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HONORED P R E S I D E N WITH T I A L CLIFETIME A N D I D A TACHIEVEMENT E S T O S P E A K AWARDS AT

The Black Stars News 2015 Annual Awards Dinner will honor Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Several of the Rep. mostYvette prominent Rangel, Clarke, 2020 R. presidential candidates will Donahue Peebles, Barbara appealArnwine, to thousands of African Inez Barron, Sabrina American voters at theCrew, NAACP Lamb, Dr. Rudy Stephen 110thByrd, National Convention in Central Alia Jones, and the DetroitPark on Wednesday, July 24 Five survivors of grossatinjustice 9:30 a.m.

EDT. The forum, on December 18 fromwhich 6:00pm – will take place at COBO Center, 10:00pm at the MIST Harlem, 46 West offers 116th candidates and convention Street.

attendees the opportunity “Eachalike honoree chosen for to discuss solutions to of the recognition has some demonstrated most critical issues we face as avision in exceptional leadership and nation.her or his respective profession or

NAACP CONVENTION

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system.

Pioneering producers Every presidential election, Stephen the Byrd and Alia Jones, to through NAACP extends invitations both their company Front Row Production, the Republican and Democratic brought “Cat on a to Hot Tin Roof” nominees for president address and “A Streetcar Named the NAACP membership duringDesire” with a July multi-ethnic cast Past to their annual convention.

Broadway. In 2016 they bring speakers have included Secretary “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner of State Hillary Clinton, President Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.

Barack Obama, Governor Mitt Honorees, theJohn so-called Central Romney, Senator McCain, Park 5, are collectively and Senator John Kerry, President individually They are George W. Bush,heroes.

Vice President survivors of one of the Charles Rangel Al Gore and President Bill ugliest miscarriage of justice in New York’s Clinton.

The highly-anticipated history; having majority. She now leads The event is expected to been draw railroaded a large unjustly convicted for a crime Transformative Justice Coalition. crowdand of activists and political they did not commit and for which Arnwine was for 26 years executive leaders to Detroit.

David Dinkins

endeavor and in some significant

was a member of the New York Confirmed presidential measure has contributed towards City Council, representing the candidates include: creating a more just society in this 40th council district in Brooklyn,  J o ecountry,” B i d e n says Black Star News director of the Lawyers’ Committee they served long prison sentences succeeding her mother, Una S. founder and publisher Milton Former U.S. Vice President th ranging from seven years to 13 years for Civil Rights Under the Law. T. Clarke. In the current 114 Allimadi. “Obviously much work The NAACP bringswhen the before Convention being exonerated Congress Clarke serves on  C o ry B o o kto e rbe done here and Inez Barron, honoree, formerly atogether over 10,000 activists, needs actual rapist confessed. They are: the Energy and Commerce Unitedaround States the Senator State Assembly member, is noworganizers, and leaders to set world.”

Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Committee, responsible for  P etThe e B ugala t t i gstarts i e g at 6:00pm with a a New York City council memberpolicies priorities for the coming Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin consumer protection, food Mayorcocktail of South Bend, Indiana and a champion of education for year. Highlights will include a CEO hour to be followed by the Richardson, and Kharey Wise. safety, energy development, public our youth.  J u ldinner i á n Casand t r oawards ceremonies. There health, communications, the Roundtable, a legislative session, The Black Star News, which focuses Former U.S. of Housing by Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is LGBTQ workshop, the awarding of will be Secretary musical entertainment environment, and interstate and on investigative journalism, has and Urban a legendary radio talk show host the prestigious Spingarn Medal to operaDevelopment singer Cassandra Douglas international commerce. been featured as a result of some if and executive producer, radio DJ,Ambassador to Patrick Gaspard, phenomenon  K a mand a l afrom Ha r rharmonica is its news scoops, on CNN, The New R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is poet, songwriter, music recordingand the signature NAACP Galison. David Dinkins is UnitedWilliam States Senator York Daily News, The New York a leading developer and founder of artist and producer, rapper, writerExperience retail expo and diversity honored for Lifetime Achievement Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s  A my—K he lo bwas u c ha r The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest and community activist. He began New York City’s first career fair. More information Content magazine.

UnitedAfrican States American Senator mayor and alsoelectorate.

African American-owned Issues such as votingreal candidates as well bring his career as aas radio DJtheir in Buffaloabout the 110th Annual NAACP estate firm with $3.5 billion worthattention to our pressing PastConvention, Black Star News honorees  B eto O ’ R o u r kNelson e at age 15. most For over 30 years, he’s National welcomed Mandela to therights, immigration, criminal including a of properties under development justice reform, student loan debt, concerns as a community.” have included: Gil Noble (Like It Former Member the United been a talk show host at WBLS and city after hisofrelease in 1990. detailed schedule of events may be or management — he was one the economy and environmental Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad States House of Representatives WLIB radio in New York City. Hefound Is), by visiting naacpconvention.

Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored ofpersist the pioneering developerswho as crucial concerns also has a Friday night radio talk org. O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby,  B ern Sa n d e r sAchievement, has justicehelped ensure we’re fori eLifetime turn around and revitalize “We must Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), for African Americans.

We must show on WBAI. Unitedserved StatesinSenator Congress since 1971. He is the once-blighted Anacostia electing officials who Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel ensure we’re electing officials who Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founderFounded in 1909, the NAACP  El izaarecipient b e t h Waof r rThe e n Bronze medal for neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William will help us set policy priorities that will help us set policyis a champion of World of Money, soldiers behind enemy is the Pollard nation’s(Medgar oldest and Unitedhelping Statessave Senator A champion of African-American Evers College), will bring about positive change for priorities of financial literacy for youth-she that will bring line during the Korean War. largest nonpartisan civil rightsNayaba economic empowerment Peebles’ is Herm Edwards (NY Jets),  B il l W e l d communities of color” said Derrick teaches knowledge about handling organization.

Its membersNews), La-Verna contemplating a possible run for NYC aboutmoney, positive change for Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic Arinde (Amsterdam Former Massachusetts Governor Johnson, NAACP President and budgeting and planning. throughout the United States mayor in 2017. member of the US House of Fountain (Columbia University), communities of color.”

CEO. “We remain committed to and the world are the premier Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of Representatives from New Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy Honoree Arnwine, “The upcoming 2020 presidential ensuring Black Barbara voters are heard civil th advocates for civil rights in their the nation’s leading educators.

He’s York whose 9 district covers (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local rights lawyer, is a champion election is one of the most pivotal and counted throughout this nextof  Derrick Johnson , Evers College communities. much of central Brooklyn.

