Inspire One Magazine - Integration Sept/Oct 2019

Inspire One Magazine, Eastern Shore’s Newest Magazine for peo ple of color created to help educate all communities about important is sues. The purpose of this publication is to Educate, Engage, and Energize our community to develop awareness and promote conversations on real is sues. In addition, Inspire One hopes to promote unity, support and love within our community through each issue developed. Articles presented in the publication are intended to bring about awareness and education. We apologize if the information may be offensive to some but with the climate of our country we must become aware of all issues.

If there are story ideas or potential is sues that you feel need to be raised, please call 410-621-9378 or email us at info@theinspireone.com. Inspire One Magazine is published and distribut ed throughout Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties and Accomack County of Virginia. All content of this publication is the sole property of In spire One Group and may not be re produced in any form without written consent of the publisher, Inspire One Group. Opinions within do not always reflect opinions of the editor and pub lisher of Inspire One Magazine. Thank you for taking the time in reading our publication and we hope that you will become a support toward the product.

Website: www.theinspireone.com Email: info@theinspireone.com issuu.com/theinspireone Phone: 410-621-9378 Social Media: FB- @Inspire1Group

stressed at work?

Feeling stressed at work? If so, you’re not alone. A recent Gallup Poll revealed that 55% of Americans said they experienced stress “a lot” during the day, up from 46% in 2006.

In the workplace, stress can affect your at titude, relationships with your colleagues, and your work performance. Although a modest amount of stress is normal, high levels of stress can be dangerous to your health and may con tribute to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression.

Fortunately, there are ways to help man age stress. Ann Marie O’Brien, R.N., national director of health strategies, UnitedHealthcare, shares the following tips to consider that may reduce your workplace stress and get you back on a healthy track performing at your usual best. Try these 5 strategies

1) Talk to your boss. Consider having an open discussion with your boss about the stressors associated with your work responsi bilities. Ask if there is an opportunity for addi tional skills training, or possibly even restruc ture your job to make it more manageable and better aligned with your interests and skills.

Also, check if your company has an employee assistance program (EAP), which may provide available counseling and online resources.

2) Brush up on your time-manage ment skills. We’ve all had days when it seems impossible to get everything done. In some cas es, poor time management is the reason we feel this way which then may trigger stress. For your next work assignment, talk with your supervi sor before getting started to plan realistic goals, priorities and deadlines.

3) Take advantage of workplace well-being programs. An increasing num ber of employers are offering well-being pro grams through their health plan and are making healthier food options available in the work place. Some employers offer gym reimbursement programs such as UnitedHealthcare’s Gym Check-In, have onsite workout rooms, offer stand-up desks, and encourage walking meetings and well-being chal lenges like “taking the stairs.” Remember, it’s important for your physical and mental health to combine exercise with a well-balanced diet.

4) Grow your support network. If you have a close colleague at work, talk with that person and explain your work stressors and brainstorm possible solutions. If you don’t, then reach out to friends and loved ones. It’s important that you don’t isolate yourself after a stressful event.

5) Focus on yourself. If you’re feeling stress, a simple treat such as going to a mov ie, enjoying your favorite meal, or just getting away to take a brief walk can give you time to unwind and recharge. If you cannot get a handle on your stress, talk to your doctor. He or she may recommend a counselor who could help you find other ways to help reduce or manage the unhealthy stress in your life.

Itshould be noted that a lot of people from all over the world give preference to yoga. For many people yoga can be considered as lifestyle. It is important to know that people of different ages do yoga. There are many plac es to practice yoga within a 50 mile radius of Salisbury but one place that stands or maybe stretches above the rest is Union of Body, Mind & Soul in Milton, DE.

The expert Yoga instructor, Yvette Qui nones develops the yoga session to create a safe,

nurturing and fun space for practitioners. The class is led by Mrs. Quinones as she demon strates and guides the practitioner through a series of breathing techniques and asanas (poses). Yvette became certified in 2015 and teaching yoga for the past three years and her own personal yoga practice started in 2009. Mrs. Quinones plans to contin ue to continue building her per sonal practice, re maining a student (earning additional certifications) and teaching Gentle & Restorative Yoga classes. It is necessary to note that there are different types of yoga. For instance, there are hatha yoga technique and kundalini

yoga. There is yoga for weight loss and different peculiarities. Depending on tasks, which you would like to achieve while doing yoga and fea tures of your character you can choose the cat egory of yoga that suits your needs in the best possible way. Yoga

Cultivating the Communit y with YOGA is a universal sport activity. It doesn’t matter how old you are and how much time you have been doing yoga.

continued from pg 2 has a good impact on health of people and positively improve the mood, increased blood circulation and relaxation of each person that practices yoga. Despite the great benefits of the art, some people just prefer to do yoga just to relax after a long working day. Yoga classes provides people with energy that is required for normal functioning of human organism. Yoga allows people to avoid stresses and those with excess weight can try to get rid of it through yoga. As you can see, yoga gives a lot of significant advantages to people.

Yoga has a positive impact on the mental health or behavior. When an individual practices yoga they take the time to look inward.Yoga helps them to cultivate a more gentle or nonjudgmental relationship with one first. Nat urally, there’s a shift in the mind and behaviors regarding health, relation ships, and other areas in our lives. Effects of yoga are so positive and freeing!

Yoga is a universal sport activity. It doesn’t matter how old you are and how much time you have been doing yoga. Thus, you can begin classes at any age. Even if you are a beginner it is not a problem. People can practice yoga at home, in fitness center or even in office. Also, it is very easy to start doing yoga. You can attend yoga classes, hire professional instructor , buy good books or select yoga videos.

Mrs. Quinones teaches a Gentle Yoga class on Monday evenings from 5:30 - 6:30 pm at Union of Body, Mind & Soul located in Milton, DE. Feel free to contact her via my email address which is, yvette@joyflowyogi. com . Also, visit the studio website at www.unionofbodymindsoul.com for upcoming events.

Many people have trouble falling asleep, and there are many sleep supplement products available to help. However, only certain products are truly effective at pro moting the deepest, most restful sleep needed for no morning drowsiness. The deeper the sleep, the better for the restoration of your mind and body.

During sleep, your brain goes through five stages that repeat in approximately 90-minute cycles. These stages are divided into non-REM

GettinG a Good niGht s sleep

and REM sleep. Non-REM: The first stage of non-REM (non-Rapid Eye Movement) sleep starts when you first fall asleep (stage 1) and progresses through stage 2 of light sleep. Stag es 3 and 4 are the deepest and most restorative times of sleep, when your heart rate slows, your muscles and skin heal and grow, and your immune system recharges. REM: REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, is the shallow sleep that occurs as the fifth and last stage of a sleep cycle. REM sleep is associated with dreams, learning, and memory.

Some sleep aid products, such as Melatonin, focus on sleep quanti ty. While these types of products can make you sleepy, many people who have trouble sleeping can’t relax their brains into deep sleep. Certain ami no acids, however, such as glycine, can help. Glysom is a unique dietary supplement that contains glycine. Un like some other glycine supplements on the market, Glysom has been well studied as a sleep supplement to show that it is effective, helping the brain to relax into the deep sleep cycle. Data

on Glysom has shown that the product can help promote deeper and more restful nonREM sleep without such side effects as daytime sleepiness. Glysom is not an injection or pill; it is available in small packets as a lemon-flavored powder to help make it easy to take. For more than a decade, Glysom was only available from health care professionals, but it is now available directly to consumers. Glysom is produced by Ajinomoto, a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of amino acid products. For more information about Glysom and how to improve sleep quality, visit glysom.com.

Understanding Lupus

Lupus is a complicated disease. Whether it has been suggested you may have lupus, or you have a de finitive diagnosis, you should know these basic facts about lupus. What Is Lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disorder which affects organ systems, skin, joints, and internal organs. Lupus basically is a Latin word that literally means “wolf”. Lupus is a disease that often induces a facial rash that causes its victims to have the appearance of a wolf. In dividuals with lupus will generate antibodies to their own body tissues. The consequential soreness can cause damage in many organs of the body including kidney, joints, blood ves sels, heart and lungs.

Who Can Suffer From Lupus?

Both men and women can get affected by Lupus, but it is eight times as likely in women. It can also occur at any age, but the typical age range for someone to get Lupus is ten to fifty. It is normally more common in African Amer ican people as well as Asian people. This is a disease that is usually hereditary, but in some cases there is no family history of Lupus.

What Causes Lupus?

Lupus is a disease that turns the defenses of the body against the body itself. Lupus oc curs when antibodies attack the healthy cells

in the body. Certain drugs can cause Lupus as well. A number of cases have some family background to them, but in a few cases there is no obvious cause for the disease. The disease has been greatly researched and has been asso ciated to other disorders, but only in theory.

What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms can differ in a wide range of areas in the body. In the musculoskeletal area, the joints are affected and it causes mild to severe joint pain. Lupus is known to cause

arthritis in the hands. The skin is affected by rashes, skin cuts, and painful nodules that ap pear to be raised bruises. Kidneys produce protein deposits and can have renal failure, leading to dialysis. The Nervous System can cause mental dysfunction, seizures, psychosis, and severe headaches. Blood clots can occur as well as pulmonary embolism. The heart could produce chest pain. The symptoms in the heart could also be associated with the effects Lu

“There is no cure for the disease itself, so easing the symptoms is all a person can do.”

pus has in the blood, with the clotting that can oc cur. Shortness of breath and even pleurisy can occur within the lungs due to Lupus.

Treatment - Forms of treatment for Lupus have to concentrate on its side effects. There is no cure for the disease itself, so easing the symptoms is all a person can do. Anti-inflammatory medication is given for arthritis pain as well as the pleurisy. Skin rashes can be helped with corticoste roids, which typically comes in a cream form or lotion to not only clear up the rash, but to also sooth it. Relentless symp toms need to be checked by a specialist. Changing lifestyles to healthy habits, such as eat ing balanced meals and getting minimal exercise will help. Having a stress free environ ment also helps enormously.

Aperson

is said to have physical opi oid dependence if they have high ‘tolerance’ of opioids, meaning they need more of the opioid to get the desired effect. Opioid withdrawal symp toms occur when the substance is stopped. Most patients who seek treatment for opioid addiction also have some degree of physical dependence. However, physical opioid depen dence alone is not sufficient to make a diag nosis of addiction. A person can be physical ly dependent - like a cancer patient might be

when prescribed opioids for severe pain - and not be addicted. The term ‘addiction’ refers to certain behaviors.

What are the Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal?

Opioid withdrawal can occur in both the addicted patient and the patient who has opi oid dependence but is not experiencing total opioid addiction. When an opioid is stopped or the dose is suddenly reduced, both types of patients experience withdrawal symptoms - sweating, chills, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, di arrhea, restlessness and insomnia. ‘Goose bumps’, which com monly occur during opioid withdrawal, give rise to the term ‘cold turkey’. Fear of these unpleasant and painful opioid with drawal symptoms makes it difficult for the addict to stop us ing and begin the re covery process.

Who is Prone to Develop Opioid Dependence?

Although the specific causes vary from person to person, scientists believe that our heredity (our DNA) is the major factor in an individual’s susceptibility to the development of the disease of addiction. We also know that psychological factors (feeling stressed, anx ious or depressed) and our social environment also play important roles in the development of opioid addiction. The unpleasant effects of opioid withdrawal lead many users to con tinue abusing prescription or illegal opioids, leading to prolonged dependence.

