Front page 1 - The Villager

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Vol. 38 No. 5
Website: theaustinvillager.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Security and government
payments go all-electronic
RAPPIN’
Tommy Wyatt
Austin Energy
offers savings
for seniors
Austin Energy is now
offering local seniors savings
on their utility bills. This only
applies for people who live in
the City of Austin.
This well kept secret is
now being distributed to senior groups in the area. Anyone with a Medicare card
qualifies. It has been reported
that savings of $55 or more
are possible.
Eligible customers
qualify for the following waivers and discounts: A $6/
month waiver of the customer
electric charge; A $6.25/
waiver of the customer water
service charge; A $8/month
waiver of the customer waste
water service charge; Enrollment into the E01A Wind Energy Green Choice Rate; A
50% reduction on the residential City of Austin Drainage fee to $3.58 a month.
You can also check
your bill to waive the Transportation Fee if you are over
65. You will have to call the
city for that one.
You will need certain
documentation to qualify.
They include: Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) Award
Letter from the Social Security
Administration showing
name and monthly amount;
Current monthly medicaid
identification letter from
DHHS; Current Medical Assistance Program Clinic Card
(MAP) either city or county;
Current copy of Medicare
Care part A or B or both; and
Travis County Energy Assistance Program Aware letter.
The information for
these programs are available
by calling Austin Energy. You
can look up the number or call
311 for information.
Although there are
many programs available to
seniors, many do not apply
for them, because they do not
have the information. It is
unfortunate that you have to
know the answer to the questions before you ask. However, during these tough economic times, it is important
to take advantage to all of the
economic savings that are
available.
Last week, the Austin
City Council had a lot of public comments about tax savings for historical neighborhoods. That is one way to get
around the constantly rising
property taxes that are currently going on in East Austin. The city declared a large
portion of central East Austin as a historical preservation district. Homes in that are
may qualify for tax relief.
However, you will need to get
the information from the city
to see what areas are included. Many people are reluctant to ask for these savings, but you will not get them
if you do not ask and apply.
Today the Treasury Department will announce that
all payments from the U.S.
government will be made electronically to consumers. So
people receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security
Income, Veterans, Railroad
Retirement and U.S. government benefit recipients will
receive benefits either through
direct deposit into a bank account or through Treasury’s
Direct Express debit card.
”Today’s announcement is a win-win for the
American public because it
makes government more convenient and cost-effective
while generating significant
savings for the country,” says
OMB Director Peter Orszag
about the program that is estimated to save the government
$303 million in the first five
years – including $48 million
annually on postage. “This is
precisely the type of smart,
streamlined improvement
that this Administration is
committed to making across
government to boost efficiency
and modernize how we do
business.”
Some experts wonder,
however, how easy adapting
will be, particularly for those
seniors who haven’t gravitated to direct deposit or debit
on their own.
Some 85% of seniors already receive their Social Security payments online. For
some of the rest, making the
change might be a little daunting says James Van Dyke of
Javelin Strategies, a researcher
in the field. There are people
who are consciously concerned about security, he
notes, but there are others who
are creatures of habit. They
may work in high-tech fields
with high-tech clients but they
still go into bank branches to
get cash. “People are wedded
to the past for their financial
services more than in other industries,” he says. “They
choose their bank because it
was their parents’ bank. And
they have a tactile thing about
a piece of paper.”
David Certner, Legislative Policy Director for AARP,
agrees. “This will be a challenging transition for those
who have been receiving Social Security for years and are
not familiar with the [new
options],” he says. Particularly for the unbanked –
about 4 million of whom already receive Social Security.
For those who are patronizing often-pricey check-cashing outposts, the debit card
(which allows one free cash
withdrawal from an ATM per
pay period with additional
ATM uses at 90 cents apiece)
will be a savings. But not all
unbanked seniors go that
route, he notes. Some banks
will cash the checks. Some
grocery stores, as well. That
represents a change.
The Treasury Department, noting that there are
already one million of the
debit cards in use, has several mechanisms in place to
make for easier adoption.
First, a leisurely timetable.
New recipients of Social Security and other government
benefits as of March 1, 2011
will receive their benefits electronically. If you’re already
receiving benefits, you have
until March 1, 2013 to convert (though you could
choose to do so tomorrow.) A
call center will be staffed to
answer questions.
Finally, there’s the argument
from a new piece of Javelin research – and it’s one that reluctant seniors may not believe until they make the
switch – that going paperless
makes you happier. Clear the
clutter, it seems, and you can
stop focusing on unpaid bills
and other tedium. Moreover,
going paperless reduces – by
half – the dissatisfaction that
consumers have with whomever is sending the paper to
begin with: banks, cable companies, telcos, etc.
Whether the halo effect
extends to the folks in Washington remains to be seen.
City completes stimulus-funded
sidewalks in Central East Austin
City officials, federal government officials, and community
members provided an update today on five sidewalk projects in
Central East Austin that are completed or nearing completion as
part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act investment.
In spring 2009, the City of
Austin was awarded $2 million
from the Department of Housing
and Urban Development through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These Stimulus funds
were allocated by the City Council to the Neighborhood Housing
and Community Development Office.
The City allocated $250,000
of these funds to address the City’s
critical needs of providing sidewalks in neighborhoods in the
community. The City of Austin
provided additional funding which
raised the available project funds
to $500,000.
The sidewalk projects were
identified by the Public Works Department with community input
in the “Top 25” sidewalk projects
for the City and began construction in March 2010
In partnership with the
Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities and the ADA Task Force much
work has been accomplished to
identify critical areas of Austin that
are absent of sidewalks. This analysis has become the City’s “Sidewalk Master Plan.”
To complement this work,
the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan
continues to gather input and
identify transportation improvements that could become a proposed bond package in the fall of
2011. For more information on
the transportation plan visit the
project
website
at
www.austinstrategicmobility.com.
Many of the “Top 25” sidewalks on Public Works’ list were
developed with community input
and are in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods of Central
East Austin. The sidewalk projects
completed or nearing completion
are:
· Poquito Street: 12th Street
to Rosewood Avenue (Completed).
· Springdale Road: East
Cesar Chavez Street to Airport
Boulevard (Completed).
· San Marcos Street: East
Cesar Chavez to East Fourth Street
(Completed).
· North Pleasant Valley
Road/Chestnut
Avenue:
Webberville Road to East 16th
Street (Completion: Late June).
· Navasota Street: 11th Street
to Seventh Street (Completion:
Late July).
A local contractor was able
to employ approximately 20 employees. The recruitment for these
employees was conducted in the
very neighborhoods that the sidewalks were built.
Phone: 512-476-0082
Fax: 512-476-0179
June 18, 2010
Voters complete AISD and ACC
Boards in Saturday’s Election
By Tsoke (Chuch) Adjavon
After the runoff of June
12, 2010, both the Austin Independent School District
and the Austin Community
College have elected their
board members.. For the Austin Independent School District at large position 9,
Tamala Barksdale defeated
JulieCowan.Tamala
Barksdale received 4,462
votes (57.3%) ; while her opponent Cowan received
3,362 (42.97%) of the votes.
Vic Villarella received
5,168 votes while David
Reitter received 4, 250 votes
for the Austin Community
College Board. Although
Barksdaleand Villarreal had
decisive wins, the voter turnout was unusually low. They
won because t hey were able
to mobilize more people to
the polls.
On June 12, 2010 only
2.5% of the voting population living within the Austin Independent School district area showed up to the
polls to elect a board member, who plays a vital role
in the functioning of the
school district. Moreover,
the low turnout is also a reflection of the level of involvement of the voters
Tamala Barksdale, AISD Board member
Vic Villareal ACC Boare Member
within that jurisdiction; and
also a level of the lack of understanding of what the position of being a board member implies.
Board members get to
set the type of tax rate, hire
and fire the school superintendents or the College President, set policy, and insures
that the schools are well
funded.
Austin Juneteenth Parade to be broadcast
on two local networks
Austin,
TX
—
channelAustin is pleased
to announce that it will
join KLRU in a simultaneous broadcast of this
year’s Juneteenth parade
and celebration.
The parade will be air
live on Saturday, June 19,
2010 from 10:30 AM to
12:30
PM
on
channelAustin’s cable
channel 10 and on
Austin’s PBS station
KLRU on broadcast channel 18.3.
Gregory L. Hamilton,
president of the Black Professional Alliance, Natomi
Austin of KAZI’s morning
show “The Wake Up Call,”
and Rev. Emanuel Limuel,
Jr., pastor of the Friendly
Will Missionary Baptist
Church, will host this
year’s parade providing
historical background and
up to the minute coverage.
Local historian, Clifton
Griffin, will add his expertise as guest host.
