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SUPERVISOR JOE BACA, JR. HOST COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON COVID-19

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. has invited community stakeholders to join a virtual town hall called “Community Conversations on COVID-19”. The town hall will focus on the current state of COVID-19, provide facts regarding vaccination and give specific resources to local communities. Over a dozen organizations representing faith-based leaders, essential workers, and nonprofits who work in Latino and African American communities will participate in the Community Conversation. This town hall will serve as a bridge to mitigate vaccine hesitancy and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.ThetownhallwillbeheldonWednesday,February24th at7pmandbroadcastonFacebooklive and YouTube live.

“The County is making significant progress in combating the spread of Covid-19,” Supervisor Baca said. The next step is to expand equitable access to the vaccine among populations disproportionality impacted by the disease. We must roll our sleeves up and get to work by ensuring all communities have the resources necessary to defeat the scourge of COVID-19. It will take all of us to safely reopen schools and restore our economy and a return to normalcy.”

The Community Conversation on COVID-19 will feature industry professionals Dr. Sharon Wang, an infectious disease specialist from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), County Public Health Director Corwin Porter, and County Assistant Executive Officer Diana Alexander — all of whom will provide expert, up-to-date information.

Supervisor Baca will moderate the conversation covering the following topics:

  • Vaccine myth busting
  • Expert medical advice regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine
  • Resources available to learn more about vaccines
  • How and when to schedule an appointment for the vaccine
  • How we’re helping hard-to-reach and diverse populations

There are three ways to participate in the Community Conversation on COVID-19 town hall:

  • Via Facebook Live: @SupervisorBacaJr
  • Via YouTube Live: https://tinyurl.com/bacajr
  • Via telephone in English: 669-900-9128; Meeting ID – 824 5205 1039
  • Via telephone in Spanish: 609-663-4744

Former UPS Executive Boosts Pledge To Alma Mater By $15 Million

BALTIMORE — To help students avoid crippling college debt, former United Parcel Service executive and Morgan State University alumnus Calvin Tyler is increasing his $5 million commitment to his alma mater by $15 million to fund academic scholarships.

The expanded Calvin and Tina Tyler Endowment Scholarship Fund, created in 2002 to offer scholarships for Baltimore students, will now be used to attract students from around the country to a university eager to distinguish itself as a premier research institution, the university recently announced.

“A lot of young people in Baltimore and throughout the country are in need of help right now,” said Tyler. “Putting them further in debt through the reliance on government loans is just not the answer. Getting a college degree and graduating without debt is something that we think is very important.”

Tyler Hall, the recently constructed student services building on Morgan’s campus, stands as a legacy of Calvin and Tina Tyler’s “legacy of philanthropic giving.” (Courtesy of Morgan State University)

Student demographics suggest that nearly every Morgan student will, in the form of partial or full tuition scholarships, be impacted by the increased funds. Of the approximately 8,000 students currently attending the university, 90 percent receive some type of financial assistance.

“Forty-five percent qualify for Pell Grants, federal assistance to support students, at various level based on family support, and about 30 percent of that 45 percent are eligible for maximum benefits,” said Morgan State President David Wilson. “Thousands of students will be impacted for decades and decades to come.”

Wilson said he “literally dropped the phone” when the Tylers informed him that they wanted to raise their commitment to the university.

“When I was having the conversation with Calvin, and he said that he and Tina wanted to make a larger investment, I went quiet, because he doesn’t think in increments of a million dollars,” said Wilson. “We talked about the impact of COVID-19 in the community they come from and how it’s stressful under normal circumstances, and now students have to do three times more. He told me they wanted to do everything they can to ease the loan burden, so students could taste the magic of a Morgan State University education.”

“My wife and I have become keenly aware of the effect that the pandemic has had on a number of young people trying to get an education,” said Tyler. “We have the resources to help a lot of young people … through our endowed scholarship plan. It’s not so much that we’re supporting Morgan, it’s more that we are supporting Baltimore … Baltimore is our hometown, it’s where we’re from.”

