Volume 20, No.09 “And Ye Shall Know The Truth...” June 15, 2011 In This Issue Kristian Brown Perryman News Anchor, WTVG Channel 13 ABC News Page 2 Tolliver Page 3 Collingwood Green Page 4 Cover Story: Kristian Brown Page 5 Summer Food Program Page 6 AKA’s Scholarship Program & Bethany House Fundraiser Pages 8-9 Top Ladies Page 10 Art Walk Page 11 Book Review Page 12 Minister and the NBA Page 13 BlackMarketPlace Page 14 [ Page 15 Pre-School Graduation Page 16 “I have the best of all worlds. To be able to do what you love and to be with those you love.” Page 2 The Sojourner’s Truth June 15, 2011 ‘Hood Fellas By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min. Community Calendar The Truth Contributor June 13-17 A ghetto can be improved in only one way - out United MBC’s Vacation Bible School: 5:50 to 8 pm nightly of existence. ~James Baldwin June 13-24 With a reported 15 shootings in Toledo during just Grace Temple COGIC “Fun Filled Summer Camp Day:” 9 am to 3 pm; Ages 5 to 16; !+ Field trips, cooking, arts and crafts: 419-242-9321 or 419-343-4658 procession from the ‘hood to prisons and cemeteries continues. Many being carried away are talented, bright, June 18 funny or physically gifted. Most are young, male, black R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Inc First Annual Fatherhood Walk: Starts at Central Catholic; Chuck Ealey is keynote speaker; Registration at noon; To raise awareness of the importance of or brown and trapped in poverty. the roles fathers play in their children’s lives: 419-377-1488 /<=> Libbey HS Round Up Committee Scholarship Banquet: Army National Guard Recruit- so many gifted lives and wasted social capital in what ing Center; 3 pm: 419-250-0491 or 419-255-0433 is now a very competitive global arena. But really, what did we expect? June 19 In the 1970s, expressways were built and a govern- Historic Third Baptist Church Men’s Day: 11 am; Speaker John Jones of Greater Toledo ment-sponsored “Urban (Negro) Removal” program Urban League: 419-248-4623 implemented to physically quarantine the economically =X\< June 20-21 and institutions designed to capitalize on black poverty. As white and black middle Canaan Outreach Center Pre-registration for Summer Enrichment Program: 11 am to class families “bounced to the burbs” the poorest of the poor were kept separated [ from mainstream suburban experiences by limited public transportation options. dance and more: 419-205-7433 or 419-535-0933 Yet the isolation has resulted in an epidemic of normalized terror which has made crime, violence and social dysfunction a constant companion for all of us. June 20-24 9th Annual Carnel Smith Summer Youth Free Football Camp: St. Francis de Sales HS; The time has come to try something new. Grades 3 to 8; Registration at 10 am; Camp from 11 am to 2:50 pm daily: 419-917-3547 “Basically, what we now have is a youth problem,” states Toledo Police Chief Union Grove Baptist Church Vacation Bible School: 6 to 8 pm nightly; “Where Faith Michael Navarre. “And we have it primarily because young men, ages 16 - 24 don’t and Life Connect” have jobs. If we could get them jobs and positive supervised activities, much of our crime would disappear,” he adds. June 22-24 Research seems to back up Chief Navarre’s assertion. A number of scholars Shelter in a Storm Ministries First Pastoral Anniversary: Honoring Mother Pearlie have shown that young, black males are substantially more likely to be sentenced Russell; 7 pm nightly; Saturday 5 pm banquet at American Legion Post 553 on S. Byrne: to prison when unemployed (Spohn, 1998). They also do harder time and therefore 419-244-7458 or 419-720-9070 possess a heightened feeling of desperation. >O\'P<[ June 24 & 26 racial minorities and those with lower levels of schooling have been hit particularly !"#$%&$'&(R[%* hard. Unemployment last month, was 40.2 percent for African-American youth ages community outreach event; Smith Park; 10 am to 3 pm each day: 419-283-1017 16 - 24 compared to an overall unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, according to the Department of Labor’s May 2011 statistics. June 25 What does it take to march young people of color away from the negative effects Bethesda Christian Center Cathedral Women’s Department Color Rama: Noon: 419- 508-0885 of poverty towards a new destination of success? St. Philip Lutheran Church Community Day: Church parking lot; Food, games, music While some of the disparity is due to a still racially-segregated workplace where New Bethel Bountiful Blessings Church Community Give A Way: 9 am to 3 pm; Gently “black males are still being crowded into low-wage occupations and out of high-wage used items available to the community occupations,” the key to restoring hope and making our young people competitive Citywide Christian Trustee Association Meeting: United MBC; 10 am and employable once again, lies in adequately equipping them for 21st Century jobs. Isaiah Thomas Giving Foundation Community Yard Sale: 1 to 5 pm But with a U.S. president who is ultra-sensitive to opinion polls and careful not to offend the same legislative bodies who are insensitive to the needs of the poor, June 26 can