New Pittsburgh Courier 10-23-19

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Elijah Cummings

Clifford ‘Sly Jock’ Charlton

Dies at 68

Wins NCM award

Mon Valley NAACP

National A3

Religion A9

Lifestyles A6

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

Vol. 110 No. 43

Two Sections

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

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Big first-anniversary celebration for Pitt’s Homewood Community Engagement Center Programs and services already making an impact

by Rob Taylor Jr.

in Homewood, joined in step by Pittsburgh’s line dance king, Roland Ford, and others who just

programs and services that many say have already proved Courier Staff Writer beneficial to Homewood youth and adults.

When you see the “In just one year, we University of Pittsburgh’s senior vice “The best is yet to come. I want people to have a place in Hometo gather tochancellor for enknow that this place is here for them, that wood gether, to collaborate, gagement proudly doing the “Wobble” and this place has programs and opportunities and to grow. A place where Pitt has built other line dances, you an extension of our know it’s cause for that can benefit them and their families.”

Dr. Humcelebration.

Daren Ellerbee campus,” phrey said during There she was, Pitt Homewood CEC director the Oct. 17 event.

Kathy Humphrey, “We knew the impact PhD, front-and-centhe university could ter on the makeshift dance floor inside Pitt’s Commu- had to celebrate the first anniSEE PITT A5 nity Engagement Center (CEC) versary of the CEC and its many

KATHY HUMPHREY

Aliquippa recognizes its football greats Ty Law, Darrelle Revis among those honored

by Bill Neal

URA approves housing and investment plan on Civic Arena site

by Juliette Rihl

For New Pittsburgh Courier

There was no denying it…step-by-step as I approached the famed Aliquippa Stadium (aka the Carl A. Aschman Memorial Stadium), you could feel it, see it and without question you could smell it. If you’ve been there—done that— you know of what I speak.

The smell of football grass.

Once it’s in your nose you never lost it.

If somehow all that doesn’t send your football radar through the roof, when the Aliquippa Mascot comes charging at you in the historic form of a painted Indian (Native American, if you will) atop a stampeding horse, you know you’re truly on the hallowed ground known as “The Pit.” You wanna talk history?

Here in Aliquippa, this may in fact be where history first got defined. The legendary names are world-renowned and are forever anchored in

DAREN ELLERBEE

PublicSource

HALL OF FAME NFL PLAYER TY LAW, with family. Law played football at Aliquippa High School. (Photo by Kenneth Ogilvie) Western Pa. sports history.

You know the names: Mike Ditka, Ty Law, Sean Gilbert, Darrelle “The Island” Revis.

There are others, many others, of course…includ-

ing the sharing of the great Tony Dorsett between Aliquippa and Hopewell.

But, these four would stand tall and proud on this high school football Friday night in August as their names

were enshrined to the new football Field House reconstructed in their honor.

Many of you don’t know and for that matter, probably don’t care, that I was raised in Donora, another one of the

The Urban Redevelopment Authority board has approved a series of measures laying out affordable housing and community investment commitments tied to the Pittsburgh Penguins project at the former Civic Arena site.

The vote was initially scheduled to take place at an Oct. 10 board meeting, but it was delayed after Hill District leaders and residents voiced concerns that the community had not had time to review the proposal before a vote. Several advocates reiterated that concern during a special board meeting of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Friday, Oct. 18.

The proposal expands on a previous community agreement between the Penguins and community stakeholders that dictates affordable housing and investments in the Hill District. Among the measures the URA approved on Oct. 18 was a commitment to reserve 20 percent of housing units in the project for families making at or below 50 percent of area median income (AMI) for 20 years, along with making 50 percent of the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement (LERTA)

SEE ALIQUIPPA A4

SEE URA A5

15 honored at sixth annual ‘Passion Meets The Road’ event

by Renee P. Aldrich For New Pittsburgh Courier

After six years of honoring men and women in the social services industry, Erica Givner is not even a little tired. “Actually, the more I do it, the more I see needs to be done,” said Givner, the owner and lead clinician of Visions Toward Peace Counseling Services. “This work is endless and many times, thankless.”

In this, the sixth year of the event, “Passion Meets The Road,” an audience of near 200 celebrated numerous honorees in categories such as “forerunners,” “entrepreneurs” and “roadrun-

ners.”

The event was held Sept.

29 at Phipps Conservatory.

The seven “forerunners” honorees are leaders who implement public policy that will result in positive possibilities for individuals in need: Rev. Paul Abernathy, Director of FOCUS Pittsburgh, an Orthodox Christian non-profit focused on Trauma Informed Community Development in the Hill District; Emmai Alaquiva, an Emmy Award-winning film director and a distinct trailblazer in the area of creative arts; Rosa Davis, MSW, ACSW, chief executive of- A PEACE OF MIND INC.—Co-Founders Erica Givner, second from left, and Felicia R. Robinson, second ficer of POWER, an orga- from right, with board members Carla Gathers, left, and Wanda Beasley, right.

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

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J. Pharoah Doss says

nization whose mission is to help women recover from the disease of addiction; Wendy Pardee, PhD, President and CEO of The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, young people and their families; Jada Shirriel, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Start Inc., a public health organization that focuses on improving maternal and child health and addressing the disparities that lead to infant mortality; Tiffany Sizemore, Assistant Clinical Professor at Duquesne SEE PASSION A7

Armed teachers and psychological deterrents on a daily basis Forum B6 Forum B6

A2 OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

Unrest at the African Union follows the firing of popular ambassador

by Stacy M. Brown For New PIttsburgh Courier

A speech denouncing France’s colonization of Africa and her continued efforts to unite Africa and the African Diaspora has cost H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the African Union’s Ambassador to the United States, her job.

The African Union has given her until November 1 to clean out her office in Washington.

“I will continue to speak out on the issues that affect our people, and I will continue to tell the truth,” H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao told NNPA Newswire in an exclusive interview.

The interview occurred just days after she received a termination letter from African Union Commission Chairman, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

“I have the honor to inform you that, in line with the terms and conditions of the service governing your appointment as Permanent Representative of the African Union Mission to the United States in Washington, DC, I have decided to terminate your contract in that capacity with effect from November 1, 2109,” Mahamat wrote in the letter dated October 7.

The letter didn’t specify the reason for firing the ambassador, who has served in that capacity for two years.

Mahamat didn’t return several messages left by NNPA Newswire.

African Union Commission Spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo deflected questions about why Mahamat terminated Dr. Chihombori-Quao.

“Political appointees at the African Union, including Dr. Chihombori, are appointed at the discretion of the appointing authority. The duration of such political appointments is also determined at the discretion of that appointing authority,” Kalondo stated.

“This is normal diplomatic practice for political appointees everywhere,” she continued, later refusing to respond to whether France was involved in the decision to terminate Dr. Chiombori-Quao.

A spokesperson for French President Emmanuel Macron declined to say whether or not Macron either ordered or played a role in the termination.

However, supporters of Dr. Chihombori-Quao, remain adamant that the French government ordered the ambassador’s termination.

Dr. Chihombori-Quao has remained outspoken about a colonial tax on Africa that nets France about $500 billion each year. “It goes back to the Berlin Conference,” Dr. Chihombori-Quao said.

The 1884-1885 conference is considered the turning point in Africa’s history.

Before the conference,

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DR. ARIKANA CHIHOMBORI-QUAO nations within the African continent were treated as trading partners because of the continent’s vast resources and wealth.

The Berlin Conference ignited what became known as the “Scramble for Africa” between European powers like France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, the U.S., and others.

“The globalization construct of divide and conquer is still alive and well,” the ambassador stated. “Benin and other small, dependent colonies in Africa and its people were forever defeated and dominated because of the Berlin Conference,” Dr. Chihombori-Quao said.”

The ambassador has worked diligently to try and reverse the effects of the conference. She has called on people throughout the African Diaspora to return home and put their money and resources back into Africa.

“More African physicians are practicing in the United States than those who practice in Africa,” Dr. Chihombori-Quao noted. She has even begun a development called the Wakanda One Village Project, which would include health care facilities, hotels, manufactured homes, and shopping centers.

“The dismissal of Arikana Chihombori-Quao, AU Ambassador to the United States raises serious questions about the independence of the A.U.,” said former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings.

“For someone who spoke her mind about the detrimental effects of colonization and the huge cost of French control in several parts of Africa, this is an act that can be described as coming from French-controlled colonized minds,” Rawlings stated.

He continued: “How can this shameful behavior emanate from us? A woman with all that it takes to galvanize our continent is chopped down

by French-colonized power mongers good enough to be cleaners or pruning trees at the Elysee Palace. With leaders of this kind, how can this continent ever progress?”

More than 34,000 people

have signed a petition on change.org, demanding the reinstatement of Dr. Chihombori-Quao.

After almost a year of persuading her to assume leadership as the African Union Permanent Ambassador in the United States representing the 55 countries of the Union, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao accepted the position in December 2016 and has led with courage and vigor in galvanizing peoples of African Descent, the petition states.

Dr. Chihombori-Quao has spoken globally to empower all those of African Descent to come together.

The goal is to build the “Africa We Want” as adopted in African Union Agenda 2063, wrote Professor Apollos Nwauwa, the secretary of African Diaspora Congress, who started the petition.

“The unification of the African Diaspora as espoused in A.U. Agenda 2063 is contrary to the Africa that has been marginalized and pillaged through inequitable colonial and post-colonial contracts. Dr. Arikana has been outspoken about neo-colonial maneuverings and exploitation that still exist today. Her dissemination of the truth has garnered her attention and support around the world,” Professor Nwauwa stated.

The petition has the support of various organizations, including African Union African Diaspora Health Initiative; Africa In Diaspora; Voice; Pan African Diaspora Youth Association; Pan African Diaspora Women’s Association; Africans in Boston; The African Diaspora Foundation; DFW Inclusive African Community Organization; and the Global African Business Association.

“People of African Descent around the world are appalled by Dr. Chihombori-Quao’s unjust dismissal,” Professor Nwauwa stated.

“Instead of dismantling her movement to liberate the people of African Descent from colonialism and pursue financial freedom, her dismissal has galvanized African Diaspora in the spirit of UBUNTU—I am because you are!”

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

Week of October 23-29 October 23 1775—The Continental Congress approves a resolution barring free Blacks from the army fighting for American independence from England. The resolution came even though many free Blacks were already fighting in the war. The motive behind the resolution came from Southern slave colonies which feared that by fighting in the war for American independence, Blacks would also demand an end to slavery.

1911—The National Urban League is formed. Next only to the NAACP, it becomes the second oldest and second largest Black self-help organization in America.

It grew out of the spontaneous 20th-Century Freedom Movement for freedom and opportunity that came to be called the Black Migrations. Central to the organization’s founding were two remarkable people: Mrs. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes, who would become the Committee’s first executive secGEORGE EDMUND HAYNES retary.

1947—The NAACP files an “Appeal To The World” with the newly found United Nations concerning racial injustice in America. For its day, the filing was a bold move on the part of the NAACP and it angered many liberal and conservative Whites.

October 24 1892—More than 25,000 Black workers are said to have joined a workers strike in New Orleans to protest working conditions, lynching and other social ills.

1935—Fascist Italy invades Ethiopia—at the time, one of only two independent countries in Africa. U.S. Blacks were among thousands protesting worldwide.

Powerful Harlem, N.Y., Pastor Adam Clayton Powell Sr. was among those seeking aid for Ethiopia. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie spoke at his church.

1935—“Mulatto” opens on Broadway in New York City. The play written by famed Black poet Langston Hughes becomes the first long-run Black play on Broadway. Written during the summer of 1930, “Mulatto” is Hughes’ first LANGSTON HUGHES full-length play. Opening on Oct. 24, at the Vanderbilt Theatre, “Mulatto” ran on Broadway for more than a year and toured for two seasons.

1948—Kweisi Mfume is born Frizzel Gray in Baltimore, Md. He became a congressman and head of the NAACP but later lost a bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

1964—The African nation of Zambia becomes independent from White colonial rule.

October 25 1940—Black newspaper owner’s group—the KWEISI MFUME NNPA (National Negro Publishers Association)—was founded when John H. Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender organized a meeting with other African American publishers designed for “harmonizing our energies in a common purpose for the benefit of Negro journalism.” The group decided to form the National Negro Publishers Association. In 1956 the trade association was renamed the National Newspapers Publishers Association.

1940—Benjamin O. Davis Sr. becomes the first Black general in the U.S. Army.