Forced to drop out of Morgan in 1963 due to a lack of money to complete his own degree in business administration, Tyler became one of the first 10 black drivers for UPS in 1964. He closed out his career with the package delivery company as senior vice president of operations, retiring in 1998 and taking a seat on its board of directors. Tyler’s company stock options and board compensations make up the bulk of his benefactor’s wealth, according to Wilson.

“Calvin was a hard worker who has made his money work for him,” Wilson said. “He didn’t come up through diversity programs or human resources, though no slight on those organizations. At one point, he was literally the chief operating officer for a major corporation.”

Calvin Tyler began his career as one of 10 black UPS drivers before retiring as senior vice president for operation at UPS in 1988. Now a UPS director, his endowment fund has help more than 200 Morgan State University students through 46 full tuition and 176 partial scholarships. (Courtesy of Morgan State University)

Morgan’s emergence as a top research university

Morgan State University has a long history as one of four historically black colleges and universities in Maryland. Founded as Centenary Biblical Institute in 1867 to train young men in the ministry, it was renamed Morgan College in 1890 in honor of Rev. Lyttleton Morgan, its first trustee board chairman.

The school remained a private institution until 1939, when it was purchased by the state to provide more opportunities for black residents. In 1975, the school gained university status and expanded its offerings to include several doctoral programs.

Today, Morgan has 12 colleges, schools and institutes, with curricula that includes liberal arts, engineering, architecture and planning, social work, global journalism and communications. In 2007, by virtue of its growth among doctoral-granting institutions, Morgan was classified as “doctoral research institution” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Ten years later, the university was designated by the Maryland General Assembly as the state’s “preeminent public urban research university.”

Together with Bowie State University, Coppin State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University is an engine that drives both the state and national economies, according a United Negro College Fund report, “HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” released in 2017. Maryland HBCUs, said the report, generate $1 billion in total economic impact and account for more than 9,300 jobs and $9.5 billion in lifetime earnings among its graduates.

With the Tyler endowment, the largest private donation from an alumnus in university history, and a $40 million gift in 2020 from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, Morgan State is now reaping the benefits of a reputation that was decades in the making.

“These investments show what we’ve known all along,” Wilson said. “Morgan is a serious institution that is turning out the best talent in the country in a period of immense innovation. Philanthropists are buying into the notion that, if they want a significant return on their investment, Morgan is the first option to consider.”

“MacKenzie Scott was vetting us from afar, the Tylers were vetting us from up close because Dr. Wilson has been able to establish a great relationship with them,” said Donna Howard, Morgan State’s vice president for institutional advancement. “But both gifts show that we passed muster as they considered their giving. These two gifts show them to be deeply embedded in altruism and wanting their wealth to have a positive and transformational impact on our students, their families and our communities.”

(Edited by Carlin Becker and Matthew B. Hall)



The post Former UPS Executive Boosts Pledge To Alma Mater By $15 Million appeared first on Zenger News.

Cal NAACP Praises AG Becerra for Investigating LA Sheriff’s Dept.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP is applauding outgoing California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s decision to conduct a probe of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

Last week, Becerra announced that he has opened a civil rights investigation to determine whether there is a pattern of unconstitutional policing practices involving the country’s largest sheriff’s department.

“I applaud Attorney General Becerra for his commitment to looking at public institutions and to ensure that our civil rights are not being violated,” NAACP president Rick L. Callender told California Black Media.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the investigation responding to allegations of excessive force, retaliation, and other misconduct, including a number of reported incidents involving LASD management and personnel.

“We’ve done a number of these,” Becerra said, referring to the multiple investigations his office has opened. He was speaking during in a virtual news conference Jan. 21.

“The action we’re taking is the result of having received credible information, reports, from a number of sources over a period of time,” Becerra said. “(It) led us to a point where we now believe it is important to move forward with the investigation. We are undertaking this investigation to determine if LASD has violated the law or the rights of the people of Los Angeles County.”

Becerra said that the LASD probe is “not a criminal investigation,” and his office has not made any determination about “specific” complaints. The DOJ’s action is also prompted in part by the absence of sustained and comprehensive oversight of LASD’s operations.