This is the second
year in a row that youth
media makers from the African American Men &
Boys Harvest Foundation
will crew the live broadcast.
On June 19, 1865,
Union soldiers, landed at
Galveston, Texas with
news that the war had
ended and that the enslaved were now free.
Juneteenth is the oldest
known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States
and is a Texas-own festival.
The parade begins at
10:00 AM from Comal St.
and MLK Blvd. on Saturday morning. The cel-
ebrants travel through
East Austin and passes
right by channelAustin’s
community television studio located near Rosewood Avenue and Northwestern Avenue. The parade ends at Rosewood
Park where the celebration
continues with clowns,
face painting, kids area
rides and games, R&B,
Blues, Hip-Hop, and Gospel.
Viewers may also go
to channelaustin.org/
streaming to watch channel 10 on the web.
Page 2/THE VILLAGER/June 18, 2010
EDITORIALS/COMMENTARY
Obama’s Oil Spill Leadership
By Ron Walters
NNPA Columnist
(NNPA) - The charge
that the oil spill in the Gulf is
Obama’s Katrina is bogus because there was no comparison between the swift manner
in which he deployed his administration to deal with the
crisis and Bush’s approach to
Katrina. The oil explosion
happened on April 20 and the
Coast Guard was deployed
the next day, long before Bush
engaged FEMA to bring resources into Louisiana and
the Gulf Coast. That same
day, Obama sent the No. 2
man in the Interior Depart-
ment to New Orleans and the
Minerals Management Service established a headquarters near the scene of the explosion.
The Coast Guard was
put in effective control of the
effort to stop the oil coming
out of the rig and on April 25
it approved a plan by BP to
have remote underwater vehicles try to activate the blowout preventer and stop the
leak. It didn’t work, but the
Obama administration was
fully engaged in other efforts
to stop it at that point.
What appears to be the problem with critics of the response by the Obama administration is not the swift administrative attention to the
crisis, such as the meetings
held in the situation room to
scope out the dimensions of
the crisis, the deployment of
resources such as the Coast
Guard, or the organization of
a team of experts by the National Oceanic and Atmo-
spheric Agency to get good
data on the flow of oil and
ideas to stop it.
And while pundits and
performers have offered a
number of ideas about the oil
spill, there is nothing like the
wealth of information developed by NOAA’s Emergency
Response Program in a systematic effort with the Environmental
Protection
Agency. They provide the best
available information to the
Coast Guard from all sources
that it uses to work with British Petroleum to attack the
problem.
The problem is one of
leadership style, criticism that
Obama is too cool and detached. For example, Matt
Lauer of NBC interviewed the
President and asked why he
didn’t “kick someone’s ass.”
Obama responded that
he had taken the approach of
gathering good information
so that he would “know
whose ass to kick.” Lauer’s
question showed a hang-over
of the Bush years when
people seemed to devalue the
intellectual approach to a
problem, similar to critics
who felt that Obama spent too
much time studying the Afghanistan situation before he
crafted a new policy.
But Obama had gotten
angry before, On June 1, Press
Secretary Robert Gibbs responded to a question in his
news conference that the
President had expressed
“rage” over the spill and with
a “clenched jaw” told his
subordinates to “plug the
damn hole.” Then, on June 3,
on Larry King live said he
was “furious” that the
cleanup wasn’t moving fast
enough.
But perhaps Lauer
wasn’t listening. Obama is
now charged by some talking
heads of not having moved
quickly enough to deal with
the crisis in the Gulf when in
fact, he had, but he was do-
ing so in the context of leading within his administration, not out in public. In the
Matt Lauer interview with
Obama, the President said
something that was accurate
when he pointed to the 24hour news cycle of cable television and said that his job
was not to create “theater.”
Nevertheless, with pictures showing an oil gusher
coming from the floor of the
ocean endangering the livelihood of millions of people,
public leadership is warranted.
Obama faced criticism
during negotiations over his
health bill that he had not
been public enough and had
not met with Republicans.
However, he effectively refuted this by the public sessions he held with Republicans, other officials across the
government and many stakeholders outside that were presented on television. For lack
of public leadership, some of
Obama’s actions appear to be
reactive. He has gone down
to the Gulf four times, three of
those after criticism. He
scheduled a meeting Tony
Hayward, CEO of BP and the
Board Chair, after criticism by
Matt Lauer that he hadn’t met
with them; he put together a
proposal for BP to establish
an multi-million escrow account to make people whole
who have suffered from the oil
spill crisis, after it was proposed in Congress, and so on.
In fact, he may have been
planning these things, but
with the cable stations showing gushing oil 24-7, he has
to match the intensity of the
public anxiety that creates
with public actions that show
him staying ahead of the
curve. Much of the criticism
of Obama comes from those
whose job it is to do so and
although he cannot ignore it,
no matter what the source, he
can fight back with a more
agile leadership.
“Pelicans Over People?”
By Gary L. Flowers
NNPA Columnist
(NNPA) - The on-going
gusher of oil in the Gulf of
Mexico most likely will be the
worst oil catastrophe the
world has every seen.
The damage to the
Gulf’s ecological system will
be felt for at least the next generation. However, an article in
the Sunday edition of the
Washington Post entitled,
“One bird’s odyssey through
the oil” has ruffled my feathers. While I am eco-friendly
and respectful of the plight
and flight of birds the meticulous attention to the Pelicans
of the Gulf pales in comparison to that of people in need—
both homeless and unemployed. Yes, the Gulf is a
mess, but who is thinking
about recovery and rehabilitation of Americans left behind by the same corporate
greed that has afflicted the
birds? The article listed several steps to recover and rehabilitate pelicans soaked in
oil: Triage, transfer, warm
showers, thorough cleansing,
rinsing, and ultimately, a return to their home. In particular, triage units and comfort
trailers are used to provide
pelicans with temporary
warm surroundings in order
not to overly expose them to
stress. Later, pelicans are
compassionately given warm
soapy showers to loosen oil
from their feathers. Pelicans
are
even
constantly
swooshed with clean water to
remove any soap that may
have gotten in their eyes.
Lastly, each bird is given individual attention to dry
feathers before returning it to
familiar locales. Such compassionate and respectful
care is commendable. However, as I read the article I
could not help but thinking:
If pelicans deserve such treatment what does private corporations and the federal government owe the millions of
people still recovering from
Hurricane Katrina, financial
exploitation by American
banks, and the loss of their
homes via targeted schemes
by home mortgage companies? Whatever the answer to
such a question, at the very
least people should come before pelicans.
Of course it is absurd to
suggest that the treatment of
people should be compared
to that of animals but I do not
sense that executives at British Petroleum (BP) or the
White House staying up late
to construct triage centers for
Americans soaked in the
slime of Wall Street. To my
knowledge little comfort—a
moratorium on home foreclosures or federally mandated
home loan modification, for
example—is being afforded to
people who have lost their
homes in large part due to exploitative schemes by unscrupulous home mortgage companies. Likewise, victims of
the greed of corporate
America has not be given a
vision of tough federal regulations against profiteers. On
the contrary, BP’s record of
employee protections is dismal. For example, In 2005 BP
ignored or did not enforce
safety regulations resulting in
the deaths of 19 employees at
the Texas Oil Refinery in
Galveston, Texas. At the Deep
Water Horizon oil rig that is
still gushing oil in the Gulf
employees report that BP
regularly ignored or did not
enforce federal regulations.
For Americans not currently
employed the situation is getting worse in many places
before it gets better. National
unemployment
hovers
around 9% (without counting
those unemployed but not
looking for work). Yet, for
Black America, unemployment levels range from 20 percent to 70 percent across the
nation. The unemployed need
special care. Similarly, with a
little over a month left in the
current Session of Congress
little to know action is taking
place on a jobs bill. Yes, we
are in an election year for
Congress, but protecting seats
in Congress should not trump
protecting the seats of American working people. Most of
all, the same sensitivity to pelicans should be given to gulf
workers.
Things Fall Apart - The BP Oil Spill
By. Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
(NNPA) - William Butler Yeats did a good job of
capturing a harrowing pandemonium in his poem, The
Second Coming. He wrote, in
192x:
‘Things fall apart;
the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon
the world,
The blood-dimmed
tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best
lack all conviction, while the
worst
Are full of passionate
intensity.’
I was twice introduced
to the poem in college, first in
a class that required the study
of English poets, then in a
class that examined African
literature, including the powerful novel of Nigerian colonization by Chinua Achebe,
ironically titled, Things Fall
Apart. The poem is so emblazoned on my brain that from
time to time it comes to mind,
most recently when I contemplate the BP oil spill, its damages, its consequences, and
its handling.
