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TAKE THIS VIRUS SERIOUSLY Blacks account for staggering 34 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Allegheny County Page A3

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PITTSBURGH’S CORPORATIONS PUT ON NOTICE More Blacks in executive-level positions, better inclusive company culture among recommendations by Vibrant Pittsburgh by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Pay African American employees at your company the salary equal to

SABRINA SAUNDERS MOSBY President and CEO, Vibrant Pittsburgh White employees in similar positions. Elevate more African Americans in said company to the C-Suite, and in board leadership positions. Invest in your company’s internal and external culture, and amplify Black

employees’ voices in decision-making at all levels. Sounds simple, right? Welcome to America. And welcome to Pittsburgh, home to a very stylish Downtown skyline, a proud football franchise, and a not-so-proud distinction of being one of the worst cities in the country for African American wealth, employment and upward mobility. “For Black residents, Pittsburgh falls far below similar cities,” read a Gender Equity Commission report researched by the University of Pittsburgh and released in 2019. “Black women and men in other cities have better health, income, employment, and educational outcomes than Pittsburgh’s Black residents.” A Black person in Pittsburgh could relocate to almost any other city of its size and, voila! Their quality of life would be better, the report’s findings estimated.

SARA CARTER-OLIVER joined Duquesne Light as its first Chief Diversity Officer in July 2019. Vibrant Pittsburgh, an organization dedicated to growing a more diverse representation in Pittsburgh’s companies, challenges other local corporations to hire more minorities and place them in executive-level positions. But Sabrina Saunders Mosby, a Pittsburgh native, champion of Blacks’ upward trajectory in Pitts-

burgh and President/CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh, unleashed a trio of recommendations for the re-

In the Pittsburgh area, minorities account for just 5.8 percent of the region’s executive-level positions. That’s a problem, Vibrant Pittsburgh said.

gion’s corporate and civil leaders which would help make Pittsburgh more of a destination choice for African Americans on the outside—while keeping those on the inside wanting to remain in Pittsburgh. In the Compensation arena, Vibrant Pittsburgh’s letter to its corporate partners said to “examine pay equity within organizations across demographics;

assess race and ethnicity as they relate to hiring, role, compensation and turnover.” Vibrant Pittsburgh wants this information on the desks of companies’ board of directors and immediately address any disparities. Vibrant wants to see more African Americans SEE CORPORATIONS A7

‘Racism is a pollution that impacts the human race’ Pittsburgh resident Kimberly Crawford-Champion tackling the condition of ‘racial trauma’ by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

“Racial Trauma”—seldom is this two-word condition ever uttered, but often is how much African Americans truly experience it. But what exactly is racial trauma? Erlanger Turner, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Houston, described it in 2017 to New York Magazine as “experiencing psychological symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance to threat, or lack of hopefulness for

your future as a result of repeated exposure to racism or discrimination.” There aren’t many researchers who study racial trauma across the country, but in our own backyard, Kimberly Crawford-Champion has her pulse on the condition. A Schenley High School graduate, Crawford-Champion is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Point Park University. She’s already earned her master’s in clinical-community psychology in 2019 and a bachelor’s in psychology in 2016, both

KIMBERLY CRAWFORD

from Point Park. She’s doing her dissertation work on racial trauma. “As a humanistic therapist oriented in Experiential Personal Construct Psychology (EPCP), I believe humans are relational beings who make meaning of the world by way of contextual experiences,” she said on Point Park’s website. “EPCP offers a means of healing that involves credulity and invitational exploration in honoring the lived experience of the trauma of racism. Exploring racial trauma through an experiential, empath-

ic lens demands that one take into consideration the context or surrounding environment to include the physiological, psychological, social, cultural and relational experience of being in the world for the African American individual. More importantly, EPCP stresses the importance of being with the suffering in order to establish intimate relationship as the change agent in the therapeutic encounter. Racial trauma offers a legitimate and powerful response to the question, ‘Why did he run?’ that is often posed follow-

ing an incident of police violence where an unarmed African American has suffered loss of life.” Imagine the trauma suffered by the woman who witnessed 17-year-old Antwon Rose II being shot three times on June 19, 2018, in East Pittsburgh, by a former East Pittsburgh police officer. She captured the shooting on her cell phone from her home window. Rose died from the shooting, and the shooter, Michael Rosfeld, was later SEE RACIAL TRAUMA A4

Clyde Wilson Pickett named Pitt’s Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Clyde Wilson Pickett, a leading expert in higher education diversity and education strategy, has been named Pitt’s Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion. In a release provided to the Courier by the University of Pittsburgh, Pickett will collaborate with university leadership to ensure that Pitt’s mission, vision and strategic priorities are aligned

with creating a more inclusive, diverse culture of belonging. He will also lead proactive initiatives, services, connections and education across Pitt’s campuses pertaining to diversity and inclusion. In the last academic year, the release read, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion underwent a strategic restructure to position itself toward more focused, proactive work with an emphasis on prevention and education.

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“There is no one better to serve in the position of vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion than Clyde Pickett,” said Kathy Humphrey, senior vice chancellor for engagement and secretary of the Board of Trustees, in a statement. “I am delighted to welcome Clyde to the University of Pittsburgh, where his experience and leadership will help us live up to our commitment of making Pitt a more equitable place.”

“I am very excited about joining the University of Pittsburgh and working collaboratively on strategies to further advance equity, access, inclusion and belonging at the University,” said Pickett, in the release. “I am appreciative for the opportunity and am committed to working hard to establish strong relationships built on trust, integrity, authenticity, visibility and transSEE PICKETT A5

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‘I want my brother to breathe’ A poem by 9-year-old Mariyah Ransome Page A3

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AFRICAN AMERICANS AND CORONAVIRUS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY As of July 21, 2020

Blacks account for 1,824 of the 6,574 cases (28 percent) of coronavirus of which the race is known. In 781 additional cases, the race is unknown. From those cases, Blacks account for 175 of the 520 hospitalizations (34 percent) of which the race is known. In 12 additional hospitalizations, the race is unknown. Blacks account for 43 of the 209 deaths (21 percent) due to coronavirus of which the race is known. In 3 additional deaths, the race is unknown.

‘I want my brother to breathe’ A poem by Mariyah Ransome I want my brother to breathe, Dear officer, and neighbors Please let my brother breathe!!! Please let him walk to the store and get candy. And let him breathe!!!! Please let him jog... And let him breathe!!!! Please let him drive a car Let him breathe!!!!! Dear officer and neighbors, My brother has autism so he sometimes laughs when things aren’t funny, or he may run if he is scared. Please let him breathe!!!! My brother is Black, he is not scary. SO PLEASE LET HIM BREATHE!!!!!!!!!!!

MARIYAH RANSOME wrote this poem for her end-of-the-year virtual talent show at Environmental Charter School. Mariyah is 9 years old and is entering the fifth grade.

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‘Racism is a pollution that impacts the human race’ Pittsburgh resident Kimberly Crawford-Champion among those across the country tackling the condition of ‘racial trauma’ RACIAL TRAUMA FROM A1

found not guilty on all charges. Imagine the trauma suffered by Darnella Frazier, the 17-year-old—yes, 17-year-old—girl who recorded the fatal encounter of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest on Memorial Day. “This has been very hard on her, she’s definitely traumatized, she’s had trouble sleeping…when she closes her eyes, she sees it all over again,” Frazier’s attorney, Seth Cobin, said on “CBS This Morning” in June. “This is a really difficult thing for her to cope with. Her whole entire life has been turned upside down. She went from just another 17-year-old going to high school…to being the center of media attention, the center of the whole world’s attention. Everything’s focused on her now and it’s changed her life in many ways, and I don’t think these changes are anything she ever wanted.” Cobin said that Frazier had received professional help. “This has been very

THIS PHOTO, captured by Courier photographer J.L. Martello in late May in Homewood, illustrates the often-tense and strained relationship African Americans have wth police, not only in Pittsburgh, but across the country. hard on her, but she knows she did the right thing.” But unlike many of her White high school counterparts from more affluent suburbs, Frazier had witnessed numerous police encounters with African Americans in her Minne-

apolis community, which adds to racial trauma in a general sense. For Frazier, who was just walking with her 9-year-old cousin to the store and saw officers roughing up Floyd, she wanted to make sure this encounter with another

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EMMAI ALAQUIVA captured this photo of a woman at a recent Pittsburgh protest. Alaquiva said the woman’s facial expressions in the photo illustrated the struggles that African Americans have in the U.S. pertaining to police brutality and systemic racism in general.