Callender said he believes the investigation will force other law enforcement officers in the state to think twice before from breaking the law or violating established codes of conduct.

“It’s efforts like this which allow us to not only fight individual acts of bigotry and racism; but this puts on notice other statewide institutions and systems that perpetuate racism and inequity that they will not go unchallenged,” he said.

LASD isn’t the only law enforcement agency in the state under the DOJ’s microscope for allegedly engaging in activities that went against their departments’ policies. The cities of Stockton, Vallejo, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Sacramento, and the county of Kern have kept the DOJ busy since Becerra became AG in 2017, replacing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Last month, President Joe Biden nominated Becerra to join his Cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is expected to be replaced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who Gov. Newsom has selected for the role, once she is confirmed by the legislature.

Awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Becerra has been making an effort to improve public safety and the criminal justice system up and down the state.

Last month, following an extensive investigation, the AG secured an agreement to reform a wide range of practices at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier last year, following several reports of misuse – including falsification of records — the DOJ rescinded LAPD’s access to CalGang, a statewide database that tracks individuals who may be connected to gangs.  

In Northern California, Becerra also launched a review of the Vallejo Police Department after officers allegedly destroyed evidence related to the June 2020 officer-involved shooting of Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old unarmed Latino man.

The year before, the DOJ secured an agreement with the Stockton Unified School District and its police department to address system-wide violations of the civil and constitutional rights of African American and Latino students, as well as children with disabilities. 

Then in 2018, Becerra stepped in at the request of the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department to provide independent oversight of reform initiatives in that city.

Last summer, the DOJ introduced a broad statewide agenda for police reform aimed at improving use-of-force procedures, addressing issues around bias in policing, and increasing accountability and transparency. Many of the proposed reforms stem from a set of policing best practices and recommendations made to the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) by the Attorney General in January of 2019. The AG issued 66 policy recommendations to SPD following the shooting death of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed African American man in Sacramento, by two officers in 2018.

Regarding the LASD, Becerra says he has made no determinations at this time about specific complaints or allegations.

However, one violation stands out. In March 2020, LASD announced that eight of its deputies were responsible for sharing images taken at the site where retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna “Gii” Bryant died in a helicopter crash. The action of the deputies and other first responders at the scene prompted Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) to author AB 2655, the “Invasion of Privacy: First Responders” Act.

L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he welcomes the probe.

“I look forward to this non-criminal pattern and practice’ investigation,” Villanueva said in a statement. “Our department may finally have an impartial, objective assessment of our operations.”

The Center for Juvenile Law and Policy (CJLP) at Loyola-Marymount’ Loyola Law School released a comprehensive report documenting how “deputy gangs” have negatively impacted public safety in Los Angeles.

“The concern is that these subgroups foster a culture that resists police reforms, such as community policing and constitutional policing, by encouraging and even celebrating aggressive tactics and excessive use of force against minority communities,” the report stated.

Starting this year, State prosecutors in California must investigate all police shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian, under a new law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1506. It took effect Jan. 1.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced the legislation which will override local prosecutors’ authority in investigations of fatal shootings by police. That responsibility now falls under the AG’s office. It also requires that a detailed report is created and publicly released on each investigation.

McCarty says he was motivated to push the law after he learned that more than 800 people had been shot and killed by police in California since 2015. Only one independent investigation had been carried out.

“Now more than ever there needs to be a uniform standard for local law enforcement officials and district attorneys to call for independent investigations into police killings,” McCarty said. “Police shouldn’t police themselves, and the current system is fraught with conflicts of interest.”

Stephen and Aisha: A ball of ENERGETIC MAGIC is WHAT IT DO!!

They say what would the world be like without the sound of music. In my opinion the same goes for the art of dance. Just imagine the world without it. I mean even in the Bible King David danced. In 2 Samuel 6:14, it says, “And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod”. Dancing is another way to communicate feelings through movement. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen and Asia online due to a LUE Productions virtual talent competition, ‘GONGED ME’. The moment they began dancing, I was blown away. 

