Rev. Jim Holley envisions Detroit-based culinary, hospitality training academy for youth
DSO’s Classical Roots honors the flame of great African-American music in Detroit
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Page B1 POWERED BY REAL TIMES MEDIA
Volume 80 – Number 26
Gretchen Whitmer makes her case to be Michigan’s next governor
michiganchronicle.com
March 8-14, 2017
New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ is where a group of more than 200 Detroit ministers gathered last week to protest dramatic water rate hikes. Mayor Mike Duggan and DWSB Director Gary Brown say the city will do everything it can to work with churches to resolve the issue. PHOTO: Alisha Dixon
By Keith A. Owens Senior Editor
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer became the first candidate to announce her intention to run for the office of governor of Michigan. Since that time, she has been campaigning hard across the state in an effort to get a head start on the process and to become a familiar face and presence to a larger number of Michigan voters. Last week, Whitmer visited the Michigan Chronicle to talk more about Gretchen Whitmer her background, her positions on the issues, and why she believes she is best suited to be Michigan’s chief executive. What made you decide to run? I remember when Michigan led the world. The best schools in the country, the best job opportunities. You could make a good living and have a nice retirement. Put your kids in a position to be better off than you were. I think we deserve better from our leaders. [But] there are three things that put me over the top: the scandal at the State House between two legislators that put Michigan on the national news in the most embarrassing light again [referring to the highly-publicized affair between former Michigan State reps, Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, that led to a fabricated sex scandal invented by Courser as a clumsy way to try to hide their indiscretions in 2015], the fake road plan that the governor and the legislature patted themselves on the back for and pretended like they fixed the infrastructure in Michigan when they haven’t, and finally, the Flint water crisis. It was all those things that made me look at where we are as a state, and I thought we need somebody who’s going to fight for the people. What are the impediments to getting a workable infrastructure/roads repair plan done? Well, it comes with a huge price tag. The governor’s commission on infrastructure came back and said in order to really fix the problem that we have, it’s going to cost $4 billion a year for, like, 20 years. So the governor, even though he’s got a super majority in the legislature, can’t seem to get the Republicans to agree to figure out how to pay for that. We haven’t seen a meaningful plan put on the table that looks like they can get it passed. Now, President Trump is talking infrastructure, but what does that mean in terms of the reality of money coming back to Michigan so that we can put it into our roads? And how do we have confidence that that’s where the money will ultimately go? As governor, what would be the priority items for Detroit? I really believe that a strong governor can do a lot of things to help with the school sys-
See GRETCHEN
WHITMER page A-4
Daylight Savings Time Begins March 12 Remember to set your clocks forward one hour.
$1.00
But if churches can’t pay their water bills, then who?
By Keith A. Owens
ly been much more than a house of prayer and worship, they are a place of refuge. In other words, churches don’t just manage the business of the hereafter, they are frequently called upon to manage the here and right now. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the most obvious example of that, but there are so many others, some of them right here in our own city.
Senior Editor
Last week, more than 200 Detroit pastors gathered to hold a press conference and publicly register their discontent with the looming prospect of dramatically increased water bills due to recalculated drainage fees attached to their properties. This issue has been brewing for quite some time, so it’s not surprising that it’s finally coming to a head. And it’s also completely understandable why the churches are not only upset but why many are worried about their ability to keep their doors open if they can’t find a way to work out an arrangement to lighten the load. Consider this: Your water bill used to be several hundred dollars a month, but then one day you are notified that some adjustments had to be made and your bill is about to blow up by several thousand dollars per month. Do you think you might be a shocked? Or maybe the phrase “freaked out” comes a bit closer to how you might feel. Perhaps even a phrase that cannot be reprinted in a family newspaper. So now you know how the churches feel, because this is not an exaggeration in more than one case involving newly assessed church properties. But there are almost always two sides to a story, and after speaking with Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown recently about the problem, it became clear that there is considerably more to this story that hasn’t been fully reported as of yet. The gist of the problem boils down to this: If the churches are unable to
All that is understood and greatly appreciated. However, as Detroit continues to right-size itself, an unfortunate part of that right-here-and-rightnow is that the water bill is coming due. Not only for churches, it should be noted, but for a number of businesses, organizations and institutions. Brown re-emphasized the position of Mayor Mike Duggan that the city will do everything it can to work with the affected churches.
Gary Brown pay their drainage fees, somebody else has to because they are not going away. In many cases, a significant part of the problem is due not only to the size of some church parking lots, but to all the additional properties owned by some of these churches where water drainage fees are also owed. In some instances there are as many as 30 or more additional properties attached to one church. Understand that this is not meant in any way to be a blanket indictment of Detroit’s pastors or churches. Certainly some manage their affairs better than others, but in so many cases, it is the churches that have stepped in to bridge the communal gaps where government programs have been unable to step up for so many years. Churches, particularly in the black community, have historical-
What follows is portion of the Chronicle’s interview with Brown. From your viewpoint, what is the main complaint of the churches? What are they upset about? GB: Their main complaint is that the new drainage charge that’s being rolled out is going to put a lot of them out of business and it’s just not affordable for them to pay the charge. They’re feeding the poor, clothing the poor, sheltering the poor, and the dollars being used to pay the water bill is going to take away from those resources. And in a lot of cases that’s legitimate. At the same time, the Water Department is mandated by law and by regulation to treat everybody equally and fairly. And so we’ve got to find a compromise that meets the goal of equity and fairness, and at the
See WATER
BILLS page A-4
Detroit: A case study in moving local housing market forward Because of decades of disinvestment, population loss and exclusionary housing policies, Detroit’s housing market experienced distress well before the housing market collapse and the recession.
Most notably, Detroit’s population between ages 25 and 44, the group with the greatest transitions to homeownership, fell sharply between 1990 and 2014.
A healthy housing market is an important component of a healthy city. It enables residents to build wealth and respond to opportunities, gives cities resources to provide its residents services and fosters community by supporting a mix of residents. In a recently published report the Urban Institute, Detroit is used as a case study to examine three interdependent elements of a healthy housing market: demand, supply and credit access. In Detroit, these elements pose significant barriers to residents and other parties working in the housing market. Yet, Detroit policymakers, lenders and nonprofits have designed
programs and policies to address these challenges and jump start the housing market. We examine these core challenges, identify trends and document promising programs in Detroit and beyond.
has fallen significantly. In 2000, 55 percent of Detroit residents owned their homes. By 2010, the share had fallen to 51 percent. This decline occurred for several reasons.
Demand
First, Detroit’s population has seen steady losses since 1970.
Homeownership
in
Detroit
Second, people who remained in Detroit suffered from unemployment rates and incomes that did not keep pace with regional and national trends. In April 2016, Detroit’s unemployment rate was 9.1 percent, 4.4 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate. Detroit’s median household income fell short of national averages by $27,000. Other factors that contributed to the population decline include high taxes, low-performing schools and safety concerns. Supply Detroit’s housing supply lost more than 45,000 units between 1990 and 2013, with the number
See HOUSING page A-4
news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
Page A-2
State burdens Flint residents with water bills amid more health fears The state of Michigan ended a program on Wednesday, March 1 subsidizing water bills for Flint residents, causing more outrage and strain on the embattled community who still worries about their health, reports ABC News. The state has formally ended a program that subsidized the water bills of some Flint residents, after a public health crisis that rendered the city’s water undrinkable nearly three years ago due to lead contamination. Anna Heaton, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Snyder, told ABC News today that tests conducted on Flint’s tap water in the past three months found that it meets all federal standards, although state officials recommend the use of filters as a precaution. The state is providing the filters. According to ABC news “…The recent
tests, which Heaton emphasized were overseen by Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech University professor who helped uncover the problem, have done little to reassure many worried residents, some of whom had hoped to address the issue this morning outside Mayor Karen Weaver’s office. “The trust is simply not there in this community anymore,” Lisia Williams, a community activist who attempted but failed to speak to the mayor this morning, told ABC News. “Do we trust our water? No. Do we trust our governor? No. Our elected officials? No.” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said that the “city was caught off guard,” adding that state officials promised the payments would continue through March 31, with the cost of water being very high in comparison to other cities, reports NPR.
Gordie Howe International Bridge wins prestigious award Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is pleased that the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is the recipient of the 2017 Engineering Project of the Year Award presented as part of the CG/LA’s Project of the Year Awards at the 10th Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum in Montreal. The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. Not only will the project deliver much-needed transportation improvements for international travelers, it will also provide jobs and opportunities for growth to the Windsor-Detroit region and includes features that make this project truly distinctive.
Senator Tory Rocca visits Sterling Heights Noor International Academy for National Reading Awareness Month March is National Reading Awareness Month and in an effort to emphasize the importance of reading, Noor International Academy’s elementary and middle school students received a visit from Senator Tory Rocca. Senator Rocca read to fourth to seventh grade students during his visit to the school on March 3rd. “Instilling a love of reading in our students is extremely important, especially as they approach their teenage years. Studies show that leisure reading by teens aids in the learning process and leads to better performance in school and greater vocabulary development,” said Nawal Hamadeh, president and CEO of Hamadeh Educational Services. State Sen. Tory Rocca represents the 10th Senate District - consisting of Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and Macomb Township. He is serving his second term in the Michigan Senate and previously served three term in the state House of Representatives. Rocca grew up and attended school in Macomb County. “Reading to children has been shown to generate an interest in learning, a creative spirit and a confidence in academic ability later in life,” said Rocca. “During March is Reading Month, students across Michigan and the country celebrate the importance of reading. I look forward to visiting Noor International Academy as a guest reader and talking to the students.” Noor International Academy is a non-discriminatory independent public school located in Sterling Heights and serves students in grades kindergarten through 7th grades and eventually through 12th grade and serves the diverse communities within the Greater Detroit. The academy provides quality and equitable education where all students have equal access to the full facility, programs, resources, technology, highly qualified staff and curriculum. Noor International Academy has been among the top 5 percent in the State of Michigan and has been a REWARD School for two years in a row for the 2013-14 and 201415 school years. It was
founded in 2011 by Mrs. Nawal Hamadeh, President and Superintendent and is managed by Hamadeh Educational Services. Noor International Academy services and educates 235 students who come from various countries, ethnicities, nationalities, and abilities including ESL and special education. The Academy prides itself on promoting diversity, culture of other’s and culture of one’s one. Teachers work on incorporating a global perspective into the classroom, in order to prepare students for real world careers and jobs in the 21st century. Since the inception, the Academy continues to make progress in achieving the mission and goals envisioned by the Founder. Noor International Academy encourages students to tear down walls and build bridges by sharing and celebrating their diverse cultural backgrounds. Thus, students learn not to fear their differences; moreover, to draw from one another’s strengths and maximize each one’s potential. HES provides Pre-K through 12th grade educational services that are innovative and offers a world class education including the STEM program to Star International Academy, Universal Acad-
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ward to seeing all the wonderful things that will become possible because of this project.” — Governor Rick Snyder “The Gordie Howe International Bridge project has had an exceptional start to Canadian National Engineering Month. It was with great pleasure that we announced yesterday that cyclists and pedestrians will be accommodated on the bridge through a dedicated multiuse path and now we are being recognized as the 2017 Engineering Project of the Year. We appreciate this honour so early in our project delivery timeline.” — Dwight Duncan, chair, WDBA Board of Directors
“The importance of this project has been recognized by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump and now, the engineering aspects of the project are recognized by industry peers. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will take its place among the engineering landmarks celebrated around the world and we appreciate the international recognition it received today.” — Hon. Amarjeet Sohi, minister of Infrastructure and Communities
“WDBA recognizes the permanent influence the Gordie Howe International Bridge will have on Windsor’s and Detroit’s skyline and its role as a new gateway symbol for Canada and the United States. Through refined engineering principles, WDBA’s goal is to deliver a unique, impressive, inspiring and iconic bridge that demonstrates an ease of use and balances functionality with aesthetic principles.” — Michael Cautillo, president and CEO, WDBA .
“I am thrilled with the award bestowed on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. I would like to thank the WDBA staff, its Board of Directors, the International Authority and our Michigan team for all their contributions to this oncein-a-lifetime infrastructure project. These individuals have worked hard and as a result have accomplished so much in a short amount of time. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we work together and are inspired by a shared commitment to something great. I look for-
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation created to manage the procurement process for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan through a public-private partnership (P3). WDBA is also responsible for project oversight. For more information on WDBA visit www.wdbridge.com and follow WDBA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WDBAbridge.
10% SAVINGS When your business is more energy efficient, it’s also more profitable—and DTE Energy wants to help make that happen. Take John Logiudice, owner of Florentine Pizzeria, for example. DTE worked with him to make some small changes that led to big savings. Simply installing a programmable thermostat, sink aerators, LED bulbs and a pre-rinse spray valve in the kitchen saved John around 10% a month on his energy bill. If you’d like to manage energy use to save money at your business, visit dteenergy.com/ savenow.
news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
Page A-3
New heart attack evaluation cuts unnecessary tests, time in ER The Michigan Chronicle
Up to 40 percent of ER patients with chest pain can safely go home in a little under two hours, using a highly sensitive, newly FDA-approved blood test and a heart health scoring system, according to an international study led by Henry Ford Health System. That’s good news for 8 to 10 million Americans seen for chest pain each year in emergency rooms, said Henry Ford Cardiologist James McCord, MD. Studies show a heart attack is ruled out for about 85 percdent of those patients. “People can appreciate if you’re in the ER for two hours versus 30 hours — that’s a big deal,” said McCord, estimating that about 40 percent, or approximately 3.5 million patients, who pass the James McCord, MD testing could go home quickly. “The patients not only have a heart attack ruled out, they represent a lowrisk group of patients who can go home from the ER without further observation or cardiac testing.” The study was recently published online and will appear in the March print issue of the American Heart Association’s “Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.” Twelve hospitals around the world participated, including Henry Ford and the University of Maryland in the United States. Worldwide, emergency rooms for years have been diagnosing heart attacks using a blood test that measures the protein troponin, which the heart releases during a heart attack. But a more sensitive troponin test available in Europe and other parts of the world was just approved for use in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February. For the study, the researchers focused on 1,282 patients from 2011 through 2013 who had chest pain and were evaluated in emergency rooms for possible heart attacks. For this study, and separately from the patients’ medical treatment, the researchers asked the patients for permission to test their blood using the new, sensitive troponin test. The researchers also scored the patients with a heart health evaluation called the Heart Score. The Heart Score looks at the patient’s heart health history, the results of an ECG done in the ER, the person’s age and their risk factors such as smoking, hypertension and diabetes. Within 30 days, 217 of the patients had either a heart attack or died. In the 515 patients who had a low Heart Score and normal troponin blood tests over one hour, the chance of a heart attack or death at 30 days was only 0.2 percent. Those are the patients — 40 percent of patients in the study — who likely could safely go home quickly, saving time and thousands of dollars for patients and hospitals. “Currently, many of these patients stay in an observation unit for hours, then get a stress test or cardiac imaging, which takes a day or more to accomplish,” says Dr. McCord. “It’s huge not only from the hospital perspective because it takes time and money to hold the patients, get a test, review the tests and make a decision, there is the time that the patient is out of the workforce. If you put that into the equation, that’s another large part of the financial impact equation.” Now that the more sensitive troponin test is offered in the United States and ER evaluation data is available, McCord said hospitals will be deciding how to move forward. The new troponin test requires the addition of testing equipment. “It’s showing where we are headed in the future,” says Dr. McCord. “Institutions, including our own, are looking at the data and deciding how to incorporate it into our patient evaluation. There wasn’t even the availability of using it until very recently. We’re behind the rest of the world; now the door’s opening for us to use these novel tests.”
A riverfront for all: Equitable, inclusive and accessible
Officials from the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, the City of Detroit Planning & Development Department and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation announced the details of a framework plan that will preserve more riverfront land for public use and create greater community access. The plan, which also will lead to new investment and development opportunities within the East Riverfront, was unveiled during a community meeting this evening at the Outdoor Adventure Center, 1801 Atwater St. The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, City of Detroit Planning & Development Department and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation began working with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill on a strategic framework plan for the East Riverfront in the spring of 2016. This announcement represents several months of residential and stakeholder engagement, which included community meetings, neighborhood walks and district tours that were attended by the general public. New York–based HR&A Advisors provided real estate and economic consulting services for the framework plan, and landscape design concepts were created by Michel Desvigne and Inessa Hansch, a world-renowned team of Paris-based designers, in collaboration with SOM and Detroit-area firms. Six local firms — McIntosh Poris, Birmingham; Giffels Webster, Detroit; Kraemer Design Group, Detroit; AKT Peerless, Detroit; Rich & Associates, Southfield, and E. Austell Associates, West Bloomfield — provided significant consulting and advisory roles during the planning stages. Under the plan, the East Riverfront area will continue to be transformed from a former blighted, industrial area into a vibrant waterfront for all Detroiters. The boundaries of the East Riverfront district are St. Antoine to the west, East Grand Boulevard to the east, Larned Street to the north and the Detroit River to the south. “The riverfront belongs to all Detroiters,” said Maurice D. Cox, director of the City of Detroit Planning & Development Department. “Thanks to the involvement of hundreds of residents, we have principles that frame an international riverfront that can be accessed and enjoyed by all.” Highlights of the plan announced at
the community meeting include: Creating New Riverfront Parkland: Among the priority initiatives discussed during the meeting was an announcement that a significant portion of the riverfront district between Atwater Street and the Detroit River and from Stroh River Place and Rivard Plaza will remain free from development forever with parks and open green space for the public to enjoy. Three sites south of Atwater Street – which were previously slated for private development – will become public park space. This will add nearly eight acres of additional park space to the East Riverfront. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will expand Milliken State Park & Harbor between Chene Park and the harbor, and just east of the wetlands near Rivard Plaza. Increasing Community Access to Riverfront: Two new “Dequindre Cut” style greenways will be built along the East Riverfront to connect east side residents to the RiverWalk. The Joseph Campau Greenway, which runs from the Detroit River to Vernor, will receive new lighting, furnishings, paving and landscaping. The Beltline Greenway, located between Belleview and Beaufait, will connect from Kercheval St. to the Detroit River. Together, these greenways provide connectivity to the riverfront for thousands of residents living throughout several eastside neighborhoods. Streetscape Improvements: E. Jefferson Avenue will be redesigned to be more attractive and bike and pedestrian friendly to provide a more seamless transition between the riverfront and the neighborhoods immediately to the north. This plan came about after intense and extensive interaction with the community – from the general public to key stakeholders. There were a total of four community meetings and workshops held in an open constructive and creative format well over a six month period from March 2016 to the announcement date. Additionally, there were tours by vehicle, boat, bike, and foot; a plethora of interviews, and extensive engagement with various city departments involved in this effort. “We’ve had tremendous input from the community throughout the planning process,” said Mark Wallace, president & CEO of the Detroit RiverFront
Conservancy. “The East Riverfront is a special place for all Detroiters, particularly families and the elderly. This plan builds on the lessons we have learned since opening up the RiverWalk in 2007. The greenway connections and expansions of the park space will significantly improve the riverfront experience for generations to come. And, this plan focuses on achievable goals so people are able enjoy the improvements in the near future.” In the last five years, Jefferson Ave. between Rivard St. and East Grand Boulevard has been the scene of 1,350 vehicle crashes, 39 pedestrian – vehicular incidents, and nine fatalities of vehicular and pedestrian crashes. Enhanced crosswalks at key intersections and new protected bike lanes will improve safety and mobility options and support local businesses. These improvements will make it easier for residents to cross Jefferson from surrounding neighborhoods north of Jefferson, giving them safe access to the enhanced riverfront. The plan places particular importance on making significant enhancements to the riverfront that will happen in a relatively short turn-around time. Jefferson Ave. improvements will begin in 2017, with the redesign, beautification and implementation from Rivard St. to East Grand Blvd. for a more pedestrian and bike-friendly experience. The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy will break ground in 2017 on a promenade that will connect the RiverWalk from Mt. Elliott Park to the Belle Isle Bridge along the 30-acre former Uniroyal site. The RiverWalk extension will also connect to Gabriel Richard Park. DEGC Executive Vice President of Real Estate, Moddie Turay said, “This plan recognizes how the riverfront makes Detroit a special place to live and work and play. We look forward to implementing it as it increases access to the waterfront for everyone, creates new walkable neighborhoods, and supports new investments and jobs that also provide a better quality of life and opportunities for all Detroiters.” DEGC, on behalf of the City of Detroit issued a Request for Proposals on March 2 for the Stone Soap building at 1490 Franklin. The RFP envisions an adaptive reuse of the historic structure with a mixed-use development that will increase density along the riverfront.