Black man was captured on video, which is why she began recording. She felt that her word would never stand up against a police officer’s word. Her video, as everyone knows, is the primary reason the officers were immediately fired, why one officer, Derek Chauvin, is facing murder charges, and the catalyst for much of the incremental, yet positive changes occurring across the country in the fight for racial equality. Some researchers say those who experience racial trauma have similar experiences to people who have PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, PTSD is often triggered by YOUNG PEOPLE participate in a protest in East Liberty. (Photo by a single event, while racial Courier photographer J.L. Martello) trauma and racial stress is

continuous and can affect entire Black communities. Another way one can experience racial trauma is workplace discrimination. A White person received a promotion over a Black person who has a better job performance, or a Black person is disciplined at work more harshly than their White co-worker. Imagine how Alexis Johnson felt. She’s the African American reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette who was not allowed to cover local George Floyd protests due to a tweet she sent from her personal account that PG management felt showed bias. But a White co-worker, Joshua Axelrod, spoke out in June to say that he also had a social media misstep around the same time, but said that he “was initially treated in a much more lenient manner by newsroom management than Alexis Johnson or Michael Santiago were.” Santiago is the Black PG photographer who was also taken off protest coverage, and he responded by leaving the newspaper company. “It was not an easy decision, but…how can I work for someone that doesn’t love me,” he wrote on Twitter in June. The Post-Gazette responded in an op-ed stating that race never played a role in its decision-making about Johnson and Santiago. Racial trauma can also occur just by watching the nightly news and constantly being fed stories of African Americans being arrested for various crimes. Symptoms of racial trauma include depression and angry outbursts, according to New York Magazine’s 2017 article on the condition. But Turner said another effect is a “reluctance to interact with or general mistrust of White people.” Dara Winley, Ph.D., wrote in an article in Psychology Today on June 1 that racial trauma’s lasting effects can also include issues with one’s self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. And the University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology said that due to the trauma, African Americans sometimes have a “less willingness to take academic risks” and thus have “higher school dropout rates after racial discrimination is perceived.” For African American males in Pittsburgh Public Schools, the graduation rate has been a constant concern. At one time, in 2015, the graduation rate in the district for Black males was 57 percent. It improved to 73 percent as of 2017. But, to place a spin on racial trauma, Crawford-Champion, the Pittsburgh-area resident, said that racial trauma “also offers African Americans

an opportunity to redefine ourselves, to investigate the ways in which we have internalized overt and covert messages of inferiority and to forgive or let go of those things which have been placed on us as a result of racism.” Crawford-Champion is the creator of the Facebook page “Because Love Matters,” designed for the uplifting and de-stigmatization of Black youth. The online group has more than 725 members, and it grows each day. She also has spoken at a Downtown protest sponsored by the organization Black, Young and Educated. She told the protest attendants how police violence helps to perpetuate racial trauma in African Americans. Crawford-Champion is a veteran, having served in peacetime during Operation Forge in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 19992000, and in wartime in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2003. But as previously mentioned, one doesn’t have to serve in Afghanistan to have similar PTSD symptoms, because racial trauma is real, and it’s well-documented. And while many in Black communities in Pittsburgh and across the U.S. are experiencing it, those who seek professional help for it are miniscule. In the same vein, however, professional help may not be financially feasible. The American Psychological Association said those who are experiencing racial trauma should practice self-care, which includes connecting with family, friends and other small groups for support. The University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology also encourages engaging in activism. “Feeling empowered involves participating in actions to solve difficulties,” the department said on its website. “I believe the construct of racial trauma makes room for White Americans to evaluate or take personal inventory of themselves,” Crawford-Champion said on Point Park’s website. “…To forgive or let go of guilt or shame and with an open hand, pick up the mantel of social justice and stand with their Black and brown brothers and sisters as many have already done in recent peaceful protests across America and throughout the world.” Crawford-Champion said that her career goals are centered around her love for God and the promotion of social justice. “I plan to work with individuals from all walks of life to encourage, to be with and to speak life to marginalized populations, in particular, with the understanding that racism is a pollution that impacts the human race.”

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MAKAILA HOLSTON-SMITH, in the photo at left, was one of nine students who were awarded $2,500 scholarships for their post-secondary education, at the Homeless Children’s Education Fund’s annual Hope Through Learning Awards. In the photo at right, Valerie Coleman accepts the award for her son, Jared Coleman. This year’s event was held, July 10, at Phipps Conservatory. (Photos by Courier photographer Gail Manker)

LATTICE HOLIDAY received the award for her son, Larrens Holiday.

FRANCESCO HAWKINS

Clyde Wilson Pickett named Pitt’s Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion PICKETT FROM A1

parency.” Pickett’s name is pretty familiar in Pittsburgh’s higher education ranks. An alumnus of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in Pitt’s School of Education, he served as chief diversity officer for the Community College of Allegheny County, and most recently, as chief diversity officer for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. While at Minnesota State, Pickett was responsible for leading and developing system-wide diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and policy guidance for Minnesota State’s 54 campuses. Pickett has assumed various leadership roles over the course of his career including advancing best practices for diversity; recruitment; and the reten-

tion of students, staff and faculty of color. He is an expert in organizational leadership development and data-informed decision-making related to diversity and inclusion. An administrator and scholar with considerable experience translating theory into practice, he has expertise in strategic planning and Title IX. Pitt outlined Pickett’s professional accomplishments in the release. They include: Establishing and implement-

ing the Minnesota State Equity and Inclusion Council, comprised of stakeholders from eight bargaining units consisting of faculty, staff, students and administrators; Developing a system-wide framework to examine campus climate at the 37 Minnesota State institutions; Developing and executing a strategy to apply equity as a formal component of policy review; Developing and facilitating a leadership training for new career and aspiring senior

At CCAC, Pickett organized a system-wide cultural competency training for all employees, and at Ohio Northern University, his actions resulted in a 43 percent increase in retention of students of color.

diversity officers; Organizing a system-wide cultural competency training for all employees at CCAC; Developing initiatives at Ohio Northern University, where he served as director of multicultural development and director of new student orientation, that resulted in a 43 percent increase in retention of students of color and consulting on projects that increased the University’s population of students of color by 7 percent; Established a multicultural center at Ohio Northern University. At Pitt, Pickett will succeed Pamela Connelly, who served as the university’s first vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and stepped down in January.

Understanding finances/wealth-building/saving/401-Ks/investing/certificates of deposit/FICO Credit Scores/

We know. Understanding all of that can be ... “taxing” (pardon the pun) That’s why the Courier’s Damon Carr breaks it all down in a manner that we all can understand.

Check out this week’s “The Carr Report” on Page B1.

And read some of his past columns now on your phone or desktop at www.newpittsburghcourier.com

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The Courier @ the 57th NEED Annual Scholarship Dinner No in-person events allowed? No problem, for NEED... The NEED Annual Scholarship Dinner was “virtual” this year, the year 2020, the year never to be forgotten. July 16 was the date for the high school seniors you see on this page, who received scholarships from NEED. In addition to the student scholarships, the Courier’s J.L. Martello, who “attended” the virtual event, reports that Larry Anderson Jr. announced the drum call, and it was performed by Dr. Anthony Mitchell and the Ibeji Drum Ensemble. Justin Jiggetts was the spoken word artist, Marshall Anderson did a mime performance, and the Tubby Daniels Band also entertained. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Judge Cheryl Allen, Dr. Shirley Biggs and Dr. Jerome Taylor. The NEED Legend of Pittsburgh Award went to the Honorable J. Warren Watson.

Student Scholarship Winners

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PITTSBURGH’S CORPORATIONS PUT ON NOTICE More Blacks in executive-level positions, better inclusive company culture among recommendations given to local companies by Vibrant Pittsburgh

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at or near the top of companies. The C-Suite, as it’s called. But there should also be more Blacks leading the company’s boards, as well. Vibrant said that in the Pittsburgh area, African Americans and other communities of color account for just 5.8 percent of the region’s executive-level positions, compared to 15 percent in the U.S. “Initiate and invest in sponsorship and mentorship practices for Black and Latino employees that focus on career advancement and retention. The mid-level management bottleneck impacting elevation must be addressed head-on,” Vibrant’s letter read. And when it comes to a more-inclusive culture, businesses need to make it a priority, now. Vibrant wants companies to “examine policies and procedures to ensure they promote workplace equity,” and to “amplify and include” the voices of Black and Latino employees in decision-making at all levels. There should also be Employee/Business Resource Groups, and “leverage these groups for insight into building inclusive policies, recruitment strategies, and organizational culture.” There should also be more financial investments made into Black and Latino businesses, and develop “strategic partnerships” with Black and Latino community organizations. The leadership of businesses should engage with more minorities at community events, as well. Vibrant’s letter of recom-

mendations was sent to its more-than 60 business partners, which includes UPMC, Peoples Natural Gas, PNC, Duquesne Light, Highmark Health, Comcast Keystone Region, EQT, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Mosby, in an exclusive interview with the Courier, said that three “Vibrant Champions” were selected this year for scoring high on Vibrant’s Index Summary Report for diversity and inclusion—PNC, UPMC and ReedSmith, an international law firm with its headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh. “An organizational designation of ‘Vibrant Champion’ does not mean to convey ‘perfection,’” Mosby said. “We recognize that there is no one ‘right way’ to practice inclusion, and that some practices may be more feasible for some companies or industries than others.” Mosby said the three companies scored at or above the 95th percentile on the Vibrant Index Diagnostic, meaning that a company “adheres to many of the numerous diversity and inclusion practices featured in the Diagnostic.” But there’s also a company that many in Pittsburgh are familar with that Mosby said just “gets it” when it comes to diversity—Duquesne Light. “After hiring Sara Carter-Oliver almost a year ago in their first-ever (Diversity and Inclusion) executive role, we’ve seen numerous executives of color hired into senior level

positions. The difference,” Mosby said, “is Sara works directly with (Duquesne Light) CEO Steve Malnight and their leadership team. Having a direct line to the CEO matters and it’s changing the face of leadership.” As for the hundreds of other corporations in Pittsburgh that believe they do big business...are they doing all they can to diversify their company’s C-Suite, practice inclusion from minorities in important matters, and making their company’s culture all-inclusive? Only time will tell. But for Mosby and her team at Vibrant Pittsburgh, they want corporations to change for the better, sooner than later.

