the westside gazette
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PAIDFT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310
PERMIT NO. 1179
THE WESTSIDE GAZETTEPOST OFFICE 5304
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A PrA PrA PrA PrA Proud Poud Poud Poud Poud Paper faper faper faper faper for a Pror a Pror a Pror a Pror a Proud Poud Poud Poud Poud People...Sinceople...Sinceople...Sinceople...Sinceople...Since 1971e 1971e 1971e 1971e 1971
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THURSDATHURSDATHURSDATHURSDATHURSDAYYYYY,JANUAR,JANUAR,JANUAR,JANUAR,JANUARY 1 - WEDNESDAY 1 - WEDNESDAY 1 - WEDNESDAY 1 - WEDNESDAY 1 - WEDNESDAYYYYY,,,,, JANUAR JANUAR JANUAR JANUAR JANUARY 7Y 7Y 7Y 7Y 7, 2015, 2015, 2015, 2015, 2015Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperBroward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperBroward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperBroward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperBroward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
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As NNPA Prepares for 75th Anniversary: PresidentEnvisions Black Press as ‘mainstream’
NNPA President Benjamin Chavis (Photo by Roy Lewis/Trice Edney News Wire)
By Hazel Trice Edney
(TriceEdneyWire.com) -Civil rights leader BenjaminChavis, now president of theNational Newspaper PublishersAssociation (NNPA), says heenvisions Black newspapers asbecoming the “new main-stream” rather than an alterna-tive press as it is often called.
“The Black Press, I believehas an opportunity where itcan make even more tractionthan it has in the past,” Chavissaid in a recent interview withthe Trice Edney News Wire. “Inother words, I don’t see theBlack Press as a side press fromthe mainstream press. I wantthe Black Press to become thenew mainstream because thedemographics are changing.”
Chavis was among thespeakers at a gala celebrationfor the 50th Anniversary of theWashington Informer News-paper, published by NNPAmember Denise Rolark Barnes.
Black-owned newspapers areoften called specialty, alterna-tive or minority press by gov-ernment agencies and cor-porate America.
But, according to an analysisof U. S. Census Bureau pop-ulation stats, people of color, in-cluding African-Americans, willgradually increase to become aclear majority of America’spopulation over the next fourdecades.
“All in all, minorities, now37 percent of the U.S. popu-lation, are projected to comprise57 percent of the population in2060,” according to a U. S. Cen-sus report. “The total minoritypopulation would more thandouble, from 116.2 million to241.3 million over the period.”
During that period, “theBlack population is expected toincrease from 41.2 million to61.8 million” as the white pop-ulation will peak in 2024 - 10years from now - and then grad-ually decrease by 20.6 millionby 2060, the Census reports.
(Cont'd on Page 3)
How do you go from South Central to Princeton? Thisamazing Black woman did itBy Dr Boyce Watkins
Dominique Reese ’06 neverforgot her South Central LosAngeles roots. She was the firstgraduate of Crenshaw HighSchool to attend Princeton, the
first person in her family to at-tend college, and now is operat-ing a business that teaches fi-nancial literacy to low-incomeyouth and adults.
She says she is living proofthat after-school programs
work. In high school, she tookpart in the Riordan ScholarsProgram, a highly successfulinitiative that helps studentsfrom underserved communitiesachieve their college dreamsthrough Saturday seminars atthe UCLA Anderson School ofManagement. It was there thata fellow program participant,who later attended Princeton,first told her about the Uni-versity.
“He encouraged me to applyand that was that,” says Reese.She was accepted at eight ofthe country’s top universities,but says she chose Princetonbecause of its remarkable “noloan” financial aid program.“None of the other schools couldbeat Princeton’s financial aidpackage,” she says.
Once at Princeton, Reese be-came an economics major. Shemet Jean Baldwin Grossman, aprofessor in the Woodrow Wil-son School of Public and In-ternational Affairs who is anexpert on after-school andyouth-mentoring programs fordisadvantaged youth. And withGrossman as her adviser, Reeseput her dual passions to work,writing her senior thesis on theeffects of after-school programson graduation outcome andcommunity-service participa-tion, while also analyzing theeconomic implications of such
programs for society at large.She tested her scholarship
in the real world. Reese becameone of the first coordinators ofthe Black Student Union’s Lea-dership and Mentoring Pro-gram (LAMP), a program thatshe says assists “students ofcolor with their transition tocollege, pairing incoming fresh-men with mentors, either ju-niors or seniors, and providingprogramming throughout theyear, preparing them mentally,academically, personally andsocially.”
She also was director of theBlack Arts Company, a campusdance troupe that explores thevaried dance traditions of theAfrican Diaspora. “Programslike this are part of what makesPrinceton special,” says Reese,“because they allow students toexpress themselves creativelyand socially, while enjoying thebest academic experience in thecountry.”
After graduating, she wentto work as an analyst for MerrillLynch in Hopewell, N.J. Shetook advantage of the economicdownturn a few years later toreturn to her passions. In 2009,she founded CommuniTreeLLC, a business dedicated toteaching financial literacy toyouth and adults. The com-pany, based in New York City,provides one-on-one moneymanagement counseling, fi-nancial literacy sessions and fi-nancial education programs fornonprofit and for-profit organi-zations.
“I enjoy my career as a socialentrepreneur, and in truePrinceton fashion strive to bein the nation’s service by an-nually educating 120 Americanyouth and adults about money,”she says. Reese also volunteerswith the South Central ScholarsAlumni Association in Los An-geles, where she teaches eighthgrade students about college;has mentored youth in Harlemand Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuy-vesant neighborhood; and is aBig Sister and national mentorwith Big Brothers Big Sisters ofAmerica.
Civil rights leaders at oddsas Ferguson protests grow
Tensions with New York Citypolice go beyond racial issues:commissioner
REESE
Police officers salute as the hearse of New York Citypolice officer Rafael Ramos drives along his funeralprocession route in the Glendale section of Queens, Dec.27, 2014, in New York.
By Frank MCGurty
NEW YORK, N.Y.(Reuters) - Tensions betweenNew York City Mayor Bill deBlasio and the police are rootedin issues that go beyond racialrelations, the police commis-sioner said on Sunday, a dayafter the funeral of one of thetwo officers slain a week ago intheir patrol car.
The tensions “involve labor
contracts. They involve a lot ofhistory in the city that’s reallydifferent from some of what’sgoing on in the country as awhole,” Bill Bratton said onNBC’s Meet the Press.
“You need to understand thisisn’t just about policing,” hesaid. “This is about the conti-nuing poverty rates, the conti-nuing growing disparity be-tween the wealthy and thepoor.”
(Read full storywww.thewestsidegazette.com)
By Yamiche Alchidor
Protests against police treat-ment of Black people have laidbare growing tensions betweenlongstanding civil rights groupsthat have battled discrimi-nation for decades and newgroups of leaders who want anedgier approach.
Activists who spurred de-monstrations across the countryafter a white police officer shotand killed Michael Brown, anunarmed 18-year-old Blackman in Ferguson, Mo., now de-mand a prominent voice in anational conversation aboutrace, challenging the primacyof established civil rights or-ganizations such as Al Sharp-ton’s National Action Networkand the NAACP. While the new-er activists may share goalswith more experienced groups,they have clashed with them inattempts at joint efforts.
That divide went on publicdisplay this month at a march
The Rev. Al Sharpton addresses families and supportersof several African Americans recently killed in con-frontations with police at a rally in Washington, D.C., onDec. 13, 2014. (Photo: Pete Marovich, EPA)
organized by Sharpton inWashington, D.C., when ac-tivist Johnetta Elzie, 25, andother protesters pushed to thefront of the stage and demandeda share of the spotlight.