1958—An estimated 10,000 students led by Jackie Robinson, Harry Belafonte, and labor leader A. Phillip Randolph, JOHN H. SENSTACKE participate in a youth march for integrated schools in Washington, D.C. 1976—One-time racist Gov. George Wallace grants a full pardon to Clarence “Willie” Norris—the last known survivor of the nine “Scottsboro Boys.” The group had been framed in a 1931 conviction for allegedly raping two White women.

SCOTTSBORO BOYS October 26 1749—The British parliament legalizes slavery in the American colony, which would become known as Georgia.

1806—Benjamin Banneker dies at 74. He had become a recognized inventor and scientist. He also completed the design and layout of Washington, D.C., after L’Enfant returned to France.

1868—B.F. Randolph, a prominent Black politician in South Carolina after the Civil War, is assassinated. He was believed to have been killed by former Confederate soldiers seeking to re-establish White racist rule in the state via terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.

1872—Inventor T. Marshal patents the fire extinguisher.

1911—Famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson BENJAMIN BANNEKER is born in New Orleans, La. She is generally considered the greatest gospel singer that ever lived.

October 27 1891—Inventor P.B. Downing patents the street letter mailbox whose basic design remains in use today.

Not much is known about Downing.

1960—President John F. Kennedy intervenes to get Martin Luther King Jr. released from the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, where he had been imprisoned because of his civil MAHALIA JACKSON rights activities. The Kennedy action endeared him to Black voters.

1981—Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young is elected mayor of Atlanta, Ga., becoming the city’s second Black mayor.

October 28 1798—Levi Coffin, who is White, is born in the slave state of North Carolina but becomes a strong opponent of slavery. He and his wife, Catherine, are credited with being among the original founders of the “Underground Railroad”—the system of transports and safe houses that enabled Blacks to escape slavery in the South to freedom in the North.

October 29 ANDREW YOUNG 1929—The Stock Market collapses ushering in the Great Depression bringing about Black unemployment rates ranging from 25 to 40 percent. The effects of the Great Depression would last until the start of World War II which created massive war industry jobs and a second mass migration of Blacks from the South to the industrial North.

1994—Famed dancer Pearl Primus dies. She blended African and Caribbean dance and music with Black American traditions of blues, jazz and the jitterbug to form a new vibrant dance form. She formed a dance troupe and she personally appeared in such early Broadway hits as “Showboat” and “Emperor Jones.”

Primus was known for her amazingly high leaps. In 1991, the first President Bush awarded her the National Medal of Arts.

2009—A report is published suggesting that the old self-hate mantra of “I am Black enough; I don’t need any sunshine” could be shortening the lives of African-Americans. Dr. Jonathan Mansbach’s report found, among other things, that American Blacks are PEARL PRIMUS not getting enough sunshine or more specifically, vitamin D—the sunshine vitamin. Mansbach discovered, for example, that an astonishing 90 percent of Black children were vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to various cancers, diabetes and weak bones.

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

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Remembering a Baltimore hero...Elijah Cummings dies at 68

by Micha Green

the AFRO-American Newspaper.

Despite his many political titles, AFRO Washington D.C. Editor Cummings was also a father of Father, husband, beloved Baltithree and has been married to morean and Maryland’s Seventh Chairwoman of the Maryland Congressional District DemocratDemocratic Party, Maya Rockeyic Representative, Elijah Cummoore, since 2008. mings, died in the early morning Rockeymoore remembered her of Oct. 17, due to complications husband in a statement. from long-standing health chal“Congressman Cummings was lenges, according to his office. He an honorable man who proudly was 68. served his [District] and the naFrom a sharecropper’s son tion with dignity, integrity, comto chairman of the U.S. House passion and humility. He worked Committee that investigated until his last breath because he President Donald Trump, Cumbelieved our democracy was the mings, in 68 years, had become a highest and best expression of powerful and moving orator, who our collective humanity and that fearlessly advocated for his conour nation’s diversity was our stituents and fought for justice. promise, not our problem.”

Cummings spearheaded the Renowned Baltimoreans, 2019 investigations into the presofficials and organizations alike ident’s governmental dealings are also remembering the fallen including those of his former lawleader. yer Michael Cohen. Cumming’s “My heart is heavy with a flood closing statements at the Feb. 27 of tears waking up to the news Cohen hearing, will be recorded in A CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE—The Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and a titan of the U.S. my friend Congress, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD-7). (Photo via Twitter) history as one of his most mem[Rep. Elijah Cummings] has orable speeches, and arguably died! Rest in peace my friend,” Despite the tone of the President’s one of the most empathetic final remarks White House correspondent, CNN comHopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, around tweets, the Maryland Congressman reuttered by a Chair of the House Overmentator and Baltimore native, April 2:45 a.m. , according to a statement from sight Committee to an admitted criminal, sponded with grace and Baltimore pride.

Ryan wrote on Twitter. “May God be with the Congressman’s Office.

“Mr. President, I go home to my [District] preparing to serve time. your wife, your family, friends & the City After graduating from Howard Univerdaily. Each morning, I wake up, and I “Let me tell you the picture that really, of Baltimore who mourns your loss. May sity in Washington, D.C. and then law go and fight for my neighbors. It is my really pained me. You were leaving the the Nation & the world remember your school at the University of Maryland, constitutional duty to conduct oversight prison, you were leaving the courthouse, Cummings spent much of his career serv- heat [and] your fight.” of the Executive Branch. But, it is my and, I guess it’s your daughter, had bracDr. Ben Chavis, President and CEO ing the people of his state and city. moral duty to fight for my constituents,” es or something on. Man that thing, man of the National Newspaper Publishers He practiced law for 19 years, before Cummings wrote on Twitter. that thing hurt me. As a father of two Association wrote, “Long Live the freeserving in the Maryland House of DelThe night before Cumming’s passing, daughters, it hurt me. And I can imagine dom-fighting spirit of Brother Leader egates from January of 1983 to 1996, how it must feel for you,” Cummings said, the AFRO attended the National CoaliCongressman Elijah Cummings (R.I.P.).” representing the 39thCongressional tion of Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) District. As a member of the Maryland before offering light in the darkness of The NAACP tweeted they were “devasSpirit of Democracy Awards 2019 at The his plight. “But I’m just saying to you—I tated,” by the news of Cumming’s passing General Assembly, Cummings served as want to first of all thank you. I know that Hamilton in Northwest, Washington, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus calling him, “a fearless champion of jusD.C., where he was to be honored. Come- and broke barriers as the first African this has been hard. I know that you’ve tice who fought tirelessly for civil rights dian, an event honoree and the evefaced a lot. I know that you are worried American in Maryland history to hold the [and] equality for everyone, including his ning’s mistress of ceremonies, Meshelle, about your family. But this is a part of beloved Baltimore.” role of speaker pro tempore, the second thanked those whose shoulders on which highest position in the House of Deleyour destiny. And hopefully this portion “Our democracy is stronger because of she stood. A Baltimore Native, Meshelle, gates. of your destiny will lead to a better, a him,” the NAACP added. thanked Cummings for his service and better— a better Michael Cohen, a better Fellow Democratic Congressman, AnSince 1996, Cummings has representleadership.

Donald Trump, a better United States of thony Brown, who represents Maryland’s ed Maryland’s Seventh Congressional “I want to thank my Congressman America, and a better world. And I mean Fourth Congressional District, mourned District in the United States House Elijah Cummings. I want to thank Elijah of Representatives, where he served that from the depths of my heart.” the passing of a friend and counselor.

Cummings, who saw fit to let me work Cummings wrapped his remarks with “For nearly four decades, Maryland and on the Committee on Transportation with him at the [Congressional Black words that ring as prophetic in light of our nation has been shaped by [Cumand Infrastructure, the Committee on Caucus]. Elijah Cummings never left the Oversight and Government Reform, the his Oct. 17 passing. “When we’re dancing mings’] efforts to advance civil rights and neighborhood where they say the rats with the angels, the question we’ll be tackle injustice, promote economic well House Benghazi Committee and recently live in. You can walk to Elijah Cummings became Chairman of the U.S. House and asked: In 2019, what did we do to make being and uplift those left behind,” Brown house right now, and if he’s home, he’ll sure we kept our democracy intact? Did wrote in a statement. “Elijah was a force Oversight Committee. He was also a open the door,” she told the crowd, not we stand on the sidelines and say nothof nature and lived a courageous life of member of caucuses including, the Conknowing he would pass away only hours ing?’” purpose. He saw our country as a place gressional Arts Caucus, the Congressiolater.

In late July, the President took to Twitwhere anything is possible and strived nal Progressive Caucus and the CongresCummings was born, lived and died a ter to call Cummings’ District a, “disgustto make a better world. Elijah was never sional Black Caucus, which he chaired Baltimorean. He was born Jan. 18, 1951 ing, rat and rodent infested mess,” and afraid to stand for his beliefs and he from 2003-2005. in Baltimore, graduated with honors from accused him of being a “racist,” who did never lost sight of those he served—espeIn addition to his legislative duties, Baltimore City College, and died at Johns Cummings wrote a regular column for not spend enough time in his city. cially the people of Baltimore.”

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

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It’s all love in Aliquippa ALIQUIPPA FROM A1

DARRELLE REVIS, A SEVEN-TIME NFL PRO-BOWLER, far left, with family. Revis played football at Aliquippa High School. (Photos by Kenneth Ogilvie)

QUIP MOVERS AND SHAKERS—”Soul Take Champions Live” Co-Host Kevin Cameron, Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker, Ty Law, Darrelle Revis

many small towns in Western Pa. that slowly saw its economic base shipped overseas and elsewhere. But, through it all, Donora managed to maintain its all-American base and dignity.

As Aliquippa showcased the legends on this summer Aug. 30 evening, I think of my old stomping grounds, where Donora had their legends: Ken Griffey Sr., Malcolm Lomax, Dane Tart, Reggie Walton, Bernie Galiffa and others. It was the same, just different names.

It was incredible that the family and close friends of Law, Revis and Gilbert were here to take it all in. After all, they are the ones that have been with these prominent figures through thick and thin.

For those who don’t know, Ditka (who was not in attendance for the Aug. 30 event) was an incredible player who won an NFL Championship in 1963 and a Super Bowl (VI). He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961, and a five-time Pro-Bowler. And let’s not forget about his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1988—just a few years after coaching his beloved Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory. Yes, he was that good.

Law made his mark with the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowls as part of a tough defensive group. He had 57 career interceptions, a seven-time Pro-Bowler, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame this year.

Gilbert was the big fella for teams, playing defensive tackle. He played in the NFL from 1992 to 2003, and recorded 10.5

on the opposing team’s best receiver, and Revis would oftentimes win the battle.

He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and won Super Bowl XLIX with the New England Patriots.

This evening was made possible by Aliquippa native Kevin Cameron, my cohost on the radio show “Soul Take—Champions Live.” Also, it was made possible via the partnership with the Aliquippa coaching staff and head coach Mike Warfield (who by the way, won a state title in his first year as the new head coach… in case you’ve been under an Aliquippa rock!), the school district and of course, our good friend Mayor Dwan B. Walker, the man who just flat out gets this done.

And of course we can’t forget about retired Aliquippa Athletic Director Mike Zmijanac.

And there were many unforgettable moments that night. The crowd that welcomed us and our crew with the greatest hospitality ever; the families of the legends who let us in their world; and not to forget the team that treated us like part of the operation.

That being said, I’ll have to live a thousand more Friday nights before I am privileged to be in the company of and have the opportunity to interview the likes of Hall of Famer Ty Law, and, in most people’s assumptions, future Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis. The only thing greater than their talent and NFL accomplishments is their humility. You only needed to witness how they “welcomed in” and interacted with the Aliquippa kids to really appreciate

THE GILBERT FAMILY sacks in 2003 with the Los Angeles Rams, earning him a Pro Bowl spot.

As for Revis, he had his own “island.” His coaches would match Revis, a cornerback,

what true champions are made of.

“Mr. Law and Mr. Revis have been visibly active in the Aliquippa community throughout their outstanding careers.

Whether monetarily or being available to speak with our kids, their time and visibility to our youth is the ultimate ‘give back’ and we can’t thank them enough for it,” said current Aliquippa Athletic Director Brandon LeDonne, in an Oct. 18 statement to the New Pittsburgh Courier.

This season, Aliquippa’s football team is on a roll. I mean, what else would you expect? They’re 9-0, with one game left in the regular season (Oct. 25 vs. Central Valley). Aliquippa has won a record 17 WPIAL titles, played 28 championship games, including 11 straight, three state football championships, produced 11 NFL players and two Hall of Famers.

