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MAY 5-11, 2021

Bishop Loran Mann, a trailblazer and Pittsburgh icon, dies at 74

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Church Of God In Christ.

Six and a half million members. More than 100 countries.

What are the odds that a person could elevate all the way up to a board of such distinction as the COGIC General Board, which consists of just 12 Bishops, responsible for establishing and executing policies for the membership, as well as sustaining and perpetuating spiritual order within the Church?

But then again, we’re talking about The Right

Gone, but never forgotten

Reverend Loran Edward Mann. The man who was determined to start a church under a tent in 1969 with just 19 members. Today, there are hundreds who call themselves current members of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, at a can’t-miss, $1.2 million facility on the corner of Larimer Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard in East Liberty.

Bishop Mann, who was loved, revered and admired, died on Sunday, May 2. He was 74.

Just weeks before his passing, Bishop Mann indeed was elected to a four-

Courier Staff Writer

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DARRYL SMITH AND LYNN MCMILLER proudly wear a sweatshirt displaying the photo of their grandson, Aaron Wade Jr. Wade was 18 years old when he was killed in Duquesne Heights three years ago. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)

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Father turns tragedy into helping young African Americans prepare for their future

by Rob Taylor Jr.

NEW

year term on the COGIC’s General Board. The congratulatory messages for Bishop Mann at the time were innumerable.

Prior to the General Board elections, Bishop Mann had received support and endorsements from many in the COGIC family, including Bishop Felton M. Smith Jr., of Tennessee.

“He is a consummate leader, a man of impeccable lifestyle, he’s a preacher of righteousness, a lover of God’s people,” Bishop Smith said of Bishop Mann during a COGIC virtual event on

There it was, clear as day, the first “key finding” in a 2019 report commissioned by the local Buhl Foundation on the topic, “Driver’s Licensing Suspensions And The Impact On Young People In Pennsylvania”: “The violation rate for unlicensed driving is highest in zip codes in which the youth are predominately Black, which suggests that licensing hurdles result in fewer Black youth with a valid license.”

And the second key finding? “...Youth living in predominately Black zip codes are more likely to receive a suspension for either driving without a license or committing a minor traffic violation than are their counterparts in predominately White zip codes.”

Aaron Wade Sr. made sure that his son, Aaron Wade Jr., obtained his

driver’s license. Aaron Wade Sr. told the story to the New Pittsburgh Courier how he didn’t obtain his valid driver’s license until he was in his mid-tolate 20s, and that most of his friends growing up in Beltzhoover had a similar situation. Sometimes it

COURIER EXCLUSIVE was because there weren’t people around to give them guidance on how to pass the Pa. Knowledge Test, which now requires a person to get 15 of the 18 questions correctly to obtain their permit. Even after passing that test, sometimes there weren’t people around to help them pass the actual Driver’s Test, which includes the dreaded parallel parkSEE A’S VISION A4

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

'Pittsburgh lost a Lion.'

- Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto

THE FAMILY OF BISHOP MANN—Loran Mann II, First Lady Barbara Mann, Bishop Loran Mann, Tiana Mann, in this photo from 2009.

BISHOP LORAN MANN DIES; PITTSBURGH TRAILBLAZER, ICON BISHOP MANN FROM A1

Feb. 17. “And it’s been my joy to know him these many years and to see his fidelity, his devotion, his loyalty to the church and the people of God...The Lord has prepared him for such a time as this. We need these kind of salient thinking individuals for such a challenging time in which we live. He has my full endorsement.”

The New Pittsburgh Courier learned that Bishop Mann was born in Ocala, Fla., a small city nestled between Tallahassee and Orlando, on Aug. 8, 1946. His family moved to Pittsburgh in 1959, but Bishop Mann recalled in a 2019 interview with Cornerstone Television Network how he was reluctant to move from his hometown, away from so many of his friends.

“I heard the voice of the

Lord say that he wanted me in Pittsburgh,” Bishop Mann said in the interview.

“I had no idea then, what he had in mind.”

Bishop Mann attended both Westinghouse High School and the University of Pittsburgh, and later became the first African American newscaster on KDKA Radio, in 1968, around age 22. He spent 10 years at KDKA Radio, and when the opportunity came for him to jump to television full-time, he took the leap to WPXI-TV (Channel 11). It’s there where “Loran Mann” became a household name, reporting any and everywhere at any hour of the day or night, his booming voice commanding attention in every report.

After more than 20 years at WPXI, Bishop Mann retired from TV and made sure his ministry was full-time. In

1992, Bishop Mann led Pentecostal Temple COGIC into ownership in the broadcasting industry with the acquisition of WGBN-AM (1150), which was the city’s first 24-hour-a-day Gospel music station. In 2006, Bishop Mann became a founding member of the “Rejoice Musical Soulfood Network,” which offers Gospel music programming by satellite to stations across the country.

In 2011, Bishop Mann, who holds an honorary doctorate degree from Waynesburg University, was elevated to the Episcopacy and appointed Bishop of the state of Vermont Jurisdiction on June 2. He was consecrated to the office on Nov. 7, 2011, during the 104th International Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ in St. Louis.

In 2009, the Courier covered the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Pentecostal Temple COGIC, which was held at the Churchill Valley

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Country Club. The members reminisced on the church congregation’s humble beginnings—Bishop Mann was originally the pastor of First Baptist Church in Braddock Hills, but then left the church to start his own Pentecostal church; 19 members from First Baptist joined him. The members eventually settled on a church home at 1675 Laketon Rd. in Wilkinsburg, in 1971. Looking back, the members recalled how that building had “no air conditioning, limited seating and even fewer parking spaces,” BISHOP LORAN MANN, right, with Gospel music superstar Donnie the Courier’s report read. McClurkin, in a photo from 2018.

“Many members testified that there is no place like home when it comes to Pen- shed love onto our city. A the church as a pastor and man who lived by the rule of as a Bishop, he was very tecostal Temple.” well-known throughout the Some may remember compassion. A friend.”

State Rep. Ed Gainey, country and the world.”

Bishop Mann’s many outPBMF President Brian door “tent revivals” that he whose House District inheld over the years, as all cludes the area where Pen- Cook said Bishop Mann’s were welcome to hear God’s tecostal Temple COGIC passing “is not only a loss for resides, said: “CommUnity. the church community, but message.

News of Bishop Mann’s Please pray for the family of for those who enjoyed his passing was confirmed by Bishop Loran Mann. A great television and radio reports. the Bishop’s immediate man was called home. Rest He was a trusted newsperfamily via Facebook, on May With God Bishop Mann. We son and will be missed for his pioneering inspiration 2. Since then, the condolenc- truly love you. Peace.”

Dee Thompson, who and his dedication to comes for Bishop Mann and his family have poured in from worked with Bishop Mann munity coverage.” at WPXI, said in a PittsAnd COGIC Presiding all over the country.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, rep- burgh Black Media Feder- Bishop J. Drew Sheard simresenting Pa.’s 18th Con- ation news release, May 2, ply said: “To know (Bishgressional District, extend- that “Loran was a pioneer op Mann) was to love him. ed his “deepest condolences in journalism, not only in His presence will be surely to the friends and family of Pittsburgh’s Black commu- missed by all.”

Bishop Mann is survived Bishop Loran Mann...He nity but also the community at-large; and not only by his wife, Barbara; and will be missed.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill in Pittsburgh, but nation- two children, Loran II and Peduto said: “Pittsburgh ally. In fact, he was one of Tiana.

As of Tuesday afternoon, lost a Lion. To the family of the first Black journalists Bishop Loran Mann, thank in radio and television in May 4, funeral arrangeyou for sharing him with Pittsburgh and because of ments had not been publicly all of us. A gentle giant who his outstanding work in announced.

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MAY 5-11, 2021

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‘A’s Vision’ strives to help young African A’S VISION FROM A1

ing.

Still, Aaron Wade Sr. said, he and others eventually learned how to drive in their early 20s, but didn’t have a valid driver’s license. That posed another problem: Getting pulled over by the police and being cited.

“It’s a domino effect,” Wade Sr. said of how not getting that proper license as a young adult affected him and other African Americans in Pittsburgh. “It pretty much happened to my whole circle (of friends).”

That’s why he was determined that his young son, his only son, Aaron Wade Jr., would learn to drive the correct way, and get his license. He made sure his son knew what to expect on the Knowledge Test, took him out on driving excursions, and, by the time he turned 18, Aaron Wade Jr. was excited that he had passed his Driver’s Test, and officially had his license.

Aaron Wade Sr. could see a vision for his son—a valid license keeps the police off your heels, and propels you to a wealth of job opportunities; either in a driving capacity or an ability to get to jobs that may not be on bus line.

It was just a little over three years ago that Aaron Wade Jr. obtained his license.

These days, Aaron Wade Sr. continues to provide that vision for young African Americans in Pittsburgh. He told the Courier it’s what his heart told

AARON WADE SR., shown above with a T-shirt of his nonprofit organization, “A’s Vision.” He began the organization as a way to help young Black youth obtain their driver’s licenses, following the untimely death of his son, Aaron Wade Jr. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.) him to do, trying to make something positive out of the trauma of losing his son, Aaron Wade Jr., to gun violence in Feb. 2018.

He was just 18 years old, a recent graduate of Steel Valley High School who was shot and killed on Plymouth Street in Duquesne Heights.

“He was a very genuine person, a good heart, wasn’t a bad kid; he was a good, loving kid,” Aaron Wade Sr. said of his son.

“Very funny, real outgoing, had a lot of friends... huge smile...”

Charae Wade, Aaron Wade Jr.’s mother, reiterated her son’s outgoing

spirit. “He was always super happy, always playing,” she told the Courier.

“He was loved and he loves.”

May 3, 2021, would have been Aaron Wade Jr.’s 21st birthday. Aaron Wade Sr. has been making sure his son’s life won’t be forgotten, so on Saturday, May 1, the second annual “A’s Vision” Memorial Softball Game and Cookout was held at McKinley Field in Beltzhoover. More than 200 people, kids and adults alike, mainly from the

close-knit Beltzhoover community, came out in fellowship, smacking the softball all around the field, vibing to the music of the DJ, Jesse Carrington, and enjoying a host of food selections, hot off the grill, manned by relative Derek Wade.

Aaron Wade Jr. was born and raised in Beltzhoover, where the Wade family has deep roots. He moved to Munhall when he was 16, Charae Wade said.

Aaron Wade Sr., who is a truck driver, was able

to turn “A’s Vision” into an official nonprofit organization, and since then five African American youths, ages 16-21, have earned their valid driver’s license with guidance from the program. A’s Vision has now expanded to assist those from areas outside of Beltzhoover.

“A valid driver’s license can be a key factor in the ability of young adults to pursue education, access healthcare or gain employment, yet nationally, Black and Latino individuals of driving age are less likely to have a license than their White counterparts,” read part of the Buhl Foundation’s report from April 2019.

Driving without a license in Pennsylvania is labeled as a summary offense with a $200 fine and a suspension of the license of one or two years. Being caught driving without a valid license a second time could result in up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Oftentimes, when the fines start adding up, it’s hard for many African Americans to pay the full restitution.

A proposed solution to this problem, according to the Buhl Foundation’s report, was to have young Pennsylvanians perform community service as an alternate option to paying outstanding fines associated with license suspensions. “With such creative public service programs, communities will benefit from the volunteered time and young people would have a path forward to become gainfully employed, an economic benefit for the individual, community and state,” the report, obtained by the Courier, read. “Such an enlightened approach would SEE A’S VISION A5

DEREK WADE, happily on the grill for the “A’s Vision” Memorial Softball Game and Cookout.

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Americans obtain their driver’s licenses A’S VISION FROM A4

follow improvements in other jurisdictions that include Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, California, South Carolina and Kansas that permit community service or other creative safety valves to alleviate the burdens of a license suspension.”

As “A’s Vision” grows (Aaron Jr.’s nickname was “A”) and helps young adults throughout the city, Charae Wade, his mother, called the May 1 gathering at McKinley Field a “bittersweet moment.” Many people

were wearing the official “A’s Vision” T-shirts, coming up to the family members of Aaron Wade Jr. throughout the sunny Saturday afternoon, in the neighborhood where Aaron Wade Jr. grew up.

