classique magazine january 2010

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January 15 - February 14 2010 • Volume 10, issue 1

Celebrating Black History Month & Valentine’s Day!

Classique

Maria College open House ..............................................pg 5

naaCP Urgent Community Meeting ..............................pg 6

Black Business Women Join Forces ..................................pg 7

rushing for Tax refund Could be Costly ........................pg 7

annual Gospel Gala at Palace .........................................pg 13

Proctor’s Tribute to richard Pryor .................................pg 13

Gospel love Fest luncheon ............................................pg 14

Guide to the Inside:

Without a Safety Net...Leaving State Service Before Retirement– Faith Williams

it has been a year and a half since roxanne Wright left her job at the new york state Gov-ernor’s office of employee relations. Wright’s decision to leave was long in coming...and quite intentional.

The final catalyst for making the move happened one day when she was unexpectedly at home during the week. Her sister, luana, was with her and had the TV tuned in to the oprah show. oprah was talking about an upcoming, first of its kind, live, 10 series we-bcast with author eckhart Tolle about his new book, “a new earth: awakening to your life’s Purpose”.

Wright was intrigued by what oprah was saying about the event. every Monday night for 10 weeks, Wright and her sister (along with several million other viewers) religiously tuned in to watch what would, for Wright, be a life changing series.

among the many things that Wright gleaned from the webcast series was Tolle’s think-ing about certain situations that we encounter in life. Tolle stated, “in life, there are times when we are in situations that are not fulfilling or pleasing to us and we basically have three choices in dealing with them. We can a) accept them fully- with no further attention on them, b) change them – resolve to do something that changes either the situation or how we relate to it, or c)leave them – completely take ourselves out of that situation. That struck a chord with Wright.

like millions of other americans, (and probably thousands of other state employees), Wright noticed that it was just getting harder and harder every day to go into the work-place. Contrary to popular belief, most state employees actually want to be productive and to make a difference through the work that they do. Those who do not, actually did at some point...before that notion was driven out of their heads by poor management practices and unnecessarily burdensome bureaucracies.

Wright said that she also learned a valuable lesson from a very good friend of hers, eliza-beth essien, another state employee. “elizabeth was the best. she was smart, hard-work-ing, involved in her church and community, and she was a master of planning for the future. she looked forward to the time when she could retire and move back to her na-

Roxanne Wright, President,”Facilitating for Changecontinued on page 4

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Page <2> • [email protected] January 2010

Classique TM

Dear readers,

We are so pleased to be celebrating our 9th year. We have grown by the addition of new clients and ore readership has expanded. We are hearing from more people who enjoy reading each edi-tion.

as we embark on beginning a new year and celebrating Black History Month, we can’t help but be thankful for being blessed with the good fortune to have excellent articles and poems sub-mitted for your reading pleasure.

roxanne Wright, our cover story featured individual, is a lady of many talents. she is a jewelry artisan, a management consultant and community activist. We hope you enjoy learning about her.

she and two colleagues have created a coalition among african american women business own-ers. This is another positive undertaking with which we encourage participatio

Please pray for the people of Haiti as they struggle to survive. Please pray for President obama as he continues to work to bring needed health reform for our nation.

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Sincerely,

annette De lavallade

January 15 - February 14, 2010Volume 10, Issue 1

•Publisher & EditorAnnette De Lavallade

•Graphic Designer

Melissa Miller•

Contributing WritersEmma Blake

Barbara BrooksMarcella Green

Nyla JordanBenita L. Law-Diao

Donald HymanErica Mortimore

Claudette RamirezStephanie Tullis-Washington

David WilliamsFaith Williams

Jacqui C. Williams•

Marketing Account ExecutiveMichael De Lavallade

•Marketing

RepresentativesNew York Press Association

•Photographers

Duncan BaileyWarren Hamilton

Phil Little-johnEl-Wise Noisette

•Contributing Poets

Luis PabonDr. Leonard A. Slade Jr.

Marva Ray•

PrinterPennysaver Press

Bennington, VT 05201(800) 234-1432

February Themereinventing ourselves!

recharging Psychologically

March ThemeBlack History Month

recognizing our Political strength

let your voicesBe Heard!

If you like a product, a store, or a service that is advertised in Classique, do you tell the person receiving your money?

Your voice needs to be heard by store owners, churches, non-profit organizations and service providers. Advertisers need to know that their money is well spent advertising. So, the next time you shop somewhere tell the person taking your money that you decided to shop there because you read or heard about them as a result of their ad in Classique Magazine or any other media.

Ad money is the energy that drives the continuation and expansion of Classique Magazine. We are the only African American-owned publication in this region and we want to continue. We depend on your readership and we depend on

paid ads as a business. Please, let your voices be heard!