Wayne County prepares for challenging, but bright future Michigan Chronicle report
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans delivered his State of the County Address from the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, March 7. Evans provided updates on several topics including the state of the county’s finances, status of the jail project, importance of diversity and Wayne County’s back-to-basics approach to economic development. He offered a candid as-
sessment of tough decisions ahead, while he highlighted financial and economic development successes and delivered straight talk on who Wayne County intends to be as a community “From the start, Executive Evans has taken a candid, results-oriented approach in leading Wayne County, and that continued Tuesday night,” said Jim Martinez, director of communications, Wayne County. “We’ve made tremendous financial progress and the county’s
economic development strategy is starting to deliver jobs and investment, but significant challenges remain, particularly the jail.” Areas of focus of the State of the County included: Finances: Successes Remaining Challenges
and
With two straight surpluses and a reduction in unfunded health care liabilities by $1 billion, the county is fiscally healthier than it has been in years. But with nearly $1 billion
in unfunded liabilities remaining and looming facilities challenges, including finishing the Gratiot jail, much work is left. Economic Development: Delivering Results Results from the county’s back-to-basics strategy focused on supporting existing businesses looking to expand and grow. Municipal Finance: Lessons from Statewide Tour Lessons learned from the executive’s statewide tour with
local municipal leaders and possible solutions. Diversity in today’s Political Climate “From Michigan’s broken municipal finance system to how we talk about diversity, there are tough conversations that are going to be critical to the future of Wayne County and communities across the state,” Martinez said. “As the state’s largest and most diverse county, we see it as our role to help facilitate that dialogue.”
news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
Housing of occupied units in Detroit decreasing 46 percent between 1970 and 2010. These losses stem from several factors, including low home values, low rents and high property taxes. Most houses in Detroit are single-family units built before 1960, and the median sale price of housing units in Detroit is well below the national average. Credit Access
Water bills
From page A-1
same time does not adversely affect the mission that the churches are trying to accomplish. Is this just the city trying to rectify itself? GB: A lot of this is decades of no maintenance to the system, and now you have these exorbitant costs to maintain the Detroit water system. A lot of this is just sheer economics, that you have 139 square miles in a city that has plumbing, sewer and water lines underground that were built to manage two million people. And now you have 670,000 people trying to support a system that was designed for two million. And so, because the system hasn’t been right-sized for decades, now the Water Department is trying to do that. Certainly, with all the economic development that’s going on in the city, populations are shifting to different neighborhoods, and when that shift takes place, your infrastructure has to also shift. Do the churches understand what is happening to them? GB: I think most of them do, but that doesn’t ease the pain of having an increased bill for drainage. And while we’re willing to work with the churches, and have been doing workshops to try to develop programs with regard to credits that they could get to reduce their bills by at least 50 percent, a lot of the churches lack the resources in order to be able to design a green infrastructure project on their property that would allow them to reduce their bills. And so we’re trying to be very creative in finding community outreach and sweat equity-type activities that would qualify for a reduction in their bill. But even with that done so far, there still are a lot of churches that would be hurting under a plan as it is designed today. Is it more the smaller churches than the larger ones that are facing problems? GB: It’s both, but the larger churches have more capacity to be able to deal with the problem than a small churches. So it’s really the ones that are kind of in
the middle that may or may not have seen population loss within their congregations, and probably need to take a look at their business model of how they are operating and how they’re going to fulfill the mission that they have of feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, being the city’s safety net. We recognize that they have been that for a very long time. They’ve been adopting parks and cleaning parks. They’ve been participating in doing things that the city couldn’t do prior to the bankruptcy, and now they’re looking for some relief, and we will help them find that relief, but we have to do it within the constraints of the law. We have to be fair and equitable to all classes of our customers, or we’re setting the Water Department up for a lawsuit with the customers that would say “you’re taxing us to cover their costs.” Are you currently working with any churches? GB: Yes, right now we’re doing site assessments on some church properties. We’re trying to build green infrastructure projects that will allow the other churches to model those projects. And so if we take a larger church, and we build a green infrastructure project, and I fund the site assessment along with the engineering and design of that project, then we can use that as templates for the smaller churches to be able to use that model without needing the engineering, because it would have already been done, and without [having to go through] the permit process, because we can pre-approve them for the process as long as they use the template that we’re designing. And so, we’re trying to find ways that reduce a church’s cost. And at the same time, this is really about being environmentally friendly and managing storm water within our system. And so we’ve got several designs and models that are in play right now that will be finished very soon, and that other churches and also commercial establishments will be able to model and build out a project that will allow them to reduce by up to 50 percent the cost of their drainage.
Ben Carson sworn in as Trump’s only black cabinet pick By Stacy M. Brown
Trump’s 22 cabinet-level nominees still unsworn.
NNPA Newswire Contributor
The swearing-in of all the primary members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet is just about complete. Most of Trump’s cabinet — from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross — are rich, white and male. On Thursday, March 2, retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson broke the mold with his swearing-in as Housing and Urban Development Secretary, officially becoming the only African American in
Dr. Ben Carson (left) was sworn in as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday, March 2. Carson’s wife Lacena, along with their five-year-old granddaughter, Tesora, held the Bible. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer) Trump’s cabinet. The former GOP pres-
idential candidate was confirmed by a 58-41 vote, leaving just four of
Gretchen Whitmer tem in Detroit. Putting some accountability into charter schools. I understand that choice makes sense for a lot of families, but they better be working. Too many charter schools are not working for students. And so it’s not really a quality choice. Choice, in and of itself, is not accessible. You want to have a good choice, and accessible choice, to ensure that we’re not closing schools that don’t work, but that we’re fixing them to make sure that they do. Charter schools in Michigan? Eighty-four percent are for profit. The next highest percentage of for profit schools is 12 percent. So that tells you how backward our policy is in Michigan. And a strong governor can change that. You don’t need to go through the legislature like Gov. Snyder chose to. And I think that might be because of relationships with the [Dick and Betsy] DeVos crowd out on the west side of the state.
having government experience was a real hindrance, and I think that Gov. Snyder struggled with that, as did Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
How will you handle the overwhelmingly Republican legislature?
What would you do about Flint?
I think that 2018 represents a real opportunity to infuse some balance back into our government. The governor’s office, the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, the whole House and the whole Senate are on the ballot. Now the way gerrymandering is done in Michigan, the Senate’s not gonna change. It’s going to be Republican-controlled until we take gerrymandering and the ability to draw their own lines away from the legislature. But I will say that the House will be in play, I believe. … And having state government experience goes a long way to understanding how to use the power of the office and to building those relationships. I have served with three different governors, and I think not
What would you list as your top three priorities once elected to office? I think one of the first things we’ve got to do is fix what’s going on with the people of Flint. It’s absolutely unconscionable that in the Great Lakes State, where we’re lucky to be in this geography where we have 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, we’ve got a city that still can’t drink the water. I talked to a woman who used 58 bottles of water to make Thanksgiving dinner. That’s one meal. Can you imagine? I don’t believe that we should be putting money in a savings account when we have a city that can’t drink the water. And that’s what we’re seeing out of our leaders in Lansing right now.
I think you pull out the pipes and you put in new ones. You give people the wrap-around services and the children the nutrition that they need. But It’s been languishing so long that I’m very worried about it. What we do there impacts everyone. …We’re all paying the price for a city that’s being left behind. There’s no question, as we think about how we move this state forward, we are underskilled and under-educated as a population across the state. It may be felt more acutely in the urban centers, but it’s a problem everywhere in the state. We have to make some massive strides on that front. Where are you on emergency management?
“Right now, our country is the patient and it’s not a Democrat or a Republican patient. It’s an American patient,” Carson said at his swearing-in as wife Lacena and granddaughter Tesora held the Bible. “We have a duty to use the gifts that God has given all of us in order to heal that patient.”
Home purchase loan originations fell from 8,400 in 2005 to 490 in 2014. Consequently, cash sales percentages reached historic levels in 2014 at 97 percent. Home improvement loan originations also fell from 3,475 in 2001 to 21 in 2014. This trend is the result of distorted property appraisals from a lack of comparable properties and a high amount of distressed sales, Detroit residents having an average credit score of 585 compared with 670 nationally, 66 percent of Detroit residents having debt in collections, and additional factors that affect residents’ access to credit. Strategies Lessening the harmful effects of these interconnected factors requires interdependent solutions and collaborative, coordinated action from local policymakers, lenders and nonprofit community developers. Implementing actions that address problems related to intertwined housing market characteristics will en able local stakeholders to create a more cohesive and balanced housing environment. We offer strategies aimed at eliminating barriers to the supply of decent, safe and affordable housing, as well as increasing credit access. Several recommendations are based on successful models from other cities. Detroit would need to tailor these policies and programs to fit local neighborhood dynamics and would benefit from incorporating elements of
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From page A-1 other jurisdictions’ successful programs. Collective Vision In promoting a healthy housing market, collaboration is crucial. We highlight examples of collaboration in the effort to strengthen Detroit’s housing situation, but many efforts are not bound by a common framework, a shared vision that drives their actions. Instead, Detroit’s housing market is a complex ecosystem of multiple factors, interdependent programs and policies that each address individual elements. To accelerate market recovery, Detroit will need to align and connect current housing efforts. We recommend forming a Detroit Housing Compact that would guide local nonprofit, private-sector and public-sector leaders to focus on one or two major housing goals. This ongoing forum for collaboratively solving housing issues would examine interdependent relationships between various market segments as they simultaneously craft policies that address demand, supply and credit access. The compact would not duplicate current housing and land-use planning efforts, but would complement and coordinate their execution. Additional planning and resources would be necessary to staff the Compact, encourage full participation and engage neighborhood leaders to ensure its actions reflect Detroit’s diverse neighborhoods and residents. With this forum and our other recommendations, we hope to elevate strategies that can revitalize the housing market for all Detroit residents and neighborhoods and put the city on the path toward economic resilience. Urban institute authors that contributed to this report include Erika C. Poethig, Joseph Schilling, Laurie Goodman, Bing Bai, Rolf Pendall and Sameera Fazili
Carson, 65, was born into an impoverished Detroit family, but ultimately became a highly respected neurosurgeon who ran for president last year.
From page A-1 I fought against the emergency management bill in the first place. I was the chief critic of it. It passed, voters rejected it, it passed again. I’ll tell you first of all that bill never would have passed if I was governor. Secondly, we never would have made an end run around the electorate. And I have made this commitment as I have traveled the state; if the legislature ever sent me a bill with money in it to avoid the peoples’ right to referendum, it will get vetoed. Period. It’s undemocratic that the legislature uses these gimmicks to avoid the peoples’ right to weigh in. The people are the power of a check on the legislature, and we need to respect that and protect it. We need to rewrite the emergency management law, absolutely. We’ve always had one on the books, because there are times of crisis where it’s important for that oversight to come in. But what the governor and the legislature did was emergency management on steroids because they had an agenda. How about car insurance? The redlining problem is huge. We have to fix that. My fear when you see some of the proposals that are out there is we don’t want to also give people of the city less coverage, by that same token, to be treated as if they’re not as valuable as the rest of the people across the state. We all have an interest in solving this. What all the answers are, that’s the messy part, right? How do we navigate this so that we do infuse some sanity. Your credit rating shouldn’t impact how much you pay on your insurance. It should be about your driving, it shouldn’t be about your zip code. It’s about personal responsibility, not where you live.
Wayne State University hosts first annual STEM Day The Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Education, and College of Engineering, will co-host the university's first annual STEM Day on Tuesday, March 14, on WSU’s campus. STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering and math and seeks to create new pathways for students to work toward careers in those areas. Sixth- through ninthgrade students are invited to participate in two hands-on interactive sessions covering a range of STEM studies. In addition to the sessions, attendees are invited to fully experience Wayne State through campus tours and a complimentary lunch. STEM Day is free and open to teachers and their classes, as well as individual and home schooled students. “It’s great to see Wayne State University take a leading role in bringing middle school students to its campus to learn about STEM,” said State Superintendent Brian Whiston. “Initiatives like STEM Day will go a long way toward creating a skilled workforce and charting a path of success for all
Michigan students, and helping Michigan become a Top 10 education state in 10 years.” The program is designed to bring the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life with handson interactive sessions. Activities will include fire tornados, seaweed tissue repair, planetarium shows, liquid nitrogen ice cream, and walking on water, among many others. In addition, students will have an opportunity to compete in a Pie Off competition against the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for prizes from the Grand Traverse Pie Company in celebration of Pi Day. “We’re expecting 1,000 teachers and students on our campus for the inaugural STEM Day,” said Julie Hasse, Wayne State’s manager of student outreach and content strategy. “We’re thrilled by the initial response to this important event, and we’re excited that so many students from Detroit and surrounding communities will be able to experience these unique activities related to STEM.”
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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
All hail our local heroes By John Telford As our fight to save our public schools approaches the final battle, it is fitting that those unsung heroes who have kept the torch of justice aflame throughout the past decadeand-a-half of DPS’ unwarranted and COMMENTARY Jim Crowist state takeover become lauded. Foremost among these heroes have been school activist Helen Moore and her grassroots group, Keep-the-Vote-No-Takeover and the democratically elected former DPS Board — LaMar Lemmons, Juvette Hawkins-Williams, Elena Herrada, Ida Short, David Murray, Patricia Johnson-Singleton, Wanda Akilah Redmond, Tawana Simpson and Herman Davis. It was my privilege to serve pro bono as this rightful board’s chosen superintendent until Gov. Snyder’s emergency manager disempowered them and fired me when the unconstitutional Public Act 436 took effect and canceled Michiganians’ overwhelmingly successful but ultimately fruitless rejection of PA 4, the Republican-dominated state government’s detested emergency management law which remains unlawfully alive. Others who have continued to crusade in our cause on behalf of Detroit’s schoolchildren are attorneys Tom Bleakley and Herb Sanders, who are fighting school closings in court, Tom Stephens of Detroit ers
Resisting Emergency Management (D-REM), and Drew Paterson, who represented me when I sued the governor unsuccessfully to regain the superintendency, Some others are journalists Keith Owens, who has revived this newspaper’s courageous fight to save the schools; Tim Moore, my old half-miler at Southeastern High School, whose streamed show on DETIPTV has similarly strived to save our public schools; R.J. Watkins, who has run DPS-supportIve ads and programs on TV 33; Cliff Russell and Mildred Gaddis, who have spoken out on our schoolchildren’s behalf on their shows on AM910 and AM1200; Tom Pedroni and Curt Guyette, whose research at WSU and for the Michigan ACLU has exposed the decade-and-a-half of destruction wrought by Lansing upon DPS via the 1999 state takeover; Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, who spoke out eloquently against school closures on the Let It Rip show on Channel 2; clergymenCharles E. Williams II, David Alexander Bullock, Horace Sheffield and Malik Shabazz, who have done the same from their pulpits and on the air; and James Hare, whose Quick-To-Learn program that is about to be piloted on an audacious pay-for-success basis in DPSCD will thwart new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ intent to charterize or voucherize every school in Detroit and ultimately every other
March 8-14, 2017
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University of Michigan Group seeks social justice space for people of color A University of Michigan activist group recently launched a petition for an on-campus space for people of color to do social justice work and organizing, reports The College Fix. From The College Fix: [The group is asking that campus officials] provide them with “a permanent designated space on central campus for black students and students of color to organize and do social justice work.”
Helen Moore urban school in the nation. I’m aware that some may not be familiar with or agree that a few of the above-cited are indeed heroes, and I could have mentioned 50 more, but they all contributed in some way to our cause. I now add the names of latecomers to the cause — the newest (and currently interim) Superintendent Alycia Meriweather, the DFT’s Ivy Bailey, and newly elected DPSCD board members Iris Taylor, Misha Stallworth, Sonya Mays, Georgia Lemmons, Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Deborah Hunter-Harville, and also non-latecomer LaMar Lemmons (the only new board member who also served on the old democratically elected board that the state government unconstitutionally disempowered). Since Mayor Michael Duggan opposed the takeover re-
cently on my radio show, let’s add him, too, along with my district neighborhood City Council representative Mary Sheffield and her council colleagues who have now finally declared that they recognize the mortal danger to our schoolchildren and therefore to all ordinary Detroiters. The Free Press’ Stephen Henderson, as well as Detroit Branch NAACP President Wendell Anthony and others among the previously reticent mega-clergy, appear to be coming on board now, too. It remains now for all of us to unite, roll up our sleeves, and prepare to do final battle with those corporacratic charter affiliates and other Schuette, Trump and DeVos minions who are on the brink of snatching (or allowing them to snatch) our precious schools away from us, and ultimately Jim Crow all of them — and all of us.
The demand is one of several lodged by Students4Justice, who this month ratcheted up campus demonstrations to pressure administrators to cave, complaining in a newly launched petition that President Mark Schlissel has snubbed their demands. The clamor for a segregated space for students of color to organize social justice efforts comes as the public university builds a $10 million center for black students and others in the center of campus. In their demands, students explain why the new multicultural student center is not enough, saying, “We want documentation of past, current, and future student activism and this should be a permanent space that is staffed and has resources for students to organize and share resources.” The petition also includes students’ claims about a hate crime that “threatened to kill members of their campus community,” reports the Atlanta Black Star.
Page A-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • March 8-14, 2017
WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?
There are special numbers that we always look forward to. We picked them. We own them. We love them. We play them. They’re our Daily 3&4 numbers. Try your luck on Michigan Lottery Daily 3&4 games. Daily 3 wagers are 50¢ and $1, and you can win up to $500; a $1 wager for Daily 4 has a top prize of $5,000. Drawings are twice a day, seven days a week at 12:59 pm and 7:29 pm. So, visit your favorite Lottery retailer and play Daily 3&4.
Odds of winning: Daily 3: Straight: 1 in 1,000; 3-Way Box: 1 in 333; 6-Way Box: 1 in 167; 1-Off Straight: 1 in 1,000; 1-Off One Digit: 1 in 167. Daily 4: Straight: 1 in 10,000; 4-Way Box: 1 in 2,500; 6-Way Box: 1 in 1,666; 12-Way Box: 1 in 833; 24-Way Box: 1 in 416; 1-Off Straight: 1 in 10,000; 1-Off One Digit: 1 in 1,250. Knowing your limits is always the best bet. Call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline for confidential help at 1-800-270-7117.
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DWMHA leads charge to slow Opioid epidemic
March 8-14, 2017
Across the country the opioid addiction epidemic has exploded, with overdose cases and deaths rocking communities, from small blue-collar towns to large metropolitan centers. Daily, 39,000 people gain access to and begin using opioids for non-medical use and, of those individuals, 78 die from overdose according to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nationwide, the economic impact of this crisis is insurmountable. HHS estimates the cost of emergency department and inpatient care for opioid poisonings has reached $20 billion. The dangers of illicit opioid use, addiction and overdose is prevalent. In December, Michigan State Police seized more than 1,000 oxycodone pills, during a routine traffic stop in southern Wayne County. Detroit Police also recently raided a home used as a Fentanyl lab and found four children were living there. While incidents like these Tom Watkins hit headlines from coast to coast, the real news is what’s being done about it. Law enforcement officials are closing in on the source and working together with human service organization to save lives, sometimes one person at a time. Geared to Respond, Mobilizing Hope The Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA) is on the forefront of the response, opening the safety net in Wayne County, catching many of those who fall victim to opioid addiction and overdose. DWMHA has introduced several programs to respond to the opioid crisis, help prevent access to illicit drugs and save lives. To prepare the community, DWMHA secured vital resources to stem the tide of the epidemic, equipping them with the tools necessary to effectively to save lives. A Naloxone Kit Training and Distribution Program was launched in March of last year. Naloxone is the groundbreaking FDA-approved medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Training is offered to first responders, treatment/prevention specialists, schools and community organizations within Wayne County. Each trainee receives a kit, which DWMHA will replace them free of charge once their use is reported to us. The ongoing program has conducted dozens of trainings with nearly 1,000 attendees, which directly resulted in 32 lives saved. In July 2016, DWMHA distributed Deterra Drug Deactivation bags to providers and to the public. These bags provide a convenient, discreet, environmentally and socially responsible method for getting rid of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription pills, liquids, and patches The biodegradable bags contain an activated carbon that breaks down chemical compounds in the drugs, rendering them ineffective for misuse or abuse, and making them safe for landfill disposal. This year, DWMHA increased Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in FQHCs, SchoolBased Health Centers and hospital emergency rooms so individuals who may need treatment can be detected earlier. Once detected, those individuals can participate in the various programs, including the new Vivitrol Pilot Program, launched at eight Medication Assisted Treatment providers. Vivitrol is the once-a-month medication used with counseling to address those with an opioid addiction as well as alcohol dependence. In another partnership with police, DWMHA is purchasing approximately 20
See OPIOID EPIDEMIC page B-2
DSO’s Classical Roots honors the flame of great African-American music in Detroit
By Keith A. Owens Senior Editor
The true, beating heart of Detroit is defined not by its politics, or even by its fanatical devotion to its sports teams, but by the superior level of arts and culture this city has produced for generations. Detroit music is the primary component of that arts scene, and Detroit is the music capital of the world. I defy anyone to dispute that, especially anyone who happened to attend the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s (DSO) 39th Annual Classical Roots Celebration last Friday night at Orchestra Hall. This was musical art produced at the highest level, which is something Detroit happens to be quite good at. For those who might be unaware, the Classical Roots website defines its objective as follows: “The mission of the Classical Roots Celebration is to increase awareness of the contributions of African-American composers and musicians through performance and recordings, and to support increased opportunities for African Americans in classical music through the DSO’s African-American Composer Residency, Emerging Composer Program, and African-American Fellowship. …Classical Roots honors African-American composers, musicians, and educators for lifetime achievement and raises funds to support the DSO’s African-American music and musician development programs.” Last week’s program featured two true giants of the jazz world, both of whom were awarded for their lifetime musical achievements and contributions. Regina Carter, a Detroit native and Cass Tech graduate, is acknowledged as the premier jazz violinist of her generation and is a Macarthur Fellow. I first saw Regina nearly two decades ago when she was a member of the all-female jazz group Straight Ahead, and she was a monstrous talent then. Since that time, as her DSO guest soloist performance demonstrated last week (Carter performed David Schiff’s concerto 4 Sisters for Jazz Violin and Orchestra), she has become a near-flawless master of her instrument, possessing an uncanny combination of technical wizardry together with a depth of soul, spirit, and feel that enables her to make the instrument speak and command the emotions of an audience, not simply perform. You know you’re witnessing a master when you can’t quite discern where the physical embodiment of the artist ends and the instrument begins, because the two have become one.
