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Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 81 – No. 20 | January 24-30, 2018

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County Executive Warren C. Evans announces re-election bid Surrounded by supporters and community leaders, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans announced he is running for re-election in 2018 to continue to transform Wayne County government and build on the momentum of his first term.

“Three years ago, Wayne County sat on the verge of bankruptcy. We were the poster child for poorly run government, it was a complete mess,” Evans said. “We’ve restored fiscal stability and integrity.

We’ve earned people’s trust and improving every day, but the degree of change we’re instilling takes more than four years.

We’ve laid the foundation, but there’s a lot of work to do.”

Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe II (right) is concerned about the future of DACA and African immigrants who benefit from it. Imam Mohamed Al-masmari is on the left. — Serena Maria Daniels photo

Keeping his promise to restore financial stability, Evans and his administration accurately evaluated the county’s financial crisis, devised a Recovery Plan and entered a consent agreement with the State of Michigan. The administration stabilized Wayne County’s finances and restored fiscal stability, exiting the Consent Agreement in 14 months after eliminating the county’s structural and annual deficits.

Working collaboratively with the county’s other elected officials, the administration posted three consecutive budget surpluses and received numerous bond ratings upgrades while boosting pension funding from 45% to 54%. The administration also identified finishing the stalled Gratiot jail as unfeasible and is working toward a deal that would provide the ca new criminal justice center.

“I’m not only proud of what we’ve done, I’m proud of how we’ve done it. Working together we’re building something special, but we’re just scratching the surface of where we can take Wayne County,” Evans said.

Evans hinted at what lies ahead should Wayne County voters give him the honor of serving another four-year term.

“We’re going to live within our means, but we’re going to invest in roads and bridges, build on our wonderful parks system, and use surpluses to properly fund our pensions,” Evans said. “And as we run a

See EVANS page A2

WHAT’S INSIDE

#BeScene: NAIAS Charity Preview & Detroit Glamour Party 2018

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Now on page A2

Immigration policy revives Underground Railroad in Detroit

By Roz Edward When a coalition of faith-based leaders in the Detroit metro area joined hands in March 2017 to implement a statewide sanctuary movement for undocumented immigrants, cynics accused them of political grandstanding. But the recent increase in the number of those seeking protections and refuge in Canada offers proof that the threat to freedom and their futures is real and eerily reminiscent of the days of Underground Railroad, which ended at the Detroit-Canadian border during the height of American slavery.

Detroit is the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada. Because of the city’s access to a neighboring country, immigration officials have greater and more intense policing authority compared to interior states. Both the Detroit-Windsor tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge are focal points for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to capture runaway immigrants and “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. with their parents.

“During the period of slavery, so many children were separated from their parents,” said Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe II, pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the city’s east side, one of the congregations involved in the

four children under the age of seven, a husband whose father was killed and a wife who was severely injured when she was thrown out of a window before the family was granted refuge in the United States.

When the family arrived in the U.S., they tried to flee to Canada, but were stopped at the border and denied entry.

Only last week on the heels of the heartbreaking deportation of Jorge Garcia, 39, who after 30 years of living in the U.S, was deported on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday from metro Detroit to Mexico, another immigrant family is facing deportation.

Ded Rranxburgaj declared sanctuary at Central United Methodist. Rranxburgaj and wife Flora, both of whom are originally from Albania, have been living in the United States for 17 years.

During those years, Rranxburgaj has worked diligently at a local Coney Island restaurant and in construction to support his family and touch the American Dream. His older son, Lawrence, attends the University of Michigan Dearborn, and his younger son, Erik, attends Southgate High School.

His wife, Flora, has multiple sclerosis and is dependent on her husband for care and support.

See IMMIGRATION page A-3

Flex-N-Gate Detroit to hire hundreds at new $160M manufacturing plant With construction on Detroit’s new $160 million manufacturing facility, Flex-N-Gate Detroit, more than half complete, the global auto supplier is gearing up to hire for over 400 positions, ranging from hourly workers to management positions.

The company will partner with Detroit at Work to train Detroit­ ers for the new positions and has committed to hiring Detroiters first.

Flex-N-Gate owner Shad Khan and Mayor Mike Duggan toured the progresstoday and encouraged Detroiters to apply for the hundreds of open positions that will be available at the new facility. The $160 million project is the largest investment by an auto supplier in the city of Detroit in over 20 years and will initially create over 400 jobs and up to 700 new jobs in Detroit over the next three years at full capacity.

Flex-N-Gate is a top global auto supplier of exterior trim components, aluminum and steel modular stamped body in white and chassis assemblies, lighting and other OEM automotive products. Breaking ground last year, the facility will supply parts to Ford Motor Company.

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Santuary Movement. “It’s what connects us today. How can we not get involved? We may worship differently, but we have our humanity.”

Among the growing number of institutions and churches taking part in the Sanctuary Movement is the historic Central United Methodist Protestant Church in downtown Detroit, which over the summer housed a family seeking political asylum from an unnamed African nation, and is currently housing another desperate family.

Rev. Charles Boayue, an immigrant refugee from Liberia, who is today the district superintendent of the Detroit Renaissance District of United Methodist Church, said opening church doors to immigrants is keeping in line with American values. “It is time for Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus ... to stand up together for our common humanity,” he said. “This nation has been an example of binding people together.”

“We’re used to having people come in and out and making the [church] space work,” said Rev. Jill Zundel, senior pastor at Central United Methodist, in an earlier interview. Zundel wears a tattoo on her arm that reads, “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”

The family in sanctuary included

The 480,000 square foot facility, which broke ground in April 2017 and is expected to open in October, will become a new centerpiece to the city’s growing I-94

opening in October, Flex-N-Gate will be looking for hundreds of hourly workers from within the city.

“We are building a city where anyone who wants a job has access to one and Shad Khan and Flex-N-Gate have made a strong commitment to hire Detroiters with Detroit at Work,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “As we bring more manufacturing facilities to Detroit, we’re going to ensure that they look to FlexN-Gate as an example when it comes to putting Detroiters to work.”

industrial Park and is a sign of the city and state’s success in attracting more manufacturing jobs back to Detroit. Flex-N-Gate joins other new manufacturing and industrial facilities, including LINC Logistics and ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks, in an area that just 10 years ago was mostly vacant land and abandoned buildings.

“This new and state-of-the-art facility will serve as the latest example of Detroit’s urban rebirth, thanks in large part to Mayor Duggan’s leadership and vision, but our inner city location is only a small part of the story,” Khan said. “For me, it continues to come back to careers and

jobs. That’s what is happening here – new jobs and promising careers that will support families and contribute to the continued growth of the automotive industry here in Detroit and beyond.

We’re at the doorstep of seeing the vision and hard work pay off. We’ll be open for business soon and that’s great news for our company, our customers and Detroiters who are ready to go to work.”

Detroit at Work The manufacturer is currently partnering with the city to ensure Detroiters have access to the new positions and training for jobs at the Flex-N-Gate facility. As the facility prepares for its

A Detroit At Work training curriculum to prepare Detroit­ers for these jobs is being developed jointly by Flex-N-Gate, Focus: HOPE and Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation. Courses are expected to start in February and run through December 2018.

Training will be available for over 300 Detroit residents throughout the year for hourly positions like Hi-Lo drivers and operators. Residents interested in training and employment can access http:// flex-n-gate.com/Detroit/ for the latest announcements of local job fairs and more information.

Detroiters have worked nearly 12,000 hours so far on the project and Flex-N-Gate has contributed more than $120,000 to the city’s

See FLEX-N-GATE page A2

Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •

January 24-30, 2018

DETROIT SEVEN-DAY FORECAST CLOUDY

PARTLY CLOUDY

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PM SHOWERS

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CLOUDY

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WED. JAN. 24 31°/21°

THUR. JAN. 25 33°/26°

FRI. JAN. 26 45°/39°

SAT. JAN. 27 46°/37°

SUN. JAN. 28 40°/25°

MON. JAN. 29 31°/20°

TUE. JAN. 30 29°/23°

REGIONAL NEWS City of Dearborn awarded Redevelopment Ready Communities certification The City of Dearborn has earned Redevelopment Ready Communities certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced recently.

After working toward RRC certification for over two years, Dearborn is in full alignment with the RRC best practices and is poised to attract and support private investment.

Certified communities demonstrate they have predictable development review processes and are actively marketing redevelopment opportunities to potential investors. Dearborn is the 16th community to achieve RRC certification statewide and the first in Wayne County. Dearborn joins five other RRC certified communities in metro Detroit — Roseville, Eastpointe, Lathrup Village, Southfield and Ferndale.

workforce training fund, fundsthat will be used to train the next generation of skilled trade workers in Detroit at places like the Randolph Career Tech Center.

“We’re proud to have earned the designation as a Redevelopment Ready Community,” Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. stated. “This certification conveys a clear message that Dearborn has efficient and customer-friendly practices that make it possible for developers and businesses to succeed with their plans to invest in our city. Now, from the moment we are contacted by investors, they get the sense that we are here to help.”

719 026 600 568 721 234 822 6643 0224 675 7 16 24 61 63 2 1452 Randolph • Detroit, MI 48226 Phone: (313) 963-8100

Flex-N-Gate

In July of 2015, Dearborn received an evaluation of its development-related practices that included recommendations for how the city could improve its plans, policies and processes to meet the RRC best practices criteria. Dearborn has succeeded in implementing all of the best practices and deserves to be recognized for the accomplishment.

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The MEDC will hold a formal presentation at 10 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 19, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Studio A, 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.

“Communities that receive RRC certification have removed unnecessary hurdles to development, while preserving their vision and goals for a successful future,” said MEDC CEO Jeff Mason. “We congratulate Dearborn for being the 16th community in Michigan to achieve this certification and look forward to working collaboratively with Dearborn to create a vibrant community where business and talent want to be.”

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From page A-1

Flex-N-Gate is also using 35% Detroit contractors to date. Tooles Contracting Group, a Detroit-based and minority owned company, performed the majority

of civil work prior to construction of the new facility. Other Detroit based contractors working on the project include Dixon Masonry, Christman Con­ struction, Spalding, Midwest Steel and Walsh Construction.

Residents interested in learning more about jobs at Flex-N-Gate Detroit can visit http://flex-n-gate. com/Detroit/. Those interested in learning more about additional training and job opportunities can visit DetroitatWork.com.

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Evans

From page A-1

smarter, more efficient operation, we’re going to find a way to invest in our people. They’ve borne the brunt of the tough times, and we’ve got to reward their hard work and sacrifice.”

Those rallying at Detroit’s Samaritan Center in support of Evans in-

cluded the NAACP’s Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly, Bishop John Henry Sheard, Westland Mayor Bill Wild, Wayne County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak and Livonia Mayor Dennis Wright.

For all news and calendar items: Deadline is two weeks prior to event.

Weeks that contain holidays, dead­line is Thursday prior to publication date.

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January 24-30, 2018 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-3

Citywide effort to bring all rental properties into compliance begins Feb. 1 STAFF REPORTS

The schedule for the first six ZIP codes is as follows:

City of Detroit building inspectors will begin their efforts on Feb. 1 to identify every rental property in Detroit and have them registered in compliance with city codes.

The goal of the new ordinance is to ensure that every renter in Detroit is living in a property that is safe and up to code by the middle of 2020.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers

John Conyers retirement prompts competing family campaigns Jay-Z’s theory that “nobody wins when the family feuds” is about to be challenged in Michigan, where the great-nephew of former U.S. Rep. John Conyers formally announced his bid on Friday to succeed his great-uncle. There’s just one problem, though: While the elder Conyers was indeed looking to keep his congressional seat in the family, the relative he wants to take his place is his own son. That preference could make the next family cookout pretty awkward.

But that didn’t stop Ian Conyers, who is a sitting state senator in Michigan, from officially declaring his candidacy for the 13th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

Conyers, the former congressman, formally endorsed the would-be candidacy of his son, John Conyers III, on the same day he abruptly resigned last month following reports that he had previously committed acts of sexual misconduct and harassment.

While his son had never expressed an interest in running for public office before, it may have been Ian Conyers incorrectly attributing his great-uncle’s resignation

John Conyers III

Ian Conyers

to health issues that convinced the former congressman to endorse his son over the already politically established state senator.

associated with me,” he told CNN last month. “I know what happened and I know I’m innocent.”

Still, Ian Conyers, who said he was running on a “stop Trump agenda,” brushed aside any concerns of facing off against John Conyers III in a primary, according to the Detroit News.

“It’s my understanding he (Conyers III) hasn’t decided if he even wants to run for the seat,” he said.

“I am fully committed.”

Meanwhile, Conyers III has been busy trying to explain his past brushes with the law that include being charged with stabbing his then-girlfriend.

“The DA dismissed the charges, but it’s something that causes me a lot of anguish and now it’s

Despite what is sure to be a crowded field of congressional hopefuls — Michigan State Sen. Coleman Young III has also declared his candidacy along with Detroit attorney Michael Gilmore — Conyers appeared confident, if not defiant, during his recent announcement.

“While others (candidates) will have to familiarize themselves with Washington and how it works, I already have a good idea,” he said. “I am prepared to begin work from day one that I am elected to office.”

Either way, the former congressman is sure to have something to say as we get closer to the primary in August.

Starting Feb. 1, all rental properties in the first compliance area — ZIP code 48215 on the city’s east side — will have 90 days (May 1) to get their properties registered as rentals with the city. Under the new city rental property ordinance approved late last year by City Council, building owners will have six months to bring their properties up to code, have them inspected and obtain a certificate of compliance from the city.

Approximately each month, a new ZIP code will be added, beginning its six-month compliance period. In the next two weeks, informational brochures will be sent to every residence in 48215 — and later to every residential address in each subsequent ZIP code just prior to the beginning of its compliance period.

Mayor Mike Duggan, Councilman Andre Spivey and the city’s buildings safety director, Dave Bell, announced the initial compliance enforcement schedule at Dickerson Manor apartments on the city’s east side.

“Starting Feb. 1, we are going to start moving across the city in a systematic way to make sure that anyone who lives in a rental property is living in safe and healthy environment for their families,” Mayor Duggan said. “As part of this new approach, we are going to support good landlords and give renters greater protection against those who are not keeping their buildings in good condition.”

“These changes will help us protect the thousands of Detroiters who rent and to make stronger neighborhoods,” said Councilman Spivey.

Protections for tenants: The ability for tenants to pay rent into an escrow account if the landlord does not obtain a certificate of compliance by the end of the six-month compliance period. Those funds will be inaccessible to the landlord until they have passed all inspections and receive a certificate of compliance. If after 90 days the landlord does not obtain a certificate of compliance, the rent held in escrow will be returned to the tenant, and then every 60 days after that.

The ability for the city to withhold certificates of compliance to landlords who are more than oneyear delinquent on their property taxes.

Rev. Charles Boayue

Immigration From page A-1 “My family needs me. I take care of my wife, and I work to support my sons, every day. If they deport me after taking care of my wife for 11 years, I may never see her again. My sons would need to leave school to take care of her. It would be devastating for my family,” he said.

“I am scared that they will deport my husband,” said Flora Rranxburgaj, “He takes care of me. Every day he helps me shower, change clothes, he cooks my food. If they deport him ...”

Michigan United a statewide coalition and one of the organizing agencies of the Sanctuary Movement, estimates that the city’s undocumented immigrant community, which ranges from about 95,000 to more than 126,000 throughout Michigan, are at risk for detention and deportation.

The organization, along with throngs of supporters, praised Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters for siding with immigrant youth in the recent federal budget battle and decided not to support a federal budget resolution that did not include protections for that vulnerable population. The vote standoff on the immigration policy issue caused the federal government shutdown recently. “I was glad to see our leaders

take action and force the Republicans’ hand on the issue. I just hope they stick to their commitment and continue to fight this racist policy,” said an African nation immigrant and gas station owner on Detroit’s west side.