Before 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National president of Medgar protecting voting rights of ethnic elections in our lifetime and will election cycle. This presidential NAACP President & CEO. entering Congress 2007, she Action Network), and many others. of The City University of New minority groups — be heavily influenced byinthe Black forum allows us to hear the fromemerging the

INSIDE T HIS ISSUE: IS SUE : INSIDE THIS

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N AT I O N A L

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PRESENT POLICY SOLUTIONS AT ECONOMIC FORUM THE BLACK ECONOMIC ALLIANCE, a nonpartisan group founded by Black executives and business leaders, recently hosted a first-ofits-kind Presidential Candidates Forum on expanding economic opportunity for Black Americans.

Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) participated in the forum at the historic Charleston Music Hall in the key early primary state of South Carolina.

“As an organization committed to advancing economic progress and prosperity in the Black community, the Black Economic Alliance is proud to have hosted these candidates for a timely discussion focused on economic priorities for Black Americans,” said Dr. Tony Coles, Co-Chair of the Black Economic Alliance. “We will continue to engage the presidential candidates to ensure they keep Black economic issues top of mind as the cycle proceeds.”

“As we approach the 2020 election, pundits, activists and public officials on both sides of the aisle agree the stakes could not be higher— this election will determine the future of issues ranging from health care to immigration, from education to the economy,” said Charles Phillips, Co-Chair of the Black Economic Alliance. “At the current moment, in which we are witnessing a more engaged electorate than any other in recent memory, it is critical that we ensure Black economic prosperity is a key part of the discussion, and that we hold our elected leaders accountable.”

“Make no mistake, Black voters will determine who sits in the White House and walks the halls of Congress,

“We will continue to engage the presidential candidates to ensure they keep Black economic issues top of mind as the cycle proceeds.”  Charles Phillips, Co-Chair of the Black Economic Alliance.

in both the House and Senate. The BEA will build upon the work we did in 2018 and are doing this year advocating for policies that will uplift our communities. We will ensure that all the candidates, regardless of party, are prioritizing our issues in this election,” said Akunna Cook, Executive Director of the Black Economic Alliance. “And we will

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how we can confront decades of government sponsored discrimination and institutional racism and make big, structural change to ensure Black families have the opportunity to build wealth and a bright future.

There’s a lot of work we need to do to address income inequality, access to affordable education, and increasing homeownership for Black Americans — and I was glad to share my plans for that.”

be focused on turning out Black voters, ensuring that the critical infrastructure needed to get our communities to the polls are there early enough to make a difference, that our votes aren’t suppressed, and that our concerns about the economy are heard and addressed by policy makers and elected officials,” said Cook.

The forum, opened by Congressman James E. Clyburn and moderated

by Soledad O’Brien, provided a platform for top-tier presidential candidates to present specific policy solutions to key economic issues and detail their vision for helping Black Americans meaningfully participate in the economy. Candidates presented policies related to increasing homeownership for Black Americans, improving access to capital, ensuring college affordability, and advancing overall economic prosperity to reverse economic disparities facing Black communities.

“As business and political leaders, we must remember that less than two percent of those in the top onepercent income bracket in this country are Black households…That is why we are here today. To hear and offer ideas about what can be done to close the socio-economic gaps that proliferate among Americans and threaten the very foundation of our economic system,” said Congressman Clyburn.

only going to happen with bold policy solutions like the ones we discussed at today’s forum.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “Thank you to the Black Economic Alliance for its leadership in the fight for economic justice. I was honored to take part in a conversation about

Mayor Pete Buttigieg said, “Replacing racist policies with neutral ones will not be enough to deliver equality. We must actively work to reverse these harms, which is why I propose that we invest in equity with a new Douglass Plan as bold as the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II. Such a plan could help heal the deep wounds of America’s original sin and supercharge economic growth for every American.”

Sen. Cory Booker said, “In a very short time, the Black Economic

-- cont'd on Page 6

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The four candidates spoke on the importance of the event: Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke said, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the Black Economic Alliance Forum, and for the chance to discuss how this country can improve work, wages and wealth in communities of color as we fight for equity in America. We cannot address our broken democracy or the historic disparities in our economy with half measures or only half the country.

It’s going to take all of us and it’s

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NEWS

N AT I O N A L M I N O R I T Y S U P P L I E R C O U N C I L N A M E S N E W C H A I R M A N

Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall has been elected

Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). She was elected to a new two-year term during the board’s spring meeting in New York on May 17. LewisHall is currently Chief Patient Officer and Executive Vice President of Pfizer, Inc. “It’s an honor to be elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council. I’ve long admired NMSDC’s work to certify, develop, connect, and advocate for minority businesses, and I look forward to continuing its mission supporting industries and corporations to embrace diversity,” said Dr. Freda LewisHall.

During her 35-year career in medicine, Lewis-Hall has been on the frontlines of health care as a clinician, a researcher, and a leader in the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries. The common thread throughout has been her passion to advocate for health equity and improved outcomes for all patients.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Freda LewisHall as our board chair,” Adrienne Trimble, President and CEO of NMSDC, said. “She brings extensive experience developing programs and initiatives to address barriers in communities of color. I’m sure she will bring that same passion to advance the inclusion of entrepreneurs of color in the corporate supply chaiqssn. I look forward to her leadership in steering the NMSDC Board of Directors in supporting the mission and strategic direction of our organization.”

“It’s an honor to be elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council.”  Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall Before joining Pfizer in 2009, Lewis-Hall held senior leadership positions with Vertex, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pharmacia, and Eli Lilly and Company. Prior to joining the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries, she served as Vice Chairperson

FRESH AIR FUND

SENDS KIDS TO LONG ISLAND The Nassau County, NY Committee will be welcoming 9 New York City children as they arrive in Hicksville on 7/6/2019.

Volunteer host families share their summers for one week or more with Fresh Air children, ages seven to 18. A Fresh Air summer means running barefoot in the backyard, riding bikes down country roads, learning to swim, catching fireflies, building sandcastles on the beach, making new friends, and having a lot of fun. Some children are leaving home for the first time, while others are returning to visit the same host families for consecutive summers.

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health-related television programs in major global markets, including The Doctors and Dr. Phil. She also shares health and medical information through GetHealthyStayHealthy. com. She currently serves on numerous boards including SpringWorks Therapeutics, Dell Medical School, Harvard Medical School, FasterCures, the Foundation for the NIH, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

New York City children will arrive in Hicksville to spend one or two weeks with volunteer host families in New Hyde Park, East Norwich, Port Washington, Farmingdale, Jericho, Wantagh, West Hempstead, Greenvale, and Seaford The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Each summer, thousands of children visit volunteer host families along the East Coast and Southern Canada. For more information, visit www.FreshAir.org.

and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine and was an advisor to the National Institute of Mental Health. Lewis-Hall graduated from Johns Hopkins University and earned her medical doctorate at Howard University College of Medicine.

Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall appears regularly on

NMSDC advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members.

To meet the growing need for supplier diversity, NMSDC matches its more than 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to our network of more than 1,750 corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. NMSDC, a unique and specialized player in the field of minority business enterprise, is proud of its unwavering commitment to advance Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American suppliers in a globalized corporate supply chain.