I am writing from the
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Conference, 55 days after the
Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people and
started an oil leak that apparently continues. While BP
says that the leak was only
5000 barrels of oil a day, scientists estimate that between
20,000 and 40,000 barrels of
oil leaked each day between
April 22 until June 3. If you
use the midpoint of 30,000
barrels and a period of 42
days (assuming all leaking
stopped when a dome to
catch some of the leak was
installed on June 3), we are
talking at least 1.2 million
barrels of an oil leak.
BP CEO Tony Hayward
outwardly seems to take this
matter much less than seriously. At one point (he later
apologized) that he couldn’t
wait for “this” to be over. “I
want my life back”, he said
with some insensitivity, given
the fact that eleven people actually lost their lives. In addition, millions are losing a way
of life, fishermen with nowhere, now to fish, all of the
industries supported by fishermen with nothing to do, a
delicate ecological balance
upset, with pelicans, turtles,
fish and crabs drowning in
oil. And with BP stalling on
paying claims, or only paying
them to those who can document their income through
ledgers and tax returns. So
many fishermen live in an informal economy that the BP
standard is one that has motivated more than 200 lawsuits already.
On his Sunday radio
program, Rev. Jesse Jackson
had a conversation with Billy
Nungesser, who is the President of Plaquemines Parish in
coastal Louisiana.
Mr. Nungesser talked
about the many ways his parish had been affected by the
BP oil spill. One of his most
harrowing stories was about
a 94 year old man who earns
money catching minnows as
bait for fishermen.
Now, even if he can
catch the minnows, there are
few fishermen who are fishing. So what does a 94-yearold man do now, Nungesser
asked? The way he made his
living, the way he organized
his life, has completely
changed. Things fall apart,
the center cannot hold.
Was this just an accident? Exxon Mobil has had
just one safety violation in the
past three years. BP has had
a whopping seven hundred
and sixty safety violations.
While no one thinks that Tony
“life back” Hayward and his
team deliberately caused this
massive disaster, their safety
record suggests there was always a good possibility that
something like this would
happen.
But BP is whining that
when people say “British Petroleum” (which is what BP
stands for), we Americans are
being “Anglophobic”. They
have whined so long and so
hard that President Obama
has spoken with the British
Prime Minister to assure him
that nothing could be further
from the truth. Again, this
matter brings Yeats to mind,
“The best lack all conviction,
while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
BP has been shilly
shallying for nearly two
months. President Obama has
been to the coastal area 4
times, visiting Louisiana,
Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, all affected states. What
really needs to happen, as
former Labor Secretary Robert
Reich has said, is that the US
operations of BP need to be put
in some kind of receivership.
This is a public sector problem, now, not a private sector
problem. Our government
must more forcefully contain
the predatory capitalism and
utter greed that precipitated
this crisis.
The tea party folks (full
of passionate intensity) are
calling the BP spill “Obama’s
Katrina”.
That’s not accurate. The
policies of deregulation that
allowed this to happen are
Reagan/Bush policies, not
Obama’s.
Still President Obama
has the opportunity to be
forceful and focused as things
fall apart, and to respond to
the people British Petroleum
feels so free to ignore.
What will happen if
there is still oil in the water
when a hurricane comes?
Why is our entire nation not
more outraged?
How can we all sit silent and complacent while
things fall apart? Billy
Nungesser asked that all of us
push our Congressional representatives to pass legislation containing BP. That is the
absolute least we can do.
World Cup in South Africa
By Nicole C. Lee
NNPA Columnist
(NNPA) - I turned the
television on one day this week
and watched the news. The
World Cup in South Africa
was the 5th story. Amazing
how a sports story creped in
right behind the BP spill in the
Gulf. I turned to a sports network and the World Cup was
the only story. Each story was
filled with joy and laughter
and great anticipation of the
coming games. The World Cup
is the biggest sporting event in
the world. It is like the NFL’s
Super Bowl but much, bigger
and on a larger global scale.
Futbol has taken the world by
storm and all eyes are now on
South Africa. This marks the
first time the games are being
played on the African continent. This marks a remarkable
opportunity for Africa in general and South Africa in particular to show the power and
the beauty of the African
people and what is possible
there. Vendors from all over
South Africa have converged
on the convening cities. Entre-
preneurs hope the games will
bring big profit to them and
their communities. South Africa has the same hope. Like
most countries in the world
South Africa is struggling financially. Poverty, high unemployment, troubles with neighboring countries, and the affects of the global economic
downturn has crippled South
Africa as it has nations all over
the world. The World Cup is
seen as a potential economic
boom for the country. But history proves that great countries
and cities in the past have been
saddled with enormous debt
after hosting great sporting
events and not buoyed by the
potential cash flow left behind
after the games. Economists
are now saying that the 2004
Olympics in Greece contributed to the complete economic
meltdown the country is suffering today. The cost to the
tiny nation was $1.2 billion
dollars. Stadiums and sports
venues were built that now sit
idle. The government of Greece
says the economic short fall is
too big to be blamed on the
Olympics but others claim the
Olympics were just the beginning of very poor spending and
financing trend for Greece. In
the United States, Los Angeles
and Atlanta hosted Olympic
Games. When all of the costs
were tallied both cities lost
money and no lasting jobs
were created. So why did South
Africa want the World Cup?
Prestige. World recognition.
And the hope of a continent.
The slogan for the games is “It’s
Possible”.
There is a hope that a
world sporting event will create a public relations campaign that will lift the country
out of despair. The images of
Africans in power and rejoicing can be a great counter balance to the constant barrage of
images of death and starvation. South Africa has been that
shining beacon of hope as it
defeated apartheid and grew
into a strong democracy. The
universal joy that is felt around
the world as Africa hosts the
world’s biggest sport is infectious. With all sincerity and
support, I am keeping my fingers crossed for South Africa
and the continent. I hold open
the hope for a huge profit for
the nation after the games—
monetarily and good will. . I
am hoping that the public relations rewards after the games
will generate millions of dollars and years of good will that
will lift the continent out of
poverty and dismay. I am wishing that the thrill of Futbol will
garner support for the treatment of AIDS and the ending
of continental wide war. I am
in support of sports being the
factor that brings people together for a lasting peace.
June 18, 2010/The Villager/Page 3
The Great Physician
This column is by LadyLight
Dear Great Physician
I’ve been a father now for more than 60 years and I just
wanted to encourage the father’s this Father’s Day:
Older fathers, continue to set a moral example for our young
men. You are the leaders so you have to protect them, because they are offered so much and society doesn’t care as
much as they used to.. Make sure that you step up to the plate
and guide the young generation. Help them understand the
word of the Lord and how to renew their lives so they can
help their children.
Younger fathers, I know that you have problems, but
don’t follow your feelings take on your responsibility. Be a
full man and count the cost of life. Step up to the plate your
family needs you and their success depends on you. Even if
you have different children from different women they still
need you, so think before you hurt them further. Don’t let the
devil deceive you step up and keep hope alive for your family
and the community.
Women and children pray for the fathers God says if
you call Him He will answer you.Women and children pray
for the fathers God says if you call Him He will answer you.
Sincerely,
An Ol’ Pro
Dear Ol’ Pro,
Thank you for your words of wisdom. He who has an ear,
let him hear. May your good example and your rich experiences be a benefit to many as it will be to you.
Love,
The Great Physician
Mark 4:9
1Peter 5:1-6
Ol’
Fashioned
Juneteenth
Lunch on the
Lawn at
Carver
African-American Baptists donate $500,000 to
Habitat for Humanity for housing in Haiti
ATLANTA (June 10, 2010) The African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration
(AABMC) presented a check
for $500,000 to Habitat for
Humanity International in
Atlanta, Ga., as a part of their
commitment to help Haitians
rebuild their lives and communities. This contribution is
the largest single donation
given to Habitat by a faith
community for its Haiti earthquake-recovery efforts.
Presidents from Lott Carey
Baptist Foreign Mission Convention; National Baptist Convention, USA; National Baptist
Convention of America; National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; and the Progressive National Baptist Convention were on hand for the presentation. The Baptist communities came together in January
of this year and formed the African-American Baptist Mission
Collaboration to create an opportunity to more effectively respond to the devastation in Haiti
after the earthquake. The partnership with Habitat is one of
the first to fulfill that mission.
“We are inspired to invest
in this ministry for housing solutions, because we are following the teachings of Jesus who
said that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give
shelter to those without shelter
that we do this for him. We do
this for Jesus, and we do this for
those who suffer in Haiti,” said
Dr. Stephen John Thurston,
President, National Baptist
Convention of America.
“Habitat is currently
Dr. Stephen
John Thurston,
President of the
National Baptist
Convention of
America
providing housing solutions
for families in Haiti recovering from January’s earthquake,”
said
Mike
Carscaddon, executive vice
president, Habitat for Humanity International. “Our
overall goal is to serve approximately 50,000 families
in Haiti, including approximately 3,000 in the town of
Cabaret. This significant gift
from the AABMC will be used
for our work in Cabaret to
help 630 families have shelter from the rain.”
