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OMAHA STAR
Welcome to Omaha
THE
Celebrating 80 Years
Gabrielle Jordan
1938 2018
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Omaha Star & MDBMSC Gala Keynote Speaker Vol. 80 - No. 14 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, July 13, 2018
Promiseship Announces New Member Of Leadership Team African American and Native American children are vastly overrepresented in Nebraska’s foster care system, according to a report issued in June by the state’s Foster Care Review Office (FCRO). In light of that fact and great concerns in terms of disparities affecting the child welfare system, Gibril Mansaray, who most recently served as the first Cultural Equity Specialist focused on reducing Mansaray disproportionality for families involved with the Iowa Child Welfare system, has joined PromiseShip, the new Nebraska Families Collaborative, in the role of Diversity and Inclusion Manager. Mansaray, a native of Iowa City, IA, has spent the past seven years working with families promoting healthy skill building, conducting training on cultural bias and inclusion and advocating for the rights of dozens of African American fathers who had open Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases, which later expanded to include all fathers. Mansaray said, “most fathers fighting for rights to their children feel like minorities when it comes to child services.” In his new role at PromiseShip, Mansaray will lead diversity and inclusion initiatives, serve as community liaison and build strategic relationships in the community and deliver diversity and inclusion training. About PromiseShip PromiseShip, the new Nebraska Families Collaborative, provides child wellbeing and safety services for more than 5,000 children and families in Douglas and Sarpy counties who are involved in the child welfare system through a publicprivate partnership with the State of Nebraska. PromiseShip tirelessly spans boundaries bringing powerful partners together to provide innovative solutions that transform life’s uncertainty into family wellbeing. Visit promiseship.org for more information.
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Maxine Waters Cancels Events Amid Shooting And Lynching Threats Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has received increased death threats after she called for protestors to publicly question Trump officials. But this week, the congresswoman said she received “several very serious threats” leading to event cancellations. Amid the backlash against Waters, the Democrats’ top two leaders in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, actually threw her under the bus. The two publicly reprimanded her without specifically calling her out by name. Schumer denounced calls to confront Trump officials as “not American,” while Pelosi said in a tweet that it was “understandable but unacceptable.” Now death threats against Waters, currently serving her 13th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, are escalating. At a recent rally, Waters said that those who oppose Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy should question his Cabinet members wherever they encounter them. “If you see anybody in that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you
push back on them,” she said. “And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere. We’ve got to get the children connected to their parents. The children are suffering.” In a recent tweet, Trump said Waters called for harm to his supporters; said, again, that she has a low IQ; and warned her to “be careful.” That same day, Waters said she received a death threat so harsh she had to cancel events. “There was one very serious death threat made against me on Monday from an individual in Texas, which is why my planned speaking engagements in Texas and Alabama were cancelled this weekend,” Waters said in a statement. “This is just one in several very serious threats the United States Capitol Police are investigating in which individuals threatened to shoot, lynch, or cause me serious bodily harm.” Lynching occurred in the Jim Crow era where Black men, women and children were hanged by whites. So for a Trump supporter to name that practice in a threat to Waters speaks volumes. During a private caucus meeting,
Waters
according to lawmakers in the room, Waters said she has a right to express herself under the First Amendment and that she does not support or condone violence, The Hill reports. “As the President has continued to lie and falsely claim that I encouraged people to assault his supporters, while also offering a veiled threat that I should ‘be careful’, even more individuals are leaving [threatening] messages and sending hostile mail to my office,” Waters said.
