Growing Up Colored • Page 6 REALDEAL VOLUME 4/ISSUE 8 • DECEMBER 16, 2018 PRESS Civic leaders convene to plot economic development, inclusivity

Don Graves, KeyCorp senior director of corporate community initiatives and relations, reports out for his group on Friday afternoon. By Taru Taylor initial mission as “Designing whole system, value.” in contrast to the static blueprint Special to The Real Deal Press a Greater Econom- The process is designed to model of change. He suggest- ic and Collective Well-Being work in three phases, beginning ed that the Greater Cleveland Summit That Includes All with yesterday’s design plan- community could bring about The public conversation Voices, Unites Our Strengths, ning for a not-yet scheduled “change at the scale of the whole” about what are perhaps Greater and Propels Collective Action community Summit. The actual by amplifying strengths instead of Cleveland’s two most vexing for the Flourishing Future We Summit normally follows the fixing weaknesses. Cooperrider questions — how to modernize Want to Create.” design meeting in 3-6 months. said he learned this lesson from a stalled economy and how to The plan is to use a strategic Financier and former management guru Peter Drucker, create a more equitable commu- planning and change process — Huntington Bank regional who wrote: “The task of leader- nity — entered a new stage this Appreciative Inquiry — pio- president Dan Walsh moderated ship is to create an alignment of past Thursday with one and a half neered and developed by two a pre-meeting press conference strengths in ways that make a day work session to plan for a professors, David Cooperrider before the mostly closed-door system’s weaknesses irrelevant.” community wide summit that will and Ron Fry, at Case Western planning session began after a Cooperrider cited several take place sometime next year to Reserve University’s Weather- lunch for the 85 or so session AI success stories: improving find solutions to these questions. head School of Management. participants. Both the presser and Apple’s supply chains after The meeting was convened An Appreciative Inquiry [AI] the session were held at the Plain factory workers participated by a working group assembled is defined by its founders as “a Dealer building on Superior Ave. alongside management in following a much-discussed science-backed and game-chang- Walsh introduced the professors, Continued on Page 8 speech at the City Club June 8 ing large group strategic describing the panel as a “group NOTICE on Cleveland’s subpar perfor- planning, designing or imple- of stewards” of the “AI approach mentation meeting that brings that our community needs.” He The Real Deal Press is now mance in relation to its metro- published on Sundays. Start politan peers across the region a whole system of 300 to 2,000 emphasized, “Everybody should or more internal and external be able to say, ‘I see myself repre- your week with us. Text and around the country. realdealpress to 48421 The 15 member working stakeholders into the room in a sented at the table.’ ” concentrated way to work on the Cooperrider’s introductory and be the first to know group formed in the wake of when the new issue is up! Jon Pinney’s talk proclaims its task of strategic, and especially remarks described the AI concept CarTeCor Kitchens & Baths A Full Service Design + Build Company Showroom: 3649 Lee Road Shaker Hts.

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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD HOLIDAY PARTY

• The Bill Ransom Quartet will be in concert this afternoon at The East Cleveland Public Library, 14101 Euclid Ave. The free concert will begin at 4p.

• The Opportunity Corridor Inclusion Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, December 19 at 1:30p at Woodhill Homes Community Center, 2491 Baldwin Rd. [44104].

• The Men of the Divine Nine will host a panel discussion on domestic violence Thursday, December 20 from 6-8p at Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Theatre, 2900 Community College Ave. [44115]. Woodmere mayor Ben Holbert & Betty Halliburton will moderate.

• The annual Famicos annual Young Professionals party will be Friday, December 21 from 6-10p at Third Space, 1464 East 105 [44106].

The mood was convivial at the annual Joint Minority Bar Asso- ciation holiday party which took place outside the courtroom of US Chief District Court Judge Solomon Oliver this past Friday. Pictured here are, clockwise from bottom left Judge Oliver and his law clerks; Norman S. Minor Bar Association president Valis- sa Turner Howard and James W. Oliver Jr., president of the Na- tional Association of Black Accoutants; and Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Charles Patton and his son, attorney Cyrus Patton. The Real Deal Press is now Reuben Harris Jr. an online Agent 23360 Chargin Blvd, Suite 101 WEEKLY! Beachwood, OH 44122 Bus 216 731 611 Fax 216 731 6836 Call 216.282.5111 for ad [email protected] inquiries. Rates start as low as $18.75*/week. Page 4 The Real Deal Press Volume 4 • Issue 8 VOLUME THREE • NUMBER ONE