Please Support All Of Our Advertisers!

photo by: el-Wise noisette

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tive nigeria. she saved diligently, invested in ira’s and the retirement system”, Wright said. “she had her entire future planned out.” at age 51, elizabeth unexpected de-veloped, and died from, cancer. so did her plans for retirement. it was incredibly sad, and Wright said that it was a reminder that none of us is promised tomorrow.

so, shortly after making her final decision, Wright submitted her resignation. since Wright was born in the Virgin islands, and says that her body has never really em-braced winter (no offense to her friends in the nubian ski Club), her first thought was to return to her native st. Thomas. she and her sister seriously researched what it would look like to tackle the issue of the lack of recycling efforts on their native island, and the impact that the growing mound of unrecycled garbage was having

there.

resolving to do something, they planned to return home and start a recycling plant which would turn paper and cardboard waste into biodegradable products for resale. The ven-ture would be costly but worthwhile. Unfortunately, that dream was, as she says, “de-ferred” when the stock market tumbled and money dried up.

so, what would Wright do now?? Wright has always been an excellent trainer, facilita-tor, and organizational consultant. That was really what she enjoyed doing the most. While employed, Wright had contributed to the deferred compensation program, and that would also help to sustain her in the short term. With a son at Temple University (translation: tuition payment), she knew that she had to keep money coming into her household. Wright is quick to add that her greatest achievements in life (although she admits she can’t take total credit for their existence) has been her two incredible sons, aole and steuart, of whom she has always been so proud.

With that, Wright created her own consulting company, “Facilitating for Change”. Through this vehicle, she is able to work with school districts, nonprofits, and other organizations to increase their productivity, and plan for change. Wright has also not moved away from

her passion for diversity issues, reestablishing her partnership with the Capital District Chapter of the national Coalition Building institute (nCBi), which provides diversity awareness and conflict resolution trainings for organizations and educational institutions.

simultaneously, Wright discovered a new interest: polymer clay. With that discovery, Wright began to create incredibly beautiful pieces of wearable art. Wright says that in see-ing other polymer clay artists that have been around the medium for as long as she had worked for state government, she was reminded that, when you are in a particular field, you forget that there are other fields in which proficiency and relevance also exist. Wright also noticed that working with polymer clay, she is using a different part of her brain, a part that allows her to focus on the beauty that is everywhere in this world.

she looks at nature differently and sees patterns, and shapes, and colors much differently. she commented. “My jewelry allows me to express an inherent creativity that was sup-pressed for the past 28 years in state government, since creativity is not something that is always appreciated in that arena. Wright sometimes sells her jewelry locally under the name, “one of a Kind Designs”, and is working on a website for her wares.

Wright has worked in collaboration with the organizers, the Trinity institute, the arbor Hill Community Center, and other community leaders involved in the african-american Family Day to address the concerns of some about past incidents of violence. The collec-tive effort paid off. The successful collaboration yielded many good results. The ending time for the african american Family Day was extended and the range of activities was expanded in cooperation with William Clay’s staff of the new york state office of General services.

What Wright most appreciates about her life these days, beyond rediscovering her creative side, is the collaborations that have been formed with others. some of her new connec-tions (or reconnections) are truly exciting. Wright explained, “one of the saddest things that happens in business and government when there are economic downturns is that they lose their focus on employee development – and that is exactly the time when they need to increase it.”

along with her former Goer colleague, angela Dinisco, Wright is collaborating on an-other business venture, right Direction Consulting, which offers incredibly relevant and powerful leadership and professional development courses especially designed for student governments, nonprofit organizations, and the professions (engineers, lawyers, technol-ogy). Her website is www.rightdirectionconsulting.com .

Wright is also president of the board of directors of the alternative living Group, a not for profit organization that serves minority and disadvantaged persons with developmental disabilities. Wright says that, like many small not for profits, alG is always struggling to provide the highest quality services while not always getting enough money to do so. she highly encourages people to support the work of this worthwhile agency by donating at their website, www.alginc.org.

Wright was involved in several WaMC Town Hall radio broadcasts which focused, for example, on bullying (and the more current phenomenon of cyber bullying) and says, “While we commonly focus our helping attention on the victims, we also have to real-ize that bullying can also be a cry for help on the aggressor’s part.” she credits Maryanne Malecki for having done some incredible work with young people through the Town Hall broadcasts – having discussions that most adults avoid, but that are so critical for our young people today to have. she said that it is a shame, and a great loss for the community, that funding for that program was not renewed.

Wright is also proud of the role she is taking with trying to foster greater collaboration among the area’s Black women owned businesses and nonprofits. The idea came out of a conversation between Wright and co-planners Jacqui Williams and assie Bishop, in which the three discussed the need for greater knowledge about, and resource sharing between, Black women in the area who are attempting to establish or maintain organizations or businesses.

They are hosting their first meeting on Friday, January 29 (6pm to 9 pm) and saturday, January 30 (1:30pm to 5:30 pm) at the albany Center for economic success Building, 255 orange st., albany.

anyone interested in getting additional information on this event can contact roxanne at [email protected] or Jacqui Williams at [email protected] . Pre-registration is required and a $20 fee will cover the cost of refreshments on Friday and saturday.

all in all, the year and a half has been, at once, challenging, exciting, and interesting. Wright says that she has learned an incredible amount about what it is to have friends, and to be a friend. she says that she truly has a better understanding of both. The encour-agement and support of some of her friends has been invaluable. other friendships have fallen away. Wright says that, while it may sound trite, you really Do discover who your friends are when things get tough.

Wright commented, “The other thing that has gotten stronger is my faith. i now KnoW for sure that God is always with me - one step ahead of the naysayers and the bill collec-tors.”

With Wright’s positive and spiritual attitude, her well known humorous wit, and facilita-tion and consulting skills, she cannot help but succeed.

