May-2011 Page 6: Community-When We Were Girls Review Page 9: Community - 21st Century Poll Tax Page 14: Young and Trendy- Thomas Troutman of Zapp Page 15: Education Trends- New Local UNCF Director Page 18: Diversity on Purpose Special SCOMSDC Insertion Page 29: Arts/Culture & Entertainment-Local Artist Spotlight on Marshall Shorts
Diversity on Purpose!
TEAM UTS
“There never were in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity”
Publisher/CEO Sharon S. Gordon
Michel de Montaigne quotes (French Philosopher and Writer. 1533-1592)
Contributing Writers Delois R. Wright Pierrette “Petee” Talley Dr. Erika Pryor A. Christina Dunlap Mykayla Bryant Tamara Fournier
Distribution
W. Cobre’ Gordon
Photography
Ron Cash W. Cobre” Gordon
Creative Director Sharktooth IMD, LLC Ron Cash
Promotions Tracy Taylor
Sales Inside Sales Assistants Keshia Peterson
Columbus
Brenda Spencer Reggie Crews Leonette Robinson
Dayton/Cincinnati Tamiko Troutman Juanita Michelle Sanae Camela Douglas
Office Manager Annie Prysock
I am excited to present our 5th Annual Diversity Edition. Since spring of last year I have had the opportunity to work and serve as Press and Publicity Co-Chair for the Columbus NAACP, talk about a crash course in diversity, the experience has truly enlightened me on not only how far we have come but also how much more work more work we have left to do.
From The Publisher
Because of my relationship with the Columbus NAACP I was given the awesome task of being a member of the Diversity Team for Penn National as well as the Franklin County Convention Center’s New Hilton project. Providing outreach services to ensure that minority companies had the fair ability to bid on the construction projects has been a very rewarding experience. In this role I have had the opportunity to work with other minority groups including the Asian, Hispanic and GLBT communities. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most interesting, honest, hardworking and passionate people of our community. In my networking and gathering of new friends, potential partners and clients, the one thing that I discovered that we all had in common was that we all wanted the same things for our communities. We all wanted good health, healthy families, good jobs, homes, prosperous businesses and the ability to prosper and to do so without limitations based on our culture or heritage. We all want fair treatment and respect based solely who and not what we are. Diversity is defined as /the state or fact of being diverse; difference; unlikeness. variety; multiformity. a point of difference. This edition of Urban Trendsetters is celebrating diversity with a special feature dedicated to the South Central Ohio Supplier Diversity Council’s 2011 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair (featured on pages 18-20). The theme of this year’s event is “Minority Business and Corporate America: Raising the Bar Through Sustainable Strategies”. The SCOMSDC mission is to expand opportunities for minority-owned companies; to encourage mutually beneficial economic links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors; and to help build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. If you are in business and want to expand your business opportunities and create business relationships with some of the largest corporations represented in Ohio you do not want to miss this networking opportunity. In closing, I am happy to launch the launch of the NEW Urban Trendsetters Website at www.urbantrendsetters.com. Our new site will feature top news stories, blogs, videos and photos but you will also have the opportunity to download coupons, get a free business listing, upload a video resume’ and more. Our online version of UTS will also allow you the ability to directly link to the advertisers and sponsors featured in the publication. Take a moment to check it out and send me an email and tell us what you think at info@urbantrendsetters.com. Next month is our Juneteenth Celebration Edition and you are for a treat as we spotlight business, networking and wealth creation. In the meantime go to website to keep informed and sign up for our newsletter. We want to stay connected with you. Dream BIG & OFTEN,
Sharon S. Gordon sharon@urbantrendsetters.com
Copyright Urban Trendsetters News Magazine is published and distibuted monthly by Urban Trendsetters Media and Communications, LLC. Our offices are located at 6172 Busch Blvd., Suite 2054, Columbus, OH 43229. Publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial at any time. Publisher will not be responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication or for more than one wrong insertion of advertising copy. All contents of this publication are copy written 2010 by Urban Trendsetters Media and Communications.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
May 2011
5
Community News “When We Were Girls, Telling Our Stories of Trauma and Resiliency” Christina R. Hutchins Contributing Writer
The panel included (pictured below from left to right) Terrie M. Williams, founder of the Stay Strong Foundation; Valerie Rainford, Home Lending Business Support Executive; Chair, Home Lending Diversity Advisory Group at JP Morgan Chase; Ohio Senator Charleta Tavares, executive director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competency; Angela Hollis, Co-founder of the NYC Black Women for Black Girls Giving Circle; and, Dr. Angela Neal Barnett, associate professor of psychology at Kent State University. Hundreds of women recently filled the Lincoln Theater in an event that planners hope “will be the beginning of an open community dialogue on how we support our girls and promote their resiliency.” Fran Frazier, Principal Investigator of the Rise Sister Rise Project and her staff were instrumental in bringing together women from all walks of life to share in a discussion on how we can collectively and individually help address the issues affecting Afrcian-Amercian girls in our society. “Rise Sister Rise is a research project exploring the ways urban adolescent African American girls experience their world and the ways in which they are affected by those experiences.” The afternoon gathering, entitled “When We Were Girls Telling Our Stories of Trauma and Resiliency,” featured a panel discussion in which participants shared how their past experiences of childhood trauma affected and shaped their adult lives. Panelists included Ohio Senator Charleta Tavares, Executive Director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC); Terrie M. Williams, founder of the Stay Strong Foundation, Valarie Rainford, Home Lending Business Support Executive and Chair; Angela Hollis, president
6 May 2011
of the Hollis Group and co-founder of the NYC Black Women for Black Girls Giving Circle; and Dr. Angela Neal Barnett, associate professor of psychology at Kent State University, who focuses on anxiety and depression in African American women and girls. The panel was moderated by Dr. Elaine Richardson, Professor of Literary Studies at The Ohio State University who began the discussion by sharing her powerful personal testimony of moving from adolescent challenges, to life on the streets during struggles with chemical dependency, to returning to school and successfully obtaining her Bachelors and Masters from Cleveland State University and her Doctorate from Michigan State University. The recognizable characteristics of strength and resiliency could readily be identified among the panelists, though they have varied backgrounds and vastly different life experiences. Valerie Rainford told of the challenges of growing up as a child and living between her extended family in the South and moving to live with her mother in a large metropolitan city on the East Coast. As things appeared to normalize, she was soon forced to deal with the suicide of her brother and eventually her mother also. Angela Hollis’ story had a twist that might
surprise many. She had what most people would consider a successful life; graduating college and going on to become the president of a major financial institution. Yet, because of unresolved childhood and relationship issues, she soon found all of her material success slipping through her fingers as she began to abuse drugs. However, it was another relationship, a spiritual one with God that helped her to overcome her chemical addiction, survive the death of her mother and understand the mental and emotional challenges faced by her sister. The other panelists grew up in what most would consider more typical family settings and later faced unexpected obstacles that put their steadfastness to the test. Dr. Angela Neal Barnett, associate professor of psychology at Kent State University, had what society would look at as a normal life. She grew up in a slightly rural area with both parents and her siblings. However, as an adult; she developed inner ear problems and eventually became deaf. This would be a challenge for almost anyone, but as a psychologist who listens to people for a living, it may have seemed to be the end of the road. Dr. Barnett shared the struggles and questions she had to overcome and how the enduring faith
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that she learned as a child helped her to not only overcome, but to actually excel at relating to those entrusted to her care and expertise. Senator Charleta Tavares was born into what would be thought of by most as an ideal home. She was born into a solidly middle class loving family that was active in the community and church with one sister and two brothers. But before entering her teens, her life dramatically changed. Just before Senator Tavares’ twelfth birthday, her sister whom had been ill all of her life, passed away. Her father later suffered a stroke while in his mid-thirties. She shared how she remembers watching the strength of her mother and grandmother during those times. But other unexpected situations were still to follow. Her grandmother who had come to help her mother became ill herself and her dad suffered another stroke and died a few years after the first. She then shared with Valerie Rainford how days before her first election to office; her brother had also completed suicide. Once again, it was watching her mother’s strength and commitment to God and family that helped to build her faith and how those early life experiences gave her the compassion, purpose and passion that – Continued on page 32
Community News COTA Appoints Marchelle Moore to Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel
Attorney General Warns Consumers to Avoid “Skimming” Scams
COTA President/CEO Bill Lhota. “Her experience and education will contribute greatly to COTA’s mission and vision. We anticipate her to be an energetic addition to the organization’s management.” Her appointment is effective Monday, May 2. Moore will be responsible for serving as the chief legal officer for the Authority providing, directing and controlling the delivery of legal services to the organization. She will COLUMBUS–The Central Ohio also counsel the Board of Trustees Transit Authority (COTA) announced and President/CEO on all legal the appointment Marchelle E. Moore to issues affecting the organization. the position of Vice President of Legal She joined COTA in 2005 from the Affairs and General Counsel today. Franklin County Court of Common Moore has been with COTA since Pleas as a Staff Attorney for the 2005, first serving as Senior Legal Honorable Guy L. Reece II. Moore Counsel and most recently as is a 1995 graduate of The Ohio State Interim Vice President of Human University with a BA in English Resources and Labor Relations. and 1998 graduate of The Ohio “Marchelle has emerged as a State University Moritz College leader within the Authority,” said of Law with a juris doctorate. Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine warned of scams that target Ohio Department of Agriculture Accepting Specialty Crop Grant Proposals today consumer’s personal information known as “skimming” scams. “It is important that consumers are aware of skimming scams in order to protect themselves and their families,” Reynoldsburg, Ohio – The Ohio viability of the state’s specialty Attorney General Mike DeWine Department of Agriculture is crop industry while increasing the remarked. “Our office continues now accepting proposals for the marketability of specialty crops. to encourage Ohioans to carefully 2011 Specialty Crop Block Grant Higher rankings will be given to monitor their financial accounts Program, which will provide projects that demonstrate profit and report all unauthorized use.” funding for projects to enhance the potential for growers and that could Skimming scams generally refer to the competitiveness of crops such as fruits, boost employment opportunities practice of stealing debit (or credit) vegetables , nuts, and nursery crops. in the specialty crop industry. card numbers and corresponding The USDA Agriculture Marketing Food and agricultural non-profit account information stored on the Service will make approximately organizations, cooperatives, card’s magnetic strip. Skimming $600,000 of grant funding available associations or commodity devices are often camouflaged to fit to Ohio. The deadline for online grant groups, universities and research gas pumps and ATMs, and they may proposal submissions is May 27, 2011 institutions are eligible to be equipped with hidden cameras. by 4 p.m. Grants will range from a submit specialty crop proposals. The cameras may also be used to minimum of $15,000 to a maximum For more information, available take snapshots of debit card PIN of $100,000. In addition, all applicants forms, or a copy of the request numbers as consumers enter them. must provide a minimum match of 25 for proposals, visit the Ohio Once the scammers have acquired percent of the requested grant amount. Department of Agriculture’s website the account information, they Project proposals are sought that will at www.agri.ohio.gov/grants. then use it to make unauthorized advance the long-term economic purchases and withdrawals.
$600,000 available to promote the
growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and nut crops
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
In some cases, consumers’ credit or debit card numbers are stolen by restaurant servers or store clerks who take the consumer’s card and swipe it through a skimming device that the servers or clerks carry with them. Attorney General DeWine offers the following tips: • Closely watch your bank statements and track debits closely. Watch for any unauthorized withdrawals or suspicious activity. Also watch your credit card statements for signs of skimming. • Use one ATM and one particular gas pump; it will be easier to track which machine has the skimmer if you are scammed. Try to use an ATM that is located in a very public place or is located inside a bank lobby. Scammers are less likely to tamper with machines in those locations. • When using your bank card, choose the “credit card” option instead of “debit card.” It will be more difficult for scammers to make unauthorized purchases without your PIN. If you believe you are the victim of a skimming scam, notify your local law enforcement and contact your bank immediately. To report a scam to the Attorney General’s office visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ ReportaScam or call 1-800-282-0515.
