Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 185

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ISSUE 185 VOLUME 24

October 2023

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES! Editorial credit: Olga Popova / Shutterstock.com

Launch of Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership

BY CARICOM PRESS

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ound by an unwavering friendship, Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seek to formalize their vibrant and multi-faceted partnership, as natural hemispheric partners, with strong and lasting foundations built on deep people-to-people, historical and cultural ties, and mutual respect.

Among the first to recognize the independence of CARICOM member states, Canada remains steadfast in its trusted relationship with CARICOM over the continued on page 4

Mayor Adams, DDC, NYC Parks Break Ground on $141 Million Shirley Chisholm Recreation ....5

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with CARICOM leaders.Photo courtesy: CARICOM

Guyana-Venezuela: The Path to Peaceful Resolution ....2

Black Women and Breast Cancer: Why Disparities Persist and How to End Them

NYC’s High School Admissions Process Opens Oct. 3. Here’s What Families Should Know. ....6 Photo: PAHO

BY LINDA NWOKE SPECIAL TO CAW

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reast cancer is a formidable adversary for women across the United States and beyond.

Despite significant medical strides that have been accomplished in early detection, awareness, and treatment, the mortality gap between Black women and white women remains wide. It continued on page 16

PAHO Director: Improving Access to Medicines and Health Technologies Key to Achieving Universal Health....3

INSIDE: SPONSORED INSERT - Estate Planning Guide ....9-12

Domestic Abuse: Teach Your Boys to Become Real Men ....17

Jamaica's Reggae Marathon Has Won Hearts Across the Globe ....15

Are You Ready to Start Your Podcast? ....21

Understanding 'Disposable Income' and How This Will Impact Your Mortgage Approval ....8

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CARIBBEAN SPECIAL REPORT Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 555 5th Ave 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 630 Third Avenue, 7th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

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Guyana-Venezuela: The Path to Peaceful Resolution – Despite Venezuela’s Sabre Rattling

BY SIR RONALD SANDERS

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ecent intimidatory and aggressive statements issued from Venezuela in the name of President Nicolas Maduro, the Government of Venezuela, and the National Assembly concerning Guyana have raised alarms in the regional, hemispheric and international community.

The Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, and CARICOM have objected to Venezuela's behavior toward Guyana, particularly as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro alleges, without any substantiation, that the Guyana Government is allowing the United States of America (US) to construct a military base on its territory "against Bolivar's Venezuela."

In a UN statement, the Guyana Government rejected Venezuela's allegation, stating that "this all derives from Venezuela's grotesque claim to twothirds of Guyana."

Historical Context The background to these events is that in 1899, Venezuela agreed to an international arbitration that established the boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela as a 'full, final, and perfect' settlement. However, in 1962, just as Guyana was on the brink of gaining independence, Venezuela reversed its longstanding acceptance of the 1899 settlement. Without providing any evidence, the government claimed that the settlement was nothing more than a covert political agreement that infringed on its rights.

Based on this unfounded allegation, Venezuela has staked a claim to twothirds of Guyana, specifically the Essequibo region. This claim, together with intermittent acts of belligerence by Venezuela, including its naval forces, has cast a shadow over Guyana's economic development for all 57 years of its independence, deterring investors and causing instability in the country.

In February 1966, three months before Guyana's independence from Britain, representatives from Venezuela, Britain, and Guyana convened in Geneva. There, they signed an agreement endorsed by the governments and parliaments of all three nations, aiming to resolve 'the controversy.' This agreement outlined several steps toward resolution, including a provision for the UN Secretary-General to select a means of resolution as specified in Article 33 of the UN Charter. This process is articulated in Article IV of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which Venezuela fully endorsed.

Therefore, after the failure of initial resolution steps, UN Secretary-General António Guterres decided on January 30, 2018, that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would be the avenue for

resolution.

The Path of Peaceful Resolution Accordingly, in March 2018, Guyana applied to the ICJ for judicial adjudication.

In response, Venezuela refused to recognize the ICJ's jurisdiction, abide by its decisions, or participate in its proceedings. This response was a direct infringement of Article 93 of the UN Charter, which clearly states: "All Members of the United Nations are ipso facto parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice."

However, the ICJ adjudged that it had jurisdiction to hear the case. Venezuela appeared twice before the Court to object. On both occasions, the Court rejected the Venezuelan objections.

Therefore, the case has continued much to the disquiet of Venezuela, which has clearly always been fearful of the Court's decision.

The Hostile Path In 2020, Guyana started producing and selling oil and gas offshore, boosting its economy. The IMF declared Guyana to be the fastest-growing economy in the world, with GDP growth of 62.3% in 2022 and 59% in the first half of 2023.

In the wake of these spectacular riches, an immediate response was sparked by the Venezuelan government when, on September 13, 2023, the Guyana President, Irfaan Ali, updated the public on bids for 14 new offshore oil blocks, which had been opened for exploration and development. Ali said that immediate bids on 8 of them had been received from oil giants such as ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Total.

On September 19, 2023, the Venezuelan government described the bidding process as "illegal" and issued a "warning" to all the participating companies that it would "apply all necessary measures to prevent the illegitimate exploitation of the natural resources that belong to our nation."

This was followed by the unsubstantiated allegation on September 23, 2023, at the UN General Assembly that the US is seeking "to establish a military base in the contested territory, with the aim of creating a spearhead in its aggression against Venezuela and consolidating the plunder of our energy resources."

Attempt to Divide CARICOM In an open message posted on his X page, Maduro proposed that Guyana should

abandon the process at the ICJ for "a meeting promoted by CARICOM to retake the Geneva Agreement of 1966".

It is a misleading proposition because it is clear, from even a cursory reading of the Geneva Agreement, that Guyana has followed its terms to the letter.

President Maduro had previously sought, unsuccessfully, to divert CARICOM from supporting the ICJ process.

He has not succeeded in this further attempt. Although many CARICOM governments are friendly with the Maduro Government and have urged the US to drop sanctions against it, on September 22, 2023, CARICOM publicly supported Guyana's sovereignty and right to develop its resources.

Promoting Nationalist Venezuela Sentiment On September 21, 2023, Venezuela's National Assembly decided to arouse nationalist sentiment at the urging of the government. It decided to hold a referendum on the claim to Essequibo "so that the people strengthen the defense" and "the inalienable rights of Venezuela." It is a referendum hardly worth holding since, in furtherance of their unsubstantiated claim, for 61 years, successive Venezuelan governments have indoctrinated their people from primary school in the belief that Essequibo belongs to Venezuela.

When the Venezuelan political parties met in Mexico in August 2021 in one of the failed attempts to find a way out of the many political, economic, and humanitarian challenges that the country faces, the only thing on which they could agree was the claim for the Essequibo.

International Involvement and Response In the wake of all this, the international community has made its position clear: it favors ICJ adjudication as the appropriate and peaceful means to settle the controversy, adhering to the Charter of the UN and international law.

This resolution path not only serves justice but also underpins the stability and development prospects of both Guyana and Venezuela, fostering an environment where mutual respect and cooperation can flourish.l Sir Ronald Michael Sanders KCMG KCN AM is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America and the Organization of American States (since 2015) and non-resident High Commissioner to Canada (since 2017) for Antigua and Barbuda.

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THOUGHTS

PAHO Director: Improving Access to Medicines and Health Technologies Key to Achieving Universal Health

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exico City, October 24, 2023 (PAHO): During his visit to Mexico, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, underscored that the COVID-19 crisis brought to the fore the need to diversify the production of healthcare technologies to ensure equitable access and advance towards universal health in the Americas.

During a keynote lecture at the XVIII International Pharmacovigilance Meeting of the Americas, held in the Mexican capital and organized by the Mexican Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), Dr. Barbosa explained that the pandemic highlighted the need for regional collaboration to reduce the import dependence for medical supplies.

"PAHO is collaborating with its Member States to expand the development and production of healthcare technologies, including through a greater and more effective use of regional mechanisms such as PAHO’s Revolving Fund and Strategic Fund," Dr. Barbosa said.

He also emphasized that, in order to increase local production of medicines and health technologies, "it is necessary to have robust regulatory systems that can address the region's needs in a coordinated manner."

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Dr Jarbas Barbosa. Photo courtesy: PAHO

The PAHO Director recognized the success of initiatives across the region in recent years to enhance the regulatory capacities of healthcare systems, including the identification of eight National Regulatory Authorities of Regional Reference.

