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Pittsburgh Courier NEW
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 113 No. 23 Two Sections
JUNE 8-14, 2022
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MAYOR GAINEY RELEASES HIS HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ‘PLAN FOR PEACE’ Getting ‘most violent’ offenders off the street is greatest concern by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
For a city so rich in history, so rich in architecture, so prideful in its sports teams, there is a less-thanstellar faction of Pittsburgh that new Mayor Ed Gainey promises to fight head-on. In fact, he says he’s “committed” to ending the “senseless” gun violence plaguing Pittsburgh’s predominantly Black neighborhoods, gun violence that the mayor admitted has been on the rise in recent months. Gainey, Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, stood tall on Gearing Avenue in Beltzhoover, June 3, the sun beaming overhead, in an-
nouncing “Pittsburgh’s Plan for Peace.” It’s a plan that’s taken months to create; a holistic approach to ending the violence. Some media members pointed out that a “holistic” approach has been proposed in previous years to stem the violence by previous administrations, but there’s one major component that’s different about Mayor Gainey’s plan—he is African American. It’s people that he knows who are dying, families that he knows who are forever impacted by the violence. Mayor Gainey didn’t take a residence in Squirrel Hill, SEE PLAN FOR PEACE A10
PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY SAYS HE’S FULLY COMMITTED to ending the gun violence plaguing Pittsburgh’s Black communities. He outlined his new “Plan for Peace” in Beltzhoover, June 3. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
Remembering a community staple — Joe Simmons Owner of ‘Dana’s Bakery’ passes by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Although Joseph Simmons knew that the cancer was spreading and his condition was worsening, he still made it one last time to Dana’s Bakery to show his beloved wife of
more than a decade, Sandra Bundy-Simmons, how to make the danishes and other sweet staples that Homewood residents and others had come to love for more than 40 years. “He wanted the bakery to stay open,” Bundy-Simmons told the New Pitts-
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burgh Courier in an exclusive interview, June 7. “On his dying bed he was showing me how to do the cookies. While he was in the bed, he was showing me how to cook them, how to cut them.” Joseph “Joe” Simmons, himself a community staple, along with the bakery he named after his daughter, Dana, in 1979, passed away on May 13 in his late 70s from cancer. In a story written by BonSEE SIMMONS A7
JOE SIMMONS AND SANDRA BUNDY-SIMMONS. JOE SIMMONS DIED, MAY 13.
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White House staffers call ‘Blaxit’ story fake news by Stacy M. Brown (TriceEdneyWire.com)— Despite a recent report alleging an exodus of Black staff members, the Biden-Harris Administration remains the most diverse in history. High-level African American staffers refuted a Politico story about a so-called “Blaxit” at the White House. The widely shared story claimed at least 21 Black staffers have left the White House since late last year or are planning to leave soon. Politico said some who remain described a work environment with little support from their superiors and fewer chances for promotion. However, African American officials told the Black Press that the report amounts to “fake news.” “Even though far more current and former staff told Politico about their positive experiences, Politico refused to communicate those findings to readers and instead devoted most of this article to comments that reinforce their narrative and present a disingenuous picture of the most diverse White House in history,” said Erica Loewe, the White House Director of African American Media. “Instead of including their on-the-record sentiments, Politico singled out Black staff who left at a normal time for general turnover and then intentionally kept their own perspectives about their stories in the dark,” Loewe asserted. Trey Baker, the White House senior advisor for Public Engagement, also refuted the notion of a “Blaxit.”
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“Every day, this administration works to ensure that it meets the President’s goals on day one: to approach every issue with an eye towards equity,” Baker stated. “That includes both policy and personnel. I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities for growth and advancement at the White House. I know that there’s not only an open line of communication with senior staff but also ongoing efforts to be solutions oriented.” Rykia Dorsey-Craig, a former communications director for Democratic California Congresswoman Maxine Waters and current White House senior regional communications director, called it an honor to work for the Administration. She praised the Biden-Harris Administration’s record on diversity. “Every day that I walk through those gates, I am aware of what an honor and privilege it is to serve in a White House that prioritizes equity and staff advancement,” Dorsey-Craig responded. “I was promoted within my first year and now manage the Regional Comms Team, one of the most integral parts of our comms operation. My leadership and ideas are clearly welcomed and recognized by senior leadership, and I remain committed to this team and our work each day.” According to a Fact Sheet, the overall diversity of White House staff remains approximately the same as it was almost a year ago. As of May 27, 2022, approximately 44 percent of current White House political appointees identify as racially and ethnically diverse, surpassing the 39.3 percent share of the national population who are part of diverse communities, according to the 2019 U.S. Census data. Of the White House’s senior staff, approximately 57 percent are female, and 40 percent come from racially and ethnically diverse communities. Currently, approximately 14 percent of White House staff identify as Black or African American, which aligns with the U.S. Census national population. In addition, approximately 15 percent of Black staff have received promotions to more senior roles, which is greater than the rate for non-diverse staff. Of the Black staff members who have departed the White House since the start of the Administration, approximately 36 percent have advanced to new roles at agencies within the federal government. Further, officials currently have a diverse slate of candidates for the vacant Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement role, including
several Black candidates. A Black woman will fill the Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel position vacated by Danielle Conley, the White House stated. Administration officials also pointed out that Jamal Simmons filled the Deputy Assistant to the President and Office of the Vice President’s Communications Director role vacated by Ashley Etienne. Kirsten Allen filled the Spokesperson for the Vice President post vacated by Symone Sanders. Additionally, the Domestic Policy Council recently hired a Black staffer to serve as Special Assistant to the President on his Racial Justice and Equity team. Alondra Nelson filled the Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy post vacated by Eric Lander, while Karine Jean-Pierre took over as Press Secretary for Jen Psaki. The Senate recently confirmed Shalanda Young as director of the Office of Management and Budget. “The first year of the administration focused on building the infrastructure to support teams and their staff—ensuring they had what was required to successfully onboard and work at the White House to drive forward the President’s agenda,” a senior official stated. “Over the past year, we have invested in building a diverse staff and supporting opportunities for growth and development.” This month, Erin Wilson ascended to deputy chief of staff to the vice president and deputy assistant to the president, saying it’s an honor and privilege to serve the Administration on their senior team. “Since the campaign and joining the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, [Biden Campaign Manager] Jen O’Malley Dillon has offered her support in any way needed,” Wilson remarked. “I’m leaving to got to business school, which was always my intention,” added Niyat Mulugheta, an advisor to the chief of staff, Ron Klain. Mulugheta counted among those Politico mentioned in their “Blaxit” story. “Ron Klain has been extremely supportive throughout my time working for him. He wrote my letter of recommendation since I had to reapply. He gave me the opportunity to work on infrastructure implementation when I told him I was interested in implementation work,” Mulugheta stated. “All that is to say, I’m really happy with my experience and feel lucky to have been part of this incredible team.” (Stacey M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)
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This Week In Black History
A Courier Staple • JUNE 8
1886—Homer A. Plessy, a light-complexioned Black man, refuses to leave the “White” section of a New Orleans railroad car and move to the “colored” section. His Rosa Parks type refusal sets in motion a legal case, which eventually reached the United States Supreme Court. In its May 1896 ruling, the Court decided against Plessy and thus confirmed the segregationist doctrine of “separate but equal.” The ruling also had the effect of treating anyone with any “Black blood” as Black. The court never actually ruled on Plessy’s claim that he was 7/8 White and only 1/8 Black and thus should not be treated as “colored” under the laws of that day. 1968—James Earl Ray, the man convicted of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is captured at an airport in London using a false Canadian passport. Ray would spend the rest of his life trying to withdraw his guilty plea charging that his brother and a mysterious man he met in Montreal, Canada, named Raoul were actually involved in the killing of King. He claimed he “did not personally shoot Dr. King” but suggested he knew beforehand about the conspiracy to assassinate him. Ray died in prison in April 1998. 1982—One of the greatest athletes to ever play the game of baseball, Satchell Paige, dies in Kansas City, Mo. Paige had played in the old Negro Baseball Leagues and went unrecognized by Major League Baseball and the general public for decades. He was finally voted into the Baseball Hall SATCHEL PAIGE of Fame in 1971.
• JUNE 9
1948—Oliver W. Hill becomes the first African American elected to the Richmond, Va., city council. He is best known for his work as a civil rights attorney helping bring down the segregationist doctrine of “separate but equal.” Hill was born in 1907. 1989—One of the “founding fathers” of the Congressional Black Caucus, Michigan Rep. John Conyers issues the first call for a Congressional investigation into paying African Americans reparations for the enslavement of their ancestors.
• JUNE 10
1760—Several sources list this at the birthday of Richard Allen—founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Other sources give his birth date as Feb. 14, 1760. Regardless, the AME church was the first African-American organized and incorporated church in America. Allen, Absalom Jones and a group of free Blacks in Philadelphia founded the church in 1794. Allen and his group were initially members of the city’s predominantly White St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. But when several Blacks were ejected from the church for attempting to pray alongside Whites, Allen led a walkout, which resulted in the forming of the AME church. 1898—Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar, is born on this day in Wichita, Kan. She won her Academy Award in 1940 for Best Supporting Actress for the role of Mammy in the classic film “Gone HATTIE McDANIEL With The Wind.” Once criticized for playing stereotypical and sometimes demeaning “Black roles,” she responded, “I’d rather play a maid than be one.” McDaniel died in 1952. 1941—The “Black Moses,” Marcus Garvey dies in London, England. Starting around 1916, Garvey built his United Negro Improvement Association into the MARCUS GARVEY largest mass organization of Blacks in history, with the slogan “Up You Mighty Race.” The UNIA owned businesses ranging from bakeries to shipping companies. Garvey preached Black pride and self-reliance, while steering away from the more integrationist thrust of most prominent Black leaders of his day. He was eventually jailed on what are now viewed as trumped up mail fraud charges. Presidential intervention got
Garvey freed. But in exchange for his early release from prison, the Jamaican native had to agree to leave the United States and not return. Separated from his U.S. base, Garvey was never able to rebuild the UNIA.
• JUNE 11
1963—President John F. Kennedy declares during a nationwide radio and television address that segregation was “morally wrong” and told the U.S. Congress it was “time to act” (pass legislation) to end all segregation of the races. That statement and similar ones endeared Kennedy to millions of African-Americans. However, a few months after making the declaration, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. But most of his legislative ideas would be implemented by his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson. 1963—Displaying the tenacity of the segregationist mentality dominant in the South in the 1960s, Alabama Gov. George Wallace, with the aid of state troopers, stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama to block two Black students from integrating the school. But when the Deputy U.S. Attorney General returned later in the day with a force of National Guardsmen, Wallace stepped aside, and Vivian Malone and James Hood were allowed to register.
• JUNE 12
1840—The world’s first anti-slavery convention took place in London, England. The aim of the gathering was to unite abolitionists worldwide. However, the effectiveness of the convention was harmed by a decision to exclude female delegates. 1886—The Georgia Supreme Court upholds the will of former slave owner David Dickson who had left more than $300,000 to a child he fathered by raping a 12-year-old Black girl. The ruling made Amanda America Eubanks the wealthiest Black person in America. She would later marry one of her White first cousins. 1963—Medgar Evers, Mississippi field secretary for the NAACP, was assassinated in front of his home by White supremacist Byron de la Beckwith. All-White juries twice refused to find De la Beckwith guilty although the evidence was overwhelming. Finally, in 1995, Beckwith was convicted of killing the civil rights activist. Beckwith died in prison in 2001.
• JUNE 13
1967— President Lyndon B. Johnson nominates former NAACP Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall to be the first Black justice on the UnitTHURGOOD MARSHALL ed States Supreme Court. He said of his decision, it “was the right thing to do, the right time to do it.” Marshall had been a towering figure in the legal battles against segregation including lead counsel in the historic Brown v. Board of Education case. The Senate would confirm the nomination Aug. 30. An aside: Marshall’s original name was Thoroughgood but he shortened it to Thurgood.
• JUNE 14
1811—White anti-slavery activist Harriet Beecher Stowe is born. Stowe was the author of one of the best-selling books of 1852—“Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The book addressed the HARRIET BEECHER brutality of STOWE slavery and featured the character of “Uncle Tom”—a slave who, perhaps unfairly, came to symbolize the accommodating Black person who showed complete deference to Whites. The book was such an indictment of slavery that when President Abraham Lincoln met Stowe he remarked, “You’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great [civil] war.” 1970—Cheryl Adrienne Brown wins the Miss Iowa pageant and becomes the first African American to compete in the Miss America beauty pageant.