Vibrant Pittsburgh recently sent a list of recommendations to its 62 partner corporations and organizations in the PIttsburgh region, with the intent to boost minorities’ overall compensation and position at the companies, while also diversifying the companies’ internal culture. The Courier has obtained the list of companies and organizations that received Vibrant Pittsburgh’s letter and recommendations, dated June 18: Achieva

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

ALCOA

Highmark Health

Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Howmet Aerospace

Allegheny County Allegheny County Airport Authority Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation (AHRCO)

Kennametal Inc. Koppers Inc. Macys Inc. The Mattress Factory

AMETEK

Niche.com

ANSYS Inc.

Peoples Natural Gas

Armada

Pitt Ohio Express

Auberle

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Bayer Corporation

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

BNY Mellon

Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Corporation

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Robotics Chevron North America Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh City of Pittsburgh Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. Comcast Keystone Region Community College of Allegheny County Covestro, LLC Deloitte Dick’s Sporting Goods Dollar Bank Duquesne Light Company Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council

MARSHA JONES is Chief Diversity Officer at PNC Financial Services.

Jones Lange Lasalle

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Carmeuse Lime & Stone

PETER M. ELLIS is a member of Reed Smith’s Executive Committee and Senior Management Team. He is the global chair of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. Ellis is based in Chicago.

JAMES E. TAYLOR, Ph.D., is UPMC’s Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Talent Management Officer.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Promise Pittsburgh Technology Council PNC Financial Services Group Pressley Ridge Propel Schools Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Seton Hill University Three Rivers Business Alliance University of PIttsburgh UPMC Urban Redevelopment Authority Visit Pittsburgh WESCO Distribution Inc.

Edward Marc Brands Inc.

Wesley Family Services

EQT Corporation

Westmoreland County Community College

FHL Bank of Pittsburgh

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Elizabeth Hughes is president of the Allegheny County Bar Association The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Penn Hills attorney Elizabeth L. Hughes officially became the 112th President of the Allegheny County Bar Association on Wednesday, July 1. Her one-year term will end on June 30, 2021. “To say this is an honor, would be a massive understatement,” Hughes said. “The Allegheny County Bar Association has played a major role in the development and advancement of my career. To now have the opportunity to lead the ACBA and my fellow attorneys is humbling and exciting.” Hughes is Associate Counsel at UPMC and is part of the Corporate Legal Department’s Health Services Group. Hughes was elected President-Elect of the nearly 6,000-member ACBA in 2019 and served in that capacity for the past year. She is the ninth woman and the third African American to be elected to the role. She replaces Lori McMaster, who completed her term on June 30. This marks the first time in the 150-year history of the ACBA that a woman president passes the gavel to another woman president. “It would be difficult to envision a more passionate advocate for the ACBA,” said M c M a s t e r. “Elizabeth is a phenomenal attorney, a tremendous leader and perfectly equipped to lead the ACBA during these historic times. The Pittsburgh legal community is in very ELIZABETH HUGHES good hands.” Hughes said that among her top goals as president is helping Pittsburgh-area attorneys, law firms and the ACBA navigate the substantial challenges that the profession is facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Another of her top goals is battling systematic racism and fighting for equal access to justice and equality within the legal system and the broader community. In fact, she and the ACBA have recently formed an ad hoc committee to examine police brutality. “I want to focus on us, as attorneys, taking action and being agents of change as we fight to eliminate racial inequalities in the judicial system and the community at large,” Hughes said. During her presidency, Hughes also will oversee the ACBA’s ongoing project to renovate and right-size its Downtown Pittsburgh office space. Other goals include improving how lawyers use technology, spreading awareness about what lawyers “actually do” and building relationships throughout the community. Hughes is a current resident and native of Penn Hills. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clarion University in 1994 and a juris doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2004. In her position with UPMC, she is responsible for providing legal support to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Mercy and UPMC Children’s ComSEE HUGHES B2

GIVEN THE FEDERAL government’s extension of the PPP, Wells Fargo will reopen its PPP loan application process to eligible customers as soon as possible through a link in Business Online Banking, the bank noted in a news release.

Wells Fargo commitment could result in billions for small businesses by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—In April, Wells Fargo announced it would donate gross proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Plan to nonprofits working with small businesses. This month, the bank has ramped up its efforts by unveiling the details of an approximately $400 million initiative to help small businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to help keep the doors of small businesses open, retain employees, and rebuild. Through Wells Fargo’s new Open for Business Fund, the company will engage nonprofit organizations to provide capital, technical support, and long-term resiliency programs to small businesses, emphasizing those that are minority-owned businesses. “We realized early on that small businesses were taking the brunt of what was happening with COVID-19 and the economic slowdown that occurred,” said Jenny Flores, Wells Fargo’s head of small business growth philanthropy. “We also noticed that diverse individuals were having a very negative impact, and with the data, it was coming to 41 percent or 450,000 Black-owned businesses closed when COVID hit. That is a disproportionate impact not only to the entrepreneurs but also to the employees they

have and the pocketbook,” Flores stated. Through June 30, Wells Fargo funded loans under the PPP for more than 179,000 customers, with an average loan amount of $56,000, totaling $10.1 billion. Of the loans made, 84 percent of those are for companies with less than ten employees; 60 percent were for amounts of $25,000 or less; and, 90 percent of these applicants had $2 million or less in annual revenue.

The grants are aimed at empowering Black and African American-owned small businesses, which the National Bureau of Economic Research said are closing at nearly twice the rate of the industry. Among the first grantees are Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative (EBBC), which will support the launch of a Black Vision Fund to increase the flow of capital to Black-focused CDFIs for transformational work to close the racial wealth gap in African American communities. The CDFIs will also receive capital for urgent deployment to impacted businesses in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest. Further, a Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will provide grants and low-cost capital to more than 2,800 entrepreneurs, focusing on preventing loss in revenue, sustaining employment, and averting vacancies among vulnerable small business owners in urban and rural markets nationwide. “This is an extension of the commitment we had to diverse businesses,” Flores noted. “Small businesses need cash to open again, and we are putting $260 million for community development financial pocket lenders that have a track record of reaching diverse communities. We want them to be able to do new loans and to have grant mon-

“The grants are aimed at empowering Black and African American-owned small businesses, which the National Bureau of Economic Research said are closing at nearly twice the rate of the industry.” Given the federal government’s extension of the PPP, Wells Fargo will reopen its PPP loan application process to eligible customers as soon as possible through a link in Business Online Banking, the bank noted in a news release. Additionally, the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund’s initial grants will allocate $28 million to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), also known as nonprofit community lenders.

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Talking about investing with a 20-year-old Pitt student You’ll be amazed at the questions that I received from a 20-year old University of Pittsburgh Student. He’s going into his third year of college. He received a full academic scholarship to attend college. He says he doesn’t want to work his entire life. He wants to retire early. He’s looking for ideas and knowledge on how to invest. He’s looking to start aggressively saving and investing now while he’s young. In this article I’ll refer to him as Danny. Danny: What’s better, a traditional IRA or a ROTH IRA? Damon: An IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. IRA’s are designated retirement plans that allow you to save for retirement with certain tax advantages. Under IRA’s and as of 2020, you’re allowed to invest up to $6,000 per year. If you’re 50 years old or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 to catch up contribution for a total of $7,000 per year. Under a Traditional IRA, you’re awarded upfront tax deductions and earnings grow tax deferred. For example, if you earn $50,000 per year and you invest $6,000 in a Traditional IRA, you’ll only have to pay taxes on $44,000. That’s because you get the $6,000 tax deduction from contributing to a Traditional IRA. The earnings within the Traditional IRA grow tax deferred. Only when you withdraw money from the Traditional IRA will you have to pay taxes on both contributions and earnings. Under a Roth IRA, there’s no upfront tax deduction. Therefore, contributions are made with after tax dollars. For year 2020, In order to contribute to a ROTH IRA, your adjusted gross earnings has to be under $139,000 if you’re single and under $206,000

if you’re married filing jointly. Contributions and earnings made to ROTH IRA grows Tax Free. Withdraws made from ROTH are Tax Free. What’s better? Tax free is better than tax deferred. Contributions and earnings grow Tax Free Under a ROTH IRA. Withdrawals are Tax Free under a ROTH IRA. Roth is better. Danny: I want to invest $1,000 in stock. Where should I start? Damon: Let’s start here. All savings and investments should have a mission statement. Why are you investing this money? When do you plan on accessing this money? Danny: My main reason is because I have money that’s been sitting for a few months. I haven’t touched it. It needs to be invested. I want to move after I finish school in two years. I will use this money as a down payment or for moving expenses. Damon: Money that you’re going to use within the next 5-years should not be invested in the stock market. Investing in the stock market is a long-term game. Any money that you’ll need within 5-years is a short-term goal. With short-term goals, you should be more concerned with preservation of principal, not return on investment. Park this money in a savings or money market account. A money market account pays slightly more interest than a savings account. But the rate of return on both is low. Just accept the fact that money earmarked for short-

term goals should be kept in a liquid, safe account earning a low rate of return. Danny: What if I split the money between investing and a money market account? Damon: Your goals and time horizon always tells you the best way to park money. You stated that you want to save money for moving expenses and a down payment on a home in the next 2 years. That is less than 5 years. My advice doesn’t change. If you were looking to save money to purchase a home in cash in 10-years, then we can discuss investment strategies. Let’s assume you want to split the $1,000 and save $500 for moving expenses and save the other $500 for retirement. Retirement is a long-term goal. In your case 47 years away. Now we can talk about investing. I would suggest you open a ROTH IRA, and park the $500 in the ROTH, using S&P 500 Index funds as your investment option. Most long-term investing is something that you save/invest for that you will access money 5 years away or greater. This includes saving for retirement, college, paying cash for a house and wealth building. Danny: Is Wealth Building exactly what it sounds like? Damon: Yes, Wealth Building is essentially saving enough money where earnings from your investments are sufficient to pay for your lifestyle and living expenses. Once you amass this type of wealth, you no longer have to work unless you want to. Being that you’re young understand this: When

investing rate of return is important. However, time is more important. The longer you have time to allow compounding interest to work it’s magic, the better and easier it is for you. I wish I had your mindset when I was your age. Danny: Ok, I get it. I’m better off saving right now. But can I still use the market for fun? Damon: Investing for fun isn’t a mature strategic move to make. But it’s your money. If you want to lose your shirt in the market, I mean have fun—have at it. But know this. Investing for fun comes after you’ve laid down a solid secure financial foundation for yourself. Do you have a fully funded emergency fund? Are you actively saving for short-term and long-term goals? Is your income source or income sources stable? Only after you established a solid financial foundation, should you consider investing for fun. Even then, you should limit your total investments in individual stocks to no more than 10 percent of your total investable assets. For example: If you have $10,000 to invest, only $1,000 should be invested in individual stocks. Here’s why: The key to winning with investing is not to do anything stupid. Diversification or spreading your risk around is how you mitigate risk and avoid doing something stupid. Why place all your bets on one stock hoping and praying it does well when you can own the entire market? Limiting your exposure to only 10 percent allows you to have fun without the risk of losing everything. Who knows, you might pick a winner.

