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Clairton hires its first Black female superintendent of schools Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas excited to elevate schools to new heights by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS, second from right, with her family. She was appointed the next Clairton Schools superintendent.
Becoming the first Black female superintendent of the Clairton City School District isn’t something that Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas takes lightly. “Being first is in my blood. I was the first to go to college and was the first Black Miss Edinboro,” Dr. Allen-Thomas told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, just days after her historic achievement. “Many members of my family have been firsts. My aunt had a community center named in her honor and my grandfather was the first ward chair. There are different things that were firsts in our family.” And now, Dr. Allen-Thomas is ready to take on the
often-daunting role of superintendent. “I recognize as a superintendent that you have to make some decisions that may not be popular, but you have to do what’s right for kids, and you keep the data in front of you. What I’ve done and will continue to do in this position is to make sure the data drives me and that I still hear the people’s voices. I think it’s important to hear from the people that it’s going to impact as well as looking at the data that supports your decision-making. I believe it’s harder to argue and dispute and be upset about what the data says and when you’re doing what’s right for kids, I believe that’s all of our hearts’ desire to make sure that our SEE CLAIRTON A6
'Hamilton' a hit at the Benedum Center Heraled musical with diverse cast in Pittsburgh through March 13 by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
Actress Ta’Rea Campbell loves a challenge. Her role as the sassy and opinionated Angelica Schuyler in “Hamilton” serves as one of her greatest. “I treat the role of Angelica as a blank canvas,” Campbell, the Philadelphia native, told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “I’m not trying to be like anyone else that came before me, although I am friends with (Renee Elise Goldsberry), the woman who originated the role. I was so blessed to be able to partake in this show and put my own spin on it. When you do a role that is not an original role, it’s always wonderful to provide your own spices to the dish.” In the heralded “Hamilton,” now playing at the Benedum Center, Downtown, Angelica Schuyler is the oldest of the wealthy Schuyler sisters. She is the sister-in-law to Alexander Hamilton. In the musical, she and her sisters are
introduced to Hamilton during a winter ball and Angelica and Hamilton have an instant connection. However, when Angelica realizes her sister, Eliza, is hopelessly smitten with the charismatic young man, she recuses herself of a life with him and gives him to her sister to marry. But both Angelica and Hamilton yearn for one another throughout the show and write heartfelt letters to one another. “Angelica and Hamilton had a different kind of love. I call it an intellectual affair because they didn’t have a physical relationship, but they had an intellectual relationship that probably crossed some boundaries,” Campbell expressed to the Courier. “They were probably on the same plane intellectually. I think that he really loved Eliza, she was the mother of his many children, but I think that Angelica was different than Eliza— she fed a different side of SEE HAMILTON A7
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TA’REA CAMPBELL, center, plays Angelica Schuyler in the award-winning musical “Hamilton,” which plays at the Benedum Center through March 13. (Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)
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What we know about Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson by Danielle Sanders It only took 233 years. On February 25, President Biden nominated DC Federal Appellate Court Judge, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she will make history as the first Black woman to be seated in the nation’s highest court. Biden stayed true to his campaign promise of nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Ketanji Brown Jackson would be replacing retiring Supreme Court Justice, Stephan Breyer. The White House issued a statement regarding the President’s nomination saying, “President Biden sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law. He also sought a nominee— much like Justice Breyer— who is wise, pragmatic, and has a deep understanding of the Constitution as an enduring charter of liberty. And the President sought an individual who is committed to equal justice under the law and who understands the profound impact that the Supreme Court’s decisions have on the lives of the American people.” Age 52, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in government in 1992. She obtained her JD cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1996. After graduation, she served as a law clerk under retiring Justice Breyer and others. She has experience in the public and private sector working in private practice and as a public defender. She also brings unique life experiences that shaped her law career. One family member served as a police chief in Miami, and another was sentenced to life in prison under the nation’s “three strikes law” for a non-violent drug-related offense. She encouraged a law firm to take that case pro bono and eventually then-President Obama commuted that life sentence. She is also related by marriage to former Republican House speaker, Paul Ryan. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated to the DC District Court by President Obama and was confirmed in a bi-partisan vote. She often wrote decisions in contrast to the Trump Administration. In 2021, she was nominated to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit by President Bident. She replaced Judge Merrick Garland who left the position to become the US Attorney General. While challenged about her rulings against the Trump administration she was confirmed in a 53-44 vote.
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This Week In Black History A Courier Staple •MARCH 2
For New Pittsburgh Courier
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON at her Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, on April 28, 2021. Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was previously considered as a Supreme Court Justice nominee by President Obama. Her nomination is supported by many civil rights and liberal organizations. The Washington Post said, “Her experience as a public defender has endeared her to the more liberal base of the democratic party.” Judith Browne Dianis, a civil rights lawyer, and executive director of the Advancement Project says having a Supreme Court Justice with experience as a public defender will make her an “exceptional justice”. “Make no mistake, she will make history as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, but she will also make history as the first public defender on the Supreme Court—someone who knows and can speak to the experiences of far too many people across the country who often are denied access to true justice.” Politicians, Community Organizations, and Advocacy groups praised President Biden’s historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. “I commend President Biden on the selection of Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee for the Supreme Court, and I congratulate her on this tremendous achievement,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, Vice-Chair, National Action Network. “Not only does Judge Brown Jackson have the legal background that makes her more than qualified to perform the duties of a Supreme Court Justice, but she would bring the Court a distinct and increasingly indispensable perspective on how the laws of this land affect a vital and all too often neglected segment of our population. Not only will she make history as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, but she will also be the first public defender to serve on the Court.” Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said, “Judge Jackson will also shatter a longstanding glass ceiling in the judicial branch of our government. America’s greatest strength is the nation’s diversity. Our government works best when it represents and reflects the diverse people it serves. For too long, Black women have not seen themselves represented on our nation’s highest court —a court that renders decisions that affect their daily lives on everything from reproductive freedom to voting rights. “When the Senate confirms Judge Jackson, which will finally change. I am so excited for the country to be reminded once again that there is nothing a Black woman cannot do. She can be vice president. She can shape the future of our nation. And yes, she can serve on the Supreme Court.” Despite Impeccable Qualifications, Judge Jackson Faces Intense Scrutiny While Judge Jackson enjoys early support of her historic nomination, many are concerned about the potential racist and sexist rhetoric regarding her nomination. In addition, Judge Jackson faces additional scrutiny about her qualifications and record as a Black Woman. Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, a
national gender justice advocacy organization, said, “Far before Judge Jackson’s nomination, Republican elected officials and pundits relentlessly attacked the very idea of nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Calling further attention to the right-wing on this matter only gives credence, airtime, and clicks over baseless arguments and talking points, with the potential to spread disinformation.” The National Urban League issued a statement supporting Judge Jackson’s nomination saying, “Even as we review her full record, Judge Jackson has already proven she is eminently qualified to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Judge Jackson clerked for judges at every level of the federal judiciary, including former Associate Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, and served as a federal public defender. With her extensive experience in both civil and criminal law, Judge Jackson is more than prepared for exemplary service on the nation’s highest court. While historic, the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will not push the Supreme Court to a more liberal side. The court still leans right with six conservative judges; however, Judge Jackson’s nomination and potential confirmation could woo Black voters who put President Biden in office, back to his side. IL Congressional Candidate, Kina Collins said, “From reproductive rights to voting rights, the decisions that are made by the Supreme Court have consistently most acutely impacted the most vulnerable in our country and, historically, that has been Black women. To finally have someone on the highest court who looks like us, and is not scared to fight for us, is a significant step towards a more just court and country. Even after Judge Jackson is confirmed, the Supreme Court will still be controlled by an extreme right-wing majority, and a long way off from being truly representative and reflective of the American people. We must reform the court by expanding it and restoring balance.” To ensure Judge Jackson’s confirmation, Democrats will need all members on board. While President Biden hopes for bi-partisan support, if all Democratic members of the Senate vote for Judge Jackson’s confirmation, VP Kamala Harris can break a potential deadlock with her vote. If confirmed, four of the 9 Supreme Court judges would be women. In the Supreme Court’s 233-year history, she would be not only the first Black woman justice but the first former public defender to sit on the Supreme Court and the second-youngest justice. At only 51 years old, she could potentially impact legal issues impacting the country for decades. A historic nomination in many ways. The White House says the time is now to confirm Judge Jackson. “Judge Jackson is an exceptionally qualified nominee as well as a historic nominee, and the Senate should move forward with a fair and timely hearing and confirmation.”
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1807—Congress passes legislation banning the slave trade. The law which was to go into effect on Jan. 1, 1808 prohibited the importation of slaves into the U.S. or any of its territories. Despite the law, however, the illegal importation of slaves continued for years. The best available records suggest that the very last slave ship arrived in the U.S. in 1859 off the coast of Mobile, Ala. The ship was called the Clothilde. 1896—Ethiopia defeats Italy at the battle of Adowa (also called Adwa). It was one of the few successful military victories of Africans over Europeans as the latter attempted to colonize and economically exploit the African continent. The nominal head of the Ethiopian forces was Emperor Menelik II, but the lead general was Ras Makonnen—father of the man who would become next Emperor Haile Selassie. The battle, which began on March 1, 1896, would leave 6,000 Italians and 10,000 Ethiopians dead. But the victory forced Europe to recognize Ethiopia as an independent and sovereign nation, as well as, give inspiration to Blacks worldwide who were fighting for freedom.
•MARCH 3
1968—The infamous COINTELPRO memorandum is sent to FBI field offices around the country. COINTELPRO was a government counter intelligence program aimed at disrupting and destroying Black, peace and anti-war groups. The March 3 memorandum specifically called on FBI agents to infiltrate militant Black organizations and employ various tactics to prevent them from growing individually or uniting with one another. The agents were also told to do whatever was necessary to prevent the rise of a “Black Messiah” who could “electrify and unify” Black people. Approximately one month after the COINTELPRO memorandum was issued, Civil Rights Movement leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. When the COINTELPRO documents were discovered by a reporter in the 1970s, suspicion increased that the FBI and its long-time Director J. Edgar Hoover were in some way involved with the killing of King. 1991—Motorist Rodney King is brutally beaten by a group of Los Angeles police officers. Unknown to them, the beating was caught on video tape. However, a year later (April 29, 1992) when a jury in Simi Valley, Calif., with no Blacks on it found four White officers not guilty of all charges related to the beating, riots erupted in Los Angeles leaving millions of dollars in damage, nearly 50 people dead and more than 300 injured. Ultimately, two of the officers were convicted on federal civil rights charges and King received a financial settlement from the city of Los Angeles. It was during this period that King uttered his signature statement: “Why can’t we all just get along?”
•MARCH 4
1877—Inventor and scientist Garrett A. Morgan is born in Paris, Ky. Among his major inventions were the gas mask and the automatic traffic signal. He made history on July 25, 1916 when he used his gas mask to rescue 32 men trapped in a mine explosion beneath Lake Erie. The U.S. Army also used the gas mask to save lives during World War I. Morgan died in 1963. 1922—Comedic great Bert Williams dies of pneumonia in New York City at the age of 46. What Jackie Robinson did for Blacks by breaking the color barrier in major league baseball, Williams did on the American stage. He was a comic, singer, writer and producer who spent 10 of his 25 years in show business performing with the famous Ziegfield Follies. W.C. Fields once referred to him as “the funniest man I ever saw.” Williams was born Egbert Austin Williams in the Bahamas.
•MARCH 5
1770—Crispus Attucks is shot and killed by British soldiers becoming the first American to die in the struggle for American Independence from England. Attucks was an escaped slave who became a sailor and rope maker. It is unclear exactly how he became involved in the protest of that day. But a crowd had gathered and began to taunt British troops. Attucks, who was of Black and Indian parentage, was inspired to give a speech in which he spoke of the importance of freedom. Suddenly a volley of shots was fired into the crowd. Four people died that day
in an event which became known as the Boston Massacre.
•MARCH 6
1857—Perhaps the most thoroughly racist decision ever rendered by a U.S. Supreme Court is released on this day—the Dred Scott decision. Scott and his wife, Harriet, had sued in St. Louis Circuit Court claiming they were free because their slave master had taken them from a slave state to the free territory of Missouri. However, in a majority opinion written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney the court ruled: 1) Blacks, be they slave or free, were not and could not be U.S. citizens and thus were not entitled to file suit in U.S. courts, 2) Denied Congress the power to restrict slavery by declaring the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, 3) Declared that where the Constitution said, “All men are created equal,” the phrase did not include Blacks, and 4) Told African Americans that they “had no rights the White man was bound to respect.” However, reflecting the law of unintended consequences, the Dred Scott decision was so harsh and so angered anti-slavery forces that it helped pave the way for the Civil War which ended all slavery in America.
•MARCH 7
1539—This is probably the day Estevanico—the first Black conquistador—was killed. Estevanico, a Black Moor from Morocco, was sold as a servant when he was only 10 but became friends with his owner Andres de Dorantes and joined a 1527 expedition of 300 men from Spain looking for riches in what would later become the U.S. state of Florida. All but four members of the expedition were wiped out by the Indians they tried to conquer. Estevanico was among those who survived. He was held captive for five years but became a “medicine man” and learned the languages of various tribes. He eventually escaped and in February of 1539 led an expedition to Culiacan, Mexico looking for one of the fabled lost city of gold—El Dorado. It was doing this expedition that he was killed. 1965—On this day in Black history, the first leg of the Selma-to-Montgomery march is completed as thousands joined Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in protesting racial injustice in Alabama. An earlier attempt to complete the march had been disrupted by a police attack. The Alabama National Guard was federalized and U.S. Army troops were called in to protect the marchers. It was shortly after this march that a White female supporter of the civil rights struggle, Viola Liuzzo, was shot and killed by Ku Klan Klan-style terrorists opposed to civil rights for Blacks. 1997—Former Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley dies. Manley is perhaps best known for his brand of democratic socialism and attempting to organize Caribbean and African nations into a bloc to press for better prices for their raw materials.
•MARCH 8
1977—Henry L. Marsh III is elected the first Black mayor of Richmond, Va. Before becoming mayor of the capital of the old confederacy, Marsh had made a name for himself confronting the city’s White power structure as a civil rights attorney. He also served in the state senate. 1993—Jazz great Billy Eckstine dies at 78 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Eckstine came to fame in the 1940’s and 1950’s as a singer and bandleader who worked with some of the greatest names of the era including Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne. He was one of the greatest influences upon modern Jazz and B-bop. Among his best known ballads were “Everything I Have Is Yours,” “Blue Moon,” “Caravan” and “That Old Black Magic.”
THE COURIER ISN’T JUST A NEWSPAPER. IT’S BLACK HISTORY.