“This (crowd) tells me that he touched a lot of people,” Charae Wade told the Courier at the event.

“This is where his roots are, this is where his love comes from, this is what shaped him to be who he was.”

AT THE SOFTBALL GAME AND COOKOUT—In the above photo, it’s Laila, 9, Nyla, 11, and Audai, 10. Below, it’s Wendell Wade Jr. trying his hand at softball, Jennifer Cash Wade (grandmother of Aaron Wade Jr.) with Jesse Carrington, and in the bottom right photo, Charae Wade, Aaron Wade Jr.’s mother, speaks with a person at the cookout. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Vibrant Pittsburgh and Urban Affairs Foundation offering mini-grants to address systemic inequities among the region’s diverse community-based organizations Two Western Pennsylvania champions of diversity — Vibrant Pittsburgh and the Urban Affairs Foundation, which is a part of the Community Relations Council (CRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh — have joined forces to implement this year’s Mini Grants Initiative: Systemic Inequities in the COVID-19 Era, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned.

This fund will promote diverse communities in the Pittsburgh region.

Each organization has committed $25,000 to create a $50,000 pool to fund projects that address the impacts of the pandemic on marginalized groups and/or systemic inequities in the greater Pittsburgh region.

Sabrina Saunders Mosby, President and CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh, said in a release: “Building a more diverse and inclusive region is challenging work, but we don’t have to do it alone. In order to harness lasting change, we work in collaboration with inclusion partners like the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. I’m confident in the impact of our joint efforts to build a more just and equitable region because we are investing directly into communities in order to yield greater results. With the spotlight on systemic inequities and COVID-19 recovery, the 2021 Mini Grants initiative will provide much needed funding to communities doing the inclusion and equity work our region needs to pivot, thrive, and grow.”

Larry Lebowitz, chair of the Community Relations Council (CRC), described the partnership between the Urban Affairs Foundation and Vibrant Pittsburgh, in a release: “The mission of the Jewish Federation’s Urban Affairs Foundation is ‘to foster amicable relationships among ethnic, racial, national, religious, and other groups

in our community.’ We view this partnership with Vibrant Pittsburgh as a way to support diverse communities and their contributions to the vitality of the region.”

Funding through the Vibrant Pittsburgh-Urban Affairs Foundation’s Systemic Inequities in the COVID-19 Era initiative will be available to applicants selected through a competitive proposal process.

Lead organizations must maintain a physical presence in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton Combined Statistical Area and have 501(c)3 non-profit status. Organizations can partner with other nonprofits, academic institutions, religious organizations, community groups, businesses and employee resource groups.

Projects eligible for Mini Grant funding should: • Create opportunities for civic engagement that result in a more inclusive and engaged multicultural region, and • Be collaborative by engaging diverse communities, organizations, or partners.

The term of proposed projects should be one year. The typical range of a grant award is $500$7,500.

Completed grant applications are due by Friday, June 11, and should be submitted electronically at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s grantmaking portal: https://grantmakingportal.smapply.org/ Vibrant Pittsburgh and the Urban Affairs Foundation will announce Mini Grant awardees in August. Past Vibrant Pittsburgh Mini Grants have funded health and human services, housing, education, mentoring, professional networking, social support, welcoming initiatives, and job-connection programs for refugees and immigrants.

Completed grant applications are due by June 11 and should be submitted at: http://grantmakingportal. smapply.org

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CCAC’s Erin McClain named Two-Year College Honors Student of the Year The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Community College of Allegheny County student Erin McClain has been named the 2021 Honors Student of the Year in the Two-Year Institution category by the Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC).

The NRHC annually recognizes two students as Student of the Year— one from a two-year institution and one from a four-year institution— who have demonstrated scholastic excellence and have made a significant impact on their honors program.

McClain is graduating this spring with an Associate of Science in Mathematics & Sciences with a 4.0 GPA and an Honors degree. She has distinguished herself by earning 18 credits in Honors with a 100 percent average in nearly all six of her Honors courses.

Her research project, “Advocacy Beyond Earth Day: Persistent Pollution, Poverty and Public Health,” was selected for presentation at the 2020 NRHC Conference in Albany, N.Y., and it was also presented at the virtual conference in April.

She has been accepted

by Duquesne University where she looks forward to continuing her studies in physics.

“Erin is an exceptional student and embodies the finest qualities of a servant leader. She

is intelligent, responsible, creative, socially-engaged and committed to the community and to giving back,” said Honors Program Director and English Professor Julia Fennell, in a release. “Her bright disposition and belief in the potential for good overcome obstacles that may cloud the possibilities from others’ eyes. Erin meets the many responsibilities with which she has been entrusted with professionalism, creativity, dedication and exceptional skill.

McClain volunteered as a CCAC Student Ambassador for 2020-2021 and as a Student Member of the Conduct Hearing Board. She is a reliable contributor to service projects in Honors, helping to organize the Ronald McDonald House Leadership project and contributing to the used book sale for the Honors India Study Abroad trip and the Homeless Children’s Educational Foundation. Her leadership role has shone brightest in service to Phi Theta Kappa, the international two-year college honor society. Currently serving as co-president of the Alpha Iota Eta chapter of PTK, McClain was named Hall of Honor Officer at the PTK Middle States Convention in March. PTK at South Campus has been strengthened under her leadership, even during

the challenges presented

by COVID-19. In cooperation with the college administration, she organized the PTK College Project, whereby the chapter created Student Success Quick Guides to help students succeed and negotiate the college’s shift to remote instruction during the pandemic. The project was named the second most Distinguished College Project at the Middle States Convention.

McClain’s volunteerism extends into the community with a long and impressive history of giving back. She is a two-time AmeriCorps National Service alumna, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors of Preservation Pittsburgh, a local historic preservation nonprofit for which she has volunteered since 2017. She also serves on the Philanthropy Committee of the Mt. Lebanon Junior Women’s Club, a charitable nonprofit devoted to supporting local women and children. Additionally, she is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Junior League of Pittsburgh where she served as treasurer. Her extensive training in volunteerism includes fundraising, treasury functions, communications, capacity-building and nonprofit organizational development.

ERIN MCCLAIN

“Erin is an exceptional student and embodies the finest qualities of a servant leader. She is intelligent, responsible, creative, socially-engaged and committed to the community and to giving back.”

JULIA FENNELL

Honors Program Director, English Professor, CCAC

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RELIGION/METRO

MAY 5-11, 2021

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

East Liberty Presbyterian Church unites against racism

Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.sbtmparishpgh.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Quakers in Pittsburgh are meeting online for worship!

All Are Welcome! www. pittsburghquakers. org

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier. com

JUDITH JERRY, of the North Side.

NIKKI PORTER, minister of music at Eastminster Church. On April 23, she joined with the church members of the nearby East Liberty Presbyterian Church to unite against racism and advocate for racial justice. More than 50 people stood along the side of the church on Penn Ave., with signs denouncing racism. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

BEVELY HARRIS-SCHENZ, of Squirrel Hill, and Susan Smith, of Friendship.

MOTHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 9 “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excellest them all. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that fears the Lord she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

REVEREND RANDY BUSH, right, senior pastor of East Liberty Presbyterian Church, with Lenore Williams from the National Presbyterian Caucus.

IN MEMORIAM Irene Claytor Morris

TO FIRST LADY BARBARA MANN Bishop Loran Mann did a lot for our community, spiritually and financially, He brought a lot of souls to the kingdom

- Proverbs 31:28-31 REV. WALKER SAYS: Take time to thank God for your Mother.

(Rev. A. Marie Walker is servant pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Wilmerding.)

Sorely missed and greatly loved.

Stormie Miramontez

Sorry for your loss, Stormie Miramontez

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple MAY 5

1905—Robert Sengstacke Abbott founds the Chicago Defender newspaper calling it “the world’s greatest weekly.”

Indeed, he would build the Defender into the largest circulation and most influential Black newspaper of its day. The Defender, which became the most ROBERT SENGSTACKE widely circulated Black newspaper ABBOTT in the country, came to be known as “America’s Black Newspaper” and made Abbott one of the first self-made millionaires of African American descent. In 1919, Illinois Gov. Frank Lowden appointed Abbott to the Race Relations Commission. Abbott died of Bright’s disease in 1940 in Chicago, Ill.

MAY 6

1787—Prince Hall organizes the nation’s first Black Masonic lodge in Boston, Mass.— African Lodge #459. Hall would go on to become the father of Black Masons in America and a major Black leader in the Northeast.

1812—Martin R. Delany, a pioneering Black nationalist, is born on this day in PRINCE HALL Charles Town, Va. Abraham Lincoln once described him as one of the most brilliant men he had ever met. Delany would fight in the Civil War to end slavery and become one of the nation’s first Black military officers. After the war he became a doctor. But over the years he became frustrated MARTIN DELANY with American racism and began to advocate a return of Blacks to Africa.

MAY 7

1800—On this date the founder of the settlement which would grow to become the city of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable, sold his property and left the settlement. The Haitian-born frontier trader and businessman had a history of building significant wealth, losing it and building it again.

He would die 18 years later in St. Charles, Mo. 1878—Black inventor, Joseph R. Winters, receives a patent for his designing of the fire escape ladder.

2010—A report on felony disenfranchisement laws begins to receive widespread publicity. The report was actually released on April 21 by the NAACP JEAN BAPTISTE POINT Legal Defense and Education Fund.

DU SABLE It showed that 5.3 million Americans were being denied the right to vote because of past felony convictions. Disproportionately, those denied voting rights were African American. In fact, the report revealed that 13 percent of Black males could not vote because of felony convictions. Historically, most voting disenfranchisement laws were enacted after the Civil War as a means to keep newly freed Blacks from voting.

MAY 8

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH

1858—The first play by an African-American writer is published. The play was titled “The Escape” and the author was William Wells Brown.

1925—The Brotherhood of

Sleeping Car Porters was founded.

It would become the leading Black-led trade union organization in America.

In addition to introducing unionism to African-Americans, the ability to travel to cities throughout the country enabled the porters to become a major vehicle of communications for American Blacks.

They distributed everything from letters to Black-oriented newspapers as they traveled the nation. The chief organizer was the legendary A. Phillip Randolph.

MAY 9

1952—Boxer-turned-actor Canada Lee dies in New York City at the age of 45.

Second only to the legendary Paul Robeson, Lee was the leading serious (non-comedic) Black actor of the 1940s. He gave impressive performances in CANADA LEE Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller “Lifeboat” (1944), the boxing classic “Body and Soul” (1947) and “Cry, The Beloved Country” (1951). However, like Robeson, Lee’s film career came to an end during the McCarthy Era when a host of Black and White stars, who were also social activists, were labeled communists and denied jobs.

MAY 10

1837—P.B.S. Pinchback was born in Macon, Ga., to a White plantation owner and a free Black woman.

He became one of the leading Black politicians of the Reconstruction era, especially in Louisiana.

After the Civil War, he became lieutenant P.B.S. PINCHBACK governor of Louisiana and actually served as governor for 43 days. He was later elected to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He would also play a significant role in the establishment of Southern University and a major Black newspaper known as the Louisianan.

1994—After being released from 27 years of imprisonment for his battles against the racist system of apartheid, Nelson Mandela is elected the first Black president of South Africa.

His government focused on dismantling the legNELSON MANDELA acy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991-97.

MAY 11

MIN. LOUIS FARRAKAN

1933—Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is born Eugene Walcott on this day in the Bronx, N.Y. He was raised by his St. Kitts-born mother in Roxbury, Mass. Prior to joining the Nation of Islam in 1955, Walcott had achieved celebrity status in the Boston area as a Calypso singer, dancer and violinist known as

“The Charmer.”

1968—Nine caravans of protesters arrived in Washington, D.C., for the first phase of the Poor Peoples Campaign—an anti-poverty effort conceived

by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The campaign aimed to united Black, white and Hispanic poor people in an effort to pressure the government to do more to eliminate poverty in America. King had been assassinated the previous April, so the campaign was led by his lieutenant, Rev. Ralph Abernathy. The campaign erected Resurrection City near the Lincoln Monument and held daily demonstrations in Washington from May 14 to June 24.