“This movement was startedby the young people,” Elzie, ofSt. Louis, said at the Dec. 13march. “We started this. Thereshould be young people all overthis stage. This should be youngpeople all up here.”
It was the second time in thelast five months that Fergusonprotesters had chastised the oldguard. In October, during aninterfaith service in St. Louis,young activists interrupted theprogram by heckling speakersand shouting for a place onstage. Eventually, several cler-gy members ceded their spots toprotesters, who told the crowdthat NAACP President CornellWilliam Brooks was out oftouch.
(Read full storywww.thewestsidegazette.com)
Happy New Year andun-stuff your drawersBut flee from these things, you man of God, and pursuerighteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance andgentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
What images come to mind whenyou hear or read the words, “stuffeddrawers”? Do you see disproportionedbodies of people who have a closeresemblance to Cabbage Patch Kidsthat are swollen, blown up andsquashed into old fashion underpantswith short legs? Or do you see dresserdrawers not completely closed,overstuffed and over flowing withplenty of clothes that you forgot youhad and you probably couldn’t wearthem even if you went on a slim fastdiet for four straight years?
For me, up until recently this visionof overstuffed drawers reminded meof having more than enough and not knowing what to do withit.
After telling my son, who is home from college enjoying hisChristmas break that he needed to get rid of some of his junkthat covers his room floor like a new decoration, it jarred mymind as if I was a participant in an old Christmas toy, ‘Rock-um-Sock-um fighting robots’, that I too needed to get rid ofsome stuff.
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated NewspaperPage 2 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 1 - January 7, 2015
Policing the police: White House launches task force on 21stCentury policing, Congress passes “Death In Custody Bill”By NewsOne Now
Recently, Congress passedthe “Death In Custody Bill.”The new bill, sponsored by Con-gressman Bobby Scott, requirespolice departments to reportwhen someone dies in custodyin a jail or is involved in a shoot-ing.
On Dec. 19, Roland Mar-tin and the NewsOne NowStraight Talk panel discussedthe potential impact this bill
will have on police departmentsaround the nation.
NewsOne Now panel-ist, Lauren Victoria Burke toldMartin the bill is “substantial.”She also stated this bill “requiresthe department of justice to notonly just look at the statisticswith regards to deaths in cus-tody, but to do something aboutit when they get the numbers.”
The bill “is the law of theland given that the Presidentsigned it yesterday,” Burke said.
Also on Dec. 18, President Ba-rack Obama signed an execu-tive order creating the PoliceAccountability Task Force.They have been tasked withgoing around the country andcoming up with recommenda-tions to bring back to the Presi-dent to create the accountabilitybetween police forces and thecommunity.
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advi-sor to President Barack Obamatold Martin via phone during
the radio portion of the show,“The recommendations back tothe President will be these arethe best practices that we see.The report will obviously be pu-blic and it’s designed to help lo-cal law enforcement and com-munities take specific steps toenhance that process.”
Jarrett added, “We don’twant to predetermine whatthose recommendations will beso we certainly know that thereare very best practices aroundthe country already and wewant to highlight what thosebest practices are.”
Detective Al Diamond, Sgt. Eddie Cruz, Det. Carlo Fargnoli, Officer Chris Carita,and Det. Rich Rivera of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department journey to NewYork to show their support for fallen officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. Thetwo uniformed NYPD officers were shot dead by lone gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28,as they sat in their marked police car on a Brooklyn street corner — in whatinvestigators believe was a crazed gunman’s assassination-style mission to avengeEric Garner and Michael Brown.
New Year’s resolutions encounter pros and consBy Derek Joy
Ah, yes. It is that time - 2015.New Year’s Day.
The New Year so often re-flects much of what is associat-ed as a time of renewed hope,new beginnings, even a secondchance to accomplish this, thator the other.
Questions abound. NewYear’s Resolutions commandmuch attention. Is it worthwhileto make resolutions; are theyvalid, have you made any?
People were asked thesequestions. While several people,including elected officials, chosenot to answer, others had someinteresting things to say.
“For me, it’s a waste of time,”said Marguerite Mosley, a re-tired Miami Dade Public Schoolteacher, when asked aboutmaking New Year’s Resoluti-ons.
Added Frank Pinckney, a re-tired Metro Rail dispatcher: “No.I do not think they are worth-while.”
On the other hand, somethink differently.
“Making New Year’s Resolu-tions gives clear thinking peoplean opportunity to strive andimprove and secure their situa-tions,” said Vanessa Thomas, aPompano Beach resident.
“Some people don’t makethem because they can improvetheir lives whether it’s NewYear’s or not.”
For sure, improving one’squality of life is always a consi-deration. There are those whomake New Year’s Resolution tomake a conscious effort to reachcertain goals, achieve desiredresults, or engage in an exerciseof deception futility. Of course, the person makingthose resolutions, whether it isthe first time or one of many,does so with a purpose. “I’ve made them in the pastand I‘ve stuck with most of theimportant ones,” said HenriScarlett, a security guard seek-ing a teaching position with theMiami Dade Public Schools.
“They can be very worth-while, even the typical ones likelosing weight. It’s about whatthe individual wants for theirlife. But simply making the reso-lution isn’t enough. You haveto work to bring it to fruition.” Shift the focus to the role ofmaking New Year’s Resolutionswith respect to parenting. Fritz Etienne, Sr., whose son,Fritz Jr., starred for the Mem-phis University Tigers in a vic-tory over Brigham Young Uni-versity in the inaugural MiamiBeach Bowl, and daughter Al-breia, a 10th grade honor stu-
dent in Miami NorthwesternHigh School’s Medical MagnetProgram, are given freedom togrow without parental pres-sure. “There’s nothing wrong withmaking New Year’s Resolu-tions. Me, personally, I thinkthey should be made as you goalong in life,” said Etienne, Sr.“You shouldn’t have to wait un-til the New Year. “I’ve never really sat downand tried to tell my kids to makeresolutions. I just tell them totry to do better. I tell them towork hard.” Curiously, a step further intothe political arena and no sittingelected official contacted choseto respond. However, former El PortalMayor Daisy Black, who wasrecently defeated by then Coun-cilwoman Claudia Cubillos,weighed in. “No. I don’t make resolutionsbecause I’ve never accomplish-ed them. I may make 10 and ac-complish maybe five or six,” saidBlack, who recently received aProclamation from the FloridaState League of Cities recogni-zing her 20 years of public ser-vice. Black served 20 years (notconsecutive) on the El PortalVillage Council, eight as mayor. “My thing in the public arenais to do a lot more of the commu-nity service thing. We used tohave a program called “The Vil-lage Cares,” where we didthings for senior citizens andyouths,” said Black. “That’s aprogram I’d like to bring back.”
SCARLETT
Give way Oprah:Nigerian oiltycoon Alakija,becomes richestBlack woman
FromInformationNigeria.Com
Fashion designer turned oiltycoon, Chief (Mrs.) FolorunshoAlakija, is now officially therichest Black woman in theworld with an estimated networth of $7.3 billion.
To sit atop that envious posi-tion, Alakija, 62, had to displacemedia mogul, Oprah Winfrey,who has an estimated fortuneof $2.9 billion, according toForbes.
Currently, Africa boasts 55billionaires and they’re worth astaggering $143.88 billion intotal, according to pan-Africanmagazine, Ventures Africa.
Mother of four, Alakija, start-ed her career as a secretary in abank in the mid-1970s, thenventured into Fashion design-ing before she finally tried herhands in the booming oil bus-iness – where she had her big-gest break.
In 1993, her company,Famfa Oil, was awarded an oilprospecting license, which laterbecame OML 127, one of Ni-geria’s most lucrative oil blocks.According to Ventures Africareports, Mrs. Alakija’s companyowns a 60 percent stake in theblock, valued at around $7.3billion.