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Black Student Unions maintain their importance at Point Park, other PWIs Annual ‘Blackout’ event at Point Park featured performances, fellowship, and words of encouragement from veteran journalist Brian Cook Sr. AMIRA JOHNSON does a poetry reading during the Point Park University Black Student Union “Blackout,” Feb. 24. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Fifty-six years ago and nearly 2,600 miles to the west of Pittsburgh, the first “Black Student Union” was formed at a Predominantly-White Institution. San Francisco State University was where Jimmy Garrett and Jerry Varnado conceived the idea of a group of Black students who would fight for civil rights and unify the college’s Black students through cultural, political and social events. Sure, there were other Black groups that had formed on the campuses of PWIs before 1966, including Black Greek organizations, but the term “Black Student Union” was first used at San Francisco State. Nowadays, you almost can’t find a college that doesn’t have an official Black Student Union. COVID-19, however, has tried its best to halt a lot of the social interactions between college students. It’s caused a disruption in some in-person events that had been scheduled over the past two years for Black Student Unions such as the entity that stands at Point Park University, Downtown. But Savannah Sawyer, the president of Point Park’s Black Student Union, told the New Pittsburgh Courier that she was determined to hold the organization’s “Blackout Banquet,” in celebration of Black History Month. The two
hour event was held on campus, Feb. 24, and featured about 30 mostly-Black students who were entertained with musical performances and a guest speaker, Brian Cook Sr., the president of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation. “We’re a community for Black students,” said Savannah Sawyer, a Point Park senior and the BSU president, in an interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Feb. 24. “Other students that are coming in here, they need to know that Point Park does have a Black Student Union.” “College can be very overwhelming,” expressed Kanou Fotie, who joined Point Park’s Black Student Union while playing on the school’s soccer team. He graduated in 2020, but still supports the BSU. “When I personally came to college, (the BSU) gave me a platform to meet with other people and have my first friend group without having to go too far away...I have seen some friends come in and struggle to build a (support) circle, so it’s important to have people that have the same background as you.” Sawyer, who’s graduating in April, said there are about 45 active members of Point Park’s Black Student Union. Point Park, as of Fall 2020, had roughly 420 undergraduate students identify as African American, or 12 SEE BSU A5
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POINT PARK UNIVERSITY BLACK STUDENT UNION STUDENTS with Point Park president Donald Green, far left, and Pittsburgh Black Media Federation President Brian Cook Sr., far right. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)
ZION CLIFF, BRIAN COOK SR., SAVANNAH SAWYER
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percent of the university’s 3,505 undergraduate students. Sawyer said as a sophomore two years ago, it “felt great to be around people that are like me,” prompting her to join the BSU and become the eventual president. Black Student Unions can be found at area colleges like Clarion University, Waynesburg University, Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg, Robert Morris University and Chatham University. Chatham’s BSU penned an open letter to school administration in August 2020 demanding that Chatham become a safer, healthier and more productive environment for Black students and other people of color. The school’s BSU, as a result, now meets regularly with campus administration, according to “Pulse@ Chatham,” a university website. Some colleges may not have a “Black Student Union,” but a “Black Action Society,” such as the
University of Pittsburgh and Slippery Rock University. At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a “Black Student League” reigns supreme. Cook, the featured speaker for Point Park’s BSU event, stressed to the students that “persistence works,” as the 1998 Central Catholic graduate navigated Clarion University, earned a degree, and then was hired at Sheridan Broadcasting/American Urban Radio Networks, where his news reports were heard nationwide. Cook told the students he had to pinch himself when he was asked to report and provide photography for Super Bowl XL (40) in Detroit in 2005. It just so happened that his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, were one of the participants. The Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10. But Cook warned the students that not everything in their professional lives will be peachy. “There’s going to be some rough days ahead,” he said, “but you’ll be able to grow.”
Brian Cook Sr., the featured speaker for Point Park’s BSU event, stressed to the students that “persistence works.” But Cook warned the students that not everything in their professional lives will be peachy. “There’s going to be some rough days ahead,” he said, “but you’ll be able to grow.”
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Clairton hires its first Black female superintendent of schools CLAIRTON FROM A1
kids are healthy and whole so how do you argue with me with that?” At its Feb. 23 legislative meeting, the Clairton City School Board of Directors appointed Dr. Allen-Thomas as superintendent of schools in a unanimous vote. It’s a five-year term, effective July 1. She was chosen from a field of 21 applicants. Dr. Allen-Thomas will take over for Dr. Ginny Hunt, who has led the district since 2013 and is retiring. “We are excited to have Dr. Allen-Thomas join us,” Clairton School Board President Roger Tachoir said in a statement. “We are looking forward to a smooth transition in continuing with the many initiatives and relationships started by our retiring superintendent. It is with great pleasure that that I welcome Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas as the newest member of our Clairton Bears family.” The Clairton City School District includes Clairton Elementary
School, Cyber School, and Clairton Middle/ High School. Dr. Allen-Thomas is currently the principal/chief academic officer at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship. She has held that role since 2012. She is responsible for the academic leadership, programming, compliance, personnel and employee professional growth. She previously served at Pittsburgh Public Schools as an instructional leader, co-principal and curriculum supervisor. The married mother of two is a graduate of Edinboro University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She then went on to earn her Master of Science from Carnegie Mellon University and her doctorate in education from Point Park University. She grew up in East Liberty and Los Angeles, Calif. She currently resides in Churchill. “I am driven by my faith, and I go where I’m moved to go,” Dr. Allen-Thomas told the Courier. “When this position was made known to me, I had to pause. I
DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS, second from left, was appointed the next superintedent for Clairton City Schools. currently enjoy what I do and where I’m at, but what I learned on my journey through educa-
means we have now positioned the ship to now be able to sail without sinking. So now it’s like,
“We have to realize that learning is relevant to what our students are experiencing in life. We have to build relationships through concepts that students can relate to. When you reach kids where they are, you are able to bring them in.” - DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS tion is that when I begin to get comfortable—and comfortable means to me that we have turned some wrongs right, we have made some improvements, it doesn’t mean we’ve made it. It
what other ships can I go and assist so they can continue to sail and see the world as well. I feel like this is an opportunity to be able to assist the community of Clairton to make sure that their
students are being the leaders of today. I need them to know they can lead now. We also have to make sure our staff is well so that our students can be well.” Clairton, as a community and as a school district, has seen its ups and downs. Dr. Allen-Thomas told the Courier she’s committed to elevating the school district to new heights. “We need a marketing plan that highlights the positive things that the district is already doing and provide additional things that we can do to make sure our students are celebrated,” she said. “We have Tyler Boyd (Clairton High School graduate who plays for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals) who came out of that. We want to highlight people who are already making moves. I believe that I
am on this earth to build leaders. Part of building leaders is being able to make sure your voice is heard. When you’re talking about coming from a place that may seem like there’s no way out or you feel like you can’t learn, you have to be able to have a voice and say what it is you need. We have to realize that learning is relevant to what our students are experiencing in life. We have to build relationships through concepts that students can relate to. When you reach kids where they are, you are able to bring them in.”
How do I prioritize paying off debt?
Read about it from Damon Carr on page B1.
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'Hamilton' a hit at the Benedum Center Heraled musical with diverse cast in Pittsburgh through March 13 HAMILTON FROM A1
Hamilton’s brain that he probably needed that he wasn’t getting from Eliza. Lin Manuel-Miranda took a lot of creative license when he wrote the story. When we see the meeting between Eliza, Hamilton, and Angelica during (the) winter ball, historically, Angelica was already married when she introduced them, but the way that we tell the story, we tell it as if she wasn’t married yet, but she was. That’s the beauty of creative license.” For the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, “Hamilton” has been a hit. Almost 100 percent of the tickets for the shows have been sold. “Hamilton” plays at the Benedum through March 13. “People really do want to come back and experience the joy of live performance, theater and music, and they know they have to be careful, and we want people to feel safe,” said J. Kevin McMahon, the Trust’s president and CEO. In the last month, in an effort to ease fears and streamline the entrance to theaters, the Trust implemented the Pre-Check Program. Attendees can check in and show their vaccination cards or negative COVID tests along with identification at the theater square box office up to two hours prior to curtain time. They will re-
JARED DIXON in “Hamilton.”
ceive a wristband, which will allow them to go through the express lane when they enter the theater. Like the rest of the world, Campbell had to pivot when the pandemic hit in 2020. She was in Canada for a 14-week run of “Hamilton” when the world went into lockdown. She was unable to get a refund on her living accommodations and was essentially stuck. She began cooking her own versions of her favorite takeout foods and posted the videos on her Instagram page. “That was fun because there wasn’t much else to do,” she recalled. Afterwards, she stayed in Philadelphia and reconnected with her family before returning to the “Hamilton” tour. She’s been playing the role of Angelica Schuyler since 2018. “This pandemic taught me that life is short. Lots of people lost their lives during this pandemic.” Campbell said. “I’m grateful that I was able to spend time with my family because being a touring actress for over 20 years, you don’t have much time to spend with your family, so I’m grateful to COVID-19 for that. I was nervous to return to the stage because we are in shows in different states and the rules are different in each state. I’m hoping that ev-
“HAMILTON” plays at Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center through March 13. eryone is staying safe. The cast of ‘Hamilton’ is getting tested often and if someone tests positive, they are out of the show for 10 days, no exceptions.” Campbell is excited to return to the Pittsburgh theater stage. The last time Steel City audiences experienced her voice and acting acumen was “Sister Act” between 2012 and 2014. She also performed in the touring companies of “Aida” and “The Lion King” when those shows came to town. Campbell believes that the multi-cultural cast and style of music are some of the factors that draw sellout crowds to “Hamilton” night after night. “Hamilton is like nothing anyone’s ever seen before and humans crave something different,” Campbell told the Courier. “People enjoy hearing the rap music in musical theater. We are using the music of today, telling the story of American history back then through the people who look like us now.” To say that “Hamilton” is heralded would be an understatement. The musical has won Tony, Grammy and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was given a special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. For Campbell, she welcomes the challenge of being a touring actress. “It keeps your skills sharp,” she said. “I find something new everyday with the same material.” To separate her life from the life of her character, Campbell drives to each city on the tour, surrounded by her favorite things in her car: her spices, jour-
nal, favorite books and blanket. “If you are going to get into acting, do it because you love the craft first,” Campbell, who loves cook-
ing Asian cuisine and watching “The Golden Girls,” told the Courier. “More than 90 percent of actors are unemployed. The success comes after.
Know that rejection is a part of life—in any profession—and don’t take it personally.”
WARREN EGYPT FRANKLIN, DESMOND SEAN ELLINGTON, ELIJAM MALCOMB, PIERRE JEAN GONZALEZ IN “HAMILTON”
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Praise & Worship
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141
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Sunday Mass 11 AM Rev. Thomas J. Burke- Pastor
REV. WALKER SAYS: The Word of God, James 4:10—Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Like Joseph in Genesis 39:1213, Run like Joseph and leave your coat behind.
Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsParochial Vicar Rev. David H. TaylorSenior Parochial Vicar. www.sbtmparishpgh.com
East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800
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‘It’s all about the greater good of the community, that’s what drives me.’ Joelisa McDonald settling in as mayor of Rankin
For rate informa- by Rob Taylor Jr. tion, call 412-481- Courier Staff Writer Joelisa McDonald, a 8302, ext. 128. We proud community memwant to feature positive ber of the borough of had an itch to get youth from our Pitts- Rankin, more involved in the borburgh church commu- ough’s political scene. She had assisted nity. Please mail their previously with grassroots efforts bio and photo to: for the Barack Obama presidential campaigns New Pittsburgh Courier in 2008 and 2012, and as315 E. Carson St. sisted with campaigns for John Fetterman, the forPittsburgh, PA 15219 mer Braddock mayor who or now is Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor. email us: Following the 2018 religion@newpittsburghcourier. tragic shooting death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose, com a Rankin resident, in East
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Pittsburgh by a now-former East Pittsburgh Police officer, McDonald helped with Rose’s funeral plans and planned the first Antwon Rose II Community Day at Hawkins Village in 2019. And after watching the political careers of the youthful Summer Lee and Chardae Jones blossom, McDonald, in early 2021, figured that it was finally “her time.” McDonald attended a virtual borough Council meeting, just to see how the meetings were run, who the council members were, and how she could eventually get officially involved. Shockingly, though, she watched on her computer as Rankin’s longtime mayor, M. Nicholas Glova, submitted his resignation. “Whoa, this is nothing but God,” McDonald recalled saying to herself. “Let me go ahead and seek this opportunity while it’s there.” At age 30, she spoke up in the meeting and expressed her desire to become Rankin’s next mayor. McDonald then submitted her official letter of interest, and in the next meeting in early March, McDonald was unanimously appointed by Council to take over as mayor. McDonald became the first female mayor in Rankin history. She easily prevailed in the May 2021 Primary Election, and began her four-year term in January. Rankin, as was the case with other neighboring boroughs, had its roots in the steel industry. In the 1940s, Rankin was home
to some 8,000 residents. As the steel industry disintegrated, so did a lot of Rankin’s population. Its population now stands at about 2,000, with a Black population of 80 percent. McDonald told the Courier she is very proud to have attended schools in the Woodland Hills School District from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. She graduated from Woodland Hills High School in 2008, and Point Park University in 2012 with a degree in communications. She was raised in the Hawkins Village housing complex, and later lived at the Palisades Manor apartments a few blocks away. McDonald now owns a single-family home in Rankin. “It’s been an exciting journey so far,” McDonald told the Courier about being Rankin’s mayor. However, she’s learned that politics isn’t all peaches and cream. “I feel like in the beginning, everyone was all welcoming,” she said. “But then everything that I tried to introduce was met with opposition,” specifically referring to some Rankin council members. “I’m a forward thinker, I move forward regardless...What I’m learning is that I have to carve out my own path and not necessarily rely on the support from Council, and that’s what I’ve been doing—working with people who want to work with me.” McDonald calls those in Rankin who are working to better the community, “Community Champions.” In the past year, McDonald has helped secure a grant for Emmanuel Baptist Church, on 3rd Avenue, brought COVID-19 testing to residents, and welcomed Giant Eagle’s “Mobile Market” to the borough. Each Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., Rankin residents essentially get a grocery store in their own backyard, with some 250 items available for sale. The Giant Eagle Mobile Market is parked at 245 3rd Ave., the same site as Emmanuel Baptist Church. McDonald is also excited about the redevelopment of Hawkins Village. The residents have been
JOELISA MCDONALD relocated to other areas while the complex is demolished and being rebuilt with a $35 million price tag. Instead of 190 apartments, there will be about 105 units. McDonald, Lee and Jones are part of a parade of African American women in their late 20s and early 30s who have made strides in the local or statewide political arena. Lee is a current state representative who was raised in North Braddock. She’s now making a push for the 12th Congressional District seat. Jones beat out other contenders to become Braddock mayor in 2019. But when it comes to Rankin, that’s McDonald’s forte. “You have to really care about what you do and you have to really care about your community, and I fill both,” McDonald, now 31, told the Courier about her love for Rankin. “It’s all about the greater good of the community, that’s what drives me. It’s bigger than me; someone has to be that person and I feel called.”