Opioid abuse has risen dramatically in the United States over the past ten years. The Na tional Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that more than 5.2 million Americans misused a prescription painkiller in 2008 for non-med ical reasons. Approximately 1 million people in the U.S. are addicted to heroin today. About 1 out of 8 people (13% of the population) who are exposed to a mood-altering substance that can cause an intense euphoric effect (like al cohol, opioids and other drugs of abuse) are prone to develop the behaviors of addiction with repeated use.

What Happens to the Brain in Addiction?

Opioid addiction is a disease of the brain. Repeated use of an opioid leading to opioid dependence causes long-term changes in both the structure (the architecture of the brain) and the way the brain functions (the biochem istry of the brain).

The most important structural or archi tectural change takes place in the circuitry of the brain - particularly in the wiring of the re

ward pathway. Our brains are wired to ensure that we will repeat life-sustaining activitiessuch as drinking water and eating food - by associating those activities with pleasure or re ward. Whenever this reward circuit is activat ed, the brain records that experience making us likely to do it again. Memories that have an intense emotional component (like pleasure) may be permanently ‘hard-wired’.

In the person with opioid dependence who is prone to opioid addiction, the exces sive stimulation of the reward pathway by an opioid ‘tricks’ the brain into believing that an opioid is as necessary for survival as food and water. The effect of such a powerful reward motivates people to repeat that behavior again and again, even when it is clearly harmful to do so. This is why drug abuse is something the person prone to opioid addiction can learn to do very, very well.

Chemical changes also take place in the brain as it tries to adapt to the excessive stim ulation of the reward pathway. During opioid dependence and opioid addiction, the brain tries to ‘turn down the volume’ and compen sate for the vicious highs and lows that occur during repeated opioid use and opioid with

drawal by reducing the number of opioid re ceptors in the brain. This is what leads to tol erance in people with opioid addiction - more and more of the opioid is needed to achieve the same effect. The result is that eventual ly the addict may feel lifeless, depressed, and may be unable to enjoy activities that usually bring them pleasure. By the time most opioid addicts seek treatment they no longer get a eu phoric effect from taking an opioid - they are taking opioids just to function normally.

To complicate matters further, the repeat ed use of an opioid has a profound impact on the intellectual portion of the human brain that is involved in judgment and decision making.

Since this part of the brain is still developing in adolescence, opioid dependence leading to addiction which begins during the teen years is often more severe and more resistant to treat ment. Unfortunately, the impairment in the thinking part of the brain - the part that serves as the ‘brake pedal’ for addiction - is so severe that the addict may flatly deny that they have a drug problem, try to justify their use to family and friends, or minimize the consequences of their behavior. A person with opioid addiction (and less often, opioid dependence) can find themselves saying or doing things they would never have believed themselves capable of -

“

”

The need to satisfy cravings can be so in tense that even people who try as hard as they can to remain absti nent find it difficult or impossible to do on their own.

including lying to family members, stealing from loved ones, or even committing criminal acts - all in pursuit of the drug their brains are telling them they must have.

As a result of opioid dependence or opi oid addiction, these changes in the structure and function of the brain result in powerful and long-lasting cravings for opioids. Cravings can last for months and even years after an ad dict has stopped using opioids, and has gone through the initial opioid withdrawal period. Persistent cravings explain why the relapse rate is so high with this disease. The need to satisfy cravings can be so intense that even people who try as hard as they can to remain abstinent find it difficult or impossible to do on their own.

Is Opioid Addiction Really a Disease?

Yes, opioid dependence can lead to opi oid addiction, which is a chronic and pro gressive disease if untreated--just like heart disease, asthma and diabetes. These diseases have a lot in common with addiction--they are seen more frequently in those with a family history of the disease, they cause changes in the structure and function of a major organ system, they improve with behavior modifi cation, they can be treated with medication, and they all require daily management. And like these other diseases, addiction is chron ic - a condition for life, as there is no known cure. Fortunately, addiction can be managed, and a person suffering with opioid addiction can regain a healthy, productive life by seeking assistance with managed opioid withdrawal in an addiction treatment program.

The myth is that opioid addiction or opi oid dependence is a result of poor will-power, a lack of self-control, or low moral standards. In reality, if it was that straightforward most people who are addicted would be able to stop using on their own. The changes in the struc ture and function of the brain are so powerful that stopping and remaining abstinent usually requires professional help.

How Serious is Opioid Dependence?

Opioid dependence is a behavior disor der that is potentially fatal. Sudden opioid

withdrawal is an unpleasant experience, and many individuals continue to use opioids to avoid the negative physical effects. Individu als who use heroin intravenously are about 7 to 10 times more likely to die on any given day than someone of similar age who is not a user. Accidental overdoses are on the rise be cause the potency of street drugs like heroin are unpredictable from one dose to the next, and the potency continues to climb (7% pu rity in 1980 to 75% today). Overall , patients

with opioid dependence die at a much higher rate than non-users from a number of medical complications. The incidence of Hepatitis C is on the rise due to the sharing of needles –even those that are supposedly ‘recycled’ and ‘clean’. About 2% of those who are opioid-de pendent die each year because they don’t seek treatment or assistance for opioid withdrawal. The message here is that there is a good expla nation for why we don’t see a lot of old opioid addicts walking around.

To Bank Account or Not, That i$ the Question

Having a bank account is the start to being truly in charge of your finances, including managing pay ments and getting paid. If you’ve never had a bank account before, or you’ve struggled with keeping one in the past, you have options.

Here are three reasons why having a bank account matters:

Saving on fees

When you get a check, is it a pain to cash it? Whether it’s from a relative or an employer, if you don’t have a bank account, you proba bly have to go through extra steps and pay fees to cash it. With a bank account, you can easi ly cash your check without the extra fees and can even take advantage of direct and mobile deposit, so your check automatically goes into your account without having to visit a branch. It’s not only convenient, but you’ll save mon ey because you won’t have fees stacking up with each check when you get paid. That can amount to hundreds of dollars per year!

Paying Bills

Another issue people without bank ac counts face is how to pay their bills. It’s difficult and even risky to carry around large amounts of cash so you can pay things like rent, grocer ies and child-care. In addition, electronic and

digital payments are increasingly preferred by many, and are a more secure alternative than paying with cash.

A bank account that has a debit card allows you to easily pay your bills virtually anywhere at any time. Setting up rent or your electric bill to be automatically paid electronically at the start of the month helps you eliminate costly late fees. Pay in one swipe at the store for easy and fast checkout.

Staying on budget

Overspending can often trigger overdraft fees. However, some accounts do not charge overdraft fees. These accounts make it easier to stick to your budget and avoid overspending and overdraft fees altogether.

One example to consider is Chase Secure Banking, a simple and low-cost alternative to a standard checking account. With no mini mum deposit to open and no paper checks, the account is designed to ensure you only spend what’s available in it, so you’ll never be charged overdraft fees. No more worries about when a check will go through and if it will bounce.You only spend what you have, making staying on budget simple.

Chase Secure Banking comes with all the benefits and perks of being a Chase customer,

like fast access to thousands of fee-free ATMs, the mobile app, the ability to send and receive money and support from bankers in person or over the phone. Learn more at www.chase. com/SecureBanking

Bottom line

Getting a bank account can help you gain money confidence and take more control of what you earn and spend. You can use your money like you want to, without extra steps, hassles or unnecessary fees. Take control of your finances and consider your options today.

No bank account?

3 reasons why having one is an important step to financial health

COUPLING: Spending it Together!

real estate records to a will, IRA benefits, and even passwords.”

Turns out that “coupling” doesn’t just mean “pairing” in the tradi tional sense, but is also a catchphrase when it comes to finances. Be cause as much as you may think no two people have ever been more in love than you are, the truth is that it could be less than smooth sailing ahead if you’re not on the same page when it comes to financial mat ters.

“Couples have a very hard time talking about money,” Joan At wood, a Hofstra University professor of marriage and family therapy, bemoaned on an NPR “Money Coach” segment on the issue. “I would say it’s the last taboo.”

Ready to break the cycle? Read on.

• Set common goals. You have probably discussed this in a dreamy sort of way while dating, but turning those reveries into reality re quires habitually saving to pay for them to finance your later retirement years. This is most likely one thing you may not have thought of at a time when the median ages, respectively, for brides and grooms are 29 and 31.

“While people may come into a marriage with their own assets, they need to take some time after the wedding to sit down and start getting organized as a couple,” advises Andrew Peterson, a vice presi dent at Fidelity Investments.

• Be transparent. There’s nothing that says you have to put all your cash into a joint savings account – but at the very least you’d be “less than truthful” by not divulging any outstanding debts – and then figur ing out, together, how to pay them down.

• Safely store your information. Quick: What’s your new spouse’s Social Security number? And what other vital information don’t you know if a sudden need arises?

To truly mark your financial coupling, you might consider using an online service such as FidSafe.com that lets you store, access and share all your new family’s important records and documents anywhere via a web browser or iOS app.

Not only is it free and simple to use with handy checklists, but even before it was officially introduced two years ago by Fidelity, Bar ron’s magazine gave the service five stars for being what it called “the first cloud-based safe deposit box we’ve seen that’s secure enough to organize everything from financial statements, insurance policies, and

“With all the other things on their to-do lists, newlyweds typi cally don’t focus on all the important financial and other documents they need to begin married life on a solid footing,” says Peterson. “This makes things easier for them from the start, as well as through the years as they have even more joint documents to retain – including those related to perhaps buying a house and having children.”

• Investigate this option. Do you both get health insurance through your employer? Congrats. You may have just saved yourselves some money because, if it works out it’s less expensive for one of you to be on the other’s plan rather than pay for both.

RepoRt: Financial FRaud is taRgeting oldeR adults at RecoRd levels

The financial exploitation of older people is a rampant epi demic in America. A recent report by the Consumer Finan cial Protection Bureau revealed that each incident of financial fraud cost older adults ages 70 to 79 an average of $45,300. And when the older adult knew the suspect, the average loss rose to about $50,000.

As older adults experience more wealth events - from selling a home to making IRA withdrawals - they become more vulnerable to scammers. This can often happen when older people lose touch with those who can help protect them. While technology has made lots of things easier, including managing money, it has also increased the ways for scammers to weaponize fraudulent activity. It is more critical than ever to empower older adults to protect their financial accounts - and for trusted family and friends to help them do so, before it’s too late.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is ob served in June. This is a great reminder and call to action to act on this topic. Through in creased awareness and concrete steps, we can help our loved ones better protect their finan cial assets.

How to Spot Financial Fraud

Former FBI section chief of the Cyber Threat Division Greg Rup pert, now the head of financial crimes risk management at Charles Schwab, said, “I’ve seen every trick scammers use to separate older adults from their money and they are ever more targeted and sophis ticated in their approach. Financial scams, no matter the amount lost, are devastating to older adults, who rely on those resources and are unable to recoup the loss.”

Common types of scams targeting older adults include health care insurance scams, counterfeit prescription drug schemes, romance scams, person-in-need scams, lottery scams, funeral and cemetery scams, telemarketing/ phone scams and investment schemes.

How Family Members Can Help

Help protect your older family member against financial scams by staying engaged so you can spot the signs of an investment scam and help if warning signs appear. Speak to them regularly and be on alert for clues, for

“ One of the BIGGEST risk factors for older adults when FRAUD has taken place is being too EMBARRASSED to admit they may have been scammed to ask for HELP.”

example if they mention being asked for money, or that managing their finances is confusing or overwhelming.

