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Could PPS students begin school year with nine weeks of learning...from home? School board to vote on proposed resolution on July 31 by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Professional baseball is back! The Pittsburgh Pirates are finally back on the field, but none of their pitchers could throw the

KEVIN CARTER, the PPS School Board member who introduced the resolution for all students to learn at home for the first nine weeks of the school year. type of curveball that Kevin Carter tossed. He’s the outspoken Pittsburgh Public Schools board member who, during a July 22 online legislative session, proposed a resolution to keep all 23,000 students in the district away from their physical school locations for the first nine weeks of the school year, which begins in late August. Only a few days before

Carter’s proposal, the district had composed a highly-detailed Health and Safety Plan, which, as it pertained to the reopening of schools, featured a blended learning model where some students would have in-school instruction on Monday and Tuesday, and in-home learning on the other weekdays. Other students would have in-school instruction on Thursday and Friday, and in-home learning on the other weekdays. The plan was also packed with how the district would sanitize its schools and buses, and how schools would practice social distancing in classrooms. The district, in its plan, had an option for students to have full-time in-home, or remote, learning. The district reported more than 4,100 students had been enrolled in this option as of July 22. Which means nearly 19,000 students would have been returning to a physical school next month in some form...but now, it may not happen. The debate has raged on cable news outlets and nightly news programs for the past two weeks— should students return to

STUDENTS ENJOY THE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ Back-to-School celebration at Pittsburgh Faison in this August 2018 photo. While there will be a Back-to-School celebration this year on Aug. 21 near Heinz Field, it’s unclear if the school year will begin with inschool and remote learning, or just remote learning. (Photo by Gail Manker) a physical school location or learn from home, due to this highly contagious coronavirus which has tried its best to bring this country to a halt. “We cannot indefinitely stop 50 million American children from going to school, harming their mental, physical and emotional development,” President Donald Trump said to reporters recently. “Reopening our schools is also criti-

New principals named at Westinghouse, Milliones, Perry by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

In this time of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, what is certain is who will be leading Westinghouse, Perry and Milliones high schools for 2020-21. Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Board of Directors removed the interim tag from Stephan Sereda—he is now the principal for Westinghouse. Eric Graf, former assistant principal of Woodland Hills High School, is now the principal at Pittsburgh Milliones (University Prep). And Dr. Robert Frioni is installed as the new principal at Perry Traditional Academy. “It is important to fill these key vacancies at the school level, but it’s more important to make sure the right people are filling those roles,” said Anthony Hamlet, Ed.D., superintendent of schools, in a release provided to the New Pittsburgh Courier. “The Homewood community has embraced Mr. Sereda with open arms, and he has established a healthy

cal to ensuring that parents can go to work and provide for their families.” President Trump, who has very little support from African Americans nationwide, continues to reiterate that children’s immune systems seem to fight off the virus better than adults. But that doesn’t stop many parents and teachers across the country from thinking that inschool learning should be

delayed. Polls released this month by entities like the Associated Press and Quinnipiac University showed that the majority of those polled don’t believe schools should reopen in the fall. In Los Angeles and San Diego, the decision has already been made to delay in-school instruction at the beginning of the school year, until further notice. More districts across the country will do the same.

But Pittsburgh most likely wasn’t going to be on that list, until Carter’s proposal, even though the district maintained it always had the option to choose remote learning for all students if COVID-19 conditions worsened. “Whereas the board...recognizes and understands the very real and serious threat COVID-19 poses SEE PPS A6

FIGHTING BACK Cynthia Baldwin claims ‘bias and vindictiveness’ against Pa. Supreme Court Chief Justice over alleged comments by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

STEPHAN SEREDA, the new Westinghouse High School principal, hands a Westinghouse student her diploma. teaching and learning environment for students and staff.” Pertaining to Graf and Dr. Frioni, Dr. Hamlet remarked: “Summer is a time of transition, and we are excited as three longtime educators shift into leader-

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ship roles. With this global pandemic, it is imperative that we have dedicated professionals, such as Mr. Graf, Dr. Frioni, and Mr. (Nathan) Berkowitz, heading schools in the wake of online learning.” Berkowitz was named to lead Pittsburgh King PreK8. Sereda joined the district in May 2018 as Coordinator of Instructional EffectiveSEE PRINCIPALS A7

There’s an old saying that goes, “What’s done in the dark will come to the light.” But for Pennsylvania’s chief justice of the state Supreme Court, what was “said” in the dark has come to the light, according to a Pa. judge who then signed an affidavit with the alleged comments. McKeesport resident Cynthia Baldwin, a former state Supreme Court justice, the second Black woman ever appointed to such a position in Pa., made public the affidavit, signed in 2019 by Judge Barry Feudale. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported last week, July 23, that in the affidavit, Judge Feudale spoke with now-Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor at a judicial conference in 2012 in Hershey, Pa., while Saylor was an associate justice of the state Supreme Court. Justice Saylor complimented Judge Feudale “on his oversight of the grand jury investigating” former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Justice Saylor,

CYNTHIA BALDWIN, a former state Supreme Court justice, and the first Black woman elected to the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas. according to the Inquirer, then told Judge Feudale “a disciplinary complaint would be brought against Baldwin in connection with the case.” Next, Justice Saylor, according to the affidavit, said of Baldwin: “She caused us a lot of trouble when she was on the Supreme Court because of her minority agenda.” Judge Feudale said he was “stunned,” according to the Inquirer. He also

reminded Justice Saylor that “disclosure of grand jury material was forbidden,” according to the Inquirer. Baldwin, a Democrat, served on the state’s highest court in 2006 and 2007, an appointee of then-Governor Ed Rendell. She later became chief counsel for Penn State University during the Sandusky scandal, an orSEE BALDWIN A7

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THE CHILDREN’S MARCH AGAINST RACISM, marching along Brighton Road on the North Side, July 5. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

The Children’s March Against Racism Presented by Taarifa Activism—July 5, 2020

ESSENCE CRISWELL, of the North Side.

CHARLES CURRY, along with a friend’s son, Cadan Simms, 5.

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CYNTHIA BATTLE, the lead organizer of the march.

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THE CHILDREN’S MARCH AGAINST RACISM

THE CHILDREN’S MARCH AGAINST RACISM was held on the North Side, July 5. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

CHAUNCEY ALEXANDER, of Manchester.

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Where are there gaps in public transit coverage? Voice your opinion to the Port Authority by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that the Port Authority of Allegheny County is putting together its 25-year long-range plan…but wants input from you, the public. The Port Authority is dubbing the long-range plan NEXTransit, and the organization is holding its four remaining public online meetings of the summer on Aug. 6 and Aug. 25 to hear where you believe gaps are in its transit coverage. The first two meetings were held on July 27. The meetings on Aug. 6 will take place at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and on Aug. 25 at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The meetings begin with a 25-minute video presentation on the authority’s longterm plans, followed by Q&A sessions with the public. “Now more than ever, it is important to look at all of our various factors impacting ridership in our community and build a consensus plan to get us into the future,” voiced Katharine Kelleman, Port Authority CEO, in the prepared video that the Cou-

rier observed during the July 27 meeting. “Despite a national trend of declining transit ridership in most major cities, ridership in Pittsburgh has remained steady prior to start of this pandemic,” said Justin Miller, a team leader for the authority on the agency’s longterm plans, in the prepared video. “Strong demand for transit in Allegheny County has placed consistent pressure on Port Authority to expand our transit system. Reliable transit service is essential to the continued economic vitality of our region, yet funding is limited. We plan so that we can anticipate scenarios, respond to changes and allocate funding smartly and in an informed way.” During the prepared video, authority members discussed the meaning of a “transit gap,” which is “an area where there is a need or demand for public transit, but public transit does not currently operate.” While the agency wants to improve its infrastructure, for example, in its light rail and bus rapid transit lines, the Port Authority knows that if people are left out of

access to public transportation, the improved infrastructure is moot—especially to those being left out. The organization Pittsburghers for Public Transit, which is not affiliated with the Port Authority, recently led the way in sending an open letter to state Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, urging them to champion a $32 billion COVID-19 relief package for state transit agencies. The letter was backed by 62 community organizations. Even without the pandemic, however, as Miller noted, getting the adequate funding for public transportation for Allegheny County has become quite the challenge. That’s why your voice is needed—it’s about catering to the needs of the people, the residents, the transit riders, the authority said, while working within the proper allotted funds. To register for the upcoming meetings and voice your opinions on where the lack of transit coverage exists, visit nextransit.network/events. For more information on Port Authority, call 412-5665500.

KATHARINE KELLEMAN, Port Authority CEO.