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Coaches like Tomlin were hired because of merit, not solely because of race There are going to be a few disenchanted “haters” with swords drawn and daggers unsheathed after this column is published. Why? Well, merely because I have the nerve to express relief that Black History Month is in my rearview mirror for the year 2022. The reason that I feel this way is because I am not looking forward to reading the following in February 2023: “On this day, February 19, 2022, former Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores was hired as a defensive coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.” We don’t need another Black History moment because moments are fleeting and soon become dusty memories, so it seems. It seems as if every fan and media talking head feels as if they are qualified and justified to blow SUV-sized flugelhorns through tractor-trailer sized megaphones regarding or in some cases disregarding the hiring of Steelers Assistant Coach Brian Flores. There are a few media members and some radio and television networks as well some as Internet outlets that seem to be promoting the notion that Pittsburgh Steelers President and fellow owner Art Rooney II was making
some sort of statement in regard to Flores landing a new coaching gig with the Steelers. There are even those that have the audacity to promote the notion that the hiring of Flores by Art Rooney II, President and co-owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, represented Mr. Rooney making some sort of statement that may have been a direct “pacification” reaction regarding the accusations leveled by Flores that the NFL’s standard operating procedure regarding the hiring of Black head coaches was systemically-biased. Why would Art Rooney II even be so petty as to waste a coaching position just to “make a statement?” In 1969, when Dan Rooney hired the youthful defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Colts, Chuck Noll, one could surmise that one of the primary reasons, if not the most important reason, was that Coach Noll had helped lead the Baltimore Colts to an NFL championship the year before. Ya think that Mr. Rooney may have just been thinking about navigating his perennially losing franchise to the destination of greatness and not just making a statement? Ladies and gentlemen, much
has been said and maybe more has been written regarding the hiring of Coach Mike Tomlin on Jan. 22, 2007. Just seconds after he was introduced as only the third head coach hired by the team since 1969, the press began hemming and hawing, shucking and jiving, creepin’ and conniving about whether or not
they would have almost certainly experienced an epiphany regarding a pattern of the team choosing only to hire a head coach under the age of 40 since they hired Chuck Noll in 1969 at the age of 37. If they would have investigated a tad more they would have come to the correct conclusion that both head coach-
Tomlin was the recipient of another golden egg laid by the golden goose; otherwise known as “affirmative action.” If a few folks had paid more attention to the culture and the S.O.P of the Pittsburgh Steelers instead of rushing to judgment eager to empty their pens that were overflowing with the ink of narcissism;
es that were hired to succeed Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin, were hired by Pittsburgh when they were under the age of 35. It is my opinion that the hiring of Mike Tomlin was based on his youth, his football intellect and creativity more so than his race. Young coaches could relate to their players far better than the blazer and
tie culture nurtured by the NFL ownership group. In 1969, the youth movement and the Steelers’ journey toward the status of legend had begun. To assist the young coach in creating a reservoir of talent, the team hired future NFL Hall-of-Famer Bill Nunn Jr. Nunn was the first Black scout and front office executive in the league when the Steelers hired him in 1967 to help recruit players from historically Black colleges and universities. The eye for talent possessed by Bill Nunn Jr. and the teaching/ coaching methods of Chuck Noll helped to create a new culture of excellence and almost immediately transformed the Steelers franchise into the a dynasty in the 1970s, when they won four Super Bowls. By the way, the Steelers never had to cheat or do anything illegal on the road to winning any of their six Lombardi trophies. Let’s discontinue blowing our horns of discontent like bags of hot air regarding the “first and initial accomplishments” of people of color. There should be no first corporate CEOs or first airline pilots or doctors. There should not have been any deterrents to profile and hire Black quarterbacks, Black head coaches,
Black general managers or Black janitors. There should not have been any color lines to cross in the first place. If White society had hired candidates based on talent and merit since the NFL was founded in 1920, there would be no need for Rooney Rules or for Brian Flores and Colin Kaepernick to seek legal remedies for biased hiring practices or to seek basic civil rights for people of color. In this day and age issuing statements about racial injustice are just rhetorical embellishments serving as tasteless icing on the bitter pastry of inaction. When Caucasians are hired they may celebrate the occasion; when Blacks are hired they turn the event into a worship service, sometimes acting as if a “saver” has evolved into a “savior.” When Caucasians are hired it is a simple process known as “confirmative action.” More often than not when Blacks are hired for upper management in any upper level management position in any corporate setting or sports it is a process loathed and despised as a result of “affirmative action.” Since 1967 the only “statements” that the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to make are with their actions, not idle chatter.
Let’s talk basketball...my top 15 players of all-time! :10 — I’ve been waiting for the NFL to get out of the way so we can talk some hoops. You may or may not know and for sure you don’t care... but I am a Hall-of-Fame football player (see, you don’t
care)... Having said that it is truly where my heart lies. The so-called man’s game with the force and dynamics of tractor-trailer trucks colliding every 60 seconds. But mannnn, when you want to talk
WILT CHAMBERLAIN
about finesse, grace, creativity, beauty and power combined you just can’t beat basketball!!! — The following is just a few of the reasons why. By the way I was a basketball coach for 30 years... but you don’t care, do you? I knew it. :09 — To begin can we please put to rest the notion that you know who the greatest players of all-time are. You think you know but you don’t. But I do! And here’s your greatest Top 15 ever... Period... End of story. And in order of greatness: #1. - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. #2 - Wilt Chamberlain. #3 - Michael Jordan. #4 - Kobe Bryant. #5 - Oscar Robertson. #6 - Magic Johnson. #7 Julius “Dr. J” Erving. #8 - Jerry West. #9 - Bill Russell. #10 - LeBron James. #11 - Larry Bird. #12 - Connie Hawkins. #13 “Pistol” Pete Maravich. #14 - Steph Curry. #15 Scottie Pippen. Coaches - Phil Jackson & Red Auerbach. You got a problem with this list, text or call me at 412-628-4856. But trust me, I beat you like a wooden drum with this team all day and all night! - Now shut up about it... or not. :08 — So you got a problem with Connie Hawkins, think I am showing favoritism? Kareem said Connie’s the greatest he’s ever seen. He is in fact the first man to take the game airborne! :07 — Here’s the answer to your Maravich question. Still holds the NCAA scoring record - 3,667 points after 50 years. Did not play as a freshman, no three’s and a dozen other records still untouched. Also Dr. J said he’s the most complete player he’s
ever seen. :06 — I know you want Steph Curry in the top 10. But trust me when I tell you he’s not going to light it up against the Bad Boys in Detroit or against swarming Showtime in L.A. :05 — To the point why my list consists of mostly old school guys for these three reasons - #1. Cause I am old #2. Cause back in the day they beat you up if you posed a threat. And #3. Just to tick you off and keep the conversation going... Ha, ha, ha! :04 — Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a LeBron hater but the nine guys ahead of him all played on teams they grew, not on teams they brought together with other superstars. I am just sayin’! And for goodness sake, can you take your 6’8” - 260 pound self inside and get a rebound sometime. And
please - TAKE THE LAST SHOT! :03 — Of course, I love the game today but it’s just not the same game and you know it. You can’t hold, grab or threaten people like the old days. And the game has become a shooting fest. Give me Isiah Thomas, Allen Iverson or Nate “Tiny” Archibald... and I would have given them to you - But where on this list? :02 — To prove some of my points you only need to have watched last week’s All-Star Game across the board to see how far we haven’t come. I can get Myron Brown and Morrie Cox to win that slam dunk contest right now and my guess is they haven’t dunked in 10 years. :01 — In closing, take this home with ya Here’s why Kareem is the G.O.A.T. - never lost a high school game, three
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
straight H.S. State Championships, three straight NCAA Championships at UCLA, six NBA Championships with the Bucks and Lakers, two more as asst. coach with the Lakers, all-time leading NBA scorer with 38,387 points, 19-time All-Star, six-time NBA MVP, two-time Finals MVP and All-NBA First-Team 10 times just to mention a few of the 100-plus awards. And, oh by the way, if you need a reason why Wilt is #2 he’s only the most dominant human being in the history of the game, the only man to score 100 points in a single game, average 50.4 points a game for an entire season, 27.2 rebounds a game for a season and 38 pages of records to go along with it!!! :00 — GAME OVER.
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What rising prices & inflation means for Black Americans (Black Information Network)—From gas to groceries, American households are seeing rising prices as the US economy attempts to recover from last year’s pandemic lockdown. In the last months, American consumers have seen a 13-year high in prices with little indication when things might get better. Before the start of the pandemic, studies showed that Black Americans were financially vulnerable and still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis. Pair that with higher unemployment rates and increased risk of experiencing homelessness, and the economic toll on our communities is dire. So what does higher inflation rates mean for individual Black American households? The Black Information Network spoke with financial advisor Jordan Awoye to learn more of the economic situation at hand. What is Inflation? To better understand the impact of the economy, we thought it best to break down some of the terms we keep hearing. “Rising inflation is when the purchasing value of your dollar declines. Or in other words, goods such as groceries increase and services [go] up,” Awoye told BIN. “So, for example, goods such as groceries increase and as a result you’re
BIN Exclusive: able to buy less groceries/food for your family with the same amount of money.” Inflation typically occurs when production costs go up, especially during a surge in demand. Last month, the US saw a 5.4 percent jump in prices—the highest increase since August 2008. Some economists predict that the increased prices are going to be around for a while. What’s Going to Happen to Our Wallets? With increased prices on goods, Awoye warns our wallets are more than likely going to feel the impact, if they haven’t already. “People will see that reflected in how far their money goes as opposed to before,” he said, illustrating the point that a $50 tank of gas might have given a driver 17-18 gallons before inflation rose, but that same $50 might only give you 12-13 gallons now. In general, with inflation on the rise, purchasing power decreases, so your money may not stretch as far as it might have before. What can Black households do to Combat the Impact of Rising Prices? “People should look for small ways to save money and cut corners as much as they can with coupons or maybe shutting off irrelevant services,” Awoye suggested. “Take a look at cash flow—how much money do you have coming in and going out?” “Next, start to better manage miscellaneous spending and your budget,” he added, suggesting that half of any money leftover should go towards saving or investing. “Continue to repeat this process,” he said, suggesting Investopedia as a financial resource individuals can tap into to learn more about investing, budgeting, and more.
ARE YOU SELF-DIRECTED? Can you work independently with little supervision?
Is working remotely a good fit for you? One of the hottest career trends is remote working. Imagine. No more wasted time commuting. Being able to get enough sleep. Working in sweatpants. Taking breaks as you need them. In some cases, setting your own hours. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But are you suited for it? Before you make up your mind to work out of your home, consider the pluses and minuses of remote working. Pluses Independence is probably the most important plus in remote working. You can practically live anywhere that has an Internet connection and a cellphone tower and be able to work, even in the woods or a ski town or at the beach. Being able to work at your own pace in your own space is important to many employees. There is no supervisor walking by your cubicle to see how you are coming with sales calls or that report that’s due. You can play whatever music you wish to work by. You can get up and get a cup of coffee or a snack after making a call or writing a section of a report or Zooming with a client. There are no co-workers who interrupt your train of thought with stories about their weekends or who the new person is in sales. In other words, you manage your day and your work pace. Flexibility is another positive asset to working from home. Sometimes, you just have to stop work and deal with something—a sick child or a repairman or a call from a friend you haven’t heard from in two years. If you were in your company’s office, you’d have to ask your friend to call you back or take the call and get back-to-work stares
from your boss. You can’t just stop and deal with a child’s needs or the repairman who showed up if you were in the company office. You’d have to ask permission to leave and then drive home to deal with whatever the emergency was. In most cases, you can make up the time lost at home quicker than you
DeQuan Smith
Business Insight could in your company’s office because you don’t have to commute. Home-based workers may have fewer expenses. There is no commute so extra gas for your car or toll fees. No train fares if you come into a city from the suburbs. You don’t have to maintain a corporate wardrobe though you might keep some career clothes for occasional business meetings. You may or may not have to pay for and maintain computer equipment or internet access if your company provides those for proprietary reasons. You can also eat at home and not have to go out for lunch. Minuses Isolation is often the most cited drawback for remote working. If you are young and looking to make social contacts at work or network with those who can help you up the corporate
ladder, you may find remote working limiting. You will need to find collegial support by locating other remote workers in your company or across the country. One organization is the Remote Work Association (https://www. remoteworkassociation.com). There may also be small groups in your area that offer support. Distraction is another minus for working from home. These can be family needs and noise from neighbors. One solution to those is to have a designated office with a door you can close and maintain office hours. Noises from outside can be minimized by white noise earphones or machines. Sometimes, simply playing music will mask what is happening outside your door. Other distractions in the form of internal nags about dishes in the sink or laundry that needs to be done can also put a damper on your productivity. You can either delegate those chores or designate a specific day to do each or all of them. You can also do a bit when you break for lunch, for example, and then go back to work, hoping that nag in your head is satisfied for a while. The other distraction is television or internet surfing. Lack of discipline is another drawback to working remotely. If you are easily distracted by technology, children, or other tasks, you might reconsider working from home. You must be self-directed to work remotely. You need to be able to manage your time and set daily tasks for your projects. Internet issues can be a problem SEE WORKING REMOTELY B2
How do I prioritize paying off debt? How should I prioritize paying off my debt? Should I prioritize paying off the lowest balance first or paying off the one with the highest interest rate? ~ Josuha Damon says: There are three methods that are taught in regards to best practice to eradicate debt. They are: Debt Avalanche, Debt Snowball, Debt Domino. The Debt Avalanche prioritizes debt based on highest to lowest interest rates. You write down each debt and its corresponding interest rate. The debt with the highest interest rate will be priority #1. Pay minimum payment on all other debt. The debt with the highest interest rate gets the minimum payment plus any extra amount that you can apply towards it. Once this debt is paid off. You focus on the next debt that has the highest interest rate. Continue to consistently apply this method until all debts are paid. The primary benefit here being by attacking the highest interest rate, you in effect reduce the overall interest you pay to your creditors. The Debt Snowball prioritizes based on lowest to highest balance. You write down each debt and its corresponding balance. The debt with the lowest balance will be priority #1. Pay minimum payment on all other debt. The debt with the lowest balance gets the minimum payment plus any extra amount that you can apply towards it. Once this debt is paid off. You focus on the next debt that has the lowest balance. Continue to consistently apply this method until all debts are paid. The primary benefit here being by attacking the lowest balance,
you experience quick wins and are more likely to stay the course as you see various debts disappear. The Debt Domino prioritizes debt based on the debt with the least amount of time to pay off. This is my preferred method. This method is harder to explain because it requires an additional step. You write down each debt and both its corresponding balance and minimum payment. The math to prioritize using the Debt Domino works this way. Take the balance and divide it by the minimum monthly payment. For example you have a debt with a $5,000 balance and a minimum payment of $200 per month. You take $5,000 / $200 = 25. Using rough and dirty, back of a napkin math, by making the minimum payment on this debt, it will take you approximately 25-months or 2 years and 1 month to pay off in full. You apply this same calculation to all outstanding debt. The debt with the least amount of time remaining to pay in full will be priority # 1. Pay minimum payment on all other debt. The debt with the lowest term to repay gets the minimum payment plus any extra amount that you can apply towards it. Once this debt is paid off. You focus on the next debt that has the lowest term. Continue to consistently apply this method until all debts are paid. The reason this method is effective is because the shorter the term, or the less time you have remaining to repay a debt, the larg-
er the portion of your minimum payment is applied to the debt. By applying an extra payment on top of the minimum payment, you’re able to drastically reduce the remaining term left on the debt. Here’s the telling part. The key to successfully and quickly paying off your debt isn’t which method you use—be it Debt Avalanche, Debt Snowball or Debt Domino. The key is choosing a method, sticking to it and continuing to consistently work the method until all debt is paid. Here’s why. I ran multiple scenarios on all three methods on multiple clients. Regardless of which method a person chooses the length of time to pay off all debt varies by 2 to 6 months. In other words, no method is that much better than the other one. I repeat, the key is to get on board with one of them and consistently do it. In many cases you’ll find that regardless of the method you choose, you’ll more than likely be attacking most of the debt in the same order. Debt Avalanche is based on the highest to lowest interest rate. Highest to lowest interest tends to go in this order: Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Car Loans, Student Loans, Mortgages. Debt Snowball is based on the lowest to highest balance. The lowest to highest balance tends to go in this order: Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Car Loans, Student Loans Mortgages. Same difference!
By employing the extra math step in the Debt Domino, it’s taking interest rate into account but it’s also recognizing debts that you’ve been paying on for a long period of time. Hence the reason why it has a shorter term and more of the payment is applied to principal reduction. Here are a couple things to avoid as you work to payoff debt: Do not do a balance transfer to ZERO interest credit cards. The ZERO interest rate is good for 6-16 months. After which, the interest rate goes back to its double-digit interest rate level. But Damon, I’ll pay it off in the 6-16 months. I’ve heard that before. I’ve said that before. The truth of the matter is most people don’t pay it off during the time period where the interest rate was 0 percent. In the end, they have a balance on this new card where the balance was transferred. With the increased available balance on the old card that the balance was transferred from—people go willy-nilly spending on the credit card again. Now they have double the credit card mess to clean up. If you’re going to consolidate, get a personal loan with a fixed interest rate with a term no greater than 3-years. Under a personal loan, you can’t borrow the money after you paid it back. The Number 1 rule to getting out of debt is this: STOP BORROWING MONEY!! To continue to borrow while you’re paying off debt is akin to trying to fill up a bucket with water but the bucket has holes. It’s not going to work. (Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached 412-216-1013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach.com)
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NAREB names C. Renee Wilson executive director WASHINGTON—The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest minority real estate trade association in America, on February 24 named C. Renee Wilson, of Cleveland, as its Executive Director, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned. Founded in 1947, NAREB strives to increase Black homeownership. Wilson has served as Interim Executive Director for the past seven months and has been part of the NAREB team since 2005. After serving as Special Assistant to the President and Special Projects Manager, she was named Executive and Management Consultant in 2007
and then National Relationship Manager in 2009. “NAREB is fortunate to have someone with Renee’s qualifications as our Executive Director,” said NAREB President Lydia M. Pope, noting Wilson’s service as a “REALTIST,” the designation for NAREB members. “Her long-standing relationship with NAREB and wealth of onthe-job experience makes her uniquely qualified to fill this vitally important position.” Wilson thanked the NAREB Board of Directors. “Although I have been part of the NAREB family for more than 16 years, I am grateful to the Board for entrusting me with this incredible
responsibility, particularly at this time in our nation’s history where social justice, wealth creation, and racial equity are high priority issues.” Prior to joining NAREB, Wilson was Principal Owner of United International Mortgage Bank. Wilson, who attended Woodbury University in Burbank, CA, also founded two firms: CTS Consultants Firm, a corporate concierge services firm providing both social and business solutions; and CTS Real Estate Services Brokerage. NAREB’s mission is to provide Afro Americans with opportunities to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.