HSBC Bank Donate s To Nation’s First

AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS MONUMENT HSBC Bank USA, N.A., (HSBC) today announced a $50,000 grant to the African American Veterans Monument, the nation’s first-ever memorial dedicated solely to honoring the military service of AfricanAmerican veterans and service members.

“African Americans have fought for their country in every military conflict since the Revolutionary War, and too often their contributions are underappreciated, as are the hardships they faced,” said Jennifer Stryrbel, Chief Operations Officer, HSBC USA. “Their bravery and sacrifice deserve a national memorial, and HSBC is honored to support the construction of such a memorial in Buffalo where so many HSBC employees and customers live and work.”

“African Americans have fought for their country in every military conflict since the Revolutionary War, and too often their contributions are underappreciated, as are the hardships they faced.”  Jennifer Stryrbel, CEO, HSBC USA. Construction of the African American Veterans Monument will begin this summer at a waterfront site in the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. The design symbolizes the contributions of African Americans who have served or are currently serving in all five branches of the military, during war and in times of peace. When completed, a dozen 10-foot-tall black concrete pillars will represent each of the country’s military conflicts. The spacing between the pillars represent peacetimes between each war.

“The committee has worked tirelessly to develop the plans for the African American Veterans Monument and in two years, we have nearly reached our goals,” said Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly and spearhead of the initiative. “This donation from HSBC is a huge step in closing the gap and will allow us to begin construction this summer. We urge the community and both private and public sectors to support its completion, as

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

we are so close to the finish line.”

Since 2016, the African American Veterans Monument Committee has been raising funds for this first-of-its-kind monument.

Today’s news brings the fundraising total to more than $1.44 million, 93 per cent of the total needed.

The Monument is on track to open to the public by Memorial Day in May 2020.

Contributions to honor an individual veteran are available through the purchase of an engraved brick paver that will line the walkways of the monument for $250.

Additional information on the African American Veterans Monument can be found at AAVMWNY.org or by calling (716) 800-1137.

HSBC Bank USA, National Association (HSBC Bank USA, N.A.) serves customers through retail banking and wealth management, commercial banking, private banking, and global banking and markets segments. It operates bank branches in: California; Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Maryland; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Virginia; and Washington.

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is a Member of FDIC. Investment and brokerage services are provided through HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., (Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC) and insurance products are provided through HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc.

HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide across 66 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of $2,659bn at 31 March 2019, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.

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P O L I T I C A L C O M M E N TA R Y

Searching For A Pasttime Paradise To Win?  By Justin A. Williams Political Editor

When I was a high school senior, I dedicated myself to exploring music from bygone eras. I had heard from the older members of my family that the music of the 80’s, 70’s, 60’s and older was just so much better than the music of today. With its more violent and materialistic content, with its lack of political or consciousness expanding awareness and with vocal performances that seem inorganic and manipulated, the music of today, to my family and to a wide swath of revisionist and nostalgic critics of the early 2000’s, was simply a falling away from the good ole days.

Like a rat after cheese I went through every album I could find, I adopted the look of a Led Zeppelin fan, the lingo of a Eugene Wilde fan and the political machinations of as many 60’s hippie bands as possible. I thought I was doing my family proud, I thought I was becoming a better person and most of all I thought I was doing something useful for the modern man in me. But the past is prologue for a reason, it's always cherished and seen with rose colored glasses. People who couldn’t give two cents to listen to the Rolling Stones are now somehow their biggest fans, people who would never go to woodstock now pine for its innocence and people who couldn’t name one member of the Eagles obsess over their unfortunate breakup. This is all to say that people, myself included, have a problem with a pastime paradise and you don’t have to look any further than this past week's political news to see that a prominent 2020 presidential candidate is at the center of controversy because of it.

So if we are choosing a candidate, let's choose one that reminds us of that, of the hard won victories and who stands against evil men; unless we want to see the past turn the present into anything but a paradise.

A pastime paradise evokes Stevie Wonder, who titled his classic song with those two words. His message: most people spend their lives looking and living backwards because its finite and can be manipulated however we wish it to be. Joe Biden this week manipulated a scary past in which Segregationists, a legislative party that was a de facto wing of the old southern democrats/ dixiecrat party that hoped for the end of the negro race and oppossed any and all civil rights legilsation. Biden mentioned how he used to work with James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia, two high ranking members of Congress. Now Joe states plainly that he disagreed with them about almost everything, but that he appreciated the civility they displayed when they simply had to work together. These two men, who would give no quarter to an entire race of their changing America, horrible in their disposition and fear mongering in the tongue, O well, at least despite their dangerous and hateful policies they were civil to a fellow white man. Now I get it, Joe often makes gaffs that show he’s out of touch and these comments reveal a man who because of his whiteness can appreciate an enemy who looks like him. But for many, comparing the past in this way to a present in which, to Joe, the republican party is so uncivil that democrats cannot find a way to work with them with civility is stating that somehow republicans, all of whom admittedly problematic in their policy positions, are somehow worse to deal with than two pastime paradise men who pined for a pre-civil war America.

No Joe, as much as Congress has transformed into a place for postering before a media that is so vindictive and vigilant that comradery seems like treachery and cooperation across the aisle seems more like a risk of bad press than a good idea and yes I understand that Joe is a member of a great multitude of people his age and who lived before him who said the past

was a place for two to become one in a way the present can never be, still I lament his comments. But not because I think Joe didn't know any better, because Joe certainly does. No I lament them because people are acting as if seemingly everyone isn’t guilty of the same pastime paradise foraging.

Republicans constantly forage through the past for the glory days, for a junkyard of values, policies and tid bits to justify themselves currently and critique the present, what do you think Make America Great Again even means? In fact that was a slogan from a Ronald Reagan Campaign. Republicans have jumped on a Trumpian train heading straight back to 1950, a time that Candace Owens and other black conservatives can enlighten us about how surprisingly good they were for blacks, even though blacks who lived through those times say the exact opposite. It's a time when whites who were born in the 1980’s remark as a white picket fence and cool glass of lemonade on the porch type of America that won two world wars and was right for being in Vietnam, that was stopping communism and treating blacks better than anywhere else in the world, that was segregated but surely equal , at least equal enough, right?

The problem with the pastime paradise thinking is that its a human thing, not a republican or democratic thing. Adults pine for college when their midlife crisis hits harder than their sons or daughters can hit a preschool soccer ball. Teenagers pine for childhood cartoons and recess when the SAT or ACT hits harder than a bad case of

acne. Politicians pine for days of civility when they want to remove the guilt from their record as modern critics dissect everyone they've ever worked for or worked with. Its revisionism and it's not going anywhere. We are a memory making race and many memories require revisionism simply because, well, we don’t remember them enough/ correctly.