Could PPS students begin school year with nine weeks of learning...from home? PPS FROM A1

to the public health of our communities, and whereas the board...and the superintendent...have the ultimate authority and responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of all staff, students and partners operating in our facilities, and whereas the board... acknowledges that while in-school instruction is a much more effective option than remote learning for some of our students, we cannot in good faith open schools until our state and federal government gets the virus under control,” Carter said to the board. “You hit the nail on the head,” PPS Superintendent Anthony Hamlet, Ed.D., said in response. “Right now we’re at a space where we can see continued spikes of COVID—not just in Allegheny County, but this is across the United States.” It wasn’t that long ago when Allegheny County was placed in the “green phase” by Gov. Tom Wolf —June 5, to be exact. Nightclubs and bars were able to reopen, and over the next few weeks, the younger end of the county’s residents partied like it was “1999.” From June 6 to June 21, the county never had more than 31 positive cases of coronavirus in a single day. But soon came the effects of the reopening—there were 71 cases on June 22, 119 positive cases on June 24, and 158

cases on June 26. County officials tightened restrictions once again to try to slow the virus’ spread, as COVID cases reached 243 on July 1, and 275 cases on July 2. Though the numbers haven’t been that high lately in the county, the bars are still, in effect, closed. And while the bars being closed has no real correlation to the schools, the bigger picture is that COVID-19 is still alive and well in Allegheny County. PPS School Board member William Gallagher called Carter’s resolution the “true definition of moral courage. It’s the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition.” Gallagher is in support of the resolution, saying, “We have to do it.” Fellow board members Pam Harbin and Terry Kennedy support the resolution, as well. “The decision to start off with remote learning, I think, is the only decision we can make right now to keep everybody safe,” Harbin said. Kennedy said she “100 percent” supports the all-remote-learning option. “A delay of nine weeks gives us a lot more time to work out the details. As we always say, the devil is in the details, and there are a lot of questions out there that parents are having, teachers and other staff are having.”

PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS could have all students learning from home for nine weeks beginning Aug. 31. (Photo by Courier photographer Gail Manker) If the district does decide to not have in-school instruction this fall, what is the effect it could have on parents who must go to work away from the home? Who will watch the kids? It’s a question that parents had to face at the beginning of the pandemic when schools closed beginning in midMarch, and they could face it again. Up the road in Cleveland, however, their school district survey of parents found that most of them were weary of sending their children back to school. Thus, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, home to

37,000 students, recently made the decision to delay in-school learning for the first nine weeks. PPS School Board member Sala Udin believes that students, as a whole, took a “step back” in their learning this past spring due to the remote learning. He told fellow board members during the July 22 session that if students did not return to the classroom this fall,“It is an even more important requirement that we have a robust learning methodology and system and standards so that our children do not keep going further and further behind.”

A final vote on the proposed resolution will take place on July 31. There are nine PPS board members. “The only irresponsible thing for us to do is put kids in school buildings,” Carter said. “Public health trumps what we want as individuals. I refuse to make a child do something that I wouldn’t do. I don’t plan on stepping in school buildings this fall, so I shouldn’t vote to make somebody’s child do what I would not do, and nobody should. If we are saying that we take this virus seriously, we need to demonstrate that through our vote.”

It was just all one big ‘entanglement’... Leave it to the Courier’s Damon Carr to perfectly merge what happened with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s relationship, into information you can use with your personal finances. It’s a must read, and it’s on Page B1.

The Carr Report. Only from the New Pittsburgh Courier.

DAMON CARR

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Never fear—Damian M. Gilliard is here He protects Citizens Bank’s computer systems against cybersecurity threats, as VP of Identity and Access Management Services by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

It doesn’t matter if a business operates as the fourth-largest bank in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, as a small nonprofit organization or two-employee barber shop; according to technology expert Damian M. Gilliard, there is a need for all computer systems to be properly protected against cybersecurity threats. Interested in computers since high school, “I knew then that computers and technology would be my career path,” Gilliard told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Friends and family members always relied on me to assist them in setting up their computer systems and to figure out problems.” The experience led him to start a small business, develop his gifts and “assisted in creating a ministry.” In 1996, Gilliard earned a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University, and in 2000 a master’s degree in Communication Information Systems. His early entrepreneurial venture, education and over two-decade career path in the financial services industry recently earned him the position as Vice President of Identity and Access Management Services with Citizens Bank. “I am excited about this promotion and looking forward to what’s ahead,” he said, humbly.

While existing through the unknown during COVID-19, the current economic situation and racial tensions, he said he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to re-evaluate and renew himself personally, career-wise and civically. As Citizens’ VP of Identity and Access Management Services, his responsibilities entail assuring that the computer and technical information systems throughout the bank’s branches are secure. “It’s about security of information. Assuring that the information that individuals leverage at work is secure. I provide solutions to assure the protection of sensitive information and assets throughout Citizens branches 24/7. I provide security on a high-level perspective to make sure the information is protected and secure within the bank itself.” Gilliard noted that his job is particularly significant in light of the inside and outside threats due to the extensive amount of hacking occurring because of the current world conditions. Prior to joining Citizens, for six years Gilliard was an IT Security Risk Manager/Vice President and Security Engineer/Vice President at PNC Bank. There, he utilized his experience in privileged identity management, which included program establishment, process creation, metrics/reporting, and hands-on technical under-

standing. Also, he worked at Dollar Bank in the area of information technology. While reflecting on his life and career, Gilliard considers his young life experiences in West Mifflin, family and taking advantage of opportunities that came his way as molding him into who he is today. “I’ve had numerous opportunities and much favor that has come my way. I worked at Mellon Bank doing check processing while finishing my last semester at Robert Morris. Later, doors opened at Dollar Bank which led to 15 years of employment there.” Along the way, he said, having great professional mentors made a big difference. Two people he credits are Dollar Bank retirees Ernest Jackson and Franklin Thomas. “They planted seeds and added to my foundation,” he told the Courier. “Seeing two African American male vice presidents leading departments within a financial institution left an impression on me. They took me under their wings and demonstrated how to operate within the financial system. They introduced me to people, showed me how to build relationships and to take advantage of opportunities.” He added that he continues to look to them for wisdom and understanding. Gilliard deems the greatest blessing and influence over his life was growing up in a two-parent household with older brothers. “My 82-year-old father

SECURITY COMES IN ALL FORMS – Recently appointed as Vice President of Identity and Access Management Services at Citizens Bank, Damian M. Gilliard strives to keep the bank’s information secure as well as the lives of the younger generation. worked as a mechanic for Port Authority Transit and my mother, now deceased, worked in the medical field. Married for 52 years, they provided a strong foundation filled with love. My father continues to reflect strength and endurance to me, and both my brothers always provide extensive support.” Another significant segment of Gilliard’s life includes his community work. For over 20 years he has maintained an affiliation with the Historical Fairview Park Association. Located in Salem Township in Greensburg, it is the first African American-owned amusement park. It was founded in 1945 as a place of entertainment for African Americans during the time of

segregation. His relationship started in the 1980s through a church program when his volunteer responsibilities were painting the restrooms. Years later he became board treasurer and since 2000 has served as a board member. Since 2006, Gilliard has been associated with Amachi Pittsburgh, a faithbased mentoring program that provides him the opportunity to be a role model to what he labels as wonderful twin boys. “Our relationship has really developed, so much so that their mother graciously asked me to become their godfather.” A product of the West Mifflin school system, he said he played some football and ran track. Growing up, he was a member of Second

Baptist Church of Homestead for about 30 years. In 2010 he joined Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church in East Liberty where in 2015, he was ordained to the Diaconate Ministry. Now married with two children, ages 12 and 9, he and his family are members of Macedonia Church in the Hill District. “My love is spending time with family and friends.” Gilliard added: “The last few months and recent weeks my focus has been on the two pandemics, COVID-19 and social injustice. Like people have played a significant role in my life, my aim is to utilize my skills, experiences and resources to guide the younger generations to be prepared for life’s challenges ahead.”

New principals at Westinghouse, Milliones, Perry PRINCIPALS FROM A1

ness in the Office of Professional Development. He received his undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University, graduate degree from Ashford University, and Pa. Administrator K-12 certification from California University of Pennsylvania. Sereda had been the assistant principal at Westinghouse since 2018 and assumed the interim title in early 2020. “The opportunity and

great responsibility to lead Pittsburgh Westinghouse is humbling and is an opportunity I will never take for granted. I look forward to working with students, parents, alumni, community members and teachers to provide the high-quality educational experience that our kids deserve,” said Sereda, in the release. Graf holds a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, a master’s degree from the University of

Pittsburgh, and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from California University of Pennsylvania. Graf also spent three years working in the Hill District as assistant principal of the Hill House Passport Academy. It’s a return to the district for Dr. Frioni. He spent the last five years as assistant director and principal at the Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School in Jefferson Hills. Dr. Fri-

