Award for the best performance in a supporting role in 1939 by actress Fay Bainter for her work as “Mammy” in “Gone With the Wind.” (AP Photo)

THREE QUESTIONS—Oprah Winfrey once said that all relationships are rooted in three questions: Did you hear me? Did you see me? And did what I say mean anything to you? (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

THE HELP—A scene from the movie, “The Help,” with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Disney Pictures

‘Sister Circle’ enters year two

AKA Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter provides mentorship to local mothers

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter, has been mentoring mothers in Pittsburgh through its “Sister Circle” initiative, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively.

Dr. Emma Lucas-Darby, Vice President of the chapter and a Sister Circle mentor, told the Courier that UPMC refers mothers to the organization, and the mothers “receive whatever support they need including referrals to community resources, nurturing suggestions and the caring presence from an individual who provides a listening ear.”

Sister Circle is a partnership with UPMC through a Maternal Infant Grant from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. Dr. Lucas-Darby said Bonita Pannell was “instrumental in bringing this opportunity to

our chapter’s attention. She has been engaged also as a Sister Circle mentor.”

On Dec. 7, 2024, the Courier learned that the Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter held a celebration of “Sister Circle,” a year into the initiative, at the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg. It featured some of the mothers who have been mentored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., members, as well as words from Tajh Ferguson, M.D., OBGYN, and Kate Brennan, M.Ed., who is the director of Nurture PA Inc.

Dr. Lucas-Darby explained that during each Sister Circle community session, a medi -

cal presentation is made by a local physician that includes information about physical body changes, what to expect during each trimester of the pregnancy, and healthy behavioral tips.

Also, “during each ses -

sion, mothers are given items they can use for the baby; clothing, nursing supplies and baby items” such as “cribs, car seats, playards and strollers,” Dr. Lucas-Darby said. “Mothers receive the attention of a caring mentor who also provides a listening ear.”

“ Cause me to HEAR Your LOVINGKINDNESS IN THE MORNING; for in YOU do I TRUST: cause me to know the WAY wherein I should WALK; for I lift my SOUL unto

REV. WALKER SAYS: Start everyday with the Lord, Thanking the Lord for a new day, be grateful and pray for direction. - Romans 11:34-36

SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INC., ALPHA ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER...

TAJH FERGUSON, M.D., SPOKE AT THE DEC. 7, 2024, EVENT.

The City League Hall of Fame Inductions — 10-year anniversary

As has always been the case for the past nine years, The Pittsburgh City League High School

All Sports Hall of Fame Inductions scored big with its 10th consecutive sellout crowd with over 500 people in attendance! But this 10th anniversary year was truly something special.

True to form, The City Leaguers, both past and present, showed up and showed out. And they

did it in grand fashion in the face of a devastating, nearly event-ending snowstorm, the likes of which we haven’t seen in Western Pa. in the past 10 years. And when I tell you they came, they came from all over the country. Former City League student athletes who were the best of the best in City League varsity sports flew in from Texas, Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, Washington, Harrisburg, Baltimore, L.A., Atlanta, Miami, and a number of Pennsylvania and Western Pa. locations for this Dec. 28, 2024, event.

ICS!

The Hall of Fame, now the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania, will continue on for years to come. However, it’s important that we give special thanks to the H.O.F. Committee for their time, expertise and sacrifice.

Committee Chairman Jim Frazier, Vice Chair Henri Chatman, and Committee Members Bagumba Lowery, Mike Ford, Kenny “Juice” Bryant, Regis Gibson, Richard Bratcher, and Otis Wesley. We want to once again thank our tremendous sponsors, Achieving Greatness Inc., Senator Jay Costa, Councilman Khari Mosley, UPMC, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co., Judge Dwayne Woodruff, Attorney Milton Raiford, Briggs Transport Company, Goodrich and Geist law firm, Diversified Municipal Services, Goodrich and Associates, Attorney Alexis Cobb, Mount Ararat Baptist

Church, House of Law Funeral Home, and the good people at Riverside Landings Event Center for their support.

Set your calendar for this year’s event for Saturday, December 13, 2025, as we continue to recognize and honor THE BEST OF THE BEST IN CITY LEAGUE ATHLET-

Names and nominations can be made by calling or texting Achieving Greatness Inc. at 412-628-4856. And please know, we are looking for and hopeful to find volunteers to assist in this meaningful but extremely difficult event.

THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CITY LEAGUE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

GREGORY MUNDY, CITY LEAGUE LEGEND AND NATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR

MARGO HINTON, THIS YEAR’S KEYNOTE SPEAKER. IUP, CITY LEAGUE AND CONNIE HAWKINS LEAGUE HALL OF FAMER.

RYAN MUNDY, 2009 PITTSBURGH STEELER SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, TOOK A FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO SUPPORT HIS FATHER GREGORY.

FITZPATRICK, CITY LEAGUE LEGEND AND TRIPLE THREAT

JOINS THE CLASS OF 2024.

MANASSEH GARNER, CITY LEAGUE “SUPER STAR” AND NFL STANDOUT, RETURNED TO THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS FOR HIS INDUCTION.

The Federal Reserve’s first meeting of 2025 ended with a decision that few found surprising. After implementing three rate cuts in late 2024, the central bank has chosen to keep its benchmark federal funds rate steady at 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent. This pause comes as inflation remains persistent, with the December Consumer Price Index rising to 2.9 percent from 2.7 percent the previous month. Market analysts widely expected this decision. A FactSet poll before the meeting showed that over 90 percent of economists anticipated the Fed would hold rates steady. That same poll indicates that most experts foresee no rate cuts until at least May 7, at the earliest.

For those looking to buy a home or refinance, the biggest question remains: Will this pause help lower mortgage rates, or will borrowing costs stay high? Let’s break down what this means for aspiring homeowners and those in the market for a mortgage.

Will the Fed’s Rate Pause Lower Mortgage Rates?

Many assume that when the Fed holds or cuts interest rates, mortgage rates will immediately drop. However, mortgage rates are influenced by multiple factors, including investor sentiment, inflation, and economic growth. While the Fed’s policy decisions set the tone for overall borrowing costs, mortgage rates are more closely tied to the 10-year Treasury note yield.

When the Fed signals that it will hold rates steady, it can create stability in bond markets. If investors believe inflation is under control, demand for government bonds may increase, driving down Treasury yields and, in turn, mortgage rates. This scenario would be a win for homebuyers who have been facing elevated borrowing costs. However, if inflation remains stubborn and economic indicators stay strong, investors may anticipate that the Fed will delay future rate cuts. This could keep Treasury yields high, limiting any significant decline in mortgage rates. Additionally, if the job market remains tight and consumer spending stays strong, lenders might be cautious about lowering rates out of concern that inflation could persist.

Other Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates

As we enter 2025, small business owners are finding a silver lining amidst challenges. The latest JPMorgan Chase’s 2025 Business Leaders Outlook Survey reveals a wave of optimism sweeping through the sector. More than 70 percent of small business owners express confidence, feeling “optimistic” or “very optimistic” about both their industry’s and their company’s performance in the coming year. Notably, diverse business owners are showing greater optimism about the economic landscape at local, national, and global levels.

Black small business owners had the most positive perspective of all participants in each of the five categories: global economy, national economy, local economy, industry’s performance, and company’s performance. This year, they plan to rely more on all types of funding for their businesses compared to all business owners.

“I engage with small businesses regularly and see their optimism firsthand—the survey results only reinforce this positive outlook for 2025,” said Jamie Faber, Business Bank-

ing Market Manager in Detroit. “It’s inspiring to witness their resilience and determination to overcome challenges, whether it’s through innovative funding strategies or ambitious hiring plans. These business leaders are not just surviving; they’re set-

More than 60 percent of Black small business owners expressed optimism about the state of the local, national and global economy. Close to 80 percent had the same optimism about their industry’s performance or their own company’s performance.

“I engage with small businesses regularly and see their optimism firsthand—the survey results only reinforce this positive outlook for 2025.”

es remain more cautious about the future. Interestingly, they are still more likely to anticipate a recession in 2025 compared to the broader business community. However, less than a third of diverse-owned businesses expect an economic downturn—among Blackowned small businesses, 29 percent said “yes” to expectations of a recession in 2025. This cautious optimism reflects a nuanced perspective, balancing resilience with a watchful eye on potential economic shifts.

• Inflation Is Top Concern, But Cybersecurity Challenges Are Growing

ting the stage for a year of growth and success.”

Here are five key findings from this year’s survey.

• Economic optimism grows each year…

Drowning in debt? How to escape

Let’s get straight to the point. Americans are drowning in debt, and it’s getting worse. Mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, student loans, and personal loans are all ballooning, leaving many households on shaky financial ground. The numbers don’t lie, and if we don’t get serious about managing debt, financial ruin will become a reality for millions.

Some people will argue that debt is a normal part of life. “You need credit to get ahead,” they say. “Debt helps build wealth.” Sounds like something bankers and marketers would say. You buying into this philosophy certainly helps them build wealth. If you believe in the hype, you’re drinking the Kool-aid. Let me be clear—debt isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom. How you manage debt determines whether you stay financially stable or end up broke. Let’s break down the state of debt in America and what you can do to stay in control.

