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Across Black America for May 13, 2010

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Alabama
African American State Representative Artur Davis is in the headlines, because of his refusal to be screened for possible endorsement by prominent Black organizations in the state including Alabama New South Coalition, the Alabama Democratic Congress and the Jefferson County Citizens Coalition. “It’s arrogant to say ‘I will not be screened by these organizations.’ This is thumbing his nose at people who make up his base,” said Hank Sanders, president emeritus of the Alabama New South Coalition.

Arizona
The oldest Black fraternity in the world Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is demonstrating its anger about the passing of Arizona’s new immigration bill, and will boycott the state by moving their annual convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The convention was expected to bring more that 10,000 visitors and hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue to the state.

Arkansas
The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters is hosting its 34th annual Spring Broadcast Management Conference. The event takes place May 14-19 on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino. The conference is also in celebration of the successful fight to get Arbitron to change its personal people meter (PPM) system and will talk about the benefits of the win to African American broadcasters.

California
Wells Fargo has announced that it will provide $1 million in funding to Grameen America, which in a non-profit organization that helps low-income entrepreneurs to acquire business loans, credit help, and other financial services. Grameen America will launch its operation in the San Francisco Bay area this summer.

Colorado
“Simply Simone,” a musical tribute to the life of Nina Simone has been canceled after two previous delays. The Shadow Theatre Company has been in turmoil after its founder left the company and passed away in last year before securing the legal contract to perform the musical.

District of Columbia
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and members of their administration, will be making appearances at 11 different Historically Black College and University commencement ceremonies this month. Michelle appeared at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff last Saturday, and the President spoke at Hampton University this Sunday. White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett will go to Morgan State on May 15, and United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice will speak at Spelman College May 16.

Florida
As a practice in diversity, American High went where many other schools in the sixties and seventies were scared to go and made its student body one-third African American, one-third White, and one-third Latino. The school had much conflict and fighting in the beginning and they still have some issues years later and are separated by cliques that usually break down by race. As a result students still are more tolerant of other people and they scored higher than average on standardized testing this year.

Georgia
A research study done by the IMAGES USA, a multicultural marketing communications agency, has discovered that African American members of the millennial generation are far more likely than their White counterparts to care about their community, fellow man, or to get involved with efforts that improve our current way of life. Surprisingly, African American men of the millennial generation have a much stronger sense of life driving purpose than White men of the same age.

Illinois
Target Market News announced recently that it will hold its 11th annual Marketing to African-Americans with Excellence (MAAX) Summit on June 29-30 in downtown Chicago. The summit will also incorporate the fifth annual MAAX Awards program on Tuesday, June 29 at Chicago’s downtown Wyndham Hotel.

Indiana
Attorney Brian K. Bullock is being highlighted in “Uptown Magazine” and in “The Indiana Lawyer” for the work that he has done representing the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Bullock has his own private practice and specializes in civil rights and employment law. He is also running for State Representative in the state.

Kansas
Unbeknownst to many, much of Kansas City is still segregated by race and class. Many residents believe that Black youth are constantly driven out of fashionable public areas with aggressive policing. WestPort, which used to be a public hang-out full of restaurants and places to shop, has now been privatized and this past weekend hundreds of local youth gathered in the Country Club Plaza district, a somewhat classy shopping area, only to be pepper-sprayed by the police.

Kentucky
The Fayette County Health Department has agreed to join forces with the Bluegrass Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board, to build an $11.7 million clinic. The new facility will be located on Newtown Pike, and should decrease congestion at its six other health clinics in the county. The department has applied for a federal grant to pay for the building.

Louisiana
Kappa Delta Pi, an African American International Honor Society in Education organized a project to surprise the teachers at predominately Black Sarah T. Reed Senior High School by completely remodeling the teacher’s lounge while they were away on spring vacation. The volunteers painted the walls, put in carpet, and installed a new kitchenette.

Maryland
Ebony Magazine highlighted Baltimore resident Mike Humes in a section that caters to those  successful in business and entrepreneurship. Humes is a motivational speaker, philanthropist and a coach. He is also founding member of Team NuVision which helps people with legal services and the non-profit, Fertile Ground, which has been very influential in the Haiti relief efforts.

Massachusetts
JET recently introduced  MYJET247.com, a new multimedia website dedicated to providing a unique point of view on the latest Black news and entertainment. MYJET247.com will offer consumers a unique experience through stories, videos, and channels that will amuse, engage and connect the audience to the events occurring in Black America.

Michigan
The NAACP is holding a rally for what they believe has been unfair treatment of 16 African American teens who were convicted and jailed for causing a misdemeanor disturbance in Redford Township. The NAACP is arguing that the young men did not have proper legal representation.