The African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration represents more than
10 million Christians in the
United States, most of whom
are of African-American heritage. For more information on
AABMC, contact Dr. David
Emmanuel Goatley regarding the group effort at (202)
543-3200 ord ego atley @aol
.com.
Habitat for Humanity
International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that
welcomes to its work all
people dedicated to the cause
of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in
1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000
houses worldwide, providing
simple, decent and affordable
shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.
The Carver Museum
and Cultural Center will host
an Ol’ Fashioned Juneteenth
Lunch on the Lawn on Saturday, June 19 from 12:30-3:30
p.m. on the Carver grounds
(behind the museum). The celebration will feature music,
games, crafts, and a
Juneteenth Marketplace with
book, food, and craft vendors.
Visitors are encouraged to
bring their own baskets and
enjoy!
Inside the museum there
will be dramatic readings
from the Texas Slave Narratives from 1-3 p.m. followed
by spoken word performances in the Drum (museum entrance). This familyfriendly, community event is
FREE and open to the public.
For more information, please
call 974-4926.
NEW AND USED CARS
PRE APPROVAL HOT LINE
call
DONNIE POWELL
HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Serving Austin since 1970
Let us Fill your next Perscription!
SAVE TIME
Ask your doctor to call
your prescription in to us
and we’ll have it ready for you
when you get here!
2115 E. MLK Blvd.
512-476-7338
Austin, Texas 78702
www.PHRX.Net
Open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. - Noon
at
970-1556
Discounts for
City, State, Military, Federal
Government
Bankruptcy welcome
Large selection of
Cars and trucks
To fit every need!!
HENNA CHEVROLET
8805 N. IH-35
Austin, TX 78761
In “The Centre” Bldg. F-15 7801 N. Lamar Blvd. (SE Corner of N Lamar and 183)
AGAPE is a chuch for all people. “Where Jesus Christ is Magnified and the love He exhibited is
Exemplified.” Come, receive God’s unconditional lovefor you. For there is no greater love!
Church Services
Sunday
School
9:30 AM
Sunday Worship
11:00 AM
Mid-Week Service
Thursday: Praise, Prayer and Bible Study 7:00 PM
Call 454-1547 for Transporation
Website www.agapebcaustintx.org
Rev. H. Ed Calahan
Pastor
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
4509 Springdale Road Austin, Tx 78723
Office 512- 926-1686 Fax 512-929-7281
Christian Web Sitestpetersaustintx.ning.com
[email protected]
THE PLACE WHERE WE STEP OUT ON FAITH.
COME AND STEP OUT ON FAITH WITH US
Rev. Jack C. Gause
Pastor
Sunday School
8:45 a.m.
Praise and Worship 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study 12:00 p.m.
and Praise /Bible Study 6:30 p.m.
(to include Children’s Choir Rehersaland
Bible Study with age appropiate Activities)
Ebenezer Baptist Church
1010 East 10th Street 512-478-1875 Fax: 512-478-1892
Radio Ministry (KIXI 970 AM
TV Ministry (ACTV. Ch 32)
Bus Ministry
9:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
Call 512-478-1875
8:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
11:00 A.M.
Wednesday
Rev. Marvin C. Griffin
Pastor
JOSHUA CHAPEL CHRISTIAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1006 Yeager Lane, Suite 102-A
Austin, Texas
Sunday Services
Sunday School
10:00 A.M.
Worship Service
11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY Bible Study
6:30 P.M.
SATURDAY New
Midweek Prayer Service
7:00 P.M.
Child Development Center
Ages 0-5 years
(Daily) 512-478-6709
Check Out
THE AIRPORT FLEE MARKET
Saturdays and Sundays
450l East Martin luther King Blvd.
Maranatha Faith Center
4930 South Congress Avenue, C-302 512-750-4628 512-804-2537
Jesus is Coming Again
The church fellowship where everybody can be somebody!
Sunday Services
Sunday School
Morning Service
Wednesday Service
9:00-10:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M. -12Noon
7:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Floyd Fontenot, Sr., Founder Floyd Fontenot, Jr., Pastor
Imani Community Church
Davis Elementray Auditorium
Rev. Lois Hayes, Pastor
5214 West Duval Road
Sunday School
Worship Service
•Power Hour Bible Life Group
9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M.
Imani Complex & Office,
11800 Mustang at Duval
Austin, Texas 78727
Visit:imanichurch.com
Office: 512-343-9300
Member Assimilation 10:00 A.M.
Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims
AFRICAN ASSEMBLIES of GOD
CHURCH
A growing church ministering to African American and
other nationals
Come worship with us
Sunday Services
Worship Service
Sunday School
Discipleship Training
Worship Service
We cash ALL Tax Refund
Checks
1149 Airport Blvd.
Agape Baptist Church
David Chapel
DOUBLE “R” GROCERY
Sunday Worship
Wednesday Prayer Meeting
11:30 A.M.
6:45 P.M.
Rosewood Avenue Missionary Baptist Church
1820 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 476-8201 Fax (512) 476-5693
“Divine Enpowerment for Bold Ministries”
Weekly Services
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Wed. Night Bible Fellowship 6:30 p.m.
The Spencer & Ora Lee Nobles
“Hope Center” (512) 476-6722
Place of Worship
The Church of Glad Tidings 2700 Northland Dr. Austin, TX 78756
For more information, contact Pastor Jonah Ghartey
512-873-8103 [email protected]
St Annie A.M.E. Church
1711 Newton Street
Austin, Texas 78704
Voice mail (512) 444-4509
E-mail: [email protected]
Advancing the Ministry Expanding the Church
Church School
9:30 A.M. Sun
Morning Worship 10:45 A.M. Sun
Bible Study 7:30 P.M. Sun.
Rev. Derwin D. Gipson, Pastor
Rev. Coby Shorter, III
Pastor
We b s i t e :
w w w.rosewoodbaptistchurch.org
Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church
5900 Cameron Road
Austin, Texas 78723-1843
(512) 451-0808 (512) 302-4575 Fax
Web Site - www.themount.net
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Worship - 7:45 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Church School - 9:45 a.m.
Bible Studies - Mon, 6:30 p.m. & Wed., 12 noon
Wednesday Night Worship - 7 p.m .
“Ministries For Mankind” Luke 4:18
A.W.. Anthony Mays, Senior Pastor
Page 4/THE VILLAGER/June 18, 2010
ATX Juneteenth Music
Festival at Waterloo Park
Come out and celebrate
Juneteenth at the ATX
Juneteenth Music Festival at
Waterloo Park across from
Brackenridge Hospital on Saturday, June 19th from 1pm –
10 pm beginning after the historical Juneteenth Parade.
This event will enhance
the Celebration of Juneteenth
to the Citizens of Austin, surrounding cities and counties.
It is an event for the entire family that will provide
an opportunity for the
citizen’s of Austin, surrounding counties and cities to socialize, network and celebrate
Emancipation Day on
Juneteenth, an Official State
Holiday in Texas.
The event is sponsored
in conjunction with the Situational Leadership Program,
an organization that identifies behaviors and offers solutions through Christian
Ministry, continuing education and a seven step process
to male and females 17 yrs.
and over to become self-sufficient and productive citizens
in society.
In addition the proceeds will benefit the Situational Leadership Program,
Huston-Tillotson University
Track Team, Sickle Cell Research, and Texas Oncology.
The Festival lineup will
showcase local Rap Artist
Nook, T-Byrd, Lo-1, and Baby
Ju, the Frank Gomez Band,
John Washington and the
D.C. Blues Band, CassFlo,
Jackyee, Bro. Magnum, Chris
Keyz and Band, and featured
group for the evening Hot
Wax. The festival includes
food and informational
booths, children’s activities,
beverages, and giveaways.
The admission is free along
with free parking in the State
parking garages at 12th and
Trinity and 15th and Trinity.
Festival goers are encouraged
to bring their lawn chairs and
blankets
family
and
friends……….No Beverages
and coolers are allowed. For
further information you may
visit www.atxjuneteenth.com
or call (512) 801-4104.
Samsung to invest billions
to expand in Austin
The City of Austin announced
today
that
Samsung Electronics will be
expanding its operations in
Austin with an expected
$3.6 billion foreign direct
investment for Phase Two
construction of its semiconductor fabrication plant.
With the expansion,
Samsung is committed to
creating 400 to 500 permanent jobs as well as 1,000
construction jobs for the
Austin area. Samsung expects to start construction
this summer.