The State of Household Debt

Mortgages: The Cost of Homeownership

• Total Balance: $12.52 trillion

• Average Balance per Borrower: $237,000

• Average Interest Rate: 6.96 per-

•

interest rates are afraid to move because they’ll have to take on higher payments. If you’re buying a home now, be smart—don’t max out your budget. A house is a home, not a financial trap. Credit Cards: The Silent Wealth Killer

• Total Balance: $1.08 trillion (an all-time high)

• Average Balance per Cardholder: $5,947

• Average Interest Rate: 21 percent

• Current Trend: More people are relying on credit to survive Credit card debt is the most expensive and most dangerous type of debt to carry. The average American is paying over 20 percent in interest—more than double the rate of some personal loans. If you’re only making minimum payments, you’re in a financial death spiral. Here’s the hard truth: Banks and credit card companies want you in debt. That’s how they make money. Break the cycle—pay off your balances as fast as possible, avoid unnecessary purchases, and stop treating credit cards like free money.

• …But Some Concerns Exist While small businesses seem to have left the economic uncertainty of the pandemic years behind, diverse-owned business-

• Average Balance per Borrower: $24,490

• Average Interest Rate: 6.61 percent (new cars)

• Average Monthly Payment: $737 (new cars)

Let’s be real—cars are getting way too expensive. A basic new car now costs $40,000, and loan terms are stretching beyond 7 years. Some people are paying more for their car than their rent!

Want to avoid the trap? Follow this golden rule: If you can’t afford to pay it off in three years, you can’t afford it. Buy used, shop smart, and don’t let a dealership talk you into financing a car like it’s a mortgage. Student Loans: Going to school to get a job to pay for school

• Total Balance: $1.77 trillion

• Average Balance per Borrower: $37,000

• Average Interest Rate: 9.08 percent (federal loans)

• Average Monthly Payment: $393

Student loans were once seen as a path to a better future. Now, they’re shackles keeping borrowers from building wealth. With the cost of education rising, young adults are starting their careers in financial handcuffs.

As inflation remains the top challenge for business owners going into 2025, Black business owners are particularly attuned to the threat of cybersecurity, identifying it as their second-biggest challenge. This concern surpasses the “uncertainty of economic conditions,” which ranks second among the broader community. Across all groups, rising taxes emerge as the third most pressing issue. This highlights a distinct focus

considering college, think long and hard about whether the debt is worth it. Look at trade schools, scholarships, community colleges and local colleges before diving headfirst into massive student loan debt.

If you already have student debt, attack it—look into forgiveness programs, refinance only if it makes sense, and pay extra when possible. Don’t let it linger for decades. Personal Loans: Debt to Pay Debt

• Total Balance: $225 billion

• Average Balance per Borrower: $11,652

• Average Interest Rate: 14.36 pecent (for good credit)

• Average Monthly Payment: $270–$350 (terms of 3–5 years)

Personal loans can be useful, but they’re often a sign of a bigger financial problem. Too many people use personal loans to consolidate debt, only to rack up new credit card balances a few months later.

If you’re using a personal loan to stay afloat, you don’t have a loan problem— you have a spending problem. Budget smarter, increase your income, and break the cycle of borrowing to survive. How to Regain Control of Your Finances Now that we’ve established how deep the debt crisis runs, let’s talk about solutions.

Stop Adding More Debt

Stop borrowing! This might seem obvious, but if you’re already struggling,

Auto Loans: Automobiles can drive you broke

• Total Balance: $1.63 trillion

Here’s the deal—college isn’t the only path to success. If you or your kids are

ANTHONY O. KELLUM

Follow this roadmap for financial success

by JPMorganChase

Too many people were not taught about money in school or by their parents and have developed poor habits of overspending, ignoring their finances, or not planning for the future.  Financial success is available if you are willing to set goals and make a plan to achieve them. This roadmap will guide you through the process.  When it comes to setting financial goals, the more emotionally connected you are to them, the more successful you are likely to be. Paying off your credit card debt may feel like the right thing to do, but it can be difficult to stick to your plan unless you are motivated by what that achievement means for you and your financial well-being. Start by envisioning what a financially stable and prosperous life looks like for you. Some questions to consider are:

• How would my life be better without money stress?

• What would my home look like if I had enough money?

• How would I spend my free time?

• How could I make my life easier?

• How would I be more generous?

Once you have a clear vision of your future, set goals to help you achieve it. Along with being tied to your vision, your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Brittney Castro, a certified financial planner at Mint, shared some tips with CNBC about setting achievable goals, including making small, progressive shifts instead of setting goals that are too extreme.

For example, say that you use this debt calculator to set a goal to pay off your credit card debt. A SMART goal would be to pay off my $10,000 credit card debt by cutting back on my shopping and paying $524 toward the debt for 24 months to achieve my long-term goal of saving for a

larger apartment.

Understand Money Psychology

The study of how emotions and beliefs affect our financial habits, like saving and spending, is known as money psychology. Our childhood often shapes these behaviors. For instance, our perceptions of the availability of money and the effort required to earn it are influenced by growing up with affluence, as middle class, or in poverty. We also internalize our parents’ financial beliefs and behaviors, consciously and unconsciously. We may develop ingrained notions of money like “there will never be enough” and “money is best saved, not spent.” The good news is that we can choose which attitudes and actions support us in reaching our objectives and try to develop new ones if

they stand in the way. Additionally, money psychology helps us understand how our emotions, such as stress, sadness, or even happiness, can lead to impulsive buying or poor decisions. For example, fears about losing money may keep us from investing, or unrealistic expectations about our financial knowledge could lead us to invest in risky avenues. Some people will use past experiences as excuses for staying stuck in poor decision-making or avoidance, such as saying things like, “I’m not good with money.” Fortunately, when we understand how money psychology plays a role in our behaviors, we can address these issues and practice being more mindful of our financial decisions.

Educate Yourself

Since most of us don’t learn about personal finance in school, we must engage in our own education. So, how do you find helpful resources?

Yahoo Finance reports that only 4 percent of people have read a financial book. Yet, books are a great way to learn about budgeting, investing, money psychology, and other helpful financial concepts and strategies. You may prefer to listen to money podcasts to hear real-life examples, such as Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, The His and Her Money Show, or I Will Teach You to Be Rich.  Online research can be a valuable tool for learning more about specific topics. Make sure you are using reliable sources such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Financial Literacy Resource Directory, Investor.gov, or Better Investing. You can also search for workshops hosted by local colleges, libraries, or banks in your area.

Improve Your Money Skills and Create Good Habits

Like any other skill, getting good with money takes practice and self-evaluation. These skills include refraining from overspending, saving, and investing wisely. You may slip up on occasion or make mistakes. But the faster you return to working on your goals, the less financial damage you will cause. Eventually, these practiced skills can become natural habits.

Savings and habit trackers can be supportive tools for monitoring your day-today decisions and long-term goals. When making sound financial decisions feels challenging, remember to continue educating yourself and keep your long-term vision in mind as a motivator. Build on each success with new goals that will bring you closer to financial security and freedom.

(Sponsored by JPMorganChase)

What the Fed’s rate pause means for homebuyers

While the Fed’s decisions shape the broader interest rate environment, mortgage lenders determine their rates based on various market forces:

• Investor Demand for Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS): The mortgage market operates largely through the buying and selling of MBS. When investor demand for these securities is high, lenders can

offer lower rates. But if investors require higher returns, mortgage rates will rise.

• Lender Competition and Capacity: If lenders have a high volume of applications, they may raise rates to manage their pipeline. Conversely, in a competitive market, lenders might lower rates to attract borrowers.

• Economic Conditions: Inflation trends, employment data, and overall economic growth

all impact mortgage rate movement. If inflation remains persistent, mortgage rates are less likely to drop significantly.

What Should Homebuyers Do?

Although the Fed’s rate pause may not immediately lower mortgage rates, prospective homebuyers and refinancers should remain proactive. Here’s how to navigate the current landscape:

• Monitor Treasury Yields and Inflation: These indicators provide

clues about where mortgage rates may head next.

• Shop Around for Lenders: Mortgage rates can vary significantly between lenders, so comparing offers can lead to better financing options.

• Consider Your Long Term Goals: If you find a home that fits your needs and budget, waiting for rates to drop could mean missing out on a great opportunity.

The Bottom Line

The Fed’s decision to

pause rate cuts is not a guarantee that mortgage rates will decrease in the short term. Mortgage rates are shaped by a combination of factors, including inflation expectations, Treasury yields, and market conditions. While stabilization in rates could provide some relief, borrowers should stay informed and explore all available options to secure the best possible financing.

Property is Power! Knowledge is the key to

homeownership. Understanding how these economic shifts impact your buying power is essential in making informed decisions. Stay educated, stay empowered, and remember—owning property is owning power.

(Dr. Anthony O. Kellum – CEO of Kellum Mortgage, LLC Homeownership Advocate, Speaker, Author NMLS # 1267030 NMLS #1567030 Property is Power! is a movement to promote home and community ownership. Studies indicate, homeownership

Black-owned small businesses are more optimistic

among diverse business owners on the importance of protecting their operations from any threats.

