5.8.24 NPC

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

The fallout over Juneteenth continues

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Courier Staff Writer

In October 2023, the City of Pittsburgh submitted an application with the state of Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to host a Juneteenth celebration at Point State Park, Downtown. The dates the city requested to reserve were Sunday, June 16, 2024, to Saturday, June 22, 2024, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned. However, the City of Pittsburgh then withdrew its application to host a Juneteenth celebration at Point State Park. When exactly did the city withdraw its application?

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Courier Staff Writer

Friday night, Feb. 23, 2024, was the date. The Blumcraft Building on Melwood Avenue in Oakland was the location. Inside, there were performances. Art being created. Dancing. Overall, a good time. Just like the old Shadow Lounge.

About 150 people came out to pay tribute to the "Shadow Lounge Era," proof that, even 11 years after its closing, no one who experienced the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty from 2000-2013 will ever forget it. The event was sponsored by Pop Channy Productions as part of its Black History Month Black Art Expo Pop Up. "The vibe was very chill, very laid back, very creative, spontaneous," said Chief Ikhana of the old Shadow Lounge, who was a constant at the Shadow Lounge, 5972 Baum Boulevard, taking photos and videos. "Creative dancing, creative DJing, creative

poets. I had my 30th birthday party at the Shadow Lounge. It was an amazing space...when I ride past there, it's always going to be the Shadow Lounge."

A simple YouTube check tells you all you need to know about the Shadow Lounge's legacy. In 2009, legendary Hip-Hop artist KRS-One took over the Shadow Lounge with an epic performance that's still talked about 15 years later. The lounge was more than standing-room-only when KRS-One navigated through the crowd to get to the stage. Hip-Hop legend Paradise Gray was right there by his side on the stage, too. It's also the place where Wiz Khalifa showcased his talents as a youngster; same with Mac Miller, whose first album release party was held at the Shadow Lounge. Emmai Alaquiva, the Emmy-Award winning filmmaker, opened Ya Momz House above the Shadow

Olga George, press secretary for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, told the Courier on Tuesday, May 7, that the city withdrew its application in “January 2024.”

The Courier asked the same question to the DCNR. Its spokesman, Wesley Robinson, told the Courier his records indicated the request by the city to withdraw the Juneteenth application was approved by DCNR on Feb. 29, 2024.

The Courier has also learned exclusively that B. Marshall, the primary promoter of the Stop The Violence Pittsburgh Juneteenth Celebration, which has occurred at Point State Park the last few years, wrote an email on Feb. 22, 2024, to numerous constituents including Mayor Ed Gainey about B. Marshall's shock that the city had requested to hold its Juneteenth at the Point on and near the same dates as his Juneteenth celebration. "Since 2013 our orga-

Medgar Evers, Rep. Clyburn among 19 honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

by Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

President Joe Biden

awarded 19 individuals the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Civil rights icon Medgar Wiley Evers and South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn lead the list of recipients whose legacy of bravery and activism inspires generations.

Evers, born in 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi, is remembered for his unwavering dedication to the civil rights movement despite facing relentless racism and threats to his life. His childhood was marked by the pervasive specter of racism, with incidents like the lynching of a family friend serving as stark reminders of the injustice prevalent in the community. Determined to make a difference, Evers enlisted in the Army during World War II, serving with distinction in a segregated field battalion in England and France.

After returning, Evers earned a Bachelor of Arts from Alcorn College, where he met Myrlie Beasley, whom he married in 1951. He embarked on a career in activism, joining the NAACP and organizing boycotts and protests to combat segregation and discrimination.

His efforts caught the attention of the NAACP national leadership, leading to his appointment as Mississippi’s first field secretary for the organization.

Evers also organized boycotts and advocated for the admission of African American students to the University of Mississippi. Despite facing constant threats and violence, Evers remained steadfast in his commitment to the cause of equality. A white supremacist

assassinated Evers on June 12, 1963, outside his home, sparking outrage and galvanizing the civil rights movement.

Clyburn, a stalwart figure in American politics known as the “Kingmaker,” has dedicated his life to public service and advocacy. Representing South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Clyburn has served since 1993, making history as the first African American to hold multiple terms as Majority Whip. A South Carolina State University graduate, he began his career as a public school teacher in Charleston before assuming roles as an employment counselor and director of youth and community development programs.

Clyburn’s foray into state government, serving as South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner, marked a significant milestone in his career. He became the first African American advisor to a South Carolina governor. His transition to federal politics in 1993 heralded a new chapter of leadership, as he became chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Clyburn has earned numerous accolades and honors, including the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. His pivotal endorsement of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race is widely credited with shaping the course of the election, propelling Biden to victory in crucial primaries and ultimately to the presidency.

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) joins all Americans today to salute all of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award recipients at the White House,” NNPA Presi-

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• MAY 8

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

dent and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., stated. “The Biden-Harris administration continues to lead America forward toward freedom, justice, and equality for all. The NNPA takes special note and salute Congressman Clyburn and Medgar Evers for their outstanding and transformative courage and leadership in the ongoing freedom movement for civil and human rights. The Black Press of America extends heartfelt congratulations to Clyburn, Evers, and all who are being honored today.”

Among the recipients joining Evers and Clyburn are:

Michael R. Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City; Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries; Senator Elizabeth Dole; Phil Donahue, a pioneering journalist; Al Gore, former Vice President; Clarence B. Jones, a civil rights activist and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; Secretary John Kerry; Senator Frank Lautenberg; Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history; Opal Lee, an educator, and activist who played a crucial role in making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space; Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Dr. Jane Rigby, a prominent astronomer; Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers; Judy Shepard, co-founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal, broke barriers in sports and society; Michelle Yeoh, an acclaimed actress.

“There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together,” Biden insisted.

“These nineteen Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better. They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields. They consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and service.”

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 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 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 legacy 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

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. Kittsborn 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.

• MAY 12

1862—In a bold and heroic endeavor, Robert Smalls led 12 other slaves and stole a Confederate warship, then turning it over to

Union forces. The White captain of the steamer Planter and other officers had gone ashore for a party in Charleston, S.C. Smalls, a wheelman, quickly organized the Black crew and steered the ship out of Charleston harbor right past the unsuspecting Confederate forces. For his daring deed, Smalls was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. After the Civil War, he was elected congressman from South Carolina.

1940—Jazz singer Al Jarreau was born on this day in Milwaukee, Wisc.

• MAY 13

1865—The last battle of the Civil war ends. Ironically, it appears the Confederate troops won the battle at Palmetto Ranch, Texas. However, it was the actions and bravery of the 62nd Regiment of United States Colored Troops that prevented the defeat from turning into a rout. The Confederates had actually underestimated the fighting prowess of the Blacks, assuming they would run in fear when the fighting began. Instead, what occurred was the rapid defeat of two White regiments but the Black soldiers of the 62nd held firm. The Confederates would later surrender.

1950—Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder is born Steveland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Mich. Wonder has recorded more than 30 Top 10 hits and has received 25 Grammy awards,one of the most-awarded male solo artists, and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the Top 60 best-selling music artists. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a holiday in the United States.

• MAY 14

1885—Erskine Henderson, an African American jockey, wins the Kentucky Derby on “Joe Cotton”—a horse trained by Alex Perry—an African American trainer. Henderson was the sixth Black jockey to win the coveted race. Indeed, Black jockeys and trainers dominated the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 1902. However, while some of the reasons are not entirely clear, it appears that as the race became more and more prosperous, Black jockeys and trainers were forced out. 1970—A student protest on the campus of Mississippi’s Jackson State University leads to a massive confrontation with local police authorities. When the smoke cleared, two students had been shot and killed and another 12 injured or wounded. Reasons given for the protests ranged from opposition to the War in Vietnam, racial tensions and anger over the National Guard killings of White students on the campus of Kent State University earlier in the month. The university memorialized the disturbance by naming the area where it took place “Gibbs-Green Plaza” after the two students who were killed—Phillip Lafayette Gibbs, 21, and James Earl Green, 17. 1985—In a confrontation with the Black Nationalist back-to-nature group MOVE, Philadelphia police drop an incendiary device on the group’s home and headquarters. The decision to bomb had been apparently approved by Black Mayor Wilson Goode. Eleven MOVE members, including five children, were killed. The only adult survivor was Ramona Africa. More than 60 homes in the surrounding area were burned to the ground. It was never fully clear why the decision to drop the bomb was made.

The fallout over Juneteenth continues

City of Pittsburgh applied to host Juneteenth at the Point, then backed out

JUNETEENTH FROM A1

nization has supported you in every election and promotion you have advanced, we wanted to see you succeed. We are dumbfounded about this news," B. Marshall wrote to Mayor Gainey, Feb. 22, 2024.

If the city hadn't withdrawn its application, B. Marshall confirmed to the Courier that his Juneteenth celebration would not have been able to be held at Point State Park. With the dates reopening, the DCNR granted B. Marshall's application to host his Juneteenth celebration over three days, June 14-16.

When asked by the Courier why the City of Pittsburgh applied to reserve June 16-22, 2024, at the Point in the first place, George responded: “The City made a request to hold Point State Park last year to ensure the Point would be available for the Juneteenth celebration. The request was released in January not to force any event promoter to design or have to hold an event at the Point.”

Juneteenth, which is known throughout the country as a now-federal holiday that brings people together, seems to be dividing some of the African American community in Pittsburgh, with the news that there could be two "largescale" Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh; the city's, and B. Marshall's.

The talk has dominated parts of social media and email chains in Black Pittsburgh circles.

On Friday, May 3, two days after the Courier's story was released informing the public about the city's desire to host its own Juneteenth celebration and B. Marshall's Black Music Festival at Point State Park being canceled for 2024, George released a lengthy statement regarding Juneteenth. It read, in full: "When Mayor Ed Gainey came into office, he understood that his administration would be under greater scrutiny than any other administration. He accepted that challenge of accountability and visibility in every aspect since he would be bringing about change to the city that has not been experienced.

"In keeping to that ideal, the administration worked hard to have the City fully embrace the Juneteenth celebration through financial and in-kind support. However, one of the challenges the City faced was having a clear, precise and transparent process of how public funds were being spent.

"So, in keeping with the City’s goals of transparent use of city funds and accountability, the City did use the established procurement process.

"To that end, we established an RFP or Request For Proposal to solicit Juneteenth events and to ensure a visible, clear and open process to request proposals from private event promoters for City funding. This opens the door to all event promoters to provide opportunities to new artists and vendors, which we believe helps to keep a celebration fresh and equitable.

"This process was communicated clearly and directly to all private event promoters last year, in hopes that the City will be able to have a robust Juneteenth celebration.

"Juneteenth is an important celebration equaled to the July 4th celebration. And as seen with the Fourth, multiple various celebrations

are held. No one individual or organization holds the exclusive license for the 4th Celebration.

"The City’s desire is to have additional, not dueling or competitive events for the Juneteenth celebration. This is an opportunity to uplift more people wanting to celebrate Juneteenth.

"Juneteenth is a celebration of the freedom of Black people from slavery. Let’s recall the joy that was felt that day to create a day of remembrance, honor and celebration for all."

The Courier has pressed the City of Pittsburgh on exactly what date(s), what location(s) and what events will comprise its Juneteenth celebration. No clear answers have been given as of yet. What is clear is that the city’s Juneteenth celebration won't happen at Point State Park this year.

B. Marshall’s Juneteenth celebration will be held at the Point this year, from June 14-16. He told the Courier he's disappointed that the $125,000 the city said in 2023 that it would provide Stop The Violence Pittsburgh for Juneteenth in 2023 and again in 2024 was not honored by the city. While his organization received the funding for Juneteenth from the city in 2023, for this year, 2024, the city has not provided the same financial support. Is the more the merrier, though? While B. Marshall's Juneteenth celebration is regarded as "Pittsburgh's Juneteenth Celebration," there are other Juneteenth events that occur throughout Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties, though on a much smaller scale. For the last two years, the borough of Swissvale has held its own Juneteenth celebration, which usually garners at least 600 people throughout the one-day Saturday event. Aliquippa has held its own Juneteenth for the past few years at Lefty Cepull Park. Last year, there was also a Juneteenth festival in Sewickley at the community center, and Mt. Lebanon held a Juneteenth Jubilee.

The City of Pittsburgh contends that it's perfectly normal for the city to have its own Juneteenth celebration, like some other cities and municipalities. But for some reason, it's not going over that well with some in Pittsburgh's Black community.

"It seems that such a positive series of events for Black Pittsburgh and all of Pittsburgh, should not have to continuously run into roadblocks," voiced Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman and CEO Tim Stevens, in an email chain obtained exclusively by the Courier. "I am also encouraging the city to accept B. Marshall's organization as the city's choice for the city's Juneteenth operations based on his efforts...to bring Juneteenth activities to Pittsburgh, and his ability to produce great results."

