#NNPA BlackPress

Riverview K-8 School welcomes TVA’s helping hands

NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — At some point in the future, the lighting in the athletic locker rooms at Riverview K-8 School likely will mostly go unnoticed. Such is not the case now. Improvements made Monday by the TVA Transmission Team illuminated the lighting need and spotlighted the value of helping hands to an inner city school facing multiple challenges in the quest to educate students.

Published

4 years ago

October 28, 2019

Oakland Post

New lighting for locker rooms was on the wish list for Riverview K-8 School administrators and TVA associates put in the work to make that happen this past Monday. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

By Karanja A. Ajanaku

At some point in the future, the lighting in the athletic locker rooms at Riverview K-8 School likely will mostly go unnoticed. Such is not the case now.

Tennessee Valley Authority retirees presented Riverview K-8 School Principal Rasheedah Cooperwood with a $1,000 check for the school’s robotics program. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Improvements made Monday by the TVA Transmission Team illuminated the lighting need and spotlighted the value of helping hands to an inner city school facing multiple challenges in the quest to educate students.

Located at 241 Majuba Ave. in South Memphis, Riverview was one of six sites focused upon during what was dubbed an “Afternoon of Service.” Several dozen TVA retirees descended up the school.

Principal Rasheeda Cooperwood-Jemison, who was an assistant principal at Riverview last year, clearly was pleased about the visitors and their intent.

“We were fortunate to be selected by the Tennessee Valley Authority for their community service project,” said Cooperwood-Jemison, noting that the first word of the opportunity came via an email fielded by one of the school’s secretary. “The next thing I know they showed up and asked what we needed to have done here at the school.”

Was she used to someone showing up with such a let-me-help-you invitation?

“Absolutely not,” said Cooperwood-Jemison. “We really see it as a blessing. Sometimes our school can be forgotten about. Just the location; we’re not really off of a main street. We’re in the back of a neighborhood.”

The TVA Afternoon of Service brought improvements inside and outside to Riverview K-8. (Photo by: Karanja Ajanaku)

She had a wish list.

“The most important thing was to get some positive affirmations up in the restrooms. Things that students could read and that would speak life to them. …Everywhere they go we try to speak life into them and be positive.”

Since there is not a lot of adult supervision in the restrooms, she reasoned that positive messaging – like ‘You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are awesome. Hard work pays off’ – would re-enforce the ongoing effort.

Two Riverview staffers, Joyce Catron, general office secretary, and CIS Site Coordinator Tamika Williams were pivotal links that made Monday’s activity possible.

“They have boots on the ground. I’ve seen maybe 30 volunteers. They’re here in the school hands-on. They’re working in our locker rooms, they’ve made donations for our staff lounge, they’re doing the project in the restrooms, as well as beautification projects outside. Also, we’re receiving a donation for our Robotics cCub.”

The Robotics Club was started through a partnership with Mitsubishi, a community partner. Students will compete in robotics competition next spring.

“Mitsubishi has a hug factory not far from the school and a lot of people don’t even know about it. That’s why Mitsubishi wanted to partner with our school to get the students thinking beyond any part time job and thinking what does a career really look like in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in your own community.”

Tennessee Valley Authority retirees presented Riverview K-8 School Principal Rasheedah Cooperwood with a $1,000 check for the school’s robotics program. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

The helping hands come as the Riverview staff focuses on “moving the needle on academics for our students.”

Two years ago, Riverview was a Level 5 school for growth and achievement before dipping to Level 1 last year.

“We expect with our pushing to be right back at the Level 5,” she said. “It’s more than just performance on a test. We know that literacy is going to be the key for our students in impacting their future trajectory. We want to make sure they have all the opportunities.

“We know that Memphis is a city that’s changing. There are a lot of job opportunities and a lot of time people are not prepared. We really want to give them a solid foundation.”

Cooperwood-Jemison said she see’s herself in the Riverview’s students.

“I grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. in a neighborhood just like the neighborhood I am blessed to serve in. They’re students who have a lot of potential…These are children that just need an opportunity and they need to know that people care about them.”

