| From the Village of Brooklyn | OOURUR TTIMEIME PPRESSRESS THE LOCAL PAPER WITH THE GLOBAL VIEW | VOL. 23 NO. 25 Since 1996 June 20 – 26, 2019 | Settling Debts, Building Futures DELIVERING KING’S Next week, Our Time Press recaps the event EMBRACING THE MANDELA Zinerman received the Baba Nkosi Kinard MESSAGE: At The Cooperative Culture where cultural arts takes center stage with SPIRIT:The leadership of Bed-Stuy’s Nelson Award (named after Baba Stan Kinard) for Collective’s 19th Annual Fort Greene, history, and awards are presented to com- Mandela School continues to live up to the mis- her commitment to the spirit of Harambee and Brooklyn Juneteenth Arts Festival, gifted munity standouts. sion of the great South African leader whose nme Ubuntu. Ms. Perou, CEO of Inspiring Minds twelve-year-old Javier Gooden stunned the Juneteenth is the oldest nationally cel- it bears. At a recent awards event for (a Youth Mentoring/Empowerment/Leadership audience in his delivery of poignant messag- ebrated commemoration of the June 19th, achieving students, a young middle Program) received the Community Ubuntu es of freedom, liberation and power through 1865 announcement in Texas that slavery school student, Miss Corbin, was in- Award for the great work she and Inspiring the speeches of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther had been abolished. The TCCC event is vited to stand in this group shot with Minds have accomplished. But the biggest King, Jr. The gifted actor, dancer, singer the oldest event of its kind in Brooklyn principal Tabari Bomani and community leaders award may have gone to this young lady who and spoken word artist, in a commanding and Javier is the youngest honoree in Stefani Zinerman (left), Former Chief of Staff was invited to stand in the midst of education performance, channeled the walk, tenor and TCCC history. For more information, of Councilman Cornegy, NAACP Brooklyn greatness. The middle school student is the style of the late leader and orator, before visit: www.fortgreenebrooklynjuneteenth. Chapter Leader, and Ms. Katrena Perou, sister of a Mandela graduating senior who will an intergenerational audience of some 200, org. (Photo credit: Bernice Elizabeth CEO of Inspiring Minds (a Youth Mentoring/ attend Medgar Evers College in the fall. Saturday, June 14th in Cuyler Gore Park. Green) Empowerment/Leadership Program). Ms. ➔ See Page 10 An article printed in the June 6-12 edition of the Congressional Testimony paper objected to EMBER Charter School’s on Reparations Heard on Juneteenth submitting a request he House held on Juneteeth, apology and proposal for reparations for the to the Department Wednesday, June 19, the first institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure of Education for an hearing in more than a decade on and de facto racial and economic discrimi- expansion from K-8 to Treparations – the idea that the descendants nation against African-Americans, and the of slaves in the U.S. should receive some impact of these forces on living African- K-H.S. This week, EMBER kind of compensation for the suffering ex- Americans.” Sen. Corey Booker spoke in founder and Managing perienced by their ancestors. Among those favor of the bill, citing a national failure to Partner Rafiq R. testifying were presidential candidate Sen. address “the root causes of a lot of the ineq- Kalam Id-Din II responded, Corey Booker (D-NJ), writer Ta-Nehisi uities” that exist in the U.S. The senator said Coates and actor Danny Glover. the country has not yet confronted its long presenting the merits of The purpose of the hearing: The Judiciary history of racism and white supremacy, and the school and correcting Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil that establishing a commission to study the what he says are some Rights, and Civil Liberties is debating issue would provide an “historic opportunity inaccurate assertions. H.R. 40, a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila to break the silence, to speak to the ugly past Jackson-Lee (D-TX), that would establish a and talk constructively about how we will ➔ See Page 8. Senator Corey Booker commission “to study and consider a national move this nation forward..” 