REAL DEPRESSAL The Independent Source for Your Community News Opening Up We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your name, address, and best phone The process that began all its citizens. of the movers and shak- number. We may edit for clarity and space. Send letters, press releases, notices, calendar to unfold this week on The Appreciative Inqui- ers who have initiated items, and corrections to The Real Deal Press via email at [email protected] or the civic stage with the ry approach is designed this process. But here fax 216.672.4304. planning meeting looking to build trust among all again, conversations with Published weekly at Cuyahoga County OH. towards a People’s Con- stakeholder groups. This participants indicate that All rights reserved. Our mission is to attract, articulate and vention next year has so essential goal was perhaps the process will expand amplify civic intelligence and community engagement for a healthier, stronger many layers that any judg- made more difficult by the quickly to include repre- community. ment would be premature. insider means of recruit- sentation of those who are Publisher & Editor: R. T. Andrews There are, however, some ing community members. traditionally marginalized. Advertising Sales: 216.282.5111 clearly hopeful signs, While raw racial numbers One final observation Layout & Design: Steve Aresmon Thomas along with a few red flags. may suggest a diverse mix seems in order at this Attvcks Media In the spirit of the of citizens, the reality is point. Cleveland’s business The Real Deal Press appreciative inquiry far different if one consid- and political leadership  216.672.4301  [email protected] approach being utilized in ers the economic, social, in many ways has been  @RealDealPress this community self-exam- residential, or educational as stagnant as the local ination, we congratulate standing of those who economy. However this the steering committee for were invited to participate current exercise plays out Read the latest its elevation of the ques- in the initial phase of this — we hope it turns into a tion of inclusion and equi- process. roaring success — there Real Deal Press ty to primacy in the effort Those who gathered will likely be a changing of issue online every to envision a new future outside the guard in both the civic Friday here. for Greater Cleveland. building on Thursday and political spaces, cer- Ours is a city where were right to feel exclud- tainly by the next Cleve- the town fathers have for ed. Their networks are land mayoral election, if generations privileged disconnected from those not before. publicly subsidized brick- The Real Deal and-mortar projects over investment in human Press is now development. The results speak for themselves: an online a large, impoverished, functionally illiterate WEEKLY! portion of the population Call 216.282.5111 for ad that not only is unable to inquiries. Rates start as contribute significantly to the local economy, but low as $18.75*/week severely taxes resources of virtually every sector from the courts to social services to health care. Reports of the closed- door sessions this week affirm the public reports from participants of their understanding that Cleveland cannot advance until it finds ways to create equity of opportunity for Follow Us @RealDealPress • December 16, 2018 The Real Deal Press Page 5 Supreme Court Panel Got It Right on Lance Mason: Why Didn’t Anyone Listen? By C. Ellen Connally determine whether Mason preme Court panel were ac- "What should keep his license to curate predictors of Mason’s practice law. Mason’s disbar- future conduct, but nobody Administrator Social workers, men- ment proceedings were auto- listened. Even the esteemed Would Have tal health professionals and matically prompted after he Justices of the Ohio Supreme criminologist have, for de- plead guilty to and was con- Court gave Mason some Hired Such A cades, engaged in the inex- victed of attempted felonious slack. They reduced the find- Controversial act science of attempting to assault and a misdemeanor ings of the panel and gave predict criminal behavior. domestic violence in connec- Mason an indefinite suspen- Person Without Sentencing judges ask them- tion with the August 2014 at- sion — a step up from per- Going Up selves: Is the sentence im- tack on his wife, Aisha Fraser. manent disbarment. With an posed commensurate with In June of 2017 the pan- indefinite suspension, Mason The Chain Of the crime? Will this defen- el rendered its decision. Af- could have at some point Command?" dant be a repeat offender? ter carefully reviewing the asked to get his license to If it were possible to pre- evidence regarding Mason’s practice law back rather than dict acts of violence thou- conduct, they recommended being prohibited from ever was easy to come by — he sands of victims of domestic a permanent disbarment of practicing law in Ohio again. had an arsenal of weapons in violence would be alive. If the Mason — the harshest find- Mason got a break. his home including smoke courts or society could look ing that they could impose. Back in August of 2014, bombs, a huge stash of ammu- into a person’s mind, Antho- In making its decision the Mason initially stood accused nition and multiple weapons. ny Sowell would have been panel voiced serious misgiv- of eight felony charges in con- Fudge had to have known that arrested long before he killed ings about Mason’s “dubious nection with the brutal beat- Aisha Fraser required several his 11th victim. Ariel Castro explanation for the behav- ing of his wife, in the presence surgeries to help correct the would have been in jail after ior (the attack on his wife), of his children — crimes that injuries inflicted on her. he abducted his first victim. failure to provide assuranc- had been committed almost a But Fudge used her bul- To the world Sowell and Cas- es that the behavior will not year to the day that he final- ly pulpit — admittedly not tro were the quiet guys who occur again, and less than ly got to court for a final dis- written on Congressional lived next door. For much heartfelt engagement in the position. The attack included stationary — to recommend of his life, Lance Mason was redemptive process.” twenty punches, hair pulling, to the then County Pros- the same. The only difference They found that Mason’s bites to the victims face and ecutor Tim McGinty that was that he went to top-notch promises to keep in contact a broken orbital bone — the Mason receive leniency. In schools, became a lawyer and with his daughters went un- bone around her eye. her August 9, 2015 letter she held elective office. He also fulfilled and that “he man- Admittedly, Congress- said his conduct was a “bad had a series of guardian an- aged only a few letters to each woman did not mistake” and that “Lance ac- gels and lucky breaks. daughter — and could not say have the benefit of the find- cepts full responsibility for When the tragic saga of with certainty that the letters ings made by the Supreme his actions and has assured the former judge is com- that he did write were deliv- Court Panel, but she had to me that something like this plete, the names of Peggy J. ered to his daughters.” His have known severity of the will never happen again.” The Schmitz, Robert B. Fitzgerald contacts with his psychiatrist attack on Aisha Fraser. She full impact of her letter can- and Patricia A. Wise will not were “short lived.” His ses- should have been aware of a not be fully determined but be remembered. They were sions with his counselors were fact that Mason later admitted ultimately, six felony charges the hearing examiners who minimum at best. Mason nev- at the Supreme Court Hear- were dropped and a plea to in March of 2017 conducted er “walked the walk or talked ing. After the initial attack on an attempted felonious as- a hearing on behalf of the the talk” of a man who was his wife Mason went to his sault and a misdemeanor do- Ohio Supreme Court Board truly sorry for his actions. sister’s house with a gun and mestic violence was accepted of Professional Conduct to The findings of the Su- threatened suicide. The gun Continued on Page 6 Page 6 The Real Deal Press Volume 4 • Issue 8 Looking Around America Growing up Colored By Marilyn Dyson wrought iron fence around the to electricity and used the gas nearby: a corner grocery store, front yard and facing a jagged sconces to hold the lightbulbs. a drugstore, the church and brick sidewalk. The front yard A huge black coal furnace heat- the library. Relatives and my I checked. Google Earth doesn’t had rose bushes and a few un- ed water for the steam to warm elementary school were within show the street or even a specified plants. A tall wooden the metal radiators. In winter blocks. There my classmates building’s footprint. There’s just fence lined the sides of the Gran constantly watched the and teachers looked like me. a parking lot. The memories are backyard. There was no grass. fire through the furnace grates. I learned about Negro heroes: fading too. I lived in the house This gave Gran, my grand- When the coals burned low, she Frederick Douglass, Phillis in the early 1950s; it’s unreal- mother, reason to try growing ordered, “Get more coal from Wheatley and Ida B Wells. istic to think it might still be vegetables; at least tomatoes and the shed and feed the furnace I had little knowledge of the there. Fortunately, unlike the peppers. There were only two before it burns out.” world outside my neighbor- house, the memories are not floors; no basement. The warm house was part of hood, yet I knew there was destroyed. The house was old by the time I a good life at 1110 6th Street more to life and the city than It was a red brick three-bed- was born. My family converted SE. To me the entire neighbor- my small world. I knew almost room row house with a spiked the original gas light fixtures hood was ideal. Everything was Continued on Page 7