When you visit them in their home, notice visual cues such as un paid bills or piles of unopened mail and physical clues like fearful be havior, worsening of an illness or disability as the result of the pressure from a scammer’s tactics.

One of the biggest risk factors for older adults when fraud has taken place is being too embarrassed to admit they may have been scammed to ask for help. This hesitancy can only be overcome with regular commu nication and wellness check-ins with trusted family members.

5 Steps to Safeguard Financial Assets

Here’s how you can avoid scams and make sure you and your senior family members are not victims of financial fraud:

1. Designate a trusted contact.

Financial institutions like Charles Schwab provide an option to designate a trusted contact - a person who can speak to your financial services provider in the event of an emergency, such as financial exploitation.

2. Get your financial affairs in order.

Understand your full financial situation, including locating and filing key financial records, creating or reviewing wills, establishing trusts and power of attorney declarations, and updating account and insurance policy beneficiaries as your life situation changes.

3. Guard your passwords.

According to the 2018 FBI Internet Crime Report, people over 60 ex perience the most incidents of online investment scams and the highest monetary loss. To protect your online financial accounts, create unique passwords and never share usernames, logins, passwords or personal identification numbers.

4. Get smart with your smartphone. Scammers can mask their phone number to make it appear that a call is local or from a trusted party. Prevent telemarketing scams by joining the National Do Not Call registry and let calls from unknown phone numbers go to voicemail.

5. Up your technology game.

Local recreation centers and libraries offer technology and digital liter acy classes to help older adults and their family members protect them selves online and learn about the latest financial schemes.

To learn more about how to educate your self and your older family members on the latest financial schemes, visit: https://www. schwab.com/resource-center/insights/section/resources-for-senior-investors.

Financial Grade C+

Half of Americans are ‘C’ students at best when it comes to understand ing finances. Transforming knowl edge into action bridges the gap from financial literacy to financial wellness.

When it comes to education, we instinc tively understand the link between perfor mance and opportunity - a college graduate is likely to have more job opportunities than someone who didn’t finish high school. Sim ilarly, the high school valedictorian may be courted by more colleges and universities than a poorly performing student. In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that high er levels of literacy and more advanced edu cation tend to correlate to positive outcomes in wage growth and job opportunities. Because we know the importance of education, we push ourselves and our children to learn and grow, in the hopes of better opportunities in the future.

But when it comes to financial literacy and financial wellness, we seem to lose sight of the connection, contenting ourselves with barely passing grades. In fact, more than half of Americans say they’d earn a “C” or lower if tested on their financial literacy, according to

a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Prudential Financial.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) take respon sibility for their own grade, according to the survey. Why don’t we change our behaviors and work to improve our

finances. In addition, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say the list of things they need to learn to successfully manage their finances keeps on growing, not shrinking.

“The financial industry as a whole needs to drive home the importance of financial educa tion to help clear a path toward financial well ness,” said Caroline Feeney, head of Individual Solutions at Prudential. “It’s important for us to help Americans understand how to manage day-to-day finances, achieve im

knowledge of a topic we know to be so critical to our lives?

Information over load may be at fault.While the survey shows nearly half of American adults (46%) spend more than two hours on social media each week, fewer than one in five (17%) spend that much time managing their

“...the Census data showed less than half of Americans are on track to meet their goals, including planning for retirement.”

continued from pg 14

portant financial goals and protect against future financial risks.”

Previous data from Prudential’s Financial Wellness Census shows more than a quarter of Americans (29%) have a skewed sense of their financial health, with many optimistic about their financial future despite objective measures showing them falling behind in achieving their finan cial goals. In fact, the Census data showed less than half of Americans are on track to meet their goals, including planning for retirement.

The challenge, then, is how to translate retirement uncertainty and financial insecurity into actions that help build financial wellness before and into retirement. That’s where financial literacy programs and profes sional financial advice can play a key role.

Today, people can access ad vice along the spectrum, from self-directed methods to hybrid advisors who serve as coaches to full-service, high-touch advice. “Our lifelong personal financial wellness journeys often require a combination of smart solutions, good advice and guidance about appropriate investment tools or products,” says Feeney.

Planning is critical to meeting financial goals (whether it’s buying a car or a house, paying for college or planning for retirement), so it’s important to find the method that works best for you. Life stage and personal preference will play a role in determining your path to financial wellness, but financial education, professional guidance and access to the right products and investments at the right stage of the journey are key components of the financial wellness journey.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ. 1020393-00001-00

Pay For College?

We’re talking 529 plans. They’ve been in existence since 1996, but a new survey from Edward Jones found that 67 percent of Americans don’t have a clue that they provide a tax-advan taged way to save money for tuition, books and other qualified education-related expenses at most accredited two- and four-year colleges, universities, and vocational-technical schools. Worse still, that 67 percent figure is 5 percent higher than it was the first time the survey was done in 2012.

“It’s a concerning trend,” says Tim Burke,

a principal at the financial services firm, Ed ward Jones.

“Concerning” because the current average price tag of a four-year degree, including tui tion, room and board: $21,370-a-year at pub lic schools, according to the College Board, and $48,510-a-year at private schools.

And just how do those surveyed think they’re going to handle those costs?

• Personal savings accounts (38 percent). Keep in mind that the national average inter est rate on such accounts is a measly 0.09 per cent. Good luck trying to cover the more than $1,200 an average college student spends on books and materials over the course of a year with that.

• Scholarships (35 percent). If your child is a prodigy or football star, hats off to you. Be cause Sallie Mae’s “How America Pays for Col lege” 2018 report found that only 17 percent of college costs were paid this way.

• Federal or state financial aid (33 percent). Pell Grants are the largest source of federally funded grants, and they max out at $6,095 for the 2018-19 academic year. That would cover about 28 percent of one year’s $21,370 average cost at a pub lic college – except that, as the Col lege Board explains, “most students receive smaller grants because they are enrolled part time or because their family income and assets reduce their aid eligibility.”

• Private student loans (20 per

cent). According to the Brook ings Institution, parents who take out loans do so to the tune of $16,000 a year on average, and nearly 10 percent are on the hook for $100,000. “College debt is increasingly becoming a parent problem, too,” Consum erReports.com warns.

Given all that, you can see why Kyle Andersen, another principal at Edward Jones, says that “by relying on scholarships or federal or state financial aid that a student may or may not receive, Americans leave them selves vulnerable.”

Which brings us back to 529 plans.

Hats off to the 18 percent of those sur veyed who said they’d implemented this strat egy, which Edward Jones and others call “an attractive and practical way to save.” How so? Unlike personal savings accounts, the earnings in these plans – typically comprised of a port folio of funds – accumulate tax-free, and quali fied withdrawals are exempt from both federal and state income taxes.

The federal gift tax exclusion allows a contributor to give up to $15,000 per year, per beneficiary, or $30,000 for married cou ples. Although almost every state has its own 529 plan – with total limits sometimes reach ing more than $500,000 – there’s no “hometown restriction,” so you might want to work with a local Edward Jones financial advisor to compare plans and review your situation.

One other thing that less than half of those surveyed knew: 529 plans can also be used to pay for qualified K-12 tuition.

When paying for your child’s college education, what you don’t know really can hurt you.

Smart ways to help students gain confidence in learning

Buildingthe confidence to try, experiment and keep going even when things get hard is a critical part of the education al process. Confidence comes more naturally to some stu dents than others, yet new research shows that confidence levels today impact learning out comes for students.

Three-quarters of teachers say anxiety and lack of confidence hinder learning among their students, according to the Confidence in Learning Poll conducted by Harris Insights and Analytics on behalf of LEGO Education. Two-thirds of parents agree their children are not more confident than their peers or them selves at that age.

This is impacting students’ education in many ways, particularly in the important

STEAM subjects (science, technology, en gineering, art and mathematics). The poll found fewer than one in five students is “very confident” when it comes to learning STEAM, while only one in three teachers says their students are more confident in STEAM subjects compared to five years ago.

As we think about preparing students for the future workforce, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in new jobs that don’t yet exist, accord ing to the World Economic Forum. This makes confi dence in STEAM especial ly important as we prepare kids for unknown needs.

Building Confidence

Consider the middle-school years as an im portant time to grow and maintain confidence levels among students. A time of tremendous physical change, kids are also dealing with new academic and social pressures, too. The good

news is both parents and educators can take basic steps to help boost confidence in learning to help middle-school kids at home and at school.

With confidence such a key component of learning success, how can parents and ed ucators keep levels high so that students not only succeed at learning, but also find joy in it? The key is hands-on learning. A whopping 97 percent of teachers in the U.S. say that handson learning builds confidence among their stu dents, though that doesn’t have to be limited to the classroom. Here are simple ways to help middle-schoolers gain confidence in themselves and their education:

Hands-on learning at home

Adults who incorporate hands-on learn ing can make a big impact, with 87 percent of students reporting that when they learn via hands-on projects, they tend to remember the topics for longer. At home, invite kids into the kitchen to cook together, talking about mea surements and reactions of cooking ingredi ents before enjoying a meal as a family. Anoth er idea: Have them help out as you use tools to work on your car, discussing the problem, brainstorming the potential solutions and fix ing it together.

guides for 32 different creations, though the possibilities are limitless. “We believe deeply in the value of hands-on learning experiences to build curiosity and confidence, spur devel opment, bring more joy to learning and spark imagination - and that’s exactly what SPIKE Prime offers,” said Esben Stark Jurgensen, President of LEGO Education.

Ask questions throughopen discussion

Having open, engaging and nonjudgmen tal conversations with middle-school kids is important to breaking down barriers. Let them lead the conversation, but if it stalls out, take the lead by asking questions about how they think and feel. Remember, no answer or thought is a bad one. It’s also important, as an adult, to show vulnerability. If you can show you’re OK being comfortable with success or failure, it helps them gain confidence that it’s OK to feel that way, too.

Hands-on learningat school

When projects come to life, kids can learn through collaboration and exploration, which can help improve processing and reten tion. The new LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, bringing together familiar LEGO bricks with digital programming, lets students learn essen

To learn more about con fidence-building, education al opportunities and LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, visit LEGOeducation.com/ SPIKEprime. Esben Stærk JØrgensen, President of LEGO Education.

BAAM

Building AfricAn AmericAn minds

Effectiveyouth programs represent an important need for the social and educational aspect of the young African American in our world. Enhancing and building the minds of African American youth is a high level priority of many individuals in the Talbot County area in Maryland. As the country faces the diffi cult question of how to reach the youth, these individuals have taken on the task in the mid shore of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and have succeeded in answering the difficult question.

Building African American Minds (BAAM) formed in 2005 is a group designed and developed by a couple who wanted to an swer the question of aiding the African Amer ican youth in the Talbot County area. The call for the scholarships resulted in no application which motivated the couple to dig further for the quest to answer the difficult question. The couple then refocused their energy to the

middle school level and because of this great shift many have gone to college off of the sup port of the organization.

BAAM helped these youth to develop into aspiring college students and created a sense of pride and thirst for knowledge. For many of the students that matriculated through the program, BAAM served as a support system in and outside of school. Mr. & Mrs. Derick and Dina Daly developed the program to help students prosper in their quest for knowledge as well as their development in social and be havior skills. BAAM’s longevity of over 14 years is recognized as a pillar in the area of support for youth in the community. Many students have reached back from their days in the BAAM program to assist and aid the youth of today to be successful and achieve great success in their lives. The beauty of this program is that It focuses on the positive of one’s life and how a child can use motivation to enhance their possibilities of success.