Regina Carter (l) and Terence Blanchard (r) receive Lifetime Achievement awards at last week’s Classical Roots celebration held at DSO’s Orchestra Hall. DSO Jazz Creative chair and trumpeter Terence Blanchard, a New Orleans native who has been here for more than five years and acknowleges that he has fallen in love with the city as his second home, was the second honoree. Blanchard was commissioned to write a piece for orchestra and choir commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 rebellion, which premiered at Classical Roots. Entitled Detroit 67, the piece was done in partnership with the citywide Detroit 67: Looking Back to Move Forward, described as “a multi-year community engagement project of the Detroit Historical Society that brings together diverse voices and communities around the effects of an historic crisis to find their place in the present and inspire the future.” With more than 31 albums under his belt, Blanchard is a five-time Grammy Award-winner and a Golden Globe nominee. He has composed scores for more than 50 films, including every Spike Lee film since 1991. I had a chance to speak with him briefly prior to the event. How long have you been with the DSO? I’ve been here about five-and-a-half years. How has the experience been? Oh it’s been an amazing experience. We’ve been saying we’re trying to rebuild Detroit one concert at a time, and it’s been a beautiful experience watching the whole process grow, watching the subscription base grow. Seeing how the patrons who’ve been coming to support us, they’ve just been extremely supportive of everything we’ve done. So there’s been a strong response to the DSO jazz programs? Oh definitely. Since I’ve been here
we’ve doubled our subscription base. How do you feel about the Classical Roots honor? It’s a humbling thing. It’s truly humbling. First of all, it’s humbling to receive the award, but to be asked to write a piece [about] a piece of Detroit history that was so important for everyone here, it was a huge honor. I just hope that I did everybody proud. What influenced you as you wrote the piece? What did you try to bring to it? The first thing I tried to deal with was two main aspects of the event; the immediate aftermath of it, that eerie calm after something devastating and tragic has happened. The second movement is all about how far Detroit has come from there, the positive things that are going on and looking forward to the future, because there has been a lot of amazing growth. I remember it wasn’t too long ago when the mayor was talking about just trying to keep the lights on. It seems like the city is so far away from that now. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and to be inspired by. You’re from New Orleans. How does the Detroit experience compare, musically and otherwise? Musically, both cities have their own musical traditions that are very rich and vast. But when it comes to dealing with tragedies like this, I think there are more similarities than anything. Because the [persistence] of folks to preserve the culture, to preserve the way of life, and not be deterred from that goal because of any natural disaster or any event created by man. It speaks to that eternal spirit
See CLASSICAL ROOTS page B-2
Head Start Early Childhood Innovation Fund announces grant awards of $1.5 million The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan today announced that the Head Start Early Childhood Innovation Fund Collaborative (Innovation Fund) will award grants totaling $1.5 million through nine awards to Head Start grantees to support parent engagement and teacher recruitment and retention activities. This is the first round of grants awarded since the expansion of the program to the tri-county region. This latest round of grants continues Innovation Fund support for nearly 9,000 young children and their families enrolled in local Head Start agencies in Detroit, Wayne County, Oakland County, and Macomb County. “We received nine innovative proposals,” said Katie Brisson, vice president of programs, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, which ad-
ministers the Innovation Fund on behalf of 10 foundation supporters. “The Innovation Fund was impressed with the plans agencies proposed for teacher recruitment and retention, as well as programs that will assist early educators in supporting children and families living in adverse conditions.”
ston Human Services Agency and Macomb County – Macomb Action Agency for collaborative work trauma-informed training and support for parents and staff
The nine grants totaling $1.5 million will go to the following organizations:
• $125,000 to Wayne Metro Community Action Agency for an innovative apprenticeship program for high school students interested in an early educator career
• $75,000 to Starfish Family Services (Western Wayne) for trauma-informed training and support for parents and staff
• $200,000 to Matrix Human Services to promote Head Start and Early Head Start teacher retention and development • $150,000 to Metropolitan Children and Youth (Operating as United Children and Families) to promote Head Start and Early Head Start teacher retention and development • $260,000 to New St. Paul Tabernacle Head Start Agency
to promote Head Start and Early Head Start teacher retention and development • $390,000 to Starfish Family Services (Detroit) for trauma-informed training and support for parents and staff
• $75,000 to The Guidance Center to promote Head Start and Early Head Start teacher retention and development • Two grants totaling $250,000, each representing $125,000, to Oakland Living-
The $11 million Head Start Early Childhood Innovation Fund is supported by ten foundations who are part of the Southeast Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative. The Innovation Fund awards competitive grants for
See GRANT page B-2
community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Grant
Women’s group donates 20,000 new books to Detroit kids in need
Michigan Chronicle report
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women distributed 20,000 new books to schools, after-school programs and community programs serving students from low-income families. 250 volunteers helped to distribute the 20,000 books to more than 100 recipient groups throughout the Detroit area. The book distribution took place in honor of Pi Beta Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service, an annual event bringing Pi Phis together to serve their communities through literacy service. Access to new, age-appropriate books helps change these children’s lives. This year’s event took place at Kresge Eye Institute at the Detroit Medical Center. At the event, Pi Phis helped sort, carry and distribute books and facilitate children’s activities led by Michigan authors: Debbie Taylor, Denise Brennan-Nelson, Kristin Bartley Lenz, Lisa Rose and Ruth McNally Barshaw. They provided engaging activities for the 150 children who attended including making personalized bookmarks, bookplates, face painting; Dr. Seuss® related crafts and photo booth. Each child took home a goodie bag with their own hand-selected book. “An eight-year-old girl unexpectedly grabbed my hand and asked me if she could go through the hallway of cheering volunteers wearing storybook character costumes – the
Classic Roots
that is stronger than anything. And when you see people come together and those spirits unite, it becomes a very powerful force. Do you feel music and the arts will play a strong part in the healing of Detroit? Oh man, without a doubt. I was just out last night at a club to hear some local musicians play, and it reminds me so much of New Orleans, because these guys are playing from their heart, man. And they’re doing it because it’s a healing process for them that they’re going through. And they’re helping other people heal too. And, you know, that’s a huge part of the Detroit culture. There is no development I can see without that musical culture being in existence. What are your thoughts about the tradition of the Classical Roots celebration itself?
“Our fraternity of almost 300,000 women is united in the cause to promote the importance of reading,” said Pi Beta Phi President Paula Shepherd. “According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, one in four children grows up functionally illiterate, and we believe that is one too many. Pi Beta Phi is thrilled to participate in this book distribution because we believe reading trans-
When people leave the concert Friday night, what do you hope they will take away from the experience? I think the thing that I hope happens is that people reflect on their own humanity. When you look at
From page B-1
Innovation Fund funders include the Colina Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Max M.& Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Jewish Fund, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, McGregor Fund, PNC Bank Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
forms individuals, creates leaders and is the foundation of all that we can achieve in life.” About Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women: Founded in 1867 at Monmouth College in Illinois, Pi Beta Phi has installed 204 collegiate chapters and nearly 300 alumnae clubs worldwide. Pi Beta Phi promotes friendship, develops women of intellect and integrity, cultivates leadership potential and enriches the lives of members and their communities. The Fraternity believes in the power of reading and through its philanthropy, Read > Lead > Achieve, promotes a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential. For additional information, visit www.pibetaphi.org or follow Pi Phi on Twitter and Facebook.
From page B-1 Well for me, it’s kind of like the bringing me back home kind of thing because I grew up hearing classical music, and operatic music in the church that I grew up in, in New Orleans. So I think it’s an amazing honor to be a part of this because it’s kind of bringing me back to my roots where I started. Again, being asked to write a piece for choir and orchestra, it’s a humbling thing. But it’s also an amazing opportunity for me given where I’ve come from. Because, man, you know writing this piece has brought me back to the origins of my musical identity as a kid growing up in the church hearing choral music.
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programs and partnerships that improve the quality of Head Start services and outcomes for children and their families in Detroit and the tri-counties. It also provides strategic support for system-wide needs, such as oversight of a monthly Learning Network for all providers, creation and administration of a common enrollment campaign, comprehensive data collection, and provision of collaborative access to shared resources, such as quality training.
look on her face with her huge smile was priceless as we walked hand-inhand surrounded by smiling Pi Beta Phi volunteers,” said Event Co-Chair Michelle Woodhouse. “She didn’t let go of my hand until she jumped into her chair in author/illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw’s program where she learned how to draw a story with the other children. She looked up at me with a big smile and said ‘thank you so much’ and I walked away with tears in my eyes.” Pi Beta Phi is helping put books into the hands of these deserving children in partnership with First Book®, a nonprofit providing new books to its national network of schools and programs. Over the past several years, Pi Beta Phi has donated well over $1 million to literacy causes and given more than one million books to children in need. Now, the goal is to impact one million lives through its philanthropy Read > Lead > Achieve® by the time Pi Beta Phi celebrates its 150th anniversary this summer.
March 8-14, 2017
the immediate aftermath [the second movement of the piece], we’re gonna have some visuals that play behind the orchestra while the music is being performed. And when you look at those images, there’s some dark days in Detroit’s past, but there’s some beautiful days in the future, and the present. That only happens when people come together and work together, understand the frailties of humanity, and treat each other with respect and compassion. And I hope those are some of the things people walk away with after hearing the music. So how much longer will you be with us in the city? I’m not sure. It was a two-year appointment, but we’ve kinda, like, thrown that out the window. So, as long as they’ll have me, man, I’ll be here.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $892 million through more than 59,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org
Opioid epidemic From page B-1 Permanent Prescription Take Back Boxes to be placed in all of the City of Detroit Police Precincts, Inkster Police and other surrounding police stations in Wayne County per their request. DWMHA has increased access to programs which address the crisis by enhancing and broadening the network of available services. DWMHA continues to get the word out through marketing and technology, distributing miniature SUD billboards in schools and offices with DWMHA’s access number; and smart phone apps in prevention, treatment and recovery services such as the MyStrength web-based system throughout provider network. From mobilizing the community and increasing awareness to equipping responders and enhancing supports and services, Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority is ever vigilant in response to the crises that has shaken the country. The ongoing efforts are not without challenges, but the fight to save lives will always be worthwhile and DWMHA leads the way. Tom Watkins is president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority. He served as state mental health director and state superintendent of schools. Follow him on twitter @tdwatkins88
Ask the Dr.
Do you suffer from mental illness, addiction, depression? Dr. Carmen McIntyre
is here to answer your questions
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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
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Detroit PAL hosts 8th Annual MVP Awards with special honors for Meijer, RISE and Detroit Pistons Michigan Chronicle report
The Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) recognized Meijer, RISE, and the Detroit Pistons for their support of Detroit PAL programs at the 8th Annual MVP Dinner Awards ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Detroit Yacht Club with 400 Detroit business leaders and Detroit PAL supporters in attendance. Detroit PAL announced Meijer as the presenting sponsor of the Willie Horton Field of Dreams at the event with a $750,000 gift. The Willie Horton Field of Dreams, presented by Meijer, will allow kids from Detroit and the surrounding communities to play diamond sports, football, soccer, cheerleading, and more at the new headquarters and stadium.
“Detroit PAL is very excited to announce the Willie Horton Field of Dreams, presented by Meijer,” said Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey. “Meijer’s commitment to youth sports is making a difference all over the Midwest and we are proud to work with them to get kids playing at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.” Detroit PAL awarded Meijer, RISE and the Detroit Pistons with their most esteemed awards: • Meijer was recognized with the Dave Bing Leadership Award for their presenting sponsorship of the Willie Horton Field of Dreams at the new Detroit PAL Headquarters. This incredible investment will allow Detroit PAL to grow youth leadership and development pro-
gramming at the site while reimagining the iconic location. • The Detroit Pistons accepted The Varner/Tenbusch Builder Award for their continued support of the Detroit PAL Recreational Basketball Program. In 2016, the Detroit Pistons announced a $300,000 gift to Detroit PAL to help grow youth basketball programming in the city of Detroit. Detroit PAL has increased participation and improved the league, including boys and girls leagues, the Little Hoopers program, camps and clinics. • The night’s final award was presented to the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), who received The Varner/Tenbusch Game Changer Award for their hard work for equality in sports and their partnership
with Detroit PAL. Detroit PAL is proud to serve alongside RISE in this critical endeavor as its first youth athletic partner in the country. The partnership between RISE and PAL will ensure young people from different backgrounds will have the opportunity to compete with and against each other. The non-profit also recognized a program volunteer with the Cynthia Covington Volunteer of the Year Award and named its 2017 Youth Ambassador. This year, Detroit Police officer Donald Parker was honored for his participation in the Team Up Program, and Caidon Haliburton was named as representative of Detroit PAL’s 13,000 youth athletes. The also highlight the non-profit’s successful year of
fundraising toward their Kids at the Corner capacity campaign. The campaign launched in 2015 when it was announced that Detroit PAL would be redeveloping the historic Tiger Stadium site with a fundraising goal of $20M. Detroit PAL is a non-profit organization positively impacting the lives of 13,000 children each year through athletic, academic and leadership development programs with roots dating back to 1969. Detroit PAL empowers the community by training volunteer coaches and creating safe places for kids to play. Each year, Detroit PAL teaches over 1,700 community members how to be encouraging and effective mentors. For more information, visit www. detroitpal.org.
Detroit Parent Network announces M-Step Opt Out campaign Michigan Chronicle report
“There are assessments that are helpful to our children, like the SAT and the MAP,” says Sharlonda Buckman, CEO of Detroit Parent Network. “But we do not agree with the way the state used the results of the M-STEP from last year to disrupt and punish the schools in our community this year. We are encouraging all parents, not just in Detroit but across Michigan, to opt-out of the M-STEP this spring.”
Championship boxer Dr. Darrius and Jessica help redecorate Wish Upon a Teen room at C.S. Mott Hospital
Proceeds will support programs for teens with severe medical conditions Michigan Chronicle Report
Wish Upon A Teen is proud to host A Fighting Chance, a premier boxing fundraiser, at Bert’s Warehouse on April 29 at 7:00 p.m.
There’s an enticing roster for the evening that should lead to some exciting matches, including: • Dr. Darrius (97.9 WJLB DJ) vs. Bronco McKart (3x World Champion)
The semiformal evening will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, music and six Vegas-style boxing matches, including a faceoff between celebrity boxers Dr. Darrius of WJLB radio and former WBO light middleweight champion Bronco McKart.
• Willie Fortune (22-2 professional record) vs. James Ballard (8-0 professional record)
The funds raised from A Fighting Chance will provide resources and opportunities to teens with severe life-limiting medical conditions through Wish Upon A Teen programs, including its flagship program, Design My Room®, as well as other signature programs such as Spa Day, An Evening of Dreams Prom and family outings.
• Zach Shamoun (4-0-2 professional record)
“Our fundraising goal for A Fight Chance is $100,000,” said Wish Upon A Teen’s Executive Director Nancy Sovran. “We have been doing a record number of Design My Rooms® and cannot do it without the generosity of the community. We want to be able to reach every teen who is facing a serious life-threatening illness.” Wish Upon A Teen has held an annual fundraising event since its inception in 2011, but this is the first boxing-themed event the organization is hosting. Board member and owner of Jabs Gym, David Tessler, has played an integral role in creating an authentic boxing event. “Bert’s Warehouse is an iconic Motown venue and is the perfect spot for this charity boxing night,” Tessler said. “There will be six boxing matches, including a celebrity match, with professional and amateur fighters.”
• Isiah Jones (3-0 professional record and National Golden Gloves Champion) vs. Antonio Wade (3-0 professional record)
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. will sponsor their Annual Vocal Arts Competition on Saturday, March 11, at 4 p.m. Young emerging artists will perform before three judges and an audience appreciative of the opportunity to hear classical music. Central United Methodist Church at 23 E. Adams in downtown Detroit is the host site for the event. The evening will provide a competition of classical vocal talent. Each contestant will perform a repertoire from arias, opera, oratorio or cantata, a French melodies, a German lied and a Negro spiritual or selection by an Af-
The M-STEP takes ten hours per student and up to eight weeks of a school’s calendar to complete. This year, the M-STEP runs from April 10th to May 26th . Last August, the State School Reform Officer announced that she is using the results from the M-STEP to determine which schools would close this year, and last month she followed up with a list of 38 pos-
sible schools to close (25 of which are in Detroit). However, the M-STEP has no lasting value, as State Superintendent Brian Whiston is planning to move to a new assessment next school year. “We don’t need a 10hour test to tell us that schools serving the highest concentrations of students in poverty will likely score the lowest on any top-to-bottom list,” says Buckman. “We reject the premise that this means they must be failing our kids. Just as we don’t call community colleges failures for not achieving the same results as U of M or MSU, we should not call neighborhood schools ‘failing’ and ‘low-performing’ for not getting the same results as magnet schools, application schools, or other schools in higher-income communities.” Parents who want their children to opt-out can find more information, including a form let-
ter for principals, on their website at www.detroitparentnetwork.org. Detroit Parent Network Detroit Parent Network is a premier parent organization that transforms parents to make Detroit a better place to raise and educate children. Detroit Parent Network works to improve parent involvement in education by offering workshops, practical tools, written materials and leadership development, all designed to build a constituency of powerful parents for change. Vision: Parents are the driving force ensuring conditions exist for metro Detroit children to thrive. Mission: A network of parents working to build and engage parents and others to ensure every child has a champion. For more information please contact lhoost@ detroitparentnetwork.org or call (313) 309-8102.
• Plus two amateur matches Wish Upon a Teen is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing resources, time and opportunities to teenagers with severe life-limiting medical conditions. Through creative, social, and educational opportunities, the goal is to normalize their environment and rebuild their self-esteem as they transition to adulthood. Wish Upon a Teen’s founder, Michelle Soto, has an extensive background as a Child Life Specialist caring for children and teenagers. Through this experience, she learned that the particular needs of teens are often overlooked within the medical community. The combination of normal teenage stressors along with the impact of a severe life-limiting medical condition or injury can make the transition to adulthood extremely challenging. Wish Upon a Teen provides ongoing support, age-appropriate programs and a variety of fun events to teenagers throughout the United States. Tickets for $50 regular admission and $150 VIP can be purchased at http://www.wishuponateen.org/a-fighting-chance
NANBPWC hold annual arts competition Michigan Chronicle reports
More than 650,000 students in 15 states across the nation opted out of taking mandatory assessments like the M-STEP in the 2014-15 school year. Opting-out has galvanized parents from diverse communities who believe that their children are being over-tested for the wrong reasons. The average student takes 112 standardized tests between kindergarten and 12th grade, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.
rican-American composer. A reception follows the competition. The first place contestant will qualify for the district competition which will be held in May. Candidates who qualify for the national competition will receive financial awards. Competition occurs at the local, district and national levels. In Southeast Michigan, the competition is sponsored by five NANBPW clubs — Detroit Senior Club, New Metro Detroit Club, Ann Arbor Club, Pontiac Club and the Flint Club. The mission of NANBPWC, Inc is to advocate, educate, cooperate and implement programs relative to matters affecting nlack women and society as a whole. There is no admission cost.
