Vol. 81 No. 19

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OMAHA STAR

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Omaha History 1919 – Will Brown

1969 – Vivian Strong

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Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 81 - No. 19 Omaha, Nebraska

Friday, September 20, 2019

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NOAH Now Offering PrEP Program A young man came to North Omaha Area Health (NOAH) clinic fearful he had HIV. For several months, he had been living with the fear that he was going to die until he finally came to NOAH to be tested. “Our mission is ‘In the community, for the community.’ We serve anyone in North Omaha regardless of ability to pay,” said Ira Combs, a nurse who founded NOAH over 20 years ago.

Nationally, HIV decreased 18% between 2008 and 2014 which is good news. However over 37,000 cases were reported in 2014. Gay and bisexual men make up 70% of the group. A highly effective treatment to prevent the spread of HIV, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP for short, is now available at NOAH. If a person is having a sexual relationship with a partner Combs who has HIV the risk of getting HIV increases dramatically.

Truvada, a highly effective HIV medication, is taken daily greatly reducing the risk of HIV. Less then 1% of the African Americans who could benefit from PrEP are receiving the medication. The most of any group.

Dr. James Medder, a retired family physician, oversees the PrEP program at NOAH. Patients can come and see him for free. “This is a highly effective treatment and if monitored is very safe.” NOAH and Dr. Medder are working to remove barriers so that anyone who wants PrEP can receive this medication no matter what race or sexual preference.

NOAH is located at 5620 Ames Ave. Appointments can be made by phoning 402-933-0737. A free physical exam (though donations are gladly accepted) is required before the medication can be prescribed.

Medder

Star Awarded $25,000 Facebook Grant In July, The Omaha Star under Interim Publisher Frankie Williams was among the first 23 media organizations in the U.S. to be awarded a Community Network grant for $25,000. The grant was offered by the Facebook Journalism Project (FJP) and the Lensfest Institute for Journalism earlier this year. The Star is currently developing a series of articles examining redevelopment and gentrification in North Omaha.

The selection committee awarded the funds with a “special emphasis on the needs of news deserts and underrepresented communities.”

The Star’s grant proposal reads, ”We aim to tackle responsible development, gentrification and to educate our community about how property development, including public financing like block grants and TIF (Tax Increment Financing), works … Hopefully, local residents will become more educated and engaged in this issue, supporting better outcomes for themselves and the neighborhoods their families have called home for generations”

There are at least 18 articles slated for publication between October 2019 to February 2020. They will focus on three key questions about real estate development in North Omaha: “How Did We Get Here?”

“Where Are We Now?” and “How Do We Know?”

The series will provide tools for residents and neighborhood association leaders to more effectively navigate public meetings and access development information, gathering material from local interviews, city webpages, city meetings, articles and legal documents.

The Facebook Journalism Project and the nonprofit Lensfest Institute for Journalism have awarded Community Network grants to 100 journalists and larger media organizations across the U.S. since May 2019. The grants, up to $25,000, provide both financial and advisory assistance according to Facebookjournalismproject. com Projects do not require the use of Facebook tools or platform.

1619-2019 – 400 Years Past Due Reconciliation through Honoring and Acknowledging Will Brown

By Terri L. Crawford, J.D. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - 1963 This year, The New York Times is doing something very unique that recalibrates the conversation on the collective acknowledgement and responsibility for the atrocity of chattel slavery in this country.

According to the New York Times the discussion starts with what occurred four hundred years ago, on August 20, 1619, when a ship carrying about 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. Though

America did not even exist yet, their arrival marked its foundation, the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built. In August 2019, The New York Times Magazine observed this anniversary with a special project that examines the many ways the legacy of slavery continues to shape and define life in the United States.

As we look toward the truth and reconciliation we can point to many instances where America’s history of racial inequality continues to undermine fair treatment, equal justice, and opportunity for all its citizens.

In order to address the trauma caused by these historical injustices, it is necessary that collectively we must acknowledge the truth about our history before we can heal: truth and reconciliation are sequential.

As a nation, we have not yet acknowledged our history of racial injustice, including the

genocide of indigenous Native people, the legacy of chattel slavery of Black people, resulting Jim Crow and racial terror, and the legally supported abuse of racial minorities.

Engaging truthfully about our history allows us to be better equipped to address contemporary issues ranging from mass incarceration, economic injustice, immigration, civil rights and human rights to change how we think and talk about cultural moments and historical icons and the true creed of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, although not written with us in mind, it is our creed created on the backs of our ancestors.

Every city has its own history to tell, and Omaha, Nebraska is no exception.

There is a commemoration on the horizon See Crawford continued on page 2

Better Blocks Bring Love to the Neighborhood

By Lynn Sanchez Editor, Special Projects

Former city planner and transportation expert Andrew Howard has spent the last 25 years learning all about streets and why people like them and use them … or don’t.

Howard recently visited Omaha at the invitation of AARP Nebraska and the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), both organizations long dedicated to creating livable communities.

He shared his expertise and enthusiasm with about 30 Omahans eager to learn the nuts and bolts of creating “Better Blocks.” The free September 16 event was hosted by OutrSpace, a shared workspace for artists located at 1258 S. 13th St. The workshop included walking excursions into several Omaha neighborhoods.

The concept behind “Better

Blocks” is identifying small, high-impact opportunities for immediate change in your community and then making them. “It’s like speed-dating for doers,” Howard joked. His organization, Team Better Block, makes all its materials open source and provides a 90-day timeline for local organizers.

The creativity, passion and ideas come from the community itself rather than from outsiders.

“You only need a few people to get this going,” Howard assured the crowd. “Every community already has everybody they need.” He encouraged thinking in micro, especially at first.

Rather than try to transform six blocks, start with one storefront.

“Chip away, little by little,” he advised.

“There was one project that needed trash cans on their street.

When they finally got them, they had an artist paint them and then

Remember Will Brown – Sept. 28.

See In the Village for details.

they had a ribbon-cutting for the trash cans!” he said. “Celebrate the successes, no matter how small.”

Better Block projects are all designed to be temporary, but when up and running, have often been so popular that cities have adopted them permanently.

Howard’s presentation of past Better Block projects showed how vacant buildings, dilapidated storefronts and abandoned alleyways on a busy street could be ripe for an exciting makeover that attracts people. Volunteers added colorful plantings, murals, a couple of pop-up retail or food carts, seating, traffic calming devices and bike lanes and pedestrian walkways highlighted with bright, purposely shortlived finger-paint. Although the projects may exist for only one weekend, they allow residents to experience how a place could work.

“Three things make a good space,” Howard explained.

“Places to sit. Things to do.

Something to eat or drink.”

These simple tools and a permit for assembly are all that are needed to help residents and city officials see the potential in spaces. The inspiration comes from those who already know and love the neighborhood.

“One of the things that stops a good project is fear, or an ego gets involved in keeping it the way it is…. You have to replace that emotion with another emotion, which is love. Love of your neighborhood,” concluded Howard.

For more information on how to initiate your own Better Block project, look at http://betterblock. org/how-to-build-a-better-block/ or contact AARP Nebraska State Director Connie Benjamin at 402-323-5421, csbenjamin@ aarp.org

Central High School to Induct Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Founder

Since its founding in 1913 on the campus of Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has been an integral part of every aspect of the nation’s progress and triumphs. With members who are internationally known as well as locally involved in the Omaha area, the Sorority boasts over 300,000 members worldwide.

One rarely known fact is one of the founding members of the organization, Madree Penn White, hailed from Omaha.

White, who is credited with conceiving the idea of the Sorority, blazed a trail for thousands of women by helping found the nation’s largest predominantly Black Greek lettered organization.

Born in Atchison, Kansas, White was raised in Omaha and graduated with honors from Omaha Central High School. As an active student leader at Howard University in Washington, DC, White was vice president of the campus NAACP as well as an See Penn White continued on page 3

Learn The History Sacred Heart – of Lynching – Welcome to the Omaha Sept. 29.

Star Clergy Directory See In the Village for details.

Page Two

LOCAL NEWS

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Member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Mildred D. Brown: Founder, July 9, 1938 Dr. Marguerita L. Washington: Publisher, 1989 - 2016 Phyllis Hicks: Publisher/Managing Editor, 2016 - 2019 Frankie Jean Williams: Interim Publisher/Editor Tanya Cooper: Advertising Director/Business Manager Debra Shaw: Social Media Administrator Barbara Reeves: Retail Distributor THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as one is held back.

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Crawford continued from page 1 which we must unpack. The name of Will Brown should be in every analysis and discussion in classrooms and courtrooms in Omaha, Douglas County. However, the history has remained hidden in plain sight, until recently.

According to historical sources, on Sept. 25, 1919, a white woman by the name of Agnes Loeback was reportedly held at gunpoint and raped. A story all too familiar in or history, that continues to playout in a contemporary context. It was not unusual to hear fabricated accounts of white women assaulted by black men.

These oftentimes, if not always were the spark that lit the fire of lynching and mob brutalities occurring with regularity across the country. The more sinister “fear of Black men” is a discussion to be had. The result, however, was this atmosphere of hysteria, violence and brutality perpetrated at the hands of “everyday law-abiding citizens” of the majority.

The following day, the Omaha Bee, a local newspaper, known to have close ties to “political boss” Tom Dennison (read the “Dennison Machine” more Omaha history worth knowing) reported that a “black

beast” had assaulted a white girl and committed a robbery of her male companion, Milton Hoffman. The alleged “victim” Agnes Loeback and Hoffman quickly identified the perpetrator as Will Brown, a 40-year old black laborer. Brown was arrested and taken into custody at the Douglas County Courthouse jail. There is no acknowledgement at or near that same Courthouse today that this “event” ever took place but take place it did with the help of Omaha’s white citizens. Although accounts differ, the best estimates reveal a mob of approximately 4,000 people gathered at the Courthouse and overthrew any attempts by then Mayor, Ed Smith, to “hold back the crowd” (perhaps a task only Superman could accomplish on his own). According to news archives Will Brown, an innocent man by the end of the evening was dragged from the Courthouse by the mob to a pole on 18th and Harney Streets. There he was hanged, shot many times while hanging, and then they cut him down, burned his body on a bonfire and then dragged the body through the streets on one of the perpetrator’s vehicle as the crowd cheered them on. The infamous picture of the bonfire with

• Westbound Dodge Street at 90th Street will be restricted due to closure of the outside curb lane for Metro Transit’s ORBT platform construction and will be in effect for 40 days.

• Westbound Dodge Street at 62nd Street will be restricted due to closure of the outside curb lane for Metro Transit’s ORBT platform construction and will be in effect for 40 days.

Stay up to date on ORBT construction at rideORBT.com/construction, by signing up for the ORBT Dispatch Newsletter, or by following ORBT on Twitter.

Top Pollster, Consultant to Talk 2020 at UNO The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) will welcome political pollster Harrison Hickman and political consultant Walter Lukens for a discussion on the 2020 presidential race.

The pair will discuss current polling trends and the intricacies of their work. The lecture will also include an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.

The free, public event – part of the Peter J. Hoagland Integrity in Public Service Lecture Series – is set for Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. in the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center. Free public parking will be available in the lot directly north of the building.