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‘Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza’ embedded as a yearly event in Pittsburgh by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
For Cecilia Coleman, music, entertainment, events; those were a big part of her upbringing as the daughter of Dr. James and Pamela Johnson. They are the founders of the Afro American Music Institute, in Homewood, a mainstay in the neighborhood for 40 years. But even Coleman didn’t know that when she created the “Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza” in 2016 at the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg, that it would turn into a community “mainstay” of her own. “I didn’t plan for it to be
like this,” Coleman told the New Pittsburgh Courier. But those who attended the Mother’s Day dinner and fashion show back then enjoyed it so much that they told Coleman, “Can’t wait until next year.” So, Coleman did it again in 2017, this time at the Sherwood Event Center, in Wilkinsburg. People wanted it to happen again. And in 2018, it was held at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. The year 2019 came, and the big Mother’s Day event was held back at the Sherwood. SEE MOTHER’S DAY A5
STEPHANIE RENEE MOYE OF S. MOYE FASHIONS
KIMBERLY HART (PHOTO BY WILLIAM PITTMAN)
OLIVIA WEBER, BONNIE NASH
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TAMIRA WILSON, center, with her daughter, left, and mother, right. They attended the Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza. BRADDOCK MAYOR DELIA LENNON WINSTEAD (PHOTO BY WILLIAM PITTMAN)
MOTHER’S DAY FROM A4
Coleman’s signature event was canceled the last two years due to COVID, but this year, on May 8, more than 100 people showed up for the return of the “Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza,” held at the Sherwood. Besides the full dinner and fashion show that attendees experience, Coleman now realizes the importance of her event to the people who attend with their mothers, as well as those whose mothers are deceased. “Some people don’t have their mother physically, but they still have
their mother in their heart, so they still want to celebrate Mother’s Day,” Coleman told the Courier. “Some people get depressed around this time. It helps them get through the Mother’s Day burdens. I have a lot of friends who don’t have mothers.” Coleman’s mother, Pamela Johnson, is alive and well. Coleman said she had a front row seat watching her parents start and build the Afro American Music Institute into what it is today. The family came to Pittsburgh from Shreveport, Louisiana. AAMI began in 1982, with its first classes held at St. James AME Church’s Sumpter
TANISHA THOMAS (PHOTO BY WILLIAM PITTMAN)
Hall, on Lincoln Avenue. AAMI then moved to the Alma Illery Annex, 7227 Tioga St., and then into its current home at 7131 Hamilton Ave., in 2003. “Since I’ve been 12 years old, I’ve had parents (who were entrepreneurs),” Coleman said. She watched how her parents treated people with respect, how they greeted people, how they planned events and sold tickets. “It’s the Southern hospitality in us. When you’re nice and you treat people with respect, people support you,” Coleman said. Come May 2023, Coleman and many of her supporters will know
what time it is; time for another Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza. Time for mothers like Tamira Wilson to bring her mother and her daughter to the event. Time for Stephanie Moye of S. Moye Fashions to roll out her latest fashion designer clothes. Time for Pittsburgh’s own DJ Tuffy Tuff to rock the crowd with the old school jams. Time for mothers all across Pittsburgh to get their time in the sun. CECILIA COLEMAN founded the Mother’s Day Fashion Show Extravaganza in 2016. She’s pictured with her husband, Henry Finney.
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JUNE 8-14, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.
Black autistic lives matter CARLOS T. CARTER
Autism What can we do to increase early identification and referrals for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Black community? As a society, we need to recognize that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects every race and ethnic group regardless of socio-economic status. However, we do know there are clear racial disparities when it comes to healthcare, and it is disheartening to learn that our Black children are being diagnosed much later than their White counterparts. Parents play a crucial role in early detection, so it’s important they understand ASD signs, some of which can manifest when a child is as young as six months. That’s why helping to educate parents about ASD and equipping them with the right set of tools is key—both before, during, and after pregnancy. The earlier ASD is diagnosed, the better chance parents have of reducing the effects of autism. The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh has been a partner of the Pledge to Protect campaign for the last three years. One of the most important messages we try to convey to parents is that it’s critical to stay on top of well-child visits. At these visits, parents can voice their concerns and tell their pediatrician the signs they are seeing. Parents and caregivers need to be vocal advocates for their children’s health starting at birth. As a community, we can help by having information available where parents live—at schools, libraries, barber shops, hair salons, and community centers. We can all do our part. What are ways that we can reduce the stigma and isolation experienced by autistic individuals and their families? One way to reduce stigma is to get people talking about ASD and recognizing that many young people with autism can thrive. It’s important to let people know ASD is nothing to be ashamed of and that parents/caregivers of children with ASD are not alone. Let’s launch social media campaigns directed to the Black Community where people with autism can tell their success stories. Let’s help families understand and take advantage of resources and support that’s available to everyone as early as possible. The more we humanize and tell the stories of Black people living and thriving with autism, the less stigma there will be. It also goes back to educating parents and caregivers about the disorder. The more people are educated about ASD, the better prepared they will be to help their children. (Carlos T. Carter is President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh)
In the United States, people of all races and ethnicities are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) each day. According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, every autistic person experiences autism differently, but there are some things that many of them have in common. That includes thinking, processing senses, moving, communicating, and socializing differently. Some autistic people may also need help with daily living. Statistics on how many children in the U.S. are diagnosed with ASD varies. According to the CDC, it is 1 in 44 children. Boys are diagnosed more often than girls. However, researchers believe that girls are not being diagnosed as much as they should be. Black children are often diagnosed later than White children While the rate of diagnosis for autism is the same for all racial groups, Black children are diagnosed later (in some studies, up to 3 years) than their white counterparts. This is important. When this happens, children and families aren’t receiving services to better help their child. Early intervention programs are free and help children make gains in communication and social interactions early. The longer it takes to correctly diagnose autism, the longer families go without help. There are many reasons why Black children are not being diagnosed as early. “Often, as parents, we don’t know what we’re looking for,” says University of Pittsburgh’s Dr. Valire Copeland, professor in the School of Social Work and in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Services. “This is especially true for first-time parents. If you do
DR. VALIRE COPELAND notice your child has speech delays or motor delays, or engages in repetitive movements or behaviors, you might just think ‘he’ll catch up or grow out of it.’” This is the same for teachers and other professionals who misinterpret signs. “For example, a Sunday School or daycare teacher may not be familiar with autism,” Dr. Copeland explains. “Instead, she may suggest your child has behavioral issues.” There is also the problem of autism stigma, which is common among all people. “Sadly, no matter what color our skin, we all have bias about mental illness and disability,” Dr. Copeland states. What does autism look like in a child? While Dr. Copeland notes that autism is unique to everyone, there are some early signs. It is important to note that any one sign by itself is typically not cause for concern. If you have noticed multiple signs, it may be worth discussing them with your child’s pediatrician. For example: • Limited eye contact (e.g., looking more at toys than people) • Difficulty in gaining child’s attention, including not responding to their name • Not being interested in other children • Not sharing enjoyment
(smiling/laughing) with others • Difficulty with change in routine • Presence of sensory sensitivities (loud noises, selective food intake, staring closely at objects) • Having interests that are intense or repetitive • Developmental delays, such as few to no single words by 18 months • Any loss of speech, babbling, or social skills at any age. Not every child with autism will have all these signs. In addition, many children with these signs will not end up with an autism diagnosis. Some children show signs of autism before one year of age, but for some, autism is not easily noticeable before 2 or 3 years. Autism, like many conditions that involve healthcare and Black Americans, includes racial inequities, such as a lack of easy and affordable access to doctors who treat the disorder. “Ideally, you want your child diagnosed and treated by a pediatric autism specialist,” Dr. Copeland adds. “Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of them in the system and most of them are not Black, so they don’t understand the African American community. Therefore, first see your regular pediatrician” “The entire process can be overwhelming,” says Dr. Copeland. “How do you find a doctor? How do you take time off from work to see the doctor? How do you pay for the doctor visits, required testing, treatment, and support services if your insurance doesn’t cover all the costs, you don’t have insurance, or your copay is high? We must acknowledge that this is a stressful situation for families to deal with, and it goes on for a lifetime.” Early diagnosis is the key
A YOUNG GIRL WITH AUTISM holding small plastic toys to comfort herself in new situations that can be stressful. (Getty Images) to long-term success The earlier the diagnosis is made, the better, preferably by the age of 2-3 years old. At this early age, interventions have a better chance for long-term positive effects on children’s learning and progress (National Institute of Health). The Pennsylvania Department of Education has an early intervention program that is free to qualifying families.” (Call the CONNECT Helpline at 1-800-692-7288.) “I like to tell parents and caregivers, if you or someone you respect in the community thinks your child may have autism or mentions concerns, please see a doctor who can prove you wrong,” says Dr. Copeland. Be accepting of autism There are many online
national resources that can help people better understand autism, including how to support autistic people in the Black community, such as Autism Urban Connections, Inc. (located in Pittsburgh), Autism in Black, Inc., and the Colors of Autism Foundation. Dr. Copeland adds, “One of the simplest and most profound things you can do is to be accepting of people in the Black community who have autism – and their family members/caregivers. We all want to be accepted and loved, starting with where we live.” RESOURCES https://www.aucofpgh.org/ https://paautism.org/ https://autismofpa.org/ https://autisticpgh.org/
Mindfulness is one way that autistic children may learn to manage emotions Many children on the autism spectrum have trouble managing their emotions. Even though this challenge is not unique to autism— autistic children do have 4-7x higher risk for difficulty managing emotions (Conner et al., 2020). This is called “emotion dysregulation”. Emotional dysregulation may be linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk in people on the autism spectrum. There are many reasons why autistic people may have emotion dysregulation more than others. It can be worsened by difficulty noticing emotions, more social stressors, and biological processes in the brain. It can sometimes look like going from “0 to 100 instantly”, difficulty calming, and low mood. Some children may feel out of control and do things they wouldn’t usually do—like yell, hit, or
injure themselves when dysregulated. Dr. Kelly Battle Beck is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She develops programs to help autistic youth and adults better manage their emotions. “Giving autistic people tools that help them manage their feelings can lead to better emotional wellbeing,” Dr. Beck explains. “Our goal to help autistic children learn to manage their emotions as independently as possible —hopefully improving their quality of life.” What can help? Mindfulness is one option for therapists to teach autistic people and their family members to recognize their emotions and use strategies to calm themselves. The first step is for children to learn how strong their emotions are (1-10). It is not as important to be able to talk about their feelings during a melt-
down. Noticing emotions as they get stronger is the first step. Caregivers can start working on this with their children now. Parents or caregivers can model noticing emotions around their children—even in moments of calm. Dr. Beck explains, “The next time you’re angry or frustrated about something, you may want to say to your autistic child in a simple, but clear way, ‘My emotions are strong (7 out of 10). I’m going to sit here, close my eyes and breathe.’ Then do those things while your child is watching.” After the child starts to learn this, caregivers can try the same thing when the child is mildly upset and work up to trying new strategies in a meltdown. During a meltdown Dr. Beck suggests that parents/ caregivers: • Acknowledge their feel-
DR. KELLY BATTLE BECK ings: “I see you’re having strong/big feelings. All emotions are OK” • Reduce sensory input. Turn off music, the TV, and lights. • Create a safe space where the child can’t hurt himself or someone else. • Don’t ask questions about what the child is feeling. • Don’t talk about the consequences of the meltdown
until hours later or the next day. • Don’t make eye contact. • Use “let’s” language. For example, “Let’s breathe together.” Dr. Beck urges parents to trust what they know about their child, too. “You are the parent. You know what may work best for your child. For example, maybe instead of breathing as your calming strategy, your child will respond better to a warm shower.” Dr. Beck encourages parents/caregivers to keep the statements short and simple and not to give up if the method doesn’t work right away. Therapists can help families with these skills too. “The end goal is to help your child recognize their emotions and calm themself,” Dr. Beck says. “The hope is that over time, you and your child can regulate together.”
Autism Urban Connections: Autism support for Pittsburgh’s Black community Black families in Pittsburgh have an autism resource many cities don’t: Autism Urban Connections, Inc. Founded in 2015, Autism Urban Connections is the first and only African American, minority, family-focused autism 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the state. The group provides education, support, advocacy, and em-
powerment to autistic individuals and their families. This includes access to resources and services that assist autistic individuals live a meaningful and quality life. Education & advocacy Autism Urban Connections gives daily phone and online support to African Americans who need help with a suspected or new
autism diagnosis. The organization helps families find early screening tools for diagnosis and identify early intervention services. Their staff provides information about healthcare, special education, housing, and justice system information and resources. The agency supports people as they learn to advocate for themselves or loved ones.
Family support Advocating for and providing care to a loved one with autism requires patience, time, and determination! That’s why Autism Urban Connections encourages family members to take care of themselves. The organization holds regular information sessions, training workshops, support groups for parents and caregivers,
and family fun community gatherings. Self-care & empowerment The organization helps individuals and parents develop skills to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, and advocate for themselves and their needs. Learn more! Visit aucofpgh.org.
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Remembering a community staple — Joe Simmons SIMMONS FROM A1
nie Pfister for the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation’s “American Heroes: The Homewood Project,” she described how Simmons’ workday would start around 1:30 a.m., “and he said he’s long since become accustomed to getting by on about four hours of sleep each night. For a time, the business weighted on him, literally: he ballooned to 330 pounds. He turned to Weight Watchers, shed more than 100 pounds, and was such a model participant that the company hired him. For several years—while continuing to run the bakery—he’d travel to meetings with a scale, conducting weekly weigh-ins and encouraging participants to take care of themselves and reach their goals.” The article discussed how, after his days at McKeesport High School, Simmons was hired as a dishwasher for Vienna Bakery Co. He eventually worked at G&K Bakery in West Mifflin, “purchasing sweets there that he would take to a Hill District location for resale.” Simmons figured he could open his own location, and he did, right at 720 N. Homewood Ave., in 1979. “He was just a good guy. Everybody loved him,” Bundy-Simmons told the Courier of Joe Simmons. “If I posted something
JOE SIMMONS talked with students in Homewood about the importance of being an entrepreneur and giving back to one’s community. on Facebook about Joe, I would always get 150 likes. But if I posted about myself, I would get three,” she said, with a smile. “That’s the kind of guy he was.” Bundy-Simmons added: “If somebody did something foul to him, he would speak to you the next day. Joe always forgave people, no matter what.” Residents around Home-
wood loved the donuts at Dana’s Bakery. But they also would come for the Italian Ice, a nice cool off on those 90-degree days. Bundy-Simmons said Joe Simmons was father to six children, and a grandfather to 13. Dana’s Bakery was truly a family-run business, with either Simmons, Bundy-Simmons or her brother primarily
working behind the counter. Sometimes, other family members would step in. Bundy-Simmons described how much Joe Simmons loved Homewood. “He would never leave Homewood,” she said. “They wanted to give him a place at the end of Kelly Street, but he always wanted to be on Homewood Avenue. He turned it
down.” Joe Simmons loved to travel up to Erie and go to the beach with his family. He liked the casino. He liked bike-riding. He loved hunting with his son, Brandon. Simmons was a deacon at Destiny International Ministries. His funeral was held at Bible Center Church, right across the
street from Dana’s Bakery. Bundy-Simmons said that Dana’s Bakery will, indeed, stay open. “He gave me the recipes before he passed away,” she said. “The brownies, the cupcakes...” “He was just really loved. Everybody loved Joe.”