Without a safety net...leaving state service Before retirementcontinued from front cover

[email protected] • Page <5>January 2010 [email protected] • Page <5>December 2009

Believing the Impossible: A New Paradigm for Education ‘GIRDING FOR AN UPHILL BATTLE’

– Stephanie Tullis-Washington

This is the last article in a Part 3 part series on issues relating to the field of Education and the future of our children and ultimately our world.

I prepared for the conclusion of this series with the intent of focusing on the features and char-acteristics of the 21st century education model. When I found myself unable to lay out the param-eters of an ‘action plan’ (my typical modus operandi) that would move us from Step 1 (the here and now) to Step 10 (the 21st century model), I began to feel like I imagine Jacob may have felt as he wrestled with God in his quest. For some reason, I was having great difficulty juxtaposing my existing knowledge of and experience with the current educational system to the envisioned 21st century paradigm.

How do we get from the system I described in Part 2 of this series; a system whose very structure is in decay and decomposing by the day to the model espoused by the 21st century visionaries; one intended to function ‘without walls’? The problem just seemed too big. Where and how do we start the transition? Admittedly, the walls of the current system are decaying but are we ready for our educational system to become ‘wall-less’?

The new models ‘sound and Iook good’. But how do we move from what I have described as oft times chaotic, sometimes frenzied, many times dysfunctional classroom environment that, based on the data, seems to be failing our students, parents and educators to one where children will love to learn; be challenged daily by their ‘classrooms without walls’; and become the critical thinkers we need to compete in this new world of international competition; ready to face and responsibly resolve 21st century issues?

To further complicate matters, another report was released; this time by a non-profit organiza-tion called ‘Mission Readiness’. The report stressed the inadequacy of the education of our youth but from a different and very critical perspective--our country’s defense. The report stated that ’seventy five percent of the country’s 17-24 year olds are ineligible for military service; largely be-cause they are undereducated, overweight or have physical conditions which make them ineligible for military service’.

Military leaders (who comprise the group that sponsored the study) are concerned that the status of our youth is a potential major problem to our country’s ability to defend itself when our volunteer force is already pressed to fight two wars. The Washington Post reported (in a November 5, 2009 article) that “one of the main reason recruits don’t qualify for the service is inadequate edu-cation. one in four between the ages of 17 and 24 do not have a high school diploma…And many, who do, still fail the military’s version of the SAT, known as the Armed Forces qualification Test.”

The military has developed some in-house programs to focus on methods to work with its target population such as certifying recruiters as ‘substitute teachers’ to help recruits with homework so they pass the requisite qualifications Test. But more importantly, the leaders of Mission Readiness, which includes two former Joint Chiefs of Staff, recognize the long term, threatening implications of our failing education system. This group has recommended that Congress support President obama’s early Learning Challenge Fund that would, if enacted, provide funding for early child-hood education programs.

Major General James A. Kelly, a member of the organization, states, ‘you can’t wait until high school in order to change a person’. (Aha, Major Kelly must understand the frustration I feel in thinking about an ‘education action plan’).

Major Kelly knows, as many educators have known for years that preschool programs are one of the best ways to ensure academic success in later years.

yes, that’s it. We have to start over! Afresh! Anew!But in the meantime, we will certainly need remedial programs such as the newly structured

programs that focus on our current population’s weaknesses. These programs ‘start where the student is’. Many of the colleges now offer ‘preparatory’ and introductory programs to provide students with the college level writing and critical thinking skills they need to successfully complete a college level curriculum. This approach is combined with skill based core courses with content relevant to the professional and work environments. The military program discussed above is an example of a training and development program that starts where the student is.

The goal of these programs is aligned with the tenets of the 21st century model; a curriculum that focuses on the skills, knowledge and expertise needed to succeed not only at work… but also in life.

So what can we expect to see in the curriculum designed to address the needs of and prepare our children for the 21st century? A curriculum that will prepare our children/students by developing in them the skills, knowledge and expertise to function in work and life in the 21st century. The model includes a curriculum that will develop skills in the following areas: life and career; learning and innovation; and information, media and technology.

In addition to traditional core subjects, students will be exposed to topics of particular relevance to life in the 21st century. Issues such as global warming, civic literacy and health literacy will be critical components of student education. Problem solving and critical thinking will be an integral part of the education process. Students will learn how to reason and analyze when dealing with common and unfamiliar problems and situations. Learning how to effectively communicate and collaborate with others is another critical feature of this educational model.

I am starting to see bits and pieces of the model in various forms and at different levels of our educational system; the 1st grader who has written the Spanish equivalent term for house as one of several he/she is required to learn and include in his/her picture/word book; the college student who, as a part of a French class, prepares a ‘reading guide’ for French speaking students in African countries; or the first year college student who has to discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty from both a moral and logical perspective as it impacts death row inmates-- an assignment in her ‘required’ critical thinking course. I now start to feel better. The process has begun. We are pre-pared for battle and have actually begun the uphill climb.

NoTe: Supporting information for this article was based on the 21st century education model described on a website sponsored by the Partnership for 21st Century Schools.

FRee MASTeRS PRoGRAM AT WAKe FoReST ReCeIVeS PooR ReSPoNSe

Wake Forest University has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please, pass along this opportunity to your friends, families, and networks to see if there is an interest. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school.