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Five strategies to deal with financial worries Courier Newsroom We get it, 2020 was the year of stress. From pandemic-related worries to financial fears of when the next paycheck is coming. Financial stress can range from being in debt, not earning enough money, the expense of raising kids or even being married to someone who isn’t good with money.

But if one can reduce their financial worry, they will be able to focus on other important areas of your life and relax. Here are some tips to get things, hopefully, off to a better start.

1. Create a Budget You may feel overwhelmed and think that a budget is only going to add to your financial stress, but it is the best tool you have to get control of your finances and stop worrying about money.

A budget allows you to decide when and how you are going to spend your hardearned dollars. This spending plan makes sure you cover your immediate expenses, while still working toward your savings goals. It can also help you find extra money to put toward debt.

The first few months of planning and sticking to a budget are the most challenging, but once you understand what to do, you can often reduce the amount of time you spend on it, and in turn, reduce the amount of time you spend worrying

DON’T STRESS...you can change your financial situation. about money.

2. Get an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is a savings account meant to cover unexpected expenses and financial emergencies.

Although a car repair can be expensive and stressful, if you know you can tap into your emergency fund to cover it, a lot of the stress will go away. It is also easier to use the money in your budget the way you planned if you know you have the extra money in the bank ready to

cover the unexpected emergencies that may crop up.

You should have at least $1,000 in your emergency fund until you are out of debt. Then you should aim to have three to six months’ living expenses set aside.

Building an emergency fund may seem tough at first, especially if you are struggling to make ends meet each month. Start by putting aside a small amount, whether it’s $10 or $100 each month, so you can build up your emergency fund. You

may also consider selling any unused items around the house to build up that cash as quickly as you can.

3. Get Outside Help If you are really struggling with getting a handle on your budget and spending issues, do not be afraid to get outside help. You can take classes on basic money management and investing which will help you plan out a budget and do the things you need to succeed financially.

A financial planner can also

help you create a long-term saving and investing strategy that will help you take care of your current needs and plan for the future.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by debt, you can work with a credit counseling service to help you restructure your debt and, in some cases, negotiate with creditors. You can also take financial classes that coach you through budgeting and other aspects of your personal finances.

4. Determine What You

Can Change If you are having financial issues, you may have an income issue, a spending issue or a combination of the two. If you know that you do not make enough money to keep up with your current bills, decide what you can do to change the situation. It may include options such as going back to school to qualify for a higher paying job.

If you think you have a spending problem and it’s a compulsive behavior, you may want to attend a specialized group or get professional help dealing with the issues you are facing. Once you have a plan that will help you change your situation permanently, you should be able to reduce your stress.

5. Track Your Progress While this may sound like it’s not a solution to your financial problem, it can make a big difference in the amount of stress you feel each day.

Find positive aspects of your financial situation by tracking your progress toward your financial goals.

Looking at the positive aspects of your current financial situation can also help alleviate stress.

Remember, you can change your financial situation and you will find it easier to do if you are not living in an anxious state all of the time.

(Content provided by https:// www.thebalance.com/ )

EBONY names Marielle Bobo Editor-in-Chief & Senior VP Courier Newsroom (Atlanta—April 27, 2021) —EBONY, the iconic brand serving as the leading voice of the Black American experience for 75 years, today announced that Marielle Bobo has been tapped as Editor-in-Chief & Senior Vice President, Programming, effective immediately. Following its recent relaunch under new ownership, Bobo’s appointment signals the next milestone in the rebirth of EBONY and is a crucial part of its strategic expansion as a digital-first brand focused on building a platform for and by African Americans.

In her new role, Bobo will report to EBONY CEO Michele Ghee and oversee the development of editorial

tone, video content, and the brand’s social media cadence across all platforms.

Bobo brings with her a 20-plus-year career in media as well as a unique understanding of the power of content and creating key strategic partnerships.

“We are thrilled to have a visionary like Marielle in this role and leading EBONY through this pivotal time in its history. As both a seasoned editor and an experienced leader, she stood out to us as a multifaceted dynamo who not only possesses a wealth of proven editorial experience but who also understands the brand and has a definitive vision for its future,” said Ghee.

“We are confident that she will utilize EBONY’s most valued assets—our archives and our legacy—to forge

MARIELLE BOBO a new path forward with strong, vibrant editorial voices, world-class creatives and fresh content for a new generation!”

Bobo’s most immediate priorities include the continued evolution of EBONY’s website, growing EBO-

NY’s editorial team with the best and brightest talent in journalism and implementing a comprehensive digital strategy that honors the core elements of our brand’s legacy—innovative storytelling, compelling imagery, and long-and-short form

content creation.

“I am honored to now lead the charge in reimagining this beloved brand. For 75 years, EBONY has chronicled the Black American experience, amplifying our culture, our joys and our struggles with grace, tenacity and beauty,” said Bobo.

“As the assault on Black bodies continues and a global pandemic ravages our communities, making sure the breadth of our stories is told is as important now as it was then. I pick up this mantle with a reinforced commitment to continuing that legacy of excellence— providing a safe space for talented Black creators and ushering in a new generation of readers through bold storytelling and impactful experiences that educate, engage and inspire.”

This appointment also marks a homecoming for Bobo who previously worked at EBONY for over five years as the Fashion & Beauty Director and as a key member of the Creative team that produced its iconic covers. Additionally, Bobo has served in leadership roles with major media brands such as Essence and Urban One. Most recently, she led editorial direction and strategy for Ayesha Curry’s AC Brands including Curry’s magazine, Sweet July. Bobo has also worked in various editorial roles with CosmoGirl, Women’s Wear Daily, OK Magazine, and Allure.

Bobo will launch her first digital cover for EBONY in May.

Singles and money The paradox of singles and money—the good thing is that everything falls on you and the bad thing is that everything falls on you. When you’re single you have the luxury of spending, saving and investing money when, where and how you want to. You are independent, self-reliant and self-sufficient. You don’t have the nagging money fights that many couples have about money. The downside of being single is that the income, decisions and responsibilities associated with spending, saving and investing money starts and stops with you. There’s no one to fall back on in the event you lose your job or source of income. There’s no nagging partner who will challenge you and force you to rethink certain money decisions that oftentimes lead to mistakes. As a result when you’re single, you have to be twice as smart, twice as cautious, and twice as responsible than the average couple with money.

Whether you’re married, single, shacked up or have a lifetime partner, we all have similar financial goals. We desire to work in a good-paying career that we enjoy. Other financial goals include buying a home, saving for retirement, saving for college, building an emergency fund, eliminating debt, buying a newer car, making repairs to home, taking nice vacations, paying off home early, purchasing investment property, building an investment portfolio, giving to charity, becoming financially independent and building wealth.

The only real difference that we have is that we are at different phases in our life. Because we are at different phases in our life, our financial goals are priori-

tized differently. A younger person just starting out may be more focused on career planning and buying a home whereas a person who is nearing retirement may be more focused on paying off the mortgage early before retirement and saving for retirement. Given the fact that we all have similar financial goals, the process of financial planning is similar. You have to identify short-term and long-term financial goals and identify financial concerns and fears. Prioritize your financial goals.

Develop and execute a game plan to achieve your financial goals and tackle your financial concerns and fears. But because singles are doing it alone, they have less room for error. Singles have to be more strategic in their planning and err on the side of caution when making financial decisions. For example, it’s recommended that you should have three to six months worth of living expenses set aside for emergencies. If you’re married and your spouse works, three months of living expenses will be okay. But if you’re single, your goal should be saving the full six months worth of expenses.

There are four types of singles: Never been married; divorced with no kids; single parents and widows. Each type has their own set of unique circumstances.

Never been married: The primary focus with this group is finding a soul mate.

They desire to find someone to love and grow with oftentimes overshadows their career and financial goals, resulting in poor financial planning and in many cases, no financial planning at all. This group tends to overspend on dining out and entertainment and are very prone to impulsive shopping. It is extremely important for people in this group to get a financial game plan in place and stick to it. It is also recommended that people in this group find a money mentor—someone that they respect and admire in the area of money management. This mentor will serve to help you remain accountable to your financial plan.

They will also serve as someone you can talk to and help you weigh the pros and cons before making large money purchases.

Divorced with no kids: Considering the fact that 80 percent of people who go through divorce cite money problems as the leading cause, this group is likely to be carrying both emotional and financial baggage. In addition to facing many of the same problems that the never been married group faces, this group tends to indulge more as a way to block out many of the negative experiences in the former marriage. This group also tends to try and maintain the lifestyle they lived when they were married even though there’s been a substantial drop in income. Because of the negative expe-

riences this group faced with money and marriage, they re-enter the single world wiser and more cautious. A solid financial plan will help to bring about hope and a fresh perspective on life.

Single parents: This group is overworked, underpaid, tired and many times scared out of their minds because they face many of the same problems in the first two groups and they have the added pressure of their dependent children relying on them for guidance, safety, and money. The importance of this group having a solid financial game plan is magnified because it’s no longer all about you.

Although single parents lack both time and money, it’s important to note that managed money works harder. Having a financial game plan in place where you know your children will be provided for if something happens to you will help ease the tension and fear associated with being scared.

Widows and Widowers: It can be emotionally crippling to lose a lifemate. Hopefully you and your mate had a financial game plan in place that will ease the financial tension that comes with the transition of now having to do it alone. This group faces many of the same issues that the other groups face. One of the biggest problems with this group is when the spouse who handled all of the money and money decisions precedes the other spouse in death. This leaves the surviving spouse who generally has no basic financial skills to fend for his or herself.

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached @ 412-216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)

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NATIONAL

MAY 5-11, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Civil rights groups sue Georgia suppression law over new voter

“…THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW LAW and the manner in which it was enacted reflect a thorough disregard for the sanctity of protecting the right to vote and a headlong and determined zeal to diminish Black political power in Georgia,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s president and director-counsel. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

(NNPA)—ATLANTA—Civil rights groups have filed a new federal lawsuit against Georgia’s sweeping law that makes it much harder for all Georgians to vote, particularly voters of color, new citizens, and religious communities.

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Georgia, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and law firms WilmerHale and Davis Wright Tremaine brought the case on behalf of the Sixth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgia Muslim Voter Project, Women Watch Afrika, Latino Community Fund Georgia, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The law being challenged is S.B. 202, which was passed by the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate and signed

by Gov. Brian Kemp in under seven hours last Thursday. These elected officials’ actions follow the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 runoff elections for two seats to the U.S. Senate that saw record turnout of voters, particularly Black voters, in Georgia.

The elections were celebrated not just for their turnout, but also for their integrity, with Georgia officials praising them as safe and secure. But rather than act to expand participation in the political process, Georgia leaders responded by doing what they have done many times in the state’s history: they placed burdensome, unjustified, and unnecessary restrictions on voters, particularly voters of color and other

historically disenfranchised communities.

The lawsuit challenges multiple provisions in S.B. 202, including the: • ban on mobile voting • new narrow identification requirements for requesting and casting an absentee ballot • delayed and compressed time period for requesting absentee ballots • restrictions on secure drop boxes • out-of-precinct provisional ballot disqualification • drastic reduction in early voting in runoff elections • perhaps most cruelly, ban on “line warming,” where volunteers provide water and snacks to Georgians, disproportionately those of color, who wait in needlessly long lines to cast their vote These provisions, the lawsuit charges, violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and infringe on Georgians’ rights under the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

“This law is driven by blatant racism, represents politics at its very worst, and is clearly illegal,” said Sophia Lakin, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project. “We urge the court to act swiftly to strike it down.”

“Legislators and Governor Kemp ignored the very obvious lessons from the election in 2020 and runoffs in 2021: expand safe and secure access to the ballot, codify innovations to voting, and provide additional resources to cash-strapped

counties,” said Nancy Abudu, deputy legal director for the SPLC. “Instead, to appease conspiracy theorists and amplify deadly lies about past elections, Georgia’s leaders have chosen to pass into law S.B. 202, which makes it more difficult for every Georgian—but particularly Georgians who are members of historically disenfranchised communities—to vote in a safe, secure, and convenient manner and have that vote counted. In so doing, the defendants have violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution, and we turn to the federal courts and U.S. Congress to address the incredible harm S.B. 202 will have on our clients.”