Having the TVA volunteers onsite reaffirms the staff’s messaging to the students, she said.

“For us to say, ‘Hey, we love you. We care about you.’ They think that’s what we’re supposed to say because we work here. But to see all of these volunteers really does something to their spirits.”

Tequilla Hurt of TVA was instrumental in the selection of Riverview. A Wooddale High School graduate, she now lives in Chattanooga. When she heard of the principal’s request for affirmations, Riverview landed solidly on her selection list.

“TVA is here to serve. We’re part of the community. We want to help out and continue to build partnerships and hopefully there will be more to come.”

Jacinda Woodward, TVA’s senior vice president for power operations, echoed TVA’s commitment to service.

“Being able to serve the community here in Memphis is really important to us. We took this opportunity while we were out here (in Memphis) for a business meeting to also do some community service. …

“There were some things that were needed to be done that we could do. We have a lot of skilled and talented people that work at TVA….”

This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender

Up Next

Early-voting window set to open for City Council District races

Don't Miss

CBLC celebrates second anniversary

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Welcome to the NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception
The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2023

admin

The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.
The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2023

admin

By Erik A. Hooks, FEMA Deputy Administrator

We know that disasters do not discriminate. Yet, recovery from the same event can be uneven from community to community, perpetuating pre-existing inequalities. Recognizing these disparities, FEMA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have prioritized equity when it comes to accessing federal programs and resources.

The numbers tell the story.

Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.

These selections further underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity and reaffirm FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during and after disasters, delivering funding to the communities that need it most.

Building on this momentum and our people-first approach, FEMA recently announced the initial designation of nearly 500 census tracts, which will be eligible for increased federal support to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis. FEMA will use “Community Disaster Resilience Zone” designations to direct and manage financial and technical assistance for resilience projects nationwide, targeting communities most at risk due to climate change. More Community Disaster Resilience Zone designations, including tribal lands and territories, are expected to be announced in the fall of 2023.

These types of investments have, and will yield a significant return on investment for communities nationwide.

For example, in my home state of North Carolina, the historic community of Princeville, founded by freed African American slaves, uses BRIC funding to move vulnerable homes and critical utilities out of flood-prone areas.

In East Harlem, BRIC dollars will provide nature-based flood control solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme rainfall events in the Clinton low-income housing community.

While we are encouraged by these investments, we know more must be done.

Not every community has the personnel, the time or the resources to apply for these federal dollars. Fortunately, FEMA offers free, Direct Technical Assistance to help under-resourced communities navigate the grant application process and get connected with critical resources. Under the leadership of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, this assistance has been a game-changer, reducing barriers and providing even more flexible, customer-focused, tailored support to communities interested in building and sustaining successful resilience programs.

In Eastwick, Philadelphia, FEMA’s dedicated support helped the city with outreach to multiple federal agencies. Together, we built a comprehensive community-led flood mitigation strategy. When applied and implemented, this will make this community more resilient to hazards like flooding, which was negatively affecting many neighborhood blocks.

In DePue, Illinois, we worked hand-in-hand with communities to improve their ability to submit high-quality funding applications for hazard mitigation projects. We are happy to share that DePue is the first Direct Technical Assistance community to be selected in the BRIC national competition. And, we know they will not be the last. Thanks to this assistance and their ambition, DePue was awarded more than $20 million to build a new wastewater treatment plant, which will reduce flooding and raw sewage back-up into the basements of homes.

In total, our agency is working with over 70 communities, including tribal nations, to increase access to funding for mitigation projects that will make communities more livable and resilient.

With extreme weather events becoming increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change, we must keep pressing forward and continue investing in ways to better protect ourselves and our neighbors. And we are encouraged that local officials are engaging with us to learn more about the benefits of the BRIC non-financial Direct Technical Assistance initiative—just last week, we saw hundreds of participants nationwide register for a recent webinar on this important topic.

