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When Domestic Violence Ends in Death — A Tribute to Banking Exec Michelle A. Avan

By Karen Earl | Special to California Black Media

Hundreds gathered online and in person at Faithful Central Bible Church in Los Angeles for the home-going celebration of Michelle A. Avan on Aug. 27.

The 48-year-old senior banking executive was found beaten to death in her Reseda home on Aug. 5.  

Viewers of the livestream expressed prayers and condolences, and especially shared how beautiful the celebration of her life was.  Their sentiments reflected the beauty and solemnity of the invocation, songs by an all-female youth ensemble, and a video presentation of the beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend in her personal and professional life experiences.

Avan’s son Trevon Avan and daughter Nyah Avan shared some of their endearing and humorous moments with her.  They were best friends, more like sisters, said her daughter, as she took deep breaths.  She loved to dress up in her mom’s clothing, and grew to love to pick out Avan’s attire, especially for award ceremonies and galas.  

“I know her spirit will still continue to help me through my own award ceremonies, because she’ll give my aunties, my uncles, my cousins, my grandparents, my dad, her sister-friends, her village, the strength to help carry me and my brother on during these difficult times,” said her daughter, brimming with pride.

“I never thought that this would happen to someone like her; someone who believed in the people; someone who believed in being your true, authentic self, no matter what,” stated her son. “But on this day, we’ll celebrate my mom’s living legacy, he said.

Andy Sieg, president, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, reflected on the woman who had a remarkable impact on the company for over 23 years.

She landed her dream job and took charge of the hiring, development and advancement of women, people of color, and others with differences, when she was made head of Women’s and Underrepresented Talent Strategy for Bank of America last June, he reflected.

“That is a huge impact.  It’s across a company of 200,000 people,” said Sieg.  As teammate Susan Axelrod expressed, Avan’s unique gift was the ability to bring people together in very special ways, to lift up those left behind, to encourage others to extend a helping hand … Far beyond their mission of driving adversity, she stood for unity, empathy, acceptance,” he continued.

Meanwhile, police arrested 52-year-old Anthony Turner, her ex-boyfriend, alleging he entered her home on August 3, killed her, then left the next day. Bail was set at $2 million.

Turner faces one felony count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary, and has pleaded not-guilty.  He has been released on bail and a preliminary hearing has been reportedly scheduled for Sept. 30.

One in four women will experience a form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Within the Black community, 45.1 % of Black women have experienced intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. 

Family members, friends, concerned community members and colleagues of Black women and girls plagued by and ultimately killed in domestic or intimate partner violence bemoan the question over and over again, “Why did she stay?”.

Jenesse Center, Inc., in its 40-year history of meeting the needs of intimate partner survivors has learned that the answers are more nuanced, complex, and many, such as:

“I had nowhere else to go.” 

“I felt ashamed.” 

“I couldn’t call the police.”

Our Black girls and women face the added burden of structural racism.  Negative interactions between law enforcement and Black girls and women are rooted in the institution of slavery and have become institutionalized responses in the decades since. Far too often we are seen as “less than human” and as such, are not given the respect and grace to be in crisis and needing help; to be a victim, and not perpetrator of violence. If the police are called, far too many Black girls and women have themselves been arrested and persecuted as the “aggressor.” 

In other cases, Black girls and women have been killed by police responding to their calls for help. On average, it is expected that between 2.4 and 5.4 Black girls and women per 100,000 will be killed by police over the course of their lifetime.  Black women are 1.4 times more likely to be killed by the police than white women. They also fear not being believed and that if the police respond and do nothing, they and their children are at greater risk of increased acts of violence by their partner once the police leave. 

But also, Black women are conflicted by the thought of turning their children’s father over to the state, compounding years of social injustice in the criminal justice system. However, they also face further isolation, shame, and ridicule by family and friends for calling -9-1-1 even when their very lives are at-risk.  

Collectively, what is our community responsibility to safety and protection of Black girls and women in Los Angeles County?  How do we take a stand to protect our mothers and daughters? How do we amplify our voices to say, “enough is enough”?

The Jenesse Center, a domestic violence intervention organization based here in Los Angeles, calls upon elected officials, public policy makers, employers, and community and spiritual leaders to join us in solidarity toward action. The interventions and preventative support services we provide to victims and survivors of domestic are holistic, trauma-informed and culturally responsive.

We need informed advocates who relentlessly amplify the message that Black girl’s and women’s lives have value and drive action to ending intimate partner violence in our homes. Jenesse is ready to change the world by changing hearts and minds right here in our community.  

Are you ready to join us?

About the Author

Karen Earl is CEO of the Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that provides  domestic violence intervention and prevention support programs.