However, he warned that there are still challenges to strengthen regulatory systems in the region and reduce the existing gaps.

"Regional integration requires a shared vision and a clear willingness from diverse stakeholders to promote the strengthening of regulatory systems. This is the only way to minimize obstacles and enhance regional cooperation with the aim of ensuring equitable access to highquality healthcare technologies," Dr. Barbosa said.

The PAHO Director's participation in the pharmacovigilance event is part of his official visit to Mexico this week, during which he held meetings with the Secretary of Health Jorge Alcocer, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena.

Dr. Barbosa's agenda in the country also includes a meeting with the Head of Government of Mexico City, Martí Batres, and meetings with authorities from the National Commission on Mental Health and Addictions (CONASAMA), Mexico City's Ministry of Health, the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico and the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), as well as with representatives of civil society organizations working on health.l

Contributors Jennine Estes Tarsha Gibbons Janet Howard Mary Campbell JR Holguin Chris Tobias Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com

IARC and PAHO Launch the 1st Edition of the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer

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yon, France / Washington DC, October 17, 2023: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) today launched the first edition of the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer. The new Code, which forms part of the World Code Against Cancer, aims to help reduce the burden of cancer in the region by providing recommendations based on the most recent scientific evi-

dence.

The Code was launched throughout the region at a virtual event organized by PAHO and IARC. It will also be presented to global health and cancer leaders during a plenary session at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Long Beach, California.

The development of this Code represents a collaborative effort between PAHO and IARC, working with a large

group of scientific experts from the region, to review the evidence and make recommendations on how best to prevent cancer. The Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM), the Association of IberoAmerican Leagues Against Cancer (ALICC), the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, and amigo_h are civil society organizations, that are collaborating with the lead agencies on the dissemination of the code within the region.

“The Code is particularly relevant for primary health care providers, who are the first point of contact with the health system,” PAHO Director, Dr. Barbosa noted. “It is our hope that, through this Code, we can collectively influence positive changes in health policies and behaviors, in our efforts to prevent cancer.”

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IN THE NEWS Canada-CARICOM/ continued from page 1 years. This relationship, forged in the birth of new Caribbean nations, has evolved into an enduring strategic partnership amongst equals, based on a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and the rules-based international order, and which aims to advance common foreign policy, trade, security, and development priorities.

As global actors, Canada and CARICOM join forces to navigate evolving geopolitical events, including our most recent engagement in the triple crises of COVID-19, climate change, and food and energy insecurity. Together we commit to joint action on shared priorities such as climate resilience; building inclusive and sustainable economies; enhancing multilateral cooperation; and bolstering bilateral and regional security, including working together to help restore the security and stability of Haiti for the benefit of its people. We are also committed to working together to promote gender and racial equality and inclusion in the hemisphere, and to strengthening our already deep people-to-people ties. We are committed to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and building strong, resilient and inclusive societies and economies.

Marking the occasion of our first Summit to be held in Canada, we launch the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership, to embed our close collaboration and cooperation on mutually

4 agreed sectors.

•OBJECTIVES The Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership: •Serves as a permanent joint mechanism for regular dialogue, as well as for ad hoc consultations on issues of mutual interest, with responsibility for preparation, follow-up and implementation of joint actions, decisions and agreements between Canada and CARICOM. •Fosters the existing relationship between Canada and CARICOM through regular leader, ministerial and senior official level meetings to advance timebound and agreed-upon roadmaps for action.

•STRUCTURE AND COORDINATION 3a.

General Coordination and Management Global Affairs Canada and the CARICOM Secretariat will co-lead the general coordination and management of the Strategic Partnership. Collaborative partnerships can be forged between competent institutions in Canada and relevant regional organizations in CARICOM in order to drive dialogue and implement initiatives.

3b. Structure and Frequency of Meetings The Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership is comprised of regular leader-level engagement to set overarching priorities and interests to advance and further deepen the partnership in addition to concurrent formal and ad hoc fora:

1.Canada-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Group (CCFMG): meet annually to advance overarching priorities through substantive discussions on issues impacting the Caribbean region and the hemisphere, emerging trends and solutions to common challenges. Based on the agenda and discussions during the CCFMG, Ministers will set annual priorities for officials to guide the implementation of a Canada-CARICOM evergreen Roadmap for action. Foreign Ministers will report to Leaders through a joint letter from Canada’s Foreign Minister and the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) pro-tempore Chair of CARICOM describing engagement, progress to date and joint action to advance the Strategic Partnership.

1.Canada-CARICOM Ministerial Meetings: ad-hoc ministerial-level meetings to advance specific thematic priorities, including on Trade, Development, Finance, Health, Environment, and Defense, etc.

2. Canada-CARICOM Senior Officials’ Dialogue: the annual CCFMG meeting is preceded by the Senior Officials’ Dialogue, which serves as a preparatory meeting for Foreign Ministers’ substantive discussions on topline issues, and reviews progress and implementation of the Canada-CARICOM Roadmap.

3. Canada-CARICOM Expert Dialogues: ad-hoc expert dialogues between relevant Canadian and CARICOM institutions could be established to advance thematic priorities and actions listed in the Canada-CARICOM Roadmap, including

bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives. Expert groups would meet before and after major international summits, including – but not limited to – UNGA, the OAS, WHO, the Commonwealth, the G7 and the G20, to deepen coordinated action on multilateral priorities of democracy, human rights, and the rules based international order and amplify advocacy for hemispheric challenges. Expert groups would report on concrete progress at the annual Senior Officials’ Dialogue, to ensure effective and sustainable progress is being made on thematic lines of activity.

4.Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: to deepen institutional linkages through training, knowledge exchange, capacity building and technical assistance initiatives, including considering secondments as a form of exchange program, where a CARICOM official is embedded in a federal organisation and vice-versa in the Secretariat or within a CARICOM Member State’s organization.

5.Special ad-hoc meetings: could be held at the request of Canada or CARICOM. •LAUNCH OF THE CANADA-CARICOM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Pursuant to the Co-Chairs’ Statement of the Second Meeting of the CanadaCARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Group, the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership is hereby launched by Leaders at the Canada-CARICOM Summit in Ottawa, October18, 2023.l

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IN THE NEWS

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Mayor Adams, DDC, NYC Parks Break Ground on $141 Million Shirley Chisholm Recreation

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ew York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley, and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue were today joined by New York City Councilmember Farah N. Louis, New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, and community members to break ground on the new, $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center at the Nostrand Playground in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

DDC is managing the construction on behalf of NYC Parks.

The new center is named for Brooklynborn politician, and the first African American woman to serve in Congress, Shirley Chisholm. The daughter of immigrant parents from Guyana, Chisholm also made history as the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties. Her contributions to her community and country are reflective of her desire to affect change.

“Shirley Chisholm inspired millions of young girls to pursue dreams they never thought possible. And when the Shirley

Rendering of the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in East Flatbush.

Credit: New York City Department of Design and Construction

Chisholm Recreational Center opens, her name will once again inspire another generation, while providing the residents of East Flatbush with a state-of-the-art recreational center that honors the rich history and heritage of this vibrant community,” said Mayor Adams. “I am especially pleased to see that the media lab will bear the name of a personal friend and mentor, Dr. Roy Hastick, who was a true champion of the Caribbean community in East Flatbush. With this project, our administration is using all the tools at our disposal to deliver amenities for New Yorkers more quickly and efficiently than ever before.”

Upon its completion at the end of 2025, the state-of the art recreation center will offer a host of programming offerings and amenities to encourage learning, recreation, and community and civic engagement. The center’s features will include multipurpose rooms; a gymnasium; a walking track; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; and a teaching kitchen. Also included is a media lab.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a milestone for our community, whose residents of all ages will soon immensely benefit from a first-of-its kind community hub

right in our backyard,” said New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. “I’m proud to play a role in offering historic assets and activities for Flatbush, including a teaching commercial kitchen, a state-of-the-art pool, indoor track, a green roof, the Dr. Roy Hastick Media Lab and Business Center, and much more. The $141 million recreation center is carrying Shirley Chisholm’s legacy forward by championing equity with vast opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.”

“Investing in district 45’s youth, older adults and residents is an investment in New York City's future, and I am delighted to have delivered the $141 million in funds to expand recreation space in Central Brooklyn for its families and, most importantly, East Flatbush scholars,” said New York City Councilmember Farah N. Louis.