Scores of black Americans agree that the need for protections against overly zealous proponents for implementing more rigid immigration laws and escalating the removal of undocumented immigrants is a dangerous and critical reminder of the inequitable treatment of minorities and people living in distressed conditions. But, the Trump administration’s rhetoric and characterizations of immigrants as villains is what many find most appalling. He has crafted a diabolical discourse that pits ethnic groups against each other in class race.

“It makes me think of all of those people who were forced from their homes following Hurricane Katrina being called refugees instead of Americans,” said Trish Singleton, a survivor of one of the nation’s worst natural disasters. “There are differences, sure, in that in New Orleans we were American citizens and were not facing deportation. But the reality is that we were for the most part black Americans being forced to leave our homes and our loved ones, and that is a universal tragedy and a profoundly disturbing circumstance for anybody.”

Creation of a public website that will let the public know whether properties are registered with the city as a rental and, if so, whether it has a certificate of compliance Landlords will not be able to evict any tenant of a non-compliant building solely for withholding rent.

Support for good landlords: The city will provide landlords an expedited process for appealing the denial or suspension of a certificate of compliance.

Less frequent inspections required for quality landlords who, for at least one year, have remained current on their taxes and have received no blight violations. The ordinance would extend certifications from one year to two years for multi-family dwellings and to three years for one and two family dwellings.

Maintaining annual lead risk assessments.

Under the ordinance, all rental properties — even those with two or three

ZIP CODE Launch Date

Registration Date

Compliance Date

48215 48224 48223 48219 48209 49210

May 1, 2018 June 1, 2018 August 1, 2018 September 1, 2018 October 1, 2018 November 1 2018

August 1, 2018 September 1, 2018 November 1, 2018 December 1, 2018 January 1, 2019 February 1 2019

February 1, 2018 March 1, 2018 May 1, 2018 June 1, 2018 July 1, 2018 August 1 2018

year certifications — will require an annual lead risk assessment and clearance. The annual assessment can be waived only if the property owner has taken more long-term or permanent meures to abate the lead.

“We’ve got to increase the quality of life for the neighbors and the tenants in the city of Detroit,” said David Bell, director of the Buildings, Safety Engineering & Environmental Department.

“We can’t do that without getting rid of unnecessary requirements and providing an adequate amount of time for the landlord’s to come into compliance.” This ordinance creates a win for everyone and moves the neighborhoods forward.”

Inspection Timelines Bell also said his team will be able to conduct inspections in the active enforcement zone within four days of a request.

Requests for inspections that fall outside of the active enforcement zone will be conducted within 30 days. To prepare for this, the city has added seven additional inspectors and partnered with

four outside inspection companies to get inspections done in a timelier manner.

Getting Certified: How to get started Owners of rental buildings can start their processtoday by registering their property online at www.detroitmi.gov/rental.

To help owners registered of one and two family rental buildings get their inspections done as soon as possible, the city has listed on this website the names and contact information for the private company partners that have been approved to do that work. City BSEED staff will continue to conduct all inspections at larger multi-unit apartment buildings.

There are nearly 40,000 rental properties in the city, the majority of which are not properly registered and have no current certificate of compliance. In 2015, the city launched a process to encourage more landlords to register their properties.

Since that time, the city has significantly increased its number of registered rental properties.

STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION **** FOR THE GAS CUSTOMERS OF DTE GAS COMPANY CASE NO. U-18412 • DTE Gas Company requests the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval of their Gas Cost Recovery Plan, 5-year Forecast and Monthly GCR Factor for the 12 months ending March 31, 2019.

• The information below describes how a person may participate in this case.

• You may call or write DTE Gas Company, One Energy Plaza, 688 WCB, Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279, (800) 338-0178 in Southeast Michigan, (800) 533-6220, for a free copy of its application. Any person may review the documents at the offices of DTE Gas Company.

• A public hearing will be held:

DATE/TIME:

Thursday, Feb 8, 2018, at 9:00 a.m.

This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters.

BEFORE:

Administrative Law Judge Martin D. Snider

LOCATION:

Michigan Public Service Commission 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing, Michigan 48917

PARTICIPATION: Any interested person may attend and participate.

The hearing site is accessible, including handicapped parking. Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission’s Executive Secretary at (517) 284-8090 in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a public hearing to consider DTE Gas Company’s (DTE Gas) December 22, 2017 application which seeks the Commission’s approval to: 1) authorize a maximum base gas cost recovery factor of $2.86 per Mcf that can be adjusted to a new maximum GCR rate by the monthly NYMEX based contingency factor matrix, to be reflected in DTE Gas’s monthly gas customer billings beginning April 1, 2018, and continuing through March 31, 2019, and further approves a SOLR Reservation Charge of an additional $0.31 per Mcf that is billed to GCR customers while the Reservation Charge billed to GCC customers will be $0.20 per Mcf; 2) find DTE Gas’s 5-Year forecast of Gas Requirements, Supplies and Costs, and Gas Supply Plan does not include any cost items that the Commission would be unlikely to permit DTE Gas; and 3) authorize DTE Gas’s request for 75 Mdth/d of existing transportation capacity replacement by 75 MDth/d of NEXUS pipeline transportation capacity beginning in 2018; and grant other relief.

All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission’s E-Dockets website at: https://mi-psc.force.com/s/.

Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E-Dockets help page. Documents may also be submitted, in Word or PDF format, as an attachment to an email sent to: mpscedockets@ michigan.gov. If you require assistance prior to e-filing, contact Commission staff at (517) 284-8090 or by email at: mpscedockets@michigan.gov.

Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by February 1, 2018. (Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format.) The proof of service shall indicate service upon DTE Gas Company’s attorney, David S. Maquera, Corporate Counsel for DTE Gas Company, 1 Energy Plaza #688-WCB, Detroit, MI 48226.

Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance. To file an appearance, the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position. All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information, thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website, and subject to disclosure. Information you wish to remain private should not be included.

Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System’s Administrative Hearing Rules R 792.10422 and R 792.10432. Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to (517) 284-8130.

A copy of DTE Gas Company’s application may be reviewed on the Commission’s website at: https://mi-psc.force.com/s, and at the office of DTE Gas Company. For more information on how to participate in a case, you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at (517) 284-8090.

Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 300, as amended, MCL 462.2 et seq.; 1919 PA 419, as amended, MCL 460.54 et seq.; 1939 PA 3, as amended, MCL 460.1 et seq.; 1969 PA 306, as amended, MCL 24.201 et seq.; 1982 PA 304, as amended, MCL 460.6h et seq.; and Parts 1 & 4 of the Michigan Administrative Hearing System’s Administrative Hearing Rules, Mich. Admin Code, R 792.10101 through R 792.10137, and R 792.10401 through R 792.10448.

The Utility Consumer Representation Fund has been created for the purpose of aiding in the representation of residential utility customers in various Commission proceedings. Contact the Chairperson, Utility Consumer Participation Board, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, P.O. Box 30004, Lansing, Michigan 48909, for more information.

Jan 11, 2018

DTE0849 | 2018 Print Ad Customization/NOHs/NOH U-18412

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2018 to be a landmark year for Detroit’s public schools

By Dr. John Telford At a special Detroit Public Schools Community District Board meeting in November 2017, I beseeched our board and superintendent to challenge Public Acts 192 through 197 so that our Detroit public school board may regain its full statutory powers which its suburban counterparts — unlike DPS — have continued to enjoy throughout the decades, uninterrupted. I also asked our school board to sue to oblige the state to pay for a forensic-specific, line-itemized audit of our school district’s operating budget and its bond expenditures over the past 17 years of the unwarranted 1999 state takeover with the aim of recovering the approximately $3.5 billion which was stolen and squandered John Telford during that neo-colonialist era of Jim Crowist rule.

In addition, i urged the board to facilitate a prompt signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Detroit-based, field-proven QWK2LRN Agency that has been so long mired in administrative foot dragging. If the then-emergency financial manager hadn’t prevented me in my then-capacity of DPS superintendent from putting QWK2LRN into play in 2012 or the voter-rescinded emergency manager law hadn’t been unlawfully reenacted in 2013, no Detroit public school would still be in bottom-scoring Priority status now. QK2LRN can’t be reasonably expected to undertake its extensive fundraising mode for this recuperative program until that MOI has been safely signed by DPSCD as a good-faith guarantee. The elimination of Priority schools must be this school board’s absolutely paramount and immediate concern. I have made the board aware that I stand ready to host board study sessions at the Detroit Yacht Club to better acquaint the board and superintendent with the more intricate nuances of QWK2LRN’s

successful techniques for ensuring that DPSCD’s 65 lowest-performing schools escape from state-designated Priority status and from their ranking as the lowest-scoring schools in America, and that all DPSCD third-graders’ reading scores rise to a level where their specific schools will no longer be susceptible to legislative closure by the very body whose predatory meddling reduced them to that lowly status in the first place.

Further, I have invited the board and superintendent to come again onto my radio shows on WCHB AM1340 on Saturday mornings at 9:30 and Monday evenings at 6:30 to discuss these and other issues and to answer listeners’ questions and address their concerns.

The call-in number for listeners who wish to participate in any of these discussions is (313) 837-1340. My AM1340 shows (subtitled “Radio Free DPSCD”) remain at the board’s and the community’s service. Each board member has also been invited to address our Poetry class at Southeastern, where as DPSCD poet-in-residence I am teaching again for the first time in 57 years. (Superintendent Nikolai Vitti addressed the class eloquently and memorably on Dec. 19., 2017.)

At that special board meeting in November, I asked the board to join us in a key lawsuit. We have now shared with the board and superintendent the Amicus Brief that our intrepid pro bono attorney Tom Bleakley (incidentally a Detroit PSL champion runner in 1958) drafted regarding the legal challenge titled “Helen Moore/John Telford, et al. vs. State of Michigan, et al.” The board has now agreed to join us as plaintiffs in that vital suit to recapture the withheld $44.5 million that the state owes DPSCD under the Headlee Amendment. The year 2018 is showing unmistakable signs of becoming a landmark year for DPSCD. Detroit activist educator, poet, author, artist, and musician John Telford is a former DPS superintendent under state-imposed emergency financial management. Get his Detroit-oriented books at the Source Booksellers and Barnes & Nobles book tores, as well as at www.amazon.com. Visit DrJohnTelfordEdD@aol.com.

I don’t know if Oprah will run for president, but I know she’d do a hell of a lot for education

By Erika Sanzi Oprah Winfrey’s name has been buzzing (alongside #TimesUp) in recent weeks with speculation flying wildly from all corners about a potential run for president in 2020.

I did not watch the Golden Globes but I did watch a video of Oprah’s acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille award and there is no doubt that she energized the room of celebs as well as many of the millions watching from home or catching the video clips.

I was an avid watcher of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for decades.

From my high school days all the way through my first six years of motherhood, Oprah was there. Her final episode aired when my oldest Erika Sanzi son was 6 and I was in what would be the final year of my seven-year stint as a stay-at-home mom.

I relied on Oprah. (And Curious George!)

One of the things I most appreciated-and continue to appreciate-about Oprah is the focus she has always placed on education and her willingness to say that we need to do something differently. She never shied away from the controversy of charter schools or teacher tenure because she cared about kids (and common sense) more than the senseless squabbling of adults.

I can’t ever remember her reflecting on her life story without citing education as the reason for it all. For Oprah, education is freedom. It is her passion.

It is THE THING that she decided would allow her to make the biggest long-term difference with her philanthropic dollars.

And let’s remember, it was teachers on stage and in the audience the day she shocked the world and gave every single one of them a car.

But Oprah could change that. At the height of her show, she talked with brutal honesty about the gut-wrenching statistics that surround this country’s Black boys and young men. She celebrated the broken cycles of poverty and dependency as well as the liberty that only education can provide.

She spent 26 years on her set being inspired by phenomenal educators and sharing that inspiration with all of us.

We met some of the boldest, most courageous and hardest-working educators on her show. I remember running out to buy their books (these were the pre-Amazon days) after seeing them on the show.

But perhaps more than anything, Oprah celebrated people who believed in children-all children.

Because she believes that children rise to the expectations set for them.

And she knows that children are capable of amazing things even when they are poor and Black like she was, sitting on the linoleum floor and watching Sydney Poitier win the Oscar in 1964.

OPRAH INTRODUCED ME TO...

Ron Clark Clark is an educator who has worked with low-income students in rural North Carolina and New York City and founded the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin Feinberg and Levin co-founded the KIPP network of charter schools. More than 87 percent of KIPP students come from low-income families. To date, more than 90 percent of the KIPPsters graduated high school and more than 80 percent have gone to college.

Michelle Rhee Rhee is a former educator and advocate for education reform. She was chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools from 2007 to 2010. She founded the nonprofit Students First.

Geoffrey Canada Since 1990, Canada has been the president of the Harlem Children’s Zone in Harlem, New York, an organization that states its goal is to increase high school and college graduation rates.

I Miss Oprah The truth is that as I look back now I realize that Oprah Winfrey played a part in my own journey from teacher to mom to school committee member to education advocate.

She helped me to see the disparity in resources, facilities and expectations around race and income. She introduced me to the high school valedictorian who struggled to pass her classes during her freshman year of college. More recently, she helped me to understand the tremendous courage of Malala Yousafzai, who risked everything so that girls around the world may become educated.

I miss Oprah. I have no idea if any of the hysteria over her potential presidential candidacy in 2020 is legitimate or complete fantasy.

But I do know that if she were to decide to run for president, she’d be my best hope-ever-for a presidential candidate who will speak truth to power when it comes to educating America’s children. Especially the children who we, as a nation, have failed for so long.

Erika Sanzi is a former teacher and school board member, a mom of three boys, and a fierce advocate for great public schools and the right of every parent to choose their child’s education.

LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

Quote of the Week

“We’re hearing so much hateful, disturbing rhetoric. It is so important to realize that in the United States, diversity will always be our greatest source of strength and pride.”

— Michelle Obama

Blacks and Politics: Either Get Engaged or Get Left Behind

By Jeffrey Boney

(NNPA Member/Houston Forward Times)

Okay, everyone, if you are reading this, welcome to 2018. You made it, and with that being said, I feel that this is the perfect opportunity for us to be honest about an important truth.

First of all, as I see it, it is extremely clear to me, and should be quite evident to anyone who would just simply open up their eyes to see it for themselves, that the Black vote can either make or break an election.

If you don’t believe me, I would encourage you to take a look at previous elections where the Jeffrey Boney Black community was actively engaged and driven to get out and vote in a local, county, state or federal election, versus the times where they were not as excited or motivated to do so.

Take Alabama’s recent special U.S. Senate election race involving Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones, where people were overwhelmingly surprised to see the exit polls that showed that Black voters made up 29 percent of the overall voter turnout in the entire election—18 percent of Black women and 11 percent of Black men. Exit polls also showed that 98 percent of Black women cast their vote for Jones, while 93 percent of Black men cast their vote for Jones.

These were phenomenal numbers, and definitely the type of numbers that Jones needed to pull off an unexpected victory in a historically and traditionally red state like Alabama.

It was exciting to see this type of political difference making by the Black community, but that excitement was immediately quenched and short-lived, after reading reports that a letter was sent to Jones on Dec. 19 from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and 16 other organizations practically begging him “to commit to hiring a staff that reflects his constituents’ racial diversity.”

Why wasn’t this letter sent before Jones won? Why not get this type of commitment from Jones before engaging the Black community to come out and vote for him, and doing what the Black community always does when it is expected to deliver the turnout and votes necessary to secure a victory for select candidates or select issues on the ballot? I believe it is, because the Black community has grown accustomed to not being respected, especially within the Democratic Party where they are the most loyal. And before “loyal” Democrats come for my head, because they consider this an attack on the Democratic Party or as an opportunity to try and have us compare the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, I believe the Black community needs to ask itself some really tough questions.

When it comes to the Black community’s involvement in the Democratic Party, how are Blacks truly viewed within the party? Despite the Black community having such a strong and dedicated voting bloc across the nation, how many Blacks actually hold key positions within the Democratic Party on a local, statewide and/or national basis?

How many Black people are senior staff members in county, state or federal offices across the country?