Stephen and Aisha are a freestyle/improvisation duet collective that has been exploring/, performing, training, and collaborating together since 2016. As a duet, they want to express the importance of creativity and individuality through dance.  Stephen and Aisha work well together because they love what they do and want to express how powerful dance is to as many people as they can as a duo, as well as solo artists. Representation Matters! As Black artists, we hope to inspire others to be bold and have the confidence to share their sunshine too.

The Riverside based duo has performed in much of the Inland Empire area and have sprinkled out into areas of Los Angeles, California performing at the Shut Up and Dance Festival 2018 (Licia Perea) and Under the Spotlight Showcase (2018) at multiple occasions (Maxine Silfvergen), San Diego, California, performing at the Pop-Up Showcase (2017-18)  on multiple occasions (Omeed Simantob), and Phoenix, Arizona where the pair was invited out to perform at the Blaktinx Festival PHX 2018 (Licia Perea and Liliana Gomez).

Aisha is a recent graduate from Cal State Long Beach receiving her BFA in Dance. She is currently working as a guest teaching artist for an elementary school and involved with other online dance projects. Stephen is currently performing for company parties via Zoom and learning the art of DJing.

As a duo, Stephen and Aisha are currently training and exploring together and cultivating new work. They also host a bi-weekly dance session in Riverside CA to provide space for ALL dancers to express themselves and learn from each other. The sessions are currently taking a break and will be back April 2021. To keep up with Stephen and Aisha, you can follow them on Instagram:  @aishabuttersctoch and @stanner300.

Make sure to following the talented duo and book them for your next gig. If you’re a dancer or a part of a dance group, make sure to check out LUE Productions upcoming event ‘JUST DANCing’ in September honoring the world of dance along with their $500.00 Dance competition. Details can be located on the LUE Productions website at www.lueproductions.org. Now with that being said, don’t be afraid to BUST A MOVE of your own. Until next time L’s!

Black History Month Milestone: Remembering George Floyd and Others Killed by Police

LOS ANGELES, CA— Campaign Justice announced today that Black History Month is not only a time of recognizing the accomplishments of African Americans but is also a time to brighten the spotlight on systemic racism within law enforcement. “Say Their Names: 101 Unarmed Black Women, Men and Children Killed by Law Enforcement” (ISBN: 979-8570456860) is a newly released reference book which documents the stories of a few who have lost their lives during a brush with police.

“Why, in this nation, do too many black Americans wake up knowing that they could lose their life in the course of just living their life? Why does justice does not roll like a river or righteousness like a mighty stream?” President Joe Biden has said.

George Floyd’s murder was as shocking as it was common. As were the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice and James Earl Chaney.

This compilation of lost lives is more of an encyclopedia and serves as a permanent record for the 101 deaths of unarmed people of color attributed to law enforcement. (Note, this is not a complete record and covers individuals who died from 1920-2020.)

We document who they were as people, the details surrounding their deaths, as well as if there were any arrests or convictions of officers involved. The book is dedicated to their families, as well as hero whistle-blower officers who stood up against systemic racism. We have also included links to over 200 social justice organizations.

This 556-page book is available NOW on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play. Links can be found at https://www.campaignjustice.org/.

Campaign Justice is a newly formed organization by an established author
and non-profit founder, whose mission is to promote social advocacy and
justice projects for marginalized communities.

Campaign Justice is also working on a children’s book which recognizes and
addresses their fear of law enforcement.

Learn more at:
https://www.campaignjustice.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CampaignJustic1

https://twitter.com/CampaignJustic1


Atlanta Based Franchising Corporation, Supreme Foods Worldwide ™, Launches #BlackHistoryBlackOwned Campaign Highlighting Social Entrepreneurship