BAAM uses different strategies to raise funds to as sist the youth. One particular event is the Annual BAAM Festival that draws large crowds of well into the hundreds. The Fest celebrated with 23 partners

who BAAM has collaborated with in helping African American males become productive, confident citizens through positive academic, social, emotional, and spiritual experiences as chil dren and young men. BAAM is joined in support for this event by over 20 businesses and organizations to awareness for the vi sion and mission of the program. Information booths, musical entertainment, giveaways, dance contest and basketball tourna ments. This event is 5 years into its progress and has grown each year in size and productivity.

BAAM has been recognized by the State of Maryland and the State House of Delegates for its work in assisting youth in the community. In 2018, BAAM received the Governor’s cita tion for the efforts to identify African American males who are at risk of failure in school and for recognizing and addressing the socio-economic barriers that may inhibit their ability to learn effective ly, providing enrichment in a safe, caring and better structured envi ronment by partnering with local faith-based organizations, parents and concerned citizens with similar agendas and clearly stated goals.

Left: Mr. & Mrs. Derick and Dina Daly pictured with Governor Hogan; Below: face painting and craft activities; Below Right: Working in the garden.

Top: BAAM Athletic Center dedication; Left: Athletic Cen ter under construction; Below: members playing foosball.

INTEGRATION in hindsight

Bridges was only six years old when she became the face of what is seen today as a never ending bat tle of desegregation, years after the pass ing of Brown vs Edu cation. In 1954, the supreme court ruled that state laws regulating racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Several years after that decision, states and local dis tricts were resisting. Much like in New Orle

RubyRights Project, in 2016 showed a decreased. The percentage of black students in majority white schools is just below where it was in 1968, 23.2%. With continuous lack of over sight from courts, parents, educators, and activists like Ruby Bridges, are still fighting for equal education on many levels. In 2016, Maryland was found to be among the most segregated states for black students.

Lower shore public schools were relative ly late to desegregate. In Cambridge, Maces Lane, Dorchester County’s only Black High School was closed. It followed the closing of Somerset Jr. Sr. High, in Princess Anne, MD and shortly after Carter G. Woodson High, an all- black school in Crisfield, MD. Schools

Life plans for African American students in Sussex County were indefinite until the opening of the William C. Jason Comprehen sive High School in 1950.

The late Mr. H. Fletcher Brown, a philanthropist of Wilmington, Delaware, who died in 1944 left $250,000 in his will to ward the construction of a downstate African American High School. Legislature provid ed for the construction of a Comprehensive High School and meet the needs of students of all levels and varying interest to include, vocational, commercial, general, and college prepatory courses.

ans, Louisiana with little Ruby, it wasn’t until the 1960’s eastern shore public schools took a break at resisting and began to integrate their public schools. 15 years after Brown vs Edu cation, Somerset and Dorchester County de-segregated. Activists like Ruby Bridges have paved the way towards equal education. The question remains, did black Americans benefit from integra tion at all?

In 1988, resistance to Brown vs Education peaked in the south. The percentage of black students in majority white schools went from zero to 43.5%. However, recent reports from UCLA Civil

were closed and qualified teachers lost jobs.

A popular thought is that eastern shore black students suffered greatly from integration and

continued on pg 23

The name of Charles Jason, a minister and educator approved by the State Board of Education. Dr. Jason was a minister and teacher for several years in the public school system of Delaware. He was the first black president of Delaware State College.

The school opened for classes October 2, 1950, including grades nine through twelve. In 1953, with expansion, junior high students (seventh and eighth grades), were enrolled. The William C. Jason Comprehensive High School ceased to exist after June 30,1967.

William C. Jason Comprehensive High School

Northampton High School

Tidewater’s Institute doors closed in 1935. The community became concerned about educational opportunities for African American youth and the concern of transpor tation was a priority. Mrs. Margaret McCune, a Jeanes Teacher’s supervisor made a vow: “if you open the doors of the Northampton County High, we’ll see that the children get there!”

Consequently, public education began for the African American youth in the fall of 1935 in the Old Tidewater building at Chesa peake, also known as Cobbs Station. Then the School Board moved the school to its build ing located in Machipongo, VA and in the fall of 1940 moved the high school into the build ing. In 1952 a high school for African Amer ican students was approved. Constructed in 1953, the county’s first purpose-built African American high school was built, Northamp ton County High School. The students moved in the building in September 1953 and Mr. William H. Smith was the Principal.

Northampton County High School re mained a high school until the Spring of 1970 and subsequently was closed in 2008

continued from pg 22

it shows. It was a poorly planned and failed strategy. In 2017, Wicomico County school board settled with the U.S. Justice Depart ment aimed at disciplining practices against minorities and disabled children. The district admitted no fault.

Years after little Ruby walked passed that woman who hung a noose around a black baby doll’s neck, activists and parents are attempting to correct the wrongs made in a failed strate gy towards equal education. In the Wicomico County settlement, the board agreed to train staff and revise the code of conduct. The com munity and school officials, however, aren’t in agreeance if they have fulfilled their agreement to the U.S. Justice Department. The Civil Rights Data Collection gathered detailed in formation from over 96,000 public schools for the 2015-2016 school year. It proved black and

hispanic male students get harsher discipline than their white counterparts.

Lower eastern shore students welcomed integration and many appreciated the oppor tunity it gave athletes and scholars. However, it was apparent that lack of proper implemen tation shifted the school cli mate and their communities as a whole. The unrest was inevitable as the resistance to integration was strong. With “Deliberate Speed” federal officials ordered Wicomico County in 1964, to integrate. Many of those pioneers are alive today to tell their story. Memories hold vividly the image of unfair treatment of teachers and administrators

towards black students. Cultural competence is vital for any school to thrive. In present day, activists are calling for specialized training for educators in valuing diversity and being cul turally self-aware.

Racial segregation have been ultimately outlawed for over 65 years, however many reports find that today’s students are in ra cially concentrated districts but also divided by income. There has been an overwhelming proof of evidence of double segregation by race and class, yet there have been few posi tive initiatives. Advocates for equal education have found that school segregation concen trates black students in high poverty schools, which tend to have lower achievement, fewer resources, and behavioral issues. Though the link between the two is apparent, there is lit

tle research measuring economic segregation among schools. Largely due to the focus of race in Brown vs Education.

The Equal Justice Initiative recently pub lished an article that confirms nine million American children are attending racially and economically segregated schools. Fighting for equal education did not stop at Brown vs Ed ucation. In the Milliken vs Bradley case, black parents filed a desegregation suit against De troit Public School System, alleging the school district was racially segregated and that the school district lines were dividing majority black Detroit from its nearly all white neigh borhoods. Ultimately reinforcing residential segregation. In that case it was found that that schools were segregated and but also govern

continued on pg 25

In 1931, J. Edgar Thomas, Susie Whar ton Thomas, and William H. Bailey sold a lot in the town of Accomack containing 0.842 of an acre to the trustees of the Accomack County Colored High School Association for $750.00. The trustees, Reverend R. C. Hughes, W. J. Laws, R. H. Hall, G.W. Down ing, Mary N. Smith, C.H. Ewell, and Alma Parker, purchased the property and in 1932

built the first secondary school for black chil dren. This school was named for Mary Not tingham Smith (1892-1951), a trustee of the school and well known on the Eastern Shore. Born in Northampton County, Smith worked in the Accomack County school system since 1921 as a Jeanes Educational Supervisor.

The Jeanes Foundation (also known as the Negro Rural School Fund) was founded by a Quaker, Anna T. Jeanes, to improve vocational training programs for teachers of black stu dents. In 1953, a larger high school, also named Mary Nottingham Smith, was built. The old High School became T.C. Walker Elementary School, named after an African-American at torney from Gloucester County. This building was demolished in 1987.

Mary N. Smith High School

T.C. Walker Elementary

Worcester County High School

In December 1948, Superintendent Paul D. Cooper proposed a building campaign that included a new high school for African Amer icans in Newark. Plans for Worcester Coun ty’s new African American high school began in August 1950. The design included a 52,000 square foot school with 28 classrooms, a caf eteria, and a separate auditorium. The site se

continued

lected for the African American school was a 168-acre farm on the east side of Worcester Highway south of Newark and the campus in cluded a model farm.

African American students were bused from the three areas of the county to begin classes at Worcester County High School in September 1953. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court passed the case Brown v. Board of Education and on June 7, 1955, it was announced that Worcester County would not adhere to the Supreme Court decision. Worcester county would be the first in Mary land to officially defy the Court’s decision.

Students in Worcester County did not experience any desegregation until Septem ber 1964, when seventh grade student Lar ry Waples transferred into Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin.

ment officials, private organizations, such as loaning institutions and real estate associations were reactivating residential segregation.

It is not widely known that Brown vs Education was argued again a year later. The NAACP urged desegregation to move forward, however it was clear that in 1954, there was no set plan on how or how quickly desegregation was going to be achieved. On May 31, 1955, the Supreme Court sided with the states that had segregated schools and washed their hands of follow through and returned the responsibility to state courts to figure out the process. Ulti mately that decision is why little Ruby was six when she became the face of ongoing battle and why lower eastern shore public schools were relatively late to desegregate. Did integration help or hurt Black America? It’s hard to tell because in hindsight, we haven’t truly achieved full integration in our Ameri can schools. America has yet to see the full fruit of its labor and parents, edu cators, and activists are still fighting for equal education.

Salisbury High School

In 1902 the first industrial school for African-Americans opened the Salisbury Colored Grammar School. By 1907, the space was out grown and the school moved to a warehouse on Commerce Street. In 1915, the school’s name was changed to Colored Industrial High School, and Charles H. Chip man was hired as the school administrator. The school was expanded to a four year industrial high school and its first graduation exercis es were held at the Colored Industrial High School in 1919. The school was lat er renamed Salisbury High School, under the direction of its African-American prin cipal, Charles Chipman, who served 46 years as principal, until he retired in 1961.

A new school opened in the fall of 1930, but continued over crowding led to the construction of eight additional classrooms in 1936. In 1950, the African-American community petitioned the Board for a larger school. The request was approved and the Salisbury High School opened in 1954. It continued to operate until the early 1960s when Wicomico County began its desegregation process.

Prior to 1908, there was only one educational facility in Cris field: the original Crisfield Academy. In 1908, the very first Crisfield High School was built, succeeding the Academy. This school, only served the white population and was closed in 1926 when a new, larger building was constructed. A school was built for the African Americans, named Crisfield Colored High School, which was only equipped for teaching up to sixth grade. Eventually, this school would be renamed Carter G. Woodson High School. By the 1969-1970 school year Crisfield was desegregated, and Woodson High School became the area middle school.

Carter G. Woodson School

Somerset Jr. Sr. High School

Opening in late winter of 1954 and closing in 1969, Somerset Jr-Sr High School was the home of the dragons. The students of Somerset Jr. Sr High School met in the building that is known today as Kiah Hall. Kiah Hall at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore houses classes for students in the Business and Technology department. Kiah Hall was remembered for its 15 years as a segregated public school. The school serviced African American students liv ing in the northern part of Somerset county until 1969.

Mace’s Lane High School

The history of Mace’s Lane began in the late 1940s when W. T. Boston was our su perintendent. Mr. Boston, Charles Cornish (County Commissioner) and the Board of Education selected the original site for Mace’s Lane which became Dorchester County’s only African American High School. Construc tion finally began on June 15, 1951. The first graduating class, whose motto was “Prepare today for leadership tomorrow” walked down the aisles of the school in June 1953.