“We’re excited to see
that Samsung will be expanding their operations in
our great city,” said Mayor
Lee Leffingwell. “It’s no secret Austin is a great place
to do business, and this type
of investment speaks volumes about our city’s image
on the national and international level.”
According the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Samsung’s investment is the largest private
capital investment so far this year
and is among the nation’s ten
largest in the last decade. The
City’s current economic incentive agreement requires that
Samsung invest at least $2.5 billion in their 300 millimeter fabrication facility by Dec. 2010.
Samsung met that requirement
two years early in Dec. 2008.
At its facility, Samsung
plans to manufacture state-ofthe-art large-scale integration
(LSI) microchips. These chips are
used within a range of technologies, including smart-phones
and associated applications.
Samsung’s revamped fabrication plant will also serve as
a center for the research and development of new and cutting-edge technologies.
“The City of Austin
has produced a number of
economic incentive agreements in the past year as
companies
such
as
Facebook Inc., Legalzoom,
and Hangar Orthopedics
have all chosen to expand
their operations to Austin,”
said Kevin Johns, Director of
the City’s Economic Growth
and Redevelopment Services Office.
These three agreements alone are anticipated
to provide over a thousand
jobs for the Austin area and
Samsung’s expansion is expected to increase that number.
The announcement by
Samsung comes at a time
when Austin is gaining national recognition as a desirable place to live and conduct business. Kiplinger
Personal Finance Magazine
recently ranked Austin at
the top of its list for “Best
Cities for the Next Decade”
based on criteria such as livability and business environment for entrepreneurs
and job seekers.
This direct foreign investment from Korean-based
Samsung highlights the City’s
recent Global Commerce Strategy Initiative. The initiative is
aimed at increasing economic
activity on the international level,
focusing especially on emerging
markets and technology.
“I applaud our Economic
Growth and Redevelopment Services Office for their work in creating a receptive environment for
these types of foreign direct investments,” said City Manager
Marc Ott. “Samsung’s expressed effort to expand their operations in Austin represents
progress in our goal of becoming the best managed City in the
country.”
Celebrate Juneteenth
2010
A Marching Band from a previous celebration
“Juneteenth” is the old- Americans often met with resis- Texas African American Hisest known African American tance from the rest of the com- tory through events, educacelebration commemorating munity to the celebrate tional programs and indithe end of slavery. Slaves “Juneteenth”. To insure that cel- vidual projects.
were declared free on January ebrations would continue, many
GOALS: Our goal is to
1, 1863, under the Emanci- African American communities raise funds for the programs
pation Proclamation, issued purchased “emancipation supported by Greater East
by President Abraham Lin- grounds” and moved the cel- Austin Youth Association a
coln, which declared that all ebration to private property. 501(c)3 nonprofit organizaslaves living in states still in Emancipation Park in East Aus- tion, which began as a footrebellion were “then, thence- tin, was such a location. In 1930 ball program but has now exforward, and forever free”. the first Juneteenth Celebration panded to year around sports
However, African Americans was held at Rosewood Park. The activities, mentorship and
in Texas were not aware of Juneteenth Committee was es- skills and social training for
the proclamation, until June tablished by the Greater East the disadvantaged youth of
19, 1865, when General Gor- Austin Youth Association Central Texas.
don Granger, the commander (GEAYA), which consists of
Please visit www .gea
of U.S. Troops in Texas, ar- volunteers from Businesses ya.net for more information
rived in Galveston and read and Nonprofits. As Commu- and see how to become a volGeneral Order 3, making nity Leaders and Activists we unteer.
emancipation a reality in are dedicated to the promo“Creating a better toTexas.
tion, enhancement and con- morrow- by being the change
“Juneteenth” celebrations tinual growth of the Freedom needed today!”
grew from the efforts of former Day (Juneteenth) Celebration.
Written by Tiffany
slaves to mark the moment of
MISSION: Our Mis- Johnson-Carter, Juneteenth
their emancipation. In the years sion is to create diversity and Chairperson
following the Civil War, African cultural awareness about
CCAACC
Business
Awards
Luncheon
The Capital City African
American Chamber of Commerce will host their Annual
Business Awards luncheon on
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 from
11:00 am until 1:00 pm. The luncheon will take place at the
Norris Conference Center, 2525
Anderson Lane.
The theme for this year is
“A luncheon with the Stars.”
The chamber has decided to take
a more light-hearted approach
to the current economic climate.
It has decided to focus on the aspects of leadership or “star
power” that our business leaders have within the community.
Their performance outside of the
typical lanes of commerce serves
to promote more prosperity and
opportunity.
The chamber is pleased to
again honor organizations and
individuals who help to contribute to the success of the chamber; as well as successful minority entrepreneurs.
Awards will be given for:
Corporate Partner of the Year;
Volunteer of the Year ;
AustinPreneur of the Year
Ark - La - Tex Fencing, Inc.
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Juneteenth
Schedule
of
activities
2K Freedom Run/Walk
at 9:30 am Comal St. and MLK
Blvd
Join family, friends,
neighbors, community
organizations & businesses at
this highly visible, very
powerful event that will raise
awareness about the increasing prevalence of health
disparities within the AfricanAmerican community. This
successful event celebrates
freedom and promotes healthy
living. Click here to download
the 2K Registration Form
Juneteenth Historical
Parade
10am Comal St. and
MLK Blvd Floats… Clowns…
Bands…Auto Show.
Park Celebration
1pm- 1Rosewood Park 1182 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Clowns…Face
Painting…Kids Area Rides and
Games…R &B, Blues, HipHop, Gospel…
To register, click here Vendor
Rosewood Park Historical
CommunityProgram 1pm - 3p
Doris Miller Auditorium 2300 Rosewood Ave.
The historically focuesed
program begins immediately after the parade inside Doris Miller
Auditorium, includes dignitaries, keynote, historical movements, spiritual, poetry, and
praise dance.
Juneteenth After Party
(Playdate Austin)
9pm – 2am Tres Amigos 7535 East Highway 290, Austin,
TX
LOCAL McDONALD’S OWNERS DONATE
MORE THAN $200,000 TO
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE
PRESENTATION--(L TO R) Dan Kinney and Winston Ross, Central Texas McDonald’s Owner /
Operators present $205,659 Check to Kent Burress, Ronald McDonald House CEO and Anne Jerome,
Ronald McDonald House Chief Development Officer.
(June 15, 2010) Austin, TX
- The Central Texas
McDonald’s Owner /
Operator Association presented a check for
$205,659.00 to the Ronald
McDonald House Charities (RMHC). The check
was presented by Central
Texas McDonald’s Co-op
president, Dan Kinney and
local McDonalds Owner /
Operator Winston Ross.
Kent Burress, Ronald
McDonald House CEO,
and
Anne
Jerome,
Ronald McDonald House
Chief Development Officer,
were on hand to accept the
donation.
These funds will be
used to support the local
RMHC chapter’s primary
mission of providing a
home-away-from-home for
families of seriously ill or
injured children receiving
treatment at nearby hospitals,
and
other
important programs, including community grants.
Monies were raised
through a series of annual
fundraisers hosted or
sponsored by McDonald’s,
including the “Share the
Love” campaign in February, the “McDonald’s Lights
of Love 5K” in December
and “McHappy Day,” a global event held in November,
as wellas through canister
donations collected at McDonald’s restaurants.
During the check presentation, McDonald’s also
announced a long-term initiative that will raise funds
for RMHC through the ongoing sale of Happy Meals.
About McDonald’s
McDonald’s USA,
LLC, is the leading
foodservice provider in the
United States serving a variety of wholesome foods
made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than
80 percent of McDonald’s
14,000U.S. restaurants are
independently owned and
operated by local franchisees, including the more
than 65 in the Austin area.
For more information on
McDonald’s visit www.
mcdonalds.com or log on
at any of the 10,000 Wi-Fi
enabled McDonald’s U.S.A
restaurants.
The VILLAGER
YOUTH BRIGADE.
Youth of today,
Hope of Tomorrow!
Sponsors needed!
June 18, 2010/THE VILLAGER/Page 5
Nourishing the Soul on Fourth
Friday at the Victory Grill
By Clifford Gillard
Special to the Villager
Our exciting new East
End Fourth Fridays event,
“Nourishing The Soul” continues with its’ celebration of
food, music and history. Patrons will be served fantastic
meals prepared from local
meats and produce by Salt &
Time followed by performances from some of
Austin’s best jazz, blues and
soul musicians.
, EAST END FOURTH
FRIDAY @ The Historic Victory Grill
Nourishing the Soul
will be held on Friday June
25th and will feature a performance by Soul Kitchen. The
meal will feature a Roasted
Pig by Salt & Time, a Whole
Roasted Red Waddle Pig from
Naturally Dulce Farms with
accompanying dishes from
Central Texas Farms a wine
pairing from East End Wines
and FREE Mint Julips provided by Makers Mark.