See, it is one thing to look out at these local, county, state and federal Democratic meetings and conventions and see this sea of diversity, with Black faces mixed in with faces from all other races and backgrounds, but it is an entirely different thing to know that Blacks are not given opportunities to have a real impact in the Democratic Party from within, other than just vot-

ing.

Secondly, as I see it, it is abundantly clear to me that the Black community is oftentimes ignored, disrespected and disregarded by both major political parties until they are needed in the midnight hour to deliver for those who only want their vote but nothing else.

This is important to highlight because, over the last several decades, Black people have voted for Democratic candidates 94 percent of the time in critical federal and state elections.

Black voters turned out in record numbers in 2008 to elect Barack Obama as the first Black president of the United States, with the primary belief that by letting their voices be heard, they would experience the “Hope and Change” he campaigned on. As a result of this record turnout, Black voters helped elect President Obama to the highest office in the land and they helped elect Democrats to other key positions that helped Democrats gain control of both the House and the Senate. And what did the Democratic Party do as soon as they got control of the House, Senate and the White House? You guessed it! Respective groups within the Democratic Party began advocating for their own competing interests and could care less about Black issues.

And how were Black people rewarded for their 96 percent voting loyalty in 2008? Subsequently, the many issues impacting the Black community were ignored and got pushed further and further to the back of the bus, and Black people were pushed to the bottom of the totem pole.

During a time where Black people should have been experiencing tremendous gains, we saw Black unemployment at its highest point, increased poverty, property loss and home equity loss at record-numbers in the Black community, and the wealth gap tripled between us and Whites.

As I see it, the Democratic Party is getting more and more fragmented, while the Republican Party remains consistent with their message and their actions, even if it costs them votes or support. They have conviction and stick to their guns for the whole of the Party. At the end of the day, the Republican Party appears to be on one accord publicly, even when there may be discord internally. This has not been the case with the Democratic Party over the last several decades.

As I see it, Blacks cannot be political squatters, sitting with our hands out, begging for scraps from the table and waiting to be given our next assignment and told our next move.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said it best at the last Democratic National Convention, when he told attendees that they needed to get some “backbone.”

All I know is this, Black folks had better get some “backbone” and wake up before we find ourselves becoming comfortable with sitting at the back of the bus again, while the Hispanic community and Asian community figure out a way to work collectively together to advance their political and social position in this country. If we find ourselves in the back of the bus, sadly, it won’t be the Republicans’ fault or the Democrats’ fault. This time, it will be no one’s fault, but our own.

Dear Black people: We either get engaged or get left behind.

What’s it going to be for 2018 and beyond?

Jeffrey L. Boney serves as Associate Editor and is an award-winning journalist for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey has been a frequent contributor on the Nancy Grace Show and Crime & Justice with Ashleigh Banfield and also hosts a national daily radio talk show called “Real Talk with Jeffrey L. Boney.” If you would like to request Jeffrey as a speaker, you can reach him at jboney1@forwardtimes.com. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @ realtalkjunkies.

January 24-30, 2018 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-5

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Hundreds of events scheduled for School Choice Week in Michigan

Gov. Rick Snyder’s office has recently issued a proclamation recognizing Jan. 21-27 as Michigan School Choice Week in the hopes of educating and encouraging parents to look into scholastic options for children during National School Choice Week School Choice Week began in Michigan and across America on Sunday, Jan. 21 with the goal of raising awareness about the options that parents have for their children’s education.

The week will feature 877 events and activities across the Great Lakes State, including open house events at schools, school fairs, homeschool information sessions, and other celebrations. In addition, a celebration is planned on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the State Capitol Chamber Rotunda.

Nationwide, 32,240 events and activities are being organized to raise awareness during National School Choice Week (Jan. 21-27, 2018), and nearly 7 million Americans are expected to participate. It will be the largest series of education-related events and activities in U.S. history.

The Week brings attention to the different education environments that are available for Michigan’s 2.2 million children. For example, families in Michigan can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. The state also offers tuition-free, public online schooling.

Gov. Rick Snyder issued an official proclamation recognizing Jan. 21-27 as Michigan School Choice Week. In addition, the counties of Kalkaska, Losco, and Luce and the cities of Byron, Carrollton, Charter Township of Kinross, Charter Township of Royal Oak, Cadillac, Dearborn, Lapeer, New Buffalo,

Rockwood, Sylvan Lake, Columbus, Dearborn Heights, Howard, Kalamazoo, Parma, Peninsula, Roscommon, Republic, Ishpeming, Wakeshma, Vienna, Utica, and Zeeland Chater have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their community.

“National School Choice Week is perfectly in line with the work we do, who we serve, and our strategies,” said Randy Speck, superintendent of Madison District Public Schools. “We obviously have our traditional schools, but we have a homeschool population of about 850 students that we provide services for. We also authorize a charter school, have online components that all students can use, and started our own advanced manufacturing training facility for secondary students along with a workforce development program. My entire career before my six years in Madison was in the private school world so I am glad to say I have checked almost every box and love bringing that experience to our work and mission.”

Celebrated since 2011, the Week is nonpartisan and nonpolitical, and it is not related to any legislative advocacy campaign.

“With so many events and activities across Michigan, National School Choice Week provides an ideal time for Michigan families to evaluate the education options available for their children,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week.

National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a spotlight on effective education options for children. Learn more at www.schoolchoiceweek.com or highlight school choice on social media using hashtag #schoolchoice. For featured events in the Great Lakes State, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/ states/Michigan.

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Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com •

January 24-30, 2018

Calling all Detroit High School Seniors

The Michigan Chronicle is awarding scholarships up to $10,000 Apply by April 2, 2018 The Michigan Chronicle presents the 3rd annual S.W.A.G. Awards in Detroit. S.W.A.G., which stands for Students Wired for Achievement and Greatness, is a scholarship program recognizing outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to community, integrity and service. Current students that live and attend school in Detroit or theMetro Detroit area and planning to attend college or a trade school are eligible to apply.

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Go to www.michronicleonline.com/swag-awards to apply.

For more information, email swagawards@michronicle.com NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. 2017-2018 Michigan Chronicle S.W.A.G. Awards entry period starts at 12:00 AM ET on 1/2/18 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 4/2/18. Open only to 12th graders who are 16 and older who are legal residents of City of Detroit or Metro Detroit area who: (a) attend a public, charter, or private Detroit or Metro Detroit high school; (b) will graduate in spring 2017; (c) have at least a 2.5 grade point average (or equivalent); and (d) are in good community standing. Visit www.michronicleonline.com/swagawards for entry instructions. Submission requirements prizes and complete details. Only one (1) Submission per entrant. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

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| January 24-30, 2018

Roots.

Larry Bryant (right), senior vice president and retail regional director for Comerica Bank, presented Corporal Andrew Kush, United States Marine Corps, with hundreds of children’s Christmas gifts. Comerica Bank colleagues collected toys, board games and other items in support of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

michiganchronicle.com

Patricia McCann (left), national civic affairs manager; Cynthia Croft, vice president and manager of Comerica’s Romulus banking center; and Lori Walker, vice president, diversity and inclusion manager, accepted Comerica’s bronze-level recognition at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s 2017 Veteran-Friendly Employer Awards and Recognition Breakfast. Comerica was recognized for employing and supporting veterans.

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Comerica Bank dedicated to support of veterans, active military Supporting Michigan’s veteran community in metro Detroit isn’t something Comerica Bank only does on the big veterans holidays, but something they’ve built into the very fabric of their culture.

veteran hiring policies and practices, and brought home an award from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s 2017 Veteran-Friendly Employer Awards and Recognition Breakfast.

Comerica Bank executives and volunteers highlight their commitment to active duty and veteran military with a variety of volunteer opportunities all year long and they’re starting to make an impact.

Comerica Bank National Manager of Diversity Initiatives Caroline Chambers is responsible for overseeing and implementing diversity initiatives for Comerica and understands the importance of supporting Michigan veterans.

Since Comerica started its veteran outreach strategy in 2015, the percentage of veterans employed in the organization’s workforce has increased by 12 percent. In addition, after years of employing and aiding veterans in Michigan, Comerica was honored as the 100th Veteran-Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in May 2017.

Corporal Andrew Kush, United States Marine Corps, and Cynthia Marbury of Comerica’s Municipalities group, marvel at the toys collected at Comerica Bank’s Michigan Market headquarters in downtown Detroit. Comerica colleagues donated board games, toys and other gifts to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help ensure children throughout Metro Detroit received presents during the holiday season.

The group recognizes Michigan organizations that actively demonstrate their dedication to recruiting, hiring training and maintaining veteran personnel. Registered organizations have the opportunity to observe other companies that support veterans, learn more about veteran outreach practices and receive no-cost training for volunteers.

As part of the organization’s recognition, Comerica received bronze-level recognition for its

Susan Schmidt (left), senior vice president of quality process, Comerica Bank; Steve Pente, vice president and manager of Comerica’s Warren-Calhoun office; Cynthia Croft, vice president and Romulus banking center manager, Comerica Bank; Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff; Danny Schmidt, Comerica Cares volunteer; and Patricia McCann, national civic affairs manager, Comerica Bank; honored veterans in Romulus Memorial Park in support of Wreaths Across America.

The group laid 300 wreaths on veteran graves as part of the annual effort to recognize veterans throughout the United States.

“It’s a genuine honor to be recognized by veteran support organizations like the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and we’re extremely privileged to have such a sincere connection with the veteran community,” Chambers said. “Comerica Bank is thankful for the opportunity to support and employ local veterans and provides donations, volunteers and other resources throughout the year to support those who have served.”

Honors aside, Comerica diligently seeks opportunities and creates ways to assist local veterans.

Comerica Cares volunteers recently honored fallen veterans by partnering with Wreaths Across America. The initiative takes place in December

See SUPPORT page B-2

Patricia McCann, national civic affairs manager, Comerica Bank; and Cynthia Croft, vice president and Romulus banking center manager, Comerica Bank; laid wreaths at a veteran’s grave in Romulus Memorial Cemetery while other executives and volunteers honored veterans in support of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide initiative that recognizes fallen soldiers.

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • January 24-30, 2018

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Index improves Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index increased by 0.4 percent in October to a level of 117.8. October’s reading is 20 points, or 20 percent, above the index cyclical low of 97.9. The index averaged 117.3 points for all of 2016, two points above the index average for 2015. September’s index reading was revised to 117.3.

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index increased slightly in October after stalling through last summer. The October gain is the first increase in the Michigan Index since last May. Over the previous 12 months, the Michigan Index was up only 0.8 percent in October, so it is fair to say the Michigan economy was feeling less momentum through most of 2017 than it did in 2016.

Positive factors for October were nonfarm payrolls, housing starts, house prices and auto production. Industrial electricity demand, total state trade, hotel occupancy and state sales tax revenues were negatives. We expect auto sales to ease gradually through 2018 as the support from hurricane-related replacements in Texas and Florida fades. A key positive for auto sales in 2018 will be the expected solid performance of the U.S. economy. However, with auto sales curRobert A. Dye rently near the cyclical peak of the mid-2000’s, it looks like there is only limited upside potential for sales even in a relatively strong economy.We look for the service sector in Michigan to support modest growth going forward as the push from auto-related manufacturing eases. Tax reform will be an overall positive for the U.S. economy, including Michigan. However, higher interest rates through 2018 are a developing headwind for both the auto sector and real estate.

Comerica Cares volunteers Logan McCann and Marvin Rushing build a picnic table during the Hometown Huddle 2017. McCann and Rushing were among the many volunteers who joined the Detroit Lions and The Mission Continues Detroit 1st Platoon to make improvements at Detroit’s Central Academy and High School (formerly Detroit’s Central High School).

Support From page B-1

and encourages communities across the nation to honor veterans by placing wreaths on the graves of those who have fought for their country.

Last month, Comerica Bank executives joined Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff and other volunteers at Romulus Memorial Cemetery as they honored more than 300 veterans during the nationwide tribute. The memorial represents one of more than 1,200 locations across 50 states that took an active role in remembering veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Comerica Bank is grateful to have CBP-6100-12 CRE Ad-MM.pdf 1 8/3/16 developed a relationship with the vet-

eran community and looks forward to employing and assisting active duty military and veterans,” Chambers said.

“Maintaining an active role in aiding current and former soldiers instills a sense of pride in our employees and our organization is honored to support local heroes.”

Support and resources come in all shapes and sizes, and from Comerica Bank, the support doesn’t cease.

Last fall, Comerica Cares volunteers supported The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization that empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact, to help transform the football field and surrounding area at Detroit’s Central Academy and High School (formerly Detroit Central High School). The bank’s volunteers worked with volunteers from across metro 10:07 AM Detroit to build picnic tables for the

field’s concession area.

Each year, Comerica Bank collects hundreds of toys and games during the holiday season and donates them to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, or others, to help ensure children in metro Detroit receive Christmas presents.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables, as follows: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, auto assemblies, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue.All data are seasonally adjusted.

Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Comerica Bank National Civic Affairs Manager Patricia McCann greeted United States Marine Corps Corporal Andrew Kush when he stopped by Comerica’s downtown Detroit headquarters to collect donations and thank Comerica Bank employees for their contributions.

Comerica Bank, with almost 200 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank,The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Michigan and Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, and Florida, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

“As a community and military-minded organization, we’re proud to support our partners at the United States Marine Corps in their fight to make wishes come true throughout Michigan and around the world,” McCann said.

To subscribe to our publications or for questions, contact us at ComericaEcon@comerica.com. ­ Archives are a­ vailable at http://www.comerica.com/economics.

Follow us on Twitter: ­@­Comerica_Econ.

Let’s grow, right now.

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January 24-30, 2018 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

Two female cadets climb the ranks of DPSCD’s JROTC

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

Lauryen Smith and Lauryn Taylor are high school seniors and best friends. Yet, they share more than a bond of friendship and same grade level. Both young women are also members of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) at Renaissance High School, where they have reached the upper ranks in their four-year stint in the organization.

Smith is a cadet colonel, which makes her the highest ranking JROTC cadet officer in Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD).

“It’s a real honor to be the highest ranking cadet,” said Smith. “My responsibility is mostly to interface with the staffs of the JROTC at other schools across the city, to make sure they are efficient. I represent all JROTC cadets in DPSCD, which is in the thousands.”

As a senior who will graduate in June, Smith has set her sights on college and an ensuing military career. This fall, Smith will attend the University of Toledo, where she has already been accepted on scholarship. She will enroll in a six-year, dual degree program, which will earn her a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical science and master’s in business administration (MBA). Smith will also join the University of Toledo’s JROTC. “When I complete the dual degrees in six years, I will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army,” explained Smith, who has a 3.8 GPA. “In the very far future, I want to open a pharmaceutical company to offer manufactured drugs to economically disadvantaged people and communities at a much lower and affordable price.”

For Taylor, who is a major in the JROTC, it has been a great opportunity to lead other cadets. As major, and executive officer, she oversees approximately 135 cadets at Renaissance.

“What I love most about my rank in JROTC is that I have an opportunity to work with and teach other cadets everything about JROTC,” Taylor said. “I love teaching them how JROTC can benefit their lives, just as it has benefited my life.”

According to Taylor, helping to champion the JROTC’s mission, which is to motivate young people to be better citizens, has been an awesome task.

“To be better citizens, it takes discipline and character,” explained Taylor. “The key to being successful in the JROTC, in the beginning, is learning to be good listeners and followers.”

Like Smith, Taylor is also looking at educational options after graduating in June.

Taylor has applied to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. However, out of 12,000 applicants, the Academy will admit about 1,000 cadets.

If the U.S. Air Force Academy is not in her educational future, Taylor, who is a member of the National Honor Society and recipient of “The President’s Volunteer Gold Service Award,” will attend either the University of Michigan or Princeton University, where she will major in aerospace engineering. Taylor will also join the collegiate JROTC program, and upon graduation in four years, she will enter the Air Force as an officer.

Taylor’s interest in the Air Force began as a young child.