But Joe’s lack of care for how it would sound to laud any aspect of two politicians who wanted to manipulate the federal government to utterly crush all blacks is an example of Biden being far to comfortable being in the leader in the polls for the democratic nomination.

It's a mistake that comes with leeway, and a long rope called forgiveness that Joe thinks he has since people love him more for his electability in a world where Trump must be beaten no matter what than they will be inclined to choose to support Sen. Sanders or Sen. Harris or any of the other 21 candidates on the democratic side. But I urge you to read this article, to consider why the past does sometimes deserve our nostalgia.

Great deeds were done in spite of the two segregationists Biden so extols, this country began to live up to its lofty promises and ideals, finally, up from slavery came a black lead movement that moved the hearts, mind, money and policy of whites for the sake of good. So if we are choosing a candidate, let's choose one that reminds us of that, of the hard won victories and who stands against evil men; unless we want to see the past turn the present into anything but a paradise.

Owner/Publisher Executive Editor Editor-In-Chief Dr. Teresa Taylor Williams

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ENTER TAINMENT

P &G A d d r e s s e s R a c i a l B i a s W i t h N e w F i l m “ T H E L O O K ”

Continuing the conversation from its Emmy Award-winning film “The Talk,” Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) today released a new film designed to spark reflection and conversation on racial bias and inequality. Titled “The Look,” the film highlights bias as experienced by many Black men in America and is available beginning today together with educational resources at www. talkaboutbias.com.

“The Look,” a film highlighting bias as experienced by many Black men in America, is available beginning today together with educational resources at www.talkaboutbias.com. “We want to live in a world that is equal and inclusive – in race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, ability, religion and age – but the reality is, it’s not fully equal or inclusive and one of the core reasons is bias,” said Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, and Procter & Gamble.

“Empathy can be a particularly effective antidote to bias, and we created ‘The Look’ to change perspectives, prompt personal introspection, and bring people together for a conversation to ultimately change hearts and minds.”

“The Look” follows a Black man throughout his day as he encounters a variety of ‘looks’ that symbolize a barrier to acceptance. In the film, the windows of a passing car are raised after his son waves to a young girl in the back seat, occupants of an elevator seem to shut him out as he approaches and workers in a department store watch him with suspicion as he shops. For each scene, historical records and contemporary stories are provided at www. talkaboutbias.com to spark discussion and understanding on how these small ‘looks’, whether intentional or not, can have a potentially bigger impact. The film ends with the line ‘Let’s talk about the look so we can see beyond it.”

“ W e w a n t t o l i v e i n a w o r l d

t h at i s e q u a l a n d i n c l u s i v e – i n r a c e , g e n d e r , e t h n i c i t y, s e x u a l i d e n t i t y, a b i l i t y, religion and age – but the r e a l i t y i s , i t ’ s n o t f u l ly equal or inclusive and one of the core reasons is bias.”

- MARC PRITCHARD

CHIEF BRAND OFFICER PROCTER & GAMBLE. “We believe we have a responsibility to

use our voice in advertising as a force for good by addressing issues like bias.

As it has already done for so many who have seen ‘The Look’, we hope this film leads to constructive conversation, understanding and positive action,”

Pritchard added.

The film and website were produced in collaboration with SATURDAY MORNING, a creative collective founded by executives in the advertising industry who came together to create ideas

unconscious, formed by generations of social norms. ‘The Look’ is designed to constructively challenge people to look beyond what they think they see,” said Damon Jones, Vice President, Global Communications and Advocacy, Procter & Gamble. “Beyond highlighting bias, this film also celebrates the strength, humanity and resilience of Black men who are thriving amidst many obstacles.

It is one part of a comprehensive effort that will help address individual and institutionalized bias to create

Los Angeles. “The Look” was shot by a deliberately diverse leadership-duo, Director Anthony Mandler of Stink Films with Malik Sayeed as Director of Photography, and is launching as part of an integrated campaign at www. talkaboutbias.com. It will be followed by a series of nationwide community conversations, individual and classroom educational resources and reading guides, informative and inspirational podcasts, virtual reality extensions and ongoing digital and social media

“The Look,” a film highlighting bias as experienced by many Black men in America, is a v a i l a b l e b e g i n n i n g t o d ay t o g e t h e r w i t h e d u c at i o n a l r e s o u r c e s at w w w .ta l k a b o u t b i a s . c o m . ( P h o t o : B u s i n e s s W i r e ) that bring awareness to and shift perceptions on racial bias and injustice.

“The story of ‘The Look’ is based in the real-world experience of thousands of Black men across the country who experience bias in different ways, big and small, every day. This film is an opportunity for the world to see – and feel – what it’s like to walk in their shoes,” said Kwame Taylor-Hayford, a co-founder of SATURDAY MORNING. “Partnering with companies like P&G on thought-provoking and authentic work like ‘The Look’ will lead to deeper and richer conversation that will inspire change.”

“Bias is part of the human condition, something we all have and something we all experience. It is most frequently

meaningful change.”

Over the past year, P&G partnered with BET Networks on a comprehensive study of Black men, called Black Men Revealed, highlighting compelling data on prevailing narratives in media and entertainment, including those on parental involvement, relationship status and economic pursuits. Insights from this study are being shared with groups across the country to enable more accurate, positive portrayals of Black men in film, television and news – all key factors in addressing the underlying bias in society.

The film premiered last week at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France and BET Networks’ inaugural social impact conference, META Convened by BET Networks in

activities through the end of 2019.

This program is designed to go beyond simple awareness and equip and enable individuals and communities with tools to create lasting, substantive change.

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http:// www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PRESENT POLICY SOLUTIONS AT ECONOMIC FORUM Alliance has brought the attention of the nation to focusing on issues that are critical to the success of all Americans.

By talking about black economic empowerment after generations of policies designed to undermine, to hurt, to exclude African Americans, to have an organization that is trying to bring this back to having a consciousness about racial disparities and real policies to address that, that’s really exciting and

6 | NewYorkTrendnyc

I’m happy to be part of it.”

The Black Economic Alliance hosted the forum on the heels of the release of a nationwide survey that found that Black Americans still face a number of obstacles to improving work, wages, and wealth. The poll—conducted by Hart Research and Brossard Research of 1,003 Black adults— found that 81% of Black Americans continue to believe that it is hard for Black Americans to achieve

the American Dream today. Creating good-paying jobs with benefits and making sure people have the training and skills needed for the jobs of the future were identified as top priorities for improving the economic and financial situations of Black Americans.

Launched in 2018, the Black Economic Alliance is focused on advancing policies that can and will create economic empowerment in the Black community.