We could do another book on how, why, who, what, when, yada, yada, yada…the fact is and has always been, that Aliquippa is a football factor, but with it comes character because you can’t have one without the other.

When I asked, “how do you keep producing these great football players?” a prominent Aliquippa leader JUST BEFORE KICKOFF—Ty Law, “Soul Take Champions Live” Co-Host Kevin Cameron, simply said, “Aliquippa has heart.”

Darrelle Revis, New Pittsburgh Courier sports columnist and “Soul Take Champions Live” (Rob Taylor Jr. contributed to this story.)

Co-Host Bill Neal.

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Others follow us.

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Big first-anniversary celebration for Pitt’s Homewood Community Engagement Center PITT FROM A1

have if we were willing to share our resources, share our teaching that creates service in this community. And we knew that this community center could possibly be another beacon in Homewood if indeed we would put the energy and the resources into making something great happen in this community.”

On Oct. 18, 2018, more than 400 people were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the CEC, located at 622 N. Homewood Ave. It was the start of at least a 15-year commitment to the Homewood community by the University of Pittsburgh.

Daren Ellerbee, director of the Pitt Homewood CEC, told the New Pittsburgh Courier that in one year, there’s been a lot of “headway” made in attracting local residents to the center, and that “the best is yet to come. I want people to know that this place is here for them, that this place has programs and opportunities that can benefit them and their families,” she said.

Ellerbee noted the success of a youth advisory board organized through Pitt’s school of social work, which meets regularly at the CEC. The youth board started with 15 students, and it has now grown to more than 70.

There’s also the popular Justice Scholars program featuring students from nearby Westinghouse High School. Run by Pitt’s Assisted Communities & Schools department, the Justice Scholars program offers an opportunity for students to connect with Pitt and engage in a college-preparatory experience that helps their transition into a fouryear college or university.

Students in the Justice Scholars program as juniors or seniors at Westinghouse complete college-level papers and research projects.

The students meet regularly after school at the CEC. And the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, part of Pitt’s Innovation Institute, meets regularly at the CEC with local minority small business owners, offering consulting services, education and net-

working opportunities.

As the more than 200 people at this celebration enjoyed the burgers, chicken, corn on the cob and other refreshments (not to mention a DJ outside spinning everything from Boyz II Men to Justin Timberlake), Ellerbee was elated to announce the new health and wellness center that will open inside the CEC in early 2020.

“Medical consultations, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling,” Ellerbee said, “and we’re not swiping insurance cards, and we’re not replacing what (the Alma Illery Medical Center, a block away from the CEC) is providing the community right now. We’re committed to not replacing or replicating the assets that are already here.”

But Pitt is making a concerted effort to use their collective resources into making a difference in Homewood and the surrounding neighborhoods.

“I’m elated to be in Homewood, a part of our community, connecting,” Dr. Humphrey said. “I always

URA approves housing and investment plan on Civic Arena site URA FROM A1

funding—an estimated $40 million—available up front to the Greater Hill District Reinvestment Fund, which is controlled by the community. The board also gave preliminary approval to Intergen, a Hill District-based developer, to begin take-down work on several lots. The mixed-use development will include a music venue, retail, parking garage and 288 units of housing.

In a letter sent Thursday, Oct. 17, to Mayor Bill Peduto, Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and URA Board Chair Sam Williamson, several Hill District stakeholders requested that votes be delayed until this week and that the Oct. 18 meeting be used to provide an update on the public process. The letter was sent by the Hill Community Development Corporation (Hill CDC), residents, business owners and community leaders.

At the request of advocates, the URA board on Oct. 18 unanimously approved a motion to formally recognize the letter and create a working group to present an action plan to the URA within 30 days.

The plan will outline which items can be moved by the URA and which items can be moved by other entities.

The Hill CDC-led letter made several recommendations, including: Removing the condition that commitments made by Pittsburgh Arena Real Estate Redevelopment (PAR), the Pittsburgh Penguins’ development arm, be “commercially reasonable.”

Create more affordable housing, either by pursuing affordability for 30 percent of Blocks A and B of the development at or below 50 percent AMI for the length of any loan terms or by pursuing affordability for 20 percent of all Lower Hill housing units at or below 50 percent AMI for the length of any loan terms.

If PAR contributes half of the LERTA funding up front to the Greater Hill District Reinvestment Fund—meaning that the funding would be made accessible sooner—the city should try to recapture more than $200 million in funding commitments that were made by various entities in connection with a failed application for the federal CHOICE Implementation Grant. The money would have been used for development in the Middle Hill District.

Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill CDC, asked that the board

formally adopt the principles of the letter.

The board did make some revisions to the terms agreement, including limiting or removing the commercially reasonable standard to the extent possible and amending the agreement’s language about funding for the rehabilitation of the Ammon Community Recreation Center to not limit the facility’s rehabilitation to the elements already included in the agreement.

But URA board members said some of the letter’s recommendations were outside of the scope of the URA. “I don’t disagree with 99 percent of the letter. It’s spot-on as to what needs to happen,” said Diamonte Walker, URA interim executive director and Hill District resident. She suggested the URA identify the items within its control so it could be held accountable.

Walker stressed the importance of not postponing the vote. “If we don’t act today, if we don’t act now, we are pushing the can down the road and our children will not get the material investments they deserve, our residents will continue to be displaced,” Walker said. “I would not sit here as a Black woman and champion this if I thought for some reason this wasn’t feasible.”

Councilman Lavelle, who is co-treasurer of the URA board, stressed the need to capitalize on the reinvestment fund quickly. He said he was open to having monthly meetings to make sure the community is informed on the development process moving forward.

After the meeting, Milliones called the potential $40 million up front from PAR to fund the Greater Hill District Reinvestment Fund from PAR a “rare opportunity to redress that failed effort” of the unsuccessful HUD grant application.

“This is a great opportunity to say, ‘OK, we didn’t win the HUD money, but we have this money, so everybody bring their money back to the table,’” she said, adding that the more than $200 million in funding commitments related to the HUD application came from a variety of stakeholders, including universities, the city and the URA. “We want those funds back at the table and invested in the same footprint and the same focus area.”

As requested by attendees of the Oct. 10 meeting,

the URA board provided a breakdown of the Civic Arena project’s timeline and next steps, including pending votes through June.

Many of those dates have not yet been set.

The URA also provided a breakdown of the total public subsidies and public benefits for the project.

According to the URA, estimated public investment in the project is $80.65 million, including $40 million for the on-site LERTA. Total public benefit is estimated to be $97.83 million, including $40 million from the off-site LERTA to go to the Greater Hill District Reinvestment Fund.

Milliones said the URA’s breakdown of the public subsidies and benefits differs from that of the Hill CDC. The Hill CDC estimated the public subsidy to be $99 million, with the known public benefit being $1 million, not considering the value of the rehabilitation of Ammon Recreation Center, the affordable housing, and other proposed benefits with unknown dollar amounts.

Kevin Acklin, senior vice president and general counsel for the Pittsburgh Penguins, said at the meeting: “Our commitment on behalf of the Penguins is to be as transparent as possible, as collaborative as possible.” Acklin recognized the historic distrust between the Hill District and the city. “For decades upon decades, the Hill District has been disenfranchised and disconnected from development and economic opportunities on behalf of the city,” Acklin said. “Our commitment … is to use this development as a way to reconnect the Hill to the city.”

Acklin and members of the URA board stressed that the Oct. 18 vote was the first in a series of votes by multiple entities, including the Sports and Exhibition Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. “All of these issues will be vetted over and over again,” Acklin said.

Bomani Howze, a Hill District resident and part of the Intergen development team, spoke at the meeting about growing up in the Hill District and of his grandparents’ displacement in the neighborhood.

“I want you to understand that as developers, we are not on the other side,” Howze said. “We are with you.

This is our charge.”

(Juliette Rihl is a reporter for PublicSource. She can be reached at juliette@publicsource.org.)

KATHY HUMPHREY, left in black and pink, Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for engagement and secretary of the board of trustees, line dances at the first-anniversary celebration for Pitt’s Homewood Community Engagement Center, Oct. 16. (Photo by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) say the word community means, ‘to be in union with’—means, ‘to be connected to.’ It doesn’t mean that you’re walking together; it means that you are connected as you’re walking together, and that’s our grandest hope for our CEC here in Homewood.”

Ellerbee told the Courier her biggest challenge throughout the first year has been increasing awareness of the center. Sure, there have been “thousands” that have taken advantage of the services at the Homewood CEC, ac-

cording to Dr. Humphrey, but Ellerbee wants even more.

“I’m a little stingy,” she said. “I want every resident within a 10-mile radius of the center to get here and participate. It’s just about getting the word out, expanding our coverage area.”

Ellerbee grew up in East Hills and graduated from Pitt with a bachelor’s degree in English. After obtaining a master’s degree from Robert Morris University, she’s currently in Pitt’s doctorate program in Urban Education. She hopes

that the CEC she leads can help more African American kids from Homewood and nearby areas to attend college—and possibly choose the Blue and Gold.

“I want people to really identify with Pitt outside of our sports teams,” Ellerbee told the Courier. “I feel like a lot of kids will celebrate Pitt basketball and football but they’re not making the connection that they could attend the college. My hope is that in the next 15 years, there are third-graders right now that could benefit from Pitt being here.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report The background tells the story Taking pictures is something that I truly enjoy. A picture tells a story and creates a memory that can be cherished forever. Since taking pictures is part of what I do for a living, I try to be conscious of what is in the background and what is surrounding the subjects.

Normally I will remove plates of food and table signs if they are in the way. Recently I asked a few people to leave their plates in the picture because the event revolved around food. Yes I do stage pictures; it is part of what I do to make you look your best.

You may be surprised where I am going with this story; it’s not my disdain for exit signs in the background, it’s my attention to detail in photos on dating sites. I just saw a screen shot of a man from a dating site. He did not have on a shirt and it appeared that he was sitting in a bathroom.

His upper body looked soft and plump. There appeared to be towels and washcloths in the background. What really got my attention was his statement “whether I have a house or not, if I date a girl with a house, I become the man of that house and she will listen to me or she can get out.”

Ladies and gentlemen when you are on social media looking for a mate, be careful. You can learn a lot from a picture. Look at that background—is there a lot of junk in the room?

Check out the décor; you can often tell if a man has decorated or if a lot of the furnishings were left behind by a former mate. Are they in a parking lot next to their car and not in the car? It might mean they don’t own the car they are taking the picture next to. Was there someone next to them in the picture that has been cut out with scissors or cropped out? How about pets?

If there are dogs and cats in the picture and you don’t like dogs and cats this is not the person for you and please don’t enter into the relationship thinking you can change someone.

It’s not going to happen. So before you hit like and want to engage with this stranger take a good look at the picture, not just the man or woman in the picture but what they are surrounded by.

Facebook has started a dating segment and I can only imagine the crazy situations that will fall out of those unions. I’m sure the “court TV shows” are loving social media because it gives them tons of cases to fill their dockets. So many of these couples that appear on Court TV have met on the internet. It is very hard to meet someone the old fashioned way. I want to know does anyone even try to meet someone in person anymore? Does it really happen? I’m asking for a friend.

(Looking for coverage for an event? Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

NAACP PRESIDENTS SUPPORT—Richard Stewart, Rev. Frank E. Hairston Allen and Curtis Page

WELCOME—Alan Duncan

Mon Valley NAACP holds 56th Annual Human Rights Banquet

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

“Our Voices, Our Engagement, Our Votes Matter!” was the theme of the annual Mon Valley NAACP Human Rights Banquet held at the St. Spyridon Hellenic Center on Sept. 7. With Pa. state Representative Summer Lee as keynote speaker and KDKA-TV reporter Bob Allen as Master of Ceremonies, guests from the Mon Valley area enjoyed a program that honored more than a dozen Mon Valley residents. The Monongahela Valley unit of the NAACP covers the MidMon Valley area including parts of Westmorland, Washington, Fayette and Allegheny counties. After a delightful dinner Rep. Lee spoke about the power of the people is greater than the people in power and that voting alone is not the answer. She said, “We have to get serious about how we use our vote to build power for marginalized people.”