Hickman is CEO of Hickman Analytics, Inc. and a longtime national Democratic pollster. His current and past political client list

includes U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (AR), Ben Cardin (MD), Ben Nelson (NE); Governors Mike Beebe (AR), Jim Hunt (NC), and Ann Richards (TX); numerous Attorneys General and other elected officials. Hickman was the Presidential campaign pollster for John Edwards, Al Gore and Bob Kerrey. He also served as the principal election night consultant at the CBS election night anchor desk for two decades.

Lukens is President and CEO of The Lukens Company, a national Republican consultant. Founded in 1986, the Lukens Company serves clients in the cultural, faith-based, animal welfare and advocacy space.

In addition to leading The Lukens Company, Walter is the founder of several other businesses including Pinnacle List Company and P2P

Submissions to Express Yourself must include the writer’s first and last names as well as the writer’s address and telephone number. (Addresses and phone numbers are not published.) Submissions written anonymously will not be printed. Submissions may be edited at the publisher’s discretion. Submissions to Express Yourself or the commentary page may also appear on the Omaha Star Facebook page.

Email submissions must be typed in a Word document and sent to the publisher at: fwilliams@omahastarinc.com

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Messaging. Before starting The Lukens Company, Lukens served as a senior advisor to Senator Bob Dole’s 1988 presidential campaign and was active in the Senator’s subsequent national efforts.

The Peter J. Hoagland Lecture Series honors its namesake’s legacy through inspiring young people to dedicate themselves to public service.

Hoagland, a former Nebraska state senator and three-term congressman, passed away in 2007. Each lecture in the series features state and national leaders - leaders who prove that honor and integrity remain essential components in their service to our country. The lecture series is organized by the University of Nebraska Foundation. Lectures rotate between the University of NebraskaLincoln and UNO.

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Phone Tanya Cooper at 402-346-4041, opt 5.

Give her your new address so she can make sure your Omaha Star subscription is not interrupted.

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(Dr. Terri L. Crawford, B.A., M.A, J.D ; University of Nebraska Omaha, Department of Black Studies - Adjunct Professor; Political Awareness and Involvement Chair, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (OAC ); Policy Director League of Women Voter Greater Omaha.)

Metropolitan Community College Fashion Design student Agustin M. Delgado will have his work featured in the exhibit, “DREAMS: Works

by Agustin M. Delgado J,” in the College’s Gallery of Art and Design at the Elkhorn Valley Campus, 829 N. 204th St. The exhibit will run through Oct. 8.

Delgado is a Mexican-born fashion designer and artist. Now based in Omaha, Delgado designs clothing for local entertainers and events. His inspirations come from a variety of artistic styles, historical eras and fashion elements from across the globe. He has been invited to various fashion weeks around the United States and internationally, and was extended an invitation to be part of the hit shows and competitions, “Project Runway” and “World of Wearable Art.” Delgado is currently working on his associate degree in Fashion Design at MCC. The gallery’s hours are 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Fridays. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

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Will Brown’s charred body appears in many historical documents and articles.

There is a commemoration planned for Will Brown on September 28, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska through a community collaborative effort. The man, Will Brown, deserves to be honored, and at the same time the history deserves to be uncovered. Truth and reconciliation can only take place through acknowledgement. Indeed, we are all inescapably intertwined to the spirit of Will Brown, and it is past time that he is given his due so that he may now, rest in power and in peaceful acknowledgement of his ultimate sacrifice. We owe it in his name, and the names of thousands of others who stood in his shoes then and now, to continue the battle until “earth and heaven rings with the harmony of liberty.”

Elkhorn Art Gallery to Feature Work of MCC Fashion Student

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LOCAL NEWS

September 20, 2019

Omahan Curly Martin & Friends on the 1200 Club Lineup Omaha Performing Arts announces a new lineup of acts coming to the 1200 Club in 2019/2020. From saxophone players, pianists, Latin pop, jazz and soul, this year’s performers promise an exhilarating musical experience from Dec. 13 to May 30.

NEW FOR 19/20: Reserved seating is now available! The line-up features top-tier talent from across the globe: Marilyn Maye presents The Merriest, Curly Martin & Friends, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Gina Chavez, YAYennings Quartet, Grace Kelly and Matthew Whitaker.

Tickets are on sale at TicketOmaha.com, in person at the Ticket Omaha Box Office* inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St., or by phone at 402-345-0606.

Performances on sale now are: Marilyn Maye presents The Merriest Dec. 13 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Marilyn Maye is a nationally known award-winning cabaret singer. She’s 91 years old and is highly appraised as a “musical treasure.” She appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 76 times. Maye’s notable works include “The Lamp is Low,” “Too Late Now,” and “Her Way.”

Martin

Omaha musician Curly Martin is an acclaimed jazz drummer. He was named 2017 Best Jazz Musician in Omaha from the Omaha Entertainment and Art Awards. He was also nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album alongside his world-renown, producer/songwriter son, Terrace Martin.

Stefon Harris & Blackout Feb. 28 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Talented vibraphonist, composer and jazz artist, Stefon Harris, is a four-time GRAMMY nominee. Harris earned a Bachelor of Music in classical percussion and Master of Music in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of

LINCOLN – Secretary of State Robert Evnen is pleased to recognize Voter Registration Day Sept. 24. The day was founded by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Nov. 3, 2020 will be the 59th quadrennial U.S. presidential election along with other simultaneous elections. To register, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Nebraska and be at least 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Nearly one out of every seven Americans of voting age who are eligible are not registered.

Updating registration information is important for anyone who has moved, changed their name, desires to change their party affiliations, or had their voting rights restored since the last elections. There are several convenient ways to complete changes or register. A person can go to their county election office - fill out a paper registration form and mail it to their county election office. The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles also will register citizens online when updating or obtaining a driver’s license.

The Secretary of State online voting registration website is very accessible and used by many. See: https://www. nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ a valid driver’s license or state ID is required.

“It is a simple task to forget, but it’s important to register and keep your registration information accurate,” said Secretary of State Evnen “Don’t let it slip by. In Nebraska your vote counts. It is important to take care of those updates.” For additional information visit the voter registration portal at: www.sos.ne.gov

YP Summit Proposal Submission Opens The Greater Omaha Chamber, in collaboration with community partners, has announced that requests for speaker proposals for the 2020 YP Summit are open.

The largest gathering of its kind in the region, the March 6, 2020 YP Summit anticipates hosting a record-breaking 1,500 young professionals for a daylong event focusing on change, engagement, empowerment and inclusivity.

Proposal submission, and event details, can be found here: https://www.omahachamber.org/ypsummit/ Event organizers note they are “are seeking proposals from candidates who are interested in engaging with attendees via a large group session or workshop during the YP Summit. We are looking for individuals, who are doing dynamic things across a variety of industries and in the community, to share their journeys so we can walk away inspired, informed and ready to act.”

Submissions will be accepted until Sept. 16.

About the YP Summit YP Summit organizers strive to provide a positive experience that energizes young professionals, celebrates many points of view, expands networks and challenges attendees – all with the goal of extending our talents.

Gina Chavez March 27 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Gina Chavez is a multi-ethnic Latin pop songstress. The nine-time Austin Music Award winner has traveled across the world sharing her blend of bilingual folk-pop music. Chavez was named 2015 Musician of the Year and received Album of the Year for her sophomore release, Up. Rooted.

YAYennings Quartet April 4 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Jay Jennings is a three-time Grammy award winning trumpeter. He’s backed up some of the world’s finest artists such as Aretha Franklin and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Known for his work with the multi-award winning band Snarky Puppy, he is now based in Los Angeles and is leading his own project called The YAYennings Quartet.

The band adds a modern twist to the 1950s west coast bebop sound.

Grace Kelly May 2 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Grace Kelly is a jazz-pop singer, saxophonist and songwriter/composer. Her new album “GOTiME: Live in LA” is her 13th CD and her third video album of her GO TiME series. Kelly has performed with renowned artists including Lin Manuel-Miranda (who is known for his Broadway performance in Hamilton), Dave Brubeck and Phil Woods.

Curly Martin & Friends Feb. 6 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall

Secretary of State Announces National Voter Registration Day

Music. He tours worldwide with his bands Sonic Creed, Blackout and Ninety Miles.

Matthew Whitaker May 30 | 7:30 p.m.

Holland Center | Scott Recital Hall Matthew Whitaker is coined as a genius and master of the keys. Whitaker, a jazz pianist, is under the age of 20 and is visually impaired. He’s toured both abroad and in the United States at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater where at 10 years old he opened for Stevie Wonder.

1200 Club is sponsored by C&A Industries, Inc. and Mutual of Omaha. *Ticket Omaha is the official retail ticket outlet for all performances at the Orpheum Theater and the Holland Performing Arts Center. Tickets purchased from other ticket retailers such as secondary ticket agencies or brokers may be more expensive and may not be valid. Due to the nature of live entertainment, all programs, performers, prices, dates and times are subject to change.

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Three

Links Members Named to Area Position and National Committee The Omaha Chapter of The Links Inc. has served the Omaha community for 70 years. Two members of the chapter have been named to Regional and National positions in the organization.

Dr. Janice M. Garnett has been appointed as The Program Coordinator for the Central Area of The Links Inc. Her responsibilities include designing, reviewing, evaluating key programming initiatives of The Links, Incorporated.

The initiatives are organized into facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Dr. Garnett Garnett will lead the Central Area Program Team, 70 Chapters with 3000 members in 17 states, with tools and training that will assist with the implementation and integration of best practice strategies for program development.

In addition, she will serve as a member of the National Program Team.

In May, the National President appointed Terri D. Sanders as a governance member of the Economic Empowerment Committee (EEC), which consists of 12 members from across the four Areas of the Links organization. This committee will launch a sustainable and self-funding Links Economic Empowerment Platform called LEEP. The committee will build an ecosysteminfrastructure; establish a LEEP Venture/Private Equity Fund; create a literate membership with knowledge and education; and develop a mechanism to meet the demand for Women of Color on Corporate Boards.

Sanders The Links Inc. is an international organization of professional women that are organized to provide service in the communities where they are located.

Penn White continued from page 1 accomplished journalist demonstrated by her achievement as the first female editor of the school’s newspaper.

In 1913, the talented linguist imagined a sorority that would emphasize service and the uplift of women during a time when women had not yet earned the right to vote. Under her leadership as an active founding member and second National President, the Sorority developed its constitution and bylaws, created the Greek letters known globally today, and assisted in chartering additional chapters in other cities. White went on to pursue careers as a journalist and educator in St. Louis and Cleveland, and before her death in 1967, was honored by the Cleveland League of Women Voters.

The members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. are proud to announce that the Central High School Hall of Fame will induct Founder Madree Penn White onto its prestigious roster of accomplished alumni on Oct. 3. Tickets to this event can be purchased online through the Central High School Foundation at http://www.chsfomaha.org/events/hall-of-fame/ hall-of-fame-registration. The deadline for purchasing tickets or tables is Sept. 27.

ArteLatinX Brings Together Nebraska Artists The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Office of Latino/Latin American Studies and El Museo Latino invites the greater Omaha community to experience ArteLatinX, an exhibit and series of events running through Oct. 11.

The biennial exhibit brings together Latinx artists from all over Nebraska, showcasing their work at El Museo Latino. This year’s exhibit runs in tandem with Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from midSeptember through mid-October.