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

(cont'd from p.2)

Over the course of the 2020 electoral cycle, the organization will continue to shape the national discourse and elevate issues important to Black Americans by funding research and analysis to help determine Black Americans’ policy priorities, convening presidential candidates for meaningful conversations about Black economic empowerment, and supporting additional candidates in competitive statewide and federal races.

www.newyorktrendnyc.com

TECH NOLOGY

Annual C onference For BLACK SOFTWAR E E NGI N E E R S Hel d /dev/color hosts /dev/color IN MOTION (DCIM), the nonprofit's fourth annual conference committed to uniting and empowering Black software engineers from across the country. The two-day event returns to Facebook's Menlo Park headquarters for a second time, welcoming nearly 400 tech leaders and members of the organization's flagship A* Program.

Founded in 2015 by Makinde Adeagbo, a Facebook and Pinterest alum, /dev/color aims to address career challenges engineers face head-on through career development, networking opportunities, and peer support.

This year's conference features keynotes from guest speakers such as Adeagbo; Square CEO, Jack Dorsey; Google's Senior Director of Engineering, Camie Hackson; and Facebook's VP of Augmented and Virtual Reality, Andrew Bosworth.

Conference sponsors include Facebook, Twitch, Carbon 3D, Flatiron Health, and Kapor Center for Social Impact.

"In many ways, this year's event represents a full-circle moment for /

dev/color, not only because of the return to the site of our inaugural conference, but because of the incredible growth we've seen in the last four years," said Lajuanda M.

leaders, the conference features a hack day, networking opportunities, and technical breakout sessions.

The programming also includes an Investment Panel, as well as

conference was the first time I had been exposed to hundreds of successful, like-minded, Black software engineers, which has me very excited about the future of the industry."

For more information about opportunities to join /dev/color's A* Program, visit devcolor.org.

 A b o u t / d e v/ c o lo r

Asemota, Executive Director at / dev/color. "We're so thankful for the support of our community and allies for their commitment to providing forums and platforms for Black software engineers to thrive."

In addition to keynotes from some of the tech's most notable thought

Executive and Women's Roundtable discussions. "/dev/color IN MOTION is unlike anything I've experienced in my 15 years as a software engineer," said Nick Caldwell, Looker Chief Product Officer and /dev/ color board member. "Last year's

/dev/color is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower Black software engineers to help one another grow into industry leaders. /dev/ color executes this mission by offering career development and networking opportunities, using a highly structured peer exchange model called the A* Program, which equips each member with the tools necessary to excel in their careers. As of 2019, /dev/ color has nearly 400 members across four cities: the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Atlanta, and Seattle. For more information about /dev/color, visit devcolor. org, follow @devcolororg on Twitter and Instagram, or connect on Facebook. ©2019 New York Lottery

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July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

www.newyorktrendnyc.com | 7

ENTER TAINMENT

“TWISTED MELODIES” Tells Donny Hathaway Life Story The Apollo Theater graciously asked me to come and review a play they are featuring entitled “Twisted Melodies” about the life of Donny Hathaway.

Hathaway was a musical genius plagued by mental illness in the form of paranoid schizophrenia. His diagnosis was severe and medicine only served to exacerbate the illness. In fact it retarded him, taking him on a journey of frenzied highs and devastating lows.

The causes of schizophrenia are complicated and still being researched.

There is some thought that heredity may play a role. Research does show that genetics may deem who is more likely to develop schizophrenia or other similar mental illnesses that produce hallucinations or cause the sufferer to separate from reality. A viral illness in childhood could affect the way the brain developed. Also, the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are the key to nerve cell communication may have caused some sort of imbalance with communication within the brain. Drug use, as well as lack of oxygen to the brain are also factors that could lead to schizophrenia.

Harlem’s Apollo Theater premiered this one-man play under the directorship of Derrick Sanders, the lighting of Alan C. Edwards and the marvelous stage design of Courtney O’Neill.

“Twisted Melodies,” written by and starring brilliant singer and performer Kelvin Roston, Jr., imagined the final

days of Donny Hathaway. Kelvin was outstanding in the role, masterfully bringing to life the tormented soul of Donny Hathaway whose life and career was plagued with bouts of paranoid schizophrenia. Kelvin took the viewer inside the world of Donny Hathaway.

He made you feel Donny and even sympathize with his plight as Donny tried to put together the jumbled pieces of his life. Haunted by paranoia, voices, noises, high pitched frequencies, apparitions, shadows and ghosts locked in his mind, schizophrenia played havoc on Hathaway’s life, marriage, friendships and career which were often at a crossroad.

Mr. Roston takes the viewer through Hathaway’s early beginnings in gospel and later jazz, blues, and soul, and via character building episodes with his grandmother. He sang the hits Donny had with Roberta Flack “The Closer I Get to You” and “Where is the Love?" which won them a Grammy in 1973. Hathaway’s hits included “This Christmas,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and “A Song for You.” Donny was both an arranger and studio musician for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Staples Singers.

Roston was so masterful in his control of the stage, he began a song that so moved the men in the audience they became his impromptu backup singers.

Their bass voices harmonizing so beautifully you felt like you were being

MOVIE REVIEW: MA 

G et h o m e saf e w i t h Ma .

Image used from slashfilm.com

Octavia Spencer has had a very interesting career. After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012, she has gone on to star in many high profile

films such as Snowpiercer, Hidden Figures, Zootopia and The Shape of Water. But before she was such a high profile actress, Octavia Spencer mostly worked smaller roles in films most notably in horror. She had small, even barely noticeable roles in Pulse, Drag Me To Hell and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II, the latter being only a decade ago. Things have changed so quickly for the talented actress.

Now Spencer returns to the horror genre this time as the main star and villain in the titular Ma. Will her foray into horror villain be successful, or should Spencer have stayed away?

The story for Ma is like the character’s

8 | NewYorkTrendnyc

false nature: it only wants to play it safe.

The story follows Maggie, a teenager who has moved with her mother back to her old home town. She quickly makes friends and in an attempt to get alcohol befriend a woman named Sue Ann who is incredibly generous and kind to them, so much so

that she offers to open up her basement as a place for them to drink and party.

Soon Sue Ann’s home becomes the local hang out for all the high school students and she earns the nickname Ma. However after a few disturbing events the kids begin to move further away from Sue Ann which ends up making her more and more dangerous. On the surface Ma comes off as a simple stalker film and unfortunately for the film and us it mostly is. Things start off rather slow with the kids and Sue Ann getting to know each other more and more, it honestly begins more like a drama then a horror film. But once it becomes clear that something is wrong with Sue Ann things begin begins to steadily spiral into

taken to church. In fact, these audience members were so incredible they could have auditioned for the Apollo Talent Night and all won. Like a choir director, Roston never flinched. Leading the men on as if it were the most natural thing for the audience to become part of the play. It was a remarkable!

I was so impressed by this outstanding performance of a man who both suffered for and had great joy in his art. I encourage people to get their tickets since the play has a limited engagement. It runs from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday June 2nd. The Thursday and Friday shows are at 8:00 pm and the Saturday, June 1st show is at 3:00 and 8:00 pm. The play ends Sunday, June 2nd, with a 3:00 performance.

By Jonathan Gonzalez a horror film. Honestly the pacing is quite good allowing us time to get to know the characters and establish the relationship with Sue Ann and the others. Be that as it may once the film finally forms into a horror film things become rather generic and even predictable. Sure it’s still a well made horror film with some decently tense moments and the third act itself is very exciting and makes for a very good, grand finale but it really does feel like “been there, done that” and in a time when horror films are better, smarter and more creative then they’ve been in years and especially coming from the auteurs at Blumhouse I expected so much more. The story does have potential and even lightly touches on some interesting ideas. Unfortunately it doesn’t try to go for that potential, those “lightly touched ideas” come far too late.

The characters for Ma are mostly forgettable Sue Ann is a very good horror villain. Her initial kind and generous demeanor does a good job of masking her true self and even threw myself off guard for a moment.

Despite her height and age she still manages to be an incredibly intimidating and imposing character in her moments of rage and in her quieter moments such as her manipulating the kids are rather unsettling. But Sue Ann is far more then a villain meant to be feared, in fact Sue Ann is one of the most sympathetic villains I’ve seen in a very long time. Throughout

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

Donny Hathaway fell from the window of his 15th floor room at New York’s’ Essex House Hotel on January 13, 1979.

He was 33. Given the hell he went through it would not be inconceivable that Donny committed suicide as ruled by the coroner. However, many of his family and friends suggest it was simply an accident.

Tickets for Twisted Melodies are available now at the Apollo Theater Box Office. Located at 253 West 125th St in Manhattan. Call: (212) 531-5305, and/ or Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Go see “Twisted Melodies,” it is truly a great Apollo offering. I highly recommend it.

the film there are flashbacks of Sue Ann as a teenager and what sent her on the path to becoming who she is. While I feel they could have gone further and more grim with these flashbacks they still do an excellent job of framing the character. It isn’t long before you learn why she clings to these kids, why she has violent out bursts and before you know it you actually find yourself rooting for her from time to time.

The only flaw in her character is that the writers wanted to make Sue Ann a victim of racism, seeing that she’s lived her life in a predominately white, Podunk town but it only comes into play in the last ten minutes and as such doesn’t work which is a shame because it only would have made the sad, tragic story of Sue Ann even stronger and herself even more of a likable character.

That being said I would honestly love to see Sue Ann in another film. If the likes of Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and The Stepfather could find ways to come back surely Sue Ann as an idea or two up her sleeve.

Maggie is an OK character. She’s more a typical horror movie hero: selfless, noble, wants to help everyone, etc, etc. She isn’t bad but she is bland, I honestly had to wrack my brains to think of anything to talk about her character but I keep coming up with nothing.

The remaining cast of characters aren’t even worth mentioning. They exist to take up space and that’s about it. Heck, calling them paper thin would actually be giving them too much depth. There were far too

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HE ALTH

HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT OVERDOSE

The Health Department has launched a campaign in bars and nightclubs in Brooklyn to inform New Yorkers that fentanyl – an opioid 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin – has been detected in the cocaine supply. People who use cocaine, even occasionally, may be at risk of an opioid overdose. Health Department staff will visit bars and nightclubs in Williamsburg and Bushwick to offer coasters and posters that inform patrons that cocaine may contain fentanyl. All venues will be offered naloxone – the medication to reverse an opioid overdose – to keep on premises with first aid supplies, as well as training and kits for

& Restaurants, and House of Yes for their enthusiastic support of this initiative.”

“Safety is always of the utmost importance when New Yorkers are enjoying a night out. This awareness campaign recognizes that nightlife spaces can actually provide an opportunity for people to look out for each other,” said Ariel Palitz, Senior Executive Director of the Office of Nightlife.

“The Office of Nightlife is proud to stand with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in taking a harm reduction approach to the public health challenges posed by fentanyl, and we are pleased to see such strong commitment and

all interested staff.

In 2016 and 2017, fentanyl was found in 37 and 39 percent of overdose deaths involving cocaine without heroin, up from 11 percent in 2015. This suggests that some people who died from overdoses involving cocaine and fentanyl may not have intended to consume opioids. North Brooklyn was selected for the campaign because of its high density of bars and nightclubs and status as a nightlife destination for New Yorkers citywide. The Health Department is working with Brooklyn Allied Bars & Restaurants (BABAR) to reach bar and nightclub owners as well as staff. This campaign is an expansion of a pilot on the Lower East Side in May and June 2018.

“We want people who use cocaine occasionally to know that fentanyl may be mixed into cocaine and may increase their risk of an overdose,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Bars and nightclubs are an important avenue to reach people who use drugs with potentially lifesaving information. We need people who use cocaine to know that they should use with other people, so someone can call 911 in case of an overdose, and always carry naloxone. We are grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife, Brooklyn Allied Bars

partnership from the nightlife community in Brooklyn and all boroughs in this effort.”

“We are thankful for this opportunity to partner with the Department of Health on this important campaign,” said David Rosen, Co-Founder of Brooklyn Allied Bars and Restaurants (BABAR). “The Department of Health should be commended for their proactive research, campaign development, and outreach efforts. Over the past several years, BABAR has worked on various patron safety initiatives, so we understand and value the role our nightlife community can play in keeping our city safe.”

Fentanyl was detected in 39 percent of cocaine-involved overdose deaths without heroin in 2017, up from 11 percent in 2015.

“House of Yes is excited to partner with the Department of Health on this vitally important initiative,” said Jacqui Rabkin, Marketing & Cultural Director at House of Yes. “At House of Yes, we are quickly earning a reputation as a ‘club with causes’ for using our platform to elevate conversations around consent culture,

environmental sustainability, queer and feminist issues, and safer spaces. It is therefore a no-brainer for us to support this outreach campaign that will help educate cocaine users about the dangers of fentanyl contamination, and increase naloxone training for nightlife providers.

We look forward to working closely with the Department of Health to keep our community safe.”

“The Health Department’s campaign is the embodiment of a person-centered, harm reduction approach to overdose prevention.

In recognition of the reality that people may be more inclined to experiment with cocaine at nightclubs, DOH has tailored a judgment-free plan designed to reach this potentially at-risk community. Education is crucial in preventing overdose. Once again, I commend DOHMH, and hope other cities will take note,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

“We know that fentanyl is 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin and the likelihood of overdose is even greater when fentanyl is present. That’s why I’m pleased to hear that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will be visiting local bars and nightclubs in Williamsburg and Bushwick to raise awareness about fentanyl and ensure that venues are equipped with naloxone – the medication used to reverse an overdose – and first aid supplies in the event of an overdose,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “We need to ensure that people who use are well informed of the risk of potentially having fentanyl in their supply.