“My mother served in the United States Air Force, so I got great information from her,” said Taylor, who has a 3.9 GPA, and is an honorary member of the famed “Tuskegee Airmen” Detroit Chapter. “I also became interested in the Air Force and fighter jets after seeing the movie ‘Red Tails.’ ” Both Smith and Taylor are currently focused on finishing their senior year at Renaissance, while leaving a legacy in the JROTC. “We both joined the JROTC together as freshmen, when we had the rank of private, no insignia,” recalled Smith. “Rising to the rank of cadet colonel has made me an ideal role model. I hope what I’ve achieved will inspire other cadets.”

Taylor added.

“As I have moved up in rank, it was important that I was a good leader and good role model of excellence at all times,” Taylor said. “It has always been important for me to just do the right thing, and be an example of a good citizen with good character.”

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Racquet Up youth squash program brings first national team title to Detroit After years of dominance by East Coast programs from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, six young men from Detroit broke through with a victory in the National Urban Squash Team Championships this past weekend.

Aaron Levy, Edward Brown, Quran Davis, Darryl Washington, Jr., Antwan Ramsey, and J’aMonte Patmon swept the competition in New York City, winning the “Boys Under 19” age division in a tournament which fielded more than 500 players from 18 cities in the U.S., Canada and even Colombia.

This victory marks a major accomplishment given that eight years ago, a public school student in Detroit would have been hard-pressed to find access to a squash court, let alone world-class training.

The Racquet Up Detroit program offers year-round squash instruction and competitive opportunities coupled with intensive academic support, community service activities, college exposure and long-term mentoring. The program, which operates exclusively at the Northwest Activities Center, has grown to serve more than 100 girls and boys in 5th through 12th grade.

Emma Head, Racquet Up’s Squash professional, said: “It’s a testament to the hard work and commitment of these young men, not just this weekend, but over the last 8 years week-in and weekout, and also a tribute to their dedicated families.

Their grit and desire to win has paid off in a big way.

We couldn’t be prouder.”

High school senior and 8-year team member Edward Brown commented: “Racquet Up Detroit is finally on the elite list of national championship teams. It was a long time coming, but we all worked hard and earned it.”

Squash, an indoor racquet sport similar to racquetball, is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, with more than 1.7 million players and new facilities being constructed each year. Access to the sport has grown immensely over the last 20 years thanks to the efforts of the Squash and Educa-

tion Alliance which promotes the combination of educational support and squash instruction for public school students in America’s cities.

For more information, please visit www.racquetup.org or contact Executive Director, Derek Aguirre at derek@racquetup. org.

Details of attached photograph: From left to right, J’aMonte Patmon, Darryl Washington, Jr., Quran Davis, Edward Brown, Antwan Ramsey, and Aaron Levy, winners of the 2018 National Urban Squash Team Championship Racquet Up Detroit, founded in 2010, is an out-of-school program which focuses intensively on the long-term development of Detroit youth by promoting their education, health, and character through the provision of academic tutoring, health and fitness coaching, and youth development services. Students enter in the 5th grade and continue through high school and college graduation. This duration of support – up to 12 years – is unprecedented, but necessary.

For many participants, the path to college or other post-secondary educational opportunities is uncharted. Getting through, and launching a career requires an additional level of support.

Racquet Up was modeled after several other successful “Urban Squash and Education” programs as a member of the Squash and Education Alliance. Twenty years of data from our sister programs across the country tell us that of the students who complete the program, 97 percent graduate high school and enroll in post-secondary schools. In addition, 65 percent of “urban squash” students earn a bachelor’s degree within six years, compared with the national average of 24 percent for low-income students.

Racquet Up’s approach requires at least three days per week with each child outside of school, for three hours each meeting, including equal parts academic enhancement and athletic development using the racquet sport of squash. While students may enter the

program in 5th grade thinking they are joining a sports team, they soon realize that Racquet Up is a “one-stop-shop” for their development. They volunteer in the community through organized service projects.

They visit Detroit’s cultural amenities. They tour colleges and travel to squash competitions throughout the Midwest, Canada, and the East Coast.

Academic support is a mainstay, with literacy development, homework help, and supplemental tutoring at the core of the program.

They work on fitness and learn about nutrition, while also learning about conflict resolution and the value of a team. During the summer, their world broadens as they travel to academic, athletic, and outdoor adventure camps across the United States.

It all happens at the Northwest Activities Center, formerly the Jewish Community Center, at Curtis and Meyers in Detroit’s Bagley/Fitzgerald Neighborhood. By design, the program is walking distance or a short drive from the participants’ schools and homes, making it a true community-based program. This multi-faceted program

becomes a much-needed hub for neighborhood children, offering them the support they need to progress in their education and personal development.

Other Racquet Up Detroit program accomplishments: • 83% of students improved their ACT with an average increase of nearly 4 points over the school year • 2 students engaged in 4-year scholarships to University Liggett School • 37 students earned over $83,000 in scholarships to attend third-party summer programs across the U.S., including Choate Rosemary Hall, Hotchkiss School, Lawrenceville School, Princeton University, University of Virginia, Kenyon College, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Deerfield Academy, YMCA Camp Hayo-WentHa and Nissokone, Windsor Squash Camp, NUSEA Citizenship Tour, and Detroit Zoo Camp • 10 RUD players ranked in the top 300 US Squash rankings, including the top female squash player ranked #55 • Winner of 2017 Bronze Junior National Championship

THE HISTORIC LITTLE ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH PRESENTS REV. JASPER WILLIAMS, JR., Senior Pastor of Salem Bible Church in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Williams will be the featured speaker Sunday, Jan. 28th at the 10 AM morning service and during the REVIVAL SERVICE - MONDAY, JAN. 29, 2018 7 PM- 9 PM. “WATCH GOD WORK IN 2018 – NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS, SAME GOSPEL”– is the theme for this dynamic, uplifting service. Everyone is invited. Little Rock Baptist Church is located at 9000 Woodward Ave. Rev. Jim Holley is the pastor.

For more information, call (313) 872-2900.

B4

| January 24-30, 2018

Money.

michiganchronicle.com

Delroy Thomas is co-owner of Cobo Joe’s Smokehouse BBQ & Sports Bar.

Cobo Joe’s:

Caribbean fare with Motown flare

By Roz Edward Cobo Joe’s recipe for success, like many of the best recipes, is simple — mix a hot idea with unrelenting desire, add a dash of persistence and season to taste. So says popular restaurant owner Delroy Thomas and the accomplished jazz singer, Joan Belgrave. The two are teaming up to turn up — the heat that is — at Cobo Joe’s Smokehouse BBQ & Sports Bar in downtown Detroit.

The landmark hotspot, famous for serving up eats and drinks to the Joe Louis Arena crowd, is on track to retain its reputation as the place to go for food and fun by keeping it 100 at the Congress Street spot, even though the Joe is gone. In fact, the iconic eatery has been packed with throngs of North American Auto Show visitors who return frequently to sample the exceptional menu items from the Caribbean cuisine to hearty smoked whole wings served naked with a selection of mystery sauces on the side.

Jazz singer Joan Belgrave performs at Cobo Joe’s.

Thomas, a seasoned restaurant and bar owner, has been in the food and beverage industry for 27 years. Having received his formal training from Marriott International, the world’ largest hotel company — and according to Thomas — the best.

Thomas adds though, that although he received invaluable instruction and training during his tenure with Marriott International as well as the Dearborn Inn later, he also credits his grandparents for laying the foundation for his success. “But I have to put my grandfather and grandmother in the equation … Coming from my roots in Jamaica I

was cooking for the men that worked for my grandfather on his pineapple farm,” explained the entrepreneur. “My grandfather believed that a working man deserved a good meal.”

The natural born entrepreneur and seasoned service industry professional is also the owner of First Place Lounge in East English Village. He came aboard as co-owner with longtime owner Richard Cadreau to help him begin his exit strategy and move on to a well-deserved retirement.

“Did you know there is no place in Detroit where you can go and hear Motown live?” queried Joan Belgrave, widow of the beloved and

See COBO

JOE’S page B7

Toyota Motor Corporation: Real Times Media’s Company of the Year

By Donald James Toyota has long been one of the world’s largest and most respected manufacturers of automobiles. The storied company has a proud history and tradition of innovation, quality, dependability, sales and partnership with the community.

Since 2008, Toyota has sold more vehicles than any car maker in the world, according to OICA, a well-respected 99-year-old Paris, France-based organization known for its authoritative voice on global automotive issues, trends and statistics.

“As automobile companies continue to manufacture quality cars and trucks, Toyota continues to demonstrate leadership with a tremendous feel for the ever-evolving global automotive industry,” said Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media.

“In addition to its high volume of manufacturing and sales of quality automobiles worldwide, Toyota has facilitated ongoing initiatives for the empowerment of global customers, employees and communities.

With such an overall impressive track record in 2017, as well as in preceding years, Real Times Media is honored to name Toyota Motor Corporation, Company of the Year.’

Adhering to its motto, “Let’s Go Places,” Toyota has been going many places since its inception more than 80 years ago in Japan. After establishing its

(Left to right) DRIVEN Experience VIII host, Emmy-winning journalist Ed Gordon; Toyota Motor North America Group Vice President and Chief Social Innovation Officer, Albert A. Smith Jr., and Michigan Chronicle publisher, Real Times Media president and CEO Hiram E. Jackson with Toyota Car of the Year Award — Photo Credit: Montez Miller American presence just over 60 years ago, the iconic automaker has produced more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America. Industry sources report that of all Toyota vehicles sold in America over the past 20 years, 80 percent are still on the road.

In addition to being one of the world’s premier companies of any industry, Toyota is a leading company in embracing and facilitating diversity and inclusion.

“Diversity and inclusion are strategic priorities for Toyota, and we believe in engaging with

people who believe there is always a better way,” said Jim Holloway, general manager of supplier relations for Toyota, in a 2017 interview with Real Times Media. “This means we have the support and leadership of Toyota’s executive teams in cultivating a culture that recognizes the importance of having diversity and inclusion in every sector of the company around the globe.”

Toyota President Akio Toyoda agrees about the importance of embracing and empowering all people throughout the global corporation.

“I want Toyota to be not just an automotive company, but a ‘human movement company.’

Our motto, ‘Let’s Go Places,’ refers not just to transportation, but also to inspiring deep emotion or excitement with people,” said Toyoda. “We intend to take on all areas of human transportation, working always from a desire to make this type of transportation an exciting and moving experience.”

As Toyota looks to its future, the company remembers its humble beginnings in America more than 60 years ago. In 1955, Shotaro Kamiya, then-president of Toyota Mo-

tors Sales Co., visited the United States from Japan to observe how America had become such a strong leader in the manufacturing of cars.

In August 1957, Toyota’s first two Toyopet Crown cars were transported to America from Japan. Three months later, Toyota opened its first auto dealership in Hollywood, California under the auspices of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Although American consumers seemed slow embrace its cars, after weathering several tough years pertaining to acceptance and sales, Toyota began to soar.

Today, Toyota, with a presence in 27 countries, manufactures and sells a wide range of automobiles, vans, trucks, multiple purpose vehicles (MPVs), hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Toyota’s Camry has been the company’s bestselling passenger car in the United States for more than 15 years. Lexus, Toyota’s luxury car division, has also enjoyed a high volume of sales in America.

As the automotive industry evolves, Toyota continues to abide by its core philosophy of doing right by its customers, investors and stakeholders, and continuing to build Toyota into a company that can grow in any environment. In addition to manufacturing and selling quality vehicles, the company prides itself on “growing people.”

See DRIVEN page B5

January 24-30, 2018 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

DWMHA names New President and CEO

small business spotlight

Tina and Deron Washington

Modele Dress brings specialty high-fashion to Eastern Market Modele Dress, a stylish new women’s specialty fashion store, is being welcomed as the newest retailer in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market.

Modele Dress celebrated its grand opening on Friday, Jan. 19, in freshly renovated space at 2362 Russell St. The open house, held the night of the annual Detroit International Auto Show Charity Preview, officially unveiled an impressive center for upscale fashion in Eastern Market’s Dinan Building, a three-story former warehouse at the intersection of Russell Street and Gratiot Avenue.

Modele Dress is the latest newcomer among several retailers that are helping to transform once-abandoned or underused Eastern Market warehouses into an intriguing new shopping district. The new women’s store fills 2,500 square feet on the second floor of the massive Dinan Building, which was built in 1897. Its opening coincides with the launch of High Street, an adjacent men’s store in a smaller space. Both Modele Dress and High Street are being operated

by Deron and Tina Washington, a husband-and-wife team with more than two decades of retailing experience.

The shopping experience at Modele Dress has the feel of visiting a fashion retail store in a New York neighborhood, from the attractive, oversized glass door entrance to the exposed brick walls that give character to a stairway that leads to the second-floor fashion gallery corridor. An eight-foot, glass doorway opens to a store interior of pinewood floors, more exposed brick, and ceiling girders consisting of the building’s original wood and iron beams.

But the essence of Modele

Dress is the merchandise offered to customers: colorful dresses, skirts, blouses, ladies’ pants, scarves and intimate wear.

“We’re offering beautiful dresses at affordable prices,” Deron Washington said. Price tags on Modele dresses start at $39 and top off at $250. Dress sizes range from 4 to 24. “We want to focus on plus-sized, curvy customers,” said Tina Washington.

Modele already has its own private-label beauty cosmetics line, and plans call for the future introduction of a Modele Dress brand for the sale of selected, private-label clothing.

“Modele is a women’s specialty retail store that is dedicated to showcasing both the national and local designer,” Deron Washington said. A significant portion of Modele Dress has a “never seen before” quality familiar to shops in New York, Chicago and L.A. that have strong brands and loyal customers. According to Tina Washington, “We are bringing a beautiful shopping environment to Eastern Market, one that we believe fashion-conscious customers in Detroit and the entire region will find to be unique.”

Deron Washington added, “We also want to maintain an entertaining atmosphere, with monthly events that will support charitable organizations and other great causes.” The urban vibe of Modele Dress is enhanced by clothing fixtures that Deron Washington personally fashioned from discarded wood and black pipes strewn around the building. One prominent design feature is a black, steel wheelsand-axle apparatus suspended from the ceiling that was a remnant of the building’s discarded elevator gears, found after renovation of the retail space began last September. Modele’s cashier counter was created in space

once occupied by the building’s elevator shaft.

In a second-floor space right next to Modele Dress, the Washingtons have added High Street, a menswear concept designed to complement the women’s wear store. The men’s ties and accessories store also held its grand opening on Jan. 19. High Street was the former name of the East Fisher (Freeway) service drive, which is the eastern perimeter of the Dinan Building.

Renovation of the Dinan Building began in 2015, with a focus on retail storefronts that face the east Fisher side of the structure. According to a 2015 Crain’s Detroit Business article, Southfield-based FFY LLC bought the Dinan Building in 2013.

Detroit Free Press articles from the 1920s describe the Dinan Building’s first owners as Detroit’s Dinan brothers: four men (Matthew, James, John and Michael) whose family founded a wholesale grocery business in 1880 and thereafter became enthusiastic supporters of the University of Detroit and Detroit’s Catholic Jesuit community, well into the 20th century. The brothers paid for a major 1917 renovation of Saints Peters and Paul Jesuit Church, opened in 1848 at the intersection of St. Antoine Street and East Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit.

Deron and Tina Washington hope that the combination of location, value, atmosphere and loyalty created by relationships will keep a steady flow of customers coming to the renovated Dinan building. “We believe that Modele Dress is best defined as a lifestyle destination store,” Deron says.

Modele Dress merchandise can be purchased online at www. modeledress.com.

People On The MOVE Automotive

Municipal

Government

Jill Ford, former head of innovation and entrepreneurship for the City of Detroit, has joined Toyota AI Ventures as a principal. AI is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital subsidiary of Toyota Research Institute (TRI).

Genelle Allen was recently appointed interim CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority Board.

In her new role, Allen will lead the Airport Authority, the independent governmental entity tasked with management and operation of Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) and Willow Run (YIP) airports, until the board selects a longer-term replacement for Joe Nardone.