• Finding funding

Diverse-owned businesses are strategically positioning themselves to tap into a variety of funding sources more than small business overall. Blackowned businesses, for instance, are notably inclined to utilize lines of credit (48 percent), online loans from fintech or alter-

don’t dig the hole deeper. Cut up your credit cards, delay unnecessary purchases, and live within your means. Create a Debt Payoff Plan Use the debt snowball method (paying off the smallest debts first) or the debt avalanche method (paying off the highest-interest debts first). Either way, make a plan and stick to it. Refinance Where Possible

If you have high-interest debt, refinancing or consolidating to a lower rate could save you thousands. But be careful— don’t just extend the length of the loan and end up paying more

native online lenders (39 percent), personal credit cards (39 percent), angel investments/ venture capital (25 percent) and crowdfunding (19 percent).

A significant majority of Blackowned businesses (73 percent) are also more likely than the overall business respondents (55 percent) to explore online lending this year.

• Ambitious Hiring Plans

Amid Talent Challenges

Diverse-owned businesses are setting ambitious hiring goals

for 2025. Black-owned businesses are planning for substantial increases, with 71 percent anticipating more full-time hires and 55 percent expecting part-time hires. This contrasts with 46 percent of all respondents expecting full-time hiring increases and just 38 percent planning for part-time hires.

However, these businesses face significant challenges in finding the right candidates. A vast majority (90 percent) of Blackowned businesses express con-

cerns around recruitment. Black businesses were most likely to cite employee turnover/retiring employees (34 percent) as the main issue they faced. This response is echoed across the board, with 79 percent of all respondents worried about finding suitable candidates.

The Bottom Line

Economic optimism is on the rise among diverse-owned small business owners, with Blackowned small businesses having greater confidence in the local,

national and global economic outlook than survey responses overall.

Despite some apprehensions about a potential recession and recruitment challenges, diverse-owned businesses are determined to expand their workforce and secure funding to fuel growth. This determination underscores their optimism for 2025 and their readiness to make strategic moves to scale their operations.

On the brink of change

The world is going through a transition, and there is nothing humanity can do about it other than recognize that change is upon us. For the most part, people are treating the idea of change with a grain of salt, but they are probably in for a rude awakening.

First off, it’s apparent that climate change is real. The fires in Los Angeles and other locations have been devastating and have resulted in the demise of people who were not able to protect themselves from harm.

People have been talking about climate change for quite a few years, and seemingly, many haven’t taken the idea seriously. It is as though they have adopted the mantra “Out of sight, out of mind.” In this regard, the people who have suffered the most are basically those who have been in the line of fire…in other words, those who were not directly subjected to the mayhem generated by climate change have tended to ignore it.

Another set of issues that people will be faced with is connected with AI, “Artificial Intelligence.” This, too, has generated numerous warnings from people who anticipate the inevitable chaos that will ensue if something isn’t done about it. So far, the people most concerned at this point tend to be the tech people; they understand the serious consequences of the creeping menace that AI could inevitably represent. One of the reasons that some folks are not taking climate change seriously is the lack of understanding of the possible consequences if something isn’t done to mitigate this threat.

What are some of the challenges that we might face due to the increasing use of AI? As with anything else, AI can have both positive and negative consequences. On the positive front, experimentation with technology to combat blindness is in the works. Elon Musk, the apparent “richest man on Earth,” promises the development of implants that can restore sight to the blind. This is an ambitious vision, and Elon is confident that it will become a reality. On another note, Musk is also working on initiatives that will result in robots being used as servants. These technological slaves might range from everyday domestic workers to those designed to be sexual toys. At this time, the proposal to create these technological slaves is being met with a mixture of skepticism and, or enthusiasm, depending upon which side of the intelligence spectrum a person embraces. For example, it is evident among those with some knowledge of robotics that the technology can fully actualize these promises. The downside of the tech revolution is mismanagement and abuse that can come from the unbridled proliferation and use of technology. Conceivably, it is possible to envision a time when passwords, computers, phones, or otherwise, can be hijacked due to AI’s ability to crack codes. If this happens, some other way of protecting our privacy must be developed. The challenge, though, is that the tech giants must exhibit the kind of integrity that would keep them from invading personal spaces. If this doesn’t happen, citizens could end up being open books without privacy. Ultimately, during this period of change, people will be faced with transforming their inner being to cope with issues generated by the outside world. They must embrace diversity; they must understand the richness in accomplishment that can come from people when they are free to share their ability to be flexible and to care for one another enough to put people above profit. In a world plagued by violence, war, greed, and intolerance, the road will be paved for automatic failure unless the plutocrats have a change of heart OR the people come together to demand positive changes that benefit us all. Ultimately, our future will depend upon what we all do; the best foil against exploitation will rise out of the actions of a unified citizenry. Aluta continua.

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

Where will you shop?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Often people shop where it’s convenient without thinking about the fact that the money they spend may be detrimental to them. Obviously you are free to do that, but we’re currently being asked to take a close look at everything that impacts us because so many things being done by the Trump Administration prove they are seeking retribution! So many scary things have already begun.  Take for instance Trump and his party have always claimed to be totally in support of the police no matter what they did.  Their union even endorsed Trump, but now they feel betrayed!  Some of their colleagues were killed by the very people he pardoned.

The whole world knew what happened January 6th, so Trump had to know.  It didn’t matter to him.  It was a part of his retribution plan and caused companies to roll back Diversity Equity and Inclusion—referred to as DEI. This is a racist and sexist move. The only reason the programs existed was how women and minorities historically were shut out of certain jobs and other opportunities enjoyed by White men.

I couldn’t help but wonder how White women and minorities feel about what’s happened to their future opportunities. Black women have always had to be better than the rest to enjoy many of the opportunities others have always had—and we still meet the challenges!  Companies like Target, McDonalds and Walmart where so many women and minorities are known to shop and

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—The 47th President has attacked our government like a bull in a China closet.  He is doing his best to upend precedent and policy, as he promised that he would.  He has issued hundreds of executive orders, pardoned convicted criminals (like himself), manipulated the truth through websites, abolished DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion measures), putting hundreds on administrative leave, and caused more damage in just a few days than most do in a lifetime.  Additionally, wholesale deportations of undocumented people have shattered families, disrupted communities, and upended some international relationships.

Wow!  The folks who chose to stay home during this election are regretting it.  There were those who said that he wouldn’t be “so bad”, but he has been worse than we could ever have imagined.  But it is what most voters, that is those who were not suppressed out, chose.

The Department of Defense, zealous acolytes genuflecting at the President’s anti-DEI stance, decided to scrub references to the Tuskegee Airmen in their Air Force training videos.  Within days, his morally compromised choice and marginally selected Secretary of Defense reversed that decision.

The Tuskegee Airmen videos are back in.  This is not cause for celebration.

The fact that the anti-DEI forces that now reign could attempt to erase history, and they will continue to attempt to rewrite reality.  Erasing the Tuskegee Airmen is at the tip of the iceberg.

These people are so creative that they can turn a violent insurrection into a benign Capitol tour, although who comes to a Capitol tour with weapons and bear spray?  The violent, rabid, insurrection crowd has been

take their children! McDonalds depends on children. Will people continue to take their children there?   As for Target, they have the gall to roll back Target’s DEI programs. They’ve already sent a memo to their employees, telling them it will end its three-year DEI goals, rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion programs—including some they admit aim to make its workforce and merchandise better reflect its customers. They are stopping reports to external groups like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and end a program focused on carrying more products from Black- or minority-owned businesses! In prior years, Target officials said the murder of George Floyd in the company’s hometown of Minneapolis motivated it to strengthen its DEI programs!  Now this! Most of us have never heard of Meta, so I can’t tell you about why they would roll back their DEI program! I know no one who works there, but look them up, as well as other companies that jumped immediately to help Trump succeed with his 2025 threats especially meant for women and

minorities. Look at Social Security—a federal program to help people in their old age, survivors and people with disabilities.  These recipients have worked—a lot for many years.  Lots of them are relatives of the very Members of Congress supporting Trump on taking the benefits away! Can you imagine one of these supporters of taking social security away and walking into a home saying “Grandma or Grandpa, we’re supporting Trump cutting your check next month”—something some of them have as their only income to just get by!  This is a cruel decision and all of us should withdraw our support from anyone who supports this decision.

This guy has shut us down from involvement in the World Health Organization and cut off the ability of scientists to receive critically needed grants for research.

These decisions follow Trump’s orders immediately after his Inauguration, to end government DEI programs and put federal officials overseeing them on leave! So much for progress! As a Costco shareholder, I will be shopping at Costco and I hope you will too.  They didn’t join this insulting group of companies cutting DEI. WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE!  Everybody who seeks your business is not your friend!

(Dr.

What should we be doing? Can we really sit this one out? These are some of the things Black people have heard since November and, especially, January 20. At times, this can be overwhelming and, honestly, a lot. It’s more important than ever to rest, mobilize, and organize, especially locally. Before I start, let me add that Black people can walk and chew gum at the same time. So, yes, we can rest and still organize. In my previous columns, I have spoken about the need for rest, especially for Black women. I will stress again that the rest I am referring to goes beyond vacations, spas, and hair appointments. Rest is a right that we all have. Capitalism has taken it away from us, but it’s our inherent right to REST. For Black people, our relationship with rest, like so many other things, goes back to our ancestors, who were truly never allowed to rest. They spent over 100 years fighting and surviving the racial tragedies of slavery, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement—not being allowed to freely laugh, cry, or rest. When we rest, our ancestors smile. It’s also something that should be done daily. This can look like prayer, meditation, hiking, or pausing and breathing for five minutes—whatever works best for you. Developing a rest practice will be beneficial for our growth as a

Julianne Malveaux

described by the current President as “peaceful” “hostages”, even as many have been convicted of assault against law enforcement officers.  If they can erase the unlawful actions of January 6, they can attempt to erase the massive contributions of African American people to this country.  We will not be erased.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of Negro History Week, now African American History Month, established our historical presence because of our nation’s tendency to forget injustice.