DTE Energy offers Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan
Michigan Chronicle report
The DTE Energy Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan is an affordable payment plan for eligible low-income families. This program allows a person to make affordable monthly payments based on income, while the remaining portion of the bill is paid monthly with energy assistance funds. DTE customers interested in enrolling in the LSP for the first time must submit a completed application and all required documents by April 30, 2017. Existing LSP customers must submit a completed application ASAP to attempt to prevent benefit interruption. For more information, visit the DTE website at www.dteenergy.com/LSP, read our FAQs or call 844-598-7967 (9-5 MonFri). Before applying, please have the following ready: • DTE Energy account number and bill mailing address as shown on monthly bill; • Date and amount of previous energy
assistance received within the last 12 months; • Social Security number plus identity verification (driver’s license, state ID, etc.) and date of birth for each household member; • Pay amount and employer’s name for each employed member of the household; • Amount of unearned income received by each member of the household (Social Security benefits, pension/retirement benefits, veteran’s benefits, military allotments, DHS FIP cash assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), workers’ compensation, child support, etc.); • Monthly and annual income last year for each self-employed person. If self-employed income was less than $10,000 last year, the person must sign the application; if more than $10,000, receipts for work provided must be included; • Proof of monthly amount of health insurance premiums, court-ordered child support and out-of-pocket child care costs paid by each household member.
HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher
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CATHY NEDD Associate Publisher KEITH A. OWENS Senior Editor SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011
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Acknowledging unprecedented support for HBCUs By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO, NNPA
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. routinely would remind those of us who worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s about the vital importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As we celebrated Black History Month 2017, Dr. King’s admonition concerning the enduring need for HBCUs should be reaffirmed every month. Dr. King once emphasized, “The function of education is to teach one to Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” Dr. King was a graduate scholar of one of the leading HBCUs, Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was not only an intellectual genius and spiritual leader, but also had an enormous moral character that kept SCLC’s leadership on the front-line of civil rights social transformation. There should be no rational debate about the contemporary necessity to support the sustainability of the nation’s HBCUs. Yet, we do live in times where too many people have been misled to lean on the unfortunate and unstable walls of irrationality, divisiveness and the absence of truth. As we continue to posit and emphasize, there is a glaring need to demand intellectual honesty in all matters pertaining to the pursuit of freedom, justice, equality and empowerment for Black America and all others who struggle to improve the quality of life for all humanity. When it comes to the crucial funding of HBCUs, this is a matter that transcends the partisan divide between the left and the right. Truth is nonpartisan. Truth is therapeutic. Substantial efforts to increase higher education opportunities for Black Americans and others should not get mired down in contradictory and self-defeating political discourse. March 16 will mark the 190th anniversary of the Black Press in America since the first publication of “Freedom’s Journal” on March 16, 1827 in New York City. Honesty, integrity, and publishing the truth without fear of consequence
have been the hallmarks of the Black Press in the United States for nearly two centuries. We have neither reluctance nor hesitation, therefore, to acknowledge the strategic and unprecedented support that the Charles Koch Foundation and Koch Industries have given to Historically Black Colleges and Universities via the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). Recently, one of the single largest financial contributions to TMCF, $25.6 million, was made by the Charles Koch Foundation and Koch Industries. These funds are dedicated to establish and develop TMCF’s Center for Advancing Opportunity. “This is a momentous partnership,” stated Dr. Johnny C. Taylor, Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s president and chief executive officer. “Historically Black Colleges and Universities are uniquely positioned to lead the field in this type of research. There are thousands of fragile communities across the United States where there are tremendous barriers to opportunity. It’s important to recognize that lasting change to strengthen these communities must begin at the local level. So, we are proud to come together with the Charles Koch Foundation and Koch Industries to help members of these communities identify and study the challenges most significant to them.” The Center for Advancing Opportunity will focus on education, criminal justice, entrepreneurship and other issues the affect the quality of life in African American communities. The center also will create research think tanks on HBCU campuses, provide academic scholarships, establish graduate fellowships and render grants to selected HBCU faculty members. As a proud graduate of the flagship HBCU Howard University, I have witnessed firsthand the advantages and enormous value of primary research accomplished by Howard and other HBCU centers of research power, ingenuity and innovation. The proposed TMCF Center for Advancing Opportunity is a welcomed development that the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) salutes and applauds forthrightly. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.
Congress must investigate Trump’s potential Russian ties By Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.)
The endurance of our nation’s security, sovereignty, and democracy is not a partisan issue. This is a top concern for all Americans and should be a top priority for the leaders that we send to Washington, whether Democrat or Republican. As elected officials, my colleagues and I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We, therefore, have a responsibility to do our due diligence in investigating Russian interference, and potential influ- Bennie G. Thompson ence, into our democratic elections and the potential Russian ongoing connections within this current presidential administration. Despite all of the evidence gathered thus far – evidence that has led all 17 of the U.S. intelligence agencies to conclude with confidence that the Russians had indeed interfered in the past election – the current administration seems unable or unwilling to put its full weight behind a full and proper investigation that seems necessary to the American people. In the face of evidence that campaign and administration officials seem to have had relationships with Russian officials, the president cannot simply move on from this issue. In fact, the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn this month seems to provide us with more questions than answers. The potential conflicts between the Trump Administration and its apparent ties to Russia seem numerous. The president has refused to release his tax returns – a move not seen from any oth-
er modern major party candidate – leaving questions unanswered as to potential Russian business ties and conflicts of interest that President Trump was all too happy to gloat about in years past. The president is unable to criticize Russia and its dictator-like leader Vladimir Putin, but, instead, praises him and prefers him to President Obama. When confronted with the assertion that Putin has had journalists and political opponents killed, President Trump doubled down on his support of Putin by shockingly asserting a moral equivalence between Russia and the United States. The president’s ties to Russia don’t end with him, however, they trickle down into his administration. As in the campaign, President Trump continues to surround himself with advisers that have expansive and well-documented financial entanglements to Russia. Recently, “The New York Times” reported that phone records show Trump associates communicated with senior Russian intelligence officials throughout the campaign, including his former campaign chair Paul Manafort, who is known to have involvements in multimillion-dollar business deals with Putin allies in Ukraine. Additionally, Michael Flynn was forced to resign following information revealing that he had lied about privately discussing U.S sanctions against Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, a potentially illegal act. It has since been reported that White House officials were made aware of Flynn’s actions and made no effort to correct the record. It was only after leaks to the public that President Trump’s hand was forced, raising concerns regarding the ability of this White House to maintain honest and open communication with the American people. This intricate web leaves us with critical questions that must be answered. U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) represents Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District and is the ranking member on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Detroit’s billioinaires take millions from the poorest children in the nation By Linda Simmons Money, money, money, money, mon ey! The O’Jay’s lyrics ring true. Some people will get it by hook or crook. Many African-American millenials, are complacently engaged on social media and watching celebrities make big bucks Empire, Love and Hip Hop, The Kardashians and Real Housewives of Atlanta, while billionaires, bankers, and power brokers, are busy buying buildings, and land right under their noses. Wealthy developers are reconstructing downtown Detroit (and other urban cities), with public funds taken from the poor, the needy, and the undereducated. Detroit is the nation’s largest city to file bankruptcy in history (2013). Ironically, it has some of the richest people in the world, from there, and or living there in “Pure” Michigan (state logo). According to Forbes most recent ranking, these billionaires include Hank and Doug Meijer ($8.2 billion); Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans, Cleveland Cavaliers ($4.9 billion); Mike and Mariah Ilitch, Little Caesars Pizza chain, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Motor City Casino Hotel ($4.8 billion); Richard Devos and family, Amway co-founder and Orlando Magic owner ($4.7 billion); Rhonda Stryker, maker of replacement joints and medical devices ($3.6 billion); John Brown, former Stryker CEO ($2.1 billion); Manuel “Matty” Moroun, controls the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit and owns several trucking firms ($1.8 billion); William Young, owner of Plastipak ($1.5 billion); Roger Penske, owner of Penske Auto Group ($1.4 billion), and Martha Ford, widow of William Clay Ford ($1.3 billion), owner of Detroit Lions (Dalbey, Beth, Birmingham Patch, 3/3/2016). For two billionaires in particular, Mike Illitch, and Dan Gilbert, the timing couldn’t be better to take advantage of a bankrupt city. They catapulted into a shopping-spree like Black Friday, buying property at dirt cheap prices. Gilbert took downtown and Ilitch took Midtown, smiling all the way to the bank.
Without shame, billionaire Mike Ilitch, with the help of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Republican state legislatures, and the city, played his “trump” card and landed a deal (no pun intended) to construct his privately owned stadium and arena district. The approximate cost of $881million, 61% publicly funded, and an estimated $536 million from tax increments, including Detroit Public Schools’ funds. “In December 2012, the Michigan legislature restored Detroit’s ability to levy school tax funds from the downtown district for economic development purposes. If that 12.8 million annual gift weren’t going to the Ilitch empire, it would go to the state’s School Aid Fund.” (Bill Bradley, Detroit Scam City: How the Red Wings Took Hockey town For All I Had) “All of that was backdoor dealing,” says state Rep. Rashida Tliab (D Detroit), a critic of the deal who ultimately voted against the bill. “Every single thing that happened here in the legislature, as well as on the city level, all of that was agreed upon without consulting the community…” (Keith Mathney, Detroit Free Press) Amidst a screaming voice, discouraging city council from giving land to billionaire Ilitch, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, approved a 5-4 vote to transfer the land. Council also sold the adjacent arena district for only a $1. Wait, there’s more, not only do the taxpayers have to pay for the Joe Louis Arena demolition, the city is prohibited from using the vacant land. And what does Detroit get for its generosity? Not one dollar! The revenues from the arena’s gate receipts, luxury suite sales, concessions, and more, will go into Ilitch’s bulging pockets. Ouch! Outraged, popular John Oliver, on Last Week Tonight (HBO), blasted Ilitch for taking $283 million of public funds, to build a privately owned Detroit Red Wings stadium, six days after the city filed for bankruptcy. He questioned why a billionaire would take money from a broke city (https://wwwyoutube
Political involvement is necessary, not sufficient By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Newswire Columnist
The unfortunate election of Donald J. Trump to the Presidency of the United States speaks volumes about the limits of African American involvement in the political system. Don’t get me wrong. I was born and will live and die a political junkie, obsessed with the minutiae of politics. Actually, I’m a recovering politician; having run for office, got my butt beat, and flirted with the possibility of doing it again for years. Politics is about making the rules of distribution, of deciding Julianne Malveaux how laws determine who gets what, when, where and why. Politics, importantly, ensures that those, who make the rules are favorably disposed toward justice and fairness. Politics allows resistance, when those elected don’t follow the lead of their constituents. Economics and politics are closely aligned. Economics also determines who gets what, when, where and why. “So-called” free markets determine the flows of economic distribution, but politics often regulates the way that these “so-called” free markets work. I say that these markets are “so-called” free, because we know that politicians distort markets to their liking. During a recession, for example, politicians agree that bankers need a tight rein on them that they can’t simply exploit for the purpose of earning predatory profits. After a recession, some politicians might loosen the rein on bankers and decide to let predatory markets flow free. African Americans have righteously focused on politics and the political system, especially during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, when the fight for the right to vote was a priority. People like Fannie Lou Hamer were beaten within inches of their lives, because they were determined to vote. Medgar Evers was killed because he was
organizing voters. We had a focus on laws. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The law will not make you love me, but it will keep you from lynching me.” And so we focus on the laws and on politics. The Trump election reminds us of the limitations of politics, and the need to focus on the economic aspects of our lives. Political involvement is necessary, but not sufficient for Black progress. Every single economic indicator shows African American people lagging. Not much has changed since 1967, when Dr. King said, “Of the good things in life, the Negro has approximately one half those of Whites. Of the bad things of life, he has twice those of Whites. Thus, half of all Negroes live in substandard housing. And Negroes have half the income of Whites. When we view the negative experiences of life, the Negro has a double share. There are twice as many unemployed. The rate of infant mortality among Negroes is double that of Whites and there are twice as many Negroes dying in Vietnam as Whites in proportion to their size in the population.” The numbers have changed some, but the bottom line is that African-Americans are not full equal participants in our economy. How do we fix that? How do African Americans flex our full economic muscles? How do we reward those corporations that support equality, and punish, through selective buying and boycotts, those who oppose freedom and equal opportunity? How do we stomp with the big dogs like the Koch brothers who buy politicians with the same ease that some of us buy potato chips? Do we even stand a chance? Politicians make rules, but money talks when the nonsense walks. We need to spend as much time focusing on economics as on politics. We need to follow the money when we see oppression. And we need to be clear that the clearest path to black liberation is that path that focuses on economics. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available to order at www.juliannemalveaux.com at Amazon.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @drjlastword.
community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
Page B-5
Law and taxes: Lifelong learning and Detroit woman’s dual career Detroit, the Motor City, may be best known for being the epicenter of the U.S. auto industry and home to top-tier professional sports franchises – NFL’s Lions, MLB’s Tigers, NBA’s Pistons and NHL’s Red Wings. But for many in Midtown Detroit, one person personifies the best of Detroit with the heart of a lion and the tenacity of a tiger: Valencia Lundy. Valencia Lundy is the youngest of seven children. Self-proclaimed as being “spoiled,” Lundy’s work ethic and effervescent smile have more than made up for what she received as the “baby” of the family. From her first job in fast-food as a teen, her mother instilled in her to do her best at all times. “Mom always said to look at every job you have like it is your career,” Lundy said one morning between seeing clients as a tax professional at an H&R Block office a few blocks from Wayne State University. “That’s because you never know how long you may be doing it, so treat it like you will be there forever and be the best you can be.” Lundy took that to heart and has had not one career, but two. Her careers have spanned more than 40 years; Lundy spent 25 years as a Wayne County Sherriff’s officer and is in her 20th year as a tax professional at H&R Block. While most people are lucky to have one career, Lundy is going strong on her second. In the mid-1980s, Lundy began career number one and during the next 25 years would learn a lot about herself, find and marry the love of her life, launch career two and realize that she is never truly fulfilled unless she is learning something new or serving others. A Detroit native, Lundy joined the Wayne County Sherriff’s Department in 1986. She held several positions, first working in the jail, then in the courts, later served as a forms processor issuing warrants, then as a local D.A.R.E officer in area schools, and then finally back to jail in the women’s psych ward. During this career she met and married Jonathan Jackson. Lundy and her husband retired from the force in
in the class among her clients and other clients who visit her office.
ents. After three years in the new office, that office’s revenue increased 300 percent.
But her ITC teaching career soared to new heights. As a new instructor, she was asked to teach one of the first courses in the summer. Typically, these classes in August are very lightly attended. So she was given the challenge — recruit students or don’t teach. As she does with everything, Lundy threw herself into this task full force. A class that often is cancelled due to low turnout was full in a few weeks. And her methods proved so successful she was asked to teach (and recruit) upcoming ITC sessions that fall and every year since.
“I believe my work in law enforcement helped to develop my communication skills for H&R Block,” Lundy said. “Not only with client service but also my ability to relate to and communicate with the many personalities of the tax pros. It’s like my whole life journey led to this moment at H&R Block.
“I like to challenge myself,” she said about constantly learning and doing more. “I like to learn so I can teach. I think if I’m going to expect others to learn how to do something from me I better know how to do it first.” The two careers meshed so well it was easy to keep doing both.
Valencia Lundy 2009 — more than a decade into her role as a tax professional. She also was active in her union, which is where she started to learn the true value of serving others. Among her law enforcement colleagues, Lundy can count many of them as her clients and friends. One such person is Nicole Rideaux, a former partner at the Sherriff’s Department. When Lundy first did Rideaux’s taxes she found her additional tax savings due to rental properties Rideaux had left off the tax return. It was clear then that Rideaux would be a client for life. “Valencia lives, eats and breathes taxes,” Rideaux said. The two share more than just the occasional tax tip, however. “In law enforcement, you create this brotherhood and sisterhood,” Rideaux said. “Any special occasions we are there for each other. That’s what I have with Valencia. I feel I am part of her family. We have a bond that cannot be broken.”
It may have been her time as a school D.A.R.E officer lecturing school children on the dangers of drugs — when she developed her knack for teaching. The move to D.A.R.E. was a great one for her because she discovered she was “very community oriented.” “Every day going to work was like going to school to play,” Lundy said. “But I also really enjoyed the teaching aspect, too.” She enjoyed teaching so much that she went back to school during the past couple of years at Wayne State to get her teaching degree. She is just a semester or two short of that goal. But a funny thing happened on her way to that degree: taxes. And thus, a third career is not happening – for now. “I just realized I love doing taxes and helping my clients too much,” she said. So, her teaching fix comes at H&R Block. It’s little wonder that Lundy is one of the top H&R Block Income Tax Course instructors and has developed a plan that generates interest
“Working at H&R Block helped me develop better communications skills that I could apply to my work in law enforcement,” Lundy said. After retiring from the Sherriff’s Office, there was no question that Lundy would continue at H&R Block and keep expanding her role. Today, in addition to writing approximately 350 tax returns every season, Lundy enjoys her “off-season” role as an Income Tax Course recruiter and ambassador. Her recruitment method? Just ask. She says she asks people she meets on the street if they have ever thought about preparing tax returns. She tells them about the Income Tax Course, how much it costs and if they are interested, she asks when they might be ready to sign up. Easy as that. She’s also a certification coach and a first-year tax pro mentor. Her interest in serving her community led her to finding her calling — managing an H&R Block tax office. Even after moving to an office 15 miles from where she had been serving her clients previously, she retained 89 percent of her cli-
“I get the company concept, company vision, client interaction, I really get it,” Lundy said. One summer day, Lundy was serving a personal protection order against a citizen. Lundy approached the home with no trepidation. She had her training and knew she knew people and how to talk to them. As she approached the home she clearly heard shouts and profanity. When she got to the door it was open and the only thing between her and the screaming was a screen door. She knocked and when a man came to the door she explained who she was, showed her badge and asked if the man she was coming to see was the one inside shouting. When the person at the door indicated it was, Lundy with one-part humor and one-part empathy said, “Well, he may shout some more after I give him what I have for him.” It was just the right thing to say at the right time. The man came to the door and after declaring how he felt toward her, the man who filed for the protection order and life in general, he eventually calmed down. “I understood why this man was upset,” Lundy said. “I let him vent because I know he wouldn’t have listened to a thing I said until I first listened to him.” Her calming demeanor won this person over. She politely explained that no matter how upset he may be, he cannot threaten anyone. But she also explained how to appeal the ruling and what to do to remedy the situation. Order, in effect, was restored and the rest is “herstory.” To read this article in its entirety, visit www.michiganchronicle.com.
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Page B-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • March 8-14, 2017
SECTION C
BUSINESS Powered by Real Times Media
michiganchronicle.com
March 8-14, 2017
New publishing exec to expand newspaper’s digital presence Michigan Chronicle staff report
Hiram E. Jackson, chief executive officer of Real Times Media, has announced that Shari Noland has been hired as executive editor of its iconic Chicago Defender news brand as well as a content strategist for its parent company, Real Times Media. Noland brings an extensive background in digital media, having designed, developed and implemented content for various websites for government, magazines, e-commerce and non-profits. “Newspapers are relevant today and for the future, but they need to change with the times to continue to grow and thrive,” stated Jackson. “Our number one goal at Real Times Media is to create more engaging digital content and live events. “Shari, with her background in publishing and digital, will help the Defender maximize the vision of broadening its digital presence while at the same time continuing to provide engaging, credible, newsworthy and informative content for the black community through the pages of the Defender.” With 20 years of experience in the publishing world, including stints with publishing giant Meredith, Noland was
Rev. Jim Holley envisions Detroit-based culinary, hospitality training academy for youth New facility, only one of its kind, scheduled to open in fall, 2017 By Keith A. Owens Senior Editor
Shari Noland previously chief content officer for Urban Ministries, Inc. where she was responsible for developing, designing and providing content strategy for UMI’s app and 10 websites. Noland also worked for iVillage as the lead editorial producer for GoodHousekeeping.com, as part of the company’s partnership with the Hearst magazine group. “I am thrilled to be at the helm of an iconic brand like the Chicago Defender, a newspaper with an amazing history,” said Noland. “The leadership team has a dynamic vision that will give me an opportunity to elevate the content experience and digital landscape on a new level for our readers.” Noland also has credit degrees from top-notch journalism schools including a bachelor of journalism degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Missouri, and an M.S. in reporting and writing from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. The Chicago Defender is the oldest and most respected African-American newspaper in Chicago. Founded in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the Chicago Defender celebrated its 111th anniversary in 2016. It was recognized nationally as the second most widely read and best African-American Newspaper by the Nielson and Essence Survey 2014. Headquartered in Detroit, Real Times Media is parent company to the nation’s largest African American-owned newspaper and digital media operation, including the Atlanta Daily World, the Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle and the New Pittsburgh Courier. In addition to its news brands, Real Times Media also offers custom programming and publishing in 20 markets across the United States through its Who’s Who brand, producing more than 50 events annually.