Sherikia Hawkins was elected to the position of city clerk for the City of Southfield, making history as the first African-American city clerk. In her new position, Hawkins will manage voter elections and concerns, as well as act as the liaison between cities, the local governing bodies and the agencies of government.

In this position, Ford will utilize her expertise as an entrepreneur, investor and corporate business development executive to source new investment opportunities. She will also work closely with the firm’s existing portfolio companies to support their growth and success.

Ford, a native Detroiter, earned a Wharton MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management and has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvard University.

Allen’s background includes nearly 15 years with Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports.

She advanced through the ranks, starting as an assistant corporation counsel for the Airport Authority’s predecessor in 1997.

Prior to this position, Hawkins served as the city clerk of Pontiac, an appointed position. The Southfield resident won the election after defeating two challengers. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University and a Master of Arts in Political Science, with a specialization in Public Administration, Eastern Illinois University

Do you have good news to share? A new promotion, opened a new business, authored a new book, landed a contract? Let us know at the Michigan Chronicle so that we can share your accomplishments.

Please send your information to newsdesk@michronicle.com.

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your news.

The CEO Search Committee of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA) began a national search in May 2017 through the firm B.E. Smith for a qualified and capable President and CEO to lead our organization. After a thorough search that yielded over 100 candidates, interviews with the top five candidates were conducted over the last five weeks. Panelists included members of our community stakeholders, provider network, advocacy groups, consumers and staff.

The DWMHA Board of Directors voted to unanimously accept the CEO Search Committee’s recommendation of Willie Brooks as its next President and CEO. “I am looking forward to working with Mr. Brooks and the experience he brings to our system of care, DWMHA and the role of President and CEO. During this time of transition in community mental health, the strength of Wayne County is vital to the success of Michigan’s Community Mental Health System”, according to Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman, Jr., DWMHA Board Chairman Mr. Brooks comes to DWMHA with extensive knowledge of the Community Mental Health System, strong relationships among local leaders and is well-respected within the provider and advocate community. We are confident that with his experience he will be able to lead our organization as we provide the quality behavioral healthcare that is expected throughout Wayne County.

Willie Brooks has served as both Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Oak-

Willie Brooks land County Health Network, He brings strong leadership skills and knowledge of the Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) and Community Mental Health System Program (CMHSP). Additionally he has solid leadership skills as evidenced by his time at Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) as a Chief Systems Analyst, Internal Audit and General Manager of Marketing. This time with BCBS helped him to generate $1.3 billion in revenue Mr. Brooks received Masters Degrees in both Economics and Finance from Walsh College. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from William Tyndale College.

The Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA) is the largest and most diverse CMH system in Michigan. We are committed to being consumer and community focused, data driven and evidence based.

Through programs and services that utilize promising best practices we hope to promote a community that is supportive and embraces individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use disorder. We offer supports in Infant Mental Health, Integrated Healthcare, Supportive Housing, and Recovery to support self-determination

George Ross

Reginald Eadie

George Ross, president of Central Michigan University (CMU), has announced that he will step down from his position at the end of July. During his tenure there, Ross created the College of Medicine, updated the Academic Strategic Plan and completed the Biosciences Building. Ross said he made the decision to step down after his first grandchild was born.

zhe has been president at CMU for the past eight years.

Resignations announced

Prior to becoming CMU’s 14th president, Ross was vice president for finance and administrative services at CMU, president of Alcorn State University, executive vice president at Clark Atlanta University, executive vice chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and vice president for business affairs at Tuskegee University.

Driven

From page B-4 Toyota’s involvement in environmental issues also has been globally recognized. In mid-December of 2017, Newsweek again named Toyota one of the world’s greenest companies.

The publication ranked Toyota No. 16 of the Global 500 greenest companies and No. 1 in the automobile category.

“Toyota is proud to be recognized by Newsweek as the world’s top green automaker and as a leader among global companies,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America. “We are continually

Dr. Reginald Eadie, COO, of Detroit Medical Center, resigned his position this week, after CEO Dr. Anthony Tedeschi announced that the health system would undergo an organizational restructuring that would better serve patients and boost investment. The overhaul is expected to cut about 300 positions throughout the system.

Dr. Eadie was appointed COO of the DMC in 2016. Prior to that, he was the CEO of DMC’s Detroit Receiving, Harper University and Hutzel Women’s hospitals. Eadie is a native Detroiter, a graduate of Cass technical High School and Wayne State University School of Medicine. working to develop and improve technologies for our operations and vehicles. Our aim is to reduce the impact on the environment, maintain affordability for our customers, and position our company as a leader in sustainable mobility.” Hiram E. Jackson concluded, “In selecting Toyota as Real Times Media’s Company of the Year, we believe that the company will continue to grow and manufacture quality cars and trucks, which will greatly impact the nation’s economy. We at Real Times Media also believe that Toyota will continue its reach far beyond the manufacturing and dealership walls to empower people’s lives, and global communities that millions call home.”

Page B-6 • michiganchronicle.com • January 24-30, 2018

Noted author and scholar Julius B. Lester, dead at 78

By Herb Boyd

Shanker, president of the teachers’ union and summarizing the teachers’ strike then occurring in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville section of Brooklyn.

“Hey, Jew boy,” the poem began, “with that yarmulke on your head/You palefaced Jew boy….I wish you were dead!”

Special to the Chronicle

“My promise is to that part of you which is beyond and separate from definition of gender, race, and all the sociological and political descriptions that hang from our limbs and rattle like the chains of Marley’s ghost,” Julius Lester wrote. “There is a place of sacred truth in each of us. It is from within that place I seek to write and it is to that place in you my words seek to go.”

These words are from Lester’s “Falling Pieces of the Broken Sky,” a collection of essays marking his literary and spiritual odyssey, that found a special place with many readers, however, disparate.

Lester, a prolific author and controversial personality, died Thursday, Jan. 18, in Palmer, Mass. He was 78.

According to his daughter, Lian Amaris, the famed writer, photographer, musician, and educator, died from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Lester burst onto the literary scene in 1969 with his book “Look Out Whitey! Black Power’s Gon’ Get Your Mama!” He wrote this book at a time when he was a member of SNCC and it signaled a growing dissatisfaction with nonviolence as a solution to the nation’s race problem.

It was an alarming cry and propelled Lester into the upper ranks of Black intellectuals more so than his camera and music that had given small notice in the public’s eye.

What was evident in these initial forays to satisfy his multifaceted talents was a certain restlessness and

Julius Lester curiosity that would trouble and baffle many who tried to follow the changing trajectory of his life.

Born Julius Bernard Lester on January 27, 1939 in St. Louis, Mo., he was the son of the Rev. W.D. Lester, a Methodist minister, and the former Julia Smith. He was two years old when the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas and then onto Nashville by 1952. As a child he learned that he had a Jewish relative on his mother’s side and it was a kind of foreshadowing of his eventual adoption of the Jewish faith.

In 1960, he received his bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, where he majored in English with minors in Art and Spanish. A year later he was in New York City eager to expand his folk music career. Along with his coffeehouse appearances, Lester recorded two albums for Vanguard Records, “Julius Lester” (1965) and “Departures” (1967), both albums were platforms for his venture into folk music and blues.

The poem set off a firestorm of reaction from Jewish listeners and organizations, all of them calling for the show to be removed from the air. But the FCC stood by Lester and he remained on the air until the mid-seventies.

By then his literary and teaching career were his main endeavors, most notably as a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he taught in the Afro-American Studies department. But gradually he began to express his disagreement with Black nationalists, particularly those he believed were anti-Semitic. And after he leveled an attack on James Baldwin in one of his books and articles he was forced out of the department in 1988. Even so, a full-time position awaited him in the Judaic

and Near Eastern Studies department where he would teach until his retirement in 2003.

On Monday, Jan. 8, services for Javon Lee Green were held at St. Paul AME Church with Rev. Billy Jemison officiating. Mr. Green passed away on Jan. 1, 2018.

His professorship was consistent with his conversion to the Jewish faith, which began through a vision he had in 1981 when he saw himself dancing with a “yarmulke on my head.”

Javon Lee Green was born on March 8. 1993 to Kisha WoodsMathis and Roderick Green.

Graduating from East Detroit High School in 2012, he had been employed as a resident specialist at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. He enjoyed watching television, shopping and going to the casino.

During his more than 30 years at the University of Massachusetts, Lester was the recipient of countless awards and honors, including the Distinguish Teacher’s Award, the Faculty Fellowship Award for Distinguished Research and Scholarship, and the Chancellor’s Medal, the college’s highest honor.

Among the most popular of his 44 books are “To Be a Slave,” “The Story of Little Black Sambo,” and “Revolutionary Notes.”

“Being responsible is the act of making a promise to another,” he once wrote. “As a Black writer my promise cannot be made exclusively to Blacks. When asked for whom she wrote, Joyce Carol Oates responded, ‘God.’ That’s my answer too.”

That person was Rev. Richard Allen, the city was Philadelphia, and the year was 1816. Members of several black Methodist churches, due to certain prevailing conditions and attitudes — like being required to sit apart from the rest of the congregation — sought to separate themselves from white Methodists.

This was the first time in history that a religious denomination was created based on race rather than.0 on theological differences.

By 1876, there were 70,000 members in the AME Church. It grew out of an organization called the Free African Society.

They had continued to believe in Methodist tenants and decided to remain Methodists, although initially they were non-denominational. The first actual AME church was Bethel African Methodist Church, formed in 1793, in Philadelphia.

From the beginning, the AME Church has placed an emphasis on the importance of education. In fact, it operated over 2,000 schools by 1880. At the time, there was a severe shortage of funds for segregated public schools. The AME Church dealt with the problem by raising funds to keep their schools open rather than depend

“It is also the duty of the Church to continue to encourage all members to become involved in all aspects of church training. The ultimate purposes are: (1) make available God’s biblical principles, (2) spread Christ’s liberating gospel, and (3) provide continuing programs which will enhance the entire social development of all people.

“In order to meet the needs at every level of the Connection and in every local church, the AME Church shall implement strategies to train all members in: (1) Christian discipleship, (2) Christian leadership, (3) current teaching methods and materials, (4) the history and significance of the AME Church, (5) God’s biblical principles, and (6) social development in which all should be applied to daily living.”

The African Methodist Episcopal Church is divided into 20 districts, covering North America, the Caribbean, sub-Sahara Africa and parts of South America. There are approximately 7,000 congregations.

Gussie Mae Kincaid Services for Gussie Mae Kincaid were held on Jan. 6 at Triumph Church with Rev. Robert Smith, Jr. officiating. Mrs. Kincaid passed away on Dec. 23, 2017.

Gussie Mae Price was born on Oct. 6, 1926 in Montgomery, Alabama to Levi Julius and Gussie Lee Price. She moved to Detroit and started a family after marrying Harry Earl Kincaid. She owned two successful businesses, Kincaid Moving Company and Kincaid’s Private Patrol. She was also a seamstress and sewing instructor. She was active in the church.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Jammal Lamont Williams Services for Jammal Lamont Williams were held recently recently at Swanson Funeral Home, east side chapel, with Pastor Sam Johnson officiating.

Mr. Williams passed away on Dec. 31, 2017.

Jammal Lamont Williams was born on Oct. 5, 1992 to Marie Williams and Philip Thompson III. He was educated in Detroit’s public school system. Among the things he enjoyed most were spending time with his family, working on cars, playing cards and horseback riding.

From left to right: O’ Neil D. Swanson Sr. President and CEO, Swanson Funeral Homes Inc., a longtime friend of Pastor Branch and First Lady Lanell Branch.

Cherishing the memory of Jammal Lamont Williams are his daughter, Amiya Jewell Williams; mother, Marie Williams; father, Philip Thompson III; three brothers, Deonta Nelson, Christian Williams and Derrick Williams; two sisters, Latisha Coffey and Anastasia Jimerson; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Audrey Louise Lee Hall Services for Audrey Louise Lee Hall took place at Carter Metropolitan CME Church on Saturday, Jan. 13, with Rev. Dr. Twana A. Harris officiating. Mrs. Hall passed away on Dec. 30, 2017.

on government.

The mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is “to minister to the social, spiritual, physical development of all people. At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved; that is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Third New Hope MBC honors Pastor E.L. Branch and First Lady Lanell Branch for 40 years of service to the church and the community. The event which included dinner was held at Cobo Hall. New Hope has two locations, the Main Campus, 12850 Plymouth Rd. and West Campus, 5439 West Warren.

It is ironic that a place of worship would be founded due to the blatant racism of the times, but so it is with the creation of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. It is, in fact, the first Protestant denomination founded by an African American.

Cherishing the memory of Javon Lee Green are his mother, Kisha WoodsMathis; father, Roderick Green; siblings, Daria Whitfield, Keona Daniels, Jamiya Green, Breona Green, Reona Green and Teona Green; and many other relatives and friends.

Cherishing the memory of Gussie Mae Kincaid are her children, Karen J. Shadd, Kathy J. Kincaid, Karla J. Kincaid, Harry E. Kincaid, Hilton E. Kincaid and Howard E. Kincaid; a brother, Willie Price, Sr.; and many other relatives and friends.

From 1968 to 1975, he hosted a radio show on WBAI. At the beginning his radio experience he invited activist and teacher Leslie Campbell (Jitu Weusi) to come on his show and to read a poem written by one of his students, dedicated to Albert

The origin of the AME Church

Javon Lee Green

98

th

Audrey Louise Lee Hall was born in Augusta, Georgia on July 7, 1923 to John Henry Lee and Sophie Summerfield Ramsey. As a young adult, she moved to Detroit to live with an aunt and uncle and later married Robert Daniel Hall. They had 11 children.

Having learned to play the piano as a very young child, she was a musician and director at numerous churches. For many years she was an active member of Carter Metropolitan CME Church.

Her affiliations included the Elks, Gamma Phi Delta Sorority and she was lifetime member of the NAACP. Cherishing the memory of Audrey Louise Lee Hall are children Arnold Hall, Donald Hall, Kenneth Hall, Marilyn Hall-Beard, Audrey F. Hall, Charles Hall, Esther Hall-Sanders, Raymond Hall and Frances Hall-Langenfeldt, and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

1919-2017

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January 24-30, 2018 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-7

Cobo Joe’s From page B-4

world-renowned musician Marcus Belgrave. Although Belgrave achieved international fame as a jazz trumpeter, he played and appreciated music across all genres and wife Joan is intent on bringing that experience to Cobo Joe’s patrons with shows His special fare of authentic Caribbean cuisine is nothing short of brilliant. High quality meats are treated with a special seasoned dry rub and smoked for up to nine hours to ensure extraordinary tenderness and savory flavor with every serving.

Campus Martius Park offers hot events during winter blast Campus Martius Park, the first-ever winner of the prestigious, international Urban Land Institute Urban Open Space Award, is gearing up for a season of continued good cheer with world-class events and exciting activities for individuals and families.

First up on the list of activities to celebrate the wonder of winter is the Community Workshop on the Rink with Olympic Gold Medalist and “Dancing With the Stars” winner Meryl Davis.

Davis will conduct a free workshop – courtesy of Figure Skating in Detroit and the Downtown Detroit Partnership – for young girls between the ages of 6 and 15 on Saturday, Jan. 27 on The Rink at Campus Martius Park from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this opportunity for Detroit girls. Figure Skating has been such a beautiful part of my life and I’m excited for these young ladies to embark on their own adventures on the ice,” said Davis.

Fifty members of FSD will take the ice with an additional 50 girls who are interested in the program.

During the hour and half workshop with Davis – which is traditionally held at the Adam Butzel Recreation Complex on the city’s northwest side – the girls will learn basic figure skating techniques and skills.

This once-in-a-lifetime work-

shop is intended to further promote the development of FSD, which provides girls of color, ages 6 to 15, an opportunity to build confidence, academic ability and leadership skills through skating.