May 2011
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State News Building Business Owners Find Balance in Diversity Profitable By Erika Pryor When Bob Beal decided to “diverisfy” his business, he intended to add electrical installation as well as construction services. What he also gained was a business partnership going back more than 20 years. “I decided I wanted to diversify my business about 4 years ago into electrical work and beyond construction. I had made the equipment investment but wasn’t getting anywhere,” says Bob Beal, President Accurate Electric Construction Inc. He attended an informational meeting hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Organization representatives suggested Beal connect with a certified Minority Business Enterprise so see if they could work together to secure contract set asides.
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“I saw Dave Henry on the list and called him,” says Beal. Henry and Beal had originally met in
1983, when Henry was working as an electrician apprentice, and Beal
was the project foreman. Beal says, “I didn’t think it was the same Dave Henry, but we realized we were long lost friends and began forging a relationship from there.” Soon after the two began working together, Beal left the company to start his own business. In 2002, Henry then began his own company, later renamed DEH Electric. Now more than 20 years later, both Beal and Henry each owned a business. Beal said, “I knew Dave was great in the field. I felt that if I can help Dave, then I can help me too, so we began discussing how we can work together on other things.” Up until 4 years ago when the two men reconnected, Henry says he was “primarily a service oriented subcontractor” that frequently employed 5-7 men on various small projects. That’s when “we struck up a deal to train Dave on the supervisory, project management side of things. We got together and found pieces of work that we could collaborate on.” Because Henry had primarily been a service provider, he didn’t have experience proposing, securing, and managing larger contract jobs. Together Beal and Henry decided to help one anther. And if they were going to work together, it was important for Henry to know how Beal did business at Accurate Electric Construction. As the more experienced business owner, with million dollar contracts under his belt, Beal felt he had a lot to offer, and Henry felt he had a lot to learn. “I spent about 6 months working in his office to learn how to do bids, and other crucial areas needed to secure bigger projects,” says Henry. Soon after says Henry, “we started with a joint venture. I was a project manager on a Cleveland school project. I worked on that project for 14 months.” As Henry became more familiar with the processes of Accurate Electric Construction, operating as a project manger, Beal became more aware of the resistance
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minority businesses experience from other trades workers and companies. “Even within my own company culture, people had a hard time understanding why we would want to partner with Dave” says Beal. “Construction is a competitive business, and people couldn’t understand why I was helping Dave, especially when there wasn’t as much work due to the recession,” notes Beal. What Beal worked to help others understand is that “my chance to help Dave, was also a chance to help my company. It was a business decision, so we could all keep working.” “Working with Bob,” says Henry, “I was able to build working capital to be in a position to get those jobs. A lot of minority companies don’t have a proven track record, which holds them back from growing their business” says Henry. Henry and Beal have worked together on projects with Nationwide Realty, Hilton Hotel, and Cleveland Public Schools. Henry is now in the process of securing a multi-million dollar project with The Ohio State University Cancer Research Centers. Neither business owner is convinced they are part of a success story. About that, Beal reveals, “I don’t know if it was deliberate, but Dave helped me and I wanted to help him.” Henry says, “I don’t feel like a success, I feel like we still have a long ways to go.” In any case, no one is denying that these two men have sparked important community conversations about how to build a business in this new economy.
State News
21st Century Poll Tax By Pierrette “Petee “ Talley Ohio AFL-CIO Urban Trendsetters Contributor
reduced overall turnout by 16-28% and black voter turnout by half. The poll tax which disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic Americans were outlawed by the passage of the 24th amendment to the United States constitution in 1964 and ultimately ruled unconstitutional in state elections later by the U.S. Supreme Court in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections and passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that prohibited the poll tax in state elections. Way back in the day, denying black men the right to vote through legal maneuvering and violence was the first step in disavowing their new-found freedom and ultimately denying their civil rights. It’s not that black men didn’t want register to vote, nor did they choose to stay at home on election day; they were systematically locked out of the voting system through the enactment of literacy tests, elaborate registration systems, poll taxes and eventually whites-only Democratic Party primaries which excluded black voters. The problem was prevalent throughout the south in states like Mississippi where fewer than 9,000 of the 147,000 voting age blacks registered after 1890 and in Louisiana, where more than 130,000 black voters had been registered in 1896, that number plummeted to 1,342 by 1904. Poll taxes, added a direct out-ofpocket transaction cost to voting by charging money to vote. Simply put, it required that otherwise eligible voters pay between $1.50 to $1.75 a year to register to vote and at that time, that was a lot of money and a huge barrier to the working classes and the poor black and white sharecroppers who rarely dealt in cash. The effect of the poll tax probably
Let’s fast-forward to 2011 and “poll taxes” again are emerging front and center in election systems, only this time they are not limited to southern states. On March 25, 2011, the Ohio House of Representatives rushed through one of the most restrictive voter identification laws in the country under the guise of combating voter fraud. HB 159, requires all voters to present, a nonexpired Ohio driver’s license, Ohio state ID, Military ID or US Passport before being allowed to cast a ballot. Now recall, back in the day, the imposition of poll taxes was not to collect revenue, as no state brought prosecutions against any individual for failure to pay; rather it was a system designed to deny the vote to poor voters, meaning effectively, only the rich could afford to vote. There was no need for it then, and there is no need for it now other than much like then, under the guise of combating fraud, legislators are using the specter of false voting to disenfranchise, racial minorities, the working poor, students, the elderly and people with disabilities.
an ID. The Ohio republicans who manufactured this ID legislation, say voters shouldn’t worry because the new law will allow them to get a free ID at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, but come on; they are well aware that in order to get an ID, you need a birth certificate or some other underlying document to verify identity which costs upwards of $18.00 to $20.00 to obtain. In light of the current economic climate where utility bills, gas and food prices are at an all-time high, the passage of HB 159 places an additional burden on those already struggling to run their households on just the bare necessities; not to mention the fact that voters would likely have to take
time away from work, often without pay just to get the required photo ID. Maybe I’m missing something here, but asking the states’ poorest citizen’s, many of whom don’t have the proposed required ID because they don’t have cars, to produce a document associated with privilege and has nothing to do with the right to vote accorded us under the constitution is wrong at best and will have a chilling effect on black and minority voting in this state. Contact Petee Talley at: petal55@att. net
Research tells us that as many of 11 percent of US citizens do not have government issued photo identification and in Ohio that number is reported to be as high as 800,000 voting age citizens who don’t have
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
May 2011
9
National News Tens of Thousands March for Workers’ Rights, Immigration Reform by James Parks
Across the country, tens of thousands marched and rallied May 1, May Day, to call for national immigration reform and to support all workers’ rights. Just as we did on April 4, working people declared: “Somos Unos— Respeten Nuestros Derechos” or “We Are One—Respect Our Rights.”
A F L - C I O President Richard Trumka told a crowd of about 100,000 in Milwaukee that “May Day is our day to stand together shoulder to shoulder for immigrant and worker rights.” Gov. Scott Walker… has declared war on Wisconsin workers and, like you did before, you joined in a peaceful protest to say “No! No!” We reject the idea that America can no longer be a great nation and that we’re too broke to treat people fairly. We reject the notion that America can’t be the land of shared prosperity. The crowd marched 2.5 miles across
Milwaukee chanting, “this is what democracy looks like,” “sí, se peude,” “Walker eschuca estamos en la lucha” and “Wisconsin no es Arizona.” On the other side of the country, nearly 10,000 people in Los Angeles rallied for good jobs that include a path to citizenship for 12 million undocumented immigrants. According to a recent report by the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center, if federal immigration reform included a path to legalization, California would add 633,000 jobs and increase tax revenue by $5.3 billion. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler spoke at a mass rally in Chicago and Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker spoke at a rally in New York City. Cory McCray, president of the Young Trade Unionists in Baltimore, spoke to Young Democrats from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania about the importance of collective bargaining. Here are some other major May Day events: •In Boston, thousands participated in a march that drew on the global fight for workers’rights with the theme of “From Cairo to Wisconsin to Massachusetts Defend All Workers’ Rights.” •In Houston, the local chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) joined with Houston United in a huge rally for workers’ rights and immigrant rights. •Working people in Buffalo, N.Y., marched 2.1 miles from the east side of the city to the west side for a rally to protest the threat to close a community health clinic that supports the growing Latino community.
GIRL GROW YOUR OWN! Tips and tricks to go organic on a budget Christelyn D. Karazin
Let’s now kid ourselves, shall we? Girl you know by now you should be going organic whenever you can. Yeah, it’s generally more expensive, but a lot less than chemotherapy, wouldn’t you say? Here’s a quick and dirty guide on how to go organic on a budget. By far, the cheapest way to go organic is to just grow your own. I’ve been doing this for years. Even if you have just a scrap of a yard, you can grow tomatoes, strawberries, grapes,
10 May 2011
oranges, apples, whatever. Seeds and seedlings are cheap. Make sure you buy organic top soil and fertilizer so not to corrupt your clean food. My favorite is E.B. Stone–their bat poo is GREAT for my eggplants. Find out when the growing season starts for your neck of the woods at Garden Web, which gives you more information that you’d ever want or need to know about growing your own food. Buy organic produce that’s in season in your neck of the woods. They’ll be more abundant and therefore, less pricey. Know what foods that should be consumed organically, and buy the cheaper versions of the foods that don’t. Here’s a rule of thumb: any fruit or vegetable that you do not peel–that is, you eat the leaves and the inner and outer skin–should be organic, otherwise, you’ll get the full dose of
whatever pesticides and synthetic fertilizers those farmers used to grow them. Lettuce, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes (unless grown in Mexico), apples, and green beans should be on the top of your “buy organic” list. Bananas, citrus (with the exception of kumquats), potatoes (if you remove the skin) are all pretty safe to buy non-organic, because most of the chemicals lurk on the outer layers. Go to a farmer’s market. It’s guaranteed to be the freshest and packed with the most nutrients. Organic farmers can charge a little less to sell their produce at a community farmer’s market so you can get a better deal. Once you’ve bought your produce, the money savings comes in when you can preserve it for at least a week. Stuffing it in the fridge isn’t going to
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
cut it. Pick up some of those green bags (great to slow ripening bananas) or get food-preserving containers like FoodSaver’s Produce Keeper, which uses technology stall the emission of ethylene gas to slow over-ripening. It’s great for lettuce, other green leafy veggies and slows the mold on berries. Christelyn D. Karazin is a health writer and the co-author of Swirling: How to Date, Mate and Relate Mixing Race Culture and Creed (to be released February 2012), and runs a blog, www.beyondblackwhite.com, dedicated to women of color who are interested and or involved in interracial and intercultural relationships. She is also the founder and organizer of “No Wedding, No Womb,” an initiative to find solutions to the 72 percent out-ofwedlock rate in the black community.