“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is more than brick and mortar; it’s a promise fulfilled to our community,” said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph. “It represents a space for health, education, and a stronger, united East Flatbush. Today, we break ground on our shared vision for a better tomorrow.”l

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FAMILY MATTERS

NYC’s High School Admissions Process Opens Oct. 3. Here’s What Families Should Know.

BY JULIAN SHEN-BERRO, CHALKBEAT

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he new school year has barely begun, and already New York City’s notoriously complex (and often controversial) high school admissions process kicks off next week, lasting through early December.

The process can be daunting for the tens of thousands of eighth grade families applying to public high schools, and economic and racial diversity concerns remain at the city’s most selective schools.

Last year, nearly half of the city’s eighth grade applicants were admitted to their top choice school, while about 75% were admitted to one of their top three picks. About 95% of applicants were admitted to one of the 12 schools they ranked in their application, according to city data.

The months-long process can lead to heightened levels of anxiety and confusion for families. It often feels

inequitable, with families who have the time and resources to devote to the process having an upper hand, parents say.

Details about tours and application requirements can vary from school to school, and information posted online can at times be slow to update.

Meanwhile, the roughly two-month timeline and wide array of options, with more

than 700 programs at over 400 schools, add further stress to the equation.

Joyce Szuflita, a Brooklyn-based admissions consultant who runs NYC School Help, called it “a scavenger hunt with too little time.”

For families who are going through the middle and high school application process simultaneously, it can feel even more overwhelming. “How can those families not blow a gasket?” she said.

When do applications open? What is the deadline for high school applications in NYC? The city’s high school application process is expected to open on Oct. 3.

Registration opens the same day for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, or SHSAT — the sole metric by which eight of the city’s prestigious specialized high schools admit students.

The test will take place during the school day at public schools, with additional weekend test dates available for public school students, 9th grade testers, and charter/non-public school testers, according to Education Department officials.

Families will have until Oct. 27 to register for the SHSAT. High school applications will remain open until Dec. 1, with offers set to release on March 7.

Meanwhile, middle school admissions are staggered by about a week, with applications opening Oct. 11 and closing Dec. 8. Middle school offers are expected to be released on April 3.

The city’s Education Department will hold several virtual admissions events in October. Many schools list their open houses and tours on the city’s MySchools directory. High school fairs are listed there as well.

How did NYC high schools admit students last year?

Schools across the city employ different methods of determining admissions, with various application requirements specific to each.

For admissions to the city’s selective screened schools, this fall’s incoming ninth graders were sorted into four differ-

ent priority groups based on their seventh grade GPAs in core subjects. In cases where there were more applicants in a priority group than seats, selections were made based on a random number assigned to each applicant, often referred to as a lottery number.

Some schools also required admissions essays or auditions, which were further used to make determinations.

More than 40 selective schools also participate in a diversity initiative, setting aside a certain number of seats to students who are low-income, English language learners, or live in temporary housing. There was a separate lottery for these seats.

Other schools used open or educational option admissions, which primarily used an applicant’s random number for admissions, though some took into account additional criteria to create priority groups. (Educational option programs set aside seats for students at different academic levels to promote academic diversity.)

Will this year use the same application guidelines?

Screened schools will follow the same admissions process as last year, according to the city’s Education Department — though the grade averages for each priority group have shifted slightly.

Middle school admissions will also follow the same broad format as last year, officials said.

What do experts recommend to get started?

Sindy Nuesi, director of the Middle School Student Success Center at the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, recommends families start by narrowing down the vast field of possible schools.

Nuesi advises families and students to first decide how far they’re willing to commute to school, or whether there are specific neighborhoods in which they’d like to attend school. From there, they can look for programs that fit their child’s interests.

“Even though a lot of students are still not too sure what they want, if they do have some particular interest that they really like, it narrows down the options,” she said, adding families can filter searches based on interest areas. “That makes it less overwhelming.”

Nuesi also suggests developing a relationship with your school counselor, who can help at each step of the admissions process.

Elissa Stein, an admissions consultant who runs High School 411, urges parents to look at the process holistically and not become fixated on a particular school or program. continued on page 7

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7

FAMILY MATTERS High School Admission Process continued from page 6 “I always tell families that they should be taking things into consideration based on their child,” she said. “So think things through in terms of the size of the school, the things that they offer, the academic ranges, the commute, the building, the neighborhood — there are so many things that will make a school a good fit for your child or not.”

Opening your mind to exploring schools you’re not as familiar with also aids in the process, she added.

“There are schools that everybody knows by name and reputation,” Stein said. “But there are a lot of other schools that aren’t as well known that could be wonderful fits.”

What are some tips to avoid getting overwhelmed?

Staying organized, keeping track of important dates, and taking notes can help ease the process, Stein suggested.

Pamela Wheaton, an admissions consultant who runs SchoolScoutNYC, suggested families cast a wide net in their applications and take advantage of resources like InsideSchools, which posts information about schools across the city.

Families should also find ways to tap their communities. Parents can team up

Editorial credit: Jessica B. Kirk / Shutterstock.com

with other families to coordinate school visits, allowing them to cover more ground in the condensed timeline, Wheaton said.

What does your high school lottery number mean for admissions?

Last year, for the first time, the Education Department sent all families their lottery numbers — a string of 32 numbers and letters — at the beginning of the application process. Many families on Facebook groups sent around tip sheets on how to interpret the number to figure out where students fell to gauge their odds.

Education Department officials said families will be able to see their random numbers when they start their high school applications in MySchools on or after Oct. 3.

Szuflita warns against worrying too much about the number.

“Everybody calls this the lottery,” she said. “It’s not a lottery. It’s a match.”

Though the random number can be con-

sequential, at many schools it is just one of many factors, Szuflita said. At some schools that require applicants to write essays, for example, the number is less likely to play a major role. And at the city’s eight specialized high schools, the number isn’t considered at all, Szuflita added.

“Your random number in this process is a tiebreaker,” she said. “When there are candidates of equal priority, then the random number comes into play.”

Ultimately, admissions consultants and counselors say to take a deep breath and trust that your student will land somewhere they can be successful.

“Be fluid, be calm, because everything will come in good time,” Szuflita said. “It will all be fine. There are so many great schools. There are so many worthy programs.” l This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Published on September 29, 2023

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BE EQUITY SMART

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Understanding 'Disposable Income' and How This Will Impact Your Mortgage Approval income on a monthly basis, making your application more feasible.

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

T

here are few things more exciting than finding your ideal home, but with the rising cost of housing, a person's dream home can often come with a very high purchase price. If you're wondering how much home you can truly afford and how your cost of living will fare for your mortgage approval, here are some of the details on what you can expect when it comes to finding a home at an affordable price.

What Is Your Debt-to-Income Ratio?

Before deciding if a home is right for you, it's important to calculate what your debtto-income (DTI) ratio is to determine how much house you can afford. The debt amount will include any credit cards, existing mortgages and other loan payments that you pay down each month. To determine your maximum monthly payment, multiply your gross income by 0.36 and divide it by 12. This will give you the expenditure of debt, including your housing payment, that you should not exceed each month.

Determining Your Down Payment There's a lot of talk around the ideal amount you should put forward for a down payment, but this percentage can directly impact the amount of the house you can afford. If you are able to put down 20% of the purchase price of your home, this means your monthly mortgage payments will be minimized and this will decrease your DTI ratio. While a home may be out of your reach if you can only put 10 or 15% down, 20% down will ensure a higher amount of disposable

Determine Your Lifestyle While a lender may not reject your application outright if your debt-to-income ratio is higher than suggested, it's important to know what kind of spending choices make sense for you so that you can make your monthly payments. If you have limited expenses above your mortgage and enjoy a Spartan lifestyle, it's entirely possible that you'll be able to manage a higher monthly amount.

However, if you don't have stable employment and are struggling each month, it may be a good idea to consider a less expensive property.

Call Equity Smart Realty at 888-670-6791 for a consultation.

Guidance The monthly mortgage payment for your dream home may look like it's manageable on the surface, but if your DTI ratio exceeds what is suggested, there may be issues with acceptance of your application. If you're currently on the market for a new home, you may want to contact one of our professionals for more information.

Call 888-670-6791.l

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Estate Planning Guide Getting Your Financial House in Order: The Three Essential Elements of an Estate Plan

BY PEARL PHILLIP

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I

f there is one gift you can give to those you love, it is getting your financial house in order. A comprehensive estate plan is vitally important, yet many put it off until it is too late.