Guided by its Five Pillars of Building Black Wealth through Homeownership, the association prioritizes faith-based and civic involvement; women’s initiatives; diversity and inclusion/ small business; multi-generational wealth; and government relations and advocacy. Since inception its motto is “Democracy In Housing,” which positions NAREB as a strong advocate for fairness and equity in the housing and lending sectors. Annually, NAREB releases the “State of Housing in Black America,” a study documenting root causes of disparities in minority homeownership. Wilson plays a critical role in compiling the report.
C. RENEE WILSON
MEOA rings closing bell at Nasdaq (NNPA NEWSWIRE)— Washington, DC—Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. (“MEOA”) announced today the special purpose acquisition company’s (SPAC) participation in Nasdaq’s Closing Bell Ceremony on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. MEOA’s management team, led by Chairman and CEO Shawn Rochester and CFO Robin Watkins, was joined on stage by corporate directors, Ronald Busby, president and CEO, U.S. Black Chamber, Inc. and Patrick Linehan, Partner, the Steptoe Law Firm. Dr. Julianne Malveaux, also an MEOA director and Dean, College of Ethnic Studies, Cal State Los Angeles, was not in attendance. Other MEOA guests included minority-women business owners Stephanie Frederic of Los Angeles, California and Alicia Taylor of Las Vegas, Nevada; Tyler Baylor of New York, a millennial business leader and aspiring entrepreneur; Patricia Trompeter of Ceres Capital Ventures, LLC, Stewart Kim of PGP Capital, LLC, Craig Vaughan
MEOA’S MANAGEMENT TEAM, led by Chairman and CEO Shawn Rochester and CFO Robin Watkins, was joined on stage by corporate directors, Ronald Busby, president and CEO, U.S. Black Chamber, Inc. and Patrick Linehan, Partner, the Steptoe Law Firm. of Vaughan Capital Advisors, LLC, Michael Campoli of Pryor Cashman LLP, and Jarvis Stewart of HP Global Advisors LLC. “We cannot thank Nasdaq enough for their gracious invitation to participate in Tuesday’s closing bell ceremonies,” said Shawn Roch-
The Advanced Leadership Institute secures premium Downtown office location The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) signaled that it is here to stay with the opening of its new office located at 500 Grant Street, Suite 4125, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The office is located inside One BNY Mellon Center and underwritten by BNY Mellon. “BNY Mellon has long supported TALI’s mission to develop Black executives in the region as part of our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our communities. Providing office space in One BNY Mellon Center to TALI deepens this relationship and creates opportunities to add TALI’s expertise to our own employee development programs,” says Eric Boughner, TALI Board Member and Chairman of BNY Mellon Pennsylvania. “We are extremely thankful to BNY Mellon for their ongoing commitment and for believing in the vision of The Advanced Leadership Institute. Opening the new office space will anchor our presence as we continue to grow regionally and build nationally,” says Evan Frazier, President, and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute. The lease was finalized in late 2021 and continues through December 30, 2027. TALI’s staff has moved in and has been building out the space, and an open house for its stakeholders is being planned for Spring of 2022. The nearly 2,000 square feet of space includes four offices, four workstations, a conference room, a break room, and a reception area. TALI’s new office opens the door to greater interaction and collaboration as TALI administers its programs.
ester, MEOA Chairman and CEO. “Like Nasdaq, we’re committed to partnering with companies that have a deep commitment to diverse and inclusive representation on their boards and leadership teams, all while driving growth for shareholders. We’re excited to have them
as partners on this journey.” About Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. While the Company may pursue an initial business
combination target in any business, industry or geographical location, it intends to focus its search on transactions with companies that are Minority-Owned Businesses, such that, immediately following the completion of its initial business combination, the combined company would qualify as a Minority Controlled Business. In general, a “Minority-Owned Business” is a business at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in which is owned by one or more minority individuals who are United States citizens or legal resident aliens and both the management and daily business operations of which are exercised by one or more minority individuals (with a minority group member being an individual who is at least 25 percent Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic or Native American), and a “Minority Controlled Business” is a business that would qualify for certification as a “minority business enterprise” by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
America’s recognition of racism is fading (StatePoint)—In the summer of 2020 when calls for racial justice and the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 were on full display, some speculated that the country seemed to be a turning point for acknowledging how much racism affects people’s health and economic well-being. However, a new national survey from the non-profit RAND Corporation reveals that despite the public outcry and mounting evidence that racism and the pandemic are contributing to disparities between people of color and White people, the public’s recognition of racial inequities and the impact of systemic racism is fading. Indeed, in July 2020, 61.1 percent of respondents agreed that people of color face more of the health impact of COVID-19 than White people, and 57.5 percent agreed that they ace more of the financial impact. More than a year later, these numbers have dropped to 52.7 percent and 50.3 percent, respectively. The data suggest that there has not been a seismic shift or enduring change in perception. “We conducted this survey because we wanted to see whether living through
a once-in-a-century global pandemic would spur a shift in deep-seated perspectives and attitudes around health, systemic racism, and equity,” Anita Chandra, vice president and senior policy researcher at RAND Corporation, said. “We found that views around race and racism appear to be extremely entrenched. Moving forward, policies and actions that seek to address these issues must factor in where the public is and what needs to happen for these sentiments to evolve.” As legislators around the
country convene to tackle the pandemic and build their priorities for 2022, researchers say these finding must be top of mind as they work to make change. The good news is that of the same people surveyed about their views on race and health, most see the pandemic as a moment for positive change. Changes people hope to see include: • improving access to health care (25.2 percent), • prioritizing science in policy decisions (11.7 percent), • protecting our freedom (11.1 percent), and • increasing flexibility in
how we all work (10.9 percent), among others. And legislators can often look in their own backyards for inspiration. There is so much work being done at the community level to undo the impacts of racism and rebuild a more equitable society that are worth recognizing and learning from. For example, over the past few years, more than 200 cities, counties and leaders declared racism a public health crisis. Researchers say that this is an important step that can lead to efforts for real, lasting change centered on equity. We are already seeing this play out in some settings, from state houses to city halls, where health equity is driving policy decisions. To read more about “COVID-19 and the Experiences of Populations at Greater Risk” survey findings, visit rwf.org/covidsurvey. To read more about communities working to center equity to improve the health of everyone, visit rwf.org/prize. With more than two-thirds of respondents believing the pandemic presents a moment for positive change, researchers say that while there’s work to be done, there are also reasons to be hopeful.
Is working remotely a good fit for you? WORKING REMOTELY FROM B1
when you work remotely. If your Internet connection isn’t high speed or it goes down often due to the provider or where you live, then perhaps you should consider finding a more reliable Internet solution. Being connected technologically is vital for any remote worker. Finally, the image of remote workers is often skewed even by some companies who offer work from home. Some bosses may want to change
full-time benefited remote workers to contractor workers with no benefits. Some bosses may even be slower to promote remote workers over those who are in the office every day. According to Kimberly Elbach, a UC Davis professor, in an article in the Atlantic last year, assumptions are often made by employers that remote workers aren’t as dedicated mainly because they don’t see them face-to-face every day. Out of sight, out of mine. Being seen in the office
often equates with dedication to your job and being career-driven. This could be mitigated through Zoom meetings as well as phone calls instead of making email your primary means of communication. Since career performance is often based on productivity some employers don’t see the number of hours spent on a project, sometimes more than the regular 40-hour workweek, and assume that the remote worker can easily turn around project demands and
may shorten deadlines. Remote Work Checklist • Are you self-directed? Can you work independently with little supervision? • Can you set boundaries between work and family/ friends? • Do you have a dedicated home office space? • Are you comfortable working alone? • Can you communicate clearly? • Can you maintain a healthy work/life balance? The world is changing. The
pandemic has shown that the economy could continue, even during a global lockdown. Remote working was a lifeboat for American businesses and services. That idea soon became an invigorating way of working where many thrived as either full-time remote workers or as hybrid workers who spend some time in a brick-and-mortar building. Remote working has even prompted the Technological University of Dublin and other institutions around the
world to provide courses in Remote Working Skills, offering instruction in soft skills such as communication and technical training. Remote working is here to stay and may become part of your own work life. (Dr. Smith is a globally-recognized educator, author, career strategist, and contributor in the higher education field. Dr. Smith currently serves as the Associate Director of Graduate Education and the Co-Director of Career Services at Morehouse School of Medicine.)
OPINION
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
MARCH 2-8, 2022
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Who would have believed it?
Guest Editorial
Black History Vs African American History Is there a difference between Black history and African American history? It depends on who you ask. Whatever the answer given, it cannot be denied that “Black” history carries a broader connotation. Black is global; African American relates specifically to the United States. And it is African American history that has traditionally been the focus in public schools. Customarily, a lot of African American history has dealt with the institution of slavery in such a manner that one could get the idea that Black people didn’t have significant lives or a civilization before coming to America. This has resulted in the “Black people only as slaves” syndrome. Due to post-slavery (and some during slavery) African American achievements, however, contemporary African American history can now highlight a more positive direction. We are able to celebrate modern African American scholars, athletes, musicians, publishers, artists, scientists and more. It has often been noted that due to the focus on the past in America, there are many White people who do not believe that Black people have accomplished anything of value in the world. Because of this, a patina of inferiority has been placed on the race, with our youth buying into that negative notion. Basically, you can’t teach what you don’t know, and consequently, the educational system has, for the most part, focused on the deficit model of the African American experience. It ignores the idea that Black people actually had a viable history before being brought to these shores as slaves. This historic slant contributes to the lack of self-esteem demonstrated by far too many African Americans. A remedy would be a focus on “Black” history, which is global in nature. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Black presence can be seen throughout the world. Civilizations that were previously thought to be White are now being challenged as new information is becoming available. For example, there has been an ongoing struggle to depict the ancient Egyptians as White. Many people today can think back on the movie “Cleopatra” that featured the very White and implausible Elizabeth Taylor as the queen of Egypt. And today, there is a movie entitled “the Gods of Egypt” that features a basically European cast (with a few exceptions) depicting ancient Egypt (Kemet) as a bastion of White folks with European accents. In a related vein, even when White people are exposed to images of ancient Kemet that features Black and Brown-skinned people in the art, some have been known to say that the color of these images was the result of adverse weathering that changed the skin tones of the pharaohs and their consorts! Also, the giant Olmec heads uncovered in South America provide another opportunity for the denial of the global Black presence. The features on these sculptures are undeniably Black, but there has been a scramble on to find any excuse possible to deny that they represent an advanced civilization of Black people. When Europeans during a previous century came across the fantastic Benin bronzes in Africa, they were thought to be too advanced to have been created by Black people; they attributed them to some mythological White people who probably visited Benin and created these artifacts, and not to the indigenous people that possessed them! Ultimately, in order to dispel erroneous racist notions and to highlight truth, there is a need to broaden the scope of history taught in our schools; African American history should be included as a subgenre of Black history. Black people should understand that “slaves” were not taken from Africa: people who were artisans, scientists, builders, and more were taken. They became slaves when they arrived on these shores. Black history should be taught in order to help Black people heal from the psychological wounds generated by a malevolent society that did not consider them as fully human! (Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)
Founded 1910
Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm
Rob Taylor Jr.
Ashley Johnson
Office Manager
Managing Editor
Sales Director
John. H. Sengstacke
Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—From the silly to the sublime, to the serious, faster than the mind can cogitate, our societal norms are being manipulated from the “as expected” to the “never in a million years.” Reflecting on what is presented to the masses daily, I can recall a time when a television series like “The Real Housewives (‘of anywhere’)…” could never have been shown and pimple popping would have been done in the privacy of one’s own bathroom, but no longer. Frivolity is often the trademark of a “who would have believed” event, but now, more often than not, rather than leaving us amused they leave us shocked, and in dismay and disbelief. The current trend in these events has us questioning how we might provide for increased security and safety for our families and ourselves. Who would have believed a time during which the seriousness of a public health crisis in the form of a global pandemic would be denied? Can anyone explain when, in the face of such a pandemic, personal interests and comfort became paramount over the interests of the general state of health? Most assuredly, few people could have anticipated this “denial” state of mind among such large numbers of people or that the disease would take the lives of over 900,000 Americans. My bet is that even fewer people could have also guessed
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Commentary the massive rejection of life saving vaccines. In stark contrast to the current pandemic, the 1950s battle against polio was a lesson in cooperative discipline. With the exception of general masking, Americans practiced extreme social distancing. In his book, Paralyzed with Fear: The Story of Polio, Gareth Williams wrote, “Fearful of the spread of the contagious virus, the city (San Angelo, TX) closed pools, swimming holes, movie theaters, schools and churches, forcing priests to reach out to their congregations on local radio. Some motorists who had to stop for gas in San Angelo would not fill up their deflated tires, afraid they’d bring home air containing the infectious virus. And one of the town’s best physicians diagnosed his patients based on his “clinical impression” rather than taking the chance of getting infected during the administration of the proper diagnostic test.” When Jonas Salk released his vaccine in 1955, he was immediately described as a “miracle worker” and, because he did not patent his vaccine, it was uni-
versally welcomed and produced in the United States and the world. Acceptance of his vaccine was so widespread that by1980, Polio had been eliminated in the United States. One must also ask, who would have believed a time in which the history of Black Americans is being openly erased from the curriculum of America’s public schools and from the conscience of the nation? Although barely taught, the instruction of Black History is under assault. It is erroneously labeled as Critical Race Theory and the new threshold of general acceptance is that it is presented in a manner which does not cause “guilt” or “discomfort” to the listener. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, father of Black History, said, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” He added, “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” For now, the vigilant see psychological eradication as the goal. Will the physical follow? I guess nothing should surprise us as people now flock to certain gas stations for dinner! (Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc.)
