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Benjamin Jealous will step down; Justice Department fights Louisiana school vouchers; Whole Foods comes to Southside Chicago

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Whole Foods market. (31666)
Whole Foods market.

California

More than 500 Moreno Valley residents recently turned out for the city’s first African American Family Reunion Celebration. About 50 vendors also took part in the event, held at Celebration Park by the California Democratic Party African American Caucus of Region 13 and other groups. The purpose of the event was to impact, educate and empower the community with available resources. The NAACP, Tuskegee Airmen, Riverside Mental Health, Salvation Army, Riverside County Sheriff Department and other vendors encouraged the community to get out and vote, and participate in education and legislative events.

Angela Benton (31662)

Florida

Angela Benton, founder and CEO of NewMe Accelerator, will speak at the Identify, Connect, Activate the Black Accomplished Business at Breakfast, (ICABA) on September 27. Benton is the youngest Hall of Fame inductee of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) and has been honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.” “We are excited to have a national business leader of Angela’s stature share her knowledge and expertise with our network,” states Jerome Hutchinson Jr., ICABA president and CEO. Launched in 2011, NewME’s mission is to accelerate underrepresented entrepreneurs around the world, and the organization works to ensure that technology entrepreneurship is accessible to women and minorities. Since it’s launch, NewME has accelerated more than 150 startups through a 12-week program in San Francisco and national three-day program in cities around the country.

Georgia

Be Someone founder Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson will bring his innovative, unique use of the game of chess to teach lessons that can make a difference in young lives. At the annual family event hosted by radio station V103, Hudson will face 20 chess opponents simultaneously. Be Someone will also host two-hour chess training sessions for children. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Atlanta youth to learn not only chess, but several important life lessons,” said Hudson. “Be Someone teaches children critical thinking skills through chess, including analytical thinking, using failure as a learning opportunity, and that actions have consequences.”

Illinois

Whole Foods Market, the Austin, Texas-based, organic- and natural-foods supermarket chain, announced last week that it would build a new supermarket in Englewood, a Chicago neighborhood that often leads the news for gun violence. Keith Stewart, a spokesperson for Whole Foods Market Midwest in Chicago, said, however, that the market’s scheduled opening is one part of an effort to make Englewood a safer place to live. “We think that improved services will be just one part of the solution,” Stewart said. The market, which is small-to-medium in size, is slated to open in 2016 and will provide 100 new jobs. Some 2,648 residents live within a mile of the grocery store.

Louisiana

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit in federal court to try to stop Louisiana from issuing school vouchers to students who would otherwise attend public schools under federal desegregation orders. But a local educational group, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, has come out in favor of the vouchers. “Our primary focus is advocating for high-quality educational options for low income Black children,” said Eric Lewis, state director of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. Louisiana’s school voucher program allows students to transfer out of failing public schools and into private schools using taxpayer dollars. The Obama administration argues that the vouchers have impeded the desegregation process in at least 13 districts, but Lewis claims that the voucher program has increased opportunities for kids in failing schools.

Ben Jealous (31663)

Maryland

Benjamin Todd Jealous, who signed on to be president of the NAACP back in 2009, has announced that he will retire by Dec. 31, 2013. During his tenure, he has led the NAACP in everything from marches protesting the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin to vigils for death row inmate Troy Davis in Georgia. In an interview with USA TODAY, Jealous said the constant travel as president and CEO of the nation’s largest civil rights organization has kept him away from his family too much. He commented, “Leadership knows when to step up and when to step down. This day I can say with pride that I’m prepared to step down and make room for the next person who will lead this organization to its next chapter.”

Llaila Afrika (31665)

Pennsylvania

Discussions on solutions, survival, and celebration of African and Aboriginal Indigenous heritage are expected at the 19th annual International Locks Conference: Natural Hair, Wholistic Health, and Beauty Expo Oct. 5-6 at Imhotep Institute Charter High School, in Philadelphia. Each year the Kuumba Family Organizing Committee presents a cultural, and educational event. This year’s conference is themed: “Wake Up, Rise Up: Keeping it Real Naturally.” Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and consult with some of the leading herbalists, natural nutritionists, massage therapists, breathologists, and wholistic health educators and noted practitioners such as Llaila Africa, Ron Norwood, Ayo Handy-Kendi, Cherron Perry-Thomas, Dr. Dewey Thomas, Abundance Child, Dr. Ali Muhammad, Toluwalase Suzzette Ayokunle, Dr. El HaGahn, Minister Enqi, Dr. Akmal Muwwakkil, Dr. Jacquilen Fostor Tomas Ali, Dr. Rafiq Abdul-Malik, Dr. Akosua Ali-Sabree, and Cheryl Tyler of Infinity Health and Wellness Center.

National

The 2013-2014 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s internship and fellowship programs prepare college students and young professionals to become principled leaders, skilled policy analysts, and informed advocates by exposing them to the processes by which national policies are developed and implemented on Capitol Hill and in the federal government. There are two: the CBCF Emerging Leaders Internship Program and the CBCF Communications Internship Program. The goal of the Emerging Leaders Internship Program is to create a corps of trained, young leaders with the skills, outlook and contacts necessary to generate and sustain positive change in Washington, D.C., and their local communities. Alumni will return to their communities knowing what it takes to pass legislation, form public policy and create coalitions. The CBCF Communications Internship Program enables students to work directly with the press secretary or communications director in a CBC member office or congressional committee. This semester-long program seeks to increase minority participation in public relations, journalism, and other media-related fields. For more details and/or to apply, visit: www.findinternships.com/2013/09/congressional-black-caucus-foundation.html

The number of single Black men heading households increased in 2012, compared to 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but the number is still much smaller than homes headed by single Black women. Last year, 566,000 households were headed by single Black men, a 9.7 percent increase compared to the 511,000 households headed by single Black men in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Families and Living Arrangements. In 2012, 3.782 million single Black women-headed homes, a 2.8 percent increase compared to 3.676 million households headed by single Black women in 2011, according to the Census.

Compiled by Juliana Norwood.

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