You may not realize you already have an estate plan, but it differs from what you intended. If you fail to create a comprehensive plan for your estate and assets, the state will do it for you - and the people you love may not be happy with the results.

Why not make this the year you finally create that estate plan? It may not be a pleasant subject, but life and death are unpredictable. Knowing that you have a written plan for your estate will give you and the people you love the peace of mind, and here are the essential elements that the plan should include.

A Written Will A written will is the cornerstone of any comprehensive estate plan and is generally the best place to start. If you do not yet have a will in place, contact an attorney and get one put together.

You will want to prepare for the meeting with the attorney, bringing as much documentation as possible about your assets and their desired disposition. If you are working with an estate planning law firm, you can complete the other elements of your plan when drawing up

Study Finds 1 in 4 Americans Recognize a Greater Need For Estate Planning Due to

your will, simplifying the process and reducing the time the whole thing takes.

A Durable Power of Attorney The next essential element of your estate plan is the durable power of attorney.

You may not want to think about it, but deciding who can make decisions for you if you become disabled is very important, both for your well-being and that of your overburdened family members.

Once the durable power of attorney is in place, the person you name will be empowered to make critical decisions if you become disabled or cannot communicate. Hopefully, this part of your estate plan will never kick into place, but having it established will help you breathe easier.

A Living Will The third and final part of your compre-

hensive estate plan is a living will, which is vitally important. Medical advances have allowed patients to live longer, but not always better, lives, and it is crucial to think about what you want the medical authorities to do - and not do.

Would you want to be kept alive on a ventilator? Do you prefer robust life support or a more natural approach to death?

Again these are not pleasant subjects, but they are important. The purpose of the living will is to lay out your wishes, removing any ambiguity and making it easier for your loved ones to make critical decisions on your behalf.

A comprehensive written estate plan is essential in preparing for your future.

You might not want to think about it, but the estate plan you create will need to go into effect someday, and the sooner you lay it all out, the sooner you can get on with living your life to the fullest. p

aring.com, a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care reviews, published its annual Wills & Estate Planning Study that explores the prevalence of estate planning in the U.S. and the reasons Americans do or do not engage in this end-of-life planning process. In the 2023 survey, responses from over 2,400 American adults indicated that only 34% have a will – albeit an increase of 3% since 2022 and 6% since 2020.

The study, which highlights the differences in attitudes towards estate planning among various age, socioeconomic and racial groups, found that inflation has had a disproportionately larger impact on younger Americans’ views of estate planning. While 54% of young Americans (ages 18 to 34) say inflation changed their views on estate planning, only 32% of Americans ages 55 and older say their views changed.

Likewise, 35% of Black Americans say inflation changed their views on estate planning, compared to only 27% of Hispanic Americans and 25% of White Americans. Overall, 26% of all American adults now see a greater need to establish an estate plan due to inflation.

While many see a greater need for endof-life planning, certain demographics continued on page 4

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Oct 2023

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Health Care Directives: What You Need to Know

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hen you become too frail or sick to make your own decisions on end-of-life health care, the emotional strain is passed on to your family or loved ones. Not only can this cause incredible stress, but the avenue they take may not be the route you had in mind. Be open and honest about your final wishes.

Don’t procrastinate when creating an advance care plan. Age isn’t the only factor that should be considered. A medical crisis that leaves you too ill to make your own decisions could strike at any time.

Emergency Treatment Without a solid health care directive in place, family members may be tasked with making difficult decisions for your treatment. Here are a few common instances you must have clear and legal instructions regarding, as suggested by the National Institute on Aging: • CPR: If your heart begins beating with an abnormal rhythm, it can be life- threatening. Discuss with your family your opinions about resuscitation so they can determine if CPR should be administered.

Choosing an Estate Attorney

O • Ventilator: When you are unable to breathe on your own, a ventilator can be used to keep you alive. It usually includes a tube which is connected to your trachea to ensure you’re receiving enough oxygen.

• Comfort Care: Deciding how to keep you comfortable while suffering is another factor you should have clear instructions for. Consider instances like limiting medical testing, spiritual and emotional counseling, and pain medication.

Compensation for Victims & Families of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

If your loved one was neglected or abused in a Nursing Home or assisted living facility, financial compensation may be available.

Call 855-768-8845 for a consultation One in six residents in nursing homes and community facilties were neglected last year resulting in thousands of families experiencing trauma, mental illness, medical emergencies, and even death. Nursing home abuse and neglect is real.

Has your loved one experienced any of these or other types of abuse?

•Bedsores •Improper Treatment/Medication •Choking/Death •Malnutrition/Dehydration •Falls •Respiratory Illness •Fractured Bones •Sexual Abuse •Infections •Sexual Assault

Experience matters. The lawyer you hire does make a difference.

Schedule a consultation now.

Get compensation for your loved one’s suffering.

Call 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us

Types of Facilities Visit different facilities to make the decision on where you will stay if you become disabled to the point you can’t take care of yourself. It’s important to have a plan for different stages of life.

Here are a few to consider: If you require minimal assistance to live your day-to-day life, an assisted living community is a great option. You have the freedom to reside in your own space yet receive help in areas like laundry services, prepared meals and personal care.

A nursing home is a better option when you need constant assistance from medical professionals. Here, you can receive 24-hour supervision and help with daily necessities like bathing, grooming and medical management.

In-home care is a great option for someone who wants to stay at home while receiving the same benefits as an assisted-living facility. While it can be expensive to call on medical professionals to come to your home, it is a very comfortable option for those needing help.

What Happens If You Do Not Have An Advance Directive?

If you do not have an advance directive and you are unable to make decisions on your own, the state laws where you live will determine who may make medical decisions on your behalf. This is typically your spouse, your parents if they are available, or your children if they are adults. If you are unmarried and have not named your partner as your proxy, it’s possible they could be excluded from decision-making. If you have no family members, some states allow a close friend who is familiar with your values to help. Or they may assign a physician to represent your best interests.

Legal Help Think of your advance directives as living documents that you review at least once each year and update if a major life event occurs.

If you have questions regarding health care directives, call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-768-8845 or visit

rganizing your estate can be overwhelming without the help of an expert. With the assistance of an estate planning attorney, you can discuss your vision for your assets before death. Don’t risk creating a plan that doesn’t specify your decisions to the exact details.

When searching for a specialized attorney, it’s important to chat with a few different experts in your area. Make sure you feel comfortable in their office as the discussions of finances and final wishes can be intimate. Once you find several attorneys to interview for the role, here are some questions you should ask before deciding: How Long Have They Been Practicing Estate Planning Law? Many general attorneys will advertise that estate planning is a part of their practice. They can be a great help when creating legal documents like a will, health care directives and power of attorney.

However, if your financial situation is more complicated, an experienced estate planning lawyer will have better knowledge of the ever-changing laws and knows how to protect your legacy.

You should also know how long they have been in practice. Someone who has extensive experience in the industry has likely discovered flaws in previous cases and has learned how to correct them.

Ensuring your final wishes are in good hands is great peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

Do They Regularly Update Plans?

To stay on top of your estate, find an attorney who offers an updating and maintenance program. The service may cost more, but they will contact you throughout the year and discuss new techniques, life-changing events which may impact your plans and alterations to laws.

Working with a lawyer who stays in contact with you about your estate plan ensures your documents will be up-todate when they’re needed.

How Do They Charge?

Estate planning is necessary to prepare your family before your death. Ask about the fees the attorney charges. During the interview, find out if the fee is a fixed rate or hourly. You don’t want to be surprised with unexpected fees.

Ready to start your estate planning? call the experienced professionals at the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 855-7688845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us p

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Planning Succession for Your Business

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uccession planning involves creating a plan for someone to either own or run your business after you retire, become disabled, or die. In simple terms, succession planning is the process of passing control of the business to others. Here are some steps to take for succession planning: Find Successor If you are passing the business to a family member, you may consider transferring ownership through your estate planning process. Often, however, new management comes from your pool of existing employees. If you have a larger business (such as an LLC or a corporation), succession planning involves preparing people for management and leadership roles in order to replace you or other managers when the time arises.

Finding your replacement is difficult so plan ahead, it is best to start early.

Leaders are not always easy to find and it takes time to mentor someone into a management role. You will need to identify potential successors in your family or among employees. You can hire from outside the company, but it’s helpful to groom someone already in your business, over a period of time, so the transition to

leaves, a current employee should be ready to step into the vacated role. As the need arises, with good succession planning, employees or family members are ready for new leadership roles.