African Americans and the Fed (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The Federal Reserve Bank, founded in 1913, has had more than one hundred members of its Board of Governors. Forty-four White men governed the nation’s monetary policy until 1966 when Dr. Andrew Brimmer became the Fed’s first Black governor. He served until 1974. In 1979 Dr. Emmett Rice (father of Domestic Policy Council Director and diplomat Dr. Susan Rice) joined the Fed. In 1997, Dr. Roger Ferguson joined the Board of Governors, and in 1999, he became Vice-Chair. There have only been three Black governors in one hundred and nine years, all men. Now, President Biden has nominated economist, Dr. Lisa Cook, to serve on the Fed. She would be the first Black woman and one of just a handful of women on the Federal Reserve Board. Of course, the White racists are in attack mode, attacking her qualifications, written work, and activism. Few Black economists have the luxury of simply sitting in an ivory tower and pontificating. Whether we are studying the workplace and many Black economists identify as labor economists or agriculture, the inequities that permeate our nation are in our faces. You don’t need to study racism to see the glaring inequality that the data illustrate. African Americans consistently experience twice the unemployment rates as Whites. We have a tenth of the wealth. We’ve lost our family farms at an alarming rate. Once upon a time, there were more than a hundred Black-owned banks. Now there are twenty-three. Many Black economists have commented on these inequities,
Julianne Malveaux
Commentary whether or not race and racism represent the bulk of their body of work. Lisa Cook is among those who have commented on race matters, although most of her work focuses on international economics, especially the Russian economy. It seems that any mention of race puts White folks into a tizzy. So the ill-informed, ranging from a particularly vapid Tucker Carlson to the predictably conservative Wall Street Journal, have been highly critical of Dr. Cook, if not downright racist. In mid-February, Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee boycotted a meeting that would move Cook’s nomination (and that of others) to the full Senate. It is not clear when the full Senate will have the opportunity to vote on these nominations. Most folks don’t know the Fed from a farmhouse, but anyone spending money these days must wonder what role the Fed has played in the skyrocketing prices consumers are facing. Rents in some urban areas are up by more than 20 percent. Meat prices have increased by a third in the past year. The average price of pumped gas is up by a third, and in California, it is common to see prices veering toward $6 a gallon. And please don’t try to buy a car right now, as both new and used car prices are rising. It is part of the Fed’s job to con-
tain inflation and set interest rates. In weeks, they will likely increase interest rates. Will it make a difference if a Black woman is on the Fed? I think so. Even though Lisa Cook’s work focuses on international banking, she is acutely aware of the uneven impacts of banking policy on the underserved, which includes Black folk. Inflation hits everyone, but those with little disposable income are hit hardest. If chicken breasts cost $3 a pound instead of $2.50, that’s not a big deal to a six-figure earner. It hits hard, though, to someone scraping to make ends meet. Cook can bring some of that perspective to Fed deliberations. In addition to being a solid economist, Lisa Cook is also a champion for diversity and a role model for many young women. She has actively encouraged young Black women to consider the economics profession, which is essential when we realize how scarce Black women are in that field. Lisa Cook would enrich the Fed. The Senate needs to confirm her. Lisa Cook stands on the shoulders of giants like Brimmer, Rice, and Ferguson. It is galling that an institution that is more than a century old is just getting around to including Black women. It is galling that “qualified” used to be a synonym for White and male. And yet, it is encouraging that the glass ceiling is cracking slowly and that Lisa Cook, whether confirmed or not, has made Black history. (Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Juliannemalveaux.com)
AKAs support expedient confirmation (BlackPressUSA)—Steeped in far more than historical significance, the confirmation of a Black woman to the highest court of the land would represent yet another significant step in America fulfilling its promise to African Americans who helped build this country. The appointment of a Black woman to the United States Supreme Court is a long time coming. In fact, it was 55 years ago in 1967 that Justice Thurgood Marshall—the first African American—was appointed to the nation’s high court and 40 years ago in 1981 when Justice Sandra Day O’Connor—the first woman was appointed to the Supreme Court. Rather than a long time coming, for many, this appointment is a long time overdue. Either way, the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® stand in support of the Biden-Harris Administration in fulfilling this promise. Founded in 1908 by African American women who were service-minded scholars, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is comprised of professional women who have succeeded despite unimaginable odds to lead in every area of human endeavor. Sadly, however, there are still “firsts” to be achieved and glass ceilings that still must be shattered. We are encouraged by the fact that with so many Black women serving as attorneys, state and federal judges, law clerks, public defenders, prosecutors, corporate counsel, law professors and non-profit lawyers all fighting on the frontlines of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in America there has never been more qualified Black women ready to meet this moment.
Glenda Glover
Commentary It has only been the glaring absence of opportunity that has stunted our progress and impeded the Supreme Court from reflecting the true diversity of these United States. We are now waiting with resigned anticipation that this glaring omission will be corrected with President Biden’s commitment to nominate the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court by the end of February. We stand united in the continued fight for Black women to be represented in all arenas important to the progress of our nation, and we are ready to walk arm-in-arm with this administration every step of the way as some of the very best and brightest Black women judges and attorneys are identified, vetted, interviewed, and presented to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Finally, we support swift confirmation hearings under the leadership of Senator Dick Durbin, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, leading to a fair vote for the chosen candidate. We also call for the highest level of professionalism befitting the institution and solemnity of the U.S. Senate and worthy of the ultimate nominee’s qualifications and accomplishments for this sacred service. To witness a Black woman confirmed
as a United States Supreme Court Justice for the first time in the Court’s 233-year history will merely affirm what we all already know to be true. There are countless Black women in the legal field who have distinguished themselves as brilliant jurists, fierce advocates, and venerable legal scholars and made tremendous sacrifices to shape the laws of the land and help secure justice for all. Charlotte E. Ray would be one case in point. Attorney Ray was the first African American woman lawyer in the United States. She graduated from Howard University Law School in 1872 upon gaining admission under the name C.E. Ray and was the first woman admitted to the District of Columbia Bar 150 years ago. Described as a woman of “decided ability” and “one of the best lawyers on corporations in the country,” she was unable to sustain her legal practice and was eventually forced to return to teaching. However, Ray’s historic bar admission was the precedent that set the stage for the admission of countless other women to state bars around the country. This confirmation of an African American woman Supreme Court Justice will be a moment in time when at least one African American woman will no longer be forced to abandon her dream and live beneath her privilege. We know for certain that this hallowed institution will be better with the appointment of an African American woman. That fact serves us all well. (Glenda Glover, Ph.D., JD, CPA, International President and CEO, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®)
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FORUM
MARCH 2-8, 2022
The NFL must do better (TriceEdneyWire.com) - On the eve of the Super Bowl, an event watched by millions around the world, the National Football League remains “rife with racism.” In a league where nearly 70 percent of players are African American, the NFL has not one African American owner and only one African American coach. Immensely profitable, professional football has the public relations savvy to try to whitewash a truly indefensible record. Now, in an act of remarkable courage putting his own future at risk, Brian Flores, most recently the coach of the Miami Dolphins, has stood up, filing a class-action suit demanding change. Flores’ complaint details a compelling indictment. The NFL was founded on racial exclusion, excluding Black players for many of its early years. When owners found that Black players made the game more exciting and increased revenues, they turned to running their franchises, as Flores’ complaint alleges, “like a plantation.” White owners, general managers and coaches govern the largely Black players who take the field and run the risks. For years, and even to this day to some extent, Black players were shunted from the position of quarterback, largely under the assumption that while they were better athletes, they were less intelligent than White players. Similarly, Black players found it almost impossible to rise up to become offensive or defensive coordinators, much less head coaches. Under pressure, the NFL devised what is called the “Rooney Rule,” requiring that any
Jesse Jackson Sr.
Commentary team hiring a head coach (now extended to offensive and defensive coaches) must interview at least one candidate of color before hiring. If treated seriously, this rule could expand the pool to include qualified candidates of all races. In the beginning, the Rooney Rule seemed to have an effect. Several Black coaches were hired. Today, however, there is only one head coach that is Black. What happened? The few Black coaches hired were held on a short leash. Flores reveals the astounding fact that Black coaches have been fired after winning seasons in far larger numbers than White coaches. Flores himself was fired after leading the Dolphins to a winning record two years in a row, for the first time since 2003. The “Rooney Rule” interviews increasingly became sham interviews, arranged for show even after a White coach was already slated to be hired. Flores was interviewed to be head coach of the New York Giants, which has never hired a Black head coach, even after learning that the management had already settled on a White coach for the job. NFL officials don’t even bother to deny this reality. The Flores lawsuit quotes Troy Vincent, the NFL executive vice president of football operations: “There is a double standard, and we’ve seen that . . . Coach Dungy was let go in Tampa Bay after a winning season . . . Coach Wilks, just a few years prior, was let go after one year . . . Coach Caldwell was fired after a winning season in Detroit . . . How do you explain that? There is a double standard.” With fans worldwide rooting for teams based on the color of their jerseys rather than the color of their skin, this systemic discrimination could damage the league’s reputation and box office. The league’s response is to admit they have a problem, and to promise, over and over and over again, to do better. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded to the Flores lawsuit, saying, “We understand the concerns expressed by Coach Flores and others this week. ... We must acknowledge that particularly with respect to head coaches the results have been unacceptable.” So, he promises to bring outside experts in to “re-evaluate and examine all policies, guidelines and initiatives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.” This is just another page from the same playbook of a league that ostracized an allpro caliber Black quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, for expressing his solidarity with Blacks protesting racial injustice. Then, after the murder of George Floyd unleashed massive demonstrations across the country, Goodell released a video statement that “Black Lives Matter” and suggested the NFL wanted to work with Kaepernick to create a multimillion-dollar foundation for social justice, even as Kaepernick remained excluded as an object lesson to other players. Flores is a remarkable leader who grew up in the tough streets of Brownsville in New York City. Asked if he worries about putting his career at risk, he said he understood the risks, but it was time for someone to stand up. His lawsuit calls for structural changes in the league’s operations, from opening up ownership to qualified Black investors to changing the way coaches are hired and fired. Whether the lawsuit succeeds or not, by speaking out and standing up, Flores has already made a difference. When you watch the Super Bowl, remember: amid all the pageantry, the fireworks, the advertisements, the halftime show, and the game itself, this is a league still stained by a pervasive racism that even its own officials cannot defend.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
The BLM activist who shot by the door For years Black Lives Matter demanded the elimination of cash bail because its negative impact on people of color is disproportional. The bail elimination movement has made progress in California, New York, and Illinois. A few weeks ago, a Republican state representative in Kentucky proposed a bill to detain defendants without bail if there was evidence that they were a danger to the community. This bill wasn’t proposed to counter the bail elimination movement. It was a direct response to one person being bailed out of jail for an assassination attempt. Quintez Brown, a 21-year-old BLM activist, was charged with attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment. Brown was accused of shooting multiple times at mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg from the doorway of the candidate’s office on February 14. Brown was apprehended ten minutes later, a half a mile from the crime scene, with a loaded 9mm Glock magazine, a handgun, and additional magazines. Days later BLM’s Louisville chapter paid Brown’s $100,000 bail. BLM claimed Brown had mental health issues, and the local jail didn’t have adequate resources to address Brown’s needs. When did Brown start having mental health issues? In 2018 he was interviewed by MSNBC’s Joy Reid at the student-led march for gun control in Washington, DC. At the University of Louisville, he was given an honor for Black students who achieved academic excellence and showed a commitment to serve the community. Brown also interned
J. Pharoah Doss
Check It Out at the Louisville Courier-Journal and wrote a column on race and social justice. In 2020, the Louisville Metro Police fatally shot a 26-year-old Black woman, Breonna Taylor, while serving a warrant. Dr. Monica Wendel, from the University of Louisville, issued a Declaration of Racism as a Public Health Emergency. The mayor of Louisville followed suit with an executive order that declared racism a public health crisis. The mayor acknowledged all of the societal, economic, physical, and mental health impacts of racism that harm every Black person in Louisville. Dr. Wendel also wrote, “As suggested by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, we are either racist or anti-racist, there is no middle ground … We must acknowledge and re-create our systems of power that advantage some and exploit others.” (Dr. Wendel included other phrases like “the criminalization of blackness” and “the alienation and traumatization of the Black Louisville community.) Maybe after racism was declared a public health crisis, Brown started to doubt the brightness of his future. Since there’s no middle ground, one is either racist or antiracist, Brown could also have concluded one is either an oppressor or the oppressed, an exploiter or the exploited, a human being or
the dehumanized. Its possible racism as a public health emergency created an existential crisis for Brown, and he began to think being Black, oppressed, exploited, and dehumanized were one and the same. Could the internalization of these negative identities create mental health issues? If so, wouldn’t the hyperbolic declaration of racism as a public health crisis be a contributing factor? That same year Brown wrote in his column, “I’ve seen more and more Black lives shattered by America’s social contract, and yet many continue to believe in it despite the grief, the anger and the pain from the country’s most vulnerable … I, myself, must figure out how to live free in my black body while I still have it … The hopelessness, trauma, and despair that comes with existing as a Black person in this country may indefinitely be trivial to a White reader. Some find hope in my words, but I find a troubling reality that I must, once again, figure out how to exist within.” Mayoral candidate Greenberg released a statement expressing his outrage that BLM bailed out Brown. “Our criminal justice system is clearly broken. It is nearly impossible to believe that someone can attempt murder on Monday and walk out of jail on Wednesday. If someone is struggling with mental illness and is in custody, they should be evaluated and treated in custody.” BLM dismissed all criticism for their decision to post Brown’s bail and reiterated that he needed mental health support. Except there’s a big difference between mental health problems and a mind rich with bankrupt ideas.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is the Supreme Court Justice we need now It is with profound joy that I write these words today: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been nominated to become our nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court Justice. From a pool of outstanding Black women attorneys, jurists and legal scholars, President Biden has chosen Judge Jackson for her stellar credentials and brilliant legal mind. We are overjoyed by this nomination; now the Senate needs to move quickly to confirm her. In the coming weeks we will all get the opportunity to learn more about Judge Jackson’s story and her record. Her legal credentials are outstanding: a double-Harvard alumna, earning both her undergraduate and law degrees with honors; a clerk for three federal judges – including the one she will succeed, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who called her “great” and “brilliant”; a star in private practice and as a public defender in Washington, D.C. The country will also come to know that Judge Jackson wrote nearly 600 opinions in her time as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, before she was elevated to the Circuit Court – and that she was reversed fewer than twelve times. But what is just as important as Judge Jackson’s resume is her character, and her deep personal commitment to civil rights. Ketanji Brown Jackson could easily have chosen a lucrative career in private practice, advancing the interests of the wealthy and powerful. Instead, she chose public service. And that speaks volumes. As a public defender, Judge Jackson
Ben Jealous
Commentary represented people who could not afford to hire a lawyer. She chose to stand beside these people in their hour of need, and she has seen the justice system through the eyes of the vulnerable. It’s hard to overstate the importance of that insight in the context of the Supreme Court. As Vice Chair and Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, she worked to end the huge discrepancy between sentences for crack cocaine and powder cocaine, a discrepancy that had a devastating impact on Black communities. And on the bench, her opinions have shown her dedication to upholding legal protections for people with disabilities, workers, immigrants, freedom of speech, and the environment. Also evident is her commitment to see the humanity of all people who appear in her courtroom. In one notable instance, Judge Jackson heard the case of a deaf man who was incarcerated and denied even basic accommodations for his disability. Without an ASL interpreter, he could not understand directions. Another prisoner attacked him
and he was put in “protective custody” that turned out to be solitary confinement -- a decision he was unable to understand. Judge Jackson ruled that the correctional facility had broken the law. Not only that, she wrote pointedly and movingly about the significance of laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities. As she put it, “an entity that provides services to the public cannot stand idly by while people with disabilities attempt to utilize programs and services designed for the able-bodied.” That is a moral truth. And of course, Judge Jackson’s own lived experience as a Black woman enriches her perspective about so many aspects of dayto-day life in the United States. This is a perspective that has never, ever existed on the Court, in all its 233 years. This perspective is urgently needed now for many reasons, not least of which is because we have reached a point in our history when racial equity and civil rights are facing more attacks than they have in decades. Just as Justice Thurgood Marshall was a justice for his time, joining the Supreme Court at the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Judge Jackson is needed now. There could be no better time for the voice of a brilliant and insightful Black woman on the Court, holding the line for truth and accountability. That woman is future Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. It’s time. (Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and Professor of the Practice in the Africana Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches leadership.)