Artist conversations, panels and workshops will explore the art and the lived experiences of Nebraska’s Latinx population. This year’s theme is “The Voice of our Roots.” A full schedule is available at: unomaha. edu/news/events.

ArteLatinX 2019 is generously supported by Humanities Nebraska, Nebraska Arts Council, The Sherwood Foundation, Mammel Foundation, and the UNO’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.

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Page Four THE OMAHA STAR

PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION

Deaths & Funerals Mary L. Adams Ms. Mary L. Adams, age 80, passed away Friday, Sept. 6, at a local care center.

Graveside Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Interment: Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Dorothy M. Brown Mrs. Dorothy M. Brown, age 92, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Raleigh, N.C. Survived by daughters: Doris Hawkins (Rev. Clevester Hawkins),Stephanie Moore of Raleigh, NC; sons: Earl H. Brown

(Alicia) and Reginald G. Brown, Omaha; Sister: Bobbie Jean Saulet, Kansas City, KS; Brother: Albert L. Grayson Sr., Stockton, CA; 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and s host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services were held 11a.m.

Friday, Sept. 13, at Fort Street Church of Christ.

Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Andrea (Kathy) Jones Mrs. Andrea (Kathy) Jones, age 72, passed away Sunday, Sept. 8, in Chandler, AZ.

Survived by husband: Richard A. Jones; stepdaughters: Stacie & Richelle; granddaughters: Rylie & Codie, NY; sisters: Gladys Wood, Chevy Chase, MD, Jonetta Bradford, Berkeley, CA, Frances (Jesse) Hall, San Angelo, TX; uncle: Vincent Williams; aunt: Joyce Williams, Tucson, AZ; a host of nieces, nephews, and numerous relatives and friends.

Funeral Service 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Erven McSwain, Jr. officiating.

Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.

Dr. Edward Beasley Jr. 1932 - 2019 Nationally known educator and historian Dr. Edward Beasley Jr. was born June 3, 1932 in Omaha to Edward Sr. and Vesta Sanders Beasley.

He accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and graduated from Central High School where he obtained the rank of Sergeant First Class in Junior ROTC and commanded the Color-Bearing Unit for all military parades. He later was honorably discharged from the Army Corps of Engineers as a First Lieutenant.

He earned his Bachelor’s in history at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, Master of Arts at Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, KS and his PhD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Beasley began his teaching career at Sumner High School, Kansas City, KS where for 12 years he taught American History, directed plays and served as an assistant basketball and football coach.

On May 14, 1954 Edward married Bessie Chandler and raised four children in Kansas City, Kansas. They united with the First Baptist Church, where he was Sunday School Superintendent and a Trustee, and later with Stranger’s Rest Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and Deacon.

In 1968 he established a Black studies program at Penn Valley Community College and taught there for 25 years, retiring in 1993 as Chairman of the Social Science Department. He also taught at Rockhurst College, was a consultant to General Motors, Kansas City and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and he was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity, and Friends of Yates Branch YMCA. Dr. Beasley was a past national president of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (founders of Black History Month), and vice president and board member of the Negro League Baseball Museum.

From 1968-1974 he wrote and narrated the groundbreaking television and radio series “Black History,” which aired on more than 65 stations in the US and on the American Forces Overseas Network.

He founded and was executive director of the Black Motivation Training Center in Kansas City, Kansas, which trained more than 3,500 persons in banking, sales, clerical work, printing and data processing.

In 1986 he developed the Black Trivia Game and in 2000 was inducted into the Mid-American Education Hall of Fame. In acknowledgment of his significant contributions, awards and honors, the City of Kansas City, Kansas officially proclaimed June 3, 2012 “Dr. Edward Beasley Day.” For several years following retirement he authored a regular column in the Kansas City Call newspaper titled “Matters of Fact,” and was frequently requested as a guest speaker across America.

Dr. Beasley departed this life in Surprise, AZ on Sept.

6. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 64 years, Bessie Chandler Beasley, his parents, Edward Sr., and Vesta Beasley, his sister Katie Wilson, and brothers Sylvester (Jack) and Richard Beasley. He is survived by his son Edward III (Jenny), Glendale, AZ; daughters Debra (Glen) Brown, Leavenworth, KS, Dolores Beasley, London, England, and Donna (Richard) Brown, Glendale, AZ; nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, scores of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and grateful students too numerous to count.

Visitation, 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Stranger’s Rest Baptist Church, KCK, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.

Edward will be laid to rest with his wife at Highland Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were coordinated by Thatcher’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, https://asalh. org A collection of Dr. Beasley’s papers, articles and research are archived at the Dr. Edward Beasley Collection, Kansas Historical Society: https://www.kshs.org/archives/442448.

Kids Talk About God What is the Difference Between Being Baptized in Water and Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit?

By Carey Kinsolving And Friends “The water does not do anything except get you wet,” says Matt, 8. “When you get baptized in the Holy Spirit, you get cleansed by God, and he will come into our hearts. Getting baptized means you’re telling the whole world that God has come into your heart.”

On the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Bible scholar JC Ryle wrote: “It consists of the implanting of grace into the inward man. It is the same thing with the new birth.

It is a baptism, not of the body, but of the heart. It is well to be baptized into the visible Church; but it is far better to be baptized into that Church which is made up of true believers.”

“The difference is when you get baptized in water, it is a symbol of being purified by God,” says Caleb, 8.

“When you get baptized by the Holy Spirit, God has brought you into his kingdom.”

As one who received baptism by immersion as a professing Christian who was trying to work his way to heaven, I can affirm that being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ is far better. At my first water baptism, I mistakenly thought that salvation was Christ plus my dedication. I thought that salvation was a joint venture. Christ would do part, and I would do part.

As I stood in the church, wet from water baptism but confused from the mixed message, a girl sensed my bewilderment. She invited me to another meeting where a pastor showed me from the Bible that salvation is a free gift that can only be received by faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit came upon a few believers for special tasks. The prophet Joel

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foresaw a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all believers (Joel 2:28-29). Jesus predicted that his disciples would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit “not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

When the disciples received the Spirit’s baptism, they began to praise God in foreign languages they had not learned. Jews from foreign countries who had gathered at Jerusalem for the Pentecost feast understood the disciples in their own languages.

In his sermon, the Apostle Peter said this was the fulfillment of what the prophet Joel predicted. The time had come when God would pour out his Holy Spirit upon all believers. About 3,000 Jews trusted Christ as their savior that day and were baptized in water (Acts 2).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an historic event that ushered in a new age. It occurred for the Jews on the day of Pentecost, but came later for Gentiles (non-Jews). The Apostle Peter took the gospel to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. Like the Jews at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke in foreign languages and were baptized in water (Acts 10-11:18).

Think about this: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience to be sought, but a truth to be believed.

Even though every Christian has been baptized by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ, not all are enjoying the fellowship with Christ that comes from being filled with the Spirit.

Memorize this truth: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Ask this question: Have you been filled or controlled

by God’s Spirit today?

THE BLACK PRESS AND THE BLACK CHURCH: Both Born Out of Necessity For Self-Expression And Both Black - Owned.

Together, The Press And the Pulpit Can Give Us Full Citizenship Immediately

September 20, 2019

Send a Great Revival in My Soul

By Dr. William Holland

It’s easy to drift away from God and settle for an average and normal way of living and this is exactly what a personal revival is all about. Revival means “return” and begins with a conviction of sin and an awareness of our need to repent. Spiritual renewal involves surrendering our will and accepting the call to live in obedience to everything God is demanding with complete honesty, sincerity, and humility. Revival can open the eyes of our heart and expose our great need for a constant Christ as we seek and ask God to restore our spiritual zeal and to stir the embers of our spirit until the fire of our passion begins to blaze once again. In his great love for us, he can instill within us a thirst for his presence and a fervent desire to take up our cross and follow him with all of our heart. Do you believe the Spirit of God is being poured out today on his sons and daughters? Do you see evidence of a spiritual revival around you? Do you sense the Lord convicting you to turn away from the temptations of the world and draw closer to him? I enjoy writing about positive topics and relaying inspirational stories, but every now and then I need to ask myself if I really want God’s discipline to purge the apathy and compromise from my life.

It’s not a secret that the dark side is against God’s agenda and persecution will continue to increase against those who are determined to live for Christ. The reality of people falling away from the faith and the love of many waxing cold is prophesied to happen and should come as no surprise to those who study the scriptures. Nonetheless, the critical declaration to engrave on the tables of our heart is that even if everyone we know drifts away from God and his word, we will remain faithful to his truth and never let go of his hand. I know that sometimes we feel discouraged and there are seasons when it appears that only a few really care about the Christian life, but then I remember that God is in control and his disciples are working diligently and this gives me encouragement and hope. Christians may be small in number but will continue to press forward because they know him and love him. What is our message? Jesus Christ freely gave his life and shed his blood so that we could be saved from our sin. He is the only sacrifice that can ransom a soul from being lost and the only authority that can transform and redeem those who will believe.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” Jeremiah 17:7.

In Revelation chapter two, Christ acknowledged the church at Ephesus for their perseverance and work ethic, but he stated they had forsaken their first love which was their personal relationship with him. Many times, as the excitement of salvation becomes lukewarm, we lose our desire and urgency to pray and to obey God’s word and no longer have the joy or enthusiasm to serve him. In chapter three, we see where the church at Laodicea thought they were doing just fine but God said they had also become deceived about their spiritual coldness. Today I encourage us to examine our conscience and not only identify what is separating us from walking with him but to eliminate it completely. This is the hour of grace and the window of opportunity for the bride to prepare her wedding gown for the appearance of her groom. Let us shout from the housetops that King Jesus is coming! At this moment, you can ask God to forgive you and he will cleanse your heart and deliver you from whatever is keeping you from a victorious spiritual life. The cares and worries of this journey can beat us down, leaving us emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted, but Christ is waiting to restore our hope, faith, and joy. He is the only one who can wash away our guilt and give us a brand-new start. Let us sing this old hymn together, “Send a great revival in my soul, send a great revival in my soul, let the Holy Spirit come and take control … and send a great revival in my soul.”

The Paradox of Love: Trump’s United States of Hate

By Dr. Keith Magee

America is experiencing the most perilous of times in recent history as the result of its president, Donald Trump. Even though Monday morning, Aug. 5, he stepped forward to speak against a weekend of hate crimes, it lacks residence because of the hate that has been reverberating since his stance against the Central Park Five, his ascendance in the GOP with the birther inquisition of Barack Obama, and not immediately condemning the chants of “send her back” aimed at four congressional women of Congress for doing their job.

It remains jarring how he and the leadership of the GOP lack human decency by caging children at the border and proclaiming that Baltimore is a predominately AfricanAmerican city where no humans should live. These hateful words are intentional, verbal terrorism to inflame his base and continue to label some human beings as unworthy of [existing] in the same race as White Americans. What is equally puzzling is the silence of the White Evangelical church in which 81 percent supports and believes that he has been called by God. These blatant domestic terrorist attacks, being exercised

by White supremacists, best known as the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazis, are embedded deeply it how they understand God, practice Christianity and see humanity.

And yet, there are other social justice faith leaders who are grappling with this torture and how to convey the message of God, resulting in a divided gospel.

