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Volume 89 • Issue 44
And the Living is Easy Use our wellness guide to get healthy this summer … and for good.
June 8-14, 2017
June 8-14, 2017
COVER STORY
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Wellness Matters By Kamille D. Whittaker At the turn of the 20st century, the life expectancy for African Americans – notwithstanding socio-economic conditions and realities particular to the time -- was dismal. Comparisons matter: Despite close proximity, African Americans were expected to expire, generally, 14 years earlier than their White counterparts. The fact that African Americans kept living and reproducing despite the realities and susceptibility to these conditions is a study in resilience and offers clues as to why, at least statistically, African Americans have been faring better as of late. The death rate for African Americans fell 25 percent from 1999 to 2015, according to a recent CDC report. Essentially, early health interventions can lead to longer, healthier lives. “In particular, diagnosing and treating the leading diseases that cause death at earlier stages is an important step for saving lives,” says Leandris Liburd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., associate director, CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. Specifically, the single biggest contributor to that decrease in death rate was a steeper decline in heart disease deaths for blacks. Reductions in heart disease mortality alone closed the life expectancy gap in comparison to whites by 0.37 years (about 135 days). And even as new research has confirmed the hereditary nature of stress, and stressful contexts sustained over time and too, its impact on accelerated cellular aging or premature death, we’re starting to understand more how the roots of most of the chronic illnesses that plague Black America disproportionately are ultimately stress related, often intergenerational -- and widely preventable. With heart disease in particular, stress may affect behaviors and factors that increase heart disease risk including high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity and overeating. All things considered, being healthy is indeed a lifestyle. And while sometimes, dramatic overhauls of time-worn habits are needed, most times a few simple adjustments can be enough to produce noticeable outcomes to reduce the impact of factors that are beyond our control. READ “Black Women’s Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability” (2017) Edited by Stephanie Y. Evans, Kanika Bell and Nsenga K. Burton This book creates a new framework for approaching Black women’s wellness, by merging theory and practice with both personal narratives and public policy. ASK Five Questions You Must Ask Your Primary Physician, according to Dr. Winston H. Gandy, Cardiologist 1. Am I going to have a heart attack? 2. Do I have cancer? 3. Do I have diabetes? 4. What is my ejection fraction? 5. What are my cholesterol levels? DETOX / Avoid Social Toxins A new study from the University of Maryland found that racism may speed aging at the cellular level. Researchers found signs of accelerated aging in African-American men who reported being heavily discriminated due to their race and who had internalized anti-Black attitudes “Despite the limitations of our study, we contribute to a growing body of research showing that social toxins disproportionately impacting African American men are harmful to health,” explained Dr. David H. Chae, assistant professor of epidemiology at UMD’s School of Public Health and the study’s lead investigator. “Our findings
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suggest that racism literally makes people old.” FOODWAYS / Ital is Vital One of the primary goals of adhering to an Ital diet is to the concept of what one puts into the body should enhance ones livity and vitality and not reduce it. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and from the earth; avoiding all foods that are chemically modified or contain artificial additives, color, flavorings, and preservatives and salt. BLACK CAN CRACK You are what you eat and a lackluster diet will lead to dull skin, dry hair and brittle nails. Bust a reverse: Grapes and red wine – Both supply high amounts of Vitamin A, C, and B6, nutrients that keep your skin’s complexion fresh and clear. | Salmon – Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon not only helps with free radicals and overall skin health, but also lowers odds of stroke and fights against Alzheimer’s disease. Alternatives: Tuna, trout or sea bass. | Water – Sugary drinks and spirits will make you feel dehydrated and fatigued. Drink at least half your body weight, at room temperature, every day. Toss in an effervescent Vitamin C tablet and load up on your free radical defense for the day, whilst meeting your H2O quota. GET MOVING / Hard and Fast Is Best The quickest way to burn fat and build fitness stamina is with the Tabata Protocol -- a Japanese exercise technique that involves bursts of intense activity and short rests. Better body; less time. HABIT FORMERS Getting in shape and staying in shape can seem like a chore, especially if your schedule is as busy as we suspect. But, a healthier lifestyle and wellness isn’t solely about days in the gym -- you can also improve your overall wellbeing through your habits. COACH.ME If you’re sort of in need of a life coach or at least a bit of daily prodding to move on the goals you’ve set, Coach.me may be all that’s missing in your life. Set weekly targets for staying on top of your personal growth, fitness, relationships, skills, productivity or several other options, and on the days you’ve selected -- the app will remind you to stay on track. (Free) Sleep Cycle (alarm clock) While you sleep, you go through cycles of sleep states. The first state in a sleep cycle is light sleep, followed by deep sleep and a dream state referred to as REM-sleep, and each is generally repeated several times a night. Waking up easy is all about timing. Sleep Cycle alarm clock tracks your sleep patterns, through your phone’s placement on the bed, and wakes you up during light sleep. Waking up during light sleep feels like waking up naturally rested without an alarm clock. (Free) DAY ONE Day One is a journaling app that allows you to record life as you live it. Use it to make notes, capture memorable moments, record thoughts, work on the go, document fitness activity and to chronicle every other thing you want to get off your mind
NEWS
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June 8-14, 2017
Fulton County property taxes soar throughout your day. Think of it as taking a moment, periodically, to clear your mind. (4.99) FITNET One app reviewer called this tool “perfect for people with no time.” A personal trainer for everyone, Fitnet offers 250 free 5- to 7-minute workouts from strength training to cardio to yoga. The comprehensive fitness solution is accessible, easy-to-use and fun for all ages and skill levels. Exercise by yourself or add a boost to your goal by connecting with a live certified personal trainer. (Free) TERRA’S KITCHEN Terra’s Kitchen sources clean, sustainable ingredients that are antibiotic- and hormone-free, as well as non-GMO and organic, when possible to provide fresh food delivery to support healthy lifestyles, including Paleo, gluten-free, and vegetarian. All you have to do to get started is choose from the recipes created by Terra’s Kitchen’s culinary team every week or they will choose the ones they think you’ll enjoy. Once they’ve diced, chopped, and portioned, your package will be delivered to your door in a climate-controlled vessel with step-by-step recipes. The bonus: With prep work, dinner will be ready in 30 minutes or less. FOODUCATE More than your typical calorie counting app, Fooducate can help you lose weight by giving you a handy tool to analyze information found in product nutrition panels and ingredient lists. Scan a product barcode to see a personalized nutrition grade; learn about a product’s pros and cons to choose healthier alternatives; track your food intake and exercise as well as the quality of calories, not just quantity; and ask questions and get feedback from the community. (Free)
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Across the city last week, thousands of Atlantans opened their mailboxes to unwelcome news – surprisingly higher tax bills from Fulton County. Homeowners found their assessments increase in the double digits; some as much as 50 percent. The Atlanta City Council passed a resolution Monday asking the county to delay the 2017 tax assessment digest. Councilmembers also requested that Fulton County’s Chief Assessor meet with the City’s Finance and Executive Committee to answer questions about how the recent assessments were formulated. After the vote, Council President Ceasar Mitchell said, “The excuse we’ve heard from Fulton County is that they haven’t done their jobs in years, so this is them playing catch-up. These changes to the tax digest are, frankly, indigestible. Asking homeowners to stomach these increases because Fulton County hasn’t done their job is unacceptable.” This year’s assessments reflect significant valuation increases in many portions of the County, reflecting a strong real estate market and in line with market trends. Under Georgia law, values are required to be within 90-110 percent of market value. Overall, 2017 valuations indicate a real estate market with values similar to those before the 2008 recession. The median change for residential parcels across Fulton County is approximately 13 percent. By comparison, Cobb County’s 2017 valuation, which included review of 50 percent of residential properties, saw a median increase of 16 percent. Gwinnett County updated valuation for 60 percent of residential