The 1954 Project Seeks To Give Innovators In Black Education $1 Million Grants

Black educators and schools can get a helping hand with $1 million in grants from The 1954 Project, a philanthropic venture to support those working on new approaches to schooling black children.

Applications are being accepted for the second cohort of Luminaries — educators who may seek grants in three categories: economic mobility, diversity in education, and innovation in teaching and learning.  The first five Luminary Award winners were honored in a virtual ceremony in April.

The 1954 Project is named to mark the year the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling barred segregation in public schools, said Liz Thompson, president of the philanthropic CAFE Group. One unintended consequence of the ruling was that “young black kids and brown kids went to white schools, but there was very little appetite to have white children taught by black teachers,” she said.

One of the speakers in a webinar about The 1954 Project states that “the students were integrated, but the teachers and administrators were left out. … Of the 82,000 teachers in the South, half were fired.” Those who weren’t fired suffered relentless discrimination, which drove more black educators out of the field.

“We have never recovered from that tremendous loss,” Thompson said.

The 1954 Project aims to honor those educators from the past and to support those who are working today on new approaches to schooling black children, Thompson said.

“We want to increase the pipeline of talent that is teaching our children — educators, districts, superintendents. We also want to increase the number of people that are working toward economic mobility. And finally, we want to increase the innovation in education, in teaching and learning,” she said.

The presence of black teachers in the classroom can make a lifelong difference for black children, said Sharif El-Mekki, one of the five inaugural Luminary grant recipients. “Black students with a single black teacher in elementary school can be up to 39 percent less likely to drop out of school. And if they have two black teachers, they are 32 percent more likely to go to college,” he said.

El-Mekki is founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, which aims to increase excellence in all stages of teacher education and recruit people who share cultural and socio-political kinship with their pupils.

“As W.E.B. DuBois said, regardless of the school that black children attend, they need exceptional teachers,” El-Mekki said.

Black educators receive less than 2 percent of the financial and capacity-building dollars available, and women get less than 10 percent, said Don Thompson, co-founder of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education. “When we look at that, we say, well, obviously, the field is uneven, and there’s less of an opportunity for success.

“Someone needs to be intentional,” he said. “And we’re very intentional about it. Seventy-five percent of these funds will go to the south and west sides of the city of Chicago; 75 percent of these funds will go to people of color; and 50 percent will go to women.”

The 1954 Project is part of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education, which was founded in 2014 and aims to raise $100 million.  It launched with seed funding from The CAFE Group, the Walton Family Foundation (founded in 1987 by Walmart founder Sam Walton and his wife, Helen) and other investors and partners. The CAFE Group is an offshoot of Chicago-based venture firm Cleveland Avenue, which focuses on supporting entrepreneurs of color.

Cleveland Avenue’s founders Don and Liz Thompson spoke of the funding needs of black educators during a panel streamed Aug. 19 at National Association of Black Journalists 2021 Virtual Convention and Career Fair.

Applications for the 2022 Luminary Awards are due by Sept. 20.

Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff



The post The 1954 Project Seeks To Give Innovators In Black Education $1 Million Grants appeared first on Zenger News.

Tales From Trade Show Floor Serve As A Barometer For Retail’s Recovery

After completing a massive $1.5 billion expansion in May, the Javits Center in Manhattan hosted its first in-person trade show since suspending such events in the midst of last year’s pandemic lock downs. From Aug. 8-11, wholesale vendors convened in the city for the NY NOW show for specialty buyers and retailers.

The show featured hundreds of consumer product categories sorted into 10 sections: accent on design; accessories; artisan resource; baby + child; gifts + stationery; handmade designer makers; handmade global design; home design + tabletop; luxury lifestyle and wellness.

Gauging by feedback provided by vendors at the trade show, it’s clear that virtually every business was affected in some way — both positive and negative — by the ongoing COVID crisis.  Here are the stories of several businesses on the tradeshow floor:

Mary Althoff, founder/owner of Mierco Fine European Linens, has been exhibiting at NY NOW for over 20 years, and noted that the number of vendors was significantly down from previous, pre-pandemic years. This year, exhibits were limited to one section of the Javits.  She recalls her early days in the industry, when there were 5-year wait lists, and the entire complex was filled with exhibitors.

“The pandemic caused many businesses to close — both wholesale and retail. So those that remain are in a position to weather the storm, and do business,” said Althoff. “Buyers came to buy, not kick the tires.” Nonetheless, she predicts that there will be more fallout before it’s over. Businesses were in drastic decline because specialty shops were closed for at least two to three months while international shipping from Asia more than doubled in cost.