Minnesota
As part of Comcast Cares Day, 1,200 of their employees volunteered to serve at 30 non-profit organizations in the city including the Minneapolis Urban League’s community center. This facility gets a lot of use by the community but was damaged in a tornado last year. The volunteers helped by cleaning and painting the building.

Mississippi
With a Black population of 36 percent–the largest in the nation–Mississippi has had only one African-American serve as a federal judge, Henry Wingate, who was appointed 20 years ago. Since getting into office, President Barack Obama has made it a point to favor women and minorities for these life-long positions, and just last week nominated Carlton Reeves for the U.S. District Court in Mississippi.

Missouri
Eleanor Macon, widow of Richard D. Macon, has started a movement to get Tuskegee Airmen Purple Heart recipients, like her husband, the recognition they deserve. Many of the Airmen received the award but were not recognized for it in the “St. Louis Post Dispatch Newspaper,”which reported all of the recipients. Now because of Eleanor, many Airmen and their families are coming forward with documentation that they were also rightful recipients of the award.

Nevada
The Board of Examiners announced this week that more than 700 salaried state employees who are paid by the federal government, must take one unpaid furlough day each month. All other state employees already comply with this and Gov. Jim Gibbons said he supported “furloughing federally paid workers in the spirit of equality because there might be morale problems among other state workers because they have been required to take a furlough day and the federally paid employees have not.”

New Jersey
Myrlie Evers-Williams, wife of slain civil right activist Medger Evers, is speaking out about the use of the N-word by all people but especially by African Americans. Evers-Williams believes that Blacks use the word because “they are in denial of the fact that they are mentally enslaved, lost, confused and filled with a programmed self-hatred.”

New York
“Rolling Out,” a publication of the Steed Media Group, is producing a Design and Dialogue songwriter and producer series for Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound Tour. Some of the most recognized and sought-after talents in the gospel music world will work in collaboration with Rolling Out’s producers and songwriters’ series to share their expertise in music production techniques, technology and the creative process.

North Carolina
The Mecklenberg Veterans Services Office is in danger of being shut down due to budget issues, and many veterans are worried because this is the agency that provides their benefits. The Mecklenburg County Veterans Council will sponsor a rally at Marshall Park May 18, followed by a march to the Government Center where County Manager Harry Jones is scheduled to make his budget recommendations to county commissioners.

Ohio
Legendary soul music artist Diana Ross is traveling on her “More Today Than Yesterday” tour and will perform the Playhouse Square in Northeast Ohio on May 28.

Oregon
Oregon is one of the first states to expand health coverage for young adults that will enable them to stay on their parent’s insurance and is effective earlier than legistlative impact of President Barack Obama’s new health care law. The seven largest health care providers in the state have agreed to comply.

Pennsylvania
Autumn Atkins is making a difference at Girard College, an institution that used to be all White and exclusively for boys. She is the first woman, and first African American president of the school, which is now predominately Black and serves children in grades one through 12. All of the students are from low-income families, and Atkins believes these youngster deserve an education that complements their potential. She is planning to expand the curriculum and increase the teacher pay in the near future.

Rhode Island
Many residents and business owners are struggling to get back on their feet, after the floods that have occurred this year. With the economic downturn and unemployment rates already a major issue in the state, the hardship could not have come at a worse time. The Obama administration has already begun discussions about efforts to help the state.

South Carolina
Lee County Sheriff Edgar Jerome “E.J.” Melvin (an African American), and seven other people were arrested in a drug sting recently. All of the men arrested were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of powder cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Tennessee
The Peabody Hotel recently hosted the third annual Women of Excellence High Tea. More than three dozen women were honored for their various contributions in business and in the economy. Mearl Purvis, news anchor for WHBQ Fox 13, was the mistress of ceremonies.

Texas
Texas Southern University Tigers Head Coach Johnnie Cole has incorporated a Football Hall of Fame at the school, and this year researched back to as far as the 1950’s to find 12 players who were amazing enough to be inducted at the Hall of Fame ceremony held on May 1.

Utah
Basketball fans in Utah were upset to see their team, the Jazz, lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep; the first in franchise history. Monday’s game ended with a score of 111-96. This is the third consecutive year that the Jazz have been eliminated from the playoffs by the Lakers.

Virginia
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) recently received a family planning grant from the U.S Department of Health and Services to provide wellness screenings, healthy living classes, and family wellness classes. The classes will be held at the new Whitcomb Center which opened this week as a partnership between RRHA and the Richmond City Health District.

Washington
Seattle Public Schools have received more than $5 million in grants for the School Improvement Grant Program that was funded by the stimulus. The money was awarded by the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and will go to serve Hawthorne High along with West Seattle and Hawthorne elementary schools.

Wisconsin
Recently 37 PEOPLE (Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence) Scholars graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. PEOPLE is a pre-college pipeline for African American students and young people from low-income families, giving them the opportunity to attend college.

OW Intern Solomon Allison assisted with this article.

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