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properties, and saw a median increase of 12 percent. Chief Appraiser Dwight Robinson noted, “We have undergone a thorough process to ensure that we are in alignment with best practices in property valuation. This year’s valuations are consistent with strong sales in neighborhoods located throughout Fulton County.” According to Robinson, a 2016 residential review had not taken place. Fulton County officials said assessments were issued to more than 320,000 properties. “This year’s wave of assessments has prompted a lot of questions and concerns,” said Councilman Howard Shook, who Chairs the Finance Committee and co-wrote the resolution. “Councilmembers need a thorough understanding of what practices and processes created these increases.” Only some of the data used in determining value is available on the Tax Assessor’s website, and not all of what is published is comprehensible to homeowners. Property owners who wish to appeal must do so within 45 days of receiving their assessment or by July 10 in person, online or by mail. As well, Fulton County offers numerous property tax relief measures. Significantly, owner-occupied residential properties with a homestead exemption in place will benefit from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Homestead Freeze. This offsets assessment increases to the CPI or 3 percent, whichever is less. Fulton County also has a basic homestead exemption of $30,000, which is among the highest in the metro area
MARTA’s Rhonda Briggins appointed to House Commission on Transit Governance and Funding Georgia Assembly House Speaker David Ralston four residents of the state of Georgia and ex-officio recently named Rhonda Briggins, the Metropolitan appointees. MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker will Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s senior director serve as an ex-officio member with leaders from the of External Affairs, to the House Commission on Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Transit Governance and Funding. and the Georgia Regional Transportation AuthorHouse Resolution 848, passed during the 2017 ity (GRTA). Session of the Georgia General Assembly, estab“Transit is becoming more and more importlished a commission to study the conditions, needs, ant to Georgia’s future,” said Speaker Ralston in a issues and problems regarding Georgia transit. The statement. “From congestion relief to economic council will provide transportation recommendadevelopment, a robust transit network across our tions aimed at benefiting Georgia’s local and restate will have long-term benefits for our citizens. gional economy. Transit studies, generated from Rhonda Briggins Situations like the recent I-85 rebuild have clearly the commission’s activities, will also review potendemonstrated the importance of transit to our state tial funding mechanisms. and its economy. The House is proud to lead on this initiative to ‘This is an amazing opportunity for not only MARTA but for develop actionable, meaningful solutions.” transit state wide as Georgia takes a hard look at funding and Briggins, who is a DeKalb County resident, manages MARTA’s governance,” said MARTA Sr. Director of External Affairs Rhon- government affairs and community relations activities regarding da Briggins. “We are especially grateful to Speaker Ralston for matters on federal, state and local levels. Additionally, Briggins his leadership and vision to move Georgia in the right direction.” serves as the President for both the Georgia Transit Association The council will consist of six members of the House of Rep- and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. resentatives, four representatives of transit systems or counties,
Kasim Reed: No tax increase for Philips Arena renovation following College Park Vote
The City of College Park voted unanimously to allow Atlanta to collect money in the rental of cars at the Hartsfield-Jackson to cover the city’s portion of Philips Arena’s $192.5 million update. Of the price, Atlanta is responsible for up to $142.5 million. The city previously announced that $110 million of that would come from a series of bonds backed by the rental car tax at the airport and other parts of the city. An additional $12.5 million is expected to come from the $30 million sale of Turner Field to Georgia State University and Carter. Approximately $20 million in proceeds is expected from the liquidation of other city assets. Following the announcement in November, the city said it also expected an estimated $50 million from the Atlanta Hawks. Reed said that the renovation of the facility was necessary to keep the location viable for the Atlanta Hawks -- even though it’s a relatively new building compared to others around it. “Most teams in the current NBA system are playing in much newer facilities,” said Reed, adding that it’s one of the oldest buildings not to be upgraded. According to the mayor, the Hawks will continue to play in the arena over the estimated two seasons it will be under renovation. The facility will be updated primarily in the off-season when the building is less active. Reed also stressed that the facility will not force an uptick in taxes for Atlanta residents. “I want everybody at home to be very clear,” Reed said. “The people of Atlanta’s taxes will not be raised one cent and the general fund will not be paying for the renovation of this facility.” That’s due to an expanded car rental tax at the airport facility on the edge of airport and College Park land. In addition to thanking the neighboring city, he thanked the Georgia general assembly for approving the expanded tax. “The last point is very important to the people of Atlanta,” the mayor said. “We own this building, so we are renovating a building that we are the owners of in order to make sure that we have a tenant and that the people of the city have a terrific facility.”
Jennifer Dobbs Hill named new executive director at ArtsBridge Foundation ArtsBridge has named Jennifer Dobbs Hill to the position of executive director. “I’m delighted to join the team at ArtsBridge and help further the mission of providing supplemental arts education for students,” says Jennifer Dobbs Hill. “The arts are vital to a child’s education and yet many don’t have access. Even though every child may not pursue arts as a career, studies show that appreciation and knowledge of the arts help students both personally and in their schoolwork. You have to be creative and innovative to be a surgeon, engineer or teacher – in any field, really. Therefore, the future opportunities for students who participate in our programs are endless!” Dobbs Hill hopes to expand outreach at ArtsBridge and encourage businesses, organizations, and individuals to become their partners. “I look forward to building relationships so more people will invest in the programs provided by ArtsBridge,” adds Dobbs Hill. “They can help
us give students rich experiences like their first taste of opera, acting or dance classes with a Broadway star, and multicultural performances that inspire students to see themselves on stage and find a home in the theatre.” Most recently, Dobbs Hill was the executive director of the Alonzo F. and Norris B. Herndon Foundation in Atlanta, GA since 2015. Prior to that, she was the director of Development for the Center for Ethics at Emory University where she raised funds for an inaugural international summit. Before moving to Georgia, Dobbs Hill’s previous positions include director of Development for the nationally recognized Erie Art Museum; and adjunct English faculty for Mercyhurst University at its inner-city Booker T. Washington Center satellite location. Dobbs Hill graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Writing in 1999 from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
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June 8-14, 2017
NEWS
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as they work to keep pace with demand for new private-sector projects.” Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (14,600 jobs, 16 percent) added the most construction jobs during the past year, followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (8,900 jobs, 13 percent); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (6,800 jobs, 6 percent). The largest job losses from April 2016 to April 2017 were in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (-7,600 jobs, -3 percent), followed by St. Louis, Mo. (-4,000 jobs, -6 percent). Association officials cautioned that public investments in infrastructure have declined by 8.5 percent during the past twelve months, even as private-sector demand continues to grow. hey added that deteriorating infrastructure could undermine continued economic growth as businesses are forced to pay more, and wait longer, to ship goods and services. They said an infrastructure proposal outlined by the Trump administration last week should provoke needed debate in Washington about how to pay for future public works projects. “Private-sector demand will suffer if employers are forced to spend more to cope with congested roads, aging bridges and inefficient water systems,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “Congress needs to find a reliable and long-term way to pay for future upgrades before aging infrastructure undermines future growth prospects.”
The Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District’s efforts to create the Downtown Atlanta Master Plan are in full swing and its second Open House is set for June 14 at the Rialto Center from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Downtown Atlanta Master Plan is the primary vision-setting and policy-directing strategy to lead the ongoing evolution of downtown Atlanta for the next 15 years. In addition to establishing priorities for the center city’s future land use, transportation network, park and open spaces and major development projects, the Plan is expected to guide real estate and infrastructure investments and planning and eco-
nomic development activities. Building upon the input received at the first Open House in March, the upcoming drop-in event will feature interactive stations where attendees can explore and provide input on proposed draft strategies for the future of downtown. As well, participants will be able to see how community input gathered via prior events, an online survey, and other outreach efforts have translated into policy strategies and design concepts that have the potential to become components of the finalized Master Plan. The Plan replaces the Imagine Downtown 2.0 initiative and will become the new Livable
Marker Memorializes Historic Integration of Georgia Southern
ing units, leveraging over $260 million in capital investment. The lessons learned and feedback received over the course of the past decade informed how the funding raised from this year’s effort will be invested. For example, stakeholders emphasized the need for more funds for owner-occupied rehabilitation efforts to ensure more residents could stay in their homes. “We are very excited and very happy this is coming to fruition,” said Alan Ferguson, Invest Atlanta’s Vice President and Deputy Director of Community Development. “These allocations are based on the current market, as well as input from various groups: elected officials, neighborhood residents, community leaders, non-profits, and developers.” In April and May, Invest Atlanta and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Housing and Community Development hosted two Housing Opportunity Bond events at the Georgia Hill Neighborhood Center. Close to 200 interested affordable housing developers and advocates gathered together to participate in work sessions in which they delivered feedback and comment regarding the Housing Opportunity Bond Program guidelines. Other notable attendees included Councilmembers Julian Bond, Andre Dickens, Cleta Winslow, as well as Planning Commissioner Tim Keane, Planning Deputy Commissioner Terri Lee, and Invest Atlanta Board Member Bill Bozarth.
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Centers Initiative, or LCI, community plan, recognized by the Atlanta Regional Commission. It is being executed by a team of planners, engineers and designers in three components that will result in one comprehensive and overarching vision document to be adopted by the City of Atlanta later this year. Topics to be covered during the Open House include: • A Vision for Downtown – Review the first draft of our vision statement. Did we get it right? Is this a vision that you want to see become reality? • Streets – Each street is different and serves different needs. How should specific Downtown streets be designed?
$32 million in Invest Atlanta’s housing opportunity bonds to fund city’s housing strategy Invest Atlanta has closed on the new round of Housing Opportunity Bonds providing $32 million for critical affordable and workforce housing development initiatives, including homeowner renovations, multifamily loans, single family loans, nonprofit development loans, and land assemblage. Back in March, both the Atlanta City Council and the Invest Atlanta Board of Directors unanimously approved the issuance of the bonds. “This is tremendous step forward in securing affordable housing for the residents of Atlanta,” said Councilmember Julian Bond, who introduced the legislation authorizing the bond issuance, when the legislation passed. “Housing is about people,” added Councilmember Andre Dickens, a former member of the Invest Atlanta board. “This bond is an important tool to develop equitable and inclusionary housing options for our residents and promote development without displacement.” The Housing Opportunity Bonds represent a key part of a larger housing strategy the City of Atlanta adopted in 2015, and the $32 million in HOB funds will be allocated to be used for Multifamily Loans ($10 million): Loans will be provided to nonprofit and for profit multifamily developers offering affordable rental workforce housing units; Single Family Loans ($10 million): Loans will be used for construction financing ($2 million), down payment assistance ($3 million, and owner occupied rehabilitation ($5 million); Non-Profit Development Loans ($4.5 million): Funds will be set aside for eligible nonprofit developers for multifamily and single family affordable housing development. Land Assemblage ($7.5 million): Funds to be used by non-profit and for-profit developers, as well as City Agencies, to acquire land and vacant property for affordable housing development. The City Council first established the Housing Opportunity Bond Program in 2007. With the funding raised from this bond issuance, Invest Atlanta produced over 2,200 affordable hous-
June 8-14, 2017
In Progress: Downtown Atlanta Master Plan
Atlanta eyes increase in construction employment demand
Construction employment increased in the greater Atlanta region and in 217 out of 358 metro areas nationally between April 2016 and April 2017. It declined in 89 metro areas and stagnated in 52, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction firms in many parts of the country continue to expand headcount amid strong private-sector demand for their services. “Construction employment continues to expand in the majority of the nation’s metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Many firms are adding new employees
COMMUNITY
A new commemorative marker on Georgia Southern University’s campus pays tribute to a special part of Georgia Southern’s history and the University’s first African-American students who courageously paved the way and provided hope for a better way of life for students who followed. The Integration of Georgia Southern marker, prominently placed on Sweetheart Circle in front of the University’s Marvin Pittman Administration Building, recognizes the efforts of the African-American students who, in their pursuit of higher education entered an inhospitable environment, counted the costs and found education worth it. “The marker will serve as a constant reminder of the bravery and perseverance of our first African-American students, and the community they built,” said Georgia Southern University President Jaimie Hebert, Ph.D. “Their work was the foundation upon which this University built its mission — integrity, civility, kindness, collaboration, and a commitment to lifelong learning, wellness, and social responsibility.” Former Georgia Southern President Guy Wells (1926-1934) set out to address racial injustices and the duty to honor and respect all people without respect to race. In 1933, Wells and the president of what is now Savannah State University brought esteemed African-American scientist Dr. George Washington Carver to speak to the student body and Bulloch County community. Following Wells’
presidency, former University President Marvin Pittman (1934-41 and 1943-47) continued the work through his commitment to progressive educational and political ideas in a climate that rejected them. In January 1965, John Bradley became the first African-American student at Georgia Southern University. In the fall of 1965, Bradley was followed by six undergraduate African-American students: Clavelia Love Brinson, Arlene Marie Daughtry, Ulysee Mosley, Shirley Anne Woodall, Jesse Zeigler Carter and Catherine Davis, a sophomore transfer student who later earned the first bachelor’s degree awarded to an African-American graduate in the University’s history. “The unveiling of the historical marker is an awesome honor – a marker honoring the first seven African-Americans to walk the grounds as students at GSU,” said Carter (‘69, ‘79). “I’m glad to have been a part of the brave warriors who paved the way for the many students who followed.” African-American student enrollment gradually increased through the 1970s and 80s and dramatically grew in the 1990s to above 25 percent. In 1972, Dr. Charles Bonds became the first African-American faculty member. Today at Georgia Southern, more than 35 percent of our students, 32 percent of our fulltime staff and 23 percent of full-time faculty include African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asians.