“S.B. 202 is perhaps the most bold and shameful voter suppression legislation enacted in the modern era. Its purpose and target are clear: to create barriers to voting for Black voters who turned out in record numbers for the November 2020 presidential election and the January 2021 special election. The provisions of the new law and the manner in which it was enacted reflect a thorough disregard for the sanctity of protecting the right to vote and a headlong and determined zeal to diminish Black political power in Georgia,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s president and director-counsel. “This is a powerful moment for democracy in this country. S.B. 202’s attempt to disenfranchise Black voters in Georgia harkens back to the most shameful days of voter suppression in the decades before the civil rights movement.

That this law was passed in Georgia, less

than a year after the death of one of the state’s greatest heroes, Representative John Lewis, is shameful. In his name, we will fight to strike down this illegal attempt to undo his legacy. Anything less represents a grave threat to the future of our democracy and inherently undermines the notion of equality for all.”

“Democracy depends upon people expressing their voices freely through their votes,” said WilmerHale partner Debo P. Adegbile. “The Georgia omnibus voting obstruction law is a prime example of modern voter suppression and erodes democracy. A great deal has changed in Georgia but the commitment to brazenly disenfranchise voters clearly has not.”

“S.B. 202 attacks the most sacred foundations of our democracy. But in this country, the law secures every American citizen the equal right to make their voice heard at the ballot box, no matter who they are.

And we intend to vindicate that right in court,” said Adam Sieff, attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine.

The lawsuit, Sixth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Kemp, was filed in federal court in Atlanta.

Complaint: https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/sixth-district-african-methodist-episcopal-church-v-kemp Statement: https://www.aclu.org/ press-releases/civil-rights-groups-suegeorgia-over-new-sweeping-voter-suppression-law

EBONY 75th anniversary book chronicles Black American excellence and history

by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

( N N PA ) — S i n c e 1945, Ebony has chronicled Black life and the multitude of contributions of generations of African American icons, trailblazers, changemakers, and the unsung.

As the pandemic continues and keeps some essential milestones off the front pages, Ebony quietly changed ownership while finally receiving overdue recognition for more than 75 years of Black excellence.

“As a child, I can remember vividly the stack of Ebony magazines that adorned our family’s coffee table,” recalled Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

“My parents, I believe, strategically placed those magazines there so that anyone who entered that space would be exposed to the powerful messages of Black excellence displayed so wonderfully both on Ebony’s breathtaking covers and within the content of its articles,” the Congresswoman declared.

Jackson Lee’s remarks came during the celebration of the book “Ebony: Covering Black America,” by Lavaille Lavette, the best-selling author and president and publisher of One Street Books and Ebony Magazine’s imprint Ebony Publish-

ing.

Former NBA Star Junior Bridgeman recently purchased Ebony and Ebony.com, a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the largest contingent of Black owned newspapers and media companies in America.

“Ebony kind of stood for Black excellence, showing people doing positive things that could benefit everyone,” said Bridgeman, who starred with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

“It just made you feel good.”

Lavette’s expansive book counts as a national treasure, which the publisher said marks not only history but also makes history.

“Growing up in the Midwest, Ebony was considered on par with the nation’s most prestigious magazines of the era, Time and Life magazines, and rightfully so,” said Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio).

“This book, ‘Ebony: Covering Black America,’ brings back so many memories of how we as a people relied upon Ebony to share both our strivings, setbacks, and undying determination to keep moving forward,” Congresswoman Beatty added. “This book gets people talking both about the past and about the

LAVAILLE LAVETTE’S EXPANSIVE BOOK counts as a national treasure, which the publisher said marks not only history but also makes history. (Photo: Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association.) connections between the past and our present moments as a people.”

The CBC and others joined with Lavette on Capitol Hill in April to celebrate the book and the history of Ebony.

Tennis superstar Venus Williams, entertainer Common, Kimora Lee Simmons, and retired NBA champion Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union count among the contributors to the book. Sean “Diddy”

Combs also contributed to the work that features photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Diana Ross, Sidney Poitier, President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and many others.

Lavette said she and her staff expect to peruse the market of—particularly African American—authors this summer with an eye toward a banner year of publishing in 2022.

“We are standing on the shoulders of giants that set the standard high,

and so I want to be sure that we keep and always are trying to improve and make it even better,” Lavette remarked. “We’re not trying to compromise an author’s experience or the type of product that we put out. It’s going to stand toe-to-toe and above what’s out there.”

Lavette continued: “I am a story hunter. The people I work with are story hunters, and there are several books we can probably announce and put out. But I want to take our time and prepare for next year so that in that process that we are going through, we’re staying steady to the vision and staying true to some of the traditional things Ebony has been known to publish like the Lerone Bennett books that speak to our culture.”

Lavette, who holds a master’s in Education, has worked as a school teacher and administrator. She also served as a special advisor to former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Rod Paige.

During the recent Capitol Hill visit, which also included NNPA President Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Lavette presented a limited commemorative edition of the book to congressional leaders. Each expressed their delight.

“Growing up in rural Sumter, South Carolina, I cherished as a teenager, devouring the pages of

Ebony magazine,” House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) declared. “I recall memories of sitting in the local barbershop awaiting my turn in the chair.

While waiting, my eye was always attracted to those compelling Ebony covers.”

Congressman Clyburn continued: “But more than that, Ebony opened up an entire world of possibilities to my young mind by sharing stories about our people making wonderful social contributions all over the country and the world via an unmatched work-ethic whether in sports, entertainment, or politics. And that’s exactly what ‘Ebony: Covering Black America’ does today.”

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the NNPA, affirmed, “We are so proud that EBONY Magazine and Ebony Publishing are members of the NNPA and we are encourage by the outstanding leadership of Junior Bridgeman and Lavaille Lavette who are taking Ebony and Ebony.com to the next level of the highest personification of what Black Excellence exhibits and engages in America and throughout the world. The next 75 years will be the greatest for sure.”

(Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent.)

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Guest Editorial

Sen. Tim Scott’s disingenuous speech on race in the U.S. In response to President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last week, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) saved some of his sharpest and most disingenuous comments for the subject of race.

Scott suggested Biden was not living up to his call for the country to unify, saying that the Democratic president and his party aren’t reaching for common ground but are instead “pulling us further and further apart,” particularly on racial issues.

“Nowhere do we need common ground more desperately than in our discussions of race,” said Scott. “I know firsthand our healing is not finished.”

Scott suggested Democrats sought to define people by the color of their skin in the same way that Americans a century ago were told that “if they looked a certain way, they were inferior.”

“Today kids are being taught that the color of their skin defines them again, and if they look a certain way they’re an oppressor,” Scott said. “From colleges to corporations to our culture, people are making money and gaining power by pretending we haven’t made any progress at all, by doubling down on the divisions we’ve worked so hard to heal.”

Scott was picked jointly by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to deliver the Republican response. The assignment frequently goes to public figures with national ambitions. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) delivered the GOP response in 2013 and made a run for the presidency three years later.

Scott, a 55-year-old, 10-year veteran of Congress, is being watched to see if he has similar plans.

For this reason, Scott’s comment on race takes on special significance.

Scott’s personal story of rising from a low-income family to Congress is admirable, but his views on race are misguided at best and disingenuous at worst.

“Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country,” said Scott.

But Biden never said America was a racist country. This is a strawman argument by Scott to appeal to the Republican base.

What Biden has done was point out the fact that racial inequality still exists in America.

Racism is a still a serious problem in key sectors of U.S. society, particularly in the criminal justice system and more specifically in policing.

Identifying racism is not racism as some conservatives now suggest. Identifying racism is also not a partisan issue. The FBI and nonpartisan groups such as the Anti-Defamation League have identified white supremacist groups as a growing threat. Are they being racist by pointing this out?

Asked Thursday about Scott’s comment, Vice President Kamala Harris told ABC’s “Good Morning America”: “No, I don’t think America is a racist country, but we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country.”

She added: “One of the greatest threats to our national security is domestic terrorism manifested by White supremacists.

These are issues that we must confront, and it does not help to heal our country, to unify us as a people, to ignore the realities of that.”

How can Scott talk about “the pain” of repeatedly being pulled over by police while driving, and downplay race as a significant problem?

Scott suggested that Democrats and liberals have turned the race issue upside down.

“It’s backwards to fight discrimination with different discrimination,” he said, without providing examples of what he meant. “And it’s wrong to try to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present.”

It is not clear what Scott is talking about, but conservatives have pointed to Affirmative Action as an example of “fighting discrimination with discrimination,” or reverse racism. This argument is historically inaccurate. Colleges and employers are asked to consider race as a factor in hiring because of the nation’s past and existing racial discrimination.

Affirmative Action is also not some wild liberal idea.

Richard Nixon, a conservative Republican, was a champion of Affirmative Action, and its core principles have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, major college presidents and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, not just liberals.

The timing of Scott’s comments could not be worse.

Scott’s speech came as he is playing a leading role in bipartisan negotiations over police reform legislation, a nationwide problem in which race plays a central role.

His speech came during a time when Republican state legislators across the country are pushing voter-suppression measures targeting Black and Hispanic people.

Scott’s speech downplaying racism in the U.S. follows four years of one of the most racially divisive presidents in history.

Even Scott at times called out former President Donald Trump in measured tones over some of his racially offensive remarks.

Yet he’s remained a strong supporter of the former president and opposed Trump’s removal from office after the House impeached him for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Scott’s willingness to overlook the serious flaws of a demagogue unfit to be president and downplay systemic racism makes him the wrong messenger on race.

(Reprinted from The Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

MAY 5-11, 2021

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The question (TriceEdneyWire.com)—QUESTION: “To defund or not to defund?” From my perspective, I see that question as a distraction from the ‘real’ issue which is, “How do we reform ‘policing’ into true public safety?” I concur with those who advocate a realignment of law enforcement budgets to incorporate the employment of mental health and counseling personnel. De-escalation must be incorporated into the police culture. When other options are dismissed and the first instinct is the use of lethal force, I call it murder. Incorporating these options, we might then be able to bring this cycle of Blacks being murdered by police to a necessary end.

Many learned analysts state their belief that ‘modern policing’ evolved from the activities of the pre-Civil War slave catchers. I will not argue, but I see post-Emancipation as White America’s greater conundrum. What to do with and how to manage free Negroes became their larger question. Social norms provided partial answers—separate segregated residential areas and restrictive social interaction. Policing provided the other answer—keeping the niggers where they belong— away from them.

Formerly enslaved people were an estimated +20 percent population of the post-Civil War south. There was fear of Black retribution. Wherever Blacks congregated it was the norm to perceive them as ignorant beasts. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, Black populations were confined to urban ghettos or “across the tracks” with police serv-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary ing to maintain the distance. From the beginning, “policing” for Blacks in policy and practice equaled “control,” not protection and service.

The Civil Rights era brought significant dissonance into the ranks of law enforcement. As the barriers and restrictions to social interaction gradually began to erode, “control” became an activity more difficult to define and justify. Exposure of police violence through the national media (i.e., the March on the Edmund Pettis Bridge) gave rise to fewer Americans willing to accept police abuse. Law enforcement was fortunate in that the “majority opinion” gave them the benefit of the doubt to act as they felt appropriate. They continued violence with renewed vigor.

Martial organizations generally form concretized cultures that change very slowly. When examined, military and police are shown to practice more rigid adherence to standardized procedures and practices. The old within the ranks of law enforcement teach the young and express the expectation and attitude of, “We’ve always done things this way.” Training Officer Derek

Chauvin is a prime example.

Technology has been a Godsend in the fight against police brutality. Smartphones make everyone who has one a potential videographer, and the truth of what we can see destroys a lie almost every time. Since the filming of the Rodney King beating, video recording has increasingly become a primary weapon countering police misconduct. It has increased the confidence of every law-abiding Black citizen to resist police abuse.

It is my belief that the resultant loss of “control and power” has created a smoldering hostility in those inclined to use excessive force. Like the arrogance of Chauvin perched on the neck of George Floyd, many exercise a warped and distorted right to do what they want to demonstrate, to all who witness, continuing unlimited control.