Global News Jesse Jackson Calls Osama Bin Laden’s Death ‘Huge Psychological Victory’
Osama bin Laden didn’t discriminate when it came to the bloody work of terrorism. He was an equal opportunity killer. And now that he is dead, killed sometime yesterday by a team of Navy SEALS in Pakistan, Americans of all races and religions have taken to the streets and to the blogosphere and airwaves to share in what seems to be a deep and collective exhale. From the gates of the White House in Washington, D.C. to ground zero in New York City, people have come together chanting and waving flags, exhibiting the kind of unity seen last on that terrible day in September almost 10 years earlier. “Everyone died on 9-11. Blacks, whites, Muslims, Latinos and working class people,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “He didn’t care who was in those buildings or on that plane. All Americans shared in that pain and all Americans can share in what we are seeing today.” The Rev. Jesse Jackson called bin Laden’s death a “huge psychological victory.” “It is a cause for celebration. So many people lost their lives, their family members lost their lives. It was such a traumatic blow,” Jackson said. “This might be the first real emotional venting for the pain that came from 9-11, the kind of relief that the plotter had destroyed.” Jackson warned, though, that while bin
Laden’s death marks some closure, the American people must be vigilant. The chapter on bin Laden ends now, but not the chapter on terrorism,” he said. Keith L.T. Wright, a New York State Assemblyman who represents Harlem, said while there is understandable satisfaction in bin Laden’s death, there should also be caution. “We, as New Yorkers and Americans, have to be more careful now than we have ever been,” Wright said. “We have to come together as New Yorkers and we also have to start looking over our shoulders because you never know, it could be a bus stop, a school, a subway stop or an airport. We have to be more mindful than ever.” The terror spurred by Al-Qaeda, bin Laden’s terror organization, struck blindly, targeting people and places regardless of race, class or even religion. In 1988, Al-Qaeda killed some 225 people and injured hundreds of others in simultaneous bombings of U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In 2001, the victims of the World Trade Center included white and blue-collar workers alike, those working in the mailrooms as well as wealthy investment bankers. “The people who had worked before nine in the morning, those workers were not the rich,” Sharpton said. “And the people on the planes that died, the people in coach went with those in first class.” Both Jackson and Sharpton said
that while the mission to capture or kill bin Laden has been a success, what President Obama does next is critical. Jackson said bin Laden’s killing in a bustling suburb outside of Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, raises questions about how much the Pakistani government knew about bin Laden’s whereabouts. “I would hope, as a supporter of the President, that we take a reasonable amount of time to make sure there is no retaliation, and then start to dial back on the build up in Afghanistan,” Sharpton said. “Because if bin Laden was who he was supposed to be, we don’t need to place our resources there.” For black Americans, the killing
of bin Laden signaled not only a great day for America, but for the black American President. “People are celebrating the fact that our president was able to get the job done, certainly there should be an awful lot of pride in the fact that he was able to get the job done,” said Wright, the Harlem assemblyman. “The irony is that while everyone was running around trying to muddy him up with that birth certificate nonsense, he was busy dealing with capturing the world’s most notorious terrorist mastermind,” Sharpton said. “It says he can see the bigger picture and that he knows how to be cool under fire.”
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Needs help with medical care?… Programs such as Healthy Start and Healthy Families can often provide free medical assistance
The Ohio Benefit Bank Can Help The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB), a Web-based, counselor assisted program, is a free service that can help you or your friends and family apply for public benefits and work supports, such as health care coverage, home energy assistance and food assistance.
Needs help with groceries?… Ohio’s network of foodbanks is ready to help
Call The Ohio Benefit Bank toll-free at 1.800.648.1176 or visit www.obb.ohio.gov.
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May 2011
11
Trendsetters Speak Will Osama’s death give Obama new life with voters? E a r l Ofari
Poll: Nine-point bounce for Obama after bin Laden news With presidents this is especially true. The most cursory history shows that the monster bump up in ratings that Kennedy got for his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Ford got for the Mayaquez rescue of American A rain soaked sign sits on seaman, Carter the ground in front of the got for attempting gated Dallas neighborhood to free American of former U.S. President hostages in Iran, George W. Bush in Dallas, George H.W. Texas, Monday, May 2, 2011. Bush got for the By Earl Ofari Hutchinson Panama invasion,
terrorism did not die with bin Laden. There will be other challenges, tests and ultimately blame for any failure to meet the obstacles that will be dumped on his doorstep. With the GOP presidential candidates jockeying belittle and discredit Obama, their attacks on him will get even shriller. Within days GOP congressional leaders will be back pounding Obama on their pet issues of health care reform, the deficit, high unemployment, and the gas price surge. The far right fringe will be as busy as ever spinning their borderline racist conspiracy theories about
liberation of Kuwait, and Desert Storm, and George W, Bush got following the 9/11 attacks was fleeting. Kennedy’s rating later dipped for his handling of labor, and civil rights issues. Ford, Carter, and H.W. Bush were defeated in their subsequent re-election campaigns. And George W. Bush left the White House in disgrace, vilified and roundly blamed for dragging the Republican Party down to its worst standing in decades. Obama’s ratings will also ease down eventually. But Obama well knows the history of presidential highs and lows after political and diplomatic triumphs. He cautioned in his speech announcing Osama bin Laden’s death that while justice was done, the threat of global
everything from his Harvard academic performance to more questions about his birth certificate. But that’s simply par for the course for conservatives. More worrisome is what effect if any Osama bin Laden’s death will have on winning back some of the moderate and conservative independents that defected in droves the past year from Obama, and relighting the fires under his core Democratic constituencies, blacks, Latinos and labor voters. This is no easy task. In the days before the bin Laden action, Obama’s numbers were sagging. This wasn’t just due to the surging gas prices, and jitters over joblessness, there were grumbles that Obama still was not saying and doing
Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is host of the weekly Hutchinson Report Newsmaker Hour on KTYM Radio Los Angeles streamed on ktym.com podcast on blogtalkradio. com and internet TV broadcast on thehutchinsonreportnews. com. Follow Earl Ofari Hutchinson on Twitter: http:// t w i t t e r. c o m / e a r l h u t c h i n s o n President Obama accomplished something historic with the take down of America’s and the world’s public enemy number one symbol of terrorism, Osama bin Laden. His accomplishment was so unassailable he got such virulent and relentless Obama critics as talk show guru Rush Limbaugh, Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney to applaud him for his actions. A number of chronic Obama bashers with varying degrees of enthusiasm cheered the president for the killing of bin Laden. Even more gratifying, he got near universal approval from millions of Americans across all ethnic, racial and faith lines for his action. But the cheers, applause, and praise -- as politicians, star athletes, and entertainers have found to their bitter chagrin -- lasts only so long; as the saying goes what have you done for me today...
12 May 2011
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enough to confront the crisis of black unemployment, the assault on labor protections, pensions and wages, and was MIA in action in reviving comprehensive immigration reform legislation. These are the issues that are of major importance to black, Latino and labor voters. Polls showed that for the first time Obama had a double digit drop among blacks in his approval rating, and an even steeper drop among Latinos, while union membership had plunged to their lowest numbers in decades. The bright side to this is that Obama’s resolute action against Osama bin Laden defused the major weapon in the GOP’s attack arsenal that they have used to pound Democratic contenders in years past and especially Obama in 2008. And that is the smear that Democrats are soft on the military and the war on terrorism and that Democrat’s softness puts America’s in mortal danger of terror attacks. Bush used that attack line masterfully in 2004 to beat Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry. Even out of office, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld continued to hector Obama on his alleged military softness and miscues in the terrorism war and his willingness to be conciliatory to the Islamic world. The terrorism issue played directly to the fears of terrorist attacks Americans have and still had some resonance as a GOP talking point. The execution of bin Laden and Obama’s willingness to expand the Afghan war has pretty much made that a moot point for the GOP. However, as presidents that have rode momentary ratings highs with triumphs have found, what plays well with the voters a year or even months before an election can be quickly forgotten in the pile up of crises and political mudslinging that incumbent presidents seeking election inevitably face as the election gets closer. Obama won’t be the exception.
Family Trends Autism Screening: Simple Checklist Could Help Detect Autism Spectrum Disorders in 1-Year-Old Children By KATIE MOISSE Call it mother’s intuition. Linda Powell’s only son Samuel was just two months old when she said she knew something was wrong. “I had a colorful mobile over the changing area and he didn’t focus on it at all,” Powell said. “Usually by that time they’re able to see some colors. I even switched to a mobile with all these different vibrant colors, and he still didn’t focus.” That wasn’t the only red flag. Samuel made long humming sounds instead of the “da’s” and “ga’s” of babbling babies his age. And although he liked toys, he didn’t play like his curious peers. Despite the warning signs, it would be three years before Samuel’s unusual behavior had a name: Autism. Current screening methods can signal autism in toddlers 18 months and older. But new research suggests a five-minute survey for parents could detect early signs of autism spectrum disorders in babies by the first birthday.
The 25-question survey, which probes babies’ verbal communication, emotional expression and gestures, has so far allowed researchers to diagnose autism spectrum disorders correctly 75 percent of the time. “Up until now, when a mother goes to a doctor and says, ‘I think there is something wrong with my child,’ the doctor just says, ‘Let’s wait and see -some kids are slow in development,’” said Karen Pierce of the autism center at the University of California, San Diego, and lead author of the study published today in the Journal of Pediatrics. “Now you don’t have to wait and see anymore. The moment the mother says she is worried about her child’s development, the doctor can give her the test and go ahead from there.” Of the nearly 15,000 1-year-olds studied by Pierce and colleagues, 184 failed the screen. Thirty-two went on to receive a provisional or final diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Fifty-six
were later diagnosed with language delay, nine were diagnosed with developmental delay, and 36 received “other” diagnoses. Fifty-one infants who failed the screen were “falsepositives” and developed normally. “This study is very encouraging in showing that a quick questionnaire given to parents during a well-baby visit has potential for identifying infants at risk for autism, as well as other developmental delays, at 12 months of age,” said Geraldine Dawson, chief scientific officer of the non-profit organization Autism Speaks. Some pediatricians worry the high false-positive rate could cause parents undue stress and unnecessary medical costs. But others think the early checklist could help educate parents about signs of autism. “As pediatricians, we only get a snapshot of a child’s development during an office visit. We rely on parents to bring concerns to our attention,” Dr. Ari Brown, an Austin-based pediatrician
at and co-author of “Expecting 411.” Brown said the survey might not be sensitive enough to detect children on the mild end of the spectrum, but thinks the tool could help parents know what to look out for. “The better we can educate families about normal development and abnormal development, the sooner a child can be diagnosed and begin treatment.” Linda Powell, whose son Samuel is now 13 and doing well thanks to early detection and intervention, said she is grateful that she acted on her intuition. She said first-time moms don’t always know what’s normal and may think their babies will grow out of unusual behaviors. “When new parents leave the hospital with their newborn they should have a checklist,” she said. “Early detection and therapy will help so many of these children because they’re so bright.”