BALDWIN FIGHTS BACK BALDWIN FROM A1

ordeal which ultimately resulted in Sandusky being convicted on 45 counts against him related to child sex abuse while a coach at the university. Sandusky was found guilty in 2012 and is currently serving what will end up being the rest of his life in prison. For Baldwin, making the affidavit public could be construed as defending herself, even fighting back, against what she views as years of unfair treatment by the state Supreme Court and its corresponding Disciplinary Board, though Justice Saylor denies making the statements about Baldwin attributed to him. On July 22, the Disciplinary Board issued a six-minute public reprimand of Baldwin, of which the board said that she violated ethics rules by representing Penn State and testifying in a secret grand jury on behalf of three university administrators who would eventually be charged in the Sandusky case. “As a result of your disclosure of client confidences before the grand jury, certain criminal charges against these Penn State adminstrators were not able to be prosecuted,” said James Haggerty, chair of the board, to Baldwin via an online session. The state Supreme Court issued the reprimand for Baldwin in February, though in 2018, a review panel of Baldwin’s actions

found that she had fully disclosed her various legal roles to the three men in question, former PSU president Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz, and athletic director Tim Curley. The review panel rejected the claim against Baldwin, but the state Supreme Court ultimately decided to move forward with a vote to reprimand Baldwin. But before the actual vote in February, the Inquirer reported that Baldwin informed Justice Saylor about the sworn affidavit, and his alleged comments inside the affidavit. Mysteriously, Justice Saylor was not present when the Supreme Court voted 4-0 to reprimand Baldwin on Feb. 19. The Inqurier reported that after the newspaper’s repeated inquiries, “the court amended its (original) statement to say Saylor withdrew after ‘Feudale’s false claims were brought to his attention.’ The new statement cited both the allegations and his service aside Baldwin as reasons for his recusal.” Did Justice Saylor violate ethics rules for judges? The Inquirer spoke to two law professors, Charles G. Geyh of the Indiana University law school, and Stephen Gillers, a New York University law professor. Geyh told the Inquirer that Justice Saylor may have improperly “engaged in ex parte communication with another judge,” as the alleged conversation took

place behind Baldwin’s back. “Having a judge approach a judge who is overseeing this grand jury process smacks of an abuse of power,” Geyh said. And Gillers told the Inquirer that “the Supreme Court justice (Saylor) should not be talking to anyone outside the court itself about an impending or pending matter that could come before the court.” Baldwin has two claims to fame in her professional career—she was the first African American woman elected to the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, where she spent 16 years as judge, in addition to the aforementioned distinction of being just the second Black woman to be appointed to the state’s highest court. Baldwin has chaired the boards of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities and Penn State University, and served on the Duquesne University board. She recently retired from the corporate board of Koppers Inc. and was named vice chair of the Fulbright Association. Baldwin also serves on the Advisory Board of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics at Chatham University. Baldwin, 75, in an interview with the Associated Press, July 24, said about the disciplinary process against her: “If the affidavit is as sworn, it shows bias and vindictiveness.”

oni was formerly the vice principal at Pittsburgh Brashear. Dr. Frioni earned his bachelor’s from Washington & Jefferson College, his master’s from Pitt, and a Doctor of Education, also from Pitt. School hasn’t been the same since coronavirus forced schools to close its physical facilities back in mid-March. The Pittsburgh Public Schools district offered remote instruction for the last “quarter” or so

of the 2019-20 school year, and traditional graduation ceremonies were scrapped. To start the upcoming school year, the district has offered remote learning again, on a full-time level, where the student does not come to the school, or a mixture of in-school instruction and at-home instruction. As of July 22, more than 4,100 students (with input from parents) have signed up for the remote learning only instruction. Students

(with input from parents) who have chosen the blended-learning model would report to their physical school location two days per week. But Kevin Carter, a PPS School Board member, feels that remote learning should be the only option for the district’s 23,000 students for the first nine weeks of the school year. The board will vote on the resolution on July 31.

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Wells Fargo names Kristy Fercho to lead home lending (NNPA)—Wells Fargo & Company announced recently that Kristy Fercho will join the company at the beginning of August as the new head of Wells Fargo Home Lending. Fercho has 18 years of leadership experience in the mortgage industry and will replace Michael DeVito, who has announced plans to retire later this summer after more than 23 years with Wells Fargo. Fercho will join the company from Flagstar Bank, where she has served since 2017 as president of the company’s mortgage division. Under Fercho’s

At-home financial literacy lessons for children KRISTY FERCHO leadership, the mortgage business flourished, expanding to over 87 retail home lending centers and 2,300 correspondent and broker relationships. Prior to joining Flagstar, she spent 15 years with Fannie Mae, where she led the strategy and business performance of single-family customers in the western United States and also served in customer engagement and human resources roles. Fercho began her career and served in a variety of sales, operations, and human resources roles at Baxter International before moving to Pepsico Inc., where she ultimately was director of worldwide corporate human resources. “Kristy is a customer-first business leader with deep home lending experience. She has been an inspiring and vocal leader across the mortgage industry while driving transformational growth at Flagstar,” said Mike Weinbach, CEO of Consumer Lending at Wells Fargo. “Buying a home remains one of the most important financial decisions our customers will make in their lifetime, and Kristy is the right person to help us ensure that no one can do it better for them than Wells Fargo.” Fercho currently serves as vice chair of the board of the Mortgage Bankers AsSEE FERCHO B2

Numerous surveys show that many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, have little saved for retirement, and lack fundamental financial knowledge. Part of the problem, experts say, is that financial literacy has not been emphasized in American education; only 21 states require high school students to take a personal finance-related class. If parents want their children to learn the value of money and how to avoid financial problems as adults, the education has to start at home, says Steve Kruman, a financial planner and investment advisor at Bryce Wealth Management. “When they understand their parents’ financial situation and gain an understanding of financial literacy,” Kruman says, “they are more likely to appreciate the gifts they are given, or aren’t to be given, and why.” Summer is the ideal time to teach financial literacy to children because they can get real hands-on experience. Teaching a child to be financially literate will help them understand that they have to take personal responsibility to be financially secure when mom and dad aren’t there to put the food on the table for them.” Kruman offers the following at-home teaching methods to help children learn financial literacy: • Gardening and investing. The parent purchases seeds and other starting materials at a garden supply store and has the children keep track of the spending by item on a notepad. “As you work together in the garden, keep a time log of each family member working,” Kruman says. “When it’s harvest

time, teach them to count up the cost of production. Help them determine the value of their produce by comparing store prices of the same product, minus the cost of production. They will learn that you can start small as an investor, but putting in more effort along the way makes things grow.” • Working and budgeting. Kruman says parents can undercut their teaching of financial literacy by handing out spending money whenever their child wants something. “To learn good financial skills,” Kruman says, “work needs to be taught. They learn they are rewarded for effort, not just for showing

If parents want their children to learn the value of money and how to avoid financial problems as adults, the education has to start at home. up. With their finite amount of money, they can be taught what they’ll have to do as adults—divide it up for bills, spending money, and savings—and that it doesn’t grow on trees every month.” • Saving and staying out of debt. “A good lesson for your children to learn about debt would be to show them how a loan would work by you being the lender,” Kruman says. “Have them think of something that they would like to buy (such as a new bicycle or laptop)

but that they don’t have enough money saved already. You could offer to help them make the purchase much earlier than continuing to save for it, but only in exchange for a loan payment that would be made by reducing their chore money. That way, they would learn how debt eats up their earning power. You have to instill in them that savings isn’t an option, but rather a necessity, so people don’t become slaves to debt.” • Apple slices and taxes. “Chances are your kids have already heard you bemoaning taxes, Kruman says. “Get one of those vertical apple slicers, and cut an apple up in sections to represent the approximate portion of your personal tax hit—federal, state, city/township, Social Security, etc. Put those slices next to the remaining part of the apple, and that difference will stick with them.” • Toys and depreciation. “Teach them to look at their toys and clothes,” Kruman says. “Toys wear out. Childrens toys and adults’ expensive items, such as cars, need to be purchased to replace old ones, and teaching an understanding of that principle of depreciation is essential to teaching your kids why people need savings. Help them understand depreciation by asking them to compare prices of toys being sold at a yard sale versus a similar toy being sold at a new price online or in a store.” “Children have a lot of years to grow up,” Kruman says, “and you can give them years of age-appropriate financial lessons in their own home that will last a lifetime. Start now if you haven’t already.”

Entanglement is a measure of the heart Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and singer August Alsina are trending. They’re the topic of discussion. I’m a longtime fan of Will Smith. I’ve grown up watching him soar in his career. I followed him through his rap, TV, and movie career. I love his body of work. Jada Pinkett-Smith is one of my celebrity crushes. She’s nice to look at. She has a fun-loving personality. She’s amassed a great body of work herself. What I admire about both Will and Jada is despite their ascension to fame and stardom, they’ve always come across to me as down-to-earth people that everyday people could relate to. I don’t know a whole lot of about August Alsina other than his hit song that put him on the map entitled, “I luv this s#&*.” I loved that song! The three of them find themselves in a quagmire of sorts. Things had gotten a little awkward and complicated. Jada described it as an “entanglement.” As it goes, the ordeal happened some years ago. But it was recently brought to the forefront. Based on the interview Will and Jada did on her show “Table Talk,” Will and Jada were experiencing turmoil within their relationship. They were not sure if their marriage would survive. During this time, August had taken ill. The Smith family offered to aid and assist him as he nurtured himself back to health. During this time, a romantic relationship ensued between August and Jada. August, as his hit song often repeated, “luv this chick.”