Stevens, in the email chain, added: "I don't think that it's a good look for the city's first Blackled administration to appear to be in any conflict with the person who brought Juneteenth celebrations to Pittsburgh at a whole new level. I strongly feel that there should be honest and earnest efforts on BOTH the part of Mr. Marshall and the Gainey Administration to make all of this work, seamlessly and in a cooperative, positive spirit."

WOMEN OF ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INC., LAMBDA LAMBDA ZETA CHAPTER, DURING JUNETEENTH IN PITTSBURGH.

Paying homage to the ‘Shadow Lounge Era’

Lounge in 2001.

"He was my first doorman," recalled Justin Strong, the founder of the Shadow Lounge, of Alaquiva in an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier.

Strong, following his hosting of parties and open-mics at his residence on Meyran Avenue while a student at Pitt, opened the Shadow Lounge on June 24, 2000, just a few hours before his 21st birthday on June 25.

"In general, I was always 'different' and wanted the opposite of what mainstream had to offer," Strong told the Courier. "I really couldn't find what I was looking for, even at Pitt, and that's why I created it. It was really for me, and if you dig it, join up with us."

Strong, who grew up in Point Breeze and graduated from Allderdice High School in 1996, started

playing the drums at age 8, found himself in marching bands and said he was "always on the creative side of things."

The Shadow Lounge evolved into becoming a space that attracted people from all sides of the city and from all ethnicities. Jasiri X, founder and CEO of 1 Hood Media, told the Courier the Shadow Lounge proved to the public that African Americans could party in East Liberty without problems. He said East Liberty's old "E-Fest" block party from the late '90s was canceled due in part to altercations at the event.

The Shadow Lounge also proved to the public that East Liberty could once again be a mecca of entertainment and prosperity, like it was in the '60s and '70s.

"The Shadow Lounge should take the credit for the East Liberty transformation," Jasiri X told the Courier.

As the years went on, Strong opened sister lounges AVA and Blue Room, steps from the original Shadow Lounge. However, as East Liberty began to get more businesses wanting to make the neighborhood home, Strong recalled the "complaints" and the "pressure" from those who, in effect, wanted him and his lounges out of East Liberty. From 2010 or so until 2013, Strong was looking for different locations to move, as all of a sudden, the cost of his lease was rising and the pressure was mounting with

new developers making old buildings into market-rate apartments, like the Walnut on Highland apartment building that sits across from where the Shadow Lounge used to be.

When pressed by the Courier on exactly what happened that caused the Shadow Lounge to ultimately close on March 30, 2013, Strong diplomatically said: "There was a lot of development that started in East Liberty, which we were a big fan of and was anticipating to take advantage of it, and there was some outside pressure coming in

to kind of guide us otherwise, (as well as) a different understanding with the landlord."

Chantel Peterson, leader of Pop Channy Productions, founded The Black Art Expo in 2018 to give a platform to "unapologetic Black creatives and lovers of Black art," she told the Courier. Celebrities like Queen Latifah, Erika Alexander, Lauren London and Sleepy Brown have engaged with the group, according to Peterson. The Feb. 23 event was created so that Peterson's

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE SHADOW LOUNGE

MARCH 30, 2013.

generation of artists and creatives, some of whom never had the opportunity to step foot in the Shadow Lounge, could "pay homage to...the culture (the Shadow Lounge) created in Pittsburgh, and the artists who helped pave the way for us."

Artists like Lauren Yvette and Camerin "Camo" Nesbitt showed off their painting skills at the event, poetry was performed by Avana Sade, Makala and Diarra Imani, Hotep The Artist did a mime performance with her poetry, and Brotha Mans did a rap/vocal performance. DJ QRX was the DJ for the night.

Near the conclusion of the event, Strong was recognized by Peterson and presented with a special portrait of an emcee rapping, created by Nesbitt.

Among those who came out to the Shadow Lounge Era tribute was Pittsburgh City Councilman Khari Mosley, whose connection with the Shadow Lounge and 1 Hood Media goes back years.

"This transformation that's happening in Pittsburgh politically, the Shadow Lounge was one of those places that really birthed that 20 years ago from a cultural standpoint," Mosley told the Courier. "What people don't really understand about politics and cities transforming is that culture leads the way. The Shadow Lounge was one of those places that brought so many people together, and a lot of people who are involved in politics and leadership and institutions and the corporate level now, a lot of those folks came through the Shadow Lounge either as college students or young professionals, and it really became a campfire that people were able to come around."

Alaquiva, the four-time Emmy-Award winning filmmaker, said being a part of the Shadow Lounge era “has proved to be one of the most catalytic intersections of my life. From being the doorman that was given a test to take mail upstairs that was accidentally delivered

to the Shadow Lounge, it allowed me to look into a six-inch mail slot to discover a 300-square-foot room where dreams could come true.”

Alaquiva, who now serves as the Vice Chair of the Pa. Council On The Arts, said Strong was an “impellent influence” on him, along with the Shadow Lounge community. And as for Jasiri X, who graduated from Gateway High School in 2000 and began performing at the Shadow Lounge shortly thereafter, he said his

Shadow Lounge performances gave him the confidence to perform nationally. "I was able to try new things, creative and inventive, so when I performed nationally, I already knew what the crowd would be feeling and not feeling," he said. "From Wiz, Mac, Formula 412, all these dope artists, Hip-Hop had a home (in Pittsburgh)." Jasiri X added: "I wouldn't be the artist I am today if not for the Shadow Lounge."

MAKAYLA MCGINNIS, AYANA SADE, DIARRA IMANI, WITH CHANTEL PETERSON, SEATED.

LOUNGE

ARTIST LAUREN YVETTE

CHIEF IKHANA

SHADOW LOUNGE FROM A4

Emerging Leaders Program 2024

The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) celebrated its third cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program at the 2024 Emerging Leaders Program Graduation, Friday, April 19, at the Carnegie Museum of Art.

The 21 graduates came from various organizations and represented talented Black leaders from the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.

TALI board members, alumni, and other TALI stakeholders celebrated this milestone alongside the graduates. Additionally, TALI Advisory Board Member Myah Moore Irick, Founder, Senior Vice President, and Pri-

vate Wealth Manager, The Irick Group—Merrill Private Wealth Management, delivered the keynote address, while the honorable Austin A. Davis, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, delivered special remarks.

THE 2024 ELP COHORT—Left-Right Back Row: Derrick Shoffner, Waris Wade, Ariell Antonio, Jennifer Whitley, Seth Phillips, Charles Potter, Travis Roache, Brandon Davis, and Alena Anderson. Left-Right Middle Row: Joe Oyatta, Amstrid Gomez, Deja Starks, Chris Johnson, Jean-Pierre Nsanzabera, and Eric Giles. Left-Right Front Row: Asraiel Harewood, Jenn Bejin, Rashana White-Bey, Marla Hines, Tuesday Simok, and Blessy Bellamy. (Photos by Brian Cook Sr.)

BLESSY BELLAMY

EVAN FRAZIER, LT. GOV. AUSTIN DAVIS

Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.

Gun violence

We continue to mourn the loss of the many individuals we have lost to gun violence. Everyone has been impacted in some way, knowing neighbors, friends, and family who have lost loved ones to such horrific and senseless violence. And we know how much our Black communities are disproportionately impacted.

In this month’s health page, we focus on what we can do to create safer and more connected communities together.

Dr. David Brent emphasizes talking more about gun safety and about mental health supports for our young people. What thoughts do you have for increasing talk within our Black neighborhoods about gun safety and mental health?

Carlos: We absolutely need to be talking about how having more guns do not make us or our neighborhoods safer. Whether in schools, after school programs, churches, libraries, and living rooms, we all have a responsibility to talk about the horrible impact of guns on our communities especially young people, and reducing guns in our communities. Simultaneously, we have to also continue to address the stigma and silence about mental health, and ensure that our young people and their families have access to and actually receive culturally responsive mental health care.

Dr. Daniel Salahuddin also underscores the need to increase mental health resources, especially for our neighbors who have lost loved ones to gun violence. What are ways that the Urban League can help families get connected?

Carlos: The Urban League has been dedicated to nurturing the resilience of individuals, families, and communities. We recognize that the histories of chronic disinvestment and disenfranchisement of our neighborhoods have created profound inequities. Thus, our ability at the Urban League to connect community members to mental health resources, economic opportunities, stable housing, and nutritious food, among many other things, are a critical part of increasing the positive supports that our neighbors deserve. As Dr. Salahuddin notes, we have to stop normalizing gun violence and its consequences on our health and well-being.

The Urban League is at the forefront of supporting community resiliency, and we are committed to doing this work collectively with the many partners engaged in creating a more just and equitable region.

Carlos T. Carter is President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.

4 steps to protect Black youth from gun violence

Gun violence is a complicated issue in our country. However, some facts are straightforward: Exposure to gun violence —homicide, suicide, and accidents—profoundly affects the behavioral health of children and adolescents.

While no group of children has been spared from gun violence, Black youth bear the biggest burden of gun-related homicides. While White children are more likely to die by suicide, gun-related suicide for Black children is rising and, for the first time, exceeding the rate of suicide in White children.

How can parents, guardians, family and community members protect Black youth?

1. Practice gun safety

“Research shows people are not going to get rid of guns in their homes,” says Dr. David A. Brent, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and Clinical and Translational Science and Endowed Chair in Suicide Studies at Pitt.

With this in mind, Dr. Brent encourages gun owners to practice gun safety on children’s behalf. “For example, store guns empty and separate from ammunition in a safe place away from kids,” he says. Gun locks on each weapon provide

an added layer of protection.

“Taking these steps is important for children’s safety and health,” Dr. Brent notes. “They’re essential for a child who’s having behavioral health issues, like depression, or is experiencing a mental health crisis.”

2. Promote conversations about carrying weapons

While about half of U.S. gun owners carry weapons as protection against crime, many scientists who study gun violence agree that guns make society more dangerous.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, in homes with guns, there’s an increased risk of gun-related suicide and homicide, especially against women.

“Carrying a gun for protection can ruin two lives,” says Dr. Brent. “Yours and the other person in the confrontation.”

Open, honest, and non-judgmental discussions about the risks and responsibilities of carrying firearms can help people make informed decisions about gun ownership and usage.

Community-based programs like Reimagine ReEntry and the CommUnity Hospital Violence Intervention Project, promote non-violent conflict resolution and de-escala-

tion techniques that lead to safer environments for everyone.

3. Address youth mental health

“Gun violence is traumatic and takes a toll on kids’ health,” says Dr. Brent. “Children who experience it often develop PTSD the same way people do in combat. The trauma puts them at a higher risk for engaging in dangerous behaviors, like substance abuse. They’re also more likely to experience social isolation, depression, and other disorders.”

Dr. Brent leads the ETUDES Center, which consists of a team of approximately 40 researchers from UPMC, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and other institutions to develop new ways to bridge mental health disparities in children and adolescents who live in marginalized communities.

“We’re creating technology-based tools we hope will help reduce youth suicide for kids who don’t have equal access to psychiatric services,” says Dr. Brent. “We’re providing the services in primary care where there’s less stigma and where marginalized youth and families feel more comfortable getting treatment.”

In Dr. Brent’s study, Black youth make up 35-40 percent of the participants. They and their family members/ caregivers provide input for interventions. “We’re counting on their lived experiences to help us design technology that makes a difference,” says Dr. Brent. Families that are interested in learning more about ETUDES can ask their doctor for a referral. Or they can email Dr. Brent at brentda@ upmc.edu.

4. Take advantage of mental health resources to create a safe environment For children who’ve experienced gun violence, or who struggle with emotional and behavioral issues like substance use, anxiety, and mood disorders, Dr. Brent encourages parents to create safe environments that begin with a visit to a doctor.

“Any clinic or pediatrician associated with Children’s Hospital can

get access to behavioral health delivered in a pediatric setting,” notes Dr. Brent. “Pediatricians can get in touch with psychiatrists in real time through a program called TiPs. That includes psychiatric assistance and help creating a care plan. For children in a mental health crisis, Dr. Brent recommends Resolve. Resolve is a free, 24/7 crisis service available to Allegheny County residents. It includes child and adolescent home, school, and community support. Special care is available for kids who’ve been identified at high risk for psychiatric hospitalization or out-of-home placement. Resolve services are sponsored by Allegheny County and UPMC Western Psych. No referral or appointment is needed. A walk-in center is located at 333 North Braddock Ave. The intake number is 412-864-5065 (non-crisis) and 1-888-796-8226 (crisis).

“To lose someone you love to gun violence—or to see your child suffering because of it—is something no one should experience,” says Dr. Brent. “That’s why we’re trying to inform people and create solutions that make mental health services more equitable.”

Creating a mental health framework for individuals and communities hurt by gun violence

Gun violence is a public health crisis that deeply impacts the wellbeing of people and their communities. In Pittsburgh, no group is more affected by gun violence than young, Black men. They are 60 times more likely to die from gun violence compared to the city-wide average, and 50 times more likely compared to the U.S. average. As a result, they are over-represented among those with non-fatal gun injuries.