May is Older Americans Month: Ohio Seniors Urged to Call OSHIIP Resources help seniors understand Medicare benefits
– Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor is recognizing May as National Older American’s Month and is asking seniors to contact her office’s Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) with any questions they may have about Medicare and their health insurance. This year’s theme for National Older American’s Month, “Connecting the Community, fits well with the
ongoing efforts of the Department of Insurance’s OSHIIP program, as Department staff and OSHIIP volunteers work within communities to share information about Medicare. “The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program is a great resource to help seniors understand their Medicare benefits, Taylor said. “As more Ohioans reach the Medicare eligibility age of 65, this program allows them to get answers to questions about the program that may initially appear daunting. OSHIIP has been the state’s lead educational program for Medicare information and counseling since 1991. You can contact the Medicare experts at the Department of Insurance at 1-800-686-1578, and also learn about OSHIIP’s many statewide outreach
events at www.insurance.ohio.gov. During Older American’s Month, OSHIIP is making an effort to inform seniors about Medicare changes in 2011. New Medicare Open Enrollment Period The annual open enrollment period starts earlier this year. In 2011, Medicare’s open enrollment period begins on Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7. The new permanent dates remove beneficiaries from making critical decisions about their coverage during the heart of the busy holiday season. Beneficiaries also are provided an extra week and a half to make their decisions and will have their new coverage cards in hand in early January. Just as in years past, this period provides people on Medicare an opportunity to decide how they
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receive their coverage. Options include: Original Medicare paired with a Med-Sup plan or Part D prescription drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan, which can include comprehensive benefits such as prescription drug coverage and dental. Discounts Added to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Some beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans face a gap in coverage referred to as the “doughnut hole. This is the portion of a beneficiary’s annual drug expenditures when they may be responsible for the costs of all medications. In 2011, beneficiaries who enter the “doughnut hole (when drugs costs reach $2,840) will get a 50 percent – Continued on page 32
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Young & Trendy
ThomAs TroutmAn set to release debut album
The talented musician, writer, producer, dancer, actor, and director from Dayton, Ohio is set to release his exciting debut album “Pressure”, a move which will thrill his growing army of fans across the world. The newest teen pop sensation, ThomAs TroutmAn, is preparing to release his debut album later this month, marking a huge stage in the career of the multi-talented Pop/R&B singer-songwriter. ThomAs, who lives in Dayton, Ohio is in the process of putting the final touches on the soon to be multi-Platinum album, and is now preparing for the May 2011 release that will hopefully build upon his fan base and get his music heard by more people around the world than ever. The debut album, ‘Pressure’, consists of seventeen original songs &
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interludes from ThomAs, each providing a combination of his highenergy pop tracks- most of which are produced by the young talented artistmelodious vocals and heartfelt lyrics. The rhythmic undercurrent bears testament to the trials of ThomAs’ childhood experiences and life lessons learned thus far by him. The music is punctuated throughout with elements of Club Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul. The album was recorded at Troutman’s House Studios in Dayton. It was produced by the artist himself, ThomAs TroutmAn and the legendary Terry Troutman from the group ‘Zapp’. The theme of the album underlies the changes that ThomAs has gone through over recent years, the biggest of which being taking the step from his childhood into the
‘Brand New Day’ of the young adulthood that is just taking off for the young star. It was this that allowed him to thrive off the new opportunities presented to him, to explore fresh sounds and develop his musical style or in his words “Musical Swag”. Whilst his grounding came from his family the late great Troutman Brothers – he began to get himself known whilst playing in venues all over the world touring with ‘The Zapp Band’ – he was always keen to bring something unique to a traditional show; a whole new energy in whatever he was involved in. For this reason, his emphasis on piano playing has been enhanced by his ability to play other instruments including the drums, percussion, saxophone, and even some mild guitar. As well he has learned the business and performing sides of live performing and Touring. In other words this young man is prepared for a career of longevity. As well as producing the music on his album, ThomAs is also in the process of developing his own multi-media business, SuperSTARmediaGroup, LLC. ThomAs is the CEO of this growing business and says: “This is just one of the many visions God has blessed me with. I see so clearly all that is about to come out of my many dreams and my life time aspirations. I’m excited to get out there and bless my generation with influences of peace, love, Joy and dignity. It’s time that the world witnesses all of those elements that are so crucial to life and I’m going to bring it to the industry. I want to use my gifts to be an ‘Inspiration to my Generation’. That is my purpose here, to let them know that music can be done in a family friendly fashion without profanity and degrading lyrics. It can be done with truth and substance. This is my destiny. That’s what I am about.” ThomAs has said of his work: “I was brought up in a very musical and disciplined family. My parents would always expose me to a
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lot of different music as a child and they supported me in literally everything I have ever wanted to do whether it was sports, or theatre, or of course music, they were behind me on it 100%. I learned a lot from those experiences and I learned how to channel my energy into acting, dancing, and music more than the rest of my gifts. I learned many instruments as I was growing up but, it wasn’t until I was 13 that I actually started teaching myself to play the piano, and that was a real changing point for me. “Since then, my ‘musical swag’ has developed and I’ve incorporated many sounds and genres which have all made their way into ‘Pressure’. The album is a reflection of my influences over the years and the changes that I’ve experienced recently in my life.” With a music collection that takes up an entire room, ThomAs refuses to restrict his influences to one genre. Instead, he has been influenced by numerous artists and genres of music from across the globe, including Stevie Wonder, Sam Cook, Marvin Gaye, Zapp & Roger, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, and Usher amongst many others. ThomAs does not shy away from including all of his ‘many gifts’ in his production. This album includes many skits and interludes one of which ThomAs freestyle’s spoken word, ‘The Meaning (Interlude)’ -his definition of ‘Pressure.’ The first single ‘See U Move’ is already getting worldwide attention and is available for download on iTunes and many music websites such as Rhapsody, Spotify, Zune, Napster and Amazon. The album will be launching shortly, and fans are encouraged to visit the ThomAs TroutmAn website, which provides everything you could want to know about the young musician. As well as checking out videos of ThomAs on YouTube.
Education
Local UNCF
Get’s A Face Lift with New Director Natalie R. Coles The elements of the UNCF brand are a m o n g the most recognizable in the world. The tr ademarke d logo and tagline “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,”® give hope to people all over the world who aspire to use their intellect to better themselves and their communities. To ensure that the brand, image and mission continues in Ohio and Kentucky area, the UNCF has made some positive changes designed to take them to the next level. One of those changes includes the appointment of Natalie R. Coles as the new Area Development Director for the local UNCF office. Natalie comes to UNCF with an extensive non-profit fundraising background having previously held positions with Girl Scouts, Central Ohio United Way and most recently with Starr Commonwealth’s Hannah Neil Center where she raised over $5 million dollars in support of programs that serve children during her tenure. Natalie began her career in the for profit sector working in sales for Fortune 500 companies SonyBMG and Limited Brands. Natalie holds a bachelors degree in African American and African Studies from The Ohio State University and a Masters Degree in Management from Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s School of Business. Additionally, Natalie is a Certified Fundraising Professional which is a nationally recognized certification in the fund development arena. Natalie is active in the Columbus community and has served as a
board member for the Eldon and Elsie Ward YMCA and The Latino Empowerment Outreach Network. Natalie has been an active member of the Junior League of Columbus and Kiwanis International as well as the Association for Fundraising Professionals. Wife of Mr. Derrick Coles and mother to Angelina and Christopher, the family attend First Church of God and reside in Bexley.
What You Should Know About Your Local UNCF • UNCF provides operating support to 39 historically black colleges and universities around the nation.
In addition to scholarships and other forms of assistance UNCF provides to students, UNCF is also the largest non-governmental provider of support to 39 private member institutions. Because of support from donors through UNCF, member institutions are able to keep tuition approximately 26 percent lower than tuition at other comparable schools. That’s important, because over 90 percent of students at UNCF-member institutions require some form of financial aid. Approximately 84 percent of students at UNCF-member colleges come from families with low to moderate incomes. UNCF-member institutions do much more with less, conferring 9,000 bachelor’s degrees each year.
• UNCF also provides scholarship support to young people from ALL backgrounds, (not only African Americans) to attend not only HBCU’s but also mainstream schools like The Ohio State University, Harvard and MIT. • Over 51% of the money we raise goes to scholarships while 49% is used for operating funds to member HBCU’s. • Over 60% of our students are the first in their family to attend college. Join the Columbus UNCF for The 28th Annual 5k Walk-a-thon will kick off at Wolfe Park on September 17th at 7:45am. All are welcome to join the festivities. For more information on the 5k Walk and services provided by UNCF please visit www.give.uncf.org/columbuswalk to register.
1. Allen University, Columbia, SC 2. Benedict College, Columbia, SC 3. Bennett College, Greensboro, NC 4. Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL 5. Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC 6. Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 7. Dillard University, New Orleans, LA 8. Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL 9. Fisk University, Nashville, TN 10. Florida Memorial University, Miami, FL 11. Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX 12. Interdenominational Theological Ctr, Atlanta, GA 13. Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX
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14. Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC 15. Lane College, Jackson, TN 16. LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN 17. Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC 18. Miles College, Birmingham, AL 19. Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA 20. Morris College, Sumter, SC 21. Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL 22. Paine College, Augusta, GA 23. Paul Quinn College, Dallas, TX 24. Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR 25. Rust College, Holly Springs, MS 26. Saint Augustine’s College, Raleigh, NC 27. Saint Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, VA 28. Shaw University, Raleigh, NC 29. Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30. Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL 31. Talladega College, Talladega, AL 32. Texas College, Tyler, TX 33. Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 34. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 35. Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA 36. Voorhees College, Denmark, SC 37. Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH 38. Wiley College, Marshall, TX 39. Xavier University, New Orleans, LA
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The Journey Business Mentorship Model Gets Christian Makeover By Michelle A. Vu
The concept of successful businessmen mentoring selected high-potential social entrepreneurs is not new. But the idea of Christians applying that model to social entrepreneurs motivated by their faith to advance the common good has never been put into practice before – until now. A group of successful Christian nonprofit and business leaders began accepting application for the inaugural class of the Praxis mentorship program this week. Praxis, a Greek term that means putting theory into action, is looking for driven yet humble social entrepreneurs to provide “worldclass” mentorship and cash prizes to. Praxis defines social entrepreneurs as people who look at big social problems and come up with creative ideas on how to build organizations or
models that can tackle the challenges. “Social entrepreneurs are similar to regular business entrepreneurs in the sense that they’ll run through walls, get things done. They’re scrappy and tough, they make due with very little resources,” explained Josh Kwan, the chairman of the board of Praxis, to The Christian Post. But Christian entrepreneurs, he noted, have the added characteristic of “abiding faith that God has called them into this work.” Twelve fellows will be chosen among the applicants to enroll in a sixmonth long program where social entrepreneurs will be closely guided by mentors on a one-to-one basis on how to formulate an effective operating plan, raise funds, and develop a brand, among other skills. Much of the skills being taught are similar to those needed in business. But in the Christian version, the ultimate goal is not to make money in itself but to have a positive impact on the world. Both for profits and non-profit organizations are invited to apply. Also, organizations can be distinctly Christian or secular – in the sense that its mission is not
to evangelize – and still qualify. Kwan gave as example the nonprofit groups charity:water , founded by former nightclub-promoterturned-born-again-Christian Scott Harrison, and the for profit company TOMS Shoes, as the kinds of secular organizations with an underlying Christian social mission that Praxis would accept. All applicants, however, need to have revenues less than $1 million in order to qualify. “Our ultimate goal is to help Christian social entrepreneurs to create highimpact, long-lasting organizations that serve the greater good. We succeed when our entrepreneurs succeed,” said Kwan, who is also the director of international giving for David Weekley Family Foundation. At the end of the six months, the 12 fellows will vote on which organization among them has the best strategy. The first place winner receives a $50,000 cash prize for his/her organization; the second place, $30,000, and the third place winner, $20,000. The David Weekley Family Foundation is providing the prize money. David Weekley is the founder of a Texasbased home construction company,
David Weekley Homes – the nation’s largest privately held homebuilder that closes over a billion dollars-worth of homes a year. Weekley, a dedicated Christian, gives away 50 percent of his income and 50 percent of his time to philanthropy. “We just want to see a diverse and massive growth of Christian social entrepreneurs who are doing wonderful things for the kingdom and the society,” said Kwan. Among the 20 Praxis mentors that fellows will have access to are: Dave Blanchard, founder and president of Praxis and former IDEO business designer; Gabe Lyons, founder of Q and author of The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America; Henry Kaestner, founder of one of the nation’s fastest growing telecommunication companies, Bandwidth.com; Steve Graves, founder of Coaching by Cornerstone; and Chris Crane, former CEO of Opportunity International. The application deadline is July 15 and the first training event is in November in New York. The 12 chosen fellows will be announced in October.
King James Bible turns 400
The King James Version of the Bible officially turns 400 years old oday after months of celebration worldwide leading up to the day. by Jennifer Riley
Everyone from Prince Charles, who read a passage from the KJV for the “YouTube Bible”, to stalwart atheist Christopher Hitchens, have participated in the 400th anniversary
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of the Bible translation that is not only respected as a religious text but also as a literary masterpiece. “Though I am sometimes reluctant to admit it, there really is something ‘timeless’ in the Tyndale/King James synthesis,” admitted Hitchens in his commentary featured in Vanity Fair. “For generations, it provided a common stock of references and allusions, rivaled only by Shakespeare in this respect. “It resounded in the minds and memories of literate people, as well as of those who acquired it only by listening.” The King James Version was commissioned by King James I during
a time of unrest and division in England. He brought together Anglican leaders and Puritans – who had disdain for one another – at Hampton Court in January 1604 for a conference that would lead to a new translation. At the time, the Puritans were calling for a new translation that would bring reform within the Church of England. Earlier versions, such as the Bishop’s Bible and the Geneva Bible, caused dissension between Christian factions. On July 22, 1604, King James announced that a new translation would be produced by a committee of scholars and theologians made up of both Anglicans and Puritans.