Consumer group sues Aetna, alleges discrimination
ALAKIJA
By Julie Watson
A consumer advocacy grouphas filed a class-action lawsuitagainst Aetna Inc. saying a newpolicy violates the privacy ofpeople with HIV and AIDS byrequiring them to get their me-dications from its mail-orderpharmacy.
Consumer Watchdog filedthe lawsuit last week in federalcourt in San Diego. It sayssending the drugs through themail puts privacy at risk be-cause packages could end up atthe wrong address or be seenby others. It also says the mailis not a reliable way to ensurepeople get their medications ontime.
The group alleges the policyalso violates the federal healthcare law because it discouragespeople with HIV and AIDS fromsigning up for the company’sinsurance.
Aetna spokeswoman Cyn-thia Michener said the policy ispart of its ongoing strategy tokeep health plans affordableand help with medication ad-herence. People can also opt
out, she said.“To opt out, members only
have to call the number on theirID card,” she said in an email toThe Associated Press. “Requestswill be processed the same day.”
The plaintiff is a San Diegoman who is anonymous in courtdocuments. If he opts out underthe policy, he would face ex-orbitant costs since his localpharmacy would be consideredout of network, said ConsumerWatchdog attorney JerryFlanagan.
The plaintiff fought with thecompany for more than a monthto be allowed to continue goingto his local pharmacy at no ex-tra cost, Flanagan said. He ad-ded that the policy violates theAffordable Care Act to end dis-crimination against patientsbased on their health condition.
“Requiring health plans tooffer coverage for patients witha preexisting condition meanslittle if the insurer can chargethese patients exorbitant co-in-surance or only cover carethrough inconvenient and in-effective mail-order require-ments that put the patients’
health and privacy at risk,” hesaid.
In May, two health organi-zations filed a similar complaintwith federal health officials al-leging some Florida insurancecompanies were violating theAffordable Care Act by struc-turing their insurance plans ina way that discourage con-sumers with HIV and AIDSfrom choosing those plansbecause they wouldn’t be ableto afford the high co-insurancerates.
Health insurance companyCigna later agreed to changeits prescription drug policy.
Consumer Watchdog in thepast has filed similar lawsuitsagainst two other insurers,United Healthcare and AnthemBlue Cross of California. Bothcases were settled and Flana-gan said members can opt outof the mail-order requirement.
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper January 1 - January 7, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 3
As NNPA prepares for 75th anniversary: President envisionsBlack Press as ‘main stream’
(Cont'd from FP)
Chavis sees this increase asa prospective boon for NNPA’smore than 200 Black-ownednewspapers as it anticipates its75th anniversary in 2015 - butonly if certain strategies areput in place.
First, he said, the Black Pressmust focus on a stronger eco-nomic foundation by generat-ing more revenue. African A-mericans spend $1.2 trillion ayear, he said, noting that Blacknewspapers must partner withthe Black Church, Black banks,Black colleges and Blackorganizations to network andsupport the Black Press.
This strategy would requiremuch unity, Chavis says. “Thisis beyond connecting the dots.The dots have to converge...There’s too much disunity inour community. And I’m notjust talking about organi-zational disunity. I’m talkingabout disunity even among theso-called personalities...In mylong career in civil rights I’veseen what happens whenleadership goes in divergentpaths...To me, it’s a disserviceto our community to allow per-sonality conflicts to get in theway.”
Secondly, white-owned bus-inesses must be made to un-derstand the value of sup-porting Black newspapers asbusinesses and as a sustainableinstitution, the same as thebroadcast media, Chavis says.
“To reach people in our com-munity. They can’t just look atsomething on TV or hear it onthe radio and act. They’ve gotto look at it and read it morethan once. That’s the value ofthe Black print press,” he said.“The pen has to have an eco-nomic undergirding so thatwhat is written gets distributed;
so that what is written gets cir-culated. Sometimes we overlookthe necessity to the strong eco-nomic foundation in our questfor freedom, justice and equal-ity.”
Finally, Chavis said, Blacknewspapers must take full ad-vantage of the digital universe.
“Technology, particularly di-gital technology can be a greatequalizer. Some people thinkthe digital will supplant theprint. I don’t. To me, the digitalwill make more valuable theprint press because every dayit’s about the content. We havethe content, but we have not a-ggregated the content,” he said.
Denise Rolark Barnes, whohas been publisher of the In-former for 20 years, succeededher now late father, Dr. CalvinRolark, a prominent D.C. busi-nessman and Black leader.Barnes recalls how the BlackPress has led America’s mediawhen it comes to many of theissues that have now emergedas headline news for white-owned media, such as policebrutality, economic justice andvoting rights.
“The more you do it, the morestories you realize need to betold; the more you realize thatour community, our Black his-tory every day is being thrownaway,” says Barnes, in an ex-hibit hall showing historic frontpages and photos from the In-former. “I’ve learned that his-tory does repeat itself and is re-peating itself.”
Hundreds of people packedinto the Carnegie Library inDowntown Washington, D.C.
to salute the Informer and itslegacy during the event in latefall.
Iconic radio talk show hostJoe Madison recalled how theBlack Press has been so au-dience-specific that readersknow that those who advertisein Black newspapers specificallywant to reach Black people. “Itmeans it’s for us,” Madison said.
Madison also underscoredBlack newspapers as a chro-nicler of Black history. “Most ofus would not have known aboutEmmett Till had it not been forthe Black Press. Most of uswouldn’t have known, quite ho-nestly about Martin LutherKing Jr. if it wasn’t for theBlack Press because white me-dia certainly wasn’t publicizingit...The Black Press is, as Frede-rick Douglass would probablysay, our North Star.”
Ben Chavis is one who hasbenefited tremendously fromthe Black Press. He is one of thehistoric Wilmington 10, whowas pardoned by North Caro-lina Governor Beverly Perduetwo years ago in a 1971 fire-bombing amidst the civil rightsstruggle. The pardon finallycame after the WilmingtonJournal of North Carolina,published by Mary AliceThatch, escalated the campaignfor justice.
Concludes Chavis, “It is inthe business of not only re-porting the news, but de-fending the news when it comesto the interest of Black people.That’s what gives the Blackpress its unique value, not onlyto Black America, but to therest of America.”
Happy New Year fromOur Family To Your Family
Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 1 - January 7, 2015 Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Pompano Beach Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. spreading love! “Equality lies only in human moral dignity. ... Let there be brothers first, then there will be brotherhood, and only then will there be a fair sharing of goods among brothers.”… Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Broward County School Superintendent Runcie addressesvolunteers.
Volunteers get ready towork.
Kappa League members pre-pare baskets.
By Willie (Jimmy) Brown,President, Kappa Foundationof Pompano Beach
On Nov. 23, 2014, the Pom-pano Beach Alumni Chapterand the Kappa Foundation ofPompano Beach along withKappa League members, keptup with tradition by hostingtheir annual ThanksgivingTurkey Drive, feeding over 500families in Pompano Beach andFort Lauderdale. The Brothersof Pompano Beach AlumniChapter started this traditionalmost 20 years ago by hostinga Thanksgiving dinner at theCollier City Commerce Centerfor senior citizens in the area.
Over the years, many of thesenior citizens expressed a de-sire to invite their family mem-bers to share in on the festivi-ties. Without hesitation the Bro-thers decided to provide a tur-key and basket with all of thetrimmings to the seniors insteadof preparing the cooked dinner.
With the desire to do more,the Brothers contacted the man-agement of Golden Acres com-munity in Pompano and ex-pressed the interest of provid-ing every family that lives therewith a Thanksgiving basketand turkey. The first year, atotal of 300 families were bles-sed.