Many, like Presidential sidekick Elon Musk, who has encouraged Germans to move “past guilt” of the Holocaust, indeed exhorting them not to “lose” their culture “in some sort of multiculturalism”.  He is the Trump whisperer, and it is likely that he and 47 are having similar conversations about the role that multiculturalism has in contemporary society.  They don’t want to go back and embrace our flawed past. Instead, they’d prefer to swallow our difference with a since of misplaced pride in our past.  Make America Great Again?  Really, when was it ever great for the exploited.

The unsuccessful attempt to erase Tuskegee from Air Force training tapes is not the worst thing this administration has done.  Abruptly halting federal grand programs, including food assistance, impact millions and is an unnecessary flexing of power muscles.  Peremptorily and illegally firing inspectors general in several govern-

ment departments is a bullying tactic.  Somebody does not want inspectors general because they do not want illegal actions to be inspected.  With skillful manipulation of the facts, there are those who can characterize them as justified, no illegal and non-Constitutional acts.  We are in an era in which truth doesn’t matter.

CNN anchor Jim Acosta abruptly announced his departure from the network on January 28.  He left an ominous parting message—“It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant…Don’t give in to the lies.  Don’t give into the fear.  Hold onto the truth and hope”. I’m grateful to Acosta for putting it out there, and disappointed that so many others are holding their tongues and currying favor with the felon-in-chief. Where does that leave African American people?  We are living in a sad and empowering time.  What did we do before government assistance?  What did we do before federal dollars subsidized our Black History Month celebrations?  What did we do without DEI programs?  We survived. We thrived.  We heard the song, “God Bless the Child” and we went to get our own.  We didn’t get what we deserved; we didn’t get all of it.  But we got.  We taught our history in churches and in Saturday schools.  We gathered in salons in private homes.  We taught our children about our struggles.  We didn’t need government to do it. We will not be erased, no matter how hard they try.  It’s a Sankofa moment for Black folks.  Go back and get what has been instrumental to our survival heretofore.  Go back and get the resilience.  Go back and get the creativity.  Go back to go forward.  We will not be erased.

( Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author.  Juliannemalveaux.com )

people. It also allows time to think clearly and work more collectively. Along with rest, we should be organizing and mobilizing at the local level. As a longtime community organizer, I have organized through various social movements and administrations. One thing that consistently happens is the overlooking of the importance of local people and organizing. I saw this a lot with the last election, specifically with local organizations being ignored for celebrity voices or influencers. To me, all politics is local. Even if you have policies that need to be pushed nationally, it always goes back to the district. Furthermore, the people most impacted know what’s best for them. I believed that when I started organizing in 1991, and it remains true. No amount of research, data, or highly paid consultants will ever replace the voice of the PEOPLE. Additionally, our organizing must involve study and awareness of

what’s happening in other areas and countries. Moreover, focus on working collectively with local groups and include those most affected, such as Black youth, disabled, and trans people. The study will help us not become so locked into working in our silos. It also helps to see the intersections between our struggles and those in Congo, Haiti, and other parts of the world.

For community groups and organizations, if you don’t align with one in your community, then start your own. It’s important to note that you don’t have to agree with everything a group does to work with them. Black people are not a monolith, so it should be expected that we don’t agree on all things. Here, it’s key to make sure your principles are aligned and build from there. Moreover, involve the youth, listen to them, and be there as a guide. While having youth is important, I won’t romanticize this, as I see the benefits of intergenerational organizing as well. Lastly, have a focus on disability justice and the Black trans community— two groups that are routinely left out when we organize for Black liberation. In closing, nothing is new under the sun; our ancestors left blueprints for us. Let us draw from their wisdom and CONTINUE to RESIST!

E. Faye Williams is President of The Dick Gregory Society—a Civil and Human Rights Group.)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—The issue of abortion had a long-complicated history both before and after the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, making abortion legal nationwide.  It is a historical story worth understanding, considering the chaos we see in our nation today. Abortion is particularly complicated in that it has evolved to become a defining political issue impacting elections on the state and federal levels. The Catholic Church has always maintained a strong and unwavering opposition to abortion based on its principles and teachings. While all Catholics do not share the Church’s official stance on the issue, the Catholic Church at large has always been consistent in opposing abortion for moral reasons.

Opposition to abortion did not begin as a cultural war issue as it is today. While the Catholic Church opposed abortion, the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest evangelical denomination, was on record saying it should be allowed in many circumstances. This was a time before evangelicals became organized and deeply involved in politics.  Neither political party viewed it as a defining issue until shrewd candidates like Richard Nixon saw the Catholic Church’s passion to restrict access to abortion, and they decided to use the issue as a means of gaining Catholic votes. Nixon suffered a painful loss in 1960. The presidential election resulted in Democrat John Kennedy narrowly defeating Nixon, making Kennedy the first Roman Catholic person ever elected president. Vowing never to lose the Catholic vote again, Nixon began staking out anti-abortion positions as part of an electoral strategy to appeal to Catholic voters and other social conservatives during the 1972 presidential campaign. After Nixon won the election and the majority of Catholic votes, Republican strategists began using the same tactics for Congressional races. Supporting the prolife movement became more about getting votes than saving unborn lives for many candidates and elected officials.

Before, and for several years after Roe v Wade, evangelicals were overwhelmingly indifferent to the subject of abortion, which they considered a “Catholic issue.” Although a few evangelicals mildly criticized the ruling, the overwhelming re-

David W. Marshall Commentary

sponse was silence, even approval.

Linda Greenhouse and Reva B. Siegel explained in their book Before Roe v. Wade that the shift to opposing abortion rights was part of a larger effort to paint the Republican Party as pro-family in a way that would help mobilize socially conservative voters. The anti-abortion campaign was led by Catholic groups and hampered by disagreements, but eventually, it became a political agenda directed by religious right organizations who were politically sharp and media savvy.  The strategic switch with evangelical leaders was not strictly for moral reasons. While the origin of the religious right movement was motivated and centered around a court case, the case was not Roe v. Wade. The Green v. Connally ruling captured the attention of evangelical leaders, especially when the IRS began sending questionnaires to church-related “segregation academies” inquiring about their racial policies. The school led by Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell, Lynchburg Christian School, was included.

As a result of Green v. Connally, a new Internal Revenue Service policy was enacted to deny tax exemptions to all racially segregated schools in the United States under the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which forbade racial segregation and discrimination. Discriminatory schools were not, by definition, “charitable” educational organizations; therefore, they had no claims to tax-exempt status. Evangelical leaders had long boasted that the federal government could not tell them what to do. The government could not tell them whom to hire or not, whom to admit or reject because their educational institutions accepted no federal money (except for not paying taxes). That was all changed with the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Paul Weyrich, the late religious conservative political activist and co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, laid out a long-term social conservative agenda that is very much in play now in 2025. Weyrich concluded evangelicals, with their large numbers, would constitute a formidable voting bloc.  “The new political philosophy must be defined by us [conservatives] in moral terms, packaged in non-religious language and propagated throughout the country by our new coalition,” Weyrich wrote in the mid-1970s. “When political power is achieved, the moral majority will have the opportunity to re-create this great nation.” Weyrich believed that the political possibilities of such a coalition were unlimited. Jerry Falwell and Weyrich tapped into the ire of evangelical leaders when it came to Green v. Connally and were savvy enough to recognize that organizing grassroots evangelicals to defend racial discrimination would be a challenge. The issue of abortion was the answer, and it became the rallying issue used to mobilize evangelical voters on a large scale. Voters in Black and brown communities must now be clear-eyed in recognizing that Roe v. Wade was the start. The Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are the targets next in line. The baton was passed to Donald Trump, who intends to take it over the finish line.  There needs to be a pro-justice counter-attack. Every person in Black and brown communities, particularly young people, must fully understand the magnitude and consequences of the threat to their futures. As abortion was the religious right’s rallying issue, pro-justice and fairness must be ours. There can be no petty divisions and disagreements among those directly impacted by the current war on DEI. That would include White women. There needs to be a long-term commitment to recover from the current damage while saving the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. In taking pages from the evangelical playbook, it will take multiple election cycles to pass critical legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. While the price of eggs is important, our future depends on us being driven by a pro-justice political agenda as if our lives depend on it.    (David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.)

The dangerous spending of insurrection currency

Republican President Donald Trump did not win reelection in 2020. Trump claimed the Democrats stole the election, but his legal appeals to reverse the results were unsuccessful. The final stage was for Congress to officially count the electoral votes on January 6, 2021. Trump held an ill-advised rally in Washington, D.C., the same day. At the conclusion of Trump’s “Stop the Steal” speech, he instructed over a thousand supporters to march peacefully and patriotically to the Capitol building to have their voices heard.

As soon as Trump supporters gathered at the Capitol, mayhem and violence broke out. Trump supporters clashed with Capitol Police as others stormed the Capitol. Numerous people, including 174 police officers, sustained injuries during the commotion. Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol caused damage that exceeded 2.5 million.