As always and for what it is worth, I will attempt to offer a remedy. We must remember and acknowledge! First, we must remember that, even during the depths of enslavement, we used our minds to frustrate the evil intent of our enemies. Without prejudging, we must acknowledge that the operational principle of any officer we encounter MAY BE “control with hostile intent.” Like a chess player, when faced with such evil, we must have the knowledge to anticipate and counter the actions of our adversaries. We must then acknowledge that, for us, “Officer Friendly” rarely exists.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

At Biden-Harris 100-day mark, America is on the move again, but the road ahead is long (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“My fellow Americans, look, we have to come together to heal the soul of this nation ... We have the giant opportunity to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, real justice … We have a real chance to root out systematic racism that plagues America and American lives in other ways. A chance to deliver real equity: good jobs, good schools, affordable housing, clean air, clean water, the ability to generate wealth and pass it down to generations because you have an access to purchase a house.

Real opportunities in the lives of more Americans — Black, White, Latino, Asian-Americans, Native Americans.” President Joe Biden, address to a joint session of Congress, April 28, 2021 One hundred days into their administration, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have made surprisingly bold inroads in confronting racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic, but significant challenges remain.

President Biden and Vice President Harris entered the White House at a moment of unprecedented multiple crises, and they have risen to confront those crises with remarkable speed and effectiveness.

With the help of Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi, they have illuminated the systemic racial inequality that hinders our nation’s progress and set a course for healing.

Whether the nation can stay that course remains to be seen.

President Biden has been purposeful and intentional about including racial justice components in every policy he has undertaken in the first 100 days. He has used his moral voice to create a distinction between the poisonous philosophy of White supremacy and the idea of an America for everyone, an America of opportunity and pathways to progress for all people.

Importantly, he has changed the tone of governing, adopting a tone of inclusiveness that stands in stark contrast to the reality-show, finger-pointing, disparaging tone of the recent past.

The 100-day mark is something of an arbitrary and artificial deadline, but it has become part of our national political tradition since the administration of Franklin Roosevelt.

It is an opportunity for the nation to engage in a substantive discussion about the direction of the presidency and the nation.

In a letter sent shortly after the election, I charged President Biden and Vice President Harris to produce an immediate and extensive COVID relief package. They responded with the American Rescue Plan, one of the largest anti-poverty measures in a generation. It has helped slash daily coronavirus infections by more than 70 percent while quadrupling the daily number of vaccinations.

President Biden has made it

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal possible for Americans whose lives were upended by the pandemic at last to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The letter established a set of fundamental principles on racial justice and equity to guide Biden and Harris in the first 100 days and beyond.

I asked them to assemble an administration that reflects the diversity of America. They nominated and fought for confirmation of the most racially-diverse Cabinet in U.S. history.

I asked that they commit to fundamentally transforming the criminal justice system. They have restored the meaningful use of federal pattern or practice investigations, lifted restrictions on the use of consent decrees to hold police departments accountable for abuse, and ended federal contracts with private prisons.

I asked them to protect and defend voting rights. They have put the entire federal government to work in promoting and expanding access to voter registration and participation.

I asked them to work toward economic parity for African Americans. The day they were sworn into office, the very first executive order President Biden signed declared “… it is the policy of my Administration that the federal government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.”

I asked them to advance equity in educational opportunities for all American children. The administration’s unprecedented investment in Title I schools and higher education

will help students recover from the learning loss experienced during the pandemic. Investment in free broadband and devices is expanding students’ access to digital learning in their homes.

I asked them to promote a healthier nation by prioritizing access to health care, including testing, treatments, and cures for COVID-19 in communities of color. More than 200 million Americans have been vaccinated, more than double the initial goal, including underserved communities. Tens of thousands more Americans have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and their premiums are lower.

As productive as the first 100 days have been, a tremendous amount of work remains to be done. President Biden and Vice President Harris must make good on their promise to invest in America, to build a middle-class, and to restore faith in our democracy. The American people need tangible results.”

Among the most pressing items remaining on the administration’s to-do list are: • Passage of robust infrastructure proposals, the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, which includes long overdue investments in physical and human infrastructure, creating family-sustaining, middle-class jobs and securing the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.

• Police reform, beginning with enactment of a meaningful George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. • Protection of voting rights, beginning with enactment of the For the People Act and restoration of the full Voting Rights Act. • Closing the gender pay gap beginning with enactment of the Paycheck Fairness Act. • A $15 per hour minimum wage for all workers and elimination of the discriminatory tipped minimum wage.

The National Urban League’s full progress report on the Biden-Harris administration’s first 100 days can be found here: https://bit.ly/3aJQ8Wr

B4 MAY 5-11, 2021

Let us trust our eyes and ears (TriceEdneyWire.com)—There is a smell of justice in the air with the conviction of George Floyd’s murderer. But let us not celebrate too soon. The cancer of hatred and racism is still very much alive and well in America.

The conviction of Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s murderer, is only the tip of the iceberg of hatred and racism that thrives in the heart, minds, and spirits of many Americans. Hatred and systemic racism festers beneath the surface in the underbelly of this country.

In the shadow of the trial of George Floyd’s murderer—barely 10 miles away—Duante Wright, an unarmed Black man was killed by a police officer. A few miles away in Chicago, a 13-year-old boy was killed by police—as the body cam video showed—with his hands up. Now weeks after justice prevailed for George Floyd, Andrew Brown Jr.—another Black man—was killed by sheriff’s deputies in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, reportedly by a shot to the back of the head.

The sheriff and the county attorney have insulted the family and the world. They took 120 hours to show the family only 20 seconds of an edited video from only one of the many cameras that should have recorded Andrew Brown’s killing. The question is why are the videos being edited or withheld? Is a law enforcement coverup taking place?

In the case against George Floyd’s murderer, what would have been the narrative if a teenager had not used her cell phone to record the knee on George Floyd’s neck for over 8 minutes.

Consider the original police statement regarding the death of George Floyd.

According to the Associated Press (April 23, 2021), “The original Minneapolis police statement attributed Floyd’s death to ‘medical distress’ and made no mention that the Black man had been pinned to the ground at the neck by Chauvin, or that he’d cried out that he couldn’t breathe.”

The Associated Press report continues: “If it wasn’t for this 17-year-old who

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The police compliance wager Recently, Ibram X Kendi, Director of Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, wrote an essay in The Atlantic called—Compliance Will Not Save Me. Kendi’s essay was about the fatal police shooting of 13-yearold Adam Toledo in Chicago on March 29, 2021.

Kendi stated: Chicago Police Officer Eric E. Stillman responded to reports of gunshots. Stillman chased a boy down an alley. The officer yelled at Toledo, “Hands. Show me your hands. Drop it. Drop it.” Stillman’s body camera shows Toledo apparently complying. He appears to drop something. He stops. He turns around.

He shows his hands. Stillman fires a single shot, killing Toledo. Afterward, Stillman’s attorney justified the fatal shooting, “The officer was put in this split-second situation where he has to make a decision.”

Kendi rejected the defense attorney’s assessment and stated, “It was Stillman who put Toledo in a split-second situation where (Toledo) had to make a decision. Toledo decided to do everything the officer asked him to. He complied, but he is not alive today. For Black and brown people, this is the terror of American policing. When we do not comply, we die (like Daunte Wright). When we do comply, we die (like Adam Toledo).

Compliance will not save our lives.”

We all are aware that compliance, on its own, will not save anyone from a police officer’s reaction or overreaction, nor will compliance save anyone from a host of other situations.

For example, last year, a headline stated: Some Fear Racial Profiling

J. Pharoah Doss

Check It Out During Pandemic.

The article said racial profiling during the pandemic was a growing concern among African-Americans. Kendi was interviewed. He explained, “To be young and Black in America is to be, on some level, fearful every time you step out the door with or without your mask.” Then Kendi said, “It’s a concern for myself, even when I go out and I run in the morning with a mask on. I’m always concerned whenever I pass the police car.”

In other words, Kendi complied.

He wore the mask to decrease his chances of infection and ran the risk of being racially profiled by the police because it was in his best interest.

However, in Kendi’s essay—Compliance Will Not Save Me—he said, “Black and brown people’s defiance is not the problem. Our compliance is not the solution.”

But under some circumstances, there are no solutions—only tradeoffs.

Now, wouldn’t the same tradeoff that was in Kendi’s best interest during the pandemic, also apply to the police? Of course, it would. It’s no different than Pascal’s wager, the religious doctrine that states it’s best

to behave as if the savior exists, since the possibility of damnation outweighs non-belief, but in this matter, compliance with the police outweighs the outcome of non-compliance.

Since this is hardly a debatable issue for non-academics, the question becomes why is Kendi so dismissive towards compliance? That’s because Kendi is an activist scholar, and his arguments either advance a critical theory or promote a social justice cause, and the best interest of Black and brown lives is not his primary concern. Here’s a passage Kendi strategically inserted into his essay. “Within their cloud of fear, they (White people) have come to believe that police violence is caused by a lack of compliance, rather than seeing it as the violent son of American slavery.” Activist scholars make slavery analogies in order to advocate for the elimination of whatever it is they deem synonymous with the institution of slavery.

Here’s how Kendi finished his analogy, “Police defiance of our humanity is the problem. American defiance of our right to live is the problem. Political compliance—to abolish American policing as we know it—is the solution … To believe otherwise is to comply with an alternative history, with a fantasyland, with wishful thinking, with an American dream that is my American nightmare.”

There’s an old saying: Some people have ideas and some ideas have people. Hopefully, Black and brown people won’t be—had—by ideas like: Compliance Won’t Save Me.

The Supreme Court can protect Black lives by ending qualified immunity

Dr. Herbert “H. J.” Harris

Commentary took the video, Derek Chauvin would in all likelihood still be on the police force training officers,” said Andre Johnson, a University of Memphis professor of communication studies. “Sadly, this has been going on for a while, and it’s just now coming to light for a lot of Americans because of video evidence.”

Quoting from page 147 of my book, Solving the Race Issue In America, “The primary difference between civil rights struggle of Black people before the 1950’s and the struggle after the 1950’s was the advent of television. America’s track record in dealing with Black Americans shows the absence of a true moral compass. Through television, the whole world can see how America actually treats Black Americans.

The whole world can see in vivid pictures that there is a contradiction between the image America projects to the world—land of the free, home of the brave, with liberty and justice for all—and the reality of how it treats its own Black Americans.” (www. solvingtheraceissue.com) The conviction of George Floyd’s murderer has given hope and inspired good people —Black and White Americans—to continue their fight for justice.

The good people in America are now pressing America to live up to its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Good Americans of every color will continue marching, protesting and praying for freedom, equality, and justice.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, spoken at the 1963 March on Washington, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

The battle is far from over. The forces of hatred and racism are active in perpetuating lies, distractions, and divisions that undermine the spiritual healing that must take place if America is to survive and be a true light to the world.

Let us trust our eyes and ears. Television, cell phone videos, and the internet can show the truth when others lie or coverup.

The video did not lie when Rodney King was beaten. It did not lie when Walter Scott was shot in the back by a police officer. The video did not lie when a police officer kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes. It showed the truth of how Duante Wright was shot and killed by a police officer.

Thank God for television, cell phones, videos, and the Internet. These tools of discernment help America and the world see the truth about hatred and racism that consumes the soul of our nation.

We cannot move forward to heal this nation until America and Americans acknowledge the truth—that hatred and systemic racism are ingrained in the heart and soul of America. Only the truth will set us free.

(Dr. Herbert (H.J.) Harris, author of “Solving The Race Issue In America” (www.solvingtheraceissue. com), is a graduate of Columbia University.)

(NNPA)—Last year, we witnessed another crushing blow in the fight to end police violence against Black people. Only one of the three officers involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor was charged in the case.

However, they were not charged for causing her death; rather, they were indicted on charges of destroying property.

The three officers responsible for the murder of Breonna Taylor are not the first to walk free after killing an unarmed Black person, and unfortunately, especially if things continue as they are, they will not be the last. Things continuing as they are, includes the decision to only charge one Louisville police officer for the destruction of property, which sends the message that Black lives do not matter to law enforcement agencies.