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached @ 412216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)

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JULY 22-28, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

John Lewis fought for a more perfect union by Lauren Victoria Burke For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—Born in 1940, John Lewis, the son of a sharecropper, helped to lead America out of an era of racism. Through his activism and bravery, Lewis carried the moral authority that few other leaders in U.S. history could claim. On July 17, he died in Atlanta on the same day that another civil rights legend, Rev. C.T. Vivian, passed away. Lewis was 80 years old. In December 2019, Lewis announced he had stage four pancreatic cancer. The famous March 7, 1965, video of Lewis being attacked along with 600 other marchers by Alabama State troopers near the Edmund Pettus Bridge is an often reviewed turning point in American social and cultural history. The footage from Selma shocked the nation and the world as Blacks in the United States struggled against government authority for basic rights and respect. The violent confrontation led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was signed by President Lyndon Johnson on Aug. 6, 1965. The 1965 Selma march was led by Lewis. Lewis was perhaps the last remaining voice of moral authority from the civil rights era. Still, voting rights remains a challenge in the U.S. Lewis was on the front lines of that effort which was resisted by White racists in the South attempting to stifle Black voting power for decades. Lewis’ efforts and the increase in Black voting registration of African Americans in the South changed U.S. politics forever. The power of Black voters was first seen nationally with the election of President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, in 1976. Lewis was a founder and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s. SNCC was one of six groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington and fought to end racial segregation in America. SNCC launched the Mississippi Freedom Summer campaign for voting rights. The effort was met with violence and murder, but it resulted in some of the most historic and consequential changes in the law for human rights in America. Lewis was the last living speaker at the historic 1963 March on Washington. At 23, Lewis was the youngest speaker to stand behind the same podium in which Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his

JOHN LEWIS, a historical civil rights icon, died at age 80 on July 17. historic “I Have A Dream” speech. Lewis’ speech was altered by Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph and James Foreman because Lewis’ original draft was critical of President John F. Kennedy. Lewis was viewed as too radical by Randolph in particular and Lewis was critical of the civil rights bill he believed did not go far enough to protect African Americans against police brutality. “It is true that we support the administration’s civil rights bill,” Lewis said to the crowd of thousands at the March on Washington. “We support it with great reservations, however. Unless Title III is put in this bill, there is nothing to protect the young children and old women who must face police dogs and fire hoses in the South while they engage in peaceful demonstrations. In its present form, this bill will not protect the citizens of Danville, Virginia, who must live in constant fear of a police state. It will not protect the hundreds and thousands of people that have been arrested on trumped charges. What about the three young men, SNCC field secretaries in Americus, Georgia, who face the death penalty for engaging in peaceful protest?” the young Lewis said. In 1986, Lewis was elected to Congress where he became the “conscience of the Congress” who regularly delivered emotional speeches and moral authority on the House floor. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who announced Lewis’ death, wrote, “Rep. John Lewis: hero, champion and challenge to conscience of the nation. Your visit with the newest voices for justice at the Black Lives Matter mural with Muriel Bowser was wonderful and iconic. Thank

Wells Fargo commitment WELLS FARGO FROM B1

munity Pediatrics, among other responsibilities. Prior to joining UPMC, Hughes was an associate attorney at Raphael, Ramsden and Behers, P.C. practicing in the areas of family law, guardianships and mental health law. Hughes previously worked as an Assistant Solicitor for Allegheny County, representing the Office of Behavioral Health and the Office of Intellectual Disabilities. She also spent several years as an adjunct professor at the Duquesne University School of Law. She began her legal career as a clerk for the Hon. Justin M. Johnson in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Prior to embarking on her legal career, Hughes worked in Phoenix, Ariz. where she supervised the City of Phoenix’s youth violence prevention program. Hughes has been heavily involved in the ACBA throughout her legal career. She is currently the Chair of the ACBA Homer S. Brown Division and has held numerous positions within the HSBD. She also currently holds or previously held positions on the bar association’s Board of Governors; Bench-

Bar Conference Committee Chair; Community Outreach Ad Hoc Committee; Elder Law Committee; Family Law Section; Finance Committee; Health Law Section; Judiciary Committee; Nominating Committee; Professional Conduct Ad Hoc Committee; and Women in the Law Division. She also is involved in the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, the ACBA’s charitable affiliate, as an ACBF Fellow. In addition to her bar association activities, Hughes is the President of the University of Pittsburgh Law Alumni Association, previously served on the board of Neighborhood Legal Services Association and is a senior hearing committee member for District IV of the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board. She is a volunteer with the Allegheny County Family Division Pro Se Legal Clinic and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Hughes was born and raised in Penn Hills and still lives in that area. She credits her parents, fellow Penn Hills residents Dennis and Dianne Hughes, for being supportive, influential and “making me who I am today.”

you for that final public statement in furtherance of a more perfect union.” On June 7, appearing thinner but remaining spirited, Lewis visited

the street mural in large yellow letters that reads “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” permitted there by the Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser.

The appearance would be one of his last in public. After the death of George Floyd by a White police officer in Minneapolis on May 25, Lewis said on “CBS This Morning,” “It was so painful, it made me cry. People now understand what the struggle was all about. It’s another step down a very, very long road toward freedom, justice for all humankind.” “John Lewis was a titan of the civil rights movement whose goodness, faith and bravery transformed our nation. Every day of his life was dedicated to bringing freedom and justice to all,” Pelosi wrote on social media on July 18. “This is a horrible loss for the nation. Words do not seem to properly convey the loss. Serving with him in Congress has been an honor, and we will all miss him and his moral leadership at this time,” wrote Education and Workforce Chairman Bob-

by Scott on Twitter. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of John Lewis. His lifelong mission for justice, equality and freedom left a permanent impression on our nation and world. The NAACP extends our sincerest condolences to his family, and we send prayers of comfort and strength to all,” declared the National NAACP on social media. “It has been the honor of my life to serve you, Congressman Lewis,” wrote Michael Collins on Facebook. Collins has served as Lewis’ Chief of Staff since 1999. Lewis received every honorary degree and award imaginable, from national and international organizations who recognized his moral authority and commitment to peace and non-violence. In 2011, Lewis received the highest civilian honor in the U.S. from President Barack Obama, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

C.T. Vivian dies at age 95

by Bunnie Jackson-Ransom

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Cordy Tindell Vivian was an American minister, author, and was a close friend and lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. Vivian continued to reside in Atlanta, Georgia, and founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. The civil rights legend died of natural causes in his Atlanta home at the age of 95. Dr. Vivian was a walking-talking history book. Maybe I know this because our paths cross so very much lately. We show up at the same community events. I have visited him in his home library/office—which is another amazing experience. He was a dearly beloved friend. What a life this man has led. A civic leader, minister, educator, author, community activist and much more, Dr. Vivian is known as a friend and lieutenant of Dr. King, who sacrificed and committed during the heat of the civil rights movement. The amazing feat about Dr. Vivian—“C.T.” as his friends call him—was that he remained in the midst of the civil service movement. And he has one of most endearing smiles I have ever seen. The Rev. Dr. Cordy Tindell Vivian was born July 30, 1924, in Boonville, Missouri. He migrated with his mother to Macomb, Illinois, and attended public schools. He graduated from Western Illinois University, where he worked as the sports editor for the school newspaper. He participated in his first sit-in demonstration, which successfully integrated Barton’s Cafeteria in Peoria, Ill., in 1947 when he was 23 and working as recreation director for the Carver Community Center. It was in 1959 when Vivian moved south to Nashville to study the ministry at American Baptist College where he met Rev. James Lawson, who was teaching Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent direct action strategy to the Student Central Committee. John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel and others engaged in a nonviolent campaign for justice. In April 1960, thousands of demonstrators marched on City Hall where Rev. Vivian and Nash challenged Nashville Mayor Ben West. The demonstration resulted in Mayor West publicly admitting that racial discrimination was morally wrong. C.T. was one of the founders of the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference that organized sit-ins, civil rights marches and other protests. They were among the student civil rights activists who replaced the injured CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) Freedom Riders on the bus into Jackson, Mississippi. As the editor of the Sunday School Publishing House for the National