He was all in. I can imagine him feeling played as Jada and Will decided to mend their relationship. I can imagine Will feeling hurt, devastated, and humiliated at the thought and sight of his wife in a relationship with August. As for Jada, I can see how she could coin the word which has been popularized—“Entanglement,” to succinctly describe her situation. Entanglement is defined as a complicated or compromising relationship or situation. You can only be entangled in a relationship or situation if you care, for entanglement is a matter of the heart. If she didn’t care about August, she could have referred to it as a lapse in judgment, a weak moment, or a curiosity that was satisfied. She could have been dismissive and viewed it as something trivial that he took out of context. But she didn’t because she cared. Jada developed feelings for August. Although Jada’s and Will’s relationship was in turmoil, she still loved her husband. Jada struggled deciding to fight for her marriage or to flee to her romantic situation. It took her some time to process both situations and prioritize which was the most important to her. Both decisions were competing for her attention, time and

heart. In the end, she chose to fight for her marriage. Regardless of how much fun this experience with August might have been, she prioritized her marriage over the relationship. Lesson to be learned from August, never make someone a priority, when you’re an option. Can you relate to Jada? Have you ever been in an entanglement? It doesn’t have to be relational. I’m sure you have. All of us have experienced either a relationship or a situation that was compromising. We were all placed in a predicament where a decision had to be made between things we loved and cared about. We can hold on to some things —but something had to give and/or something had to be let go for us to create peace and progress within our life. We had to prioritize and make the hard decision. It could be something as simple as losing weight. We care about being healthy, strong, and being in good shape. We also care about, love and enjoy many of the high-calorie foods we eat, and the bad habits we do every day. It’s an entanglement. If you’re healthy, strong and in good shape, you prioritized eating right and exercising. If you’re out of shape and a little heavier than you desire to

be, you prioritized maintaining bad eating and bad habits. If you’re having problems getting forward traction financially, it’s because you’re in an entanglement with your money. The Bible teaches us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also.” In other words, how we prioritize and spend our money is a reflection of our heart’s desire. We have bills, debts, goals, dreams, and parental responsibility competing for our time, our attention, and our money. We care about all of them. We want to provide for ourselves and our children. We want to pay our bills on time. We want to obtain and maintain our own house and car. We want to spend money on fun things like entertainment and traveling. We want to give to our place of worship and other charitable endeavors. We want to save for college, retirement, and ultimately build wealth. But unfortunately, for most of us, it’s hard to do them all because our dollars and our time is limited. I said it’s hard to do them all. I didn’t say it was impossible. Financially speaking, you may not be able to do everything at once. But you can certainly get out of the entanglement. It’s a matter of prioritizing and making the hard decisions to focus on one goal at a time.

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

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BUSINESS/NATIONAL

JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2020

Princell Hair joins Black News Channel as president and CEO (NNPA)—Princell Hair joins The Black News Channel (BNC) as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the nation’s first and only 24-hour news network culturally specific to the diverse views of the Black community, it was announced recently by Chairman and interim CEO, J.C. Watts. With

PRINCELL HAIR the announcement of a new CEO, Watts will return to his role as Chairman. Hair’s appointment is effective immediately. Hair brings a unique background in diverse platforms including general management, experience leading a national news network, a regional sports business and several local television news departments. He has reimagined programming lineups in his career discovering new, engaging talent, enhancing linear audience reach and vastly growing digital user engagement. Hair grew up in South Florida and started his career there in local news and rose to Vice President of News for the CBS Television Stations group, before becoming the first and only African American to lead CNN-US as Executive Vice President and General Manager, achieving major ratings growth during key news events including the Democratic and Republican National Conventions

plus CNN’s Election Night in America 2004. He joined Comcast in 2008 supervising news operations and talent for the Comcast regional sports networks. In 2012, Hair was named Senior Vice President of News and Talent for the NBC Sports Group. He was promoted in 2016 to Senior Vice President and General Manager of NBC Sports Boston, leading the regional sports network to audience growth across all platforms as well as generating several of the network’s most profitable years in its history. “Princell’s experience as a news and sports executive is unmatched for its breadth and success. As a programmer he will bring energy and fresh thinking to the Black News Channel,” said BNC Chairman, J.C. Watts. “We are delighted to welcome him and excited to see him build on the foundation we have laid with the launch of the Black News Channel.” “I am grateful to Chairman Watts and the Board of Directors for this opportunity,” said Hair. “I’m thrilled to return to daily newsgathering and compelling storytelling at the only 24-hour cable news channel aimed specifically at African Americans and other people of color, as the world responds to a pandemic, systemic racism and an economic crisis, all of which disproportionately impact the Black audience. I’m equally excited to join and support the talented team of journalists and staff across BNC’s platforms as the high stakes 2020 Presidential Race enters the red zone.” Hair received his Masters degree in Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He is a member of National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA).

Fercho to lead home lending FERCHO FROM B1

sociation, vice chair of the MBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, co-chair of the Affordable Housing Council, and a member of its Residential Board of Governors. She also serves on the boards of City Year and the Detroit Zoological Society. Her industry accolades include MReport honoring her as one of the Top Women in Housing, Diversity Journal listing her among its Women Worth Watching, National Mortgage Professional Magazine naming her to its list of Most Powerful Women, and the Michigan Chronicle selecting her for its Women of Excellence recognition.

DeVito’s retirement comes after a financial services career that spans more than 30 years, including 23 at Wells Fargo. He was selected to lead Wells Fargo Home Lending in January 2018 after serving as head of mortgage production for the company and previously ran its mortgage servicing operations. DeVito also was head of Education Financial Services for nearly three years and led retail fulfillment for Home Lending. Previously, he was a leader in Home Lending’s early ebusiness initiatives and managed retail home equity.

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NNPA teams with Magic Johnson to fund over $100 million in PPP loans (NNPA)—Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) recently announced that he and the NNPA have agreed to assist the efforts of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, majority owner of EquiTrust, the nation’s largest minority-owned insurance company, and MBE Capital Partners (MBECP), the largest certified minority-owned asset-based lender, in funding over $100 million in PPP loans. EquiTrust, MBECP and the NNPA together today are focused on informing and encouraging minority- and women-owned businesses throughout the United States to take advantage of the current PPP loan opportunities for businesses in underserved communities. Dr. Chavis emphasized, “I have the highest regard and respect for the entrepreneurial leadership and courage of Earvin Magic Johnson. The NNPA, therefore, is enthusiastic and pleased to assist Johnson’s EquiTrust and with MBE Capital to enhance the economic recovery of African American and other minority owned businesses amidst the devastating COVID-19 pandemic in America. Our businesses are the lifeblood of our communities.” Johnson’s EquiTrust is providing critical financial support to underserved communities and businesses that have been traditionally neglected. These small and diverse businesses often have difficulty developing strong lending relationships with big banks.

DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, up to 90 percent of businesses owned by people of color have been, or will likely be, shut out of the PPP program. MBE Capital is perfectly positioned to help small and diverse businesses take advantage of this latest round of PPP funding; and the company is an approved SBA lender with over 20 years of experience serving diverse and minority businesses. They can process up to 5,000 loans per day, utilizing end-to-end online technology to accept, underwrite and transmit the applications to the SBA. MBE Capital has already processed over $300,000,000 in PPP loans—including the EquiTrust partnership funding $100,000,000. The NNPA is the nation’s largest trade association of African American-owned newspapers and media businesses that reach 22.4 million readers per week across the nation. MBECP has also partnered with The Enterprise Center (TEC), a Communi-

EARVIN “MAGIC” JOHNSON

ty Development Financial Institution (CDFI), providing them with technology and resources to help them process over $100,000,000 in PPP loans. This will allow TEC’s CDFI to process more SBA loans in two weeks then they have in the last 10 years. By working with Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s EquiTrust, MBECP’s pipeline is over $500,000,000. MBE Capital is committed to providing vital funding for small businesses in underserved communities. With almost $100 billion left in the second round of PPP funding, it is imperative that vulnerable small businesses are able to secure resources needed to sustain themselves. According to Rafael Martinez, CEO of MBE Capital: “I contacted EquiTrust, to be an additional strategic partner because I know that EquiTrust believes in changing outcomes for underserved communities the way I do. The team at EquiTrust and my direct contact Kenyatta Matheny were incredible, and we put this deal together from

first call to contracts in a week.” He added: “After receiving hundreds of emails and calls from applicants asking if they can receive their PPP loans as soon as possible because this was a last hope to stay open— and in some cases to keep food on the tables of their employees—I was moved to expand this and look to fund over 20,000 PPP loans for minority companies.” “This is a unique SBAbacked opportunity to use the vast resources of EquiTrust’s to prudently provide real and much needed cash to deserving minority and women-owned businesses that find it difficult to secure such funding through traditional means,” said Eric Holoman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EquiTrust. “The jobs saved will make a significant difference to their families and communities. Equitrust is excited to partner with Rafael Martinez and MBECP to do this and more as we try to level the playing field for businesses that are the backbone of America.”