Ohio Supreme Court Panel Got It Right on Lance Mason Continued from Page 5 by the court. Mason was sen- what administrator would success or failure will reflect He always got a break. tenced to twenty-four months. have hired such a controversial on the thousands of other de- The fact that Mason was He only served nine. His lawyers, person without going up the serving persons participating hired by the City of Cleveland longtime friends worked for free. chain of command? Jackson in re-entry programs. Mason did not cause the death Aisha The judge suspended the court really wants us to believe that and the people that hired him Fraser. A failure to make her costs. Mason got a major break. he had no idea that a former did no breaks for future partic- ex-husband fully accountable for Just over a year after Ma- elected official, convicted of ipants of re-entry programs. his prior conduct and adequately son’s brief stent in jail and just felony charges that received If Marcia Fudge and Frank assess the predictors of his future over three years since the orig- extensive media coverage just Jackson were so sympathetic to conduct and a lot of lucky breaks inal acts of violence, the ad- happened to get a job at City Mason and wanted to get him a contributed to her death. Hall? And all this occurring ministration of Mayor Frank job, I’m sure they had enough clout Sadly, pundits like me and Jackson hired Mason. Mason at the heights of the Me-Too to get Mason a job in the private the many others who have got a major break obtaining a Movement. Mason’s guardian sector. Mason had forfeited his written about Aisha Fraser’s job that paid $45,000 a year. angels stepped in again. right to work in the public sector. death are merely Monday The findings of the Supreme Every year thousands of morning quarterbacks. We Mason went from a judge Court Panel were a public record persons return from terms can say what could-a, would-a, to jail to City Hall, where he at that point, open for any pro- of incarceration. Cuyahoga should-a happened in deter- spective employer to see on the County leads the state in the could continue his white-col- mining future acts of violence Ohio Supreme Court website. number of persons return- lar image. He didn’t hit rock by Lance Mason. The Ohio Su- In a TV interview, immediately ing from prison. Having done bottom like many formerly in- preme Court Board of Exam- following the murder of Aisha their time in jail, formerly in- carcerated persons. The doors iners’ report did a pretty good Fraser, Mayor Jackson told re- carcerated persons are entitled that had been opened for him job of identifying those predic- porters that Mason was the best to every opportunity to be- throughout his career — from tors and determining that Ma- qualified for the position. Wash- come viable parts of the work working in the County Prose- son was a likely repeat offend- ing his hands of the decision to force. But they must earn that cutors office for the late Steph- er. Why didn’t anyone listen? hire Mason, Jackson said he had chance by demonstrating a anie Tubbs-Jones; to running C. Ellen Connally is a retired nothing to do with Mason’s em- commitment to changing their her Cleveland Congressional judge and former President of ployment at City Hall. previous behavior. They must office; to a seat in the state leg- Cuyahoga County Council. This Even if, for the sake of ar- compete in the employment islature; to a seat on the Com- piece was written for CoolCleve- gument, Mason was the best market place like every other mon Pleas Court — all secured land.com and is reproduced here qualified to be the Director person seeking a job. And they with the help of Tubbs-Jones with their permission and in the of Minority Business Affairs, must also realize that their — came very easy for Mason. public interest. Follow Us @RealDealPress • December 16, 2018 The Real Deal Press Page 7