Black History, Black print and you Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the work he left behind certainly makes the case today for the study of Black History. Without his work most of us would not know who we are or how many things we have done to contribute not only to this nation but also to mankind. For 195 years, the Black Press has been a guardian and transmitter of our history. When it was against the law to teach a slave to read and write, the Black Press was already telling our story to those who could read or just listen as others read to them. Oh, how far we have come. Today we have the freedom to read, but too few of us are reading. Social media and its abbreviated written language, along with television and the Internet, have replaced our desire too often to even open a book. But now, more than ever, is the time to once again add reading to learning and following our history in the making. The Black Press not only carries our history and stories, continuing the work of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, but our press has extended our stories to the digital world providing news and facts that we can rely on coming from our “trusted messengers”. But none of this works if we don’t take the time to embrace, read and digest the written story of our past and present, as told by us. Our newspapers have survived because of “us” and not because of the large ad accounts we never had. We never had the large grocery store, department stores and automobile dealership accounts. We never had the large newsrooms, printing presses and classifieds accounts that made White papers rich. But we continued to tell our
John E. Warren
Commentary story with the help of so many of us who volunteered services and time to share our stories with those among us. This Black History Month is probably one of the most important in our history. We are under attack as Jim Crow racism moves on voter suppression in the form of reducing voting sites and equipment, and replacing true election officials with those who have bought The Big Lie that Trump is still President. We must speak truth to power as we remind our brothers and sisters of the racism of voter denial, the counting of jelly beans in a jar as permission to vote, and the push for what White
Conservatives are calling “Critical Race Theory” as a means of re-writing our history without racism and lynchings which they imposed upon us. If they pass laws to restrict our voting, then we, as the Black Press and Media, must use “Print” and “electronic” means to remind us of why history says we can’t allow those with such practices to stop us. We must ignite the perseverance of our history to rise in numbers above the challenges being placed before us. We must become so laser focused that our lives and the lives of those who agree with us out number our opponents. President Biden is only a symbol of what we are struggling for: to keep America an inclusive democracy. It’s up to us to reignite the spirit and faith of our fathers that brought us this far so that we don’t lose ground. It comes down to “Our History, Our Print and You”. We must write our story, today which will be our history tomorrow, and we must make sure that we are included in telling our own stories.
Letters to the editor for publication
The 2022 election is very important Dear Editor: If the Senate does not pass the Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, then it is up to us to get out and vote, to encourage people to register and vote, and to offer help to those who cannot
get out on their own to vote. The 2022 election is VERY important to the future of our country. Janice C. Brehm Wilmerding, Pa
New Pittsburgh Courier
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MARCH 2-8, 2022
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Notice
Public Notice
RUNWAY SAFETY AREA 10-28 IMPROVEMENTS AT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP/PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations § 1506.6(b) notice is hereby given by the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) that a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts to improve the Runway 10-28 Runway Safety Area (RSA) at the Allegheny County Airport (AGC) located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The Proposed Project is recommended in order to meet standards and safety requirements as established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for runways serving the types of aircraft that typically access AGC. The Proposed Project involves improvements to Runway 1028 and other related projects, including: Expand the Runway 10 RSA • Install fill to extend RSA 335 feet and widen 500 feet across the new length. Taper from new RSA elevation to existing elevation at a 2:1 slope. Approximately 442,467 cubic yards of fill would require 24,582 dump truck trips (standard triaxle dump truck capacity is 18 cubic yards). • Install a 300-foot by 150-foot Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) bed. Expand the Runway 28 RSA • Install fill to extend RSA 335 feet and widen 500 feet across the new length. Taper from new RSA elevation to existing elevation at a 2:1 slope. Approximately 61,239 cubic yards of fill would require 3,403 standard dump truck trips. • Install a 300-foot by 150-foot EMAS bed. Expand a Portion of the mid-Runway RSA • Install 55,000 cubic yards of fill. Approximately 54,002 cubic yards of fill would require 3,001 standard dump truck trips. Other Improvements • Remove existing, 10-foot-wide dirt airport service roads within the fill footprint • Establish new, 10-foot-wide dirt airport service roads to reconnect existing airport service road system • Relocate or extend groundwater monitoring wells within fill footprint at Runway 10 end; relocate existing utility pipeline at the Runway 28 end. • Relocate airport boundary fence at both ends of the runway along fill/new service roads. • Relocate FAA sheds, instrument landing system, medium approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights system, and localizer array, at end of Runway 28, and runway end identifier lights at the Runway 10 end. • Modify the existing airport stormwater management system as necessary to accommodate the Proposed Project. Further engineering of stormwater management features will be the result of ongoing site planning and permitting processes, but may include the relocation and installation of ditches, swales, and culverts channeling stormwater into existing retention ponds. • Clear trees and vegetation and remove objects within the Proposed Project footprint. This includes 36 acres at the Runway 10 end and 48 acres at the Runway 28 end and mid-runway location. The cleared and graded areas would be replanted to minimize erosion and the RSA area would be maintained as pavement and grass per FAA design guidelines. Beginning on February 27, 2022, the Draft EA will be available for public review through April 4, 2022 at the following locations: • Online at https://flypittsburgh.com/allegheny-county-airport/ runway-safety-area-improvements-at-allegheny-county-airport-agc/ • AGC’s Airport Office at 12 Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin, PA 15122. Please call (412) 466-3026 to schedule a date/time to review the Draft EA. ACAA will provide a hardcopy or flash drive of the Draft EA and/or the Public Workshop presentation upon request. Please call (412) 476-2000 or email AGC.RSA.EA@gaiconsultants.com to request a copy of the materials. PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND PUBLIC HEARING ACAA invites you to attend a virtual Public Workshop to learn more about the environmental analyses conducted for the Proposed Project. The Workshop will begin with a presentation that includes information regarding the Draft EA and will include a “Question and Answer” session. The Public Workshop will be held between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM on March 29, 2022. A Public Hearing to receive formal verbal comments from the public will be held immediately after the Public Workshop, beginning at 7:00 PM and will end after all registered speakers have had the opportunity to comment. You can register to speak using the registration website (link below). All formal verbal comments made during the Public Hearing will be transcribed by a court report and included and responded to in the final EA. Both the Public Workshop and Public Hearing will be conducted in virtual format on the Zoom® videoconferencing platform. This virtual format provides attendees with the maximum opportunity for safe and accessible public engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Workshop Time: 6:00-7:00 PM Hearing Time: Begins at 7:00 PM Registration: http://bit.ly/AGCDraftEA (this link will register you for both the Public Workshop and Public Hearing) Phone (Audio only for those without internet access): 877-853-5247 Webinar ID: 869 3860 4895 More information on the Public Workshop/Public Hearing can be found at: https://flypittsburgh.com/allegheny-county-airport/runway-safetyarea-improvements-at-allegheny-county-airport-agc/. Sign Language Interpreters and/or other services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability, you are advised to make your request at least five (5) business days prior to the Public Workshop/Public Hearing. To request these services, please contact AGC.RSA.EA@gaiconsultants.com. PUBLIC COMMENTS Verbal comments may be provided during the Public Hearing. Written comments may be submitted via electronic-mail (e-mail) or U.S. Mail at any time during the comment period, February 27, 2022 to April 4, 2022. The purpose of the public comment period is to receive comments on the Draft EA. Comments should be as specific as possible and should be organized so that they are meaningful and make the FAA clearly aware of the commenter’s views, interests, and concerns. Comments received on the Draft EA, and the responses to those comments, will be disclosed in the Final EA. Written comments on the adequacy of the information disclosed in the Draft EA must be submitted by April 4, 2022. Comments may be submitted to AGC.RSA.EA@gaiconsultants.com or to GAI Consultants; C/O AGC RSA EA; 385 E. Waterfront Drive; Homestead, PA 15120. PRIVACY NOTICE: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the FAA in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, the FAA cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. LEGAL NOTICE PROJECT NUMBER 36FP1-21 (FIRE PROTECTION) CARGO BUILDING 4 INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSFER FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ATTENTION: CANCELLATION OF BID PACKAGE TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that PROJECT NO. 36FP1-21 that was advertised for bid will be canceled. This project will be added by addendum to Project No. 36P1-21 (PLUMBING). For further information call 412-472-3677, 412-472-3543 or 412-472-3779.
SONNY BOY
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Notice
Public Notice
Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC NEEDS HEARINGS CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN Notice is hereby given that the City of Pittsburgh is currently preparing its FY 2022 Annual Action Plan (April 1, 2022-March 31, 2023). The City will apply for the following Federal funds: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In accordance with 24 CFR Part 91, et. al., and the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, the City intends to conduct several public needs hearings. The purpose of the needs hearings is to obtain the views and comments of individuals and organizations relative to housing and community development and fair housing needs that may be addressed by CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA funds during the next year. We encourage community organizations of all missions and sizes to come out and learn how their efforts in the community can possibly be supported via CDBG funding. CDBG funds support programming and housing development in low/moderate income areas (neighborhoods) of the City of Pittsburgh. The City will hold public needs hearings at the times and locations noted below. The hearings are being held at various locations to provide all City residents with ample opportunity to attend and comment. Interested persons only need to attend one of the public hearings at the most convenient location. LOCATION
DATE & TIME
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania 118 52nd Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201
March 14, 2022 1pm and 6pm
City Council Building 414 Grant Street 5th Floor, City Council Chambers Pittsburgh, PA 15219
March 18, 2022 1pm
Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers 10 S 19th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203
March 21, 2022 1pm and 6pm
Please note that social distancing will be practiced. Participants may be asked to wear a mask based on building policy. The City is currently securing locations for three additional public need hearings. Those locations and dates will be posted once confirmed at the following website: https://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/omb-hearing All locations are accessible to the handicapped. Persons requiring special accommodations or bilingual services can make arrangements by contacting Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager, Community Development, 414 Grant Street, Room 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The phone number is (412) 255-2211, email is Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov, fax number is (412) 393-0151, and the TDD number is (412) 255-2222. The purpose of these public hearings is to: 1. 2. 3.
Obtain the views and comments of individuals and organizations concerning the City’s housing and community development needs. The information gathered will be used in the preparation of the Annual Action Plan submission for the FY 2022 Program Year. Review the City’s Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grants, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Programs and provide an opportunity for the public to comment on program performance. Summarize the Annual Action Plan process and obtain the views of citizens, public agencies, and others interested in the housing and community development needs of the City.
Based on last year’s funding, the City of Pittsburgh anticipates it will be notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it is eligible to receive the following entitlement grants in the following approximate amounts: $14,000,000 for CDBG; $2,300,000 for HOME; $1,200,000 for ESG; and $1,200,000 for HOPWA based on FY 2021. These funding levels are contingent upon the final approval of the Federal Budget for FY 2022 by Congress. The City doesn’t anticipate notice of its funding allocation until the Spring of 2022. In order to receive those funds, the City of Pittsburgh must prepare a One Year Annual Action Plan for the use of Federal funds. Written comments may be mailed to the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Community Development Division, attention Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager, Community Development, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or, emailed to Whitney.Finnstrom@Pittsburghpa.gov. Additional ongoing updates and information is available at the following website: https://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/omb-hearing. Whitney Finnstrom Senior Manager City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget-Community Development Division
LEGAL ADVERTISING
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LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
THE URBAN ACADEMY OF GREATER PITTSBURGH CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School is seeking a proposal from your firm in response to this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for the replacement of 80 windows at our school, located at 437 Turrett Street. Please confirm your intent to respond to this RFP and provide a primary point of contact for the proposal via electronic mail to Brandon D. Coney, Chief Operating Officer at bconey@urbanacademypgh.org.
THE URBAN ACADEMY OF GREATER PITTSBURGH CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School is seeking a proposal from your firm in response to this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for exterior waterproofing of our school, located at 437 Turrett Street. Please confirm your intent to respond to this RFP and provide a primary point of contact for the proposal via electronic mail to Brandon D. Coney, Chief Operating Officer at bconey@urbanacademypgh.org.
ADVERTISEMENT SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY The following surplus equipment will be offered for sale to the highest bidder(s):
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CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129
REQUEST FOR QUOTATION 220317 SALE OF SURPLUS PCS, LAPTOPS, MONITORS, MISC. NETWORK GEAR, AND MISC. NON-FUNCTIONING IT EQUIPMENT; EXERCISE EQUIPMENT; WELDING EQUIPMENT B i ds ar e due in t o t he CCAC Purchasing Department no later than 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 17, 2022. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC NOTICE OF REVISED 2022 MOVING TO WORK ANNUAL PLAN The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), in accordance with federal law and regulation, is proposing revisions to its HUD approved FY 2022 Moving to Work (MTW) Annual Plan. The Plan is being revised to include new provisions for the administration and implementation of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) payment standards. The revised FY 2022 MTW Annual Plan is available for review and comment from Sunday, February 20, 2022 to Tuesday, April 12, 2022 on the HACP Web Site: www.hacp.org. Printed copies of the FY 2022 MTW Annual Plan can be obtained by contacting the HACP Executive Office at 412-456-5012. A Public Hearing to receive public comments on the revised FY 2022 HACP MTW Annual Plan will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom Meeting information can be accessed at www.hacp.org. Written comments on the proposed revisions to the FY 2022 HACP MTW Annual Plan must be addressed to: “Attention: HACP Moving to Work Annual Plan” at the HACP Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Department, 200 Ross Street, 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and must be received by Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Once approved, the final revised FY 2022 HACP MTW Annual Plan will be effective after the HACP receives approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Moving to Work Office. If you are a person with disability and need an alternate means of reviewing this information, please contact the Disability Compliance Office at 412-456-5282 to discuss the options available. HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROJECT BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM (RFP) CONTRACT NO. ACHA - 1674 The Allegheny County Housing Authority is seeking proposals from responsible property owners interested in providing expanded rental housing opportunities for Vet er ans. Pr oper t ies m ust be existing housing in Allegheny County, excluding the City of Pittsburgh and the City of McKeesport, in close proximity to the Veteran’s Administration. The minimum contract term will be 15 years with a maximum contract term of 20 years at the ACHA’s option. The ACHA will begin to accept proposals on a one-time basis beginning Wednesday, February 23, 2022 with a closing date of Thursday, March 31, 2022. Any proposal received after the expiration of this application period will not be considered. Once received, each proposal will be rated for the program compliance with the goals of deconcentrating poverty, expanding housing and economic opportunities. Once reviewed the successful proposer will be notified in writing of award as well as required public notification. Detailed Applications and selective information will be provided by request to the: Ms. Kimberly Longwell, Director Housing Choice Voucher Program Allegheny County Housing Authority 301 Chartiers Avenue McKees Rocks, PA 15136 412-402-2410 412-355-2175 Fax klongwell@achsng.com CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…THE ONLY WAY TO GO!