In the New Testament gospel of Mark 12:28-33, a scholar and scribe out of curiosity questioned Jesus, “Which out of all the commandments is the most important?” Jesus responds with two statements. The first is how you are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your mind, your soul and your strength.” The second one is to “love your neighbor like you love yourself.” The implication is very powerful because what it means is to be authentically a follower of Jesus, I have to know how to love me before I can love you.

Continued in next issue

PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY

September 20, 2019

ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E.

Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell

Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell, Presiding Elder and Pastor Tammi Tate, Public Relations Chairperson 2842 Monroe St. Ph: (402) 502-8003 Fx: 934-8581 Sunday School...........................9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship......................10:00 a.m.

Thursday Bible Study..............8:00 p.m. via teleconference, dial-in number 563-999-2090 and access code 576989

MOUNT CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH “Jesus is the light of the world” mtcalvarycommunitychurch.org 5112 Ames Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-457-4216 Sunday School .................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship Experience ......... 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Food and Fellowship.................... 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday (WOW) Word On Wednesday... 7:00 p.m.

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Five

ST. MARK BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor Jarrod S. Parker 3616 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68111 Phone: 402-451-0307 Email: smbcsecretary@ stmarkbaptist.org Pastor Jarrod S. Parker

Sunday School – Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Worship Service – Sunday 10:15 a.m.

Children’s Church (except 2nd Sunday) Holy Communion every 1st Sunday Prayer and Bible Doctrine Study Midday - 12:00 noon; Evening – 7:00 p.m.

MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

“Where Life is for Everyone”

Dr. Ralph B. Lassiter, Pastor 2602 N. 24th St. Off: (402) 451-8800 Fax: (402) 451-8522 mtmoriahomaha.net pastorlassiter@gmail.com

Drs. Mar n & Lynnell Williams Founders & Lead Pastors SUNDAYS Prayer 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM

WEDNESDAYS Prayer 6:00 PM Worship 7:00 PM

www.ambassadorswc.com 402-341-1866 5417 N 103rd St. Omaha, NE 68134

Televised Broadcast – Sundays at 6:00 p.m., KPAO Cox Channel 22 & CenturyLink Channel 89 Our Mission: “To exalt the Savior, edify saints, evangelize sinners and elevate society.”

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH

Rev. Ralph Lassiter, Sr.

Sunday School .............................................. 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship ..........................................10:45 a.m.

Overcomers in Christ......................Sunday 7:00 p.m.

Fr. Dave Korth 2207 Wirt Street Omaha, NE 68110 Phone: 402-451-5755

Wednesday Bible-Prayer Service 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m Fr. Dave Korth

CLAIR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH “Come Get Your Hilltop Experience” Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor 5544 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104 Telephone: 402-451-8322 • Website: www.cmumc.net Email: clairumc@cumc.omhcoxmail.com Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor

Sunday School………………………8:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship Experience………...10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study….…….…….6:00 p.m.

Mass Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 8:00 am in Rectory (2218 Binney)

MT. NEBO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Thursday - School Mass 8:10 am in Church

“The Church Where Fellowship is Real”

Saturday - 5:00 pm Sunday - 8:15 am and 10:30 am

Pastor Terry L. Arvie 5501 N. 50th Street Ph: 402-451-4245 Fx: 402-451-2130 office@mtneboomaha.org www.mtneboomaha.org Pastor Terry L. Arvie

Sunday Morning Worship ...................................9:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting .....................7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Church School ......................7:30 p.m.

Youth/Children Ministry Focus (Wed.) ............7:30 p.m.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH Serving God and One Another in the Spirit of Excellence Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus Senior Pastor 3131 Lake Street Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1000 www.salembc.org

Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus

Rev. Kent H. Little, Lead Pastor Services on Sundays at 8:30 am & 10:50 am

PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH

7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired to grow with and in God.

Weekly Services Sunday Morning Worship Service .....................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Children’s Church (2nd & 4th Sunday) ................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Life Development (Sunday School) .........................................10:15 a.m.

Wednesday Word and Worship (WWW) ................................ 6:30 p.m.

“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”

Rev. Kent H. Little

Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org

TABERNACLE OF FAITH CHURCH

Pastor Brian Page

Pastor Barbara Mitchell 2404 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1800 Church 402-455-3390 Fax

Wednesday: Prayer Power Hour ......................................12:00 p.m Thursday: Youth For Christ ............................................6:00 p.m Prayer & Bible Study ....................................6:30 p.m Sunday: Sunday School.................................................9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship..........................................10:15 a.m.

Televised Broadcast Sunday @ 10pm on KPAO Cox Communication channel 22 & Century Link channel 89

Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder

Pastor Barbara Mitchell

8:30 am Early Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 - 10:15 am Sunday Morning Breakfast 10:15 - 11:15 am Sunday School 11:30 am Sunday Morning Worship 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study 8:00 pm Friday Night Service Noon day prayer Thursday - Saturday

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod 2721 N. 30th Street 402-453-1583 Sunday School................................10:00 a.m.

Church Service...............................11:00 a.m.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

2423 Grant St. Omaha, NE 68111 Ph: 402-348-0631 • Fax 402-342-4451 Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.

Reconciliation: Sunday after Mass or by appointment

Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor

&

JOY OF LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC

HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pastors Eric and Cynthia Butler

2901 Fontenelle Blvd. 68104 Ph: 402-451-6622 • Fax 402-457-6901 Mass Schedule: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

Sun. 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & Noon (Spanish) Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment

6401 N. 56th Street Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-399-9628 E-Mail: Jolpastor@aol.com Sunday School..........................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship......................10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship.......6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night ....................7:00 p.m.

Bible Study and Youth Ministries

Pastor: Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

Pastor Eric Butler and Co-Pastor Cynthia Butler

2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720

Pastor Kenneth A. Allen

SUNDAY Sunday Morning Worship……………9:00 A.M. Sunday School……………………...11:15 A.M. WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M. ~ Hour of Power Bible Study Wednesday is Family Night!

6:00 P.M. ~ Prayer & Praise Service 6:30 P.M. ~ Feast & Fellowship (Light Meal) 7:15 P.M. ~ Discipleship Academy (Classes for ages 5 & up)

THE WORSHIP CENTER North 24th Street Church of God “Presenting the Never-Changing GOD to an ever-changing World!”

MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH

“Where Christ Jesus Is the Center of Attention” Rev. Dr. Leroy E. Adams, Jr. Senior Pastor 2019 Burdette Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-342-0018 Fx: 402-346-9300 Rev. Dr. Leroy E. Adams, Jr.

Radio Broadcast: 101.3 fm 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each Sunday Worship Service .............10:00 a.m.

Sunday School .................8:45 a.m.

Excluding First Sunday Tuesday Evening Service.........7:00 p.m.

Dr. Stan Rone - Senior Pastor 2021 N. 24th Street • Omaha, NE 68110 (402) 341-4297 Dr. Stan Rone Senior Pastor

Sunday Kingdom Academy 9:00 a.m.

Worship Celebration 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Hour 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon Wednesday Power Hour (Prayer/Bible Study) 6:30 p.m.

Youth and Children 6:30 p.m. www.theworshipcenter24cog.org

COMMENTARY September 20, 2019 Almost Everything Bad That A Fair Shot in America what, in their minds, makes it “fair” to

By Oscar Blayton Trump Did This Summer cheat.

Page Six THE OMAHA STAR

Felicity Huffman says she just wanted to give her daughter “a fair shot” at getting into the college of her choice. That is the reason the Emmy Award-winning actress paid someone to cheat on her daughter’s college entrance exam.

Huffman pled guilty in federal court to paying $15,000 to have her daughter’s SAT exam answers illicitly corrected by a test proctor.

Huffman, who, along with her celebrity husband, William H. Macy, reportedly has a net worth of $45 million, believed that her daughter, Sophia Macy, was educationally disadvantaged because of a learning disability.

Huffman tried to rationalize her cheating by saying that she only wanted to use her wealth to level the playing field for her daughter.

Most parents want what’s best for their children and Felicity Huffman is no exception. But it is likely that her daughter already had an abundance of the best. Her parents were able to provide her with the advantages in life that wealth brings. In this sense, Sophia lived a life of privilege.

The absurdity of Huffman’s belief that her daughter has lived a life of disadvantage warranting short-circuiting the normal college admissions process is breathtaking.

Are we expected to believe that Sophia did not have the opportunity to attend the best schools for her learning disability and to have the most appropriate support systems? Sophia was even allowed six hours to take the three-hour SAT exam when she produced documentation stating that she had a learning disability.

Sophia’s mother is a textbook example of the type of greed that underpins white supremacy. She exemplifies the people who have so much more than most people but who want even more. Why? Because they believe they deserve it. And that is

Deservedness is based upon merit in some cases and upon status in others.

While we all deserve respect because of our status as human beings, a student deserves a promotion because of her meritorious work. A problem arises when social wires get crossed by wealth, racism or other factors and status is seen as merit. There is no merit in being born into a wealthy family, just as there is no merit in being born white. But racism and classism assign merit to both. And this leads to a false sense of deservedness.

For her crime, Felicity Huffman received only 14 days in jail at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., where at least one hour of recreational sunbathing is allowed from 4 p.m. Friday until 8:30 p.m. Sunday. She also is required to pay a $30,000 fine out of her $45 million in assets and perform 250 hours of community service.

During her trial, prosecutors argued that Huffman should go to prison, pointing out that a jury in Akron, Ohio, sentenced a single Black mom to five years in prison for using her father’s address to get her children into a nearby suburban school district. Prosecutors also pointed out cases in Atlanta where some Black public school teachers and administrators received as much as three years in prison for bolstering school rankings by cheating on students’ state exams.

By understanding the false sense of deservedness that attaches to whiteness and wealth we can explain why judicial outcomes vary so greatly. This also explains the differing outcomes in employment, education, housing and health care.

“A fair shot” to some Americans means greater advantage for them at the expense of others. And unless we find a way to change this culture, racism and classism will continue to fuel the oppression of the truly disadvantaged in this country.

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

Express Yourself In retaliation for a racial discrimination lawsuit I filed against the judges in the Douglas County Court, the court in July required me to post a double bond to appeal a probate case because of an alleged “glitch” in the bond system. Whites only have to post one bond to appeal a case. If this was a glitch in the system, how many other people have been affected and why hasn’t the “glitch” been resolved? Although the court usually allows clerical errors such as a “glitch” to be easily resolved by the court, the Court refused to release the duplicate bond I filed in the amount of $8,200 in violation of U.S. Supreme Court case law because I am a black attorney and because of my discrimination lawsuits. The court denied my request for the duplicate bond and they did not tell me the reason for the denial of the bond request. The court did send a refund check for $100. Where is the $8,200 duplicate bond money? Is there a shortage of bond money to refund? Is the court overcharging other blacks? Will the court grant me, other blacks and poor people a fair hearing?

The court is retaliating against me because of my discrimination lawsuits against the court system for equal treatment and equal pay for black attorneys.

In 2015, I filed a successful lawsuit naming the Douglas County Court Judges as defendants based on the fact that judges sit on a panel which did not appoint black attorneys to represent poor defendants in murder cases (which is similar to refusing to allow black jurors to decide a murder case as a juror). As a direct result of the lawsuit I filed and an article I wrote approximately 10 black attorneys received court appointments to non-murder cases and were immediately placed on the attorney list to receive attorney fees for representing poor criminal defendants in Douglas County. I am still not on the list to receive court appointments in murder cases.