Seating is limited. Tickets are available now at www.
HistoricVictoryGrill.orgSalt &
Time creates artisan-cured
meats and pickles using traditional European techniques
and locally raised ingredients. We only buy from farmers we know and trust and we
put as much effort and love
into our products as they do
into raising their crops and
animals. By combining traditional Mediterranean flavors
with the unique culinary tradition of the Hill Country, we
think we produce some of the
finest products available to
Central Texas’ food connoisseurs. www.saltandtime.com
East End Wines is an
independent wines shop
now open in a historic home
off East 11th St in Austin,
Texas. Representing value at
every price level through over
500 different wines and spirits. Located at 1209 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, TX
www.eastendwinesatx.com.
The funk brews when
Soul kitchen steps on stage.
Deep groove, vocal harmonies, Swift n Mario’s drumbeat, Memphis style horns,
dynamic key section, deep
funk———are the ingredients in a Soul kitchen, with
different FLAVORS from
around the south. The Noel
Twins, Phil Adair and B
Miller started Soul kitchen in
September of 07. Soon adding Quinton smith on Vox
and Synth. Then they found
the right drummer(s) Swift
and Meo, who also bring the
funk as MCs and vocalist.
Recently added mc and saxophonist D Scott and guitarist
Nick Garcia have taken the
Soul kitchen to a new level.
We will move you with our
funk...you will groove. Or you
will go home asking yourself,
how did they?? Either way
the sound will rock you.
www.soulkitchan.com
FACES, COLOR, AND CULTURE - IS IT A PAINTING
OR PHOTOGRAPH?
George Washington
Carver Museum recently
opened an exhibit titled - “Reality x 2”.
The 16 oil paintings displayed in the main gallery, focuses on the artist’s surrealistic approach to realism. The
skill set of Werllayne Nunes
from Brazil, who now lives in
Austin, takes execution of realism to another level.
Werllayne states, “I juxtapose
these portraits with images
that represent cultural or religious symbols in order to create a kind of visual magical
realism characterized by the
simultaneous existence of
two conflicting perspectives—reality and fantasy”.
Pictured are, Bernadette
ACC
Book Festival
Phifer, Curator and Program
Manager, Werllayne Nunes,
Guest Artist, and Bob Jones,
Exhibit Coordinator. “An
Artist Talk” will be at the
George Washington Carver
Museum on Saturday, June
26, from 1-3 PM. Come and
ask questions, and be a part
of the discussions, on how he
accomplishes his works.
The exhibit is available
for viewing, free of charge,
until Saturday, August 28th,
2010.
The public is invited to
come by the museum located
at 1165 Angelina Street, during regular business hours,
Monday - Thursday 10 - 9 PM,
Friday 10 - 5:30 PM and Saturday 10 - 4 PM.
Austin Community College will
host “Sounds of Freedom:
ACC’s Musical
Celebration of Juneteenth”
Austin Community College will host “Sounds
of Freedom: ACC’s Musical
Celebration of Juneteenth”
Friday, June 18, from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m., in the courtyard of
Eastview Campus, 3401
Webberville Rd.
The public is invited to
bring picnic baskets and blankets to relax on the lawn and
enjoy live performances by
multi-faceted artists and some
of Austin’s finest hip-hop
musicians. All events are free;
food and other refreshments
will be available.
Juneteenth is a nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in
the United States. The holiday
celebrates the June 1865 arrival
of troops on Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.
The celebration is spon-
sored by ACC, the college’s
Community Outreach Office,
the Men of Distinction program (which provides support to African-American
male students), the City of
Austin, and Austin Parks and
Recreation.
”Sounds of Freedom”
Schedule Intergenerational
Juneteenth | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
* Family-friendly entertainment and games for all
ages.
Hip Hop Into College | 1
p.m.-4 p.m.
* Some of Austin’s finest
singers and wordsmiths perform live, including Drastik,
Raphina Austin, “3rd”, the
Cypher, Loose Cannon, Finesse,
and more. Free to Rip the Runway | 4 p.m.-5 p.m.
* KOOP radio host Brotha
K emcees a fashion show.
The Tyrone Johnson Girls 8th Annual Girls
Basketball Showcase
June 19-20 2010
The Austin Delco Center
The Austin Elite
Girls Basketball Teams are
sponsoring The Tyrone
Johnson Girls Basketball
Tournament on June 1920. This showcase of talent is considered to be the
largest showcase in Central Texas!!! The BEST
teams from all over the
state and beyond will be
competing for the trophies
and 1 st place wins!!!
Club Founders Coach
Fonzell
Martin
and
Austin’s own Tommy
“Speedy” Gregg started
and named this tournament in honor of the late
Anderson High School
Boys Basketball Coach
Tyrone Johnson.
Coach Johnson attended and graduated
from the University of
Texas at Austin, where he
was a member of the University of Texas Longhorn
Men’s Basketball Team.
As a Coach for Anderson
High School he led the Trojans to 3 District Championships and 2 State Championships Final. Unfortunately Coach Johnson’s
life was cut short at the age
of 49 of a heart attack during a hunting trip.
Austin Elite Girls
Basketball team is a nonprofit organization that is
dedicated to promoting
higher education through
the development and exposure of athletics and academics for young women.
The team has completed in
prestigious tournament
such as: Basketball on the
Bayou, Big State Flava,
Nike Battle on the Boro ,
The Deep Classic in
North Raleigh, and the
End of Trails in Portland,
Oregon.
Alumnus from the club
have gone on to play at colleges such as: The Univers i t y o f Te x a s ( A s h l e i g h
Fontenette) Texas State Uni-
versity (Jasmine Baugus) 2
time Southland Conference
Champions the University
of Texas at San Antonio
(Cierra Martin, Amber
Gregg)) NTJCAC Conference Champioins Temple
Junior College ( Chloe
Wallace, Raven Monroe,
Katy Scott)
The Austin Elite Organizations invites all to come
out and support the showcase at the Delco Center and
enjoy a day of excellence in
girls basketball.
Central Texas African
Americans in Film
Network Mixer
`LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Central Texas African
Americans in film and television will join to establish a viable network and cultivate
awareness on industry issue
and opportunities. The event
will be held Saturday, June 26
beginning 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
at the Mojoe Room Bar & Grill
located at Lincoln Village
(6406 N. IH-36, Suite 1600).
The goal is to unite artists
working in various aspects of
entertainment and create a
path leading to continued success for those in “show business.”
Texas has fast become
known as “Little Hollywood” with Austin’s rolling
hillsides and buzzing
downtown making it a “hotbed” for the entertainment
industry. While the film and
music festivals here are
world-renowned in allowing many artists to showcase their work, more can be
done.
“Both the city and the
state is home to entertainment attorneys, directors,
graphic artists, producers,
screenwriters, photographers, editors and event
make-up artists. Having the
right connections can mean
new opportunities for work
in the industry,” says Coordinator TK Henderson. “I believe it’s important to no only
be proactive in pursuing those
opportunities, but also in recognizing and galvanizing the
talent we have right in our
own backyard.”
The forum will allow for
open discussion and interaction where attendees can exchange information on current
projects, upcoming opportunities, and other industry issues.
“Filmmakers from
around the world come here to
film, movies and documentaries. Networks come to shoot
television shows, and writers
come for ideas and inspiration!
These are just a few of the reasons we believe it’s important to
join forces in Central Texas and
build upon this momentum. We
want to provide support for this
thriving community of artists,
“added Henderson. This event
is open to everyone in the entertainment industry. For more details contact TK Henderson at
tk_henderson @yahoo.com or
call 512-633-0319. Remember the
scene: Mojoe Room Bar & Grill
on June 26 from 5:00 p.m. –
9:00p.m.
DDCE (color)
Texas Peace Officers
Page 6/THE VILLAGER/June 18, 2010
GROUP CALLS ON
CARIBBEAN AMERICANS TO
DESCEND ON CONGRESS
Caribbean American Heritage Month to
Bring Key Issues
to Attention
of
By Tsoke (Chuch)
Adjavon
Federal Legislators
WASHINGTON (June
14, 2010)—As battle lines are
drawn over immigration reform, the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) education and
advocacy organization, is
urging Caribbean Americans
to descend on the halls of
Congress on June 24 for its
Caribbean American Legislative Forum. Concerned by legislative measures taken in
Arizona and pending in
other localities, and feeling
shut out of the immigration
debate, the group is heading
to Congress with their own
legislative agenda. The Forum is being held during the
national Caribbean American Heritage Month. ICS has
joined forces with Churches
United to Save and Heal
(CUSH) and the Association
of Small Churches, whose
members will be in attendance.