ATLANTA, GA—- Black-owned businesses have been hit substantially harder by the pandemic than companies overall, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Less access to capital, including federal PPP loans, and funding gaps that existed prior to the pandemic, are a few of the causes for the demographic disparities. Supreme Foods Worldwide ™is a black-owned, family-owned Atlanta-based franchise corporation providing entrepreneurial opportunities for those interested in quick-service restaurant concepts. Certified as an ACDBE, Supreme Foods Worldwide ™has two prominent quick-serve brands: Supreme Burger and Supreme Fish Delight with over 11 franchise locations and counting. In the midst of serving communities that were hit the hardest, Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ has committed to providing jobs and food security to meet their surrounding community’s basic needs. Since the onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme has served more than 15,000 meals per week to underserved youth and seniors in the Atlanta area. The Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ team continues their work of community restoration and promoting Black ownership with the launch of its #BlackHistoryBlackOwned campaign, a 365 day campaign highlighting the importance of Black ownership as a means of creating generational wealth, building legacy, and closing the wealth gap. For more information visit www.SupremeFoodsWorldwide.com

“When we look at building wealth for black households or black communities, business ownership is a key strategy,” states Waleed Shamsid-Deen, President & CEO of Supreme Foods Worldwide, which was born out of a desire to serve quality food at affordable prices while layering in economic capacity.

Supreme Foods Worldwide was started by his father, Lawrence Shamsid-Deen, in 1980, who was one of the first black owned franchisors in America. Supreme Fish Delight is known for its southern style lightly breaded fish & fries, homemade bean pies, and famous “Fish Supreme” sandwiches on whole wheat bread! Supreme was the official partner for the ’96 Olympics in Atlanta and most recently the Supreme Burger brand partnered with the 2019 Super Bowl during the official Tailgating Experience providing over 5,000 greek lamb burgers.

The founders went a step further and added a social component, creating home delivered meal services for children and seniors in underserved populations through the creation of The Supreme Family Foundation in 1998.

“Empowerment is easier, when the basic needs of our community are met. Therefore, we have added food security for senior citizens and youth as our mission and we encourage consumers to take a closer look at where they spend their dollars to directly help in impacting the achievement gap for businesses that strengthen underserved communities, ” states Quiana M. Shamsid-Deen, Executive Director of The Supreme Family Foundation.

To restore and expand the current financial landscape, investing and supporting black businesses is critical in building the economy that reflects America’s promise. Individual recovery is contingent upon how much we collectively live by the principle of being “all in this together.” As real as our interconnectedness is in health, so too are we linked economically. Investing in Black businesses to sustain black ownership will continue to help solve problems in education, transportation, housing, criminal justice, costal restoration, and other fields that show racial disparities. Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ continues to make history as a black-owned, quick – serve franchise aggressively scaling to international territories and massively creating jobs in a time where unemployment has reached an all time high. To learn more about about the #BlackHistoryBlackOwned campaign visit www.SupremeFoodsWorldwide.com or joining the conversation on social media @SupremeFoods # BlackHistoryBlackOwned.

About Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ :

With over 40 years of providing quality food service, Supreme Burger and Supreme Fish Delight menu offerings satisfy the traditional burger and fish sandwich connoisseur, as well as offering pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan and Halal options providing an inclusive, food lover’s experience for the modern eater. Menu highlights include beef, lamb, vegan, turkey, veggie, shrimp, chicken and salmon options taking no exception in leading with high quality, food ingredients, the founder’s unique upbringings, food history and customer – centric philosophy have merged for a mix of cultural fusions for an innovative food twist.

Here’s 5 Must-Have Black Owned Card and Board Games

We’ve been spending way more time than we prefer stuck inside lately, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change any time soon. That doesn’t have to stop us from creating meaningful moments with the loved ones we live with.

Here are 5 Black-owned and operated game companies you and your family can shop with this holiday season. Once you play them, you won’t mind staying in! Let’s have FUN while circulating your dollars within our community. 

Did you know there’s hundreds of games made by black creatives? You can learn more and demo some of them FREE when you register to attend the Black Game Makers Association Expo.

Brilliant or BS?

Brilliant or BS? is the hilarious trivia party game for people who love to call folks out. Get ready to flex your brilliance and your bluffing skills. This family friendly game will test your knowledge and your ability to tell when your fam’s lying to you. The crew will be entertained for hours with 80+ trivia questions in fun categories like Sports, Entertainment and Food & Drink. Be sure to check out the new Brilliant and Black expansion pack that celebrates everything we love about Black culture. 