Growing Up Colored Continued from Page 6 nothing about race. not go. I hoped that I journer Truth. Worse, the Each weekday morning, would never go downtown other kids were something my parents left home for and make the mistake of I’d never heard of: Jewish. their jobs. Mom went to the speaking to Ruby. Even my “all knowing” par- Navy Department’s mail- Then, in 1953 we ents were perplexed with room and Dad to the Post needed to move because how to explain them to me. Office. Gran and I stayed the government declared Then and there, I knew that home and watched the our neighborhood “unliv- being colored was about white men park their cars able”. My parents looked how we lived, what we be- and walk to their jobs in the for a house near a segre- lieved and what we learned Navy Yard. Gran told me, gated school. That’s when I in school. “White men dress different- learned I could only go to I stopped answering ly from us. They don’t have certain schools. But a year questions in class and at to wear hats and heavy coats later, after the U.S. Supreme recess I only talked to the to stay warm. You do.” Court’s decision in Brown two other classmates who My closer contact with v. Board of Education of talked to me: Rosemary — white people was shopping Topeka Kansas, Washing- who was overweight; and downtown with Mom and ton’s schools were desegre- Lynn — who had a brace her twin sister, Lil. We gated. on her leg. Mom and Dad dressed up in skirts and We moved to a house did their best to make up blouses and added hats and in the northwest, across for my loss. On weekends, white gloves for accesso- town from our 6th Street. they took me back to the ries. We only went to two This house had gas heat old neighborhood for department stores, Hecht’s controlled by a thermostat, church programs and to We have the and Lansburg’s. Mom said, front and back lawns, and visit friends and family. “These stores have colored a garage. A short brick wall My isolation didn’t last BEST RATES people working for them.” separated the front yard long. Over the next three Our next-door neighbor, from the concrete side- years, white flight brought for Natural Gas Ruby Proctor, was an ele- walk. The neighborhood back some of my origi- & Electricity! vator operator in Woodies’, had the same conveniences nal life. Gradually, I had the other department store. with nearby grocery and friends that looked like me. Mom reminded me, “If you drug stores. Best of all, two Most of our parents worked Let us give you a NO OBLIGATION quote. NEVER a fee to you, AND we may find you see Ruby, don’t speak to blocks away, there was a for the government or the additional areas of savings. her. She’s passing. If a white movie theater with a High’s school system. We played person finds out she knows Ice Cream shop down the together and visited each you, she’ll lose her job.” street. other’s homes. I regained Call Us 216.508.0111 At that point, I thought Along with the gains my comfort level. colored people could there were losses. The Although I want to not be department store elementary school we could believe I miss the southeast elevator operators. But, I see from our front door house, what I really missed didn’t think it mattered. I was all white. I was the were the friendships and knew we could be teachers sole colored child in my the neighborhood support. and ministers as well as class and all of the teachers I missed the people who doctors and lawyers. Plus, were white. My classmates’ gave me their concern there were the successful mothers stayed home and and attention as well as colored people in Ebony their dads went to offices. those who encouraged and magazine: models, actors, All of the people in the supported me. Fortunately, business owners and school’s books were white. I I still remember them and athletes. I didn’t see limits lost my heroes. I no longer I know that the southeast for what I could do; I only had Harriet Tubman, neighborhood helped shape saw places where I could Langston Hughes or So- me into who I am today. Page 8 The Real Deal Press Volume 4 • Issue 8