“With draconian measures being taken in Arizona
and similar laws underway
in other states, Caribbean
Americans must ensure that
our voices are heard by those
in legislative power,” said Dr.
Claire A. Nelson, the founder
and president of ICS, which
spearheaded the national celebration.
The Forum will bring
together Caribbean Americans, public and private sector leaders and experts to formulate an action plan and
legislative agenda surrounding trade and economic development, the green
economy, health reform, immigration and the census. (A
U.S. Census national profile
By Tsoke (Chuch) Adjavon
FM 1825, A New Frontier for
African American and African
Businesses Part I
Pflugerville, located in
the northern section of Travis
County, has seen a rise in
population and business. In
the past ten years, the entire
region of Central Texas, especially Pflugerville has seen a
rapid growth in population.
In 2000, the population of
Pflugerville was approximately 17,000. Now in 2010,
the population of Pflugerville
has surpassed 50,000 inhabitants. In 2000, the racial
makeup of the city was
77.18% White; 9.46% African
American; 0.24% Native
American; 4.31% Asian;
0.09% Pacific Islander; 5.99%
from other races; and 2.74%
from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos were 16.69%
of the population. The city of
Pflugerville has seen a rise of
African American and African small business owners
and also a sharp rise of African and African American
residents. Moreover, these
businesses get little exposure;
consequently, we seek to highlight the countless of African
American and African entrepreneurs who have chosen to
make Pflugerville their headquarters.
On FM 1825, the main
road leading to Pflugerville,
there are numerous small African American and African
businesses. Along FM 1825,
people can find African
Americans and Africans who
own barbershops, hair salons, grocery stores, tax services, clothing stores, restaurants, and hair care products.
For instances, Sista’s Beauty
Supply Outlet owned by
people from Senegal, West Africa, sells human hair, Shea
butter, and also wigs. Moreover,
P’Ville Barbershop, is
also located along FM 1825 is
one of the few barbershops
owned by African Americans
who serve the African American and African community
with haircuts. Although these
are small businesses, they remain a vivid part of the landscape of Pflugerville.
In summary, Pflugerville has
mushroomed into a city in the
past decade. Over the years,
countless of African Americans and Africans have chosen to settle in Pflugerville for
various reasons. Some people
came because of its tranquility and others came because
it’s a safe place to raise a family.
As the African American and African population
continue to grow, so does the
amount of entrepreneurs. In
Pflugerville, several entrepreneurs have chosen to start a
new business along FM 1825
corridor. FM 1825 is the main
road that leads into and out
of Pflugerville and has become the hub for these entrepreneurs. Next week, the emphasis will be placed on these
entrepreneurs who are changing the landscape of the city.
Epicenter
Dr. Claire A. Nelson
partner, ICS is also working
to encourage Caribbean
Americans to be counted.)
Following the session,
attendees will fan out
throughout the halls of Congress, meeting with their representatives. The group will
remind legislators of the significant contributions that
Caribbean Americans, like
founding father Alexander
Hamilton, Colin Powell,
Harry Belafonte, Sidney
Poitier, Wyclef Jean, W.E.B.
DuBois
and
Shirley
Chisholm, have made to the
nation. They will call for an
increase in the number of
temporary visas issued so
that more Caribbean workers
can have equal access to temporary jobs in the U.S.; a reduction in the current immigration services backlog; the
establishment of a pathway
to citizenship or lawful residency status for the undocumented; and a humane approach to deportation that
ensures the security of the
Caribbean region.
Africa’s Time
By Tsoke (Chuch) Adjavon
From June 11 to July 11,
2010 the entire world will
turn their eyes to Africa and
South Africa as they host the
first ever, Soccer World Cup.
During the next thirty days,
people throughout the world
will focus on how the African
continent and South Africa
host one of the largest and
followed
tournaments
throughout the planet. Obtaining the most prestigious
soccer tournament was a very
difficult opportunity for
South Africa to get; however,
this opportunity will demonstrate that the African continent can also host major tournaments. Moreover, having
the World Cup will also prepare the way for other major
tournaments, like the Olympic games. Not only will the
world focus on the host country but also the five other African teams present at the
competition.
As the competition begins, the entire soccer world
will see if the six African nations playing can compete
with the rest of the world.
Moreover, the performances
The African Diaspors Section
of each team will be decisive
to whether or not the “FIFA”
would increase the number of
African countries. In the past,
the critics have mentioned
that the poor performance of
African teams shows that they
should either decrease or keep
the same present number of
African teams. On the other
hand, if all the African teams
perform well then they will be
called to increase their participation level. So far, only the
host country of South Africa
and the nation of Ghana have
played well in this tournament. Moreover, the nation of
Ghana was the first African
country to win their game,
which gives them a chance to
go to the next round.
Not only is the pressure
placed on the various African
teams but also on the organization of the host country,
South Africa. Prior to the tournament, the critics “doubted”
whether South Africa had the
infrastructure to host such a
large event. Some of the questions that they asked were
whether or not the country
could securely host the event?
Also, the critics questioned
whether or not the tournament would make a profit on
the African continent?
If
any European or North
American nation were to
hold these events, then nobody would have ask such
questions. But, so far the critics have been proven wrong.
South Africa has done a great
job of welcoming its guests.
And the stadiums have been
full.
In summary, from the
June 11 to July 11, 2010 the
entire world will turn toward
South Africa and the African
continent. So far, the critics
have been proven wrong
about how well South Africa
has organized these games
and also the good performance of certain African
teams like Ghana and Cote
d’Ivoire. Furthermore, the
performance of South Africa
may also determine whether
or not the African continent
will someday have the opportunity to host the Olympic
Games. The African continent is still waiting for its first
ever Olympic game bid.
Nelson Mandela celebrates after South Africa is awarded the
2010 FIFA World Cup
On June 12, 2010 the
Democratic Party of Travis
County opened a Coordinator
Campaign Center, which
would serve to unify efforts
that would seek to elect Democrats throughout the county
and surrounding areas. The
center would offer various services, such as, conducting
phone banking; block walking; along with all other activities and events associated
with winning elections. Although Travis County is considered to be a “blue” county,
the Democratic Party still
wants to work hard and turnout the most votes that they
can. The Coordinator Campaign Center will be seeking
to register new voters; to inform voters; and to help get
voters to the various polling
places. Moreover, the Coordinator Campaign Center will
be utilized by several candidates.
At the inaugural of the
center, there were several candidates and office holders
present at the event. The
elected officials present in-
cluded Lloyd Doggett of Congressional 25; Elliot Naishat
of Texas House District 49;
Donna Howard of Texas
House District 48; Dawana
Dukes of Texas House District 46; Valinda Bolton of
Texas House District 47; Mark
Strama of Texas House District 50; and the newly elected
board member Tamala
Barksdale. Also, there were
Democratic candidates
present who included: Tim
Sulack for the 353rd Judicial
District and also gubernatorial candidate Bill White.
During the event, the elected
officials spoke about the need
to continue to turn out to vote
and the importance of each
election. Moreover, Tamala
Barksdale used the event to
rally people to vote massively
for the board race. Furthermore, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White used
the event to mention the need
to “fire” our current governor
because of the miss-management of the state. In addition,
he spoke about how the failures of the state government
by the republicans have left
this state in an 18 billion deficit. As a result, these elected
officials and those seeking office will be returning many
times to this office center.
Moreover, Democratic
candidates, like Ted Ankrum
Congressional District 10 and
gubernatorial candidate Bill
White, would seek to utilize
the center to get out the voters. Ted mentioned that the
turnout of Travis County is
essential for him to win in his
district. According to Ted, he
would have won the 2002
Congressional District 10
race, if he had gotten 5% more
of the votes in Travis. As a
result, he understands that
every single effort is needed
to win the 2010 elections.
Furthermore Bill White campaign believes that Travis
County will be essential in
order to win the elections.
Consequently, they have already established an office but
will also work with the coordinator campaign to get the
most votes in Travis County
and the surrounding areas.
The first victory for
Africa football team in
the Fifa 2010 World
Cup. Ghana beat
Serbia 1-0 in the 2nd
half of the match due to
penalty awarded for
hand ball. Ghana is
Africa’s best chance of
reaching the finals of
the Fifa 2010 World
Cup! Well done Ghana!
51st and IH-35 (next ot Dell Children Hospital
1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd., #1230
Austin, Texas 78721
(512) 291-6770
June 18, 2010/The Villager/Page 7
Family of Beaten Teen and Community Leaders
Reject Results of Police Investigation
(NNPA) - The completion of one facet of the investigation into the police beating
of an Indianapolis teenager
has apparently not put the issue to rest – only raised more
questions.A police internal investigation connected to the
May 16 beating of 15-year-old
Brandon Johnson resulted in
the firing of one of the five officers involved, and a letter of
reprimand given to the another. Police said the other
three officers that took part in
the altercation followed police
department guidelines and
would not be disciplined.