The 2019 Mon Valley NAACP Awards were presented by MV NAACP president David Hunter. The awardees included: Councilwoman Rev. Lois Thomas/ Public Service; Elected Official, Legal/Law Enforcement (Randall Carlock); Legal/Law Enforcement (Richard Carlock); Education/Academics (Dr. Aaron Cook); Community Service (Jessica Anderson); Humanitarian (Raven Morris), Athletic/Sports (Richard Blainefield), Business (Desiree Lyon); and the MV NAACP Merit Award was

KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND MV NAACP PRESIDENT—Summer Lee and David Hunter (Photos by Debbie Norrell) presented to Rev. Lee Johnson, First Vice President, MV NAACP. The 2019 Student Awardees included: Chai Diggs, Brownsville HS – Academics; Damani Johnson, Belle Vernon HS – Athletics; Rayna Winston, Monessen HS – Community Service; and Carmen James Tyler, California HS – Performing Arts. The MV unit of the NAACP is a volunteer community based organization that was chartered in 1929.

The banquet committee included: Bonnie MaysHughes, Mary Lou Youngblood, Hazel Murray, Yvonne Duncan, Rowena Mason, Judith McNeil and 2019 STUDENT AWARDEES—Rayna Winston, Damani Johnson and Chai Diggs Betty McWilliams.

MV NAACP AWARDEES—Jessica Anderson, Raven Morris, Richard Blainefield

MV NAACP AWARDEES—Lois Thomas, Randall Carlock, Richard Carlock and Aaron Cook

MV NAACP AWARDEES—Desiree Lyon and Rev. Lee Johnson

MASTER OF CEREMONIES—Bob Allen

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15 honored at sixth annual ‘Passion Meets The Road’ event PASSION FROM A1

University, where she developed and directs the Juvenile Defender Clinic and Education Law Clinic.; and Timothy L. Smith, Executive Director for Center of Life and pastor of the Keystone Church of Hazelwood.

Center for Life is dedicated to empowering families and bringing economic revitalization to neighborhoods and communities.

There were four “entrepreneur” awardees, given to those who create pathways that lead to opportunities to serve others; Dr. Demarquis Clarke, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of the Center for Relational Change; Susan Coe, owner of Peace, Love and Zen, a holistic and wellness center located in the East End; Michele Montag and Lisa Nakamura, co-founders of Set Point, a martial arts and self-defense school where the art of self-defense is taught to women.

“Roadrunner” awards went to individuals who work and interact daily in lifting people up: Nathaniel Broadus, with Blackpacking Pittsburgh, an organization that takes groups on monthly hiking trips; he also works with men and women returning home from prison to help obtain work opportunities; Phyllis Jones, Westinghouse Girls Basketball Coach, who has served the school, community and girls basketball for many years; Michelle McMurray, Director of

Grantmaking for Children, Youth and Families at the Pittsburgh Foundation; her work focuses on reducing barriers to physical and mental health care, and improving economic self-sufficiency for children, youth and families; and Alissa Whyte, MED, Program Coordinator for Youth Advocate Programs’ Truancy Prevention Service.

Other features during the event were the soul-filled sounds of Jacquea Mae, the emceeing abilities of 1 Hood Media co-founder Jasiri X, and words of encouragement from Charles Cook, a personal trainer and life coach, who said that “passion is the force that drives the mission.

Passion is not acquired, it is developed and without it, the challenging work cannot be accomplished.”

Presenting the afternoon keynote was Dr. Andre Perry. A Pittsburgh native, Dr. Perry is a David M. Rubenstein Fellow in the metropolitan policy program at The Brookings Institution.

His recent scholarship at Brookings analyzes majority-Black places and institutions in America, focusing on highlighting valuable assets worthy of increased investment. As such, he presented the audience with a conversation reminding them overall that “we as people of color do not need to be fixed, that we’ve been devalued by others, but the key is recognizing our own value.”

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RELIGION

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NABHI CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

NCM Awards 2019

OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

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Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

Worship on Sunday: Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

HONOREES LUTHER AND ROXANNE SEWELL, at the NCM Awards 2019, held Oct. 4 at the Rivers Club.

(Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

HONOREE CLIFFORD “SLY JOCK” CHARLTON

HONOREE DR. KATHY HUMPHREY

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

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To place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar, Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh PA 15219 - or Email us! religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

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For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

JACQUE FIELDER of Nabhi Christian Ministries.

Church Circuit PRAYER BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER

OCTOBER 26—Hope Chapel Church, 1028 Chartiers Avenue, is holding a prayer breakfast fundraiser to benefit the congregation of Sheraden United Methodist Church, 2966 Chartiers Ave., which recently lost their church building due to a fire. The breakfast will be held at Hope Chapel Church from 9 a.m. to noon. A free will offering is being asked at the prayer breakfast, with all proceeds presented to Sheraden United Methodist Church on Sunday, Oct. 27 during their service at Christ Community Church in McKees Rocks. For more information or would like to attend the prayer breakfast, call 412-682-0243.

ASPINWALL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FALL BAZAAR

NOVEMBER 9—Aspinwall Presbyterian Church, 299 Center Ave., is holding its annual Fall Bazaar from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the church. There will be attic treasures, home goods, seasonal decorations, toys, furniture, a hot lunch and bake sale.

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

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BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

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Charlene Crowell

Commentary

Strengthen, not weaken CRA— Capitol Hill hearings urged

A PROUD RECIPIENT—In her Ross Park Mall location, Lundon Dunbar displays a sample of dresses sold in her boutique.

Making dreams happen Bridgeway Capital celebrates 29 years of assisting minority entrepreneurs

by Diane I. Daniels

now have larger display space.”

Excited about the growth of the business, she said Bridgeway For New Pittsburgh Courier has helped her not only with funding but also with budgeting It is often said that no one is an island, and no one can accom- and other technical assistance. “Everything is coming together plish their goals and dreams without the assistance of others. at the right time as I prepare for Black Friday, Small Business For the past 29 years, Bridgeway Capital has been proving that Saturday and the holiday season.”

Including Dunbar, Lundon has a staff of four. theory as they continuously provide financial assistance and “Bridgeway has achieved two milestones 29 years in the makeducation to potential and existing entrepreneurs in ing,” said its President and CEO T.J. Bogdewic during the communities across Western Pennsylvania. organization’s annual event, Aug. 16 at the August Wilson Lundon Dunbar, the owner of Lundon, a African American Cultural Center. “As of 2019, Bridgetrendy fashion boutique located in Ross Park way’s lending to African American owned and led busiMall, is one such dreamer. Introduced to nesses has surpassed the $30 million mark and our entrepreneurship at a young age by her lending to women-owned and led businesses has surfather who owned a convenient store on passed fifty million dollars.” the North Side, Dunbar’s dream evolved Lundon and nine other businesses highlighted through time as she began developing her during the October 16 celebration are samples of the own niche, which started with her selling organization’s work. The others include: Black Forge jewelry in 2011. Expanding from vending Coffee House, Hazelwood Initiative, Supreme Trafto brick-and-mortar sites, first on Westfic Control, Father Ryan Arts Center, McKees Rocks ern Avenue, then Federal Street, as well CDC, Parkway Theater, Johnson’s Real Estate, Rivas an expansion of inventory to clothing, erside Family Market and Pearl’s Serenity House. shoes and handbags, the store (which at the Founded by its former president and CEO Mark Petime was called Thailand) in 2017 moved to terson, Bridgeway Capital is a nonprofit that provides the mall located in Ross Township in a 3,600 loans and business education to entrepreneurs and square-foot corner location. Until recently movsmall businesses. Its mission is to make Western ing to a new location in the mall, Dunbar has been Pennsylvania a thriving region for all by proself-funded. moting economic opportunity and comIntroduced to Bridgeway Capital by a munity revitalization. By assistbusiness acquaintance, she says the ing underserved populations organization is assisting her their goal is to ignite busiin further fulfilling her ness and job growth, to dream with a $25,000 develop communities, loan. “I used their fund to support entrepreing to expand inventory and to purchase addition- FINAL WORDS—Former Bridgeway Capital President and CEO Mark Peterson gives his fareSEE DREAMS B2 al manikins because I well speech. (Photos by Courier photographer Diane I. Daniels)

For more than 40 years, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has served as a mechanism for the federal government to hold banks and other depository institutions accountable for meeting the credit needs of low and moderate income (LMI) neighborhoods. Enacted in 1977, the CRA has the power to influence applications for bank mergers, charters, acquisitions, and branch openings.

On Oct. 4, a bicameral group of Capitol Hill lawmakers wrote a letter to federal regulators, making clear the need for CRA to be strengthened—not weakened—under the guise of modernization. The letter also requests hearings on the issue in both the House Financial Services Committee and in the Senate Banking Committee.

Although the lawmakers acknowledged how banking, like so many other industries, has changed over several decades, the thrust of their letter was that any modernization must also reflect CRA’s original intent: to serve all communities with “the types of credit and investment those communities need.”

“Regulators cannot determine how a bank is serving the needs of its local community by relying on a simple ratio or dollar volume metric”, wrote 21 Members of Congress and 8 U.S. Senators. “Instead examiners should review whether banks are reaching the borrowers and neighborhoods that CRA was intended to serve.”

“While it is important that, in the face of new technologies and products, we appropriately assess lenders’ efforts to serve all communities with the types of credit and investment those communities need, it is even more essential that the original purpose of the law not be undermined,” added the lawmakers.

The lawmakers’ concerns are reinforced by worsening income inequality and the growing and persistent racial wealth gap.

For example, a 2018 joint report by the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program and Gallup, found that when it comes to race, the economic playing field is far from equal. The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods, published last November, zeroed in on homeownership, often the building block for financial stability, wealth accumulation, and how well the credit needs, i.e. mortgages, of a community are being met. This report’s key finding was that owner-occupied homes in Black neighborhoods are undervalued by $48,000 per home on average, a cumulative loss of $156 billion.

“Laws have changed, but the value of assets—buildings, schools, leadership, and land itself—are inextricably linked to the perceptions of Black people, states the Brookings report. “And those negative SEE CRA B2

Cain Hayes talks healthcare, partnerships and potential at PowerBreakfast meeting

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Cain Hayes, CEO of Gateway Health, joked that though he’s only been running the healthcare system since November, many in the audience at the Oct. 18 African American Chamber of Commerce PowerBreakfast meeting knew him because he’s a “double boomerang,” having worked here in the financial services industry right after college and again in the early 2000s. He said he is thrilled to be back a third time and running Gateway.

After giving a brief summary of his career, he talked about Gateway, its mission, his strategic vision for the organization and

its commitment to partnering with small and diverse businesses.

“We serve 330,000 members in Pennsylvania alone, and 100 percent of them are eligible for some kind of government-subsidized care.

They are the poorest, most underserved and most atrisk among our population,” he said. “Our vision is that Gateway be recognized as the leader in total health.”

He then explained that, according to Pew Foundation research, only 20 percent of a person’s overall health is determined by outcomes related to clinical care—check-ups, surgery, etc. The other 80 percent is determined by genetic (20 percent) and social determinants like where one

lives, access to health food, transportation, employment and housing.

“So if social determinants are 80 percent of someone’s health, we should focus 80 percent of our attention on them. Gateway has a 30-year history providing holistic care,” he said. “We have a database of 3,000 service providers we partner with who can address and assist our members with services. Ultimately, we want to help people become self-reliant, however they define that term.”

As for working with small business, Hayes said Gateway spends tens of millions with small and diverse businesses, not just on supplies and consumables, but on professional services

such as IT, consulting, operations, and marketing.

“It’s critical to our success, and it’s smart business,” he said. “But we can always do better and we’re open to dialog about how we might do that.”

During the brief question-and-answer period that followed his remarks, Hayes—at Chamber President and CEO Doris Carson Williams’ request—defined the difference between Medicaid and Medicare: the first was originally started to serve poor women with infants, the second is for the opposite end of the spectrum; anyone age 65 or older is eligible for MediPOWERBREAKFAST SPEAKER—Cain Hayes talked about Gateway, care. its mission, his strategic vision and partnering with small and diSEE HAYES B2 verse businesses. (Photo by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

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BUSINESS

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5 Black-owned companies that make $500 million or more There are more than 2 million businesses in the United States that are owned by African Americans, but most are small operations with very few employees. However, there are many Black-owned businesses that employ hundreds or thousands of people, and generate annual revenues of $100 million or more—some even generate billions.

Here are 5 of them that you probably never heard of: #1—World Wide Technology Inc: Based in Maryland Heights, Missouri, this is a global IT company that serves the technology needs of large public and private organizations. Founded by David L. Steward, this company has long been the largest Black-owned business and has grown to more than $6.7 billion in annual revenue with more than 3,000 employees.