• Development – Downtown needs more people to support more retail and services. How should Downtown evolve as a collection of neighborhoods? How should residential development take form in Downtown? • Open Space – Downtown has unique environmental needs. How can we best bring the forest back into the City? Help us prioritize locations and envision public open spaces. • Art / Culture / Preservation / Activation – Downtown is Atlanta’s most historic area, rich with arts and culture. How can we tell the stories of Downtown’s past and evolving present within the public realm? • Key Sites - Downtown has some very important sites. You get to be the planner - what should happen at places like Five Points? The Civic Center? Or just a small vacant lot? Central Atlanta Progress, Inc., is a Downtown business association with approximately 240 members. Its mission is to champion a vibrant community with strong leadership and sustainable infrastructure that is safe, livable, diverse, economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable and entertaining. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable corporation created by CAP to make Downtown safer, cleaner and more hospitable.
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BUSINESS
June 8-14, 2017
SBDC helps small businesses grow
ADW Reports Whether in business for two years or 20 years, many small business owners are so busy working in the business, they miss out on opportunities to work on it. If your business is ready for growth, The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University GrowSmart has the tools and strategies to help small business owners reach their goals. Combining the latest ideas with timeless principles, GrowSmart is designed for the small business that is prime for progress. The success of the SBDC GrowSMART™ program is the result of its unique holistic approach. “Entrepreneurs learn to analyze and manage their business like a seasoned CEO, discuss best practices among their peers and learn new strategies from experts in key functional
areas,” explained Drew Tonsmeire, area director of the UGA SBDC at KSU. Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 program session which consists of five day-long sessions held on Fridays from July 28 to August 25 at the KSU Center in Kennesaw, Ga. Sponsored since 2002 by Georgia Power, more than 2,000 of Georgia’s small business leaders have acquired the tools to both build a foundation of growth and take their businesses to higher level. In the weekly sessions, participants will learn to analyze and manage their businesses at an optimal level with: 35 hours of class time covering all areas of business operation; evaluation of their business, competition, and target markets; hands-on, interactive programming to promote the sharing of best practices; expert speakers who add insights to the topic of the day; and stepby-step development of each company’s strategies for growth. SBDC GrowSmart™ graduates gain: a strategic business plan with a long-term vision and strategies, a mastery of key business concepts and a network of entrepreneurial peers and professional resources. Combined with long term one-on-one consulting with SBDC professionals, participants will learn to apply course principles and build a business for today’s challenging times. SBDC GrowSmart is a dynamic program for owners and senior managers of growing businesses. Summer classes will take place at KSU and Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga., in the program designed for leaders of companies with at least two years of successful operation, annual revenues of $300,000 or more and the opportunity and desire to grow.
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Establishing trust with your customer base By Tasha Robinson An essential element of retaining your consumer base is trust. Most business owners constantly wonder why they are not obtaining or retaining consumers, assuming that people will just shop with you without first having a relationship. If your audience didn’t come from a trusted source, they’re basing their trust off of a referral. As business owners, remember to form relationships based on trust before asking for money. Below are two ways to build trust with your audience whether you’re a long-time veteran in business or a newbie getting your feet wet. Tap Existing, Loyal Customers An excellent way to establish trust with your audience is by utilizing your existing customer base. The first thing I do before purchasing something from a company is text a close friend and ask their thoughts. I want to know about their purchasing experience. We live in a world where people trust their friends and social media audience more than ever; and they want their honest feedback before making a big or small purchase. Creating a campaign around existing consumers is a great way to garner testimonials, promote your company and allow your audience to learn more about you from others. Once a month, take two hours out of the day to follow up with the customer’s from the previous month. In the correspondence ask them to give you a sentence or two for a testimonial on your website. Cultivate a Relationship on Social Media
Social media is a free tool that many small business owners are utilizing incorrectly. On any given day you can see business owners focused on the hard sale versus their customers’ experience. Concentrating on fostering a community and establishing relationships with their audience is a brilliant way to build trust. Learn who your audience is and talk to them. Highlighting previous customers through social media campaigns is allowing them to have a voice. Thus, you are killing two birds with one stone. Don’t just assume people are going to click follow on social media and immediately want to support your company. At the end of the day, people buy from brands they trust.
Marketing lessons from the NBA’s Golden State Warriors By Brent Leary I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Kenny Lauer, the vice president of marketing and digital for the world-champion Golden State Warriors. Not only were they the best team in the league this year, they are also seen as leaders when it comes to the digital marketing and fan experience. Finding the Right Content and Right Channel to Drive Sales There are two revenue pillars for the
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Warriors; ticket sales and merchandise. They worked on optimizing social channels to be able to support conversions — purchase tickets or merchandise. So, they did A/B testing to understand what works well. And they started with Facebook because of the success they’ve had there. They A/B tested to see what video content worked best. The conversion to merchandise or the conversion to tickets? And they saw over double the amount of conversion in Facebook video for merchandise compared to tickets. Focusing on tickets, they A/B tested between what works best for the thumbnail, a picture or an ad. And they found that a picture worked really well. So now they knew when doing tickets to use a picture as a thumbnail. From a content perspective when selling tickets, they have two primary categories, hype and storytelling. A picture of Steph Curry hitting a three pointer or Kevin Durant doing a dunk or fans surrounded by some hyped music; that’s called hype. Storytelling would be like a deep dive into how a player got somewhere; or someone’s college experience, or what they’re doing in the community. And what they found was that hype proved out to be best for selling tickets. Website vs. Mobile The goal of GSW’s website is to develop their fans, and to understand the right mix of storytelling and selling. And they’re focused on what the click path is and understanding exactly how their fans are interacting with the site. The main purpose for their app is for fans to have access to the team anytime, anywhere. Right
now they are largely repurposing their Web content. But in the future they plan on migrating their mobile app to unique content, and to be a robust tool for local fans to use at any time. Being Unique GSW is creating a storytelling ecosystem. They say you can go to ESPN or other sports sites and get content around what happened on the court, but you can’t get the rest of the story. What are the Warriors like with community? What do the Warriors look like in fashion? What about behind the scenes? So they’re looking to build connections for their fans to deepen their level of engagement. So when you watch the basketball game all of a sudden they’re more invested. The Future The Warriors are looking at a bunch of different technologies. They were one of the first teams to build a Google Glass app so that fans could actually have an augmented experience with Google Glass. And they were leaders in using iBeacons to drive certain behavior based on their proximity. They’re also looking at different ways to integrate their app into the fan experience, so even if you’re not at the game there’s ways that you could feel like you are. Even if you aren’t a championship NBA team, there are many lessons you can take from what the Warriors are doing. They are using mobile, social and other technologies to create better experiences for their fans, and collapse the distance between them and their fan base. Which is how they define marketing in the age of the modern consumer.
