WI Web Staff
President Barack Obama met on Thursday with African-American leaders from various organizations across the country to discuss growing concerns regarding the nation's economic crisis.
During the gathering which focused on inequalities that at tearing apart black communities, Obama restated his commitment to increasing employment opportunities for those affected strongest by the economic downturn.
Among leaders in attendance were Rev. Al Sharpton; Avis Jones-DeWeever, executive director, National Council of Negro Women; Ben Jealous, president, NAACP; Judith Browne Dianis, co-director, Advancement Project; Melanie Campbell, president, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation; Rev Derrick Harkins, 19th Street Baptist Church; Ralph Everett, president, Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies; Wade Henderson, president, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; and Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, executive director, National Black Justice Coalition.
In a statement, Rev. Sharpton commented on his meeting with the President, saying the group focused on voting rights:
"I and other leaders had a very significant discussion with the President about concerns in the African-American community and the civil rights community in general and most specifically about voting rights.
"Just yesterday the state of Virginia House of Delegates passed strict government photo ID requirements for voting. As states around the country engage in what we feel are voter suppression methods, next week the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about Section 5 of the Voting Rights act."
Alluding to the issues of gun control and unemployment, Sharpton said many black communities go unnoticed but suffer a disproportionate number of casualties from gun violence. "The President engaged us in a spirited conversation and seemed to be listening intently," he said.
Sharpton added that in dealing with unemployment, which disproportionately impacts African-American communities, "we must deal with job creation and job programs."
(Source: Newsone)
PGCC Health Center Prepares Students for High-Demand Careers
Saturday, 23 February 2013 00:22 Published in Local
Facility Expands Training for Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians, and Radiology Professionals
LARGO, Md. — Future healthcare professionals will be taking courses in the new Center for Health Studies at Prince George's Community College. The 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will offer education and training for more than 1,000 students in high-demand health care occupations in the Washington metropolitan area.
"The college partnered with state and county governments to create the Center for Health Studies in response to a growing demand for trained healthcare providers," said Angela Anderson, dean of health sciences. "Opening the new center allows the college to expand and enhance existing clinical programs and develop new areas of specialization to address workforce shortages," she added.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment career growth for those in the healthcare field will grow significantly between 2010 and 2020. Job opportunities are expected to grow by 26 percent for registered nurses, 32 percent for pharmacy technicians, 28 percent for radiologic technologists and 33 percent for emergency medical technicians. To address the marketplace demand for training students in a wide range of healthcare careers, the Center for Health Studies provides class and laboratory space for new programs including medical assistant, physician's assistant and surgical technology.
Students have access to 26 state-of-the-art simulation labs that prepare them for clinical experiences in real-world hospital settings. Virtual health care facilities include high-fidelity patient simulator manikins, critical care and long-term care beds, picture archiving communications system (PACS), electronic medical records system and sophisticated diagnostic and interventional equipment. Existing programs transferring to the new facility include health information management and medical coder/billing specialist, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified nursing assistant, radiography, respiratory therapy, nuclear medicine, emergency medical technician (basic, intermediate and paramedic), medical assistant, and pharmacy technician.
More than $43 million in funding was provided by the state of Maryland and Prince George's County for the construction project which began in July 2010. To outfit the new facility, the Prince George's Community College Foundation, Inc. and Prince George's Community College have raised more than $8 million as part of a $15 million, three-year strategic fundraising campaign, Purpose, People, Possibilities. Funds support academic and workforce development programs, state-of-the art teaching facilities and scholarships for diverse student populations.
(Source: PGCC Office Marketing and Creative Services)
D.C. Mayor Vince Gray wants the FBI to relocate to Southeast D.C. near the Anacostia metro station in a few years when the agency leaves the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover building in downtown.
FBI officials are looking to make the move from the 900 block of Pennsylvania Ave. in Northwest, across the river after citing poor conditions at the current location. Reports further state that the FBI's new home needs to be near a Metro site, but that the transit agency shouldn't become involved in the debate.
"We really do not pick sides when it comes to this stuff," Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in a recent interview.
In addition to the District, Maryland -- which expressed interest for the bureau's relocation to Prince George's County two years ago -- and Virginia are also hoping to attract the FBI.
According to reports, the bureau's move to Southeast -- in the vicinity of I-295 and the Anacostia River -- would appear to have several advantages, including that the site would comply with criteria listed by both the FBI and the General Services Administration.
The 110-acre waterfront property which is already owned by the federal government, would also offer easy highway access.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has announced the release of an initiative that ensures that the District is the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the nation.