In 2010 with the economy ina spiral down fall, the need tofind willing partners to sharein on this experience becamemore apparent.
The Brothers formed an alli-ance with then State Rep. Perry
E. Thurston, Jr., and the LawFirm of Farmer, Jaffe, Weis-sing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehr-man, P.L. and together we fedanother 300 families. Deter-mined to do more, in 2013 weincreased our families to 500.
This year with a few morepartnerships and over 60 vol-unteers we were able to super-sede that number and fed over500 families. The day beganwith a reception for the spon-sors and volunteers and thenthe distribution of the baskets
and turkeys throughout thecommunity going to every door.The members of the PompanoKappa League, which is theFraternity’s mentoring group,came out in full force as thiswas their first community ser-vice project of the new schoolyear. Superintendent RobertC. Runcie even came out andtook part in the event, sharinga moment of “love”. The Broth-ers of The Pompano Beach
Alumni Chapter and the KappaFoundation would like to thankthe law firm of Farmer, Jaffe,Weissing, Edwards, Fistos &Lehrman, PL., Senergy, ScottVengel, CPA., Alpha & Omega,Matt Kahn, CPA, Law firm ofLawler, Winston, White &Murphey, International Jew-elers Design, the Foundation ofthose with special needs andThe Church of Christ HolinessUnto the Lord and the spiritedvolunteers.
Happy New Year and un-stuff your drawers(Cont'd from FP)
My son, not being overly excited when I reminded himthat he has chores to do as well as going to bed before thesun comes up for the next day, surprised me by creating abag of give-a-ways of some of his favorite things, i.e. base-ball caps, sneakers and other stuff.
Now the spotlight was back on me. Was I being selfish andhoarding stuff that I was not using which had many moreyears of use to it? This stuff was in good shape-"News flash”one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; why was I beinggreedy and becoming a bigger sinner?
This relationship with being selfish with stuff is what canhappen when our God becomes the love of things.
Money, worldly possessions, pride, self serving servicesand all the things that influence ignoring God. I’m sure thatthere are a number of other things, but my drawers are filledto the brim and running over with this stuff.
When our lives are overrun with “stuff” we can become sofull and so concerned with collecting that stuff that we makeno room for God.
If I were to replace the word ‘money’ in 1 Timothy 6:10with ‘stuff’’ or with everything that refocused us from God, itshould be better understood what happens when we becomeswallowed up by stuff gathering: For the love of money is aroot of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it havewandered away from the faith and pierced themselveswith many griefs.
This New Year may be a good time to reevaluate the thingswe have and to give away to be used by others. Let’s un-stuffour drawers for the New Year and make room for God’spurpose in our lives.
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so wecannot take anything out of it either.”
1 Timothy 6:7 (NASB)
WHEN YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF GOD THE ONLYTHING THE DEVIL CAN ADD IS SIN
Innocent Blacks and white cops – All lives are valuableBy Julianne Malveaux,NNPA Columnist
Rafael Ramos had been aschool security guard before hejoined the New York City PoliceDepartment two years ago. Ra-mos, 40, was married and hadtwo children. The youngestchild, Jaden, 13, fondly re-membered his dad on Facebookand Twitter, describing his dadas “the best father I could askfor.” Already, many in the Ra-mos family say they have for-given the Ismaayl Brisley, theman who executed Rafael Ra-mos and his colleague, WenjianLiu, on Dec. 20.
Liu, 32, attended the Collegeof Staten Island and Kings-borough Community College.He was a dedicated police officerwho, according to news reports,chose his career out of a senseof duty and obligation. He hadbeen married for just twomonths.
Eric Garner, 43, was alsomarried and had six children;
the youngest, Legacy, was bornjust three months before hisfather died. Garner’s death wasruled a homicide, probably be-cause he was placed in a choke-hold, a forbidden police maneu-ver. At 400 pounds, he sufferedfrom diabetes and asthma, but– despite sinister efforts to blameGarner’s health for his death –those diseases did not kill him.A cursory view of the last mo-ments of his life show excessivepolice force and medical indif-ference to a man whose dyingutterance, “I can’t breathe,” hasbecome the mantra for a move-ment.
Tamir Rice never lived longenough to reach the legal agefor marriage. He was just 12years old when Timothy Loe-man shot him to death. Loe-man was described as “unfit”for police duty in Independence,Ohio but he somehow made itonto the larger, Cleveland policeforce. It took him all of two sec-onds to decide the precious littleboy had a dangerous weapon,
although the 911 caller who a-lerted the police said the gunwas probably not real.
Richael Brown, described asa “gentle giant” by his friends,also had his life cut short. Hewas killed by a remorseless Dar-ren Wilson, who pumped 12rounds into the young, Blackman who was looking forwardto attending community col-lege. His words, “hands up, don’tshoot” have been printed onsigns and T-shirts all over theworld, as a symbol of police bru-tality and active resistance. Agrand jury failed to indictDarren Wilson, whose testi-mony seems to have beencoached by Robert McCulloch,a prosecutor whose actionswere, at best, questionable. Hiskilling, linked with those of Ta-mir Rice and Eric Garner, hassparked an international move-ment against police brutalityand excessive police force.
(Read full story onwww.thewestsidegazette.com)
CORRECTIONThe story entitled "Carolyn Davis still making it happenthrough her love of teaching music "in the Dec. 25 - Dec. 31,2014 the photo and story was by Courtney Shepard.
OpinionThe Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reservesThe Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reservesThe Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reservesThe Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reservesThe Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reservesthe right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may notthe right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may notthe right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may notthe right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may notthe right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may notnecessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westsidenecessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westsidenecessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westsidenecessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westsidenecessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The WestsideGazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsibleGazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsibleGazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsibleGazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsibleGazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsibleindividual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.
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Choked out
JOY
Time unfolds the evolution of changing social valuesBy Derek Joy
Time is neverending. And so it is, another year comes toan end. Yes, 2014 is all but gone and2015 is ready to start anew. Pretty much like the words of a songrecorded long ago. Can’t rememberthe title or the artists. Just the refrain,“Ain’t it funny how time just slips righton away. . .” People of color embrace the thoughtstherein with keen familiarity. Time
passes without muchprogress away fromself destruction, with-out much progress to-wards getting a fairshake from the gov-erning body built oninstitutional racism. The ills of that system permeatesthe structure of Black American com-munities. Such communities are in-fested with low incomes, high unem-ployment, an assortment of crimes, in-cluding the drug trade and rampantviolence. Black on Black crime is what it is.Worst of all is the constant drive-byshootings. Brazen thugs simply pickdefenseless targets, blast away anddrive away fearing neither capturenor punishment. I talked with the eldest of my foursisters - Ruby - following the holidaydrive-by shootings. First on Christ-mas in Overtown, where two werekilled and four seriously wounded. Aday later, more drive-by shootings inLiberty City, Coconut Grove, and againin Overtown. “I don’t understand these people,”she said. “May they’re just crazy.They need to do something about that.” Doing something about such hei-nous crimes has plagued religious, com-munity, political and business lead-ers. The tragedy is that they all do andsay virtually nothing of consequenceuntil it hits close to them. Granted. It is somehow perceivedas shocking when the two police offic-ers were shot and killed in New Yorkand one in Tarpon Springs, Fla. Poli-ticians start talking. Sure. Killing a public servant en-trusted with serving and protectingthe public does challenge social val-ues. But, so, too, should the drive-byshootings that injure and kill inno-cent, defenseless people. For reasons of a selfish nature re-lated to personal power and gain, theso called leaders ignore the reasoningof city of Miami District 5 Commis-sioner Keon Hardemon, who catego-rized such violent behavior as “Do-mestic Terrorism.” No doubt about it. People are beingwounded and killed, property vandal-ized and destroyed. They live in fear ofsuffering the same fate should theyidentify any of the perpetrators. That is terrorism. Yet little or noth-ing is being said or done about it. In-stead, we see the trend perpetuatingthe perverted reality of how silence isgolden. Just like that. Selling them-selves for 30 pieces of silver. Consequently, the changing socialvalues are not really changing at all.They simply shift the scenes and play-ers. So much to consider, so little timeand even less constructive action tosecure and preserve the quality of lifefor people of color. Meanwhile, enjoya very happy and prosperous NewYear.