Message from Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D.:

Greetings, I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity here at Wake Forest where you can get a FRee education and get PAID while you’re doing it. our Dean of the Schools of Business is the former Ceo of PepsiCo and very committed to diversity. He’s gone around to his Ceo friends, who have agreed to donate a bunch of money to pay tuition and fees, provide a stipend, and a job, to di-verse students. The details are below. The problem is... response to the program has been dismal! As a faculty member, I would be embarrassed for him to have to tell his Ceo friends, “thanks so much for your donation, but unfortunately I have to give it back because we couldn’t find Any students who wanted it.” So, I need your help. Please contact me if you, or ANyoNe you know is interested in the program. I want to help out as many young scholars as I can. Don’t worry about whether or not you (or they) have taken the GMAT, etc. All you need to do at this point is JUST APPLy.

About the Program: The Master of Art in Management program is designed specifically for liberal arts majors only. The MA degree program is a 10 month intense study of the basic functional areas of Business. After graduation and working for approximately two years, all MA graduates are eligible to apply to Wake Forest as part of the MA/MBA joint degree program and get the MBA in one year. The new Dean, Steve Reinemund, has created a new scholarship for diverse students pursuing the MA degree called the Corporate Fellowship.

The Corporate Fellowship provides full tuition and a $21,000 stipend to cover living expenses. Additionally, each Corporate Fellow will participate in a practicum. The practicum has two compo-nents, educational and professional development. each student will be assigned a mentor that is a high level executive with their sponsor corporation. The mentor will oversee an educational project covering 4 of the functional areas of business using their own corporation as the subject.

The student will visit the corporation 3-4 times during the program to present his/her results of their research project. Additionally, the “professional development” component of the fellowship provides career coaching and leadership development for the students.

The goal for the corporation is to be able to groom and hopefully, hire a top candidate from a diverse background for their organization. of course, there is no obligation that the students accept any offer of employment. Still, the student benefits, even if they are not ultimately hired by their sponsor corporation in that they have the MA degree and the type of experience that will make them more marketable.

Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D. • Toll-free: (866) 925-3622 • Website: www.mba.wfu.edu

Maria_Classique Magazine_Jan/Feb 2010

CONTACT ADMISSIONS AT 518.438.3111, X 217 OR [email protected]

OPEN HOUSESUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH •1-3PMADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID PRESENTATION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 1PM.

There are some things you just won’t find at a large university: warm welcomes, a sense of community, an environment where you’re known by name. When youchoose Maria, you’ll not only find all of the above, but you’ll be in a place where academic excellence isencouraged and rewarded, opportunities abound, and success is achieved.

Timeless and Traditional.Contemporaryand Relevant.

FOUR-YEAR DEGREE: RN-BS NURSINGTWO-YEAR DEGREES: ACCOUNTING • COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS • EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONGENERAL STUDIES • LIBERAL ARTS (CONCENTRATIONS IN ENGLISH, PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES/PHILOSOPHY)MANAGEMENT • NURSING • OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT • PARALEGAL • RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIST

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Maria_Classique_ad:Maria_ 1/19/10 2:06 PM Page 2

Harvard summer Program in quantitative sciences

summer Program in quantitative sciences at the Harvard school of Public Health June 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010 Deadline for Application: February 15, 2010 if you like mathematics and would like to learn how quantitative methods can be applied in the study of human health, then the summer Program in quantitative sciences is for you. This includes those of you who may have been thinking about Wall street just a year ago! The summer Program will introduce you to the power and excitement of math applications to public health, medicine, and biology, and possibly convince you that this is the career direction you’ve been looking for! The summer Program is an intensive 4-week program, during which highly qual-ified undergraduates receive a whirlwind introduction to the fields of biostatistics and epidemiology and to the use of quantitative methods for biological, environ-mental, public health, and medical research. The program also provides advice about graduate school and the application process through Gre preparation, meetings with different departments of the Harvard school of Public Health, and individualized mentoring by Harvard faculty. Participants take non-credit introductory courses in biostatistics and stata (a statistical program), and attend a series of afternoon topical seminars. The semi-nars, led by faculty members from various departments at the Harvard school of Public Health, are designed to broaden participant’s understanding of the re-lationship of biostatistics to human health by providing a snapshot of methods developed and applied to real research projects in different fields. Participants also gain research experience through small-group research proj-ects directed by faculty and graduate student mentors. students apply statistical methods to real data to address important and timely questions. For example, one group of students recently studied whether there was a relationship between body mass index and postpartum depression. another group analyzed data from a clinical trial to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. and another research project examined the effects of arsenic exposure on proteomic profiles in Bangladesh. at the end of the program, students present their research to the group and to affiliated faculty. alumni of the summer Program have earned or are enrolled in graduate degrees in many campuses over the country, including Masters or PhDs in Biostatistics and epidemiology. Potential applicants should have some aptitude and interest in quantitative meth-ods and an interest in public health as a career. Prior exposure to statistics is not required. room and board, travel, and a living stipend of approximately $1700/month are provided. Please email any questions to: [email protected], or http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/biostats/diversity/summer/

“Fresh” (movie trailer)

Honest Weight Food Co-op and the linda present “Fresh” (movie trailer: www.freshthemovie.com) as part of their Food for Thought: a evening of socially relevant Cinema series January 21, 6pm, at the linda, 339 Central avenue & quail.