Schultz Family Foundation appoints Tyra Mariani as new president The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned first-class management skills with the kind of that The Schultz Family Foundation, foundstrategic insight necessary to guide a growed by former Starbucks CEO and chairing organization and increase its impact. I man emeritus Howard Schultz and his will miss her enormously, as will all her colleagues, but we are thrilled to see her step wife Sheri Schultz, recently announced into such an important new role with the that Tyra Mariani has been appointed Schultz Family Foundation and wish her evpresident by the Board of Trustees. As ery success,” said Ms. Slaughter. president, Ms. Mariani will partner with “Attacking the roots of systemic inequality the Schultz family and Board to lead the in America requires disruptive approaches organization as it seeks to accelerate its work addressing inequality by unlocking to philanthropy that bring together unlikely greater opportunities for individuals and partners to deliver solutions at scale. Tyra is communities facing obstacles to economic well-positioned to bring all of these resources to bear for the populations that need it the most and social mobility in America. “I’m thrilled to be leading the Schultz Famin her new role,” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. ily Foundation at such a critical time in our The Schultz Family Foundation develnation’s history. The twin pandemics of ops and supports a range of innovaracism and COVID-19 have laid bare tive initiatives across the United issues that have been at the root of States that seek to increase opthe national decline in upward portunity and reduce inequalmobility and felt opportunity, ity, particularly among young especially for Black, Latinx people and post-9/11 veterans. and other communities of The foundation also has been color. Working with Sheri, deeply involved in COVID-19 Howard and the foundation team, I look forward response efforts, includto partnering with othing creating an emergency TYRA MARIANI ers, many of whom have cash assistance program long been in the fight, to in the Seattle area that overcome systemic barrihas helped more than ers,” said Ms. Mariani. 13,000 restaurant and food service workers who have “Our work is focused on pioneering innovative and lost wages due to the pandemic. scalable solutions that enable life-changing opportuniAs president of the Schultz Family Foundation, Ms. ties for people and communities at the margins of our Mariani will work closely with the Emes Project LLC, country’s promise. Tyra’s demonstrated leadership, an overarching initiative designed to steward Howard problem solving, deep knowledge of cradle-to-career and Sheri Schultz’s philanthropic initiatives at the education and policy and hands-on experience develop- foundation in concert with their efforts focused on ading people will enable the Schultz Family Foundation vocacy, policy reform and new ventures. to expand our impact,” said Sheri Schultz, co-founder “As we look to new philanthropic models to address and chair of the Schultz Family Foundation Board of systemic inequality, there will be a need to forge Trustees. “Her consistent commitment to transform- partnerships between philanthropies, businesses, ing complex systems to make them work for the people policy think tanks, advocacy groups and governthey are meant to serve—nationally and in commu- ment at all levels. Given her impressive track renities like Chicago and New Orleans—is what makes cord working in all of these arenas, Tyra is the ideal her the perfect person to lead our foundation into the leader to help us develop and deliver entrepreneurfuture.” ial, impactful solutions at scale,” said Vivek Varma, “Tyra’s life experience, worldview, values and profes- vice chair of the Schultz Family Foundation and sional track record paint a picture of a dynamic servant CEO of the Emes Project. leader devoted to creating pathways to opportunity for Prior to New America, Ms. Mariani served as Chief others. We are lucky to have found someone with such of Staff to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education tenacity and humility who shares our aspiration of and Deputy Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of harnessing the power of entrepreneurial and catalytic Education during the Obama Administration. Prephilanthropy to unlock America’s potential for every- viously, Ms. Mariani launched entrepreneurial efone regardless of their station in life,” added Howard forts to develop and support leaders in education Schultz, co-founder of the Schultz Family Foundation. as the founder of the Greater New Orleans Region Ms. Mariani will join the Schultz Family Foundation of New Leaders. She also served as Budget Director from New America, where she serves as president and for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), overseeing the $5 chief operating officer. At New America, Ms. Mariani billion budget of the third largest school district in has partnered with the Board and CEO Anne-Marie the country. Ms. Mariani began her career working Slaughter to transform the organization into a new on human capital projects and initiatives at McKkind of think tank, one that is committed to exploring insey & Company and Kraft Foods. She was co-valenew and more effective ways of solving public prob- dictorian and received a bachelor’s degree summa lems. cum laude in Business Administration from Howard “Partnering with Tyra to lead New America over the University and a master’s in business from Stanpast four years has been an experience that I will al- ford University. ways treasure. It is rare to find someone who combines

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2020

B3

Times three

Guest Editorial

Honor Lewis, Vivian by fighting for justice On Friday, July 17, the nation lost two towering figures of the civil rights movement. First came the announcement that the Rev. C.T. Vivian, an early and key adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., had died at the age of 95. Then late Friday night, it was announced that John Lewis, civil rights leader and congressman, had died at the age of 80. Vivian started in the movement by staging a sit-in against segregation in Peoria, Illinois, in the 1940s, decades before protests by college students led by young activists like Lewis made national news. Lewis began by participating in sit-ins, mass meetings and the landmark “Freedom Rides” of 1961 that tested racial segregation in the South. He was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights leaders, a group led by King that had the greatest impact on the movement. At 23, he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. At 25, Lewis was beaten by police and had his skull fractured while leading about 600 protesters in the “Bloody Sunday” march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. Since his election in 1986, he has been the “Conscience of Congress,” a distinction he received from his colleagues in the House because of his pursuit for justice. Vivian had challenged a segregationist sheriff while trying to register Black voters before hundreds marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. “You can turn your back now and you can keep your club in your hand, but you cannot beat down justice. And we will register to vote because as citizens of these United States we have the right to do it,” Vivian said to Sheriff Jim Clark as the camera rolled. The sheriff then punched him. News coverage of the event helped tuned a local registration drive into a national incident. Both worked with King. Vivian’s role was as an adviser and organizer. King made Vivian his national director of affiliates at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and sent him around the South to register voters. Lewis served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which helped register Black people to vote. Both were part of a movement that eventually forced federal intervention across the South. These two courageous and committed men risked their lives for civil rights for Black Americans that expanded opportunity for all Americans. President Barack Obama honored Lewis in 2011 and Vivian in 2013 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Because of their service and sacrifice, Black Americans received legally equality. The civil rights movement helped to outlaw segregation in schools, public place and jobs; gave all Black people the right to vote and banned discrimination in housing. Still wealth, health and education inequality remains. Police brutality persists. We can best honor the memories of John Lewis, C.T. Vivian and other civil rights leaders by continuing to advocate for justice and equality. (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)

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(TriceEdneyWire)—From my youth, I can remember many of the elders lamenting that death comes in threes. In fact, when a community suffered the deaths of two elders, most of the others would walk and talk gingerly in wonderment of who would be next. Although rooted in superstition, the idea of Death Times 3 does sometimes seem to be valid, if not in fact, in circumstance. This past week, the occurrence of Death Times 3 seems to be more than mere circumstance with the deaths of Representative John Lewis, the Reverend C.T. Vivian and Mayor Charles Evers—three luminaries of the Civil Rights Era. Initially, questions loom: How do we fill the chasm? Who will fill the chasm? There‘re some who, in passing, leave an immeasurable vacuum in the ether of history causing all to wonder if this person can ever be replaced. This week, the challenge for the African American Community is to resolve or answer these questions three times. Throughout my life, I have heard and agreed with the premise that African Americans are not monolithic in our philosophies and opinions, and that the voice of one person does not represent our entirety. For the past 75 years, we have been greatly blessed with any number of thinkers and representatives who have expressed our different perspectives with the singular goal of guiding “the race” to parity in the legal, economic and social structures of this nation.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary Representative Lewis, Reverend Vivian and Mr. Evers are three such persons. Each in his own way has led others toward the achievement of the right of all citizens to equally enjoy the benefits that are Constitutionally guaranteed. I cannot do justice to a description of the achievements of any one of these men with the limit of words available to me for each of my articles, much less three. To the extent that you may be unfamiliar with them, I encourage you to explore their biographies. With human nature as it is, I am sure one will be able to find much to admire and points with which you may disagree, but no one can argue the past significance of their contributions to “The Struggle” and the influence of their engagement upon the future. As leaders representing the interests of thousands of African Americans, these men had an impact that was matched by a rare few. Although their individual approaches differed in many ways, their personal values drove them to self-sacrifice and lives of service to their communities and

the nation. Common to them were character traits that enhanced their ability to guide others and demand results. They were men of Conviction. They identified principles that they consider “right” and worked fervently to achieve that state of “rightness.” Each of them understood that certain privileges were universal entitlements granted by God and that those privileges could not be abridged by any human determination or pronouncement. They were men of Humility. Absent from their personas was the display of bravado or arrogance. They pursued their respective goals with quiet assurance and dedication. They were men of Tenacity and Endurance. Under physical and emotional threat, each of these men persevered with tireless endurance. When others withered and faded, these men could be counted on to continue the fight. Laudatory and critical assessments of these men will continue to be made. Critiques may dispute their effectiveness in the achievement of their stated goals, but what cannot be disputed is the empty space they leave. Their immediate presence will be missed by all who knew them or knew of them. Others will continue to enjoy the benefits of their achievements. Said solemnly, succinctly and with great admiration and respect, they will be missed!