Even more, they have more than 2 million square feet of warehousing, distribution and integration space. And yes, they are Black-owned! #2—ACT-1 Group: Based in Torrance, California, this company provides staffing, human resources and management solutions to Fortune 500 companies in indus-

BILLIONAIRES DAVID L. STEWARD AND JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD tries from entertainment to technology, more than $2.2 billion a year! Not just and finance to biotech. Founded by Janice Black-owned, also woman-owned!

Bryant Howroyd, this company generates #3—The Anderson-Dubose Compa-

Strengthen, not weaken CRA

BUSINESS CALENDAR Business Accounting Workshop

OCT. 29—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present First Step: Get Behind The Number, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. This hands-on workshop takes a step-by-step approach to explain two important financial statements: Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet. The session will be led by representatives from Wilke & Associates, CPAs & Business Advisors. Cost: $25.

Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

Special Business Breakfast Meeting

NOV. 5—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania will host a special breakfast meeting with United States Steel President and CEO David Burritt who will discuss engaging with Chamber members and his plans to help revitalize the Mon Valley. Cost; $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Call 412-392-0610 for more information.

Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series

NOV. 8—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center will host URA Deputy Director Diamonte Walker, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the James Laughlin Music Center on the Chatham Shadyside Campus.

Walker will discuss the power of entrepreneurship in 21st-century organizations, and about her approach to accelerating business and career growth by building a dynamic personal brand and enhancing the brand of the employer. Cost: $25, $12 for non-Chatham students and veterans. call 412-365-2779 for more information.

Sales Training Event

NOV. 15—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host Sales Boot Camp, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. Learn proven techniques to create predictable, consistent sales results that lead to long-term customers who are willing to give references. Topics include: cold calling; presentations skills; handling objections; getting the asking price, and more. Cost: $399 and includes breakfast and lunch. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

Website Workshop

NOV. 19—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present Boost Your Website’s Visibility: SEO 101, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282.

Many small businesses struggle with ranking their website highly on search engine results pages. This workshop will present key techniques to increase website visibility such as: optimizing content; how Google Search works; organic results/paid ads; Google SEO tools, and more. Cost: $35. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

Certification Webinar

The Chatham University Women’s Business Center will present Certification & Beyond—The Advantages of Certification For Your Woman Owned Business. Learn the basics of certification and its benefits for small businesses. The online session will be led by Joanne Peterson and Marian Neilson of Abator’s Get Diversity Certified. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Call Mitra Saeidi at 412-365-1448 for more information.

Two-Day QuickBooks Advanced Tutorial

DEC. 11 & DEC. 18—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present QuickBooks Advanced for desktop software users, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. This workshop is tailored to QuickBooks Desktop users that are interested in learning in-depth topics like money management, expense billing, and reconcile bank statements. Day one topics include: Inventory; Time and Billing; Company file setup and preferences, and Adjustments and yearend procedures. Day two topics: Sales tax payable; Payroll set up, and Payroll processing. Cost: $49. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

ny: Based in Lordstown, Ohio, this company provides logistics solutions and unparalleled service to the world’s most elite corporations in the quick service industry.

Founded by Warren E. Anderson, they have more than 400 employees, and generate more than $540 million in annual revenue. Black-owned—check! #4—Global Alliance Automotive: Based in Detroit, Michigan, this company is a global automotive parts supplier. As a worldwide group of independent representation companies, they are an adequate contemporary answer to recent major structural changes within the automotive industry. They pull in about $520 million every year in revenue. Black-owned? Yes, indeed! #5—Thompson Hospitality: Based in Reston, Va., this company is the largest minority-owned food service management company in the country. Founded by Warren M. Thompson, they were recognized in 2010 as “Company of the Year” by Black Enterprise Magazine. They have more than 4,000 employees, and their annual revenues are just shy of $500 million.

Again, Black-owned!

CRA FROM B1

perceptions persist.”

More recently and this spring, the Roosevelt Institute, the nonprofit partner to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society collaborated with the Ford Foundation in a multi-phased project on the nation’s nagging racial wealth gap (RWG). Their report states in part, “The research illustrated how solutions that were long assumed to lessen economic inequality—such as equalizing wages and educational opportunities and outcomes—will not actually close the RWG.” One of the key conclusions reached in the Ford-sponsored research was “[t]he problem is structural and historical, not individual”.

In other words, systemic, long-term approaches—not quick fixes—are essential to achieving racial economic parity. Just as the full faith and credit of the United States backs deposits of these institutions, it seems fair to hold them accountable to serve the entire public—especially consumers and communities that include low-to-moderate income households.

At the same time, it is equally important that federal financial regu-

lators speak and act with a united voice, dedicated to equity and fairness. The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, more commonly known as FDIC, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) must speak and act in unison with financial equity as their ultimate goal. If financial policies can lay the groundwork for broad and sustained economic progress, they will well serve the nation, and begin to address the persistent racial wealth gap.

“Now is the time for consumers,

communities, small businesses and others to remind our leaders that CRA is a vital part of our collective economic futures,” said Nikitra Bailey, an EVP with the Center for Responsible Lending. “Access to mortgages, small business loans, and community development capital are just as much a part of CRA as preserving full-service bank branches.”

(Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

Bridgeway Capital making dreams happen DREAMS FROM B1

neurs and to expand vital services that strengthen the region.

Updating an audience of over 500, Bogdewic, president and CEO since July, indicated that Peterson, parting president and CEO, left Bridgeway on a high note. “As of Sept. 30, 2019, our fiscal year end, Bridgeway’s total assets had risen to over $105 million and total loans on our balance sheet grew 15 percent to over $70 million. We are putting that money to work. Bridgeway had record deployment with over $23 million in loans made.”

He also reported that their funding has enabled borrowers to leverage an additional $52 million from other sources of capital, bringing the total dollar impact generated in 2019 to over $70 million in communities across Western Pennsylvania.

Bogdewic also pointed out that Bridgeway’s success is also in its clients and their communities. “It is the work our clients do every day,” he said. “They are building good schools and quality affordable housing. Last year, Bridgeway’s loans funded the construction of 164 affordable homes and our nonprofit clients are building new community assets and expanding the services they provide. We made almost $3 million in loans to nonprofits. Our clients are putting up storefronts that tell everyone that passes by that their towns are open for business. And they are BRIDGEWAY BOARD CHAIRPERSON CHUCK BROFF, former pres- creating jobs. In the past year alone, Bridgeway’s lending ident and CEO Mark Peterson and current president and CEO T.J. enabled entrepreneurs and small business to create or reBogdewic. (Photo by Courier photographer Diane I. Daniels) tain over 800 jobs across Western Pennsylvania.”

Cain Hayes at PowerBreakfast HAYES FROM B1

Naturally, he was asked about “Medicare for all.” It was inevitable, he said.

“Whether you think this is the greatest idea since sliced bread or you think it’s the dumbest idea in the world, let me just give you some numbers,” he said.

“First of all, health is a $3.4 trillion per year industry.

There are 330 million people in the country; 180 million are insured through their employers and are generally satisfied; another 120 million are already insured through the government; of the 30 million left, 15 million are eligible for care through their employers, but don’t take it. That leaves 15 million people without coverage—it’s a lot of people, but it’s also only 5 percent of the population.

Are you willing to upend a $3.4 trillion industry...for 5 THANKING SPEAKER—Doris Carson Williams and Samuel J. Stephenson thank Cain Hayes, center, for speaking to Chamber members. (Photo by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) percent?”

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

B3

The Urban League Movement has had few greater champions in Congress than Elijah Cummings

Guest Editorial

Hispanics, Blacks have much in common but still miles apart October is designated as National Hispanic Heritage Month. But what do we know about our Hispanic neighbors and fellow Americans?

We acknowledge that October is a better time for celebrations than February with its frigid temperatures when Blacks celebrate our history. After that, most Blacks are in the dark when it comes to understanding the nuanced traditions, proud legacies and difficult journeys traveled by Hispanics in making America their home and capturing their piece of the proverbial pie. Sadly, the reverse is probably true too with Hispanics knowing very little about Blacks. We are two races of color, more often relegated to the margins of society, who tend to live isolated or insulated from one another, youth attending urban public schools being one of only a few exceptions.

That said, perhaps those of us who are older and more entrenched in our views and prejudices can learn something from today’s youth. If these children, Black and brown, can learn together, play together, grow together—even love one another despite outward differences—then why can’t we do the same?

What if Blacks and Hispanics made intentional, meaningful efforts to learn more about each other?

What if we ignored the rhetoric that our nation has long perpetuated about our two distinct cultures and set upon a path to become friends, colleagues and co-workers in the fight for true equality in America? Hispanics make up 18.3 percent of the U.S. population and are therefore America’s largest minority group. But stereotypes about them continue to dominate the perceptions held by Americans.

For example, while the U.S. has never adopted an official language, we lament when we hear our fellow Americans speaking Spanish, even though America’s count of 58 million Hispanics is greater than the population of Spain and only second to that of Mexico. If we knew the languages of our ancestors from the African continent, wouldn’t we proudly speak those words whenever we gathered together?

Blacks did not create the denigrating myths about Hispanics or Hispanic cultures. That was the hard work of the world’s Anglophones. Why have Blacks been so eager to get on board? With the Census coming our way and with the next election for president also on the horizon, we would be wise to consider forming alliances, crossing bridges that we have allowed to separate us for centuries so we might join forces.

We are, truth be told, more alike than unalike.

Founded 1910

To Be Equal her guidance, 11-year-old Cummings and other Black boys leaped into a formerly all-White swimming pool in Baltimore, triggering mob violence that left him with a lifelong scar.

It was the proprietor of the drugstore where Cummings worked as a teenager who paid his application fee to Howard University. He thrived at Howard, earning his degree in political science in 1973 and his law degree at University of Maryland three years later.

He entered public service in 1983 as a member of Maryland’s House of Delegates. He was the first African American to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore. After winning his seat in Congress with more than 80 percent of the vote, he was reelected 11 times with overwhelming majorities.

The Urban League Movement had few greater champions in Congress than Cummings, who led major initiatives to promote economic justice, civil rights, voter protection and educational opportunity.

This year alone, legislation he introduced that mirrors Urban League policy includes a proposal

to facilitate partnerships between the Small Business Administration and HBCUs to establish Small Business Development Centers.

His Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act would ease barriers to reentry by providing incarcerated individuals with the educational opportunities they need to successfully reenter their communities upon release. The SAFE Lending Act would crack down on some of the worst abuses of the payday lending industry and protect consumers from deceptive and predatory practices that strip wealth from working families.

He was a champion for voting rights, making an impassioned plea on the House floor against voter suppression: “On my mother’s dying bed, 92 years old, former sharecropper, her last words were, ‘Do not let them take our votes away from us,’” he said. “She had fought and seen people harmed, beaten, trying to vote.

Talk about inalienable rights. Voting is crucial. And I don’t give a damn how you look at it: There are efforts to stop people from voting. That’s not right. This is not Russia. This is the United States of America.”

Cummings saw his responsibility to conduct oversight of the President as a Constitutional imperative, but his responsibility to serve his constituents as a moral imperative. The nation needs leaders like Cummings who are guided by honor and comported by dignity. We grieve his loss and offer our deepest condolences to his family.

Trump’s favorite dictator Egypt, which along with Tunisia was at the heart of the 2011-2012 “Arab Spring”, is in the midst of a new upsurge. It is premature to call it an uprising, but something is afoot in Egypt in opposition to the repression and corruption of the el-Sisi regime.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power in 2013 in Egypt as a result of a military-led hijacking of a massive protest against the power-grab by the administration of former President Mohamed Morsi. Instead of deepening the process of democratization in Egypt, el-Sisi and his military cohorts reversed course and re-created a strongly authoritarian state. Dissent has been largely crushed, or at least so it seemed until very recently.

When Donald Trump allegedly referred to el-Sisi as his ‘favorite dictator’ that said a great deal about both el-Sisi and Trump. What it said about el-Sisi was to remind the world that his regime is among the favorite of the United States elite in its policies in the Middle East and North Africa. El-Sisi has no interest in pro-

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Commentary

pression conducted by el-Sisi. In fact, Trump applauded el-Sisi, offering the view that el-Sisi had brought order to chaos and that el-Sisi was a great leader.

El-Sisi’s regime has clamped down on non-governmental organizations, independent trade unions, and members of the press. There is nothing in this regime that would suggest an expansion on human rights and political liberties. But the point is that this is irrelevant to the Trump administration.