METRO
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Homeless Children’s Education Fund hosts annual ‘Champion For Children’ gala
PATRIECE THOMPSON, CHESTER THOMPSON (PHOTOS BY COURIER PHOTOGRAPHER J.L. MARTELLO)
The Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) hosted its annual “Champion For Children” gala on Thursday, June 2, at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, in Oakland. The outdoor “garden party” themed event celebrated the organization’s more than 20 years of advancing education for thousands of children experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. Newly minted HCEF Executive Director Ardana Jefferson said that “there
are approximately 3,000 children enrolled as McKinney-Vento students (a child without a stable, consistent nighttime residence) in Allegheny County. We must do our part to bring these numbers down and educate our communities.” HCEF provides educational support, school supplies, emergency funds, and college and career planning to the homeless students enrolled under the McKinney-Vento act at local schools. In addition, HCEF operates summer,
after-school, and outreach programs in eight Pittsburgh Public Schools and serves four shelters, among other locations, that work with children, teens, and young adults. A “Champion For Children” award was presented to A+ Schools Pittsburgh for their work. Nancy & Paul Collier served as co-chairs of this private event, which included a cocktail hour, seated dinner, and a mobile auction. A brief program followed.
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GAINEY RELEASES HIS HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ‘PLAN FOR PEACE’ PLAN FOR PEACE FROM A1
Point Breeze or Shadyside as mayor—he comfortably, confidently resides in the primarily Black Lincoln-Lemington area. For Mayor Gainey, this plan for peace is personal. “These are our children. This is our city,” Mayor Gainey said during his news conference, June 3. “We’re committed to a bold vision of ending violence and making Pittsburgh a city that is safe for everyone. Peace is all of our responsibility. I’m committed to this. I’m committed to public safety.” “Pittsburgh’s Plan for Peace” involves six categories: Public Health Approach, The Right Policing, Person-Centered Supports, Community Partnership, A Healthy Economy, and Data and Evidence. Mayor Gainey said that the real focus will be on about 200 people, in groups of 8 to 10, who are committing most of the violent crimes in Pittsburgh. The mayor said it’s those few hundred in question in various areas of Pittsburgh that need to be taken off the streets. Sure, from a public health approach, some of those few hundred can be reached and offered certain public health-related solutions. “But some of the ones that you hear me talking about, they’re not teenagers,” Mayor Gainey said. “They’re in their 30s. This is their way of life. This is what they do. We have to get them off the street.” Mayor Gainey will ultimately choose Pittsburgh’s next police chief, following the resignation of Scott Schubert (who will be taking a job with the FBI in West Virginia). Schubert’s resignation/retirement is
effective July 1. The mayor almost assuredly will select a chief who is committed to fostering community partnerships. He spoke at the June 3 news conference that his plan of “the right policing” means “creating a culture within our Bureau of Police that fosters and emphasizes community relationships, as well as to meet law enforcement’s goals. Only when our officers and community work together do we see safe communities.” The fifth part of the mayor’s plan for peace involves a healthy economy. Part of the holistic approach is addressing how years of disinvestment and a lack of high-paying jobs in the Black community have contributed to a culture where illegalities could seem to be the only option. “To begin the revitalization of these communities,” Mayor Gainey said, “we will be working to improve housing developments, better education outcomes, successful businesses, increased health care access and other needed amenities to thrive.” Pittsburgh’s Black community is often faced with this question; is the gun violence that’s happening now worse than what it was during the gang wars of the ‘90s? Depending on who you ask, you get varying answers. Some say the violence decades ago was more “organized” and occurred much more often at night than in broad daylight. Others say today’s violence is more dangerous because it’s more “sporadic,” can happen at any time, and seems to be more “incredulous,” such as the tragic shooting death of 18-month-old De’Avry Thomas. He was not the intended target when a
drive-by shooting in Downtown Pittsburgh claimed his life in broad daylight on May 29. “We know that the real cause of violence is concentrated poverty, institutional racism, trauma-induced hopelessness and the lack of any sensible gun regulation,” added Pittsburgh City Councilmember Rev. Ricky Burgess. “And now our kids are armed to the teeth with assault rifles and large magazines. But the Pittsburgh Plan for Peace is a comprehensive, coordinated, public health approach to violence reduction.” If you can think of the anti-violence organization, they’re probably involved in the mayor’s holistic plan for peace. Everyone from those involved in faithbased groups, to the city’s Group Violence Intervention team, to mental health professionals, and of course law enforcement, is trying to unify as one to stop what is Pittsburgh’s number one problem. “Every life is precious, and it is unacceptable for us to lose anyone to senseless gun violence,” Mayor Gainey said. “The work is an investment into the safety of our city, the future of our children and grandchildren, and the humanity of everyone who lives, works, plays and visits our city.” Mayor Gainey expressed that in his early days as a member of the Pa. state House, he told the General Assembly that young people ages 18-21 were getting easy access to guns, and “if we don’t do anything to change the law right now, they’ll get younger.” Fast forward to today, and now, “14, 15, 16, 17-year-olds are getting guns,” Mayor Gainey said.
“What’s the next 10 years going to bring? 9, 10, 11, 12-year-olds (with guns)? If we don’t do some responsible gun laws at the state and federal level, this can’t get better.” The mayor added: “I fought my whole life to reduce crime, particularly gun violence. That will never stop. That’s the only way we ensure an environment that is safe for our children.” Mayor Gainey, who grew up in Pittsburgh’s East End and graduated from Peabody High School, said that his plan is a plan that must be implemented for
I don’t want to go back there.” Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said during the news conference that an outside consultancy firm will analyze how many more officers the Pittsburgh Police department may need to help implement Mayor Gainey’s plan of community policing. Councilman Burgess, who called Mayor Gainey “my mayor,” and whose district includes Homewood and East Liberty, added: “Our message to every resident is that we are going to keep you safe. Those
The Pittsburgh Plan for Peace involves six categories: Public Health Approach The Right Policing Person-Centered Supports Community Partnership A Healthy Economy Data and Evidence the next 20, 30 years. He said he doesn’t want to be, in effect, jumping for joy, if crime is reduced in the short-term, only to watch those involved in the plan let up, and then the crime rates go back up. “If we don’t take this seriously every single day,” Mayor Gainey said, “we’ll go back to yesterday. But
who do not want to change their life, then they have to deal with the consequences of law enforcement. But for those who do want to change their life, we’re going to provide them with every resource, every encouragement.”
Mayor Gainey expressed that in his early days as a member of the Pa. state House, he told the General Assembly that young people ages 18-21 were getting easy access to guns, and “if we don’t do anything to change the law right now, they’ll get younger.” Fast forward to today, and now, “14, 15, 16, 17-year-olds are getting guns,” Mayor Gainey said. “What’s the next 10 years going to bring? 9, 10, 11, 12-year-olds (with guns)? If we don’t do some responsible gun laws at the state and federal level, this can’t get better.”
SPORTS
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48th Annual Hall of Fame Inductions celebrates ‘Champions Forever!’
THE 2022 WILLIE STARGELL MVP AWARDEES—Joy Bey, Ulice Payne, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Guy Junker, Jerry Chiapinelli, Monica Malik, Brice Flenory, Amirah Gibbons.
Pittsburgh is called the “City of Champions” for a reason, and it was demonstrated loud and proud at the 48th annual…and consecutive Willie “Pops” Stargell Pittsburgh MVP Awards Banquet and the Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins Summer Basketball League Hall of Fame Inductions, May 28, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville. The event was sponsored by Frank Fuhrer Corporation, UPMC, The Office of the Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Franco Harris/Super Bakery and Pirate Charities. I was honored and blessed by Pops 48 years ago to establish an event to honor those people who help make Pittsburgh someplace special and continuing the credo, “We are Fam-i-lee.” It was shortly thereafter that I met the legendary Connie Hawkins working out at the Homewood YMCA where I was Program Director. After a short conversation of my plan, “The
Hawk” gave us his name. And the rest, as they say, is history. The league quickly became both nationally and internationally recognized and was ranked in the top five leagues in the U.S., along with the Harlem Rucker League in New York where Connie first gained superstar fame, the L.A. Lakers League, the Washington
D.C. Coalition League, the Sonny Hill League in Philadelphia and the Bulls Summer League in Chicago. For 40 years it wasn’t just basketball, it was an event…the place to be five nights a week for eight weeks every summer. From Homewood to East Hills to Champions Park in East Liberty, people came from miles
COACH ODELL MILLER, WITH ONE OF THE SENSATION MODELS
around and surrounding states to see some of the greatest players of all-time. The likes of Connie Hawkins, Kenny Durrett, Charles Smith, Norm Nixon, Ron Carter, Ron Brown, Kirk Bruce, Robert “Jeep” Kelly, Maurice Lucas, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, Ulice Payne, Myron Brown, BB Flenory, Keith Staar, Tim Appleton and Grandson Shawn Hawkins, just to name a very few. With the star power from both Stargell and Hawkins came sports camps, clinics, lunch programs, field trips, leagues, tournaments, countless T-shirts, caps, jackets and of course, the goodwill brother and sisterhood and the recognition that lives on today. We all were privileged to have been in “The Wheelhouse” of Mr. Stargell and to have flown with “The Hawk!” DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY LEGEND BARON “BB” FLENORY, PENN HILLS MAYOR PAULINE CALEBRESE, HARLEM RUCKER/PENN STATE LEGEND RON BROWN
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PROPERTY IS POWER Exploring homebuyer assistance programs The traditional rule of thumb is that you should put down 20 percent of the cost of the house if you decide to become a homeowner. Unfortunately, the thought of saving 20 percent of the price of a home for a down payment can be daunting for people who are trying to buy a house for the first time. If you purchase a house worth $250,000, this means that you would have to save up to $50,000 to put down. Fortunately, there are multiple down payment assistance programs that can make it easier for people to afford a home. The Traditional First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Programs If you are purchasing a home for the first time, you might be able to purchase a house for as little as 3.5 percent down. This comes in the form of an FHA loan. Even though there ANTHONY O. KELLUM is a chance you might be asked to pay mortgage insurance premium (MIP), the idea of putting 3.5 percent down immediately makes a house look more affordable. Programs for Repeat Homebuyers Even though there are plenty of programs available for first-time home buyers, there are options available for repeat home buyers as well. For example, between 35 and 40 percent of all down payment assistance programs have been designed for repeat home buyers. This means that regardless of where you are at on your journey, there might be programs that can make it easier for you to afford a home. Programs Are Available for Public Servants If you work in a service profession, there might be programs specifically designed to help you afford a home. For example, there is a specific program called Teacher Next Door that makes it easier for teachers to afford a home. If you are a first responder, veteran, or active-duty soldier, there are specific programs designed to make it easier for you to afford a home as well. Explore All Options Available Ultimately, these are just a few of the many examples of programs that are available that can make it easier for you to afford a home. Even if you do not have the money to put down 20 percent, there are programs that could make it easier for you to become a homeowner. (Anthony O. Kellum is President of Kellum Mortgage, LLC)
Four different ways your retirement could play out (NewsUSA)—100. That’s the age that 69 percent of Americans say they want to live till, according to a just-released “Longevity and the New Journey of Retirement” study conducted by financial services firm Edward Jones in partnership with Age Wave and The Harris Poll. If that seems surprising, it may be because most of us envision what used to be called our “golden years” unfolding far differently than they did for our parents and grandparents. “Today’s retirees have a growing array of opportunities to stay engaged, possibly reinvent themselves, and enjoy the freedoms that stage of life affords,” said Edward Jones’ Ken Cella. Ah, but, just how enjoyable your later years wind up being depends on which “path,” as Edward Jones calls it, you follow. 1. Purposeful Pathfinders You’ve seen the photos of older couples hiking or happily sightseeing outside the Eiffel Tower, right? Unless they inherited their wealth or hit the lottery— two things you don’t want to depend on —it’s likely because they began saving for retirement earlier (age 34, on average) than most of the more than 4,000 retirees surveyed and invested their money wisely along the way. Ergo, with
78 percent of this group reporting that they’re in “great shape financially,” four words describe their retirement: happy, engaged, productive and contributory. 2. Relaxed Traditionalists Rest, relaxation and generally enjoying life free from past responsibilities typify them. They, too, have mainly heeded Edward Jones’ most important warning: “The value of financial foresight cannot be underestimated since the conventional three-legged stool for funding retirement—pensions, Social Security and personal savings—has become even more wobbly, and unexpected expenses like healthcare can arise.” The most open to relocating—including to an adult living community— moving was made easier for them since they’d been saving since age 37 and may even have used the sale of their house to finance it. 3. Challenged Yet Hopefuls Okay, here’s where things start to get a bit dicey. Most of those surveyed said they should have started saving at age 29; this group, ruefully as they now admit, actually started at 45, which was seven years later than the average of those polled. Consequently, while they lead active lives and are doing the best with what
they have, their retirement years are what you would call “constrained.” How constrained? Half admitted to often worrying about outliving their money and 54 percent with retirement accounts have resorted to early withdrawals. 4. Regretful Strugglers The name says it all. The least prepared for retirement, they’re also unfortunately the largest group of retirees (31 percent) and have little if any savings. They’re also the most unhappy, the most regretful about the choices they’ve made, and the most down on life in general. Sounds bleak? Wait, it gets worse. A whopping two-thirds of them seriously worry about outliving their savings. A fate you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy and one you can potentially avoid by consulting a financial advisor, like a trusted local one at Edward Jones, who can help bring you closer to the future you see for yourself. Plus, one of the firm’s free online tools even lets you calculate whether you’re on track to save enough to retire when you want. Whether you live to be 100 or not is an entirely different story.
