Monday, September 15, 2014

forgiveness class



TBTNEWS HEADLINE

Rosa Parks Memorabilia On Display at Library of Congress For Next Ten Years

Special Correspondent: AC Mclean
Elaine Eason-Steele, Co-founder of the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development [www.rosaparks.org] conveyed her appreciation to The Howard Buffet Foundation this week for deciding to loan civil rights icon Rosa Parks’memorabilia to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation recently purchased the archive collection of some 1,500 items, which includes Parks’ personal letters, photographs, clothing, furniture, as well as letters from presidents, together with her Presidential Medal of Freedomand Congressional Gold Medal. Buffett’s foundation ultimately selected the world’s largest library to display the artifacts. “My goal was always to ensure this historic collection would be made available for the public’s benefit so that as many people as possible can learn about Rosa Parks and the sacrifices she made to support the civil rights movement.” Buffett said in a statement.
Eason-Steele stated, “We are pleased and appreciative of The Howard Buffet Foundation for their level of awareness in choosing to loan Mrs. Parks’ memorabilia to the Library of Congress. We know that she would be proud that her legacy will be conveyed in the high esteem that it deserves, and be available to the world to learn from and cherish.”
Rosa Parks, who died in 2005 at the age of 92, became an iconic and beloved figure in American history when on December 1, 1955 she refused to relinquish a seat she had paid for on a Montgomery bus to a white man. Parks was ultimately arrested under a city ordinance that mandated segregated buses. However, her courageous action led to a major shift in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and a boycott that lasted over a year, bringing worldwide attention to discrimination.
On commemorating the establishment of the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in 1987, Rosa Parks said, “Children are my passion and I believe that everyone can make a difference in their lives. Our young people are curious, eager to learn, and need the guidance of mentors who care about their development. After all, they are our future and we must someday depend on their leadership. We hope to encourage an environment of dignity, responsibility, and a commitment to treat others as we wish to be treated.”
For details and media related inquiries, contact A.C.Mclean, ACM PR at312.373.1778 or acm@acmpr.com.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

CAPS facilitator announces challenge to Ald. Mitts


CAPS facilitator announces challenge to Ald. Mitts

Inbox



Leroy Duncan announced his candidacy for 37th Ward alderman on Sept. 11, at The Word Works Church, 4118 W. Division. PHOTOS by Michael Romain




A community policing beat facilitator and West Side resident has announced his challenge to 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts in next year's election.
Leroy Duncan announced his candidacy Thursday before family, friends and political supporters at The Word Works Church, 4118 W. Division. Since 2009, Duncan, 62, has been the CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) facilitator for the 25th District.
An accountant by profession, he currently owns Duncan Business Consultant Services.
"Out of touch" is how Duncan and his supporters described Mitts, who's represented Austin's 37th Ward since 2000.
"If, after 14 years, you're still working on a learning curve, we have a problem," Duncan said, adding that he's in the race to implement ideas that go beyond the CAPS level — ideas that he doesn't believe are being considered by Mitts.
Appointed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mitts replaced Percy Giles following his arrest on federal corruption charges. Also in the race is Tara Stamps, a schoolteacher who's backed by Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis, who's exploring a run next year against Mayor Rahm Emanuel. As for Duncan, his supporters believe he'll bring much-needed "new blood" to City Hall.
"We need a change; our community is struggling," said Catherine Jones, president of the Frederick Douglass High School PTA, and a longtime Local School Council (LSC) member — she's also a key member of what the 62-year-old candidate calls "Team Duncan."
Jones and several other Duncan supporters huddled in a heated exchange in the middle of the church sanctuary as they waited for Thursday's event to begin, each venting a series of grievances against Mitts.
"We have no legitimate businesses, no bakeries, no dry cleaners, no businesses that might draw other businesses," said 37th Ward resident Cheryl Bailey, adding that Mitts "went right along with that charter [school] nonsense."
Some grievances were more particular than others.
Renna Thomas, Duncan's campaign manager, cited the closing of a Walgreens as an example of Mitts' "ineffectual leadership." Thomas alleges that Mitts didn't inform residents about that situation. Thomas believes that if Mitts had informed residents ahead of time, and given the community an opportunity to marshal a response, the store may have been saved.
Both Thomas and Duncan maintain that they were recruited by community leaders and activists who are "fed up with Mitts' lack of communication with her constituents." It's a sentiment Duncan is framing his entire campaign around, with the slogan "Inform to Empower."
"The number one problem in our community, and in our ward, is not drugs or gangs or loitering — it's communication and sharing information," Duncan said. "If we communicate with the people in the community, they will become educated; and when they're educated, they will participate in keeping our community clean and safe."
Concerning who those community leaders and activists are, Duncan said he wouldn't disclose their identities to guard against any possible retribution by the alderman.
While his supporters expressed displeasure with Mitts, Duncan's rhetoric was more toned down. If elected, Duncan promised to utilize his business savvy in City Hall.
"I have no problems with [Ald. Mitts] being aligned with the mayor," he said. "I will also align with the mayor. I won't probably vote 100 percent, but I think what happens is: when you align with the mayor, you should get some return and be able to solve some of your community problems — get increased city services. I'm not sure why it's not happening now? I just know its not happening."
Duncan did, however, criticize the mayor's education policy, particularly as it relates to charter schools. While Mitts has expressed opposition to the school closings proposed last year by Chicago Public Schools and approved by the Chicago Board of Education, the alderman has also expressed support for charter schools. Duncan criticized that stance.  
"When they first talked about charters, the led me to believe that they were going to be a good thing," Duncan said. "I'm for competition. I thought when they brought in the charters, they would compete with the public schools.  Instead, what they did was close the public schools and shift dollars to charter schools. That, I don't see a point to.
"We also have a situation with turnaround schools," Duncan said. "They're coming in and bringing in new people and that's making our community a little unstable. We like stability. We like the same teachers to be in place."
Duncan was much more effusive in his praise of former 29th Ward alderman Isaac Carothers. Duncan said that Carothers's record as alderman "is solid" and thinks the former alderman is "an inspiration" with respect to how he was he able to provide city services and jobs for ward.
"Maybe the people who came behind him didn't do a very good job, and that's the community talking, not just me. I don't talk for myself," Duncan said.
Duncan also emphasized the need for volunteers and donations for his campaign.  The team, he said, didn't know how much money they'll need to run an effective campaign, but he blunted that speculation by keeping to his campaign mantra. 
"We think money is not going to be a key factor," he said. "We think the key is getting out into the community; communicating with them, telling them we're making changes and moving forward."