“Not even a global pandemic could stop our customers from getting treatment. Freezing operations for us was never an option. We need to be available,” said Chemo Beanies co-founder Angelle Albright. (Lisa Chau)

Jaime Windau, owner of Love Bubby, said that although most stores are open again, they have been impacted by many factors, including issues with supply chain, limited tourism travel, etc.

The pandemic halted Windau’s wholesale business from March-May in 2020, but once stores started opening again they had steady sales.  By pivoting focus to their retail website and more consumers shopping online at home, it was a win. The company — a childrenswear brand that specializes in gender-neutral designs— first exhibited at NY NOW in 2018, and returned this year in order to connect again with current wholesale customers and meet new customers.

“It is our favorite show and like a having a presence there. Most of the buyers and brands we interacted with were excited to be back in person seeing products live,” Windau said. “Some buyers did comment that the show was smaller and some of the brands they wished they were able to meet were not attending. We reminded buyers we were still in a pandemic… some brands were international and impacted by travel concerns, some brands have supply chain issues crippling their business. The list goes on.”

Chemo Beanies, which manufactures head coverings for people being treated for cancer with chemotherapy, managed to operate during the pandemic, even as wholesale business noticeably dropped off due to traffic cessation in hospital gift shops.  In order to combat the wholesale loss, the company made up the difference by beefing up online retail sales, joining additional e-commerce sites, as well as increasing ad dollars.

As 2021 approached, Chemo Beanies co-founder/president Angelle Albright searched for in-person trade fairs specifically to reconnect with wholesale customers and reach out to new customers. “Not even a global pandemic could stop our customers from getting treatment. Freezing operations for us was never an option. We need to be available regardless, so we found the best way to find our customers online and meet them wherever they were,” said Albright.

Some companies experienced organic sales growth in response to the pandemic. Just My Type Letterpress relaunched its wholesale offerings at the start of 2021, and the response has been encouraging. The stationery industry in general had a good year, as people were mailing more cards.

“Those that I spoke to in the stationery industry were very surprised at how well things had gone in the last year. I get the feeling that buyers are being cautious, whether they are wholesale buyers for a store or retail consumers,” said company owner Lynn M. Jones. Nonetheless, she notes that “the recent uptick in Delta variant COVID-19 cases has made it clear that we’re not done with the pandemic yet.”

HeadsUp Design Company, which does business as custom candlemaker 54Celsius, also saw a dramatic increase in sales over the past year, said Daniel Koval, founder and managing director. With offices closed and no service or fashion industries competing for disposable income, spending on home décor and accessories experienced a major boost. On the flip side, global logistics issues cut off growth due to an inability to get product or raw materials.

Beauty brand noyah saw demand for its lip products fall due to quarantines and masks, so the company expanded into moisturizers and bath bombs. (Lisa Chau)

This was 54Celsius’ second time exhibiting at NY NOW.

”Retailers who did venture out to the show came to buy, and we had a fabulous show. While the aisles were quiet, we had customers in our booth virtually non-stop…  last year was also very strong in my part of this industry. People have cash to spend, and the home has taken on a whole new importance as companies rethink the ‘where’ of the workday,” said Koval. “Home-accessory sales and candle sales are continuing to exceed our expectations. I’ve hired two new customer service team members since the pandemic began and am now looking to add more. Many stores have moved online, and others are finding that as vaccination rates increase, consumers are excited to go out and shop at their local stores again.”

The one macroeconomic development that would help boost 54Celsius’ prospects is a solution to the global shipping container shortage. The company ships its candles in refrigerated containers from Europe and Asia to the U.S., as well as from America to Europe. The shortage means that supply is extremely difficult to get these days, resulting in lost sales and angry, frustrated customers.

“When we do get a container the cost has tripled or even quadrupled. One container route that last year would cost $6,000 is now costing $26,000. The system is broken,” Koval said. “If there is a silver lining to the container shortage, it’s that it has reinforced our commitment to manufacture locally. We have shifted production of a number of lines to the U.S. this past year, and we will continue those efforts in each of the markets where we sell. It reduces our carbon footprint, increases jobs here, and helps us to be more responsive to our clients.”

“We do think wholesale and retail industries are certainly in recovery mode, but on a sliding scale, as this crisis has affected every business differently. The ones that want to survive are working hard to ‘will it’ to happen. Until the veil is lifted on open doors again, retailers and wholesalers alike are skeptical. Overall investments are down, and we don’t think we will see larger, confident buys until we know what direction things are moving in. It’s a tough spot to be in, but from what we experienced, buyers are planning ahead with caution, as are we.”

For example, Dr. Joshua Gordon’s New York-based beauty and personal care company, noyah, saw demand for its lip products fall thanks to quarantines and masks. In response, Gordon expanded to include moisturizers and bath bombs. His team believes the recovery will be slow and vary by product category and sub-category.