The DDP is excited to offer rink access to FSD free of charge to give young girls a chance to experience the excitement of skating in the heart of bustling Downtown Detroit. Participants without their own skates will be provided a rental pair at no cost.

Parents are required to stay for the entire duration of the workshop. Friends and other family members of the skaters as well as the general public are invited to watch the girls and Davis in action.

Those wishing to participate are asked to register online at figureskatingindetworkshop.eventbrite. com.

Directly following the workshop, The Rink at Campus Martius Park will open to the public for the second day of Meridian Winter Blast activity.

In addition to the Community Workshop on the Rink, the DDP with support from Meijer will offer shoppers free ice skating admission to The Rink at Campus Martius Park by providing 500 passes per week while supplies last at select store locations in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs.

The six store locations offering

free ice skating passes to shoppers are: • Detroit - 14621 8 Mile Road, 48235 • Detroit - 21431 Grand River Ave., 48219 • Southfield - 2880 Telegraph Rd., 48034 • Allen Park - 3565 Fairlane Blvd., 48101 • Royal Oak - 5150 Coolidge Hwy., 49307 • Northville - 20401 Haggerty Road, 48167 Passes will be available at the service desk of each Meijer location. No purchase is necessary.

Limit four passes per person.

Skaters can redeem their pass on weekdays* from noon until 5 p.m. through March 2. They are invited to bring their own skates or rent a pair for $4.

This promotion is part of a larger effort by the DDP to engage people throughout the city and metro region in a fun, healthy activity.

DDP also offers a discount to college students and Downtown Detroit residents every Thursday night. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., those with a valid student ID or state-issued proof of residency showing a 48226 zip code will receive half off admission to the rink.

The Rink at Campus Martius Park is located at 800 Woodward Avenue (at the corner of Monroe Avenue). *Passes will not be accepted on Jan. 26 due to Meridian Winter Blast.

For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

My favorite, the “Triple Hit,” pulled pork served atop perfectly cooked beef brisket topped with Applewood bacon and smoked gouda cheese. It’s a sandwich with just about everything, but if you can manage to get to the spicy cabbage you are in for an authentic Caribbean treat.

Jazz singing sensation Joan Belgrave is a special ingredient in adding more flavor to the Cobo Joe’s upgrade. She is turning up the heat on stage with addition of live music, featuring the Motown performances on Saturdays at the eclectic venue.

“We want you to eat well and listen to top-notch entertainment when you come here,” explained the petite powerhouse performer and promoter.

“Can you believe there is not one single spot in this city that features Motown music?” queried Belgrave, with more than a hint of incredulity.

“People come (to Detroit) and they’re surprised, shocked even when they don’t hear Motown hits blaring from everywhere. … That’s one of the things that Marcus and I used to talk about as we traveled around the world is that we would go to places as far as South Africa and see people doing Motown … and then we would come home and wonder what happened,” confided Belgrave, who has made a commitment to exclusively hire Mo-

town trained musicians and singers to perform in this up-close and friendly venue.

“I didn’t know that when Delroy and I were introduced he was actually sizing me up to manage the entertainment for Cobo Joe’s,” Belgrave says laughingly. “It was an audition of sorts and I must have passed Thursday nights are Caribbean Nights at Cobo Joe’s featuring spicy Caribbean cuisine and the cool sound or reggae music on the ones and twos.

Note: Try Grandma’s to die-for oxtail recipe, served with zesty braised cabbage.

The special Thursday night menu also includes jerk chicken and rum punch.

Motown music is the big draw on Saturday nights, with plans to extend musical offerings with Detroit based Blue Rivers Records sponsoring a special performance at Cobo Joe’s on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 7 to 9:30 pm. The show stars Joan Belgrave and renowned Reggae steel pan artist Lyndon Sorzano.

Belgrave has also booked the Stubbs Girls to perform Saturday, Jan. 25 and Feb. 2. The group is comprised of relatives of the late Levi Stubbs of Four Tops fame. Showtime is at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover charge.

Also in February, Belgrave has secured a latter-day member of the Vandellas, singer Rochelle Laughhunn, to peform.

Belgrave will perform a Valentine’s Day dinner show on Feb. 14.

Cobo Joe’s now offers shuttle service to Little Caesar’s Arena for Detroit Red Wings games and other exciting downtown events and activities.

Cobo Joe’s Smokehouse BBQ & Sports Bar is located at 422 W. Congress, downtown Detroit..

Call (313) 965-0840 or visit facebook.com/CoboJoes. The restaurant opens 11 a.m. Mon.-Sat. usually (will open at 10 a.m. during the Auto Show).

Parking is available next door in the Millennium Garage for $10.

learn more >

BORN TO BE GREAT By the time she’s ready to attend college, the majority of all jobs will require education and training beyond high school. Jobs in healthcare, community services, and STEM will grow the fastest among occupational clusters. To be ready for these jobs of the future, students in grades K-12 need learning experiences that meet them where they are, engage them deeply, let them progress at a pace that meets their individual needs, and helps them master the skills for today and tomorrow.

The Every Student Succeeds Act empowers parents like you to make sure that the opportunity for a great education is the standard for every student. To learn more, visit www.nnpa.org/essa.

Made possible by a grant from the

© 2018 National Newspaper Publishers Association. All rights reserved

Page B-8 • michiganchronicle.com • January 24-30, 2018

COMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY Operation King Legacy Brightens Central High School

Comerica colleagues (from left) Marvin Rushing, vice president and Detroit Retail banking center district manager; Matt Licata, Trust Operations unit manager; and Ketra Lewis, vice president, Enterprise Wide Compliance take a break from painting a classroom at Central High School.

Comerica’s African American network, an employee resource networking group, gathered a team of volunteers for a day of service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Central High School.

Operation King Legacy honored Dr. King’s legacy by renovating classrooms to create a parent resource room, student leadership lounge and make other enhancement at the Central High School and Durfee Elementary Middle School Campus.

Dimitrius Hutcherson Thirty-five years ago, Dimitrius Hutcherson didn’t imagine himself fulfilling instrumental roles or holding executive titles with prestigious financial and business organizations around the nation, but as vice president, strategic process management for Comerica Bank that’s his new reality.

A Detroit native, Hutcherson was raised by his grandparents on the city’s eastside before attending Morehouse College, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance.

“Looking back on my accomplishments, I believe graduating from Morehouse represents the foundation of my journey, which eventually put me on the path to where I am today,” Hutcherson said. “Given the neighborhood where I was raised and the circumstances I came from, I was blessed to go to school in Georgia where I discovered my passion and met my beautiful wife.”

“Comerica is dedicated to its colleagues.

As valued team members, we understand how essential they are to Comerica’s success. We’re honored to be able to give

back to our colleagues some of the benefit that our bank is receiving from the 2017 tax reform package,” said Ralph W. Babb, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

“When it comes to our team, the goal is to create a workplace where the best talent seeks employment. By having a highly competitive compensation package, and offering a range of development and other internal opportunities, we are doing just that.”

In addition to this increase in minimum wage and one-time bonus, Comerica continually invests in colleagues through a variety of programs, including tuition reimbursement, training and development, and competitive benefit and retirement offerings.

Westland Mayor William Wild (left center) looks on as Grace Harnos, manager of Comerica Bank’s Wayne-Warren banking center, cuts a ceremonial ribbon to mark the reopening of the office. Comerica has invested a total of $750,000 to renovate its Wayne-Warren and Wayne-­ Canyon banking centers in Westland.

Since achieving his undergraduate degree, Hutcherson has held roles with banks and accounting firms in a variety of locations around the country, including Chicago, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh. While steadily earning promotions and seeking opportunities for growth, in 1995 Hutcherson also earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dimitrius Hutcherson

Comerica Cares volunteers prepare a classroom for painting.

Comerica announces increase in its minimum wage to $15 per hour and $1,000 bonus to 4,500 non-officer colleagues

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) recently announced its plan to further invest in its colleagues by increasing its minimum wage to $15 per hour, effective Jan. 5, 2018, and paying approximately 4,500 non-officer colleagues (more than half of its colleague population) a one-time bonus of $1,000 in January 2018. This increase in minimum wage and one-time bonus are made possible by the tax reform bill that was passed by the U.S. Congress, then signed by the President on Dec. 22, 2017.

COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

“By sharing this tax savings with our colleagues, we believe we are helping to create an economic stimulus, which also benefits our communities,” said Babb. “As a company, we have the opportunity to further invest in our infrastructure, which benefits our customers as well.”

Comerica Bank provided $18,000 to the Children’s Center of Wayne County as part of a program in partnership with the Detroit Lions.

For each first down made by the Detroit Lions during home games, Comerica agreed to donate $100 to the center. Janice Tessier, Michigan contributions manager, Comerica Bank presented the check to Kapria Jenkins, director of corporate philanthropy for the Children’s Center at the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers game.

Hutcherson returned to Detroit to accept his current role with Comerica Bank last January.

Throughout his career, Hutcherson has gained experience in different areas of information technology and process management that have created a foundation for the role he plays today.

In his current role, Hutcherson provides strategic direction for Comerica Bank’s Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Center of Excellence, overseeing ITIL discipline and driving the advancement of the center’s capabilities.

“It’s a refreshing privilege to work in a welcoming environment and provide insight to an organization which is going through technological transformation in order to better serve its customers and business partners,” Hutcherson said.

Dimitrius Hutcherson and his wife Monica attended their son DJ’s high school graduation last summer.

Hutcherson enjoys watching his son play football at Howard University.

While he’s dedicated much time and effort over his career to developing his craft, Hutcherson has always emphasized the importance of supporting the community. In his first year with Comerica, Hutcherson participated in the UNCF 5K Walk for Education – Detroit with coworkers and family members. Hutcherson also regularly supports the Comerica’s African American Initiative and assisted in identifying speakers for the organization’s Women’s Forum.

“My passion for assisting the community aligns perfectly with Comerica’s dedication to supporting the community,” Hutcherson said. “We inspire each other.”

What are your goals for the future?

“I hope to continue working with Comerica Bank, sharpening my skill set and creating relationships with industry professionals.

Beyond Comerica, I hope to serve on a corporate board and contribute to the growth and progression of a local organization.

I also hope to continue my time serving on non-profit boards where I previously served, such as the National Black MBA Association and National Black Child Development Institute and where I currently serve, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.”

Comerica colleagues (center) Kevin Watkins, vice president and manager of the Town Center banking center, and Patricia Alexander, vice president and Business Banking Northwest relationship manager, joined board members from the National Association of Black Suppliers prior to the association’s annual breakfast appreciation event.

Colleagues from Comerica’s Financial Intelligence and Compliance divisions spent an afternoon volunteering at the Salvation Army Senior Luncheon in Royal Oak. Comerica colleagues ­mingled with guests and enjoyed having lunch while visiting with the event attendees.

Tonderlearie White, vice president, Treasury Management-Support, discusses the importance of managing your money wisely at the 10th Annual Youth and Family Financial Literacy Conference. Looking on is Ketra Lewis, vice president, Enterprise Wide Compliance for Comerica Bank.

Comerica Bank provided a team of presenters for the conference, which was sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® and its Pi Tau Omega Chapter and funded by its Pearls of Service Foundation.

What are your hobbies?

Comerica received the Corporation of the Year in Training and Development award at the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 28th annual Fiesta Hispana Gala hosted at the MGM Grand in Detroit. Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Monica L. Martinez (left) accepted the award on behalf of Comerica from Gloria Lara, chief executive officer of the MHCC. MHCC helps advocate for jobs, economic development and promotes supplier diversity development programs with Latin American countries.

Teresa LeFevre, supplier diversity manager, Comerica Bank (middle) helped present the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council’s 2017 ACE awards alongside news anchors Rhonda Walker of WDIV Channel 4 and Roop Raj of Fox 2 Detroit. Comerica was a sponsor of the Gatsby-themed event, which supports the MMSDC in its efforts assisting minority business owners.

“As a family man, I absolutely love spending time with my wife, two children and three granddaughters. Outside of mentoring youth in the community, I enjoy following Detroit’s professional sports teams, Michigan college teams and watching any type of football. I especially enjoy watching my son, who plays on Howard University’s football team. I’m also a big fan of jazz music and enjoy listening to it with friends.”

For more information on how Comerica colleagues are giving back to our community, visit

www.facebook.com/Comerica.

Michael (Mike) Ritchie, president of Comerica Bank-Michigan, addresses guests attending the Detroit Economic Club’s 2018 Michigan Economic Outlook meeting. Ritchie introduced the meeting’s guest speakers, Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Jeff Mason and University of Michigan Energy Institute Interim Associate Director and Senior Economist, Ellen Hughes Cromwick, and moderated an audience Q- and -A.

City. Life. Style.

C1 | January 24-30, 2018

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

Reflections

By Steve Holsey

Must be nice Ever since he exploded on the scene with his comic genius on “Saturday Night Live” in 1980, Eddie Murphy has been a superstar.

He has starred in many films that were box office bonanzas — along with several duds — but lately, at age 57, has been keeping a fairly low profile, and that’s the way he planned it.

He recently described Eddie Murphy himself as “a semi-retired gentleman of leisure.” And as for those commercial and critical film failures, he said, “The check movies are over for me.”

And kudos to Murphy for refusing to do the Bill Cosby sketch a while back that had been written for him for the last “Saturday Night Live” reunion. He said it would have been hurtful.

Mary J. Blige Mary J. Blige, who went through a horrendous, much-publicized separation and divorce from Kendu Isaacs, a man of low integrity, made a rather unusual statement at the ceremony celebrating her getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I’m so grateful for this star right now because I’ve earned it probably three times,” she said, quickly adding for clarification, “I say that with confidence, not arrogance. I say it because I now know my worth and what this means.”

SORRY TO hear about the departure of Edwin Hawkins, choir director, singer, musician, composer, arranger, who became prominent when “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin HawEdwin Hawkins kins Singers crossed over into pop and R&B in 1969.

Before the Winans emerged, the Hawkins (Edwin, Tramaine, Walter, Lynette) were the first family of gospel. My favorite gospel album is “Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers.

George Clinton announced last week that the first Parliament single in 28 years has been released, the title of which is “I’m Gon Make You Sick O’Me,” from the oddly titled forthGeorge Clinton coming album, “Medicaid Fraud Dog.” From “Atomic Dog” to “Medicaid Fraud Dog” — that’s George Clinton for you.

The Commodores THOMAS McCRARY left the Commodores in 1984 to pursue a solo career. Not much has happened, which is no doubt why in 2014 he and his band dared to tour as the Commodores. That was challenged by fellow original members Walter Orange and William King and the judge ruled

See Reflections Page C-2

— Kory Woods Photos — ­­

Page D-2 • michiganchronicle.com • January 24-30, 2018

Reflections

black man talked about one day being president!

From page C-1

that they, not McCrary, have the legal rights to the Commodores name.

Speaking of legal matters, the Michael Jackson estate is at war with Noval Williams Films involving the documentary “Michael: The Last Photo Shoot.” The matter is very complicated.

Tyler Perry consistently proves that he believes in giving back. The latest to benefit from his generosity is the 5000 Role Models of Excellence scholarship program that provides at-risk young men with mentorship and other support. Tyler wrote a $100,000 check.

R&B singer Mario Winans is in deep trouble with the law for being a deadbeat dad. Two warrants for his arrest were issued.

Jussie Smollett, who portrays Jamal Lyon on “Empire,” has a newly released song titled “Freedom” from his forthcoming debut album

Jussie Smollett which is scheduled to come out this spring.

Smollett, who is proudly gay on the show and in real life, says, “Love is freedom and freedom is love.”

Cheyenne Elliott, granddaughter of Dionne Warwick, made a memorable first impression on “The Four,” the new singing competition show.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW...that in 1963, the Drifters recorded a song titled “Only in America,” but the record company decided not to release it. They thought white America would not accept a song in which a

MEMORIES: “Only the Strong Survive” (Jerry Butler), “Betcha She Don’t Love You” (Evelyn “Champagne” King), “So I Can Love You” (the Emotions), “If This World Were Mine” (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell), “You Brought the Sunshine (Into My Life)” (the Clark Sisters, “Sweet Thing” (Rufus featuring Chaka Khan), “If You Really Love Me” (Stevie Wonder), “Quicksand” (Martha and the Vandellas).