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CLASSIFIEDS
MARCH 2-8, 2022
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
SONNY BOY
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFBS) FOR DIRECT OPPORTUNITIES CENTER REHAB PROJECT AMP-39 REBID HACP CONTRACT NO. 600-25-21REBID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Direct Opportunities Center Rehabilitation Project, AMP-39 Rebid The construction work is estimated to begin in June of 2022. Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, February 21, 2022 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp.org. Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement A Virtual Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday March 2, 2022 at 10:15am virtually at the following link: Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97110133703?pwd=TWIwcVRCWE1BUGdmQkRJUnRJM3lGZz09 Meeting ID: 971 1013 3703 Passcode: 718799 One tap mobile +13126266799,,97110133703#,,,,*718799# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,97110133703#,,,,*718799# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 971 1013 3703 Passcode: 718799 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acFTvlrnzJ An In-Person Pre-Bid Site Visit will be held on Wednesday Mar 2, 2022 at 2:00pm: Direct Opportunites Center, 1205 Liverpool Street, Pittsburgh PA 15233 Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid. Bids will be received at: The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing of 10:00 AM on March 29, 2022 at the HACP Procurement Department, 100 Ross Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh PA 15219 Attn: Kim Detrick, Chief Procurement Officer. Due to COVID, the bid opening on March 29, 2022 at 10:00AM will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/92240972729?pwd=eFZ4VTFJbVlwM1REVDA1MTdFb1I5dz09. Copies of bid documents are not available for in person pickup. Bid Documents, including the Bid Forms, Project Manual, and Drawings, may be obtained from the Business Opportunities Section of the HACP website, www.hacp.org. Prospective Bidders may register as a vendor on the website and download the documents free of charge. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person on March 29, 2022 from 8:00 AM until the closing of 10:00 AM on March 29, 2022. Bids may still be submitted electronically at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/w9KlTHihAGUNeQtC0Ntr and can still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any and all bids. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin. HACP has revised its website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFP documentation. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement at (412) 456-5116 Opt 1. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Legal Notices
Legal Notices Estate of LOU ANN DOLDE, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-22-00715, David W. Foley, Executor, 304 State Street, Grove City, PA 16127, or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of ROSINA DIPERNA A/K/A ROSE DIPERNA, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Estate No. 022200708 of 2022, Ronald Diperna Executor, 729 Liberty Circle, Macclenny, FL 32063, or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of MR. CARL A. HANEY, Deceased of 812 Benwood Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Estate No. 02-22-01022, Mr. Gary W. Feist, Executor, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108
NOTICE OF TRUST ADMINISTRATION
The Trustee named below gives notice to the death of MICHAEL STEFANCHIK, late of Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on December 10, 2021. During his lifetime, the said Decedent established the Michaek Stefanchik and Kathleen M. Stefanchik Revocable Trust under Trust Instrument dated September 19, 2002, as the same has been amended. The Trustee requests all persons having claims against the Decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the Decedent to make payment to him without delay: Michael J. Stefanchik, Trustee 376 Golden Grove Road Baden, PA 15005 or to: Todd A Fuller, Atty. Brenlove & Fuller, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017
COURIER CLASSIFIEDS
Estate of ROBERT ALLEN EISLER, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 04315 of 2020, Carol E. Brown, Executor, 664 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Notice for Publication
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of VIOLA FLANAGAN BENNETT, deceased, Case No.022200916: Notice is hereby given that on February 9, 2022 a Petition was filed by Harold Vincent Bennett to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Viola Flanagan Bennett deceased, in the real estate located at 7123 Kedron Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 and determine that fee simple title is in Harold Vincent Bennett. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 20 days of the filing date, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that Viola Flanagan Bennett’s title is in Petitioner.
Notice for Publication
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of DONALD NIEHL, deceased, Case No.021906578: Notice is hereby given that on February 9, 2022 a Petition was filed by Michael Niehl to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Donald Niehl deceased, in the real estate located at 109 10th Street, Turtle Creek, PA 15145 and determine that fee simple title is in Michael Niehl. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 20 days of the filing date, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that Donald Niehl’s title is in Petitioner.
Notice for Publication
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of OCIE L. PAIGE, JR., deceased, Case No.022200918: Notice is hereby given that on February 9, 2022 a Petition was filed by Daphne Denise Paige to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Ocie L. Paige, Jr., deceased, in the real estate located at 1018 Jefferson Street, McKeesport, PA 15132 and determine that fee simple title is in Daphne Denise Paige. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 20 days of the filing date, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that Ocie L. Paige’s title is in Petitioner.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on March 9, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid Number Bid Name 1
B211183AR
Used Antifreeze Removal Service
2
B220212
NVR Equipment- March Camera System
3
B220215A
Asbestos Free Brake Blocks
4
B220216A
Coach Replacement Parts - Body
5
B220217
Brake Disc Pads - LRV
To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3rxaevT To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 228 243 893# 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 via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am February 24, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3skoerT To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 394 680 304# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority 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 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 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 Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices Estate of WILLIAM G. QUINLAN A/K/A QUINLAN, WILLIAM GRAY, Deceased of Shaler Township, Estate No. 01015 of 2022, Beth A. Kusen, 4230 Woodwind Ln, Allison Park, PA 15101 ,Executor, or to MICHAEL J. SALDAMARCO, ESQ., STE. 100, 908 PERRY HWY. PITTSBURGH PA 15229 Estate of WILLIE MAE MURPHY, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 06385 of 2020, Judy Johnson ,Executor, 6433 Winslow Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Estate of ANTHONY J. MAOLA, Deceased of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-22-00703, Jospeh F. Maola, Executor, or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty; 6 Clairton Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Estate of CLARENCE W. GARNER, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-22-01163, Terrance Zinger, Executor, 1061 Sarah Street, Bridgeville, PA 15017, or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST MANCHESTER BIDWELL CORPORATION The Generalist performs a broad range of H.R. functions, including recruitment, interviewing, new-hire onboarding, benefits administration, HRIS management, maintenance of personnel files, ensuring compliance with employment laws, preparing and generating reports, and staff training. BS degree in Human Resources or in a related field is required. Must possess a working knowledge of payroll software and Microsoft Office applications. Must be able to manage multiple priorities, be detail oriented and very organized. Strong written and verbal communications skills are required. Must be willing to pursue H.R. certification. Send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to: HR@manchesterbidwell.org EOE
NOTICE TO BIDDERS PA 18-13 LATROBE MANOR CITY OF LATROBE – WESTMORELAND COUNTY INVITATION FOR BIDS INTERIOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT ·GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT – PA 18-13-01-2022.1 GC ·ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT – PA 18-13-01-2022.2 EC Westmoreland County Housing Authority is requesting construction bids for the referenced project through sealed bids which will be received by the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, until March 23, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. (eastern standard time). A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2022 at 1:30 P.M. (eastern standard time) at Latrobe Manor –1013 Jefferson Street, Latrobe, PA 15650. E lect r onic Bid Docum ent s ar e available f or downloading at www.wchaonline.com. Bidders are required to register online at the www.wchaonline.com to view bid documents. Plan holders proposing to bid shall also register their intent to submit a bid with Westmoreland County Housing Associates, Inc. via email to lindam@wchaonline. com and eriks@wchaonline.com in accordance with the bid requirements. Westmoreland County Housing Authority, Michael L. Washowich, Executive Director / Contracting Officer
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ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1744 CHARTIERS CREEK – OHIO JUNCTION ACCESS SHAFT IMPROVEMENTS Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1744 – Chartiers Creek – Ohio Junction Access Shaft Improvements shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Friday, March 25, 2022 and then shall be publicly opened and read. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via a video conference call on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. Prospective Bidders are encouraged to attend this meeting. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) is required. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond equal to the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Julia Spicher, ALCOSAN, via email to julia.spicher@alcosan.org . Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email to contract.clerks@alcosan.org . The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte, P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
CITY EDITOR The New Pittsburgh Courier is seeking a highly motivated individual with a sense of urgency in developing engaging general news and feature content to be our City Editor. The successful candidate must be an engaging storyteller with strong reporting, writing, and editing skills and the ability to work within a fast-paced production and marketing environment while maintaining high ethical standards and meeting deadlines. Our ideal candidate should also be able to produce quality photographs to supplement their stories and have graphic layout skills. Duties will include: working with editorial leadership to determine priorities for daily news coverage and reporting geared towards the Black community for both digital and print publication; and daily collaboration across a close-knit team, assisting leadership in the planning and managing of day-to-day operations, proofreading and editing copy for compliance with policies, style, and tone; and attending events, panels and speaking engagements on behalf of the publication. This is a full-time position offering compensation commensurate to experience. Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and more. Please send a letter of interest and resume to jobs@newpittsburghcourier.com CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
MARCH 2-8, 2022
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LEGAL ADVERTISING
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR MOVING SERVICES IFB #450-02-22 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):
ACHA-1671, COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY VENDING SERVICES Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is seeking Proposals from qualified vendors to provide commercial laundry vending service, per specifications for it’s locations throughout Allegheny County. ACHA is now conducting all competitive solicitation on an internet-based eProcurement Housing Marketplace. ACHA is paying for all costs for the use of the Marketplace so, there will be no additional charges for your company to use the Marketplace to download documents or submit responses to ACHA. AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Guy Phillips, Purchasing Manager Telephone: (412)402-2435, E-mail: gphillips@achsng.com. H O W T O O B TA I N T H E R F P DOCUMENTSONTHEEPROCUREMENT MARKETPLACE: 1. Access ha.internationaleprocurement.com (no “www”). 2. Click on the “Login” button in the upper left side. 3. Follow the listed directions. 4. If you have any problems in accessing or registering on the eProcurement Marketplace, please call customer support at (866)526-9266. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: No Pre-Proposal Conference: If you have any questions regarding this proposal or any of the documents, use the “Question and Answer area in the eProcurement Housing Marketplace Website. QUESTION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE Monday, March 14st, 2022, 10:00 AM ET HOW TO FULLY RESPOND TO THIS RFP BY SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL: 1. As directed within Section 3.2.1 of the RFP document, submit proposed pricing, where provided for, within the eProcurement Marketplace. 2. As instructed within Section 3.0 of the RFP document, submit One (1) Original and Three (3) copies of your “hard copy” proposal to the Agency Administrative Office. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE * Monday, March 21st, 2022, 3:00 PM ET 301 Chartiers Ave, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 (The proposed costs must be entered within the aforementioned eProcurement Marketplace and the “hard copy” documentation must be received in-hand and time-stamped by the Agency by no later than 3:00 PM ET on this date). The Authority encourages responses from §3 business concerns, small firms, minority firms and firms that have not previously performed work for the ACHA. The Allegheny County Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any and all submissions.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Port Authority is seeking a Senior Accountant to function as the supervising senior operating accountant responsible for: assisting the Manager of Operating Accounting in the utilization of PeopleSoft Financial Systems; participating in the preparation of the monthly financial statements and yearly audit; assisting in the review of Port Authority’s accounts receivables; performing various cash reconciliations and learning the Manager’s functions to provide back-up. Essential Functions: •Supervise the Accounting Assistant – AR Specialist positions: Duties to include: • Oversees and assists in the review of customer statements • Works with the legal department when necessary to collect payments • Reviews the work of the accounting assistants to ensure accuracy • Assists in the collection of aged accounts receivables • Ensures all revenues are received and recorded each month. • Utilize PeopleSoft Financials to perform the following: • Enter journal entries • Reconcile payroll balance sheet accounts • Reconcile various bank accounts • Run queries on a as needed basis • Run envision reports on a as needed • Create invoices for the FBI, Regional partners, Contract Services as well as any billings to third parties. Job requirements include: •BA/BS Degree in Accounting, or Finance from an accredited school. •Minimum of five (5) years accounting experience. •Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, and Excel. •Professional and effective communication skills. Preferred attributes: •CPA or Master’s degree in accounting •Experience in financial statement closing processes. •PeopleSoft experience. •Familiarity with Port Authority’s account classification. •One (1) year supervisory experience.
PROJECT ENGINEER - ELECTRICAL Port Authority is seeking a Project Engineer – Electrical to be responsible for managing design and construction of electrical projects on Authority’s systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants and contractors. Provides engineering and technical assistance in the maintenance and operation of various electrical systems including SCADA, power distribution, lighting, networking, HVAC systems, fire protection, safety, and related equipment. Essential Functions: •Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction, and closeout of funded capital projects within established scope, schedule, budget, and quality metrics. Provides assistance to Port Authority personnel on electrical issues and activities pertaining to all capital projects. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. •Responsible to review drawings, specifications, and contract provisions for com pliance wit h Aut hor it y requirements and standards in the preparation of construction and procurement documents. Reviews and coordinates drawings and specifications of electrical systems to include SCADA, power distribution, lighting, networking, HVAC systems, escalators, elevators, fire protection, safety, and related equipment in consideration of the impacts related to operational facilities, systems, and infrastructure. • Maintains overview of the electrical systems placed in the Authority’s operations to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of electrical engineering designs. Investigates and reports on problems that have to do with electrical systems and subsystems, their r elat ed user needs and requirements. Job requirements include: •BS Degree, Major in Electrical Engineering, or related engineering field from an accredited school. •Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in project oversight, including design and construction of job-related work •Valid driver’s license in any state or commonwealth with ability to obtain PA driver’s license within sixty (60) days of employment. •Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. •Effective and professional communication skills. Preferred attributes: •Experience in design and/or construction of electrical equipment in facilities and/or public infrastructure and systems. •Registered Professional Engineer (PE) or Engineer-in-Training (FE) actively pursuing Professional Engineering licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. •Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER ELECTRICAL Port Authority is seeking a Senior Project Engineer – Electrical to be responsible for engineering and project support for electrical related aspects of Authority systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants, contractors, and external stakeholder representatives. Provides engineering and technical support in the maintenance and operation of various electrical systems including: SCADA, power distribution, lighting, networking, HVAC systems, escalators, elevators, fire protection, safety and related equipment. Essential Functions: •Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction and closeout of funded capital projects within established scope, schedule, budget and quality metrics. Provides guidance and assistance to Port Authority personnel on electrical issues and activities pertaining to all capital projects. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. •Responsible to review drawings, specifications, and contract provisions for compliance with Authority and outside agency requirements and standards in the preparation of construction and procurement documents. Reviews and coordinates drawings and specifications of electrical systems to include SCADA, power distribution, lighting, n e t w o r k i n g , H VA C s y s t e m s , escalators, elevators, fire protection, safety, and related equipment in consideration of the impacts related to operational facilities, systems and infrastructure. Job requirements include: •BS Degree, Major in Electrical Engineering, or related engineering field from an accredited school. •Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in managing projects, including design and construction of job-related work. • P r o f e s s i o n a l a n d e ff e c t i v e communication skills. • Valid driver’s license in any state or commonwealth with ability to obtain PA driver’s license within sixty (60) days of employment. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. Preferred attributes: •Experience in design and/or construction of electrical equipment in facilities and/or public infrastructure and systems. •Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment. •Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:
Alex Kumnik Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AKumnik@portauthority.org EOE
Moving Services The documents will be available no later than February 28, 2022 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 AM on March 22, 2022. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on March 22, 2022 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on March 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 999 7648 8636 Passcode: 564626 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Frank Aggazio, Executive Director
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
DIRECTOROFCAMPUSDEVELOPMENT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY Penn State has an opportunity for a top frontline fundraiser in the role of Director of Campus Development for its Greater Allegheny Campus. The University is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the success of a world-class research institution. We are dedicated to fostering institutional change required to realize a more socially just University and we value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. The campus is known for its diversity with approximately 43% of students and 17% of faculty/staff coming from underrepresented groups. The campus also places priority on strong academics, student support, community outreach, economic development and a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion programming. To review detailed responsibilities and requirements, please visit: https://recruitment.giveto.psu.edu/ HUMAN RESOURCE 211 SPECIALIST UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PITTSBURGH OFFICE The HR/211 Specialist administers human resources and timesheets for PA 211 Southwest and assists with the human resources function for the United Way of Southwest PA. Primary responsibility for recruiting employees to staff the 211 department. Works closely with temporary agencies and internal staffing sites to fully staff 211. Manages recruiting to onboarding of new hires. Processes submitted timesheets and invoice reconciliation. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in human resources are required. 2-3 years in experience in human resources including recruiting and onboarding preferred. Visit our website at https://uwswpa.org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically. The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Armstrong counties.