While Pittsburgh has hospital-based violence intervention programs that help individuals cope and recover from nonfatal gun injuries immediately after an incident, they’re not designed to help months later when mental health issues like PTSD may occur.

In 2023, the increasing amount of gun violence in Allegheny County prompted the Department of Human Services to make a $50 million commitment to violence reduction initiatives through 2028. The money is funding various countywide and commu-

nity-based organizations that support these initiatives, including mental health services. The Neighborhood Resilience Project (NRP) is serving as the county convener, or “quarterback,” to coordinate these efforts.

Dr. Daniel Salahuddin, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Pitt, and his researchers are helping as well. He and his team are creating a game plan for the NRP and its teammates that will help reduce gun violence through better mental health.

“We’re mapping out the behavioral health services and other related supports that already exist in Allegheny County especially as they relate to young, Black men and gun violence,” Dr. Salahuddin explains. “We’re creating a better understanding of what’s out there and what’s not.

With the map, stakeholders will be able to clearly see the assets we have, as well as the gaps.”

The map will give the NRP and the entire col-

laborative a framework for developing additional behavioral health services that are welcoming and culturally relevant.

“The research creates an opportunity to assess and address social and structural barriers that prevent people who’ve experienced violence from getting the mental health services they need to recover and live healthy lives,” Dr. Salahuddin adds.

To date, Dr. Salahuddin’s team has interviewed 12 community organizations out of 30. So far, the team has talked to community activists;

organization directors, presidents, and CEOs; social workers; and therapists. “It’s humbling,” he says. “There’s a lot of dedicated people doing good work. On their behalf, we’re condensing the information they’re giving us into a concise summary of results that’s easy to understand and use in real time.”

What has the team found so far? “None of what we’re finding is a surprise, but it IS difficult to swallow,” Dr. Salahuddin says. An overall theme is the glaring lack of investment in communities. “It comes down to how much attention is received in a Black or Brown community vs a White community—and what that says about the value of Black and Brown lives,” says Dr. Salahuddin. “A key aspect of preventing gun violence includes meeting people’s basic needs and helping them access resources.”

Other themes include the general lack of mental health support for those who are impacted

by gun violence and the ripple effect the violence has on people who both witness and perpetrate the violence, as well as their families, friends, and the community at large.

There’s also the theme of normalization. “When someone is shot and killed, people’s grief becomes entwined with chronic trauma,” he adds. “This can make people numb to violence. It becomes a normal part of life. However, it’s NOT normal and should never be.”

For Dr. Salahuddin and team, the emerging themes are why the study is so important. “The study and the funding are bringing organizations together to collectively create a culturally-aligned mental health plan for Pittsburgh’s underserved communities,” says. “Finally, we have more tools and the means to break down barriers to accessing appropriate mental health services, reducing gun violence, and restoring people’s wellbeing, resiliency, and sense of self.”

Healthy Village Learning Institute uses African-centered process to transform participants’ lives

Located in McKeesport, the Healthy Village Learning Institute is a community organization where people can participate in culturally-aligned programs and services.

The village focuses on academic success, per-

sonal and community responsibility, technology competencies, manhood and womanhood rites of passage, Elders support, youth employment, adult employment training, African Arts, and health and wellness initiatives.

The institute was founded in the basement of St. Paul African Methodist Church in 2012 where its members began building a program that emphasizes positive African identity.

One of the programs is Let’s STOP the Gun Violence. In it, Healthy Village Learning Institute serves as the community component of the McKeesport Alternative Police Strategies (MAPS) project. Other programs and services include: The P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Outcomes With Excuses Removed) Process —Created for children and youth, the process offers strength-based, African-centered character develop Diversion Process—

Provides first-time or low-level offenders with a second chance.

S.T.R.E.A.M. Process —Prepares children, youth, and adults for present and future demands Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, and Math.

Innovative United Methodist sponsored Urban Camping and Retreat Center—Offers non-traditional, practical applications for understanding and participating in urban and global community issues. African Museum of Culture, Art, and OUR-story—Features a museum that connects to the roots of the African experience globally, delivering truth, tragedy, and triumph that

teaches all cultures. International Rites of Passage (age 8-Elder)— Designed for young men and women in Allegheny County. Community Mothers and Fathers (age 21+)— Supports and empowers village parents. Council of Village Elders—Celebrates Elders’ wisdom and lived experiences. Summer and Afterschool Scholars Process —Designed to improve academic achievement. To learn more about the Healthy Village Learning Institute, visit avliweb.org. On the site, be sure and scroll down to watch YouTube videos that capture the Healthy Village experience.

CARLOS T. CARTER

DR. DANIEL SALAHUDDIN

DR. DAVID A. BRENT

Dr. Maura Francis gives commencement speech at Penn State Beaver spring graduation

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that former Penn Hills resident and 2016 Penn State Beaver graduate Dr. Maura Francis was the commencement speaker for the university’s spring 2024 graduation ceremony, Saturday, May 4.

“It wasn’t too long ago that I was in your shoes,” Dr. Francis joked as she took the podium.

“Eight years flew by so fast.”

In a Penn State Beaver news story written by Director of Campus Relations Kristen Doerschner dated April 30, Doerschner discussed Dr. Francis’ humble beginnings.

and

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:

E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

“A native of Penn Hills, (Dr.) Francis went to live with her older sister at the age of 13 as her parents struggled with addiction. She went through high school striving to succeed, taking advanced placement classes and participating in cheerleading. She was accepted to Penn State Beaver where she continued her academic success, was a resident assistant, and a student leader, earning the Walker Award in 2015.

“Her family background compelled her to want to help kids who are at-risk, she said. Encouraged by her adviser, Kevin Bennett, full teaching professor of psychology, she applied to graduate school.

“While she was in the application process— challenging in and of itself—she was asked by campus administrators

to speak at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting during a campus visit in the summer of 2015. Though she was hesitant, she agreed, and that meeting became another turning point for (Dr.) Francis.

“Then-trustee Alice

Pope asked (Dr.) Francis about her future plans. When (Dr.) Francis said she was planning to attend graduate school, Pope—a Penn State triple alumna and now-retired associate professor of psychology at St. John’s —encouraged (Dr.) Francis not only to get her doctorate, but to apply to St. John’s.”

Dr. Francis was accepted into St. John’s and is now a proud graduate of the New York school, receiving her doctorate in Child Psychology. Dr. Francis is now a clinical psychologist for the Manhattan Psychology Group where she works with children, adolescents and their families. As the new graduates

looked on, Dr. Francis told them to remember three main points. The first? “Your journey is making the best out of what you have by embracing reality,” she said. “Feel all your feelings and welcome them in. Own that this is your story, this is your journey, and learn how to be flexible and let go of those societal expectations.”

The second? “Lean on that support to help you get through the different stages of your life. Delayed gratification is bittersweet, but your community will help you get there. You don’t have to always be at 100 percent, you just have to stick to your goals,

adjust as necessary and just keep going.”

And Dr. Francis’ final word of wisdom? “I’m a huge believer that you are where you’re supposed to be, and if you have to convince yourself, keep those tests, those papers that you did well on, those emails with those encouraging words, re-read those letters of recommendation your professor wrote you, keep those awards in a place where you can see them everyday, embrace uncertainty and enjoy the beauty of becoming, and what’s meant for you will never miss you.”

DR. MAURA FRANCIS WAS THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, MAY 4, AT PENN STATE BEAVER. (PHOTO CREDIT: PENN STATE BEAVER)

DR. MAURA FRANCIS

PHOTOS FROM PENN STATE BEAVER’S 2024 SPRING COMMENCEMENT...

Believe it or not, the Buccos are still in it!

:10—Just some random thoughts on baseball from a random mind. The Buccos stand at 17-19 through Monday night, May 6, and though the 9-2 start has been forgotten and wasted, they are still only a few games below .500. No one in the NL Central is running away with the division, either. So believe it or not, the Bucs are still in

this thing.

:09—Jared Jones. Saturday night, May 4, the 22-year-old phenom pitched seven shutout innings, struck out 10, allowed one hit and walked zero batters. He is the real deal. His ERA sits at 2.63 and he has four quality starts on his resume. Did I mention his wicked attitude on the mound, too?

He knows he's better than the hitter and he has the stare down to prove it. And don't lie, before training camp none of us had ever even heard of the young man. This is the future of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball. He is electric. He hits his spots. He is nasty. He is amazing. :08—Let's waste no more time and talk about the other half of the Pittsburgh Pirates' future, Paul Skenes and his 100+ mph fastball. In seven starts in Triple A Indianapolis, Skenes has a 0.99 ERA, 45 strikeouts in 27 innings and has looked like a pitcher ready for his major league debut since his first pitch. His fastball routinely tops 100 mph, he's only walked eight batters and his command of his entire arsenal is off the charts. He should be pitching here very, very soon. Sunday afternoon, May 5, as he was walking off the mound, he tipped his hat to the crowd and my thought is he did this because he knew he was heading to the Pirates and this was his last game pitching in front of the In-

dianapolis crowd. Here's hoping he makes his debut within the next two weeks and provides the Pirates with a legitimate one-two punch on the mound they haven't seen in decades, if ever. :07—Rightly or wrongly, Pirates mega-sized shortstop Oneil Cruz is looked at by the fan base as the face of the Pirates' everyday players. After a decidedly head-scratching rough patch, Cruz has begun to rip the ball as we have all hoped and prayed he would, blasting two home runs this past weekend that still haven't landed. With the light-hitting Pirates squandering so many good starts from the pitching corps, if Cruz can keep lighting it up and, as we know, hitting can be infectious, maybe the likes of Bryan Reynolds, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jack Suwinski can take it up a notch and provide some semblance of an offensive attack to back Jones, Skenes, Bailey Falter and Mitch Keller.

:06—Speaking of Mitch Keller, can we stop calling him an ace, a #1 starter, a stopper? This guy is a #4 starter for the rest of the season and couldn't stop a nose bleed. Now, on Monday night, May 6, he had an outstanding start. A complete game, only giving up one run on five hits in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. But he needs to show more of this to be considered an ace. C'mon man, pick it up, you have the talent. Get your head in the game and earn that new high salary you're receiving.

:05—Former Pirates update—Relief pitcher for the N.Y. Yankees, Clay Holmes, leads the major leagues with 11 saves, Tyler Glasnow is 6-1 with an ERA of 2.70 with a major league-leading 63 strikeouts and six quality starts with the hated L.A. Dodgers, and Jameson Taillon is 3-0 with a microscopic 1.13 ERA for the Chicago Cubs. And let's not forget the reigning Cy Young Award winning Garrett Cole who is rehabbing from an injury and should be back on the mound for the Yankees within

a month. For these four excellent pitchers the Pirates in return received a fungo bat (old school—go ask your dad) and a bag of used baseballs with the seams split. I'm just saying.

:04—Number one overall draft pick catcher Henry Davis has been optioned back to the Triple A Indianapolis Indians where it is hoped he can find his batting stroke after hitting an anemic .162 with no home runs and only four RBI in 23 games. After an eye-popping spring training, Davis is completely lost and overwhelmed on the major league level and needs to regain his confidence and batting eye before he returns. Even if it takes all season.

:03—Switching it up a bit, has anyone followed

the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Yeah, me either.

:02—The NBA playoffs are in full swing with Boston vs. Cleveland and the N.Y. Knicks versus the upstart Indiana Pacers in the East and out West the defending champs, the Denver Nuggets, already down two games, have their hands full with the Minnesota Timberwolves while the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks. I'll go out on a limb here and predict Boston and NY in the East and Denver and Oklahoma City in the West. With no rooting interest in the games since the Lakers went down in flames, I find myself able to simply kick back in my recliner and watch the games with an analytical eye and enjoy the sheer power and athleticism of

today's NBA players. And on that note, with an incredibly stacked lineup for the upcoming Summer Olympics, the U.S. squad should win the Gold Medal handily.

:01—Sunday, May 5, just as the rain basically stopped, the Pittsburgh Marathon got underway and thousands of runners took to the beautiful Pittsburgh streets to compete against the clock and finish the marathon. Your men's winner was Andrew Bowman, 30, in an impressive time of 2:15:50 and your women's champ was Jane Bareikis with a time of 2:37:37. Congratulations to the winners and all the participants in making this another great success for the city and our marathon and to Dick's Sporting Goods for their sponsorship of the

event. :00—One final baseball note to rattle your brain. In 1965 the Kansas City Athletics, before they moved to Oakland, signed 59-year-old Satchel Paige to a contract as a gimmick to help attendance. While on the squad the Athletics sent him into a game against the Boston Red Sox and to everyone's amazement, 59-year-old Satchel Paige threw three shutout innings against the Red Sox. That's correct, 59 years old and Satchel Paige threw three shutout innings. Satchel Paige is THE Greatest Pitcher of All-Time. Period. End of discussion. GAME OVER.

Are the helmet sizes of the current Steelers quarterbacks too big?