Age 40 and over? Zero F-ups left to give! Approximately 10 years ago, I wrote an article entitled “Look at what you can do when you’re 40.” In this article I shared a story about my aunt on her 40th birthday. She was in a state of happiness as she danced and pranced with the biggest smile screaming, “Look at what you can do when you’re 40.” I likened this to personal finance. When we’re in our 20’s we’re just getting started. Everything is new, fun, and exciting. New college degree or polished skills we take into the workforce to earn a living. First apartment or house. First car. We meet new people and forge new relationships. We start a family. When we’re in our 30’s, we begin to fully understand our parents’ struggle and sacrifice raising us. We begin to stabilize our life and appreciate what we have. We’ve been through some ups and downs. We summarize that maintaining our children, health, relationships, homes and cars is a daily grind and a huge financial load. When we’re in our 40’s, our children are independent or grown and on their own. We’ve paid off some debt. We’ve saved and invested money. We’ve accumulated some stuff. Bigger and newer stuff is no longer the center of our world. We see stability as being more important than stuff. It’s been 20 long, strenuous years. But finally, once we’re in our 40’s, we begin to take our life back. With the kids more independent, we can turn our attention to “OURSELVES.” We can dance and prance with a smile, screaming, “Look at what you can do when you’re 40!” When I wrote that article, “Look at what you can do when you’re 40,” I was
under 40. I was gleamy eyed and hopeful. During that time, there was constant forward momentum for me. I had the “Midas Touch.” Every decision I made seemed to be the right one. Then life happened. Things weren’t going according to plan. I’ve gone through some mess. I couldn’t seem to get forward traction. It was either status quo or going backwards. Not exactly the trajectory that I was aiming for. I’m on the other side of 40 now. I’ve gone from “Look at what you can do when you’re 40” to “Age 40 and over, you have Zero F-ups left to give.” I’m right in both instances! As adults, where we are in life is a reflection of the decisions that we’ve made. If we consistently make good decisions, we will avoid some stumbling blocks that either delay or thwart us from reaching our desired goal. If we constantly make bad decisions, it creates a misstep, a mishap, a missed opportunity, broken dreams, broken heart, or broke pockets. Here’s the good news. Struggle teaches you a lesson. Lessons make you wiser. Wisdom gives you strength. Strength turns into self-belief. Self-belief shows you that anything is possible. If you’re in that 40-and-over group and you’ve made more good decisions than you’ve made bad decisions. Congrats, you should be coasting now. Stay on the guard; one bad decision can derail you!
If you’re in that 40-and-over group and it feels like you keep running into roadblocks, check the quality of the decisions that you’re making. When you hit age 40, you’re in the “Red Zone” of your Life. Every decision is mission critical. On average, we might get 85 years on this earth if we’re lucky. We don’t want to spend the last 45 of those years paying for a lifestyle we couldn’t afford, healing from mistakes we could have avoided, recovering from bad habits that we knew were bad, or dealing with people who don’t have our best interest at heart. During my 40-plus years on this earth, I’ve come to learn through observation and experience that it’s harder to maintain than it is to acquire. You can acquire a good relationship, a nice body, a nice home and car. You can produce children. While it creates a feeling of fulfillment and happiness to acquire these things in life, maintaining them is the real grind. Maintenance requires attention, hard work, consistency, sacrifice, and patience. Key word being consistency. Have you ever delayed doing a chore around the house? When it comes to chores, I’m a huge procrastinator. I don’t like doing them. For example, I’ll put off organizing the garage until the last minute. By the time I get to organizing the garage, there’s more clutter than it was
when I was supposed to do it. When I get to organize the garage, it requires more time, effort and energy to complete the task. Had I consistently maintained it, and kept it organized throughout the course of time, it would have required less time and effort on my part. The same holds true with life. The sooner we wise up and consistently make good decisions about our life, health, finances and our relationships, the less effort we’ll have to expend to maintain them. Take some time to reflect on your life. If you’re 40 and over, you’ve been through some things. You’ve had your fair share of fun. You’ve had your fair share of successes and failures. You’ve made your fair share of mistakes. You’ve delayed making yourself a priority because you had responsibilities you deemed were more important. It seems like just yesterday we were graduating from high school. Now our children are walking across the stage. Time doesn’t stand still for anyone. The next 20 years will be here in the blink of an eye. Things will not get easier. It’s time for us to get better. It’s time for us to make ourselves a priority. The best gift that we can give our children is not to be a burden to them. We can no longer afford to continue to make bad decisions. If you’re age 40 or over, we have ZERO MISHAPS left to give. We must be prudent! It’s imperative that we make wise decisions about our life, health, money and relationships. Our future self is counting on us! (Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached @ 412-216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)
BUSINESS
B2 JUNE 8-14, 2022
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Real Times Media names Taquinda Johnson Director of Marketing
Even wealthy Americans are living paycheck to paycheck because of inflation By Cherranda Smith (Black Information Network)—The historic surge in the cost of living has even the top earners in America living paycheck to paycheck, one report shows. Across the nation, American households are seeing a financial squeeze as the Consumer Price Index hovers at levels we haven’t seen in 40 years. In April the Index increased 8.3 percent compared to April 2021’s levels. The prices of gas, groceries, homes, and more are all putting a strain on Americans’ budgets. One analysis by LendingClub says that strain is felt even among people making the highest amounts of money. The firm’s report found that overall, 61 percent of American consumers are living paycheck to paycheck while 36 percent of people making $250,000 are doing the same. “Earning a quarter of a million dollars a year is more than five times the national median and is clearly high income,” Anuj Nayar, LendingClub’s financial health officer told CNBC. “The fact that a third of them are living paycheck to paycheck should surprise you.”
Using Credit Cards to Get By The report also noted that those who are struggling day-to-day amid rising costs might rely on credit cards to get by, leading to carrying higher monthly balances and making them overall more financially vulnerable. “I’ve seen households of all means fall into this trap,” Fidelity financial consultant Joe Buhrmann told the outlet. In the first three months of 2022, credit card balances reached $841 billion, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported. If this rate continues, credit card balances could reach historic levels as people place higher-priced gas, groceries, and essentials onto their credit cards to pay off later. If you have revolving credit card debt, the Federal Reserve’s move to increase interest rates may make the annual percentage rate on their credit cards increase, too.
The firm’s report found that overall, 61 percent of American consumers are living paycheck to paycheck while 36 percent of people making $250,000 are doing the same.
Detroit—Real Times Media welcomes TaQuinda Johnson as Director of Marketing. With over 16 years of experience within the communications and public relations sector, TaQuinda has developed and implemented integrated marketing and communications strategies within several industries including higher education, automotive, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. “TaQuinda is a great addition to our team to elevate the exposure of the Real Times Media brand. As we broaden the reach of our signature programming, such as Pancakes & Politics and Who’s Who in Black, her years of experience in integrated marketing and communications will prove to be invaluable,” said Real Times Media CEO Hiram Jackson. As Director of Marketing, TaQuinda is responsible for developing, evaluating, implementing, and overseeing the marketing and communications activities for Who’s Who In Black, RTM360, and other Real Times Media properties as needed while maintaining the integrity of the RTM brands across multiple platforms. “Real Times Media has served as a staple within the Black community for over 100 years and I’m proud to be a part of this legacy,” said TaQuinda. “I am truly looking forward to doing my part in continuing to enrich and expand the voice of the brand while continuing the company’s tradition of amplifying African American voices, our culture, and displaying Black excellence through multimedia.” Passionate about helping brands expand
TAQUINDA JOHNSON their reach and display their cultures online and in the marketplace, TaQuinda’s experience has afforded her the opportunity to work with various institutions and brands such as Eastern Michigan University, Stellar Gospel Music Awards, GM Minority Dealers Association, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Inaxxs Music Business Conference (IMBC). TaQuinda is a two-time Alumna of Eastern Michigan University where she received her Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing and Communications and an undergraduate degree in Public Relations. She is a member of the National Public Relations Society of America—Detroit Chapter, where she serves as an executive board member and the organization’s Diversity and Inclusion liaison. TaQuinda is also a member of the Inkster Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she serves in various leadership capacities.
Real Times Media names Opal Maye VP of Special Events and Programming by Alan Hunt II Real Times Media (RTM) welcomes Opal Maye as Vice President of Special Events and Programming. Opal has more than two decades of professional promotional marketing and event execution experience, spanning corporate, nonprofit and agency sectors. In her new role, she will oversee profitability and budgeting, in addition to managing event execution, production, and promotion. “As we reengage with our nation-wide audiences post-covid, Opal’s expertise and corporate track record has proven valuable in delivering profitability and cohesiveness in event management with all of our brands. Her innovative vision will aid the continued growth of RTM,” said RTM CEO Hiram Jackson. In addition, to her most recent work tenure with the Detroit Urban League, she has held senior level positions with Jack Morton Worldwide, Global Hue/Multi Connect Marketing, Focus: HOPE and the former Chrysler Group LLC. “I’m looking forward to using my event production skillset to build upon the structure set in place and expand the reach of Real Times Media,” said Opal. “I think what
OPAL MAYE we do is very important, and I consider it my mission. I think celebrating Black excellence, telling our stories, letting our voices be heard is powerful and real. I think from that perspective, what we do brings so much more value.” Opal holds a Master of Science in Business Management with a major in Marketing from Walsh College, and a Baccalaureate of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, Detroit. She resides in Canton, Michigan with her husband Bernard Maye.
Black real estate professionals recruit Black appraisers to combat bias, declare war on Black homeownership gap by Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com)—When a former client of leading Black real estate broker Donnell Williams was about to get his house refinanced in Wharton, New Jersey, Williams quoted him as asking, “‘Should I have my White friend come over and open up the door for the appraiser?’” Williams, a realtor for 30 years and broker for 21 years, is well aware that his former client’s perception of racism within the real estate industry is indeed a reality. Current media stories are full of reports of people who have had to conceal their racial identities— going as far as to hide family photos and cultural art—in order to get a fair and equitable appraisal of their home. It is for this reason and many others that the Black Real Estate Professionals Alliance (BREPA.org) of which Williams is president, has joined with the Appraisal Institute (AI). Together, BREPA and AI are launching a trailblazing program to recruit and train at least “100 Black Appraisers in 100 Days”. This is a new initiative aimed at bringing parity to the field of appraising. BREPA is teaming with AI’s “Appraisal Diversity Initiative.” Here are the facts: • According to The Appraisal Institute, a global professional association of real estate appraisers, there are 78,000 appraisers in the U. S. which includes 85.4 percent White appraisers, but only 1.3 percent African Americans. • According to the White House, which also recently announced a new anti-bias initiative for appraisals, “New research shows that mis-valuation in communities of color is widespread. A recent report from Freddie Mac found that appraisals for home purchases in majority-Black and majority-Latino neighborhoods were roughly twice as likely to result in a value below the actual contract price (the amount a buyer is willing to pay for the property), compared to appraisals in predominantly white neighborhoods.” • According to a report by the Washington
DONNEL WILLIAMS, President, Black Real Estate Profesionals Alliance. Post, there is currently no federal database for discrimination in appraisals. However, states across the nation—including New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois—are beginning to explore ways to penalize those who traffic in racial discrimination in appraisals through legislations or the courts. • As with all systemic racial disparities, this bias also directly impacts generational wealth building for the Black community. The National Urban League reports that the median White family holds eight times the wealth of the typical Black family and five times the wealth of the typical Latino family. With several new initiatives, Williams, former president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), has declared war on the homeownership gap experienced by communities of color. According to the U.S. Census, as of the second quarter of last year, the Black homeownership rate was 44.6 percent compared to 74.2 percent for Whites, according to NAREB’s State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report. That is a gap of 29.6
percent—larger than the 27 percent gap that existed “in 1960, before the Civil Rights movement and Fair Housing laws,” the SHIBA report said. Williams hopes that the launch of his initiatives will help close the gap, thereby help to realize the highest homeownership rate in years for first time buyers. Civil rights organizations that deal with economic justice issues agree that the appraisal bias issue is a key to bringing parity. “The National Urban League has long recognized racial bias in home and property appraisals as a barrier to Black homeownership and generational wealth building,” said Marc H. Morial, NUL president/CEO. “Through our work as one of the nation’s largest providers of housing counseling assistance to communities of color, we know all too well that this type of discrimination has gone on for too long and in plain sight.” Williams, former president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, contends that providing scholarships (which will differ from state to state), helping to facilitate the required 2,000 apprentice hours, and the full and final licensing of more African American appraisers, will provide African American homeowners with a sense of certitude in the appraisal process. Williams also stresses that 100 Black Appraisers in 100 Days will not only provide Black homeowners, in particular, with greater confidence in the appraisal process, but will also create jobs in the Black community that pay a living wage with salaries that can range from $57,000-$147,000 a year. Together, these actions will serve to increase Black home ownership and help close the wealth gap, Williams says. Dozens across the country have already signed up for the opportunity to become an appraiser on BREPA.org. One potential apprentice, Candis Pressley of Philadelphia, is a seasoned real estate broker of 23 years. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in real estate and says she simply loves the business. However, she too has run into racially biased
appraisers. Candis recalls finalizing a contract where her client was the lessee and the appraiser was asking for proof of her authority to sign the lease. “Really, in my 23 years of doing this, I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said. “I felt it was racial bias from the appraiser and what they were asking. And it really encouraged me that this is a much-needed program.” The mother of a 10-year-old son, Pressley says she has already begun teaching him about real estate and she hopes to see him in the business someday with “generational wealth” that can be continually passed down. “It’s always been the case of a Caucasian person coming into our properties telling us what the value is,” says Bill Collins, communications liaison for the Black Real Estate Professionals Alliance. “This initiative is going to change that. Now you will have someone who looks like us who hopefully will be level-headed enough after they go through these apprenticeships to do a fair job for the consumer. Let’s also keep in mind that this is not just about them doing a fair job for those who look like us but being able to work in the industry at large.” Collins states one of the reasons more African Americans do not seek to become appraisrs is “because of the gatekeepers. It’s hard to get mentorships even if you meet the qualifications. Then they want you to have a bachelor’s degree. Then you have to put in so many apprentice hours. It’s a good ole boy network we can’t get in to do those training hours.” Advocates in the field of homeownership agree that more Black appraisers will assist in remedying the issue of appraisal bias. In a recent column, Charlene Crowell, a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending, quoted The Urban Institute: “Appraiser bias has likely played a role in homeownership and housing wealth outcomes, and increasing diversity in the field can diminish this bias in the long term.”