Financial IQ

Financial IQ has designed a fun and engaging financial flashcard game to help break the generational cycle that hinders us from building generational wealth which is discussing money. When is the last time you had a conversation with your family and friends about finances on income, savings, credit, debt, investing, or expenses? The FiQuestions financial flashcard game comes with 69 questions to help normalize the discussion of finances. Break the cycle! Tradition stops with you! 

Verified The Game

Verified takes social media & flips it into a hilarious & entertaining party card game. The game is simple, be the first player to collect 50K LIKES and 50K FOLLOWERS to win, & become Verified! Time to get your game nights LIT. Answer questions based off Viral Sensations, Hashtags to doing those off the wall & entertaining Challenges we all have come to love on social media.

Trap Wars

Trap Wars® is what your game nights are missing. Unlike most games you play, Trap Wars celebrates black culture. Get your team to guess the word on your card the quickest without using trap words…or your card might get snatched! Trap Wars is a family friendly, travel-size game that is non-stop fun. Pick up The Original Edition or The Black History Edition today! 

Black Wall Street The Board Game

Black Wall Street The Board Game helps your family increase your Financial Literacy and Black History Knowledge at the same time. This game was inspired by the real businesses and events from early 1900’s Tulsa, Oklahoma Black Wall Street— one of the most economically successful communities in American History.


 


 

Oldest Juvenile Lifer, 82-Year-Old Man, Released From Prison After Nearly Seven Decades

By Charlene Rhinehart, via Black Enterprise

Joe Ligon was finally released from prison after serving 68 years. Ligon, now 82, is the country’s oldest juvenile lifer in the United States.

“We waste people’s lives by over-incarcerating, and we waste money by over-incarcerating. His case graphically demonstrates the absurdity of wasting each,” Bradley Bridge, a lawyer with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, told The Philadephia Inquirer. “Hopefully his release, and the release of the juvenile lifers in general, will cause a reevaluation of the way we incarcerate people.”

Bradley has represented Ligon since 2006. On Thursday morning, the lawyer picked Ligon up from the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County to take him to his new home.

From Philadelphia School to Prison

Ligon was just a teenager in the 1950s. The world was in a period of civil unrest, battling the impacts of discrimination and segregation. There was also an influx of African Americans who moved from the South to the North. Ligon, a young boy raised on a farm in Alabama, found himself in the Philadelphia school system in the early 1950s at the age of 13.

This was before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, which officially declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Many of the Black schools in Philadelphia and around the country experienced the impacts of educational inequity.  Ligon, a young boy without a solid education, was left behind in the system. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ligon “couldn’t keep up” and was still illiterate at the age of 15.

With the growing levels of poverty, unemployment, abandoned buildings, and racial division, Ligon found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was involved in a series of robberies and assaults that left two people dead. The 15-year-old was with a group of drunk teens when it all happened. Although he admits his participation, Ligon denies accusations of killing anyone.

Unfortunately, this moment led to an arrest that would leave him behind bars for the rest of his life. Arrested in 1953 at the age of 15, he is now opening his eyes to a new world.

A Different World

I’m looking at all the tall buildings,” Ligon said. “This is all new to me. This never existed.”

Ligon spent most of his days in prison honing his janitorial skills, learning to read and write, and training as a boxer. He never applied for parole although many tried to convince him to do so.

A Supreme Court Decision eventually declared automatic lifetime terms for kids cruel and unusual. The court offered lifetime parole terms. But Ligon refused the offer.

“I like to be free,” he said. “With parole, you got to see the parole people every so often. You can’t leave the city without permission from parole. That’s part of freedom for me.”

But now, Ligon will have a chance to experience life beyond the bars. He left the prison with 12 boxes in his hand ready to explore the new world.

28-year-old Jamaican American Entrepreneur Makes History as one of Amazon’s Youngest Delivery Service Partners

Cori Gordon, 28, never imagined she’d become one of Amazon’s youngest Delivery Service Partners when she migrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in 2013.   Bright-eyed and eager post completing her studies at Northern Caribbean University, Cori began her professional career working in the retail and automotive industries before realizing she had a penchant for entrepreneurship.