I have observed and covered Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks from Terry Bradshaw, Bubby Brister, Neil O’Donnell, Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, and the ill-fated Kenny "midnight train to Georgia, oops, I meant Philly" and now the Steelers' QB room, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen. All of the quarterbacks mentioned above except two have one thing in common. To my knowledge, none of them except two: Kordell Stewart and Justin Fields. None of the others have been seriously considered to fill the role of a punt or kickoff returner. From the beginning of his career, Stewart was considered a “hybrid” all-purpose back and not a pure quarterback because of his speed and elusiveness. Justin Fields has been mentioned as being considered as a kickoff and punt returner. Kyle Sullivan recently reported on www.cbssports.com that: “During an appearance on Cam Heyward's podcast, fellow Steelers teammate Jaylen Warren revealed

that Pittsburgh special teams coordinator Danny Smith has mulled the idea of making quarterback Justin Fields a potential returner. 'I would, I think it's pretty cool. As soon as you touch the ball that's when everything starts to happen,' Warren said of the rule change and whether or not he'd want to take part in the return game. 'Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there. ... We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is about to be back there?'" Now I can understand the logic of a few folks who might approve such a move because of the bargain basement price that the Steelers paid for Fields and because it has been reported by multiple outlets that the Steelers declined to pick up quarterback Justin Fields'

fifth-year option, which is priced at $25 million. No coach in their right mind would place such a valuable commodity as a possible future franchise QB in such a precarious position to field punts or kickoffs. If I were Justin Fields, if anyone requested me to be involved in any activity that would indirectly or directly jeopardize my future as an NFL player, I would staunchly refuse to do so and play out this option year, and “git to gittin” in 2025. I am sure that if the Steelers don’t retain the services of Mr. Fields, one or two teams will come calling. Maybe one or all of "The Three Stooges" sad sack crew of the 2023 Steelers QB room would have been the perfect candidates to field live balls which may have resulted in an instant appointment with the bone doctor.

If the statement by Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is even partially true and special teams coach Danny Smith mentioned such a possibility by admiring the escape ability of QB Justin Fields, so be it. However, I am positive that if

Coach Smith were even semi-serious about Fields lining up as a kick returner, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith would not sign off on it. Now let’s get to the meat and potatoes. Statements are being tossed around such as Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton was allegedly forced to simplify the terminology of the Broncos playbook for Russell Wilson. One of the other statements that has become popular is: “Payton, Broncos trying to simplify things for an efficient offense.” All these statements are blatant insinuations that Russell Wilson is not quite intellectually up to snuff regarding absorbing and implementing an NFL offense. Russell Wilson led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014, winning a 43-8 blowout over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII and losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVIIII by the score of 28-24. The Seahawks should have easily won both games. However, “if

not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost.” Oh, I am so sorry, wrong story. If ex-Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll had not been on his own “intellectual island” by calling a pass play from inside the one yard line, the Seahawks would not have lost. Why didn’t the suspected cockfighting king, and "Bountygate" guru Sean Payton give his colleague Pete Carroll a quick ringy-dingy and suggest a running play from the goal line instead of an ill-fated pass with less than a yard to go, maybe the Patriots would not have been able to mount a comeback to win in Super Bowl XLVIIII. Also, would Sean Payton have disparaged the football intellect of one of his alleged heroes, ex-Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre, who, by many accounts, was well into his tenure with the Packers and did not even know what a basic nickel defense was? Oh, I would be remiss not to mention the Jim Crow period narrative that claimed: “Black quarterbacks were and are not smart enough to play the quarterback

position in the National Football League." Don’t yaw’ll just feel like singin’, “She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.” Or maybe a slower tempo tune suits your fancy like, "Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen." Or should we try the new 2024 arrangement: "Nobody knows the trouble we see." Many things have not changed, just rearranged, you diggg. Oh by the way, Russell Wilson has won nine playoff games and competed in two Super Bowls, winning one. Sean Payton has won eight playoff games and competed in two Super Bowls, winning one, advantage Russell Wilson. Stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, dogs, and cats, there will be more to come.

PIRATES PITCHER JARED JONES

Financial phenom Gail Perry-Mason

by Roz Edward

(Atlanta

Daily World)—Leading financial expert

Gail Perry-Mason is the senior director of investments at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. But her storied 30year career is the stuff Lifetime movies are made of. Perry-Mason began life in less than optimal—no meager conditions and she made her way up from an abandoned bi-racial to later become a receptionist at a brokerage firm where she would ultimately become the one of the most respected financial leaders in the nation.

Imagine finally meeting your birth mother and asking the question that every adopted child asks— after “Why did you give me up?”—“What was I like

as a baby?” And when the response is “I don’t know, you were Black and I didn’t want to touch you,” there is no need to ask the initial question.

Gail Perry-Mason’s Caucasian mother delivered that harsh blow, when as an adult, Perry-Mason met her birth mother for the first time. But the renowned financier is living proof of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s quote, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” The author of Girl, Make Your Money Grow! was approached to run on the Democratic ticket with Virg Benero for Michigan’s lieutenant governor, and recently had to decline a casual invitation to the White House to honor a previous engagement—it’s not surprising that engagement is with her “kids,” as she calls the young participants of her annual Money Matters camp.  Her early life:

“When I was very young, I couldn’t walk or talk. I was baldheaded. I was labeled special needs and hard to place. So nobody wanted me … This social worker—who had already adopted a child, a cousin of hers—looked at me and said, ‘I really don’t want any children. I am almost 60 years of age and I don’t want any more kids.’ And then my grandmother moved in with her and said, ‘You know that little girl, maybe … you’re supposed to have her.’ So when I was 3-1/2, my mother said, ‘Bring me that little girl.’ So I ended up moving in with my mom and she was like, ‘what have I done? She can’t walk, she can’t talk, and she has braces on her legs? What’s going to happen to her?’ And my grandma was like, ‘Well, she doesn’t have any hair, we can put Glover’s Mange and Sulfur 8 on her hair.’ Then Dr. Arthur Thompson, who lived down the street from my mom, walked over to the house one day and my mom was like, “What am I going to do with this girl? I can’t keep taking her back and forth to the hospital.’ He said, ‘Don’t take her to the doctor ever again. Take the braces off her legs and just hold her, hug her, and love her. Now I’m running marathons … so I think

by Angela Swinson Lee

Special to The Washington Informer

Five days before Wilhelmina Bell-Taylor passed away in 2008, she signed a letter of intent to sell BETAH Associates, a communications management consulting firm that provides event management, peer review and other professional support services, to alleviate her daughter, Michelle Taylor, from what she thought would be a burden. However, Michelle Taylor decided not to go through with the sale. “Because my mother thought she was helping me by selling BETAH, there wasn’t a succession plan in place, so I had to really figure things out quickly,” said Taylor, who is now CEO of the company. Her advice to business owners is to begin with the end in mind.

Fredric Walls II, D.C. market team lead for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, agreed that the lack of a plan is one of the key challenges he sees with families regarding succession.

“We regularly see business owners start the succession planning discussion too late. It’s better to have a simple plan that needs a little or even a lot of editing later on versus no plan at all,” Walls said. “Succession planning is not just about the business aspect, there is a human element to the discussion. Oftentimes these are tough conversations to have, but they are important. It’s not just a business. It’s someone’s livelihood.

Walls said business owners should know which of their heirs would want to take over the business.

“Your plans should consider every scenario, for example, if you have three children and only one or two would like to take over the business, how will you still provide for equitable distribution for the next generation,” Walls said adding that buy-sell agreements and insurance are great tools to have in place.

Michelle Taylor was quick to assume the leadership role in the company her mother started in the basement of their home in 1988.

Today, Taylor said that when she speaks to emerging business owners, she stresses the importance of determining early on what their exit strategy will be.

“I had to scramble very quickly to figure things out to keep BETAH going forward, because my mother was BETAH. I mean, she really was the driving force, and so that is something that I believe is very critical.” Taylor added that she has put a succession plan in place because she wants to continue to grow the company.

She agreed that such protection as keyman insurance is important to have in place.

“If something should happen to you as the leader, you need something in place. This way, if there isn’t a fullon documented succession plan at least you have some type of protective measures in place as a stopgap resource and an interim measure to help the leadership team move things forward,” Taylor said adding that that its also important to have clear lines of signing authority documented.

Walls said some tips businesses can use to help set up the next generation for success include formalizing roles as a chief financial officer and general counselor. A financial advisor, CPA and trust attorney should also be a part of the process, Walls said. “So many owners take on a lot themselves, but when planning for your succession, it is a requisite to map out ownership of these responsibilities.”

Walls said, a financial advisor can analyze wealth and taxes and how much of an estate will go to heirs.

Most of all, Walls said it’s important to plan.

Planning should also extend to non-heirs who might be a good fit

Child support has been a recurring topic on my Facebook private group page. This is a hot topic in both hair salons and barbershops around the world. However, in both settings, the audience is either majority women or majority men. As a result, in both settings you’re generally hearing one side of the story. What makes this conversation interesting on my Facebook page is both men and women offer their views and opinions.

One of our discussions was based on a TikTok video that went viral. In this video a woman who is divorced and remarried is detailing her experience with the Child Support Enforcement Agency. Her ex-husband is the father of their 4-yearold son. He, too, is remarried. He is currently paying $69 per week or $276 per month in child support. Her ex-husband got a new job. The Child Support Enforcement Agency initiated a court proceeding to have the child support payments modified. According to her, the agency felt she deserved an increase in payment. She disagreed. She said that $276 is enough to help provide for their 4-year-old child. She said she can pay her own bills and that she understands this man has a family, other children, and his own bills to pay. She then goes on a tirade about women abusing the child support system for their own selfish gain. She said she hears women saying things like, “that little child support doesn’t pay half my bills.” She said child support isn’t supposed to pay your

bills. It’s supposed to help take care of the child. Below are a few comments from people in our Facebook group:

PREACH WOMAN PREACH!!!!

~Torry This is amazing! I wish more women thought this way!!

~Anna Child support was put in place for deadbeat dads. That money doesn’t cover much. I know this firsthand. However, some men are being taken advantage of. Men need to step up to reform laws that were put in place years ago. I understand both sides of the child support plight.

~Juanita

From my studies of child support and its origination, child support in America was designed for children which were abandoned and separated from their families in the 1950s welfare system, as well as families in poverty due to separation from divorce. Most American women/wives in the 1950s & 1960s were homemakers who depended on their men/husbands to financially provide for them and their

children. When I was expecting my first child, I told my child’s father, “I am not looking to take your money and place you on child support! Just “Man-Up” and help raise our child. Provide for his needs when needed. I never sought modification for an increase in child support payments. He didn’t own up to his end of the bargain. He missed out on opportunities to cultivate the seed that he planted. His loss!

~Leslie She’s 100% accurate with her statement. I recently went to court to get off of child support. I never should have been on it. You’d think I was holding my child’s mom hostage based on their line of questioning. Are you sure you are OK with this? Are you speaking on your own free will? We had three separate appearances in court over a six-month period. To this day, they still threaten me and tell her that she needs to reconsider.

Child support for the Black male is not designed for support. It is designed to check and destroy. A man working multiple jobs in order to pay child support and other bills reduces the time a man has to spend with the child. If you miss child support payments, you’re subject to incar-

ceration and/or license suspension. You can’t earn money while in jail. It’s hard to get to work without a driver’s license. A man in jail risks losing his job.

~Will My children’s mom’s current boyfriend is in prison doing 8 years because he put himself on child support and was giving her $793 a month for one child. His child’s mom felt that $793 wasn’t enough to take care of her four children. Keep in mind that he’s the biological father of only one of her four children. Being the vindictive person that she is, she had her oldest daughter lie and say he sexually assaulted her when she was 12 years old. This is all a made up lie because $793 a month for one child wasn’t enough.

~John I don’t know what planet she lives on where $69 per week helps to support a child. Recreational expenses aside, the monthly cost of raising a child demands more than $69 per week. I can’t stand women like her because they wanna make it seem like the status quo of women asking for child support are those who want somebody to pay their bills and that’s bull. Pay your fair share! What’s hard about that? It doesn’t make anyone any less of a woman or mom for seeking fair and justifiable child support.

~ Olivia

GAIL PERRY-MASON

FREDRIC WALLS II

MICHELLE TAYLOR

Burrell Communications Group announces restructuring

Burrell Communications Group, one of the world’s most highly regarded Blackowned advertising agencies, has announced the appointment and promotion of several senior-level executives to complete its long anticipated restructuring, and its growing leadership roster. The group will work together to seamlessly create centers of brilliance around core disciplines and improve agency operations, while strategically guiding Burrell’s evolution as it moves confidently through its first year with CEO Tara DeVeaux at the helm.

Committed to a spirit of boundless creativity and strategic and executional rigor that drives current client business and new business success, the Burrell senior executive team will work together to enhance overall employee performance, share and integrate best practices among client teams, maximize cross-departmental collaboration and identify ongoing staff training and development opportunities.