"The Sustainable DC Plan," which encompasses several targets and goals, was introduced this week during an event at the Earth Conservation Corps Pump House at Diamond Teague Park on the Anacostia River. In support of the effort, Gray was joined by more than 100 people, including members of his Green Cabinet and Green Ribbon Committee.
"The release of the Sustainable DC Plan marks both the culmination of a major effort and the first step in a very important journey for the District," said Mayor Gray. "To me, creating a more sustainable District means improving the quality of life for every resident. We will grow the economy, improve our residents' health and enhance transportation, buildings, parks, and neighborhoods."
The Plan builds on the past 20 months of the Sustainable DC initiative's work and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing four key challenges: creating jobs and growing the District's economy; improving the health and wellness of residents; ensuring equity and diversity across the city; and improving the climate and the environment.
The Sustainable DC Initiative began in the summer of 2011 with the goal of developing and implementing a strategy to:
•Broaden and diversify the District?s economy and the range of available employment and business opportunities for residents;
•Reduce disparities related to income, health, employment and education across the city; and
•Ensure a high quality of life and a clean environment for our residents, workers, and visitors.
The Plan also calls for completing 37 miles of streetcar network and 100 miles of citywide bike lanes; establishing facilities to accept residential and commercial compost; and providing tens of millions of dollars in innovative financing to promote private-sector energy- and water-efficiency retrofits.
"The Sustainable DC plan is the playbook that the District's city government, private sector, and residents working together to move from Mayor Gray's Vision for a Sustainable DC to a reality," said Harriet Tregoning, director of the D.C. Office of Planning and co-leader of the Mayor'ss Sustainable DC Initiative. "It will ensure that sustainability remains an important factor in our decision-making as a city and will change the way we do business here."
Keith Anderson, acting director of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and Sustainable DC co-leader, talked about the Plan's potential for improving the health of residents and creating jobs. "[The Plan] is nothing short of remarkable," Anderson said. "Sustainability is about achieving multiple benefits with every dollar spent and every action undertaken."
A copy of the Sustainable DC Plan is available at www.sustainable.dc.gov/finalplan. For information on Mayor Gray's Sustainable DC initiative, visit www.sustainable.dc.gov.
Nearly 100 music and social studies teachers recently had the opportunity to learn from leading luminaries and scholars from the go-go genre of music during the "Teach the Beat: Go-Go" seminar. The daylong event was held Feb. 16 at the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) in Southeast.
Renowned go-go teaching participants included Christopher "Geromino" Allen, Sugar Bear, JuJu, Sweet Cherie, JB, and several others.
"For D.C. to embrace go-go in a classroom is huge, because there was a time when go-go was looked down upon because of the violence," Nekos Brown, son of the late go-go legend Chuck Brown, said. "This is the highest honor."
After JB provided an introduction to the history and key aspects of go-go music, participants joined an interactive gallery walk that foucused on themes and issues in go-go. Music teachers rotated to three small workshop groups with the performers, and social studies teachers role played to introduce students to the artists and issues aligned with go-go.
They also heard from a panel facilitated by Kenneth Carroll on history, politics, economics and the media. In addition, many of the participants shared their own about go-go history and culture.
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) music and social studies curricula directors Ben Hall and Scott Abbot, who planned the seminar, recognized D.C. as one of the few cities in the country with musical and cultural institutions that span decades and generations.
They noted however, that go-go is not found in the District's history textbooks. Hall and Abbot also said that while the early days of go-go were nurtured in DCPS' music programs, instructors who were new to the school system often didn't' know how to play or teach the art form.
Hall and Abbott partnered with Charles Stephenson and Kip Lornell, authors of "The Beat," the first book on go-go, and the non-profit, "Teaching for Change," to develop a plan for professional and curriculum development and classroom coaching by performers.
While Hall and Abbott stressed DCPS' commitment to infuse go-go in music and social studies classes, Duane Arbogast, acting chief academic officer in Prince George's County, shared his interest in bringing "The Beat's" concept to the county's public schools.
The day culminated in a live go-go performance with all the musicians and attendees. This not only ended the day on high-spirits, with everyone swinging their hips and taking photos, it also gave those teachers who are new to DC, a first-hand understanding of the spirit of go-go.
"For me, this is like how we now have a Black president.,' Nekos Brown. "The program was put together so nicely and the idea of putting go-go in class is amazing. I don't think anybody imagined that happening."
'Just Us – Sankofa: Heritage Revealed' at PGCC
Thursday, 21 February 2013 18:48 Published in Arts & Entertainment
Beginning March 5, the Harlem Remembrance Foundation will be presenting a collection of work from anthropologist and artist, Ella Maria Ray, Ph.D. The exhibit will be on display at Prince George's Community College's Marlboro Art Gallery through April 11.