The stories of Detroit’s comeback are in many ways welcome, especially when compared to the earlier, and naggingly persistent, narrative suffered by all Detroiters for so many years that this city was a hasbeen, used-to-be-great hell hole doomed to manufacture little more than warnings and nightmares for the rest of its endangered existence. Today, of course, it’s a much different story. Today, in defiance of so many cynics and critics, Detroit is being hailed as America’s comeback success story, a community on the rise from the ashes. Except that those who live here are more than fully aware that this rosy narrative, however welcome it may be, is far from accurate. At least as of now. So far, Detroit’s Comeback City is the City Within A City comprising mostly downtown and Midtown. A few other trendy — and also heavily white — areas such as Corktown are also on the radar of the New and Improved Detroit. Now getting up in years, Rev. Holley said he is tightening the focus of his community service efforts to include those issues he feels are the most essential and requiring the community’s most immediate attention. “I’m 73 years old, and sometimes when you get close to heaven, you wanna make sure you don’t mess up,” he said. Top on that list are the city’s young people, too many of whom he believes are wandering aimlessly and are perhaps more at risk than they realize of being left behind as the New Detroit train pulls away from the station into the future, a future without them. The best insurance against such a thing happening is employment, but not necessarily the type of employment that requires the four-year wait (at least) of a traditional college or university, or even the two-year wait of a community college. Holley is focusing on what some might refer to as “the least of these,” those youngsters who have all but fallen through
the cracks. As Detroit rises, they must be empowered to rise along with it. Holley got the idea to create his new training facility listening to talk about all the new restaurants and hotels that were either already being built or on their way to being built in the city. “I wanted to know who’s going to serve them?” he said. “Understand that there are so many new restaurants and hotels that are coming to Detroit. And the demand [for workers in those fields] is greater than the supply. Right now we need to get ready for this. People have to go to Schoolcraft to get this program. Not anymore. We’re gonna have it right here in the city of Detroit. “What we’re trying to do is this: These young people, many of them don’t want to go to four-year schools or two-year schools. They really want a job right now. They’ve been waiting for so long. What we’re trying to do is create new programs that we feel offer jobs right now. For example, one of our goals is to have a cosmetology school for second-chance students, those that have dropped out from the age of 14. Over 7,000 students in Detroit have dropped out of high school. So you have a high illiteracy rate. In other words, Detroit is moving, but Detroiters are not moving with Detroit. And somehow, some kind of way, we have to [find a way to] get jobs so people can indeed stay in the city of Detroit. We can complain about taxes, we can complain about mortgages, we can complain about rent and all of this, but if we don’t have jobs, and get prepared for these jobs? I cannot, in good conscience, sit by and continue to see this city going without us.” He continued, “We also gotta understand we have to deal with the people who really are not gonna go to college. They’re not gonna go back to high school. They’re not gonna go back to reading and math. We gotta do something with their hands. And this is why I’m saying cosmetology. Here we are, the hair capital of the world, and don’t have a cosmetology school in the city of Detroit? And we call ourselves hair capital of the world? We have to go to Schoolcraft College to have culinary and hospitality [training]? It doesn’t make any sense.”
only be able to accept a total of 150 students to begin with in the first semester, which means whoever is interested must apply quickly because this will primarily be a first-come-first-served operation. Those interested can apply now at Considine Family Life Center, located next to Little Rock Baptist Church at 8904 Woodward Ave. Although the school building’s location is secured, Holley says he prefers not to divulge that information yet. But what he is more than willing to divulge is his call out to some of the city’s better known benefactors to contribute to this effort that will extend beyond downtown to where most Detroiters actually live. He also said that the project will be done in partnership with Wayne County Community College. “Somehow, some kind of way the Penskes, and the Gilberts, those people like that, they have got to help us. They must help us. In other words, it causes us to be angry, but we take this anger and we turn it into something positive. “And this is what I’m living to do, is trying to make sure we give these young people options. And this is what I think this first school of hospitality and culinary is going to offer. We’re putting about $1 million into this school. The kitchen itself will be designed to handle 150 kids. But I need people to understand you can’t wait until the last minute. You’re only gonna have 150 seats open for September.” What it comes down to, said Holley, is that in this new day that we’re all trying to negotiate and figure out, the best bet for surviving the next eight years and beyond is self-reliance and initiative. “We can’t expect somebody to come in here and give us entitlement. Entitlement’s days are over. Obama days are over. If we didn’t get it during those eight years, I can certainly tell you you’re not gonna get it for the next eight years. I can’t wait for another president. I got to do what I got to do right now,” he said. “We got to change the culture [for young people]. Right now they’re planning their funerals and not their future, and we got to turn that around.”
Holley says the training academy will
Sisters in the cockpit: Two black women make historic flight Michigan Chronicle reports
Anyone who has ever flown knows that the pilot usually greets passengers when they disembark the plane. Imagine folks’ surprise when the persons meeting passengers are two black women emerging from the cockpit. Well, that’s exactly what happened on Sunday, Feb. 26, when two Delta A320/319 pilots made history, flying Delta’s first mainline flight with two black female pilots in the flight deck. Atlanta-based First Officer Dawn Cook learned that Detroit-based Captain Stephanie Johnson would be flying out of Detroit last Sunday and reached out to Johnson to help facilitate the historic flight. Johnson
had already made history by becoming the airline’s first African-American female captain. After they arrived in Las Vegas as the pilots of Flight 555, Cook posted a photo of the two on Facebook to commemorate the occasion. “I feel a great sense of responsibility to be a positive role model,” said Johnson, reports USA Today. “There are so few women in this profession and too many women who still don’t think of it as a career option. “When I was hired by Northwest Airlines, there were 12 African-American women airline pilots in the country at the major airlines, and I knew all of their names.”
First Officer Dawn Cook (left) and Captain Stephanie Johnson
business
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017
Page C-2
Wells Fargo ommits $60 billion to increase black homeownership By Stacy M. Brown
mortgage lender to make a public commitment to help increase African-American homeownership. And we are grateful for the support of key housing and civil rights organizations, who work alongside us to increase economic prosperity in our communities.”
(NNPA Newswire Contributor)
Wells Fargo & Company has set aside a staggering $60 billion to lend to at least 250,000 black homeowners by the year 2027. Metropolitan Atlanta’s second-largest bank also pledged to increase the diversity of its home lending sales team and spend another $15 million to give financial education and counseling over the next 10 years. The announcement came at a press conference in Atlanta that was attended by representatives from several organizations including the National Urban League, the NAACP and the National Newspaper Publishers Association, an organization comprised of 211 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies. “The National Newspaper Publishers Association enthusiastically salutes Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Division for taking steps forward to promote and to advance African-American homeownership,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. “As we conclude celebrating 2017 Black History Month, it is aspirational for Wells Fargo to offer $60 billion in loan accessibility specifically for African Americans who want to own a home.
The company has also pledged to continue to improve the diversity of its sales team, including increasing the number of black home mortgage consultants, noting that they will dedicate $15 million to support a variety of initiatives that promote financial education and counseling for African-American homebuyers.
From left: Vickee Adams, Wells Fargo senior vice president, External Communications; Brad Blackwell, executive vice president, Wells Fargo Home Lending; Anika Khan, managing director, senior economist, Wells Fargo Securities; Wade Henderson, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights; Martin Eakes, CEO, Self-Help Credit Union/Center for Responsible Lending; Ron Cooper, president, National Association of Real Estate Brokers; and Cyrus Richardson, senior vice president for Economics & Housing Programs, National Urban League “This is unprecedented in the mortgage lending space in the United States. Millions of African-American families will now be able to strive more effectively to own a home. This is also about economic justice.”
mitment was hailed as a direct action to help address the lower homeownership rates in the black community and it follows Wells Fargo’s announcement to address Hispanic homeownership rates in 2015.
Chavis said the NNPA intends to work directly with Wells Fargo to raise public awareness about this new initiative to substantially assist African Americans to be homeowners across America.
Further, officials said the company’s commitment seeks to increase the diversity of the Wells Fargo Home Lending sales team, and support the effort with $15 million to support a variety of initiatives that promote financial education
The banking giant’s com-
and counseling over the next ten years. “Wells Fargo’s $60 billion lending goal can contribute to economic growth by making responsible homeownership possible for more African Americans in communities across the country,” Brad Blackwell, executive vice president and head of housing policy and homeownership growth strategies for Wells Fargo, said in a statement. “We are proud to be the first
The African-American lending commitment is the second initiative from the company’s Housing Policy and Homeownership Growth Strategies group, a Wells Fargo Home Lending team advancing homeownership for minorities, firsttime homebuyers and low- to moderate-income customers. “Homeownership has become an indispensable part of being a full participant in American society,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said in a statement. “An erosion of homeownership rates among African Americans represents not only a devastating financial loss but a barrier to full participation in the American dream.”
City accepting proposals for Stone Soap Bldg. renovation Michigan Chronicle reports
The City of Detroit Planning and Development Department collaboration with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation seeks proposals from qualified teams to renovate and develop a historically significant former industrial structure known as the Stone Soap Building located in the East Riverfront District. Recent investment in public space and infrastructure has transformed the East Riverfront District from a disused industrial center into a dynamic, destination ranking among the most popular in the city, and setting the stage for further mixed-use development. The development site is 0.76
acres and contains a building composed of three contiguous structures totaling 88,369 square feet. This Request for Proposals & Qualifications is intended to retain a qualified developer for the acquisition and development of the Stone Soap building into a signature project that demonstrates leadership in design and development for the East Riverfront. RFPQ Timeline: 3/2/17 — Release date 3/23/17 — Pre-submission conference and site tour 5/1/17 — Proposal submission deadline 6/30/17 — Projected recommenda-
tion of a developer to Detroit City Council Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1. Questions must be directed to Sarah Pavelko, c/o The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, spavelko@DEGC.org. The full version of the proposal, with all submission requirements and other information is available at the DEGC website: http://www.degc. org/contractors/new-project-rfps All of this ties in with the rebirth of Detroit, a city some had written off just a few years ago. But today, there is a different spirit, a different attitude, a new sense of what is possible.
A Speakers Forum
FORUM I
March 16, 2017 7:30 a.m. Detroit Athletic Club 241 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
The Transformation of a City
Mayor Mike Duggan City of Detroit
Hosted by
Dennis Archer, Jr. President and CEO Ignition Media Group Vickie Thomas City Beat Reporter, WWJ/CBS Radio Presented by:
Warren C. Evans Wayne County Executive
Media Sponsors:
For More Information Call 313-963-5522
Join the conversation
#PancakesandPolitics17
UAW-FORD’s
Section C-3
March 8-14, 2017
Checkmate: Detroit’s young chess queens and kings are state’s finest
Rebuilding can wait for ‘resilient’ championship team from UPSM Middle School
Making a positive statement about Detroit youth with each move: Young chess players from schools located in Detroit, including University Prep Science & Math Middle School, Bates Academy and Cornerstone represented our community in exemplary fashion during the recent Michigan Junior High School Team Championships at Oakland University. By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle Back in the day, after his Houston Rockets defied great odds and captured a second consecutive NBA title, Hamtramck’s own Rudy Tomjanovich proclaimed to the world: “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion!” Fast-forward to 2017 and the same statement can be applied to a special group of students right here in “The D” that plays chess for University Prep Science & Math (UPSM) Middle School. These boys and girls showed their mettle earlier this school year by capturing first place in the final junior high school standings in the Detroit Metro Scholastic Chess League. But as this young bunch prepared to head to Oakland University for the recent Michigan Junior High School Team Championships, there appeared to be a reason to temper expectations. “This was suppose to be a rebuilding year,” said Kevin Fite, coach of the UPSM Middle School team. “We graduated about 20 kids last year and that was my highest rated (middle school) team ever.” Coach Fite, the founder of the Detroit City Chess Club, always makes sure that his players are thoroughly prepared for tournament play. However, there was one opponent in the championship section field that Coach Fite’s team had not anticipated, and that opponent was a team of ninth grade players from a revered school in our community—Cass Tech. “I saw some fear in their eyes,” said Coach Fite, describing the initial reaction of his players, when they discovered a team of ninthgrade Technicians was in the championship section field. “I saw some uncertainty because we hadn’t prepared for them. These also are kids that they admire; a few of their players came right out of our program at University Prep.” The matchup between the UPSM Middle School team and the Cass ninth graders came
in the third round of the championship section and Coach Fite literally watched his young players grow up before his eyes as the matchup ended in a draw. When all five rounds of the championship section were completed, a tiebreaker was required and the UPSM Middle School team was awarded the championship because the team’s players won more individual games throughout the rounds. “My kids were tougher than I gave them credit for,” said Coach Fite, whose pride in his youngsters could not be contained even days after the tournament. “They were resilient, well prepared, and they adjusted very well to having to deal with the ninth graders at Cass. These were kids they looked up to, but when my top four got together they were like, ‘let’ do this.’ If we had faced the Cass ninth graders in the first round it may have been different, but by the third round, mentally, my kids had gotten their minds right. And then after the draw I worried about a letdown, but there was no letdown. Every other round our kids played we swept.” The accomplished young players that represented UPSM Middle School in the championship section of the tournament included
Kameron Wilson, eighth grader; Charisse Woods, sixth grader; Michael Thomas, seventh grader; Brelen Wilkes, seventh grader; Talmage Turner, eighth grader; Kenneth Rogers, eighth grader; and, Nicholas Burton, Maxwell Motley, Solmon Foster, Abdurrahman Baya, Travis Turner and Justin Gulley—all sixth graders. “I feel like I need to set a good example for the other sixth graders,” said Woods, who is already the team’s number two player. “I try to not get big headed if I win a game and not get too excited until the tournament is over. This is another championship we can say we won, but our overall goal this year is to win a national championship.” At the tender age of 8, Woods made headlines for playing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to a draw in a friendly chess game. Three years later, the now 11-year-old is still going strong. Along with her chess exploits, she is an honor-roll student, and an excellent swimmer who recently competed in a Junior Olympics competition. “I like setting goals because when I get there I set new ones,” said young Woods, expressing wisdom far beyond her years. UPSM Middle School also won a state chess title in the reserve section of the 2017 Michigan Junior High School Team Championships, but their students were not the only Detroit success stories during the tournament. A champion for all youth chess players in our community, Coach Fite was quick to let the “Best of Young Detroit” know about the accomplishments of teams representing Bates Academy and Cornerstone that also walked away from the competition with impressive hardware. Also taking place at Oakland University—at the same time of the Junior High School Team Championships—was the Michigan High School Team Championships, where Cass Tech made a very strong showing, including winning the outright state title in the reserve section. “It’s been fantastic watching all of the kids grow up, and watching their skill level increase and their maturity increase over time,” said Jadie Woods, the mother of Charisse, and another fan of all Detroit youth chess players as a board member of the Detroit City Chess Club. “Many of the kids got started in second grade
and chess is a big part of their overall success. It gives them an ability to focus and truly understand the meaning of patience, preparation and consequence in ways they wouldn’t otherwise. Chess also increases their confidence in other areas of life.” The “Best of Young Detroit” would like for our community to know that throughout the year the Detroit City Chess Club enriches Detroit area youth, including hosting free, open chess sessions most Friday evenings at the Detroit Institute of Arts from 4-8 p.m. The Detroit City Chess Club also is hosting a fundraising event “Kings, Queens and Jeans” on the evening of April 7 at the Roostertail (100 Marquette Drive, Detroit) to raise money for chess students in Detroit to attend the SuperNationals Tournament in May at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets for the event are $50. For more information on the Detroit City Chess Club, including details on the April 7 fundraiser, please visit www.detroitcitychessclub.com. Inquiries about the April 7 event also can be addressed directly to Ms. Vallorie Turner at 313-410-2536 or valloriep@hotmail.com. Finally, the “Best of Young Detroit” would like to give special thanks to Mr. Kwabena Shabu, for not only capturing the chess tournament action in photographs, but also for sharing his work in rapid fashion, to allow us to make this week’s publication deadline. Photos by K. Shabu Detroit
UAW-Ford’s Best of Young Detroit
Chef Shanel Dewalt’s message to youth: Pursue your passion! Women’s History Month is observed in our nation throughout March and the “Best of Young Detroit” is honored to highlight a dynamic young woman in our community who is following the example laid down by successful African American female entrepreneurs past and present. Our subject, Chef Shanel Dewalt, is less than five years removed from her high school graduation. A 2016 graduate of Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts Program and wise beyond her years, the 21-year-old has a mature approach to business and life. Following is what she shared with the “Best of Young Detroit.” What is the name of your business and what type of services do you provide to your clients as a personal chef? Chef Shanel Dewalt: “My business name is Divine Indulgence Personal Chef Services LLC. I provide meal prep services, menu preparation and planning, based on my clients’ dietary standards. Additional services I offer include composing shopping lists and shopping, private cooking classes, private dinner parties, etc.”
Chef Shanel Dewalt: “I overcame thinking that I didn’t have the mentality to become a great cook. You have to be confident in what you do as a person and a chef, or people will not take you seriously. But more importantly, without confidence, you will not achieve your fullest potential.”
Page C-4
College Resource Information
What advice would you give high school students, college students or young people in general from our community who may wish to start their own business? Chef Shanel Dewalt: “If you have a passion for something, pursue it! I love what I do and it doesn’t feel like a job to me because it’s what I want to do. Figure out what you are passionate about and thrive from that point forward. You were put on this earth for a reason and God doesn’t make any mistakes. You were made to influence someone in some way, so never give up. It will get very tough and you may question yourself, but after every rainstorm there is always a beautiful rainbow.” Please describe the program you have planned for this summer and why is giving back to your community so important to you?
How do you go about getting new clients? And as a young entrepreneur, do you learn things from your clients that help you as businesswoman and as a person?
Chef Shanel Dewalt: “I am currently in the planning stage of establishing a community cook-off event. The cook off will be geared towards bringing awareness to families on providing better eating habits for their children. Giving back to my community is imperative to me! I cannot stress that enough. It literally took a village to raise me into the woman I am today. I remember the organizations and family members that helped my mom make sure it was always food on the table. I cannot forget where I come from because it’s what laid the foundation for the woman I am becoming today.”
Chef Shanel Dewalt: “My clients are mostly from referral and social media. I learn a lot from my clients. The majority of them are business owners in different fields and my clients are what drive me to be a better businesswoman. When you surround yourself around like-minded people, the sky is the limit.” What made you pursue culinary school? Chef Shanel Dewalt: “I grew up cooking for my siblings being the oldest of five. Being in the kitchen gave me a sense of peace and tranquility. I knew I wanted to make a career around the culinary arts industry. I decided to pursue culinary school because I wanted to know the fundamentals of culinary arts.” Did you have to overcome any lenges before or during culischool?
March 8-14, 2017
How can people get more information about your business and the program you have planned for the summer?
The office of Federal Student Aid provides grants, loans, and work-study funds The “Best of Young Detroit” would like to make students and parents aware of the Office of Federal Student Aid, which provides grants, loans, and work-study funds for college or career school. Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. For more information, including a link to a free application for Federal Student Aid, please visit studentaid.ed.gov.