Let’s tow Mike Ditka and Charles Barkley into the 21st CenturyBy Omar Tyree, NNPA Columnist
In the middle of an American turmoil between the police force and African-American men, what I would like in 2014 is more social awareness, logic andsensitivity from the Mike Ditkas and Charles Barkleys of the world.
Both high-profile Hall of Fame athletes and outspoken commentators camefrom poor, hard-working families. Dikta, born Michael Dyczko to an Ukrainianfamily in Carnegie, Penn., excelled in football to escape working in thePennsylvania steel mills and factories of the 1950s and 60s. Likewise, Barkleyexcelled in basketball to escape generations of poverty and racism in Leeds, Ala.in the 1970s and 80s.
The pair of hard-nosed and tenacious athletes played their respective sportslike gladiators with swords and shields in hand. They were manly and proudof it. They had no problem expressing themselves either, saying the type ofthings that other men would only think about. Ditka and Barkley were able toget away with it, too. That’s why hardened, old-school men love these guys.They allowed Joe Blow and Sammy Washington to validate their own unfil-tered and uncompromised opinions. Now we have a nation full of no-namedDitkas and Barkleys all over the Internet on Twitter and Facebook, sayingwhatever the hell they want without enough thought behind it.
What does this have to do with Black America’s issues with the police? Well,if you haven’t heard, Mike Ditka, who calls himself an “ultra conservative,”recently made comments that the citizens of Ferguson, Mo. used the policekilling of teenager Michael Brown as “a reason to protest and go out and loot.”
He confessed that he didn’t understand the uproar, and that he doubted theSt. Louis Rams football players who flashed a “hands up, don’t shoot” symbolduring their introductions in a recent game against the Oakland Raiders “careabout Michael Brown or anything else.”
Ditka says that there are a lot of different things in society that athletes cancomplain or protest about. Why choose Michael Brown?
Well, Tavon Austin, Steadman Bailey, Jared Cook, Kenny Britt and ChrisGivens – who all happen to be Black and play professional football for the St.Louis Rams – consider the loss of Black life, coupled with injustice from the localpolice force, important enough to talk about. And why shouldn’t they? The lasttime I checked, a human life was more important than anything, includingfootball and basketball.
After playing professional football for 11 years, coaching for a dozen more,and now commentating on hundreds of NFL games and thousands of players,many of whom happen to be Black as well, you would think Mike Ditka wouldknow a little more about African American culture to at least be sensitive to thecomplexities of American society and race. But evidently, at age 75, with morethan 50 years of being a teammate, a coach and a commentator around African-American men who are fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, uncles and so forth,Ditka has apparently learned nothing about them. Or, maybe he only cares tothink about the ones he knows and likes.
I find this lack of knowledge and sensitivity amazing. But it happens everyday in America. Many ethnicities, cultures, races, creeds and classes go to workand stand right next to each for 40 or 50 years, and still don’t know enoughabout each other to care. Mike Ditka calls it being “old-fashioned.”
I call it being selfishly American. We are surface people, who find it veryuncomfortable to dig deep enough to understand someone else’s truth andstruggles, even as we begin 2015. But real truth is more complex than a bunchof shocking sound bites. That’s where Charles Barkley comes into play as an
The Black Athlete
TYREE
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This one is different. We didn’t see George Zimmerman kill Trayvon Martinor Darren Wilson murder Michael Brown. Having only the perpetrators’accounts to go by, we were left mercilessly at the Hands of Lady Justice. But theWHOLE WORLD saw a gang of New York’s police force literally choke the lifefrom Eric Garner. And again, Lady Justice turned a blind eye to the truth anddeclared that despite the viral social media phenomenon that graphicallyproved the murderous intent of those modern-day “paddy rollers,” Eric Garner’sdeath deserved no finding of fault.
Is there really any wonder why Black Americans are beyond frustrated?When you combine scant employment opportunities, ineffective public educa-tion, sparse healthcare options and cap it off with legally sanctioned murder,what should America really expect?
As we move from the ever-festering sense of outrage to the critical worknecessary to determine what’s next, let’s consider, what are the real options?Without question we’ll have to learn to more effectively exercise our politicalstrength - such as it is. But political solutions generally require long-termnegotiations — and lots of patience...and nobody is feeling patient right now.Social activism and civil unrest clearly have a role to play in drawing attentionand highlighting injustices like the deaths of Black men at the hands of police.Fickle media, though, have a strange way of turning even the righteousindignation of Black America into a referendum on who’s guilty of the worstbehavior — killer cops or angry Black folk. So that leaves us with impacting theeconomy as our one sure-fire strategy.
The year-long Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) proved beyond alldoubt that Black folk withholding their financial support could cripple even JimCrow. The devastation heaped on Montgomery’s economy even made the U.S.Supreme Court cave in! There is no question that America today NEEDS thetrillion dollars Black Americans pump so willingly into the economy. Whatwould happen if those dollars went missing?
One thing is certain, Black-owned businesses would appreciate the oppor-tunity to supply the goods and services we — literally — spend our last dimeson. And this is no fairy tale, make-believe scenario. This may just be thedefining moment in reasserting our right to be — not just heard — but trulylistened to. The lessons learned over a half-century ago about organized actionare just as valid today. Did those poor folk in Montgomery suffer while havingto walk instead of riding the bus? Absolutely! But they suffered because theyknew their cause was right and just.
The question, then, is whether we’ve learned enough over the last 60 yearsto know how to suffer for a short term in order to build a better future for others?Could we stand not having that Starbucks in the morning? Could we livewithout that weekend shopping spree? Could we have a festive holiday withoutCrown Royal and Ciroc? Do we really need that Benz, Lexus or Rover? Is thelatest 4G smartphone really that crucial? Are we really serious about lettingAmerica know that #BlackLivesMatter, or is that just a catchy slogan thatmakes you feel better - right along with #HandsUp and #ICantBreathe?
The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. is absolutely certain that economic impact isthe one tool at our disposal that works every time. It requires organization, itrequires commitment, it requires more than lip-service. We recognize that thereis no “magic wand.” We know that going to jail and burning our owncommunities is attention-grabbing, but these are ONLY reactions. Our nation-wide distress calls for ACTION!
One last thought: it’s kinda dated, but dust off your copy of Douglas TurnerWard’s Day of Absence... What if, just what if, nobody showed up for worktomorrow? When they call to check on you to see why you’re not at work, tell‘em “...I can’t breathe...”In the Spirit of Success,
Ron Busby, Sr.President/CEOU.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Alabama Black man,who often gets awaywith saying thingsthat whites andBlacks consider cute,mainly because hesays it so shamelesslywith his country ac-cent. But that doesn’t make what hesays factual.
Barkley has now aggravated hisown family members by commentingon the same Missouri issue as Ditka,calling the Ferguson looters “scum-bags.” He then went on to explainhimself by adding more kerosene tothe fire. “In all fairness, there aresome people out there who are crooks.We, as Black people, got a lot of crooks.”
Yes, Barkley said it and he’s notbacking down from it.