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

Black Pittsburgh Matters The coronavirus and incidents of police violence are two national crises sweeping our nation, disproportionately affecting Black people. COVID-19 is having a profoundly disastrous impact on Black people, their businesses and their employment opportunities. In addition, recent episodes of police violence resulting in the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain have spurred a national movement demanding the defunding and/ or disbanding of police departments and massive investments in programs that prevent poverty, crime and hopelessness. Additionally, many more Americans are acknowledging that racism is the root cause of the inequities suffered by Black people in the United States. The very history of the United States is slavery and racism, and the most insidious fruit of that racism comes in the form of economic disparity. Because of systemic oppression, Black people and the communities in which they live have suffered redlining, denial of opportunities, substandard housing and poor educational outcomes, which ultimately lead to disproportionately unhealthy lives. In Pittsburgh, one of the major consequences of institutional racism and discriminatory practices is that the majority of its Black residents live in segregated communities of concentrated, intergenerational poverty. This is, in part, due to an intentional withholding of economic and social capital poured into majority White communities. The challenges inherent in this model left Black communities with: worse health outcomes, higher crime rates, failing schools, and fewer job opportunities; thus making it that much harder for individuals and families to escape poverty and often perpetuate and entrench poverty across generations, making poverty a virtually permanent state.

Rev. Ricky Burgess and R. Daniel Lavelle

Commentary Various reports have shown the effect of institutional racism in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. For example, according to the City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission’s “Pittsburgh’s Inequality Across Gender and Race,” Pittsburgh’s Black residents could move to almost any other U.S. city of comparable size and have a better quality of life. This is no accident. These negative factors affecting Black communities and their residents also negatively impacts the entire metropolitan area’s ability to grow in inclusive and sustainable ways. Recently, the City of Pittsburgh has taken two historic actions: One, the government declared racism as a public health crisis in Pittsburgh; and two, that Black Pittsburgh Matters. Black Pittsburgh Matters means that in Pittsburgh, Black lives, Black communities, and Black wealth matters. In Pittsburgh the health, safety and well-being of Black people should be protected, Black communities should be invested in and rebuilt and Black employment, entrepreneurship and homeownership must be encouraged and funded. Fortunately, we have tangible examples of what this transformation can look like in Pittsburgh. The redevelopment of the Larimer community with Cornerstone Village and Larimer Pointe and the redevelopment of the Hill District with Skyline Terrace gives us a glimpse of a future Pittsburgh. These successful projects have created successful mixed-income communities,

transforming the lives of its residents from concentrated poverty with low outcomes, while protecting and uplifting the existing homeowners in those areas. These residents are achieving educational success, financial independence, and housing security. They are also in close proximity to essential community amenities. Now, new homes are being purchased and renovated without government subsidy, new schools have been planted in those communities, and a variety of university and nonprofit investment is interested in participating in these communities upliftment when they were not just a few years ago. So, if we are serious in about racial reconciliation in Pittsburgh, we must, first and foremost, systematically and intentionally invest in Black people and the communities where they live. We must rebuild Black communities for Black people, by Black people, with our partners and allies. In order to accomplish this, Black Pittsburgh Matters suggests five investment principles for Black Pittsburgh. Those priorities are investing in: 1.Community-based violence intervention and reintegration of public safety programs; 2.Economic development in Black communities; 3.Community based and faithbased organizations; 4. Education, supportive and social services; and Black employment and entrepreneurship. We challenge Pittsburgh’s leaders and their organizations including government, corporate, educational and nonprofit institutions to join with us as strategic partners. By working together, united in purpose, we can transform our city, strengthening it for all of its residents. Pittsburgh can only be a “City For All” when it becomes a city where Black Pittsburgh Matters.

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MAPPING DATA ANALYST Aurora Innovation, Inc. seeks Mapping Data Analyst in Pittsburgh, PA to evaluate map productions and QA. Mail resume to Sarah FitzGerald (HR), 1880 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303.

POLICE OFFICERS CITY OF ALIQUIPPA Qualified persons are invited to apply to the City of Aliquippa Civil Service Commission to take competitive examinations leading to eligibility for appointment as a Police Officer in the City of Aliquippa Police Department. An application form may be obtained beginning Monday, July 27, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please email your request for a police application to: samuel.gill@aliquippapa.gov and kelly.callen@aliquippapa.gov We can either email or mail an application to you. Completed applications must be returned by mail postmarked by Friday, August 28, 2020, with a $35.00 non-refundable application fee included payable to the City of Aliquippa, 581 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001, Attention: Samuel L. Gill REQUIREMENTS: At the time of application applicants are required to be Act 120 Certified or have successfully completed Act 120 Training with the State Exam successfully by date of conditional hire, have a high school diploma or GED, be a minimum of 18 years of age, hold a valid motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, be a U.S. Citizen and be physically and mentally fit to perform duties of a police officer. Successful applicants must meet all other Civil Service requirements. The City of Aliquippa is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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 LANGUAGE COORDINATOR OF SWAHILI POSITION The Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center in the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Linguistics seeks a non-tenure-stream Language Coordinator of Swahili to design/teach a curriculum of 27 credits of Swahili at levels 1 through 8 in the undergraduate Swahili program. Apply here: https:// facultysearch.as.pitt.edu/apply/index/Mjk2 by uploading a letter of application, a current CV, a statement of teaching philosophy, a diversity statement, evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., student surveys, peer and supervisor reviews) and three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should comment explicitly on the candidate’s teaching ability. Questions may be addressed to LCTL@pitt.edu. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity, EOE, including disability/vets. CLINICAL COORDINATOR/ SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY; MAINTENANCE TECH/HVAC/ ELECTRICAL, HOUSEKEEPING & V.P. STUDENT AFFAIRS/ ENROLLMENT MGT., Pittsburgh Technical College is seeking qualified applicants for the following positions: •Clinical Coordinator/Surgical Technology Associate degree required, bachelors preferred Must possess CST/CSFA •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) Must be Universal EPA Certified •Housekeeper – Part-time – Evening Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. (4 hour work shift) Prior 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 CITY OF WASHINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS • High School Graduate or Equivalent • Must be 21 years of age • A United States Citizen • Must have current, valid PA driver license • Must be currently enrolled an have completed Act 120 training at the time of hire • Upon Hiring must adhere to living restriction (10Miles) ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION • Civil Service Examinations • Background Investigation • Medical, Drug Screen and Psychological Evaluation SALARY AND BENEFITS • Base salary $60,613.58 (Entry Level: $48,278.59) • Life, Health, Dental and Vacations • Uniform Allowance • Longevity Pay • Education Compensation PROMOTIONS • Corporal • Sergeant • Lieutenant • Captain • Chief of Police SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS • Investigations • K-9 • SWAT APPLICATIONS • May be obtained at the city of Washington Police Department, 56 West Strawberry Ave Washington, PA. July 27, 2020, between the hours of 8:30am to 4:00pm or download online at www.washingtonpa.us • Applications must be returned to the city of Washington Police Department no later than 4:00pm, on August 10, 2020 • Applications are required to pay a non-refundable testing fee of $60.00, cash, check, or money order (payable to The City of Washington) when application is returned The city of Washington is an equal oppurtunity employer

JANITORIAL POSITION Clean Medical Office, North Shore Area, Mon-Fri (6PM - 9PM)-$11.50 Hr., Background Check Performed. Must be experienced Call 412-795-1395 VOLUNTEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST Volunteer Support Specialist; Pittsburgh; provide leadership and customer service to our girls and adult volunteers to support and retain membership; Degree in social services, psychology, or related humanities field or equivalent professional experience; Minimum of 2 years of work experience in related field with experience in volunteer management and support; Ability and willingness to work and maintain a flexible schedule, as needed, to include some evenings and weekends; Have reliable transportation and be able to travel throughout assigned area and western PA; Submit cover letter, resume and salary requirements to recruiting@gswpa.org LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

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 Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth 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 Estate of Carolyn Jean Kerr aka Jean E. Kerr, , Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA. ,Estate No.022003325, Date of Death: 06/16/20, PNC Bank, National Association Attn:Sharon L Whitney, VP 300 Fifth Ave, FL 31 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 And/or: Tracey L. Zihmer, Esq., 3244 Washington Road Suite, 210 McMurray, PA 15317

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Inpatient Program for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Proposals are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. For more details and submission information, visit: www.alleghenycounty.us/Human-Services/Resources/Doing-Business/Solicitations-(RFP/ RFQ/RFI).aspx. Marc Cherna Director

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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 24, 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 pm 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. MOUNT LEBANON TUNNEL VENTILATION REHABILITATION CONTRACT NO. LRT-20-07 The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all labor, materials, equipment, tools, supervision and incidental items necessary to remove and replace the four existing tunnel ventilation fans serving two light rail tunnels. The existing fans are non-reversible axial fans installed in pairs in the two portal ventilation buildings. The existing electrical services and controls for the ventilation fans will also be replaced. The construction of the project must be staged to maintain emergency ventilation at all times during train operations. Bid documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained on or after July 24, 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 Diverse Businesses (“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: Cynthia 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: Cynthia Denner E-mail: 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 August 7, 2020 will be conducted via telephone conference at: Toll free phone number: 1-855-453-6957 Conference ID #4485786 (Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended) 10:00 a.m. August 10, 2020