REGIONAL PROCESSING/ COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PITTSBURGH OFFICE Responsible for assisting with dayto-day processing of campaign transactions, including the coordination of timely intake, logging and recording of campaign related information for pledges, adjustments, and designation changes. The position is responsible for preparing and sending communication to our donor and agency partners. The position will assist with donor and agency information updates in the campaign management systems using data standards with strong emphasis on quality assurance, error resolution and customer support. The Customer Service and Processing Communications Specialist creates a positive first impression of the United Way for visitors and callers. A primary goal of this position is to make guests feel comfortable and valued while in our office. High School Graduate with a minimum of three years’ experience are required. Business School Graduate preferred. Visit our website at https://uwswpa.org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically. The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Armstrong counties. SENIOR AR/VR DEVELOPER YinzCam, Inc. seeks Senior AR/VR Developer in Pittsburgh, PA, to create new augmented & virtual reality exps for professional sports teams/ stadiums by analyzing user needs & sftwr req’ts & applying principles & techniques of comp. sci., engineering & math. analysis. Must be willing & able to travel up to 10%. Apply online at https://www.yinzcam.com SENIOR HARDWARE ENGINEER HITACHI RAIL STS USA, INC. is seeking a Senior Hardware Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Senior Hardware Engineer will be required to Develop cost effective and innovative products and platforms with longevity, versatility, and inter-operability through the use of railroad specific industry standards. Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com/
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Amy Giammanco Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AGiammanco@portauthority.org EOE SAFETY OFFICER – RAIL OPERATIONS & FACILITIES
Port Authority is seeking a Safety Officer – Rail Operations & Facilities to provide technical and field support to the Deputy Chief Safety Officer and all Rail Division Management as needed. Essential Functions: •Assists Division Directors and Deputy Chief Safety Officer in identification and resolution of employee and operations safety issues. • Provide safety support during all construction projects including design/specification review, site in spections and regulatory reviews. • Conduct periodic reviews of work zones along the rail alignment to ensure compliance with Rail SOP’s. • Wo r k w i t h R a i l O p e r a t i o n s a n d Maintenance groups to address safety issues concerning equipment and facilities. • Conduct periodic reviews at various rail locations to determine operational and maintenance rule compliance. • Assist the Director of Rail Service Delivery and Deputy CSO with periodic reviews and updates of the rail rulebook and SOP’s. Job requirements include: • BA/BS degree in Safety, Business Administration, Analytics or directly related field from an accredited school. • Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in safety, emergency response, investigative/ police work, analytical or related field. • Ability to complete the National Safety Council’s Advanced Safety Certification course within one (1) year of hire. • Effective and professional communication skills including report writing. • Valid driver’s license. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Preferred attributes: • BA/BS in Safety Science, Occupational Safety and Health, Environment Health and safety or related field from an accredited school. • Current holder of Transit Safety and Security Certificate (TSI). • Experience in State Safety Oversight of Rail Transit. • Experience in program compliance work and corrective action plans. • Mass/rail transit experience, and especially in a union environment. • Qualified accident and injury prevention provider as defined by Pennsylvania Worker’s Compensation Regulations. • Certified safety professional or associate safety professional designation.
Alex Kumnik Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AKumnik@portauthority.org EOE MT. LEBANON, PA POLICE OFFICER TESTING MT. LEBANON POLICE DEPARTMENT will be conducting a physical agility and written exam for POLICE OFFICER on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Starting at $71,790 annually. 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 https://mtlebanon.bamboohr. com/jobs/view.php?id=99. Deadline ending no later than 4:00 pm, March 11, 2022.
Mt. Lebanon provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment based on competence, merit, performance, and business needs. We are committed to valuing the diversity of all individuals without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national ori gin, age, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Reasonable accommodations for the needs of otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities will be made upon request to the Human Resource Office at 412-343-3625 or bcross@mtlebanon.org.
Danielle Jacobson Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 DJacobson@portauthority.org EOE
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT Applications for Police Officer with the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Department of City Hall Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. For additional information or an application, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” Quick Link on the City’s website at www.altoonapa.gov. Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than Noon on Friday, March 18, 2022. Human Resources Department 1301 12th Street, Suite 400 Altoona, PA 16601 The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:
To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129
ATTEND THE ECS VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR: MARCH 19 The Environmental Charter School (ECS) is hosting a Virtual Career Fair on Saturday, March 19 from 9-10:30 a.m. for potential applicants to meet the staff and learn about the school culture. ECS is seeking innovative and highly motivated individuals for a variety of positions for the 2022-2023 school year as the district grows to a K-11 public charter school. RSVP by March 17 at 11:59 p.m. at ecspgh.org/careers to guarantee your spot at the ECS Career Fair.
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
THE HISTORY OF BLACK JUSTICES AND JUDGES IN PENNSLVANIA’S STATEWIDE APPELLATE COURTS by Judge Doris Smith-Ribner For New Pittsburgh Courier
In the early 20th century, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, noted scholar, author, journalist and historian, launched what would become a national holiday to encourage understanding by all people of the contributions of Black people to this society. Years later, in 1976, the concept grew, by Presidential proclamation, into a month-long celebration—Black History Month. Today, Black History Month is a time to reflect upon, honor and celebrate contributions of Blacks to this society and the achievements scored in many arenas, albeit far too few, including the judiciary. It is especially so when some of the forces of our times seek
to reverse gains made by Blacks who continue to fight for equality, fairness and justice for all. As a former Commonwealth Court Judge, it gives me honor and great pride to reflect principally upon those who paved the way for others to follow. Just as were many of their White peers, Black lawyers and judges were also advocates for a fair, just, impartial and independent judiciary and committed to ensuring that the system of justice in this Commonwealth lived up to its constitutional mandates. Despite its past, however, and the slim number of those appointed and elected to date, this state can count among Black statewide Justices and Judges some of the most heroic history makers of all time.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court – Officially Established in 1722 – Only one Black Justice Elected
Chief Justice Robert N.C. Nix Jr. (Philadelphia) in 1972 became the first Black ever elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the highest appellate court in the state. Governor Milton Shapp appointed the Chief Justice to the Supreme Court in 1971, followed by his election to a full 10-year term beginning in 1972. To this day, Chief Justice Nix remains the only Black elected to the Supreme Court in its 250-year history, the oldest appellate court in the nation. Although he served as a Justice on the Court from 1972 to 1996, his history and legacy will be that of becoming the first Black Chief Justice to lead a High Court in any state in the nation. He served for twelve years as Chief Justice from 1984 to 1996 and served a term as president of the National Conference of Chief Justices. After graduation from Villanova University at the top of his class with a degree in Philosophy, Chief Justice Nix entered the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Upon graduation from law school, he then began practicing law with his father, Congressman Robert N.C. Nix Sr. in the firm “Nix, Rhodes & Nix”, where he fought vigorously for racial justice and equity in employment and housing and on many other fronts at a time when racial discrimination was rampant in Philadelphia and the state. Chief Justice Nix was elected to
the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in 1967 and served there until 1971, and his father Congressman Nix was elected in 1958 as the first Black from Pennsylvania to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his time on the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Nix endured challenges even within the judicial system that appeared by many to be racially motivated; yet, he handled his challenges with dignity, a calm demeanor and grace that helped to diffuse more conflict, maintain judicial decorum and demonstrate genuine concern for the effective administration of the justice system. His experience as a civil rights lawyer and advocate no doubt strengthened his resistance to discrimination and injustice wherever he saw it. This was evidenced by his “vociferous” dissent to the Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling in In Re: Matter of Madame Justice Juanita Kidd Stout requiring her removal from the Court when she turned 70. After living a remarkable life, Chief Justice Nix passed away in 2003.
served until her Supreme Court appointment. When it ended, she returned to Common Pleas Court as a senior judge. In 2012, the Philadelphia City Council entered a resolution renaming the Criminal Justice Center in her honor: “Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice.” Justice Stout passed away in 1998.
Justice Cynthia Ackron Baldwin (Pittsburgh) was the second Black female to serve on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and the first one elected to the court, where she served from 1990 to 2006. In February 2006, Governor Edward Rendell appointed her to the Supreme Court where she served from February 2006 through December 2007 and was the second Black female justice in the Court’s history. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State University and then taught English at the same university before earning her law degree from the Duquesne University School of Law,
Institution. Just recently, in 2022, Justice Baldwin became the first Black chair of the Fulbright Association Board. She is a member of the International Association of Women Judges.
Pennsylvania Superior Court – Established in 1895 – Four Blacks Elected
Judge Theodore O. Spaulding (Philadelphia) was the first Black man to serve on a statewide court in Pennsylvania, which was the Superior Court and one of the two intermediate appellate courts in the state unified judicial system; it hears appeals in civil and criminal cases. We owe homage to Judge Spaulding for paving the way. In 1966, Governor William Scranton appointed him to the Superior Court, one of the two intermediate statewide appellate courts in the state. Thereafter, he won a full 10-year term in 1967 that ended in early retirement due to illness. In 1953, Judge Spaulding
won a seat on the Philadelphia Municipal Court in a hotly contested race that, as a Republican, he was not expected to win. History reflects, however, that he was the first Black man to win statewide office in PA when elected to Superior Court. He served on the NAACP’s national board for over 20 years, collaborating with the Philadelphia NAACP to fight for voting rights, racial equity in housing and other areas, along with school segregation and on-going civil rights issues plaguing the city. Judge Spaulding passed away in 1974.
Judge Justin Morris Johnson (Pittsburgh)
Justice Juanita Kidd Stout (Philadelphia) is the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Governor Robert P. Casey appointed her in 1988, and she thus became the first Black woman to serve on any state Supreme Court in the nation. She served from 1988 to 1989 but nonetheless left an indelible mark on the Court. In 1959, Governor David Lawrence appointed her to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Thereafter, she was elected to a full term, becoming the first Black woman to win a judgeship in any court in the nation. Ten years later in 1969, she won a seat on the Common Pleas Court where she
an extensive amount of time to civic and community affairs and most notably was a Fulbright Scholar teaching in Zimbabwe and has assisted developing nations on their anti-corruption projects through the Brookings
was the second Black man elected to Superior Court, and he served there from 1980 to 2007. He practiced law in Pittsburgh after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 1962 and joining the law firm with his well-known father Attorney Oliver Livingstone Johnson and brother, retired Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Livingstone Johnson. When he joined the firm, it was renamed “Johnson, Johnson & Johnson” where he remained for 15 years and then served in other positions before he was appointed to the bench in 1980 by Governor Dick Thornburgh. Judge Johnson helped to establish the Homer S. Brown Law Association in Allegheny County and the PBA
Minority Bar Committee and served, as well, as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University Law School. The Supreme Court appointed him in 1969 as a member to the PA Board of Law Examiners where he served until 1984 and chaired the board for six of those years. After college, he joined the U.S. Air Force and earned the rank of Major during 14 years of active and reserve duty. He passed away in 2021.
attorney for the PA Human Relations Commission, an associate professor at Point Park University, and, since retirement, she serves as Of Counsel for Independence Law Center of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. She also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Waynesburg University. Judge Allen continues to serve in various roles as an advocate for children and youth.
Judge Lillian Harris Ransom (Philadelphia) served as a judge on Superior Court by appointment from Governor Tom Wolf on June 13, 2016, with confirmation by the state Senate on June 27, 2016. Her interim term ended on December 31, 2017 but she remained on Superior Court as a senior judge for part of the following year. She then returned to Common Pleas Court where she began her judicial service as a trial judge in 1995. Judge Ransom earned her undergraduate degree from Hampton University, her J.D. degree from St. Louis University and master’s degree from Temple University. While serving on Common Pleas Court, Judge Ransom presided over fami-
was elected in 2017 to Superior Court. In 2011, she was elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and served there until her Superior Court election. Judge Nichols was a Legislative Assistant to former Philadelphia Councilwoman Augusta Clarke, an Assistant City Solicitor, a Dep-
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court – Established in 1968 – Three Blacks Elected
Judge Robert W. Williams, Jr. (Philadelphia) is the first Black man elected to PA Commonwealth Court in 1979, the other intermediate appellate court that hears appeals involving local and state government matters. Judge Williams served on the court until 1985 when he resigned to run for Philadelphia District Attorney. He graduated from Howard University and the Boston University School of Law, and, after law school, he worked as a trial deputy and chief of the homicide division in the District Attorney’s Office from 1958 to 1963. In 1970, he became a Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court judge and served there
until 1979 when elected to Commonwealth Court. A skilled U.S. Army Air Force navigator during World War II, Judge Williams is a product of the well-known Philadelphia law firm “Norris, Schmidt, Green, Harris, Higginbotham & Associates.” He is proud that his friend and colleague, then U.S. Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall, moved for his admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court in 1967. Soon thereafter, Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall became the first Black to serve as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
became the first Black woman elected in 1987 to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on which she served from 1988 to 2009. In addition, she is the first Black woman to win statewide office in Pennsylvania and the first to serve as a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas by interim appointment from Governor Dick Thornburgh. Judge Smith-Ribner earned her undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and its School of Law. After graduation she became a partner in the well-established “Law Offices of Byrd R. Brown.” He was a skilled and prominent civil rights, criminal and personal injury trial lawyer and the son of Judge Homer S. Brown, civil rights leader and first Black judge in Allegheny County elected in 1956. The law firm also included a highly respected associate who was the first Black Speaker of the PA House of Representatives and the first Black to serve as Speaker in any state leg-
islature in the nation: mentor, Honorable K. Leroy Irvis. She has served on Pitt Law School’s Board of Visitors for many years; was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to the state’s first PA Justice Reinvestment Work Group (U.S. Justice Department Initiative); was appointed by President Obama as a Commissioner on the Advisory Commission for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans; and serves as a member of Lincoln University’s Board of Trustees. Over 20 years ago, she developed the Commonwealth Court mediation program approved by the Board of Judges that continues to the present time.
Judge Johnny Butler (Philadelphia) was appointed by Governor Edward Rendell to serve two interim terms on Commonwealth Court from 2008 to 2011. A graduate of Howard University and the Howard University School of Law, Judge Butler held various significant government and public interest legal positions. He served as Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Associate Regional Attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Philadelphia District Director and Acting General Counsel of EEOC. He spent
eight years as Secretary of the PA Department of Labor & Industry and served as of counsel to the Philadelphia Law Firm of Booth & Tucker before ascending to the statewide appellate court. He was the second Black male to serve on Commonwealth Court and the third Black to serve in the court’s history.
Judge Lori A. Dumas (Philadelphia)
ly and criminal matters. At the time of her appointment, she was the Homicide Team Leader assigned to facilitate and organize the re-sentencing of juveniles whose mandatory life prison sentences were overturned on appeal. Judge Ransom was the fourth Black and second Black female to serve on Superior Court since 1895.
Judge Carolyn H. Nichols (Philadelphia) where she was on Law Review. Upon retiring from the Supreme Court, she became a partner at Duane Morris LLC, and the first Vice President and General Counsel for Penn State University, where she had become the first Black woman to chair the Penn State Board of Trustees. She has devoted
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Champion of Social Justice and Equality Award in 2019, and in 2018, she received the NBA/Judicial Council/ Clifford Scott Green Chapter’s Pinnacle Award for her service to the Common Pleas Court. She is the fifth Black and third Black female to serve on Superior Court.
Judge Doris Smith-Ribner (Pittsburgh)
Judge Cheryl Allen (Pittsburgh) was the first Black woman elected in 2007 to the Superior Court and served there with distinction from 2008 until her retirement in 2015. She was appointed to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 1990 and was elected to a full 10-year term in 1991 where she remained until 2007. She earned her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law. She served as a Pittsburgh Public School Teacher before becoming a lawyer and began her legal career as a staff attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services. Thereafter, she was an Assistant County Solicitor in the Allegheny County Law Department, an
Affairs for the Office of the Mayor of Philadelphia and General Counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority. She earned her J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Temple University Beasley School of Law and holds an M.B.A. degree from Eastern University. Rutgers Law School BLSA honored her with the
uty Secretary of External
was elected in 2021 to Commonwealth Court. She served almost two decades on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and for a majority of that time in Family Court–Juvenile Division. She was instrumental in creating the Juvenile Human Trafficking Court to provide services to young victims of human trafficking. Judge Dumas has been involved with various boards and organizations, including among others, Women Against Abuse, NAACP, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Northwest Victim Services and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is a member of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and she sits on the Elder Justice Task Force of
the First Judicial District. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Duke University and returned home to Philadelphia to practice law and serve her community after earning her J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is the 12th Black to serve on the statewide appellate courts, the seventh Black female to do so and the second Black female elected to Commonwealth Court. (Judge Smith-Ribner served on Commonwealth Court for more than two decades from 19882009. She retired from Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court)