Burrell’s department leads include: Leslie Alexander, Director of Project Management; Vicki Bolton, Senior Vice

Four

Lingering challenges around inflation remain top of mind for business leaders nationwide, and even so, almost half (41 percent) say they’re using it as motivation to lay the groundwork for future prosperity, according to JPMorgan Chase’s 2024 annual Business Leaders Outlook. Eight in 10 leaders are confident about their company’s and industry’s performance (82 percent) and have cut non-essential expenses and embraced new technology in preparation for the year. While you may already be cutting back on spending due to rising costs and an uncertain economic environment, it’s important to evaluate your financial situation and consider implementing these lifestyle changes to help reduce inflation-related stress.

1. Spend with inten-

to fight

tion.

Instability in the market can make your finances feel equally unstable, so it’s important to set a budget and identify where your money is going each month. Financial tracking tools like a monthly budget worksheet or digital tools like Budget, in the Chase Mobile® app, will help track your spending, allowing you to review and adjust your budget as needed. You also can set alerts to determine how you’re doing throughout the month. Having a deeper level of insight will also show you where to consider cutting unnecessary expenses or allocating additional funds.

2. Take advantage of credit card rewards. Many credit cards offer new card member bonuses, cashback, and rewards that can help you earn more for spending on ev-

eryday items like groceries and travel. Look for credit cards that essentially pay you back by earning more when you spend on eligible categories, including gas, groceries, and utilities.

3. Save for an emergency fund.

Getting in a habit of saving is key, and how much you should save for an emergency fund will depend on your income and spending habits. Setting aside cash—ideally between three and six months of living expenses —will help prepare you for unexpected expenses. Consider anticipated expenses like rent, utilities, debts, and food. Having an emergency fund will help ease stressful situations that can arise without warning.

4. Search for investments with better returns. The uncertain global

President and Head of Account Manage-

ations.

“I am truly excited and inspired by these individuals and their strong track-records of career success and accomplishment,” states DeVeaux. “The Burrell culture has always been rooted in its people, and in carefully building the new leadership team, I purposefully selected executives who are the absolute best in their respective areas of focus, who always play to win, and are energized by the challenge of leading a legacy agency into its prosperous next chapter. Our entire staff, along with our clients, are thrilled by the selection of this dream team.”

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Financial phenom Gail Perry-Mason

love is the answer to anything in this entire world.”

Her career:

“When I was in college, I got pregnant, married and divorced all in one year. I ended up getting a job at a brokerage firm. I didn’t know what a brokerage firm did, but I was broke, so I thought it was a godsend. I worked as a receptionist and then became a secretary. I watched wealthy people handle their money so I asked if I could become a broker. They said, ‘no.’ But someone left their book out on a table and I xeroxed it. I studied every morning before taking my son to day care, and I ended up passing the [brokers’] test. My employer then promoted me to licensed secretary.

“But then I partnered with a Chicago money manager to host an investment seminar at the St. Regis Hotel. I booked the room, but I owed them

$350. So the nights I didn’t go to school, I worked as a waitress for two weeks. I was nice to everybody, but I was horrible with orders, but I earned $350 in tips. Then I went to the St. Regis with all these dollar bills and quarters spilling out of my hands. … I had over 100 accounts come out of that seminar. Then my job thought I was on to something and they put wheels on my chair, so I could sit at the broker’s desk, but [my boss told me] if it didn’t work out ‘you can roll back over to your secretary’s desk.’ Now my job title is first vice president of investments for Oppenheimer & Co.”

Economics and religion:

“My mom said, ‘Have a joint account with Jesus at the credit union that only you and Jesus know about.’ That was my financial literacy growing up. But, I talked with a rabbi recently and he

was like so amazing. … He told me ‘Jewish people will never help you or ask you for anything. We will never do anything, but  [accept] your money.’ I was so angry with him until he said, ‘I’ll tell you why, if you bring me your Bible, and bring the King James’ version.’ I can’t remember which Scripture it was, but he directed me to go to Hebrews, where it said ‘spend money with your own tribe.’ He said, ‘We will be cursed, as it says in the Bible, if you don’t spend money with your own tribe, and if you don’t, you won’t have any money.’

“We don’t spend money with our own people …  before we even get a dollar, we plan on spending it outside of our community. There are 11 Jewish synagogues in the city of Detroit to our 11,000 churches. The synagogues carry zero debt; every single church we have is in debt.”

What’s Next:

“I’m working on my new book, From a Full-Figure Woman to A Seven-Figure Woman: A Woman’s Guide to Shifting her Assets. … And I’m working on a business and I’m on top of the world about it, I’m going to have my own line of pearls. I wear pearls every day of my life and I give away pearls all the time. I won the Role Model of the Year Award from Alternatives for Girls a couple of years ago, and I gave each girl pearls and wrote pearls of wisdom to them. I always buy pearls and put them in a little box and write quotes to them, so my friend who owns a jewelry store suggested it.”

Advice to women:

Don’t run your house like it’s a nonprofit.

Don’t let your money retire before you do. Know what your net worth is. Know your liabilities. Numbers don’t lie. Stop putting your trust

in money and put your money in a trust.

Every day when I wake up, I pray that I make the right investments for my clients. The Bible says if you’re a good steward over your money, he’ll give you more, and I think it’s the best financial book in the world.  …  Collaborate and work together, that’s how things get done.

to succeed in company leadership but may not inherit the company.

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Once a plan is in place, Walls said it should be reviewed on a regular basis.

“It’s not a “once and done.” If you had a conversation with your children three years ago and they were interested in taking over the family business, sit them down again and see if that’s still the case, because their answer might have changed, fortunately however—you will be able to plan accordingly.” (Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.)

Is child support an unfair burden on men?

Damon here: Men in general hate paying child support. It’s a touchy topic. Let me start with something we can all agree on. Generally speaking, single parents struggle financially—single mothers in particular.

What’s interesting to me is I observed many men willing to take on car payments of $600 per month or more but frown upon paying $500 per month in child support. It’s not child support in and of itself that men frown upon, it’s the lack of control he has with the money taken from him. You can be paying child support and you still have to fight for visitation rights. Secondly, you have zero control over how money is spent. Mom could be a spendthrift, a user, a woman who gives her money to her deadbeat boyfriend. It doesn’t matter. You still have to pay child support until the courts say otherwise.

Uncle Sam didn’t impregnate the child’s mother. If the mother is receiving some type of government assistance, the child’s mom is required to provide father’s information so that they can rightfully put ownership and responsibility on the child’s father as opposed to the government. When child support is calculated, it takes both parents’ income, other dependents, and various expenses into the equation in an effort to make it an equitable payment amount. It doesn’t take various loans into consideration because child care should be a higher priority than loan payments. If mom is gainfully employed

ment; Stephen French, Head of Strategy; Donna Hodge, Head of Media Services; Mike Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer; Tuwisha Rogers, Vice President and Director of Brand Development; Khari Streeter, Chief Creative Officer and Ailine Tan, Senior Vice President of Oper-

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FINANCIAL PHENOM FROM B1

DAMON CARR FROM B1

House bill is a threat

to freedom of speech

In 2019, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to combat antisemitism on college campuses that used Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to withhold money from schools that fail to counter discrimination against Jews.

The order permitted the U.S. Department of Education to consider a definition of antisemitism that could include some criticism of Israel when vetting alleged Civil Rights Act violations that can lead to a loss of a school’s federal funding.

We wrote an editorial opposing Trump’s order, stating it “raises serious concerns about censorship and stifling legitimate criticism of Israel.”

The editorial added:

“Emily Mayer, political director of the liberal Jewish American group IfNotNow, correctly described the order as a victory for efforts ‘to discredit any critique of Israel, Israeli policies or how Jewish supremacy has been codified within the Israeli state—to try to describe that as anti-Semitism.’”

The order appeared to be directed at Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, BDS, a movement advocating economic measures opposing Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. The international anti-Israel boycott movement has grown in popularity on campuses.”

There is a new threat to Americans’ constitutional right to freedom of speech over the Israel-Hamas war.

In response to a nationwide student protest movement over the Israel-Hamas war, the House last week passed legislation that would establish an even broader definition of antisemitism for the department to enforce anti-discrimination laws.

The Associated Press reports: “The proposal passed 320-91 with bipartisan support. It would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It would broaden the legal definition of antisemitism to include the “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.”

To be clear, President Joe Biden is right to make a distinction between defending the right to protest and prevailing law and order as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.

“Dissent is essential for democracy,” he said at the White House. “But dissent must never lead to disorder.”

Critics are also right to call out protesters who target Jewish students with hateful remarks. Jewish students should not feel unsafe on college campuses or anywhere else.

Antisemitism is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned in clear and strong terms.

But is it inaccurate and unfair to say the nationwide student protest movement is motivated by hate and antisemitism.

The broad-based multiethnic movement includes Jewish students who are opposed to Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war was launched in October, after Hamas staged a deadly terrorist attack against Israeli citizens.

Israel’s conduct in the war has been condemned by several countries in the United Nations and religious and human rights groups. The attempt to label most of the student protesters as antisemitic because of the actions of a few is disingenuous and dangerous.

The House bill passed last week expanding the definition of antisemitism would have a chilling effect on free speech on college campuses.

The proposed definition should be strongly opposed by lawmakers, Jewish organizations, as well as free speech advocates.

Secession is not a quick fix Guest

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the centrist pro-Israel group J Street, said his organization opposes the bipartisan proposal because he sees it as an “unserious” effort led by Republicans “to continually force votes that divide the Democratic caucus on an issue that shouldn’t be turned into a political football.”

The American Civil Liberties Union was right to send a letter last Friday to lawmakers urging them to vote against the legislation, pointing out that federal law already prohibits antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

“H.R. 6090 is therefore not needed to protect against antisemitic discrimination; instead, it would likely chill free speech of students on college campuses by incorrectly equating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism,” the letter stated.

Supporters of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself should oppose this bill. Regardless of their views on the Israel-Hamas war, Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman should vote to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of speech.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Selective prosecution of Marilyn Mosby

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Black people have always known about selective prosecution, but lately, it has been more blatant than any we’ve seen in recent years.  Many people think things have gotten better, but in many areas, nothing could be a longer way from the truth.

“Selective prosecution in jurisprudence is a procedural defense in which those convicted argue that they should not be held criminally liable for breaking the law, as the criminal justice system discriminated against them by choosing to prosecute.”

This is certainly true in the case of Marilyn Mosby. She did as more than 700 people in Baltimore alone did while she served as State’s Attorney. She borrowed funds during COVID from her own retirement fund!

Her ‘sin’ was convicting police for unprincipled acts while on duty.  If you’re Black, you know it happens because it has more likely than not happened to you or someone you know. I would, however, argue that my brother who was a parish sheriff, my nephew who is a current state trooper nor any of my relatives in law enforcement would ever be in that category as most people in law enforcement.

Unfortunately, Marilyn Mosby, a brilliant young woman who believed in justice, and worked to make that clear ran into a roadblock. As one who understands what she and her young daughters have gone through, the fact

that the orange man worked to convict her while he was committing real crimes, I’m supporting her by seeking a pardon for her. She’s scheduled to be sentenced May 23rd, so several of her friends and I who know about her great work, are seeking a Presidential pardon. I’m, therefore, asking you to go to the website about her case, read the true story, sign the petition for the pardon, and forward the website to all of your friends and relatives and ask them to do the same.  The site is www.justiceformarilynmosby.com.  Additionally, I’m asking you to call the White House on 202/456-1111 on one of the following days (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) and simply ask President Biden to pardon Marilyn.  Marilyn’s had her life totally disrupted because she dared to prosecute people who committed crimes, and save those who were accused, but did not commit crimes.

I’ve met so many people who were the recipients of her good work to bring justice to deserving people.  It’s now time for us to work on her behalf.  We must get this done by May 15th,

so please read the website, send it to your email list and call the White House on the first Tuesday you get my message. I’ve written messages to many churches to announce this to their congregations. I know there are many I didn’t get to, so please share this message with your pastor or if you want me to send it, go to www. thedickgregorysociety.org or www. drefayewilliamsesq.com. There you will find every way you need to get acquainted with me and know how to reach me if you have questions or suggestions on what else I can do to provide the help Marilyn needs now or to tell me what you are willing to do that I haven’t mentioned.  This case has taken us to the latest Civil Rights Movement.  Please don’t get left out.  If you have children or grandchildren, working on this case is your opportunity to tell them you worked on another Civil Rights Movement.

As Black people, we must know that the freedom we have now is because a lot of our ancestors and a few others like Viola Liuzzo worked to get us the rights we have today.  Some even died. We are responsible for not only preserving those rights as Marilyn Mosby was doing, but expanding them. Don’t forget to vote in every election.

E.

While in Dallas to memorialize our dear friend, James Washington, my visit routinely found me engaged in stimulating conversations as I saw old friends and met new ones.

The common thread in all these conversations was the future or the plight of America’s Black Press. While I said the common “thread”; it would be more appropriate to label it the common “lament.”