Ease Tax Exposure Tax exposure arises when one generation gives way to the next generation in a closely-held family business. In this case, succession planning and estate planning become intertwined by the family. Multiple types of taxes must be considered when planning this type of succession, including: •Income tax •Gift tax •Generation-skipping tax •Estate tax new leadership will be smooth.

Train Successor Once you have successors identified, deliberately create a training plan to ensure that everyone involved has time to learn the skills, gather the information, and practice the leadership roles critical to the future success of the business.

Whether you are transferring a business to a family member or you are promoting

employees into leadership roles, you need to plan ahead.

A succession plan takes into consideration the development of future leaders’ skills and abilities. The plan should deliver a return on your business’s training investment by providing for your successors’ advancement while simultaneously ensuring your successors don’t leave your business. Even if someone

Start family succession planning sooner, rather than later, because starting sooner will give you more flexibility with your planning. Consult an attorney and an accountant about putting the proper estate documents in place, especially for succession planning in a family business.p Source: sba.gov

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SPONSORED INSERT: Estate Planning

Planning for a Disabled Child

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state pre-planning should be an important part of everyone’s financial regimen, but this process becomes even more important when you have a child with disabilities.

A lot of factors go into creating a uniquely designed plan, depending on their unique personal challenges and whether they are a minor or adult. The goal is to help your special-needs child continue to lead an enriching, happy life even in your absence.

A Lifetime of Care The larger goal of special-needs planning is to preserve public aid while also supplementing your child’s care. There are additional benefits to taking care of this right away: If plans are put in place while you’re still alive, the estate avoids probate. Others interested parties, like their grandparents, can contribute to a trust.

Named co-trustees can also get hands-on experience in helping with childcare and administering the guardianship.

Depending on the child’s capability, this money-management program may be critically important since it will be the only future path to protecting eligibility for benefits. It will provide additional funds for a broader scope of care and create a financial resource should benefits

child. Many public-aid options are designed to be resource dependent, meaning recipients aren’t eligible if they have access to a certain amount of money. These trusts allow for an inheritance without endangering aid provided by Medicaid, SSI or other government programs because assets held in trust are not directly available to the child. Funds from life-insurance policies, IRAs and retirement plans can also be directed to the trust, and the child still has access to other programs.

become restricted or end all together.

Special-Needs Trust Children are at particular risk if they are unable to live independently after the death of a parent of guardian. A specialneeds trust can ensure that they are provided with needed resources and care over the course of their lifetime. Parents or guardians should name the trust as a beneficiary in their will, according to the American Bar Association, instead of the

Designating a Caretaker Beyond the obvious financial considerations, parents and guardians must select a designated caretaker to look after their special-needs child — or to manage their care, if the child is in an assisted-living environment. Work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning in order to create both a trust and this succession plan, since states have differing regulations and laws regarding who may serve as a legal guardian.p

Greater Need for Estate Planning/ continued from page 1 are less likely to have an estate plan than in years past. Hispanic Americans are the least likely racial demographic to have a will, with only 23% saying they have an estate plan in 2023 – this is a decrease of 17% since 2022 and 39% since 2021.

Additionally, findings show that young adults are nearly as likely as middle-aged adults to have a will—26% of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they have a will, compared to 27% of Americans ages 35 to 54.

“Inflation is causing the public to think more about their financial futures, and for many people, this means that they are thinking about end-of-life planning,” says Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Caring.com.

“Yet we haven’t seen a significant uptick in estate planning, with too many people simply putting off this crucial piece of financial planning. More education is needed to help Americans understand the importance of estate planning — and the consequences for their loved ones if they fail to do so.”

The survey asked respondents without wills what would motivate them to create one – 41% said they are waiting until they have a health crisis, and 1 in 4 said nothing would motivate them to plan their estate. When those who do have a will were asked what prompted them to create one, 28% say retirement, 26% say death of a loved one, and 22% say family expansion. p

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GET YOUR BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION Documents Required: Save Your: *Home *Business *Car

*Health *Peace of Mind/Health *Marriage/Relationship

*List of debts *Your most recent tax returns *Correspondence from creditors *Lawsuit documents *Social Security and ID *List of assets

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy may be your only choice!!!

Call 855-768-8845 for a consultation today!

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IMMIGRATION

CBP’s Own Website Provides Insight Into Its Agents’ Corruption and Misconduct

BY EMILY CREIGHTON

C

orruption within U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s workforce often has been hidden behind bureaucratic red tape. But what was once shrouded in mystery is now plainly available—on CBP’s own website.

CBP has developed a “Transparency and Accountability” page designed to share information about CBP-related deaths, use of force incidents, and other incidents resulting in serious injuries.

The agency’s website also includes information about methods for reporting CBP misconduct to oversight offices like CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Office of the Inspector General. It also houses links to policies, including those that govern OPR’s oversight functions as well as CBP policies regarding immigrants in its custody. One policy, for instance, addresses CBP’s policies and protocols related to children born in CBP custody or at a CBP facility.

The page also includes information about OPR investigations. The OPR

Editorial credit: Rebekah Zemansky / Shutterstock.com

plays an oversight and accountability role within CBP and is charged with investigating allegations of corruption and misconduct. The most recent OPR investigative report shared on the page, Corruption in CBP: A Retrospective Study of Cases, summarizes findings from a multi-year study examining the prevalence of corruption within CBP. Defining corruption as “criminal activity involving the misuse of official position for personal gain,” the report described how corruption typically manifests within CBP:

•Providing sensitive information to criminal organizations •Facilitating smuggling of drugs and humans •Harboring undocumented noncitizens •Committing fraud •Querying law enforcement databases for unofficial purposes •Stealing property and funds To gain a deeper understanding about how corruption occurs within CBP, OPR examined 173 cases of individuals who were convicted or entered guilty pleas for

engaging in criminal activity involving corruption. All of the employees were arrested or indicted between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2017. The review identified common situations among the staff and includes interviews with co-workers and supervisors of the staff involved in criminal activity.

The study’s findings are shocking.

In 69% of the cases, OPR described the activity as “mission compromising corruption,” or activity in opposition to CBP’s mission to protect the border and national security. Examples include straw purchases of weapons—where a person purchases a firearm on behalf of a person who cannot legally purchase a firearm—and querying government IT systems with law enforcement information and then sharing the information with criminal organizations.

The other 31% of cases involved “petty corruption,” defined as less serious activity that involved personal gain but didn’t compromise CBP’s mission. This involved stealing government property, cash, and property of members of the continued on page 14

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14

IMMIGRATION

USCIS Launches a New Enterprise Change of Address

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n Sept. 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched a new Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool to allow customers to update their address with USCIS more easily.

With E-COA, most individuals with a USCIS online account can update their mailing and physical address with USCIS for pending applications, petitions, or requests in a single place, eliminating the need to update the address in multiple places; fill out a paper AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card; call the Contact Center; or visit a USCIS Field or Asylum Office. The E-COA tool is available in English only and can be accessed via a USCIS online account regardless of whether the pending case was submitted online or by mail. Customers who do not have any pending applications, petitions, or requests can also use the tool to meet the requirement to notify USCIS if they have moved.

E-COA will only be available in English. E-COA will not be available in

Spanish or other languages, as USCIS online accounts are required to be in English.

Individuals protected under 8 USC 1367 (persons who have pending or approved applications or petitioners for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) benefits, T nonimmigrant status, or U nonimmigrant status, and their beneficiaries or derivatives) will not be able to use E-COA during the initial phase.l

Corruption/ continued from page 13 public. It also included fraudulent workers’ compensation claims and housing and mortgage fraud. It also involved the disturbing tactic of accessing law enforcement information contained in government IT systems to gain information about individuals and then to wield influence over them.

The corrupt activity happened in 19 states, D.C. and 3 foreign countries. The largest number of corruption cases occurred in Arizona, but they also occurred in New York and Michigan, states far from the southwest border.

Most of the corrupt employees worked as front-line workers as enforcement officers at the border, where they were able to engage in activities such as drug smuggling or releasing sensitive law enforcement information to criminal organizations.

One perhaps unsurprising finding is that many of the corrupt employees already were subject to multiple allegations of misconduct and corruption and were reported to oversight agencies prior to the allegations leading to their arrests.