“Just as lipstick sales went down during the pandemic and moisturizers and sanitizers went up, reopening, returning to work, etc., means that there’s another shift in terms of which products are gaining steam, with certain categories doing better than others, and some doing even better than before the pandemic,” Gordon said.

The New York International Auto Show is always a popular draw at the Javits Center, but this year’s has been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

At Fortune & Frame, business increased by over 300 percent since March 2020.

“The retail industry is resilient,” Principal Kieran Powell said. “A large part of that is because it is constantly evolving. Consumers want the discovery and social element of going into stores. This is resulting in stores stepping up their game, as well as a number of digital-first brands successfully opening new physical stores. It’s also creating a more competitive wholesale industry — brands have to create better products to compete, and showrooms and trade shows have to deliver the best brands to retailers, so they can best cater to their customers.”

But there are still far too many unknown and unpredictable factors to solidly predict the rate of a retail recovery.

Strong evidence of such uncertainties surfaced just days before the NY NOW show began its run. On Aug. 4, the producers of the 2021 New York International Auto Show that was set to run at the Javits late this month announced it was canceled. The reason: “… the growing incidences of the COVID-19 Delta variant and the increased measures announced recently by state and local officials to stop its spread,” a statement for the organizers said.

Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Bryan Wilkes



The post Tales From Trade Show Floor Serve As A Barometer For Retail’s Recovery appeared first on Zenger News.

Two Black Fathers Look To ‘Break Curse’ Of Familial Abuse Through Clothing Line

Xavier Elder-Henson and Roy Williams Jr. have a bond born of their chaotic childhoods and an altruistic, therapeutic desire to end familial cycles of abuse.

Together, Williams and Elder-Henson are traveling a cathartic path and have transformed their childhood trauma and personal substance-abuse issues into an inspirational “Family Unit” clothing line.

“With ‘The Family Unit,’ we knew we wanted to give back,” the duo said.

“Family Unit” merchandise includes hats and T-shirts, with a percentage of the monthly profits being donated to support advocacy organizations listed on a Community Spotlight.

In this Zenger Q&A, the duo describes their sojourn from calamity to serenity and how their musical backgrounds served to quiet Elder-Henson’s inner demons, ease Williams’ depression and forge a noble union.

Xavier Elder-Henson, with 6-year-old son, Cameron, said a percentage of the profits from “The Family Unit” clothing line are donated to support advocacy organizations. “We knew we wanted to give back,’” said Elder-Henson. (Courtesy of Roy Williams Jr.) 

Zenger: What is the origin of “The Family Unit” concept?

Elder-Henson: I have thrown a few things at the wall, but The Family Unit is the one that stuck. The story of two black fathers trying to build a legacy for their children while also trying to overcome their own pasts is very compelling, powerful, useful and inspiring.

When we decided to take the leap with The Family Unit, we knew we wanted to give back. So we made a commitment to find organizations in the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia area) and donate a percentage of our monthly profits to them.

There is also a section of our website that spotlights these great organizations. We have direct links to them if you prefer to donate directly, and we also encourage people to donate their time toward being at the forefront of uplifting their communities.

Williams: Xavier and I had always been in touch here and there, but it was always with music, which is a complement to something else that was greater. Xavier challenged me on it and we both agreed that it was family. I kept bringing up the family unit, and he said, ‘Yeah.’ The broken homes we came from were a big factor.

Xavier and I decided together that we can break the curse by creating something great. We want to inspire and keep families together, prevent division, divorces, domestic abuse and encourage people to raise their children the way they’re supposed to be raised. It’s the moral and Biblical way, and that’s why we came up with ‘The Family Unit.’

Zenger: What different types of clothing do you offer, how can you be contacted, and how does one go about ordering?

Elder-Henson: Visit us at the www.thefamilyunit.shop shop to place an order. Our ‘Box Logo’ T-shirts are our go-to item, coming in a variety of colors for adults, youth, toddlers and babies. Our brand is geared towards family, so when you wear our clothing, we hope you feel a sense of transformation.

We hold and attend events, and you can sign up to our mailing list on the website, message and follow us on Instagram (@thefamilyunitbrand), or email us at thefamilyunitcs@gmail.com. We also encourage you to send us pictures of you and your family in your gear, so we can show your love for family to the world.

Zenger: How were your childhoods?

Elder-Henson: My parents divorced when I was a toddler. I grew up in two different worlds. There was a small period of time that my mom and I were staying in a shelter and time when I watched my mother work hard trying to raise three children.

One day I remember waking up in the backseat of a taxi with my dad heading from Maryland down to North Carolina. It was a weird ride to the train station. I remember feeling numb, unsure whether to cry or jump for joy. I was in the third grade.