OPINION
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
JUNE 8-14, 2022
B3
Murder, again
Guest Editorial
‘Go for it,’ Class of 2022 Summer officially begins on June 21 but the summer spirit has already started with the advent of college and high school graduations on the calendar for family and friends of the Class of 2022. This class will mark their final two years of school with a host of social protests across the country, some even taking place on their campuses, and a COVID pandemic shutdown that kept them mostly alone and isolated with nothing much to focus on but their academics and their physical and mental health. Today, the pandemic has weakened and school is over. Now what? Much has been talked and written about the mental health impact of the past two years. Mass shootings and the uptick in gun violence compounded by a struggling economy and high consumer costs are increasing everyday stresses with which the public, in general, is contending. But new graduates are hopeful while still feeling the afterglow from the pomp and circumstance of one of the most important days of their lives. Marching across the stage in person and receiving what many refer to as the ticket to the future— a degree or a diploma—is unforgettable. And, who knows? Maybe the speaker or the valedictorian delivered a memorable message that also inspired and motivated them to look positively towards their future. But what’s next? With a “hot” jobs market and job openings at a record high and unemployment experiencing a record low, the potential for this year’s graduates seems clear. What a time to be in the job market when the average salaries are increasing. According to a survey by the National Association of College and Employers (NACE), college hiring continues to surge as employers report that they plan to hire almost one-third (31.6 percent) more new college graduates from the Class of 2022 than they hired from the Class of 2021. NACE also reported that employers expect to boost their intern hiring by 22.6 percent for the 2021-22 academic year. So, in addition to congratulating the Class of 2022, we say, “Go for it.” You’ve made it through some tough times, now go out and become the change-makers you want to see and be. (Reprinted from the Washington Informer)
Founded 1910
Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm
Rob Taylor Jr.
Ashley Johnson
Office Manager
Managing Editor
Sales Director
John. H. Sengstacke
Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Last week I opened my article with the words “I was shocked! I was appalled! I was infuriated by the callous attack on innocent Black people at the TOPS grocery store in Buffalo, NY!” I would not have guessed that, once again, this week I would be proclaiming the same outrage against gun violence—this time in Uvalde, Texas. If it is possible, I am even more angry this week at the murder of nineteen innocent fourth graders and two of their teachers by another gun-wielding degenerate. I am overwhelmed by the present and future loss attributable to this senseless act. The talents and potential of nineteen blossoming minds and bodies are lost forever. The light that these children brought to their families, friends and communities is extinguished forever. For good or bad, the tangibles and intangibles of their lives will never be realized for no good reason. Once again, the pleas for responsible gun safety legislation rings loudly from the ranks of Democratic political leaders. These same pleas are heard after each of the ever-increasing numbers of mass shootings we now experience. Once again, we are left waiting in futility for corrective action by our federal legislators. While necessary, the redundancy of these appeals and the resulting inaction are a stain upon the soul of our nation.
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Commentary Republicans, who profess a “pro-life” commitment, have been absent in their demonstration of the same. In the days since this massacre, their response has been laughable. Their “thoughts and prayers” and “there’s insufficient information to discuss this event now” rings hollow against the pain of this loss of life. They attempt to deflect attention from the real cause of this travesty to more manageable talking points. They attempt to explain this event with a focus on mental illness. I passionately believe that while hatred and disdain for other human life can be called an aberration of thought and judgment, labeling it as mental illness cannot and does not provide a clinical excuse or cover for these heinous acts. Rather, I see these self-same Republicans who sponsor intolerance and racial/cultural/“tribal” divisiveness as sponsors of these tragedies. Their hypocrisy becomes more obvious as they try to explain-away the reasons for gun violence. While they legislatively support a loosening of gun laws and promote increased general access
to firearms, they shed ‘crocodile tears’ and claim to lament the loss of life. In the wake of such tragedy, they show their support to grieving families by attending an NRA function 300 miles away from the slaughter. The light at the end of the tunnel are students—the targets and victims of school violence. They cannot vote yet, but they are expressing their contempt for legislative inaction. They are out of the schools and on the streets demanding the change which is obviously needed. They proclaim that they will no longer accept their victimhood or allow their futures to be sacrificed on the altar of the status quo and inaction. It is regrettable that we cannot believe or assure that those currently holding political office will do the right things for our children, our future. However, our children have made it clear that when they can, they will force the necessary change with their votes. As I stated last week, “They were significant to all who knew and loved them, and they will be dearly missed. They are also significant to those of us who respect their lives and what they represent to our communities. Our fight to save our lives is never-ending and must be vigorous and successful.” (Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. is a minister, a UN Peace Ambassador, President of the Dick Gregory Society.)
Summer vacation, reconsidered (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Students everywhere are anticipating, or already experiencing, their summer vacation. It means freedom from daily classes and the opportunity to break, “chill,” and perhaps attend a summer program for many. We know, however, that there is knowledge erosion over the summer, especially for students who don’t continue to read or learn. Race matters here. Lower-income parents often can’t afford summer programs. In other cases, they count on older children to be caretakers for their younger siblings, which means they may have to forego opportunities for continued learning. There are year-round learning or staggered learning opportunities in a few school districts. However, students are “off” from late May or early June to August or September. Some parents aggressively seek summer programs to keep their children intellectually engaged. Others face significant barriers to keeping their children involved in the learning process. Parents must be encouraged to find summer learning experiences for their children. More importantly, we need to reconsider this notion of summer without learning. Some schools assign summer reading lists, but to the extent that learning is interactive, reading in a vacuum may not be optimal for enhancing education. It’s better than nothing, but why such a low bar? Why aren’t school districts more forcefully providing summer opportunities? The achievement gap is real, and it starts before children are enrolled in school and continues through higher education. Upon preschool enrollment, data (sometimes disputed) suggest that young White children are exposed to 30 million more words than young
Julianne Malveaux
Commentary Black students. Other exposure gaps are cultural (who goes to museums, cultural performances, or libraries), physical (involvement in sports), and social. These gaps show up when students take standardized tests or are measured against prevailing cultural “norms.” Learning has to be both year-round and life-long. This isn’t just about students but also about the adults who guide them. When was the last time you read a book, checked out a museum, or expanded your horizons? You can’t encourage your children to be lifelong learners unless you are one yourself. Still, it is time for us to think about these summer vacations. The notion of having summer off comes from an agricultural model where young people had the summer off to help their parents harvest crops. With the number of family farms plummeting, children aren’t needed to work in agriculture. From my perspective, they are needed to be in classrooms, libraries, and museums. Rethinking education means spending money, though, and as our national student body has become more diverse, there seems to be less interest in spending money on education. Higher-income parents can pay for the supplemental education programs that their children need. Lower-income parents scramble for opportunities and have to balance their economic
situation with their children’s learning needs. There are lots of objections to reconsidering summer vacations. Parents with several students worry about coordinating schedules if calendars are changed, and different children are off at different times. Teachers, who savor their summers off, wonder about the financial implications of a more extended school year. And culturally, we are all used to the model of “summer off,” and it will take some adjustment to change that. Other countries do more with education and achieve better results. Nearly everyone (98 percent) 15-24 years old in Costa Rica can read. That country spends 8 percent of its GDP on education, compared to 6.4 percent in the United States. Worldwide, students spend between 175 and 220 days a year in school, with the United States hovering at the lower end, with about 180 days a year. Our K-12 education is often lacking, especially for students of color. Why aren’t more people speaking up more forcefully about educational access? The hybrid education introduced by COVID could be a model for summer education. At the very minimum, it provides us with some of the alternatives we need to consider if our nation is educationally competitive. The traditional model isn’t working, and it exacerbates the achievement gap. If we genuinely believe that “children are our future,” we must reconsider the concept of a two or three-month summer vacation and implement yearround learning. (Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Juliannemalveaux.com)
Tone deaf corporate America and Juneteenth by Stacy M. Brown (NNPA)—In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill to officially mark Juneteenth—June 19—as an official federal holiday. One year later, as racism continues to permeate the nation and many African Americans prepare to observe the country’s 12th federal holiday, corporate America remains tone-deaf at best. Social media users and others have lashed out at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for offering a pre-packaged watermelon salad as part of its Juneteenth menu. The museum circulated a photo of the salad as it invited the public to its Juneteenth celebration. “This is ridiculous and a mockery of Juneteenth,” Twitter user @WishYaHadAlexis wrote. “I’ve never had a watermelon salad or even heard of it. SMH.” Another Twitter user, @MajorFactor2, said, “There can’t possibly be any Black folks in these boardrooms when decisions like this are being made.” Initially, museum officials attempted to justify the offensive gaffe by noting that the watermelon salad has remained a staple in their food court’s manager’s family’s Juneteenth celebration. Later, they released a statement apologizing. “As a museum, we apologize and acknowledge the negative impact that stereotypes have on communities of color,” officials wrote.
“The salad has been removed from the menu. We are currently reviewing how we may best convey these stories and traditions during this year’s Juneteenth celebration as well as making changes around how our food service provider makes future food selections.” The statement continued: “There should have been a label explaining the history and meaning behind this menu item, and it should not have been on the shelf before that label was ready. “We understand how this appears with no context, and we apologize. However, we are pulling it from our food court immediately until the sign is ready to accompany it.” According to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, watermelon represents a racist stereotype that originated in the Jim Crow era. Juneteenth recognized the date in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans received official notice of their freedom. That notice arrived two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to all enslaved people in Confederate states. “First, the stupidity from Walmart and now the Indianapolis Children’s Museum thought it was okay to have a watermelon salad to celebrate Juneteenth,” Twitter user @MrsCMitch wrote. “This is unbelievably insensitive and inappropriate.”
Walmart came under fire earlier after the chain issued a new flavor of its ice cream and called it “Juneteenth.” Immediately, Walmart received criticism for attempting to cash in on the newest holiday with the flavors that included swirled red velvet cake and cheesecake. “We will remove the items as appropriate,” Walmart officials said. “Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence. However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers, and we sincerely apologize.” Bridge, an organization that promotes improving diversity and inclusion, called on Walmart to remove the ice cream flavors. “Would you launch an ice cream called January 27? The day the world remembers the Holocaust. Or April 7, the day that memorializes the genocide in Rwanda. Of course not,” Bridge officials wrote in a letter to Walmart. They also took Walmart to task for placing a trademark indication on the word “Juneteenth.” “Placing a TM and claiming ownership of the word ‘Juneteenth’ further exacerbates the lack of understanding of laying claim to something that represents so much to an entire population,” they wrote. “Juneteenth simply cannot be owned.” (Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)
B4
FORUM
JUNE 8-14, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Lawmakers must implement NUL’s ‘21 Pillars’ to achieve comprehensive reform (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Our criminal justice system must respect the dignity and rights of all persons and adhere to our fundamental obligation to ensure fair and impartial justice for all. This is imperative—not only to live up to our principles as a Nation, but also to build secure, safe, and healthy communities. Protecting public safety requires close partnerships between law enforcement and the communities it serves. Public safety therefore depends on public trust, and public trust in turn requires that our criminal justice system as a whole embodies fair and equal treatment, transparency, and accountability.”—President Biden, Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety In the two years since Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd, police have killed more than 2,000 people in the United States—even more in 2021 than in 2020. Black Americans remain nearly three times as likely as Whites to be killed by police. Yet many in Congress still refuse to act. President Biden’s executive order on policing, issued on the anniversary of Floyds murder, incorporates several elements of 21 Pillars for Redefining Public Safety and Restoring Community Trust, the National Urban League’s own plan for enhancing public safety and restoring trust between communities and law enforcement. The executive order, which directly impacts about 100,000 Federal law enforcement officers, sets forth a model for state and local law enforcement agencies and uses carrots and sticks and incentives to encourage those agencies to
Marc H. Morial
To Be Equal make the same kind of reforms. It represents a measure of meaningful change and a critical acknowledgment of the pervasive systemic racism that has shattered the trust between police and communities of color. But it is no substitute for the broad federal legislation we have sought, or for the full implementation of our 21 Pillars in every community across the nation. On June 9, I’ll join Gwen Grant, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, for the latest stop in our 21 Pillars Tour, which already has included events in Louisville, Kentucky, Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois. In each of these cities, trust between the police and the communities they serve was broken. In Louisville, the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor in a botched raid escaped consequences after prosecutors misled a grand jury. In Columbus, police used physical violence, tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful protesters without provocation in what a federal judge called “the sad tale of officers, clothed with the awesome power of the state, run amok.” A recent study of Chicago Police found that their misconduct is a group phenomenon, involving more than 1,000 “deviant, even criminal” officers, that inflict outsized harm in communities of color. And in Kansas City, officers are accused of excessive and deadly force against Black and Brown Kansas Citizens, constitutional violations, and discriminatory patterns and practices. The 21 Pillars centers on five key themes that are fundamental to the protection and preservation of life, dignity, trust, and safer communities: collaboration, accountability, changing divisive policies, transparency, and elevated standards for hiring and training police. The Tour is aimed at familiarizing communities with the plan’s objectives, amplify the issues and concerns relevant in each city, and advocate for policy solutions. With the incorporation of several elements of the 21 Pillars into President Biden’s executive order, the plan already is having an impact. Key provisions of the order include: • Bans on chokeholds and cartoid restraints by federal law enforcement officers except where deadly force is authorized. (Pillar 10) • New federal standards and training for use of force. (Pillars 4, 9, and 20) • Restrictions on the use of no-knock entries by federal law enforcement officers. (Pillar 10) • Creation of national law enforcement accountability database. (Pillar 14) • Requirement for the use and activation of body-worn cameras by federal officers, and policies that provide for expedited release of footage. (Pillar 15) • New models and federal funding available to innovate new responses to persons in crisis, as an alternative to police intervention (Pillars 4, 9, and 21) • Restrictions on the transfer of the weapons of war to police departments (Pillar 12) • New screening and training tools to counter bias, and strengthen investigations of law enforcement agencies that violate civil rights … so that all persons can have faith and confidence in the equity and fairness of the criminal justice system (Pillars 18, 19, 20, and 21) Social parity, economic empowerment, and civil rights cannot be achieved in a world of unjust policing, President Biden’s Executive Order, guided by the principles outlined in 21 Pillars, can be the basis for safer, more effective, and community-centered law enforcement across the nation.”
The Walmart Juneteenth controversy In January 2021 headlines announced 20 must-have items from Walmart’s MLK day sale, and there were no complaints about the corporate exploitation of MLK day. Besides, Coretta Scott King always said MLK day wasn’t a Black holiday, it was a people’s holiday. That June, President Joe Biden signed a bill that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. Biden was Vice President during the Obama administration, but a Juneteenth holiday to celebrate the emancipation of slavery in America was never mentioned during their tenure. What changed in 2021? The catalyst was the May 25, 2020 police killing of George Floyd and the riots that erupted nationwide. The next month, as Juneteenth approached, newspapers reported: As the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, lawmakers are considering making Juneteenth a federal holiday. President Trump also pledged to make Juneteenth a federal holiday during his re-election campaign. Trump was accused of political pandering, while his counterparts escaped charges of attempting to pacify a voting bloc. There were opposers to the federal holiday, but the opposition wasn’t to the historical significance of Juneteenth. The opposers were concerned that if made into a federal holiday, Juneteenth wouldn’t be inclusive. What made them think that? During a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted at an HBCU, candidate Beto O’Rourke mainstreamed the controversial claims of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s 1619 Project and told the nation, “We can mark the creation of this country not on the fourth of July 1776, but on August 20, 1619, when the first kidnapped African was brought to this country.” Combine that with the fact that a large number of
J. Pharoah Doss
Check It Out Juneteenth celebrators in Black communities claimed to celebrate Juneteenth instead of the 4th of July, and the concern becomes clear. The political panderers and pacifiers didn’t realize they were endorsing a festivity that was an alternative to an established federal holiday. Black writer Touré made this point in an essay called F**K Fourth of July: The only Independence Day I recognize is Juneteenth. The opposers would have endorsed a Juneteenth Federal Holiday if its expressed purpose was to celebrate the end of slavery along with the fact America took a step toward living out the true meaning of its creed. Along those lines, the Juneteenth Federal Holiday was ripe with potential. Congress turned MLK’s holiday into a National Day of Service that promotes volunteerism. A Juneteenth Federal Holiday could have been similar and held events in which the proceeds went to non-profit organizations working to end modern-day slavery. However, the bill President Biden signed was controversially named The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and Biden told the nation Juneteenth is a day in which we remember the moral stain and the terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take today. The opposers understood an official day to remember a “terrible toll that still continues today” would only lead to racial
tension and conflict. Right after Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Walmart decided to sell Juneteenth tee-shirts, but Walmart was condemned for cultural appropriation. The New York Times published an essay called: What Walmart doesn’t understand about Juneteenth. The essayist complained, “I am sad because when a holiday becomes co-opted like this, those who can gain a sense of self and solidarity from celebrating it often lose … To a megastore selling you a Juneteenth cookout checklist.” Apparently, in 2022, Walmart still doesn’t understand the politics of Juneteenth and attempted to sell Juneteenth ice cream with a holiday message on the container: Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation, and enduring hope. This time, Walmart was accosted on Twitter for being capitalist exploiters of Black culture. Walmart apologized for the offense and pulled the product. Afterward, a petition went up on Change.org to protect Juneteenth from being co-opted by corporate interest. What was Walmart’s offense? One Black writer explained, “Walmart decided to make its own version of Juneteenth ice cream instead of collaborating with a Black brand … This was an opportunity to amplify and uplift a Black brand. Walmart is owned by the Walton family, who, by virtue of their endless streak of driving small stores and mom-and-pop ventures out of business, happens to be the richest family in America. Why not share the wealth with Black people?” President Biden should rename The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to The National Day to Share the Wealth.
Put gun safety on voters’ minds this November (TriceEdneyWire.com)—It happened again. This time it was a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, of 19 mostly fourth-grade students, along with two teachers, killed by a young man who had just turned 18 and bought himself a gift of two high-powered military weapons designed to kill people in war and 375 rounds of ammunition, which he used to shoot down his victims like rabid dogs. For an event to be considered a mass shooting at least four people must be killed or wounded. Anything less is not considered a mass shooting. So far this year we are at 214 mass shootings, an average of about 10 per week. The red and blue teams immediately jumped to their customary positions. The red team in the past blamed young people for watching too many violent video games. Now mental illness seems to be the red team’s dominant rationale. And their solutions range from arming teachers to hardening schools and many other ideas in between. What’s the red team’s strategy? Look over here! Look over there at any shiny object other than we live in a country where citizens own more than 400 million guns in a population of 330 million, with a long history of violence growing out of an ideology of White supremacy over racial minorities—Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Some Whites are now advocating, expecting or preparing for another civil war, much of it based on a racist “White replacement theory.” The blue team mostly advocates for H.R. 8, a fairly comprehensive common-sense gun regulation proposal passed in the
Jesse Jackson Sr.
Commentary U.S. House but sitting on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s, D-New York, desk because Republicans are universally opposed—possibly along with Democrats Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.—and because it requires 60 votes or an end to the filibuster. It will never pass in this Congress. Democrats are being un-political because they are still trying to persuade Republicans to support common-sense gun legislation through moral persuasion and rational arguments. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Republicans are not interested. The only “replacement theory” Democrats should be advancing is replacing members of the red team with members of the blue team. This group of congressional Republicans is about power, not being moral or rational. They have to be taken on and taken out politically—defeated and replaced. What should be the Democratic strategy? There will likely be many motivating events and issues that should inspire Democrats to go to the polls for the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The Supreme Court may play a big part in this regard as early as June. The court
may overturn Roe v. Wade and galvanize women voters. It may upend or weaken affirmative action and activate racial minorities and women to rush to the voting booth. It likely will declare a New York gun law unconstitutional, opening the door to a national policy of “open carry” and awakening gun regulation advocates to vote in record numbers. But to make sure greater gun safety and common sense gun laws—supported by up to 90 percent of the American people—are on voters’ minds in November, Democrats must do the following: Break up the dozen or more individual parts of a comprehensive package of gun safety legislation—e.g., an assault weapons ban, background checks, red flag law and more—and make the House and the Senate members vote on them individually. There should be coordination between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer in the Senate. The House should vote on Tuesday and the Senate on Thursday, on one issue at a time, one a week, week after week, all the way to November. It’s possible one of them may actually pass. That would be good news and start us down a path of greater gun safety. But strategically, put it at the beginning so that the closer we get to Nov. 8, voters will mostly remember all the “no” votes cast by Republicans on common-sense gun laws that would make the American people safer. Democrats must stop being naive about negotiating with Republicans over guns because their strategy is to delay, divert, deny and defeat Democrats in November. Democrats must flip the table.
Racist attack on Buffalo exposes segregation, poverty by Marc H. Morial (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Racism [in Buffalo] there comes not only in the form of a teen-age White supremacist murdering Black people at a grocery store. It is also evident in the policies that encourage disinvestment from public schools attended by Black students, in the annual failure to develop affordable-housing policies, and in the continued use of fees and fines that disproportionately impact Black residents.” Princeton Professor of African American Studies Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Before the nation could fully process the horror of the May 14 mass murder at a Buffalo supermarket, we were battered with the heartbreak of another, even deadlier attack at an elementary school in Texas. Incredibly, nearly 70 Americans have died in mass shootings since the Buffalo attack. But even as we focus our energies on solving to the nation’s gun violence crisis, we cannot allow fresh tragedies to overshadow the crisis of racism and poverty that allowed the White supremacist gunman in Buffalo to target Black victims with such precision. The Buffalo massacre was the deadliest White supremacist attack in the United States since August of 2019, when a racist extremist targeting Latinos killed 23 people and injured 23 others at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. The gunman chose Buffalo’s East Side
because—due to a history of redlining and residential segregation—it has the highest concentration of Black residents in New York State outside of the New York City metropolitan area. And he knew the Tops supermarket on the East Side would be crowded with Black shoppers because—thanks to decades of neglect—it is the only supermarket in the neighborhood. Rather, it was the only supermarket in the neighborhood. Since the shooting, the Tops has been shut down, putting further stress on an already strained community. “Tops not only served as a grocery store, but there was a pharmacy there where the community had prescriptions filled,” said Thomas Beauford, president of the Buffalo Urban League, told NBC News. “Many people would cash their paychecks there. And they used Tops to buy money orders to pay a bill. All of that’s gone.” Beauford noted that the supermarket “didn’t have the same level of investment” as stores in Buffalo’s White neighborhoods. “It was already inferior,” he said, “but it’s all we had.” On Saturday, I’ll join Beauford, his staff, and other community leaders in Buffalo to meet with the grieving families and discuss a plan of action to address the not only the systemic racism that has led Buffalo to this tragic moment, but the further emotional, mental, and economic burden it has heaped on
the Black community. Buffalo Urban League has established a community resource center to offer trauma counseling with a diverse staff of counselors who speak seven languages. Counselors also are meeting people on the streets, circulating among vigils and gatherings, and reaching out to people in their homes. The League is helping a local food distribution center deliver groceries to nearby seniors and offering counseling at the door. Melissa Archer, a psychiatric nurse who runs Buffalo Urban League’s NY Project Hope, said nearly 1,000 members of the community have sought counseling. As Beauford told me, “This was not a natural disaster that struck. It had a face. It had a specific ideology. It had a specific intent to harm Black people.” We will not allow policymakers in Washington and around the country to continue to treat systemic racism and gun violence as a natural disaster. In recognition of National Gun Safety Month, the National Urban League has engaged the faith community in our ongoing advocacy and activism with “Sound the Trumpet Sunday,” when pastors will share a message of cultural unity and encourage their communities to demand action on racial hatred and gun violence. For more information, text TRUMPET to 52886 and follow the hashtag #SoundTheTrumpetSunday on social media.
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JUNE 8-14, 2022
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
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Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
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PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Hard copy responses must be both delivered to, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before 11:00am, prevailing time, June 13, 2022, at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527. Responses received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of responses shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein.
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Paper Proposal – Documents are available for the following items at Port Authority’s Main Offices 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15222-2527
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Bids/Proposals
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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR DRIVER’S EDUCATION PROGRAM RFP#550-05-22
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR RHVAC SUPPORT AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-03-22 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):
Bid Number
Bid Name
Pre Qual 22-05-49A
Pre Qualification for Natural Gas
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 29, 2022, 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:
No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. This Contract Services may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The proposal process and the performance of the requested services will be in accordance with guidelines and regulations of the FTA “Third Party Contracting Guidelines”, FTA Circular 4220.1F, as amended, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, as amended, implements positive affirmative action procedures to ensure that all Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts financed, in whole or in part, with federal funds, if any, provided under or for the proposed Agreement. In this regard, all recipients or contractors shall take all necessary and reasonable steps in accordance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, to ensure that DBEs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services. Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, also requires that certified Diverse Businesses, (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontract for, the Contract Services. In this regard, all Proposers, and the Contractor, shall make good faith efforts, in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services. Further, proposers and the Contractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sex, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts or subcontracts for these Contract Services All awards made in excess of $100,000 shall require a performance bond of 50% of the contract value. 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. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on June 21, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid Number B220422
Bid Name Electric Switch Machines
B220434R
Crossarm Insulator Assemblies
To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3Pw0Dzn To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 314 737 746# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am June 9, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • https://bit.ly/3yLJNX8 To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 885 719 226# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Systematic Therapeutic Assessment Resources and Treatment (START). Due Date: 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 28. For more details and submission information, visit: www.alleghenycounty.us/Human -Services/Resources/Doing-Business /Solicitations-(RFP/RFQ/RFI). aspx. Erin Dalton Director
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LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
2 Pre Qual 22-05-50A Pre Qualification for Electricity
9 2 2
ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROJECT NUMBER 8G1-22 (GENERAL) 2022 AIRFIELD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT A pre-bid conference will be held at 11:00 a.m., on June 10, 2022. This meeting will be a Microsoft Teams Meeting. To join the meeting the following number can be called +1 443-948-6058 United States, (Baltimore), Phone Conference ID: 961 023 97. Please call the phone numbers within the ad for the link to join by computer 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. S ubmi ttabl e 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
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The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Driver’s Education Program The documents will be available no later than June 6, 2022 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until: 9:00 A.M. on June 23, 2022. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on June 23, 2022 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and wit hin t he RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on June 14, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/87438905959?pwd=TUdx MEV6Y2RuMys4QStaWWFkTGNJZz09 Meeting ID: 874 3890 5959 Passcode: 106069 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation.