For tickets call: 465-5233 X4 or go to: www.thelinda.org

sainT rose oFFers sWiMMinG lessons For CHilDren The College of saint rose Physical education Department offers low-cost swimming lessons for children ages 4 to 14. swim classes will be available Mondays beginning February 15 through april 19 (except March 3 and april 5) from 5:55 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. and from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the College’s heated pool in the events and athletics Center , 420 Western ave. , albany . saint rose students pursuing american red Cross water safety instructor certification will teach in small groups of 3 to 5 children under the super-vision of a certified swimming instructor trainer.The full package of eight lessons costs $30. send payment to: The College of saint rose, 432 Western ave. , albany , ny 12203 – attention: Physical education, Dr. ann neilson Box #2489.For more information, contact Dr. neilson, chair of the Physical educa-tion Department, at 518-454-5248 or [email protected].


naaCP-albany BranchMembership Meeting

Thursday, January 28, 2010arbor Hill Community Center

50 lark street (enter on second street)

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Topics:Branch activities

2010 Census - yes We CoUnT!new york Civil liberties

Union-immigration reformUniversal Pre-K -

Will your child get in next fall?

For information call 462-1246

Transformation: Energy in Motion

spoke with the universe Tilted the axis with my words shifted a couple of sentences Using pronouns and verbs

Made a date with retrograde and spoke in the language of constellations

Drew lines with star dust and discussed the nebular arrangements

Tickled the cycle of seasons and witnessed a sudden change in laughter

our eyes look upward Towards a happily ever after

We smile as we look into the portals of the sky Fallen angels from our eyes

as from our happiness we cry as we trace angles and signs

searching for galaxies in our minds eye Challenging the institutions of earth Giving birth to our expecting worth

as winners locating a sense of completion in rivers, hills, valley’s regions

Warriors with reasons We actively seek meaning

Hungry for relations We find ourselves in cloud formations

and productively waste days Washing our confused selves away

Down a drip drain drop Momentum flowing

We won’t stop star gazing for moon phases

exploration of our facesand free from the eclipse

spring solstice of our honeyed lips Finding God in her hips

Heaven in his disciplined movements and we live concise

Willing to pay the admission priceTo live our life

Triangles and sides Mathematical insights as we add ourselves up

in the equation of our reflection Mirror being our quotient

result of our division We come back with our selves

Grateful for the opportunities we have been given. We feel good today

Cuz today we are living Praying for forgiveness

asking for a witness Wanting sweet deliverance

From the apex of our ignorance Desire something higher To perfection we aspire Comets meteor showers

That cleanse our souls when we perspireFrom the granules (Dirt) of sweet earth

leave rustle trees search Branches through breezes

That uproot the hurtour goals we keep growing

as seeds we keep sowing Forever knowing

our rivers keep flowing Move through the clock

Past pebbles, stones, rocks opportunity knocks

as we open new locks reach past the ceiling

aim for a feeling our hearts we are concealing

When love is our healing integrate hues of unity

From the palette of our communityPortraits of solidarity

emerge from our humanityWe are a collective

so let’s not forget this That although we may be separate

We are all connected. luis Pabon Copyright © 2009


Can You Wait a “New York Minute” for Your Own Money?

Drive down main streets like Central avenue in albany or state street in the capi-tal region. Count how many income tax preparation companies that you see with windows that have large signs with “rapid refund, or “instant Money,” or “Money now,”These signs are aimed at low income taxpayers and military families who are in a rush to get money as soon as possible. They know that there are hundreds of people who earn under $40,000 per year who are entitled to earned income credit (eiC).They make it sound easy to get money almost instantly that these low income taxpayers are entitled to receive when they file their tax return in January. What is actually happening is that minorities and military families are given high-interest loans from money they are entitled to receive. The fee for people who cannot wait a “new york Minute” is as high as 700 percent. This means the tax preparation companies receive from $400 to $700 or more that is deducted from the person’s income tax refund when it is filed in January. That is the cost of impatience.!The federal government and the new york state Division of Human rights is cracking down on these practices but the public can help stop it by avoiding these high interest loans companies.

WAIT! WAIT! A MINUTE.

Think about this. File your income tax at a reputable company in January and get all of your money in 6 to 14 days after transmitting tax returns to irs.

Lessons For Our Children and Us.

We hope that all parents and adults throughout our nation are paying attention to this outstanding lesson in perseverance and fortitude. Anything worthwhile is worth fighting for. We know that God’s plan may not come when we want it but it will always be on time. Just wait.

President Obama said, "I am not going to walk away just because it's hard. We're going to keep on working to get this done with Democrats, Republicans–anyone who is willing to step up." He "didn't say what the eventual legislation would look like. He also didn't elaborate on how he would push a plan through the Senate.

'I am not going to watch more people get crushed by costs, or denied the care they need by insurance company bureaucrats, or partisan politics, or special interest power in Washington,' he said. He blamed lobbyists, insurance companies and Republicans for derailing the proposal. 'And I'm going to keep up the fight for real, meaningful health insurance reforms,' the speech said. 'That's why we expanded the children's health insurance program to include four million more kids. And that's why I'll continue fighting for reform that will hold the insurance industry accountable and bring more stability and security to folks in our health-care system”

Annette De Lavallade


NAACP Dinner

naaCP Dinner Guests enjoying the evening

Dinner guests enjoying the evening

outstanding service as executive Committee Members

Past Presidents, Mrs Brewer (accepts for her husband past President rev. louis Brewer), Debora Brown-Johnson, President albany Branch, Mrs.