We know there are ways to prevent people from overdosing and this is a positive step forward in addressing this serious epidemic.”

In New York City, someone dies of a drug overdose every six hours. In 2017, there were 1,487 confirmed overdose deaths.

Opioids were involved in 82% of New York City overdose deaths last year, and the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl was the most common drug, involved in 57% of deaths. From January to September 2018, there were 1,055 confirmed overdose deaths. Drug overdose death remains

at epidemic levels in New York City as illicitly manufactured fentanyl continued to be present in the drug supply. Fentanyl has been found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine, as well as in benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers acquired from non-pharmaceutical sources.

Opioid overdose deaths are preventable, and naloxone is available to all New Yorkers who need it: All major chain pharmacies (Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid and CVS) and nearly 500 independent pharmacies in New York City now offer naloxone without a patientspecific prescription. New York State will cover co-payments of up to $40. Naloxone is available for free from registered Opioid Overdose Prevention programs, including syringe service programs. The Health Department also offers regular naloxone trainings at its main office in Queens and Tremont Neighborhood Action Center in the Bronx; trainings teach New Yorkers to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond by calling 911 and administering naloxone. The trainings are free, and all participants are offered a free naloxone kit. New Yorkers can download the Health Department’s free mobile app, “Stop OD NYC,” to learn how to recognize and reverse an overdose with naloxone. The app also links individuals to nearby community-based programs and pharmacies where naloxone is available without a prescription.

Treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is highly effective for opioid addiction and can reduce the risk of overdose. Individuals seeking support or treatment for substance use issues for themselves or their loved ones can contact NYC Well by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL, texting “WELL” to 65173 or going to nyc. gov/nycwell. Free, confidential support is available at any hour of the day in over 200 languages.

If you witness an overdose, call 911 immediately.

T I P S F o r S TAY I N G H E A LT H Y I n S U M M E R

By Kit Rich Fitness Expert Summer has always equaled playtime which is when you want to look and feel your best. Celebrity fitness trainer and creator of KICHGO, Kit Rich, gives five helpful tips to stick by this summer. We all know that taking care of yourself is important, but taking extra care of yourself is crucial during the summer’s warmer months.

 TIP #1 : WORKOUT IN THE MORNING Working out in the morning sets the tone for the day. After all, we have more hours of sunlight so check off the “workout” box early so you can enjoy the rest of your day! It also keeps you from over indulging as you want to continue feeling good and tend to not overdo it.

You should sweat 30 minutes 6 days per week. On the 7th day, do 30 minutes of

NewYorkTrendnyc

light stretching or walking. It’s important not to do a full body workout every single day because you don’t want to over train.

Whether you are traveling or are home for the summer, KICHGO makes it easy to workout. Better known as the big gym in a little bag that weighs less than 2 pounds (equal to 2 cans of soup!), it contains 11 tried and true items including resistance bands, handles, ankle straps, dual-sided sliders, door anchor, inflatable Pilates ball, and jump rope. Videos curated by Kit are included and range from 5-30 minutes.

 TIP #2 : WATCH SALT INTAKE It’s important to watch your salt intake, especially during the summer, to prevent excess bloating and water weight. Increasing your potassium intake after a salty meal can also help push out excess sodium. Foods

you should gravitate towards include bananas, spinach, tomatoes, and oranges. Remember eat foods in their most natural state and avoid highly processed.

 TIP #3 : HYDRATE Make sure you drink enough water—8 glasses per day. Summer heat is often harsh which can affect your skin and it’s a great way to help your body flush out waste through sweat. Piggy backing off tip #2, if you do feel bloated, drink more water as it flushes out the salt.

For those who don’t enjoy drinking water, add a squeeze of lemon or a splash of cranberry juice (unsweetened).

Both have health benefits and help flush your system.

 Tip #4 : TAKE VITAMINS It’s so important to take vitamins and stay healthy all year long, but if you need

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

an excuse to get started, summer is a great one. Taking vitamins can reduce the risk of skin damage—Vitamins C, E, A and D. To keep your skin glowing, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Skin Food and Hum Glow Sweet Glow are great.

 TIP #5 : OPT FOR A SPRAY TAN This one may seem silly but it will make you feel better! Being tan also tricks the eye to make you look thinner, not to mention it’s a much healthier option than baking in the sun.

If you would like to speak with Kit Rich or would like additional tips specific to your audience, please contact Brooke Cockrell at brooke@creativepitchgroup. com or 818.209.3800. For more information on KICHGO visit www. kichgo.com. For more information on Kit Rich visit www.kitrich.com.

www.newyorktrendnyc.com | 9

TECH NOLOGY LIFE Camp’s FIRST-EVER MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT Came To Barclay Center June was Gun Violence Awareness month, and on Friday, June 28th, LIFE Camp’s first-ever Mobile Trauma Unit hit the streets of Brooklyn, NY in front of the Barclay's center near Dean street entrance. Violence Intervention & Prevention Specialists, (VIPS), neighborhood resources, and a genuine love for people, this vehicle was designed to help transform communities by bringing therapeutic wellness services, conflict resolution and mediation training, and healing techniques to areas that have suffered from trauma and stress caused by gun-violence. Erica Ford has served the community for over 31 years;

awarded 2018 MCsilver Awards from NYU and The Culture Creators Awards 2018. Most recently seen on Angie Martinez show and The Breakfast Club expressing her passion for providing a peace haven for any youth that experiences gun violence in their community.

The unveiling of the brightly-colored RV sparked a much need conversation around addressing gun-violence as both a public health and safety issue. It’s been nearly 15 years and lots of hard work since the idea of a mobile trauma unit was conceived. Nonetheless, LIFE Camp’s CEO and Founder Erica Ford remains determined to promote

and normalize peace throughout the community. “Hurt People, Hurt People, but Healed People, Heal People”

says Erica. “When we lead with love, we all become more self-aware. This self-awareness leads to compassion.

Compassion leads to Peace”.

The organization offers programs and other holistic approaches to reinforce self-esteem and respect for life among one another while connecting and mobilizing youth to prevent and heal from violence in New York City’s most underserved communities. As co-creators of New York City’s Crisis Management System, there have been 0% shootings in LIFE Camp’s catchment areas where VIPS are deployed, and this system is directly responsible for a 15% overall decrease in shootings in New York City, with as much as an 80% decrease in individual service areas.

FL511 MOBILE APP a d d s n e w f e at u r e s

New features have been added to the FL511 Mobile App. These features are available on the updated app: Camera images have been added to the map (and can be enabled in the settings).

Message signs have been added to the map (and can be enabled in the settings).

There is a second nearby camera image to incidents, where available.

A new icon has been added for congestion incidents.

The user can toggle between low and high accuracy location data (higher accuracy or reduced power consumption).

The incidents list is now sorted based on proximity.

The truck parking facilities list is now sorted based on proximity.

