#NNPA BlackPress

Bowser Carries on Obama ‘Keeper’ Initiative

WASHINGTON INFORMER — The Obama administration has become a part of history but its signature social initiative, “My Brother’s Keeper,” has continued in the District and Mayor Muriel Bowser has made mentorship a key component. On Sept. 5, the city’s Office on Public Service and Volunteerism hosted the mayor’s “My Brother’s Keeper Summit and Volunteer Fair” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, where over 400 people listened to speakers and visited the booths of government agencies and nonprofit organizations that deal with the problems of young Black males.

Published

5 years ago

September 25, 2019

Oakland Post

Thomas Penny III talks with mentee Arturo Evans at the My Brother's Keeper Summit & Volunteer Fair at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest on Sept. 5. (James Wright/The Washington Informer)

By James Wright

The Obama administration has become a part of history but its signature social initiative, “My Brother’s Keeper,” has continued in the District and Mayor Muriel Bowser has made mentorship a key component.

On Sept. 5, the city’s Office on Public Service and Volunteerism hosted the mayor’s “My Brother’s Keeper Summit and Volunteer Fair” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, where over 400 people listened to speakers and visited the booths of government agencies and nonprofit organizations that deal with the problems of young Black males.

Ayris T. Scales, chief service officer of the Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships, said she structured the one-day program in a deliberate manner.

“We wanted to show the public, private and nonprofits who are working to help young Black boys and men to succeed,” Scales said. “We have heard from some people who say that government has all of the answers and that is simply not true. Our volunteer fair has government programs such as The Mayor’s Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys and non-profits like Bread for the City and Horton’s Kids that help Black young men to be the best they can be.”

One panel featured D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, Police Chief Peter Newsham, Councilman Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and Clinton Lacey, director of D.C. Youth Rehabilitation Services.

Ferebee said he mandates that educators go to the homes of students to meet their families and get to know the communities they live in.

“Home and school need to work together,” he said. “They need to talk to each other in order to help Black boys succeed in school.”

Ferebee also encouraged Black parents, especially fathers, to read to their children at an early age.

“We need to let our young Black boys know that it is OK to read,” he said.

Newsham said re-instituting the “Officer Friendly” program, in which police officers engage the people whom they protect, has become a priority of his.

“Young kids will be able to develop a relationship with the officers in their neighborhoods,” the chief said.

Newsham talked about the police cadet program at Anacostia High School that gives young people a pipeline to becoming a D.C. police officer.

McDuffie said Black boys and men are “suffering under government policies that have intentionally not benefited them.” He said businesses, large and small have challenges reaching out to Black males.

“Small businesses would like to reach out but don’t have the resources to do so,” the council member said. “Large corporations have the resources but lack the connections to communities where Black boys live.”

All of the speakers spoke about the need for more mentors for young Black males.

The summit presented Thomas Penny III, president of Donohoe Hospitality Services division, as a mentor and Arturo Evans as a mentee.

Penny said he met Evans several years ago at a school event and was impressed by him.

“I spoke at this school and, like I always do, I handed out my business card,” Penny said. “Arturo was the only one who called me and we developed a relationship. I introduced him to the hotel business and he has worked in it since.”

Arturo, with Penny’s encouragement, went to the prestigious William F. Harrah Hospitality Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and presently works at a District hotel as a front desk associate. Evans said Penny has made the difference in his life and considers him a role model.

Penny said mentorship “definitely helps young Black men.”

“Young Black men need to know that there are people who look like them succeeding and who do care about them,” he said. “I care about Arturo’s development as a man. I have a wife and three kids and my wife says I pay more attention to Arturo than to them. I am committed to seeing him succeed.”

This post originally appeared in The Washington Informer.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Entrepreneur Creates Flashcards That Teach Children About Black Millionaires And Billionaires

Don't Miss

Sewerage and Water Board’s Ghassan Korban Proposes ‘Stormwater Fee’ to Pay for Complete Overhaul of Drainage System

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.