Another finding revealed that employees involved in petty corruption often acted alone to enrich themselves, while those involved in mission compromising corruption often coordinated with others,

including other CBP employees.

One telling finding was that CBP officials did not often initiate an investigation with respect to their co-workers.

Despite having misgivings about colleagues and suspecting colleagues engaged in illegal behavior, CBP employees rarely reported these concerns to OPR. Most cases were investigated because of information provided by informants, the CBP employee was identified in another law enforcement agency’s investigation, a member of the public saw the illegal activity, a person knew the employee, or a person was the victim of the activity.

Highlighting incidents of corruption on CBP’s own webpage is a helpful way for the public to track and better understand the ways that corruption takes shape and whether or not meaningful accountability exists within the agency. It is clear that oversight agencies like OPR must continue to diligently investigate CBP employees’ behavior and trends in corruption and not rely on employees to report allegations of misconduct.l

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

How Jamaica's Reggae Marathon Has Won the Heart of Runners Across the Globe

Photo Courtesy: Reggae Marathon

Photo by Karen Fuchs

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he Reggae Marathon, for many, is the most transfixing event on the semi-professional running calendar. Urban marathons, such as the New York and London Marathon, force runners through blocks and boroughs of densely packed buildings and labyrinthian streets. "The magic moments of Jamaica, of running in Negril, involve having the Seven Mile beach visible throughout the event and finishing the race by running into the Caribbean Sea," beamed Reggae Marathon sponsorship and marketing director Diane Ellis.

Unique Charm of the Reggae Marathon Held in the first blush of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the marathon is a runner's escape from the seasonal chill that plagues northern countries. The Marathon team chose the early December start date to fill a gap in the busy Negril winter tourist season, making the Reggae Marathon the unofficial starting pistol for the winter season.

Participants come for the race and stay to support local industries. They visit concerts, stay at hotels of all sizes, and partake in Negril and Ocho Rios' vibrant nightlife.

"I never expected the finish to end at the beach," gushed filmmaker and Reggae Marathon ambassador John Lewis. "I've lived in Miami for 20 years

and have done races there, but we never ended up on the beach." The community vibe is a significant part of why Lewis will return for his second time this year.

"At the end of the race, everybody congratulated each other, enjoyed each other's company, and hung out for a while."

Larry Savitch, a New Yorker and Reggae Marathon veteran, agreed with Lewis. "What has brought me back is that no other race I have ever participated in has given me so many friends, not just acquaintances, but real friends that I chat with several times a year and have seen outside of Negril."

A Growing International Appeal Attendance at the Reggae Marathon has steadily grown over the years. In 2022, almost 2000 participants from 35 different countries entered the event. Many came from the US, the UK, and Canada, all nations with large Jamaican diasporas, but participants also traveled from other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad & Tobago, eastern European countries like Poland, African countries such as Angola, and Asian countries like Japan, among many others.

The growth results from determined, boots-on-the-groundwork by the team behind Reggae Marathon. In the event's early years, a travel team would set up booths at the expos featured at larger,

more established marathons, such as the New York Marathon and the Miami Marathon. Ellis theorizes that the novelty of a middle-to-long-distance event in the world's capital of sprint racing was enough to turn heads. On top of that, December is not an ideal season for marathon running in northern countries.

Slippery surfaces that invite dangerous spills, bundles of clothes needed to stay warm but uncomfortable to move in for extended periods, and air so cold that it feels like shards of glass in your lungs with each inhale – none are conducive to comfortable running.

Community, Music, and Charity The first leg of the Reggae Marathon journey is through a torch-lit path that opens up into the main stretch, offering a view of the iconic Seven Mile beach.

Runners are enveloped by the clean morning air and, climate change permitting, a Christmas breeze (northerly winds visiting the island). The 'Reggae' in Reggae Marathon is more than a name; music is a fundamental aspect of the experience. The renowned Silver Birds Steel Band Orchestra plays at different legs, working through a discography of classic Jamaican songs and iconic pop covers. Mobile music DJs outfit their cars as mini sound systems and drive past booming music, everything from Reggae classics to Afrobeats chart-toppers, rally-

ing the runners. The event finishes before the shoreline, and runners are encouraged to jog right into the sea for the perfect cooldown.

"The end of your race is just the beginning of another party with Reggae, refreshments (Red Stripe beer and fresh coconut water straight from the coconut), and, most importantly, the Caribbean Sea, which is life-giving and healing just to soak in. Vacation starts up again!" beamed Savitch.

It all combines to make the Reggae Marathon an excellent starting competition for those curious about long-distance running. "There's no better place to run a half marathon," Lewis proclaimed. "You can be competitive if you want, but you can also just enjoy your time there."

Savitch again agreed. "If you want to have fun and enjoy the sunshine and music, this is the perfect race for rookies and seasoned runners," he said.

Many groups compete in the event together, such as the Reggae Runnerz, a group of participants from the diaspora that includes anywhere between 200 and 450 members annually. This group has made sizable donations to the Green Island community, a small coastal town near Negril, helping to support the local high school and even funding excursions to the Penn Relays. Another group is a collective of medical practitioners volunteering at Negril's clinics after participating. The charitable energy permeates throughout the event and trickles down from the organizers. One of the partners is the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, which offers affordable medical care, including scans and testing for heart disease, and participants are encouraged to donate funds when possible. The marathon also partners with the SOS Children's Village in Kingston to bring volunteers to the event. The children are transported to Negril and exposed to the marathon's best-in-class organization.

This year's Marathon is on December 3, 2023, and promises the same one-of-akind combination of vibes, music, charity, and fun.l

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HEALTH

16 mammography facilities plays a vital role in reducing the disparity.

Breast Cancer/ continued from page 1 remains the most common cancer among women in the United States.

Sadly, Black women remain more likely to die from the disease than white women, with such factors as racial disparities in accessibility to healthcare, risk factors, and treatment among contributory factors to the situation.

Understanding the Challenge Findings show that many Black women, who are unlikely to have health insurance, are more likely to live in areas with fewer healthcare providers, thus making it more difficult to access early detection and treatment than white women.

Furthermore, Black women are more likely to possess the most risk factors, like obesity, dense breasts, and a family history of breast cancer, than white women. In terms of treatment, they are less likely to receive standard breast cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, which worsen the outcomes. Additionally, limited access to healthcare facilities and health insurance disproportionately affects Black women, impacting vital aspects such as timely screenings, follow-up care, and treatment completion.

The Unyielding Gap In 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS) revealed that invasive breast cancer is expected to affect over 300,580 women, constituting new cases in the United States, despite medical advance-

ments leading to over a 42 percent drop in related deaths in the past three decades.

Yet, Black women face a higher death rate of up to 40 percent from breast cancer, ranging from a combination of economic, social, and behavioral elements interplaying to cause the higher risk of breast cancer, including higher prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and a lower rate of breastfeeding post childbirth among the group of women.

Other biological factors, often starting at a younger age or more advanced stages, such as the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype and inflammatory breast cancer, also contribute to the disparities.

Breakthroughs in Clinical Trials and Investigation Among the many studies the Breast Cancer Research Foundation sponsored, two pivotal clinical trials, TAILORx and RxPONDER, have shed new insights into the issue. While Dr. Joseph Sparano,

a BCRF investigator, delved into a problem that revealed differences in early recurrences among Black and white women, another trial demonstrated that certain types of breast cancer are worse than their counterparts. These findings emphasize the complexity of the challenge and the need for targeted solutions.

Other investigations sponsored by BCRF include those by Drs. Lawrence Shulman and Cyprien Shyirambere pioneered strategies to integrate early detection services in rural Rwanda. Another investigator, like Dr. Funmi Olopade's work, delves into the genetic factors behind aggressive cancers. Dr. Eric Winer provided equitable care for minority women through lifestyle weight management counseling. Numerous global endeavors are being conducted to ensure equity in care for Black women in low-resource regions.

Some of the notable projects supported

by BCRF include Drs. Christine Ambrosone and Chi-Chen Hong's' Investigating immune cells' impact on tumor aggressiveness,' Dr. Fergus Couch's Identifying gene mutations in Black women associated with increased risk of aggressive cancers,' Melissa Davis's studying the interplay of social determinants, ancestry, tumor microenvironment, and survival. While Dr. Laura Esserman focused on exploring immunological features of breast cancer in Black women for improved interventions, Dr. Lisa Newman pioneered a pilot study to address disparities and engage Black physicians in research.