The FL511 Mobile App is a component of the Florida 511 (FL511) Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS), which provides real-time information on crashes, congestion, construction and

closures on all of Florida’s interstates, toll roads and major metropolitan roadways. The goal is to increase safety and reduce travel time on Florida roads.

The mobile app has been available for Apple and Android devices since 2012.

It underwent a significant update in 2018 and early 2019 in response to today’s rapidly changing technology. The app was updated again on May 31st on Google Play and on June 4th on the Apple App store to add these features.

Additional system components include a website in English and Spanish, Twitter feeds, Facebook and Instagram pages, and others to improve the safety on Florida roads.

The FL511 system is the state’s official source for traffic and travel information. FL511 provides information on congestion events, crashes, construction and maintenance activities; and travel times on all interstates and toll facilities and several Florida routes, so drivers can make better choices about their travel plans. The public information service is accessible by

MOVIE REVIEW: MA  many moments where I forgot most of these characters even existed and time and time again the shock of seeing a character who I forgot all about was more alarming then the film’s jump scares. It’s clear all the attention was given to the character of Sue Ann, as it should, but without memorable or likable characters to support the film really just comes off more as a one woman show.

Acting for Ma is carried solely by one person Octavia Spencer gives an excellent performance as Sue Ann. From the simple start Spencer is captivating and as the film goes on she gets better and better.

Spencer makes for a frightening villain and is effective whenever she is driven to anger and violence. But the moments where we’re meant to sympathize with Sue Ann are even better. Not only are these moments moving but she creates such empathy for her character that the idea that she’s on the

10 | NewYorkTrendnyc

brink of a violent rampage is non-existent.

She even manages to have quite a few darkly humorous moments that honestly had me chuckling. It truly is one of her most entertaining performances and I am so happy she not only made a return to horror but stepped out of her comfort zone to play the villain. Even with all of Ma’s flaws, and there are many, Spencer’s performance alone was more then worth the price of admission.

Diana Silvers’ career has only just begun but already she’s hit the ground running.

A little over a week ago she had a small, but still very memorable, role in the excellent Booksmart and is now one of the leads in a major horror film. Sadly Silvers’ performance in Ma isn’t as good as her last role but even so she still does a decent job.

I can’t even lay anything at her feet as she isn’t given strong material to work with as the film is a vehicle for Spencer. Granted Spencer is the reason why the film works but giving her co-stars better material could

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By Jonathan Gonzalez (cont'd from page 8) have made the film better. That said it still ins’t a bad performance and I look forward to seeing Silvers in her next project.

Juliette Lewis does a fine job as Maggie’s mother Erica. Lewis comes as simply being there for most of the film, of course her character does have to run off to work and training seminars for the first two acts. By the third act she finally has more to work with and as such gives a solid, albeit brief, performance.

Evans all lucked out because of they had little to work with then these kids had nothing at all. They were flat, dull as wood and painfully forgettable but it isn’t their fault. What can they do? They show up, make a group and that’s that.

Luke Evans plays the father of one of the kids as well as the main source of Sue Ann’s rage and misery. Like Lewis, Evans’ performance is brief but is still well done and memorable. Though I must admit he could be distracting as his moments caused my mind to drift to other films where he played a villain though these only lasted for a minute or two.

Final Thoughts: Ma isn’t a great film however it still is pretty good. The story is generic but still has it’s moments such as a truly good third act, Sue Ann is a great villain and Octavia Spencer’s performance was so excellent that she managed to carry the film through it’s weakest moments.

Some of the supporting cast do well when they finally have something to work with though the side characters are still bland.

Over all the film itself is no classic but Spencer is still incredibly entertaining and Sue Ann definitely deserves to becoming a recurring villain, the two of them are that good!

The rest of the supporting cast is completely forgettable. Silvers, Lewis and

VERDICT: 2.5/5

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

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ENDNO TE S

E m i n e n t D o m a i n B e c o m e s “ I M M I N E N T LY Y O U R S ” The play “ I m m i n e n tly Yours”, is currently appearing at Theatre 80, located at 80 St Marks Place in Manhattan. Presented by the Negro Ensemble Company, directed by Count Stovall and written by Karimah, “Imminently Yours,” will run until June 30.

The story line is about a location inhabited by descendants of slaves who had the mountain area for over 136 years. Initially there were 20 families. They dwindled down to 3 families as the youth moved into the cities and took on jobs, leaving their inheritance of the land behind to the older folks who was able to keep their existence on the land secret for over a century. The property was valuable because homestead buildings existed by a beautiful lake, all this concealed from the curious public by a curtain of poison ivy.

As time went by, relatives of the initial families forgot about or ignored their claim to the land and stopped visiting the enclave.

Therefore, the remaining elders who lived off the land, never got the opportunity to tell the youth the history of the land and how they acquired it after slavery.

This left the youth unaware of the value of the land, their legacy to the land and their history to it.

This ignorance proved ultimately damaging.

As time went by, relatives of the initial families forgot about or ignored their claim to the land and stopped visiting the enclave.

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There were some amusing parts

wherein the elders staved off any nosey intruder with empty guns and blind Lillie Mae used her blindness to feel up men.

The elders however were not wasting their time in their hidden

quiet and enamored by James, she revealed the mountainside, dwellings and lake to the young lawyer. The lawyer revealed the existence of the elders played by Arthur French (Oscar), Dorothi Fox (Lillie Mae) and Alberta (Edythe Jason) to the governor to

that does not mean government can take your land without providing “just compensation.”

Owners can use what is known as “condemnation” to object to the taking of their property under what is known as “condemnation” generally the

The residents of the mountaintop community take a selfie before leaving. Photo by Jonathan Slaff.

dwelling where they had never paid taxes but studied and spoke several languages. Unfortunately, their peaceful concealed lives were uncovered when James, a young lawyer played by Ryan Desaulniers, visited the mountaintop as a representative of the governor. The cagey elders were sidestepping James, when Mildred, a visiting relative, played

by Nia Akilah Robinson, who visiting with her lawyer mother Edna portrayed by Colette Bryce, was unable to read the warning signs the elders were trying to give her. Unfortunately Mildred did not understand the efforts of the elders to keep her

his regret.

The dwellings and lake were of special interest to the governor who used Eminent Domain to take the land from the elders and their way of life was forever gone. Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take property for the public good. While there is a vested right to property ownership in the United States and owner rights to their land considered important, ultimately if the government has a stronger interest, it can exercise its power of eminent domain if it deems seizure of the property is for the public good. However,

July 25, 2019 - July 31, 2019

government ends up with the land after paying what they feel is fair market value.

The play does not blame anyone but ultimately the confiscation of property from these descendants of slavery seemed historically unjust and proved to be both sad and tragic.

Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Call the Box office at 866-811-4111 for tickets. For Group sales call 212-580-9624.

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