Stay Safe and Alert!!!
Later, Leroy Duncan

what's in a name?

Please read the below Austin Talks article and pass to OTHERS in the community.
by Malcolm Crawford

  
Lately, there have been many conversations regarding the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team.
While listening to the radio, I heard the radio host ask the question,” What makes the Jackie Robinson West Team so great?”
Just about every person who called in had insightful answers to the question, such as family support, community support, God- given talent, discipline, humility, etc.
I began to think about what other reason could be given for their success? One thing that stood out to me was the saying “What’s in a name?” I would contend that the name Jackie Robinson in itself played a part in the team’s success.
Jackie Robinson, by all accounts, played the game of baseball in excellence. Mr. Robinson was a steward of the game that he loved and a statesman on and off the field. – while, I might add, playing the game under the threat of death to himself and his family from people who can to his baseball games.
I believe that naming the team after such a great African-American man gave those kids something to aspire to.
Getting back to my point, what’s in a name? Why is it so important for people to names towns, roads and buildings after people? Like it or not, we are surrounded by places in Chicago that remind us of the Daley family contribution to Chicago, such as Daley Plaza and the Daley Center.
We also have the new Mayor Jane Byrne Circle Interchange, the Michael Bilandic Building and the Willis Tower. We know have Mandela road, thanks to the efforts of State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford.
Most landmarks in our city are named after people who have made some type of lasting contribution to our great city.
There is a saying which I have adopted, “Our kids cannot be what they cannot see.”
So is that why we have the Peace Corner and not the Nola Bright Peace Corner? Is that why we have the By the Hand Club and not the Dr. Rev. Sheldon Hall – By the Hand Club? Is that why Austin has the New Moms Building on Chicago Avenue and not the Mary Perry New Moms Building? Why is it that someone like Ray Easley, who was an influential figure and, by every account, a champion for the Westside, cannot have a monument in his honor?
I just named a few, but I would be remiss if I did not mention Mr. James Deanes, the Westside activist for education. Mr. Deanes has been credited as the rchitect of the Local School Council Education Model.
I can remember just about a week or two before Mr. Deanes’ passing, he was at Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, wearing his breathing apparatus and carrying his oxygen tank. He was laboring quite a bit and did not look to be at his best.
I made the statement to him, “Come on in, you can’t stop now.” Mr. Deanes looked up at me and said, “I have no choice; our kids’ education is far too important.”
So why do we have the Henry W. Austin Library and the Chicago Avenue Library and not the James Deanes Public Library?
These are just a few names of everyday community heroes who have graced our path and I know that there are many more who deserve to be recognized for their devotion to our people and to our community
So I ask the question again: “What’s in a Name?”
Greatness, honor and a vision for our children to be what they can see in their community.
Stay Safe and Alert!!!
Later, Leroy Duncan
Beat Facilitator
25th District Police Department

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Nelson Mandela , speaks beyond the grave .



Posted By: Ronald Killebrew (campaign leader)
Education more than anything else, improves our chances of building better lives . Bring our girls back !

 https://www.causes.com/posts/927788-nelson-mandela-speaks-beyond-the-grave?conversion_request_id=127766871&ctag=afe5c8225ef69b64c93fa223d0ed74a30c&ctoken=63BHoZMFwZBvD6pOfljZQZbe_I6wR1Hdq-S2SQpeXSLhAGH0NlAoh19ad_5rZBCBpYihAB7RAGJPCB3jpMc3wmgqpEwEKVEj&message_id=9c74af847832aeef34a4b498cc97709f%40causes.com&uid=144151364&utm_campaign=post_mailer%2Fcampaign_update.cb_56655&utm_medium=email&utm_source=causes
#BringBackOurGirls: stop the kidnapping of girls in Nigeria

The Magical Forest - BBC: Our Living Planet



"Secrets of Our Living Planet"
showcases the incredible
ecosystems that make life on
Earth possible. Using beautifully
shot scenes in the wild, Chris
Packham reveals the hidden
wonder of the creatures that
we share the planet with, and
the intricate, clever and bizarre
connections between the species,
without which life just could not
survive.

Discover previously unknown
relationships, like why a tiger needs
a crab, or why a gecko needs a
giraffe. Chris visits the planet's most
vital and spectacular habitats and
dissects it to reveal the secrets of
how our living planet works.

Author Cornelia McDonald is back!

Inspirational Speaker and Dramatist, CORNELIA MCDONALD





http://www.blogtalkradio.com/claudiamossshow/2010/05/02/inspirational-speaker-and-dramatist-cornelia-mcdonald


www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_m5nLiDfbc



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

praying women...

for a weekend of upliftment!
empopwerment!
fullfillment!
Friday thru Sunday

CONFERENCE,SEPTEMBER 5-7,2014
4656 W.ERIE,
MERCY SEAT BAPTIST CHURCH YOLANDA JACKSON-WALLACE
773/408/7015
TICKETS ARE $25.00 ..