Well, thanks a lot, Charles Barkley.That comment sure helps America todeal with its police issue with African-Americans. I’m sure thousands ofhardcore police will just love that one.But the truth is: every race, cultureand class has crooks, particularly whenthey are challenged by economic im-balances. British, Italian, Irish, Jew-ish, Polish, Russian, Australian, Span-ish, French, Mexican, Canadian, Bra-zilian, Jamaican, African, Korean,Japanese, Chinese, you name it; weall have crooks. The United States ofAmerica itself is based on the stolenland by crooks, who no longer want usto talk about it. African-Americans,also happen to be stolen people. Butthat’s too much information to handle.This is supposed to be a sports columnwith no history lessons or politics.
That’s the problem with Mike Ditkaand Charles Barkley. Their shoot-from-the-hip comments create more Ameri-can extremists, who are eager to pressthe kill button, while still lacking vitalinformation.This extreme emotional-ism of uniformed people creates a soci-ety of angry warmongers, who areunwilling to comprehend the logic ofmore humane compromise. I’m speak-ing to law enforcement officials as wellhere. Please learn more about thepeople you police instead of blindlydictating terms to them. Is Americastill a democracy?
Meanwhile, Ditka and Barkley re-main above the fray as esteemed andwealthy citizens, corralling the massesto war with their gladiator swords andshields in hand, whether they under-stand their uninformed words andactions or not.
My New Year’s wish is that ex-athletes and public figures will de-velop the appropriate social aware-ness, logic and sensitivity about ourserious world issues before they speak,text or videotape the wrong things.That way, we can prepare ourselves toavoid more of the atrocities that haveyet to come. At the very least, I prayfor more qualified journalists to offervoices of reason.
Yes, informed journalists matter,too.
ChurchDirectory
Worship TWorship TWorship TWorship TWorship This and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choicehis and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choicehis and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choicehis and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choicehis and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice
A FA FA FA FA Family Tamily Tamily Tamily Tamily That Prays That Prays That Prays That Prays That Prays Together, Stays Together, Stays Together, Stays Together, Stays Together, Stays Togetherogetherogetherogetherogether
Mount CalvaryMount CalvaryMount CalvaryMount CalvaryMount Calvary
Baptist Church Baptist Church Baptist Church Baptist Church Baptist Church800 N.W. 8th Avenue
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422
Church Fax: (954) 943-2186E-mail Address:
Reverend Anthony Burrell, Pastor SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
SUNDAY New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m. Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m. Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m.WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ...............................................6:00 p.m. Bible Study .....................................................7:00 p.m.
"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"
New Birth Baptist ChurchThe Cathedral of Faith International
Bishop Victor T. Curry,M.Min., D.Div.
Senior Pastor/Teacher2300 N.W. 135th Street
Miami, Florida 33167
ORDER OF SERVICESSunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m.Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m.Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.
1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f)www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org
St. Ruth MissionaryBaptist Church
145 NW 5th AvenueDania Beach, FL 33004Office: (954) 922-2529
WORSHIP SERVICESBible Study (Wednesday Night) ...................................................... 6:45 p.m.Sunday School .............................................................................. 8:45 a.m.Sunday Morning Service ............................................................. 10:00 a.m.
Bishop Victor T. CurrySenior Pastor/Teacher
Williams Memorial CME
644-646 NW 13th TerraceFort Lauderdale, Florida 33311(954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line)(954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line)Email: [email protected] (Church}[email protected] (Pastor)
The WITNESS of “The WILL”Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m.Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m.Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power}Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m.Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m.
We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!
“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”
Rev. Cal Hopkins.M.Div)
Senior Pastor/Teacher
“PRAYER IS THE ANSWER”
4699 West Oakland Park Blvd.Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313
Office: (954) 735-1500Fax: (954) [email protected]
Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes, Pastor
First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc.
SUNDAY SERVICESWorship Services .......................................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.Children's Church ........................................................ 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.Communion (First Sunday) ......................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m.New Members' Class ....................................................................9:30 a.m.Church School ..............................................................................9:30 a.m.Baptist Training Union (BTU) .................................................... 1:00 p.m.Wednesday (Bible Study) ...................................... 11:15 a.m.. & 7:00 p.m.
New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ●●●●● Fax: (954) 525-9454
CHURCH OFFICE HOURSMonday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship.Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!
Dr. Marcus D. Davidson,Senior Pastor
WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDYSunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m.Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m.Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m.Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m.
Harris Chapel UnitedMethodist Church
E-MAIL:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
SERVICESSunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m.Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Rev. Juana Jordan, M.Div
2351 N.W. 26th StreetOakland Park, Florida 33311
Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520Church Fax: (954) 731-6290
Bethel MissionaryBaptist Church
2211 N.W. 7th Street,Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061
Church: (954) 583-9368Email: [email protected]
WORSHIP SERVICESSunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m.Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m.Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m.
"Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"
Reverend Jimmy L. EnglishPASTOR
ObituariesObituariesObituariesObituariesObituaries
Mt. Zion MissionaryBaptist Church
1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311(954) 581-0455 ●●●●● Fax: (954) 581-4350
WORSHIP SERVICESSunday Worship Service .............................................................................. 8:00 & 11:00 a.m.Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 10:00 a.m.Communion Service (1st Sunday) ......................................................................... 11:00 a.m.Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ........................................................................... 6:30 p.m.Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................................................... 7:00 p.m.Saturday (2nd & 4th) Growth & Orientation ........................................................... 9 a.m.
Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Senior Pastorwww.mtzionmissionarybapt.com
But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”
Faith United Church of Christ6201 NW 57 Street Tamarac, FL 33319
954-721-1232 [email protected]
faithbroward.org
"Historically the First Church in the City of Tamarac!”
Rev. Dr. Ileana Bosenbark,Senior Pastor
WEEKLY SERVICES & EVENTSSUNDAYWorship Service (Communion 1st & 3rd Sunday) ...........................................................10 a.m.F.A.I.T.H. Academy for Children (Spiritual Formation) K-12 ................................ 10 a.m.TUESDAYF.A.I.T.H. Academy for Adults (Spiritual Formation) - Office Complex ...... 10:30 a.m.WEDNESDAYWorship & Arts Ministry Rehearsals (Open Auditions) - Sanctuary ..............................7 p.m.
AAAAAFFFFFAMILAMILAMILAMILAMILY Y Y Y Y THATHATHATHATHATTTTT
PRAPRAPRAPRAPRAYYYYYSSSSSTOGETHERTOGETHERTOGETHERTOGETHERTOGETHER
STSTSTSTSTAAAAAYYYYYSSSSSTTTTTOGETHEROGETHEROGETHEROGETHEROGETHER
KIDS TALK ABOUT GODHow can husbands love theirwives as Christ loves the Church?By Carey Kinsolving and Friends
(Part Two of Part Two)
“My daddy works for my mommy and makesmoney,” says Ellen, age 6.
Lance, 6, shares a similar view: “Mama can stayat home, and the mommies can rest. Mommies canask daddies to go get something, like food for the kids.”
Everything really begins at the altar, says Kimberlee, 6:“When the husband got married, he said he would love her andtake care of her. When they get married, they say stuff likethat.”
But there’s more than economics and chores, says Elliot, 6: “Ahusband should hug and kiss his wife, give her flowers and pickup the kids. He should also feed the dog.”
Well, we still have chores, but a little hugging and kissingalong the way will make them seem effortless. Besides, your dogwill appreciate your cheerful attitude.
To maintain that smile, consider advice from Constance, 11:“Men, do not argue with your wives, for you will never win.Wives will always try to win an argument.”
There’s an ancient proverb that says, “If mama ain’t happy,ain’t nobody happy.” Choose your arguments carefully.
To promote harmony, Kelsey, 11, offers this advice: “I thinkthat husbands and wives should listen to each other andconsider each other’s ideas and thoughts. They should appreci-ate each other, be thankful for one another and be happy ifsomething good happens to one of them.”
