Washington Informer

Mayor Rahm Emanuel was among the officials at Urban Prep Academies – Englewood Campus recently as the boys-only charter school celebrated another milestone.

For the fourth time, 100 percent of the graduating seniors from Urban Prep's Englewood campus and the inaugural graduating class from its West campus, all African American males, have been accepted to a four-year college or university, school leaders announced at a special, hour-long assembly.

"I want everyone in this city, I want everyone in this country to look up here," Emanuel said, pointing to the young men lauded for their academic achievements.

Urban Prep students are distinguished by their school uniform – which includes a navy blue blazer and red tie.

Throughout the year, the school's seniors ceremoniously exchange their red ties for one with a red and gold striped design as they receive college acceptance letters. Thursday, more young men made the special exchange, signaling their recent college acceptance.

Students at the Englewood and West Campuses were joined by students from Urban Prep's Bronzeville campus for a collaborative commemorative event.

Urban Prep co-founder, Tim King, made national headlines three years ago at the first announcement of 100 percent college acceptance. The class of 2010 was the school's inaugural graduating class.

A spokesperson for the school said recently that Urban Prep continues to follow and mentor the former graduates, including the first graduating class, members of which are now mostly in their third year of college. Urban Prep officials said they have some 300 alumni enrolled in higher education.

Next fall, that number is expected to increase by 167 as members of the class of 2013 head for campuses around the country.

Urban Prep Academies is a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by education entrepreneur Tim King and a group of African-American education, business and civic leaders. Urban Prep's mission is to provide a comprehensive, high-quality college preparatory education to young men that results in graduates succeeding in college.

The Urban Prep motto, "We Believe" is a constant reminder that Urban Prep students will not fall into the trap of negative stereotypes and low expectations. Instead, Urban Prep students believe in their potential and believe in their ability to exceed that potential. The Urban Prep family (teachers, administrators, staff, board of directors, community members and donors) also believe in these young men, and in their important and long lasting role in student lives.

The New York Times reports that since its September debut, the "Steve Harvey" talk show which airs weekdays on ABC, has been the surprise hit of daytime TV, averaging a rating of 0.9 among women ages 25 to 54.

The show's also been gathering steam, posting a 1.0 rating in February, enough to tie Katie Couric's syndicated talk show for the first time. Harvey's show is already posting a slight profit, according to Endemol, the company that produces it , which then sells the show to stations across the country.

Harvey's ratings have cemented his status as one of the foremost entertainers in America, one who juggles a national morning radio show, the game show "Family Feud" and side projects — if they can be called that — like a feature film, "Think Like a Man," that made $100 million last year.

Recently, The Hollywood Reporter asked in a headline if Harvey was "the next Oprah."

"That's a scary headline, man," he exclaimed in a telephone interview before saying all the right things about Ms. Winfrey being "one of a kind."

Meanwhile, Harvey gravitates toward normal-people stories, relationship advice and inspiration ("Harvey's Heroes" is a recurring segment), much as Ms. Winfrey's show did in the 1980s and '90s. Winfrey must like what she's seen because she agreed to appear on Harvey's show with their conversation to be televised at the end of April.

(Source: The New York Times)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported Tuesday morning that the first three of 35 educators involved in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal have turned themselves in to authorities.

According to the AJC report, Tameka Goodson, a school improvement specialist at Kennedy Middle School, was booked in to Fulton County Jail around 12:30 a.m. on a $200,000 bond, charged with racketeering and false statements and writings.

The indictment, handed up by a grand jury Friday, accuses Goodson of working with her school's principal and secretary to change students' wrong answers to right answers on standardized tests.

In addition, Donald Bullock, a testing coordinator at Usher-Collier Heights Elementary, arrived at the jail with his attorney just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday. He is accused of asking two teachers to participate in falsifying standardized test answer sheets and telling the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that he wasn't aware of teachers erasing test answers, according to the AJC' report. Bullock is charged with racketeering, false swearing and three counts of false statements or writings.

Benteen Elementary testing coordinator Theresia Copeland walked into the jail about an hour later, and is charged with racketeering, theft by taking and two counts of false statements or writings.

Copeland allegedly participated in collecting a bonus check based on falsified test results and misled investigators when she said she wasn't involved in cheating, according to the indictment.

Online jail records list the bonds for Bullock and Copeland at $1 million each.

(Source: Atlanta Journal –Constitution)

In comments filed recently with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), members of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) endorsed the 2003 Wright Petition that seeks FCC action to proscribe excessive payphone rates.

"The burden of staying connected with loved ones in prison falls heaviest on families with the least ability to pay, often forcing them to make harrowing choices between maintaining communication or putting food on the table," said MMTC President David Honig. "Unreasonably high prison phone rate practices reflect poorly on the moral stature of the telephone industry and diminish public confidence in the industry, especially among the underserved."