The same white female judge who refused to release the bond is the same judge who sentenced African American boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford to jail for 90 days for disorderly conduct and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $6,000.00.

She was immediately reversed on appeal. Although I have been denied the reason for the return of the duplicate bond from the courts, a federal court has ruled that even the Klu Klux Klan is entitled to post only one bond and they are entitled to an explanation regarding the reason for the bond amount they have to post-but not me.

For the past four years, I have sued the court system in Nebraska for equal pay and equal treatment for black attorneys. I have also argued and fought for equal treatment for criminal defendants of all colors. If the courts do not treat me fairly as a black attorney, how are they treating black people and poor people?

Timothy L. Ashford (Editor’s Note: The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper.)

While America Slept Dear Editor: While America slept our country was undermined from within. Now socialism has reared its ugly head in America, the land of the free.

Obviously, Barack and Hillary, were only the tip of the mountain of admirers, of Socialist Saul Alinsky, and of his ideas on “How To Create A Socialist State,” in which he listed “eight levels of control” needed before one could create a socialist state. He was talking about “America,” not one state.

Now some are saying that Alinsky’s “eight levels of control” are well in-place in America today. And most definitely, are. Others are still hanging on the outcome of the next, or future, presidential elections.

Number one on Alinsky’s list was healthcare. He said, “Control health care and you control the people.”

Although he presented himself as a champion of the poor, on No.2, he wanted to “increase the poverty level” because “poor people are easier to control.”

On No. 3, He wrote, “increase the debt to an unsustainable level” in “that way” enabling you, “to increase taxes” thereby, producing “more poverty.”

Take guns away to “remove people’s ability to defend themselves from the Government” is No. 4 on his list. He said, in “that way you are able to create a police state.”

Like most ungodly socialists, Alinsky said, “Remove the belief in God from the Government and schools.” And “take control of what children learn in school.” He also wrote, think, “Common Core.”

Obviously, while our fathers and us slept, our children, grandchildren, and greatgrand- children, are well indoctrinated to be enslaved. As Alinsky wrote in his 5th control, “Take control of every aspect of their lives, (food, housing, and income).”

WAKE UP AMERICA, WAKE UP!! REMAIN FREE!!

Manuel Ybarra, Jr. (Editor’s Note: The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper.)

By Katha Pollitt

Welcome back from your summer vacation, which I hope you spent immersed in long Russian novels or underwater, anywhere out of reach of the news from Trumplandia. To bring you up to speed, Nation intern Molly Minta and I have prepared this handy list of awful things done or said by Donald Trump and his administration – which unfortunately is not inclusive because he’s been very busy and I have space for only 1,000 words.

May 30: The Trump administration imposes a tax on Mexican goods to pressure Mexico to keep Central American asylum seekers from entering the US. June 3: Trump calls London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser.”

June 17: The US government announces it will withhold millions of dollars in aid to Central American nations until they step up their efforts to discourage migration.

June 20: Federal appeals court judges OK a gag rule making clinics ineligible for Title X funds if they provide abortions or abortion-service referrals to women, in effect cutting about $60 million to Planned Parenthood.

July 14: Trump tweets that Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib should “go back” to the “crime infested places from which they came.”

July 17: At a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, Trump doubles down on his attack on the congresswomen: “They don’t love our country. I think, in some cases, they hate our country. You know what? If they don’t love it, tell them to leave it.” His remarks are met with chants of “Send her back!”

July 18: The Environmental Protection Agency announces that it will not ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, despite its connection to numerous disorders in infants and older children.

July 22: The Trump administration announces new rules permitting undocumented immigrants to be deported without a court hearing if they are unable to show that they have been in the United States for at least two years.

July 23: The Trump administration proposes a new rule that would take food stamps away from more than 3 million people.

July 27: Trump calls the Baltimore district of his persistent critic Representative Elijah Cummings a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” and tweets that conditions there are “FAR WORSE and more dangerous” than at the border.

July 31: The Senate confirms Kelly Craft as the next envoy to the United Nations.

Together with her husband, the CEO of one of the nation’s biggest coal companies, Craft has given millions to Republican politicians, including $2 million to Trump.

In 2017 she said she believes in “both sides of the science” on climate change.

August 7: US Citizenship and Immigration Services ends protections for migrants who are here for lifesaving medical treatment. After backlash, the agency said it is reconsidering the decision.

August 11: At seven Mississippi foodprocessing plants, 680 workers are arrested in immigration raids. It’s the largest such operation in a decade.

August 12: The Trump administration

publishes a new rule that makes obtaining a green card more difficult for any immigrant who has received public benefits for more than 12 out of any 36 months.

August 16: The Justice Department files a brief in a Supreme Court case arguing that transgender workers are not protected by a ban on workplace discrimination.

August 20: Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats show “a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”

August 20: Trump cancels a trip to Denmark because the “not nice” and “nasty” prime minister (a woman, obviously) wouldn’t sell Greenland to the US. August 21: The administration says that it will end the 1997 Flores agreement limiting how long children may be kept in detention centers at the border. In effect, that could mean the indefinite detention of immigrant families.

Definitely bad for the Jews: Speaking to reporters about the trade war with China, Trump calls himself “the chosen one,” threatens to release ISIS fighters in Germany and France “if Europe doesn’t take them,” seems to seriously float the possibility of serving more than two terms, and says Russia “outsmarted” Obama when it annexed Crimea.

August 23: Trump says he was being sarcastic when he called himself “the chosen one.” On Twitter, he orders US businesses to find “an alternative to China, including bringing your companies HOME.” August 25: As the Iranian foreign minister makes a surprise appearance at the G-7 conference in Biarritz, France, Trump tweets to TV host Regis Philbin, “Happy Birthday Regis, a truly special man!” Trump suggests that his Doral resort in Florida is an ideal venue for the next G-7 meeting and insists it does not have bedbugs.

Axios reports that Trump suggested using nuclear bombs to keep hurricanes from hitting the United States.

August 27: The Washington Post reports that in order to complete the border wall before he’s up for reelection, Trump instructed aides to approve billions of dollars in construction contracts, use eminent domain, and eschew environmental review. He has told them that he will pardon them if they break any laws.

August 28: Trump rages at Fox News after daytime anchor Sandra Smith interviewed Democratic National Committee official Xochitl Hinojosa, tweeting, “We have to start looking for a new News Outlet. Fox isn’t working for us anymore!”

As Puerto Rico braces for a possible hit by Hurricane Dorian, Trump tweets, “Puerto Rico is one of the most corrupt places on earth” and “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico!”

Trump nominates 12 federal judges, bringing his total to 209, with 146 confirmed to date.

August 29: The EPA proposes rolling back curbs on methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change.

September 1: Trump hikes tariffs on Chinese goods, from 10 to 15 percent.

None of this has significantly damaged Trump’s popularity, which remains just above 40 percent. Happy fall!

(Katha Pollitt is a columnist for The Nation.)

Mentoring Matters

By Debra L. Shaw YouTurn offers adolescents and young adults the tools needed to resolve conflict. Their focus is youth/gang violence, domestic and intimate partner violence and sex-trafficking. YouTurn offers support in addition to resources that leads to breaking the cycle of poverty; reducing violence and trauma; promoting positive behavior changes leading to resiliency in our youth; offering healthier families and safer communities. The organization serves adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 24 years old residing in the Northeast sector of Douglas County in Omaha, Nebraska, who are at highest risk for violence, often associated with gangs and other activities that negatively impact their opportunity for success. YouTurn believes that effectively reaching adolescents and young adults requires a collaborative effort between youth; parents/guardians; schools; community-based service providers; law enforcement and other key community stakeholders.

YouTurn’s philosophy is built on the idea that the prevalence of violence among adolescents and young adults is a key indicator of the health and well-being of our community. Youth are resilient; therefore, with support. they can chart a new course of personal achievement and success. YouTurn has adopted the evidencebased Cure Violence Health Model.

Detecting and intervening where violence occurs; Identifying and treating those at

highest risk; and changing social norms by implementing innovative approaches.

YouTurn uses evidence-based strategies and programs, designed specifically for adolescents and young adults most at risk for engaging in violence. Their Violence Interrupters and Outreach Workers maintain a visible presence in neighborhoods and schools most impacted by violence.

Through strong, effective collaborations, YouTurn provides adolescents and young adults with opportunities to “turn their lives around.”

As a community, we have the power to deter youth/gang violence, domestic/ intimate partner violence and sextrafficking from harming adolescents and young adults. YouTurn creates opportunities for youth to “break the cycle” of violence by: Helping adolescents and young adults seek positive alternatives to violence and reduce the costly impact of violence that is often associated with gangs in the neighborhood. YouTurn is located on 4344 North 34th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska. YouTurn provides fulfilling and meaningful volunteer opportunities for individuals 19 years and older. To become a YouTurn Volunteer, contact the Violence Prevention Director 402-933-7850 or email info@youturnomaha.org to make an appointment to visit with a staff member and learn more about their programs.

Go to YouTurn’s website https:// youturnomaha.org/ to review these details in this article and discover more about this amazing organization. Working together through this organization, we can help youth turn their lives around from violence to victory.

Mentoring Matters!

September 20, 2019

LIFE & STYLE/HEALTH & WELLNESS

‘Arrows of Fire’

Releasing on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 14, and a recommended read for Hispanic Heritage Month is the new historical novel “Arrows of Fire” by best-selling Afro-Honduran author Marlen Suyapa Bodden. Arrows of Fire takes the reader deep inside the bloody European conquest of Mexico, a colossal clash between powerful forces, and reveals the crack in Moctezoma’s armor – his use of human sacrifice. This is a great read for those who enjoy historical and multicultural fiction, the history of Latin America and the Caribbean and those who follow current controversial topics such as immigration, Native American rights, modern day slavery, and the death penalty.

Bodden is a lawyer at The Legal Aid Society in New York City – the nation’s oldest law firm for the poor – and an anti-war, anti-slavery, and anti-death penalty activist. She drew on her knowledge of modern and historical human rights abuses to write Arrows of Fire, her second novel. Her first novel, The Wedding Gift, an international and Wall Street Journal bestseller, was recommended by the ladies of The View as a great summer read.

Arrows of Fire begins in November 1519, and Hernan Cortés has invaded Moctezoma’s empire, part of the Triple Alliance that rules one of the most advanced civilizations in history.

Told in behind-the-scenes portraits, Arrows of Fire takes the reader deep inside the bloody European conquest of Mexico, a colossal clash between powerful forces, and reveals the crack in Moctezoma’s armor – his use of human sacrifice.

In this story, Moctezoma orders his henchmen to kidnap a girl named Flower from her family and imprison her so she can learn to impersonate a warrior goddess and, unbeknown to her, ultimately be sacrificed to the God of War. Moctezoma becomes obsessed with the beautiful Flower and is torn between keeping her as a concubine and offering her to the God of War. But now Cortés nears Tenochtitlan, the Mexican capital, and Moctezoma commands Flower be brought to him to perform the human sacrifice. Will Flower make it out in time to join the resistance? Or will Moctezoma carry out a centuries-old practice of human sacrifice?