C.T. VIVIAN’S place in history is secure. Baptist Convention in Nashville, C.T. met Dr. King while interviewing him at Fisk University for an editorial piece about the movement. Their friendship and the meeting of their minds, however, started on a train ride —a prayer pilgrimage—to Washington to celebrate the Montgomery boycott victory. The train entourage started in Texas; other trains joined in—picking up foot soldiers along the way—and C.T. got on board in Nashville. During the train ride, these two preachers talked about The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, a pastor of the First Baptist Church in Nashville whom both of them admired. C.T. was 32 years old and King was around 27 years old. They also discussed the story that C.T. had written and published about Martin and they talked about the issues of nonviolent direct action. The train caravan ended in D.C. where Martin Luther King did a speech on voting rights— the power of the vote. Vivian moved on to Chattanooga to pastor the First Community Church. In 1963 King invited Vivian to join the executive staff of the SCLC as the director of SCLC affiliates coordinating the activities of local civil rights groups nationwide. Vivian traveled across America, making speeches for SCLC and preaching. C.T. recalls an occasion in Norfolk when he stepped into a pulpit to preach for Martin, facing a congregation of 6,000-plus, who expected to hear Martin Luther King. But Martin was comfortable sending C.T. to preach in his stead; Martin is often quoted as having said, “C.T. was the best preacher he had ever heard.” Two years later, in an incident that would make national news, C.T. confronted Sheriff Jim Clark on the steps of the Selma courthouse during a voter registration drive. After an impassioned speech by C.T., Clark struck him, therefore showing Clark to the world as a racist. C.T. said to Clark, “You can turn your back on me but you cannot turn your back on the concept of justice.” During the summer following the

Selma Movement, Dr. Vivian conceived and directed an educational program called “Vision,” and put 702 Alabama students in college with scholarships. This program later became known as Upward Bound. His 1970 Black Power and the American Myth was the first book to provide an analysis on the Civil Rights movement by a member of King’s staff. He is featured in the PBS series entitled “Eyes on the Prize,” a commentary on the Civil Rights Movement. C.T. Vivian and his wife relocated to Atlanta in the early 1970s where he continued his work as a civil servant and an “instigator” for human rights. He founded the Black Action Strategies and Information Center (BASICS), a workplace consultancy on race relations and multicultural training. He also organized and served as chairman of the board of the National Anti-Klan Network, which is known as the Center for Democratic Renewal. In 1984, he served with Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign as the national deputy director for the clergy. Dr. Vivian, who never seemed to get tired, founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc., a non-profit organization that seeks to provide information, strategies and best practices to community organizations, institutions and activists who desire education and training on critical issues of the time. He was sought-after as a public speaker and lectured around the world. C. T. Vivian had been married to Octavia G. Vivian, his bride of many years. They have seven children. Their home is filled with memories and memorabilia of his life and experiences and it was an honor to listen to him tell stories about his encounters. Whenever I would bump into him at the neighborhood grocery store, he would greet me with his engaging smile and call me “sister.” I am amazed at the common touch this great man maintained.

Elizabeth Hughes is president of ACBA HUGHES FROM B1

ey.” Wells Fargo counts as one of the top PPP lenders in the country and has spent a lot of time understanding various strategies to assist small businesses, Flores declared. “We have key members across the country, and I

talk to entrepreneurs directly,” she said. “This reflects a very thoughtful approach, one that is based on really putting the customer right at the center, listening to what they need. This has potentially $1 billion of impact in a

three-year period,” Flores added. “When they get the loans and recycle that and then for every million CDFI loans out to small businesses, they can support 18 businesses and create 31 jobs. “Hence, if you take the

$250 million and work through it, it’s thousands of businesses we’re impacting in such a positive way. We’re really proud of the opportunity we have to collaborate with CDFIs and particularly those who are led by diverse entrepreneurs.”

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 22-28, 2020 B3

Why do we need to be convinced?

Guest Editorial

Is the planned reopening of schools an act of war on the poor? The federal government has announced plans to open schools this fall. This plan has come during one of the worst surges in the pandemic since its inception. As of press time, the U.S. braces for another week of COVID-19 records. If schools reopen prematurely, there is no doubt that additional deaths will result. So some wonder why the government would push to re-open schools during such dangerous times. The answer can be summed up in two words: economics and re-election. Regarding COVID-19, the U.S. is between a hard rock and a concrete place. If schools open, some children, and especially some of their family members and teachers exposed to them, will die. If schools don’t reopen, the economy takes a hit. President Trump, in light of the dangers, is pushing for schools to open. Furthermore, Betsy Devos, the Secretary of Education, has cavalierly opined that only about two percent of children might die if schools re-open. That would be THOUSANDS of children! It is said that she has issued threats that schools that don’t comply would forfeit federal education dollars. This can, therefore, be seen as a declaration of ideological war with this ultimatum: send your children to school and risk death, or lose federal funding! Amidst all of this, there are still those who are saying the virus is a hoax! The newest wrinkle is that it is NOT really a virus; it is a bacterium, and the bacterium’s toxicity is being enhanced by 5G! 5G is the next generation of wireless network technology. What this implies is that all scientists and physicians all over the world, even in places where there is no 5G, are successfully in compliance with a conspiracy to keep this fact from people! Why this is being done has not been made clear, although the assumption is that it has something to do with culling the population. Those who hold this notion are ignoring the fact that the population is already being culled as a result of the virus! Let’s consider the current COVID-19 statistics as of July 13, 2020: there are 12,951,666 cases worldwide with 570,713 deaths. In the U.S., there are 3,358,298 cases with 136,307 deaths. The U.S. has more cases than any other country on the globe. And to make matters worse, as cases surge, deaths rise, states are rolling back re-openings, and the White House is pressuring to get rid of Dr. Fauci, the chief White House advisor on the pandemic, based on allegations that he has made some errors. In other words, he is being undercut as the virus hits record case numbers. One of the reasons COVID-19 numbers in the U.S. are so high is related to the fact that President Trump moved very slowly in responding at the beginning of the pandemic, alleging that it was a hoax. There have been a number of missteps since that time, and the push to re-open schools in this toxic environment is the latest in a long line of them. The following are just a few of the questions posed by an astute observer on Facebook about prematurely opening schools: If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19, is she or he required to quarantine for 2-3 weeks? Is their sick leave covered? If that teacher has five classes a day with 30 students each, do all 150 of those students need to then stay home and quarantine for 14 days? Do all 150 of those students now have to get tested? Who pays for the tests? What if someone who lives in the same house with the teacher tests positive? Does that teacher now need to take 14 days off work to quarantine? Is that time covered? Where is the district going to find a substitute teacher who will work in a classroom full of exposed, possibly infected students for substitute pay? Substitutes teach in multiple schools. If he or she is diagnosed with COVID-19, do all of the students in each school now have to quarantine and get tested? Who is going to pay for that? These are just some of the things that need to be addressed before schools re-open. Sending children back to school on a mandatory basis is to subject them and their families to certain jeopardy. Those parents who can afford to homeschool their children may not have those issues, but certainly many parents don’t have the wherewithal to homeschool. This is a serious problem that must be addressed before schools are mandated to open, and anything less could be considered as a war on the poor! (Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

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Rod Doss Editor & Publisher

Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

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John. H. Sengstacke

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary still support the current person in the White House and any number of his cronies who are Senators, Governors, House Members, state and local officials, you’re still a n….r. I didn’t intend to say “the N word.” They don’t call you the N word. They call you just what they’re thinking. We must stop acting like saying the N word somehow softens the blow of what they mean when they call you n….r. Whichever paper prints my article and chooses to put n….r, that’s on you. We’ve already done too much explaining and excusing the behavior of our so-called allies of another race or culture. Those allies we see in the street now aren’t the people we’ve known and worked with all of our lives. They’re mostly young people who have no fear of treating you like the human being you are. Many of them already have Black spouses and Black babies and truly want a world of equality for them. Where’re those so-called allies we’ve worked

with for years on what they cared about? We often worked with some of them because often they were just the lesser of two evils—but we helped them to get what they wanted. Where are they when it comes to what we care about? Well, have you been looking at these polls in the Presidential race where a majority of certain white people still plan to vote for #45 after all he has done not only to insult you, but to make life difficult for them? When #45 gets ready to disrespect us, he doesn’t leave some of them out. It’s clear he doesn’t even care about those poor Whites who support him. If another White person tries to tell me about how much #45 has done for this country, how much he’s done for Black people, so they’re going to vote for him, I’m no longer interested in anything else they have to say. They need not ever ask me to give my vote to anything they think is important if I don’t see it as important to my community. Why does any Black person have to wonder for whom they’ll vote this year? Just compare the records of the candidates on things that should matter to you, and you shouldn’t have to be still thinking about for whom you should vote for any office. (Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Our children’s lives are too precious to risk reopening schools without a safety plan (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Common sense and intelligence can still determine what we do, even in this crazy environment. We’re not going to use our children as guinea pigs.” – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Of the many questions the deadly coronavirus pandemic has forced the nation to confront, the question of whether to reopen schools is one of the toughest. Experts agree that the shutdown is widening the racial achievement gap. Black parents are far more likely to work in jobs that can’t be done from home, so they’re less available to supervise at-home learning. More than a third of low-income households with school-age children don’t have high-speed Internet access, compared to just 6 percent of affluent households. One in four teenagers in a low-income household don’t have access to a computer. Getting students safely back in school should be a top priority. But the Trump administration keeps ignoring the “safely” part. It’s true that children seem less susceptible to infection, but scientists aren’t sure why. Children under 19 represent 22 percent of the population, but only 5 percent of coronavirus cases. And 90 percent of children who contracted the virus experienced mild or non-existent symptoms. But children with under-