Pre-Bid Site Tour Mt. Lebanon Station Platform Shady Drive East and Alfred Street Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania 15228 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 24, 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 pm 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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To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

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 qualified Firms or Individuals 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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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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Bid Number B200543R B200650A B200437AR B200653A B200651A REV200759A

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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 the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid 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 delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PA CDBG, HOME, ESG, AND HOPWA PROGRAMS FY 2019 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Notice is hereby given that the City of Pittsburgh intends to submit the FY 2019 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before August 21, 2020. In accordance with Title I of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, the City of Pittsburgh has prepared its Fiscal Year 2019 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Programs. This report describes the level of housing assistance and other community development activities through grants from various Federal funding programs during Fiscal Year 2019 (April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020). Copies of the FY 2019 CAPER for the City of Pittsburgh are available for public inspection at the City of Pittsburgh website at http://pittsburghpa. gov/omb/community-development-documents, beginning Friday, July 31, 2020 through Friday, August 14, 2020. All interested persons are encouraged to review the FY 2019 CAPER. Written comments should be addressed to the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Community Development Division, attention, Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager, Community Development Division, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Oral comments may also be made by contacting Mr. Finnstrom at (412) 255-2211, his fax number is (412) 3930151, his email is community.development@pittsburghpa.gov, and the TDD number is (412) 255-2222. Note that due to COVID-19 the best method of contact is via email. Written comments on the CAPER will be considered up to and including August 14, 2020.

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Mr. Whitney Finnstrom, Senior Manager Community Development Division, OMB LEGAL AD ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PUBLIC HEARING ON NEEDS BASED PLAN AND BUDGET The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is preparing the 2021-2022 Needs Based Plan and Budget. A virtual public meeting to talk about the plan and its implementation will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. There are three ways to participate in the virtual meeting: 1.To hear the live audio, see the live video, and participate in the Q&A, join on your computer, smartphone, or tablet by visiting https://bit.ly/2N5AVCX. You may be instructed to download an app called Microsoft Teams. If prompted to sign in, you may choose whether to do so or join anonymously. 2.To hear the live audio only, call (267) 368-7515. The access code is 584 998 403#. 3.To watch the recording at your convenience, visit https://bit.ly/2N5AVCX. The recording will be posted here within 24 hours of the live meeting. A draft of the Needs Based Plan and Budget, along with previous years’ plans, is available at https://bit.ly/3ebyWIR. Allegheny County DHS makes reasonable efforts to accommodate people with disabilities or limited English proficiency. Closed captioning will be available when joining the meeting on a PC or Mac. MARC CHERNA DIRECTOR ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

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cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting proposals from Professional Investment Management Firms who wish to be considered for providing the following: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE PENSION PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY The Request for Proposal is managed by Cerity Partners Retirement Plan Advisors, LLC. Interested Parties shall submit their RFP response to: https:// my.rfp360.com/public/rfp/9d80f8b7-0688-4597-9d58-8d3fcdcdf52a. All questions regarding the RFP should be submitted via RFP360 or e-mail to Neal Smith, Cerity Partners at nsmith@ceritypartners.com. The Selected Firm will provide all necessary services to manage the Investment Portfolio of the Pension Plan for Management Employees of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one firm to perform all of the services. All submittals must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2020. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to ensure the documents have been received. Late submittals will not be considered. The Request for Proposal may be obtained by visiting: https://www.alcosan. org/work-with-us/planned-andactive-bids William H. Inks, CPA Director, Finance and Administration

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are back on the field—Training Camp 2020 has begun. Of course, it’s a different look this season. Due to the pandemic, there’s no training camp at Saint Vincent College this season. Practices will take place at Heinz Field, as the above photos of WR Chase Claypool and RB Anthony McFarland Jr. (26) show. Training camp officially opened on Tuesday, July 28. (All photos by Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)

Linebacker Alex Highsmith

B6 JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2020

Embracing youth leadership (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Congressman John Robert Lewis was just 17 when he reached out to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a letter conveying his desire to attend all-White Troy State College (now Troy State University) that was just 10 miles from his home. Lewis submitted an application but never heard from the college, and hoped King would help. Instead, he went to Fisk University. Later, Dr. King reached out to him and invited him to visit Montgomery during spring. That was the beginning of John Lewis’s relationship with King and his 60 plus year commitment to the civil rights movement. Congressman Lewis, who died on July 17, exemplified so many things. Commitment. Resilience. Humility. Goodwill. Good Trouble. He died at 80, and there are photos of him, as a much younger man, marching alongside Dr. King and so many others. One of the things that strikes me about this remarkable man is how young he was when he got involved in the movement. As impressive as John Lewis was, he was one of several very young people who put their lives on the line for civil rights and human rights. There is no wonder that he smiled when he visited Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC. That plaza and the protests after the murder of George Floyd are direct descendants of protests that John Lewis was involved in during the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the youth of that era boldly challenged the status quo. Consider the Little Rock Nine. They were verbally and physically harassed and, in at least one case, experienced economic consequences. The Nine endured a harrowing year. Ernie Green, the best-known of the Little

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary Rock Nine, was the only African American to graduate from Central High School in 1958. The school was closed the following year, and the Little Rock Nine completed their high school education elsewhere. Just as it is agonizing to think of John Lewis beaten so severely that his skull was cracked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965, it is also painful to think of Melba Patillo one of the Nine who was kicked, beaten and had acid thrown in her face, or Gloria Ray, who was pushed down a flight of stairs. Elizabeth Eckford attempted to walk into Central High School alone, having missed the others because of a communications snafu. She faced an angry and hostile mob and soldiers who would not allow her to enter the school. Gloria Ray’s mother, Julie Miller Eckford, lost her state job because she would not withdraw her daughter from Central High School. These young people, like John Lewis, had tenacity, commitment, and vision. Consider Dr. Ron Walters (1938-2010), the distinguished professor who spent most of his career as a political scientist at Howard University. He was president of the NAACP Youth Council in Wichita, Kansas, when he organized a sit-in at Dockum Drug Store in July 1958, just weeks after Ernie Green graduated from Central High School and more than a year before the Greensboro sit-in in 1960. The students who participated in the sit-in ranged in age from 15 to 22. The sit-in lasted three weeks and ended when the store manager said the sit-in was costing too much money. In 1960, a young Jesse Jackson led a protest at the segregated Greenville, South Carolina library, when he was told he could not check out a book he needed for his undergraduate research. The Greenville Eight, including Jackson, were arrested for disorderly conduct when they visited the library, browsed, and refused to leave. After the arrests, the City Council voted to close both the White and the dilapidated one-room colored library. The libraries reopened about two months later, available to all citizens. Like Lewis, Jackson has dedicated his life fighting for civil rights and economic justice. In celebrating John Lewis and his remarkable life, we also honor other young civil rights activists who risked their lives to take a stand. They made a difference in the struggle for justice. And just as we celebrate them, we must also celebrate today’s young activists, those in the Black Lives Matter Movement who have mobilized young people to protest police brutality, the myth of white supremacy, and economic injustice. As I think of John Lewis, his remarkable courage, and the leadership he offered at every stage of his life, I also reflect on the much-discussed generational conflict in the African American community. This conflict is, in some ways, inevitable. In other ways, it is unnecessary. Black folks of every age want the same thing—social and economic justice. And depending on our age, we approach the struggle differently. Some will put their lives on the line; some will march, others will boycott racist companies and write checks. Some of every age will do nothing. Those of us who are elders must embrace youth leadership in the spirit of John Lewis, Ernie Green, Jesse Jackson, and others.