EVERYBODY I spoke to agreed that the “old liberating voice” of the Black Press is needed now—more than ever! For too long others believe they can speak for us.

There was unanimous support for the need to rekindle the Spirit evident in our documentary “Soldiers Without Swords,” to report the news “without fear or favor” and use the pages of our newspapers to “Light the Road to Freedom.” We cannot afford—literally —to fail heeding Frederick Douglass’ admonition that “Power concedes NOTHING without a DEMAND!”

So, I start my “demand” brothers and sisters of the NNPA—the Black Press of America, with US. We must invigorate the content in our pages. As the one true, trusted source of news and information expressly for the benefit of Black People, we have no choice but to draw on the giant historical reservoir filled with the ink (and blood) of those publishers whose memories we laud and cherish.

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—The idea to create a new Buckhead City finally died in the Georgia state legislature. And rightfully so. Democratic members of Atlanta’s state delegation never favored allowing the affluent, majority-White neighborhood of Buckhead to secede from the city of Atlanta. It became a measure long opposed by the city’s business leaders, while many of the city’s Black residents strongly believed it was racially motivated.

The proposed Buckhead City ended when 10 Republican state lawmakers broke ranks, joining with Democrats in rejecting the measure. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who forged a close working relationship with Democratic Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, also questioned the legality and practicality of Buckhead City. Kemp’s chief lawyer, Executive Counsel David Dove, sent a memo attacking the de-annexation plan.

Dove wrote that the split could wreck the ability of all Georgia cities to borrow money, based on bond markets fearing that cities could default on their debts if they broke into pieces. “If we jerk the heart out of the city of Atlanta, which is Buckhead, I know our capital city will die,” said Frank Ginn, a Republican state senator.

Buckhead, known for its highend shopping and several famous residents, has a median household income of $109,774 compared to $68,806 in the rest of the city. Residents and other proponents who supported the de-annexation measure claimed the city was not doing enough to fight crime and provide services despite Buckhead making up 40 percent of Atlanta’s tax revenue and less than 20 percent of the city’s population.

The reasons for justifying such a move will never overcome the racial symbolism of having a wealthy

Succinctly put, we must get out of our comfort zones and “… get about Our Father’s business…!” What do we have to lose, you ask? EVERYTHING!

Why should Black America—jostled and pushed about DAILY, flimflammed, and bewildered by the propaganda mills of some mainstream media, social media—not have the benefit of our rebuttals? Why are our voices silent when the perspectives available online and over the air DO NOT reflect the lives lived in the communities we serve?

The reflections of those who spoke on the life of our dear, departed brother, Jim, convinced me that we—the NNPA—must do something different than what we’ve grown accustomed to doing. Our RESPONSIBILITY to Black America, bequeathed to us by Russwurm & Cornish, by Douglass, Wells, Rolark, Sengstacke, Murphy, Reeves, Goodlett and all those nameless, faceless SOLDIERS whose labors—today—go unrewarded, is to speak clearly, coherently, and incessantly on behalf of Black America.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am one hundred percent convinced that we are up to the job. I’m simply saying that WE MUST DO IT!  In a nation hell-bent on rolling back the hard-fought gains chronicled in our pages—in a nation that has stigmatized affirmative action, DEI, CRT, while thumbing its nose at the constitutional protections paid for in blood—in a nation that our ancestors —stripped of their humanity, dignity, and the right to pursue happiness— DO WE SIT SILENT??  I say NO! I say that the NNPA— the Black Press of America MUST reclaim its rightful place in the hearts and minds of those who once relied on us for Truth and Justice. Our recent Lifetime Achievement awardees, the Zipperts, affirmed what we know to be true—“…our readers depend on their weekly paper for its news and are upset with any disruption in its delivery.”

It won’t be easy. It wasn’t easy in 1827 when FREEDOM’S JOURNAL exploded into the American conscience. But fear never moved a mountain. And we’ve got mountains that need moving. Thank you, Dallas. Thank you for the spirit evident in the life of James Alfred Washington. Thank you for rekindling the Spirit that has guided us for 197 years. Long live the Black Press … we’ve got work to do!

White neighborhood separate itself from a majority Black city. It becomes another version of White flight. Once the reality check ran its course, both sides realized they needed each other. “Constitutionally, it’s not possible to divide the city of Atlanta, with its schools, with its debt obligations,” said Sen. Jason Esteves, who represents a section of Buckhead. Practical arguments against the cityhood measure involved whether a new Buckhead City would still send its students to Atlanta’s school district. Members of both parties understood the magnitude of having Atlanta divided into two separate jurisdictions. Despite the problems, both sides are stronger together as one city rather than becoming two broken and weak jurisdictions. It is a message of unity that took years to accept in Georgia. Still, the idea of maintaining a unified city was overruled in the case of the Louisiana state capital city. A predominantly White section of the city of Baton Rouge is now allowed to secede from the Black-majority city. After the Louisiana State Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling, an eastern Baton Rouge parish will now be known as the city of St. George, ending a hostile and divisive 10-year campaign that divides wealthy White residents from poorer Black neighborhoods. Residents and parents living in the proposed city of St. George now face the same dilemma as those residing in Buckhead: schools.

Should a new St. George school district come to pass, children will likely be forced out of their current schools because they would be unable to live in one district and attend school in another. Be careful what you ask for. There are 8,349 pupils living in the proposed St. George school district but attend school elsewhere. Where local and state lawmakers in Georgia took into account the logistical nightmare involved in creating and running a new city, Louisiana lawmakers failed to address the realities of two cities with two school districts. There are times when lawmakers must resist the racial pressures from within their communities, where creating divisions becomes the quick-fix solution to social problems. This is particularly true with Republicans. The conservative school of thought will too often resist social change while tolerating social inequality. The liberal school of thought is the opposite, with the tendency to embrace social change while rejecting forms of inequality. Social inequality is the root cause of poverty.

Poverty leads to crime and underperforming schools: two issues that were driving the secession plans proposed in Georgia and Louisiana. Separation is not always the answer to complex social problems. Separation between the “haves” and “have nots.” Separation due to fear or hate of “others.” Separation due to pride and the sense of being superior. Separation based on cultural differences. Too many times, they will all have the backdrop of race.

(David

W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.)

Henry Sr. Commentary

(Dr.

Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)

Bring Summer Lee and James Hayes to Pittsburgh’s Hill District

Five months and some days are left until the November 5, 2024 US general election. In the US House of Representative Pennsylvania District 12, the incumbent Summer Lee is battling James Hayes. Both are African Americans.

Lee is a self-declared “progressive,” in line with the Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of the National Democratic Party.

James Hayes is in line with many of the polices of the MAGA-Donald Trump wing of US politics. The battle lines are clearly drawn.

Will the Black Vote, as usual, be taken for granted? In 2008 and 2012, obviously by design, Obama was very wary of the national Black community, and socalled “Black issues.”

Throughout the recent 12th district congressional primary, there was very little campaigning (by design?) in the Black community.

District 12 is located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It covers much of Allegheny County, largest city Pittsburgh, and portions of other counties. The population is 72 percent White, 15 percent Black, 4.5 percent Asian, 2.8 percent Hispanic…

The Black community in District 12 has been devastated by all of the social and economic catastrophes that we hear daily have devastated mainstream White America. The collapse of the region’s heavy manufacturing industry intensified the economic and social troubles of District 12.

Historical White racism locked the Black community at the bottom of District 12’s race, class, and gender social pyramid and this further intensified the social and economic woes of Black community. Does Congresswoman Lee and Mr. Hayes agree with that?

Bring the Summer Lee James Hayes battle live, in-person, to Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The Hill District is the prefect site for a historic political forum on local Black politics in the 21st century.

The Hill was the regional center of Black culture and Black politics during the brief golden era of New York’s Harlem, and Chicago’s South Side in the mid20th century.

Progressive, Rainbow politics are not new to Black folks. Many of today’s Progressive planks are also the basic planks which keep reappearing in Black agendas.

Here is a very important question to Progressives, does “Rainbow” politics mean the interests of the Black community are secondary to that “intersectional” race, general and class electorate Progressives claim to represent? Many Progressives don’t support the Black reparations struggle which is an historical movement against the race, gender and class status quo.

For a refresher read, Reluctant Reformers: Racism and Social Reform Movements in the United States by Robert Allen, on European American progressive movements and their relationships to the Black Freedom Movement.

Here is a very important question for the GOP, is 12th district candidate James Hayes in the same political mold as the current North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson? Apparently, Robinson along with Georgia’s Hershel Walker embody the prototype Black candidate in the National Republican Party. Right this very moment, the United States is in the grip of one of the most dangerous presidential campaigns in American history. The Republican candidate Donald Trump is an open right-wing extremist.

Commentary

Trump said long ago he admires Benito Mussolini, the founder of the European Fascist movement. Trump openly panders to US right-wing extremists like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis. Even so, Trump received over 70,000,000 votes in the 2020 presidential race. Pennsylvania is a key battle ground state in the election.  In 2020, Trump beat Biden in 54 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.  Biden beat Trump by only 80,555 votes out of 6,833,903 total votes casted in Pennsylvania. Separate the White vote from the state’s nonWhite votes and the majority of White people in the state of Pennsylvania voted for Trump in 2020. Biden won 50 percent, and Trump won 48.8 percent of the state total vote, a difference of just less than 2 percent! The priority of the GOP is to win enough votes in District 12 to help Trump carry Pennsylvania. Tens of Millions of presidential campaign dollars will be spent across the state.

The Black community cannot just “Vote.” That is the only message we often hear. The Black community must mobilize, educate, organize and put its interests on the table along with all of the other interest groups.

That’s politics not just “We Vote.” Just “We Vote” is when “We” get taken for granted. Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer told us the ballot can be a carrot or a stick.

In 2020, I did not vote for Joe Biden, the-lesser-oftwo-evils, but against Donald Trump, the-greater-oftwo-evils, perhaps. The positive in a choice of two negatives, “the affirmative in every negation.”

The Black community is obligated to prepare itself. At a 2023 “Meet and Greet” event in Homewood the comments from a member of the East Hills Consensus group made a very important contribution to the event.

Of the utmost importance, the Black community cannot allow Black egomaniacs to disrupt community meetings and discredit the community. We see often them on stage or in the audience. Talking off-the-top of their head. Can’t remember what they just said. Eyes half closed, and obviously can’t pass a piss test. We see some on the panel or in the audience at candidates forums. Staggering intoxicated. Shirt tails hanging out. Bragging over, over about themselves, “You know Me!” “Me!” “Me!” Acting a damn-fool, “halfdrunk and whole crazy.”

That must not be tolerated!

Of course, some people talk on and on. But that’s normal in public meetings and can be dealt with without calling in our Sargent at arms.

The Hill District is the absolutely perfect location for a debate between US congresswoman Summer Lee and her opponent James Hayes. Of course, other majority-Black District 12 enclaves are ideal venues for Summer Lee and James Hayes debates.

The inglorious bastard boom on campus

The baby boom was between World War II and the 1960s. When baby boomers reached adulthood, their elders criticized them for being self-centered and materialistic.

The boomers were dubbed the “me-generation.”

Millennials were the grandchildren of the “me-generation,” but the Millennials, who became social elites, birthed the me-me-me generation.

The me-me-me generation was not just another surge in birth rates; it was an inverted bastard boom.

In Shakespearean times, the bastard child could not inherit. The original goal of higher education was to pass on a cultural inheritance to the next generation, but the me-meme generation has rejected their inheritance as a rite of passage.

For example, student activists at Columbia University in New York violated school policy by establishing a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.”

Hundreds of student activists pitched tents in the middle of the campus. They gathered to criticize the Israeli government for perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in the current Hamas-Israel war. They also demand that Columbia University withdraw its investments in firms that profit from Israel’s military activity in Gaza.

These student activists copied a group of Columbia students who protested apartheid in the 1980s, leading to the university’s divestment from South Africa. The present divestment demand is an indictment against Israel as an apartheid state, but if the institution does not acknowledge Israel as an apartheid state, then the demand won’t make any sense to Columbia’s administrators.

Another group of students in the encampment waved Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Zionist slogans. They were not copying the 1980s demonstrations. These student activists were the inglorious inverted bastards.

The Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics issued its spring 2024 survey of voters aged 18 to 29. 15 issues concerned this demographic’s non-elites.

The top five were: 1. Inflation 2. Health Care 3. Housing 4. Gun Violence 5. Jobs

The bottom five were: 11. Crime 12. Climate Change 13. Taxes 14. Free speech 15. Israel/Palestine Invert 1–15, and Israel/Palestine becomes the most important issue. One person at the encampment

J. Pharoah Doss Check

It Out

delivered a speech in order to invert their peers, who were more concerned with inflation than the Palestinian cause.