2 OUR TIME PRESS June 20 – 26, 2019 VOL. 23 NO. 25 DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc. 358 Classon Avenue Compassion: Caroline Cohen's Strategy Brooklyn, NY 11238 aroline Cohen is a can- attorney and Senior Associate at maintaining her professional ob- (718) 599-6828 Web site: www.ourtimepress.com didate for Civil Court Crumiller P.C. At the practice, she ligations. Juggling these commit- e-mail: editors@ourtimepress. Judge, 6th Municipal works to fight against gender and ments, she feels it has endowed her com CDistrict. Her duties would include pregnancy discrimination, as well with a compassionate perspective Publisher presiding over general misde- as protecting the civil rights of needed on the bench. DBG MEDIA meanor criminal cases, traffic vulnerable tenants, including the She feels that new criminal Editor-in-Chief violations, evictions and most civil elderly and disabled. Some former justice reforms, taking effect David Mark Greaves small claims under 15,000. “As a employers included the New York in January 2020, are necessary. Copy Editor Civil Court Judge, I may be placed City Housing Authority (NYCHA), “I worked to elect progressive Maitefa Angaza in Housing Court, Family Court where she successfully litigated a candidates that would make such Columnists and Civil Court,” she said. variety of cases including dis- changes.” These reforms include Eddie Castro In our interview, I asked Ms. crimination cases brought before speedy trials, which prevent pros- Victoria Horsford Cohen to tell me what if would be children would be seen first. Cohen the New York State Division of ecutors from unnecessary delaying Michael Johnson Abigail McGrath like to walk into her courtroom, not explained, “Access-A-Ride will Human Rights, New York City of proceedings and the need for Marlon Rice represented, fearful and alone. “My not be able to come back and get Commission on Human Rights, them to present evidence sooner to staff would respectfully approach those that didn’t know that they’d the EEOC and the New York State the defense. It also includes cash Reporters and ask, ‘May I help you?’ I am be waiting longer than expected.” Supreme Court. bail for most misdemeanor and Akosua Albritton Margo McKenzie a big believer that I and the court- She also commented that parents She’s proud that along with her nonviolent felonies to be released room staff need to know what’s would likely be affected by having team of supporters they’ve collec- with no need to pay. Contributors going on with litigants in the room. their children in the courtroom for tively knocked on 25,000 doors. In September 2018, Cohen was Lisa Durden Fern Gillespie Everyone will have a degree of a period of time. “I’d see what their “It’s crucially important to person- reelected as Judicial Delegate of warmth.” numbers are and take them first. I ally knock on doors and speak with the 42nd Assembly District. She Web Editor Cohen then described the 10am have a feel for how to operate born the community,” Cohen says. “The is a member of the Park Slope www.ourtimepress.com Lauren Cullins calendar call may be followed by out of seeing judges.” hallmark of my campaign is trying United Methodist Church where her choosing to stand in front of Cohen attended the Benjamin to be as transparent as possible.” she’s been able to hold “Know Office Manager the court, greeting everyone with a N. Cardozo School of Law and Cohen is also a working mom. Your Rights” events, “how laws Joanna Williams “Good Morning” and an interpreter received her bachelor’s degree As a judicial candidate, she feels may change” and additional com- Advisor presenting rules of the courtroom. and Master of Arts from New York fortunate that every day on the munity-centered interests. She lives Bernice Elizabeth Green “It’s possible that you will not University. She is familiar with campaign trail she’s able to call in Ditmas Park-Flatbush with her KinEsthetics International speak English,” she commented. the needs of these litigants from on her friends, neighbors and husband Steve, their two children, The disabled and parents of her current position as civil rights family to watch her children while Daschel and CiCi, and dog Petey. © 2015, DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc., printed in New York City. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without prior Unsung Heroes permission of the publishers. Publishers are not responsible for any ad Proud Mother Spotlights Caring Son claims. MBE Certified in NYC, NYS ur unsung hero is my mother, I have not met anyone who grade level. The most recent friend with his peers at the prom although and the Port Authority of NY & son, Tony Curtis. He has experienced a classmate, assis- passed on in the Summer of 2018. his cancer was no longer in remis- NJ has endured numerous tant teacher, teacher, and/or family To help you with understanding sion. Unbeknownst to Tony, days Member: New York State Press Association Ochallenges since first grade. As his member, passing away at every the characteristics of our scholar, later, their friend lost the fight one of his classmates who needed against cancer. another credit was denied partici- Submitted by DK Pearson & pation in the high school prom and Family graduation. This friend asked the (Tony is currently in high school’s permission to participate school, graduating this year. He in the events, but was denied, requested his photo not be used.) prompting him to remind the staff To the community, if you have he was suffering from cancer.