The history of Mace’s Lane High School played an inte gral part in the design of the current middle school which opened in January 2004. To day, Mace’s Lane Middle School continues to carry the proud tradi tion from 1953 of preparing our students for a variety of leadership opportunities as our original motto stated.

Conditions of the Port Street School were not equal to the white schools and the State Educational Survey Commission reported that the Port Street School now Easton Colored School was one of the poorest buildings in the state. Following delays, con struction began in 1918 and the new building dedicated on February 21, 1919.

On Novem ber 21, 1937, the Easton Colored School was re named and dedi cated in honor of Robert Russa Moton. “ Ole Moton ‘ now consisted of five buildings on Port Street and one on Higgins. The gymnasium was located on Higgins Street behind the Asbury M. E. Church.

The Robert Russa Moton Junior/Senior High School on Glen wood Avenue opened in 1953. This school was dedicated on Sunday, November 15, 1953. After the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, Talbot County gave black students “free-choice” to attend formerly allwhite schools.

But few did and Moton contin ued to operate as an all-black school until 1967 when the Talbot County system was ful ly integrated.

Robert Russa Moton Jr. Sr. High School

Kennard High School

Lucretia Kennard came to the Eastern Shore from Philadelphia in 1903.

A forward-thinking educator, Kennard distinguished herself within a segregated system that was most definitely not structured in her favor. As a supervisor, Lucretia Kennard was responsible for recruiting teachers and developing curriculum but her highest ambi tion was to open a high school for black students. Lucretia Kennard Daniels died three years before the school that would carry both her name and academic tradition opened its doors in 1936.

Queen Anne’s County was one of the leading counties in Mary land to achieve integration. Many in the community attributed the successful transition to the efforts of Rhodes, as he personally met with all communities about the implementation of integration.

1966 was the last year smaller segregated high schools in Queen Anne’s County Public Schools existed. Under the leadership of Queen Anne’s County Superintendent of Schools, the late Dr. Har ry Rhodes, of Queenstown, segregation ended in 1966. The very next year, Queen Anne’s County High School was opened to all high school students in the county.

Lockerman High School

June 10th, 1930, Sir Isaac Thomas gave six acres of land in north Denton as a site for the new black high school. Lockerman High School, named after Joseph Harrison Lockerman graduated from Morgan State University in 1886. At a recent reunion, several people interviewed said that in the school’s early days, parents paid for a privately owned bus, whose owner, Walter Mosley, would drive their children to school.

Beginning in 1956 the Caroline County Board of Education had announced that county schools were open to all students on a free dom of choice. However desegregation was very slow. Beginning with the 1964-65 school year, some white teachers were assigned to all-black schools, and in 1965-66, seven black teachers were on faculties of desegregated schools.

April 1965, designated by the Board of Education as a period for application for transfer. Its desegregation plan was accepted by the U.S. Office of Education on June 18, 1965. In 1966, North Caroline High School opened in Ridgely, the Lockerman High School became a middle school.

The Impact of the Historically Black College Experience

One Families Story of Love, Unity and Achievement

By Gary Fagan

Twosisters left the town of Besse mer, Alabama to begin a journey that would forever change a fam ily’s story. Ovetta Marks invit ed her sister Helen to ride along with her to take her daughter to college. Helen had stolen away from her household duties to accompa ny her sister much to the disapproval of her husband Dan. Dan, a truck driver felt that

Helen should remain at home to care for their children and strongly felt that her trip was an utter waste of time. The sisters reached their destination and spent all weekend settling Ovetta’s daughter into her college dormitory. Helen, who never traveled far from home was blown away by her experience that weekend. She never wit nessed a place with such beau tiful grounds and buildings and equally impressed by the hun dreds of students busily prepar ing for their college experience. The place the ladies visit for the weekend was none other than Tuskegee Institute, the year was 1956. It was at this point Helen was INSPIRED !! and she had a thought. I want my children to come here. Helen returned from her weekend visit to Tus kegee with the determination to

get her children enrolled in Tuskegee. At home all she talked about how beautiful Tuskegee In stitute was and that she wanted her children to go there. Dan often got angry because all Helen would talk about was Tuskegee, how beautiful the buildings were and how smart the young black students looked. Dan and Helen had always stressed to their children the value of an education however they were raising a family of 10. By todays standard Dan and Hel ens living condition would best be described as poor. The possibility of their children going as far as high school and maybe a job at local plant seemed all too real. However, Helen had faith and Dan agreed to support sending one child to school to support the family. Dan and Helen went many days without to save what little money they could. After much planning, penny pitching and sacrifice. Rosalind, my sis

ter enrolled into Tuskegee in the fall of 1962. What started as my parents desire to enroll one child into college ended some 30 years lat er. My parents successfully saw 13 of their children attend and graduate from Tuskegee University. From the fall of 1962 until my graduation in 1992 there was at least one of my brothers or sisters enrolled at Tuskegee. During this time period there were some times as many as four siblings enrolled in the same semester. Three of my other siblings earned degrees from other universities.

At an early age my parents stressed to each of us the value of getting an education. I knew as early as the 3rd grade that I was going on to college at Tuskegee. There was no thought given to going anywhere else. Al though we grew up poor by todays standard, we never knew it because we received the love and support from our parents. I can re call many days attending middle school with ripped jeans and worn over shoes. Although the other kids in my class often made fun of my clothing, I knew I was bound for far great er things. When my father passed in 1978 my mom continued her mission to see us all get our education. My older brothers and sisters immediately pitched in coming home when they could and sending money home to sup port my mother as she worked to support us.

Tuskegee University a historically Black college was our second home. Tuskegee Uni versity and the legacy of education through our historically black colleges has been a part of our family story since that weekend in 1956. The feeling of family that I experienced on the campus of Tuskegee is that same feel ing that you feel at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Howard, Fisk, Johnson C Smith etc. etc.

I believe HBCU play a critical role in the preserving the African American cul tural, intellectual and professional experi ence.

While at Tus kegee I majored in Animal and Poul try Science where I earned my bachelor’s degree in 1992. I met my wife Cherita of

28 years during my days at Tuskegee. Cher ita who is from Birmingham studied nursing while at Tuskegee and earned her Bachelor of

gest regret about my Tuskegee experience is not preparing myself enough in high school for the rigors of college academics. As a result, I struggled in math and science however I was determined to graduate. We moved to Mary land in 2001 along with our three children; Gary Jr. Brea and Kayla. We settled into our careers and raised our kids up to high school. We instilled in them that which was instilled in us and that was the value of education and the love we had for Tuskegee, our HBCU. Upon graduation from High School each of our chil dren enrolled into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. We are proud to say that each of our children successfully completed their degree programs at UMES. My children love and appreciation for there educational expe rience at UMES has shaped their character in a profoundly positive way. They each love and appreciate their HBCU experience. Gary received his degree in business administra tion, Brea received her degree in biology and Kayla received her degree in criminal justice. It was during this time I decided to go back and complete a master program in Food Sci ence at UMES. I graduated with my master’s in food and Agricultural science in 2017. My wife continued her education in turn and re ceived two master’s degrees in nursing and Hospital Administration in 2015.

Science in Nursing in 1990. We married while I was a student and we started our family. During our time at Tuskegee we struggled fi nancially however we did not let this deter our goal and dreams to succeed. Our fondest memo ries of Tuskegee would be the football games and then hanging out on the “yard “afterwards. And of course no HBCU experi ence would be complete with out the bands!!!. My wife and I enjoy reminiscing about the good ole days on the campus. My big

My wife and I continued to encourage our children to achieve and strive higher with their education. There were many times when my wife, myself and our children would all be

“At an early age my parents stressed to each of us the value of getting an education.”

at the dining room table studying in our re spective disciplines. As result Kayla is current ly enrolled in her second year of law school at North Carolina Central University and Brea is currently enrolled in Howard University school of medicine where she is studying to be a dentist. Our children believe now in the hon or and privilege in receiving their education through our beloved HBCU’s. They believe as we do that, we have an obligation to improve our communities through education and hard work. I believe for the young African Ameri

your degree and it was not simply given to you or bought. What is most amazing about some the professors at HBCU’s is the fact they often forgo higher paying assignments at other insti tutions to remain at our schools to ensure that the best education is delivered .

My parents are gone, they leave behind in their children 16 college graduates, 10 hon orably discharged veterans, 7 members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and a legacy of edu cation through HBCU’s. Now it is up to us and our offspring to continue to journey toward improving our communities through educa tion. Not for the sake of personal gains but for the sake of our kind. Historically black col leges have served as a repository of knowledge for us to improve our communities through education, hard work, application and above all service. My parent’s legacy of improvement through education and self-improvement and their unwavering love and sacrifice has forever changed our story.

can student gaining an education at an HBCU gives the student a higher sense of awareness that may not be mimicked at non HBCU or even Ivy league schools. I fully appreciated my HBCU experience at Tuskegee and UMES and would not trade it for any offerings at Yale or Harvard. The sight of 3,000 to 5,000 people who looked like me, talked like me and had high dreams for their future. This image will remain with me. I really appreciate the teach ers and staff who ensured that you EARNED

This past summer, Inspire One had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Kuartez James, founder of Recruit University and learn the process that it takes to position athletes in the best spotlight for coaches. Recruit University is a small yet powerful consulting firm that provides services dedicated to help high school student athletes gain exposure and possible recruitment to play college sports. As a former coach, James has developed a passion for the young athletes and the steps it takes for these promising athletes to be recruited to play sports on the college level.

The uniqueness of this consulting firm is that each recruit is given the special attention needed for their success. Recruit University does not create a database and just give the athletes profiles along with thou sands of other athletes but they offer personal and quality attention to each athlete. The University utilizes their extensive network and tech nology to promote their student athletes to potential colleges for whom they meet the academic and athletic standards.

Another aspect of the university is mentoring and how this service

Athlete S

enables the athlete to be more productive and appeal more to the coach es that are recruiting. Transition from high school to college can be overwhelming and the adjustment in academ ics, time management, being more indepen dent and responsible, and social adjusted is a huge undertaking. However, Recruit University works with each athlete personally to help the transition and assist the athlete in becoming more focus and ready for college.

The inspiration to add mentoring to the

Kuartez James at NFL Combine with Adam Schfter.

The ability to have someone to show you the path to a better college career is excellent but as an athlete it is critical. Many of the high school athletes do not realize the time and effort that it takes for coaches to un derstand who they are as an athlete and student.

continued from pg 36 portfolio came after consulting with DJ Mc Carthy, a seasoned collegiate football coach and Lawyer Milloy, Super Bowl Champion, they both said that mentoring is what these kids need. “Whatever you do, make sure you are mentoring them” instructed Milloy. The thought of mentoring was not part of the scope for the university until Milloy brought this to James’ attention. Now Recruit Uni versity moved from having conference calls to having web calls where we can see the indi viduals face to face and are able to share our screen. Mentoring is the bread and butter of the Recruit University program. The firm has the opportunity to show videos, guest speak ers or former players present in order to give the student athletes life lessons that they will need in order to be successful in not just col lege but life after college.

There are no specific academic parame ters. Each athlete has a unique situation and requires different methods and strategies to move them to be successful. Attention is giv en to the athlete’s current academic progress and the time until graduation. In addition, test scores play a part as well along with character of each athlete. Also, Recruit University in terviews each student to gauge what type of individual they are while checking out their social media accounts. This part of the process is to make sure that each student is deserving, hardworking and will represent the brand of Recruit University well. They also have to have some talent but talent is not as important as what was aforementioned.