The speaker stated, “Let it be known that it was the Al-Aqsa Flood [Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel] that put the global intifada back on the table. And it is the sacrificial spirit of the Palestinian freedom fighters that will guide every struggle in every corner of the earth to victory. So, what are we willing to give up here? How far are we willing to go to lose all the trappings of a respectable life and these imperial spoils that we have been taught to value as individuals? As the great Black communist James Boggs said: The revolution to be made in the United States will be the first revolution in history to require the masses to make material sacrifices rather than acquire more material things. We must give up many of the things which this country has enjoyed at the expense of damning over one-third of the world into a state of underdevelopment, ignorance, disease, and early death. What will we do to gain back our humanity?”

Columbia’s “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” sparked similar protests at universities around the United States. Meanwhile, Hamas continues to hold hostages in Gaza, but these student activists think they can gain back their humanity by pledging solidarity with Gaza.

“Solidarity with Gaza” is doublespeak. Nobody expresses solidarity with a certain location. Their support is either with the Palestinians or Hamas. By employing the slogan “solidarity with Gaza,” the student activists conceal their support for Hamas.

After weeks of protest, Columbia University told the students they could not grant their demands, but they were willing to continue a constructive dialogue; nevertheless, they had to immediately disperse the encampment, and those who refused would face suspension.

Columbia University’s president

made two points clear to student protestors.

1). Protests must adhere to time, place, and manner restrictions, which prohibit loud protests at night while other students are attempting to sleep and study for examinations. One group’s freedom to express their opinions cannot be at the expense of another group’s right to talk, teach, and learn.

2). Our values, as well as our duties under civil rights legislation, require us to condemn hatred and protect all members of our community from harassment and discrimination. Anti-Semitic language and actions are unacceptable, and calls for violence are simply abhorrent. Many of our Jewish students, among others, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks. Many students have left campus, which is a tragedy.

However, a group of activists fled the encampment, broke into an academic building, barricaded themselves, and continued to make demands. New York City police rapidly reclaimed the academic building and arrested around 300 people.

After the police intervened, student activists around the country insisted that America just proved to the world that it was a fascist police state.

Unfortunately, that was not what America’s enemies saw.

According to Reuters, officials at Yemen’s Sanaa University praised the American students’ humanitarian stand against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Sanaa University offers suspended American students the chance to finish their education in Yemen.

There is one problem.

The Houthis dominate the area around Sanaa University. Iranian-backed Houthis, known for disrupting international shipping in the Red Sea to support the Palestinian cause, are considered worldwide terrorists. The extent of the Houthis’ influence at Sanna University remains unknown, but it is assumed to be significant.

Sanaa University officials did not offer suspended American students the opportunity to study abroad because they valued their humanitarian stance. They believe that inverted bastards will be more effective allies in reducing America’s global influence than the useful idiots of the previous generation.

Wake up, Black voters. Don’t let Trump’s lies fool you

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN—The fact that exit polls showed that Donald Trump received 9 percent of the Black vote in 2016, the highest number since George Bush in 2000, and then won 12 percent in the presidential race in 2020 should be a cause for concern.

Moreover, some recent polls surprisingly showed that if the presidential election were held today, 17 percent of Black voters say they would vote for Trump, and even more troubling, 20 percent say they would vote for someone other than either Trump or President Biden.

Black voters have been the largest and most loyal voting bloc for Democrats for years, but there has been a shift in the number of Black voters who consider themselves Democrats. That trend could be explained partially by a number of younger Black voters with no direct experience with the civil rights movement. They have scant knowledge and no direct personal memory. They feel disappointed with Democrats and the Biden administration and seem willing to consider Trump despite his blatant and toxic racial baggage. This disconnection with the Democratic party is felt most strongly with some young Black males, many in critical battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina where Democrats need every vote. Most of these states have large concentrations of Black voters in their urban areas. This is a special issue in potentially close races like this one because the Electoral College gives Republicans a massive advantage in federal elections. This system allows them to govern with a minority of the popular vote. However, there is also data that shows that the Democratic candidate for president over the last five presidential elections since 2000 has averaged 90 percent of the Black vote with an average of only 8 percent for the GOP candidate. In addition, the overwhelming concern of most Black voters continues to be race and racism, with a particular aversion to the reprehensible and duplicitous Trump, who has repeat-

Donald Suggs

Commentary

edly shown that he is an instigator of racial hate. Any relationship he has with Black voters has been deceptive and disingenuous. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of Black voters cannot be bamboozled or deceived because we know the record of his stance on healthcare with his recent attacks on Obamacare, opposition to greater diversity in the workplace and efforts to restrict our voting rights as well as his racist, conspiracist “birther campaign” that sought to undermine the then-president, Barack Obama. Still, we can’t simply ignore the reports that Trump is possibly making inroads with Black voters while Biden is losing support from us. Granted polls have been shown not to be reliable predictors of what Black voters will do. Actually, our biggest worry should probably be third-party voting (third party pres-

idential candidates have no chance of winning. This is a binary election and only a Democrat or Republican can win) and potential voter apathy, despite the high stakes in this contest to determine whether Donald Trump is elected again.

Clay Cane, a Sirius XM radio host, rightly said that the 2024 presidential election is not just a choice between the lesser of two evils but this is an election to see if we can stop Trump and his pernicious plans to institute a future dictatorship to carry out his vile policies. A Trump victory would be a grave threat to the well-being of Black Americans for certain.

In any case, the Democratic party must recognize the seriousness of the disenchantment of many Black voters who don’t feel motivated to make it to the polls and campaign more directly and intentionally in our community.

Furthermore, we ourselves must make an unprecedented and determined push to get to the polls in greater numbers to help stop this monstrous man and his MAGA minions from regaining control of the White House.

(Donald M Suggs is the publisher and owner of The St. Louis American.)

Fred Logan

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of ANTHONY JOHN KAMINSKI a/k/a

ANTHONY J. KAMINSKI, Estate No. 02-2401626, Deceased of 1524 Mansion Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, John E. Kaminski, 4454 Hearthstone Way, Medina, OH 44256, Lynn Marie Checchio, 1524 Mansion Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 or to William C. Price, Jr., Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Estate of JEWEL YANCEY, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 022402550, Azari Yancey , Administrator or to Quinntarra Morant, Esq.,PO Box 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of DOROTHY M. WELSH, deceased of the Borough of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-24-02445, William J. Welsh, Exexcutor or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty., 6 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Petition to Determine Title to 1910 Termon Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 150212, formerly owned by Ida Gertrude Quinn, deceased, filed April 4, 2024 by Lisa Quinn, No. 2355 of 2024 John R. Axtell, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Counsel.

Estate of CHRISTOPHER D. POWELL

Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02695, L. Jeffrey Powell, Co-Administrator, 2102 Tee Court, Presto, PA 15142 or to Kathryn Powell, Co-Administrator, 2102 Tee Court, Presto, PA 15142 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington, Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of KERRY A. O’CONNOR, Deceased of Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02561, Owen M. Descalzi, Administrator, 764 Osage Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington, Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of JAMES A. DAUBE, Deceased of the Borough of Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02747, Linda A. Daube, Administratrix or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of SHERRY L. CROSBY AKA SHERRY L. TOLIVER, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, No. 08653 of 2023, Renita Bradford, Extr, 107 Walpole Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Estate of HELEN L. TURNER, Estate No 02-24-02380 Deceased of 819 N. Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, Executrix, Janet Mosley, 1720 Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to William C. Price, Jr., Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Notice

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has transparently released the following documents for public preview: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Uptown and Oakland Project drawing set. Please go to our public site www.rideprt.org to view.

The public drawing set is provided for information only and final drawings will be included in the forthcoming advertised solicitation.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Economic development organization is requesting Qualifications from: Firms that Provide Job Training -- Qualifications relative to the following should be discussed: 1) Experience providing instruction for: HAZWOPWER, OSHA Outreach, Asbestos Awareness, and National Green Infrastructure; 2) instructor(s) available for this assignment and their experience; 3) working in a team environment with other economic development and training professionals; 4) securing minority and women business participation; and 5) method and/or rates of compensation. Economic Development & Training/ Grant Management FirmsQualifications relative to the following should be discussed: 1) managing Federal grants including all reporting requirements, 2) working in a team environment with other economic development and training professionals, 3) personnel available for this assignment and their experience, 4) assistance in securing minority and women owned business participation, and 5) method and/or rates of compensation.

Within 30 days of the publication of this notice, firms/individuals should send Qualifications as outlined above to: NSIDC, 700 River Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. 15212.

LEGAL AD NOTICE IS HEREBY given the Emsworth Zoning Hearing Board has cancelled scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2024, and rescheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 7 p.m., prevailing time, at the Emsworth Borough Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15202, regarding the application from Holy Family Institute for property at 8235 Ohio River Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, seeking an Appeal from Borough Action relative to Ord. 245-22.A to place a former shipping container on referenced property to be used for hydroponic plant education.

Meetings 3

All those interested in the above hearing should be present at the above time and place and you will have an opportunity to be heard.

CATHY JONES Borough Secretary

LEGAL AD

NOTICE IS HEREBY given the Emsworth Zoning Hearing Board has cancelled scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2024, and rescheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 7 p.m. prevailing time, at the Emsworth Borough Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15202, regarding the application from Holy Family Institute for property at 8235 Ohio River Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, seeking a Special Exception from Emsworth Borough Ord. Zoning Section 245.52, parking spaces.

All those interested in the above hearing should be present at the above time and place and you will have an opportunity to be heard.

CATHY JONES Borough Secretary

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PUBLIC MEETINGS/HEARINGS ON THE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PLAN

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is preparing the 2024-2025 County Human Services Plan. There will be two virtual public meetings to talk about the plan and its implementation as part of a State of the Human Services Address. Join us on Thursday, May 16 at 1 p.m. or Tuesday, May 28 at 9 a.m.

To learn how you can participate, visit https://bit.ly/2N5AVCX.

Submit questions, comments, and ideas to engage.alleghenycounty. us or via the Q&A during the live meeting.

American Sign Language, Spanish, and Nepali translation will be available. To request translation for another language, or if you have any accommodations or requests, contact DHS-OEE@alleghenycounty.us.

Information on the County Human Services Plan is available at https://bit.ly/3dcqbgo. To read the previous plans visit https://bit.ly/3ebyWIR.

Erin Dalton Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on May 28, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Obama 6-12 (Jr./Sr. High School)

Bleacher Demolition and UST Removal General Primes

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on April 29, 2024, 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.

COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY

PITTSBURGH, PA

APRIL 30, 2024

The Office of the Director of the Department of Public Works for Allegheny County in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is soliciting Statements of Interest through PennDOT’s electronic contract management system (ECMS) for the following:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Design Services Associated with Flaugherty Run Bridge No. 7 -FU07 and Pine Creek Bridge No. 9 -PN09 County Project Nos. FU07-0201 & PN09-0111

ECMS Nos. 81708 & 81711

Local Agreement Number: L00800

This is a federal-aid project with PennDOT oversight. Statements of Interest are due no later than May 29, 2024, and are to be submitted through PennDOT’s ECMS website, https://www.ecms.penndot. pa.gov. The ECMS Agreement number is L00800.

A copy of the published advertisement will also be located on the Allegheny County website: https:// www.alleghenycounty.us/projects -and-initiatives/bids-and-solicitations /public-works-bids-and-proposals. Any inquiries regarding this advertisement are to be directed to Mr. Thomas Vena, P.E., Manager, Bridge Operations & Technical Services, 412.350.6671 or thomas.vena@alleghenycounty.us

The County will use its normal selection process and preselect or short-list at least three firms for consideration for this project assignment on the following evaluation criteria: Work Experience on PennDOT and Allegheny County Projects, Project Delivery Related to Meeting Design Schedules, Use and Experience of Subconsultants, Minimization of Future Maintenance, Quality Control and Quality Assurance, and Inclusion of a Sustainability Profile in Accordance with County Ordinance 04-23-OR Allegheny County’s Department of Equity and Inclusion contract goals are 13% MBE participation and 2% WBE participation. These goals remain in effect throughout the life of each contract.

Stephen G. Shanley, P.E., Director Department of Public Works of Allegheny County

FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT PUBLICATION DATE: May 3, 2024

1. The Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh (“Authority”) shall accept sealed bids for the performance of the work described below (the “Work”) at its office at 232 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, May 24, 2024

2. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The Project entails the Limited Scope of Repairs at the First Avenue Garage and Station.

3. The Instructions to Bidders, including the Form of Bid, Form of Agreement, General Conditions, Plans and Specifications, and meeting information will be made available after 3:00 p.m. local time on Friday, May 3, 2024 via email request to the Authority’s Project Management Department at projectmanagement@pittsburghparking.com.

4. A Mandatory pre-bid conference will be held in person in the Main Lobby of the First Avenue Parking Garage at 600 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219, at 2:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 9, 2024

The purpose of the pre-bid conference is to provide additional detail regarding the Work. The information provided at the pre-bid conference will be essential in preparing a bid to perform the Work. Persons or entities that intend to submit bids to perform the Work are required to attend the pre-bid conference with at least one representative who will understand the information presented at the pre-bid conference in a manner that allows such information to be incorporated in the preparation of the bid to perform the Work. It is expected that the representative who attends the pre-bid conference will be experienced in construction matters and employed by the bidder in a supervisory capacity. In person Pre-bid attendance is mandatory, and each attendee must sign in on the project sign-in form.