Says Bodden, “Arrows of Fire unflinchingly illustrates the brutality of both Cortés and Moctezoma, but it also demonstrates the mightiness of the human spirit and the resilient power of hope.” [Roatan Hall Press, Oct. 14, 2019, ISBN: 9781732974708]

Good Books Café

Nubian Minds Book Club Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Fun, food, and fellowship are the Nubian Minds Book Club member’s only way to describe the last 20 years. Founder Elizabeth Williams started the club in 1999. The first book read was “Disappearing Acts” by Terry McMillan. The book club meets bi-monthly in members’ homes to discuss the book chosen by the hostess. There’s never a dull moment. Besides having great discussions about the books, the hostess will provide food, games, and gifts. At one book club meeting they discussed the book “The Love u Hate” by Angie Thomas and then watched the movie.

So it goes without saying a party was indeed warranted after 20 years. Each member invited one guest and they all met at the Holiday Inn Express on Sept. Evangelist Karrisa 14. The decorum of the room, as one would expect, was full of books. Books Denae Johnson the club had read and books to give to their guest. A table of delicious food was on display with a cake featuring the book clubs name. Of course, no woman’s event would be complete without beautiful flowers. So there were flowers on every table. The group wore peach tops with their Nubian Minds logo and black slacks.

The Mistress of Ceremony was member Mary Kennedy. Mary’s humorous personality made the event that much more enjoyable. Just like their meetings, the celebration followed suit with activities, door prizes and delicious food.

Their guest speaker for the event was Evangelist Karrisa Denae Johnson. Karrisa is the author of e-book “7 Steps to the 7th Continent.” Karissa shared her knowledge on the process of writing, editing, and marketing an e-book. Karrisa can be found on most media sites including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and her own blog called sevenby30.com. Karrisa was a motivated, delightful speaker who made everyone feel capable of documenting any valuable information and sharing it via an e-book.

A time was set aside to recognize members who are no longer active in the club and Marie Scott, who passed away Members a couple of years ago.

A list of everyone who has been a member of Nubian Minds was featured on the program. They are: Sabrina Bradley, Eleanor Brown, Kelli Clayton, *Princess Cullum, *Jilaya Dailey, Ronnie Green, *Sherri Green, Mary Kennedy, Annette Knight, Melanie McCroy, Kim Melton, Nicole Murry, *Pat Patterson, Connie Ross, Cheryl Secret, Teonette Tellis, Theresa Union, Regina Watkins, *Latoya Williams, *Liz Williams, and Shirley Willis.

The evening closed with pictures documenting the day. * Denotes Founders

VNA Flu Immunizations Available

It’s September, so flu season is right around the corner! A flu immunization is the best way to protect you and your family from this potentially deadly disease.

When you get your flu immunization from Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), all proceeds are reinvested to support VNA services for vulnerable individuals in our local communities.

VNA is now offering flu immunizations through community clinics at VNA Headquarters at 12565 West Center Road. The clinics at VNA Headquarters are held from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. every Monday through Thursday; no appointment is necessary.

VNA flu immunizations are available to anyone, including seniors and children six months of age and older. Immunizations are administered by a knowledgeable VNA registered nurse, using temperature-monitored vaccine management to assure vaccine integrity. This year, VNA is offering the quadrivalent or four strain vaccine flu shot.

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months and older in the United States get a flu vaccination, but it is particularly important for people at high risk of complications from influenza. It’s best to be vaccinated before the end of October, since it can take two weeks for the antibodies in your body to provide protection from the flu.

In addition to the community clinics, VNA offers workplace clinics, and is still accepting new businesses. On-site clinics offer an increased convenience so more employees are likely to get their flu vaccine. The flu can be costly for businesses. Offering an on-site flu clinic decreases absences and overall healthcare costs for the organization, thus improving productivity while promoting health and wellness. More details can be found at vnatoday.org/flu.

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Seven

Stacey Abrams Says She’d Be ‘Honored’ to Be Considered for Vice President

By NewsOne Staff Stacey Abrams said last Thursday that she would be “honored” to be considered to be the Democratic nominee’s vice presidential running mate, according to a new report. It seemed to be the first time she suggested that she would welcome the opportunity to be on the Democratic ticket after repeatedly shooting down questions about her future.

Washington Post reporter Vanessa Williams tweeted about the conversation Abrams was having with legendary journalist Dorothy Gilliam at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Northwest Abrams Washington last Thursday evening. The report came on the backdrop of the annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference and was tweeted moments before the third Democratic debate began.

Abrams, a rising star within the Democratic Party, had previously ruled out a run for president and recently said she had no interest in being a candidate to fill the seat of retiring Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson. She tweeted from her account late last month a statement attributed to her spokesperson that said in part “she will not be a candidate” in Georgia’s upcoming special election.

But just two weeks earlier, that same spokesperson, Lauren Groh-Wargo, told the New York Times that Abrams was not ruling out a vice presidential candidacy should the Democratic nominee come calling.

“In typical Stacey Abrams fashion, she’s taking a hard look on the best use of her time and talents are,” Groh-Wargo said at the time. “And while being a pundit or running for president might have been easier, fighting voter suppression and making sure our nominees have what they need to fight on the ground is what’s most important.”

Abrams has been all consumed with ending voter suppression, the same evil force that successfully plotted to prevent her from becoming the nation’s first Black woman governor. After conceding the election in November, she resumed her crucial role with Fair Fight Action, the voting advocacy group that works to ensure “free and fair elections.”

Abrams was the victim of one of the more overt cases of racist voter suppression in recent history. Abrams was running against Brian Kemp, who, at the time, was also the secretary of state, a position which just happens to oversee elections. The clear conflict of interest manifested itself in what was called “dirty tricks” on election day that included everything from missing power cords for voting machines to long lines delayed by more than four hours to polling places without an adequate number of voting machines.

As a result, Abrams said she believed the election was “stolen” from Georgia voters. That belief was clearly reason enough for her to stay off the front lines of elections in favor of working behind the scenes to do the necessary grunt work to end voter suppression and help people clear the structural hurdles put in place to prevent [certain] folks from going to the polls and casting ballots.

Even though she lost her election, Democratic Party leaders still picked her to deliver their response to Trump’s State of the Union address in January.

Minority Leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has been consistently recruiting Abrams to run to help Democrats win back the Senate, and former Vice President Joe Biden had reportedly been grooming her to become his vice presidential running mate. But Abrams shot down both of those invitations in April.

A month before that, a tweet from Abrams appeared to open the door for a 2020 presidential bid. “I never thought I’d be ready to run for POTUS before 2028. But life comes at you fast – as I shared in Q&A w @Yamiche at @sxsw.

Now 2020 is definitely on the table…,” she said.

Abrams last hinted at her political future in August when she spoke on SiriusXM’s “The Joe Madison Show.”

“The reality is I’m not running for president,” she said Aug. 28. “And so, and I do not know who the nominee will be. That nominee will then have to decide who he or she wants to have as their colleague and their ally in this campaign. That is left to the decision of the candidate, and I can’t say who that person is, and I can’t say I’m the person they would choose. If the question is, would I like the job? I’m not going to be coy and say no. Of course I would love that opportunity.”

Health and Spirituality: Has Anything Changed?

By Mark Darby, RN APRN, FNP-C Director of North Omaha Academy of Healthy Living This month is the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Will Brown in Omaha because enough people believed something without the facts to back it up. Brown was accused of raping a white woman and, while he was awaiting trial, which should have established facts on the case, there was a violent rush to judgment.

One could legitimately ask the question if anything has changed in the last 100 years.

Has anything really changed? Young Black men today float in a sea of unestablished facts and stereotypes. I have heard young Black men referred to as absent fathers, criminal thugs, or uncaring womanizers. Such stereotypes serve to justify and camouflage the mass incarcerations that are occurring to this generation of men. Just like 100 years ago,

young men are being accused and there is a rush to judgment. However, there is more to the story.

Let’s take the idea of absent fathers. It is an idea, which at its worse, suggests that young Black men have sex whenever and with whomever they can without giving a second thought to the children. That, however, has not been my experience. I work in a clinic that tests and treats hundreds of young Black men every year. In all my conversations with young Black men, I have been impressed by how many care for their children and desire to be a good father. This caused me to do some research and here are some facts which present a different picture. A 2013 Center for Disease Control Study showed that Black fathers (70%) were more likely than White (60%) and Hispanic (45%) fathers to have bathed, dressed, diapered or helped their child to the toilet every day. The report lists many other similar facts about Black fathers.

Maybe the real story about Black fathers is that despite high rates of poverty, incarceration

and racism, a large portion of young Black men get up every day try to earn a living, support their families and contribute to their community.

I can imagine the day after Brown’s lynching.

Despite the crowds and riots, young Black men would go to work as best they could because there were still mouths to feed. Even a hundred years ago, the story was more complicated.

Recently, the folks at North Omaha Area Health have begun a process of trying to challenge our own assumptions about young men, especially young Black men, and how we treat their reproductive health decisions.

Can we do more than just treat their STDS with a pill? If we focus on their strengths can we help them make better decisions about reproductive health? I am excited about the possible answers.

(Oh, check out Fathers’ Involvement with Their Children: United States, 2006–2010 at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr071. pdf. Black Fathers do more than hold their own in most areas.)

Health Care Consumerism: Strategies to Help People Save Money and Effectively Navigate the Health Care System

By Rebecca Madsen Chief Consumer Officer, UnitedHealthcare In years past, health plans worked with employers to help manage almost all health benefit decisions, leaving employees relatively unaware of the costs. Today, for example, employers and consumers are more frequently choosing plans with higher deductibles; more than 43 percent of Americans are enrolled in such plans, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High-deductible and other consumer-driven plans may encourage people to become more engaged in making health care decisions, as they now have a greater, more direct financial obligation for their care. And health plans and employers are providing employees access to information that may enable a more seamless, coordinated health care experience.

To help people maximize the value of their health plan and more effectively navigate the

health system, here are strategies to consider during this year’s open enrollment season for millions of Americans: • Understand your coverage and go-to resources: Read your health plan’s summary plan description to understand what is covered so you’re aware of potential out-ofpocket costs, including premiums, copayments, deductibles and co-insurance. If you are unfamiliar with those terms, or others, visit justplainclear.com, an online resource that features a glossary of common health care acronyms and concepts. Knowing this information can help prepare you to ask questions and avoid any potential surprises in your medical bills. In addition, some health plans offer 24/7 access to a nurse line for information about care options, to help locate the nearest in-network care provider, and to determine what support programs may be available, such as smoking cessation, diabetes management and incentive-based well-being initiatives.

• Evaluate different care settings:

People who experience a significant or serious medical issue should go to the emergency room (ER), but for those who need non-emergency care, other settings – such as an urgent care center, primary care physician, convenience care clinic and virtual visit – may be a more efficient and affordable option.* For instance, visits to the emergency room can cost patients up to 10-times more than a visit to urgent care or other care settings, so making more informed decisions about where to go for care could save $1,500 or more per treatment. In fact, families could save $4.4 billion annually by choosing an urgent care, a doctor’s office or an online virtual visit – depending on the medical issue – instead of an ER when seeking nonemergency care, according to the National Institutes of Health.