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal lying conditions such as diabetes, congenital heart disease, seizures and obesity are at higher risk for serious symptoms. And far too little is known about a rare but serious complication of the virus known as multi-symptom inflammatory disease, or the role children might play in spreading the virus to adults. Rather than devise a comprehensive plan do deal with the risks, the Trump administration wants to ignore them. The Centers for Disease Control has issued guidelines for schools, but both President Trump and Vice President Pence have urged school districts not to follow them and have even pressured the CDC to change them. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, an influential committee of scientists and educators, this week issued a report that stressed the urgency for younger children to attend school in person. But the committee recommended safety guidelines even more

stringent than the CDC’s, experts went further than guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, calling for surgical masks to be worn by all teachers and staff members during school hours, and for cloth face coverings to be worn by all students, including those in elementary school. According to an alarming report by the Washington Post, “White House officials hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and learn to accept tens of thousands of new cases a day.” Simply put: we will not. President Trump himself has pointed toward the experiences of countries like Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, where reopened schools have not led to major outbreaks. But the virus is under far better control in Europe than it is in the United States. The U.S. has set new records for daily infections seven times in the span of 11 days. In the past two weeks, more than 692,000 new cases were reported in the U.S. The European Union, with a third more residents, reported about one-twelfth as many cases. We desperately need to send children back to school. And we desperately need to reopen our economy. But we can’t do either until we bring the virus under control.

When John Lewis met Brother Malcolm X in Kenya (TriceEdneyWire.com)—In his book, Malcolm X: The FBI Files, Clayborne Carson wrote about an October 1964 first time meeting between Brother Malcolm and John Lewis while both were traveling in Africa. The goal of Lewis and his fellow civil rights warrior Donald Harris was to make African students more aware of what the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was doing in the ongoing war against White supremacy in the United States. After they secured a meeting with Brother Malcolm, Carson recalls Lewis as saying “....He felt that the presence of SNCC in Africa was very important and that this was a significant and crucial aspect of the ‘human rights struggle’ that the American civil rights groups had too long neglected. He pointed out (and our experience bears him correct) that the African leaders and people are strongly behind the Freedom Movement in this country; that they are willing to do all they can to support, encourage and sustain the Movement, but they will not tolerate

A. Peter Bailey

Commentary factionalism and support particular groups or organizations within the Movement as a whole. It was with this in mind that he formed his Organization of Afro-American Unity. Discussion also centered around Malcolm’s proposed plan to bring the case of the Afro-American before the General Assembly of the United Nations and hold the United States in violation of the Human Rights Charter. The question was at that time (and ultimately was evident) that support from the civil rights voices in this country was not forthcoming and the American Black community was too plinted (sic) to attempt such a move without looking like (complete) asses and embarrassing (our)

most valuable allies. We departed with Malcolm giving us some contacts and the hope that there would be a greater communication between the OAAU and SNCC.” On February 21st 1965 the Sunday he was assassinated, Brother Malcolm told several of us who were backstage with him, that he had accepted an invitation to speak at a SNCC rally in Jackson, Mississippi during the upcoming week. I strongly believe that invitation resulted from his meeting with John Lewis in Kenya. John Lewis, in the 1960s, was not an “American” hero as cited repeatedly by cable news hosts and their guests. He was an African American warrior who, in the 1960s, put his life on the line in the ongoing war against White supremacist terrorists; especially in the former Confederate states of America. During that time the lives of John Lewis and other warriors were as much in danger as those of soldiers who were fighting in the Vietnam War. That’s what we should teach our children.

Letters to the editor for publication

Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Jane Elliott said, “If we didn’t have all those years when Black lives didn’t matter, we wouldn’t have to have a Black Lives Matter Movement now.” Questioning whether we should support Black Lives Matter is like questioning the Civil Rights Movement that brought us thus far or like working against voter suppression because we think one vote won’t make a difference or whether we should support Black businesses or deposit our money with a Black Bank or support Black elected officials who are working overtime against great odds to just keep our heads above water! Isn’t the answer obvious? Don’t these questioners understand how we got to where we are today? Don’t they understand the sacrifices so many of our people made to bring us out of slavery, through Jim Crow, through segregation and so much more? If we knew our history we would not have to be convinced of the necessity to do business with each other and to be the first in line to vote on everything from dog catcher to President. If you’re a Black person, I don’t care how much money you have, where you live or work, who your non-Black friends are, whether you attended Harvard or Howard, whether you have dark skin or light skin, to those 35-40 percent who

The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor, New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

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ENTERPRISE BANK SPECIALIST IN SMALL BUSINESS LENDING Position: Administrative Assistant Commercial Lending The ideal candidate for this “handson” position is one who is comfortable in a fast-paced, team based collaborative atmosphere with varied responsibilities based on priorities of the current situation. Responsibilities include: •Prepare and monitor reports, spreadsheets and correspondence on an as needed basis •Attend weekly loan approval meeting and compile minutes for bank record •Maintain documentation and insurance on bank owned real estate. •Monitor reports for Small Business Administration loans •Monitor reports for the Commercial Loan Pipeline management system. •Adhere to timelines and deadlines established based on the department wor ow. Minimum Qualifications: •Strong organizational skills; •Robust problem solving skills; •Intermediate to advanced computer skills with an emphasis on Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook and ability to learn •Must be able to produce at a high level and meet imposed deadlines in a fast paced, demanding environment. •Must be able to work independently and in a cooperative team environment; •Ensure effective written and verbal communication with staff, management and clients. Medical, Dental and Vision,401K ,PTO Full-Time: non-exempt, EOE, one location – North Hills of Pittsburgh Submit your resumes to HR@enterprisebankpgh.com

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHING POSITIONS STEEL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT Special Education Teaching positions available grades K-12 in Steel Valley School District. Anticipated start date August 24, 2020. Applicants must be certified in pecial ducation or . ual certifications in Math, English or other secondary level preferred with training and experience in behavioral support. Send letter of interest, resume, PA Standard Teaching Application, PA teaching certificate letters of reference, transcripts, Acts 34, 114 and 151 clearances to: HRsupport@steelvalleysd.org by July 24, 2020. EOE.

NOW HIRING SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM MANAGER This highly visible position provides a unique and exciting opportunity for the right person to develop and execute a supplier diversity program at Duquesne Light Company by transforming our procurement organization. •Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering or Business Management •5-7 years of work experience in procurement, supplier diversity and process improvement Learn more at DuquesneLight.com/Careers. Energize Your Career at Duquesne Light

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER (WASHINGTON, PA) Must have at least 1Yr exp in eng’g or manufacturing field. osition will re candidate to plan, direct or coordinate the work activities & resources necessary for manufacturing. Candidate must have exp w/ Planning & implementation of efficient processes to fabricate; Eval quality of products manufactured to meet quality control specs; Coordinating personnel to achieve quality control objectives; Resolve production problems to maximize product reliability & minimize cost; Develop & oversee processes to administer new quality control & production. Salary $69,472Yr. Ref# IPM-0719-SMG send resume to SMG Global Circuits, Inc., 120 Stationvue, Washington, PA 15301 or dale@smg-globalcircuits.com. SMG is an EOE M/F/V/D. LOCAL COLLEGE HIRING ACADEMIC CHAIR-SCHOOL OF DESIGN, V.P. STUDENT AFFAIRS/ ENROLLMENT MGT., MAINTENANCE TECH/HVAC/ ELECTRICAL & HOUSEKEEPING POSITIONS Pittsburgh Technical College is see ing ualified applicants for the following positions: •Academic Chair – School of Design Master’s degree in related discipline •V.P. Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Master’s degree required, doctorate preferred •Maintenance Tech – HVAC/ Electrical – Full-time Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (8 hour work shift) ust be niversal A ertified •Housekeeper – Part-time – Day and Evening Between the hours of 10:00am - 11:00 p.m. (4 hour work shift) rior office institutional cleaning experience preferred Must pass criminal background check. Immediate opening at our North Fayette campus near Robinson Towne Center. Apply to www.ptcollege.edu (Employment with PTC) or www.workforptcollege.com . EOE M/F SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT POSITION AVAILABLE Assistant for Attendance, Students/ Visitor Center and Dean. Complete job description and deadline are available at: www.southfayette.org EOE

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Bids/Proposals

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of Mr.John Earl Pawuk, Deceased of 923 Vance Avenue, Coaropolis,PA 15108. Estate No.02-20-02840, Ms. Carol Pawuk and Ms. Karen DeChellis, Co-Administratrixes, c/o Max . eldman s uire and the aw ffice of a C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of Ms. Joan A. Mathias, Deceased of 3301 Rosebriar Avenue, Glenshaw, PA 15116. Estate No.02-20-03043, Mr.Todd Mathias, 3301 Rosebriar Avenue, Glenshaw, PA 15116, Executor, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law ffice of a . eldman ifth Avenue Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of Everett J. Burton, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA. ,Estate No.02-20-0281, Brenda E. Shakoor, Executrix 12604 Speedway Overlook, Cleveland, OH 44112, or to Thelma C. Spells, Esquire, Atty. 1533 Bidwell Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233

FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION

Kraz Hair Gang, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for Registration of a fictitious name was will be filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of Kraz Hair Gang with its principal office or place of business at 7023 Bennett St. Pittsburgh, PA, 15208 Online Hair Store. The names and addresses, including street and number, if any, of all persons who are parties to the registration are: Surlaney Hill 1815 Davis Ave Pittsburgh, Pa 15212

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

JULY HACP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING In accordance with the State of Emergency in the City of Pittsburgh, declared by Mayor William Peduto, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for July on July 23, 2020, as scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on a remote basis. The meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http://www.hacp. org, in advance of the meeting. LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY PITTSBURGH, PA July 16, 2020 he ffice of the irector of the epartment of Public Works for Allegheny County in Conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is soliciting Statements of Interest through PennDOTs ECMS system for the following: ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Construction Management and Construction Inspection For Rehabilitation of the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge County Project No. AL02-0801 ECMS No. 76388 Local Agreement Number: L00440 This is a federal-aid project with PennDOT oversight. Statements of Interest are due no later than August 21, 2020 and are to be submitted through PennDOTs ECMS System, https://www.ecms.penndot.gov The advertisement can be found under agreement number L00440. A copy of the published advertisement can also be found on the County Website: http:// www.county.allegheny.pa.us/bids Any inquiries into this Advertisement are to be directed to Mr. Mike Burdelsky, P.E., Assistant Deputy Director, at 412-639-0193 or mburdelsky @alleghenycounty.us The County will use the normal selection process and preselect or short list at least three firms for consideration for this Project assignment on the following evaluation criteria: Past Performance, Quality Control and Quality Assurance, Inspection staff qualifications and capabilities, Use and Experience of Subconsultants, and Assurance of Project Milestones. The County’s Minority and Women disadvantaged goals for these Projects will be 13% of the total price for MBE participation and 2% of the total price for WBE participation. Stephen G. Shanley, PE, Director Department of Public Works of Allegheny County

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on August 21, 2020 (Please call Cindy Denner at (412) 566-5117 prior to arriving at this location - all participants must provide and wear a mask at all times and practice minimum social distancing of 6 feet between other individuals) and will be opened and read at 2:00 p.m. via teleconference at: (toll free phone number: 1-855-453-6957 and conference ID #4485786). Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its Bid is both received and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before the advertised time for submission of Bids. Bids received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of Bids shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for Award. MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENTS AT SOUTH HILLS VILLAGE RAIL CENTER MAINTENANCE BUILDING CONTRACT NO. SHV-20-04 G CONTRACT NO. SHV-20-04 H CONTRACT NO. SHV-20-04 E The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all labor and materials for unit heaters, miscellaneous piping, and a new Building Management System (BMS) for HVAC. General work consists of new rooftop davit crane. Electrical work consists of providing feeders and updating panelboard breakers to accommodate new equipment and providing conduit for equipment to BMS communication. Bid documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained on or after July 22, 2020 at Authority’s offices at the following address If you are picking up bid documents, please call Cindy Denner at (412) 566-5117 prior to arriving at this location - all participants must provide and wear a mask at all times and practice minimum social distancing of 6 feet between other individuals): Port Authority of Allegheny County Purchasing and Materials Management Department Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 Bid documents are available for purchase as follows: Bid documents are available in an electronic form on compact disk upon payment of ($15.00) per CD. Payment shall be by check or money order (NO CASH), payable to “Port Authority of Allegheny County.” No refunds of payment will be made. Upon request, Bid documents can be mailed upon receipt of payment in full. Should the purchaser wish to have the Bid documents delivered via special delivery, such as UPS or Federal Express, the purchaser shall provide its appropriate account numbers for such special delivery methods. This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Authority, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, require that certified iverse usinesses “DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for this Project. In this regard, all Bidders 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. Bidders shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for this Project. If aid is required to involve DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authority’s Director of Employee Relations and OEO at (412) 566-5262. The Bidder’s attention is directed to the following contacts for Bidder’s questions: Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: Cindy Denner – Authority cdenner@portauthority.org (412) 566-5117 All other questions relating to the Bid documents must be submitted by mail or email to: Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Attn: Cindy Denner Email: cdenner@portauthority.org In addition, the Bidder’s attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid: 9:00 a.m. Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted via teleconference at: August 4, 2020 Toll free phone number: 1-855-453-6957 Conference ID #4485786 (Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.) 10:00 a.m. August 5, 2020

Pre-Bid Site Tour Port Authority of Allegheny County South Hills Village Rail Center – Maintenance Building 1000 Village Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15241 All participants must provide and wear safety vests and appropriate footwear; all participants must provide and wear a mask at all times and practice minimum social distancing of 6 feet between other individuals. Tours will be conducted in limited group sizes and in the order of which bidders sign-in at the site. (Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.) 1:30 p.m. Bids Due August 21, 2020 Purchasing and Materials Management Department Please call Cindy Denner at (412) 566-5117 prior to arriving at the Heinz 57 location - all participants must provide and wear a mask at all times and practice minimum social distancing of 6 feet between other individuals. Bid Opening will be conducted @ 2:00 p.m. via teleconference at: Toll free phone number: 1-855-453-6957 Conference ID #4485786 Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR REMOVAL AND REBUILDING OF RETAINING WALLS AT 3929 WINSHIRE IFB #300-23-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request bids from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): REMOVAL AND REBUILDING OF RETAINING WALLS AT 3929 WINSHIRE IFB #300-23-20 The documents will be available no later than July 20, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 A.M. on August 11, 2020. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 11:00 AM on August 11, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP 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 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-bid meeting will be held via call in; on August 3, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

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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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BID (IFBs) FOR BEDFORD DWELLINGS PLUMBING LINES INSPECTION, AMP-02 HACP IFB NO. 600-22-20 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Bedford Dwellings Plumbing Lines Inspection, AMP-02 The construction work is estimated to begin in September of 2020. Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, July 13, 2020 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp.org. Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms, project manual, and drawings can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.(Appointment is required) at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Development and Modernization Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Jose Solis, Project Manager 412-643-2899 A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.: Bedford Hope Center, 2305 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid. Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement HACP will also accept online submissions for this Invitation for Bid in addition to accepting submissions at our oss treet office. or respondents wishing to submit online, please access the instructions provided in the project manual to submit the bid digitally. In addition to the electronic submittal above, The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 10:00 AM on August 11, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. 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. All bids must be received at the above address no later than August 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., regardless of the selected delivery mechanism. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any and all bids. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin. HACP has revised its website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFP documentation. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement at (412) 456-5116 Opt 1. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Trauma-Informed Care Training and Consultation. Proposals are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 21, 2020. For more details and submission information, visit: www.alleghenycounty.us/Human-Services/Resources/Doing-Business/Solicitations-(RFP/ RFQ/RFI).aspx. Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

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.

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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JULY 22-28, 2020

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 a.m. on August 25, 2020 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

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Attention Courier supporters!

Bid Name Precast Concrete Grade Crossings Cleaning of Oil & Water Separators Antifreeze / Coolant - Ready to Use Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid Rock Salt - Bagged Wabash Parking Facility Lease

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 a.m. on August 5, 2020. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by t e o t ut o it it in fi e usiness a s of t e sc e ule i opening. hese contracts may be sub ect 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 eli e e unless ot e ise specifie osts fo eli e on an insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. ort Authority of Allegheny ounty 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.

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Did you miss the Courier’s special edition, “Celebrating The Graduates,” June 24? See the more than 300 local Class of 2020 graduates on our website, newpittsburghcourier.com

B6 JULY 22-28, 2020

Adding fuel to the fire of our pandemics (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Nero, the Roman Emperor who legendarily fiddled while Rome burned is a symbol for an irresponsible, ineffective, and callous leader who shows indifference to people in crisis. The great Rome fire took place in the first century AD. The fiddle wasn’t invented until the eleventh century, so it is unlikely that the hedonistic emperor played the fiddle while his city was burning. More likely, he was engaged in some trivial or sybaritic act, regardless of the crisis. Our 45th President puts Nero to shame. Our country is burning, with COVID cases rising, racial tensions rising. The President is pouring fuel on an already-flaming fire with his callous indifference, ineffective leadership, and irresponsible proclamations. He has so utterly failed to provide a national plan to combat corona that Republican governors have called him out. Notably, Maryland governor Larry Hogan, who chairs the National Governor’s Association, excoriated Mr. Trump in a July 16 Washington Post op-ed noting that our President seemed “more concerned about boosting the stock market or his reelection plans.” That’s fiddling while Rome burns. Forty-five fanned the flames of fear and uncertainty about COVID 19 with false comments about the virus. First, he said it was going to go away, and that it was no more severe than the flu. Then he suggested a drug, hydroxychloroquine, that has proven to be ineffective. Then he “jokingly” suggested Lysol or bleach to cure the

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary virus. He has prioritized the economy over human lives, urging governors to open their states up for commerce, even as the number of COVID cases has risen. Still, he and his Education Secretary are urging the full reopening of schools for full-time in-person instruction, even though the numbers suggest otherwise. They are saying they schools that fail to meet their demands will forfeit federal dollars—fuel to the fire. Since the economy closed in late March, there has been plenty of time to develop a coordinated response to COVID 19, develop a back-to-school plan, and get school districts the additional resources they need to serve our nation’s young people effectively. Instead, he says he is leaving it to the states, just like he left the acquisition of personal protective equipment to the states. Why doesn’t he do his job instead of playing golf? Fiddling while Rome burns, the President and his daughter Ivanka, are auditioning as shills for Goya Foods. The President photographed in the Oval Office with an assortment of Goya Foods and a maniacal grin. The First daughter posted a picture of herself, holding a can of black beans. More than 135,000 people are dead, and the first family is hawking beans! The President’s comments on both masks and race are incendiary. It is irresponsible to making face coverings a matter of individual choice while COVID infections are rising. Politicizing masks causes tension among citizens who share public space. In Tulsa, Rev. Robert Turner has rallied outside xxx for reparations every Wednesday for the past two years. On July 15, a rabid anti-mask White mob surrounded him, poured water on him, called him “boy,” and assaulted him. Confederate flag-loving Trump has empowered these racists to behave horribly. And the President’s idiocy on the Confederate flag suggests he does not know history. His refusal to utter the words “Black Lives Matter” reminds us (but we already knew) that he doesn’t think Black Lives Matter. His request that NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace apologize for reacting when he found a noose in his area was spacious. His response to a CBS interviewer who asked him about Black people’s police shooting was to note that White people are shot by police, too. “More White people, by the way,” the deflector-in-Chief said. Black people are 2.8 times as likely to be killed as Whites, but perhaps the President does not understand the concept of disproportionality. Since the President refuses to develop a national plan to address the corona pandemic, even as the death toll increases, deaths increase, let him hawk beans. He is far more adept at that task than he is at running the country. (Dr. Julianne Malveux is a DC-based economist and author. She can be reached through dr.j@juliannemalveux.com.)