Chef Shanel Dewalt: “Information concerning my business can be found on my website divineindulgencepcs.com and my social media handle (Instagram: Divineindulgencepcs).”
chalnary
Following is a listing of the Legend League teams that are already slated to participate this spring:
10 and Under 6. Indians Baseball Club 7. Midwest Cubs 8. Southwest Aztecs 9. Windsor Stars
1. Blue Jays 2. Detroit Braves 3. Detroit Yankees 4. Detroit Demons 5. FC Kings
12 and Under
Batter up: Legends League exceeds 30-team goal The “Best of Young Detroit” recently reported on Legends League Baseball, which provides affordable baseball to Detroit-area youth and families of Detroit-area youth, while focusing on baseball skill and character development. This week we are excited to announce that Legends League Baseball has exceeded its goal of 30 teams this season. In sharing this news with the “Best of Young Detroit,” Legends League Baseball director Garrett Street expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from UAW-Ford since the inception of Legends League Baseball. Street said that reaching the 30-team goal is further proof that the revitalization of youth baseball in Detroit is alive and well. Though the league met and surpassed its original team goal, Street said there are still a couple of team openings in the 13-14 Intermediate division and one team spot left in the 10 and Under division. This spring’s Legends League season will begin April 22 and run through mid June. Coaches with formed teams, as well as interested parents, can contact Street about this spring’s Legends Leagues Baseball season at 313-363-7271.
North Division
South Division
1. Aztecs II 2. Detroit Playmakers 3. Detroit Stars 4. Detroit Yankees 5. Southfield Cardinals 6. SF Dodgers 7. Southfield Dodgers 8. Southfield Tigers
1. Blue Jays 2. Ecorse Knights 3. Indians Baseball Club 4. Mighty Warriors 5. Motor City Royals 6. Southwest Aztecs 7. YMCA Tigers
13-14 Intermediate 1. DEPSA Junior High 2. Detroit Braves 3. Detroit Stars 4. Ecorse Raiders
5. Mother of Holy Trinity 6. Southwest Aztecs 7. Windsor Stars 8. Michigan Heavy Hitters
GIRLS
BOYS
Del’Janae Williams, King, registered 19 points, four assists and four steals in the Crusaders’ 71-38 victory against East English Village on March 3. Jordan Lewis, King, contributed 14 points and six rebounds against East English Village. Tia Tedford, King, contributed 11 points and eight rebounds against East English Village. C’Erra Maholmes, East English Village, scored 12 points against King. Victoria Wright and Nina Reynolds, Renaissance, each scored 15 points in a 66-48 victory against Berkley on March 1.
Kyle Jones, Cody, registered 16 points and eight rebounds in the Comets’ 61-58 victory against Dearborn Heights Crestwood on March 6. Isaiah Cunningham, Cody, contributed 13 points and nine rebounds against Crestwood. Class B Davonta Johnson, Frederick Douglass, registered 10 points and 20 rebounds in a 74-34 victory against Detroit West Side Academy on March 6. Kelly Broadus, Frederick Douglass, contributed 25 points against West Side Academy. Carlos Byars-Walker, Frederick Douglass, contributed 17 points against West Side Academy. Davantaye Webb, Henry Ford, scored 15 points in the Trojans’ 73-41 victory against Southfield Bradford on March 6. Brandon Green, Mumford, scored 26 points in the Mustangs’ 74-67 overtime victory against Ferndale on March 6. Anthony Taylor, Mumford, contributed 20 points against Ferndale. Kenneth Holloway, Osborn, registered 26 points and 18 rebounds in the Knights’ 80-56 victory against St. Clair Shores South Lake on March 6. James Lloyd, Osborn, contributed 24 points against South Lake. Kylan Shipp, Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern (DCP-NW), scored 30 points in the Colts’ 74-54 victory against Dearborn Advance Technology on March 6. John Ivory, DCP-NW, contributed 12 blocked shots and 10 rebounds against Advance Technology.
As we get deeper into March, Division I college basketball tournaments on the conference level are underway, as teams vie for NCAA tournament (AKA: March Madness) berths. Student-athletes from Detroit high schools have been a part of the conference tournament action. Following is an update on some of the recent top performers: Branndais Agee, Cass Tech/Michigan State, the redshirt senior guard and honorable mention All-Big Ten selection registered 24 points and four assists, in the Spartans’ 100-89 loss to Maryland in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 4. Rob Edwards, Cass Tech/Cleveland State, the sophomore guard and second team All-Horizon League selection registered 27 points and seven rebounds in Cleveland State’s 84-69 loss to Youngstown State in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament at Joe Louis Arena on March 3.
Following are some of the top performers during recent state tournament basketball games involving Detroit PSL Class A
College Basketball Conference Tournaments Edition
Class A
Class B Anjanee Horton, Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern, scored 41 points in the Colts’ 63-51 victory against Dearborn Advanced Tech on March 3.
Josh McFolley, Western/University of Detroit Mercy, the sophomore guard, contributed nine points, four assists and a game-high five steals in Detroit Mercy’s 85-60 loss to Milwaukee in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament at Joe Louis Arena on March 3. Sherron Dorsey Walker, Pershing/ Oakland University, the redshirt senior guard registered 16 points and eight assists, in Oakland’s 81-80 loss to Youngstown State in the Horizon League Tournament at Joe Louis Arena on March 4. Martez Walker, Pershing/Oakland University, the redshirt junior guard scored 22 points Youngstown State.
Your Feedback Matters The “Best of Young Detroit” welcomes feedback from our community. Please submit story suggestions and other comments to Scott Talley at stalleyassociates@gmail.com or 313-590-3686.
business
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
March 8-14, 2017 Page C-5
Young professionals drive support towards local black-owned restaurants Detroit remains an epicenter for entrepreneurship with nearly 62,000 small businesses within the city. Over 47,000 of those businesses are minority-owned, ranking Detroit the fourth in the country for minority ownership. However, long-term sustainability and growth continue to be a challenge with half of the new businesses not surviving beyond five years. A newly formed social group hopes to combat that. The Soulcial Scene, comprised of young black professionals, was created to promote and support local black-owned restaurants by creating a social experience shuttling residents and professionals to black business locations. To make a larger impact, the group plans to launch in the downtown and Midtown areas to capitalize on the large office populations and shuttle participants to black-owned restaurant happy hours during the work week. Participants will be able to purchase tickets or subscribe to a membership to experience the monthly social event. The Soulcial Scene’s mission is not merely to create another social event, but to provide an avenue for growth opportunities for black-owned businesses to survive and thrive in metropolitan cities such as Detroit. Since black business owners hire black employees at a 64 percent hiring rate versus 10 percent for non-black busi-
ness owners (Euquant.com), the long-term goal is to also increase black employment. Detroit will be the pilot city, but the group has future plans to launch in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. “The Soulcial Scene is a group of socially conscious
consumers looking to use our spending power to address social issues affecting black communities,” said Damion Ellis, founder of The Soulcial Scene. “Our goal is to use black-owned business growth as a tool to provide resources and job opportunities for black families,
which we believe is the key to community transformation.” Ellis, a former finance executive with General Motors, recently redirected his career to solely focus on supporting black businesses with The Soulcial Scene and Box of
Black, a monthly subscription box of black-owned products and literature. For more information about The Social Scene, visit www. soulcialscene.com or follow updates on Facebook @soulcialscene.
Advance Auto Parts growth plans fuel career opportunities
Company invests in career pathing, training and benefits for people who have a passion for customers ROANOKE, Va. – Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-ityourself customers, is accelerating growth and plans to open 75 to 85 new stores and a stateof-the-art distribution center in 2017. As a result of the new jobs created through expansion and existing career opportunities, Advance expects to hire more than 15,000 team members this year across its family of companies, which includes Advance Auto Parts, Carquest, WORLDPAC and Autopart Inter-
national. “We’re pleased to expand our company’s presence this year as part of our long term growth plan,” said Tom Greco, president and chief executive officer. “In addition to the investment that new stores bring to our communities, it offers a unique opportunity for people who have a passion for serving customers to join a growing company. At Advance, we treat and reward our team members like owners in our business. We are looking for talented people who are driven to deliver winning outcomes and take action
while developing themselves and others.” “At Advance, we empower our people because they are our best part,” said Natalie Rothman, senior vice president, Human Resources. “They care for our customers’ needs every day and feel like they are part of a family. That sense of family is felt by our customers when they call or visit our stores, and is an important part of the service experience we provide. Advance cares for our people and provides compelling opportunities that allow team members to grow.”
In 2016, Advance was proud to promote more than 6,000 team members across the company who demonstrated our commitment to customers and drive for results. In 2017, Advance will continue to focus on growing talent by developing team members within the organization and recruiting outstanding candidates who have passion for serving customers. As part of those efforts, the company is investing in career pathing and training programs, with a key focus on expanding leadership and business fundamentals training, and offering
more opportunities for team members to connect and network with others across the organization through shared experiences. A newly created inclusion and diversity team is dedicating efforts to ensure our team reflects the community of customers. Interested candidates may apply at www.AdvanceAutoParts.jobs. You may also follow the company on Facebook at facebook.com/AdvanceAutoPartsCareers and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/advance-auto-parts.
Page C-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • March 8-14, 2017 w
2017 Women of Excellence Honorees Adrana Jones, Postmaster, United States Post Office - Southfield Alisa Berry Brown, Deputy Superintendence, River Rouge Public Schools Amanda Ward, Senior Associate, Plante Moran Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Director of Community Initiatives, UAW Ford Anika Jackson, Jackson Asset Management Anquinette Mosley, Psychologist, Black Family Development Barbara J. Patton, Area Director, United Negro College Fund Dr. Bridget A. Leonard, DNP, RN, President, Founder & CEO, Black Nurses Rock-Detroit, MI Chapter Brittany Merritt, Executive Director Metro Vice President, American Heart Association Cecelia Walker, Director, Butzel Family Center Celeste T. Williams, M.D., Medical Director, Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical, HFHS Cheryl P. Johnson, CEO, COTS Crystal Windham, Director of Design – Cadillac Interiors, General Motors Debra Napier, Campus College Chair, University of Phoenix Deirdre Young, Vice President for Health and Equity, United Way of SEM Diane Cottle, Genanscot Services Donna L. Bell, Global Product Development Quality Manager, Ford Motor Company Dr. Tanya Martin, Clinical Psychologist, Apex Behavioral Health, PLLC Evangelist Bonita Andrea Shelby, First Lady, Burning Bush Int’l Ministries and SW5 Jurisdiction COGIC Erica Jordan, Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank Gina Smith-Gallant, Attorney, The Auto Club Group Grenae Dudley, President & CEO, The Youth Connection, Inc. Jackie Parker, Director, Global Corporate Giving, General Motors & President, GM Foundation Jennifer Wheeler, Founder & CEO, Michigan Training Center on the Abuse and Trauma of Children Kedra Ishop, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, University of Michigan Kelly Jones, Owner/CEO, Goodness Gracious Kendra Pack, CEO, Bloomfield Real Estate Group Kiko Davis, Major Stockholder, First Independence Bank Kimberly Gill, Co-Anchor, Local 4 News Lauren Clayborne, Director of Community Relations, Detroit Lions LaShanda R. Thomas, CEO, Clairmont Group Loretta Morman, First Lady/Church Administrator, Christian Tabernacle Lysa Davis, CEO, Compliance and Community Consultants Marilyn Horn, President & CEO, Van Dyke Horn Public Relations Agency Melanca Clark, President & CEO, Hudson-Webber Foundation Michelle Alexander, Diversity Marketing Manager, General Motors Michelle Reaves, Executive Director, DAPCEP Monica Briggins, Owner, Detroit Bailbondsmen Monique Parnell-Phifer, Regional Vice President, BriovaRx Specialty Pharmacy Pamela M. Farris, Chief Academic Officer, Cornerstone Schools Rian Barnhill, Director of Marketing, EAA Shaniece Bennett, Managing Principal, Owner, Accutrak Consulting and Accounting Services Sharon Robinson, Principal, Detroit Public Schools Sharon L. Harris, President/Founder, Lupus Detroit Silverenia Q. Kanoyton, Ed.D, Director, King-Chavez-Parks 45 and MICUP Initiatives, Co-Principal Wayne State University Sonya Mays, President & CEO, Develop Detroit Susan Gunn, Dean of the College of Urban Education, Davenport University Takisha Harper, Director Privacy & Security Risk Management, HFHS Tonia Williams, CEO, Universal Special Events, Inc. Velton Robinson, DDS, Owner, Smile Connections Wendy Turner Lewis, CEO, Law Offices of Wendy Turner Lewis MICHIGAN
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Reflections
Bettye LaVette
By Steve Holsey
The big five-oh! We all know that age doesn’t mean what it used to. People well into middle age and beyond are involved in all kinds of activities — career and otherwise. Slowing down is not an option.
The awesome ladies of
Detroit
A number of celebrities turn 50 this year. As actor Scott Bakula, 62, put it, “One of the great things about show business is there’s no mandatory retirement age.”
Ronnie DeVoe
Lisa Bonet
Toni Braxton
Jamie Foxx
By Steve Holsey It is not likely that any city in the United States, or the world, has given the show business industry, particularly in music, as many outstanding female artists as Detroit…the Motor City…“the D.” No one can say why that is so, other than the fact that we are just blessed that way.
Among the entertainers saying farewell to their forties in 2017 are Ronnie DeVoe (of New Edition), Jamie Foxx, R. Kelly, Toni Braxton, Vin Diesel, NeNe Leakes, Jimmy Kimmel, Master P, Lisa Bonet, Stacey Dash, Anderson Cooper, Deion Sanders, Mo’Nique, Leslie Jones, Macy Gray and Harry Connick, Jr.
Admittedly, some of these ladies were not born in Detroit, but for most of their lives they lived here, so without reservation we claim them as our own. One of the best, Anita Baker, just recently announced her retirement. We’ve been “caught up in her rapture” since the early 1980s, and her wonderful songs, such as “Sweet Love,” “Angel,” “Giving You the Best That I Got,” “Just Because” and “Caught up in the Rapture” will be enjoyed into infinity. Bettye LaVette had been active since the 1960s, but didn’t hit the big time until fairly recently. The lady with an uncompromisingly soulful, blues-tinged voice today commands top dollar, packs venues, and has even sung for a U.S. president.
Diana Ross Sisqo
Gavin Barnes
SISQO is upset and threatening a lawsuit, and rightfully so, because an imposter by the name of Gavin Barnes has been out and about claiming to be Sisqo, complete with blond hair, and getting away with it. Actually, he doesn’t really look like the Dru Hill lead singer.
Aretha Franklin is firmly entrenched as the Queen of Soul, a position she ascended to in the spring of 1967 with the career-altering “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” followed by one of the most famous and loved songs ever recorded, “Respect.” In many ways, Franklin is the gold standard.
And speaking of Sisqo, whose real name is Mark Andrews, he has a very unusual middle name — Althavean.
Lauryn Hill
Some eyebrows were raised when it became known that Lauryn Hill had become a grandmother at age 42. Rohan Marley, one of Bob Marley’s sons, and his girlfriend had a boy named Zion.
Women’s History Month
Aretha Franklin
But Hill is not the only young grandparent. Cee Lo Green is a grandfather at 42, NeNe Leakes became a grandmother when she was 44, and Whoopi Goldberg at, believe it or not, 34.
At the other end of the spectrum is Diana Ross, very much a queen in her own right…queen of pop/ soul for decades…and undisputed queen of glamour. She was a diva long before that word began being used too casually and, in fact, took on a new meaning. “Miss Ross” went from Supreme lady to glampop royalty. The lovely and talented Aaliyah left us way too soon, in 2001 at the age of 22. It all started with an
See LADIES OF DETROIT Page D-2
DAVID HUMPHRIES (aka Hump the Grinder), creator of the “Hair Wars” fashion extravaganzas that are now a national phenomenon, says he has noticed a change in the ethnic composition of the audiences.
David Humphries
“‘Hair Wars’ has been experiencing a change in clientele,” he said via e-mail. “For years, it was around 2 percent white. A few years ago, it suddenly spiked up to about 20 percent. Last year, it was about 30 percent white, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 50 percent soon.
CeCe Winans
“Social media has a lot to do with it. The young white girls want to model the fantasy hairpieces created by black hairstylists. Is this what they call ‘the new Detroit’?” The next Detroit Hair Wars show takes place April 2 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, in Dearborn. DANIEL SUNJATA is an actor who has accomplished a great deal with a lot more to come. We’ve seen
See Reflections Page D-2
Martha and the Vandellas
entertainment
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Aaliyah
Della Reese
Mary Wells
Laura Lee
Ladies of Detroit From page D-1
appearance at the age of 10 on the talent competition TV show “Star Search,” sort of a precursor to “American Idol.” Aaliyah has plenty of hits to be remember ed for, including “Are You That Somebody,” “Back & Forth” and “One in a Million.”
LOOKS
GOOD IN PRINT
Thornetta Davis has long been labeled Detroit’s Queen of the Blues, a title she inherited when the great Alberta Adams passed away. Davis maintains high visibility — she’s always appearing somewhere in or around Detroit — and has cultivated a large and loyal following. Her latest album is titled “Honest Woman.” CeCe Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, the Clark Sisters, Vickie Winans, Kierra Sheard and Mattie Moss Clark are among the ladies who play a key role in Detroit being widely recognized as the Gospel Music Capital of the World. There is nothing like the real thing, and they are just that.
Anita Baker
Betty Carter
Lonette McKee
Regina Carter has long been among the most respected names in jazz. The violinist, who at one time played in the youth division of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, first became well known as a member of the all-female band Straight Ahead. Her first album, “Regina Carter,” was followed by “Something for Grace,” a tribute to her mother. She is the cousin of famed jazz saxophonist James Carter.
The multitalented Della Reese started out in gospel, then gravitated to jazz, pop and supper club. She had huge hits in the 1950s with “And That Reminds Me” and “Don’t You Know.” Back then, no one knew that she had acting skills as well, as demonstrated in the long-running TV series “Touched by an Angel” and “Chico and the Man.” In addition to having her own daytime talk show from June 1969 to March 1970, Reese was the first African-American woman to guest host on “The Tonight Starring Johnny Carson.”
Freda Payne started out with aspirations of going to the top in jazz, and she had an appreciable amount of success. However, she found that she was also enjoying R&B, especially Motown. So she decided to do both, landing major hits with “Bring the Boys Home” and the classic “Band of Gold.” Her sister is Scherrie Payne, a latter-day member of the Supremes. Betty Carter was the ultimate jazz singer, the very definition of it, and no one outside of Ella Fitzgerald could scat as well as she. Carter was spotted early on by jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie, worked with him, and was later asked to joined the orchestra of another legend, Lionel Hampton.
Freda Payne
Like so many others before her, Laura Lee was a gospel singer who decided to transition into R&B, and subsequently scored hits with “Dirty Man,” “Women’s Love Rights” and “Rip Off.” She recorded for Invictus, the company Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland started after parting ways with Motown. Lee has since returned to gospel.
Reflections him on many TV shows (“Gray’s Anatomy,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” etc.) although he is best known for appearing in 93 episodes of the FX series “Rescue Me.” But one of his greatest accomplishments, that took a lot of courage, was appearing full-frontal naked in the hit stage musical “Take Me Out” in 2003. He said he focused on Daniel Sunjata the character and his lines rather than his state of undress. Sunjata’s father is black and his mother white. He was given that African name (his last name is Condon) in honor of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali empire. If you happen to be bargain hunting, as you’ve heard, the asking price for Michael Jackson’s awesome Neverland Ranch is now $67 million, down from $100 million last year.
From page D-1 Knee surgery resulted in Lionel Richie postponing his tour with Mariah Carey. It was supposed to start on March 15, but will now commence at a summer yet to be announced date. BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that 12 of the Supremes’ hits have the word “love” in their titles. MEMORIES: “I’m in Love” (Evelyn “Champagne” King), “Zoom” (the Commodores), “Is it Still Good to Ya” (Ashford & Simpson), “A Night to Remember” (Shalamar), “She Works Hard for the Money (Donna Summer), “Overjoyed” (Stevie Wonder), “Live it Up” (the Isley Brothers), “Miss You Like Crazy” (Natalie Cole), “It’s No Crime” (Babyface), “Too Much, too Little, too Late” (Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams). WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Stedman Graham: “It’s up to you to take control of your life and define you. Freedom is not staying in the box.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
Place your classified or display ad in the
Call (313) 963-5522 Thornetta Davis
Martha & the Vandellas — Martha Reeves, Annette Beard and Rosalind Ashford — did the background vocals on Marvin Gaye’s first three Motown hits, then recorded the first of a long string of hits of their own, “Come and Get These Memories.” The additional hits included the classics “Heat Wave,” “Dancing in the Street” and “Nowhere to Run.” Another Motown star act was Mary Wells. She was, in fact, the queen of Motown until she decided to leave the company in 1964, when she was at the peak of her success with the classic “My Guy.” Nearly all of Wells’ hits were written and produced by Smokey Robinson, most notably “My Guy,” “Two Lovers,” “You Beat Me to the Punch” and “The One Who Really Loves You.”