POLITICS
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DeKalb to replace 102,000 water meters DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond has developed a plan to replace more than 100,000 water meters at risk of failure. According to a task force led by CEO Thurmond, 55 percent of the county’s 184,000 small meters, or 102,000, are at risk of failure and may contribute to inaccurate water bills. Thurmond said the meters are either potentially defective or outside their 15-year life span. “Implementing a large-scale meter replacement program will take time, but is a substantial step to restore faith in the accuracy of meter readings and water bills,” CEO Thurmond said. The county has received thousands of complaints from residents of DeKalb about high water bills in DeKalb, with extreme bills which is caused by malfunctioning meters, estimated bills, data inaccuracies and meter installation mistakes. In 2016,
the former administration in the county made the decision to withhold some 37,000 bills while their accuracy was verified CEO Thurmond’s plan includes replacing 62,000 small meters that are outside of their 15-year life cycle and 40,000 manufactured before 2014 that have potential factory defects. After these meters are replaced, the county will implement systematic maintenance of all meters at a rate of approximately 7 percent per year based on the age of the meter. “This will ensure that we never have deficient, out-of-life-cycle water meters again,” CEO Thurmond said. CEO Thurmond’s plan calls for the replacement of aging meters to begin in the fourth quarter of 2017, while defective meters will be replaced on an ongoing basis.
June 8-14, 2017
West End Democrat seeks Fulton County commission seat Josh McNair, an Atlanta resident and Democrat, will run for the unexpired term of Joan Garner on the Fulton County Commission. A lifelong Georgian, McNair lives in the West End and is active in his neighborhood and the Democratic Party. His parents raised him with the belief that it is important to always give back and serve others. As a child, his mother would take him to volunteer in the community on Saturday mornings. “I’m running because I believe it’s time we restore pride in being a resident Josh McNair of Fulton County,” McNair said. “We live in the largest county in our state; for me, that means every one of our residents should enjoy top-quality county services.” A product of Georgia’s public schools, McNair graduated from Newnan High School in 2002, and attended Morehouse College graduating with honors in 2006. After college, he began working professionally as a consultant for Deloitte Consulting before switching careers to work in healthcare sales where he presently
works as a Virology Clinical Consultant for Monogram Biosciences, responsible for selling HIV and Hepatitis C resistant testing to clinicians throughout the Southeast. Garner, who died in April, was the Commissioner for District 4, which includes Midtown, and neighborhoods west of downtown Atlanta to Fulton Industrial Boulevard. A Fulton County resident his entire adult life, McNair has served his community through mentoring and volunteering with various community and civic organizations. He has served as the Finance Chair for Young Democrats of Atlanta, Public Safety Chair for NPU-T, and is currently the first vice president of the West End Neighborhood Development. “I have spent many years as a progressive leader in Fulton County. From working to elect Democratic candidates around the state to serving as an officer of my neighborhood association, I am prepared to do what it takes to tackle our issues and improve our communities.”
The Trump Administration Takes on Obama’s Education Law President Trump, Ed Sec DeVos make false claims about education policies By Freddie Allen, NNPA Newswire Managing Editor President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos continue to make misleading statements about Common Core State Standards, muddying the waters for school districts working to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). President Barack Obama signed ESSA into law on December 10, 2015, reauthorizing the landmark Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). According to the U.S. Department of Education, ESSA includes provisions designed to advance equity in education by upholding critical protections for America’s disadvantaged and high-need students; requires that all students in America be to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers; helps to support and grow local innovations—including evidence-based and place-based interventions developed by local leaders and educators; ensures that vital information is provided to educators, families, students, and communities through annual statewide assessments that measure students’ progress toward those high standards; and sustains and expands this administration’s historic investments in increasing access to high-quality preschool. The law does not, however, eliminate CCSS. The Los Angeles Times reported, that President Trump said that he wanted to get rid of Common Core, during a recent town hall with business leaders. “Common Core to me, we have to end it,” said Trump. “We have to bring education local.” Last year, as the Republican presidential nominee, the reality TV star even proposed getting rid of the Education Department altogether, according to Breitbart.com. During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said that the Department of Education “can be largely eliminated.” Education Week reported that DeVos told a Michigan radio host that ESSA “effectively does away ‘with the notion of the Common Core.’” She later went on Fox News and made the same false claim. “There isn’t really any Common Core any more,” said DeVos on Fox News. “Each state is able to set the standards for their state. They may elect to adopt very high standards for their students to aspire to and to work toward. And that will be up to each state.” Neither President Trump, nor Education Secretary Betsy DeVos can make any changes to CCSS, because states, local officials and community stakeholders developed those standards. Writing for The Washington Post’s “Answer Sheet” blog, Valerie Strauss called the Common Core State Standards, “among the most controversial topics in education for years,” noting that,
“It started as a bipartisan effort to create a set of math and English language-arts standards for students across the country to use, but it became an educational and political mess.” Strauss wrote, “Most states adopted and implemented the standards early in the Obama administration—but failed to give teachers sufficient time to learn it, and critics from every part of the political spectrum found fault with some part of the initiative.” In a blog for Education Week, posted back in February, Andrew Ujifusa wrote that, “states adopt content standards like the common core—the federal government doesn’t get to choose for them. Washington also didn’t write the common core. There was intense debate during President Barack Obama’s administration about whether Washington improperly coerced states into adopting the common core through programs like Race to the Top grants. But regardless of that debate, the president by himself doesn’t have the authority to scrap the standards with the stroke of a pen.” Ujifusa continued: “What about Congress? The Every Student Succeeds Act explicitly bars the education secretary from influencing states’ decisions about standards. So right now, neither Trump nor DeVos can bar states from using the common core. Absent a change to federal education law that bans the common core outright or in some way relaxes those prohibitions on the secretary (neither of those possibilities appears at all likely right now), their hands are tied.” Politifact also debunked the myth that ESSA eliminated Common Core standards, back in 2016, when Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) made similar claims. “[The Every Student Succeeds Act] prevents the federal government from mandating what a state decides to do with its spe-
cific education policies, such as requiring Common Core,” Politifact reported. “The government did not, however, require states to adopt Common Core before this law.” While some education writers like Strauss try to decipher what DeVos might have meant and conservative columnists simply dismiss journalists who take the president’s vows and campaign promises, “literally, but not seriously,” the fact remains that limiting the role of the federal government in how states designed their own education policies, received bipartisan support under ESSA. Yet, the Republican-controlled Congress has taken votes weakening ESSA’s accountability standards, further reducing the federal government’s influence over the states to close the achievement gap between Black and White students and to ensure equal education standards for all students. While making misleading statements about national educational policies, the Trump Administration also issued a new template for state education plans that “appears to place fewer requirements around how a state explains its outreach to various groups in the state for their feedback and ideas,” according to Education Week. “The Obama template says states must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with stakeholders in developing its consolidated state plan. And it added that these ‘stakeholders’ must ‘reflect the geographic diversity of the state,’” Education Week reported. “The Trump template, on the other hand, says merely that states can describe their outreach to these groups if they want to, but it’s not a must. To be sure, educators and advocates never had veto power over a state’s plan. Still, a state will no longer be required to involve their local community in crafting their plan.” According to Education Week, Laura Bay, the president of the National Parent Teacher Association, said that she’s worried that the states won’t place a priority on reaching out to key groups, including parents, now that it’s no longer required. In a statement about the revised template, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce said that they were “disappointed that Secretary DeVos is casting aside input from teachers, parents and stakeholders and is refusing to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act as Congress intended.” The statement continued: “Without the strong federal guardrails ESSA puts in place—including requirements for stakeholder consultation and a common state plan—decision making becomes less transparent and puts our most vulnerable children at risk of falling through the cracks.”