RHVAC Support Authority Wide IFB#300-03-22 The documents will be available no later than May 31, 2022 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until June 21, 2022 on 9:00 AM The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on June 21, 2022 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on June 9, 2022 at 9:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 876 2966 6789 Passcode: 884621 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
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.
HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
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JUNE 8-14, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Notice
Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY 2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE CDBG, HOME, ESG, AND HOPWA PROGRAMS Notice is hereby given by the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA that it will hold a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., prevailing time. The location of the virtual public hearing will be posted at https://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/omb-public-notices. Please check the City’s website at https://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/cd for more information. If special arrangements need to be made to accommodate residents in order for them to participate in the virtual public hearing, please email community. development@pittsburghpa.gov or via phone at (412) 255-2211 or the TDD number is (412) 255-2222, by Friday, July 1, 2022. The City of Pittsburgh has prepared its draft FY 2022 Annual Action Plan. The City intends to submit its FY 2022 Annual Action Plan in the amount of $13,733,662 for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; $2,533,403 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds; $1,198,946 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds; and $1,275,737 in Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) funds. The FY 2022 Annual Action Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before Friday, July 22, 2022. In order to obtain the views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties, the City of Pittsburgh will place its draft FY 2022 Annual Action Plan online from June 10, 2022 through July 11, 2022, at the City of Pittsburgh’s website (http://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/community-development-documents). The City of Pittsburgh’s proposed activities for funding under the FY 2022 Annual Action Plan, are on display or maybe viewed on the City of Pittsburgh’s website (http://pittsburghpa.gov/council/capital-budgets). The entire FY 2022 Capital Budget for the City of Pittsburgh is also listed. Information will be available for review for a period of 30 days. Written or verbal public comments on the draft FY 2022 Annual Action Plan will be received until 4:00 P.M. on Monday, July 11, 2022. To provide comments, please email community.development@pittsburghpa.gov or via phone at (412) 255-2211. If the City would undertake an activity that would result in the displacement of families or individuals, then the City would utilize its policy for minimizing such displacement. Furthermore, the City is responsible for replacing all low- and moderate-income housing units that may be demolished or converted as a result of the use of CDBG Funds. All interested persons, groups, and organizations are encouraged to attend this virtual public hearing and will be given the opportunity to present oral or written testimony concerning the proposed plan and use of FY 2022 Federal funds. To provide comments, please email community.development@pittsburghpa.gov or via phone at (412) 2552211. Written comments may be addressed to the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Community Development Division, attention Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager, 414 Grant Street, Room 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager Community Development Division, OMB CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PA CDBG, HOME, ESG, AND HOPWA PROGRAMS FY 2021 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Notice is hereby given that the City of Pittsburgh intends to submit the FY 2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before June 29, 2022. In accordance with Title I of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, the City of Pittsburgh has prepared its Fiscal Year 2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Programs. This report describes the level of housing assistance and other community development activities through grants from various Federal funding programs during Fiscal Year 2021 (April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022). Copies of the FY 2021 CAPER for the City of Pittsburgh are available for public inspection at the City of Pittsburgh website at http://pittsburghpa.gov/omb/community-development-documents, beginning Friday, June 10, 2022 through Friday, June 24, 2022. All interested persons are encouraged to review the FY 2021 CAPER. Written comments should be addressed to the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Community Development Division, attention Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager, Community Development Division, City County Building, Room 501, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Oral comments may also be made by contacting Mr. Finnstrom at (412) 255-2211, his fax number is (412) 393-0151, his email is community.development@pittsburghpa.gov, and the TDD number is (412) 255-2222. Written comments on the CAPER will be considered up to and including June 24, 2022. Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager Community Development Division, OMB DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AREA AGENCY ON AGING PUBLIC HEARING, JUNE 16, 2022 PITTSBURGH – The Advisory Council of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging (AAA) will hold a public hearing on Friday, June 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the hearing is to solicit public comment on the 2022-2023 Budget Prospectus. Due to the health and safety risks associated with public gatherings during this time, the public hearing will be conducted as a video and teleconference. The teleconference meeting will feature closed captioning as well as live American Sign Language Interpretation. To receive the video conference link or call-in number and conference ID for this event, contact Matt Beall by email at Matthew.Beall@alleghenycounty.us or telephone at 412-865-7179. If you wish to give testimony at the public hearing, you may pre-register for an assigned 3-minute slot by contacting Matt Beall. All those who do not register to provide testimony will be permitted to submit written, email, or telephonic testimony both prior to and following the hearing. Please direct all testimony of these varieties to Matt Beall at the email address and phone number provided above. If you prefer to send comments via physical mail, use the following address: Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The hearing is also an opportunity for older adults, caregivers, and other interested individuals to ask questions and offer comments on aging services in general. All oral or written comments will be recorded in the official proceedings of the hearing. The week of the public hearing, the budget prospectus will be posted on the DHS website www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/ plansbudgets.aspx. To request a copy, contact Matt Beall by email or telephone.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
ADVERTISEMENT Bids are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 on the following: BID PROPOSAL NO. 1102 – Lead Abatement and Painting – VAC Annex – Allegheny Campus A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting and site-visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The assembly point will be the corner of North Lincoln and Galveston (behind Graybar Electric), Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 Any bid or proposals received after this deadline will be considered as a “late bid” and will be returned unopened to the offerer. Proposals may require Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Payment Bonds, and Surety as dictated by the specifications. No bidder may withdraw his bid or proposal for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Community College of Allegheny County is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/ Disadvantaged owned businesses. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.
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Bids/Proposals
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ADVERTISEMENT SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY The following surplus equipment will be offered for sale to the highest bidder(s):
ADVERTISEMENT Bids are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 on the following:
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR IFB# 300-38-21 REBID
REQUEST FOR QUOTATION 220621 SALE OF SURPLUS PCS, MONITORS, MISC. FUNCTIONING IT EQUIPMENT, AND MISC. NON-FUNCTIONING IT EQUIPMENT; WELDING EQUIPMENT; ROLLTOP DESK Bids are due in to the CCAC Purchasing Department no later than 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
BID PROPOSAL NO. 1101 – Replacement of Main Roof West Hills Center A MANDATORY pre-bid meeting and site-visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The assembly point will be the West Hills Center security desk, around left side of the complex as you enter the driveway, 1000 McKee Road, Oakdale, PA 15071. The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) applies to this project.
For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.
Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Community College of Allegheny County Purchasing Department 800 Allegheny Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Any bid or proposals received after this deadline will be considered as a “late bid” and will be returned unopened to the offerer. Proposals may require Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Payment Bonds, and Surety as dictated by the specifications. No bidder may withdraw his bid or proposal for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Community College of Allegheny County is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses. For more information, contact Michael Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1768 FURNISH AND DELIVER CHEMICALS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE FOR TREATMENT OF BOILER WATER, STEAM AND CONDENSATE Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1768 – Furnish & Deliver Chemicals and Technical Service for Treatment of B oiler Water, S team and Condensate shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Wednesday, July 13, 2022 and then shall be publicly opened and read. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via a video conference call on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. An invitation will be required to access this meeting. To obtain the invitation to the Pre-Bid Meeting, contact Kathleen Uniatowski at kathleen.uniatowski@alcosan.org ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of $5,000.00. The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of 100% of the Bid Price. Contract documents must be obtained directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. To obtain a copy of the Contract Bidding Documents, contact Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email at contract.clerks@alcosan.org . Any questions regarding the Contract Documents / Technical Specifications should be directed to Ben Heilman, ALCOSAN, via email at benjamin.heilman@alcosan.org. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Kimberly Kennedy, P.E. Director of Engineering and Construction COURIER CLASSIFIEDS
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ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1765 CCTV INSPECTION OF ALCOSAN DROP SHAFTS Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1765 – CCTV Inspection of ALCOSAN’s Drop Shafts shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, and then shall be publicly opened and read. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via a video conference call on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. Prospective Bidders are encouraged to attend this meeting. Attendance at the Pre-Bid meeting is not mandatory. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($ 5, 000. 00) is r equir ed. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond equal to the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. Any questions regarding the Technical Specifications should be directed to Milton Lenhart P.E., ALCOSAN, via email to milton.lenhart@alcosan.org . Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email to contract.clerks@alcosan.org . The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte, P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance
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The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Trash Compactor and Chute Repair Rebid IFB#3001-38-21 REBID The documents will be available no later than June 6, 2022 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 AM on June 30, 2022 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 AM on June 30, 2022 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on June 21, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/82724688230?pwd=MWk2Zjl HcTBCbUlzZXMxL0hwS1BFZz09 Meeting ID:827 2468 8230 Passcode: 199526 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/ RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
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MOKA RETAINING WALL INVITATION FOR BIDS The URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY of Pittsburgh (URA) will receive bids from qualified contractors for the construction of a retaining wall (MOKA RETAINING WALL) located at 502 Soho Street in the Bluff/Uptown neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, and all work incidental thereto required to complete the MOKA RETAINING WALL, until 11:00 a.m. prevailing time on the 24th of June 2022, via Ion Wave Technology (IWT) bid procurement website (https://ura.ionwave.net/Login.aspx). Contract documents will be available after 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 06, 2022, only on IWT. Paper copies will not be available for pickup. Contract documents will not be mailed. Bids will only be accepted through IWT. h t t p s : / / w w w. u r a . o r g / m e d i a / W1siZiIsIjIwMjEvMDEvMDY vM2xhbnkyMWE0cF9OT1 RJQ0VfVHJhbnNpdGlvbl9mc m9tX1B1YmxpY19QdXJjaGFzZ\ V90b19JV1QucGRmIl1d/ NOTICE_Transition%20from%20 Public%20Purchase%20to%20 IWT.pdf A pre-bid meeting will be held ON SITE (502 SOHO STREET) on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Please email Zainab Al Kafage, Project Engineer zalkafage@ura.org, to obtain additional information about this meeting. All interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1760 CSO BYPASS AND DISINFECTION Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1760–CSO Bypass and Disinfection shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 and then shall be publicly opened and read. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via a video conference call on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. A link will be required to access this meeting. If interested in obtaining a link to the Pre-Bid Meeting, contact Brian Daugherty via email at brian.daugherty@mbakerintl.com . ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Brian Daugherty, Michael Baker International, via email at brian.daugherty@mbakerintl.com . Any questions regarding the Purchase of Bidding Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email at contract.clerks@alcosan.org. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Kimberly Kennedy, P.E. Director of Engineering and Construction LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
Estate of ROBERT W. GORMAN, aka Robert Gorman, deceased of West Mifflin, PA, No. 03446 of 2022, Colin T. Gorman Extr., 3215 N. Wilton Avenue, Unit D, Chicago IL 60657 or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire Scolieri Law Group, P.C. Attys. 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 Estate of RICHARD DEE, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 03020 of 2022, Saloam M. Bey, Administratix, 67427 Washington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 or to Thelma C. Spells, Esquire Atty. 1533 Bidwell Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Estate of MARJORIE DOW, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, No. 5348 of 2022, Leslie Dickey, Extrx., 3507 O’Neil Blvd McKeesport, PA 15132 or to Robert C. Watson, Esq., 1239 W. North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
NOTICE is hereby given that Articles of In co r p o r a tio n h a ve been fi l ed w i th the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the purpose of engaging in any lawful act concerning any or all lawful business for which corporations may be incorporated under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988 as amended. The name of the corporation is: Seldin Holdings Inc. Articles of Incorporation have been filed on: June 2, 2022
RENTAL SERVICE Furnished Apartments
FURNISHED ROOM with all amenities conveniently located in the Hill District JAMES (412) 924-8678. JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
TREE PITTSBURGH is seeking a Tree Adoption Program Manager. This position distributes trees to residents throughout Allegheny County each year. To learn more and apply, visit treepittsburgh.org/jobs. FULL-TIME FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR 5 days, 40 hrs/wk. Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Liberty. Strong organizational skills, accuracy and efficiency. Proficient in Microsoft Office and financial database software, preferably ACS. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance w/3-5 yrs experience in nonprofit accounting. Current ACT 33/34 and FBI fingerprint clearances/COVID-19 vaccination required. If you are BEST candidate, email office@eastminsterchurch.net.