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He hoped the partnership between the two rival groups would help heal England’s religious division. Seven years later, the King James Version was completed with the help of 47 scholars and theologians. It is believed that the KJV was first published on or around May 2, 1611. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the KJV, YouVersion, the most popular Bible app, has organised a mob reading of the translation beginning today. People all over the world will be reading the KJV for 400 seconds in unison. “To my understanding it’s the first –Continued on page 26
Diversity Spotlight
Banking on Women of Diversity Stefanie Steward-Young is Vice President / Community Affairs Director for Fifth Third Central Ohio. Stefanie Steward-Young is Vice President / Community Affairs Director for Fifth Third Central Ohio. In this role, she oversees the banks Community Affairs / Community Reinvestment Act Department serving the Central Ohio and West Virginia markets. Stefanie has 14 years of financial industry experience including Community Reinvestment Act Management, Branch Management, Commercial Credit, and Retail Training. Stefanie received a Master of Business Administration degree in 1998 from Franklin University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Management and Marketing in 1993 from the University of Cincinnati. Stefanie was a recipient of the Business First Forty under 40 Award in 2004. Stefanie has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. since 1992. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, and Economic & Community Development Institute. She recently culminated 8 years of service on the Board of the Directors for the Columbus Urban League. Stefanie also volunteers and serves on advisory committees for numerous other community based organizations. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Stefanie is the wife of Steven Young and the proud mother of three sons – Steven, Samuel and Seth.
Traci Dunn is Senior Vice President, Inclusion Director for Huntington Bank Traci Dunn is Senior Vice President, Inclusion Director responsible for the strategy and implementation of diversity and inclusion processes for Huntington Bank. Prior to joining Huntington in January 2011, Traci was the Director, Global Inclusion & Talent Acquisition for Timken, a global manufacturer headquartered in Canton, Ohio. Traci has more than sixteen years of human resources experience with thirteen of those years specializing as a diversity and inclusion practitioner. Prior to joining Timken, Traci was President of Dunn & Associates, her own diversity strategy consultancy. She also served as Director of Diversity for Compass Group, North American Division; Diversity Specialist for Accenture and started her career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as a management trainee before embarking on a human resources career as an Employment Manager. Traci received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas. Traci is new to Columbus and looks forward to actively serving in the community. She is the former Board Vice Chair of the Greater Stark County Urban League, board member of Arts In Stark and was co-chair of the advisory committee for yStark!, the young professional organization of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was also recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 recipient by the Charlotte Business Journal for her business accomplishments and community involvement.
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Diversity on Purpose
Darryl A. Peal – President of SCOMSDC
The Southern Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council is an organization with a clear mission expand opportunities for minorityowned companies and encourage
The South Central Ohio MSDC, in conjunction with the Northern Ohio MSDC, invites you to be a part of one of the largest annual events to benefit corporations and Ohio’s certified minority business enterprises. This year’s event will be held at Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH on May 23-25, 2011. The theme of this year’s event is “Minority Business and Corporate America: Raising the Bar Through Sustainable Strategies”. Our goal is
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mutually beneficial relationships to yield economic links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors. Additionally, the SCOMSDC team work to “build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development.” While National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliates have been around in Columbus, Dayton and, and Cincinnati since the early 1970s, it wasn’t until 1999 that the minority business communities in these cities decided to join forces, effort, and human resources. The merger became official in February 2002, forming the South Central Ohio Minority Business Council. In September 2008, the name was officially changed to Southern Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council to more adequately reflect
the organization’s relationship with the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
to demonstrate the positive effect of “Supplier Diversity” by focusing on: • Connecting Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Corporations • Opening Communications • Fostering Introductions • Providing Training & Development opportunities • Enhancing existing relationships • Corporate to MBE • MBE to MBE • Corporate to Corporate • Corporate to Government • Developing real opportunities to do business
In this “Global Society,” we know that Supplier Diversity is a business imperative and embracing diversity is the key.
As a privately funded, non-profit organization, the purpose of the SCOMSDC is to facilitate the “development and maintenance of effective corporate supplier diversity programs.” Since the SCOMSDC is not a community, civic, or government funded program, operational costs are secured through corporate dues, contributions, and special events. Events hosted by SCOMSDC include an annual golf outing and awards gala, educational seminars, oneon-one networking events, industry specific trade shows and much more. A yearly event fostering the economic prosperity of minority suppliers and public and private sector business is the Ohio Business Opportunity Fair.
By bringing together major corporations, small businesses, minority business enterprises and government agencies, the 2011 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair will enable participants to leverage the strength and competitive advantage of diversity. Minority business enterprises attending will have an opportunity to demonstrate the value
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Scheduled this year May 2325, 2011 a t the Columbus Convention Center, this event brings together corporate members and minority business owners from throughout the state of Ohio. Sponsored by Honda, P&G, Huntington Bank and Toyota, attendees can expect to connect with organizations excited about the opportunity to work with locally owned minority businesses, positively adding to the economic development of Ohio. The organizations headquarters is located in Columbus and maintains offices in Dayton and Cincinnati. For additional information visit http:// www.scombc.org/ or call (614) 2256959.
of their products and services, while large corporations and their prime suppliers can discuss current or upcoming procurement opportunities. We encourage participation in the Ohio Business Opportunity Fair ‘11 featuring Industry Pavilions. In addition to the creating opportunities for new business, the opportunity fair is a time to build new relationships.
Diversity on Purpose
Opening Reception
Event Schedule
Opening Reception Tuesday May 24, 2011 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, May 23, 2011
White House Staffer Michael Blake will serve as the Keynote Speaker for the 2011 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair (OBOF) Opening Reception at 4:30pm on Tuesday May 24th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown Columbus. Michael Blake is the Director of African American and minority business outreach and Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for The White House Office of Public Engagement. In his current position, Blake is responsible for coordinating outreach efforts to elected officials at the county and state levels, except for governors. He also spends a lot of time reaching out to African-American communities throughout the country, addressing issues like education, small business development, jobs and health care. Blake was featured in the HBO documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. In a recent interview Blake said “The main thing I’ve realized right now is, a lot of this is about information exchange and conversation because if you share information on both sides, a lot of times you can realize what’s working, what’s not working, figure out the issues, and figure out a means to move forward.” Please plan to attend the OBOF and The Opening Reception!
Business Opportunity Golf Outing Safari Golf Course 9:30 -10:30 a.m. Registration 10:30 a.m. Tee-Time 4:00 p.m. Dinner & Awards Presentation
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Registration Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43215 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration – Main Lobby Town Hall Meeting and Luncheon 11:00 am -12:30 pm MBE Workshop • Session A 1:00 pm - 2:15pm • Session B 2:30 pm - 4:00 Corporate Workshop • Session A 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm • Session B 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Opening Networking Reception • 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Columbus Convention Center 400 H. High Street Columbus, OH 43215
Event Sponsored by
Registration Columbus Convention Center 400 H. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Ribbon Cutting & Opening of Industry Pavilions 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Closing Networking Reception 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
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Diversity on Purpose How Brands Must Adapt to the ‘New Majority Marketplace’ Why the Traditional ‘General-Market’ Paradigm Is Dying By: Ola Mobolade Ola Mobolade is managing director of Firefly, Millward Brown’s qualitative research arm. She is co-authoring a book called “Marketing to the New Majority: Strategies for a Diverse World,” being published by Palgrave Macmillan this summer. There is considerable buzz in the marketing industry over the recent release of the 2010 Census’ racial and ethnic data -- most loudly, among multicultural advertising agencies. And on the other side of the boardroom table, advertisers are undoubtedly reading and listening to various interpretations of what this means for their businesses. The takeaway is simple: America is more ethnically diverse than ever; 50% of babies born today are non-white. And when these babies grow to be adults, they will be in the majority, as so-called ethnic minorities. The impact this will have on marketing is more complicated. To say that the widely accepted multicultural marketing paradigm is outdated would be an understatement. In many cases, marketers are still employing the same ethnic strategies as the very first multicultural campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s -- step 1: identify the largest ethnic segment(s); step 2: assume that they engage with your category/brand differently than whites do; step 3: use a multicultural specialist to convey a targeted message relying heavily on in-culture casting and language, with a sprinkling of cultural nuances and passion points; step 4: be disappointed by (lackluster) return on (minimal) investment. But this isn’t a story about why brands should invest more in ethnically targeted research and marketing.
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The drama we’re watching unfold is a much more complex one: There is a race to evolve the multicultural-marketing paradigm, and the prize is the lucrative and growing multicultural consumer marketplace. General-market and multicultural agencies are competing in the first heat, and brands are up to the line next. For multicultural agencies, their read on the ethnic population boom toggles between hope and fear. They hope it will lead to greater emphasis on multicultural marketing among Fortune 500 brands, leading to a spike in their value, visibility and revenue streams. But many of them also fear that general-market agencies will swoop in, under the veil of new cultural competency initiatives and “steal” the opportunity to market to America’s “new majority” (the collective minority population plus whites, influenced by these cultures). Some niche shops have responded by positioning themselves as “crosscultural.” However, their resources are no match for general-market powerhouses like Ogilvy & Mather, which have established in-house cross-cultural practices, allowing them to claim expertise in reaching both ethnic and white consumers. While the inter-agency debate brews on, I have been troubled by the lack of dialogue on what these changes mean for brands and businesses. There seem to be a few consistently emerging perspectives from brands seeking to adapt to what I call “The New Majority Marketplace:” • “Our ethnic agency says that America is still racially divided and always will be. We work with them because they have a long track record of creating culturally targeted advertising. Besides, they are the target, so they have firsthand experience with what resonates.”
• “We have a multicultural person in marketing, who acts as an internal consultant to the brand teams when there’s a multicultural component.” • “We know the paradigm is broken, but we’re working with agencies that are the most progressive in this space. They use words like ‘cross-cultural’ in their decks, and the creative director wears a baseball cap over his dreadlocks.” • “Our general-market agency consults with their multicultural agency partner on relevant assignments, so we’re covered.” For those brands findings themselves in any of the above segments, I would suggest the following: • General market does not mean white. Your general-market agency (or your own marketing department) should have demographic representation of your target audience. • Try not to relegate multicultural responsibilities into an organizational silo. Brands that are successful in this regard make it a cross-functional responsibility and tie incentives to growth against KPIs. • Always include ethnic consumers in major foundational research. It’s much easier to be inclusive on the front end than to adapt strategies and communications on the back. • Don’t forget that your ethnic agency partners are part of the general market too. They are, by nature of their positions, bicultural. Leverage their deep understanding of both markets.
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• Your consumers do not live in “ethnic” vs. “general-market” worlds. Their identities are mosaic in nature, and their identifying cultures go beyond race and ethnicity. Work with agencies that understand this. • Cultural distinctions are the livelihood of some niche agencies. Some ethnic agencies have struggled hard and long for a seat at the table, and will fight tooth and nail to keep it. For a more objective perspective, make sure that your insights on the multicultural market come from more than just this one source. • You wouldn’t work with a full-service agency that doesn’t understand digital, nor would you work with a digital agency that doesn’t understand the world beyond their niche. Apply this same thinking to agency selection. So, will traditional multicultural marketing eventually go extinct? Probably. But it’s very likely that it will be replaced by a new multicultural marketing paradigm that’s even more relevant to contemporary consumer culture than today’s “general marketing.” So the question should be, “Is the traditional ‘general-market’ paradigm dying?” I’ve got my money on yes.