Crawford ( accepts for her husband past President, austin Crawford, anne Pope, naaCP regional Coordinator

Dinner Guests reviewing the names for the awardees

naaCP student Theater outreach Program (sToP) albany High school students

sToP students

rev. edward Mulraine, Keynote speaker

Gregory owens - Master of Ceremonies

Commitment to service award: albany Housing authority - Chiquita D’arbeau accepting for steve longo with Unique Photography el-Wise noisette

sharon Fullard, Macedonia Baptist Church , Piano accompanist musician from Metropolitan Baptist Church

sToP students

Political action awardees attorneys Michael Hoblock and lowell siegel

religious and Community awardees Union Missionary Baptist ChurchMt. Calvary Baptist Church First israel african american episcopal Church

Photography by: Duncan Bailey


“Don't follow the path. Go where thereis no path and start a trail.” – Ruby Bridges

In 1960, 6-year-old

Ruby Bridges became the first

African-Americanchild to attendWilliam Frantz

ElementarySchool in

New Orleans.

The NAACP was instrumental inwinning the 1954 lawsuit, Brown v.Board of Education, which desegregat-ed public schools in the United States.

Founded in 1909, the NationalAssociation for the Advancement of ColoredPeople is the nation’s oldest, largest andmost widely recognized grassroots–basedcivil rights organization. A century later, the

NAACP continues to work to eliminate racialprejudice as well as to ensure political,educational, social and economic equalityfor all members of our society.

NYSUT, a statewide union of profession-als, is proud of its history of working with theAfrican-American community to advance thecivil rights movement and to promote qualityeducation and health care for all New Yorkers.

For more on the important contributionsof African-Americans, visit www.nysut.org.

C E L E B R A T E B L A C K H I S T O R Y

Representing more than 600,000 professionals in education and health care


Hamilton Hill Celebrates Kwanzaa at NYS Museum

Community guest explains Kwanzaa principle

african dancers strike graceful move

Ms. Marsha Mortimore lights Kwanzaa candle

Walter simpson engages audience

Board member welcomes audience

Community activist recognized

reciting a Kwanzaa principle

Don “soul Man” Hyman sings with songstress

african dancers from Hamilton Hill arts Center in schenectady

Hamilton Hill’s Miki Conn announces awardeesDon Hyman sings to friend

adult guides child lighting candelabra

rev. leonard Comithier, Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church leads Men’s choir

Dancers execute traditional african moves

Don “soul Man” Hyman entertains

Garland Funeral Home family accepts award

african dancers from Hamilton Hill arts Center

Children play steel drums

Miki Conn, executive Director of Hamilton Hill arts Center

aaron Carter lights Kwanzaa candelabra

K20

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. it is celebrated through singing, speaking, dancing and reciting traditional. Kwanzaa is built on seven principles that are commonly known as “nguzo saba”. The african celebration of Kwazaa was a ceremony of appreciation for the “first fruits of harvest”. The four elements that made up the original african meaning of Kwanzaa were unity, aware-ness of ancestry and heritage, recommitment to traditional values, and reverence for creator and the creation. The modern celebration of Kwanzaa lasts seven days, from December 26 to January 1. each of the seven days of the celebration is dedicated to one of the seven principles. each day one candle is lit that represents each principle. Day 1 - middle candle - Black - Umoja - Unity, Day 2 - innermost red candle - Kujichagulia - self-determinationDay 3 - innermost green candle - Ujima - Collective Work and responsibility, Day 4 - middle red candle - Ujamaa - Cooperative eco-nomics, Day 5 - middle green candle - nia - Purpose, Day 6 - outermost red candle - Kuumba - CreativityDay 7 - outermost green candle - imani - Faith

note: We were unable to identify everyone at press time. We apologize for not including all names.

Photography by: Duncan Bailey


Two Choices

What would you do? you make the choice. Don’t look for a punch line, there isn’t one. read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

at a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. after extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. yet my son, shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. ‘i believe that when a child like shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story: shay and i had walked past a park where some boys shay knew were playing baseball. shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ i knew that most of the boys would not want someone like shay on their team, but as a father i also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

i approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. i guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. i watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. in the bottom of the eighth inning, shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

in the top of the ninth inning, shay put on a glove and played in the right field. even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as i waved to him from the stands.

in the bottom of the ninth inning, shay’s team scored again. now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and shay was sched-uled to be next at bat.

at this juncture, do they let shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? surprisingly, shay was given the bat. everyone knew that a hit was all but impos-sible because shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less con-nect with the ball. However, as shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recogniz-ing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards shay. as the pitch came in, shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates. everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘shay, run to first! run to first!’ never in his life had shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. everyone yelled, ‘run to second, run to second!’Catching his breath, shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and strug-gling to make it to the base.