The turmoil illegally delayed the formal electoral vote count by a few hours, but it did not prevent the transfer of power. The following day, a controversy started over how to describe the January 6th violence. Was it a riot or an insurrection?

Law enforcement eventually apprehended the participants on Jan. 6.

More than a thousand people faced serious criminal charges. While Trump opponents contended that the Jan. 6th defendants deserved the maximum penalties for attempting an insurrection, Trump claimed that they were receiving unfair treatment.

In 2022, Jeffrey Scott Shapiro, a practicing attorney and investigative journalist, wrote an opinion piece titled Stop Calling January 6th an ‘Insurrection.’ According to Shapiro, while the Jan. 6th participants faced serious criminal charges that should not go unaddressed, none of the defendants faced insurrection-related charges.” That’s because insurrection is a legal term with specific elements,” Shapiro explained. “Words have to have meaning, and the continuous mislabeling of the U.S. Capitol breach as an ‘insurrection’ is an example of how a false narrative can gain currency and cause dangerous injustice.”

When Trump launched his campaign

J. Pharoah Doss Check It Out

to regain the White House, it was clear how his opponents intended to spend the “insurrection currency” they believed they gained.

In September 2023, a group of Colorado voters filed a lawsuit to keep Donald Trump off the state’s presidential ballot. The lawsuit claimed Trump was disqualified from holding public office again under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which states that officials who have previously sworn an oath to uphold the US Constitution and then engage in an insurrection against the US government are barred from holding public office.

In November, the district court determined that Trump would remain on the primary ballot, but the following month, Colorado’s Supreme Court overruled the district court and found that Trump’s conduct on January 6 constituted an insurrection, disqualifying him from running for president.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruling formally declared January 6th an insurrection. The ruling also prompted Trump’s opponents in numerous other states to keep him off their state ballots for inciting an insurrection. Their “insurrection currency” ran out in March 2024, when the US Supreme Court struck down individual states’ bids to disqualify Trump from running for president. The US Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose Section 3 of the 14th Amendment on federal officials.

Trump regained the presidency in November 2024.

As president-elect, Trump declared that he would not grant blanket pardons to the Jan. 6 defendants. He would grant pardons on a case-by-case basis. Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, indicated that those responsible for the violence

on January 6th will not be considered for pardons. However, on the first day of Trump’s second term, he pardoned and commuted the sentences of more than 1,200 people for their roles in the turmoil at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Trump even granted clemency to individuals guilty of attacking police officers.

The Fraternal Order of Police, which endorsed Trump for president, accused Trump of breaking his word and condemned the mass pardons. According to the FOP, President Trump sent a dangerous message that assaulting law enforcement has no serious consequences.

The FOP was right.

Regrettably, Trump reneged on his promise due to his inability to resist spending the “insurrection currency” he had acquired. When the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Jan. 6th was an official insurrection, it confirmed to Trump that all of the Jan. 6th defendants were “political prisoners” regardless of the crimes they committed at the Capitol.

False narratives begat false narratives.

Trump’s opponents spent their “insurrection currency” on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in an unprecedented attempt to prevent Trump from running for president. Trump, on the other hand, spent his “insurrection currency” in accordance with a precedent established in 1868 by President Andrew Johnson, who pardoned all Confederate soldiers who participated in an insurrection against the US government.

Trump reasoned that if Johnson could pardon Confederate soldiers, he could pardon the January 6th “political prisoners” without any serious political repercussions. The difference between Johnson and Trump is that Johnson was restoring the Union, whereas Trump wanted to spend “insurrection currency” better than his opponents.

When Shapiro wrote in his opinion piece that a false insurrection narrative can gain currency and cause a dangerous injustice, he didn’t anticipate Trump dodging one injustice and perpetuating another.

Super Bowl LIX demonstrates the strength of diversity and the dishonesty of its opponents

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“This is the thing people seem to have intentionally forgotten: that discrimination is real and prevents qualified people from getting opportunities that they would otherwise have and the goal of DEI is to prevent that as much as possible. But there are plenty of influential people on the intellectual right who see outlawing this kind of discrimination as a fundamental perversion of what the political order is supposed to be .. which should tell you something about what the crusade against DEI actually was all about. It wasn’t about restoring merit. It wasn’t about fairness. It was about removing undesirable classes of people from the competition pool for jobs that bring high pay and high status.”—Jamelle Bouie

Of the many lies behind the current assault on racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, the most vicious is that DEI policies lower standards.

Nothing exposes that lie more nakedly than the world of elite and professional sports.

The two quarterbacks who are about to face off in Super Bowl LIX have led their teams to the playoffs every season that they have started. Jalen Hurts has taken his team to the Super Bowl twice in four seasons as starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Patrick Mahomes’ has done it five times in fifth in seven seasons starting for the Kansas City Chiefs. There is no denying their excellence.

Yet for most of NFL history, neither of these world-class athletes would have been seriously considered for the position of quarterback.  In the league’s early years, they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play any position at all.

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal

It’s easy to see that opening the doors of opportunity for athletes of color has raised standards in every sport.

It would be ludicrous to argue that Black baseball players lacked the skill to compete in the Major Leagues before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947, or that admitting Black players has diminished the level of play. Yet that’s exactly what President Trump and other opponents of racial equity initiatives are trying to claim when they baselessly blame “DEI” for tragedies like this week’s deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. Anyone who assumes—or falsely claims —that the bar of achievement is always set by White men should consider the case of Johnny Weismuller’s world record. Weissmuller, an Olympic swimmer who achieved greater fame as Tarzan in the movies, set the record for 100-meter freestyle in 1922 at 58.6 seconds. In 2008, Lea Neal swam the 100-meter freestyle in 56.87 seconds.  She was 12 years old. A Black swimmer who medaled in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Neal was able to compete because of a scholarship intended to diversify the sport. The opponents of DEI would eliminate scholarships like the one that gave Neal her opportunity. The recruitment and development of

Black athletes has undeniably raised standards in every sport. It was the barriers to their participation, in fact, that kept standards low. The same is true for every facet of society. By giving organizations and institutions access to the broadest possible pool of talent, DEI policies unfailingly raise the level of performance by every metric. This is glaringly obvious to anyone who isn’t peering through the lens of resentment and entitlement. The problem, for those with such impaired vision, is that these policies increase competition. Before Negro League statistics were officially incorporated into the Major League record, Ty Cobb held career batting average record with .366. Josh Gibson, who never had the opportunity to compete against White players during his lifetime, now holds the record with .372. Worldclass athletes come in every shape, size, color, and creed, but it’s undeniable that there are White players who might not have made the team if they’d had to compete against the talent of a Josh Gibson.

This is what is behind the attacks on DEI. Opponents use vague and undefinable terms like “woke ideology” to conceal the fact that what they’re trying to eliminate is competition. What they’re trying to reinforce is White advantage.

The two teams who will take the field next Sunday represent not only the highest level of excellence their sport has to offer, but an incredible range of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity. A team comprised of nothing but place kickers wouldn’t go very far in the NFL. Eliminating DEI policies makes about as much sense.

Our Project 2025 response to President Trump driving the pro-justice political agenda

by Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

With the wave of setback Executive Orders by President Trump, we must not be gripped by fear and defeatism. Some of us are old enough to remember that our gains in civil and social rights were made many times in spite of prevailing attitudes and not because of them. First, we must not allow the progress we have made on our merits be redefined under Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) labels no more than we have allowed the concept of Affirmative Action to define our gains and achievements. Let’s get specific in terms of what we must do to fight identified rollbacks. Let us remember that many of us who will cry victim, did not vote, and if we did, some voted for the very person now seeking to bring us “Reconstruction 2.0”. As a reminder, following the Civil War, Blacks were flourishing in

the South. There were two Black U.S. Senators, Black Members of Congress, Superintendent of Public Instruction and a host of other gains. The deal that President Rutherford Hayes made with the South in order to keep the Union together was to create “States Rights”.

In other words, to let the states make their own rules on former slaves and reconstruction of the South.

President Trump’s agenda for “Making America Great Again” clearly does not include many of us, so here is what we must do. First, the Black Press must again be recognized as OUR trusted messenger for truth in reporting on proposed changes by this Administration affecting people of color and Blacks in particular. This means that our Press must step up its game in reporting and accountability. Second, we must act on the information we receive. For example, our response to Book Banning should be the creation of Bookstores and Libraries in our churches. To counter the rollback

of Black history and achievements, we have the education and ability to create community learning centers and discussion groups in our homes and churches. Finally, we must remember that many of our present-day colleges and universities were started by our churches. We have more information, businesses and abilities than our forefathers who did so much with so little. Our challenge is to redefine our priorities. We must monitor corporate America’s response to the President’s agenda, and we must adjust our spending habits accordingly. We must remember that Corporate America only respects three things: (1) lost profits, (2) bad publicity, and (3) votes cast against their interest. Our currency is U.S. dollars. Black people in America generate enough wealth to be the 10th largest economy in the world. We just don’t act accordingly. Let’s do our homework and redefine our priorities. As the poet said, “WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.”

15218

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings PUBLIC NOTICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY

The Professional Services Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org.