Page B-6 • THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • Nov. 29 – Dec. 5, 2017

DIGITAL DAILY DIGITAL DAILY WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

BLESSINGS to Abdul (Duke) Fakir, Jim Holley, Dorothy West, Andre Smith, Henry Tyler, Ken Coleman, Cynthia French and Stephen Singleton, WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Brad Pitt: “You can’t tell someone how to live their life.”

Let the music play!

Steve Holsey can be reached at svh517@aol. com, navets517@gmail. com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.

Romeo & Juliet

American Ballet Theatre Kevin McKenzie, artistic director Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan Music by Sergei Prokofiev Thursday-Friday, February 8-9 // 7:30 pm Saturday, February 10 // 2 pm & 7:30 pm Sunday, February 11 // 2:30 pm Detroit Opera House ABT stars Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston, and David Hallberg, will perform principal roles in select performances of the company’s signature production of Shakespeare’s enduring romantic tragedy.

Sergei Prokofiev’s instantly recognizable music, performed live by the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, underscores the lyric beauty and passion of this beloved ballet. Full casting details available at ums.org/abt or michiganopera.org.

734.764.2538 ——— U M S . O R G

A co-presentation between UMS and Michigan Opera Theatre.

Funded in part by: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

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UAW-FORD’s

Section C-3

January 24-30, 2018

Good news: Athletic programs on the rise for Detroit K-8 students!

Let our children play and prosper: The Detroit Public Schools Community District is making strides toward providing some form of extra-curricular athletics for students at all schools serving grades K-8.

‘We have to do what is best for kids,’ says Maria Adams-Lawton

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle How does a person positively impact the lives of Detroit youth? If your name is Maria Adams-Lawton it begins by starting your workday early—very early.

“These kids motivate me to get up and be at DPS at 6 am every morning,” said Adams-Lawton, a good friend to the “Best of Young Detroit, who, since the last time we reported on her, has taken on the important task of directing K-8 athletic programs for the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

From the “Best of Young Detroit’s” perspective, AdamsLawton is a gift that keeps giving for the benefit of our city’s children. We watched her reopen Tindal Recreation Center and make that facility valuable again for our youth and community as a whole. We also marveled and appreciated her service as a provider of athletic and extra-curricular programs to Detroit youth through a nonprofit she operated. That is why the “Best of Young Detroit” can say with certainty that Adams-Lawton is about action, action and more action when it comes to kids.

And action and plenty of positive activity were certainly on the agenda at the Renaissance High School gymnasium on Jan. 20 when students, parents, educators and other community members gathered for the Detroit Public Schools Community District League Jamboree. The event included the final rounds and championship basketball games for two leagues—Third & Fourth Grade Co-Ed and Middle School Girls. The games at Renaissance brought together 150 boys and girls, but the Jamboree was actually a grand finale for two leagues that engaged nearly 500 boys and girls over the course of league action.

sports that will soon be made available to elementary and middle school students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. These non-traditional sports for our students include water polo, archery, bowling and golf.

Ultimately, Adams-Lawton said she would like to have all 70 schools in the district that serve K-8 students participate in some form of extra-curricular athletics—traditional and nontraditional sports. And when that happens, she says the possibilities for our entire city are endless.

“This is about a transformation and we have to put the students, or student-athletes first,” Adams-Lawton said. “We have to do what is best for the kids and then we create a winwin situation. If they do well in school, they will go away to college, and then do well in their jobs. But first we have to give the kids the resources they need. We have to instill in them the knowledge, the skills and the confidence they need to do anything they want in life. And the only way Detroit is going to thrive is if we do this for our youth.”

Mapping a successful life requires early start, says track great Deon Hogan The Detroit Public School League has a rich history in the sport of track and field, including some of the greatest athletes to ever compete, like former Olympic gold medalists Eddie Tolan (Cass Tech), Lorenzo Wright (Miller High School) and Henry Carr (Northwestern High School).

Our city’s track and field tradition also includes the contributions of Deon Hogan, who was absolutely dominant at two state championship meets while representing Kettering High School during the late 1970s. In 1977, he won the 440-yard dash and also was part of a state championship 880-relay team. And in 1978, Hogan captured state titles at 100 and 220 yards. Hogan’s great exploits at Kettering earned him a scholarship to the University of Kansas. It is also certainly worth noting that Mr. Hogan dedicated his track career to his best friend, Larry Smith, who introduced Mr. Hogan to football and track at Kettering.

After the passing of his friend, Larry Smith, on the football field, Mr. Hogan never lost a race at Kettering.

Following the University of Kansas, Mr. Hogan moved on to a career in law enforcement and has always been deeply committed to giving back, particularly to Detroit youth. With the help of our good friends Mike “Tiger” Price and Tony Austin, the “Best of Young Detroit” is honored to share a few golden nuggets of wisdom targeting youth provided by Mr. Hogan during an interview with “Tiger” Price. The interview was done on behalf of the Detroit Sports Zone’s Detroit High School Hall of Fame.

“The jamboree takes the winners from all of our sites, so kids get to see other kids, interact with one another and compete,” Adams-Lawton said. “It’s definitely for bragging rights—East versus West.”

The play on the court was spirited and competitive, but Adams-Lawton also reported seeing another special site within the Renaissance gymnasium.

“What I saw Saturday with the parents and the stands full— that’s something that you don’t see that often,” said AdamsLawton with pride. “What I see is something very positive slowly coming up with the new administration. And we all want to see it happen. What other big city districts have K-8 athletics? What we’re talking about is getting many kids to do their homework (because they want to stay on the team) and stay out of trouble.

That’s why we want to make our program bigger and better than it has ever been.”

This year’s Jamboree will no doubt provide lasting memories for the participants, but Adams-Lawton is all about looking ahead.

“Basketball is easy, but we want to give kids more options,” said Adams-Lawton, who reeled off a list of non-traditional

What is your advice for young people preparing for their future?

Detroit Public Schools Community District League Jamboree Honors Third & Fourth Grade Co-ed League Champion: Bates Academy Third & Fourth Grade Co-ed League Runner-Up: Burton International Middle School Girls League Champion: Ludington Middle School Girls League Runner-Up: Marcus Garvey Middle School Girls All-Star Game MVP: Tiara Morris, John R. King Outstanding Sportsmanship Award: Marcus Garvey Middle School Girls

Deon Hogan: “Right now I think with the exposure to life through the media and Facebook and what have you, it is very important that we stress education through athletics or whatever form of scholarship means that you can obtain to move forward…You must keep yourself, and mind, away from the illegal use of drugs and crime, as well as stay out of debt, to move forward in life in a positive way.”

What is your advice to our young people when it comes to setting goals and having a mission and vision for life?

Deon Hogan: “Start young—it is important to be exposed to as many cultural and educational events that are affordable to you. My fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, and the Sigma brothers are doing a fantastic job with raising awareness in the community… They are doing this by a process of teaching our young Black men public speaking, public writing, even teaching them how to tie a tie and how to treat women in a very positive way. To eliminate all of those negative forces that are out there allows us to grow.“

UAW-Ford’s Best of Young Detroit

January 24-30, 2018 Page C-4

“Best of Young Detroit” Johnny Davis: Murray-Wright product shined during big moments The date was January 19, 1974 and the University of Dayton’s men’s basketball team was returning home after a hard-fought 79-72 overtime defeat against the University of Detroit. The loss would drop Dayton’s record to 10-4, but the Flyers would not lose many more times that season in large part due to a freshman guard from Detroit named Johnny Davis.

Prior to Davis’ arrival as a student-athlete, the Flyers had posted back-to-back 13-13 seasons. But with the same core group of players, plus the insertion of Davis as the starting point guard, the Flyers soared to a 20-9 record during the 1973-74 campaign, which included advancing to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament.

It took a triple-overtime defeat against the mighty UCLA Bruins to end Dayton’s national championship run that season.

The pride of the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects and Detroit Murray-Wright High School, Davis was tutored in the finer points of the games by legends like George “Baby” Duncan and Paul Dean. Davis also honed his game at “Detroit’s Basketball Mecca,” St. Cecilia’s Gym, where he matched up against many of the finest players of the day. By the time Davis got settled on the University of Dayton’s campus, he was more than ready for the national basketball stage. He followed his impactful freshman season, with two more stellar seasons at Dayton, during which he led the team in scoring as a sophomore and junior with averages of 22.3 and 21.8 points per game respectively.

Davis’ talents would catch the eye of another basketball legend, Dr. Jack Ramsey, who made the Detroit product a second-round pick in the 1976 NBA Draft for the Portland Trail Blazers. And in Davis’ first year with the team, after an injury required Ramsey to insert him into the starting lineup during the playoffs, Davis would endear himself to Portland fans forever as he helped the Blazers win a NBA championship with a 4-2 series victory over Dr. J and the powerful Philadelphia 76ers in the finals. In 10 NBA seasons with four franchises—Portland, Indiana, Atlanta and Cleveland—Davis averaged 12.9 points and 4.5 assists during regular season play. Known in the NBA as a team player who complemented the talents of his teammates, Davis still demonstrated that he could carry a bigger load when needed, including the 1978-79 campaign when he averaged 18.3 points with the Indiana Pacers.

Following his playing career, Mr. Davis proved he had learned his basketball lessons well through the years as he embarked on a long career as a NBA coach and front office executive, which included stints as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers (where he guided a young Allen Iverson) and the Orlando Magic.

A member of the University of Dayton’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, Mr. Davis should always be celebrated in Detroit, too, for representing our city in championship fashion throughout his basketball journey. And for that, Mr. Davis remains a role model for Detroit’s youth.

Following are some of the top performers in recent high school basketball games involving teams in the Detroit Public School League.

BOYS Tyson Acuff, Cass Tech, registered 15 points and seven assists in a 75-46 victory against Western on Jan. 19.

Warren Carr, West Side Academy, scored 15 points in a 58-17 victory against Davis Aerospace on Jan. 19.

Keron Carter, Delta Prep, registered 19 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in a 71-55 victory against Leadership Academy on Jan. 19.

Johnny Davis, Pershing, registered 13 rebounds and 12 points in a 63-23 victory against Osborn on Jan. 19.

David DeJulius, East English Village, the standout senior guard scored 23 points in a hard-fought 49-48 victory against King on Jan. 19.

Anthony Taylor Jr., Mumford, registered 19 points and 12 rebounds against Frederick on Jan. 19.

GIRLS Nikiya Cordell, Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern, contributed 15 points in a 57-53 victory against West Side Academy on Jan. 18.

Kailee Davis, Renaissance, registered 21 points, five assists and four steals in a 56-19 victory against Cody on Jan. 18.

Sapphire Dawson, Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern, registered 16 points and 11 rebounds against West Side Academy on Jan. 18.

Ajanae Horton, Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern, scored 24 points against West Side Academy on Jan. 18.

Raven Jackson, West Side Academy, scored 23 points against Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern on Jan. 18.

Marcus Gibbs, King, scored 18 points against East English Village on Jan. 19.

Jordan Lewis, King, registered 18 points, 10 rebounds and six steals in a 70-26 victory against Denby on Jan. 18.

Devin Holmes, Renaissance, contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds in a 55-52 victory against Henry Ford on Jan. 19.

Jayla Smith, East English Village, contributed 16 points in a 63-20 victory against Osborn on Jan. 18.

Lamar Kearney, Denby, registered 13 points and five assists in a 52-44 victory against Southeastern on Jan. 19.

Alexis Thompson, East English Village, scored 29 points against Osborn on Jan. 18.

Lamont Kearney, Denby, contributed 13 points and six rebounds against Southeastern on Jan. 19.

Del’Janae Williams, King, contributed 16 points and six steals against Denby on Jan. 18.

Reach for the Stars!

Can a student sitting in a Detroit Public Schools Community District classroom today go on to become nationally successful in the field of broadcast journalism? Absolutely, and one of the special people our students can look to for inspiration is Jemele Hill, a 1993 graduate of Mumford High School. Hill is the co-host of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” with Michael Smith. Prior to her career in television, Hill distinguished herself as a daily newspaper sports writer, which included time in Detroit where she covered Michigan State football and basketball.

Week in PSL This

Carrington McCaskill, Renaissance, registered 21 points and 10 rebounds against Henry Ford on Jan. 19.

2017

Anthony Roberts, Henry Ford, scored 25 points against Renaissance on Jan. 19.

Rozell Robinson, Delta Prep contributed 19 points and five steals against Leadership Academy on Jan. 19.

D’Juan Seal, Pershing, scored 22 points against Osborn on Jan. 19.

VARSITY GIRLS GAMES Thursday, Jan. 25, 4 p.m.

From freshmen to seniors, local products play well in recent college games Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan University/Martin Luther King, the redshirt freshman guard scored a career-high 22 points and also contributed four assists and three rebounds in an 81-78 victory at Northern Illinois on Jan. 17.

Our latest “Where are they now?” installment features student-athletes from Detroit high schools that represent the full spectrum of college class standings.

Ronald Booth, Wayne State University/Consortium (now Voyageur College Preparatory), the senior guard registered 18 points and four assists in an 83-74 loss to Northern Michigan on Jan. 20.

Micaela Kelly

Ronald Booth Josh Davis, Western Michigan University/Henry Ford, the junior guard/forward scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, and added seven rebounds in an 84-74 loss to Buffalo on Jan. 19.

Zoey Oatis

Tia Tedford, University of IllinoisChicago/Martin Luther King, the freshman guard contributed five points, four assists and two steals against the University of Detroit Mercy on Jan. 13.

Josh Davis

Greg Eboigbodin, University of Illinois/University of Detroit Jesuit, the freshman forward contributed eight points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal in a 75-50 defeat against Wisconsin on Jan. 19.

Greg Eboigbodin

Zoey Oatis, University of Detroit Mercy/Cass Tech, the sophomore guard/forward scored eight points in a 61-58 victory against Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 13. Oatis drew a charge call against Illinois-Chicago with 3:54 left in the contest, which helped change the momentum of the game as the visiting Titans were trying to hold off the Flames.

Tia Tedford

Division 1 East English Village at Denby Pershing at King Mumford at Renaissance Cody at Henry Ford Division 2 Davis Aerospace at Detroit International Academy Delta Prep at Southeastern Central at West Side Academy DCP at Northwestern at Communication & Media Arts Monday, Jan. 29, 4 p.m.

Division 1 Osborn at Pershing King at East English Village Renaissance at Henry Ford Cass at Mumford Division 2 Delta Prep at Leadership Academy Davis Aerospace at Southeastern DCP Northwestern at Central Western at Communication & Media Arts

VARSITY BOYS GAMES Friday, Jan. 26, 4 p.m.

Division 1 East English Village at Pershing Osborn at Edison Public School Academy Western at Henry Ford DCP Northwestern at Renaissance Division 2 Southeastern at Davis Aerospace West Side Academy at Delta Prep Denby at Leadership Academy Mumford at Central Communication & Media Arts at Cody Tuesday, Jan. 30, 4 p.m.

Division 1 Edison Public School Academy at East English Village Pershing at King Western at DCP Northwestern Henry Ford at Cass Division 2 Davis Aerospace vs. Delta Prep Denby at West Side Academy Leadership Academy at Southeastern Mumford at Communication & Media Arts Central at Frederick Douglass

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PUBLIC BIDS Star International, Noor International, Universal & Universal Learning Academies are seeking public bids for E-rate: TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Bids must be received sealed by 1:00 pm on Friday, February 9, 2018 For the RFP’s, you may view at: http://www.starpsa.org/rfp (313) 724-8994 x.111

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL City of Royal Oak, Michigan Advertisement - Request For Proposal Street Tree Planting Program (CAP1838 )

The River Rouge Housing Commission request bid proposals for Interior Painting of 300 dwelling unit’s projects: MI008001, 002, 003, 004, the Hyacinth Court Community Center & the Main Office.