Dr. Ray is an associate professor of African-American Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver in Colorado. She earned a B.A. from Colorado College, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University, and studied figurative and conceptual ceramic sculpture independently with Arthur González, Gayla Lemke and Barry Rose.
"My vision of my art is to reveal the history, stories, emotions and the endless possibilities of Diaspora and continental African people," said Dr. Ray. "It is my desire that my sculptures challenge viewers to "read" the narrative in each piece and to dismantle any boundaries they may have to segregate imagination from the rigorous analysis. As an anthropologist/artist, I want my work to entice viewers to celebrate and embrace their own inherent magnificence."
Ray's work reflects her analysis of social science through the humanities, particularly visual art. As an anthropologist and artist, she uses three- dimensional art to understand the complex vision Africana people continuously create for themselves. She creates a relationship between ethnographic data and visual art as a tool for understanding our human experience.
Ray's arts-based research has led her to Cortona, Italy as an artist-in-residence for University of Georgia's Study Abroad Program. She has presented her work nationally and in Panama City, Panama and Liverpool, England. While her exhibitions explore the culture, history, stories and the endless possibilities of Africana people, Dr. Ray's fired-clay art is a reflection of humanity's potential as we move further into the 21st century.
Ray's art exhibition will include pieces from four of her ongoing series:
• SPIRIT IN THE TREES – inspired by African Americans of Gullah heritage, who hang glass bottles particularly cobalt blue bottles in trees to mesmerize ancestors and capture evil spirits.
• CHILDREN OF AKUA - a call to the Ghanaian Asante ideas of beauty and fertility.
• PEDAGOGY II - created as an assessment tool for students enrolled in Black Women Writers at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Each mask is a visual analysis of the novels the students are required to read. This body of work insists that students challenge their notion of what it means to "read".
• WOMEN'S WISE WAYS - uniting Akan akua'ma figures and Akan adinkra symbols--life and death--together to bear witness to women's resiliency, their relationship with ancestors, and their commitment to life's longing for itself.
"Just Us – Sankofa: Heritage Revealed" Art Exhibit is free and open to public Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Please call 301-918-8418 to schedule a group tour.
Books on Black History in Caribbean Explore Immigration, Culture, Politics
Wednesday, 20 February 2013 18:35 Published in Black History
Constructing Black Selves: Caribbean American Narratives and the Second Generation By Lisa Diane McGill
In 1965, the Hart-Cellar Immigration Reform Act ushered in a huge wave of immigrants from across the Caribbean—Jamaicans, Cubans, Haitians, and Dominicans, among others. How have these immigrants and their children negotiated languages of race and ethnicity in American social and cultural politics? As black immigrants, to which America do they assimilate?
Constructing Black Selves explores the cultural production of second-generation Caribbean immigrants in the United States after World War II as a prism for understanding the formation of Caribbean American identity. Lisa D. McGill pays particular attention to music, literature, and film, centering her study around the figures of singer-actor Harry Belafonte, writers Paule Marshall, Audre Lorde, and Piri Thomas, and meringue-hip-hop group Proyecto Uno.
Illuminating the ways in which Caribbean identity has been transformed by mass migration to urban landscapes, as well as the dynamic and sometimes conflicted relationship between Caribbean American and African American cultural politics, Constructing Black Selves is an important contribution to studies of twentieth century U.S. immigration, African American and Afro-Caribbean history and literature, and theories of ethnicity and race.
The Other America: Caribbean Literature in a New World Context By J. Michael Dash
A wide-ranging work that explores two centuries of Caribbean literature from a comparative perspective. While haunted by the need to establish cultural difference and authenticity, Caribbean thought is inherently modernist in its recognition of the interplay between cultures, brought about by centuries of contact, domination, and consent.
The Repeating Island: The Caribbean and the Postmodern By Antonio Benitez-Rojo
In The Repeating Island, Antonio Benítez-Rojo, a master of the historical novel, short story, and critical essay, continues to confront the legacy and myths of colonialism. This co-winner of the 1993 MLA Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize has been expanded to include three entirely new chapters that add a Lacanian perspective and a view of the carnivalesque to an already brilliant interpretive study of Caribbean culture. As he did in the first edition, Benítez-Rojo redefines the Caribbean by drawing on history, economics, sociology, cultural anthropology, psychoanalysis, literary theory, and nonlinear mathematics. His point of departure is chaos theory, which holds that order and disorder are not the antithesis of each other in nature but function as mutually generative phenomena. Benítez-Rojo argues that within the apparent disorder of the Caribbean—the area's discontinuous landmasses, its different colonial histories, ethnic groups, languages, traditions, and politics—there emerges an "island" of paradoxes that repeats itself and gives shape to an unexpected and complex sociocultural archipelago. Benítez-Rojo illustrates this unique form of identity with powerful readings of texts by Las Casas, Guillén, Carpentier, García Márquez, Walcott, Harris, Buitrago, and Rodríguez Juliá.