The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners shall hold a public meeting on Monday, February 24, 2025 at the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Turtle Creek, PA 15145 beginning at 6:45 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comments on Proposed Ordinance Number 1133, which amends the Zoning Ordinance to add definitions for charter, public and private schools; to appoint appropriate zoning districts and provide conditional use criteria for approval. Virtual access to the public meeting is available. Visit www.wilkinstownship.com for additional details.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1133

The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the following Ordinance at a public meeting to be held on the 24th day of February 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania. The complete text of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected in the Office of the Township Secretary at the aforesaid Municipal Building during normal business hours.

The title and a summary of the ordinance is as follows.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE #1133 TITLE AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING THE CODIFIED BOOK OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 450, ZONING, ARTICLE II, DEFINITIONS AND WORD USAGE, SECTION 450-7, TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR CHARTER, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS; ARTICLE III, DISTRICT REGULATIONS, SECTION 450-11, CONDITIONAL USES, TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE LOCATED IN THE R-1, R-2, R-3 AND R-4 ZONING DISTRICTS; AND ARTICLE VI, CONDITIONAL USES, SECTION 450-50, CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL, TO ADD PARAGRAPH R.

SUMMARY

The Ordinance amends the Zoning Ordinance to add definitions and criteria for Conditional Use approval for charter, public and private schools.

LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP

BY: CHRISTOPHER A. DeNARDO, PA I.D. NO. 78447

SAMANTHA GABLE, PA I.D. NO. 320695

STEVEN PALMER, PA I.D. NO. 334553

LESLIE J. RASE, PA I.D. NO. 58365

HEATHER RILOFF, PA I.D. NO. 309906

KEVIN T. TONCZYCZYN, PA I.D. NO. 332616

ELIZABETH L. WASSALL, PA I.D. NO. 77788

JOSEPH L. LoCASTRO, IV, PA I.D. NO. 314973

985 OLD EAGLE SCHOOL ROAD, SUITE 514

WAYNE, PA 19087

TELEPHONE: (610) 278-6800

E-MAIL: PAHELP@LOGS.COM

LLG FILE NO. 24-071375

Carrington Mortgage Services LLC PLAINTIFF VS.

David J. Fosbrink, known Heir of Angela Fosbrink, deceased and Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Angela Fosbrink, deceased DEFENDANTS

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CIVIL DIVISION

ALLEGHENY COUNTY NO: MG-24-000932

To the Defendants, Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Angela Fosbrink, deceased: TAKE NOTICE THAT THE Plaintiff, Carrington Mortgage Services LLC has filed an action Mortgage Foreclosure, as captioned above.

NOTICE

IF YOU WISH TO DEFEND, YOU MUST ENTER A WRITTEN APPEARANCE PERSONALLY OR BY ATTORNEY AND FILE YOUR DEFENSE OR OBJECTIONS WITH THE COUT. YOU ARE WARNED THAT IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO THE CASE MAY PROCEED WITHOUT YOU AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE FOR THE RELIEF REQUESTED BY THE PLAINTIFF. YOU MAY LOSE MONEY OR PROPERTY OR OTHER RIGHTS IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS NOTICE TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.

IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.

Allegheny County Bar Association 400 Koppers Bldg. 436 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219

LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP

CHRISTOPHER A. DeNARDO, PA I.D. NO. 78447

BY:

SAMANTHA GABLE, PA I.D. NO. 320695

STEVEN PALMER, PA I.D. NO. 334553

LESLIE J. RASE, PA I.D. NO. 58365

HEATHER RILOFF, PA I.D. NO. 309906

KEVIN T. TONCZYCZYN, PA I.D. NO. 332616

ELIZABETH L. WASSALL, PA I.D. NO. 77788

JOSEPH L. LoCASTRO, IV, PA I.D. NO. 314973

985 OLD EAGLE SCHOOL ROAD, SUITE 514 WAYNE, PA 19087

TELEPHONE: (610) 278-6800

E-MAIL: PAHELP@LOGS.COM LLG FILE NO. 24-071498

PNC Bank, National Association PLAINTIFF VS. Justin Portis, known Heir of Shirley M. Portis a/k/a Shirley Portis, deceased and Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Shirley M. Portis a/k/a Shirley Portis, deceased DEFENDANTS

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CIVIL DIVISION

ALLEGHENY COUNTY NO: MG-25-000006

To the Defendants, Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Shirley M. Portis a/k/a Shirley Portis, deceased: TAKE NOTICE THAT THE Plaintiff, PNC Bank, National Association has filed an action Mortgage Foreclosure, as captioned above.

NOTICE

IF YOU WISH TO DEFEND, YOU MUST ENTER A WRITTEN APPEARANCE PERSONALLY OR BY ATTORNEY AND FILE YOUR DEFENSE OR OBJECTIONS WITH THE COUT. YOU ARE WARNED THAT IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO THE CASE MAY PROCEED WITHOUT YOU AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE FOR THE RELIEF REQUESTED BY THE PLAINTIFF. YOU MAY LOSE MONEY OR PROPERTY OR OTHER RIGHTS IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS NOTICE TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.

Allegheny County Bar Association 400 Koppers Bldg. 436 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219

LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP BY: CHRISTOPHER A. DeNARDO, PA I.D. NO. 78447

SAMANTHA GABLE, PA I.D. NO. 320695

STEVEN PALMER, PA I.D. NO. 334553

LESLIE J. RASE, PA I.D. NO. 58365

HEATHER RILOFF, PA I.D. NO. 309906

KEVIN T. TONCZYCZYN,

TELEPHONE: (610) 278-6800

E-MAIL: PAHELP@LOGS.COM LLG FILE NO. 24-071366

Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. PLAINTIFF VS. William R. Petruskie, known Heir of Helen A. Snyder a/k/a Helen Snyder, deceased and Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Helen A. Snyder a/k/a Helen Snyder, deceased DEFENDANTS

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CIVIL DIVISION ALLEGHENY COUNTY NO: MG-24-000953

To the Defendants, Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Helen A. Snyder a/k/a Helen Snyder, deceased: TAKE NOTICE THAT THE Plaintiff, Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. has filed an action Mortgage Foreclosure, as captioned above.

NOTICE

IF YOU WISH TO DEFEND, YOU MUST ENTER A WRITTEN APPEARANCE PERSONALLY OR BY ATTORNEY AND FILE YOUR DEFENSE OR OBJECTIONS WITH THE COUT. YOU ARE WARNED THAT IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO THE CASE MAY PROCEED WITHOUT YOU AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE FOR THE RELIEF REQUESTED BY THE PLAINTIFF. YOU MAY LOSE MONEY OR PROPERTY OR OTHER RIGHTS IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS NOTICE TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.

IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.

Allegheny County Bar Association 400 Koppers Bldg. 436 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Notice is hereby given to the following persons, their heirs, successors or assigns, and to all persons whatsoever, that the City of Pittsburgh, by John Miller, Assistant City Solicitor, 328 City County Building has petitioned the Court of Orders quieting title to the following tax acquired real estate, pursuant to Act No. 171, approved December 11, 1984.

–GD 24-012270 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Margaret L. Mock, Edward K. Mock, GLS Capital Inc., PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonweath of PA-Inheritance Tax

Division, Allegheny County Court Records - Criminal Division, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Margaret L. Mock and of Edward K. Mock; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 4826 Giddings Street. Block & Lot 56-C-119. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. Lime 5.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012689 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs James Walker, Rosebud M. Walker, PWSA, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of James Walker and of Rosebud M. Walker; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 6990 Lemington Avenue. Block & Lot 173-A-300. 12th Ward, Pittsburgh.

Purple 16. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012271 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 7042 Kedron Street. Block & Lot 174-A-197. 13th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 1.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012331 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Richard A. Fath, PWSA, ALCOSAN, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Richard A. Fath; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 1936 Noblestown Rd. Block & Lot 40-S-93. 28th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 11.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012335 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs PWSA, Jordan Tax Service, Inc., PA Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Department, Pennsylvania Department of Domestic Relations, Albert Desmond Quick, Sundo Capital, LLC, its successors and assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Albert Desmond Quick; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 1520 Arlington Avenue. Block & Lot 14-L-25. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 12. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012336 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs PWSA, Jordan Tax Service, Inc., PA Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Department, Pennsylvania Department of Domestic Relations, Harry E. Colbert Jr., and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Harry E. Colbert Jr.; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 1526 Arlington Avenue. Block & Lot 14-L-28. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 13. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012339 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Hersh Mussoff and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Hersh Mussoff; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 2335 Laplace Street. Block & Lot 10-R-113. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 14. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012962 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Ginny L. Cole, John E. Phillips, Washington Mutual Bank FA Successor in Interest to PNC Mortgage Corporation of America, its successors and assigns, Leon P. Haller, Attorney for Washington Mutual Bank, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Ginny L. Cole and of John E. Phillips and of Leon P. Haller; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 1432 Firth Street. Block & Lot 47-R-141. 24th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 15.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012272 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Walter Hamm, Janice Hamm, PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of RevenueInheritance Tax Division, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Walter Hamm, and of Janice Hamm; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 229 Shetland Avenue. Block & Lot 124-P-163. 12th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick

2. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012280 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Julia Gaither, Richard L. Gaither, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Julia Gaither and of Richard L. Gaither; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 7803 Frankstown Avenue. Block & Lot 174-M-388. 13th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 3. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012281 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Dynastar Properties, LLC, its successors and assigns; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 149 Henderson Street. Block & Lot 23-H-389. 25th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick

5. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012273 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Sally Bradley, Michael Bradley, Kenneth Sala, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Sally Bradley and of Michael Bradley, and of Kenneth Sala; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 2335 Laplace Street. Block & Lot 10-R-112. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 6.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012285 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Christos Myrianthopoulos, Calliope Kavalieratos, Nick Kavalieratos, Estate of Calliope Kavalieratos, Estate of Nick Kavalieratos, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Christos Myrianthopolous and of Calliope Kavalieratos, and of Nick Kavalieratos; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 1206 Amanda Street. Block & Lot 60-C-149. 29th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 7. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012287 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Estate of Bettie Graham, Esther Cleo Stewart, Anthony Booz’e, ALCOSAN, PWSA, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Bettie Graham and of Esther Cleo Stewart, and of Anthony Booz’e; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 3344 Webster Avenue. Block & Lot 26-N-80. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 8. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012340 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs EMC Mortgage Corp., its successors and assigns, James L. Mobley, Leila Mobley, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of James L. Mobley and of Leila Mobley; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 443 Vandalia Street. Block & Lot 33-A-10. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. Brick 9.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012130 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs James T. Mahaffey, Kathy A. Mahaffey, PWSA, Crown Asset Management, LLC, its successors and assigns, American Equity Mortgage, Inc., its successors and assigns, IMC Mortgage Company, its successors and assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of James T. Mahaffey and of Kathy A. Mahaffey; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 63 Wheeling Street. Block & Lot 134-E-60. 31st Ward, Pittsburgh. Carrot 7.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012825 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Estate of Rose Marie Zottola and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Estate of Rose Marie Zottola; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 145 Mayflower Street. Block & Lot 124-N-90. 12th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 1.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012945 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Charles Hudson III, Hudson, Hudson, and Associates Real Estate Co., its successors and assigns, PWSA, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Charles Hudson III; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 0 Oakwood Street. Block & Lot 174-S-69. 13th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 10.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012948 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Thedrus Burch, Condella L. Burch, PWSA, ALCOSAN, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Thedrus Burch and of Condella L. Burch; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 3341 Milwaukee Street. Block & Lot 26-N-39. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 11.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-013000 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Thomas George Drake, Mary W. Drake, PWSA, GLS Capital, Inc., its successors and assigns, and the unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Thomas George Drake and of Mary W. Drake; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 385 Flowers Avenue. Block & Lot 56-C-222. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 12.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012956 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Lynda A. West, Central Money Mortgage, Co. Inc., its successors and assigns, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, and the unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Lynda A. West; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 405 Cedarhurst Street. Block & Lot 15-M-56. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 13. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS,

–GD

OF

ETC. OF

Vs William H. Davis, William H. Davis III, Central Money Mortgage Co., Inc., its successors and assigns, PWSA, Allegheny County Court Records - Criminal Division, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of William H. Davis and of William H. Davis III; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 746 Clarissa Street. Block & Lot 26-P-76. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Gold 6. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012121 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

George A. Miller, Amelia R. Miller, Allegheny County Jordan Tax Service, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of George A. Miller and of Amelia R. Miller; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 0 Redrose Avenue. Block & Lot 59-N-175. 29th Ward, Pittsburgh. Lime 1.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012131 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

James Henderson, Heirs of James Henderson, Estate of James Henderson, Commonwealth of PA Dept. of Revenue, Commonwealth of PA Dept. of Labor & Industry, National Tax Funding, Inc., its successors and assigns, Caulis Negris, LLC., its successors and assigns, GLS Capital, PWSA, United States of America, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of James Henderson; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 0 N Graham Street. Block & Lot 50-H-78. 11th Ward, Pittsburgh. Lime 2. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012263 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Michael P. Koller Jr. and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Michael P. Koller Jr.; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 512 Harker Street. Block & Lot 19-G-282. 20th Ward, Pittsburgh. Lime 4.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012811 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

I.V. Willis, Robert E. Jones a/k/a Robert Jones, BENEFICIAL CONSUMER DISCOUNT COMPANY, its successors and assigns, Commonwealth of PA Dept. of Revenue, Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, PWSA, ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE CRIMINAL DIVISION, National Tax Funding L.P., its successors and assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of I.V. Willis and of Robert E. Jones a/k/a Robert Jones; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 12 Monaca Place. Block & Lot 9-M-257-A. 3rd Ward, Pittsburgh. Purple 14.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012688 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Louis V. Sebastian, Virginia M. Sebastian, PWSA, ALCOSAN, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Louis V. Sebastian and of Virginia M. Sebastian; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 5014 Jordan Way. Block & Lot 50-K-104. 10th Ward, Pittsburgh. Purple 15.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012814 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Nelson S. Johnson, Anna B. Johnson, James W. Johnson, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assign of Nelson S. Johnson and of Anna B. Johnson, and of James W. Johnson; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 550 Cora Street. Block & Lot 175-D-69. 13th Ward, Pittsburgh. Purple 17.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012819 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Sean Patrick McCarthy, National Tax Funding L.P., its successors and assigns, PWSA, Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Sean Patrick McCarthy; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 5022 Jordan Way. Block & Lot 50-K-107-A. 10th Ward, Pittsburgh. Purple 18. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012677 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Thomas McNary Jr., Hattie L. McNary, PWSA, and the Unknown, Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Thomas McNary Jr. and of Hattie L. McNary; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 4500 Monongahela Street. Block & Lot 55-N-5. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 10. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-013072 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Associates Finance Services and Robert F. Foerster and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Associates Finance Services and of Robert F. Foerster; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 4502 Monongahela

15th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 11. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012682 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Clara Farmer, Estate of Clara Farmer, GLS Capital, Inc., its successors and assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Clara Farmer; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 415 N Graham Street. Block

and

of

Caulis

Heirs, Successors and

and the

assigns and respondents.

&

Pittsburgh. Sky 13. SUBJECT

EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012804 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Ross Dean a/k/a Boss Dean, PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue-Inheritance Tax Division, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Ross Dean a/k/a Boss Dean; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 1633 Marylin Street. Block & Lot 90-R-259. 31st Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 14. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-0012687 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Mary C. Hiles, Perry Hiles, PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue-Inheritance Tax Division, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Mary C. Hiles and of Perry Hiles; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 1635 Marylin Street. Block & Lot 90-R-257. 31st Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 15. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012341 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

William C. George, James L. George, and the unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of William C. George and of James L. George; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 5874 Douglas Street. Block & Lot 87-D-13. 14th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 3. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012685 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Margaret Logan, Sam Smith, Helen C. Smith, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Margaret Logan and of Sam Smith and of Helen C. Smith; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.

Concerning the Following Property: 2825 Webster Avenue, 2823 Webster Avenue. Block & Lot 10-D-140, 10-D-141-A. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 4, Sky 4A. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012343 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Phyllis A. Clay, Internal Revenue Service, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Phyllis A. Clay; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 2651 Veteran Street. Block & Lot 77-P-175. 26th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 5. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD.

–GD 24-012344 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs

Oscar Mallinger, Meyer Mallinger, Samuel Mallinger, Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, its Successors and Assigns, National Tax Funding, L.P., its Successors and Assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Oscar Mallinger and of Meyer Mallinger, and of Samuel Mallinger; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 2334 Centre Avenue. Block & Lot 10-R-114. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 7.

SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD 24-012660 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Estate of Joseph Doerschner a/k/a Joseph Jacob Doerschner a/k/a Joseph J. Doerschner, Julie Ann White, PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonwealth of PA Dept. of Revenue-Inheritance Tax and Estate Division, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of the Estate of Joseph Doerschner a/k/a Joseph Jacob Doerschner a/k/a Joseph J. Doerschner, and of Julie Ann White; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 871 Climax Street. Block & Lot 14-G-23. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. Sky 9. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. –GD-24-012129 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Ralph J. Opferman, Jr., John D. Weinhold, Elizabeth J. Weinhold, GLS Capital, Inc., ROJO Holdings, LLC with notice to Successors and Assigns, S&O Enterprise, with Notice to Successors and Assigns; United

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for Kitchen Upgrades as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the Sports & Exhibition Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Ryan Buries- E-mail: procurement@pgh-sea.com, Telephone: 412-325-6151. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found of Accu-Copy’s website at https://accu-copy.com/plan-room

The Instructions to Bidders that are part of the Bid Package will set forth in detail the conditions of the Bid, which will include, among other things, the following:

(a) Bids. Bids shall be sealed and submitted on the Bid form provided. Bids will be opened publicly. The contract will be a prime contract with the Owner. Bid pricing (for base bid and/or alternates) may be held open by Owner for a period of ninety (90) days following bid opening before award of contract.

(b) Bid Bonds. All Bids will require a ten percent (10%) surety in the form of a Bid Bond, a certified check, or cashier’s check in the amount of no less than ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Base Bid (unless otherwise noted in the Bid Form Document). The surety is required as a guarantee that the bidder will, if awarded the contract, enter into a written contract with the Owner. All sureties must be licensed to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bid Bonds should name Owner as obligee. All checks should be made payable to the order of Owner.

(c) Letter of Assent. All bidders must acknowledge their agreement to the terms of the Project Labor Agreement by submitting a Letter of Assent with their bid.