Diversity on Purpose Columbus NAACP Launches Diversity Awards Nomination/Survey Campaign Targeting Central Ohio’s Top Corporate Employers
The Columbus NAACP, Central Ohio’s oldest civil rights organization, is proud to present the Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Awards Nomination and Diversity Survey to assess the top performing Central Ohio companies key areas
of corporate diversity initiatives. Historically the Columbus NAACP has focused on developing grassroots initiatives that focus directly on Central Ohio African-American and other people of color’s growth, advancement and well being as well as being a defender and advocate for equality and civil rights. While those initiatives are still a priority and a major part of our core mission, we also recognize that the challenges of today’s economic and political environment have proven to be a catalyst for our the minority communities that support them. The Champions of Diversity Awards mission is to recognize businesses and organizations that embrace, celebrate and apply holistic inclusion and participation of a diverse people whereby the workplace is a better
environment in which to work and the community a better place in which to live, work and raise a family. “The Columbus NAACP is extremely excited and hopeful that all of top corporations within Central Ohio will participate in the Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Awards nomination process”, said Noel Williams, Columbus NAACP President, “It is absolutely critical to the overall growth of development to all communities within Central Ohio that we pay tribute to the area corporations who have demonstrated measurable success with their corporate diversity programs”. The Columbus NAACP with present awards to the business leaders who demonstrate excellence in the following 5 areas of corporate diversity: 1. Community Relations 2. Development
3. Leadership 4. Workforce Diversity 5. Vendor Diversity. The nominations forms will be evaluated by a select board of community business and civic leaders with the final awards selection by the Columbus NAACP Executive Committee. The awards will be given to the winning area corporations at the Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Awards Luncheon and Business Expo. The date and location of the event will be announced at a later time. For more information please logon to www.ChampionsofDiversity. com or www.ColumbusNAACP. org for more information on the Central Ohio Champions of Diversity Awards Nomination and Survey.
Digital Video Ad Spend to Increase 22 Percent A new IAB study conducted by Advertiser Perceptions, An Inside Look at Demand-Side Perceptions of Digital Video Advertising, found 69 percent of marketers and 55 percent of agencies plan to increase their digital video advertising with 22 percent growth predicted in the next 12 months. Those surveyed project they will spend 17 percent of their total online display advertising budget on digital video advertising in the next 12 months. Key findings of the study: - Advertisers are finding that their audiences respond better to DVA, with consumers showing a higher engagement rate with online video. - DVA (digital video advertising) is more trackable and targetable and DVA production is less expensive, making it more cost efficient. - Marketers will migrate TV ad dollars to digital video based on the belief it will deliver better ROI; agencies and television decision makers
will shift ad dollars in an attempt to follow their target audiences. - Among the different available DVA formats (pre-roll, in-banner, expandable banner, mobile video, rich media overlay and post-roll), agencies primarily use pre-roll while marketers are not committed to any specific format. Most respondents believe the appropriate length is 15 seconds. - The preferred pricing model is CPM. - A majority of marketers and a majority of agencies believe they should each be responsible for deciding whether to use DVA and how much budget to allocate to it. Of the study, IAB SVP Sherril Mane said, “The study substantiates the buy-side appeal of digital video advertising - the power of sight, sound and motion paired with interactivity. This bodes exceptionally well for the future revenue growth.” Advertiser Perceptions President Randy Coheen added, “There was
strong consensus that demand for digital video advertising was strengthening. It was described best by a senior agency buyer who stated that ‘Digital video is becoming an ever-more common way that our target is consuming what was traditionally broadcast content - and
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our target is spending more time online, and video is another way to reach and engage the target.’” by Steve Hall
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Health & Wellness
MINORITY HEALTH MONTH REFLECTIONS Last month was Minority Health Month and organizations all across the state of Ohio were sending out a clarion call for minority health awareness. Among them is the 2011 Business First Health Care Heroes Community Outreach Award Winner, the African American Wellness Initiative, sponsor of the 7th Annual African American Male Wellness Walk (AAMWW). Once again, the Urban Wellness Initiative will call attention to the crisis surrounding African American Male health issues by hosting many activities leading up to The Walk. The focus of the initiative is to inform the community that on average African American men are dying prematurely from many conditions that are preventable. African American men have a life span that is over 10% shorter than other ethnic and gender groups. African American men are 40% more apt to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease, 5 times more likely to die of HIV/AIDS, 4 times more likely to suffer from kidney failure and they have a higher incidence of both prostate cancer and diabetes. The goal of the The Walk is to get African American men to take charge of their own health, destiny, and well being through awareness and prevention and to inform and educate others to do so as well.
The 7th Annual AAMWW expects to exceed the 6,000 men, women and children who filed beneath the yellow and green balloon arch welcoming participants to Columbus’
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Historic Neighborhood House during the 2010 Walk, where hundreds of walkers lined up for multiple free health screenings, including the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and the Tobias Project (HIV/AIDS).
The Urban Wellness Initiative also realizes that prevention is the best way to win in the battle surrounding the health care issues in our communities, therefore, returning to The Walk this year will be the popular children’s “Stay Well Walk”. Obesity has been found to be a major trigger in adult chronic illnesses. In response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to fight childhood obesity, The Walk has added the Kids Walk as a key component to educate future generations. During its premiere more than 200 children ages 2- 10 years received free T-Shirts provided by D.A.D.D.S. Inc. as they were led by national cyclist, Teddy Herrera, Queen and Princess Tiana, the Midwest Horsemen Black Ponies, clowns and the roving puppeteer through the historic Lincoln District to call attention to the importance of developing healthy habits early in life. Upon their return, they had their own workout provided by I resolve Fitness and also received free screenings from the OSU Dental Bus and free vision screenings. CareSource distributed healthy snacks and Molina healthcare provided free jump ropes so they could continue to move after The Walk. The celebrated Lincoln Theater will again be the site for the kick-off
reception for the 7th Annual African American Male Wellness Walk and for the first time the general will be able to purchase tickets to this gala event. Last year’s reception was a tribute to more than 30 Central Ohio African American Physicians for their dedication and service to the community. Among those honored were Dr. Mark White Co-Chair of the AAMWW for his dedication and commitment to bringing together physicians and community leaders and Dr Alvin Jackson, past director of the Ohio Department of Health. The 2011 Walk will be honoring outstanding African-American Nurses. 2010 AAMWW “WE CARE AWARDS” RECIPIENTS Dr. Quinn Capers The Ohio State University Medical Center Sharon Gordon Urban Trendsetters and Urban Fit Club Magazine Tamara & Eddie George 2010 AAMWW Honorary Chairs Psi Eta Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Linda Ross Chi Eta Phi Sorority Al Edmondson A Cut Above The Rest Thomas Banks 10TV (Posthumously) The Central Ohio Diabetes
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AAMWW PHYSICIANS OF EXCELLENCE HONOREES Dr. Mark White Dr. Alvin Jackson Dr. Bernadette Anderson Dr. Charles Noble Dr. Quinn Capers Dr. Tim Hill Dr. Mysheika R LeMaileWilliams Dr. Augustus Parker Dr. Diana Leigh Morgan, PhD Dr. William Hicks Dr. George Calloway Dr. Kwame Osei Dr. Cassandra Suggs-Williams Dr. George Barnett Dr. Adam Childs Dr. Lawrence Entsuah Dr. Victor McKoy, DDS Dr. Vernon Williams Dr. Stephen Thompson Dr. Tamara Thompson Dr. Camille Abrams Dr. William Robinson Dr. Robert Polite Dr. Marvin Green Dr. Dorothy Jones Dr. Vincent Guinn Dr. Antoine Philips Dr. Ruben Shears Dr. Samika Smith Dr. Montoya Taylor Dr. Earl Walker Dr. Eric Ward Dr. William Washington Dr. R. Earl Bartley
Health & Wellness
9 Ways to Eat Healthily (and Cheaply) By Joe Wilkes
By now, most of us know what we should be eating—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fish, among other foods. But anyone heading off to the supermarket with a shopping list of the best recommendations for a healthy diet is in for a bit of sticker shock. Over a 2-year period, a recent University of Washington study tracked the costs of “nutrientdense” foods (foods high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories) and “energy-dense” foods (foods high in calories and low in vitamins and minerals—aka junk).* The nutrient-dense foods rose in cost by almost 20 percent while the cost of junk food declined. The study found that getting your average day’s worth of 2,000 calories from the junk side cost $3.52, while getting your 2,000 calories’ worth from nutrient-dense cuisine would cost $36.32. Since the average American spends about $7.00 a day on food, you can see where the rise in obesity might come from. Other studies have shown similar findings. While the percentage of Americans’ incomes spent on food has decreased dramatically over the last few years, the obesity rate has risen even more dramatically, as has the incidence of type 2 Diabetes, an obesity-related disease. And the obesity rate has grown the most in the most impoverished sectors of society, further emphasizing the connection between the rising costs of nutrientdense foods, the declining cost of junk food, and the rise in obesity rates. If you’ve checked out what a nice piece of Chilean sea bass with a side of asparagus costs compared to the latest offering from your local fast food joint’s dollar menu, it’s easy to be tempted by the dark side—especially if your budget is shrinking more than your waistline. It is possible, however, to eat healthily and still have some money left over.
Even on the tightest budget, you can do a little legwork and research to make the most nutritious choices for you and your family. And even if you’re fortunate enough to have the cash to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, as my grandfather would say, “There’s no point putting your paycheck through your stomach.” (And he lived to be almost 100 . . . but that was before the advent of dollar menus.) Here are nine tips for getting the most nutritional bang for your buck. 1. ‘Tis the season. Eating seasonally is the best way to get the most delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. When harvest time comes around for your favorite fruit or veggie, the market is usually glutted, and following the time-honored supply-and-demand curve, the prices of those fruits and veggies plummet. And not only is it cheap to eat fruits and veggies that are in season, it’s the best time to get the most flavor for your money. Most fresh fruits and veggies sold in the off-season are either shipped from faraway lands or produced in greenhouse factories and don’t have nearly the rich flavors produced by Mother Nature. It’s a good time to stock up, eat what you can, and freeze or can the rest for a rainy day. If you’re fortunate enough to live in a community with a decent farmers’ market, it pays to get to
know the men and women who are selling the produce. They can let you know when the best time to buy the best stuff is and give you a preview of what’s coming up harvest-wise so you can plan your menu accordingly. 2. The big freeze. Speaking of freezing and canning, these are great ways to save money and still have your nutritional needs met. Not only are frozen and canned foods way cheaper than fresh foods, in many cases, they’re more nutritious. Fruits and vegetables are usually preserved within hours of harvest, when they have their maximum vitamins and minerals. Fresh fruits and vegetables can take days, or even weeks, to make the journey from the field to your table. Add to that any time spent lingering on supermarket shelves and in your fridge’s crisper drawer, and suddenly fresh doesn’t seem so fresh anymore. And in many recipes, frozen or canned might even be better than fresh. A pint of fresh off-season blueberries can cost more than $5.00 while a one-pound bag of frozen blueberries can cost less than $3.00. And the frozen berries will be a lot better in your morning smoothie. Any chef will tell you about the virtues of canned tomatoes over fresh ones when making your favorite pasta sauce. The only thing to be wary of is the sodium and sugar content in many
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canned goods, or frozen veggies that come with high-calorie sauces or other not-so-healthy ingredients in not-so-healthy amounts. 3. Shop around. Smokey Robinson was right: It does pay to shop around. Check out the supermarket circulars that keep getting stuffed into your mailbox. Every week, your supermarket advertises “loss leaders,” including fruits, veggies, lean meats, and fish. Their hope is to lure you into the store with these bargains that they don’t make so much money on and tempt you to buy extra highprofit stuff while you’re there. But if you stick to your list, you can fill your cart with the loss leaders and save a ton of money. Plus they’ll usually be items that are in season, because these are cheaper for the store to buy. Also, signing up for your supermarket’s club or rewards cards can help save you money. It’s better to monitor sales and promotions rather than clipping coupons, because coupons generally apply to processed, less healthy foods, although you can sometimes find good coupons for canned and frozen produce (like the tomatoes and berries we just talked about). 4. Get to know your grocer. And your butcher, your produce manager, etc. Find out on which day produce is delivered to the store, so you get maximum freshness for your dollar. Ask the store’s butcher how soon before the printed expiration date they place meat, poultry, and fish on the “buy it fast!” discount shelf. These items are still fresh enough to consume, and if you cook or freeze them as soon as you buy them, it’s no different from having bought fullpriced cuts and leaving them in your refrigerator for a couple of days. Only your pocketbook knows the difference! Another tip? Many butchers will custom-grind for you at no – Continued on page 25
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Beauty & Style Trends Laila Ali Launches Line of Beauty Products for Ethnic Market High-quality, natural products aimed at ethnic consumers are in short supply in the mass market, according to Laila Ali, who says her new self-titled line of hair care, skin care and fragrances
skin products, with fragrances priced between $35 and $45. The hair products lean heavily on conditioning properties to compensate for the fact that African-American hair tends to be coarser and more heavily processed from relaxers. “A
— produced in Miami Lakes by International Beauty Brands — is intended to fill that void. Ali’s line includes purifying shampoo, hydrating shampoo, curl-defining gel, conditioners, hair relaxer, agedefying cream, tone equalizer and daily face wash. Retail prices range from $10 to $18 for the hair and
lot of the products that are out there have chemicals that are not good for us and the environment,” Ali tells the Miami Herald. “What’s important to me is creating something that actually is going to build and strengthen the hair. It’s about trying to balance being good for you and also giving
consumers the results they want.” Ali, the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali and the former owner of her own nail salon, is proud of the fact that her products are sulfate-free, which means they won’t weaken hair or make color fade. The products also include herbal and organic ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter, Acai berry and jojoba oil. The 21 products for men and women have been rolling off the assembly line in recent weeks at the Miami Lakes factory where they were created. It takes no more than 20 seconds to fill, label and package a six ounce bottle of daily facial moisturizer. For the initial rollout, International Beauty Brands has produced about 30,000 pieces of each item to fill orders from major retailers including Wal-Mart, CVS, Sears and Navarro Discount Pharmacies. The Ali product line targets a vibrant market. The ethnic health and beauty care products industry rang up nearly $2.7 billion in sales in 2009, a 4 percent increase over the previous
year, according to Packaged Facts — and is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2014. That growth compares to decreases in 2009 in most beauty categories during 2009, estimated at a total of $50 billion plus in the U.S. While consumers will find the Ali products in the ethnic section of the store, the hope is that the collection will also appeal to a wider variety of consumers. Nothing about the white and cranberry packaging speaks to an ethnic audience. The only reference is Ali’s own image, which is used in all of the marketing and promotion. “It’s a crossover brand,” said Tony Eluck, president of International Beauty Brands, who uses the products himself. “Anybody can use it. It’s not got Vaseline or anything that is going to weigh down your hair.” “This is the first ethnic, professional quality line,” Eluck said. “What exists today in the ethnic mass market is an insult to the black woman.”