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White privilege and the Black shield In 2016 Ebony Florida Professor Charles Magazine published Negy, author of White J. Pharoah Doss an article that Shaming: Bullying Based mentioned “Black on Prejudice, Virtue-Sigprivilege.” “Black naling, and Ignorance, privilege” has no ofmade a series of tweets ficial definition, but that questioned the reality “White privilege” is of systemic racism and defined as: Inherent said “Black privilege” advantages posexisted. sessed by a White Negy tweeted: Black person on the basis privilege is real, besides of their race in a society characterized by affirmative action, special scholarships, racial inequality. The article was called: and other set asides. Being shielded from Five bad habits “woke” people need to legitimate criticism is a privilege. But break. as a group, they’re missing out on much Number two was: Forgetting to check needed feedback.” our privilege. Of course, Negy’s entire premise is deFirst the Ebony writer clarified, “We batable, but there was no rebuttal. all know there’s no such thing as “Black Instead, students immediately orgaprivilege,” meaning there are no inhernized a protest on campus and demandent advantages possessed by a Black ed for the university to fire the professor person on the basis of their race in for his controversial comments. ProtestAmerican society. This notion is simers held signs that read: If UCF keeps ilar to the doctrine that Black people racist teacher, then UCF=Racist, UCF can’t be racist because they don’t have fire Negy, he is leaving a negative impact the power to be racist. Holders of this on your institution, and don’t let racist doctrine define racism as prejudice plus teach. One graduate student said, “It’s power. By transferring this definition a matter of systemic racism … You can to “White privilege,” what’s meant by speak your opinions, but not when it’s the term becomes obvious, the adjective hindering us in the classroom. I don’t “White” means prejudice and privilege think our university should tolerate means power. Of course, in this frameracism at the classroom level, making work, there is no such thing as “Black students uncomfortable.” privilege,” because the adjective “Black” So, the professor should be fired for the automatically means underprivileged or comfort of the students? Negy said being powerlessness. shielded from criticism is a privilege, but The problem with this framework is so is being shielded from what makes equating privilege with negative aspects one uncomfortable. In his own defense, of power. Negy stated he was not a racist, but Privilege simply means a special right there was no way he could be brutally granted a person or particular group, honest about each racial/cultural group which the Ebony writer acknowledged without offending someone. “woke” Black people possess, but need The university officials said, “Being acto check because these “privileges” are tively anti-racist means calling out and bestowed on them by the White domiconfronting racist comments. We are nant culture. The Ebony writer wrote, aware of Charles Negy’s recent person“There are types of privileges afforded al Twitter posts, which are completely to Black people who are male, cisgender, counter to UCF’s values. We are reviewnot poor, straight, light skin, thin, and ing this matter, while mindful of the first able-bodied, among others. Blackness amendment.” interacts with, but does not cancel out, If Professor Negy gets fired, he should those privileges.” tweet: UCF’s anti-racist values = The Last month, University of Central Black shield.

Check It Out

The annexation of Palestinian territory is illegal (NNPA)—Let’s be Bill Fletcher Jr. clear and not try to fool one another. There is no basis in international law for the planned Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory. None. In some respects, this column could end right here. There is no further explanation necessary. Both the Israelis and the US political establishment know this. That the Israelis are copying the behavior of the US expansion west in the 18th and 19th centuries is more to the point. The US political establishment understands that the USA was constructed on the annexation of the land of the Native Americans, the Mexicans, and the blood of the Africans, all with the aim of establishing a White settler republic. That is something the US and Israeli experiences share in common. The proposed annexation aims to drive the remaining Palestinians off their lands or place them in a Bantustan-like existence, just as the apartheid South Africans attempted in the 1970s/1980s. The Afrikaners attempted to deceive the world into believing that they were creating livable spaces for the African majority when they were creating nothing more than reservations for the relocation of the African majority. Israel aims to do much the same. Many of Israel’s liberal supporters in the USA are tongue-tied. They cannot justify the annexation—knowing full well that it is illegal—but are terrified that there might be actions taken against the Israeli government by the USA and other governments. While

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they certainly have little to fear from Trump, who has gone out of his way to encourage the annexation, it is true that there is a growing awareness in Congress, and within the US public, that annexation is wrong. The attitude of liberal supporters of Israel is akin to someone who knows that an individual embezzled money from a company, but they would rather not press charges because they believe that there is something about the person that is worthy of saving. The problem is simple: the law does not work that way, whether domestic or international. When Russia illegally seized Crimea, there were consequences. Why should there be no consequences for the Israeli government? Why should the people of the world continue to take a pass each and every time that Israel breaks international law? The answer is that Israel must pay a price, which is why the global movement for Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS) is so critical. If governments lack the courage and vision to penalize another country for criminal activities, then it is up to the people of the planet to take the appropriate—and non-violent—steps. This is not singling out Israel. This is identifying when activity is criminal and should be punished.

(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the executive editor of globalafricanworker.com and a past president of TransAfrica Forum.) (Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.)

NEW GENERATIONS of young people take to the streets. (Photo: Roy Lewis/Trice Edney News Wire)

A new generation of protests holds great promise for America (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The inspiring rise of a new generation protesting against racial injustice is driving a new era of change in America, like the generation that emerged 60 years ago to build the civil rights movement of that time. July 16, 1960 is marked in my memory: that is the day I joined seven other friends to walk into the Whites-only Greenville Library, and to be arrested for violating the segregation laws. That was more than five years after the 1954 Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision that declared “separate but equal”—the lie that justified segregation—a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Yet in Greenville, South Carolina, where I grew up, nothing had changed. We still lived in a segregated bubble. The public library, the buses, the schools, the pool—all were still segregated. There were no Black police officers, or firemen, no Black elected officials. Even the graveyard was segregated. Our options were limited. For example, graduating from high school, I could not even apply to Furman or to Clemson or to the University of South Carolina. I went to the University of Illinois on a

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Commentary football scholarship. When I returned from Christmas vacation in 1959, I could not use the public library to do my assignments. The Blacks-only library did not have the book I needed; the White library did, but I could not walk in the door. I vowed that I would not accept that when I came home in the summer. Protests were beginning to spread, as a young generation decided to burst the bubble of segregation and claim their rights under the Constitution. Students in Nashville and Greensboro and elsewhere were beginning the sit-ins. The July demonstration at the library was a turning point in my life, as demonstrations were for many across the South. We met with fierce resistance. We were denounced as outside agitators, tarred as socialists or communists, and suffered from violent opposition from private vigilantes and uniformed police officers. But the movement kept building and would not go back. In 1964, we won the Public Accommodations Act, that declared an end to segregated public facilities. In 1965, we won the Voting Rights Act, propelled in part by the horrible spectacle of the police riot on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Personally, I started working With Dr. King in 1965. The barriers that we struck down opened the way for a new South. Industries and modern companies like CNN would come to the South. As universities desegregated, so did athletic fields. Professional teams like the Atlanta Braves could be built. African Americans began to win elections at the state, local and national level. We broke the chains of legal apartheid in the United States and transformed the country. Yet, as we have witnessed time and again, we did not end racism in this country. We did not succeed in breaking the biased institutional structures that still enforce racial injustice — from red-lined neighborhoods to savagely unequal schools to wage and hiring discrimination to a dangerously discriminatory criminal justice system. Dr. King’s drive for economic equality as the next stage of the civil rights movement was cut short by his assassination. Now a new generation is emerging to challenge these injustices. The demonstrations in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder have been the largest in our history. On opinion surveys, a stunning 15 million to 26 million Americans report that they have participated in demonstrations for Black lives in 2,500 places from small towns to big cities. Forty percent of the counties in the country have witnessed protests. White participation has far exceeded that in the first civil rights movement. And already politicians have begun to respond—reforming police practices, banning choke holds. Mississippi legislators voted to retire the state flag with its Confederate battle emblem. This new generation of protest holds great promise for America. Despite its breadth and depth, it will face great resistance—and not simply from a Donald Trump desperate to discredit it for his political purposes. Entrenched interests will resist change. The movement is focused on reforming areas—criminal injustice, economic inequalities, basic economic and political rights — that threaten the privileged and the powerful. Yet what we learned 60 years ago is that when people move, change is possible. Then the powerful forces of segregation that seemed overwhelming could not withstand the moral force of a generation not willing to put up with glaring injustice silently. Now this generation has an opportunity to make America better, and the lives and options of millions are at stake in their struggle. This is a time for anyone with a conscience and a pulse to join this extraordinary movement.