(d) MBE and WBE Participation. The SEA has goals of 25% MBE and 10% WBE participation in this project. Bidders must provide a completed Certificate of MBE/WBE Participation form and a Solicitation Statement with their bid.

(e) Non-Collusion Affidavit.

(f) Public Works Employment Verification Form

(g) Contractor Workforce Information Form

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package:

Project: David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Bid Package Name: Kitchen Upgrades

Bid Package Available: Monday | February 3, 2025

Approximate Value: $170,000

Time/Date/Location for

Pre-Bid Meeting: Tuesday | February 11, 2025 @ 10:00am David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Time/Date/Location for Bid: Wednesday | February 26, 2025 @ 2:00pm David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) will receive proposals for 2025 Roof Cable System Inspection as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The agreement for this work will be with the SEA. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified by e-mailing the SEA at procurement@pgh-sea.com.

Project: David L. Lawrence Convention Center 2025 Roof Cable System Inspection

RFP Available: Monday | February 3, 2025

Date/Time/Location for Non-Mandatory Tuesday | February 11, 2025, at 11:00am

Pre-Proposal Meeting: East Lobby of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Date/Time/Location for Submission of Proposal: Thursday | March 6, 2025 by 4:00pm SEA Admin Offices Attn: Thomas P. Ryser, Jr., PE Sports & Exhibition Authority Office 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY d.b.a. PRT

Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on February 13, 2025, and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

Bid Name

Bid Number

1 B25-01-01 CRP-Air Conditioning Compressors & Clutches

2 B25-01-03 Coach Radiator Assemblies

To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 231 400 999 093

Passcode: Nf3Pv9WT

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 338 244 355#

No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on January 30, 2025, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 232 113 024 51

Passcode: 2mH2BJ3e

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 728 312 167#

Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

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 February 18, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

Pittsburgh Obama Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work General and Asbestos Primes

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on January 27, 2025, 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.

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 February 25, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Administration Building Water Cooler Replacement Plumbing and Electrical Primes

Pittsburgh Brookline Elementary School Air Conditioning Mechanical and Electrical Primes

Pittsburgh Roosevelt Early Childhood Center Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work Abatement, General, and Plumbing Primes

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12 Stair Tread Replacement General Prime

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Monday February 3,2025, at Modern Reproductions (412488-7700), 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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Edgewood Borough (Allegheny County, PA) is accepting sealed bids through the Quest Construction Data Network (QuestCDN) at www.questcdn.com until 11am February 27, 2025 for McKAY STREET STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS. Virtual bid openings at 11am February 27 –Interested parties must contact the Borough for access information prior to the bid opening. Scope of work generally consists of installation of approximately 360’ of storm sewer, connection to existing storm sewers, storm manhole installations, and all necessary appurtenances and restoration for said construction. 10% bid bond required. Subject to Steel Products Procurement Act; Prevailing Wage Act; Public Works Employment Verification Act; Civil Rights Act (Title VI). Bidders must buy Bid Documents ($125) from QuestCDN: 9515222. QuestCDN questions call 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. Direct project technical questions to LSSE. Proposals must be submitted on Borough supplied forms. Borough Council may consider bids at its regular public meeting on March 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM in council chambers at 2 Race Street, PGH PA 15218. The Borough reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive any informalities in the bidding. No bid may be withdrawn for ninety (90) calendar days after the scheduled time for receipt of bids. Rob Zahorchak, Borough Manager.

NOTICE: On March 18, 2025, at 9 a.m. , at Allegheny County Police Academy, Baldwin Twp.’s Civil Service Commission shall administer eligibility tests for Full-Time Patrolman. (Physical Agility test at 9 a.m.; written exam immediately thereafter only to those who pass physical agility test.) Must possess a diploma from an accredited high school or a graduate equivalency diploma (GED); be Act 120 Certified under the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission Act (Act 120), (MPOETC) 53 Pa. C.S.A. §2161 et seq. or shall have successfully completed Act 120 Training and successfully passed the final exam, thus being eligible for Act 120 Certification once hired by the Township; be a United States Citizen; be physically and mentally fit to perform the full duties of a police officer; possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and be eligible to legally operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Application Deadline: Twp. must receive completed Application by March 14, 2025, at 4 p.m. To obtain Application, complete Job Description & Requirements, contact Charla Pfeil, Twp. Mgr., 10 Community Park Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15234. 412-341-9597 or charla.pfeil@baldwintownship.com. EOE

ADVERTISEMENT

Bid 1136 – Building Envelope

Restoration – Milton Hall –Allegheny Campus

A mandatory pre-bid meeting and site visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the front entrance to Milton Hall (tallest building on the campus), Allegheny Campus, 808 Ridge Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Friday, February 21, 2025

Any bid or 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 or proposal 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.

Community College of Allegheny County Purchasing Department 800 Allegheny Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

SENIOR BUDGET AND PROJECT CONTROLS ANALYST

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Senior Budget and Project Controls Analyst to be responsible for managing and implementing the Engineering Department’s capital and operating budget development and project controls activities. Oversees preparation, analysis and monitoring of capital and operating budgets and programs. Leads the process relative to developing annual operating budget and monthly monitoring/ variance reporting. Develop and perform complex management analyses. Compile monthly financial records and spending data, prepare spending forecast models and establish/ maintain business processes to enhance project control efficiencies. Mentors the Budget/ Project Controls Analyst and provides training on new or unfamiliar departmental budget and/ or project controls processes.

Essential Functions:

· Leads the effort to compile monthly financial records and spending data into the Engineering Department’s Capital Project Cashflow Forecast and Spending Dashboard. Prepares and periodically updates spending forecast models and establish/ maintain business processes to enhance project control efficiency. Provides responsible preparation, analysis, reporting and monitoring support; makes recommendations and assists in policy and procedure implementation.

· Serves as the Engineering Department’s lead in efforts to establish and maintain business processes for electronic invoice and work order routing. Leads the review and processing of invoices including consultant support services, construction contracts, to ensure costs are accurately reported and properly distributed to assigned funding agreements. Performs analysis and control functions in support of various capital projects. Updates and maintains project schedules, milestones, budgetary information, and project files.

Job requirements include:

· BA/BS Degree in Business Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or directly related field from an accredited school. Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

· Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in accounting, budget administration, finance, and/or statistical business analysis with at least (4) years of experience in capital project controls.

· Strong computer and statistical analysis skills.

· Ability to work independently.

· Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

· Effective and professional communication skills.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Stacey Tunie Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 STunie@RidePRT.org EOE

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

The Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group is seeking a Community Coordinator for the East Hills Consensus Group to work with partners involved with property and land use through organizing, communicating, researching, and educating, to empower residents, seek partners, and identify opportunities to restore vacant properties to productive use.

Essential Functions:

- Maintaining Neighborhood Housing Inventory Survey via data collection/ synthesis and windshield survey, focusing on the identification of vacant and abandoned properties and homeowners at risk of foreclosure

- Carry out policy-related activities including research; benchmarking; writing briefs and letters of support; speaking at public hearings; holding meetings with elected officials; and representing the neighborhood at related functions

- Identify neighborhood focus areas, program and service gaps, and areas of opportunity

- Assure compliance with the East Hills Community Vision Plan

- Host and organize workshops and convene other meetings as needed to build educated residents

- Maintain community communications outlets

- Implement a resident recruitment strategy, identifying appropriate messaging and methods of engagement

Job Requirements:

- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Community Organizing, or a related field. One year of graduate education may substitute for one year of experience.

• Excellent research, analytical skills, presentation, and writing skills

• Advanced knowledge of the Pittsburgh Community Development system and network

• Ability to synthesize multiple viewpoints and opinions

• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment

• Working knowledge of land recycling/ reclamation tools and processes in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

• Understanding of common property title issues found on vacant/abandoned properties, and ability to communicate these issues to residents and other stakeholders.

• Knowledge of City of Pittsburgh Building Code Violations and Disruptive Properties Ordinance as well as methods for mitigating code violations

• ArcGIS skills are a plus, but not required

Preferred Attributes:

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office software, web/graphic design knowledge, and Canva skills.

- Sensitivity in dealing with minority issues and proven ability to work with diverse communities and neighborhood organizations. The position is full-time, with some evening and weekend work, reporting to the East Hills Executive Director. PCRG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on sex, race, age, national origin, ethnic background, family status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diane I. Daniels easthillsconsensusgroup@gmail.com

MT. LEBANON, PA POLICE OFFICER TESTING MT. LEBANON POLICE DEPARTMENT will be conducting a physical agility and written exam for POLICE OFFICER on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Starting salary of $77,974 annually ($61,308 for police academy cadet) Must be a U.S. citizen; 21 years of age at hire; bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university at hire; pass physical, written, oral exams plus a comprehensive background investigation. Full test requirements, description and application may be obtained at www.mtlebanon.org/employment. Deadline to apply is 4:00 pm, March 7, 2025.

Mt. Lebanon is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. Mt. Lebanon makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. Reasonable accommodations for the needs of applicants with disabilities will be made upon request to the Human Resource Office at jaquino@mtlebanon.org or 412343-3625.

YAMMESHYA PICKED UP HER COURIER AT SALEM’S, TOO!

MICHELLE, KEVON AND TAWANDA PICKED UP THEIR COURIER AT SALEM’S!