In addition to the trauma associated with Black death by police officers we are repeatedly denied the time and space to mourn those that were stolen from us. We can’t even get through a trial on the killing of one unarmed Black man without the killing of another unarmed Black man. Here we are again, this time mourning the loss of Daunte Wright, who was killed by police officer Kim Potter in Minneapolis, Minnesota— the same city that has just witnessed a guilty verdict in the case of Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd last May. As the country awaited this verdict, Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-yearold Black girl in Columbus, Ohio was killed by a police officer when she called them to intervene in a dispute with another teenager.

At the National Black Justice Coalition, we prioritize ending policies that put all Black lives at risk. We support the shifts in our legal practices required to honor that all of our lives matter, in theory, and in practice. For that reason, I truly believe that if we are going to have a conversation about increased police accountability; we need to start talking about the courts and qualified immunity—a defense to excessive force available to officers. Derek Chauvin may have been found guilty of George Floyd’s murder, but the fact remains that this legal protection will continue to put Black people in danger at the hands of the police.

Qualified immunity is legal protection created by the Supreme Court that shields government officials from being held liable for constitutional violations—such as the right to be free from excessive police force—as long as the officials didn’t violate “clearly established law.” It was invented by the Court in 1967, as a way to protect public officials who believed their actions were authorized by the law. Fifteen years later in Harlow v. Fitzgerald, the Court expanded the defense of qualified immunity. Instead of upholding the requirement of public officials acting in “good faith” in order to be shielded from liability, even officials who used excessive force would be immune from being held legally accountable for their actions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor called

David Johns

Commentary qualified immunity a “one-sided approach” that “transforms the doctrine into an absolute shield for law enforcement officers.” Justice Sotomayor went on to say that qualified immunity “sends an alarming signal to law enforcement officers and the public. It tells officers that they can shoot first and think later, and it tells the public that palpably unreasonable conduct will go unpunished.”

Following the direction of the Supreme court, lower courts mostly dismiss police misconduct lawsuits on grounds that there is no prior court decision with nearly identical facts.

This results in seeing what happened with Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tony McDade (a Black trans man who was murdered by a member of the Tallahassee Police Department the same week as George Floyd was murdered) and Breonna Taylor happening over and over again—police officers having full ability to fatally shoot Black people with impunity, across the country and regardless of jurisdiction. A Reuters study found that since 2005, the courts have shown an increasing tendency to grant immunity in excessive force cases and that trend continues to accelerate.

Daunte Wright’s untimely murder— just like Breonna Taylor’s and George Floyd’s—is another example of why now is the time for a Black woman Supreme Court nominee. Only one legal entity can end the enactment of qualified immunity and remove the protection itself, and that is the United States Supreme Court. We need judges that understand what it means to have a loved one not come home because an officer perceived their skin color to be a crime punishable by death as well as how dangerous it is to tell police officers to shoot

first and think later. We need judges that know what we mean when we scream, “I can’t breathe.”

Simply put, qualified immunity upholds a culture of impunity where government officials in general and police officers, in particular, are not held accountable for using excessive force and violence against unarmed individuals. Qualified immunity blocks mechanisms for holding the police accountable for their actions.

Where there is no accountability, there is no justice. An outcome where only no one is changed for causing George Floyd’s death would be a failure of the law; a failure that could be solved by ending qualified immunity and widening the pathways for holding law enforcement accountable for the violent harm caused to our communities.

The Supreme Court is a deliberative body and the perspective of a Black woman will ensure decisions that are more inclusive of diverse lived experiences. The failure of qualified immunity shows that we need better representation and that now more than ever, we need Supreme Court nominees who are committed to preserving justice. For the She Will Rise campaign, it is important that the next Supreme Court nominee be a Black woman who understands the danger qualified immunity presents for our nation’s most vulnerable communities.

Black women are uniquely qualified to recognize who is left out of Supreme Court decisions because Black women know what it is like to be constantly excluded from the table.

As Thurgood Marshall was often referred to as the conscience of the Court, a Black woman SCOTUS nominee could be poised to continue that legacy with demonstrated empathy for those with his shared experience of oppression and injustice. With this in mind, the Supreme Court has the potential to exercise its power to end this qualified immunity and finally hold police accountable so that there are no more Breonna Taylors, Daunte Wrights, or George Floyds.

New Pittsburgh Courier

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MAY 5-11, 2021

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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COMPASS AMERICORPS MEMBERS NEEDED FOR 2020-21 SERVICE YEAR Compass AmeriCorps members provide full-time social services support and English language instruction to newly resettled immigrants in Allegheny County. Benefits include a living allowance, healthcare benefits, and an educational award for college. Learn new skills, meet new people, and receive professional and personal development opportunities.

The service year runs from September to July, and members serve 1700 hours over 11 months.

For details and how to apply, visit www.compassamericorps.org.

PITTSBURGH ACTION AGAINST RAPE ADVOCATE JOB POSTING This is a full-time position designed to provide support and accompaniment to victims, families, and significant others in various settings including in police and legal proceedings, medical care and within college and university processes.

Required education: Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work Required experience: Experience in victim services and/or knowledge of sexual assault issues preferred.

Knowledge of legal, medical, law enforcement, and social welfare systems is a plus.

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply e-mail your cover letter and resume to Lisa Kadlecik at lisak@paar.net

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERTRANSPORTATION Port Authority is seeking an Administrative Assistant COO – Transportation to perform all administrative support functions of a responsible and confidential nature for the Chief Operating Officer – Transportation and to support the Operations staff in their administrative needs.

Essential Functions: •Take and transcribe dictation, often of a confidential nature; prepare reports/presentations by gathering and summarizing data and preparing graphics and spreadsheets; produce high-quality e-mails and messages to individuals at all levels of the organization. Type all administrative/legal documents; ability to write and communicate in a clear, concise manner and to proofread and pay attention to details; answer all non-routine correspondence and assemble highly-confidential and sensitive information; respond to routine correspondence and prepare letters for the Chief Operating Officer’s review, using supplied office equipment and/or software.

•Provide administrative support by organizing and expediting the flow of work through the Chief Operating Officer – Transportation’s office; communicate assignments and instructions from the Chief Operating Officer - Transportation (COO) to various individuals and/or departments and obtain information and initiate follow-up, as required.

•Maintain and schedule complex and detailed appointment calendars, including prioritizing and screening using own discernment; coordination and logistics of both internal and external meetings, including all aspects of the Operations Team Meetings, with maintenance of agenda items and minutes, along with follow-up on action items, as necessary.

•Create the monthly Operations Division Board Report by compiling information received from direct reports to the COO - Transportation, inserting Excel charts and graphs, and obtaining approval from COO -Transportation, with submission to the office of the Chief Executive Officer before the deadline.

Job requirements include: •High School diploma or GED, including completion of secretarial courses.

•Minimum of three (3) years of secretarial experience.

•Minimum typing speed of 60 wpm.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint applications.

Superior ability to work with technology.

•Detail oriented and comfortable working in a fast-paced office environment; outstanding planning and time-management capabilities; exceptional communication skills, superior organization skills and dedication to completing projects in a timely manner.

•Ability to work in a diverse environment; experience working collaboratively with others; capability of adjusting priorities and deviating from routines.

•This is a non-remote position due to the nature of Operations.

Preferred attributes: •Completion of a Secretarial/ Business School Program.

•Shorthand.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Robyn Taylor Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org EOE SENIOR CLIENT PROJECT MANAGER HM Health Solutions Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has a work-at-home Senior Client Project Manager position (w/ability to telecommute w/appropriate telecommuting sys.) to provide project mgmt leadership & facilitate delivery of sys. changes from approval to release to production.

Must be willing & able to travel to client locations up to 80%. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J177102.

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST Port Authority is seeking a Transportation Technology Specialist to provide day-to-day support of Transportation Technology systems and services from a device and software level, focusing on data management, data integrity, reporting, system integrations, and customer support; including training and usage assistance.

Primary support will be for the Transportation Technology software systems and services, with cross-support for other related applications also included. Works with Authority and vendor personnel to identify any technology or data-centric related issues with the systems and services and then follows through until conclusion. Works with data within systems to ensure integrity; building reports and data visualizations for effective understanding and presentation of information. Provides training support and assistance in the design of documentation.

Essential Functions: •Serve as technical analyst supporting systems, services, and software of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including on-board tracking systems, electronic wayfinding signage, vehicle headsigns, Transit Signal Priority (TSP), Scheduling software, Maintenance and Operations management.

•Support data management of ITS applications, including integrity, entry, and import/export.

•Serve as data-centric support for reports, information sharing, and data visualization.

•Serve as customer support for software usage: Guide users with functional support and assist with navigating software. Resolve help desk tickets related to application software. Provide system end-user instruction for report generation and system functionality and also assist in the design of user documentation.

Job requirements include: •Two-year technical school/Associate Degree in Information Science, Business or technology related field from an accredited school –or•BS Degree in Information Science, Data Analytics, Business or a technology related field from an accredited school •Related experience may be substituted for the education on a yearfor-year basis •Strong analytical and problem solving skills •Exemplary attention to detail •Experience with complex deployments of enterprise-level applications, especially within the transportation industry •Experience working with multiple interrelated applications concurrently •Proven experience managing data, especially in ensuring integrity •Knowledgeable in reporting software •Ability to quickly understand, retain and apply large amounts of new information •Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment •Great organizational skills •Experience in monitoring and adhering to procedures and policies •Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner •Excellent customer service and problem resolution skills.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.

Preferred attributes: •Aptitude in collating data and providing information in concise and useful manner.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@portauthority.org

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SPECIFICATIONS WRITER Port Authority is seeking a p cificati ns rit r to be responsible for specification development activities related to the procurement of parts, equipment, vehicles and services as required to support operations of Authority fleet, facilities, systems and related infrastructure.

Researches, writes and develops specifications for bidding and coordinates the bid process with the Purchasing & Materials Management Department.

Essential Functions: •Schedules, reviews and updates existing technical specifications for annual recurring procurement items to ensure compliance with actual needs and applicable codes, standards and regulations. Coordinates this work with the user department.

•Meets with end user group to define specific products, materials or equipment desired and develops or assists in the development of new technical specifications for annual recurring items and other items, as required. Writes specifications, or reviews specifications written by others, to ensure standardization of procurement process and maximize specification effectiveness in obtaining the best product for the least cost in the appropriate quantity.

Job requirements include: •Associate Degree in mechanical, electrical or related technology fields.

•Minimum of five (5) years of experience in preparing technical documents including developing and writing technical specifications.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

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

•Excellent technical writing skills.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

Preferred attributes: •Experience in the procurement process.

•Experience reading design drawings.

PROJECT COST ENGINEER Covestro LLC seeks a Project Cost Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA, and handle all Capital Cost Management tasks in portfolio of projects that total up to $50m.

Duties include scheduling, (resource) planning, progress monitoring, monitoring of resource utilization, forecasting, and reporting, etc.

Apply at www.covestro.us.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking the following positions for the 2021-2022 school year Anticipated-High School Counselor Anticipated-Elementary School Counselor Complete job descriptions and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM May 6, 2021, or until positions are filled EOE

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 IT GENERALIST 1 Slippery Rock University invites resumes for an IT Generalist 1 position. Salary: $51,560/yr. w/benefits.

For complete position description and application procedures please apply online at https://careers.sru.edu/ APPLICATION DEVELOPER HM Health Solutions Inc. seeks Application Developer in Pittsburgh, PA to be responsible for analyzing, designing, coding, testing, & implementing app. enhancements w/no supervision. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J177106.

SENIOR USER EXPERIENCE & DESIGN ANALYST Highmark Health seeks Senior User Experience & Design Analyst in Pittsburgh, PA to work w/lead designers or bus. stakeholders across marketing, product, sales, & tech. to take digital projects from inception to launch, playing lead role in each of the following areas: info. architecture, user exp. design, user interface design, visual design, content strategy, &/or usability & research. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J177055.

ASSOCIATE STRATEGY ANALYST Gateway Health Plan LP seeks Associate Strategy Analyst in Pittsburgh, PA to support key strategic initiatives across organization incl. elements of project mgmt, problem solving, data analytics, team dvlpmnt, communications, & implementation. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J176880.

SENIOR ANALYTIC DATA ENGINEER Highmark Health seeks Senior Analytic Data Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA to architect & engineer solutions to provide views for Analytic Data Warehouse. Specific duties incl.: assembling, testing, processing, & maintaining Analytic Discovery Platform for analytics org.; & working w/analytic data sys. to incorp. them into operational data flow for analytics teams. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J177049.