Jesse Jackson Jr., Wife Expected to Plead Guilty
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 00:02 Published in National
Beginning in 2007 and continuing through 2011, Illinois Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr. amassed a collection of celebrity memorabilia, furs, jewelry and furniture, according to the New York Times. The Post states that as a result of a lavish lifestyle of Jackson shared with his wife Sandi Jackson, he is expected to plead guilty in a case involving misuse of campaign money.
Jackson, 47, also reportedly used campaign funds to purchase a $5,000 football signed by U. S. presidents and two hats that once belonged to the late singer, Michael Jackson.
Also charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and making false statements, Jackson resigned from his congressional duties in November in the wake of a federal investigation. According to federal documents, Jackson -- the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson -- was in direct violation of campaign finance laws.
He faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
The government has also filed charges against Sandi Jackson, a Chicago alderman, accusing her of filing false tax returns. Mrs. Jackson, who resigned her post in January, is expected to plead guilty and faces a maximum of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The Post further reported that in July 2007, according to the investigation, Jackson had a $43,350 gold-plated men's Rolex watch that he had bought with campaign funds shipped to Washington from Chicago, and that about two months later, he obtained two pieces of Bruce Lee memorabilia with campaign funds, each for $2,000, from a dealer called Antiquities of Nevada. The Post report goes on to state several other purchases Jackson made from campaign coffers amounting to thousands more dollars, including mink furs and items that once belonged to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
(Source: The New York Post)
Bolstered by competition from Maryland and Virginia, lottery revenue in the District of Columbia is on the rise again after a five-year sales slump.
According to a statement issued late last month by D.C. Lottery officials in commemoration of the agency's 30th anniversary, it also celebrated a lucrative 2012 fiscal year, providing a big win for the city services that gain financial support from the lottery.
"The lottery is grateful to its loyal cadre of players who are responsible for these results and the impact they will have in the District to help support essential city services like education, public safety, and infrastructure," said Buddy Roogow, executive director. "As we close our 30th year of delivering superior gaming experiences, we remain appreciative of the opportunity to serve and are thankful for the chance to continue the winning."
Lottery revenue in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 totaled nearly $250 million. That falls below the all-time sales high of $266 million from 2006, but it's still a nearly 8 percent jump from the prior fiscal year, according to the statement issued late last month.
In 2012, total sales revenue was nearly $250 million, an increase of over $18 million or nearly 8 percent over the previous year, making 2012 the fourth highest sales year in the D.C. Lottery's 30-year history, and the greatest increase in sales since 2006. A a result, more than $66.4 million was deposited in the city's General Fund, representing an increase of more than $4.2 million from the previous fiscal year.
(Source: D.C. Lottery)
District's 1st Medical Marijuana Dispensary to Open in April
Monday, 18 February 2013 15:58 Published in Local
After a long, three-year regulatory process, the District's first medical marijuana dispensary is set to open in April.
Capital City Care, located in Northwest located at 1334-1336 North Capitol St., will be among six licensed dispensaries to eventually operate in D.C., enabling patients with prescriptions from bonafide physicians to legally obtain marijuana. However, in order for patients to get prescriptions, their doctor's name should be listed among some 100 physicians who have reportedly expressed interest in participating in the program.
The DCist reported earlier that, "[I]f a patient's doctor isn't on that list, they'll have to find one that is—and develop an ongoing relationship with them."
While the other dispensaries have been waiting final approvals from city officials, a limit has been set by the D.C. Council on the number of cultivation centers that would be allowed, particularly in Ward 5, where most of the land zoned for cultivation centers is located.
Home cultivation is not allowed in the District, and David Guard, Capital City Care general manager said in an interview that the rules regarding dispensary at his location will be the strictest in the country.
"The receptionist will double check your ID, issued by the Department of Health, against their database," he said.
D.C.' s law was passed in 2010, making it legal for patients to poses up to 2 ounces of the dried marijuana leaves.
Conditions approved for obtaining prescriptions include HIV, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other conditions that interfere with the basic functions of life.
(Source: WJLA,Huffington Post)
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