it be done? Bethesda Christian Center Cathedral Men’s Day: 11 am: 419-944-0984 Higher learning and post-secondary education are critical. However, a few people Calvary Baptist Church 81st Men’s Day: 11 am morning service with guest speaker are getting the message and beginning to make a difference by linking poverty and George P. Lee, pastor of St. John’s Baptist in Savannah education to employment in innovative ways. Interfaith Mass Choir Concert: Indiana Avenue MBC; 5 pm: 567-225-2673 One such program is the Committed College Coach program. It’s mission is to St. Paul MBC Annual Youth Day: 10:45 am; “Because He First Loved Me;” Speaker steer youth towards college by teaching and talking to them about college at an Min Lance Lawshe of Mt Pilgrim early age. Guidance counselors seldom keep economically deprived family members Calvary Baptist Church 81st Men’s Day: 11 am; Guest speaker Pastor George P. Lee III of St. John’s Baptist of Savannah, GA informed therefore many children frequently learn about college only when they reach high school or when it is too late to grip their interest. July 8 Committed College Coach (www.committedcollegecoach.com) begins the process Liberty Ministries Church Kingdom Family Fellowship: 7 pm; Guest speaker Pastor %[< Rodney Jackson and parent or concerned loved one until the youth reaches sophomore year in col- lege. The program starts the college visitation experience and preparation process July 16 while the child is in grade school so that they begin early to feel comfortable on a Isaiah Thomas Giving Foundation First Annual DAD 4 Life Conference: Wayman college campus. Palmer YMCA; 10 am to 32 pm: 419-213-0323 This program, created by Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak, is a public-private partnership with The University of Toledo, the Toledo Community Foundation and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. It is presently The Sojourner’s Truth available in Sherman and Grove Patterson public schools and looks to expand in Toledo’s Truthful African-American the fall. Owned and Operated Newspaper So “higher learning” is the key to eliminating unemployment and poverty. Success for impoverished youth in urban areas is also accomplished, says Al Kevin McQueen Publisher Guskin, PhD, when there is a match between the skills taught in school and those Fletcher Word Publisher and Editor required by employers. “We can do this at the university level through refocusing Becky McQueen Business Manager college education on student learning rather than the present focus on faculty ex- Brittany Jones Reporter pertise. Most colleges are built around faculty expertise and how faculty can teach Vickie Shurelds Reporter students rather than on what students need to learn to be effective employees or Sharon Guice Reporter members of 21st Century society. This is key,” says Guskin. James Fowler Reporter It is estimated that 60 percent of all jobs will require postsecondary education by 2018. We must focus our attention on reclaiming our lost talent if America is to Jack Ford Political Columnist Michael J. Hayes Entertainment Critic maintain its competitive standing in the world. That will require new partnerships - public and private, business and education, democrat and republican. Jason L. Lee Sr. Layout Designer It will also require those left out economically and educationally to be brought [ back in. The Sojourner’s Truth, 1811 Adams Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604 # Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at [email protected] [email protected] June 15, 2011 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 3 A letter to Shauntae and DeMarcus By Lafe Tolliver, Esq classes can stand toe to toe rival any private or parochial [ sighted prism of “will it affect [[ with their toney and well- school in this area. of labor bosses and the “me my position and pay?” and bickering of the TPS and heeled counterparts at good Are there or were there and my turf only” syndrome So, what does a Shauntae the labor unions? ol’ St. John’s. excellent teachers in TPS? of the administration bosses and a DeMarcus do when How do you attempt to What! There is no outcry Absolutely, scads of them. who saw any progressive the powers that be tell them, bridge the educational gap from the community that our Regrettably, their cause <[ directly or indirectly, that between Toledo public and minority youngsters are being was not championed due to viewed through the short their educational needs are a (Continued on Page 4) left in the “educational dust” by any of the richer white high General Assembly to Make HB 45-Allows Guns in schools who are able to ply their young with the latest [ Bars and Restaurants gadgets and technology so Proposed Ohio legislation, HB 194 and SB 148, ap- that when they graduate and proved in the House and Senate, substantially weakens If you remember Toledo’s “Route 66” incident a few go on to college, they are the opportunity to vote in Ohio, in some cases destroying years ago, you’ll know why I oppose a bill recently passed Dear un-fazed by the wizardry and traditional safeguards long existing in the State.