“I experienced burn out working 80 plus hours for someone else,” Cori says.  “After a bit of soul searching, I realized it was important for me to direct all those hours of energy into something I owned.”

Cori searched online for business opportunities that presented a built-in customer base and a clear track for success.  “I knew right away the Amazon Delivery Service Partner program could be a great fit for me,” Cori says.  “Everyone knows and loves the company and though I hadn’t led my own company before, the training and development resources they offered inspired me to apply.”

In 2018, Amazon launched the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program to share its experience in operations and logistics with aspiring entrepreneurs. The program empowers entrepreneurs to build their own last mile delivery companies from the ground up with Amazon’s support, infrastructure, technology, and a suite of exclusive services.  In the two years since its inception, these thriving entrepreneurs have experienced remarkable growth, with more than 1,300 DSPs operating across the U.S., Canada, UK, Spain, and Germany and nearly 85,000 jobs created. 

Cori’s DSP, Cortoyou operates out of Amazon’s newly launched delivery station in Staten Island and delivers to customers in her home borough of Brooklyn.  “The most fulfilling thing about being a DSP owner is being a job provider,” Gordon says.  “It’s such an honor for me and I get so excited when an employee gets a new car, or a new phone, because I know their employment with my company is helping them reach their goals.” 

The breadth of diversity in the program has been inspiring.  Owners include military veterans, former sellers on Amazon.com, educators, city council members, and many others who come from a variety of backgrounds. They are great coaches and mentors who have built customer obsessed teams that have delivered more than 1.8 billion packages worldwide, using more than 40,000 Prime branded last mile vehicles—from electric vehicles to step vans to delivery vans—generating more than $4.5 billion in revenue for their small businesses.

In August, Amazon announced a new diversity grant to help reduce the barriers to entry for Black, Latinx, and Native American entrepreneurs interested in starting a DSP.  With the launch of this grant program, Amazon is investing in building a future for diverse business owners to serve their communities. The $1 million commitment funds startup costs, offering $10,000 for each qualified candidate to build their own DSP businesses in the U.S.  Those interested in applying can visit logistics.amazon.com.

As the eldest child of nine, Cori knew she had a knack for leading, but she never guessed she’d be in a position to employ more than 50 drivers and make history as an Amazon business partner.  “I hope my story inspires young people of color to look into the program and evaluate if they’re ready to align with a company driven by customer obsession and delivering results,” Cori says.  “The journey has been amazing thus far.”   

Saturday, February 20: PAFF Presents: 41st & Central: The Untold Story of The L.A. Black Panthers

The? Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)? is excited to announce its added a special screening of Gregory Everett’s award-winning documentary 41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers to this year’s schedule.

PAFF will take place virtually February 28 to March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plans. Early bird discount pricing has concluded as of February 13.

As a tribute to the late filmmaker, who tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 on January 24 of this year, PAFF will host a global screening fundraiser supporting his family on February 20 at 5 p.m. PT.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers was the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, as well as the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

This special screening is sponsored in part by The Cochran Firm California.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, winner of the 2010 Pan African Film Festival’s Audience Favorite Documentary, features exclusive interviews from Black Panther party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga, Elaine Brown, and Kathleen Cleaver, retired Los Angeles City Councilmember and former L.A.P.D. Police Chief Bernard Parks. The film was the first part of a documentary series by filmmaker Gregory Everett that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, and the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

Using exclusive interviews with former Black Panther Party members along with archival footage detailing the history of racism in Los Angeles, including the Watt’s Uprising, 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, has been called the most in-depth study ever of the murders of L.A. Chapter founder Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins at U.C.L.A. The documentary includes first-hand accounts of the Party’s formation as told by the original surviving members and eyewitness accounts of the murders at U.C.L.A. Also featured in the film are former Black Panther members Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, US Organization member Wesley Kabaila, U.C.L.A. Professor Scot Brown, and Bernie Morris, oldest brother of Bunchy Carter.

Visit www.paff.org for more information and remember PAFF will take place virtually February 28 – March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plansEarly bird discount pricing concludes February 13.