As a former coach, James believes that his personality is his my most valuable asset in helping the young athletes. “I come to them as a fan. I come to them to help both the play ers and the coaches. Its a win win. I’ve always been the type to ask questions. I dont know all of the answers but whatever I dont know, I do not hesitate asking. People love to share their knowledge if you know how to ask. I’ve built great relationships with pro and former pro athletes the same way. What I learn from them I pass it down to our student athletes”, exclaimed James.

At Recruit University they go against the grain. As said before, Recruit doesn’t cre ate profiles and put the kids on a website and leave them there for months at a time. Recruit doesn’t accept everyone. “I filled out a form on one of those other sites a couple years ago. I’m in my mid 30’s. They emailed me saying that 7 coaches are interested in you, Pay x amount of dollars to see who they are. That showed me what my competition looked like”, mentioned James. There are also other programs who put on “showcases” and say scouts will be there but it is an event to entice kids to sign up. These showcases were just a trick to get young ath letes to sing up for their program and not an opportunity to be directly recruited by the dif ferent college coaches. Basically these events were formed to help scouting businesses re ceive new clients or programs like that put you on a list and sell those lists of names to big time college programs for thousands of dol lars. Recruit University doesn’t put your kids on a list. They go directly to the source and make a personal pitch for your athlete with an immediate response of whether they find you favorable or not to join their athletic program.

If a student athlete or parent wants their child to go to the next level, they need to first get our book and they can try to do it on their own or have their own expert do it for them. I know for a fact that most par ents don’t have a college fund for their kids and are banking on a scholarship. Make a small invest ment now or pay student loans

for the next 30 years. I would hate to see a kid not go after their dreams because of money.

James is a native of the Eastern Shore and grew up in Berlin, Maryland. He had the opportunity to play for Stephen Decatur un der the direction of well-known coach Bob by Knox. James’ insight and expertise comes from an extensive background in coaching football for different levels of youth programs and high school. His passion is to help student athletes become recognized and understand what it takes to become a great athlete. James’ desire is to educate the athlete about the ob stacles and need to become successful in the world of athletics.

WWhen others look at a young man playing basketball, they see just a young boy playing basketball. However, when former players turned coaches see young man playing basketball they see a life of potential and promise even past the sport. Eastern Shore Aces, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization sees more than just young men playing a sport in which they love. The organization operated by parent and community volunteers seeks to benefit the youth of our future by providing them discipline, direction and support through life.

You might ask why does this group of gen tleman come together support these young

men and offer them a way of hope out of ste reotypical situations? It’s simple, it is because of their love for these young men to succeed. The idea of helping young men that society otherwise tosses to the side motivates each coach to assume a role as a father figure and for many of the players, counselor, role model and even confidant. This type of responsibility that each coach accepts is not a task that is tak en lightly by these coaches.

Eastern Shore Aces has quickly become a positive and pertinent organization in the com munity to help young men, especially of color, to focus their lives and make the best decisions possible in any situation. Aces uses the love of

continued from pg 38 the game to help these young men focus on their decision making and behavior to help them improve their actions before, during and especially after school. Many of these young men have received a society letter of negativ ity as their actions may have them labeled as inadequate or even inappropriate in most en vironments. Nevertheless, organizations such as Eastern Shore Aces have coaches that are stepping up to the plate to take responsibility in helping these young men.

Maurice Douglas, Sr., Winfield Chandler, Vernon DeShields II, Lionel Batson, Cedric Johnson, Cedric Milbourne and QayShaun Campbell are the team of coaches that take the task of helping to mold and educate these young men. Each coach pursues the main goal of the organization which is to help nurture, inspire and motivate each young man to be come a better player and dedicated citizen of this society. Aces has created an atmosphere where these mislabeled young men can take their raw talent in the game of basketball and acquire valuable skills and knowledge offered by each coach to apply to their lives.

As it often happens within communities, many give up on young men because of their lack of control or misguided decisions that they make often in their young lives. Eastern Shore Aces reaches out to help these young men to give them a better chance at success in life despite the discouragement and nega tive looks of disgust that many have for these youth.

Maurice Douglas, Sr. head coach re marked, “it’s challenging to take these young men from where they are to where they need to go in life. But if we don’t do it then these young men will be lost forever.” Each coach takes their responsibility serious and the love for each young man allows every coach to in teract and offer nuggets of success to the for mation of the lives of each young man.

“We are a family, and each one of us has a different relationship with every young man. I am a father figure to many of the young men as they listen and try to develop in the path that we direct them”, said Winfield Chandler.

When anyone takes a look at this partic ular organization, they may feel this organi zation is like all others. But as you talk with each coach you hear their hearts that their true desire is to help every young man to be better.

Vernon DeShields, II commented, “we give these young men the tools to succeed and success is not based on color or socioeconomic status, success is built on hard work and disci pline.”

This organization has accomplished many notable awards on their journey to aid these talented young men. Yet the most prestigious accomplishment is receiving the title as the 2018 Division III 12u Champions and just re cently in July of this year, became the 2019 Di vision III 13u National Champions. Each young man showed growth, dedication and discipline as these young men have acquired a positive reputation as the best in the AAU world.

Despite challenges of financing the cost for these young men to play across the country, each coach gives a lot of their personal time and finances to make sure these young men participate. Grades have increased, behaviors have decreased and attitudes and ma turity have developed into these men becoming model students. Eastern Shore Aces is a non-prof it organization that accepts dona tions to finance the opportunity for each young man. Financial

support from the community would be much appreciated but not necessary in keeping the program going. These coaches are determined to see these young men succeed and if it takes their personal resources to get these young men to the games, then that must be done. This organization sees their efforts “Bigger than Bas ketball” and are determined to succeed.

Passion through the Swing

If you search golfers named John Milligan you will likely find a few golfers that are either coaches or professional players in the sport. However, there is one golfer that is soon to become one of the fastest growing stars in the game of golf. John Milligan, Jr., a 12 year old golfer, used a clutch hit to put him in first place in the final round of the League Championship Tournament at Green Hill Country Club.

John, introduced to the game by his father, traveled to different courses to play or practice while he father played. Everything about golf has become special for Milligan, who started to golf a couple of years ago when dad John Milligan, Sr. took him out to the golf course as he played or practice his swing. Milligan, Jr. has a fascination in his ability to hit the ball far down the green and can often catch him practicing his swing in the backyard, chipping in the garage and swinging anywhere there was enough room to improve his swing and accuracy.

Milligan, a new golfer but not new to the game of golf nar rowly beat out his com petitors by one stroke in the latest league cham pionship tournament in the 11U category. Milligan used clutch chipping and putting to capture first place in his age-group at the League Championship Tourna ment contest in June at the Green Hill Country Club in Maryland. Milli gan didn’t win the cov enant green jacket but the trophy meant just as much to him. One of

It wasn’t the Masters, but it still was a championship win for this young golfer from Salisbury, Maryland.

continued from pg 40 Milligan’s favorite courses is Green Hill Country Club Golf Course in Quantico, Maryland.

This latest victory gave Milligan so much confidence in his ability to play the sport. He now uses the win as motivation to improve his score and to achieve more titles and trophies.

“ He did that, I could never be more proud of my son than this mo ment,” Milligan’s mother remarked.

John’s win has not come without his own personal frustrations and challenges. He has endured the process of understanding his swing and timing. In addition, John learned to overcome the feeling of frustration whenever he has double bogeyed or taken way too long to get to the hole. He understands that this is the process of learning the sport and his challenges will only motivate him to become a great golfer like his idol, Tiger Woods. Yet, John, Jr. is dedicated and committed to the craft and is focused on improvement in his game and technique to become a well known golfer.

“It feels amazing, honestly,” Milligan, Jr. said. “Just the chance to compete and actually win, is an amazing experience. I never thought I would be able to do at this age.”

Milligan is an entering 7th grader at Salisbury Middle School. He is the eldest son of John and La’Toya Milligan and has one younger broth er Nathan Milligan. John’s dream is to graduate from high school and college and be able to play on the PGA Tour circuit. He entrusts all of his decision making skills to the support that his mom and dad give him.

“When I get older I can see myself playing in the PGA Tour one day,” remarked John.

Above: John, Jr. preparing for next stroke; Right: Younger brother, Nathan getting in some practice; Below: John Sr. and Jr. after winning GHCC tournament; Below left: John Jr. receiving trophy and accolades.

Paul “Sketch” Boyd’s positively vibrant artwork is inspired by peo ple watching and passing by each day on Route 13 in Salisbury, Maryland. Celebrating the or dinary and documenting the past, Sketch aims for his art to appeal to all ages and make view ers think and smile about the good things in life. Paul is not only the mastermind behind the newest mural in Salisbury, but his work ex tends further beginning as young as four years old. Paul’s first project was designing the door

of his mother’s daycare, while simplistic in de sign it was grand in the sight of his mother.

Boyd comes from a long line of artist reaching back to his mother and uncle. He has always captured moments through his art and often in high school worked diligently to cap tivate his fellow classmates in his school with his new t-shirt designs. Often Paul gave away his t-shirts that he designed by hand the night before as a way of pushing his talent out across the region. As an avid artist, Paul is an expert

continued from pg 42 in the medium of acrylic paint and has used the paint to design clothes, canvasses, buildings, studios, cars and so much more. His work takes inspiration from art-forms as diverse as fallen rappers to great family heroes that peo ple commission him to replicate.

If ever visiting his studio, his paintings and clothing design will take your breath away. The life like images grab your attention and pull you into the moment as expressed through his talent. Paul notably, has a clothing line that showcased a lot of his superior work. His clothing line named S’Dar has graced the stage of many performances and has had its own showcase recently. Paul has the ability to cap ture any image that you desire from mere pho tos presented to him upon commission. Yet, his desire to do more does not stop at these types of projects. Boyd desires to express himself as a major artist and hopes to re ally dive head first into the public art scene. His love of public art expression has grown throughout the years and often moves him to see building and potentials places to create a masterpiece for the world to see. Boyd has recreated artwork with his personal touch from images such as notable car toon characters, fallen rappers and civic leaders and images that absolutely grasp your breath. His art can be seen not only on Rt. 13 but in different barbershops on the shore along with daycares, studios and personal homes.

Most artists are satisfied with painting on canvas or board but Paul Boyd doesn’t stop there. His paintings bring new life to every image that he recreates! Boyd also undertakes large commission projects painting office murals and wherever or whoever will allow his characters to brighten up a space. Boyd is leading the new wave of young artist here on the Eastern Shore. To watch him paint or examine the final product that he presents is phenomenal.Yes, the Rt. 13 Mural is an excel lent representation of Boyd’s talent but he is so much better than his greatest painting. Inspire One is so excited to see the progression of this phenomenal artist and anticipate his talents to be nationwide in a matter of time.