Beauty & Style Spotlight Roxanne Ray (Gomer) is a Master stylist, currently located in Columbus Ohio is the founder of Personal Affects Salon. Roxanne is a national and international artist, CHI Farouk Systems Educator, Master Sisterlock Consultant, Certified Training Associate for Sisterlocks and Color Code People Skills Facilitator as well as a former educator for Design Essentials, Nioxin, DOME and Pro Hair Extensions. Roxanne launched Transformations International is an education forum for the professional and their clients. T.I. will bring to the public skills to help with home healthy hair care and maintenance as well as provide continuing education for the salon professional. Through Transformation Roxanne is sharing the many skills and insight gathered over the years as a owner, stylist and educator. “My desire is to merge beauty and beauty by hosting events that will bring both together!” With over 30 years in the salon industry, Roxanne has a quest for embracing the current, while never forgetting the core of her beginning. Roxanne acknowledges the gifts given to her and thanks her parents and many teachers along the way. At the end of 2010 Roxanne proudly passed the baton by granting the official ownership of Personal Affects Salon to daughter, Chasrah E. Gomer. Transformation International is currently planning their summer beauty expo and is currently looking sponsors and vendors for this one of a kind event. For more information contact Roxanne Ray at 614-553-8978.
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Beauty & Style Trends
For more info contact Christa Payne (614) 778-1958
– Continued from page 23 additional charge. If a package of factory-ground turkey breast costs $6.00 a pound and a whole turkey breast costs $2.00 a pound, why not buy the whole breast and ask your butcher to grind it for you? You’ll save a lot of money, and you’ll actually know what went into the turkey burger you’re eating. 5. Think outside the big box. Instead of always going to the bigbox supermarket chains, check and see whether there are any farmers’ markets and/or food co-ops in your area. The food will be fresher, cheaper, and hopefully not as coated with pesticides, waxes, or other unsavory elements. It’s a good way to save money while supporting your local community’s resources. Here you can get organic produce for the same price or cheaper than traditionally grown produce. It’s also worth it to check out how your state defines “organic.” Organic food is great, but if you’re trying to save money, traditionally grown food isn’t any less nutritious than organic; it may just need a little more scrubbing. 6. Start your own farm. If you have a yard, start your own vegetable and/or herb garden. With a little online research, you can find out what grows well and easily in your neck of the woods. And if you’re an apartment dweller like me, you can get a lot out of a container garden. I have big pots on my balcony that keep me in tomatoes, peppers, and fresh herbs all summer long. And if you don’t have a balcony, you can grow small pots of herbs in your kitchen— decorative, tasty, and economical! 7. Plan ahead. Take some time on Sunday to plan out your menu for the week for all your meals and snacks. Find out what’s in season and on sale in your area. If you can only make one shopping trip for the week, front-load your menu with fresh ingredients and stock up on canned and frozen items for the latter half of the week. One of the areas where my budget always falls apart is
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not having either some kind of plan or the ingredients I’ll need to make dinner; I end up grabbing takeout or having food delivered—either of which can tend to be unhealthy and expensive. Just by planning ahead and not wasting money on spur-ofthe-moment restaurant meals, you might find you have a lot more money to spend at the grocery store, which means you won’t have to cut as many corners for the meals you prepare. 8. Tap into tap water . . . not your wallet. Instead of spending big money on bottled water, try switching to tap water, which is subject to a lot more regulations than bottled water and isn’t shipped in from Fiji or Norway, making it good both for your health and for helping to reduce your carbon footprint. And it’s practically free! Plus it’s a lot better for your waistline and your wallet than multiple trips to the soda machine. If you’re concerned about impurities or don’t like the taste of your local tap water, consider getting a simple, relatively inexpensive filtration system—one that either attaches to the tap itself or is located in a separate pitcher. Ounce for ounce, it’ll still be cheaper than bottled, and just as good for you. 9. Take your vitamins. Here’s the easiest, most economical way to help ensure that you meet your basic nutritional needs: Take a good multivitamin and fish oil supplement. They’ll help you get many if not all of the same nutrients you’d get from whole-food sources (often without spending nearly as much money)— and fish oil supplements are especially good for those who don’t care for fish. *Don’t confuse “nutrient-dense” foods with “high-density” foods, which is a common term for “energydense” foods. High-density foods aren’t always unhealthy but your diet should consist of mainly “low-density” foods which have few calories per volume, generally due to the presence of fiber. Foods in their natural state tend to be low volume. Processed foods tend to be high volume.
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Home & Garden Trends HINTS FOR THE HOME Your house can be less expensive to maintain, more comfortable to live in and easier to sell when the time comes if you take a few simple steps with help from home maintenance experts. Six Steps To A Well-Maintained Home Your home is, most likely, your biggest investment. Here, from an assortment of experts, are a few hints on how to keep it in good shape: 1. Good Clean Fun: When it comes to cleaning ceramic floors, there’s no need to wax. Just sweep and mop on a regular basis and they stay clean and shiny. Mop floors with clear water or just a dash of liquid dish soap. Be sure to change the water when it gets cloudy. Too much soap or dirty water will make floors dull or sticky. Don’t use scrub pads on ceramic tile floors or you might scratch them. Professional cleaners wash most floors by hand, cleaning and drying a small area at a time. That’s the advice
from Merry Maids comprehensive cleaning service, which can scale a plan—weekly, biweekly or monthly— to meet your needs and your budget. 2. Floor Facts: To maintain your carpets’ appearance, they should be professionally cleaned every six to 12 months. If, however, you’ve suffered damage from water, fire or smoke, they need help right away. The ServiceMaster Clean residential services division specialists in carpet and upholstery cleaning can help either way. In an emergency, their yellow trucks can be dispatched 24/7, 365 days a year to restore your home to pre-disaster condition. 3. When Your Yard Wants to Be a Lawn: Great lawns require great soil with the right balance of alkaline and acid. If your soil is out of balance, you can adjust the pH with lime, potassium or other micronutrients. To help your lawn grow great, a leading provider of lawn
and landscape services, TruGreen, delivers customized solutions that are effective, innovative and responsible. 4. Best the Pests: Household pests are more than an embarrassing nuisance. They can carry harmful Terminix into your home. To protect your home, keep the firewood pile away from the house. Seal any cracks around windows and doors and be sure all screens are in good repair. A quarterly pest control plan from Terminix can help eradicate any pests. The program is managed by certified professionals who can also recommend modifications to prevent new infestations. 5. Deter Termites: You can also make your house less attractive to termites. Since the pests need moisture to survive, grade the soil around your foundation so it carries water away from the house. Keep gutters and downspouts in good repair. Consider a Termite Inspection and Protection Plan from Terminix.
–Continued from page 12 time that something like this has ever happened in history and so people don’t just want to celebrate the history but be part of the making of history,” said Bobby Grunewald, innovation leader at Lifechurch.tv, which created YouVersion, to The Christian Post last week. “We believe that at the rate that people are signing up, tens of thousands will sign up and participate.” The KJV’s 400th anniversary is also being celebrated across the Atlantic in the US. The Bible Nation Society will host an expo housing ancient Bibles, including a first edition 1611 authorised King James Bible, in front of the US Capitol building today and tomorrow. Prominent Bible scholars, including India’s foremost Christian intellectual Vishal Mangalwadi, will also give a lecture on the King James Version’s influence on the development of Western civilisation and America on Monday at George Washington
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You get an annual inspection of home and property. If new termite activity is later found, the damage will be covered at no cost to you. 6. Protect Your Appliances: For example, it’s a cool idea to clean the refrigerator’s interior shelves, shell and gaskets at least every three months. Once a year, clean the coils on the back or underneath with a vacuum cleaner. You can get a home warranty from American Home Shield that can be one of the best defenses against extensive and unexpected covered repair costs, with a national contractor network made up of over 11,000 approved, independently insured home-service contractors.
University in Washington DC. On Tuesday, a rally will be held near the expo tent on the National Mall that will include the reading of a bipartisan congressional resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 38, recognising the anniversary and influence of the KJV. “To ignore it (KJV), is to ignore the very sun. It has enlightened our souls about Jesus Christ, and enriched our lives by paving a way of thinking,” said Doug Levesque of the Bible Nation Society, sponsor of the national event. “In its pages are the answers to our current dilemmas including, the economy, the middle east, and even political gridlock.”