Bid packets will be available for pick up on Friday January 26, 2018 at the River Rouge Housing Commission, 180 Visger Road, River Rouge, MI. 48218. Sealed bids will be received for Interior Painting by the River Rouge Housing Commission until 2:00 pm Thursday February 15, 2018. Bids received after 2:00 pm on February 15, 2018 will be rejected and returned unopened to the bidder. For more information, please contact the River Rouge Housing Commission MondayFriday during normal business hours from 8:00 am 4:30 pm at (313) 382-1414. *NOTE: Pre-Bid meeting is scheduled for February 9, 2018 at 10:30 at the Hyacinth Court Location, 460 ½ Lenoir Court, River Rouge, MI. 48218

HELP WANTED

GENERAL CONTRACTOR General Contractor with 18 month project downriver is looking for experienced Subcontractors, Trades and Individuals with their own tools. Applicants can either submit their information to info@gfisherconst.com, fax their resume to 248-855-2420 or contact our main office at 248-855-3500 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan - 4 Current Vacancies: Financial Technician, Electronic Court Reporter Operator/Generalist Clerk, Human Resources Specialist and Temporary Court Services Generalist. These positions are located in Detroit. See the vacancy announcements at http://www.mied.uscourts. gov for representative duties, responsibilities, benefits, job requirements and application instructions. EOE

ENTRY-LEVEL ACCOUNTANT The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments seeks an individual to provide accounting support to accounting areas such as receivables, payables, payroll, etc. Minimum one year accounting experience. Government accounting experience a plus. For more information, visit www.semcog.org/Careers. EOE

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Wireless Systems Test Engineer

Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp &validate designs to improve OnStar telematics system performance &improve automated alternatives to manual test procedures. Validate &provide design change improvements for OnStar system design incldg vehicle crash response sequence, vehicle theft response sequence, &sequence for advisor call support from wireless telecom service perspective, &discuss with Vehicle Communication Platform &Telematics Communication Platform suppliers including development &design validation timelines. Dvlp scripts in CAPL &simulate vehicle environment using CANalyzer to reproduce system level issues by monitoring Ethernet traffic between different ECUs. Provide detailed anlys &design change improvements to telematics system using QXDM, QCAT &ATT. Set scope of work for Systems Test Engineer to validate vehicle telematics unit wireless functionality during vehicle collision response &emergencies &communicate with suppliers to resolve issues. Dvlp &validate ECUs, especially telematics wireless units, their apps &integration into new passenger vehicles.

Master, Electrical or Electronics Engrg. 6 mos exp as Engineer, providing anlys &design change improvements to telematics system using QXDM, QCAT &ATT. Mail resume to Ref#957, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-­C32-­C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Advanced Development Engineer -­ Automated Driving

Warren, MI, General Motors. Design &dvlp autonomous driving simulation algorithm (incldg path planning &vehicle localization) in C++ &Python using Robotic Operating System integrated with dSpace HIL. Dvlp dSpace HIL plant control model for system integration.

Define, document, &dvlp test cases, tools, &environments for vehicle active safety features, such as brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control, forward-­ looking sensor-­based advanced driver assistance systems, adaptive cruise control, collision warning &avoidance, &mitigation systems. Design &optimize algorithms for active safety appls using tools such as DFSS, UGNX, MATLAB, Simulink, Rhapsody, IBM Change Synergy, dSPACE, ETAS, &IBM RTC. Design, implement, &test embedded controller. Perform hardware &software integration testing on prototype vehicle active safety modules. Automate system level test cases to allow regression &key behavioral testing. Verify control module &computing platform functionality on HIL bench &in vehicle. Master, Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive or Mfg Engrg, or related. 4 mos exp as Engineer Intern, Test Engineer, or related, testing &validating vehicle component algorithm using Simulink, MATLAB &dSPACE or related tools. Mail resume to Ref#30496, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-­C32-­C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

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Warren, MI, General Motors. Design, release &implement high voltage battery components &sub-­systems in passenger vehicles. Perform mechanical design &structural integration of high voltage battery pack incldg tray, enclosures, sealing systems, &thermal systems. Ensure design complies with BOM, Bills of Design/Process throughout the life of the part. Engineer &release on board charging module &high power current charging module &high voltage battery pack math usage &position using UGNX &Teamcenter. Track &control design changes throughout the life of the part. Provide cross-­functional evaluation of alternatives to meet reqmts. Conduct &coach component &sub-­system design reviews.

Provide technical &program mgmt support on all aspects of high voltage battery, incldg support to DREs, Dvlpmt/Validation Engrs, global supply chain, mfg &production.

Increase knowledge &capability of Engineers assigned to the Product Development Team through mentoring &consultation. Ensure technical lessons learned are captured &communicated to Technical Specialist &Bill of Material Family Owners to update infrastructure documentation, incldg global Bill of Design/BOM, Statement of Requirement templates, Dvlpmt/Validation Toolbox, &DFMEA. Bachelor, Mechanical or Electrical Engrg. 36 mos exp as Engineer, performing mechanical design &structural integration of high voltage battery pack incldg tray, enclosures, sealing systems, &thermal systems. Mail resume to Ref#1270, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-­C32-­C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Warren, MI, General Motors. Coordinate, as global flash expert, Flash Programming Change Review Board (Flash CRB). Maintain global flash programming apps &verification software in C++/C# languages, to download data into &configuring ECUs of conventional &autonomous passenger vehicles during vehicle assembly process incldg compliance with ISO13400 (DoIP), ISO14229 (UDP), ISO11898-1 (CAN-FD), ISO 11898-1 (CANFD), ISO 11898-3 (CAN 2.0), j1850 (class2), &ISO14230 (Keyword2000) standards. Create &validate new functionality &continuous improvement of verification software &flash programming process to handle new vehicle protocols &vehicle standards. Maintain common flash parameters &supporting documentation of the flash process. Train &support learning of flash programming by GM mfg engrs worldwide. Provide support &expertise for issue resolution related to flash programming of electronic control units.

Validate bootloader &software changes made to global electronic control unit components.

Bachelor, Electrical, Electronics, or Computer Engrg. 24 mos exp as Engineer, supporting &ensuring improvement of verification software in C++, incldg compliance with ISO 11898-3 (CAN 2.0), j1850 (class2), &ISO14230 (Keyword2000) standards, &supporting integration of Flash Programming software in vehicle assembly plant. Mail resume to Ref#13833, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

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Lead Design Responsible Engineer Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems

Creative Designer

Warren, MI, General Motors. Design future conventional &autonomous passenger vehicle interiors incldg instrument panel (IP), console, instrument cluster, HVAC controls;; door trim &garnish trim;; trunk compartment;; seating systems incldg seat shape, foams, trim, cut &sew, &decoration. Study ergonomics of HMI &displays. Illustrate design proposals using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator &VRED;; &3D modelling with Alias Studio Tools. Meet with engrg team &suppliers to resolve feasibility issues incldg productivity, safety regulations &cost optimization. Formulate, create &design future interiors incldg vehicle components such as HMI devices, displays, buttons, clusters, phone inductive charger using Alias Studio Tools. Refine sketches in super-­ realistic renderings before being presented in CLINIC sessions where potential customers judge presented themes. Analyze CLINIC results. Use Alias Studio tools to generate 3D models in Class A surfaces. Translate 2D sketches into 3D by giving directions to 3D modelers to create models of sketches.

Bachelor, Transportation Design or Design. 12 mos exp as Automotive or Creative Designer, designing automotive passenger vehicle interiors incldg IP, console, instrument cluster, HVAC controls, door trim, garnish trim, &seating systems. Mail resume to Ref#1705, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-­C32-­C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded project.Information pertaining to bidding and availability of specifications can be obtained through the city’s website (www.romi.gov/678/Bids-Request-forProposals-RFP) at no charge and the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN)’s website (mitn.info)

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED Volume 81

BORN GIFTED READER

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Page C-5

michiganchronic

MRS. LINN

January 24-30, 2018

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

2017

le.com

– Number 2

Farmington Hills eated student mistr by teachers for knowing his rights

By Keith A.

Owens

Senior Editor

d.

I understan your is something country of Patriotism loyal to the if necesI get being willing to defend it a better it birth, being to help make . sary, and wanting Americans place for all d. I include I understan That much that definition. myself in masCOMMENTARY g lunacy, flag-wavin Wild-eyed, patriotism is something as querading a that I consider when disease. Andlunacy former of of Arts and that kind school, Detroit Institute infects a s, Director grown where fully Salvador Salort-Pon are night H. Wright Museum, adult teachers the with ing 2017 opening Director, Charles entrusted of ility Juanita Moore, Wilson at Detroit Homecom responsib young Supreme Mary educating then I children, not only Stone Chaney consider it but a poa disease threat. tentially dangerous news reports, stuto several According national, a sixth grade n and both local Middle School in Farmingto of his Owens yanked out dent at East

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Not here. businesse problem to expand, somewhat local black size. they need heart of the Too many of similar is the obget to the to the capital of the problem they need obvito white companies of black entreprethan The first partat least it should be its fair share to ly when compared ally more or more than has the right s, proportion But the vious part, Detroit has anywhere any time. small businesse city in the country. any inous. No teacherlike that, ever. At neurs and major any other businesses can’t attract treat any child no excuse. y stuck in just about of these that There is simply they are perpetuall to hire more problem is vast majority which means will never be able part of the y adults vestment, The second where they are supposedl about survival mode person – maybe. could these teachersy know something volunlandscape and than one other and who the city’s who supposedl as a profession about how Detroit’s Innovation the teaching the teaching profession But just think CEO and the City of adults ING page A-4 Kesha Cash, ing 2017. who heads so-called tarily chose See HOMECOM how do these with a straight Jill Ford (right), Initiatives, interviews career. So Detroit Homecom s teachers know that Entrepreneurship America Fund at call themselve don’t even Impact stand of they to not founder photo face when had a right ? Whether – Keith A. Owens average Stone Chaney the national 7 perPledge of Allegiance during the lower than ng expenses ED page A-4 and non-housi

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WHAT’S INSIDE

BER 28, 2017 ICLE – SEPTEM MICHIGAN CHRON ATION IN THE s And & Gradua College LOOK FOR INFORM Undergraduate ‘free tuition’ Will Feature

tions obtain The Quad e Your Applica ons ■ See how you can d throughout the community.

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MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Published Every Wendnesday

New Benefits and Insurance Options

You Can Expect in 2018

Global Commodity ManagerBatteries, Generators & Chassis Electronics & Controls

Warren, MI, General Motors. Control, lead, administer, &supervise procurement activities for the global 12V battery, generator &chassis electronics &controls commodities. Manage &lead dvlpmt &improvement of Supplier Footprint Optimization Tool &Total Enterprise Cost (TEC) &sourcing methodologies applying business anlys &app of regression models of vehicle historical cost, vendor tooling engrg, mfg engrg, part design, &container data; logistics &supply chain costs, to optimize the sourcing location for passenger vehicle global 12V batteries, generators &chassis electronics &controls, incldg optimal sourcing location by country, tooling, piece &logistics costs. Lead &supervise a local team consisting of Senior Buyer, Buyer &intern, &9 global buyers in GM regions. Responsible for the buyers’ performance, dvlpmt, training &also build effective global team. Interface across all regions with multiple functions incldg Engineering, Customer Care & Aftersales, Mfg, Finance &Engrg to drive &support business activities. Bachelor, Business Administration, International Business, or Foreign Trade. 12 mos exp as Regional Buyer, Divisional Buyer, or Global Buyer, dvlpg &improving TEC &sourcing methodologies applying business anlys &app of regression models of vehicle historical cost, vendor tooling engrg, part design, &container data; logistics &supply chain costs, to optimize sourcing location for passenger vehicle 12V batteries &generators, incldg optimal sourcing location by country, tooling, piece &logistics costs. Mail resume to Ref#12805, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Senior Infotainment Systems Architect Lead

Warren, MI, General Motors. Define future infotainment features, functions, &architectures including creation of detailed requirements for technical implementation according to corporation safety, features, &functions directives. Interact across organizations (Advanced User Interface Specialists, Global Marketing Analysts, Customer Experience Strategists, &Global Product Planners) to ensure features &functions are integrated into the vehicle.

Provide engrg solutions for security, remote reprogramming, navigation, audio, telematics, web development, embedded software knowledge, internet protocols, in-­vehicle networking protocols such as Ethernet, CAN &MOST, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-­Fi, speech recognition, &HMI design. Work with end-­to-­ end development teams (Feature Owner System Engineers, BFOs, System Integration/Subsystem/Development/ Validation Engineers) to generate infotainment technical solutions for current &new vehicle programs. Work with suppliers to identify the environment of the system to propose new features &functions. Provide technical leadership for advanced technology development. Interact with Cybersecurity representatives to ensure systems &communication protocols are specified in secure fashion. Perform complex design analysis in the systems, hardware &software levels, &communicate with the global peers.

Master, Systems Engrg, Automotive Engrg, Electrical Engrg, Computer Science, Mechanical Engrg, Computer Engrg, or related. Thirty-­six months’ experience as Engineer, providing engrg solutions for security, navigation, audio, telematics, embedded software knowledge, &in-­vehicle networking protocols such as Ethernet, CAN &MOST, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-­Fi, speech recognition, &HMI design. Mail resume to Ref#921, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-­C32-­C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

(StatePoint) Ever wondered whether your insurance policy was actually working for you? You may be in luck, as your insurance plan may start to follow the same trends being adopted in other industries: simpler, more convenient and personalized products – all supported by the latest mobile technology.

This year, Stephanie Shields, a product marketing and development expert from Aflac, (Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York) says that policyholders can expect these “value-added services” to become less of a nice-to-have and more of a given: • Telemedicine: Consulting with a physician and getting treatment online offers greater flexibility and may become essential to busy people.

• Fraud protection: Identity theft is likely top of mind for policyholders and businesses.

Expect to see better fraud protection, including ongoing internet monitoring and full identity restoration after a data breach.

• Bill negotiation: The ever-changing health care system is often confusing to navigate. Ongoing education, as well as help understanding medical bills, can ultimately mean greater access to efficient, affordable care.

Transformed Benefits Insurance providers will likely shift the customer experience to follow that of retailers and other industries. In 2018, expect to see insurers such as Aflac offer more cohesive insurance policies that combine multiple benefit types into one plan.

Beyond the Basics You may find things that were once luxuries, such as 401K matching, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and even annual bonuses, are not as successful in meeting the expectations of today’s employees. As those expectations grow, successful businesses can continue to close the gap with such services as: • Health advocacy: Access to round-the-clock personal health advocates who can answer health care and insurance-related questions.

DIGITAL DAILY

• Financial and legal fitness: Access to financial and legal advisors who can educate consumers on the preparation of wills and other legal documents.

• College-advisory services: These might include resources to help lower college costs and navigate the admissions process.

• No more “one-size-fits-all”: Communications from benefits providers may be more tailored to individual needs.

• Bite-sized communications: Concise information about workplace benefits, tips for using benefits to help protect financial security and better explanations of coverage combinations that are appropriate at various life stages.

• New format: While some benefits information will still be delivered in the typical booklet format, more businesses may consider using online articles, digital signs, brown-bag luncheons and town halls.

• Frequent communications: Employers may communicate about benefits throughout the year, or time communications to coincide with life events, such as employee anniversaries.

Time Spent Smarter In 2018, employers who have not yet adopted online platforms to manage benefits may do so.

Advantages include year-round, convenient access to pertinent information and one-page views of all benefits options and selections, enabling you to identify any holes you may have in coverage.

Penny-Pinching More voluntary benefits, such as accident, critical illness/cancer, hospital indemnity, life and disability insurance, are on the horizon. According to the 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report, 81 percent of employees see a growing need for voluntary insurance benefits, and 90 percent consider voluntary insurance at least somewhat part of a comprehensive benefits program.

Thanks to a tech-driven world and the growing demands of consumers, 2018 may see insurers expand their services to offer even more convenience and personalization.

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