By the time shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head. shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

all were screaming, ‘shay, shay, shay, all the Way shay’ shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘run to third! shay, run to third!’

as shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘shay, run home! run home! ‘shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgot-ten being the hero and making me so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Haiti Disaster relief Task ForceThe pastor of Union Missionary Baptist Church, reverend Victor e. Covington, has established a Haiti Disaster relief Task Force to devise ways to provide relief to the people in Haiti. initial plans under development by the Task Force are a bowl-a-thon, walk-a-thon and a concert. This effort is sponsored by Union Bap-tist Church but is open to all people regardless of race, creed, color or affiliation. To get involved or for more information please contact the church at 463-1550 by phone or by e-mail at [email protected]. you may also contact anne Pope, chair of the Task Force at 463-5463 or by e-mail at [email protected] involvement is critical to the success of this effort and welcomed.

african american Heritage CelebrationUnion Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its annual african american Her-itage Day sunday February 21. reverend edward l. Mulraine, pastor of Unity Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, new york. Will be the guest preacher at the 11 aM worship. reverend Mulraine is author of the best-selling “The Gathering”. an ethnic Feast will follow. everyone is asked to dress in african attire. The service is open to the public. all are invited.


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observations on Growing older

author Unknown

~your kids are becoming you...and you don’t like them ...but your grandchildren are perfect!

~Going out is good. Coming home is better!

~When people say you look “Great”... they add “for your age!”

~When you needed the discount you paid full price. now you get discounts on everything ...

movies, hotels, flights, but you’re too tired to use them. ~you forget names ... but it’s oK

because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose is now 15 and you have a better chance of losing your keys than the 15 pounds.

~you realize you’re never going to be really good at anything .... especially golf.

~your husband is counting on you to remember things you don’t remember.

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do,

but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore.

~your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than he does in bed.

it’s called his “pre-sleep”. ~remember when your mother said

“Wear clean underwear in case you GeT in an accident”? now you bring clean underwear in case you HaVe an accident!

~you used to say, “i hope my kids GeT married ...

now, “i hope they sTay married!” ~you miss the days when everything worked

with just an “on” and “oFF” switch.. ~When GooGle, ipod, email, modem ...

were unheard of, and a mouse was something that made you climb on a table.

~you used to use more 4 letter words ... “what?”...”when?” ???

~now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere.

~your husband has a night out with the guys but he’s home by 9:00 P.M. ...next week it will be 8:30 P.M.

~you read 100 pages into a book before you realize you’ve read it. ~notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless”?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~everybody whispers.

~now that your husband has retired ... you’d give anything if he’d find a job!