Three short Bible verses confirm Kelsey’s insight: “Let everyman be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19)“In everything give thanks.” (I Thessalonians 5:18) “Rejoicewith those who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15)
Marriages could be revitalized if the couples listened, thankedand rejoiced. Couples should listen to God, thank him for theirspouse’s uniqueness and rejoice in the Lord for marital bless-ings.
When a husband hears God, he’ll listen to his wife as theunique person God created to bring him into greater conformitywith Christ. He’ll find creative ways to express his appreciation.He’ll encourage her and rejoice in her growth, achievementsand interests. He might even learn how to be gracious to smilingin-laws who believe their daughter could have done better. Wisewives know that listening, thanking and encouraging are two-way streets.
“Be kind and faithful to your wife as God was to the church,”says Meredith, 10. “Husbands should honor and care for theirwives like God cares for us.”
Meredith gives us the view from heaven. Just as animalsacrifices in the Jerusalem temple foreshadowed the greaterreality of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins, so marriageserves as an illustration of something greater.
Even though all marriages after Eden consist of two imperfectpeople, all have one thing in common when they begin andhopefully for their duration — love.
Think about this: Jesus demonstrated love for his bride whenhe willingly allowed himself to be sacrificed for her sins. In theBible, the universal church consists of all people who by faithhave been made pure by the cleansing power of Jesus’ sacrificialdeath. The bride, who has kept herself pure for her husband, isthe metaphor (the bride of Christ) God chose to label thismysterious union of Christ and his people. (Ephesians 5:22-33)Jesus’ passion for his bride makes all human love seem tepid bycomparison.
Memorize this truth: “Husbands, love your wives, just asChrist also loved the church and gave himself for her.” (Ephesians5:25.
Ask this question: Do you look at your wife in the light ofheaven’s grand design?
“Kids Talk About God” is distributed by Creators Syndicate.To access free, online “Kids Color Me Bible” books, “MissionExplorers” videos and all columns in a Bible Lesson Archive,visit at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. To read journey-of-faithfeature stories written by Carey Kinsolving, visitwww.FaithProfiles.org.
James C. BoydFuneral Home WORSHIP
THIS ANDEVERY
SUNDAYAT THE
CHURCHOF YOURCHOICE
Page 6 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 1 - January 7, 2015 Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
McWhite'sFuneral Home
DUKESFuneral ser-
vices for the lateRonald SherrodDukes, Jr. - 26were held Dec.27 at James C.Boyd’s MemorialChapel with Min. Latrina Womackofficiating.
HARRISFuneral ser-
vices for thelate TerryBrent Harris– 54.
STEELFuneral services for the late
Oliver Steel – 74.
Roy Mizell & KurtzFuneral Home
WALLACEFuneral ser-
vices for the lateErnest Wallace- 64 were heldDec. 27 at Mc-White’s FuneralHome Chapelwith Rev. Timothy Jackson offici-ating. Interment: Forest Lawn Cen-tral.
BLANDFuneral ser-
vices for the lateClara Bland - 96were held Dec.27 at Mount Her-mon A.M.E.Church with Rev. Henry E. Greene,Jr. officiating. Interment: SunsetMemorial Gardens.
COBBFuneral ser-
vices for the lateSelvin Cobb,Sr. - 84 wereheld Dec. 29 atNew Mt. OliveBaptist Churchwith Dr. Marcus D. Davison offici-ating. Interment: South FloridaNational Cemetery, Lake Worth,Fla.
HOWARDFuneral ser-
vices for the lateBrenda LeeHoward - 54were held Dec.28 at New HopeBaptist Church
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with Rev. Ricky Scott officiating.Interment: Forest Lawn MemorialGardens – Central.
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January 1 - January 7, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 7Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
FFFFFAMU rAMU rAMU rAMU rAMU rebounds - Academic achievements,ebounds - Academic achievements,ebounds - Academic achievements,ebounds - Academic achievements,ebounds - Academic achievements,patents & fundraising soarspatents & fundraising soarspatents & fundraising soarspatents & fundraising soarspatents & fundraising soars
TALLAHASSEE, FL —The Florida A&M UniversityBoard of Trustees welcomed thegood news. President ElmiraMangum revealed a dramaticchange in academic growth, re-cruitment and fundraising.
“FAMU must be “best inclass” and that requires outsidefinancial resources, whichmeans cultivating and obtain-ing gifts from major corpora-tions. Increased endowmentsare components of my vision forFAMU’s future,” according to
MANGUN MOORE
P.O. Box 5304Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Fax: (954) 525-1816
FUNdraising Good TimesFUNdraising Good TimesFUNdraising Good TimesFUNdraising Good TimesFUNdraising Good Times
Your 2015 secret to success:an assessment taskforce
Pearl and Mel Shaw
DAVID
Dr. Mangum. The former Cor-nell vice president for planningand budget is making good onthat promise by surpassingNovember 2013 fundraisingtotals by 150 percent for thisfiscal year. FAMU acquired$2.8 million in cash gifts dur-ing that time, the vast majorityfrom alumni which is anotherreversal. The president’s schol-arship gala raised a record$550,000 while alumna ChekaRose Green’s “10 for 10” cam-paign re engaged alumni by
raising $150,000 so far. Thefinancial gifts total almost $7million since Mangum’s Aprilarrival on the highest of sevenhills in Tallahassee.
Pursuing the president’sstrategic plan is designed to in-creases the university’s globalinfluence. That effort is re-flected as she completes her se-nior leadership team. A newprovost will take the academichelm of FAMU. Marcella David,a University of Iowa professorof law and international stud-
ies is a recognized legal scholarand human rights advocate.Dr. Timothy P. Moore currentlyAuburn University’s associateVice President for advancementand research development.Moore has exceptional fund-raising and research accom-plishments that demonstrateexpertise in the commercializa-tion of patents and importantpublic private partnerships.
One such patent obtained inNovember by Dr. MadhaviGangapuram is reflective ofanti-cancer causing agents thatkill cancer cells without harm-ing normal cells. FAMU has re-ceived over $21 million in re-search dollars this year for simi-lar efforts.
Dr. Mangum presided overher third graduation this yearwhere 700 students becamealumni. Selected graduateswere awarded the President’sStrong Finish Award that to-taled $200,000. The funds comefrom the $5 million gift fromFAMU alumnus and MicrosoftChairman John W. Thompsonand his wife Sandi. The awardswill help pay down the student’sdebt with an additional $1,000to help new alumni transitionto the workplace.
For more information onFAMU, visit www.famu.edu
We often start the new yearwith enthusiasm and high ex-pectations, and yet by year-end so many of our great plansare unfulfilled. Will 2015 be a-nother year of doing the samething and expecting differentresults, or will this truly be anew year?
Here’s a suggestion for non-profits who want to focus ondifferent results: create a short-term assessment task force toreview your planning pro-cesses and the people and re-sources available to implementyour plans.
Your task force should be asmall, focused working groupcomprised of people who arecommitted to your organizationbut not currently involved inits operations. Task force memb-ers could include a major donor,past program participant, anew board member, or a localbusiness person or facultymember. What you don’t wantis a task force comprised of theexecutive director, developmentdirector, and board chair. Youwant fresh eyes on the or-ganization. Those who are at“arms length” can ask questionsand make suggestions withoutthe knowledge or “baggage” thatcomes from knowing “we triedthat three years ago” or “theboard would never approvethat” or “we can’t afford that.”Members will look at your or-ganization with the goal ofhelping you achieve your goals.
Four steps for task forcemembers.