Despite Trump’s applause of el-Sisi, thousands of Egyptians, seemingly out of nowhere, began protests against corruption and human rights abuses by the governing regime.

There is no way to anticipate whether this will be a brief episode or whether it will evolve into something that threatens the regime. What can be said, however, is that el-Sisi and Trump appear to be trying to keep a bubble—the Egyptian people—under water.

That rarely works.

viding assistance to the beleaguered Palestinians, is actively participating in the further destabilization of the internal situation in Libya and has worked to subvert the Sudanese Revolution.

What it said about Trump was to remind us that this is an administration that does not even pretend to have scruples. Just as they have covered for the Saudi Arabian monarchy in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi (while he was in Istanbul), going so far as to suggest that a financial relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia was more important than human rights, the Trump administration has (Bill Fletcher Jr. is the executive editor of been quite willing to support the rewww.globalafricanworker.com.)

Letters To The Editor

Blackface is never funny!

Dear Editor: As a faculty member and advisor to the Black Law Students Union several years ago, four Black students approached me one Monday morning. There was a Halloween Party over the weekend and a White student came dressed in blackface and an Afro wig. The students were incensed and wanted the White student suspended from school and arrested! One may ask why was there such outrage and dismay by the Black students? Well a mini-history lesson is in order.

Historian Dale Cockrell once noted that poor and working-class Whites who felt “squeezed politically, economically, and socially from the top, but also from the bottom, invented minstrelsy” as a way of expressing the oppression that marked being members of the majority, but outside of the White norm. Minstrelsy, comedic performances of “blackness”

by Whites in exaggerated costumes

and make-up, cannot be separated fully from the racial derision and stereotyping at its core. By distorting the features and culture of African Americans—including their looks, language, dance, deportment, and character—White Americans were able to codify whiteness across class and geopolitical lines as its antithesis.

Halloween costumes at colleges and universities across the country continue to battle against students and professors engaging in blackface performances. In each instance, those identified for blackface performances insist no malice or racial hatred was intended. They believe that no harm was done, but they are wrong.

Blackface by Whites reinforces the idea that Black people are appropriate targets of ridicule and mockery and reminds members of society of stereotypes about Black criminality, and danger. This often serves to support implicit bias and discrimina-

tory treatment and in areas from law enforcement to employment. The individual’s innermost thoughts does not change the impact blackface has on the people of all races or the way it reinforces stereotypes and the idea that blackness is, at best, a joke.

How funny is it to descendants of Jews to have a person dress up in a Nazi costume for Halloween? The Holocaust was not a joke for descents of Jews and slavery, humiliation and discrimination can never be found humorous to Blacks. A query that demonstrates the best explanation against the use of blackface is the answer to the question would these persons using blackface say to society “Yes, I’m Black”? Have we reached a point in society that race would not matter whether your Black or White?

I think not because race is the wound in society that will not heal.

Robert Berkley Harper Retired Professor of Law Stanton Heights

The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to:

Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

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Letters to the editor for publication

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“Steely yet compassionate, principled yet open to new perspectives, Chairman Cummings remained steadfast in his pursuit of truth, justice, and reconciliation. It’s a tribute to his native Baltimore that one of its own brought such character, tact, and resolve into the halls of power every day. And true to the giants of progress he followed into public service, Chairman Cummings stood tallest and most resolute when our country needed him the most.”—President Barack Obama It’s hard to express how just how great a loss the death of Elijah Cummings represents to the civil rights community.

He was in the public eye most recently for his role as Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, one of three House committees conducting an impeachment inquiry of President Trump. And he will be remembered for his passionate commitment to integrity in our public institutions.

His life, and his legacy, however, encompass so much more.

The many tributes to Cummings upon his death on Thursday noted that his life represented the American Dream. Specifically, it represented the African-American dream. He was a child of southern sharecroppers who headed north as part of the Great Migrations.

He was inspired to become a lawyer by NAACP National Youth Director Juanita Jackson Mitchell, the first African American woman to practice law in Maryland. Under

Letters to the Editor New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

PROGRAM MANAGER

CYF (Children, Youth & Families) SPECIALIST

Help Us Change Lives: Auberle Seeks a Program Manager for our Long-Term Residential Drug & Alcohol Family Treatment Program, the Family Healing Center Auberle, a nationally recognized, award winning human service organization serving thousands of children & families each year.

Auberle’s Family Healing Center, located in Mt. Oliver, is a longterm residential Drug & Alcohol treatment program serving families involved with Allegheny County Children, Youth, & Families who have at least one parent / caregiver struggling with addiction & at risk of having a child removed from their care. Program treats entire family through a variety services.

Seeking compassionate individual to fill a need for Program Manager.

Will supervise staff to Certified Recovery Specialists, Night Monitors & Case Aides. Master’s Degree in Social Work or other related field & 2+ yrs of relevant management exp. Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, a CAC, & 2 – 4+ yrs of relevant management exp acceptable.

Valid PA driver’s license, vehicle & proof of insurance. Criminal, child abuse, FBI clearance, pre-employment drug screening required.

Flexible schedule including evening & weekend availability.

Training opportunities & comprehensive benefits package. Apply on the Auberle website, www.auberle. org. EOE.

SOFTWARE ARCHITECT (JAVA) (MULTIPLE OPENINGS)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has multiple openings for Software Architect (Java) in Pittsburgh, PA. Participate in all aspects of PNC’s C&IB Treasury Payments MIS organization activities. Specific duties include: (i) work with business stakeholders to elicit business goals and quality requirements that act as design drivers; (ii) review and evaluate designs to determine satisfaction of requirements and design drivers and for compliance to standards; (iii) work along a strong design thinking team and be an expert in using technology to advocate for the customer; (iv) design a system using Design patterns with Secure, Scalable, Reusable, Maintainable and Quality aspects; (v) lead development teams through software development life cycle; (vi) maintain and evolve the architectures of existing systems; (vii) establish design and coding standards and best practices; (viii) perform code reviews for adherence to standards and best practices; (ix) perform Application Programming Interface (API) development, Application Security, and Performance Analysis and Tuning; and (x) perform governance of development teams to insure implementations are in accordance with high level design and established standards and best practices.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering plus 5 years of experience in a position requiring software architecture design, Java/J2EE application development, and overall software delivery is required. Must have experience with: (i) proposing viable technical solution designs based on specific technology stacks that support user and functional requirements, use cases and business objectives; (ii) designing applications using Design patterns and developing reusable components; (iii) application development methodologies including waterfall, agile development including SCRUM and Test Driven Development (TDD); (iv) Object Oriented design and development; (v) DevOps tools to support Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD); (vi) mentoring and leading technical team, performing design and code reviews; (vii) service oriented architecture and design, including security based implementations; (viii) large distributed applications and building highly available system; (ix) server-side technologies including Java/J2EE, Spring framework, SOAP and REST web services, and Hibernate; (x) web and application server configuration management including Tomcat and WebSphere; (xi) UNIX shell scripting; (xii) creating design documents using Visio software including component diagrams, UML sequence and class diagrams; (xiii) UI technologies including Angular, JavaScript, CSS, HTML and NPM; (xiv) design of relational databases including Oracle, NoSQL including Mongo DB; (xv) unit testing framework including JUnit, Mockito; and (xvi) Continuous Integration (CI) tools including Jenkins, Bitbucket/Git, SVN, UDeploy, Gradle, and Maven.

40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword R012174. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.

employment position available at the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

Job Summary: Provides consultation, outreach and services to families involved with the Office of Children Youth and Family Services (OCYF) experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV).

Send cover letter & resume by 11/1/19 to careers@wcspittsburgh. org *For additional information regarding this position, visit our website www.wcspittsburgh.org and find this job posting under the “Who We Are” menu.

CREATIVE PROJECT MANAGER

California University of Pennsylvania seeks to hire a full-time project manager who will be responsible for facilitating a range of creative projects as part of the integrated Communications & Marketing Office. The CPM works closely with the director of Creative Services to support all design, print, digital and video projects. A bachelor’s degree is required. For a detailed job description, position requirements and instructions for application, visit www.calu.edu; click on Employment near the bottom of the page, then Staff Positions. All applicants must apply online. “Don’t settle for someone else’s vision of your life.

Build your career at California University of Pennsylvania.”

Integrity, Civility and Responsibility are the official core values of California University of Pennsylvania, an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside seeks a Software Engineer in Allegheny County, PA to participate in all aspects of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for eBenefits Technology Department of hospital system, including design, engineer/build, develop, test and integrate Human Resources-based health benefits administration and management software applications, such as an Affordable Care Act fulfillment system and health benefit and decision guide system. Use mathematical models to analyze user needs and formulate solutions. Employ eBenefits architecture standards and programming protocols to implement ongoing system enhancements and integration of employer’s HR eBenefits platform. Reqs: Bach.

Deg. in Electrical Eng’g, Electronics Eng’g, Information Systems or related field; Two years exp. in job offered or any related occupation.

Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 1900016D in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Help Us Change Lives: Auberle Seeks a Clinical Supervisor for our Long-Term Residential Drug & Alcohol Family Treatment Program, the Family Healing Center Auberle, a nationally recognized, award winning human service organization serving thousands of children & families each year.

Auberle’s Family Healing Center, located in Mt. Oliver, is a longterm residential Drug & Alcohol treatment program serving families involved with Allegheny County Children, Youth, & Families who have at least one parent / caregiver struggling with addiction & at risk of having a child removed from their care.

Seeking individual to fill a Clinical Supervisor position. Supervise staff including Addictions Counselor, Child & Youth Development Specialists & Family Support Specialists. Master’s Degree in Chemical Dependency, Social Work, Counseling, or other related field & 2+ yrs of exp preferably in a drug & alcohol setting working with adults, children, & families. Bachelor’s Degree in a related field & 3+ yrs of relevant experience acceptable.

Valid PA driver’s license, vehicle & proof of ins. Criminal, child, FBI clearances & pre-employment drug screening required. Flexible schedule including evening availability.

Training opportunities & comprehensive benefits package. Apply on the Auberle website, www.auberle. org. EOE.“ ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the College will be held on: November 7, 2019 4:00 PM CCAC Allegheny CampusByers Hall 808 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC NEEDS HEARINGS CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA FISCAL YEARS 2020-2024 CONSOLIDATED PLAN and FISCAL YEAR 2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

Notice is hereby given that the City of Pittsburgh is currently preparing its FY 2020-2024 Five Year Consolidated Plan and FY 2020 Annual Action Plan (April 1, 2020-March 31, 2021). The City will apply for the following Federal funds: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

In accordance with 24 CFR Part 91, et. al., and the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, the City intends to conduct several public needs hearings.

The purpose of the needs hearings is to obtain the views and comments of individuals and organizations relative to housing and community development and fair housing needs that may be addressed by CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA funds during the next year.

The City will hold public needs hearings at the times and locations noted below. The hearings are being held at various locations to provide all City residents with ample opportunity to attend and comment. Interested persons only need to attend one of the public hearings at the most convenient location.

Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Foerster Student Services Center Auditorium and Lobby,, 800 Ridge Avenue, Pgh., PA 15212 Tuesday, Novembe 12, 2019 6:00 PM Sheraden Senior Center 720 Sherwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15204 Wednesday, November 13, 2019 6:00 PM Civic Building First Floor Conference Roon, 200 Ross Street, Pittsurgh, PA 15219 Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:00 PM Kingsley Association Community Room 6435 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Tuesday, November 13, 2019 6:00 PM Carnegie Library-Carrick Meeting Room 1811 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 Wednesday, November 20, 2019 6:00 PM All locations are accessible to the handicapped. Persons requiring special accommodations can make arrangements by contacting Ms. Elizabeth Daniels-Totten, CDBG Program Supervisor, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The phone number is (412) 255-0740, email is Elizabeth.Daniels-Totten@pittsburghpa.gov, fax number is (412) 393-0151, and the TDD number is 711.

The purpose of these public hearings is to: 1. Obtain the views and comments of individuals and organizations concerning the City’s housing and community development needs. The information gathered will be used in the preparation of the Consolidated Plan submission for the FY 2020 Program Year.

2. Review the City’s Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grants, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Programs and provide an opportunity for the public to comment on program performance.

3. Summarize the Consolidated Plan process and obtain the views of citizens, public agencies, and others interested in the housing and community development needs of the City.

4. Obtain the views and comments of individuals and organizations concerning fair housing barriers and impediments to fair housing choice in the City.