~you have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet .... 2 of which you will never wear.

~~~~But old is good in some things: old songs

old movies

and best of all olD FrienDs!!


Ring the bell! School’s out – with a twist!

educators to be Honored in Weeklong WinTer reCess Celebration;Vie Passes available to Public- Private- and Home school Professionals

scores of Merchants Welcome educators; sPrinG aWaKeninG Ticket Discounts available

as a special tribute to professional educators and all they do for the region’s schools and communities throughout the year, Proctors, nysUT and schenect-ady are rolling out the red carpet to educators and their families with a+ events. The fun begins on saturday, February 13 and runs through saturday, February 20.

Winter recess is chock a bloc with family friendly activities, entertainment, din-ing discounts, shopping promotions, and special events throughout the city of schenectady – all week! The weeklong celebration also includes two theatre camps for children.

ViPs Get the VieWinter recess is open to educators, district employees and their guests. The re-cess bell welcomes teachers, secretaries, professors, cafeteria workers, bus driv-ers, administrators, maintenance workers, paraprofessionals and crossing guards. Private school and home school educators also are welcomed. To qualify for Winter recess, all participants are required to sign up for the Vie (Very important educator) Pass – their personal key to activities and discounts throughout the week. (www.proctors.org/winter_recess) all Public school educators and employee will receive their Vie passes directly from nysUT in the mail this winter. specially designated locations at Proctors and the schenectady Chamber of Commerce will have maps and a schedule of Winter recess events. These range from wine tastings, ice skating, performances, storytelling, african dance and drumming, floral design workshops, dining dis-counts, spa and salon packages to hotel discounts and special events. The list con-tinues to grow as Winter recess approaches. Private school and home school educators also are invited to register for a Vie Pass online at www.proctors.org/winter_recess) and to get their Vie at Proctors Box office between 10 aM- 6 PM, February 15 – 19. all other Winter recess guidelines apply. Teamwork, Team play Makes annual rite of recess“This is an event we work toward for 11 months of the year,” says Christine shee-han, Proctors Director of education. “Creating the impact of Winter recess takes the coordinated efforts of scores of people and businesses throughout the area. it’s a labor of love to honor those who do so much for our region and our schools. “This year, we have an opportunity to heighten the excitement for participating educators with discounted tickets to sPrinG aWaKeninG – one of Broadway’s biggest Tony award® winning shows.” sponsors rally to Honor educatorsWinter recess takes place in multiple locations throughout schenectady. These include restaurants, hotels, retail locations and entertainment facilities. in fact, many city organizations have come together to support this innovative salute to teachers and other school employees. These include:

•acting Camps for Kids at ProCTors•Battle of the Bands•Bettie’s Cakes Cupcakery Mobile Cafe•Capital region Wine Festival at ProCTors•Chez Daisie Crepe Making Demonstrations and free samples•Caricature artist and demos at Jay street Gaming•Chili Cook-off •Floral Design workshops at experience & Creative Design•Giant screen Films at ProCTors•Green Market at ProCTors•Guitar Hero Play off at ProCTors•ice skating at schenectady County ice rink•live Music every night at Moon and river Café•open Door Bookstore discounts and gifts with purchase•schenectady Museum and suits-Bueche Planetarium: shows, free admission,special gifts, hands on activities and super science programs.•rotterdam square Mall discounts and free gifts•schenectady light opera Company presents “13”•sPrinG aWaKeninG at ProCTors

•spring Flower arranging Class at anthology Designstudio•Tours at The Costumer•Union aquarium Trout in the Classroom

Don’t Delay; register Todayaccording to Proctors education Program Manager, Jessica Gelarden, a key facili-tator of the WinTer reCess event, “the number of stores, business, and lodging venues participating in Winter recess continues to increase. We urge everyone to visit the Proctors’ WinTer reCess webpages (www.proctors.org/winter_recess)to sign up early for the exciting annual event.”

an enthusiastic sheehan adds: “The sponsors of Winter recess are mindful of the stress that the economy has placed on our schools and our educators. Winter recess allows us to share evolving developments within schenectady and to pro-vide welcomed value – by offering more to do at carefully managed price points targeted at educators. We also hope that Winter recess will provide some sorely needed fun!”

ongoing CommitmentProctors remains committed to providing innovative opportunities for trans-forming teaching and learning through the arts with a variety of programs that integrate the arts into school curriculum, build community partnerships, foster creativity and promote a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Proctors aspires to provide for the needs of our community through a dynamic education program for young people, with a particular focus on school partner-ships and the underserved. in addition to offering children’s performances, Proc-tors collaborates with teaching artists and teachers to develop and implement ef-fective programs that improve academic performance, teach discipline and create an overall appreciation for the arts.

For More informationTo find more about WinTer reCess or how your school or organization can become involved with educational initiatives at Proctors, contact Christine shee-han, Director of education (518) 382-3884, x 112 or Jessica Johndrew Gelarden, education Program Manager (518) 382-3884 x 150 or subscribe to Proctor’s edu-cation email list (http://www.proctors.org/email_form/email_list_sign_up).


something to Think aboutauthor Unknown

a mouse looked through the crack in the wallto see the farmer and his wife open a package.

“What food might this contain?” The mouse wondered.He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

retreating to the farmyard,the mouse proclaimed this warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,“Mr. Mouse, i can tell this is a grave concern to you,

but it is of no consequence to me. i cannot be bothered by it.”

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,“There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The pig sympathized, but said,“i am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse,

but there is nothing i can do about itbut pray.

Be assured you are in my prayers.”

The mouse turned to the cow and said,“There is a mousetrap in the house!There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The cow said, “Wow, Mr. Mouse.

i’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”

so, the mouse returned to the house,head down and dejected,

to face the farmer’s mousetrap. alone.

That very nighta sound was heard throughout the house

-- the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught.in the darkness, she did not see it.

it was a venomous snakewhose tail was caught in the trap.

The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital.

When she returned home she still had a fever.everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup.

so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyardfor the soup’s main ingredient:

But his wife’s sickness continued. Friends and neighbors came to sit with her

around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

But, alas,

the farmer’s wife did not get well... she died.

so many people came for her funeralthat the farmer had the cow slaughteredto provide enough meat for all of them

for the funeral luncheon.

and the mouse looked upon it allfrom his crack in the wall with great sadness.

The next time you hear someone is facing a problemand you think it doesn’t concern you, remember --

When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life.We must keep an eye out for one another

and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

- reMeMBer - eaCH oF Us is a ViTal THreaD in anoTHer Person’s TaPesTry.

oUr liVes are WoVen ToGeTHer For a reason.

one of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FrienD.

“no earthly Good” a Gospel Play Casting Call!!!!

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010

Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Place: sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church Corner of Clinton avenue & Ten

Broeck street, albany, ny

Casting roles for:• Men ages 18-60 (7 males parts)

• Women ages 18-75 (11 female parts)

• 4-6 singers to perform as a praise and worship team• stage hands

Contact: Ms. Peyton J. Harrison: 518 894-4516


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Jimmy Gripper was a trailblazer in CSEA, achieving a series of “firsts” that stand out in the union’s history.

Gripper began his career in state service at what was then known as the Brooklyn Developmental Center in 1972, working to establish the CSEA local there and becoming its founding president in the bargain. A colorful activist in CSEA for 30 years, Gripper was the union’s first African-American region president when he was elected to lead the New York City Region in 1980.

“It was being in the right place at the right time,” Gripper said in a 2009 interview. “I was an activist in the region and I got involved with the state contract negotiating team and built a lot of relationships. That was a big stepladder. By that time I was also an elected mental hygiene representative on the CSEA statewide Board of Directors and that also helped. It all happened so fast.

Throughout his career as a CSEA activist, Gripper was always in the thick of the fight, armed with contract and legal language and his own inimitable style.

“I always felt those were fights that had to be had, “ Gripper said. “Usually they were campaigns for issues that meant something. I enjoyed the fights if you want to know the truth- I enjoyed getting out in the street campaigning for what was right- for the little guy. I always thought that I was the little guy; I never felt like I was a big guy.”

Gripper retired in 1999.

“I really don’t have anything bad to say about CSEA. It was a growing experience all the way through,” Gripper said.

classique magazine january 2010

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