Trendy Palette Jamawn Woods’ Wins NBC’s ‘America’s Next Great Restaurant Soul food lovers in New York, Minneapolis and Los Angeles
– Get ready for a new restaurant from the winner of NBC’s premiere season of “America’s Next Great Restaurant.” The reality show – described as a cross between “The Apprentice” and “Top Chef” – gave
its crown to Jamawn Woods for his restaurant Soul Daddy during Sunday’s season finale. Soul Daddy beat The Brooklyn Meatball Company and Spice Coast in the final challenge which was had the finalists test their food with actual diners giving reviews on their meals. The judges, including Bobby Flay, Curtis Stone, Steve Ells,
and Lorena Garcia, agreed that Soul Daddy’s concept of healthy soul food was a success. They thought the concept of fellow finalist Spice Coast (modern Indian food) was too similar to Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Brooklyn Meatball Company made them wait too long for their food, causing a backup. “This is definitely the biggest moment of my life. I can’t wait to see the opening of my new restaurant,” Woods said upon winning. The 34-year-old — whose fulltime job is driving a forklift at Chrysler’s Sterling Heights assembly plant — had been running a part-time catering business from his home, making chicken wings and waffles for friends, and became a contestant almost by
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accident after a network scout saw his food photos on Facebook. “He’s come a long way,” said Flay in the final episode, who, as one of the judges, is also an investor in the restaurants. In an earlier interview he said, “Jamawn is doing it for all the right reasons: for a better life for his family.” The finale was held several weeks ago and Woods’ restaurant opens its doors today at the Hollywood and Highland complex in Los Angeles, the Mall of America in Minneapolis and in New York’s South Street Seaport. The show, which competed against “The Amazing Race” for many of its episodes, was watched by an average of 4.1 million viewers weekly.
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Business Directory
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Local Artist
Arts/Culture & Entertainment
BRUSHes Up Columbus Nightlife By Donna Marbury
“Creative is a state of mind,” says Shorts, whose BRUSH Experience has been attended by Mayor Michael Coleman. “Most people are not put in a setting to where they have been creative since they were children. We were looking for an alternative to the normal social networking events and nightclubs.”
brain they don’t get to use often… with good music and good people,” the 27-year-old Cleveland native says.
rebellious way. The shirts are sold at the website WeDontNeedYourPeople. com, which spoofs Gov. John Kasich’s quote on Democrats that sparked dialogue on race and politics in Ohio. “The line started based on the political climate in Ohio at the time. So we just ran with it,” he says. “The line is political, yet funny all in hopes to spark awareness and conversation.”
When Marshall Shorts isn’t creating, he is helping others to create. The local visual communication consultant
Shorts, who is creative director of his own design and events firm Soulo Theory Creative, also designs for We Don’t Need Your People Clothing, a t-shirt line that nods at politics and social consciousness in a fun, yet
The BRUSH Experience will offer its next installment on Saturday, May 28 from 8p.m. to midnight at Urban Spirit Coffee Shop, located in the King Lincoln District at 893 E. Long St. and event planner has hosted the BRUSH Experience, an art-centered alternative to nightlife where the patrons paint, for more than a year. The event, which features live music, wine and refreshments, personalsized canvases and a larger, paint-bynumbers community mural, is a mix between a gallery opening, an intimate concert and playtime that many remember for elementary school.
Shorts’ BRUSH Experience concept has been featured at local festivals, events and corporate gatherings as a way to spark creativity in adults and children alike, including Columbus State Community College; his alma mater, The Columbus College of Art & Design; COSI and other local businesses. “We just decided that we wanted to create an event where people don’t walk away empty handed and maybe used a part of their
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– Continued from page 6 she has as a legislature today. Last to share was Terrie Williams, who said that she had what was considered a typical life with no major problems. Yet, she also found herself within a struggle, only her struggle was with the pain she felt within herself. Ms. Williams talked about the pain of depression and how the AfricanAmerican community must take the stigma off of the reality of depression so people can feel free to come forward and to get the help they need. Dr. Richardson wrapped up the panel discussion with general questions to the panel regarding race, color, family, male-female relationships and issues of self esteem. The event drew women of all ages and disciplines. Among those in attendance was Judy Dixon, Violence Prevention Specialist and Outreach Education Coordinator for Action Ohio and Executive Director of INCourage, Advocacy Beyond Purpose, a supportive advocacy program whose mission is to empower families and members of our communities through education, conversation and advocacy. When asked about the panel discussion, Dixon said, “I applaud the insight of the facilitators of this initiative to assess the needs of young African American girls in our community. Too often we rely on others to make decisions and implement protocol of what is needed in our communities and our lives. Our children, many of them show little respect for our achievements and advice. This disconnect is partially due to our belief that “What happens in my house, stays in my house.” Until we begin to share our challenges
and errors with our daughters, granddaughters, other young girls and other adults, they will continue to assume we have nothing in common. I have been in the company of many adults who speak negatively about our children. Yet, few have decided to admit that they had to overcome serious obstacles to get where they are today. I remind them that unless we start the flow of communications very little will change. Ralph Ellison wrote in the Invisible Man, “When they approach me they see…everything and anything except me.” It saddens me to even image what some of us see when we look at our young African American girls. There is truth in saying, “Conversations increase our knowledge and knowledge is a catalyst that facilitates change.” Women were not the only members of the audience who were touched by the testimonies of these women who have endured many of life’s greatest challenges. City Councilman Hearcel Craig stated that the afternoon was “A powerful affirmation of the strength, resilience and, brilliance of African-American women. I was truly touched because April 21st marks the one year passing of my mother who was truly one of the strongest women of integrity, hard work and compassion that I know. Her influence, instructions, tenacity and unwavering faith in God combined with belief in me, my brother and my sister was paramount to who we have become today. I have watched the same determination in my wife who resolved that she would continue her educational pursuits (even though she had received a diagnosis of cancer) and recently graduated among the top of
her class with her Masters in Business administration. I honor my mother, my wife, my sisters, my daughters and my granddaughters as I reflect on the extraordinary contribution and sacrifices that mothers, daughters, sisters and women everywhere make daily to improve the quality of life for families and children in our cities, state, nation and world.” As always, Lincoln Theater manager, Suzan Bradford, did an excellent job in creating an atmosphere of excellence for those in attendance. In keeping with the theme of women coming together to let their hair down and talk, the large leather sofa, chairs, end tables and lamps gave a more intimate and inviting ambiance for sharing. Attendees could have the feeling of being part of an at home conversation in the family room, rather than the more traditional sixfoot table and chairs which tend to give an impersonal formal panel and audience feel. “It kind of reminded me of the show Soul Food, or coming home from church and just sitting around after Sunday dinner or a big family gathering” said one woman. “You know when the women would all be cooking and then sit around and just talk, laugh and share while the men and little children were outside or in another part of the house. I remember learning so much from just sitting around and listening to the older women talk and I know that it has helped me develop into the strong, persistent and confident woman I am today. We need to do that with our girls. Television, the internet, video games and cell phones have gotten our young people away from talking face to face and we as adults
are partially to blame. Teenagers for generations have always thought that parents were old fashioned, boring and did not understand, but we have to continue to reach out to our youth. They do eventually realize that we really were not born in prehistoric times; they do eventually listen and they do eventually come around.” The activities continued that evening at the King Arts Complex, with a reception, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Franklin County, Inc. (NAMI), featuring the Urban Strings Quartet followed by a book signing with Terry Williams hosted by The Book Suite. The afternoon event ended with Principal Investigator, Fran Frazier, inviting everyone to return this summer for the findings of the study. “Better early research is crucial because of the connection between childhood trauma and adult health”, says project leaders. “We look forward to presenting the results of the research in July. Data collection for the Rise Sister Rise project included nearly 400 girls in Akron, Columbus, Dayton and Lima. The research is funded through a Transformation State Incentive Grant to the Office of the Governor from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio will be hosting a luncheon on how to use these findings when funding programs for African American girls. For more information on the Rise Sister Rise Project, contact: 614-259-RISE (7473)
– Continued from page 13 discount on Medicare-covered brand name drugs and a seven percent discount on Medicare-covered generic prescriptions. The “doughnut hole ends when your out-of-pocket expenses and those paid by the plan total $4,550. The plan then pays 95% of your drug costs for the rest of the year. The gap will be reduced in phases and eventually closed in 2020. Medicare Advantage Plans Medicare Advantage plans cannot charge more than traditional
Medicare for chemotherapy, dialysis, skilled nursing care, and other services deemed appropriate. Medicare Advantage plans must offer the benefits provided by Medicare and often offer additional benefits. Free Preventive Services If enrolled in Medicare, an individual qualifies for a new annual wellness exam and many preventative services for free. There is no Medicare Part B deductible or co-payments for the following screenings (if certain coverage criteria apply): bone mass
measurement; cervical cancer, including Pap smear tests and pelvic exams; cholesterol; cardiovascular; colorectal cancer; flu, pneumonia and hepatitis B shots; HIV; mammograms; medical nutrition therapy; and prostate cancer antigen. Financial Assistance Programs Available Help paying for Medicare’s Part B (medical coverage) premium, up to $115.40 per month, is available to beneficiaries who meet certain income and resources requirements. There is also a program for certain
beneficiaries to help pay for costs associated with Medicare’s Part D prescription drug coverage. This program can save a qualifying beneficiary an average of $3,900 yearly on prescription drug costs. Call 1-800-SSA-1213 (1-800-7721213) or OSHIIP (1-800-686-1578) for details and enrollment assistance. Additional information about Medicare is available at www.medicare.gov and by calling 1-800-MEDICARE ( 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 3 3 - 4 2 2 7 ) .
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Auto Trends Chrysler back in black with $116M first-quarter profit Automaker finally back in black with $116 million in first quarter
- Chrysler Group LLC became the last of Detroit’s three automakers to post a quarterly profit Monday, signaling its turnaround two years after filing for bankruptcy. The Auburn Hills-based carmaker reported a $116 million net profit — its first quarterly profit since 2006 as part of DaimlerChrysler AG — just as it prepares to launch a private debt offering. Chrysler plans to refinance its $7.5 billion in government bailout loans by June and make partner Fiat SpA its majority stakeholder by year’s end. A d v e r t i s e m e n t The profit, no matter how small, is significant for the automaker, which posted a $197 million net loss for the same period in 2010. It’s also a morale booster for employees who survived bankruptcy and restructuring in 2009 and worked steadfastly to rebuild the company. “I can’t put a price on that,” Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, said after seeing the pride of his management team Monday morning. Measuring morale is intangible, said Van Conway, president of Conway MacKenzie Inc., a financial and management consulting firm in Birmingham. But Chrysler employees “are looking at a far
better future than they have seen in a while,” he said, noting the ability to offer bonuses and other rewards will help retain executives. Chrysler’s $477 million operating profit for the quarter, up from $143 million a year ago, and the increase in cash to $9.9 billion are what investors want to see, Conway said, as Chrysler plans a debt offering as early as this week followed by an initial public stock offering late this year or early next. The automaker confirmed plans for senior secured credit facilities, including a $3.5 billion, six-year term loan and a $1.5 billion, fiveyear revolving credit facility. An additional $2.5 billion in new secured debt securities are expected to have eight- and 10-year maturities. In persuading investors, Chrysler will tout its 35 percent increase in net revenue, to $13.1 billion, in part because of an 18 percent increase in global auto sales. Redesigned vehicles are fetching higher prices, as Chrysler is holding the line on incentives and reducing its dependence on less-profitable fleet sales. Fleet sales fell to 31 percent of total sales in the first quarter from 44 percent for the same period one year ago, Marchionne said.
“Chrysler has certainly made progress from Q1 of last year. Sales are up 22.5 percent, brand awareness is up, many redesigned vehicles are in Chrysler showrooms, and incentives are down,” said Ivan Drury, analyst for online automotive research firm Edmunds.com. Chrysler is working to get more cars to dealers for the spring selling season, especially the new Chrysler 300 sedan that is just launching and the tiny Fiat 500 that has been hampered by a skimpy dealer network; fewer than 50 of the 170 Fiat franchises that eventually will be open are doing business. “Officially, we are behind schedule,” Marchionne said. Going forward, Chrysler will introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles and
transmissions to remain competitive in the face of higher gasoline prices. Aboost will come with a compact sedan, due early next year, that gets 40 mpg. Marchionne said Chrysler is on track to sell 1.4 million vehicles in the United States to meet its goal of 2 million sales globally this year. He also affirmed the company’s forecast for net revenue of $55 billion in 2011, a $2 billion operating profit and net profit of $200 million to $500 million. Ford Motor Co. earned $2.6 billion in the first quarter. General Motors Co. will report earnings Thursday.
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