It was a hard pill to swallow. My dad was strict, remarried, and I had a sister I hadn’t met. Before I set foot in their home, I harbored resentment toward him, my mother and my stepmother. Part of it was me wondering if it was my fault this all happened; the other part felt like I didn’t get to make the decision on where I wanted to live.

Looking back, I wish I gave my new situation more of a chance. I spent the majority of my childhood in North Carolina, where I graduated from high school. I jumped into the workforce, bouncing around and into a few different lines of work. Right now, I’m a stay-at-home dad. Eventually I came to a point where I wanted to start my entrepreneurial journey.

Roy Williams Jr. (left) with daughter, Ariella, 8, said he and partner, Xavier Elder-Henson, created their “Family Unit” clothing line to try to keep families together. (Courtesy of Roy Williams Jr.) 

Williams: My childhood was rough. My dad was on drugs. I experienced seeing him smoking crack. But I also experienced him turning himself over to God as a minister who was really involved in the church. I went to church with him and my mom. Those were the best times I had with him.

But when he went to drugs, it all went downhill. I experienced my dad abusing my mom. Abuse among family members was cousins fighting cousins, cousins fighting aunts. When my mom remarried, my stepfather was very emotional, took it out on us and beat on us.

Karate was one thing I was good at and was my way of coping. My grandmother put me into karate, but my mom took me out of it. I was very upset with that, and ever since then, all of my life, I would start something and not finish.

When it came to the family foundation, everything was all bad, and I had nowhere to learn anything good from. I didn’t learn how to deal with adversity because I wasn’t taught by my parents how to. I turned to drugs.

I went into the military to get away from my stepfather. I later realized making an emotional choice like that isn’t always the best thing to do. I was 18 or 19 years old in Japan, not knowing how to deal with life, depressed and homesick.

I ended up being kicked out of the military due to drugs, came back home and hit rock bottom about four times in my life. The turning point was in my mid-30s, when I stopped smoking weed for the time since I was 14.

Zenger: How have you processed healing from childhood trauma?

Elder-Henson: I tried weed and alcohol as a coping mechanism. I knew right away that that was not me. Ultimately, church, family and music were my ways of working through. It’s still an ongoing process, and as a father myself, I realized that the good and bad are what have molded me into the man I am today.

But I made a lot of bad decisions by projecting my anger and hurt at people who didn’t deserve it. Over time, I realized that all my parents wanted was the best for me. I am still looking back and remembering the lessons that I was taught by all three of them, and I am truly grateful for their continued presence in my life.

Williams: I grew up in southeast Washington D.C., up to the third grade, then moved to Fort Washington, Maryland. I graduated from high school, went into the military, then studied to be an electrician and doing odd jobs after that. For five years, I was a stay-at-home father. I had gained everything back as far as my job and everything.

But I had to get my soul back, because I had left my identity behind. I wanted to go back to school, but then COVID hit; I decided to go all out trying to be an entrepreneur. I also went to TESST College of Technology for computer networking and also got a few certificates from Google in 2020.

Zenger: Didn’t the two of you meet as musicians?

Elder-Henson: Music was a way for me to deal with my inner demons, and it became an instrument for healing and personal growth. As far as ‘The Family Unit,’ Roy and I crossed paths while performing at a show. It was a small event in Waldorf, Maryland.

My plan was to talk to at least one person before I left. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I had to psych myself up to tap Roy on the shoulder. We clicked right away, became really good friends and kicked off our relationship as entrepreneurs.

Williams: I work full-time as an armed protective officer at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I wrote my first song when I was 8 years old, was a part of a music group in 1998, started producing music in 2001 and engineering in 2015.

I did a few talent shows, including one at the Smithsonian Museum. Music was a way for me to cope with depression, and during my venture, Xavier and I crossed paths, and the rest is history.

Edited by Stan Chrapowicki and Matthew B. Hall



The post Two Black Fathers Look To ‘Break Curse’ Of Familial Abuse Through Clothing Line appeared first on Zenger News.

Letter to the Editor: Here’s Why You Need to Vote in the California Recall Election

By Rick Callender 

On September 14 a special election will be held to determine whether Governor Gavin Newsom should be recalled. This is only the fourth time in American history – that a state has held a gubernatorial recall election. The last gubernatorial recall election in California took place nearly 20 years ago.

This recall election was triggered after the Secretary of State certified that 1.7 million Californians signed a petition demanding a vote to remove Newsom from the office he assumed in January 2019. Under state law, to initiate a recall, proponents need to collect the signatures of enough registered voters to equal 12% of the turnout in the prior governor’s race.