SENIOR INFORMATION SECURITY ENGINEER Highmark Health seeks Senior Information Security Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA, to conduct root cause analysis to identify & resolve complex problems. Will implement, monitor, configure & maintain Sailpoint & conduct studies of ISRM infrastructure performance & traffic analysis. Apply at https://careers.highmarkhealth.org, using keyword J177066.

ASSISTANT MANAGER OF FACILITIES SYSTEMS Port Authority is seeking an Assistant Manager of Facilities Systems to be responsible for coordinating Facilities Systems activities for the Facilities Systems Department and directly supervise the Facilities Systems first level supervisors. Oversees the Facilities Systems Department in the absence of the Facilities Systems Manager.

Essential Functions: •Directs Facilities Systems supervisors in the performance of their work.

•Assists in all other Facilities Systems department supervisory responsibilities and coordinates functions with other Facilities and Port Authority personnel.

•Coordinates the training and qualification of supervisors and hourly employees on the use of related equipment, and proper maintenance and repair procedures as required.

•Communicates with individuals throughout the system to assess the support needed from the Facilities Systems department.

Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or G.E.D. •Associate Degree in a technical discipline from an accredited school.

Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

•Minimum of five (5) years directly related experience in any one of the Facilities Building Systems areas (carpentry, plumbing, equipment repair, electrical or HVAC).

•Minimum of three (3) years supervisory experience.

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

•Willingness and ability to work any shift and pass days.

•Responds to work related problems on a 24 hour a day basis.

Preferred attributes: •Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Access and PeopleSoft.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Robyn Taylor Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org EOE URBAN ACADEMY OF GREATER PITTSBURGH CO-TEACHER GRADES K-5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Seeking position for a Co-Teacher grades K-5 Elementary School.

Please send Resume and all three clearances along with three references to 437 Turrett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of PATRICK JAMES DESMOND, Deceased of Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-02627, Michele Desmond, Administrator c.t.a., 2394 Cramden Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of MARGARET ANN SCHLOSS A/K/A MARGARET A. SCHLOSS, Deceased of Bethel Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-02631, Erin M. Marsteller, Executor, 2104 Edwards Street Bethel Park, PA 15102 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of BERNADINE F. KEILHOFER, Deceased of Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-02616, Mark Conrad Keilhofer, Executor, 907 Country Club Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of FRANCES E. HAMILL A/K/A FRANCES N. HAMILL, Deceased of Dormont, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-2102632, Ellen C. Hamill, Executor, 271 Parker Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of MR. HANS A. BLUME A/K/A HANS AUGUST BLUME, Deceased of 101 Wallridge Drive, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania 15108, Estate No. 02-21-02974, Ms. Kirsten B. Mills, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and t a fic a ld an, Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 TRUST TERMINATION Advertising Trust Termination due to the death of RICHARD M. MANN on 01/17/2021.

His address was 2225 Pleasant Drive, White Oak Pennsylvania 15131. The purpose of this notice is to Advertise the Trust established under the Amended and Restated Deed of Trust dated 08/20/2020. Claims against said Trust may be filed as follows and sent to: PNC Bank, National Association Attn: Sharon L Whitney, VP, 300 Fifth Ave, FL 31 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 And/or: Steven F. Kessler, 4304 Walnut St., McKeesport, PA 15132

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on May 11, 2021, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Service & Maintenance Contracts at Various Schools, Facilities, Facilities & Properties: Extraordinary Mechanical Maintenance and Repairs Mechanical Prime Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Monday, April 19, 2021 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.

Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Operator of the Low-Barrier Shelter and Drop-In Center at Second Avenue Commons. Due Date: 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 25, 2021.

For more details and submission information, visit: w w w . a l l e g h e n y c o u n t y. u s / Human-Services/Resources/ Doing-Business/Solicitations-(RFP/ RFQ/RFI).aspx.

Erin Dalton Director

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MAY 5-11, 2021

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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COMBINED NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS (“FONSI/RROF”) May 5, 2021 City of Pittsburgh Office of Management & Budget Community Development Division City County Building 414 rant Street, Room 1 Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 41 - 11 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh, the rban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and the ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about May 21, 2021 the City of Pittsburgh (“City”) will authorize the ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (“HACP”), the rban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (“URA”), and the City to submit a request to the .S. Department of ousing and rban Development (HUD) to release of the following federal funds to undertake pro ect known as arvard Beatty Street ousing: (a) Section Pro ect Based oucher (“PBV”) program under the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 as modified by the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 to 8 housing units (of the 42 mixed-income housing units comprising of the Harvard Beatty Housing efforts) and (b) URA 2020 OME Investment Partnerships.

The release of the aforementioned funds will be for the purposes of developing arvard Beatty Street ousing which includes new construction of a four story building with 42 mixed-income residential units located at the intersection of arvard and Beatty Street in the East Liberty neighborhood. The developer is Trek Development Group. As part of this notice, the pro ect requires the implementation of a set of development activities related to the completion of this pro ect which may include, and is not limited to, demolition, acquisition, disposition, new construction, and remediation on the part of the City, the URA, HACP, and any other authorized parties to the pro ect. The pro ect will involve approximately $341,077 of the URA 2019 ome Investment Partnerships funds. The total pro ected cost of the activity is approximately $12,918,673.00.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the pro ect will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the ational Environmental Policy Act of 1 (NEPA) is not required. Additional pro ect information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by .S. mail. Please submit your request by .S. mail to City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, 414 rant St, City County Building Room 1, Pittsburgh, Pa 1 1 or by email to Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to: Whitney Finnstrom City of Pittsburgh fic ana nt and ud t 414 Grant St Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2211 OR Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov All comments received by May 20, 2021, will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

Comments should specify which otice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Pittsburgh certifies to HUD that William Peduto in his capacity as Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, consents to accept the urisdiction of the ederal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.

HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the rban Redevelopment Authority and the ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh to use funding sources (a) through (e) identified under Request for Release of unds above.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept ob ections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another ederal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the pro ect is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Ob ections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD ield Office of Public ousing in Pittsburgh at PittsburghPIH.ER@hud.gov and Community Planning and Development Division to Mr. Phillip McKeough, at Phillip.E.McKeough@hud.gov.

Potential ob ectors should contact the HUD ield Office of Public ousing in Pittsburgh via email to verify the actual last day of the ob ection period.

William Peduto Mayor City of Pittsburgh 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 a.m. on May 18, 2021 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s einz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) 1 2 3 4

Bid Number B210423A B210425A B210426 B210427

Bid Name Coach Replacement Parts - Brake System Pantograph Carbon Collector Strips - LRV Uninterruptable Power Supply Enclosure Panel LRV Propulsion Inverter Module (Icon-M) Overhaul

o 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 a.m. on May 4, 2021. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of t a ids ill n t nt rtain d y t rt ut rity it in fi (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be sub ect to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the nited 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 unl ss t r is sp cifi d sts r d li ry, nd, and insuranc 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 re ect any or all bids.

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA INVITATION TO BID The HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER will receive sealed bids, in duplicate, until 9:30 AM. (local time) on Tuesday, June 1, at t fic t usin ut rity t unty a r, James F. Tress Administration Building, 300 State Street (Vanport), Beaver, Pennsylvania at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 10:00 A.M for the following: Ventilation Brodhead Apartments 712 12th Street, Beaver Falls, PA 15010 at Francis Farmer Apartments, Community Room, 274 Friendship Circle, Beaver, PA 15009 Proposed forms of contract documents, including Plans and Specifications may be obtained by MAIL ONLY. Contractors MUST obtain copies of the documents from DELLIOTT Engineers, Inc., P.O. BOX 375, Zelienople, PA 16063 by first mailing $100.00 in the form of a check made payable to the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER for each set of documents so obtained. DEPOSITS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. Plans and specifications will be available on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

A certified check or bank draft, payable to the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER, .S. overnment Bonds or a satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable securities in an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the bid, shall be submitted with each bid.

All required Contract Documents must be completed and submitted with the bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish and pay for satisfactory performance, labor and material, and maintenance bonds of 100% with good and sufficient surety, and will be required to provide same within ten (10) days of contract award.

Prior to award of any contract the ousing Authority will conduct a pre-contract survey of a Bidder’s past performance. Consideration will be given to such matters as bidder’s integrity, compliance with the public policy, record of past performance, and financial and technical resources.

Invitation to Bid EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for ederally-assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must insure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin. The work to be performed under this contract is sub ect to the requirements of Section 3 of the ousing and rban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1701u and with HUD’s regulations in 24 CFR Part 135 (“Section 3”). The purpose of section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD assistance shall be directed to low and very low income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing.

A MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Brodhead Apartments Community Room, 712 12th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010 MASKS ARE REQUIRED, SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE PRACTICED AND YOUR TEMPERATURE WILL BE TAKEN UPON ARRIVAL!The HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER reserves the right tore ect all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding. Award of this contract is contingent on funds available. o bid shall be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days subsequent to opening bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER Michael D. Lacey.

Chairman Brian L. Yaworsky Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA INVITATION TO BID The HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER will receive sealed bids, in duplicate, until 9:30 AM. (local time) on Tuesday, June 1, at t fic t usin ut rity t unty a r, James F. Tress Administration Building, 300 State Street (Vanport), Beaver, Pennsylvania at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 10:00 A.M for the following: Ventilation fit uildin 1215-1217 7th Avenue Beaver Falls, PA 15010 at Francis Farmer Apartments, Community Room, 274 Friendship Circle, Beaver, PA 15009 Proposed forms of contract documents, including Plans and Specifications may be obtained by MAIL ONLY. Contractors MUST obtain copies of the documents from DELLIOTT Engineers, Inc. P.O. BOX 375, Zelienople, PA 16063 by first mailing $100.00 in the form of a check made payable to the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER for each set of documents so obtained. DEPOSITS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. Plans and specifications will be available on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

A certified check or bank draft, payable to the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER, .S. overnment Bonds or a satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable securities in an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the bid, shall be submitted with each bid.

All required Contract Documents must be completed and submitted with the bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish and pay for satisfactory performance, labor and material, and maintenance bonds of 100% with good and sufficient surety, and will be required to provide same within ten (10) days of contract award.

Prior to award of any contract the ousing Authority will conduct a pre-contract survey of a Bidder’s past performance. Consideration will be given to such matters as bidder’s integrity, compliance with the public policy, record of past performance, and financial and technical resources.

Invitation to Bid EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY REQUIREMENTS: The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for ederally-assisted Construction Contracts.

The Contractor must insure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin. The work to be performed under this contract is sub ect to the requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1701u and with HUD’s regulations in 24 CFR Part 135 (“Section 3”). The purpose of section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD assistance shall be directed to low and very low income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing.

A MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Brodhead Apartments Community Room, 712 12th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010 MASKS ARE REQUIRED, SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE PRACTICED AND YOUR TEMPERATURE WILL BE TAKEN UPON ARRIVAL! The HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER reserves the right to re ect all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding. Award of this contract is contingent on funds available. o bid shall be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days subsequent to opening bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER Michael D. Lacey.

Chairman Brian L. Yaworsky Executive Director

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR VENDING SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE RESIDENT OWNED BUSINESSES ONLY REBID IFB#250-35-20-REBID The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Vending Service Authority Wide Resident Owned Businesses Only Rebid IFB#250-35-20-REBID The documents will be available no later than April 26, 2021 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 AM on May 18, 2021.

The ousing 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 10:00 AM on May 18, 2021 in the lobby of 1 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 . 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 1 Ross Street nd loor, Suite , Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 .

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. uestions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. im Detrick ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 1 Ross Street nd loor, Suite Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 41 - 43- 3 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on May 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 933 9725 4035 Passcode: 344213 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s 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

ACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title II, the air ousing Act, Section 4 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1 3, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA uman Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) / REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) The Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, on behalf of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), is requesting Technical Proposals for the Development of a Connectivity Roadmap for Southwestern Pennsylvania. SPC is requesting that responding firms or teams also submit a Statement of ualifications for Southwestern Pennsylvania Connectivity Roadmap Support Services. The intent is to award one contract to a qualified firm or team of firms for completion of the combined Scope of Work.