FORUM

‘All Lives Matter:’ An obituary for a mother’s lesson Recently, a Black At the historical Lives Matter apoloBlack church, Clinton J. Pharoah Doss gist wrote an article spoke about racism, and asked: What’s access to education, wrong with the slorepairing the comgan “All Lives Matmunity, and lessons ter.” It explained she learned from her three problems. mother’s life. Clin1). The slogan was ton said, “I asked a weaponized phrase her, ‘What kept you designed to silence going?’ Her answer the oppressed. was very simple. 2). The slogan made marginalized Kindness along the way from someone communities question their reality. who believed she mattered. All lives 3). The slogan isn’t logical. All lives matter.” can’t matter if Black lives don’t. Now, Clinton made this comment in Then I saw a headline that said: a church. She was appealing to the Black Lives Matter leaders say “All higher religious principle that we’re Lives Matter” label misses the point. all children of God. But Black Lives It’s hard to dismiss the above sentiMatter activists took offense and ments, especially since the slogan “All accused Clinton of trying to dilute the Lives Matter” has been adopted by the “Black Lives Matter” slogan. Black right in the era of Trump. Now that political strategist Donna Brazile Black Lives Matter has gained acceptold the Black Lives Matter activists, tance in corporate America, they have “Clinton was telling a story about an incentive to kill off the rival slogan her mother, she also said, ‘swe can that branded them as non-inclusive. stand up together and say ‘yes, Black But historical accuracy matters. Lives Matter’, Stop Hating!” It was “All Lives Matter” may have morthe Black Lives Matter activists that phed into a chant that missed the missed the higher point. Throughout point, but Black Lives Matter comthat Democratic primary Black Lives pletely missed the point from the Matter activists rushed onto stages beginning. and interrupted speeches made by When Hillary Clinton ran for presiDemocratic candidates by shouting dent in 2008, she stated she planned “Black Lives Matter,” and, in response to incorporate her mother’s story into to the intrusion, supporters of the canher campaign. Her mother, Dorothy didates shouted back: All Lives Matter. Rodham, was abandoned as a child That was how the Black Lives Matand sent to live with abusive grandter/All Lives Matter slogan battle was parents. At 14, during the great born, but last month the “All Lives depression, she left her grandparents Matter” retort was officially killed off and found work as a cook, housekeepby a contributor to the Washington er, and nanny. Clinton stated, through Examiner, a conservative weekly, in an the kindness of her mother’s employer article called: How Republicans should and teachers her mother was able to be thinking about Black Lives Matter. overcome the obstacles of her childThe contributor wrote, “Initially, the hood. pushback to saying “Black Lives MatClinton’s mother died in 2011. ter” was to profess “All Lives Matter,” In April 2015, Clinton announced her a statement that seemed self-evidently second bid for the presidency. Months praiseworthy and obvious. But “All later, Clinton made a campaign stop at Lives Matter” clearly rings hollow a historical Black church in Florissant, to those for whom “All men created Mo. This location was less than five equal” did not apply from the moment miles away from Ferguson. Ferguit was enshrined in our nation’s foundson gained national attention in the ing documents. previous year when protests and riots The right can’t resurrect the slogan erupted because a White police officer after that critique, but it was Black shot and killed an unarmed Black Lives Matter who weaponized the teenager. Black Lives Matter gained phrase and armed their opponents national exposure and established by taking offense to a simple lesson a itself as a movement during this time. mother gave her child.

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Biden surrogates tout ‘plan for America’ (NNPA)—President Donald Stacy Brown Trump’s failure to control the coronavirus pandemic has worsened a long list of challenges facing American families, according to presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden. Among those challenges are caregivers, parents struggling to find childcare, and those in nursing homes, Biden and his campaign team said as they rolled out the former vice president’s “Plan for Mobilizing American Talent and Heart to Create a 21st Century Caregiving and Education Workforce.” Staging frequent media briefings where surrogates tout Biden’s message remains a regular occurrence of the campaign. On Tuesday, July 21, former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, championed Biden’s plan. In a media briefing, the four African American women leaders said Biden’s plan prioritizes caregivers, and it would lend needed assistance to families of color, particularly Black women. “I’m a grandmother of three beautiful young girls, and what I do every day is hope they have caregivers who know that I respect the work they are doing very much,” Lyles said. “That means we need to pay people. We need to provide them with benefits. We need to make sure the people who are taking care of our children don’t have to worry about how they are going to get home on a bus, and that they are certain that they have an adequate wage to live in our cities.” Each agreed that even before the pandemic, the U.S. experienced a caregiving crisis. They echoed Biden’s campaign message that some care needs were going untended. Other care needs were filled by Americans serving as unpaid caregivers lacking the financial support or respite care they needed, and sometimes putting their careers on hold. Often, families made caregiving decisions that came with significant financial, professional, physical, and emotional costs, the surrogates each agreed.

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Caregivers and early childhood educators— disproportionately women of color —have been underpaid, unseen, and undervalued for far too long, they stated. “I don’t know if President Trump has even met a caregiver, or that he would even understand the role of caregivers, and their importance in our society and our economy,” said Rawlings-Blake. “When I take a look at [Biden’s] plan, it is very comprehensive, and it is focused on standing in the gap for a healthcare system that the president is trying to dismantle.” Biden’s plan includes: • Expanding access to a broad array of long-term services and supports in local settings, including closing the gaps in Medicaid for home- and community-based services and establishing a state innovation fund for creative, cost-effective direct care services. • It ensures access to high-quality, affordable childcare, and offers universal preschool to three-and fouryear olds through more significant investment, expanded tax credits, and sliding-scale subsidies. • Building safe, energy-efficient, developmentally appropriate childcare facilities, including in workplaces, so that parents and guardians never again have to search in vain for a suitable childcare option. • Treating caregivers and early childhood educators with respect and dignity, and giving them the pay and benefits they deserve, training and career ladders to higher-paying jobs, joining a union and bargain collectively, and other fundamental work-related rights and protections. The campaign estimates that the plan would cost $775 billion over ten years and would be paid for by rolling back unproductive and unequal tax breaks for real estate investors with incomes over $400,000 and taking steps to increase tax compliance for high-income earners. “The plan in every way is set out to really support those who are making it possible for our society to work,” Rawlings-Blake stated. “I’m particularly interested in the support that is given to in-home caregivers, because I know how precarious their jobs are, particularly in this COVID-19 crisis.”

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Glenn Ellis

Commentary COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research (TriceEdneyWire.com)—In the spirit of doing my best to keep you informed on important aspects of this COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to continue to write about things we all will have to think more and more about moving forward. Yes indeed, we must start doing a lot of thinking. Most of it is thinking about things that we otherwise wouldn’t pay any attention to: clinical trials; antibody testing; vaccine candidates; experimental treatments. You see folks, COVID is going to be with us for a long, long time, and it is important to get in the habit of learning as much as you can about these topics, and others. In this column, I will offer you a starting point by giving some general facts. Clinical trials are required in order to have an FDA approved treatment or vaccine. Since the coronavirus was first identified in China in December 2019, over 1100 registered clinical trials, registered globally. Of those, 170 are solely devoted to looking for a vaccine. The rest are looking at other treatments, including antibody plasma therapy. Out of the 170 companies, the Trump administration chose five companies to work on the development of a vaccine at “Warp Speed” (whatever that is). Even though, as of June 30th, the FDA issued guidelines calling for the inclusion of diverse populations, many of the studies are already underway, as well as, under these pandemic circumstances, we can rest assured that there will be little, or no, oversight to ensure compliance with including Blacks, and other ethnic groups. Don’t let anyone fool you, this is important. Your health status is determined 80 percent by the social determinants of health in the community in which you live. That is why it is good science to make sure that clinical trials for any medication or treatment includes research participants who reflect the general population that the drug or treatment is intended for. You want to look into this to inform any decision you make for yourself or you family. Antibody testing is done following a person being infected with COVID-19. The test shows whether the person’s immune system is producing antibodies. This would be the normal response of the immune system. If virus shows up again, there are already antibodies ready to attack. With over 200 antibody tests, either in development or on the market, only 12 have been approved emergency use authorization. So, what about the other 188? Another concern is that no one knows, at this point, if the antibodies actually offer any protection, and if so, for how long? In addition, the analysis of results shows a great range of accuracy for these tests. Vaccines are steadily advancing in the process of development. As mentioned earlier, “warp speed” is not your typical approach to vaccine development. I worry about this, in particular, because of the sensitive, and sometimes political, nature of the word. The development of the polio vaccine was the last time we had a vaccine to prevent an pandemic like this. Remember that we still don’t have an HIV/AIDS vaccine after 40 years, and the flu vaccine last season was only 45 percent effective following the previous year when it was only 29 percent. Still, even a vaccine that’s not 100 percent effective could be good enough. At the very least, vaccines do significantly reduce the severity a viral infection. With the horrible way COVID takes over the body and destroys it, a reduction in the severity of that is not a bad deal. So, you have to consider your own health status, risk factors, etc., and make the best decision. Even for those who would previously consider themselves as “anti-vaxxers”, COVID-19 has made it necessary for all of us to think in ways, and about thongs, that haven’t had to before. Experimental treatments are standard of care in the absence of an approved treatment. Remember the drug that President Trump touted hydroxychloroquine, and it turned out to be a dud? Well, seems like he wasn’t the only one who went for it. There were hundreds of trials around the world trying find out if it would work. Remdesivir is another experimental medication designed to stop a virus from replicating in the body. In times when there is no pandemic, carefully done clinical trials tell us drug’s effectiveness against an illness. Or disease. Now, there are so many “work-arounds” in clinical care: compassionate-use programs permit the use of untested treatments; older drugs are considered by doctors in never-before-seen situations; research is being rushed into publication without being peer-reviewed; and not to mention a constant stream of media reports jump on any research study result, often barely vetted, and typically, reported to us almost word-for-word from the company’s press release. By now, whether we like it or not, we all have come to accept that things are going to be different; really different. We have to begin to get information and learn more about these things. Come on, y’all. Let’s do what we have done for so long; use good, common sense, make decisions based on the best information, and look out for each other. Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one! Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible! The information included in this column is for educational purposes only. I do not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a replacement form of treatment for physical, mental or medical problems by your doctor either directly or indirectly. (Glenn Ellis, MPH is Visiting Scholar at The National Bioethics Center at Tuskegee University and a Harvard Medical School Research Bioethics Fellow.)