The recall ballots will ask two questions. The first is a simple yes-or-no question: should Newsom be recalled.  If 50% or more of voters mark ‘NO’then the effort to recall Newsom is defeated. However, if more than 50% mark ‘YES’ then the second question comes into play: who should replace him? There are 46 names on the ballot and the candidate with the most votes, as dictated by state law, will become governor for the remainder of Newsom’s term – which is through January 2023. 

Whether or not you support Newsom your vote in this election matters. 

When we cast a vote, we win. We are represented. That’s the power that lies at the heart of the democratic process. It is the beauty of having free and fair elections. 

Blacks Americans have a long history of struggling to exercise their right as citizens to vote. Those who came of age before 1965, less than 60 years ago, felt it all too keenly, particularly in the South, where they were systematically turned away from polling places.  Once they secured the vote, the idea of not even attempting to participate in an election would have been an abdication of their rights as Americans. 

The people we entrust with our vote to lead us — whether it is at the federal, state, or local level – are responsible for developing policies and legislation that affect how safe we are in our homes and communities, our access to quality health care and education, the financial opportunities available to us, and more. 

An outcome of the 2020 Presidential election cycle has been an extension of the unprecedented assault on voting rights beginning with the Supreme Court decision, Shelby v. Holder (2013), weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and has led to more laws restricting our ability to vote. 

California has taken extraordinary steps to remove barriers and increase access to the polls, setting the national standard for what free and fair elections should look like.  We cannot afford to be complacent and watch like spectators as our rights are rolled back, our interests are ignored, and our power is discounted. This recall election will be a crucial test of our will as voters.

Sometimes it might feel like democracy happens election by election, step by step, once every two or even four years. But democracy doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t take a day off. It’s a constant process, happening all the time, whether we choose to engage or not. It’s messy, ugly, hard work. Not voting is just as much an act of democracy as is voting – refusing to participate is a choice. 

Every registered voter will automatically receive a ballot. Vote by mail started Aug 16. The last day to register to vote is August 30. However, you can “conditionally” register and vote at your county elections office or polling location after the voter registration deadline, up to and including Election Day. It’s a chance we must seize, regardless of party affiliation – our democracy, our community, our lives depend on it. 

Rick L. Callender, Esq. is the President of the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP and serves as a member of the National NAACP board of directors.

“In Recognition of Vehicle Mechanics –You Are Appreciated!”

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

“It isn’t every day that you find an honest auto mechanic willing to give you truth and a reasonable price [or even an amazing deal!], but when you find “The One,” let them know you appreciate their integrity and goodwill.”

Being a great mechanic involves more than identifying problems, repairing or replacing worn parts and knowing the difference between the camshaft and crankshaft. They have the experience that results in the confidence to take on any challenge. They’ve gotten their hands dirty, experimented, and seen a lot of problems. So, when you find “The One,” let them know that you appreciate them.

With that being said, Brother’s Keeper Mission Project would like to thank Mr. Angel Pulido, Mr. Alfonso Velazquez, and Mr. Luis Rios, of Angel’s Tire & Car Care, located at 455 North Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino, California for their impeccable service. Thank you! You are appreciated.

Single Father of Three is Beating the Odds Against a Deadly Disease Diagnosed Every 3 Minutes in the U.S.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September provides an opportunity to remind the public about the urgent need to support research to fight blood cancer — a disease that is diagnosed every three minutes in the U.S. and has no current means of prevention. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, myeloma survivor, and feather of three, Oya of Philadelphia, PA won’t let anything stand in his way as he prepares his kids for another challenging school year.

“Myeloma is the most prevalent blood cancer among people of African descent and it is also one of the hematologic malignancies with the greatest racial disparities,” said Oya. “This population is not only twice as likely to develop this rare and incurable cancer when compared to white Americans and other racial groups, but they are also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age.”

Oya takes a pill every morning and hasn’t let his blood cancer stand in the way of moving the needle forward for other patients through his advocacy work and making sure his children don’t miss a beat while staying informed. “The global COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified the issues patients face beyond health concerns to include added distress, new financial worries, loneliness, and uncertainty,” said Oya. “LLS continues to help blood cancer patients through a wide range of free services, ranging from clinical trial navigation to support programs like Myeloma Link, which aims to break down barriers and address the needs of underserved populations.”

The global leader in the fight against blood cancer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), where Oya is a passionate advocate and volunteer, is working tirelessly to find cures and provide more support for blood cancer patients and their families than any organization in the world. “I hope to get that message out to more people in the black community and especially parents who need support along with the need for more African American stem cell donors,” said Oya.

“Thus, Saith the Lord!”