• Comparison shop based on quality and cost: More people are accessing online and mobile resources that provide health care quality and cost information, enabling consumers to comparison shop for care as they would other

services. Some health plans give people resources to compare quality and cost measures for specific health care providers, with customized estimates based on actual contracted rates. This is important because health care quality and cost can vary significantly across the country and even within the same city, despite the fact that there is often little or no corresponding improvement in health outcomes for services performed by higher-priced care providers.

As people take greater responsibility for their health care decisions, considering this information may help save time and money while making the health system easier to navigate. (* The information provided is for general information purposes only and is not intended to be nor should be construed as medical advice or a substitute for your doctor’s care. You should consult with an appropriate health care professional to determine what may be right for you. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.)

EVENTS/LOCAL/CLASSIFIED ADS September 20, 2019 Scrap Arts Music Brings ‘Children of Metropolis’ to the Orpheum Theater Oct. 25 Things to do, people to see, places to go.

Page Eight

THE OMAHA STAR

In The Village!

Omaha Performing Arts presents “Children of Metropolis” by Scraps Arts Music Oct. 25 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The all-ages show begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at TicketOmaha. com, in person at the Ticket Omaha Box Office located inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, or by phoning 402345-0606. This performance is sponsored

by Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

“Children of Metropolis” is the latest production by Gregory Kozak and Justine Murdy, the co-founders, artistic directors and designers of Canada’s Scrap Arts Music.

It is a fast-paced, all-acoustic percussion show, with sci-fi-inspired film and video projections. The quintet performs with gymnastic agility and percussive drive, demonstrating incredible musical skill while striking, moving and bowing handmade, mobile sculptural instruments made from recycled and salvaged materials.

Scrap Arts Music is an experimental pop percussion company with universal appeal that excites the senses with intricate rhythms, high energy, athletic choreography, and the most beautifully inventive instruments on stage.

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African American, was falsely accused of a crime and murdered while thousands of spectators watched. This remembrance will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Douglas County District Court Building on the North Steps, rain or shine. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

For more info, phone 402-444-5345.

Sept. 29 – The Great Plains Black History Museum will host “The History of Lynching Throughout the Great Plains of America” workshop. Special recognition will be given to the death of Will Brown, whose murder took place 100 years ago. This workshop will be held at the museum, 2221 N. 24th St., from 2-3:30 p.m. For more info, phone 402-932-7077.

Oct. 4 – Open Coffee guest speaker is Native Omahan Tony Veland, former Cornhusker and Denver Bronco and now Director of Community Engagement for the AIM Institute. AIM provides kids who are interested in technology with access and exposure to the industry.

The community forum will be held at Accelerando Coffee House, 7023 Cass St., from 8:15-9:45 a.m. This event is free but reservations are recommended via Eventbrite.com. For more info, checkout Open Coffee on Facebook.

Oct. 4 – The catfish is fresh, hot, and waiting for you at Clair Methodist, 5544 Ames Ave. Come for lunch, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., and return for dinner, 4-7 p.m.

Menu includes fried catfish, two sides, a beverage and homemade lemon cake.

Phone 402-451-8322 to place your order.

Delivery available on 3 or more orders Oct. 4 – First Friday Fish Fry! Get it while it’s hot at St. Benedict the Moor, 2423 Grant St. It’s on and frying from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. On the menu: catfish fillet, spaghetti, green beans and a dessert. For more info, phone 402 348-0631 Oct. 5 – Metropolitan Community College will host a free Bi-National Health Fair at the South Campus, Mahoney Room 200. The fair will offer a variety of health screenings including dental, vision, hearing, HIV/STD, glucose, blood pressure and more. For more info, phone Vivian Garcia at 402502-8875.

Oct. 6 – It’s time to get your “fishing on”!! Join the Omaha Police Department for the 10th annual Cops and Bobbers, from 1-4 p.m. at Benson Park. Bait, tackle, poles and a hot dog lunch will be provided. This event is for youth ages 8-15. Register online at http://bit. ly/2lW59Oj Hurry – registration deadline is Sept. 27. For more info, phone Theola Cooper at 402-444-3367.

Oct. 11 – Young Black Influential Omaha is excited to host another meetup at The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St., from 5-7 p.m.

Participants will have an opportunity to view the “Undesign the Redline” exhibit.

There will be food and lots of networking opportunities. For more info, phone the Union at 402-933-3161.

NDCS Employee Arrested (Lincoln) – Bridget Matson, 41, a chemical dependency supervisor at the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook, was arrested by the Nebraska State Patrol on Sept. 10 for unauthorized communication with a prisoner (Neb. Rev. Stat. 83-417) and sexual abuse of an inmate (Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-322.02).

Matson has been employed by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services |(NDCS) since August 2011. She started as a chemical dependency treatment specialist at WEC. Matson was promoted to supervisor in April 2017.

Matson resigned her position at NDCS and was booked into the Red Willow County Jail.

Director Scott R. Frakes reinforced the agency’s zero tolerance policy. “Whether it has to do with conveying contraband to an inmate or establishing a personal relationship, high standards for behavior are there for a reason. Failure to behave in a strictly professional manner puts the safety and security of our facilities in jeopardy. It is not acceptable.”

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Now – Omaha Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Shop every Saturday (till Oct. 12) in Omaha’s Old Market for the city’s best selection of farm-fresh, local produce, bedding plants and fresh-cut flowers, gourmet baked goods, meats, cheeses, specialty items and more from 90 local vendors! Wondering what types of payment vendors except? Check them out on Facebook.

Now – The Union for Contemporary Art is hosting “Sometimes We Cannot Be with Our Own Bodies” by Vanessa German. The artist says in her own words, “This work is a dimensional reckoning.”

The exhibit runs through Nov. 30. For times or more info, phone 402-933-3161 or visit info@u-ca.org Now – The Great Plains Black History Museum hosts the “Will Brown and Lynchings Throughout the Great Plains of America” Exhibit. This cxhibit commemorates the 100th anniversary of the lynching of Will Brown and will map out all Terror Lynchings throughout the Great Plains. The exhibit is on display from 1-5 p.m., Thursday - Saturday through Dec. 31.

Sept. 21 – Urban Financial Services Coalition will host a community shredding event from 2-5 p.m. at First National Bank Omaha, 50th and Ames.

Sept. 23 – Uncomfortable conversations over comfort food!

Inclusive Communities’ Lozier Omaha Table Talk is back, free and open to the public, with registration required at www.inclusivecommunities.org. This session’s subject is Storytelling as Remembrance: Black Art and History in the 100th Year of Will Brown’s Lynching. For time, location or more info, contact Katherine MacHolmes at Katherine@inclusivecommunities.org.

Sept. 23-26 – Morning Star Baptist Church, 2019 Burdette St., hosts their 13th annual Vision to Victory Family Conference at 6:30 each evening. Topics include: Shining the Light on Mental Illness, The Study of the Book of Jude, Overcoming Depression, Go, Order My Next Steps. The free conference is open to the community. For more info, phone Gwen Stennis at 402-342-0018.

Sept. 25 – Ambassador Worship Center, 5417 N. 103rd St., is hosting the season’s last Church on the Green, “Taste of the Nations,” at 7 p.m. Enjoy fun, fellowship and food. For more info, phone 402-3411866.

Sept. 27 – Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is hosting a workshop for kids interested in becoming rodeo athletes. This event will take place at the CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St., from 12:30-4 p.m. For more info, phone Anthony Bartkowski at 719528-4729.

Sept. 28 – The Omaha Community for Racial Justice and Reconciliation will host “Remembrance of Will Brown” to help us remember the history of injustices in our city. 100 years ago Will Brown, an

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South Omaha Historical Grant Application Period The “turn-back” grants have returned for 2019-2020 to benefit projects in South Omaha.

According to the revised Nebraska Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act, 10 percent of the funds received by the City of Omaha in “turn-back tax” from the State each year will be distributed to areas with a “high concentration of poverty.” Those funds are to be used to showcase important historical aspects of those areas or to assist with the reduction of street or gang violence in the target areas.

Areas in South Omaha have been determined by the Nebraska Legislature to meet the “high poverty” definition, and under statute, a committee has been established to oversee the distribution of the money. By statute, the committee includes the city councilmember and the county commissioner who represent the area plus an area resident appointed by the other two members.

Councilmember Vinny Palermo and Commissioner Mike Boyle, who represent South Omaha, will again work with South Omaha resident Anita Rojas for this program. The application period for the South Omaha grant is open now and forms are available online at the city and county websites. Applications must be submitted to Councilmember Palermo, Commissioner Boyle, and Anita Rojas in the City Council Office, 1819 Farnam St., Suite LC-1, no later than 3 p.m. on Nov. 6.

Successful grant recipients will be notified in December.

Visit us on the web at theomahastar.com

September 20, 2019

LOCAL/NATIONAL/YOUTH NEWS

Creighton University, Union Pacific Partner to Build Diverse Workforce Creighton University and Union Pacific Railroad are teaming up to enhance diversity and build Omaha’s future workforce.

The Union Pacific Diversity Scholars Program at Creighton University will create access to academic merit scholarships and professional development opportunities for minority students over a four-year period. Creighton and Union Pacific’s Community Ties Giving Program will each invest more than $1 million to fund the program.

“Creighton recruits diverse and high-performing students, and Union Pacific seeks the same in its workforce,” said Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. “Together, we will reach out to students from minority groups, welcome them to Creighton and Omaha, invest in their strengths, and provide them with the tools to succeed and lead – extending far beyond an excellent education.”

“At Union Pacific, we believe diverse perspectives drive stronger idea generation and spark creativity that, ultimately, fosters innovative solutions in today’s rapidly changing world,” said Union Pacific Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz.

“This scholarship program is a step toward strengthening our future workforce and creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive community.”

To qualify for the Union Pacific Diversity Scholars Program, high school students must hold a 3.5 GPA or above in a college preparatory curriculum. Students must apply to Creighton’s College of Arts and Sciences or Heider College of Business by Jan. 5.

The first eight members of the program will arrive on campus for the 2020-2021 academic year. During their freshman year, students will be paired with Union Pacific mentors. As the scholars advance, they will engage in peer-to-peer mentoring and connect with community partners to grow their networks. Junior and senior students will apply to Union Pacific’s internship program for a chance to explore career opportunities at the railroad. Union Pacific employs more than 250 Creighton graduates.

Throughout their academic careers, scholars will enrich their education through inclusive excellence and cultural competency themes in their coursework, led

by Christopher Whitt, PhD, Creighton’s inaugural vice provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.

“Creighton and Union Pacific have a shared vision for Omaha to be a more inclusive place,” Whitt said. “Our Jesuit, Catholic mission – paired with Union Pacific’s commitment to building a workforce that represents the communities it serves – offers a framework to help make this vision a reality.”

The Union Pacific Diversity Scholars Program supports the high-priority initiatives identified in a recently published report by Blueprint Nebraska, a group of business and civic leaders working to enhance economic advantages for all Nebraskans.

“We are focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in Nebraska, not only to attract and retain top talent, but because it’s the right thing to do,” Fritz said.

“Working together, we can help make Nebraska the most welcoming state in the Midwest.”

Birmingham Unveils First Historical Lynching Marker at Sloss Furnaces

Denise Gilmore, Director of Cultural Preservation, City of Birmingham, (with mic), and Mayor Randall Woodfin (left) during unveiling of the historical lynching marker.