7 | ADW
LIFESTYLE
June 8-14, 2017
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Vikki Millender-Morrow is National Black Arts Festival’s New President and CEO
Free mammography screenings offered by DeKalb Medical and Clarkston Community Health Center DeKalb Medical and the Clarkston Community Health Center partners to provide free mammography screenings to residents in the community. The Wellness on Wheels Van provided state-of-the-art digital mammography, facilitated by Dr. Gulshan Harjee, one of the founding members of the CCHC. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the U.S, second only to skin cancer. Improved screening tests and treatment techniques are saving lives. The most common screening method is the mammogram. It uses X-rays to scan your breasts. The images are checked for anything irregular, and doctors also look for changes from previous tests. The images were recorded on film for many years. But now digital mammograms can store and analyze the information using a computer. Some women say they avoid having a mammogram because
they don’t know what to expect during a mammogram. To learn more about what you can expect during a mammogram, click here. On average, only two to four screening mammograms of every 1,000 lead to a diagnosis of cancer. About 10 percent of women who have a mammogram will need more tests. Only eight to 10 percent of those women will need a biopsy, and most (80 percent) of those biopsies will not be cancer. Annual mammograms are an essential part of wellness for women over 40. Making time for wellness, however, is a struggle for many busy women. DeKalb Medical offers extended weekday and Saturday hours in its mammography centers, in addition to its Wellness on Wheels Van screening offerings.
“It’s never too late to forgive. It’s never too late to start over. It’s never too late to find your dreams and it’s certainly never too late to live them out.”
ENTERTAINMENT
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This weekend, do this
Vikki Millender-Morrow is the new president and CEO for the National Black Arts Festival. Since it was founded by the Fulton County Arts Council under the guidance of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in Atlanta over 29 years ago, the National Black Arts Festival has built a proud reputation as the oldest multidisciplinary arts organization in the United States focused exclusively on the arts and artists of African descent. NBAF was established with the first festival in 1988 after a study commissioned two years earlier by Michael Lomax, then Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. With strong leadership and support from the community, the festival, which is the centerpiece of NBAF’s mission, has evolved into an annual showcase of artists of African descent who are creating, innovating and producing extraordinary work in the disciplines of dance, film, literature, music, theater and visual art. Over its three-decade long history, NBAF has attracted millions of audiences from within the region, across the country and around the world who are entertained, educated and enriched by its annual summer festival, world class performances, visual arts presentations and commissioned works and by its year-round education and public programs. By featuring artists from the African Diaspora, from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America, NBAF promotes art and culture as vehicles for bringing diverse communities together. Over the years, NBAF has featured acclaimed artists Maya Angelou, Wynton Marsalis, Pearl Cleage, Harolyn Blackwell, Varnette Honeywood, Spike Lee, Katherine Dunham, Harry Belafonte, Maurice Hines,
Maxi Priest, Sonia Sanchez, Radcliffe Bailey, Bill T. Jones, Youssou N’Dour, Carrie Mae Weems, Julie Dash, Amiri Baraka, Tito Puente, Ousmane Sembene, National Ballet de Guinea, Gladys Knight, Les Nubians, Philadanco, The Heath Brothers, Cicely Tyson, August Wilson, Alfre Woodard, Angie Stone, Omar Sosa, Jessica Care Moore, Nikki Giovanni, Russell Gunn, Gregory Porter, among many others. Millender-Morrow is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over a decade of effective operational and strategic leadership at nonprofits in Atlanta including Jane Fonda’s nonprofit, GCAPP, following a successful career with a Fortune 100 company. She is the board chair of the Atlanta Jazz Festival and previously served on the board of the National Black Arts Festival. Millender-Morrow has an engineering degree and a Masters in Public and Private Management. She transitioned from a successful 20-year career in management at AT&T (Bellsouth) where she held positions in Engineering, Sales, Product Management, Regulatory and External Affairs and Human Resources, learning all aspects of the business, to move into nonprofit management. Millender-Morrow is a multi-dimensional leader. She uses the system’s approach of an engineer to right size programs and improve processes; the talent development model of a human resources executive to build and sustain excellent teams; experience in governance to enhance the board and help develop an accountable five-year strategic plan; along with the tenacity and courage to lead an organization through dynamic times. Millender-Morrow made Atlanta her home 20 years ago.