Based on last year’s funding, the City of Pittsburgh anticipates it will be notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it is eligible to receive the following entitlement grants in the following approximate amounts: $13,500,000 for CDBG; $2,000,000 for HOME; $1,000,000 for ESG; and $1,000,000 for HOPWA in FY 2020. These funding levels are contingent upon the final approval of the Federal Budget for FY 2020 by Congress. The City doesn’t anticipate notice of its funding allocation until the Spring of 2020. In order to receive those funds, the City of Pittsburgh must prepare a Five Year Consolidated Plan and a One Year Annual Action Plan for the use of Federal funds.

In addition, the City provides bilingual services to the Hispanic community. For assistance, please call (412) 255-0740, or email Elizabeth.Daniels-Totten@Pittsburghpa.gov, from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting time and date most convenient to request these services.

Food will be provided at the meetings, and child care may be available.

Please call 412-255-0740, or email Elizabeth.Daniels-Totten@Pittsburghpa.gov to confirm availability.

Written comments may be mailed to the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Community Development Division, attention Elizabeth Daniels-Totten, CDBG Program Supervisor, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or, emailed to Elizabeth.Daniels-Totten@Pittsburghpa.gov.

Whitney Finnstrom Senior Manager City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget ANNOUNCEMENTS

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MEETING

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its 2019 monthly meeting for October on Thursday, October 24, 2019. The board meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. @ 200 Ross Street, 13th Floor Wherrett Room, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 RENTAL SERVICE Unfurnished Apartments

APARTMENT FOR RENT

1 or 2 bedroom apartment for rent in Hill District. Close to public transportation. Security deposit required. $480.00 includes water.

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NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of David L. Fisher, deceased, Case No. 021906135 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on October 2, 2019, a Petition was filed by Mary Fisher to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of David L. Fisher, deceased, in the real estate located at 406 West Prospect Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, and determine that fee simple title is in Mary Fisher. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that David L. Fisher’s title is in Mary Fisher.

NOTICE OF TRUST ADMINISTRATION

The Trustee named below gives notice of the death of ELEANOR M. DEBSKI, late of the Borough of Bethel Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on September 3, 2019. During her lifetime, the said Decedent established a revocale trust under Trust Investment dated January 9, 2004, of which George R. Debski is the Trustee. The Trustee requests all persons having claims against the Decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the Decedent to make payment to him without delay: George R. Debski, Trustee, 7502 Pine Creek Drive, Bridgeville, PA 15017 or to: Todd A. Fuller, Atty., Brenlove & Fuller, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

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NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Frank E. Bennett, deceased, Case No. 021905581 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on September 5, 2019, a Petition was filed by Teresa Bennett, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Frank E. Bennett, deceased, in the real estate located at 322 Crane Avenue, Rear, Pittsburgh, PA, 15216, and determine that fee simple title is in Teresa Bennett. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Teresa Bennett will seek an Order adjudging that Decedent’s title is in herself.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Rose Lee Huggins, deceased, Case No. 021900528 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on September 13, 2019, a Petition was filed by Toni Huggins, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Rose Lee Huggins, deceased, in the real estate located at 2866 Cherry Street, Bethel Park, PA, 15102, and determine that fee simple title is in Toni Huggins. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Toni Huggins will seek an Order adjudging that Decedent’s title is in herself.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Robert L. Harvin, deceased, Case No. 021905975 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on September 24, 2019, a Petition was filed by Wanda Harvin to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Robert L. Harvin, deceased, in the real estate located at 7142 Idlewild Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, and determine that fee simple title is in Wanda Harvin. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that Robert L. Harvin’s title is in Wanda Harvin.

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Estate of MR. WILLIAM JESSE BRADFIELD, Deceased, of 134 Elm Lane, Moon Township, PA 15108. Estate No, 02-19-06195. Ms. Suzanne Bradfield, 134 Elm Lane, Moon Township, PA 15108, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of MR. DAVID H. BRADFIELD SR., Deceased, of 1329 Washington Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15017. Estate No, 02-19-06193.

Ms. Barbara Bradfield, 8215 Dog Leg Drive, Presto, PA 15142, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of MR. VAUGHN W. FINNEY, Deceased of 210 Fayette Avenue, Oakdale, PA 15071. Estate No. 02-19-06163 Ms. Nancy L. Finney, 142 Delmore Drive, Moon Township, PA 15108, Administratrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Offices of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

ESTATE NOTICE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of Mary L. McCaffrey Court Term No. 021906217, late of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned by the Director of Dept. of Court Records, Wills/Orphans Court Division of Allegheny County, notice is hereby given to all persons indebted to said estate to make immediate payment, and to those having claims against the same to present them to the undersigned, duly authenticated for settlement. Debra L. Moran, Executrix, 9151 Pine St., Pittsburgh, PA 15239, or to Cathy L. Brannigan, Esq., 15 Duff Rd., Suite 6C, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.

ESTATE NOTICE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of Shirley E. Coleman, Court Term No. 021906218, late of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned by the Director of Dept. of Court Records, Wills/Orphans Court Division of Allegheny County, notice is hereby given to all persons indebted to said estate to make immediate payment, and to those having claims against the same to present them to the undersigned, duly authenticated for settlement. Lawrence E. Coleman, Executor, 3009 Hebron Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15235, or to Cathy L. Brannigan, Esq., 15 Duff Rd., Suite 6C, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR Abatement of Hazardous Materials RFP #600-20-19REBID

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Professional Hazardous Materials Abatement Services The documents will be available no later than October 14, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 2:00 P.M., November 18, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Director of Procurement/ Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre-submission meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Development & Modernization 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 October 29, 2019 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download RFQ/IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time November 19, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2020 LEAD SERVICE LINE IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM PWSA PROJECT NO. 2020-325-100-0 It is the intent of the Authority to establish a contract to determine the location of each curb stop and the composition of both the public and private residential water service lines (1” diameter and less). In particular, the Authority is attempting to locate, inspect and identify selected Service Lines in the PWSA service area.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Nicole Dickun, Procurement Manager, via e-mail: ndickun@pgh2o.com, no later than November 12, 2019.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on October 24, 2019, 2:00 p.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

OCTOBER 23-29, 2019

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on November 5, 2019, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Obama 6-12 Gym A/C and Lighting Upgrades Mechanical, Electrical, and Asbestos Abatement Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on October 7, 2019 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time November 12, 2019 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment and supplies: REFUSE CONTAINER SERVICE General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pghschools. org Click on Our Community; Bid Opportunities; Purchasing - under Quick Links.

The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

BIDS

The Washington County Housing Authority will receive separate, and sealed bids for the following prime contract single bid with the Authority: FLOORING CORRECTIONS LINCOLN TERRACE 266 NORTH LINCOLN STREET WASHINGTON, PA 15301 WCHA 2019-G9 CONTRACT COMMISSION # 2519 & FLOORING CORRECTIONS MAPLE TERRACE 1100 MAPLE AVENUE WASHINGTON, PA 15301 WCHA 2019-G9 CONTRACT COMMISSION # 2519 A certified check or bank draft payable to the Washington County Housing Authority, a US Government Bond or satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the Bidder and acceptable sureties in the amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid shall be submitted with each bid.

Bids will be received no later than 1:30 PM EDT, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2019 at the Washington County Housing Authority, 100 Crumrine Tower, Franklin Street, Washington, PA 15301 at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids will be held by the Housing Authority for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days prior to the contract award.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at 10:00 AM EDT, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 starting onsite at Crumrine Tower, 100 South Franklin Street, Washington, Pa 15301 and then proceeding to Lincoln Terrace, 266 North Lincoln Street, Washington, Pa 15301 and Maple Terrace, 1100 Maple Avenue, Washington, Pa 15301.

Plans and Specifications may be examined at the following Plan Rooms: Builders Exchange, Cleveland, OH; Builders Exchange, Pittsburgh, PA; OVCEC, Wheeling, WV; and Construct Connect, Norcross, GA. A CD containing PDF’s of all bid documents may be obtained through the office of the Architect, Shaeffer & Madama, Inc., 57 Fourteenth Street, Wheeling, WV 26003 upon receipt of a $25.00 non-refundable payment and valid email address.

Please submit all required documents in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “WCHA Floor Corrections At Lincoln Terrace And Maple Terrace” The work to be performed under this contract is a Section 3 Project under provisions of the Housing & Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, and must, to the greatest extent feasible, provide opportunities for training and employment for lower-income residents of the project and contracts for work in connection with the project be awarded to business concerns which are located in, or owned by, Washington County residents. Particular attention is directed to requirements of Executive Order 11246, 11625 and 12138, as well as Section 3 requirements, as set forth in the Specifications.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids for any reason(s) what so ever and to waive informalities in the bidding.

STEPHEN K. HALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

INVITATION FOR BIDS:

The Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is requesting bids from qualified contractors for TRACTION ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION AT SPRINGDALE MANOR AND GOLDEN TOWER. The Allegheny County Housing Authority encourages responses from small and/ or certified Minority; Women; Disadvantaged and Veteran owned firms, as well as firms that have not previously performed work for the ACHA. LOCATIONS: SPRINGDALE MANOR, 504 Pittsburgh Street, Springdale, PA 15144 & GOLDEN TOWER, 215 Allegheny Street, Tarentum, PA 15084 CONTRACT: #ACHA-1621 DOCUMENTS: Drawings and Specifications will be on file after NOVEMBER 6, 2019 on the Pittsburgh Builder’s Exchange, or the McGraw-Hill websites, and Complete Contract Documents may be obtained after NOVEMBER 6, 2019 at the Allegheny County Housing Authority, 625 Stanwix Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, or by contacting the ACHA at 412-402-2464 or emailing ajamrom@achsng.com.

FEE: No Charge for Emailed documents; $10 for CD Media; $50 non-refundable fee (certified check or money order) is required for each set of paper Contract Documents; NOTE! A FedEx or UPS Number will be required for any Contract Documents requested to be delivered.

NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE: NOVEMBER 12, 2019, AT 10:00AM at Springdale Manor, 504 Pittsburgh Street, Springdale, PA 15144 BIDS DUE: 2:00 PM local time on DECEMBER 4, 2019 at the Allegheny County Housing Authority Board Room 625 Stanwix Street 12th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Frank Aggazio Executive Director Allegheny County Housing Authority

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR Authority Wide Site Improvements RFP #600-33-19REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Authority Wide Site Improvements The documents will be available no later than October 14, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 2:00 P.M., November 19, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Director of Procurement/ Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre submission meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Development & Modernization 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 October 30, 2019 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download RFQ/IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on November 5, 2019, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Dilworth PreK-5 Finish and Miscellaneous Work General and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Linden K-5 Toilet Rooms and Miscellaneous Renovations General, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Obama 6-12 Gym A/C and Lighting Upgrades Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pgh. Pioneer Replace Electrical Power Distribution System General and Electrical Primes Pgh. Weil PreK-5 Boiler Replacement Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on October 7, 2019 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority. org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on November 4, 2019 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness. portauthority.org) B191075A Diesel Engine Oil No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00am October 16, 2019 at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

APPRENTICESHIP

The Joint Apprenticeship Committee of the Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local #2, Pittsburgh, PA is accepting applications for consideration towards apprenticeship in the Mechanical System Insulator and Asbestos Worker Trade. Applications are accepted without regard to Race, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Age, or Disability. Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of application; have a high school diploma at the time of application or G.E.D. at the time of application; have a dependable form of transportation; and must be physically fit to perform the work of the trade. Applications must be obtained in person Monday through Saturday: October 28, through November 2, 2019 and Monday through Thursday: November 4 through November 7, 2019 between the hours of 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM at the Insulators Training Center, 109 Pleasant Drive Suite B, Aliquippa, PA 15001. Photo identification is required and there is a $25.00 (non-refundable) application-processing fee, to be paid by certified check or money order.

Support the publication that is ALWAYS focused on Pittsburgh’s African American community.

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OCTOBER 23-29, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Congressman Elijah Cummings— Conscience of the Congress (TriceEdneyWire.com)—President Lee Saunders, and Democratic activist and pastor Leah Daughtry took to the stage to have a conversation about politics, voting, and political courage.

Congressman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., was scheduled to attend the Spirit of Democracy awards dinner, hosted by the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) on October 16; he died just a few hours after the dinner concluded.

As Roland Martin led the three luminaries who received the Chairman’s award from NCBPC, it was clear that Cummings would have been right at home in the company of his colleagues.

It would have been great to hear his passionate voice thundering about the need to speak truth to power. As Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, he was known for his powerful and scathing attacks on this administration.