Omahan Honored as ‘Purple Profile of Courage’ by Alzheimer’s Assoc. The Alzheimer’s Association is excited to announce that local Omaha resident Cheryl Willis has been selected as one of 11 spokespersons for the esteemed Purple Profiles of Courage Program. Purple Profiles of Courage participants are members of various communities in Nebraska who are devoted to advancing the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. These participants offer inspiration to the public by speaking publicly about their disease experiences, engaging in media interviews, and participating actively in signature events with the Alzheimer’s Association. The Purple Profiles of Courage participants receive comprehensive training to advocate for advancements in the field and promote free services offered to families affected by Alzheimer’s. Last year, Kathie Bickerstaff, Dylann Ehegartner, Lori Huffman, Mike Hughbanks, Bill Myers, Pam Parker, and Amy Walton served as advocates for the Purple Profiles of Courage in the Omaha area.
Willis has been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2003, working with families, friends, and caregivers of people with the disease. Willis encourages those with a connection to the disease to get support from family and get connected with your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter. By working with the Willis Alzheimer’s Association and serving as a support group leader, she is able to refer others to the free resources and support offered by the Alzheimer’s Association. Cheryl states, “I have always referred families, friends and caregivers to the Association for resources and support. I have used pamphlets for teaching in my practice and support groups. I have
used speakers for programming.” Moving forward, spokespersons from across the state will represent various connections to Alzheimer’s disease, including having lost someone to Alzheimer’s, currently caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, living with the disease, or having a vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. These spokespersons will engage in sharing their story on social media, blogs, media interviews, and various speaking engagements through signature events such as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the Growing Hope Gala, and The Longest Day. Elizabeth Chentland, Director of Communications for the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter, looks
forward to helping Nebraskans better understand Alzheimer’s through the voices of people with extensive personal experience. “We know that this disease affects families so deeply. Sometimes, the disease feels overwhelming to families. Being able to learn from a peer with disease expertise who is willing to share their own story becomes critical in increasing awareness about the disease and providing information about care, support, and research opportunities. It also helps generate greater participation in Alzheimer’s Association events.” In the United States, there are over 5.7 million people with Alzheimer’s and that is projected to grow to as many as 16 million people in 2050. In Nebraska alone, there are 34,000 people over the age of 65 living with the disease and they are supported by 82,000 caregivers across the state. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, leading to 598 deaths in Nebraska in 2017.
‘Zeta of the Year’ Award Recipient Named
What Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee Means for the Future of Black America By Bruce C.T. Wright The president has nominated Brett Kavanaugh to fill the Supreme Court seat of outgoing Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was set to retire at the end of the month. “There is no one in America more qualified for this position and no one more deserving,” President Donald Trump said in announcing his selection Monday night at the White House. Conservatives rejoiced at the selection, but some of Kavanaugh’s first words after accepting the nomination likely had Black folks on edge about what to expect if he were to be confirmed. Kavanaugh almost immediately pointed to his mother’s past as a teacher at two largely Black high
schools as supposed evidence that he would be fair and culturally sensitive in his rulings if he were to become Kennedy’s successor on the Supreme Court. “My mother taught history at two largely AfricanAmericans public schools so I understand the
importance of equality,” he said. Those words were all but tantamount to saying “some of my best friends are Black,” which is code to all people of color for an apparent over compensation for what could be racist tendencies. Another possible troubling indicator: Kavanaugh once dissented in a 2011 case centered on President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, saying the national health care law was “unprecedented and unlawful,” according to the Federalist. Either way, because Trump chose him, Black America’s collective Spidey sense wasn’t buying it. In an obvious case of something that was not a coincidence, Twitter reminded folks that Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s first Supreme Court pick, went to high school together.
Adams
The local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Beta Psi Zeta, has announced that Dottie Adams is the recipient of the 2018 Zeta of the Year Award. The multifaceted characteristics and the untiring dedication Dottie exemplifies have set forth a shining example within the sorority and throughout the community. As an active member serving, giving, and volunteering for more than 30 years, Dottie continues her commitment to her music ministry at various Omaha nursing homes.
Don’t be confused about Medicare – July 18
It’s Summer in the City!
Ending the Cycle of Gang Violence – July 24
See In the Village for details
See the photo page inside this issue.
See In the Village for details