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Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 84 – No. 24 | February 17-23, 2021
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Wayne County Community College District’s Accredited Status Continued For Another Decade Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Panel Notes District’s Fiscal Responsibility During Difficult Year The Wayne County Community College District’s accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has been continued for another 10 years; the result of a comprehensive evaluation by HLC peer reviewers performed last Spring. The peer reviewers particularly commended the District’s fiscal responsibility and commitment to the communities it serves during Dr. Curtis L. Ivery the pandemic. “We are complimented and proud to again receive this affirmation of the world-class quality of our college District from the Higher Learning Commission,” said WCCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis L. Ivery. “Our mission has always been to provide pathways to better lives through higher education. The HLC’s rigorous evaluation of our District validated that our programs, faculty, facilities, and methods are pursuing that mission with excellence.” The HLC’s peer review process is intended to provide colleges and universities critical evaluation of their purposes, and how effective they have been in serving those purposes. The HLC is also seeking to ensure that quality benchmarks are being met and that the college is engaged in continuous improvement processes, including professional development. “The programs, facilities, and systems that the HLC reviewed were the result of years of planning and working as a team to build structures that would allow us to move our mission forward,” said Johnesa Hodge, District Vice Chancellor Institutional Effectiveness. “That work never stops, and we are gratified that the HLC validated that we are on the right track.” WCCCD received a successful reaffirmation of its accreditation from the HLC meeting all required criteria with no findings. “We congratulate WCCCD, the Chancellor, his team, the faculty , students, and staff on the reaffirmation of what we know to be true,” said WCCCD Board of Trustees Chairperson Mary Ellen Stempfle, “that WCCCD is where learning leads to a better life.” About WCCCD: WCCCD, the largest urban community college in Michigan, is a multi-campus district with six campus locations and specialty campuses, including the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center, the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, the Michigan Institute for Public
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It’s Not So Black and White: Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine May Depend On Your Race By Sherri Kolade With COVID-19 still raging in America, according to nationwide case reports there are over 27 million positive cases and nearly 470,000 deaths, numbers that we never thought to reach. And with new strains popping up locally, many Black residents might be wondering when they can roll up their sleeves and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. That is if they even want it or can readily receive it when it is their turn. Nationwide reports are stating that Black Americans are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at a lower rate than their white counterparts. It’s an issue that is not so black and white. This is partly due to a lack of access to the vaccine and also due to not wanting to receive it because of the historical mistrust between Black communities and the medical field. A CNN analysis reports from 14 states advised that vaccine coverage is twice as high among whites on average than it is among Blacks and Latinos. On average, more than 4 percent of the white population has received a COVID19 vaccine, about 2.3 times higher than the Black population. To note, Blacks and Latinos are dying of COVID-19 at three times the rate of whites succumbing to the virus. These groups are also being hospitalized at a rate four times higher, according to the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Michigan health officials are trying to bridge that gap through education and information. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), recently testified before the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee about Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, federal needs and the state’s work to expedite the administration of vaccines without “compromising equity.” “Since the emergence of COVID-19 just over a year ago, the world has eagerly awaited a vaccine that could help to end this unprecedented pandemic,” Khaldun said in a press release. “Now, with two safe and effective vaccines and additional vaccines on the horizon, Michigan is working to distribute the vaccine quickly, efficiently and equitably to residents across the state. Like many other states, Michigan’s single biggest challenge with the vaccine rollout has been the limited supply of vaccine available week to week and the lack of a national federal strategy until now. Despite this, Michigan has made significant strides in implementing our vaccination strategy.” Khaldun outlined the comprehensive vaccination strategy Michigan launched, with goals including having:
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• 90 percent of received vaccines be administered within seven days. • 95 percent of people get their second dose of vaccine within the expected time frame. • No disparity exist in vaccination rates across racial and ethnic groups or by social vulnerability index. • No one drive more than 20 minutes to reach a vaccination site. Khaldun testified alongside physicians and public health nationwide as part of a hearing entitled, “No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States.” She said that while these vaccines were developed in less than a year, “they were built upon decades of scientific research” with rigorous testing. “I am proud of the work of our state and local health departments and health care systems who have worked tirelessly to deliver vaccines while also fighting to bring down the curve,” she said. A copy of Khaldun’s full testimony is available on the MDHHS website. On February 10, Khaldun was also tapped as a member of the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
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Michigan Chronicle Endorses Bishop J. Drew Sheard for Re-election to COGIC’S General Board By Donald James Special to the Chronicle
For more than three decades, Bishop J. Drew Sheard has served as senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ (COGIC), located on Detroit’s west side. Bishop Sheard has been lauded for his leadership in facilitating a “ministry of excellence.” The church is now recognized as one of the largest and most progressive COGIC congregations in Michigan. Bishop Sheard’s indelible fingerprints can also be found on other spiritual and kingdom building endeavors, broader empowerment of communities, and numerous humanitarian missions across America and on foreign soil. In his quest to further advance the Church of God in Christ on multiple levels, Bishop Sheard is seeking re-election to COGIC’s General Board.
UpNext:
• 70 percent of Michiganders age 16 and older get vaccinated as quickly as possible.
On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the Church of God in Christ – with 6.5 million members in approximately 100 countries - will hold its Quadrennial Election to fill numerous positions. In addition to the General Board, other positions on the ballot are for Financial Secretary, General Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee Board, and Judiciary Board (General Assembly). According to the Church of God in Christ’s official website, the role of the General Board,
comprised of 12 bishops, is to establish and execute policies for the COGIC membership, as well as sustain and perpetuate spiritual order within the Church. Bishop Sheard brings much experience to the General Board. He was first elected in 2012 and again in 2016, both times serving four-year terms. “Every assignment that I’ve been given as a General Board member, I have always left the assignment better off than I found it,” said Bishop Sheard. “As a General Board member, I will continue to serve with integrity, humility and dedication to ministry.” The Bishop’s accomplishments as a two-term member of the General Board have been rooted in his commitment to God, dedication to Church, a commitment to elevate women to leadership positions in the church, and the commitment to reach and maintain fiscal and financial responsibilities. As chairman of COGIC’S Auxiliaries in Ministry (AIM) Convention, the Bishop helped boost attendance, and demonstrated fiscal and financial responsibilities by sending an unpreceded
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