Step one. Review the or-ganization’s strategic plan;fundraising plan; and market-ing, communications and social
media plan. Look at programdescriptions, goals, objectives,outcomes and impact; and fin-ancial reports and fundraisingreports. If the nonprofit is aneducational institution, reviewrecruitment, enrollment, re-tention, and graduation reports.Look at demographics of com-munities served and theiridentified and emerging needs.
Step two. Create a list ofquestions that arise during thereview. Add to the list as youcontemplate the documents ho-listically. What’s missing?Where are the redundancies?Individual questions should beshared with fellow task forcemembers. What are the commonthemes that arise?
Step three. Meet individ-ually with the executive directoror president, fundraisingleadership, program directors,accountants or bookkeepers,board members, clients or stu-dents and others who you be-lieve can provide insights andanswer questions. Happy NewYear!
Copyright 2014 – Mel andPearl Shaw
Mel and Pearl Shaw positionnonprofits, colleges and univer-sities for fundraising success.For help with your fundraisingvisit www.saadandshaw.com orcall (901) 522-8727.
(Read full story onwww.thewestsidegazette.com)
Page 8 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 1 - January 7, 2015 Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
LEGAL NOTICESPUBLICATION
OF BIDSOLICITATIONS
Broward County Board ofCounty Commissioners is so-liciting bids for a variety ofgoods and services, construc-tion and architectural/engi-neering services. Interestedbidders are requested to viewand download the notifica-tions of bid documents via theBroward County Purchasingwebsite at: www.broward.org/purchasing.Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2015
Grammy-nominated R&BCrooner Johnny Gill new album,Game Changer, in stores nowGame Changer features collaborations with NewEdition, Babface, Tony Dixon, Chuck Harmony and more
NEW YORK, NY -- Re-cently, Grammy®-nominated,multi-platinum selling artistJohnny Gill (New Edition,LSG, Heads of State) releasedhis long-awaited solo project,Game Changer. The 12-trackalbum features sexy titles suchas Your Body, Strung Out, RolePlay, Can’t Keep My Hands OffYou, as well as the chart-top-ping lead single Behind ClosedDoors. Game Changer is avail-able on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay and at retail.
Game Changer, releasedthrough Gill’s label J SkillzRecords, also features songswritten and produced by Ken-neth “Babyface” Edmonds,Tony Dixon, Chuck Har-mony, Greg Pagani, RalphStacy, Wirlie Morris, Andre
Brissett and Vidal Davis, in-cluding a song featuring NewEdition—the group’s first newsong together since 2004.
With an unmistakable trade-mark style, Gill has altered thesound of R&B music for de-cades with a signature soundthat pairs superior singing withextraordinary showmanship—with hits such as My, My, My,Rub You The Right Way, WhereDo We Go From Here”and BoysTo Men. With a seemingly end-less list of hits, ranging from histime in New Edition to the all-star trio LSG (Gerald Levert,Keith Sweat and JohnnyGill) and Heads of State(Bobby Brown, Johnny Gilland Ralph Tresvant), it’s easyto see why Gill serves as theprototype for the supreme R&Bsinger.
Jill Scott to be honored at2015 Essence’s BlackWomen in Music event
NATIONWIDE — DuringGrammy Awards Week celebra-tion, singer Jill Scott will behonored at Essence mag-azine’s sixth annual Black Wo-men in Music event. The three-time Grammy Award winnerwill be honored for her incred-ible achievement, singular art-istry and powerful storytelling.
The highly anticipatedevent, which will kick off a year-long celebration of the publi-cation’s 45th anniversary, willbe held on Thursday, Feb. 5,2015. There will be several fea-
SCOTT
tured performances represent-ing music from the 70’s, 80’s,and 90’s.
Vanessa K. DeLuca, Es-sence editor-in-chief, com-ments, “Jill Scott is the quintes-sential Essence woman. Likemany of the female artists whoinspired her, she has touchedthe collective soul of womenacross generations.”
Michelle Ebanks, presidentof Essence, comments, “Es-sence was groundbreaking inits founding 45 years ago, as isJill Scott in her impact on musicand the arts. She is a fearlessinnovator, and it is our honor tocontinue to build communityby bringing together music in-dustry influencers and fansduring Grammy Week for anepic celebration.”
Scott herself comments, “Itwill be 15 years in July that myfirst album came out, and Es-sence has been there the en-tire time. I’m truly honored.”
Launched in the year 2010,Essence’s Black Women inMusic celebrates the music ca-reers of both emerging and es-tablished artists. Former hon-orees include Solange Knowles,Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland,Janelle Monáe, and manyothes.
Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • January 1 - January 7, 2015 Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
L-r: Miami Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel, MiamiGardens Mayor Oliver G. Gilbert III and Miami DolphinsSenior Director of Community Affairs Twan Russell.
Miami Dolphins highlights from an eight and eight season
FORMER DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE TACKLE MANNYFERNANDEZ HONOR ROLL INDUCTION AT HALFTIME --(Opening statement) – “I want to thank everybody that’s heretoday and I’m looking forward to this game being a Dolphinwin, they love to come from behind. This is an honor I neverexpected or really thought four years ago, when I went intothe Walk of Fame, that’s where it was going to end. But hereI am. I have so many people to thank. I want to start with Mr.(Stephen) Ross for just putting together a spectacular weekfor me and the other alumni and members of the Dolphinfamily. It’s been a great week, this is a great day and I am ex-tremely humbled to join all of the names up there in thisHonor Roll. A very, very special day in my life, only second toJanuary 14, 1973. I’m looking forward to the day when we’regoing to be back there. Thank you all for being here today. Areal quick special thanks to my wife Marcia, who after 41years is still with me, here today, and has spent so manynights with ice packs, heating pads and massages and keepingme going week-to-week, love you.” L-r: Jarvis Landry,Brandon Gibson, Samson Satele, Brian Hartline, TerrenceFede, Jordan Kovacs, Ja'Wuan James, Jason Fox, RyanTannehill, T.J. Heath, Mike Pouncey, Caleb Sturgis andBrandon Fields.
GRIMES AND WAKENAMED TO PRO BOWL-- Miami Dolphins cor-nerback Brent Grimesand defensive end Came-ron Wake have beenselected to the 2015 NFLPro Bowl squad, the NFLannounced. The annualcontest will be played onSunday, Jan. 25, 2015 atUniversity of PhoenixStadium in Glendale,Ariz., site of Super BowlXLIX. The game will betelevised live on ESPNat 8 p.m.
2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS TEAM AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED -- Quarterback RyanTannehill was selected for the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award, defensive endCameron Wake won the Don Shula Leadership Award and tackle Jason Fox took homethe Nat Moore Community Service Award, it was announced recently.
MIAMI DOLPHINS DISTRIBUTE TOYS TO MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD AND PALMBEACH COUNTY STUDENTS -- Several Miami Dolphins players, coaches, cheerleaders,Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization (MDWO) members and mascot T.D. welcomed125 students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County partner schools to theteam’s training camp facility for a holiday toy event. “It’s exciting to be out here, to beable to give back to the community. We’re putting a smile on these kids’ faces for awonderful holiday,” said G Mike Pouncey. Pouncey was joined by 15 of his teammatesfor the event, including John Denney, Terrence Fede, Brandon Fields, Jason Fox,Brandon Gibson, Brian Hartline, T.J. Heath, Ja’Wuan James, Reshad Jones, JordanKovacs, Jarvis Landry, Samson Satele, Caleb Sturgis, Ryan Tannehill and JasonTrusnik. The evening concluded with MDWO members and players distributing presents.Each kid provided a toy wish list with items they would like for the holiday. Players andcoaches, along with MDWO members, collaborated together to fund the entire eventand provide the toys that were given. All students also received a tablet.
(Photos ByDavid Muir)