CHANCEL CHOIR ACCOMPANIST at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/. CHILD CARE WORKER at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/. 2-YEAR LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE POSITIONS FUNDED BY FEDERAL ARP ESSER III FUNDING. THESE POSITIONS WILL END AFTER THE LAST DAY OF THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR. MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER Opening for Middle School Math Teacher for 2022-2023 and 20232024 school years. Elementary/ Middle 4-8 Mathematics PA Certification required. Deadline is June 10, 2022. Send letter of interest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE SPECIAL EDUCATION / AUTISTIC SUPPORT TEACHER Opening for Special Education Teacher for 2022-2023 and 20232024 school year. PA Special Education K-12 or Special Education PK-8 required; Math, English or other Middle-Level Certification preferred with training/experience i n Au ti s m & Sever C ogni ti ve Disabilities. Deadline is June 10, 2 0 2 2 . S e n d letter of i nterest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE DISTRICT-WIDE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR Opening for District-Wide Guidance Counselor for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. PA School Counselor K-12 Certification required. Deadline is June 10, 2 0 2 2 . S e n d l etter of i nterest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE
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BUSINESS ANALYTICS LEAD The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. seeks a Business Analytics Lead in Pittsburgh, PA. Specific duties include: (i) source appropriate data, apply analytical method(s), interpret the resulting information and then construct an understandable visual representation in the analysis; (ii) serve as a subject matter expert of lending sales data; (iii) build and publish Customized interactive Dashboards, KPI in Tableau Desktop and Report scheduling using Tableau Server; (iv) understand complex business rules and combine salespeople, managers, geographies and hierarchies, and sales activities with loan application and servicing systems to provide insights for business leaders in a repeatable and highly available reporting environment; (v) design, develop and implement various information related deliverables, including KPI, performance reporting, Tableau dashboards and self-service analytical tools; (vi) own the production and maintenance of metrics, KPI and performance related reporting and dashboards for BI stakeholders; (vii) act in a consultative role with business leaders to implement and drive adoption of metrics and KPIs; (viii) drive to one source of truth across the business; and (ix) own end-to-end lifecycle for deliverables including requirements gathering, technical development, refinement, adoption and maintenance as a member of a high performing agile crew; and adding value from outset through technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or Information Systems, plus 5 years of experience in position(s) that involves designing, building, and maintaining data, reporting, and analytical systems. Experience required with the following: (i) developing, maintaining, and optimizing Tableau dashboards, including management of Tableau Server user groups and permissions; (ii) embedding tableau dashboards in the other systems, including custom web portals; (iii) developing complex SQL (including stored procedures, functions, materialized views, common table expressions, analytical functions, performance tuning, and partitioning) and ETL processes (aggregations, complicated joins, rank, union, lookup, and custom user defined functions) with advanced features and functionally of multiple data sources (Oracle SQL, Teradata, MS SQL Server, Hadoop, and Hyper); (iv) automating (incremental processing, dependency and schedule management, and error checking) and maintaining complex data transformation pipelines (Tableau Prep, Alteryx, Python, Oozie, and SSIS); and (v) experience, in or for the financial services industry, performing the following: (a) utilizing lending systems, application and loan servicing data models (Empower, OLNACS, EDS, Capital Stream, MSP, ACLS, or FDR), and sales management systems (ADAPT, TIM, Workday, Genesis, CIM, or Salesforce) in production and support of analytics and reporting; (b) interviewing business users; (c) identifying functional and technical requirements; and (d) converting use cases into technical designs (LLD and User Case Diagrams) and solutions (prototypes and mock-ups) as part of an agile software development process (version One of Jira). 40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword R104663. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES – JUNE 6, 2022 Steel Center, a student focused public school that delivers high quality Career & Technical Education has multiple openings for caring, highly motivated, and results oriented professionals in the following areas: Full-Time Permanent Positions: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Professions Teacher, full-time permanent: Seeking a Rehabilitation Healthcare Professional to instruct high school students. Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in the Physical Therapy or Athletic Training/Sports Medicine fields; minimum education/training credentials: PTA with ATC’s and PT’s encouraged to apply. Teaching experience at any level helpful but not required. Excellent communication, technology, and social skills are a must. Experience working with high school-aged youth in any setting is a plus. Range of starting annual salary $48,256 to $54,747 (potentially higher if already a PA certified teacher) plus excellent benefits package. This position is for the 2022-2023 school year. HVAC-R Teacher, full-time permanent: Seeking HVAC Technician/Professional to instruct high school students. Steel Center is an innovative Career and Technical School just south of Pittsburgh. Requires a minimum of 5 years HVAC experience in residential and commercial service and repair. Teaching experience at any level is helpful but not required. Additional consideration is given to candidates who have continuing education, including industry recognized certifications/credentials and/or completed relevant industry training. Excellent communication, technology, and social skills are a must. Experience working with high school-aged youth in any setting is a plus. Range of starting annual salary $48,256 to $54,747 (potentially higher if already a PA certified teacher) plus excellent benefits package. This position is for the 2022-2023 school year. Computer Technology Teacher, full-time permanent: Seeking a Computer Technology Professional to instruct high school students. Steel Center is an innovative Career and Technical School just south of Pittsburgh. Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in Network Administration, Information Technology Services, PC/Server Virtualization, Cloud Technologies and/or Programming. Must have appropriate post-secondary education; industry recognized credentials and/or certifications such as CISCO, Comp-TIA, and Microsoft; Excellent communication, technology, and social skills are a must. Experience working with high school-aged youth in any setting is a plus. Range of starting annual salary $48,256 to $54,747 (potentially higher if already a PA certified teacher) plus excellent benefits package. This position is for the 2022-2023 school year. Instructional Aide, full-time permanent: Seeking an enthusiastic and caring Para Education Professional to support teachers in a Career and Technical Education setting. Steel Center is an innovative Career and Technical School just south of Pittsburgh. Requires high school diploma, additional education preferred, experience in all fields encouraged to apply, experience in veterinary/animal care or medical fields preferred. Experience in a public school setting is a plus but not required. Excellent communication, technology, and social skills are a must. Inspiring teachers are encouraged to apply. The starting salary is $15.81 per hour plus benefits. Monday-Friday 7:30 AM3:00 PM; This position is for the 2022-2023 school year. Interested persons should contact Ms. Tricia Cousino, Executive Assistant 412-469-3200 ext. 6742, tcousino@steelcentertech.com or send a letter of interest to Steel Center for Career and Technical Education, 565 North Lewis Run Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025. EOE. Criminal background clearances are required for all positions. To learn more about Steel Center visit www.steelcentertech.com. SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking A HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Position available at the start of the 2022-2023 school year Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Applications must be received by 4:00 PM June 14, 2022
MANAGER OF SENIOR PROGRAMMING Love the outdoors and have a talent for working with the senior community? Join the team at Venture Outdoors as our new Manager of Senior Programming! Duties include: organizing and executing outdoor trips for senior populations; fundraising; community relations and more. Check out the full job description at https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/ about/employment-opportunities/
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SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER - SYSTEMS Port Authority is seeking a Senior Project Engineer – Systems to be responsible for all mechanical related aspects of Authority systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants, contractors, and external stakeholder representatives. Provides engineering and technical support in the maintenance and operation of various mechanical systems including: drainage, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), escalators, elevators, fire protection, safety and related equipment. Essential Functions: • Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction and closeout of funded capital projects within established scope, schedule, budget and quality metrics. Provides guidance and assistance to Port Authority personnel on mechanical issues and activities pertaining to all capital projects. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to systems, facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways, and light rail transit system. • Responsible to review drawings, specifications and contract provisions for compliance with Authority and outside agency requirements and standards in the preparation of construction and procurement documents. Reviews and coordinates drawings and specifications of mechanical systems to include drainage, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), escalators, elevators, fire protection, safety and related equipment in consideration of the impacts related to operational facilities, systems and infrastructure. • Maintains continuous overview of the mechanical systems placed in the Authority’s operations to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of mechanical engineering designs. Develops or oversees the development of preventative maintenance procedures for mechanical systems. Investigates and reports on problems that have to do with mechanical systems and subsystems, their related user needs and requirements. Job requirements include: • BS Degree, Major in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field from an accredited school. • Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in managing projects, including design and construction of job-related work. • Professional and effective communication skills. • Valid driver’s license in any state or commonwealth with ability to obtain PA driver’s license within sixty (60) days of employment. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. Preferred attributes: • Experience in design and/or construction of mechanical equipment in facilities and/or public infrastructure and systems. • Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Alex Kumnik Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AKumnik@portauthority.org EOE
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PERMANENT POSTIONS 4th GRADE PARK ELEMENTARY TEACHER Opening for Elementary Teacher for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. PA Early Childhood PK-4 or Elementary K-6 Certification required. Deadline is June 10, 2 0 2 2 . S e n d l etter of i nterest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE
LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION OF TESTAMENTARY
Letters Testamentary on the Estate of MILDRED NASH, deceased, of 201 Grant Ave., Apt. 411, Sewickley, Allegheny County, PA, No. 02-22-02843 have been granted to Germaine Gooden, 359 Wylie Ave., Clairton, PA 15025, who requests that all persons having claims against the Estate of this Decedent make known the same in writing to her or her attorney, Thomas E. Pandaleon, Esq. 6824 Thomas Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, and all persons indebted to this Decedent make payment to the same.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
FACILITIES MANAGER at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/. JOURNEY PRAISE DIRECTOR at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/.
JUNE 8-14, 2022
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WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHER Opening for World Language Teacher for 2022-2023 SY. Preferably French, PA Certification required. Deadline is June 10, 2022. Send letter of interest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE ELEMENTARY ART TEACHER Opening for Elementary Art Teacher for 2022-2023 SY. PA Art K-12 Certification required. Deadline is June 10, 2022. Send letter of interest, resume, PA Standard application, certificate and Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to HRSupport@steelvalleysd.org. EOE
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JUNE 8-14, 2022 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Black-owned business leaves South Side over the violence Fudge Farm still has location in the Waterfront by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer A Black-owned business is fed up with the gun violence and overall foolishness that’s been occurring on Pittsburgh’s South Side lately. “Fudge Farm,” which opened its South Side location on E. Carson Street in June 2019, has officially closed that location as of Sunday, June 5, after one of its employees was violently attacked, and a handgun was found near the side door of the location, all in the past week and a half. The New Pittsburgh Courier featured Fudge Farm, owned by Walt and Molly Rainey, in an article from reporter Briana White in 2019. White reported on Fudge Farm’s menu favorites, which include specialty milkshakes and fudge- and chocolate-covered strawberries. Fudge Farm already had a location in the Waterfront in Homestead, and that location remains open. The Courier reported that Walt Rainey, who is Black, is a Hill District native who graduated from Schenley High
School in 1993. Fudge Farm’s South Side location opened to much fanfare in 2019— after all, it was a Blackowned business, one of just a few on the South Side’s Carson Street corridor. Plus, it was located in the heart of all the action, near 15th Street, where people constantly congregate for parties and get-togethers. Fudge Farm was attracting business from all demographics. But less than three years after its ascent to the South Side, Fudge Farm is saying sayonara. The weekend of June 3-5 saw shootings on backto-back nights—an employee of nearby Cambod-Ican Kitchen was hit by random gunfire late Friday/early Saturday, June 4, following a night of parties. The next night, two men were critically injured by gunfire that erupted near Fudge Farm. “Due to the uncontrollable shootings and violence as well as other circumstances on E. Carson St., today (June 5) will be Fudge Farm’s last day there,” wrote Fudge Farm on its Facebook page. “We can no longer ask teenage children, or
FUDGE FARM OWNERS WALT AND MOLLY RAINEY no one for that matter to work for us in this environment. We would like to thank our customers for years of support. Please feel free to visit our Waterfront location or stop by our food truck when possible. Feel free to DM (direct message) us any questions or concerns. Thank you.” Efforts to reach Walt Rainey or Molly Rainey by the Courier for comment were unsuccessful. A later Facebook post by Fudge Farm read in part: “We can no longer
ask people to jeopardize their safety! Anyone that personally knows us, knows that our employees are family. We wouldn’t allow our daughters to work in this environment as we wouldn’t want your son or daughter to do so either.” With Fudge Farm now gone from the South Side, it leaves an already slim number of Blackowned business on E. Carson Street that much slimmer.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
MAINTENANCE TECHNICAL TRAINER - FL Port Authority is seeking a Maintenance Technical Trainer – FL to provide assistance and support to the Manager of Bus Maintenance Training in the development, coordination and facilitation of training programs for maintenance and service employees and supervisors. Essential Functions: • Plans, develops, presents and updates course content for training programs, including manuals and other materials. • Communicates regularly with maintenance supervisors and managers to assess training needs, determine instructional requirements and to evaluate effectiveness of programs. • Coordinates and schedules training for maintenance employees and supervisors. • Provides technical troubleshooting and assistance to employees and supervisors. As an example, the Trainer trains employees and supervisors by taking out parts from a revenue service vehicle; such as AC, engine, electrical, & other parts. They then tear apart to fix and replace back into revenue service vehicle. Job requirements include: • High School Diploma or GED. • Minimum of three (3) years of experience in directly related vehicle maintenance or body repair technology. • Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a facilitator/trainer. • Valid Commercial Driver’s License with Passenger Endorsement and Air Brake Restriction removed or must possess a valid driver’s license and obtain the required Commercial Driver’s License within 90 days of appointment to this position. • Ability and willingness to work shifts and pass days, as required. • Effective and professional communication skills. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows and Microsoft Word. • This is a Safety Sensitive position subject to all testing provisions under the Drug and Alcohol Policy, including random drug and alcohol testing. The person selected for this position may be required to be tested prior to being awarded the job. Preferred attributes: • Technical school training in directly related maintenance.
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@portauthority.org EOE
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