June 8-14, 2017
The Beautiful Life of Charlie From Atlanta-based writer-director Bobby Huntley comes a new feature film titled “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie” (“The Beautiful Life of Charlie,” or simply “Charlie”), which he co-wrote with Nikki Wade, who also produces. The filmmaker describes “Charlie” as a passion project which was filmed over seven jam-packed weekends in Atlanta on a shoestring budget. The talented cast and crew joined together to create this visually vibrant story for the screen. The look, tone and style of the production were heavily influenced by French cinema, the early works of Spike Lee, and the music videos and performances of Prince and Madonna. The result is an interesting world where the aesthetics of throwback 1980’s gritty New York has been combined with present day Atlanta flair and flourishes of whimsy in this heartwarming tale of love between sis-
ters. The movie explores the experiences and interpersonal relationships of sisterhood and the portrayal of black women. “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie” is an exciting tale of a young girl who is adjusting to the untimely passing of her sister in an unorthodox way. The story follows an energetic, quirky girl named Charlie and a group of her friends as they go on a series of adventurous tasks left as a final message from late sister, Brandy. For its Decatur, Ga debut, “The Magnificent Life of Charlie,” was screened on June 1, at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, presented by Davenstar 1 Entertainment, Bobby Huntley Films and Divadom Entertainment and stars Nikki Lashae, Lailaa Brooking, Ashley S. Evans and Kortnee Price. Additional short films and trailers screened at the event included Louisiana 1961, 5 Steps To Get Over Your Ex, I Die, The Protector and Hussie.
Lawyers give opening statements in Cosby sex trial
Make a reservation to tour the Herndon Home Museum this Saturday. Operated by the Alonzo F. and Norris B. Herndon Foundation Inc., the museum was the home of the Herndons, one of the most prominent Black families in Atlanta’s history. The family sharply reflects the city’s distinctive development as a center for Black business, education and culture. From Alonzo Herndon’s rise from slavery to leadership in the Black business community, the Herndons are unique resource of local and national significance in the interpretation of Black struggle and achievement. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000, The Herndon Home is a lasting tribute to the hard work and talent of the Herndon Family. It opened as a tour museum in 1983. Reserved Saturday tours are available from 10-11 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and active military. Herndonhome.org Chance the Rapper’s Spring 2017 Tour makes a stop in Atlanta Sunday at 8 p.m. at Lakewood Amphitheatre 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta, Georgia 30315. Tickets start at $36. Ticketmaster.com Are you a native Mississippian, attending or alumni of any Mississippi college, or just love to celebrate the bicentennial of the statehood? This Saturday is Atlanta’s Mississippi in the Park Picnic. Set as an old-fashioned reunion and picnic, the theme is always “Catfish and the
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Blues” but this year, we will add “Celebrating 200 Years of Mississippi” to that theme. Come early, spread your blanket, and soak up the sounds of live music provided by The Shuffluejunkies. Mississippi native foods available- meal plates available for purchase. The event also includes booths and representatives from the colleges and universities of Mississippi to provide a gathering spot for alums and information for potential students and families. The free picnic will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chastain Park Playground, 216 W. Wieuca Road, Northwest Atlanta, GA 30342. Mssocietyofga.org The HOTLANTA Half Marathon tradition continues at Atlanta’s Pemberton Place – World of Coca-Cola. Take part in the race that brings the love of running to the best of Atlanta Sunday. Late registrations are available on a first come, first serve basis Sunday. The race begins at 7 a.m. at Pemberton Place - World of Coca-Cola, 121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 Hotlantahalf.com Grab your neighbors and get out to the Atlanta BeltLine for some exciting, free new classes on Atlanta BeltLine’s parks and trails on Saturday. There’s something for everyone from FITWIT Boot Camp to FITWIT Old Fourth Ward and Beginner Skateboarding. Meet at the intersection of Evelyn Street and Worchester Drive Atlanta, GA 30306 Beltline.org
Cosby Trial Day 1: Constand Called Cosby 53 Times after Alleged Assault By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) (Warning: contains some graphic descriptions) NORRISTOWN—On the first day of the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial, Kristen Feden, a Montgomery County, Pa., assistant district attorney, said that Cosby’s own words, taken from police statements and a deposition, would be powerful evidence against him, including his acknowledgment that he used Quaaludes to have sex with women. “These three friends will help you relax,” Feden quoted Cosby as saying to Andrea Constand. Pointing to Cosby—even walking over to the defense table only inches away from the fallen entertainer—Feden referred to him as “this man” while describing his alleged actions with Constand, a former Temple University employee; Feden said that Cosby gave Constand pills, then assaulted her. Feden said that Constand viewed Cosby as a trusted mentor and said that the case would be defined by, “trust, betrayal and the inability to consent.” The assistant district attorney also warned jurors not to be “distracted” by Cosby’s celebrity as she pointed and jabbed fingers at the comedian and told the jurors that the man, once known as “America’s Dad,” was a rapist. When Cosby’s lead attorney Brian McMonagle, presented jurors with his opening statement, he noted that he once was a prosecutor and that he was glad to represent Cosby, because he’s seen both sides and the “Let’s Do It Again” actor was innocent. “They saw there was no evidence to bring a prosecution then,” said McMonagle, referring to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office, run by Bruce Castor, who decided, in 2005, that there wasn’t enough, “credible and admissible evidence,” to file any charges “So, why are we here?” McMonagle asked.
Comedian Bill Cosby walks to the courthouse for the first day of his sexual assault trial, escorted by Keshia Knight-Pulliam, who starred as Rudy on the seminal, sitcom “The Cosby Show.” (Pool Photo) McMonagle hammered home points about Constand’s inconsistent statements and her relationship with Cosby, before and after the alleged incident. Then, in what proved to be the first bombshell of the case, McMonagle cited telephone records that show 72 calls between Cosby and Constand after the alleged January 2004 incident. A staggering 53 of those calls came from Constand, not Cosby, McMonagle said. “Yet, she told police initially that she had not tried to contact him. The conversations lasted 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or more.” McMonagle continued: “You see a comedian who made us smile; somebody may see a flawed husband whose infidelities made him vulnerable to these accusations. Some of you will look over there and see a man and see someone who has seen greatness and someone who has suffered unendurable personal tragedy. I hope you will see just a citizen.”