We want to see even more communities take advantage of this initiative, and, ultimately, obtain grants for innovative and forward-looking resilience projects. To that end, FEMA recently published a blog with five steps to help local communities and tribal nations learn more about the benefits of this non-financial technical assistance to access federal funding. I hope your community will take action and submit a letter of interest for this exciting opportunity and increase meaningful mitigation work throughout the country.

With the pace of disasters accelerating, communities can utilize federal resources to reduce their risk and take action to save property and lives. FEMA stands ready to be a partner and collaborator with any community that is ready to implement creative mitigation strategies and help build our nation’s resilience.

The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

#NNPA BlackPress

Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities

ARIZONA INFORMANT — Prior to the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were a part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.
The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2023

admin

By Christopher J. Miller, Sr. Director of Education & Community Engagement, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Christopher J. Miller

September is International Underground Railroad Month.

This proclamation began in the State of Maryland in 2019, and now more than 11 States officially celebrate one of the most significant eras in U.S. history. With the signing of Ohio HB 340 in June 2022, Ohio became the 12^th state to designate September International Underground Railroad Month.

Many history enthusiasts and scholars hope the momentum of the proclamation spreads to other states so that all our forebears of freedom are remembered.

Examining this era, you find that the Ohio River Valley is instrumental in the many narratives of freedom seekers. These stories are critical to our understanding of race relations and civic responsibilities.

Before the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.

Gateway to Freedom sign

The Underground Railroad was comprised of courageous people who were held to a higher law that confronted the institution of slavery with acts of civil disobedience by helping freedom seekers elude enslavers and slave hunters and help them get to Canada.

Many communities were a force for freedom along the more than 900-mile stretch of the Ohio River Valley, but I would like to focus on two significant communities.

Southern Indiana was a major part of this history. It was originally believed that there were from Posey to South Bend, Corydon to Porter, and Madison to DeKalb County, with many stops in between.

In further examination, the Underground Railroad in Indiana was a web of trails through the forests, swamps, briars, and dirt roads. The city that is often overlooked in reflecting on the history of the Underground Railroad is New Albany, Indiana.

By 1850, New Albany was the largest city in Indiana, with a population of 8,632. Free Blacks accounted for 502 of that population. Across the river, Louisville was Kentucky’s largest city, with a population of 42,829. A quarter of the 6,687 Black population were free in Louisville.

Town Clock Church (aerial view)

Louisville and New Albany would grow to become a significant region for Underground Railroad activity. People like Henson McIntosh became a prominent community member and major Underground Railroad conductor. McIntosh was one of approximately ten Underground Railroad agents in New Albany who used their wealth and influence to impact the lives of freedom seekers crossing the Ohio River.

The Carnegie Center for Art & History is an outstanding resource that continues to preserve New Albany’s role during the Underground Railroad era. Approximately 104 miles east along the Ohio River is another institution that plays a critical role in elevating the profile of the Underground Railroad on a national scope.

Inside Town Clock Church New Albany Indiana safe house

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio.

By 1850, Cincinnati would grow to be the 6^th largest city in the Union, with a sizable Black population.

The Freedom Center is prominently located in the heart of a historic Black community called Little Africa. Although the community no longer exists, its legacy lives on through the Freedom Center.

As with New Albany, the community that resided along the banks of the river served an important role in the story of the Underground Railroad. Little Africa was the gateway to freedom for thousands of freedom seekers escaping slavery.

Although there were Underground Railroad networks throughout the country, Ohio had the most active network of any other state, with approximately 3,000 miles of routes used by an estimated 40,000 freedom seekers that crossed through Little Africa.

Despite the growth of enslavement leading up to the Civil War, communities such as Little Africa and New Albany reveal the realities regarding race relations and a model for the dignity of human life through their respective efforts to be kind and resilient friends for the freedom seekers.

For More Information:

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – https://freedomcenter.org/

Cincinnati Tourism – https://www.visitcincy.com/

Carnegie Center for Art & History – https://carnegiecenter.org/

Southern Indiana Tourism – https://www.gosoin.com/

The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.