Regina Carter
Dorothy Ashby
Lonette McKee started making records as a teenager as a student at St. Martin dePorres High School. She moved to Hollywood and before long secured major or starring roles in movies such as “Sparkle,” “The Cotton Club,” “Jungle Fever,” “Malcolm X” and “Which Way is Up?”
The harp is an instrument heard not nearly as often as other instruments in jazz, and one of the finest was Dorothy Ashby. After attending Cass Technical High School, where fellow students included future jazz stars Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell and Gerald Wilson, Ashby studied piano and music education at Wayne State University. Her albums include “Afro-Harping” and “Soft Winds.”
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Spiritually Speaking: You have to see the devil coming By James Washington
tion of sin and a test of faith. It’s all about perspective, that which is spiritual and that which is secular. Once Jesus answered each of Satan’s successive temptations with Matthew 4:4: “It is written, man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Matthew 4:7: “It is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Matthew 4:10: “Away from me Satan! For it is written, worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” Then the devil left and the angels came.
(The Dallas Weekly/NNPA Member)
Invariably, as a Christian, the notion of Satan will come up and that conversation can range from soup to nuts, as we all know. I am often encouraged in these sometimes crazy discussions that God’s plan is very precise and obvious to those looking for His Word. My favorite point of reference in all of this is Matthew 4:1-11 regarding the three temptations of Jesus in the desert after 40 days of fasting. Remember when Satan offers Christ “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor”? I was shocked at the power the devil has to tempt each one of us as we operate on what is essentially his turf. Now you’ve got to remember that Lucifer hung out with the Lord in heaven. They were roadies for a while until he got the big head and was banished to this physical realm where we reside. Once Jesus rebuked Satan for the third time, Scripture says, “Then the devil left Him and angels came and attended Him.” So once Jesus withstood temptation, God then delivered unto Him all that Satan had offered and more. You see, in reality, all the things that Satan tempted Christ with was Jesus’ birthright anyway and get this: It’s ours also. So, let me get this straight. The devil probably knows the Bible better than we do. He understands what tempts us, because he knows what pleases the Lord. Remember, they once hung out
James Washington together. It stands to reason that I am a much easier target than Jesus was and ruination for me won’t necessarily take the promise of all kingdoms of the world and their splendor. However, my biblically inspired common sense lets me know that I am made in the image of God and I’ll be okay if I surrender all that I have and all that I am to Him, He, who is my Lord and Savior. By doing so I should be able to put myself in a position to at least see the devil coming. If I can just do that, then maybe I’ll be able to withstand, for a moment in time, the perceived need to have my wants and desires satisfied by sacrificing the integrity of my soul for momentary gratification. Intellectually, I understand the difference between the tempta-
The key then is to get on the other side of temptation by walking in the Word consciously enough to understand that just saying no to Satan is an absolute guarantee of getting all that you desire and need in this life. What must be overcome, however, is the cunning nature of the devil in his efforts to get you and me to forget, ignore or not take seriously that he is indeed the source of the temptations, designed to kill you and hurt the Lord. When in doubt, call on the name of the Lord and eventually Satan will be replaced with angels ready to attend to you. As Jesus so appropriately put it, “Seek ye first the kingdom and whatever it is that you desire, you will have more…” May God bless and keep you always. The Dallas Weekly is a member publication of the NNPA.
Saving hearts and lives in the African-American community By Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH
white peers, according to the American Heart Journal. This important type of follow-up care — which includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy living and counseling — is critical for patients. The lack of such care may be one reason African Americans experience higher readmission and mortality rates than white patients in the year after a heart attack, according to the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.
(NNPA Newswire Guest Columnist)
Our heart is the engine that keeps our body running. That’s why problems with the heart — such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or heart failure — can significantly impact a person’s well-being and, at worst, be life-threatening. During February, American Heart Month, we were able to shine a spotlight on heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. For African Americans, it’s also a time to raise awareness of how cardiovascular disease disproportionately impacts members of the black community. Indeed, nearly half of African-American adults suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to about a third of whites, according to the American Heart Association. This trend stems in part from the fact that African-American men and women are more susceptible than other racial and ethnic groups to a number of health conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. African Americans can take several small steps to manage these conditions and reduce their likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular problems, including adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking. But improving heart health in the African-American community means more than taking care of ourselves as individuals; it requires a concerted effort by policymakers, healthcare providers and community leaders to address social and environmental barriers and champion proactive strategies for heart health. Only with contributions from all of these stakeholders can we build a culture of health to counter heart disease among African Americans. Improving access to preventive
Patricia Maryland says that while care access plays a role in explaining heart health disparities, African Americans also face unequal outcomes when they do seek medical treatment for heart conditions. cardiovascular care is our chief priority in the fight for African-American heart health. As epidemiologists continue to study whether African Americans might carry a gene that makes us more prone to heart problems, ensuring that our family, friends and neighbors take advantage of regular preventive screenings is critically important to identify their risk as early as possible. The fact remains that African Americans are less likely to get screened for high cholesterol or have their blood pressure under control, despite being 40 percent more likely to have heart-threatening conditions such as hypertension, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While care access plays a role in explaining heart health disparities, African Americans also face unequal outcomes when they do seek medical treatment for heart conditions. For example, referrals for cardiac rehabilitation are given to African-American patients at a significantly lower rate than their
For our part, healthcare providers must make it our mission to remove barriers for African-American patients to preventive services, specialized care and effective follow-up procedures for heart health. And we must also partner with patients to determine a strategy that can help them effectively monitor and control their conditions. At Ascension, we are acutely aware of the challenges that keep minority patients from accessing healthy heart care. That’s why we recently established an ambitious goal —to eliminate race, ethnicity and language-based (REaL) disparities in preventable hospitalizations related to heart failure by 2022, as well as to achieve a significant reduction in heart failure admissions rates for Medicaid patients in our network. Our goals are bold, but we know how to achieve them — by working side by side with patients to assess risk, consider every treatment angle, deploy the latest management strategies, collaborate with community partners and connect to necessary specialists and subspecialists. These efforts, coupled with education, innovation and a commitment to healthy communities, can help providers, policymakers and the African-American community eliminate disparities and save the hearts and lives of many more diverse patients.
Starting is the hardest part. You can’t win if you don’t start. This includes Dorma. No Bible or true life story tells where someone planned themselves into a better future. Prayer power lets us hear God’s voice and gives us the ability to start. If we don’t take action, we just plan for the rest of our lives. Our comfort zone is needing every answer. This is life, not math class. God does not owe us every step at the beginning. He gives us opportunity and promises to be with us every moment of the way. That is enough. Prayer power helps us start and walk in faith for
the entire journey. Faith is not seeing it is almost done then saying, “Look at what God did.” Faith is starting with nothing and saying, “Look at what God is doing.” Pressing forward when we have all of the answers is not faith or prayer power. That is knowledge. Anybody can do that. Our indomitable strength comes from faith in God and hope in our abilities. I pray for our courage to start. Prayer is communication with God. Power is the ability to take action. Talk to God and act. If you think it costs a lot to start, you are right. But it is lifelong torment to plan and do nothing while watching others start, progress and finish. God loves you just as much and will help
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Services for Mary Lou Jones were held on Feb. 9 at Vernon Chapel AME Church with Pastor Larry James Bell officiating. Mrs. Jones passed away on Feb. 5, 2017. Mary Lou Jones was born on Aug. 21, 1935 in Shubuta, Mississippi to Sandy and Isabella Evans, the youngest of six children. In 1945, the family moved to Detroit where she was educated in the Detroit Public Schools. In 1950, she married Arthur Lee Jones, Sr. and had two sons, Arthur Lee Jones, Jr. and Anthony Jones. She also raised two foster sons, Stephen Brown and Anthony Brooks. Mrs. Jones, who was active in the church, loved going on cruises, taking her grandchildren to the movies, and chatting on the phone, sometimes for hours. The memory of Mary Lou Jones is being cherished by her sons, Arthur, Anthony and Stephen; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Interment took place at Elmwood Cemetery.
Regina Demetria Stephens Services for Regina Demetria Stephens were held on Saturday, Feb. 4, at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Marvin Griffin officiating. Mrs. Stephens passed away on Jan. 28, 2017. Regina Demetria Stephens was born on May 15, 1959 in Highland Park to Abraham and Mildred Stephens, the second of four children. She attended Detroit Public Schools and subsequently earned an associate’s degree from Highland Park Community College. She worked for many years at the United States Postal Service. Mrs. Stephens loved spending time with family and friends, dining out and crocheting. Regina Demetria Stephens’ memory is being cherished by her mother, Mildred Stephens; sisters, Eren Laitner and Gail Stephens; brother, Larry Stephens; and many other relatives and friends.
Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Interment took place at Elmwood Cemetery.
Shirley A. Williams On Friday, Feb. 17, services were held for Shirley A. Williams at Liberty Temple Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, Jr. officiating Mrs. Williams passed away on Feb. 11, 2017. Shirley Armelia Williams was born on Dec. 7, 1948 in Batesville, Mississippi to Velma Chestine Taylor. After going through the North Panola Vocational Public Schools, she continued her education at Tennessee State University and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University. Mrs. Williams, who was active in the church, was employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for 39 years. She retired in a management position in 2009 and then worked part-time for the Detroit Public Schools. She enjoyed shopping, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Cherishing the memory of Shirley Armelia Williams are her daughter, Felecia M. Williams; son, James W. Williams; and many other relatives and friends. Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Interment took place at Grand Lawn Cemetery.
Patricia A. Maryland, Dr. PH, is president of Healthcare Operations and chief operating officer of Ascension Healthcare.
The Power of Prayer By Dorma McGruder
Mary Lou Jones
you. But you must start. www.dormamcgruder.com dorma@dormamcgruder.com 313-282-3382
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) has issued a Request for Proposal 17-003 for a Mobility and Accessibility plan for Downtown Detroit. The Request for Proposal can be viewed on SEMCOG’s website at http://semcog.org/vendors. Proposals should be uploaded to Drop Box at http://semcog.org/vendors, by 9am EST April 3, 2017. Please contact Jody Egelton @ 313 324-3423 for questions on the RPF. Application Period for Open Enrollment New Paradigm College Prep is accepting Open Enrollment applications March 6, 2017 through March 21, 2017 for the 201718 school year. Applications can be picked up at the school office. If applications exceed enrollment spaces, a lottery will be held at the school. Applications must be received by close of business March 21, 2017. Questions about enrollment and for applications call: New Paradigm College Prep 2450 S. Beatrice St. Detroit, MI 48217 (313) 406-7060 Application Period for Open Enrollment University YES Academy is accepting applications for Open Enrollment March 6, 2017 through March 21, 2017 for the 201718 school year. Applications can be picked up at the school office. If applications exceed enrollment spaces, a lottery will be held at the school. Applications must be received by close of business March 21, 2017. Questions about enrollment and for applications call: University YES Academy 14669 Curtis St. Detroit, MI 48235 (313) 270-2556 Application Period for Open Enrollment Global Preparatory Academy is accepting applications for Open Enrollment March 6, 2017 through March 21, 2017 for the 2017-18 school year. Applications can be picked up at the school office. If applications exceed enrollment spaces, a random drawing will be held at the school. Applications must be received by close of business March 21, 2017. Questions about enrollment and for applications call: Global Preparatory Academy 26200 Ridgeway Roseville, MI 48076 (586) 575-9500 Application Period for Open Enrollment New Paradigm Glazer Academy and New Paradigm Loving Academy are accepting Open Enrollment Applications March 6, 2017 through March 21, 2017 for the 201718 school year. Applications can be picked up at each school’s office. If applications exceed enrollment spaces, a lottery will be held at each school location. Applications must be received by close of business March 21, 2017. Questions about enrollment and for applications call: Glazer Academy 2001 Labelle St. Detroit, MI 48238 (313) 852-1500
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Legal Notice:
MRS. LINN
Loving Academy 1000 Lynn St. Detroit, MI 48211 (313) 252-3028
Public Notice Request for Proposal(s) RFP 15997-17: Guard and Security Services The Detroit Public Library is soliciting proposals for Guard and Security Services for their twenty (20) neighborhood Branch locations. The contract will include a base year (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018), with the option for DPL to renew said contract for two (2) additional years (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020). Prices shall remain fixed for the duration of the contract. Proposals will be received until 2:00 PM ET on April 3, 2017 at Detroit Public Library Main Branch., Procurement Department, 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202. Specifications and proposal forms may be obtained at the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN) website (http://www. mitn.info/). The Detroit Public Library reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or to waive any specification or requirement, determined to be in the best interest of the Library. The Detroit Public Library is committed to developing mutually advantageous business relationships with minority, women, disabled, veteran and service disabled veteran-owned businesses.
March 8-14, 2017
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Detroit Innovation Academy is now enrolling for the 2017-2018 school year (March 6, 2017 – April 28, 2017) for grades K-8. A lottery will be held at DIA on May 1, 2017 at 3:30pm, if needed. DIA is located at 18211 Plymouth Road, Detroit, MI 48228. Please call 313-736-5537 or visit www.diachampion.org for more information.
PROCLAMATION I, HINTON BEY , whose address is 6016 E. Maple, Romulus, Michigan 48174 proclaim my Free National Name as MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE OF AMERICA according to the rules and usages of such MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE OF AMERICA. The Moorish Science Temple of America deriving its power and authority from the Great Koran of Mohammed to propagate the faith and extend the learning and truth of the Great Prophet of Alli in America. To anoint, appoint and consecrate missionaries of the prophet and to establish the faith of Mohammed in America. Academy of Warren, a Tuition-Free Public School Academy, announces its Open Enrollment Period for the 2017-2018 school year for grades K-8. Applications may be picked up at the Academy (586- 552-8010) or online at www.academyofwarren.net. Hours to pick up applications will be March 20, 2017 thru April 21, 2017 from 8 am to 4 pm Monday- Friday; Saturday March 25, 2017: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; Thursday March 30, 2017: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. If applications exceed the number of available spaces, a random selection will be held at Academy of Warren, 13943 E. 8 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089, on April 26, 2017. Weston Preparatory Academy, a TuitionFree Public School Academy, announces its Open Enrollment period for the 2017-18 school year for grades K-8. Applications may be picked up at the school, 22930 Chippewa, Detroit, MI 48219, www.westondetroit.com (313)-387-6038, during Open Enrollment period April 4, 2017 through April 18, 2017 during school hours as well as April 6th from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and April 8th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. If enrollment applications exceed the number of available spaces, a random selection drawing will be held at Weston Preparatory Academy on May 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED SOFTWARE TEST ENGINEER IN SALINE, MI Orion Systems, Inc. has an available position of Software Test Engineer in Saline, MI. Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & 12 months experi¬ence as a Software Test Engineer. Position also requires: Exp. must include 12 mos. of exp. using C, C++, & C# computer languages to test software for medical applications. Job duties: Develop, create, & implement general computer test software to test safety critical software for medical applications. Analyze user needs & develop software test solutions. Develop & coordinate software system test cases & validation procedures for testing medical embedded software for the customerspecified target microprocessor using C, C++, & C# computer languages. Perform software verification & validation including “white box” &/or “black box” testing. Interested candidates should send resume & verification of reqs. to Patricia A. Warner, VP Legal Affairs, Orion Systems, Inc., 1705 Woodland Drive, Suite 100, Saline, MI 48176.
Magnetic Resonance Innovations, Inc. Has available positions of MR (Magnetic Resonance) Image Analyst in Detroit, MI. Position requires a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering & six months experience as an MR Image Analyst &/or University Research Assistant. Position also requires: 1) Exp. must include exp. processing MR images from normal controls & patients with neurodegenerative diseases including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, & Sickle Cell Disease; & 2) One peer-reviewed journal publication in MR Image Processing. Job duties: Process iron content in neurodegenerative disease data sets from normal controls & patients with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, & Sickle Cell Disease. Evaluate microbleeds in stroke & traumatic brain injury data. Write papers based on results of processing. Assist in writing grants. Qualified applicants should send resume & verification of reqs. to Rachel D. MartisLaze, Administrator, Magnetic Resonance Innovations, Inc., 440 East Ferry Street, Unit #1, Detroit, MI 48202.
Published Every Wednesday
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED Seeking
Senior Design Release Engineer Warren, MI, General Motors. Engr &release safety critical chassis structures incldg frames &integration with suspension systems/suspension geometry for future heavy duty pick-up trucks &cab chassis. Release frame designs using Unigraphics NX &Teamcenter. Write statements of reqmts with technical &cost reqmts for sourcing. Use engrg tools such as DFSS, DFMEA, Design Review Based on Failure Mode, &GD&T, to achieve robust frame designs. Design, analyze frame designs to be strictly compliant with NHTSA, FMVSS, US NCAP “Frontal impact” &“Side pole impact” performance. Manage safety performance &design by safety integration performance integration team. Lead technical reviews with suppliers who participate in sourcing, &discuss how to meet both truck &frame engrg reqmts &program cost targets established. Lead product dvlpmt team meetings on a weekly basis after sourcing. Master, Mechanical or Automotive Engrg. 12 mos exp as Engineer, engrg &releasing vehicle front or rear axle in chassis structure incldg suspension geometry, writing statements of reqmts on suspension components with technical &cost reqmts for sourcing. Mail resume to Ref#3784, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
LIBRARY ASSISTANT II AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Perform moderately complex nonstandardized clerical, technical, and/or public service library activities. Minimum Qualifications: High School graduation or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Two years library experience, including some bibliographic verification and/or public services experience, as well as understanding of specific library policies, rules, procedures, and organization. Position works: Sunday-Thursday – 3:00 p.m. - Midnight. Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements. Salary is $37,623 annually. First consideration will be given to those who apply by March 16, 2017. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
Data Messaging Middleware Specialist
Warren, MI, General Motors. Monitor, support, debug &troubleshoot GSSM (Global Sales, Services & Marketing), GPSC (Global Part Supply Chain) departments’ app interfaces supporting vehicle mfg &aftersales. Support ICVM (Inter Continent Vehicle Movement) invoice processing &GWM (Global Warranty Management) warranty claim processing. Execute day to day operation tasks incldg anlys of failed interfaces in ETL tools such as IBM Datastage, ICAN, SRE &JCAPS. Perform &manage day-today monitoring sys, implementing responsive actions, &reporting on the IBM Information Bus messaging sys. Deploy interfaces on IBM Datastage Information Server 11.3. Renew certificates on EAI operated &owned servers. Master, Computer Science, Computer Networking or related. 6 mos exp as Computer Programmer, Information Technology Analyst or related, executing day to day operation tasks incldg anlys of failed interfaces in ETL tools such as IBM Datastage, ICAN, SRE &JCAPS. Mail resume to Alicia Scott-Wears, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265, Ref#35904.
Warren, MI, General Motors. Engr &release small passenger car Instrument Panel (IP) &Floor Console assy projects. Engr, design &release passenger car IPs &Floor Consoles in strict compliance with US FMVSS 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 302 Flammability, &UNECE 21 Interior Fitting standards &reqmts. Ensure compliance with &tracking of Euro NCAP reqmts for GM vehicles sold in Europe. Ensure product design compliance with engrg principles such as NVH, durability, convenience, appearance &ergonomics. Dvlp invisible type passenger airbag door using laser scoring technology. Use UG NX, Teamcenter (TCAE), &Visual Mockup. Set technical parameters &reqmts to CAE Engrs to simulate &improve design to achieve structural performance reqmts &optimize for mass &cost while balancing safety &formability reqmts. Bachelor, Mechanical, Automotive or Aerospace Engrg. 24 mos exp as Engineer, engrg, designing &releasing passenger car IP &Floor Console assy, in strict compliance with US FMVSS 201, 208 &302, &UNECE 21 standards, &ensuring compliance with &tracking of Europe “ENCAP” reqmts. Mail resume to Alicia Scott-Wears, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265, Ref#2166.
Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp Human Machine Interface (HMI) &Graphic User Interface (GUI) strategies for future car/SUV user exp on vehicle interior displays incldg instrument clusters, center stack displays (incldg radio displays), Head Up Displays &Rear Seat Infotainment displays. Define infotainment systems layouts &use flows. Direct &lead suppliers with HMI guidelines, brand strategies &visual guidelines. Validate &approve supplier proposals. Benchmark competitors’ HMI &perform features anlys. Work with GM engrg functions, safety team, driver workload team &supplier engrs to evaluate technical feasibility considering factors such as driving distraction &NHTSA safety guidelines. Represent GM HMI Team as lead at GM- supplier workshops to define dvlpmt timing, HMI Form &Behavior Spec release &GUI guideline release schedules. Prepare simulations (working prototypes) to show graphically designed features in defined user scenario &wireframes. Bachelor, Design or Interaction Design, or BFA. 12 mos exp as Designer, Assistant Design Manager or Design Manager, dvlpg HMI &GUI strategies for passenger vehicle user exp on vehicle interior displays incldg instrument clusters &radio displays. Mail resume to Ref#1119, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32- D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
BOM Family Owner (BFO) – Liftgate Latch Systems Warren, MI, General Motors. Engr, dvlp, &release global liftgate latch systems incldg internal switches, fork bolts, memory levers &detents, according to vehicle program timing reqmts, &aligned to meet all performance, safety (incldg FMVSS 206 &EU ECE R11), &strict technical &regional reqmts &standards. Generate &maintain global subsys/cmpt technical specs. Ensure liftgate latch strategy is aligned to meet all performance, safety, &imperative reqmts. Benchmark competitors’ products incldg performance &safety. Support Peer Reviews globally. Document &share lessons learned globally to enhance corporate knowledge. Ensure GM’s liftgate latch DFMEAs &best practices are globally competitive, up to date, &followed. Conduct global read-across for liftgate latch issues. Support global QRD engr on liftgate latch warranty reduction. Partner with suppliers to deliver high qlty liftgate latches at an optimal total enterprise cost &timing. Master, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Automotive Engineering. 6 mos exp as Engineer, engrg front and/or rear closure latch systems incldg internal switches, fork bolts, memory levers &detents, according to vehicle program timing reqmts, to meet performance &safety standards incldg FMVSS 206 &EU ECE R11. Mail resume to Ref#2937, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
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MARCH IS history month
Kresge Library
Design Release Engineer
Lead Interaction Designer
Page D-4
Studio Design Engineer Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp, balance &integrate engrg, mfg &other imperatives (such as architecture, regulatory reqmts, market, &cost) with psgr vehicle design theme intent (interior, exterior, aero, wheels &components). Integrate Studio Class A surface with the engrg criteria by executing Decision Fixed Point Process. Integrate engrg, performance &mfg criteria using UG to ensure design space provided to Studio includes reasonable bandwidth for styling purposes. Support technical activities for Design Class A surface dvlpmt (such as aerodynamics, data acquisition, surfacing, vehicle configuration, &preproduction) &engrg reqmts. Identify design &technical problems &dvlp design &engrg solutions related to Class A surface execution &design intent (such as molding definition, window blackout, hardwr fit, lamp interfaces, grilles, &door cut lines). Support UG Class A surface release process to Styling Freeze &support surfacing groups in dvlpmt of final UG Class A surfaces (SF-VDR), including surface verification process. Bachelor, Mechanical Engrg, Control & Automation Engrg, Production Engrg, or related. 12 mos exp as Engineer or Design Engineer, balancing &integrating engrg, mfg &imperatives such as architecture, regulatory reqmts, market, &cost, with psgr vehicle design theme intent (interior, exterior, aero, wheels &components), using UG to ensure design space provided to Studio includes reasonable bandwidth for styling purposes. Mail resume to Alicia Scott-Wears, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265, Ref#5700.
Senior Researcher
Warren, MI, General Motors. Formulate, plan &dvlp highly complex Advance Technical Work &10 year strategies for next generation full vehicle ntwk architectures incldg vehicle to vehicle (V2V)/vehicle to infrastructure (V2X) communication, cybersecurity, &autonomous vehicles, applying analytical &simulation methods. Integrate Model- based sys engrg (MBSE) to desg &dvlp global full vehicle communication architecture incldg ntwk performance &power consumption, with multiple vehicle variants, &vehicle subsystems, incldg protocols such as Central Area Ntwk (CAN), FlexRay, &Ethernet, for current conventional &current/future autonomous vehicles. Evaluate bandwidth challenges &message latency. Analyze timing &ntwk performance for automotive ntwk protocols such as CAN, FlexRay &Ethernet. Dvlp high fidelity simulation model to simulate automotive ntwk &provide predictive anlys results early in desg cycle. Investigate sys optimization methods, &apply these methods to engrg pilot apps to demonstrate the ability to perform vehicle wide trade off anlys. Master, Electrical Engrg, Electronics Engrg, Power & Energy Systems, or related. 12 mos exp as Researcher or Engineer, analyzing timing &ntwk performance for automotive ntwk protocols such as CAN, FlexRay &Ethernet, &dvlpg high fidelity simulation model to simulate automotive ntwk &provide predictive anlys results early in desg cycle. Mail resume to Ref#4118, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265
Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.
-Maya Angelou
MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Published Every Wendnesday
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PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED
Design Engineer
Senior Software Engineer thyssenKrupp Materials NA, Inc. seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Southfield, MI, to confer with management and user personnel to ascertain specific design requirements and conduct system analyses and design studies, among other duties. Min. bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer information systems, computer engineering, or closely related field and seven years of experience in the job offered or systems analyst or related IT occupation. Please send resumes to: thyssenKrupp Materials NA, Inc. Attn: Morgan Crane /JO#7548197, 22355 West Eleven Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48033.
Vibracoustic USA, Inc. seeks a Design Engineer in South Haven, MI to support the Business Development Teams in the design and design verification of Black Box Design;; product development CAE/CAD, assure feasibility of concepts, among other duties. Min. bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field of study and one year of experience in job offered or related. Please send resume to: Laura Underwood, Vibracoustic USA, Inc., 400 Aylworth Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090, Ref#7540829. Team Leader - Global Aftersales Virtual Engineering (GAVE) Warren, MI, General Motors. Lead subordinate team of 9 Global Aftersales Virtual Engrg Virtual Engrs, using Teamcenter, &review team members’ virtual evaluation of Global Aftersales Engrg mechanical &technical serviceability problems &reqmts on global vehicle programs (psgr car, sport utility vehicle, crossover utility vehicle, truck, minivan &performance car) with all GAE Regional Teams to improve vehicle service &reduce serviceability complexity &cost. Create &maintain all global vehicle program Advanced Serviceability of Design Validation Plans &GAVE virtual events calendar. Manage Advanced Serviceability of Design Issues SharePoint &GAVE SharePoint sites. Assign &coordinate Special Projects. Conduct Commitment &Accountability Partnership dvlpmt/reviews, Global Competencies reviews &Career Dvlpmt Planning Tool discussions with direct employees. Bachelor, Mechanical Engrg or Automotive Engrg. 12 mos exp as Service Engineer, Aftersales Engineer, Advanced Serviceability of Design Engineer, or related, performing psgr vehicle Body Structures/Closures/Exterior Commodities serviceability, using Teamcenter, incldg virtual evaluation of mechanical &technical serviceability problems &reqmts on global vehicle programs. Mail resume to Ref#913, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
Human Resources Data Strategist Human Resources Data Strategist, General Motors, Detroit, MI. Desg, dvlp &execute apps architectures (using PeopleSoft &Oracle Developer), policies, practices &procedures to properly manage the full lifecycle for GM People’s Data (employee, contractor, suppliers, &person of interest) over main sys of record of all GM ops. Strategize &ensure implementation of global HR data qlty mgmt rules’ definitions, discovery processes, remediation policies, &standards incldg data dictionary with global HR, Finance &IT, ensuring one global data definition regardless of sys of record. Establish global Oracle PeopleSoft Data Governance, MDM (Master Data Mgmt) &DQM (Data Qlty Monitoring) processes to ensure qlty, integrity &security of people data in HR systems. Establish standards &procedures for people data life cycle mgmt CRUD standards to ensure data is recorded, stored, extracted &retired from HR systems in a consistent manner. Transform raw data into insightful information for critical decision making using Tableau &MS Power BI. Run data qlty scans &conduct data profiling using IBM Cognos, IBM InphoSphere Information Servers, Information Analyzer &Ataccama Data Qlty analyzer tools, to identify outlier patterns or anomalies in systems data &determine structured solutions for unstructured fuzzy data problems. Bachelor, Computer Engrg, Systems Engrg, Information Technology or related. 12 mos exp as HR Data Strategist, HR Data Scientist or related, executing apps architectures using PeopleSoft, &procedures to manage full lifecycle People’s Data (employee, contractor, suppliers, &person of interest) over main sys of record for a region, establishing MDM &DQM processes, &running data qlty scans &conducting data profiling using IBM Cognos to identify outlier patterns or anomalies in systems data &determine structured solutions for unstructured fuzzy data problems. Mail resume to Ref#46806, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
Global Manufacturing Integration Manager Global Manufacturing Integration Manager, Warren, MI, General Motors. Supervise subordinate Assistant Mfg Integration Mgr (possessing Bachelor of Mech Engrg and Master of Science in Mfg Mgmt) and ensure timely dvlpmt and execution of specific projects, mid-cycle major and new vehicle mfg programs, and annual program launches for current/future mid-size trucks, to be assembled in a high volume vehicle assy plant environment at GM Wentzville Mfg Complex in Wentzville, MO. Ensure timely and successful implementation of specific projects as well as mid-cycle major and new vehicle mfg programs and as well as interim/package model launches/mfg tooling and process changes devloped and performed by crossfunctional Mfg Integration Team of mgrs and reporting supervisory and technical personnel representing GM depts: Die and Press, Body Shop, Paint, GA, Supply Chain, Finance, Mfg Planning, and Assy Plant Launch Team. Exercise financial responsibility for managing vehicle integration project, incldg cost centers and review of spending requests outside of original scope and/or overruns. Ensure execution and consistent app of Global Launch Process by functional owners and set corrective actions to ensure deliverables are achieved. Single, consolidated voice for Mfg to Program Execution Team on impact for all change requests and studies. 20% of annual employment will require travel to GM Wentzville Plant, Missouri. Bachelor, Bus.Admin., Industrial Engrg, Supply Chain Management or related. 12 mos exp as Plant Planner, Planning Administrator, Assistant Program Manager, Assistant Mfg Integration Mgr, or related, ensuring implementation of mfg process changes and annual model changes by vehicle assy plant (or central office team) from Die and Press, Body Shop, Paint, and GA depts or related. Mail resume to Ref#556, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
Product Vehicle System Engineer Product Vehicle System Engineer, Warren, MI, General Motors. Engr &dvlp, &package future global psgr car &mid-size size SUV interior architectures &cmpt systems incldg instrument panels, consoles, seating systems, &interior trim systems, &packaging of airbags, to meet the safety performance in compliance with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208/210/214/216a/301 for frontal, side &rear impact standards, US NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), EU NCAP, &Australia NCAP reqmts, &Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recommendations. Perform &execute engrg tools such as DFSS, Design for Manufacture, DFMEA &DRBFM to allow detailed anlys for some of failures &determine root cause to make improvements. Bachelor, Mechanical Engrg or Automotive Engrg. 24 mos exp as Engineer, dvlpg &releasing instrument panel &console, &packaging of airbag, to meet the safety performance in compliance with FMVSS 208/210/214/216a/301 for frontal, side &rear impact standards, US NCAP, EU NCAP, &Australia NCAP reqmts, &IIHS recommendations. Mail resume to Alicia Scott-Wears, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265, Ref#2449.
Senior Product Engineer Senior Product Engineer, Warren, MI, General Motors. Plan &determine Body Structure strategy &advanced dvlpmt of psgr car/light &mid-size truck BIW for Body &Frame Integrated (BFI) &Body on Frame (BoF) light weight/high strength steel structures balancing FMVSS 208/210/214/216a/301 &Europe (ECE R12/R17/R32/R94/R95) for frontal, side &rear impact standards, US New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), Rsrch Council of Automotive Repairs (RCAR), Europe (Euro NCAP) China NCAP, Brazil CONTRAN &South America LatinNCAP standards, &Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) recommendations. Dvlp &improve product &processes using UG &Teamcenter to meet U.S. BIN50 &Euro Six environmental standards. Engr &improve BIW front rails &reinforcements, A Pillar, underbody cross members, dash panel, front floor &rocker panel assy based on high speed front impact. Provide engrg inputs &concepts to support the preliminary vehicle package dvlpmt to meet Desg Studio intent within the vehicle architecture boundaries &balance Engrg criteria with Desg Studio vision for vehicle appearance &proportions in weekly Compartment Integration Team reviews, &consolidate solutions into Typical Sections. Bachelor, Mechanical Engrg or Automotive Engrg. 12 mos exp as Engineer or Body Structure Architect, planning &determining Body Structure strategy &advanced dvlpmt of psgr vehicle BIW BFI &BoF light weight/high strength steel structures while balancing FMVSS/ECE for frontal, side &rear impact standards, US/Euro/China NCAP, Brazil CONTRAN &South America LatinNCAP standards, &IIHS recommendations. Mail resume to Ref#13707, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
Digital Sculptor
Warren, MI, General Motors. Interpret design sketches, drawings &clay models to dvlp, design &build shaded photorealistic digital sculptures/models of psgr car, sport utility vehicle, truck &sports car interior systems &trim &garnish cmpts, based on engrg data using “ALIAS” computer aided design soft, achieving Design for Manufacturability, safety, cost &ease of assy reqmts. Incorporate technical expertise in Class A surface with creativity, artistic ability &knowledge of principles of design, form &line dvlpmt to dvlp, fine-tune &deliver for production high qlty Class A Surfaces interiors cmpts such as A, B, C &D- pillar trim, headliner, overhead console, Header trim, Quarter panel trim, door trim, which meet design direction. Ensure good surface with perfect highlights, precise surface smoothing &accurate representation of appearance, color &materials. Ensure all Class A Surfaces are within precise engrg criteria (incldg all vehicle cmpts performance reqmts) such as airbags, wiring harnesses, cables &seals, &clearances, bosses &mounting locations, tooling cost, &cmpt manufacturability reqmts such as Die Pull directions &Draft angles, &crash safety reqmts such as head impact criteria such as 201U testing data in compliance with FMVSS &minimum radii reqmts &assy criteria such as tolerance stack ups, assy sequence, &part split lines. Bachelor, Design, Business Administration, Engineering or related. 24 mos exp as Digital Sculptor or related, ensuring Class A Surfaces are within engrg criteria (incldg vehicle cmpts performance reqmts) such as airbags, wiring harnesses, cables &seals, &tooling cost, &cmpt manufacturability reqmts such as Die Pull directions &Draft angles, &crash safety reqmts such as head impact criteria in compliance with FMVSS &minimum radii reqmts &assy criteria such as tolerance stack ups, assy sequence, &part split lines. Mail resume to Ref#1964, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-D44, Detroit, MI 48265.
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March 8-14, 2017 Page D-5
The Roots
Jazz in the Gardens announces 2017 lineup By AJ Williams Over the last 11 years, Jazz in the Gardens has evolved into more than just a weekend music concert to a music festival experience including the FMAC conference, a national poetry contest and more, continuing its claims to fame as the undeniable “travel destination for the spring.” Event-goers find themselves entrenched in the vibrant beats, musical stylings that vibrate from the stage complemented by scenic beaches, plentiful shopping, incredible golf courses, 5-star restaurants, and many other inviting attractions which make South Florida a “must visit” destination. Through the years, the event has brought world-renowned artists Usher, Janelle Monáe and Maxwell to name a
few. In its 12th year according to Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert, “There is the need to evolve by opening the Jazz in the Gardens stage more and more to artists from different genres and generations, all influenced by jazz.” This year’s Jazz in the Gardens lineup promises concert-goers another year of unmatched entertainment with Grammy-winning headliners. The two-day festival starts with Saturday’s lineup of Will Downing, Robin Thicke and Jill Scott while Sunday continues with Common, the Roots and LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip. Hosted by Rickey Smiley, entertainment will also include a host of other national and local artists. To view the complete two-day lineup, for more information or to purchase tickets visit www. JazzInTheGardens.com.
‘Capital,’ Detroit Repertory latest production by James Armstrong The world premiere of James Armstrong’s farce Capital will have a champagne opening celebration on Thursday, March 23, at the Detroit Repertory Theatre at 8:30 pm. Opening nights at the rep are always full of camaraderie and celebration. This one will be no different. Guests are invited to join in a champagne toast in the elegant lobby gallery of the theatre after the show with the cast, crew and playwright who will be flying in for opening night of his play. Tickets are still the lowest prices for professional theatre in the region at $17 advance or $20 day of performance, and may be purchased online at detroitreptheatre. com or by calling (313) 868-1347. Capital will run Thursdays through Sundays until May 14. More information may be found at detroitreptheatre.com. About the Play Capital is based on a true event in 1858 in London (but turned upside down and bounced around). Karl Marx’s teenage daughter, Jenny, will go to great lengths to convince her father her life is over if she doesn’t have the latest fashion, a silk bonnet. Unfortunately for her, her father is a political writer whose life is dedicated to teaching the principles of a communal economy and that material possessions are the preoccupation of the bourgeoisie. Also, they’re broke. When a scandalous letter containing sordid details about an affair between two famous people falls into their laps, Jenny sees dollar signs while Karl sees immorality.
Throw in a famous actress (who can’t stop acting) and a bevy of characters (who all seem to look alike) and a hilarious romp ensues. About the Production Capital is directed by Detroit Repertory resident company member Leah Smith. Last season, Smith directed Devil Dog Six, judged by the Free Press as “...most exciting, inventive theatre experience this year.” Her cast for Capital consists of three familiar Rep actors and one newcomer. Rep audiences will remember Lulu Dahl for her performance as Herb’s daughter in Herb the Green Knight; Harry Wetzel, DRT resident set designer, director and actor; and Ben Will who performed the young caretaker six years ago in Dead and Buried. The newcomer to the Rep is Sara Catheryn Wolf, but theatre-goers will recognize her for her work with many Detroit area theatres. Resident company member, Kelly Pino is
stage manager for Capital. Harry Wetzel does double duty as the set designer; Mary Copenhagen is the costume designer; Tom Schraeder is the lighting designer; Burr Huntington is the sound designer. All tickets, fundraisers, bargain booklets and subscriptions remain the most affordable prices for not-for-profit professional theatre in the region. General admission is $17 in advance and $20 for regular admission, all seats, all performances. The Rep’s “Anytime, Multi-Use” Gold Double subscription for two is the unmatched price of $100 and a Silver Single Person subscription is $50. Ten-ticket bargain booklets, regular and matinee are $110 and $100 respectively and make great mini-fundraisers. For tickets, fundraisers and information, call or visit the Rep cox office at (313) 868-1347. Tickets can be purchased by phone using Visa or MasterCard or by visiting detroitreptheatre.com.
Women’s History Month at the Wright For the month of March, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History presents a wide array of exciting and inspirational programming in celebration of Women’s History Month. All events take place at the museum at 315 East Warren Avenue in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. A complete listing of events is provided, and of special note are the following: The New York City-based nathantrice/ RITUALS dance theater presented two performances of its Recognizing Women Project 2017 Friday and Saturday, March 3-4 featuring Cass Technical High School dancers. On Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. there was a tribute honoring Naomi Long Madgett, Detroit’s poet laureate, 2012 Kresge Eminent Artist, editor, and educator. Moderator Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd, professor, Wayne State University, will be joined by Kresge Eminent Literary Artist Bill Harris; Marion Hayden, University of Michigan assistant professor of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation; and the band Straight Ahead. This event is free and open to the public. Detroit native, educator, author and poet Brenda Perryman will be featured along with a screening of the documen-
tary, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise on Tuesday, March 14, at 6 pm. This event is presented in partnership with Cinetopia International Film Festival and is free and open to the public. The 2017 Black Women Rock! Concert: Rebel Women takes place Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m. This annual performance presented by Jessica Care Moore and featuring an eclectic group of women artists is an annual favorite and has sold out in advance each year since 2010. Tickets are $40 and are available at the museum’s information desk or online at TheWright.org. On Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m., Congresswoman Maxine Waters, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and the senior African American woman serving in Congress, and Mildred T. Aristide, attorney and former first lady of Haiti, discuss historical and contemporary matters that relate to African-American and Haitian progress. This event is free and open to the public. Founded in 1965, the Wright Museum opens minds and changes lives through the exploration and celebration of African-American history and culture. For more information visit TheWright. org.
Page D-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • March 8-14, 2017
Now Accepting Online Nominations
: M E 17 The Michigan Chronicle is now accepting nominations for the Men of Excellence induction Now in its seventh year, the Men of Excellence awards seeks to honor local, African American men who are visionaries in their given fields and inspire those around them to go beyond the norm and strive for the exceptional. They are entrepreneurs, community leaders, fathers, husbands, and inspirers. There is no shortage of negative publicity surrounding African American men, and here at the Michigan Chronicle, we know that there are more black men doing amazing things in business and the community than is being reported. If you know a man who has defied expectations and changed the status quo, then submit your nominations for the Men of Excellence award by going online to the MichiganChronicle.com.
Nominations are due April 21, 2017. Submit your nomination at www.michiganchronicle.com
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