Making Dreams Come True

Agroup of concerned resi dents in the Berlin area de cided to put action to words and form a committee over 30 years ago to assist minority students in their quest to receive a degree from a uni versity or college of their choice. Residents thought it was necessary to assist students and have for over 30 years provided resourc es and assistance to deserving students to attend post-secondary institutions. Great er Berlin Minority Scholarship Committee began this quest of support with the grad uating class of 1989 from Stephen Decatur High School. The beginning plan arranged for students to receive $1,000 toward their entering year of college. The original mem bers of the scholarship committee were Rev. Donald Hamilton, John Dale Smack, Samuel S. Henry, Jr., Grace Purnell, Charlotte Hen ry, Velda Henry, Teola Brittingham, Jessie Fassett, Linda Bowen, John Briddell, Don ald Smack, William Waters, Helen Whaley, Preston Whaley, Mildred Hamilton, Elsie Briddell, and Sandra Oliver. These forward thinking members of the community formed and implemented a strategy to help the grad uating seniors of Stephen Decatur enter col

lege to obtain their degree.

Each year the committee awards at least four scholarships of at least $1,000.00. The scholarship committee raises funding through various events, galas and sporting events such as 3 point contest and slam dunk competition and an annual golf tournament. Many recipients have graduated and become

extremely successful because of the kind ef fort given by this scholarship committee.

Now 30 years later GBMSC is still of fering these $1,000.00 scholarships and one $2,000.00 scholarship. The total amount of scholarships offered since 1989 is over $150,000.00. The $2,000.00 scholarship

continued from pg 44 is given in honor of a member that was instrumental in the devel opment of the committee and also the annual golf tournament that raises funds for each scholarship. Samuel S. Henry, Jr. a life-long res ident of Berlin was a great advocate for the continuance of education beyond the secondary level. Sam, Jr. as he was affectionally called, believed that all dreams were attainable especially when one focuses and pursues their goal. As a business owner of Worcester County, Sam encouraged continuous education and professional growth. His impact is still present as those who he had mentored serve Worcester County in various professions. This is a phenomenal task that has shown the love and concern for the students in the local area.

GBMSC funds all of the scholarships through donations, events and activities held in the local community. Whether it is a bingo event or a golf tournament, GBMSC takes pride in raising funds to create a path for seniors coming out of high school to matriculate to col lege. For some of these students, if the committee did not award them funds to go to college, then their dream of college would be diminished. Greater Berlin, a quiet force has supported well over 120 students to reach their dream to receive a degree from a college of choice. The committee takes pride in raising the funds to offer these scholarships each year. It is amazing what a hard working group can do for the community when all are on the same page and fo cused on the development of the youth. Hats off to this committee for standing strong and in the gap for many of these young people. It

is because of organizations like Greater Berlin Minority Scholarship Committee that makes dreams happen!

“I am not from any of those States where the slaves are said to be in their most degraded condition; but from Maryland, where slavery is said to exist in the mildest form.Yet I can stand here and relate atrocities which would make your blood boil.”

-Frederick Douglas

TheEastern Shore of Maryland has a proud line of black freedom fighters, who risked life and death in the cause to end the sin of American slavery. Famed ab olitionist Frederick Douglas, born in Easton. William Still, famed author, who wrote and published the harrowing ordeals of runaways which is used today as a resource for historians in the field, was born in Talbot County Mary land. But none more magnificent or awe-in spiring than the emancipator, American icon, and Union spy Harriet Tubman. Born Aramita Ross on the plantation of Edward Brodess, 10 miles south of Cambridge Maryland.

The total number of people that Miss. Tubman liberated varies, but Harriet herself puts the number of trips to and from the Ma son Dixon line (an imaginary line that sepa rates Maryland and Pennsylvania; north and south) to 300. But weather it was 300 or 30, the fact remains that her acts of immense cour age to cross in and out of slave territory as a runway, as a black woman numerous times, is valor on the highest scales. These deeds were more heroic due to the fact that in 1850 Con gress passed the infamous Fugitive Slave Law. Meaning a slave could be returned to its mas ter, even if they crossed into free territory. This in essence forced Ms. Tubman’s to carry her passengers well past Pennsylvania, into Canada (which is some 700 miles from Maryland).

To most people, Maryland sits in between north and south (union and confederate) but in actuality, as a born Marylander who was roots in North Carolina, Maryland cultures and traditions have always mirrored the southern heritage. The confusion for many starts in the Civil War when Maryland stayed on the side of the Union (the North). And even though the State itself fought on the side to end slavery,

Harriet TUBMAN

many of its white residents resisted. Primarily because Maryland was and still today an agri cultural society. Meaning many of the wealthy, and not so wealthy landowners relied heavily on the free labor of slaves. The decision to fight for the Union was made by politicians in Wash ington DC, not the people.

This made life for Harriet in Dorchester

County very complex. For example, Harriet’s exploits occurred mostly in the 1850’s, with her personal escape being in 1849. During the 1850’s the state of Maryland housed 74,000 freedmen and women, compared the 90,000 plus still enslaved. Which means that Harriet would have grown up knowing both free and enslaved. For example, Harriet’s father Ben

continued from pg 46 Ross achieved freedom in 1840, while his wife and her children remained enslaved. Harri et’s husband John Tubman was a freeman that worked alongside Harriet.

But these set of circumstances did not make life easier for Harriet, or any other Maryland slave for that matter.

Slave life on the Shore was harsh, no mat ter the proximity. C. Ashley Ellefson’s The Private Punishment of Servants and Slaves in Eighteenth-Century Maryland records that between 1726-1776 (up to the American Rev olution) the state of Maryland had recorded 19 slave quartering’s, 19 gibbets, and 150 hang ings. Frederick Douglas recounts his life of an Eastern Shore slave in his autobiography.

Of his master Captain Anthony Douglass of Talbot County he writes “I have known him to cut and slash a woman’s head so horribly, so that even a master would be enraged at his cruelty.” He goes on to write about his mas ter’s perverse fascination with his aunt Hester; “Then he said to her, “Now you b-----d b-----h, I’ll learn you how to obey my orders!”.... he commenced to lay the heavy cow skin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid the heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came blood dripping from the floor.”

The actions for these punishments ranged from murder, insurrection, or even (as seen in Douglass’s case) at the whim of a jaded slave owner.

Harriet, herself, was not immune to such acts of violence. She was constantly abused by her Mistress Miss Susan for not cleaning to her standards. Also, during Harriet’s teen years she received a blow to the head from a two pound weight as she tried to shield a runaway being pursued by slave catchers. The repercus sions from this incident led to Harriet suffer from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, causing Harriet to consciously “black out”. During these epi sodes Harriet would see bright colors, which she attributed to visions from God. These viv id occurrences also proved to be fuel for the driving force behind her push for freedom.

Harriet Tubman fled her Cambridge area plantation in the Fall of 1849, largely due to

the fear of being sold. Plantation owners on the Shore used their location to instill the fear of selling them off to plantations in the deep south. Harriet, being seen as somewhat of a troubled slave, knew her time was short after seeing her two sisters sold out of state.

Her 100 mile trip from Cambridge to Philadelphia was primarily foot and with the aid of white abolitionists. Running away from a “Shore” plantation was no easy feat in any sense. The Eastern Shore and Delaware were infested with slave catchers who routinely set up camp in these parts due to their proximity to the Mason Dixon line. Many times slaves had to be helped by whites and other free blacks in order to secure their ticket to freedom.

Harriet made it to Philadelphia, leaving her family and loved ones behind. Her broth ers Benjamin and Henry were on board with her plan, but ultimately turned back, leaving Harriet alone. But this may have been the gen esis for the legend as we know her today. One can surmise that if it weren’t for the boys re turning Harriet would’ve never felt the loneli ness in her new life which drew her to return ing, ultimately being the legend of today.

One of Harriet’s most dar ing escapes came in 1850. Filled with suspense made perfect for Hollywood. Harriet caught wind that her niece Kessiah and her two children were to be sold by the Brodess family. And so Harriet, along with Keesi ah’s free husband John Bowley devised a plan that freed her niece and her kids directly from the auction block. Somehow, through means not fully known, John was able to secretly bid for his wife and kids. After the bidding was over, and the fam ily was moved to the side, John took his loved ones to a spot hear the court house, where a boat was waiting for them for Baltimore. The family ended safely in Philadelphia.

Harriet’s extraordinary life didn’t end there. By the time

the Civil War approached in 1861, Harriet had become an evil entity for slave owners throughout the South. Her name was whis pered amongst slaves, and at the dinner table of wealthy whites. And even in the dark haze of hate and fervor to see her pay for her crimes, she took to the battle field. Leading soldiers, she participated in the raids of southern plan tations. Setting crops ablaze, and freeing slaves in the process.

“Moses” as she had become, had taken on a life of mythical proportions. Her courage and conviction to forcibly break the chains that had her bound cannot be put into words (although attempted). Often society fails to comprehend the horrendous conditions of American slav ery. When we hear extraordinary efforts of these people, we put it in the box of a fable or a tale. Never in the realm of reality. Harriet Tub man, in all her glory, was real. Harriet Tubman walked hundreds of miles to freedom. Made her way from Maryland to Canada on multi ple occasions. She was a Union spy, and fought slave masters on their plantations, taking their slaves with her. She is all the marvelous things that history says about her, and she was born here on the Eastern shore.

Many sides of Faith

Ifyou’re like us, and you find the constant statistics of cancer rath er alarming, you may know that there is a fashion designer dedi cated in bringing awareness to this dreadful disease. Experiencing the pain that this disease can cause a family, Evan Henry is quickly be coming a fashion designer dedicated in raising awareness to the cause of cancer. Three 7’s of Faith developed by Evan Henry is a mark in this grim world against the effects of cancer.

A divine premonition from God himself, Evan has developed this fashion line based off of the vision God gave him years ago. Evan stated, “it was as clear as day. God showed me exactly the logo and how each 7 was to be placed within the logo. Then one day, many days later I found myself drawing and it was the same logo from my vision.” Three 7’ of Faith will be a positive mark towards the fight for cancer.

His design was built during his struggle to remain focus during the road to recovery during his mother’s and father’s battle with the dreadful disease. Strong faith is the key to succeed with this disease and Evan has a lot of faith. It is faith that has him on this journey in developing this brand. He at time finds it hard to develop the brand but the motivation based on his mother’s and father’s journey keeps him focused and dedicated to the project.

As you see the shirt designed by Evan

Henry, you will see three 7’s on the front of the t-shirt. Each 7 is strategi cally placed within the logo with all 7’s manipulated to create a cross. The colors of the 7’s also have a deeper meaning. The blue 7 is ded icated for prostate cancer that his father survived. The pink 7 is for breast cancer and dedicated to the surviv al and cancer free status of his mother. Finally, the gold 7 represents Heaven which is the author and finisher of our faith and the place where Evan gained the most strength. fashion in dustry, as much as we love it, is one of the biggest pol luters of the environment. Three 7’s of Faith just happens to be one of the fast moving brands in clothing on the Eastern Shore. How else can you survive cancer and still look good?

Well, we are sure Evan Henry has the an swer for you. Today, the Three 7’s of Faith is launching his own ready-to-wear line that hap pens to be stylish and relevant.

Why would Henry add a clothing line to his already full plate? He balances his massage therapy career with two kids and his personal training job. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” Henry told Inspire One when we stopped by for a sneak preview of the collection. “I started working on this years ago, I wanted to do it for a real long time. When you have a vision that really connects with life at some point you must realize the task has to be complet ed. It is important to realize that people really want you to endorse their brands, but at some point you recognize you just want to do it for yourself. Something that feels really authentic to you and has a purpose for life.”

At first look it’s easy to see this collection as a simplistic clothing line. Clearly, God inspired this collection with the 7’s

and the dedicated color of the 7’s to create the whole vision of the company. Made from 50/50 Cotton shirts, Three 7’s of Faith is mak ing its mark on society. Important to note that this clothing line is already in its next design phase for a new product. Henry desires to de velop the second design dedicated to another friend battling kidney cancer. This battle has motivated him to create a new color for the 7’s and move the needle that much closer in developing this new design.