He never hesitated to use his investigative powers to check an administration replete with political chicanery and corruption. Indeed, he reportedly signed subpoenas from his hospital bed the evening before he made his transition.

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary I always enjoyed my interactions with Congressman Cummings. He was righton and righteous, humble and honest, and ever faithful to his roots.

He had no airs—and was proud to be the son of a sharecropping family.

He loved Black people and loved the Baltimore neighborhood that he never moved away from, commuting daily from Capitol Hill to his home. Cummings wielded a powerful influence, not only among other politicians regardless of political party, but also on his neighbors, taking to the street with a bullhorn to try to quell emotions in the wake of the police murder of Freddie Gray.

And for all his power, Cummings was also often measured. When 45 attacked his city by calling it a “rat-infested” place where no one wanted to live, Cummings held his powder and allowed others, including many Baltimoreans, to respond. And while he could be scathing in his questioning, he could also be kind and collegial, which explains why so many Republicans issued acclamatory statements upon his death. Cummings was guided by his faith and by his keen sense of right and wrong. He believed in our country and, more importantly, in our Constitution, which is why he was so very passionate about the need for those in power to adhere to it.

The Maryland congressman was also passionate about children, or the “generations yet unborn.” He chafed at the administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the border, challenging his colleagues in a booming voice, “We are better than this.”

For all his passion, thunder, and pointed criticism, he was also a notably kind and considerate man. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said of his colleague, “In a time of confrontation and disagreement and anger and, yes, sometimes hate, he was a beacon of civility, of fairness, of justice.” Many others echoed those sentiments, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi describing Cummings as “the conscience of the Congress.”

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R), must set a date for a special election for Cummings congressional seat. Until then, House Democrats will have to decide who assumes his chairmanship of the House Oversight Committee. Many say Cummings’ death will not slow the momentum for impeachment. Indeed, I hope that more members of Congress will emulate the Cummings’ passion for the Constitution and disdain for those who fail to honor it.

Speaker Pelosi has pledged to move swiftly on impeachment, and not a day goes by without 45 providing more reasons for impeachment. On the same day that Congressman Cummings died, the President, after issuing unusually compassionate condolences for the Cummings family, announced that the G-7 meeting next year will be held at the Trump resort in Miami. This is a direct violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution and a reflection of the way the Trump family has used the White House as a cash machine.

One can only imagine what Congressman Cummings would have to say about this matter. Cumming’s death is a blow to the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus, the African American community, and the nation. He will be sorely missed. While no one can fill his shoes, we must all be motivated by his legacy of speaking truth to power, being a voice for the voiceless, with compassion, dignity, and respect for the Constitution.

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

What I learn when I have lunch at Cook County Jail (TriceEdneyWi r e. c o m ) — O n Jesse Jackson my birthday this year, I continued my tradition of going to the Cook County Jail to have lunch with some of the 5,552 people who are inmates there.

These visits remind me of the humanity of those who are in trouble — and of the inhumanity, even idiocy, of our criminal justice system. Despite the first steps toward prison reform, the United States still locks up a higher percentage of its population than any other country—even more than repressive nations like China.

There are some 2.3 million people locked up in America in 1,719 state prisons, 109 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correction facilities, 3,163 local jails, as well as what are called Indian Country Jails, immigration detention facilities and more. If prisons were a city, it would be larger than Philadelphia or Dallas, and one of the country’s top 10 in population. In total, about $80 billion a year is spent on correction facilities, compared to the $68 billion spent by the Department of Education.

About 612,000 of this number are in local jails, but that number is misleading. A staggering 10.6 million people go to jail in any one year. Most are released shortly after posting bail or getting out without it. Over two-thirds of the people in jail have not been convicted of any crime. These are overwhelmingly poor people who cannot afford bail. Prison and jail populations are still disproportionately people of color. African Americans are 12 percent of the country’s population but 33 percent of federal and state prisons’ population.

Recently, from 2009 to 2016, the African American prison population has fallen by about 17 percent, declining more rapidly than the White prison population, which is down about 10 percent. The scourge of the opioid epidemic has significantly contributed to the number of whites in trouble.

Nonviolent offenders make up a significant proportion of the incarcerated—particularly in federal prisons.

State and local prisons and jails tend to have more inmates charged with property or violent crimes.

Too many are there because of petty violations of the terms of their release from previous charges, not even from committing a new offense.

Inmates, almost by definition, are disproportionately low income. They are “down on their luck,” people struggling under the intense pressures of poverty. They tend to be people who suffer from the diseases of depression, alcoholism or drug abuse. When I break bread with these people, I always find them to be more intelligent than people think, more humane than people think, more curious and open to experience than people think. These are not serial murderers or rapists.

They are overwhelmingly people who erred or did wrong but are not bad people. We need a lot more reform of our judicial system and particularly of our system of incarceration. We should be doing far more rehabilitation and far less incarceration. With 10 million people going to jail each year—and the overwhelming number in jail at any one time not convicted of anything—one thing we should do is register them to vote. The inmates I spoke with were stunned to learn that they were still eligible to vote—and eager to be signed up.

If they were to be registered and to vote, they might help make a difference in the judges that get elected, in the sentences that get handed out, in the injustices that are structured into our justice system.

They know better than most that while there are some truly violent people that deserve incarceration, the vast majority need a hand up, not another shackle of more debt, a bad record, a bleaker future. Illinois, under Governor Pritzker, has set the pace.

Legislation was enacted that will turn the county jail into a temporary precinct that will enable “pretrial detainees”—those who are detained but not convicted of anything—to register and vote. That provides a model for states and localities across the country.

These are citizens who have the right to vote. We should make it possible for them to exercise that right.

Raynard Jackson

Commentary

Sr.

Commentary

Armed teachers and psychological deterrents on a daily basis After the 2018 than it does good Parkland school J. Pharoah Doss —and we don’t shooting the state even know who of Florida creatdoes it—is abed a safety inisolutely asinine tiative called The and it’s counGuardian Proterproductive to gram. Guardians what the agency are armed perfor school safety sonnel who aid in is supposed to the “prevention be doing. This is or abatement of active assailant in- the dumb backwards stuff that we do cidents on school premises.” Initial- here.” ly, guardians were non-instructional Let’s explore another aspect of this employees or hired help—school re- backwardness. source officers. Classroom instructors In Florida unarmed and armed secuwere ineligible to participate in the rity officers are required to be licensed program, but there’s been a change. by the state before they can work in A new state law provides schools with the field. Applicants for an unarmed the option to allow teachers to carry position are required to complete the concealed weapons. School districts Unarmed Security D Course, which have to vote in favor of arming teach- consists of 40 classroom hours. Armed ers, then teachers have to volunteer to applicants must already possess an be guardians.

Unarmed Security D license and comThe Florida Coalition to Prevent plete the Armed Security G Course, Gun Violence is against arming teach- which consists of 28 classroom and ers. Their spokesperson stated they’re firearm training hours. worried about the accuracy of teachI lived in Florida for a decade and ers being able to shoot, or to be able took the Armed Security G Course. to shoot at all in that type of situation. The instructor was a retired policeTeachers are not trained like law en- man who said he never pulled his forcement. According to the advocacy gun in 30 years. The first thing he exgroup Every Town for Gun Safety, law plained was that the gun on the side enforcement receives an average of of a security officer’s waist was a part 840 hours of basic training, including of the officer’s uniform. It was a psy168 hours on weapons, self-defense, chological deterrent. But if an assailand the use of force. But participants ant isn’t deterred don’t be a hero, sein Florida’s Guardian program will curity companies pay for deterrence have to pass a psychological exam, not heroism. (Then he added, you can clear drug screening, and complete get into a lot of trouble for actually a minimum of 144 hours of training. using your weapon.) So, in Florida, (144 hours vs. 168 hours is not as armed security officers, who are in dramatic of a difference the advocacy the safety business, receive 68 hours group makes it out to be.) of training and act as psychological Seven Florida County school districts deterrents for assailants on a daily have decided to arm teachers, but the basis, but volunteers in the teaching 60 other school districts have decided profession who pass a psychologiagainst it. The point of contention, for cal exam will be given 144 hours of the non-participating counties, was training to take out active shooters if the state will not keep track of how necessary.

Since the teachers are volunteering many districts or teachers are taking part in the program. That sounds like for heroism it might not be backwards, a bureaucratic mess, but Florida State but armed security will think it’s asiSenator Oscar Braynon was more ar- nine.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New ticulate. He said, “For you to implement a program that does more harm Pittsburgh Courier.)

Check It Out

Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor, New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 East Carson St. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360 or via email to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

Liberals continue to view Blacks as ignorant I am amazed that conservatives continually get hit with the “racist” label, even though it’s liberals who spew racism at every turn in their engagement with the Black community.

Implicit in liberalism is that Blacks are too dumb and too ignorant to make decisions that are in their own best interest; therefore, liberals use the power of the government to force liberalism upon the Black community.

Liberals are good at finding “media appointed” radical Black liberals to become the face of their miseducation of the Black community, thus creating the narrative that liberalism is within the mainstream of the Black community; which is definitely not the case.

The issues liberals are trumpeting currently are the insane notion, with absolutely no shred of evidence, that Republicans are suppressing the Black vote; and that the Black community does not support the Trump agenda.

So, liberals have amassed a cadre of Black sycophants that will simply parrot anything their masters tell them to. They do this to curry favor with their overseers, even though they know it is destroying their own community.

You have a radical liberal media outlet like MSNBC who will give a talk show to radical liberal Joy Reid; but there is a condition. She must renounce her own conservative values so the network can use her to promote the radical homosexual agenda to the Black community. And of course she agreed because they offered her thirty pieces of silver along with the TV show.

This is a woman whose father is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most conservative countries in all of Africa, so there is no way on Earth that she supports the radical homosexual agenda. Even in private conversations she is against it; but fortune and fame are more important to her than the destruction of her own people.

Another radical sycophant liberals trot out to the Black community is my buddy, Roland Martin. He is a quasi-journalist turned conspiracy theorist. He keeps spouting off about some voter suppression campaign supposedly led by Republicans, without providing any evidence mind you.

Recently, Martin had this crazy radical conspiracy theorist on his digital show that was so far out in space that she made him sound rational.

Shireen Mitchell, a self-described social analyst and diversity strategist, whatever the hell that means, was recently on Martin’s show. She simply made up some titles because she possesses no expert knowledge to talk about the issue she was on the show to discuss.

On this particular show, Martin has this women talking about how Russia created a disinformation campaign targeting the Black community during the 2016 presidential campaign. I don’t disagree with that assessment.

But where Martin and Mitchell lost me was the notion that Black are too ignorant to determine how to internalize things they read on the internet before they decide how they will vote.

Again, radical liberals don’t think Blacks are capable of being “critical thinkers.”

To watch Martin and Mitchell engage in this exercise of psycho-babble, simply click on this link and begin at the 35:50 timestamp. If you can understand this conversation, you are a better man than I. Memo to liberals, EVERY nation interferes with the elections of other countries, yes, even the U.S. does it. Not to do it would be political malpractice!!!

To debunk this liberal myth being perpetrated by radical liberals like Martin and Mitchell, I have done an experiment for the past three summers.

Many of my followers are aware that I do a lot of work in the entertainment industry. So, I get asked quite frequently by people to get them tickets and backstage passes to various concerts.

Typically, I will leave the tickets at the will call window of the venue. The venue, in most cases, require a government issued ID in order to pick up the tickets.

I arranged for an anonymous text message to be sent to each of their cell phones a day before the concert stating that the concert had been cancelled or moved to a different venue, or changed to a different day.

Not one person took the message at face value, but rather called me or the venue to verify the information. Several of these people I got tickets for were from the hood. Liberals always equate people from the hood with being dumb or ignorant.

So, Martin made the asinine statement that as a result of “Russian” misinformation, there was a 2.4 percent decrease in Black voter turnout.

There are absolutely NO facts to bear this out and there is NO provable causation to prove his ridiculous assertion.

So, if Blacks have enough sense to pick up the phone to verify details of a concert, don’t these same Blacks have enough sense to call someone if they get a message about the date of an election being changed?

This video gave me a headache and it is even more insulting to the Black community that you have radical liberal Blacks propagating the notion that Blacks are incapable of being critical thinkers.

This is why Republicans and Trump have a great opportunity to get north of 15 percent of the Black vote next year. They only need to have substantive, serious engagement with the Black community.

(Raynard Jackson is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF).