MC Digital Edition 8.5.2020

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July • 2020

Never ‘Forgotten,’

A PUBLICATION OF MGM GRAND DETROIT

MGM Grand Detroit puts community first with #WhatMatters

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle

Small Business Restart Grants Deadline Approaching

Detroit hotel, gaming What was the first and only downtown up to do when it was and entertainment built from the ground to the public due to the unable to open the doors of its property COVID-19 pandemic?

Detroit team members It was a question that many MGM Grand began focusing solely hardly had time to ponder, as they quickly of enormous need. The on serving their community during a time atters—but a catchy effort was boiled down to a hashtag--#WhatM of the actions takphrase does not begin to define the importance Detroit.

Grand en by team members at all levels of MGM the donation of more By working together and assisting with

Inside this week’s edition

Continue on page 3

Inside This Issue

Money. A5

Detroit continues to • Through challenging times, MGM Grand answer the call to serve our community drives MGM Grand • Total commitment to health and safety plan reopening sive comprehen Detroit’s gets helping hand from • Mass community meal distribution effort MGM Grand Detroit And more!

Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 83 – No. 48 | August 5-11, 2020

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Joe Biden Host Racial Equity Roundtable with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

By Lindsay Keener

VS

Presidential-nominee Joe Biden’s political campaign held a roundtable Friday updating Michigan voters on Biden’s plans to achieve racial equity. The roundtable discussion was an extension of Biden’s ‘Build Back Better Agenda’, an economic recovery plan designed to tackle America’s structural issues and racial injustice.

Biden’s ‘Build Back Better Agenda’ economic plan for working families outlines targeted initiatives that include: setting a national goal of ensuring all ormerly incarcerated individuals have housing upon reentry, expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, eliminating existing barriers preventing formerly incarcerated individuals Joe Biden from fully participating in society, and eliminating cash bail.

“The racial equity plank focuses on a critical strategy to invest and uplift black, brown, AAPI, Native Americans, small businesses and owners because they’re the source of our job creation and future economic growth,” said KarineJean-Pierre, Biden campaign senior advisor.

An array of members joined the panel, talking in great detail on the “clear disparities in the justice system.” Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, Senior Pastor of Liberty Temple Baptist Church, Ken Whittaker, Director of Movement Politics at Michigan People’s Campaign, Don Hemphill, Criminal Justice Reform Activist, Yolanda Walker, Minister and Advocate for Second Chances, Richard Speck, Co-Founder, L.U.C.K, Inc. and Community Engagement Specialist, SAFE & JUST MICHIGAN, and Brian McKinney, CEO and Founder, Gayanga Co. were all in attendance. Jean-Pierre sat in place of Ashley Biden who could not make Friday’s event.

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist participated in Friday’s webinar and discussed his support of Biden’s campaign.

“I’m excited about the elements of criminal justice reform that are part of this campaign,” said Gilchrist. “From an ideals perspective it quite aligns with the work that we’ve been doing to unlock this community, to reduce our jail and prison populations, and to remove barriers to success upon exiting contact with the

See RACIAL

EQUITY page A2

WHAT’S INSIDE

Tight Race Expected Again For 13th Congressional District Seat ***Note: A front-runner in this race was not determined due to only 23% of votes being tallied.

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle

F

or the third time, Brenda Jones and Rashida Tlaib have faced off in an election, and for the third time, the result is expected to be extremely close, as the two Democrats vie for a U.S. House seat representing Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. As of press time Tuesday night, the race was too early to call.

In 2018, both candidates ran to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District in two elections that were held concurrently—the regularly scheduled election for the 2019-2021 term and a special election to fill the seat that was vacated by John Conyers Jr. for the remainder of the 2017-2019 term.

Fueled by Detroit voters, Jones won a four-way Democratic primary to complete the rest of Conyers’ term, edging Tlaib by roughly 1,600 votes out of about 87,000 casts. But in the six-way Democratic primary for the next full two-year term, Tlaib defeated Jones by about 900 votes, out of nearly 89,000 casts. Tlaib did not face a Republican challenger in the general election, and with the victory, the native Detroiter joined fellow Democrat Ilhan Omar as the first Muslim woman to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Since contesting Jones in 2018, Tlaib has been in the national spotlight

as a freshman member of Congress.

While Jones, president of the Detroit City Council since 2014, has continued to solidify her reputation as a public servant who works hard for Detroit.

However, examining the candidates’ records reveals that Tlaib and Jones have shown a commitment to improving the quality of life of their constituents on a local and national level throughout their public careers.

Tlaib has made national headlines for being an unrelenting critic of President Donald Trump’s policies and statements (including his recent threat to send Federal troops to Detroit). Still, her time in Congress also has addressed neighborhoods, such as securing $25 million in funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (doing business as NeighborWorks America), a Congressionally-chartered nonprofit that supports community development in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In an Aug. 3 statement announcing the funding—part of an appropriations bill passed in the House—Tlaib said: “I pushed for this funding at the start of this pandemic and since then, a number of my residents have called in dire need of home repairs with few— if any—options for us to help them secure it. This $25 million is a ray of hope for our folks suffering from damaged roofs over their heads and other housing revitalization needs during one of the most difficult times our

country has ever faced.”

Jones, a fixture at Detroit community events known for her grassroots connections, has sponsored nine ordinances and 40 resolutions. During her 15 total years in City Council, her plan has focused on jobs, neighborhoods, education, safety, and promoting opportunities for business development and growth across Detroit. And while the time she spent in Congress to complete the term vacated by Conyers was only five weeks, Jones was productive during that period, which included voting 77 times and sponsoring two pieces of legislation—Shelter Act of 2018 and Minimum Wage Fairness Act of 2018.

The records of both candidates had earned them prominent endorsements entering Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Tlaib was backed by a host of labor unions, community, national advocacy organizations, and Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House. Jones’ endorsements include four of the candidates that contested her in 2018 for the Congressional seat—Coleman A. Young II, Ian Conyers, Shanelle Jackson, and Bill Wild; four Detroit City Council members—Janee Ayers, Scott Benson, Roy McCalister Jr., and Andre Spivey; a large group of African American ministers including the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit chapter of the N.A.A.C.P.; and, the Michigan Chronicle

Kym Worthy Vies For Fifth Term As Wayne County Prosecutor ***Note: A front-runner in this race was not determined due to only 23% of votes being tallied.

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle

Love on

Lockdown:

How Coronavirus Has Impacted Dating City.Life.Style. B1

$1.00

Kym Worthy, the first African American, and the first female to hold the position of Wayne County Prosecutor, was seeking her fifth term heading into Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The winner of the primary is assured a four-year term because no Republicans filed for the position. Still, Worthy’s quest for a fifth term has met a formidable challenger from another African American woman, Victoria Burton-Harris.

As of press time Tuesday night, the race was too early to call.

With the emergence of a national social justice movement, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has received much greater attention. Burton-Harris, a defense attorney and managing partner of McCaskey Law, headquartered in downtown Detroit, says her campaign has been a response to the movement.

“We have a chance to do something different this year

Kym Worthy

Victoria Burton-Harris

on August 4,” said Burton-Harris, in response to a question from the Michigan Chronicle earlier in the campaign cycle.

“I am hopeful that with the national uprising and a call to end mass incarceration of Black people and criminal justice reform, we will make the right choice. If we continue to do what we’ve always done, we will continue to get what we’ve always gotten. We have never

adequately addressed the root causes of crime; we have only sought to simply punish people without aiming to rehabilitate. This means that folks repeat their behavior because no one has intervened and invested in them, and given them resources to not just survive but thrive.”

Worthy has responded to the opposition by pointing to her record, which includes

the development and implementation of programs that have sought to rehabilitate and reform—both individuals and the system.

“I have the experience to lead in these tough times,” said Worthy, in response to a question from the Michigan Chronicle prior to election day. “I created over 15 diversion programs when no one else was doing this because I believe that treatment, proactivity, alternatives to incarceration, and getting to the root causes of crime are essential parts of protecting the community. More than 18,000 youth and adults, mostly people of color, have been appropriately diverted from the criminal justice system. As a decades-long mental health advocate, I also focus on appropriate solutions for the mentally ill.”

In addition, Worthy shared information with the Chronicle about the Public Integrity Unit she created more than 15 years ago, which has specially trained prosecutors that

See PROSECUTOR page A2

Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •

August 5-11, 2020

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Dr. Anthony Fauci Discusses the Impact and Severity of COVID-19 Disparities in African Americans During a 30-minute interview with BlackPressUSA that was streamed live over Facebook, YouTube, and www.BlackPressUSA. com, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke of the importance of convincing African Americans to participate in clinical trials. He also said that school re-openings should depend mainly upon the location and the infection rate in a given area.

Fauci also said a viable coronavirus vaccine is likely only a few months away.

“The fundamental principle is that we should try as best as we possibly can to get children back to school because we know the psychological aspect of that and the unintended consequences for mothers and fathers who may need to stop working, so we should try to get back to school,” Dr. Fauci said when asked about the impact of the pandemic on the upcoming school year.

“However, paramount needs to be the safety, health, and welfare of children, teachers, and families,” Dr. Fauci added.

“We live in a big country. Some places have low incidents and can open schools while some are high.

Some areas rate of infection is so high where it’s not prudent to open schools. You don’t want to endanger their health.”

A member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Fauci has at times found himself at odds with President Donald Trump. For example, earlier this year, the president announced that he would withdraw U.S. funding and support for the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, Dr. Fauci told BlackPressUSA that he still maintains a close relationship with the organization.

take masks away from health providers who needed them,” Dr. Fauci remarked. “It’s easy to get a cloth mask now.”

Dr. Fauci explained further that, “when there are droplets when someone sneezes or coughs, you [are protected]. You can take it and wash it with soap and water or stick it in the washing machine.”

Addressing the disparities surrounding COVID-19 and other illnesses, Dr. Fauci pointed to many African Americans, Latinx, and Native Americans occupying essential jobs that provide employees with little — or no — protection.

“On the one hand, there’s a greater opportunity and risk of getting infected, but even as important is that once you get infected, you have prevalence and incidence of co-morbidities that make it more likely you’ll get a severe outcome from the infection,” Dr. Fauci noted.

“Those co-morbidities are like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and lung disease. It’s very clear that African Americans have a higher incidence, and the reality is that you suffer more.”

The hospitalization rates per 100,000 people are stunning when comparing African Americans and Caucasians, Dr. Fauci proclaimed.

“In many respects, it’s unacceptable that it should be that way,” he said, noting that the hospitalization rate per 100,000 African Americans stands at 247, compared to 53 per 100,000 whites.

“In other words, that’s almost five times the chance of getting hospitalized even though African Americans comprise just 13 percent of the [U.S.] population,” Dr. Fauci observed.

“I still work closely with the World Health Organization,” said Dr. Fauci. “I’m on a weekly phone call with them, and I signed a memorandum of understanding. We’re all in with the WHO.”

“That’s more than something we need to deal with.”

During the interview, which included National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Dr. Fauci also demonstrated the proper way to wear a facemask.

“Wear a mask, avoid crowds of more than 10, keep a distance of at least six feet, locations should seriously consider closing bars and getting people who go to bars to stop or do it outside, and wash hands frequently either with soap and water or alcohol Purell.”

“Early on, there was a shortage of masks because we didn’t want to

Racial Equity From page A-1

system and hopefully reduce contact with the system in the first place.”

A detailed explanation of how improving America’s criminal system can be achieved was presented to Michgander’s on the Zoom call.

“Criminal justice reform includes such things as reducing prison population, eliminating mass incarceration, increasing access for reentry programs and wraparound services,” said Whittaker. He also emphasized the impact mental health has on incarcerated persons, a targeted focal point in Biden’s ‘Build Back Better Agenda’.

Speck, a Detroit-native and father of four, offered a number of potential “keys for success” aimed at aiding previously incarcerated individuals. Focus was placed on getting basic needs met and pairing newly-freed Michiganders with role models of similar interests.

Differences in equality proved to be a strong talking point during Friday’s discussion.

“What we have known for far too long is that communities of color were locked out of opportunities, lack access to capital and the resources they need to grow and sus-

Dr. Fauci added that there are five fundamental things everyone could do to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

tain their businesses,” said JeanPierre.

Countless panelists emphasised the importance of community in the fight for justice.

“In addition to breaking down barriers we [must] also have the support for people to have somewhere to be able to get where they need to go, to be able to have their chance at success and the pursuit of happiness. That is the responsibility of every public servant,” said Gilchrist.

Prosecutor From page A-1

exclusively handle police brutality, shootings, and misconduct 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Worthy’s record also includes fighting for 11 years for victims represented by more than 11,000 rape evidence kits abandoned by police; the creation of programs for senior citizens, immigrants, and the LBGTQ population—segments of our community that had previously been ignored by the criminal justice system in Michigan and Wayne County; and a program (“Talk It Out”), which turns to mediation as an alternative to charging.

If elected, Worthy, who was endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Chronicle, has already shared her vision for the first

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Clinical trials are vital, Dr. Fauci said.

“We hope that we will have an effective vaccine by the end of the year, which means that as we get into 2021, we want to distribute it for those who could benefit,” he added.

“We need to spend extra effort to protect African Americans, and the way you find out if the vaccine is effective is the enrollment in a vaccine trial. It would be a terrible shame if African Americans stayed away from clinical trials, and they didn’t provide for themselves the vaccine that could protect them.”

Dr. Fauci suggested that he wears a mask everywhere goes and demanded that doing so shouldn’t be about politics.

“This is about protecting each other. We’re all in this together,” Dr. Fauci said.

“I’m pleased to see that we now have the president talking about wearing a mask where he didn’t before, and the vice president wears a mask everywhere he goes. We’ve got to pull together.”

Whether reinfection of the coronavirus can occur remains somewhat of a mystery, Dr. Fauci explained.

“When you get infected with any virus, generally, when you recover, your body has made a good immune response to recover,” Dr. Fauci noted.

“We know that happens in people who had COVID-19. We don’t know what the duration of that is.

There are varying levels of antibodies in people who recover, and what we’re following is how long they last. Some people find that it doesn’t last very long.”

He continued: “There are other types of immunity that go beyond, and they’re called T-cells or cellular immunity, which may also play a role in protecting people from being infected. Likely a degree of protection is pretty good for a finite period.

“There are no well-documented cases of people actually being re-infected. There have been some anecdotally stories of people recovering who seemed to have gotten infected, but we don’t know. There’s no real hard evidence that’s happening.”

The governor’s statement was echoed throughout by countless attendees.

“The real work has to be done on the ground, in the grassroots among us,” said Bland while in prayer. Remarks made by panelists emphasized the critical nature of the next 95 days leading to the election.

Michiganders can make their voices heard by voting in the next presidential election on Nov. 3. half of her next term.

“The next two fiscal years are going to be very painful financially for everyone. Experienced leadership is needed. We will not only have to fight for every dollar and obtain even more specialty grants then we have now (approximately $12 million), but we also will confront America’s mass incarceration issue by continuing our large-scale programs for diversion, treatment, restorative justice, and alternatives to incarceration. We expect to divert at least 5,000 more youth and adults from the criminal justice system…We are also determined to get our Community Court program up and running.

This program would allow trained community members to sentence neighborhood defendants to a punishment short of incarceration alternatively.”

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MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • 1452 Randolph • DETROIT, MI 48226 Notice of Availability of Combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision from Michigan Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration Detroit, Michigan This notice advises the public that a Combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (Combined FSEIS and ROD) for the I-94 Modernization Project was signed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on June 30, 2020 and published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2020.

The Combined FSEIS and ROD explains the basis for the Selected Alternative and defines the measures that will be incorporated into the project to mitigate potential impacts and minimize harm to the project area. It also addresses comments received during the public and agency review period and signifies the conclusion of the environmental review process. The Combined FSEIS and ROD includes FHWA’s Section 4(f) Evaluation pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Act (49 U.S.C. §303[1966]; 23 CFR §774 [1966]).

Under 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), FHWA has issued a single document that consists of a Combined FSEIS and ROD. Therefore, the 30-day wait/review period under NEPA does not apply to this action. The Combined FSEIS and ROD was prepared in accordance with applicable federal environmental laws, regulations and executive orders including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) (40 CFR Part 1500 et seq.). The Combined FSEIS and ROD includes additions and corrections to the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) made in response to public and agency comments. A summary of responses is found in Section 1.4 of the Combined FSEIS and ROD. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Federal Highway Administration guidelines, the Combined FSEIS and ROD is available to the public. The entire document is available at https://I94Detroit.org/I94-project/combined-fseis-and-rod/.

Additional project information and an archive of 2019 DSEIS are available for viewing on MDOT’s I-94 Modernization project website, https://I94Detroit.org/. To access a hard copy or part of the entire document, contact Terry Stepanski, I-94 senior project manager, at 517- 241-0233 or stepanskit@michigan.gov.

MDOT is hosting two virtual public meetings on the Combined FSEIS and ROD and invites the public to attend online or by phone.

Thursday, August 13, 2020 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Visit this website to access the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/ycvppppy 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Visit this website to access the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/y8x2d4ot Join the Morning or Evening Session by Phone: Dial: 669-900-9128, Webinar ID: 938 7219 2824, Passcode: 466397 Accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking ability. Large print materials, auxiliary aids or the services of interpreters, signers, or readers are available upon request.

To make a request, contact Monica Monsma by phone at 517-335-4381 or by e-mail at monsmam@michigan.gov at least seven days before accommodations are needed.

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6 HBCUs Receive Large Monetary Donation

By Lindsay Keener

The 2020 calendar year has proven to be historic by all definitions of the word. For six historically black colleges and universities, it has been monumental.

In a Medium post published Tuesday, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott made her gift of $1.7 billion general knowledge. The sizeable monetary donation was given to institutions and organizations dedicated to the advancement of Black people.

“I began work to complete my pledge with the belief that my life had yielded two assets that could be of particular value to others: the money these systems helped deliver to me, and a conviction that people who have experience with inequities are the ones best equipped to design solutions,” the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wrote.

Right Words At The Right Time Is Often-Repeated Response To Detroiters’ Bill Of Rights

By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle

Hampton University, Tuskegee University, Howard University, and Xavier University of Louisiana each reported the gift as the largest donation in history.

Howard University, the home of the Bisons, reported accepting $40 million.

One Bison from Pontiac, Michigan, hopes to see the money improve the infrastructure around campus.

Eight powerful bullet points that address improving the quality of life for all Detroiters were the takeaway from a July 29 news conference where the “Detroiters’ Bill of Rights” was presented. Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield and Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López held the news conference, but the moment belonged to all segments of Detroit’s community, as Sheffield and Castañeda-López were joined by representatives from a host of grass roots, non-profit, social justice and community organizations.

The Detroiters’ Bill of Rights seeks to embed certain unalienable rights into Detroit’s Charter to ensure all residents have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. A summary of those eight rights include:

“A lot of our buildings need to be updated, and we still don’t have an operating student center,” said Khris Bernard.

• Right to Clean and Affordable Water and Sanitation

Increased focus has also been placed on students from disadvantaged households. Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick hopes to provide students with an optimal experience.

• Right to Live Free from Discrimination:

“We have a large number of low-income students,” Frederick said. “We’re going to invest in students’ mental health, as well as their ability to afford the education.”

Xavier alumna Imani Turner expressed her desire to see the donation become a tool for change.

“I would like to see the money used to create a program dedicated to servicing students who are survivors of sexual assault and connecting them with other survivors,” said Turner.

The Detroit-native hopes to see

See DONATIONS page A-4

• Right to Environmental Health • Right to Safety • Right to Recreation • Right to Mobility • Right to Housing • Right to Fulfillment of Basic Needs “This Bill of Rights effort is reminiscent of the community-led movement that helped to bring about a civilian police commission, which became a part of the 1974 Charter,” said Ken Coleman, author and Detroit historian who served on the 2009-11 Detroit Charter Revision Commission.

Coleman’s mention of 1974 also is a reference to the beginning of the Coleman Young mayoral administration, a period when many African American Detroit residents from all walks of life felt represented by city government for the first time. And as word of the Bill of Rights effort continues to spread across the city, Detroiters with years of service

Alison Vaugh, Ken Coleman, Malakia Pryor to their city are expressing optimism and hope that positive change is coming for more city residents.

“I feel the rights are worded beautifully and each one speaks to our need to have equality in our city—right here, right now,” said Malaika Pryor, a native Detroiter and elementary school teacher for Detroit Public Schools Community District. “During this pandemic I have actually had a chance to see that I am able to do things for my son that a lot of my parents have difficulty doing for their children, who are also my students.

My son was able to go in his room and close his door while doing his school work while a lot of my students—who I also regard as my kids—had to find a quiet place to go in order to be able to concentrate. My son also had his own technology while a lot of my kids in my distance-learning classroom were struggling to get work done on a cell phone.

“Every child should have been able to access technology to do their work so they wouldn’t get behind. Also, a lot of kids I’ve taught have had to move in

the middle of the school year. Rent got to be too expensive so parents would have to move someplace far away and start all over at a different school. It’s heartbreaking. They shouldn’t have to do that. A lot of my parents work 12-16 hour days and for them not to be able to afford rent is terrible. My son has been in the same house for the past five years and even when he wasn’t here he had a solid support system, but a lot of parents don’t have that. So, at the very least, we should have language like the “Right to Housing” and the “Right to Fulfillment of Basic Needs” in our city charter and hopefully that language will inspire everyone to make those rights a reality, particularly for our children.”

Alison Vaughn also is deeply concerned about Detroit children and moms.

In fact, the nonprofit she founded, “Jackets For Jobs,” has helped roughly 30,000 job seekers—mostly single moms—by providing professional clothing (free of charge) and other resources and services

See BILL OF RIGHTS page A-4

Dr. Gail Parker Tackles Racial Trauma and Methods For Healing In New Must-read Book!

By Darlene A. White

study and instructional guide on how to utilize and teach Restorative Yoga as a self-care practice to alleviate the pain, stress, and suffering of ethnic and racebased trauma.

Dr. Gail Parker’s debut book, “Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma,” is a must-read for everyone, especially with the social climate of 2020. Ironically, the book’s debut is perfectly timed as the world continues to face the challenges of systematic racism, police brutality, and the battle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Parker who is renown for her efforts to combine psychology, yoga, and meditation as effective self-care strategies that enhance emotional balance and contribute to people’s overall health and wellbeing. Her area of expertise includes utilizing and teaching Restorative Yoga and meditation as self-care practices for managing ethnic and racebased traumatic stress.

This 222-page book is a guide

Dr. Gail Parker to exploring and examining our racial identity and biases. It’s also a practical book on yoga. It opens up a new world of possibilities for healing for everyone, regardless of race and ethnicity.

This book is an intentional self-

The book describes how racebased traumatic stress differs from PTSD and how people can begin to heal from different approaches. Dr. Parker addresses various topics, including white privilege, the culture of silence, people of color, but in one particular chapter, the topic that stood out to me was color blindness.

She explains how skin color matters. She states that’s, “Claiming not to see skin color is a false claim. The claim that “I don’t see skin color” is a defense against being a racist.” On this topic, she further explains that color

See RESTORATIVE YOGA page A-4

Page A-4 • michiganchronicle.com • August 5-11, 2020

Bank of America Connects Detroit-Area Youth to Workforce Success Through Virtual Summer Leadership Experience Bank of America today announced that the five Detroit-area high school juniors and seniors selected as Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders) have started their summer experience of leadership, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building. In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions that will expose them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public private partnerships to advance social change, and a focus on building financial acumen.

The Class of 2020 Detroit area-based Bank of America Student Leaders are: • Kathryn Cherven, a Detroit resident and graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe Farms • Zhane Coleman, a Detroit resident and graduate of Mercy High School in Farmington Hills • Davis Greene, an Eastpointe resident and graduate of Loyola High School in Detroit • Jackson Peurach, a Novi resident and graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi

• Laura Topf, a Huntington Woods resident and graduate of Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills Detroit-area Student Leaders will participate in programming that leverages Bank of America’s national partnerships and expertise and will work closely with the bank’s Detroit leadership and nonprofit partners. They will participate in an eight-week collaborative, mentoring-focused project working closely with Focus: HOPE, a Detroit nonprofit organization that provides community betterment programs.

In addition, Student Leaders will engage in conversations focused on social justice, civil rights and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society and have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their personal finances through Better Money Habits®, Bank of America’s financial wellness and education platform.

“Focus: HOPE is honored to welcome Bank of America’s Student Leaders for a virtual engagement.

These exemplary young people, looking to make a difference in their community, are tomorrow’s leaders.” said Portia Roberson, CEO, Focus: HOPE. “It is rewarding to share how our organization assists the community and share our vision for the future of Detroit with our youth.”

Bringing students from across the country together in order to discuss the role of citizenship and how cross sector collaboration creates community impact is a core component of the Student Leaders program. This year, 300 students will gather virtually for the Young America Together at Home program, delivered by the Close Up Foundation, which will include discussion of finding one’s voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment and immigration.

“Now more than ever, as we collectively navigate the challenges we face in our communities, we remain committed to supporting young adults by connecting them to jobs, new skills, and leadership development,” said Matt Elliott, Market President, Bank of America in Michigan. “Through Student Leaders, we build pathways to success and give voice to the next generation, that will help develop a more diverse and inclusive society.”

In the wake of significant job losses nationwide, the ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of their Student Leader experience, each student will receive a $5,000 stipend to recognize them for their community achievements.

Frances Eva Webb

Frances Eva Webb, a retired social worker for Inkster Public Schools, died on May 9, 2020 in Ann Arbor.

She was 99 years old.

Born Frances Gordon to Ruth M. Gordon on December 5, 1920 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, she grew up in Harlem and worked as a secretary for the National Urban League as a high school student.

She matriculated at Cheyney Training School for Teachers (now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) before transferring to West Virginia State Agricultural and Industrial College (now West Virginia State University). There she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at the sorority’s Alpha Delta chapter in 1940. She also wrote for and served as associate editor of the school’s Yellow Jacket newspaper. She was proud that one of her classmates was Damon J. Keith, who would later become a famous federal judge.

At college, she met Herman Bennett Chapman, an ROTC captain and Harvard-trained Baptist minister.

The couple married in 1943 and became parents of a daughter, Carole Marietta, in 1944. After briefly living in New Orleans, the couple moved to Inkster, where they moved into a house built by her husband’s brother-inlaw, Delmar White Sr., one of few African American home builders at the time. Rev. Chapman died in 1957.

Her career as an educator began in 1945, when she taught sixth grade for Inkster Public Schools. She later earned a master’s degree in elementary school counseling and an educational specialist degree at Wayne State University. After 36 years as a school social worker, she retired in 1980, the same year she married Lamar Webb. Mr. Webb died in 1986.

Restorative Yoga From page A-3

blindness relies on the concept that race-based differences don’t matter, and ignores the realities of systemic racism.

The book also focused on Restorative Yoga, a type of yoga that directly works on the nervous system and, in particular, down-regulates our stress response. In the book, Dr. Parker explains how awareness of your personal state is an essential self-care skill for managing your emotional reactions.

Becoming aware of where tension

Bill Of Rights From page A-3

to help deserving people obtain and retain employment. She regards the call for the inclusion of the Detroiters’ Bill of Rights in the City’s Charter as an ally to her daily work.

“To hear the rights as they are outlined, I don’t see how there could be any possible push-back, and those rights address what we have been all about at Jackets For Jobs since we started—empowerment,” said Vaughn whose organization has been celebrating “20 years of giving back and giving up” during 2020. “I wish we could have had a Detroiters’ Bill of Rights many years ago, but to have it presented now, during these challenging times, sends a strong, positive message that empowering all Detroiters is a real, stated goal for our city.”

Winston O’Neal takes pride in serving his city, and as a 28-year Federal Government employee, he also has served his country. In serving his city and country, O’Neal says doing what is necessary is always his guiding principle.

“It’s sad that in this day and age we need a Bill of Rights for those things—why can’t we just have them for being human—but it’s good that this Bill of Rights effort is happening,”said O’Neal, who will continue his service to Detroit tomorrow when he will be joined by his fellow Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity members, along with members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for a day of safe shopping on Saturday (Aug. 1) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. along Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion on Livernois to support local businesses that have been significantly hurt by COVID-19.

O’Neal added: “Our safe shopping event on the Avenue of Fashion tomorrow is important and the Detroiters’ Bill of Rights is important and necessary. This defines the character of every single individual in Detroit. It’s about the right to be human just like everyone else.”

is held in your body can help you detect emotional distress before you become overwhelmed. She mentions that it’s vital for people to learn how to manage their emotional responses, for the reason that if you don’t, it can cause people to act out in ways that do not fit a situation.

This book will help you identify: • What Race-Based Traumatic Stress Injury is, and how it differs from PTSD • How to identify areas of stress and trauma • How to utilize Restorative Yoga as a self-care tool to effectively manage the stresses and traumas that arise from daily-lived experiences as a person of color • How Restorative Yoga buffers the nervous system, increases resilience, and strengthens your psychological immune system.

If you are looking for alternative ways to cope with stress and trauma or these are topics that you read or study, then I’d highly recommend this book to you as it is

Donations From page A-3

the funds go towards preventative COVID-19 measures.

Hampton University, known as “The Standard of Excellence, announced its monetary gift of $30 million. Officials such as student scholarships, technological advances, or funding for the school’s Proton Therapy Institute, a cancer treatment center.

Hampton alum and Detroit Dough co-founder, Autumn Kyles, wants more companies of means to give back.

“My hope is that we can get large brands to donate large sums to these colleges, especially if they have an employment pipeline at the university,” said Kyles.

Tuskegee University, the recipient of $20 million, and Xavier have seen positive feedback since the contribution. Morehouse College states the donation is not its largest; Spelman College did not officially comment on the donated amount.

The magnitude of Scott’s donation stirred many conversations in the HBCU community. Of the many topics discussed was the subject of money mismanagement, a reputation that has followed many historically-black institutions. Officials at Howard University hope to “debunk the myth.”

“Mismanaging funds is not an HBCU problem; it is a higher learning problem,” said Charlie Lewis, president of the Howard University Alumni Association. “It is about

a must read for ALL, regardless of one’s familiarity or experience with the practice of yoga. As the world continues to tackle various restrictions due to the pandemic, this is a perfect time read Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma. I have added this book to my 5-star summer reading list because this book has given me a sense of peace and understanding about the world that we all live in, add it to your home library today!

Dr. Gail Parker is a licensed psychologist and certified yoga therapist, yoga therapist educator, and meditation coach. She has presented at SYTAR and the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance conferences and is currently serving as president of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance.

She is a faculty member teaching Yoga Therapy for Emotional Balance at the Beaumont School of Yoga Therapy. Gail lives in Michigan USA. To order a copy of, “Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma,” please visit: https:// www.drgailparker.com/book. effective leadership, effective management, and making sure you have the right safeguards in place.”

The six institutions help to comprise what some call the “Black Ivy Leagues,” a nod to each university’s standard of academic rigor.

Some worry the label promotes the erasure of less-recognized Black institutions.

“Smaller, lesser-known schools are the main ones literally begging for outside donations and are always overlooked,” said Miya Ross, a Hampton University student. “It’s sad because they’re the ones we usually hear about being on the verge of having to close their doors.

Ross isn’t wrong. In 2019, Bennett College, a historically-black college for women, made headlines with its struggles gaining accreditation. Smaller HBCUs Fisk University, Bethune-Cookman, and Morris Brown College join Bennett College in the fight for recognition.

One Morehouse alum believes excellence fostered at Black educational spaces deserves attention.

“The richness of an HBCU education is not always easy to articulate, but is something that yields results that encourage a positive ripple effect in society,” said Drake Phifer.

Michael L. Lomax, president, and chief executive of the United Negro College Fund, believes donors are getting a firsthand sense of that richness.

“The donor community is revaluing philanthropy to the black community because it is revaluing the back community, revaluing the people and their lives,” said Lomax.

Mrs. Webb had a vibrant retirement, spent enjoying many enriching pursuits. She traveled to 50 countries.

She was a member of the Inkster Public Schools Retiree Association, the Mary McLeod Bethune Association and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. She earned several service pins as a volunteer for Retired Service Volunteer Program. She remained an active member of the Inkster Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and was looking forward to celebrating her 80th anniversary as a member of the sorority in December. She was also a founding member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Westland. The church has established a memorial fund in her name.

Left to celebrate Frances Webb’s memory are her daughter, Carole Watson and granddaughter, Dionne T. Watson of Oakland, California; her great-granddaughter, Teja R. Foster of Los Angeles; her adopted daughters, Carolyn Kimbrough, Ann Amis, and Jauanna V. Jackson and a host of friends and supporters.

Mrs. Webb’s family has launched www.honoringfranceswebb.com, a memorial website in her honor, and plans a memorial service for her on December 5, 2020, the 100th anniversary of her birth.

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| August 5-11, 2020

Money.

michiganchronicle.com

Bryan Howard Named Director of Programs at Winning Futures

Winning Futures announced today that Bryan Howard has been promoted to director of programs.

Based in Warren, MI, Winning Futures is a nationally recognized and award-winning nonprofit organization that empowers teens to be successful through workforce preparation, life skills development, strategic planning, mentoring, and scholarship programs.

Bryan joined Winning Futures in 2011 and most recently served as a program facilitator, delivering the organization’s in-class mentoring and life skills development curriculum. As director of programs, he will lead the organization’s program design, implementation, and evaluation. Bryan replaces Carla Wellborn who is leaving Winning Futures to pursue a Ph.D. in Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Restart Your Business Now! Small Business Restart Grants Deadline Approaching

Bryan Howard “I strongly believe in the power of leadership and helping our local youth develop the skills and knowledge they’ll need to be successful after high school,” said Bryan.

“Our students will face unprecedented challenges this coming school year. I’m excited to help them overcome these obstacles.”

Bryan has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit our students,” said Kristina Marshall, president and CEO of Winning Futures. From his inclass experience to his time in the U.S. Navy, he understands what it takes to be successful, and is well prepared to lead our programming team.”

Prior to joining Winning Futures, Bryan was the process excellence manager for Powerlink.

He also is a decorated military veteran, having served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and retiring in 2007 as the career information program manager for all naval bases in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of Winning Futures, Bryan is president of the National Black M.B.A. Association Detroit Chapter and a member of the Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy 2020 Cohort.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is reminding Michigan’s small businesses and nonprofits working to recover from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 virus that there is still time to apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the Michigan Small Business Restart Program, announced earlier in July. The program will provide $100 million in economic assistance to Michigan’s small businesses and nonprofits and in turn, help support workers and their families facing economic uncertainty during the outbreak. The deadline for applications is Aug. 5, and information on how to apply, as well as eligibility criteria and program guidelines, are available at michiganbusiness.org/restart.

In addition, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today signed into law an amendment to the program that now allows those small businesses that received grants through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund in March, to be eligible for the Michigan Small Business Restart Program grants. The combined total of both grants cannot be in excess of $20,000. Previously, businesses that had received grants through the Small Business Relief Program were ineligible to apply for Restart grants.

“The Michigan Small Business Restart Program is providing a significant opportunity to address immediate needs of small businesses and nonprofits negatively impacted by COVID-19, and we encourage any small business or nonprofit in Michigan that hasn’t already applied for a grant to do so before the August 5 deadline,” said MEDC CEO Mark A. Burton. “Through this program and other MSF programs and services, as well as local and federal economic development support, we are working to ensure that small businesses throughout the state can

recover from the short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund on July 7, the Michigan Small Business Restart Program allocates $100 million of federal CARES Act funding to provide support to Michigan’s small businesses and nonprofits that are reopening and have experienced a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The funding will be distributed across 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) covering all 83 counties in the state for grants up to $20,000 to support certain small businesses and nonprofits that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

The Michigan Small Business Restart Program application period will be live through Wednesday, August 5 at michiganbusiness.org/restart and all applications received during that three week period will receive consideration; grants will be awarded after the close of the application period based on criteria that are defined by the EDOs. Funds can be used as working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses.

The MEDC anticipates that more than 5,000 businesses across the state will benefit from this program.

To qualify for grant support, busi-

See RESTART

GRANTS page A6

Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day Application Period Ends August 9 Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day today announced applications are live for its fourth annual entrepreneurial competition, the largest of its kind in the entire Midwest.

Applications can be submitted now through August 9 at DetroitDemoDay.com for the reimagined, online-only event showcasing Detroit-based entrepreneurs through episodic content released later this year.

Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day will provide more than $1 million in funding, which winners will receive in the form of grants, interest-free loans and equity investments ranging from $30,000 to $200,000.

The online audience will once again play an important role in the event by voting for three recipients of $25,000 “People’s Choice” grants – one per category.

Finalists will be announced in September, and the finalists’ video pitches will go live in October. At that time, viewers will be able to vote online for their favorite business in each category.

“The ongoing pandemic has forced entrepreneurs across the world to be more adaptable and resilient than ever before,” said Laura Grannemann, Vice President of the Quicken Loans Community Fund, the philanthropic arm of Rocket Mortgage. “While this year’s Detroit Demo Day has also required transformation, during difficult times it is even more important that we provide local small businesses with the resources they need to adapt and persevere so that Detroit remains the ambitious, entrepreneurial city we all know and love.”

Categories and Requirements: Given the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses will compete in two new and one reimagined category this year: Start, Build and Sustain.

Start: These early-stage businesses are launching and finding traction amidst the current crisis, or have pivoted their business models to meet the needs of this moment.

Build: These businesses have a unique business model and/or prod-

uct that sets them apart as a business that is able to expand during the current crisis.

Sustain: These longstanding, community anchor businesses have the aptitude to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain their original business model, but require additional funding to do so.

Applicants must be a for-profit business with a product or service that is available for sale. Additionally, the business cannot have exceeded $2 million in annual revenue or raised more than $1 million in capital. To be eligible, companies must be based in Detroit or committed to relocating into the city.

Once applications close on August 9, the Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day Team will review all submissions to determine the top 100 semi-finalists. A diverse panel of prominent Detroit-based business leaders and entrepreneurs representing a variety of industries will select the 17 finalists.

Finalists will be featured in short

See DETROIT

DEMO DAY page A6

Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com • August 5-11, 2020

Farbman Group Hires Shontell Nash As Property Manager

Restart grant From page A-5

nesses must meet the following criteria, based on statutory requirements for the program: • Is a business or nonprofit with fewer than 50 employees that can demonstrate it is affected by the COVID-19 emergency • Needs working capital to support eligible expenses

Southfield, Michigan-based Farbman Group, a leading full-service real estate company, announced today the appointment of Shontell Nash as property manager. Farbman Group CEO Andrew V. Farbman made the announcement.

“We are thrilled to add Shontell to our growing team of property managers,” said Farbman. “She joins us with over 13 years of experience in the real estate industry, and we look forward to all of the great things she will accomplish with Farbman Group in the years ahead.”

Shontell Nash As property manager, Nash will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of buildings throughout Metro Detroit.

That includes ensuring the building operates smoothly, maintaining a well-rounded appearance, regularly inspecting the facility, and managing maintenance staff and contract services.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work for such an established company well-known throughout the Midwest,” said Nash. “I look forward to playing a critical role in maintaining and establishing relationships, and serving as a go-to resource for tenants and staff on-site at the collection of properties I am managing.”

Before joining Farbman Group, Nash served as a facilities coordinator and a junior portfolio manager. She graduated from Washtenaw Community College with an Associate of Arts degree.

to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

• Demonstrates an income loss as a result of the COVID-19 emergency Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under the program must be provided to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned eligible businesses.

Per statutory requirements, a monthly report will be provided to the legislature that includes a listing of grants awarded in the previous month and the name of the recipient of each grant provided under the program. All reporting forms will also be available on michiganbusiness.org/restart.

The Michigan Small Business Restart Program is modeled after the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, approved on March 19 by the Michigan Strategic Fund

Detroit Demo Day

From page A-5

video episodes hosted by James Chapman, Entrepreneur in Residence for the Quicken Loans Community Fund and CEO of Plain Sight, a mobile application that helps users make connections and support their local business community.

Healthy Roots is a 2019 Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day winner. Its founder, Yelitsa Jean-Charles had a vision of a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks that reinforce positive self-perceptions of the richly diverse, varying shades of complexion and natural hair textures among girls of color.

“The funding and ongoing support from the Detroit Demo Day team helped Healthy Roots Dolls have our first incredibly successful holiday season, and build out our customer support and marketing efforts,”

said Yelitsa Jean-Charles.

“When COVID-19 spread and social distancing measures went into effect, we were able to quickly pivot and double down on communication with our fans and customers – leading us to sell out our stock and recently go viral.”

Ongoing Support and Community Impact: In addition to investing $3.4 million over the past three years through Detroit Demo Day, Rocket Mortgage’s philanthropic arm has a dedicated Entrepreneurship Team that provides ongoing support, networking opportunities and mentorship to Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day winners, positioning them for long-term success.

Rocket Mortgage and its affiliated companies have provided ongoing support during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating to food

banks and emergency resources, sourcing critical PPE for area hospitals, contracting with private and cargo aircraft for supply delivery, vetting suppliers, forgiving rent of small business tenants for three months, launching a “thank you” campaign and providing food for frontline workers, helping small businesses adapt to do business online, donating call center operations and team members for appointment scheduling for the drive-up testing site at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, developing the technology for the testing site and providing critical logistical support for it.

Since 2010, Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert and his affiliated companies have directly contributed more than $200 million to Detroit-based organizations and programming. Additionally, team members have tallied more than 400,000 hours of volunteer service in Detroit.

The Michigan Small Business Relief Program consisted of a total of $20 million aimed at supporting businesses in need of immediate relief. The program included $10 million that was distributed to 15 local EDOs to provide grants up to $10,000 to certain small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Additionally, the program authorized $10 million for small business loans of not less than $50,000 and not more than $100,000 to eligible borrowers impacted by COVID-19 that were not able to seek alternative, suitable financing.

To date, the MEDC has launched 19 COVID-19 relief and recovery programs supporting more than 3,400 businesses in the state and helping to retain more than 14,700 jobs across all 83 counties. To learn more about MEDC’s COVID-19 response programs and the impact they are having on economic recovery efforts, visit michiganbusiness. org/covid19response. Other resources for economic reopening efforts as well as businesses across Michigan struggling with economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 virus can be found online at michiganbusiness.org/ covid19.

4th Annual Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day Timeline: Applications Open: Tuesday, July 14, 2020 – Sunday, August 9 at 11:59PM EDT Applications are submitted through an online entry form at www.DetroitDemoDay.com Vetting: Monday, August 10 – Early September •A ll online applications will be reviewed, considered and narrowed to 17 finalists by the Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day Team, community partners and Detroitbased business leaders •F inalists announced in September • Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day •F inalist videos posted in late October • “ People’s Choice” voting occurs •W inners announced and winner videos posted in early December

AAA salutes the Michigan Chronicle on its highly successful 2020 Pancakes & Politics series, covering relevant topics that are important to our region.

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The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, dubbed “Brownshirts” because of the color of their uniforms, first appeared within Adolph Hitler’s political party in 1920 and facilitated his rise to power.

The turbulence that unsettled postWorld War I Germany was used as a pretext for the appropriateness of, and necessity for, the Brownshirts.

Their public posture was that they were needed to maintain order and to protect Nazi rallies and gatherings.

But the Brownshirts were no more than Oscar H. Blayton thugs who often engaged in street fights. It soon became clear that their mission focused more on disrupting the work of opposing political parties. Their violent tactics also targeted Romani (Gypsies) organized labor and Jews.

These lawless thugs boosted Hitler to the heights of political power in Germany. But once he reached the pinnacle of power, Hitler distanced himself from the Brownshirts and had as many as 200 of their leaders killed in what became known as the “Night of the Long Knives” in 1934. Once the Brownshirts were out of the way, Hitler used the SS, a vicious military unit comprised of committed Nazis, to carry out his most inhumane orders.

As we watch the violence taking place in the streets of Portland, we must keep in mind what began to unfold in Germany a century ago when a twisted, mentally and morally crippled man seized power by feeding fear and hate to a confused populace.

Donald Trump, the would-be dictator, has unleashed upon the American public some of the worst people invested with police power to do his unlawful bidding. Ostensibly, Trump claims that the presence of these jackbooted thugs is appropriate and necessary to enforce the law and maintain order. But it is crystal clear that he is setting the stage for a paramilitary trashing of America’s democratic safeguards. He believes that he can “cry havoc and let slip the dogs of

war,” and his political base will be gullible enough to support his trampling of Americans’ rights as he takes our country down a path of mischief, delusion and folly to ultimate ruin.

There are those who counsel caution and advise against alarmist accusations, believing that our democratic safeguards are too strong to suffer overthrow by a thug in the White House. But Trump has been allowed to trample democratic norms right before our eyes for almost four years. He has banned entry to this country based upon religion. He has weaponized family separation and locked children in cages as a means of terrorizing asylum seekers. He has looted the public treasury by causing the government to pay his hotels and resorts for his golfing and social outings. The list of grievances against Trump grows longer each day, and still many people back away from calling him to account.

We do not have a crystal ball to predict the future with absolute certainty, but we have reasonable knowledge, granted from experience, that allows us to see what happens when vile, twisted men get their hands on great power.

In 1939, with fascism on the rise and men like Hitler seeking to subjugate the entire world, George Orwell, who later wrote the award-winning novel “1984,” said it best in a book review: “[W]e have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. It is not merely that at present the rule of naked force obtains almost everywhere. Probably that has always been the case. Where this age differs from those immediately preceding it is that a liberal intelligentsia is lacking.

Bully-worship, under various disguises, has become a universal religion.”

Donald Trump is at war with America. He wishes to make our country into something as twisted and hateful as he is. His promise of “America First” is not meant to improve our country, but rather to disrespect all others.

There are those among us who have accepted the religion of bully-worship with its liturgical chants of hate and fear. But if we are to have hope that America has a brighter future, those of us who believe that the lives of all human beings are worthwhile must accept the duty of acting intelligently and use all of our resources to push hard towards creating a better world.

Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.

We Can’t Let This Moment Pass

By U.S. Senator Doug Jones This week, I convened a bipartisan group of Senators to read aloud Martin Luther King Jr.’s “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” This was the second year I’ve done this, and I hope to make it an annual tradition. I was struck by the thought of Dr. King in a small, dirty jail cell writing in longhand on napkins and scraps of paper and newspaper to a group of ministers that were not hateful as much as they were questioning the need for action at that particular moment in 1963. We usually picture this man on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial eloquently and passionately describing his dream for America, or behind a pulpit in Memphis urging his audience to press forward, to not be discouraged in their quest for civil and equal rights because he had been to the mountaintop and he had seen the promised land.

I was deeply moved by the reading, and felt it was critical in this moment that a United States Senator from the Deep South stand on the Senate floor and declare that Black Lives Matter.

The last few months have made the truths of being Black in America clear to all. We have watched as a pandemic killed Black people at the rate of almost two and half times that of other Americans. Not from a mutation of the virus but from an underfunded system that too often deprives Black Americans medical care for diabetes, heart disease and other health issues that are now described as pre-existing conditions.

We have watched as Black-owned businesses failed at twice the rate of others, and unemployment for Black Americans rose faster and will stay higher than the rest of America.

As we witnessed the truths of the system and society revealed to us by the pandemic, we were met with a profoundly haunting video, which I need not describe and trigger the pain it has caused.

George Floyd’s cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ were not just the cries of an innocent man pleading for his life, but the cries of so many of our fellow Americans that are killed by police, choked by a healthcare system that denies them access to quality healthcare, and in Dr. King’s words are smothered in “an airtight cage of poverty,” who cannot breath the fresh air of affordable housing, education and economic opportunities. They are the cries of Black Americans who simply have to hold their own breath when they themselves or their sons and their daughters venture away from their home fearing a police encounter that will take their life. Maybe even more so than the dogs or fire hoses in Birmingham or the

SAMUEL LOGAN Publisher 1933-2011

JOHN H. SENGSTACKE Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997

beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama the video of George Floyd’s last moments were a confluence of events that gave our nation an image of itself that it could no longer bear.

I truly believe that the soul of America has come to the streets of America, looking for a way for all of her people to live in a more just society. We are finally coming to understand that, “What affects one directly, affects us all indirectly.” That we see in this moment how poverty and economic disparities are connected. And how the poor and lower income in Alabama and the Deep South, both Black and White, are connected, as both suffer from healthcare, educational and economic disparities. It’s why in this moment it’s so important to reject those voices looking to divide us. We must come together to end racial injustice, but also the injustice of too many Alabamians and people in the South struggling, poor and low income.

As a people, as a Congress, we cannot let this moment pass. Surely reforms are needed, but the greater need is not just to reform but to transform, to make a dramatic change in the nature and character of our institutions towards a more just government and society.

Since our country’s inception we have said the words “all are created equal”, we have pledged that we are a nation for all — not for some —all, but we know that we have never lived up to that ideal.

We all know it. In response to the protests that are taking place across this country today where voices and t-shirts and facemasks proclaim and insist that Black Lives Matter, and of course they do, but we will not be a country where we are all truly equal and where justice is for all until we can all say the words Black Lives Matter and mean it. That is my pledge, and I pray America joins me.

LONGWORTH M. QUINN Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989

Celebrating the Journey of Black Music and its impact on American Culture

By H. Beecher Hicks, III President & CEO of the National Museum of African American Music

Lately, the phrase ‘unprecedented times’ is so widely used that much of the world around us feels alien in comparison to our previous “normal.” Throughout the sanitation frenzy and social distancing mandates, one of the main beacons that keeps our spirits high and sanity in check is music. Similar to the trends we have seen in recent years, preCOVID-19 and elevated Black Lives Matter protests, music by African American artists leads the way as the most lauded and consumed across demographics in the U.S. The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is excited to see how Black artists and Black music are unifying the world under a shared love for music. As an institution dedicated to celebrating the central role that African Americans play in shaping the American soundtrack, we watched with great pleasure as deejays like D. Nice and Questlove used social media to openly share their talents with the world. Amid shelter-in-place mandates across the country, we cheer on super-producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz who continue to bring hundreds of thousands of people together each week as they celebrate Black artistry via their “Verzuz Battles” orchestrated on Instagram. It is music that is helping us to cope and heal during this time of uncertainty.

This month, in addition to celebrating the significance of Black Music Month, we also celebrate Black artists in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. People like disco sensation, Sylvester, who gave us dance anthems while being boldly and authentically himself, giving true meaning to the phrase ‘Black and Proud.’

For many generations, Black music has been at the forefront of the changing dynamics of America and the world.

Black music adds more than just a layer of diversity to the American identity. One of the oldest and most sacred forms of American folksong is the Negro Spiritual. When African slaves were brought to this country, they were not only deprived of their freedom and families, but language and culture also suffered. Slaves were forced to convert to Christianity, and through the blending of European and African traditions, the Negro spiritual was born. Back then, music was not just a luxury to be enjoyed during free time; it served as the only preservation of their identity and an actual roadmap to freedom.

In the early part of the 20th century, the Black renaissance introduced the world to great musicians and writers who gave audiences a glimpse into the Black experience. Its struggles, triumphs, hopes and failures were put on display and recorded through lyrics, notes and songs of the era.

U.S. Senator Doug Jones

AJ WILLIAMS Managing Editor

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August 5-11, 2020 | Page A-7

Brownshirts In Our Streets The unidentified goon squads snatching people off the streets of Portland, Ore., have a chilling resemblance to a similar fascist tool of oppression that arose in Germany in the early decades of the 20th century.

HIRAM E. JACKSON Publisher

Black music fueled the soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Music during this era helped to break down the “color lines” of segregation and Jim Crow. In the 1970s, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic recorded their seminal hit “One Nation Under A Groove.” It was with the full intention of uniting all people under the banner of peace and harmony for all mankind, which is one of the reasons why NMAAM uses this song and philosophy as our tagline today.

At the end of the century, we saw the birth of Hip-Hop. Rap groups like Public Enemy spoke powerful messages to spark action and social change, while artists like KRS-ONE leveraged their platforms to educate America and become global ambassadors of the culture.

Now, as one of the world’s most popu-

H. Beecher Hicks III is the President & CEO of the National Museum of African American Music opening soon in Nashville, TN. To learn more about the Museum, visit BlackMusicMuseum.org lar genres, its influence continues to spread beyond music, and is at the forefront of everything from fashion and culture trends, to widespread social issues.

Today’s hip-hop artists are no strangers to political commentary, as we have seen their increased presence at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement. Artists like Kendrick Lamar have shown us the depth of Hip-Hop by winning a Pulitzer Prize for poetically capturing the complexity of modern African American life. Rappers like T.I. and Killer Mike are at the frontlines driving thoughtful political conversations on a national stage. When Black Lives Matters protests began forming around the country in support of Black lives lost to injustice, artists like John Legend and Janelle Monae offered healing through music and served as catalysts to help galvanize communities to create change.

At NMAAM, we are saddened that racial injustice remains so prevalent in our society. We join the millions of others who are crying for our nation to acknowledge that the dignity of Black people matters. The health of Black people matters, their jobs matter and most importantly their lives matter too.

The journey of Black music continues to transcend and endure history, while still fostering a sense of cultural pride and creative appreciation. To date, we have only scratched the surface in terms of celebrating the people and stories that encompass Black music.

For music lovers who wish to journey deeper into celebrating the history and culture of this art form, we welcome you to join us in Nashville when we officially open a first-of-its-kind Black music museum later this year.

NMAAM is intentionally located in the heart of downtown Nashville. With seven galleries covering more than 50 genres and subgenres of music, 25 interactive exhibits and an artifact collection of more than 1,500 items, NMAAM has something for every music fan. Black music, as we know it, has no timetable or final destination. Music is a timeless journey, ever evolving, and adapting to the world we create. While the journey may take the culture to all ends of the globe, at NMAAM, we can finally say Black music has found its home, fittingly in Music City.

H. Beecher Hicks III is the President & CEO of the National Museum of African American Music opening soon in Nashville, TN. To learn more about the Museum, visit BlackMusicMuseum.org

Letters to the Editor Dear Chief Craig; It is essential that you make a clear statement about your stance on the federal government sending paramilitary-like officers in unmarked vans to infiltrate protest areas in Detroit.

While you issued a very brief statement that Detroit can police itself, neither you nor Mayor Duggan has issued a strong proclamation that you would not accept the federal government’s assistance.

In response to these unwelcome federal officers taking peaceful protesters off the streets of Portland without identifying themselves (which is a civil rights violation), we urge you to stand up for those you swore an oath to protect: the citizens of Detroit.

It is your duty and responsibility to continue to protect and serve our residents and safeguard their right to peaceful protest.

We are proud that our governor and U.S. representative have issued strong statements opposing such unwarranted intervention. We are looking to you to join them in denouncing these ac-

tions. As our public safety leader, we expect you to take an aggressive approach against this political and physical bullying and assure residents and peaceful protesters that DPD does not need outside help in protecting our rights.

We anticipate that you will openly and proactively support these statements: 1. T here will be no unmarked vans with federal officers abducting people off the streets of Detroit 2. There will be no need for mothers or other supporters to protect peaceful protesters from authorities.

3. There will be no federal police (secret or otherwise) to add to tensions in Detroit 4. There will be no violation of anyone’s civil rights We are looking to you to lead in resisting any such federal intrusion.

Sincerely, The Residents and Workers of Detroit and The Black Compassion Action Team (Black CAT)

Page A-8 • michiganchronicle.com •

August 5-11, 2020

REVITALIZING MICHIGAN

The DTE Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities for those in Detroit and throughout Michigan. We partner with local leaders to promote initiatives in communities where we live and serve.

Proud to support the 2020 Pancakes and Politics series.

City ity.. Life ife.. Style.

B1 | August 5-11, 2020

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

Edible Arrangements Metro Detroit Group celebrates 10th year of Random Acts of Happiness® with special focus on essential workers and teachers The Edible Arrangements® Metro Detroit Group has become an extension of their customers’ families over the years in celebrating special occasions. Store owners and fruit experts look forward to customers coming into their locations, sharing important life events as well as stories of unexpected acts of kindness in their communities. As a result, the annual Random Acts of Happiness® signature program was born.

The Edible Arrangements Metro Detroit Group is celebrating its 10th year of Random Acts of Happiness® by recognizing, in particular, extraordinary essential workers and teachers. Nominations are being accepted now through Friday, August 14, 2020.

Love on Lockdown: How Coronavirus Has Impacted Dating

By Megan Kirk

F During this unprecedented time, we miss engaging face-to-face with our customers as we have in the past,” said Vikki Hardy Brown, President, Edible Arrangements® Metro Detroit Group. “In 10 years, Random Acts of Happiness has forged wonderfully positive connections with the communities we serve. This year is especially meaningful and more important to us than ever.

Twenty winners (one from each participating store) will be awarded a Dipped Fruit®™ Decadence Platter -- featuring delicious chocolate dipped strawberries, pineapple daisies, Granny Smith apple wedges and paired with seasonal sliced melons. This shareable fan-favorite is valued at $50.

Random Acts of Happiness® may include good deeds, acts of kindness, unusual triumphs despite adversity or any extraordinary actions that deserve public recognition. Past honorees have ranged from a volunteer for Meals on Wheels to the founder of a nonprofit.

inding love during a national health crisis is no easy feat.

While dating already presents its challenges, the onset of the COVID-19 put a damper on meeting someone new. Impacting work, school, and social gatherings, the coronavirus forced a new normal, adding to the stresses of dating and the options available for outings.

Preston Johnson, a Senior Logistics Analyst, considers the comfort level of his date during the pandemic.

“Well, it’s not as simple as me picking a place to eat or to meet up anymore.

I now have to ask my date where she feels comfortable going or what she feels comfortable doing. If they’re not comfortable with that idea, then it forces you to become more creative as to how you will see the person,” Johnson says.

apps became a simple way to connect with new people without leaving the comforts of home. Utilizing the Facebook Dating site, Turmon almost deactivated her dating profile just before meeting her boyfriend.

“I was about to shut my page down.

I didn’t have any expectations,” Turmon says.

Like Turmon, JeTonna Lewis, and Emmanuel Heard used the power of dating apps. Beginning on Badoo, Lewis, and Heard became an official item in December 2019. Working in the healthcare industry, Lewis explains

that being a medical professional impacted her mental health and relationship through the pandemic.

“I work in the ER, one of the hardest impacted in the city during the pandemic. I have PTSD because of it.

At times, I don’t want to be bothered because I’ve just had enough human interaction,” Lewis shares.

Having a mate who works in the healthcare industry had just the opposite effect on Heard.

“I feel that it has brought me closer to whom she is as an individual and to her aspirations in life. Her work has also brought upon a strengthened sense and respect for human life in general,” Heard says.

While dating apps made it easier for some to find companionship, others want a more traditional way of meeting.

However, the use of masks makes it difficult to approach a potential suitor.

Breanna Turmon, the owner of Project Recap TV, began dating her significant other just before the rise of COVID-19. “We met before the pandemic in December.

We went out on a few dates, but we didn’t have that much experience (with each other) before COVID hit,” Turmon explains.

“As a man, I’m very visual, so it’s difficult to see how a woman looks if she’s wearing a mask. So, if I’m able to catch a glimpse of her when she takes the mask off, then I’ll make the decision on if I will approach her or not,” Johnson says.

Despite the use of

As coronavirus began to impact face-to-face interactions, dating

See LOCKDOWN Page B-2

Local residents are encouraged to nominate someone for the “essential” ways they make a difference in others lives. Nominations can be made by: Visiting the Edible Arrangements® Metro Detroit Group Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ EdibleArrangementsMetroDetroitGroup. Nominators can fill out the short nomination form on the Edible Arrangements® Metro Detroit Group’s Facebook page or print it/ pick one up at one of the 20 participating retail stores and email it to: eaofmetrodetroit@gmail.com

Megan Thee Stallion and The Memeficiation and Desensization of Black Women’s Pain

By Lindsay Keener Eerily similar to the shape of a footprint is the blood-stained pavement that appears in clear view on the clip released by media personnel. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion had been shot, and her pain was on full display. Yet, many have taken the sensitive issue to new extremes.

In a time of isolation and boredom, many social media users found solace in the Houston-native’s traumatic experience. What could otherwise be described as a slow news day, reports of Megan’s shooting traveled fast as many began speculating about the high-profile crime. Who was the shooter? Had Megan somehow provoked her aggressor and caused the incident?

Little has been said about the scene involving Megan that occurred on July 12. Many concluded fellow entertainer Tory Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was allegedly the aggressor after learning of his involvement in a news statement made by the Los Angeles Police Department on July 15. Lanez was charged with concealing a firearm and was released on bond later in the day.

See MEGAN THEE STALLION Page B-2 Photo credit (Instagram @theestallion)

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • August 5-11, 2020

Lockdown From page B-1

masks, Sarina Williams was able to find love amid COVID-19. Williams, a mortgage professional, met her boyfriend during the height of COVID-19. “I met him during the pandemic in April. Right smack dab in the middle of social distancing,” Williams shares.

In a chance meeting, Williams crossed paths with her companion while visiting a friend who tested positive for the virus. “I was dropping off a care package for her and met him while visiting. I gave him my number, and he called later that night and left a voicemail expressing how nice it was to meet me,” Williams says.

Williams also took precautions during her first face-to-face encounter with her now-boyfriend.

“We had masks on during our first meeting,” she says. “Our first real date, he went to a restaurant and got carryout and came to my house. We watched movies, and we were not wearing masks during that date.”

With many businesses closed, couples are being forced to find new and innovative ways to spend time together. Video apps like Zoom and FaceTime have become an alternative to simple phone conversations. “When lockdown started, we did virtual date nights at least once a week.

“I would get dressed lipstick and all.

We would just talk for hours. Now, we try to go out when we aren’t tired from work,” Lewis says.

Megan Thee Stallion From page B-1 Social media went into a blaze with videos and pictures of Lanez, and Megan began circulating along with fanmade clips making light of the situation.

Many women have stated their alliance with Megan, saddened by her pain and hoping to lift her spirits. Others haven’t been so nice. Memes, humorous images depicting a social or cultural happening, appeared on various social media sites, eventually grabbing the attention of Megan.

“Black women are so unprotected, and we hold so many things to protect the feelings of others w/o considering our own,” wrote the rapper. “It might be funny to y’all on the internet and just another messy topic for you to talk about, but this is my real life, and I’m real-life hurt and traumatized.”

In a follow-up message posted on Instagram, she wrote that she “suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me.”

Along with virtual dates, nature has also played a part in keeping dating alive. “We’re doing a lot of outdoor things: bonfires and patio dates,” Turmon says of her relationship.

As couples continue to navigate their dating lives, they are also faced with the topic of intimacy. Is it possible to be affectionate without the fear of the coronavirus?

“We weren’t kissing or anything. We did temperature checks on each other for the first two weeks of seeing each other,” Williams shares.

“In the beginning, I was afraid to kiss him. But now, I know who he is around, and I’m not nervous to be intimate,” Turmon says.

Both Heard and Lewis agree they do not wear masks in each other’s presence, and intimacy has not changed between them.

“Honestly, it’s still the same as it was before corona,” Lewis explains.

Although the fear of the virus continues to be a factor in relationships, some dating factors remain the same.

“I think the same nervousness of getting to know new people remains unphased by the pandemic,” Johnson says. “Be careful how you evaluate the person you’re dating during times like this. Routines aren’t normal, and our way of life has been turned upside down.

Whether single, exclusively dating, or in an entanglement, remembering to practice social distancing, sanitization, and wearing masks will help protect you and your loved ones during the COVID season.

A video released by the “Savage” rapper informed fans that she was shot in both of her feet. The resulting surgery to remove the bullets, she said, “was super scary, it was, like, just the worst experience of my life.” The video also showed Megan informing fans that the bullets missed any tendons and bones in her feet.

Despite the vulnerability shown by the artist, some social media users attempted to justify the harm done to Megan. The rapper’s tall and curvy stature has earned her the nickname “Stallion,” a Southern term of endearment given to taller women. Some began attributing Megan’s physical build as a cause for the shooting. False claims accusing Megan of being a transgender woman spread, further highlighting the desensitized relationship people have with the pain of cis-gendered Black women, and Black transgender women.

Noticing the rap community’s silence, some fans fear that misogyny in mainstream media will influence others to welcome Lanez back into the fold.

No official comment has been given

by Lanez, who is expected in court on October 13.

City ity.. Life ife.. Style.

Where City Meets

LIFE STYLE and Life Meets

In Print & Online

michiganchronicle.com

How to Eat to Feel Strong While Sheltering in Place (StatePoint) With social distancing orders in place in many areas across the country, you may be doing your grocery shopping with shelf stability in mind.

But this factor should not be your only priority. Right now, it’s especially important that the foods you eat also support your health and longevity.

Here are three things to know about eating to feel strong while sheltering in place: 1. Empty Calories Should Get the Boot. Many products designed to last a long time don’t contain the vital nutrients your body needs, and instead, contain artificial ingredients that lead to quick energy and crash cycles. While empty calories will keep you alive, they won’t allow you to thrive, promoting fat over muscle and actually weakening your body’s ability to defend itself.

2. Nutrients Ignite Your Body’s Natural Power to Defend. The COVID-19 crisis highlights the fact that those with compromised immune systems and those with chronic disease are often the most vulnerable to viral infection.

Fortunately, you can help to boost your immunity and defend against certain chronic diseases with a nutrient-packed diet. Why? Nutrients nourish your cells, defend against free radicals, give you en-

ergy, and aid muscle growth and repair.

3. Eating to Thrive is Easier Than it Sounds. Getting the “Big Five” -- protein, vitamins, minerals, omega-3s and fiber -- doesn’t have to be a challenge during difficult situations. To get all your essential nutrients in every meal, consider stocking up on products supported by research, such as Nutrient Survival, a line of nutrient dense foods and drinks that are simple to make. Developed by a team of food scientists, researchers, chefs, outdoorsmen, survivalists and adventure athletes who were frustrated with the lack of effective emergency food options, these non-perishable snacks, drinks, entrées and even coffee are high in protein and contain 14 vitamins and 14 minerals, so you can provide your body with what it needs throughout the day. To learn more, visit NutrientSurvival.com.

Social disruption should not stop your ability to survive and thrive. In these challenging times, fueling your body right is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself.

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August 5-11, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com •

Page B-3

B

FAMILY FEATURES

oosting immune function through a healthy diet has become an important new focus for many people these days. One key dietary recommendation is to eat more fruits and vegetables each day to improve immune function and prevent heart disease and diabetes. When looking to guide your family to healthier snacks and meals or simply trying to mix up your at-home menu, success can be as simple as rethinking the ingredients you choose to use, including your favorite produce, such as grapes.

Fresh California grapes, for example, make for an ideal snack because they are tasty, healthy, hydrating and refreshing, but grapes can also be used to make good-for-you dishes that are also satisfying and delicious. Grapes of all colors – red, green and black – are a natural source of beneficial antioxidants and other polyphenols. Plus, they are naturally fatfree, cholesterol-free and contain virtually no sodium.

Try recipes like Moroccan Grape and Grilled Chicken Bowls with Grape Vinaigrette, Spiced Chickpeas and Grapes with Yogurt, and Cauliflower Steaks with Grapes to pair hearthealthy grapes with other nutritious ingredients and add variety and fresh appeal in the kitchen.

Visit GrapesFromCalifornia.com for more nutritious family recipes.

Moroccan Grape and Grilled Chicken Bowls with Grape Vinaigrette

Servings: 4 Couscous:

1 cup Israeli couscous

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup carrots, thinly sliced 1/2 cup tomatoes, diced 1/2 cup parsley, leaves only 1 1/2 teaspoons ras el hanout (Moroccan spice blend)

1 teaspoon salt Chicken:

2 chicken breasts (8 ounces each)

1 tablespoon harissa paste

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon salt Vinaigrette: 1/4 cup green California grapes

1 lemon, juice only

1 preserved lemon, rind only 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped salt, to taste ground black pepper, to taste

1 cup red California grapes, halved 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted To make couscous: Cook couscous in boiling salted water.

Drain, rinse with cold water and combine with olive oil. Add carrots, tomatoes, parsley leaves, ras el hanout and salt. Mix well and set aside.

To make chicken: Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Rub chicken breasts with harissa paste, olive oil and salt.

Grill on both sides until just done. Set aside to cool. Slice into 1/4-inch slices.

To make vinaigrette: In blender, puree green grapes, lemon juice, lemon rind, olive oil and cilantro until smooth. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Toss couscous mixture with vinaigrette and portion into four bowls. Top with sliced chicken, red grapes and almonds.

Nutritional information per serving: 590 calories; 30 g protein; 44 g carbohydrates; 32 g fat (49% calories from fat); 4.5 g saturated fat (7% calories from saturated fat); 65 mg cholesterol; 720 mg sodium; 3 g fiber.

Moroccan Grape and Grilled Chicken Bowls with Grape Vinaigrette

Cauliflower Steaks with Grapes

Cauliflower Steaks with Grapes Spiced Chickpeas and Grapes with Yogurt

Spiced Chickpeas and Grapes with Yogurt Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 4

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted dry

1 cup California grapes

1 tablespoon peanut oil 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon fennel seeds 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1 pinch red pepper flakes

1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 1/2 garlic clove, grated

Grapes are prized for their taste and crisp, juicy texture, but fresh grapes are also a heart-healthy, hydrating snack choice. Grapes contain more than 1,600 natural plant compounds, including antioxidants and other polyphenols, which help protect the

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions In large bowl, mix chickpeas and grapes.

In small skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and cover. Cook until seeds stop popping then add cumin and fennel seeds; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper flakes; pour over chickpeas and grapes. Mix well.

In separate bowl, stir yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and remaining salt. Spread on serving platter and top with chickpea mixture, cilantro and scallions.

Nutritional information per serving: 220 calories; 11 g protein; 31 g carbohydrates; 6 g fat (25% calories from fat); 1.5 g saturated fat (6% calories from saturated fat); 5 mg cholesterol; 280 mg sodium; 1 g fiber.

health and function of the body’s cells. Grapes can be paired with other healthy foods to enhance flavor and nutrition, including dark leafy greens, cauliflower, broccoli, whole grains, legumes and lean proteins.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Servings: 4

1 large head cauliflower, leaves trimmed off

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 cup halved California grapes 1/4 cup chopped Castelvetrano olives

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons chopped, toasted pistachios Heat oven to 450 F. Cut stem off cauliflower and cut remaining head crosswise into four 1-inch-thick slices, keeping as intact as possible. Place on sheet pan and brush sides with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast until browned and tender, about 25 minutes.

Combine remaining olive oil, remaining pepper, grapes, olives, parsley and pistachios. When cauliflower is roasted, transfer to serving plates and top with grape mixture.

Nutritional information per serving: 210 calories; 5 g protein; 20 g carbohydrates; 14 g fat (60% calories from fat); 2 g saturated fat (9% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 480 mg sodium; 5 g fiber.

Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com • August 5-11, 2020

For More In

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Like we’ve done for 81 years. Find out more info at CommittedToMichigan.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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August 5-11, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

Please visit our website for more classified ads. www.michiganchronicle.com

HELP WANTED

PHOTOS WANTED

PHOTOS WANTED:

1951 -1960 Maple Street between Jos Campau and Chene especially Brownson School and families on our block. Please contact: maplebrown1@aol.com.

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MICHIGAN CHRONICLE 313 963-5522

Department: Community and Economic Development

Location: City Hall

Salary Range: $17.72 to $19.54 Per Hour

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Employment Type: Full Time The City of Ferndale is seeking an Inspector I to be a member of our CED team. The Inspector I conducts code enforcement work involving the external environmental and physical condition of buildings and sites; ensuring compliance with established standards and ordinances, codes, rules and regulations. Candidates must have graduated from an accredited high school and have one to two years of experience in customer service, preferably in policy enforcement or complaint resolution.

Hourly wage is $17.72 to $19.54 commensurate with experience. Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, FSA, and Retirement Plans are available. Visit www.ferndalemi.gov/jobs to apply.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SUBURBAN MOBILITY AUTHORITY FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION (SMART) Proposed Service Adjustments Notice is hereby given that Public Hearings have been scheduled to consider the following proposals to modify service on the following routes: •Modification of 275 Telegraph splitting into two separate routes. Northern portion of new route extended serve Amazon in Pontiac.

•Extension of 462 FAST Woodward to Great Lakes Crossing.

•Modification 752 Pontiac-North Hill Farms to serve Oakland University.

•Elimination of 753 Pontiac-Baldwin Road.

•Modification 756 Pontiac-Perry-Opdyke to serve Amazon in Pontiac. Elimination of service to Oakland University.

•Extension of 760 Thirteen/Fourteen Mile Crosstown to serve Meijer on Telegraph Road and 12 Mile Road.

In order to comply with the Governor’s Stay-at-Home order, SMART will hold the public hearings by conference call.

The public is invited to attend virtually and may participate at the public comment period. Via smartphone, tablet or computer.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 11:30 AM Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 5:00 PM The same zoom link will be used for both meetings Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join. https://smartbus.zoom.us/j/91672726624?pwd=cWxuOXJhb2NTa1pIYkFoVEZ0OEpHdz09 Passcode: 789796 Or join by phone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or 877 853 5247 (Toll Free) or 888 788 0099 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 916 7272 6624 International numbers available: https://smartbus.zoom.us/u/a1lLtvFul An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be made available if SMART is contacted seven (7) days prior to the public hearings. Comments will also be accepted by telephone via Michigan Relay: 711/866-962-5515 option #2. . If you have technical difficulties joining the meeting, contact PublicHearing@smartbus.org or 248-419- 7912 and we will assist you to the best of our abilities.

For those unable to attend the meetings, written comments will be accepted through August 20, 2020. Written comments should be addressed to “Public Hearing” and mailed to SMART Administrative Offices, 535 Griswold Street, Suite 600, Detroit, MI 48226. Comments may also be emailed to PublicHearing@smartbus.org comments may also be submitted through SMART Customer Service department.

Additional information will be posted on SMART’s website www.smartbus.org or you may call SMART Customer Service at (866) 962-5515 and press 2 to talk with a representative.

NOTICE of AIR PERMIT COMMENT PERIOD and PUBLIC HEARING The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a public comment period and virtual public hearing to allow the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed conditional approval of air permits.

There is a public comment period from August 5, 2020, until September 18, 2020, and a virtual public hearing on September 9, 2020 for: Company: Two FCA US, LLC (FCA) facilities - Detroit Assembly Complex Mack Plant (Mack), located at 4000 Saint Jean Street and Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) located at 2101 Conner Street, Detroit, Michigan.

What FCA wants to do: Permit to Install (PTI) Application No. 14-19A is for modifications to a previously permitted automotive assembly line at Mack. PTI Application No. 33-20 is for the proposed installation of a new coating line and changes to existing equipment at JNAP. • The Mack proposal is subject to the state and federal Non-Attainment New Source Review rules and regulations for a major modification to an existing major stationary source based on the expected significant net emission increase in volatile organic compounds, which are a precursor for ozone.

• A preliminary determination shows that the proposed requests will not violate any of EGLE’s rules nor the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The facilities’ impacts will not exceed the available increments for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns.

• Both requests require modification to Renewable Operating Permit (ROP) No. MI-ROP-N2155-2017 (SRN N2155).

This public comment period meets the public participation requirements for a future administrative amendment to the ROP. Provide comment in any of these ways: • B y email: EGLE-aqd-ptipubliccomments@michigan.gov, by September 18, 2020: • B y voicemail: By calling 517-284-0900 • B y mail: By September 18, 2020, send to Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Manager, EGLE, AQD, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, MI 48909-7760 • A ttend the virtual public hearing: September 9, 2020, starting at 6:00 p.m. The sole purpose of the public hearing will be to take formal testimony on the record.

A virtual Informational Session will be held on August 25, 2020, starting at 6:00 p.m. Links to attend the virtual meetings and more information regarding the proposed permits can be found at: https://www.deq.state.mi.us/ aps/downloads/ permits/PubNotice/NSR_PTIs_Open_for_Comment.pdf Get technical reports about this project: • O nline at the AQD Home Page http://www.Michigan.gov/Air choose “Public Notice” • D ETROIT: EGLE, AQD Cadillac Place, 3058 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 2-300 (313-456-2761) • D ETROIT: City Clerk’s Office, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 (313-224-3400) • L ANSING: EGLE, AQD, Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street (517-284-6793) All statements received by September 18, 2020, will be considered by the decision maker prior to final permit action.

Contact Christine Klaver at 517-284-6793 one week in advance of either meeting if you need accommodations.

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Manager

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PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED Sr. Internal Auditor Meritor, Inc. seeks a Sr. Internal Auditor, in Troy, MI to define, develop, and prepare internal audit plans focused on financial and operational analysis and on company's information systems; among other duties. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Information Systems and three years of experience in the job offered or related. International and domestic travel required as needed, up to 30%. To apply, please mail resumes to: Ms. Sarah Trautmann, Meritor, Resume Processing/JO# 10894543, 2135 West Maple Road, Troy, MI 48084.

Senior Software Engineer BorgWarner PDS (USA) seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Auburn Hills, MI to define, develop and execute the software integration plan, among other duties. Bachelor’s degree in Software, Computer, Systems, or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related and five years of experience in the job offered or related. To apply, please mail resumes to: Ms. Catherine Wood, Resume Processing / JO# 10879567, BorgWarner, 3800 Automation Ave., Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

Mobile Developer General Motors, Detroit, MI. Perform technology evaluation &design spikes (design, investigation, exploration, &prototyping exercises). Engr, design &maintain mobile apps for Apple products incldg iPhone, Apple Watch &CarPlay w/ features for EVs, Extended Range EVs, &conventional vehicles incldg charging stations info, range efficiency, vehicle diagnostics, remote commands executed over communication channels such as HTTP &Bluetooth Low Energy, park location, &heavy trailering. Dvlp React Native, iOS native &Android native SW apps for features in mobile devices &connected cars, such as at myBuick, myCadillac, myChevrolet, myGMC, &OnStar RemoteLink. Perform dvlpmt tasks using Integrated Development Environments (IDE) such as Xcode, RubyMine, &IntelliJ using Objective-C, Swift, Ruby, Java, TypeScript &JavaScript languages. Master, Comptr Sci or Cmptr Apps, or Infomation Technology. 6 mos exp as Developer or Engineer, performing technology evaluation &designing spikes, dvlpg iOS native &Android native SW apps for features in mobile devices, &performing dvlpmt tasks using IDE such as Xcode, RubyMine, using Objective-C, Ruby, &Java languages, or related. Mail resume to Ref#34582, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

System Validation Engineer Connected Ecosystem Integration Warren, MI, General Motors. Work on infotainment &SuperCruise Vehicle to Back Office (V2X) backend test procedures in vehicle &on test bench for OnStar (GCCX) emergency call, vehicle location, Navi, Personalization, Safety &Security package, Apps &Personalization Exp. Validation, Vehicle Task Management in External Object Calculation Module, using ATT CAN, VehicleSpy &DPS tools &neoVI FIRE2 HW. Use apps &HW tools incldg Global Access Application, Mobile Number Mgmt/Vehicle Communication Services, Vehicle Data Upload, SalesForce.com (SFDC), Azure, GM Owner Center, Integrated Gateway, Vehicle Notification Mgr, Server Push Notification, DBeaver, Cassandra &ADB commands, VSpy, &NeoVI, &Center Gateway Module, TCP, &ECUs in Center Stack Module, to test, improve &validate infotainment &telematics modules to improve User Exp. (UX) &Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) &V2X communications. Bachelor, Computer Science, Computer Engrg, Electrical Engrg, Electronics Engrg, or related. 24 mos exp as Engineer, Developer, Test Lead, or related, using SFDC, DBeaver, Cassandra &ADB commands, VSpy, &NeoVI, to test &validate infotainment &telematics modules to improve UX &V2V &V2X communication, or related. Mail resume to Ref#1551-108, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Human Factors Usability Research Engineer Warren, MI, General Motors. Research &participate in the dvlpmt of design sys &cohesive cross-channel experiences for Cockpit Driving Experiences, Comfort, Safety, Ownership, Entertainment, Connectivity &Nav. Design, plan, field &analyze user research for psgr vehicles’ Center Stack (CS), IP Cluster (IPC), Head-up Display (HUD), &rear seat infotainment interfaces incldg home screen, audio, phone, navi, settings, vehicle info., drive modes to provide design direction based on customer needs &reqmts.

Plan, assure timely research deliverables &coordinated customer exp research studies such as usability testing, interviews, focus groups &feedback surveys for CS, IPC, HUD, &rear seat infotainment vehicle screens. Analyze info. gathered in research studies to make design recmndtns for improving usability of HMI screens.

Collaborate &share customer quantitative &qualitative data w/ Product, Graphic &Visual Designers &program team stakeholders to improve owner customer exp. Master, Industrial Engrg, Human Factors Engrg, Human-Machine Communication or related. 12 mos exp as Engineer, Design Engr, or related, designing, planning, &fielding user research for CS, IPC, HUD, &rear seat infotainment interfaces to provide design direction based on customer needs &reqmts, or related. Mail resume to Ref#2245, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

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