MMTC's members have also expressed gratitude to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who led the Commission's initiative to take on the issue through rulemaking.

For the past 10 years, the fight for prison payphone justice has been waged by the Prison Phone Rates Collaborative and the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice, which MMTC inducted into its Hall of Fame at the January 2013 MMTC Broadband & Social Justice Summit.

On March 25, MMTC commended Verizon for its eloquent and thorough comments in support of the Wright Petition. Since Verizon no longer operates in the prison phone market, it has no economic interest in the FCC prison payphone proceeding.

Instead, Verizon official joined forces with social justice organizations on moral and ethical grounds, with the company's advocacy of prison payphone rate reform speaking highly of the corporation and its leadership.

Gladys Noon Spellman 2013 Scholarship Recipients and Public Service Awardee Announced Upper Marlboro, MD – Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker recently honored two outstanding female scholars and the inspiring work of a county employee at the 28th Annual Women's History Month Luncheon at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Women's History Month Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, which was held March 21, is a signature event of Baker's office that celebrates the achievements of women in the county.

Every year our Women's History Month Luncheon celebration brings renewed excitement and generates huge audience participation from Prince George's county women and the community-at-large," said Baker. "The services of these women are not just a benefit to County residents, but they are a model of professional achievement to the next generation of women leaders in Prince George's County."

Tiffani Kennedy and Yolande Bertile Pokam Tchuisseu were each awarded Gladys Noon Spellman Scholarships for $2,000. Tiffani attends Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School and has a 3.9 grade point average and Yolande attends High Point High School and has a 4.125 grade point average.

The scholarships were inspired and awarded in memory of Gladys Noon Spellman, who was a Prince George's County educator, County Council member and served in Congress for three terms beginning in 1974.

She was an extraordinary civic leader and tireless fighter for people with a strong interest in the fields of government, political and social sciences. The grand finale of the luncheon was the announcement that county employee, Patricia Sanders was the recipient of the prestigious Gladys Noon Spellman Public Service Award.

This award is presented to a female employee who is nominated by their peers for outstanding service and commitment to Prince George's County government.

Sanders, a former member of the Prince George's County Women's Commission, has resided in Prince George's County for 30 years and worked for the county government since 1986. She currently serves as the County Government's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance coordinator, providing technical assistance to ensure that the county operates its programs and services in compliance with ADA.

"I am humbled and at the same time excited to be the recipient of such a prestigious award," said Sanders. "To be in the midst of previous recipients is in an honor."

Performances June 5-9 at RFK Stadium

The UniverSoul Circus, known for its a unique and interactive shows filled with juggling, acrobats, dancing and many genres of music, returns to the District in the coming weeks to participate in the 151st anniversary of D.C.'s Emancipation Proclamation Day and to present several performances.

The Emancipation Proclamation celebration takes place April 16, and the circus performances will be held June 5-9 at RFK Stadium in Northeast. The Emancipation Proclamation event celebrates President Lincoln's signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act which freed 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia.

"We're especially glad to have the UniverSoul Circus joining us for our holiday," said At-Large Councilman Vincent Orange, who helped facilitate both of the circus' appearances. "It really shows how much they recognize and appreciate such a special and important day for this city."

Orange was assisted by Greg O'Dell, Events DC president and CEO, and Erik Moses, managing director of Sports & Entertainment in bringing the circus to the District.

"When Ms. R. Amari Ballard approached me about the circus coming to DC, I was excited," Orange said. "I called Greg and Erik immediately to facilitate a deal. It's my understanding that a three-year deal has been executed."

Tickets are now on sale for the DC shows which run from June 5 to June 9. The five shows will take place at RFK Stadium and are sure to be a popular draw.

The UniverSoul Circus was founded in 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia, and has toured throughout the world. The circus, which features an eclectic mix of talents from around the world including West African horsemen, Trinidad and Tobago, is currently in the midst of a nationwide tour.

Information regarding UniverSoul Circus shows and tour dates can be found at their website, http://www.universoulcircus.com/.

Thomas H. Graham Named One of 50 Powerful US/International Business Executives

Pepco Region President, Thomas H. Graham has been named one of the Fifty Powerful US/International Business Executives for 2013 by Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine (MEA).

Graham was honored with an award at an MEA Gala Wednesday evening March 27.

"I thank Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine for this honor. The economic success of our company is fundamentally grounded in our core belief in every aspect of diversity," said Graham. "Everyone wins when people are presented with the opportunity to use their talents and training to enjoy a positive quality of life for their families."

MEA honors executives making headlines in their fields, and who share a commitment to business growth, professional excellence and empowering communities around the world through philanthropy. In addition, the award recognizes the executives for shaping the economic future nationally and internationally, being leaders in changing public policy, and making significant contributions to enhance trade and commerce in the U.S. and abroad.