The Request for Proposals (RFP)/ Request for ualifications (RFQ) will be released by SPC on May 5, 2021. Copies may be downloaded from the SPC Website (www.spcregion.org) or may be obtained by e-mail request to Kristin Baum at kbaum@spcregion.org.

Electronic submissions will be required via SPC’s SharePoint site. ull submission details are provided in the RFP/RFQ document.

Proposal packages are due on June 4, 2021.

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR GLEN HAZEL COMMUNITY PLANNING CONSULTANT RFP #800-21-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Glen Hazel Community Planning Consultant The documents will be available no later than April 26, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on May 18, 2021.

The ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on May 18, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 . Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 1 Ross Street nd loor, Suite , Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 .

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Doing Business section of www.hacp.org. uestions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. im Detrick ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street nd loor, Suite Pittsburgh, PA 1 1 41 - 43- 3 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on May 10, 2021 at 09:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 952 5984 7829 Passcode: 236804 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The ousing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s 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.

LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) RFQ 2021-01 EXISTING SITE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BRENTWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA Issue Date: Week of May 6th, 2021 Submission Deadline: 2:00 PM, July 8, 2021 The Borough of Brentwood (BOROUGH), Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is issuing a u st r ualificati ns from qualified Developers interested in submitting a proposal for the purchasing and development of the Brentwood Borough Existing Site Development Pro ect located at 3 4 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 1 , and ad acent property including 1 -1 Marylea Avenue and 3 3 Pary Street. Through a two (2) Step qualifications and proposal process, the BOROUGH seeks to designate a Development Entity or multiple Development Entities with exceptional experience (ten (10) year minimum) and capability to transform the Existing Site Development Property into a thriving, mixed use property, that offers a collaborative environment based on ob creation retail, market rate housing, and neighborhood enhancement. This selection process will lead to the designation of a Development Entity responsible for reutilizing the existing structure or demolishing the structure to redevelop the Existing Site Development Property. The ownership of the Development property will be transferred to the Development Entity.

To obtain the RFQ Documents relating to submitting a RFQ including specific requirements, the organization of the RFQ, and evaluation criteria please refer to PennBid (https://pennbid.procureware.com).

Interested parties must complete a no cost registration process to utilize this service. Paper copies these documents will not be made available.

All submittals must be submitted electronically at pennbid.procureware.com by 2:00 PM EST on July 8, 2021, and the same will be publicly opened and read immediately thereafter.

The Borough reserves the right to re ect any or all submittals, or any part thereof, for any reason, and also reserves the right to waive any informality therein. uestions regarding this pro ect shall only be accepted electronically via the larificati ns section on pennbid.procureware.com.

INVITATION FOR BIDS Sealed bids for the Marion Township Waterline Replacement Project located in Marion Township, Butler County will be received in the office of Benjamin Holland, BUTLER COUNTY CONTROLLER, FLOOR 5, COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, 124 WEST DIAMOND STREET, whose mailing address is P.O. BO 1 , B TLER, PA 1 3, on or before 2:00pm, June 8, 2021. All Bids must be plainly marked Bid –Marion Township Waterline Replacement Project on the outside of the envelope.

Bids will be opened thereafter, on June 9, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Commissioners Public Meeting located in the Planning Commission Conference Room, in the Butler County overnment Center Annex, 1 4 West Diamond Street, Butler, PA. Plans, specifications and bid documents are available at EADS Group, 15392 Route 322, Clarion, PA 16214 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $53.00 for each set of bid documents or $25.00 for the electronic format. Shipping is an additional $15.00. Contact EADS Group with questions at 814-764-5050 or to have the documents mailed to you.

Each proposal shall be accompanied by a bidder’s bond, or certified check or cashier’s check, in favor of the County of Butler, in the amount of not less than ten percent. The County of Butler reserves the right to waive any informality in and to accept or re ect any and all bids or any part of any bid. o bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days.

Prevailing wages established under the Davis-Bacon Act will apply to this contract. The contract documents contain requirements addressing prevailing labor wage rates, labor standards, nondiscrimination in hiring practices, goal for minority and female participation, MBE and WBE participation, participation by Section 3 residents and businesses and related matters.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at the site which is at the end of Clay Street, Boyers, PA on May 18, 2021 at 10:00 AM.

INVITATION FOR BIDS Sealed bids for the Slippery Rock Township Pavilion and Restroom Project located in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County will be received in the office of Benjamin Holland, BUTLER COUNTY CONTROLLER, FLOOR 5, COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, 124 WEST DIAMOND STREET, whose mailing address is P.O. BO 1 , B TLER, PA 1 3, on or before 2:00pm, June 8, 2021. All Bids must be plainly marked Bid –Slippery Rock Township Pavilion and Restroom Project on the outside of the envelope.

Bids will be opened on June 9, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Commissioners Public meeting in the Planning Commission Conference Room, Butler County overnment Center Annex, 1 4 West Diamond Street, Butler, PA. Plans, specifications and bid documents are available at EADS Group, 15392 Route 322, Clarion, PA 16214 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $75.00 for each set of bid documents or $25.00 for the electronic format. Shipping is an additional $15.00. Contact EADS Group with questions at 814-764-5050 or to have the documents mailed to you.

Each proposal shall be accompanied by a bidder’s bond, or certified check or cashier’s check, in favor of the County of Butler, in the amount of not less than ten percent. The County of Butler reserves the right to waive any informality in and to accept or re ect any and all bids or any part of any bid. o bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days.

Prevailing wages established under the Davis-Bacon Act will apply to this contract. The contract documents contain requirements addressing prevailing labor wage rates, labor standards, nondiscrimination in hiring practices, goal for minority and female participation, MBE and WBE participation, participation by Section 3 residents and businesses and related matters.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at Slippery Rock Township Building 1 Branchton Road, Slippery Rock, PA on May 18, 2021 at 11:30 AM.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

ACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title II, the air ousing Act, Section 4 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1 3, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA uman Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

George Zboyovsky, PE, ICMA-CM Borough Manager

BOARD OF BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Leslie Osche, Chairman Kim Geyer Kevin Boozel Attest: Lori Altman Director of Human Resources/ Chief Clerk

BOARD OF BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Leslie Osche, Chairman Kim Geyer Kevin Boozel Attest: Lori Altman Director of Human Resources/ Chief Clerk

B7

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MICHELLE GREENE RHODES, founder of Michelle Rhodes Media, LLC, in Tampa, Florida, has created a place for nurses to share their wellness expertise while helping the vulnerable communities in which they serve.

Black nurses launch the first Black wellness magazine

by The Orlando Advocate Michelle Greene Rhodes, founder of Michelle Rhodes Media, LLC, in Tampa, Florida, has created a place for nurses to share their wellness expertise while helping the vulnerable communities in which they serve.

According to Americanactionforum.org, recent

estimates attribute 10 to 20 percent of health outcomes to medical care, 30 percent to genetics, 40 to 50 percent to behavior, and 20 percent to the social and physical environment.

That means most of the work in terms of wellness happens outside of the hospital by social determinants (non-medical factors). These social determinants include fac-

tors such as where individuals live, learn, work, and age, in addition to socioeconomic status and race. These social determinants of health have gotten a lot of attention in recently, as research continues to show a person’s health can depend heavily on their zip code and circumstances in life.

“We are ecstatic to elevate Black nurses as they bring wellness education,

to help our corporate partners disseminate cultured wellness information, to elevate some and give to give hope to others within every zip code,” said Rhodes, who founded Michelle Rhodes Media, LLC, to assist other nurses move into entrepreneurship. Since the start of the program in 2016, Rhodes, who is from Florida, has helped over 100 nurses become entrepre-

Imagine Early Childhood Education that prepares every child for success.

Every parent wants what is best for their child, starting from their earliest days. Although all children are different, their development is deeply influenced by family, culture and society.

At Pittsburgh Public Schools, we have a long-standing history of providing children from age birth to five with educational opportunities that recognize their unique strengths and help them grow into lifelong learners.

There’s a good reason for our focus on early learning.

Experts agree that children who attend a high-quality early education program are better prepared for elementary school and beyond. They are less likely to be held back in a grade, less likely to have special needs, and more likely to graduate from high school than

children who did not attend such a program.

According to Carol Barone-Martin, executive director of PPS Early Childhood, the first eight years of life are crucial for developing brain “architecture”—the connections that are needed for learning, behavior and health.

During the formative years, children gain a foundation in important academic concepts. They develop strong language and communications skills, learn appropriate social behavior and build trusting relationships with adults and each other.

PPS recently announced an exciting pilot program that brings together partners from the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and the Heinz Foundation with experts from PPS Early Childhood Education to provide even more student-centered, play-

based learning.

“There’s scientific evidence that young children are more likely to learn through playful instruction than through teacher-based materials such as worksheets,” says Ms. Barone-Martin. “This pilot program allows us to see what types of practices we can add to our curriculum in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students.”

Play-based learning follows the model of handson museum learning.

“This is how a child’s brain actually works,” Ms. Barone-Martin continues.

Through play, children are continuously engaged.

They are physically active and socially involved.

As they develop more complex social-emotional skills, they learn to manage their own behaviors and get along well with others. PreK children will be ready for Kindergarten,

and Kindergartens will be prepared for the challenges of first grade and beyond.

PPS participates in Early Head Start programs for children from birth to age three. The District operates 87 early learning classrooms for children 3-5 years of age. They receive breakfast and lunch daily, and are eligible for health, mental health and social services as needed.

All Early Childhood Education programs at Pittsburgh Public Schools meet the Pennsylvania Early Learning standards of instruction.

Don’t wait any longer to register your child for PreK or Kindergarten.

Visit www.pghschool.org/ enroll for more information.

(Paid for by Pittsburgh Public Schools)

neurs, writers and public speakers.

Rhodes culled through her Facebook group of 4,000 nurse entrepreneurs — affectionately called the “Nursepreneur Nation” — and selected 12 from various nursing backgrounds as her executive team.

“They are the core engine of this historical publication,” Rhodes told The Weekly Challenger.

“It is because of them that

we can now disseminate and discuss topics of wellness that concern people of color the most. By taking wellness concepts and well-being education into our hands, we can hopefully save lives by establishing healthier habits earlier in life.”

The Color of Wellness Magazine launched on Jan. 20.

Follow the magazine at www.colorofwellness.co.

Renee Montgomery makes history in purchasing WNBA’s Atlanta Dream

by Stacy M. Brown Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Renee Montgomery, a two-time WNBA champion and vice president of the Atlanta Dream, has purchased a stake in the franchise and is now co-owner.

Montgomery is the first retired player to own and serve as an executive of a WNBA team.

The superstar and her two partners, Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair of Northland Investment Corp. take over the team that was once coowned by former U.S. Sen. Kelley Loeffler (D-Ga.).

“With the unanimous WNBA and NBA [board] votes, marks a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization, and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

“I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond,” Englebert added.

Selected fourth overall in the 2009 WNBA draft, Montgomery appeared in 364 games. She played in 37 playoff games and twice won the WNBA title as a Minnesota Lynx member.

She matched the WNBA regular-season record with eight made three-pointers in 2018 and notched her 500th career trey in 2019 – making her just the 13th player in league history to accomplish that feat.

Last November, Montgomery proved a cham-

pion in another venue: political activism. She joined Stacey Abrams and other women of color to push voter participation and inclusion, ultimately helping President Joe Biden win Georgia and the White House.

Those efforts also led to Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff winning the Senate and grabbing the majority in the upper chamber.

“My dream has come true,” Montgomery declared. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both an ownership stake and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously.”

Van Brooks, the founder and executive director of the nonprofit SAFE Alternative Foundation for Education, also praised Montgomery.

“Back in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, we reached out to Renee Montgomery to join our Together, We Can virtual program as a host,” Brooks wrote in an email.

(You can watch her class here.)

“She was ecstatic to help because the Virtual Program was created to help people. It provided people of all ages with a fun and educational, social outlet to combat the isolation brought on by nationwide quarantine,” Brooks continued.

“Renee Montgomery’s amazing work ethic, WNBA accomplishments, and passion for helping people have positively impacted the lives of many.

“From a star player on the team to co-owner, she is a woman making history that serves as an inspiration for many, and that includes our students.”