(Photo by: City of Birmingham)

By Ameera Steward BIRMINGHAM TIMES – More than 300 people joined members of the Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP), city and county officials, residents and civic leaders last Monday night at Sloss Furnaces to dedicate a historical marker in memory of two lynching victims. The plaque, the first historical marker by the JCMP, memorializes Jake McKenzie and Tom Redmond, who were both lynched at Brookside mines, owned by Sloss-Sheffield Iron and Steel Company, during altercations with law enforcement.

More than 300 people joined members of the Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP), city and county officials, residents and civic leaders Monday night at Sloss Furnaces to dedicate a historical marker in memory of the two lynching victims.

JCMP, an intergenerational, interracial and interfaith organization, memorializes victims of racial terror violence as well as makes sure the community does not forget present history, said Abigail Schneider, project director for JCMP and a member of the JCMP coalition.

“To do that we think it’s important to help reclaim spaces and narratives for the 30 documented victims of racial terror violence within Jefferson County,” Schneider said.

“The plaque at Sloss that we dedicated … we see as an important step towards telling these stories.”

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who helped unveil the marker, said “Jake McKenzie and Tom Redmond are two names that must be remembered in Alabama’s history. They were both victims of unspeakable hate and we do them a great disservice by letting their stories be lost to time.

“The Sloss Historical Marker Dedication will stand as a reminder of the injustices we have sworn to fight,” the mayor said. “Our history may be painful, but it’s only by acknowledging those scars that we can we truly find healing.”

Mr. McKenzie, who worked at Brookside mines 12 miles north of Birmingham, was a part of a group of men who tried to stop the arrest of a black man who was being charged for abusive language. The officers began shooting at the men and as a result McKenzie and an officer were killed in 1897, and several of the other black men were wounded. No records show that the men were prosecuted for his murder.

Mr. Redmond was killed at Brookside mines in 1890 after an altercation between a group of whites and blacks that ended when Redmond was killed and at least five men were wounded. No one was held accountable for his death.

Murders such as these fall under the Equal Justice Initiative’s definition of lynching.

Schneider said she feels an incredible sense of gratitude to members of the community ready to work for truth and reconciliation.

“We hope that people who attended the [unveiling] or go and see the marker realize that they can become advocates and get involved within their communities, or families, or work places or with the Jefferson County Memorial Project to continue these conversations and let more people know about why it is important for them to get involved too,” said Schneider.

The dedication ceremony is important because “our society is still broken … the only way we are going to get to a more whole place is if we start with the truth and giving people the skills, and places, and understanding to learn how we got to where we are today and then also how we can work to change it,” Schneider said.

Birmingham is known as the Magic City because the city grew over night and had the essential ingredients to make steel and iron, she said.

“Yet, we forget in that history that the reason we were able to become the Magic City is because of the convict leasing system and the abuse and exploitation of black labor,” Schneider said. “So, we hope that this marker will more appropriately and evenly tell that history of Birmingham.”

(This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.)

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Nine

High School Girls Invited to Apply for Free Program High school girls in 10th through 12th grades with an interest in science, medicine or engineering are invited to apply for the Perry Outreach Program to be held Nov. 9 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The event is co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.

The Perry Outreach Program is a free, one-day, hands-on experience for female high school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and engineering. Participants will hear from women leaders and participate in simulated orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanical experiments.

The application, due Oct. 9, and more information, is available at http:// perryinitiative.org/programs/student-

online-application.

“It is a fun-filled educational day of speakers and hands-on modules where the girls get to use saws, drills, screws and get a glimpse into what orthopaedic surgery is like,” said Maegen Wallace, M.D., assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at UNMC and a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha.

Founded in 2009, the Perry Initiative was named in honor of Jacquelin Perry, M.D., one of the first female orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S. This is the sixth year UNMC has been involved with the Perry Outreach Program, which partners with medical centers and universities to hold events nationwide each year.

For more information, contact Dayne Urbanovsky at 402- 559-5609 or dayne. urbanovsky@unmc.edu.

EducationQuest Awards $1.56 Million in Scholarship Funds (LINCOLN) – EducationQuest Foundation has awarded $1.56 million in need-based scholarship funds to Nebraska’s nonprofit colleges and universities for distribution to eligible students during the 2019-2020 academic year. The funds are designated for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Each college selects students who will receive scholarships.

Area institutions included in the distribution are Bellevue University, CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Creighton University, Metropolitan

Community College, Nebraska Christian College, Nebraska Methodist College, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and University of Nebraska at Omaha.

This marks the 21st year that EducationQuest has awarded need-based scholarship funds to Nebraska colleges.

Since the program began, EducationQuest has awarded over $24 million providing 24,000 scholarships.

EducationQuest developed the scholarship program – and has continually increased the annual distribution amount – as part of its mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.

Registration Now Open for Chamber-Driven Careerockit Registration is now open for educators interested in participating in the fourth annual Careerockit, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s award-winning and no-cost business/educator learning initiative.

Launched in 2017, Careerockit brings Greater Omaha’s business and educational communities together to educate, excite and inspire students and young adults about career opportunities waiting for them right here at home – all to build Greater Omaha’s talent pipeline and ensure the region can meet current and future talent needs.

“An effort of this scale is only possible with countless partners and supporters. If you haven’t participated in Careerockit before, there’s no better time to get on board,” says David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber.

One week each year, area businesses, of all sizes and from all sectors, host thousands of career experiences, including tours, hands-on activities, presentations, workshops, demonstrations and more. The largest endeavor of its kind in the Midwest, Careerockit 2020 will be held the week of Feb. 10-17.

“Educators tell us they appreciate that Careerockit helps them connect their classroom curriculum to Caring for someone with real-world applications.

Alzheimer’s isn’t easy.

Employers have the reward of seeing their teams engage in Reaching us is. something that contributes to our community and inspires our future workforce,” said Maggie Fisher, manager – talent, Greater Omaha Chamber.

• Educators can register their classes to participate in Careerockit at Careerockit. com/educator-registration/ until Oct. 19.

• Employers can register to host a career experience at Careerockit.com/businessregistration/ Oct. 1 - Nov. 30.

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia, you are not alone. We’re here day or night — whenever you need us — offering reliable information and support.

Career experiences should be Free 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 unique to the host company Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: alz.org/care and give students a glimpse into what everyday life at the organization is like.

Careerockit has hosted more than 55,000 student experiences to date.

Page Ten THE OMAHA STAR

YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS

September 20, 2019

Creighton Provides Diverse Students Research Opportunities Preparing Our School The Creighton University Summer Research Institute University) District, City for Our Future was held from June 10 through Aug. 2. The program 2019 Summer Research Institute High School Students

By Cheryl Logan Ed.D / Superintendent Omaha Public Schools logancomm@ops.org We’re back to school and excited for the year ahead. Our number-one goal for the 2019-2020 school year is preparing our students for postsecondary success.

Throughout the year, we’ll celebrate our 160th anniversary. Our district began educating Omaha’s children in 1859. Howard Kennedy was the first superintendent of OPS and four schools opened under his leadership – with more than 450 students. Today, the district serves 53,000-plus students in more than 90 schools, including the state’s first K-11 virtual school.

This year is focused on big plans and big thinking.

We’ll work towards improved math instruction and performance. We’ll maintain our focus on encouraging students and families to attend school every day on time, as well as further enhancing safety and developing our Strategic Plan of Action.

The OPS Strategic Plan of Action is a future-focused effort aimed at elevating student success. We’ve assembled a team of talented experts from across the country to work alongside our own experienced team of educators right here in Omaha to address current challenges and imagine new and better ways to educate our students.

In the months ahead, we’ll keep you updated on the progress of the Strategic Plan of Action. We’ll reach out for your input. This month, we’ll begin our Futures Labs. If you’re interested in providing input, please email us at: strategicplanofaction@ops.org.

In January of 2020, we’ll share our Strategic Plan of Action with you. It will be our blueprint for positive and lasting change, better supporting staff and tailoring learning to students’ goals and the demands of today.

We’re incredibly optimistic about the coming year.

Thank you for your support of the Omaha Public Schools.

Michelle Obama’s YouTube Playlist YouTube Originals and NowThis have launched the new learning playlist, A Student’s Guide to Your First Year of College, in partnership with Michelle Obama and Reach Higher, an education initiative Michelle Obama started while at the White House.

This 10 episode crash course will give students the tools they need to succeed and transition into their first year of college – covering topics ranging from financial aid, to finding mentors, to living on your own for the first time.

The episodic learning playlist features videos from Mrs. Obama, interviews with experts, advice from upperclassmen, and encouraging messages from a panel at Reach Higher’s Beating The Odds Summit that includes Mrs. Obama, Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood.

was developed and is managed by the Health Sciences are the following: - Multicultural and Community Affairs Department • Marcus Vazquez (JR, Omaha North High) (HS-MACA) and the Center for Promoting Health • Julio Dominguez (SR, Omaha Central High) and Health Equity (CPHHE). The program accepted 8 • Erlinda Ramirez (JR, Omaha South High) – Project undergraduate students and 4 high school students from SEED over 30 applicants. All 8 undergraduate students conducted • Jude Kouassi (SR, Creighton Preparatory High) – biomedical research projects with distinguished Creighton Project SEED University faculty researchers. Two high school students The Summer Research Institute provides the students conducted community-based participatory research with an 8-week experience of conducting research, projects with 2 local community organizations, No More undergoing weekly education sessions on health disparities Empty Pots and Reconnect, Inc. The other 2 high school and career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, students conducted biomedical research projects through engineering and math) and opportunities to enjoy the support from the American Chemical Society and their summer with their cohort with various social outings. At program, Project SEED (Student Enrichment Education the end of the program, the students present their research for the Disadvantaged). in an oral presentation format where they are judged on The Summer Research Institute (SRI) initially began their knowledge and application of their research. in 1992 as a summer research program for pre-doctoral For more information on the program and to apply and collegiate undergraduate students. The high school for the program, please visit us at https://healthsciences. component was introduced in 2000. After a successful creighton.edu/diversity/research/summer-researchrun, in 2002 the Creighton University Health Sciences institute or contact the program supervisor, Errik Ejike at – Multicultural and Community Affairs Department ErrikEjike@creighton.edu.

(HS-MACA) received a three-year funding award from the National Institute of Health to “…increase the representation and participation of minority U.S. students (high school and college) in biomedical research through their choice of a career in the biomedical sciences.”

In 2010, the summer program became co-managed by the newly-formed Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE) and HS-MACA. The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity is a community-academia partnership to address health disparities and health equity for underserved communities.

Since 2010, the Summer Research Institute has included biomedical research for undergraduates, biomedical research for high school students, and community- Summer Research Institute undergraduate students based participatory research with community partners and organizations for high school students.

The 2019 Summer Research Institute Undergraduate Students are: • Justin Jackson (SR, Creighton University) • Irving Delgado-Arellanes (JR, University of Notre Dame) • Efren Garcia (SR, Creighton University) • Dariush Yalzadeh (JR, College of Southern Nevada) • Jocelyn Plowman (SR, Augustana College) • Taylor Ling (JR, Georgia Gwinnett College) • Anhmai Vu (JR, Grinnell College) • Jean-Marie Djidjoho (JR, Creighton Summer Research Institute high school students

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