By Lou Yeboah

My heart breaks as I see many turn a deaf ear to the warnings – a blind eye to the obvious signs; but as My Word which goes forth from My mouth; know that it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” [Isaiah 55:11]. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army is coming, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Cry out to Me! Blow the Shofar! Another army is approaching… this one not of locust but men… who attack, very much like the locusts, scaling walls and entering houses… and this too will be a “Day of the Lord.”  Even now,” declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. [Joel 2:1-12]. Time is running out! Don’t be left behind due to your unbelieving and lukewarm attitude! Accept the eternal salvation before it is too late! Because I tell you, events will come rapidly now. They will come in quick succession. There will hardly be any time between one event and the next and you will not be able to catch your breath in between what is coming. The Earth will tremble and shake, and darkness will descend. The time is now upon you. Don’t look to the right or the left for I AM COMING!  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2].

“There is a time, I know not when, a place, I know not where, that marks the destiny of men, to glory or despair. There is a line, by us unseen, that crosses every path the hidden boundary between God’s mercy and God’s wrath. How long may men go on in sin? How long will God forbear? Where does hope end? and where does the confine of despair begin? Our answer from the skies is sent- ‘Ye who from God depart, While it is called today, Repent! And harden not your heart.

Now, Jesus Himself made it crystal clear that we cannot know the date of His return. He stated in [Matthew 24:36], “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” but, the Bible makes it equally clear that those who have the Holy Spirit living in them — that is, those who believe in Jesus as Savior — can understand the nature of the times that mark His return [1 Thessalonians 5:2-6]. I tell you the season of the Lord’s return is now! We are coming to the end of one age and the beginning of the age of Jesus’ glorious reign right here on earth. There is no way to escape the conclusion that we are living on borrowed time. The signs of the times are upon us, and they are shouting for our attention.

Are you ready? If Jesus were to return today, would He be your “Blessed Hope” [Titus 2:11-14] or would He be your “Holy Terror” [Revelation 6:12-17]? If you have never received Him as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to act. Repent of your sins and call upon the name of the Lord that you might be saved [Acts 2:14-39]. For the Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish [2 Peter 3:9]. That is why He has provided so many signs to alert us to the fact that we are living on the threshold of the Tribulation and the soon return of Jesus Christ.

I ask you, where do you stand? Are you under God’s wrath because you haven’t accepted His free gift of salvation, or are you under God’s grace because you have? Will you be one of those raptured before God’s wrath, or will you suffer in it?

You have a decision to make. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, then heed [Mark 1:25]. “The time has come…the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and have everlasting life. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” [Mark 13:35-37].

We are given a powerful glimpse into the Heart of God. God’s heart was broken over Noah’s generation. [Genesis 6:5-6].

Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”. [Amos 3:7].

But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. [Jeremiah 5:24].

Menzfit Receives Assistance from Ace Cash Express in Promoting Post-Pandemic Financial Literacy And Job Readiness

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In support of communities where they have stores, ACE Cash Express (ACE), a Populus Financial Group brand, recently donated $10,000 to MenzFit, an organization which provides career development, professional clothing and financial literacy education to individuals seeking to enter the nation’s workforce. MenzFit’s primary mission is to ensure long-term gainful employment and financial fitness to low-income men in the Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC areas. The $10,000 donation was designated to assist MenzFit as the organization gears up for a series of post-pandemic financial literacy sessions to educate clients on budgeting, understanding credit, home ownership and investments in a post-COVID environment.

“For more than a decade, ACE has supported the programs and services of MenzFit. Their support over the years has made a difference for us to keep a stable footprint in the community. I am proud to acknowledge their unconditional commitment to the good work that we do,” says MenzFit Founder Rhonda Willingham.

Founded in 2001, MenzFit changes lives, families and communities. They service disadvantaged men that are veterans, terminated or laid-off workers, recent immigrants, recovering addicts, the disabled, homeless, returning citizens and public assistance recipients.

“ACE is proud to support MenzFit in their mission to provide resources for those entering or re-entering the job market,” said Eric Norrington, Senior Vice President for Populus Financial Group. “This is another outstanding program supported by the ACE Community Fund to improve the cities where we have stores and the neighborhoods where our employees and customers live and work.”

MenzFit has been a partner of ACE Cash Express for 13 years as part of ACE’s corporate giving program, the ACE Community Fund. The ACE Community Fund is committed to empowering organizations that help children, provide education and promote financial literacy in the communities it serves. For more information regarding ACE Cash Express and the Populus Financial Group, go to https://www.populusfinancial.com. For more information on MenzFit visit their website at https://www.menzfit.org/.