Evan admits that building a brand is really challenging. “We tried to keep the carbon foot print as low as possible,” she says, even when it comes down to the clothing tag made of natu ral fibers. She hopes to increase the company’s sustainability as time goes on.

“I just hope this becomes so successful that every brand starts rethinking the way they do things.

Until the 21st century, the contribu tions of African-American soldiers in World War II barely registered in America’s collective memory of that war.

The “tan soldiers,” as the black press affec tionately called them, were also for the most part left out of the triumphant narrative of America’s “Greatest Generation.” In order to tell their story of helping defeat Nazi Germany in my 2010 book, “Breath of Freedom,” I had to conduct research in more than 40 different archives in the U.S. and Germany.

When a German TV production com pany, together with Smithsonian TV, turned that book into a documentary, the filmmakers searched U.S. media and military archives for two years for footage of black GIs in the final push into Germany and during the occupation of post-war Germany.

They watched hundreds of hours of film and discovered less than 10 minutes of footage. This despite the fact that among the 16 mil lion U.S. soldiers who fought in World War II, there were about one million African-Ameri can soldiers.

They fought in the Pacific, and they were part of the victorious army that liberated Eu rope from Nazi rule. Black soldiers were also part of the U.S. Army of occupation in Ger many after the war. Still serving in strictly seg regated units, they were sent to democratize the Germans and expunge all forms of racism.

It was that experience that convinced many of these veterans to continue their strug gle for equality when they returned home to the U.S. They were to become the foot sol diers of the civil rights movement – a move ment that changed the face of our nation and inspired millions of repressed people across the globe.

As a scholar of German history and of the more than 70-year U.S. military presence in Germany, I have marveled at the men and women of that generation. They were willing

to fight for democracy abroad, while being de nied democratic rights at home in the U.S. Be cause of their belief in America’s “democratic promise” and their sacrifices on behalf of those ideals, I was born into a free and democratic West Germany, just 10 years after that horrific war.

Fighting racism at home and abroad

By deploying troops abroad as warriors for and emissaries of American democracy, the military literally exported the African-Ameri can freedom struggle.

Beginning in 1933, when Adolf Hitler came to power, African-American activists and the black press used white America’s condem nation of Nazi racism to expose and indict the abuses of Jim Crow at home. America’s entry into the war and the struggle against Nazi Ger many allowed civil rights activists to signifi cantly step up their rhetoric.

Langston Hughes’ 1943 poem, “From Beaumont to Detroit,” addressed to America, eloquently expressed that sentiment:

“You jim crowed me / Before hitler rose to power- / And you are still jim crowing me- / Right now this very hour.”

Believing that fighting for Amer ican democracy abroad would finally grant African-Amer icans full citizen ship at home, civil rights activists put pressure on the U.S. government to allow African-American soldiers to “fight like men,” side by side

with white troops.

The military brass, disproportionately dominated by white Southern officers, re fused. They argued that such a step would undermine military efficiency and negatively impact the morale of white soldiers. In an inte grated military, black officers or NCOs might also end up commanding white troops. Such a challenge to the Jim Crow racial order based on white supremacy was seen as unacceptable.

The manpower of black soldiers was needed in order to win the war, but the mili tary brass got its way; America’s Jim Crow or der was to be upheld. African-Americans were allowed to train as pilots in the segregated Tuskeegee Airmen. The 92nd Buffalo Soldiers and 93rd Blue Helmets all-black divisions were activated and sent abroad under the command of white officers.

Despite these concessions, 90 percent of black troops were forced to serve in labor and supply units, rather than the more prestigious combat units. Except for a few short weeks during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 when commanders were desperate for manpower, all U.S. soldiers served in strictly segregated units. Even the blood banks were segregated.

‘A Breath of Freedom’

After the defeat of the Nazi regime, an Army manual instructed U.S. occupation sol diers that America was the “living denial of Hitler’s absurd theories of a superior race,” and that it was up to them to teach the Germans

Author Maria Höhn

“that the whole concept of superiority and intolerance of others is evil.” There was an obvious, deep gulf between this soaring rhetoric of de mocracy and racial harmony, and the stark reality of the Jim Crow army of occupation. It was also not lost on the black soldiers.

Post-Nazi Germany was hardly a country free of racism. But for the black soldiers, it was their first experience of a society without a formal Jim Crow color line. Their uniform identified them as victorious warriors and as Americans, rather than “Negroes.”

Serving in labor and supply units, they had access to all the goods and provisions starving Germans living in the ruins of their country yearned for. African-American cultural expressions such as jazz, de famed and banned by the Nazis, were another reason so many Germans were drawn to their black liberators. White America was stunned to see how much black GIs enjoyed their time abroad, and how much they dreaded their return home to the U.S.

By 1947, when the Cold War was heating up, the reality of the seg regated Jim Crow Army in Germany was becoming a major embar rassment for the U.S. government. The Soviet Union and East German communist propaganda relentlessly attacked the U.S. and challenged its claim to be the leader of the “free world.” Again and again, they would point to the segregated military in West Germany, and to Jim Crow segregation in the U.S. to make their case.

Coming ‘home’

Newly returned veterans, civil rights advocates and the black press took advantage of that Cold War constellation. They evoked America’s mission of democracy in Germany to push for change at home. Re sponding to that pressure, the first institution of the U.S. to integrate was the U.S. military, made possible by Truman’s 1948 Executive Order 9981. That monumental step, in turn, paved the way for the 1954 Su preme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

The veterans who had been abroad electrified and energized the larger struggle to make America live up to its promise of democracy and justice. They joined the NAACP in record numbers and founded new chapters of that organization in the South, despite a wave of vio lence against returning veterans. The veterans of World War II and the Korean War became the foot soldiers of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Medgar Evers, Amzie Moore, Hosea Williams and Aaron Henry are some of the better-known names, but countless others helped advance the struggle.

About one-third of the leaders in the civil rights movement were veterans of World War II.

They fought for a better America in the streets of the South, at their workplaces in the North, as leaders in the NAACP, as plaintiffs before the Supreme Court and also within the U.S. military to make it a more inclusive institution. They were also the men of the hour at the 1963 March on Washington, when their military training and expertise was crucial to ensure that the day would not be marred by agitators opposed to civil rights.

“We structured the March on Washington like an army forma tion,” recalled veteran Joe Hairston.

For these veterans, the 2009 and 2013 inaugurations of President Barack Obama were triumphant moments in their long struggle for a better America and a more just world. Many never thought they would live to see the day that an African-American would lead their country.

Homeless Veterans

In 2010, In 2010 the Obama administration announced the ambitious goal of ending homelessness among veterans. Over the last year, the number of veterans who are homeless dropped 30 percent in Los An geles County. Nationwide, veteran homelessness fell by almost 50 per cent since 2009.

Yet statistics are only part of the story. What is missing from federal and state statistics, the media and the minds of many Americans, is the story of homeless veteran families.

Through my work as a researcher and physician caring for women and homeless veterans, I see these families. I hear about their struggles to find housing in safe neighborhoods instead of Skid Row, where their children are exposed to violence and drug use.

Overlooking veterans with families

Families are often missed when volunteers head out to count home less individuals. Veterans with families often stay with friends, known as “doubling up.” Or, forced to fragment, parents send kids to stay with family while they go to a shelter.

Plus, some females who are homeless and the head of their house hold don’t identify as veterans. They may not be eligible for Veterans Af fairs (VA) benefits, or are unclear about available services. Some may not seek care at the VA due to mistrust, harassment or past military sexual trauma.

Providers, policymakers and the public need to understand that homelessness among the families of men and women who have served our nation may be invisible. But it is significant.

Limited studies point to higher rates of veteran family homeless ness than expected from the counts. Nineteen percent of families served by Supportive Services for Veteran Families inn the FY 2015 had at least one child. A study of veterans receiving VA homeless services by Tsai and colleagues showed that nine percent of literally homeless male veterans – those living on the streets or uninhabitable locations – and 18 percent of unstably housed male veterans had children in their custody. A striking 30 percent of literally homeless female veterans, as well as 45 percent of unstably housed female veterans, had children in their custody.

Causes of homelessness

What contributes to homelessness among veteran families?

First, homelessness among women veterans is rising. Eleven per cent of military personnel who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Op eration Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) were women, the largest num ber involved in combat operations in U.S. history.

Women veterans are more likely to be mothers and mothers at a younger age than civilians, and more likely to receive lower income than male veterans.

They face high rates of trauma, especially military sexual trauma, a known risk for homelessness.

And, strikingly, women veterans are up to four times more likely to be homeless than civilian women.

A homeless family living in a shelter on Skid Row decides where to go for dinner. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Male veterans returning from OIF/OEF tend to be younger and may have young families. As of 2010, 49 percent of deployed service members had children. They also have a higher prevalence of PTSD, compared to veterans of other wars. This is thought to be associated with an increased risk for homelessness.

To make matters worse, our country is in the grips of an affordable housing crisis. In California, we have only 21 homes available for every 100 extremely low-income households. And every day, families face dis crimination searching for housing due to their race or ethnicity, being a veteran or using a voucher.

What homeless veteran families need

These families are at high risk. Decades of research show that chil dren in homeless families are at risk for physical and mental health prob lems, academic delay and of becoming homeless themselves as adults – creating a second generation of homelessness. Many homeless veteran families are resilient, but face additional stressors of reintegrating into civilian society and coping with parents who may have PTSD and trau

matic brain injuries.

Our team has been conducting interviews to understand the needs of veteran families who are homeless. We also formed a work group of recently homeless veteran parents.

We are finding that, although veterans are often satisfied with their own health and mental health services at the VA, many parents feel alone when it comes to their family.

Many veterans are overwhelmed by PTSD and depression, as well as the search to find housing and a job. They worry about the toll on their family.Yet they find few resources for their family within the VA, such as family therapy, and need help finding needed health and mental health care for their spouse and children in the community.

Parents need more help connecting to resources for their families in the community, clearer information about the social services available to veteran families and more emotional support as parents.

Moving forward

This U.S. Navy veteran poses for a picture in the home of a rela tive his family has been living with since being evicted from their own home. AP Photo/Steven Senne

We need to change the conversation when we talk about homeless veterans. We need to talk about homeless veteran families.

These families are in our communities, the children are attending public schools, their parents are trying to work multiple jobs or attend college and many receive care in our VA and community clinics.

Within the VA, we need to consider the whole family and provide more connection to the community to help families succeed. At the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System West Los Angeles Medical Cen ter, a new family wellness center will open as a collaborative effort be tween UCLA and the VA. The center will serve as a hub to strengthen veteran families, through services such as family and couple resilience programs, parenting skills workshops and connection to community ser vices. More efforts are needed to engage families who may need it most.

Beyond the VA, we need enhanced understanding and empathy for veteran families with homelessness within the community. This involves greater understanding of the needs of these children in schools. We should also find ways to help veteran families dealing with PTSD inte grate into the community after being homeless.

And most of all, we need to increase access to affordable housing in safe neighborhoods for these families.

The recent wars may seem over for many Americans, but they are far from over for our homeless veteran families. We owe it to them to

This U.S. Navy veteran poses for a picture in the home of a relative his family has been living with since being evicted from their own home. AP Photo/Steven Senne