Civic leaders gather to plot economic development, inclusivity Continued from Page 1 decision-making; better morale issues the summit must address: in the U.S. Navy because E5 economic stagnation and inclu- sailors sat at the table with 3-star sion/equity. admirals; and initiation of the Although Cooperrider didn’t Global Compact after then-Sec- drive home the point, perhaps retary General Kofi Annan he had in mind this quote from brought AI into the U.N.’s world his mentor Peter Drucker’s 1968 summit of CEOs. book, The Age of Discontinuity: Cooperrider described this “The American Negro is past week’s two-day session as the indeed the representative of the pre-summit design phase, to be poor races within the richest followed by the Summit itself — a nation. The American Negro much larger gathering with a date problem is, therefore, the most yet to be determined; and the important, the most acute, and post-summit, or follow through. perhaps the most dangerous Some members of the steering instance of the worldwide group also spoke at the press problem. If the United States, conference. Dr. Akram Boutros, the world’s richest, technologi- CEO of MetroHealth Systems, cally most advanced, and man- said that while Cleveland now has agerially most accomplished a “cacophony of voices,” the goal India Pierce Lee, Cleveland Foundation senior vice president, right, and Justin Bibb during country, cannot bring about is a common community vision. a break in the Friday afternoon planning session. CWRU Professors Ron Fry and David Cooperrider can be seen seated in the background. economic and social develop- Citing a need for “critical ideas ment of a nonwhite minority in and thoughts.” Boutros expects Summit’s initial 15 members chose Bibb cautioned that we should its midst, then it will be taken the AI process to “democratize people that they knew, with an eye not expect too much, acknowl- as proved, by white and colored decision-making.” towards diversity. edging that this summit would alike, that there is an unbridge- Justin Bibb, head of Gallup’s Asked how AI can deal not solve the problem of racism able race conflict. By the same Global Cities practice, spoke of directly with basic conflicts such in Cleveland. token, however, our ability reimagining how to build com- as racism, sexism, and class After lunch, reporters got in this country to resolve the munity trust based on a “broad conflict, Cooperrider said that to hear Cooperrider repeat his problem of Negro destitution spectrum of lived experiences,” AI closes “empathy gaps” by col- presentation, this time in power and to bring about rapid Negro while David Gilbert, president & lectively “co-creating” a future. point, to session attendees. He development may also be the CEO of both Destination Cleve- Pressed for a concrete example, quipped about his generation greatest possible contribution land and the Greater Cleveland Cooperrider cited his experience not being the “greatest genera- to the world race problem. The Sports Commission, pointed to in South Africa towards the end tion,” as Tom Brokaw described American Negro represents the 2016 Republican Nation- of apartheid, where Inkatha, Zu- a previous generation, but rather, the world’s pre-industrial rural al Convention and Blockland lus, and white nationalists came the “privileged generation.” people in industrial society. Cleveland’s recent convention as together with the understanding One of the professor’s slides He represents also the most successes that Greater Cleveland that it wasn’t about just ending noted that $350 billion is lost in acute problem of “colonialism,” should replicate through AI. apartheid, but rather “building the U.S. economy every year due that is, of a growing inequality Asked how the invite list was the best multiracial democracy to “disengaged people.” It seemed between the white and the col- developed, panelists said the the world had ever seen.” to speak to the key community ored peoples of the world.” The Real Deal Press is now an online WEEKLY! Call 216.282.5111 for ad inquiries. Rates start as low as $18.75*/week