About Menzfit

MenzFit provides services to all eligible persons, regardless of a potential participant’s race, gender, age, disability or religion. MenzFit does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability or religion, nor treat one person differently from another in determining eligibility, benefits or services provided, or applicable rules. The projects and activities assisted under these awards must be available to fathers and expectant fathers who are able to benefit from the activities on the same basis as mothers and expectant mothers. Visit Menzfit.org for more information.

About Populus Financial Group

Populus Financial Group™ provides financial services through its family of brands including ACE Cash Express®, ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card, ACE Flare® Account by MetaBank® and Porte™. Populus Financial Group delivers a broad range of financial products and services including short-term consumer loans, card services, check cashing, money transfers, bill payments and money orders. Visit PopulusFinancial.com for more information.

New Census Data Shows Changing Complexion of California; Political Power Shifts

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau held a press conference to announce its first local level findings from the 2020 data collection cycle.

The new numbers — which drill down to provide demographic information at the county, city and block levels — reveal that California is more multiracial, more urban and facing population shifts that will likely lead to redrawing the boundaries of the state’s congressional and legislative districts.

Based on estimates the Census Bureau released in April, California is already losing a seat in the United States House of Representatives for the first time in the state’s 171-year history, bringing the state’s congressional delegation down to 52 members. That loss of one seat will also equate to a decline in the amount of federal funding California receives every year. Since August of 2020, the 14 members of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission have been working on the once-in-a-decade project of redrawing the lines of the congressional, state Senate and Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts. There are five Democrats, five Republicans and four people who are not members of either party serving on the commission.

“The redistricting data provides population counts as well as well as demographic characteristics of ethnicity, race and voting age at all levels of geography,” said James Whitehorne, chief, Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau. “While the primary purpose of these data is for states to redraw their districts, these statistics will also tell us how many people live in each city, each county and each block.”

Those numbers also determine how – and how much — state and federal funding will be allocated to counties and cities in the state.

Based on the numbers, most of the changes coming to the state’s legislative districts are expected to happen where there has been population increases, slow growth or a loss of residents – areas in the rural northernmost regions of the state and in Southern California counties around or below Los Angeles. Growth across the Los Angeles area, for example, over the last 10 year has been slow, but some cities like Irvine in Orange County are now among the fastest-growing in the country.

Over the last 10 years, the complexion of California has changed significantly. Driven mostly by population growth among Hispanics, the state joined Hawaii, the District of Columbia and New Mexico as places in the United States where Whites are no longer the majority. The state’s Hispanic population grew from 37.6% in 2010 to 39.4 % in 2020 while the White population dropped from 40.1% to 34.7%.

The state’s Black population has also seen a decrease of 2.7% from a little over 6 % to 5.7%. The current total Black population is now 2,237,044.

California is also the second most diverse state after Hawaii, according to the Census Bureau.

“As the country has grown, we have continued to evolve in how we measure the race and ethnicity of the people who live here,” said Nicholas Jones, director and senior advisor of Race and Ethnic Research and Outreach, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau implemented a significant change to the 2020 census data collection. It used two separate questions to gather an additional layer of ethnic information besides the usual inquiries on race and Hispanic origin. For example, if a participant identified as Black or African American, there was also an option to specify nationalities like Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian, Ethiopian Somali, etc.

“The improvements we made to the 2020 census yield a more accurate portrait of how people self-identify in response to two separate questions on Hispanic origin and race. Our analysis of the 2020 census results show that the US population is much more multiracial and more racially and ethnically diverse than what we measured in the past.”

Across the United States, the results showed that the White population remained the largest in the country at 204.3 million with an additional 31.1 million identifying as mixed in combination with White. The multiracial population comprised the second highest population for the first time at 49.9 million alone or combined, surpassing the Black or African American population at 46.9 million.

The U.S. population is now 57.8% White, 18.7% Hispanic, 12.4% Black and 6% Asian.

There were several other notable findings shared by the bureau during the presentation. The US Population is currently 331.4 million people, an increase of 22.7 million over the past 10 years. The 7.4% increase is the second lowest growth rate in history.

Overall, national population growth was centered around urban areas over the last 10 years. California is home to 3 of the top 10 largest cities in the country. San Jose stands at number 10 with a population of 1.01 million (a 7.1% increase), San Diego is at number 8 with 1.4 million people (a 6.1 % increase), and number 2 on the list is Los Angeles with 3.8 million residents (a 2.8 % increase).

For the first time ever, all cities in the top 10 (with the highest populations) have over 1 million people.

According to the Census Bureau this first release of local redistricting data is in a legacy format that will be easier for experience data analysts to navigate.

In September, we will release the exact same data in a far more user-friendly format that people are familiar with and will allow for easier searching,” said Jones.

Visit census.gov for more detailed information, charts, and analysis.

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