Addressing the Root of the Problem To reduce the gap, consideration must be given to a multifaceted approach. The National Cancer Institute recommends advocating for accessible cancer screening programs and tackling the biological differences that vary across racial and ethnic groups.

For instance, to understand the contribution of biological intricacies to the issue, there is a need for inclusive research that goes beyond studying the mostly white female population. There is a need to expand clinical trials to include Black women to increase knowledge and understanding of breast cancer's molecular drivers.

In recent advancements, there have been findings unveiling the biology behind the increased occurrence of aggressive tumors in Black women; identifying these biomarkers could reveal targeted therapies for better outcomes.

Relatedly, one study revealed that cities with more significant resources, such as income and education, showed substantial progress in narrowing the mortality gap. Improving access to state-of-the-art

A Hopeful Horizon: The Role of Research Despite the apparent challenges confronting the task, research offers a ray of light toward a better comprehension of tumor biology, its variations among races, and its intersection with health determinants.

Dedication from institutions like BCRF towards expanding research, supporting underrepresented scientists, and advancing clinical trials indicates the future where equity will overcome disparity.

For instance, the deliberate increase and involvement of Black Women during clinical trials remains crucial. BCRF's extension of support to the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium and the Southwest Oncology Group is dedicated to promoting Black women's participation in such notable studies.

Additionally, the promotion of the interplay of Health, Biology, and Disparities, exemplified by the Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, which pledged $15 million as a donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation to expedite research focusing on breast cancer disparities, is notable.

Such gifts often deepen the extent of research and investigation, which increases a better understanding of the intricate interplay between social determinants of health, comorbidities, and breast cancer biology in Black women.

Breast cancer as a disease transcends borders, and investing in international research is imperative. Thus, organizations like the BCRF's dedication to reducing preventable breast cancer deaths extends to countries like Rwanda, where efforts integrate early detection services into healthcare systems.

The battle against breast cancer disparities faced by Black women is complex, but it's not insurmountable. With concerted efforts, inclusive research, and unwavering support, we can envision a future where every woman, regardless of race, has equal access to the best possible care and the hope of a brighter, healthier tomorrow. BCRF remains at the forefront of this mission, driving change on multiple fronts to ensure that equity triumphs over disparity in the fight against breast cancer.

Other Ways to Move Forward In addition to research, some of the ways to end breast cancer disparities within the Black women's community include: •Education and raising awareness on risk factors and early detection among Black women within the community.

•Working towards removing barriers to care, especially among Black women, who are often more likely to lack health insurance and live in areas with fewer healthcare providers. All women should have access to quality breast cancer screening and treatment, regardless of race.

Many Black women will likely experience implicit bias within the healthcare system, limiting their access to equitable care. Such implicit bias, a subconscious continued on page 18

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

17

Domestic Abuse: Teach Your Boys to Become Real Men

BY JANET HOWARD

T

he males in your life: your sons, grandsons, nephews, or younger brothers, are constantly influenced by factors of the outside world.

Everything they see and do impacts the type of men they will become. Their friends, community, the Internet, and the kind of music they listen to all profoundly impact their psyche. They hear varying opinions of what it means to be a man, and it puts into their heads that men are always in control and tough. They are brainwashed into the mindset that women need to be controlled.

Be sure to give the boys in your life the gift of your time. Boys need to learn how to act around girls and women. By spending time with you, whether you are male or female, boys can be taught how to relate to those of the opposite gender. The earlier this teaching is implemented, the better for everyone concerned. Teach the boys in your life from the time they are infants that violence is not part of a healthy relationship. Teach them these lessons every chance you get.

Be sure to give the boys in your life the gift of your time.

Boys need to learn how to act around girls and women.

When It’s never too early to talk to the boys in your life about violence. Teach toddlers not to hit or lash out at others. Help them learn to manage their anger and frustration. Teach them what behaviors are unacceptable and teach them to share, be fair and how treat others with kindness and respect. Teach them to display good traits and be empathetic and sympathetic toward their peers and others.

Time Spend time with the boys in your life.

This is crucial if you wish them to grow up to be caring individuals. You don’t have to spend money to be together. Go for a walk, go to the park, read a book together, listen to music, or play a board game. Take an interest in their hobbies and encourage them to have good communication skills.

Be a Good Listener Let the boys in your life know that you are there to love and support them in all things. Assure them they can talk to you about anything, and be a good listener when they talk. Also, listen to what the boys in your life talk about with their friends and say about girls. Ask them if any of their friends are in abusive relationships. Don’t freak out if they say yes.

Instead, coach them in proper behavior and explain to them why domestic violence is wrong.

Dealing with Anger and Frustration Teach the boys in your life how to deal with anger and frustration. Explain to them that holding anger inside will cause them to do things they will regret. Let them know that there’s never a time when violence is acceptable. Teach them to talk about their feelings; if they become angry or frustrated, they can jog it off, walk it off, talk it off, or go into a room where they can be alone to calm down. Assure the boys in your life that they can come to you for help and supcontinued on page 18

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Teach Your Boys to be Real Men/ continued from page 17

Breast Cancer/ continued from page 16

port if they feel things are getting out of control. Give them examples of situations that could go out of control and turn violent. Teach them how to avoid such situations.

attitude or belief that can affect one's thoughts and actions, must be addressed.

Interestingly, while there is research in the field, there is a need for more research on breast cancer in Black women. Support for such research will contribute to a better understanding of the disease and help develop more effective and targeted treatments.

Just as advocating for policies that will improve the health of Black women, such as expanding accessibility to health insurance and ensuring that all women have access to quality breast cancer screening and treatment, remains core to all the actions taken to address the challenge.

Black women should also be encouraged to open up to their doctor about their breast cancer risk, especially those with a family history of breast cancer; they should also be encouraged to get regular mammograms for early detection and treatment.

For those Black women diagnosed with or living with breast cancer, the media needs to support them and provide them, members of their family, caregivers, and others in the community with information and resources that can help them keep these loved ones through this life event towards ending breast cancer disparities and increasing their chance of survival.l

How to Deal with Females Whether you are male or female, boys will never come to you for advice on how to treat girls or women. Watch television with them and share time listening to their favorite music. If you hear or see anything that is inappropriately directed toward women, share your thoughts on the subject and explain why it is wrong.

Speak out against sports figures, actors, jokes, music, and video or computer games that portray domestic violence or the abuse of women. Doing this will prepare them for the time when they start dating. They will know how to treat women and girls with the utmost respect.

Role Models Try to ensure that the boys in your life have good role models. Be aware that the men in the boys’ lives reach them, directly or indirectly, regarding how to treat the females they’re close to. Fathers, Boy Scout leaders, coaches, teachers, uncles, and all other men in your boys’ lives should teach them to respect women through actions and words. Boys learn about respect by observing how the men in their lives treat women. Boys constant-

Males are brainwashed into the mindset that women need to be controlled. ly watch what the men around them do and say when interacting with women, and they pick up both good and bad behavior. Let the boys in your life know that they must always treat girls and women well to maintain good relationships.

Talking to Boys Don’t think your job is done after you have had “the” talk with the boys in your life. Be sure to talk to them often and

assure them that you will be there for them should any relationship problems rear their ugly heads. Take every opportunity to reinforce the knowledge that domestic abuse and relationship violence, including verbal abuse, are wrong.

By spending time with the boys in your life, you will teach them how to treat women and girls positively. Yes, you will help them to grow into real men instead of abusive husbands and fathers.l

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Caribbean American Weekly - October 2023 PAGE 19

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20

TRAVEL, FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Pumpkin-Black Cocoa Swirl Cake

T

his strikingly delicious pumpkinblack cocoa swirl Bundt cake packs a flavor punch thanks to black cocoa. Not only does it make for a wonderfully dark color, but it also adds a flavor reminiscent of Oreo cookies!

Kim, AllRecipes.com Ingredients Pumpkin Batter: •cooking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy® •3 cups all-purpose flour •2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice •2 teaspoons baking powder •1 teaspoon baking soda •1 teaspoon salt •1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened •1/4 cup vegetable oil •2 cups white sugar •4 large eggs, at room temperature •1 (15-ounce can) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) •2 teaspoons vanilla extract •1 cup sour cream, at room temperature Black Cocoa Batter: •3 tablespoons black cocoa powder (such as The Cocoa Trader Black Dutched Cocoa Powder) •3 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder (such as Ghirardelli Premium 100% Unsweetened Baking Cocoa Powder) •2 tablespoons white sugar •1/4 cup milk

•1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional) •1 (1 ounce) square semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled slightly Black Cocoa Icing: •1 cup confectioner's sugar •2 tablespoons black cocoa powder •1 teaspoon vanilla extract •1 pinch salt •6 tablespoons heavy cream, or as needed Directions Step 1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with a baking spray containing flour, such as Baker's Joy®.