5. Sealed bids must be dropped off to the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh at 232 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, no later than 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2024. Bids received prior to the deadline will be publicly opened and read at that time.

6. Each bid submitted must be accompanied by a bid guaranty of ten percent (10%) of the proposed bid in the form of a bid bond, certified cashier’s or treasurer’s check payable to the Authority.

7. The Authority reserves the right to in its sole discretion, (i) change, at any time prior to the bid deadline at 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, May 24, 2024, the Contract Documents; (ii) waive any defect, irregularities, or informality in any or all submitted bids; and (iii) reject any or all submitted bids.

David G. Onorato Executive Director

BID ADVERTISEMENT CONTRACT NUMBER: 47-35-15

2024 ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Sealed Bids are requested by the Borough of Thornburg. Bids will be received by the Borough’s Consulting Engineer, NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. at 950 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 until 4:00 P.M. prevailing time, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 for the 2024 Road Improvements. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud immediately after the closing time for receipt of Bids. Interested parties may view the Profile and Bid Schedule for this Project on the internet at: www.niraengineers.com.

Copies of the Bid Documents may be examined at the office of NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc., 950 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania 15108. Copies thereof may be obtained from the office of NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc., upon payment of a non-refundable sum of $60.00. An additional charge of $15.00 will be required for handling of Plans and Specifications when shipping is requested. Checks are to be made payable to NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. Bids must be submitted on the forms provided, and completed in strict accordance with the instructions provided. Each Bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond, in the form of a Certified Check or Corporate Surety Bid Bond, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Bid Proposal made in the favor of the Borough of Thornburg. Only documents obtained directly from the Engineer will be valid at bid opening. A Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Maintenance Bond in the amounts specified within the Contract Documents will be required of the successful Bidder.

Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act 442. The Prevailing Wage Scale is included in these Specifications.

Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Public Works Employment Verification Act (PWEVA).

Adherence to Instructions to Bidders is required.

No Bid or any part thereof shall be withdrawn by Bidder for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the Bid Opening.

The right is reserved by the Owner to reject any or all Bids or parts of bids and to waive technical defects in any Bid.

Vince Coppola Borough Council President

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

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on May 14, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

Electronic ProposalEbusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

BID NUMBER BID NAME

Digi Remote Manager

1 B24-04-34

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

Meeting ID: 220 058 897 435

Passcode: oMn3XT

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 464 638 4

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

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on April 30, 2024 through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 237 183 335 735

Passcode: GSf4MV

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 475 166 68

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

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

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

WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING

DUE: JULY 10, 2024

Sealed bids will be received at the Central Office of the Washington County Housing Authority, 100 S. Franklin St., Crumrine Tower, Washington, PA 15301, until 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at which time bids will be opened. For specifications and bid information, contact Christy Kemp, (724) 228-6060 Ext. 128 or christyk@wchapa.org

The Authority reserves the right to waive any informalities and reject any and all bids.

Stanley P. Shook Deputy Executive Director

Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on May 24, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

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

Bid Number Bid Name

1 B24-04-33A Contactless Smart Fare Media

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

Meeting ID: 249 742 942 703

Passcode: bMd3Nt

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 750 539 556

No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on May 9, 2024 through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 241 754 564 498

Passcode: ie9brD

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 847 728 56

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

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

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

DOCUMENT 00030-AA ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be receiving scanned PDF proposals through Submittable, and a submission link will be sent to each registered plan holder. Submissions are to be submitted via Submittable by 1:00 p.m. prevailing local time on May 29, 2024, and bids will be opened by the Airport Authority and results will be emailed by end of business day of bid opening for the following project:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROJECT NUMBER 8G2-24 (GENERAL) 2024 TERMINAL APRON REHABILITATION AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

A pre-bid conference will be held at 1:30 p.m., on May 13, 2024, in Conference Room A at Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz, Pittsburgh, PA 15231.

Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, must be paid on these projects.

Proposals must be made on the Authority’s form and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’. The non-refundable charge of $150.00 for the Bid Documents and the Plans, and Specifications through the bidding platform Submittable at https://acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com

Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PA UCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PA UCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/

The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com – ACAA Corporate – Business Opportunities or call 412-472-3677 or 412-472-5647.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

DOCUMENT 00030-AA ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be receiving scanned PDF proposals through Submittable, and a submission link will be sent to each registered plan holder. Submissions are to be submitted via Submittable by 1:00 p.m. prevailing local time on June 5, 2024, and bids will be opened by the Airport Authority and results will be emailed by end of business day of bid opening for the following project:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

PROJECT NUMBER 40G3-23 (GENERAL) AGC DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT

A pre-bid conference will be held at 2:30 p.m., on May 15, 2024 at the Allegheny County Airport, 12 Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin, PA 15122. A site visit will follow the pre-bid conference. Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry or Davis Bacon, must be paid on these projects. Proposals must be made on the Authority’s form and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’. The non-refundable charge of $150.00 for the Bid Documents and the Plans, and Specifications through the bidding platform Submittable at https://acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com.

Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PA UCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PA UCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/

The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com – ACAA Corporate – Business Opportunities or call 412-472-3677 or 412-472-2136. ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

DOCUMENT 00030-AA

ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be receiving scanned PDF proposals through Submittable, and a submission link will be sent to each registered plan holder. Submissions are to be submitted via Submittable by 1:00 p.m. prevailing local time on June 5, 2024, and bids will be opened by the Airport Authority and results will be emailed by end of business day of bid opening for the following project:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

PROJECT NUMBER 40G2-24 (GENERAL) 2024 AIRFIELD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION AT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT

A pre-bid conference will be held at 11:00 a.m., on May 15, 2024 at the Allegheny County Airport, 12 Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin, PA 15122. A site visit will follow the pre-bid conference. Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry or Davis Bacon, must be paid on these projects. Proposals must be made on the Authority’s form and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’. The non-refundable charge of $150.00 for the Bid Documents and the Plans, and Specifications through the bidding platform Submittable at https://acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com.

Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PA UCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PA UCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/

The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com – ACAA Corporate – Business Opportunities or call 412-472-3677 or 412-472-2136.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time May 21, 2024 and will be opened at the same hour in the administration building cafeteria:

Teacher Summer Academy Professional Learning Books

General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Purchasing Office, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, RM 349 Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pghschools.org Click on Our Community; Bid Opportunities; Purchasing - under Quick Links. The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 134

E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR NSPIRE CHANGEOVER ELECTRICAL SUPPORT AUTHORITY WIDE IFB #300-12-24

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified firms or individuals capable of providing the following service(s): NSPIRE Changeover Electrical Support Authority Wide IFB #300-12-24

The documents will be available no later than May 21, 2024. Signed and sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 AM on May

ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS LINE INSPECTION, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

IFB #300-10-24

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified firms or individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Underground Natural Gas Line Inspection, Testing and Certification IFB #300-10-24

The documents will be available no later than April 2, 2024, and signed sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 AM on May 21, 2024. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 AM on May 21, 2024 in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be time and date stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.hacp.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on May 9, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below:

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 878 5278 3400 Passcode: 820622 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

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

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Carnegie Mellon University seeks a Data Science Course Developer in our Language Technologies Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, responsible for designing, developing, testing, & maintaining software applications & systems utilized in Data Science courses for our MCDS program. Apply at https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/

SIGNALING V&V ENGINEER

HITACHI RAIL STS USA, INC.

seeks a Signaling V&V Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA. The Signaling V&V Engineer will be required to guarantee the definition of the Signaling system and subsystem Validation Test Specification and the implementation of the Signaling system and subsystem V&V activities according to the RAMS governance directions and to the Company processes and guidelines. Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com/.

Carnegie Mellon University

seeks a Senior Robotics Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA, responsible for developing robotic systems and simulation tools to facilitate the validation and testing of robotic applications. Apply at https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/

SMS group Inc. seeks a Senior Automation Engineer–Level I Systems (Multiple Openings) in Pittsburgh, PA, for the design engineering & commissioning, erection, & implementation of automation systems for cold rolling mill equipment and tech. Must be able & willing to travel domestically up to 5% to various unanticipated client locations. Apply at: sms-group.us/careers.

ASSISTANT MANAGERWORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking an Assistant Manager –Workers’ Compensation to assist in managing the Workers’ Compensation function, including legal compliance, contract administration and processing of claims in accordance with the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT).

Essential Functions:

· Manages the daily workflow of all assigned Workers’ Compensation staff. Prepares all fiscal year goals and objectives for assigned staff and submits those to the Director of Claims for review and approval. Prepares all performance reviews of all staff members and conducts performance reviews with all assigned staff.

· Coordinates efforts necessary to administer the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.

· Handles communication with legal counsel on workers’ compensation cases; and assists with any communication with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation regarding Workers’ Compensation cases.

· Consults with physicians representing PRT on medical issues for cases requiring legal action; authorizes and approves state mandated indemnity and medical benefits.

Job requirements include:

· High school diploma or GED.

· Bachelor’s in business administration, human resources management or directly related field from an accredited college or university. Directly related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

· Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in Workers’ Compensation compliance and processing.

· Minimum of one (1) year supervisory experience.

· Effective and professional communication skills.

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

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@RidePRT.org EOE

ADVANITY TECHNOLOGIES LLC has multiple openings for the following positions:

Master’s only/equiv.: Systems Analyst (ASA24): Analyze business and other data processing issues to implement or improve softw. systems.

CRM Developer (ACD24): Analyze business needs and translate functional requirements into technical requirements.

Master’s+1yr/equiv.: Software Engineer I (ASEI24): Exp in Jenkins, Scrum, J2EE, Eclipse, JIRA, Maven and Azure.

Bachelor’s+2yrs/equiv.: Test Engineer (ATE24): Exp in Selenium, Load Runner, Python, Agile, SOAP, Maven, Oracle, Java and VB Script.

Systems Analyst I (ASAI24): Exp in Splunk, Azure, SQL Server, Oracle, Linux and Apache Tomcat. Mail resume with job ID # to HR: 201 Penn Center Blvd., Ste 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Unanticipated work site locations throughout U.S. Foreign equiv. accept.

CITY OF WASHINGTON -POLICE OFFICER

The City of Washington is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer.

Requirements include but are not limited to: High School graduate or equivalent, must be at least 21 years of age, United States Citizen, must have current, valid PA driver license’s, must be ACT 120 Certified OR have completed ACT 120 Certification training AND have passed the final examination.

Benefits are: No living or air mile restriction (PA residents only), 12hour shifts, 2 weekends off per month, 12 paid holidays, Medical/ Dental/Vision Ins., Uniform allowance, Vested after 12 years of service, Fully funded pension, Starting salary of $50,913.88 with top rate earned after 4 years $65,274.20 (Based on 2023), Retirement after 20 years and attain age of 50 and zero (0) cost for applying. Applicants are subject to the Civil Service hiring process, including background checks, drug testing, physical agility testing, written examination, oral examination, psychological and physical examination. Applications available at City Hall, 55 West Maiden St. Washington, PA 15301 or on-line at www.washingtonpa.us

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Transit Amenity Specialist to provide and maintain transit stop information and provide assistance for other departmental functions for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). Responsible for maintaining updated databases for tranist stops, amenities and park and ride lots. Assists with bus stop signage maintenance consisting of conducting field inspections to ensure that all stop information, equipment, inventory and facilities are maintained. Coordinates various departmental functions and ensures consistent application of data and procedures. Assists with the bus stop consolidation and shelter replacment programs.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts field inspections to evaluate transit stops in accordance with the Bus Stop and Street Design Guidelines and makes recommendations for relocation or removal.

• Prepares sign crews with written work orders for installation, removal, and changes to existing/new stop locations, and maintains database/ spreadsheet tracking work orders. Verifies completion and accuracy of work performed.

• Assists with reviewing and making recommendations for shelters, park and ride and rider information. Ensures activities comply with contracts and company policies.

• Conduct monthly maintenance inspections of reviews of Park and Ride lots, and report to Manager of Transit Amenities issues.

• Review customer complaints and provide Manager of Transit Amenities with required follow-up to close all complaints.

Job requirements include:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• BA/BS Degree in Business Administration or related field from an accredited school. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

• Minimum of two (2) years experience in planning, scheduling, transit schedules, service, customer service, data collection, and/or analysis.

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

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Professional and effective communication skills.

• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred attributes:

• Experience in transit operations, scheduling, planning, or customer service.

• Knowledge of PRT’s service areas and routes.

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

Deborah Slocum Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 DSlocum@RidePRT.org EOE

FAB 40 HONOREE MELVENA DANIELS, CENTER, WITH HER MANY SUPPORTERS AT THE SHERATON PITTSBURGH HOTEL, APRIL 14.

HOLDING HER FAB 40 AWARD IS DEMIA TYLER. ALSO PICTURED ARE HER MOTHER, TINA FULTON, AND TOWANDA YOUNG.