Kelly Johnson, a former William and Morris Agency employee whose late boss worked for Cosby, was the only witness called to testify on the first day of the trial. Johnson testified that Cosby first wooed her and her parents—including her stepfather, a former Los Angeles Police Detective—then drugged and sexually assaulted her. In a bungalow at a hotel in Beverly Hills, Johnson said that Cosby forced her to take a white pill after telling her that she needed to relax. Johnson said that she felt like she was under water and woke up on Cosby’s bed to find him behind her and making grunting sounds. Johnson said that she had lotion on her hand and Cosby made her touch his penis, she said. “My dress was pulled up from the bottom,” she said, “and it was pulled down from the top.” However, on a dramatic cross-examination, McMonagle highlighted various inconsistencies in Johnson’s statements and, for many of the defense’s questions, Johnson cited a lack of memory, despite the similarity in the questions that she had just answered for the prosecution. After she was excused, prosecutors sought to call Johnson’s mother to bolster her testimony. The defense objected leading to a hearing after the court session ended. Cosby is charged with three, second-degree felony counts of aggravated indecent assault, which carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. “Cosby Show” co-star Keshia Knight-Pulliam arrived with the comedian to court on the first day. Knight-Pulliam smiled slightly and, at times, shared light moments with Cosby and his assistant. Knight-Pulliam starred as fan-favorite Rudy Huxtable, the youngest daughter on “The Cosby Show.” “Truth happens here,” Knight-Pulliam said with resolve in her voice, as she addressed reporters. “I am here, because true family supports even when things aren’t going so good.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Raynard Jackson
by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
The GOP and Identity Politics in the Black Community
The Topic of Mental Health Cannot be Tabled Why talking about mental health is so important
The Republican Party continues to miss the mark when it comes to engaging the Black community. For those Republicans, who fastidiously claim they don’t believe in “identity politics (IP),” let me give you a piece of advice: Stop It! Politically speaking, IP is a campaign that is based on the particular needs of a specific group of people that will give them the rationale or incentive to vote for your candidate. For example, a Republican candidate would campaign in the Black community on issues like entrepreneurship, civil rights, voting rights, etc.; whereas the same candidate might campaign in the Hispanic community on issues like entrepreneurship, immigration, and cultural assimilation. Far too many Republicans assert that “we are all Americans and all want the same things: jobs, education, safe neighborhoods, etc.” This is all true, but a ridiculously bland message when it comes to outreach in the Black community. While core messaging should be a constant for all candidates, the way you communicate that message has to be crafted based on the audience you are addressing. In business, we call this market segmentation. This is most often done with the S-T-P approach; which is segmentation, targeting, and positioning. Once you segment the voters, Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc., you then create a targeted campaign to speak directly to each individual group; finally, you position your messaging in a way that will resonate with that group. McDonald’s is a classic example. Their objective is to sell their Big Macs to the American people, so their TV commercials are all trying to convince the country to buy their product, but they also are smart enough to use IP or market segmentation to achieve their stated objective—selling more hamburgers. So, it makes all the sense in the world for McDonald’s to use Black actors when advertising on BET and Hispanic actors when advertising on Univision. This is the commercial application of identity politics. When have you ever seen men selling women undergarments in Victoria Secrets commercials? That’s right, you haven’t. Republicans have become so data driven that they no longer have any vision. It’s not enough for Republicans to reflexively spout out buzz words and phrases like: “We are the big tent party”; “the party of Abraham Lincoln”; “We believe in lower taxes, smaller government, more individual freedom,” yada, yada, yada. Republicans must first and foremost persuade Blacks that conservatism is not incompatible with civil rights, voting rights, and equal opportunity, but rather these issues are a fundamental part of conservatism. Republicans must, by their actions, demon-
strate that Black businesses tend to flourish when Republicans control the levers of government compared to when Democrats are in power. I wrote about this, in 2012, in a piece I did for Black Enterprise. Democrats and the Obama Administration have done very little for Blackowned businesses over the last eight years. Republicans have a huge opportunity to engage directly with the Black community on the specific issue of entrepreneurship. Not only are these Black businessmen fervent supporters of abolishing the capital gains tax, accelerated depreciation (writing off all capital purchases in year one), and lowering the corporate tax rate, but they also want to be relieved of all the onerous regulations imposed on them by Obama’s reign of terror on small and minority businesses. According to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth, “Black buying power is $ 1.2 trillion; which would make Black America the 15th largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP).” That is equivalent to the size of Mexico. Two years ago, the Aspen Institute and “The Atlantic” released a poll that was stunning. According to their poll, Blacks represent the largest group in the country that “believes that the American Dream is attainable with hard work.” So, to those Republicans, who think that Blacks are just waiting for more government programs and more handouts, I say, you’re wrong. The Black community is open for business and willing to engage with the Republican Party, but when will the party address the issues we are interested in, not the issues that they think we’re interested in? We need access to capital, our fair share of government contracts, which is mandated by law, a seat at the decision-making table and input in to policies that affect the economy. And what will the party get in return for doing business with the Black community? The party will see Blacks voting for Republicans in double digits. The party will see a growth in financial contributions from leading businessmen, who currently see absolutely no value in contributing to Republican campaigns or entities. The party will also get fresh perspectives and new ideas from the top thinkers in the Black community; who are also the “real” leaders within our community. But most importantly, the party find that the Black community is already in sync with its business agenda; the GOP simply needs to extend a sincere invitation. Come on Republicans. What in the hell do you have to lose? Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party.
During the month of May, we recognize Mental Health Month, and raise awareness for the millions of Americans living with a mental health condition. Since 1 in 5 adults, or approximately 43.8 million people, will experience mental illness during their lifetime, it is safe to say that everyone is affected by this issue. Approximately 20.2 million adults in the United States experience a substance use disorder each year and 50 percent of them have a co-occurring mental illness. Quite often people are alarmed when you begin discussing mental health, but there is only one way to overcome that fear and that is through transparency and awareness. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. This year, Instagram launched a #HereForYou campaign, which encourages users of the social media platform to open up about their mental health. Since the launch, teens and young adults have been taking to social media to share their stories of overcoming the obstacles of mental health and leaning on each other in a safe space by offering friendship, support and collaboration. As a result of this campaign, Instagram has become a social media platform where users can post about feelings and mental health as a coping mechanism and get support from those who share their experiences and those who don’t. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also provides several forums for individuals with mental health issues or substance use disorders to speak freely and without judgment. I believe it is vital for individuals with mental health issues to be able to talk openly and without facing unnecessary stigma. However, communities of color do face higher levels of stigma, receive less access to treatment, and are less likely to receive treatment. In fact, even though the prevalence of mental illness by
race is similar between White adults and Black adults, the use of mental health services among these adults differs. According to NAMI, White males use 11.3 percent of mental health services and White females use 21.5 percent of mental health services while Black males use 6.6 percent and Black females use 10.3 percent. This may be due to a culturally insensitive healthcare system, less health insurance coverage, racism in health treatment settings, or general mistrust of healthcare providers. Unfortunately, there are serious consequences for a lack of treatment. Untreated mental illness can cause further emotional, behavioral, or physical health problems. We have seen the impacts of mental illness gone untreated in our veteran and homeless populations. Far too often, our veterans and the homeless are ignored and do not receive proper treatment. When they go without treatment their livelihood is affected tremendously—broken relationships with family and friends, loss of financial stability, or feeling they have no purpose in life. Serious or severe mental illnesses, which are schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, major depression, or bipolar disorder, cost America about $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year. Individuals living with serious mental illness die 25 years, on average, earlier than others. Not to mention, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S, and the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24. In Texas, one person commits suicide every three hours on average and 44,193 Americans commit suicide each year. In many cases, it is common for those who attempt suicide to have a mental illness. We must do more to support individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and be willing to involve ourselves in programs that support them. As we continue to have open conversations about mental health, with respectful language, we can abandon the social stigma associated with mental illness.
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