Step 2 In a large bowl, sift together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 3 In another large bowl, beat butter, oil, and 2 cups white sugar on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. After adding in the last egg, beat mixture on medium-high speed until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. Add in pumpkin and vanilla, and mix until incorporated.

Reduce mixer speed to low; pour in half of dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Add in sour cream; mix until just combined. Add in remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

Step 4 Measure out 3 cups batter into another bowl. To this 3 cups batter, add 3 tablespoon black cocoa powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, milk, espresso powder, and melted semi-sweet chocolate. Mix on low speed until combined.

Step 5 Place 1/3 of black cocoa batter into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared Bundt pan. Pour 1/2 of plain pumpkin batter over the black cocoa layer. Add another 1/3 of black cocoa batter over the top of plain pumpkin batter. Layer remaining 1/2 of plain pumpkin batter over that. Finish with remaining 1/3 of the black cocoa batter.

Step 6 Bake cake in the preheated oven until a

bamboo skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean, 60 to 65 minutes. Allow cake to cool in pan 25 to 30 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7 To make icing, place powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons black cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and heavy cream into a bowl. Whisk until smooth.

Drizzle icing over cooled cake.l Nutrition Facts Per serving: 530 Calories; 22g Fat; 76g Carbs; 8g Protein Prep Time: 35 mins Cook Time:1 hr Cool Time:1 hr Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Servings: 12 Yield: 1 Bundt Cake

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21

BUSINESS MATTERS

Are You Ready to Start Your Podcast for Your Business, Non-Profit or Passion?

BY NYC MEDIA TRAINING

T

he growth of podcasting has created great opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Sharing useful and entertaining information through a podcast is the perfect way to keep your marketing efforts relevant in today’s marketplace. Here are a few of the best benefits that your business will experience when you start a podcast.

Increase Brand Awareness Most markets today are highly competitive, even for businesses that operate in small niches. This makes it critical for your small business to have a memorable brand that will stand out in the crowd.

Podcasting offers your business a way to keep your brand fresh in the minds of your customers over long periods of time, especially as the number of podcast episodes you make available increases.

Low Start-Up Costs The equipment needed to create a podcast is not complex. With a basic setup that includes a quality microphone and editing software, you can create a podcast that has a level of quality which will reflect well on your business. This only continues to become truer as advancements in technology make podcasting even simpler, more accessible and affordable, making it the perfect marketing solution for a small business with a limited budget.

The Growth of Mobile Platforms More people than ever before are using mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets to find the information and products they need. Since the growth of mobile platforms won’t be slowing down any time soon, it’s important that your business can meet today’s consumers where they are. Podcasts are the perfect way to do just that.

Understand Your Customers Interacting with the people who listen to your podcast is one of the most beneficial parts of podcasting. There’s no better way to get a deep understanding of what your customers desire than to simply communicate with them. Podcasts create the perfect environment in which this can happen, especially when your podcast can be shared through social media platforms that will generate comments and

shares from your existing listeners, as well as those who are new to your podcast.

These are just a few of the many benefits your business can experience when you succeed at podcasting. When done right, your podcast will help to increase brand awareness, keep your business relevant in today’s mobile marketplace and help you to better understand the needs and desires of your customer base.l

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POLITICS

22

GOP’s House Paralysis is a Crisis in a Time of Crises imports. Believing that South Carolina’s actions threatened the union and the constitutional order, Jackson proposed to send federal troops to the state to collect the tariffs. This threat of force ultimately led to South Carolina’s capitulation.

Clearly, the Republican standoff in Congress does not rise to the level of a crisis that might involve military force.

Yet to the extent that a constitutional crisis involves the paralysis of government machinery without a readily available solution under the Constitution, the current situation in the House could qualify.

BY STEFANIE LINDQUIST THE CONVERSATION

H

ouse Republicans fired one leader, Kevin McCarthy, and have spent almost three weeks trying unsuccessfully to choose another to succeed him as speaker of the House.

That’s left the U.S. House of Representatives unable to do its work, paralyzing the entire legislative branch of government, because the Senate can’t pass legislation without a functioning House.

Is this a “constitutional crisis?” Or something less significant?

The speaker of the House of Representatives is a powerful position with an outsized role in lawmaking.

According to the rules of the House, the speaker is “the presiding officer of the House and is charged with numerous duties and responsibilities by law and by the House rules.”

The speaker calls the House to order, refers bills to committees, appoints committee members, rules on points of order and recognizes members on the floor.

These duties and responsibilities keep the House engaged in considering and passing bills.

Editorial credit: Consolidated News Photos / Shutterstock.com

In short, the speaker is critical to the administration of House business. Under the Presidential Succession Act, passed to supplement Article 2 of the Constitution, the speaker also stands second in line to the presidency, after the vice president, in the event of the president’s incapacity.

For now, the House is presided over by a temporary speaker, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North

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Carolina, but scholars and experts are divided about whether the House rules allow the person in that role to fulfill all the critical duties of the speakership.

Because the situation is unprecedented and because the rules are ambiguous, McHenry appears reluctant to exercise anything other than the minimal powers necessary to elect a new speaker.

Thus the House remains in limbo, with action needed as budget deadlines loom and a war between Israel and Hamas threatens to spread to other fronts. As a scholar of both constitutional law and politics, I believe the U.S. could be viewed as in constitutional crisis – a crisis that, if it does not end, could provoke larger crises ahead.

What is a “constitutional crisis”?

The term “constitutional crisis” is largely undefined, although scholars generally agree on a few of its characteristics.

One common factor in most historical events described as constitutional crises is that constitutionally mandated processes for resolving conflict break down or have no ready answers. Typically, constitutional crises emerge when the legislature and the president find themselves in conflict over the legality or wisdom of a particular action or policy.

When the legislature and the president reach such an impasse, one or the other of the branches could exercise force to achieve its preferred outcome.

This applies not only to the U.S. but other countries as well. In the case of Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s confrontation with the Russian Parliament over the power of the presidency in 1993, for example, Yeltsin deployed the Russian military to attack the Parliament and arrest its members.

In the U.S. in 1832 and 1833, conflict between the federal and state governments led President Andrew Jackson to threaten military force to ensure that federal law would be followed in South Carolina during the so-called “nullification crisis.” In that crisis, South Carolina claimed that a state could unilaterally block a federal law imposing tariffs on

Paralyzed Congress Because the speaker is a constitutionally mandated office whose occupant is second in line for the presidency, the role is part of the U.S. constitutional machinery. The Constitution clearly contemplates that a speaker will lead the House, although it does not define their duties, which are determined by the House’s own rules. Those rules have evolved over time to elevate the speaker’s role as central to the lawmaking functions of Congress. And without a speaker, it is not clear that Congress can fulfill its constitutional functions. At the same time, no constitutional remedy exists to solve the current impasse.

To enact legislation, both chambers in Congress must agree on statutory language and submit the bill to the president for his approval.

Without the House, however, Congress will be unable to fund the federal government, which requires yearly budgetary authorization from Congress for its funding. As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government’s failure to pay its employees’ wages will cause financial disruption to millions, even if retroactive pay is available afterward.

Critical regulatory agencies that keep water clean, air breathable, roads and bridges safe and the country’s financial system operating fairly and effectively could be stalled in meeting their legal duties to the nation.

Other pressing national concerns, such as the opioid crisis, will continue without federal legislation to address them.

Efforts to support Ukraine and Israel in their battles against Russia and Hamas will be stymied.

A paralyzed federal government paralyzes the nation, with potentially dire national and global consequences to the economy, the environment and U.S. foreign policy. The absence of a speaker – a single individual but the linchpin in Congress – could thus produce a dangerous crisis in our constitutional democracy.

The longer this impasse continues, the greater the threat to the constitutional order.l Stefanie Lindquist is a Foundation Professor of Law and Political Science, Arizona State University

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Caribbean American Weekly - October 2023 PAGE 23

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Caribbean American Weekly - October 2023 PAGE 24

The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

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