Public Safety Director Frank
Straub and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Chief Paul Ciesielski announced the results at a 10:30
a.m. press conference at the
City-County Building in Indianapolis on Thursday, June 10.
Ciesielski recommended that
Officer Jerry Piland, a 3½-year
veteran of the force, be fired over
his aggressive tactics during
the arrest of Brandon and his
14-year-old brother, Vincent
Johnson.
Police said Piland struck
Brandon in the face with an
open hand and may have
kicked him in the face as well
after the teen was under control. Piland was suspended
without pay pending a hearing before the Indianapolis Police Merit Board.
MPD Officer Stacy Lettinga received a written reprimand for
what her superiors said was
using poor judgment in initiating the arrest. Officers David
Carney, Jake Clouthier and Sgt.
Josh Shaughnessy were
cleared of any wrongdoing by
the investigation. Lettinga,
Carney, Clouthier and
Shaughnessy had been placed
on administrative duty with
pay during the investigation.
Piland, who was off duty and
in street clothes when he took
part in the arrest of Brandon,
was reassigned to desk duty .
Indianapolis Mayor
Greg Ballard released the following statement: “The internal investigation spearheaded
by Director Straub and Chief
Ciesielski balanced the real
and legitimate concerns of the
Indianapolis community with
the need to be fair to the officers involved and thorough in
its examination of the facts.
Public safety can only be job
one if the police act within the
letter of the law, the guidelines
of their training, and our fellow citizens and public safety
By George E. Curry
Special to the NNPA from
TheDefendersOnline.com
Brandon Johnson
officers treat each other with complied.
He was then asked to get
mutual respect. This incident
is an indictment of neither the an adult before the officer
courage and bravery of our would speak with him. He
police force, nor the spirit of our went into his home and got his
neighborhoods. I support the 18-year-old brother, Wagner
conclusions of the internal said. When Brandon was
investigation and the disci- asked to stay at a distance
plinary
recom- across the street, explained
mendations.”However, the re- Wagner, Brandon ask the ofsults of the IMPD internal ficers, “Why is my brother in
probe were not acceptable to handcuffs? At that point, Ofthe Johnson family, their attor- ficer Carney approached him,
ney, and several prominent rudely, and said, ‘You are goIndianapolis Black ministers ing, too.’
and community leaders, who With no physical provocation
held a press conference at the whatsoever, Officer Carney
family’s home in Warren clocked him and knocked him
Township about three hours to the ground. When he was
after the police released their on the ground, and this is in
the words of the chief himself,
findings.
The family, who stood Officer Carney grabbed
with their attorney and a group Brandon’s hair and then adof prominent Indianapolis ministered strikes to him. Acministers and community cording to the chief, Carney
leaders, including Bishop T. then continued to strike him as
Garrott Benjamin Jr., made the other officers joined.
Let me give you a little
following demands:
“The remaining four of- translation. An open-hand
ficers involved be fired; a fed- strike is police talk for a punch.
eral monitor of police brutal- From that point forward, adity cases in Indianapolis; an ditional officers joined in. Ofexternal federal investigation ficer Clothier; Officer Piland,
of the case from outside the who was off-duty but who decity; an immediate review of cided to join the fray when he
Then the
police staffing policies to weed arrived.
out nepotism, racism, sexism, three of those officers continand the culture of violence and ued to punch or kick or kneecroynism; and that police in- strike Brandon. Based on this
timidation be halted,” among investigation, only Piland,
who curiously was not placed
other de- mands.
While the family’s India- on administrative leave during
napolis lawyer, Stephen M. this incident, faces disciplinWagner, acknowledged the ary action
.“What about Carney,
gesture of the apology given by
Public Safety Director Straub, who started it all?” asked
the results of the investigation Wagner. “Who knocked my
“are disappointing, to say the client down without any
least,” he said. The investiga- physical provocation whatsotion did confirm many of the ever? What about Clothier,
crucial facts as the family be- who wrote a fanciful report aflieved them to be, Wagner said. terwards in an attempt to cover
The attorney said Brandon the actions of the officers? We
came outside and inquired as all know of Clothier’s history
to why Vincent was in hand- on the department. And what
cuffs. When Brandon was about Shaughnessy, the superasked to remain across the visor on the scene, who should
street from where his brother have stopped the beating;
was being detained, Brandon maybe the only person on the
scene they would have listened to?“
The police chief said that
Clothier,
Carney
and
Shaughnessy followed procedure. If this is proper police
procedure in Indianapolis,
then we need some new procedures in Indianapolis,”
Employment
Wagner said. The family is
Austin Community awaiting the results of the Department of Justice investigaCollege
tion, “and are hopeful that
New Jobs for the
criminal charges will be
Week of 06/14/2010
brought against all officers
Assistant III,
who had a part in this asAdministrative
sault,” he said.
Round Rock Campus
“Until that time, we are
40 hours per week as
left
with
partial justice and
assigned.
what
we
seek
is full justice.”
May include evening and
Brandon’s
mother,
Chantay
weekends.
Chandler, said the internal
$2,256-$2,820/Monthly
Job #1005026
police investigation was a
complete slap in the face to her
Apply at HR
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
son.
6th Floor, Austin, TX 78752
“I am grateful that at
Job Line (512) 223-5621
least
one
bad cop is off of the
hhtp://www/austincc.ed
street
but,
however, it was a
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V
lot of wrongdoing here today
JANITORIAL WORKERS
and there are a lot of officers
NEEDED
that need to be removed as
ISS Facility Services, Inc. has openings for supervisory, floor men, and well,” said Chandler.
Joining the family at the
general cleaners for part-time evening
press
conference
were several
employment. Apply at ISS Facility Services, Inc. Austin, M-F, between 4-6 prominent ministers, includpm, 8101 Cameron Road # 304. ISS ing Bishop T. Garrott BenFacility Services, Inc. is an Equal op- jamin, Pastor M.E. Drane and
portunity Employer (EOE) and pro- Rev. Mmoja Ajabu of Light of
motes a Diverse Workforce.
the World Christian Church,
Save Money.
Rev. Richard Willoughby,
president of Concerned Clergy
of Indianapolis, Pastor Lionel
T. Rush of Greater Anointing
Fellowship, and City-County
Councilor and mayoral candidate Jose Evans.
Advertise in the VILLAGER!
EMPLOYMENT/BIDS/
PROPOSALS /PUBLIC
INFORMATION/ FOR SALE /
FOR RENT/MISC
AUSTIN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE DISTRICT
is soliciting qualifications
for:
RFQ No. 906-1002RS
for Architect/Engineering
Services for Four Projects: Bastrop,
Elgin, Kyle/Buda and San Marcos.
A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held Thursday, June 17, 2010, 10:00 AM at
the ACC Eastview Campus MultiPurpose Hall. Directions, maps and
parking information is available at:
http://www.austincc.edu/evc/ .
Receiving of qualification
submittals will close at 2:00 AM,
July 8, 2010.
All qualifications responses
must be sealed and returned to the
ACC Purchasing Office, ACC Service Center, 9101 Tuscany Way,
Austin, Texas 78754, by the date
and time indicated above. Electronically transmitted responses
will NOT be accepted unless otherwise stated in the documents.
Late responses will be retained unopened.
RFQ packages should be
available 11 June 2010 on the ACC
Purchasing website at www
.austincc.edu/purchase/
advertisedbids.php and also in the
ACC Purchasing Office (512-2231300) between the hours of 9:00
AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through
Friday.
The ACC Board of Trustees
reserves the right to reject any and/
or all bids/proposals/responses and
waive all formalities in the solicitation process
Artur Davis Made History Running for Governor of
Alabama – But Not the Kind He Wanted
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - True
to expectations, Artur Davis’
quest to become the first Black
governor of Alabama made
history.But, contrary to expectations, Davis’ stunning defeat
provides a sharp – yes, historic –
example not only of the cost of
political arrogance, but also the
underscoring for all candidates,
and the national Democratic
Party establishment, the sophistication and power of the Black
electorate.
That’s a vitally important
lesson that Blacks beyond
Alabama’s borders should heed
as the 2010 election season heats
up. The way Davis ran his campaign was a direct challenge to
the efficacy of the Black vote everywhere. After being the only
Black member of Congress to
vote against national health care
reform legislation and refusing
to seek the endorsement of
Alabama’s four key Black political organizations, Davis became
the first African-American campaigning statewide in Alabama
to fail to win a majority of the
Black vote.
African-Americans there
joined the parade of White voters who overwhelmingly rejected his primary bid by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent,
giving their support instead to
Ron Sparks, the state’s commissioner of agriculture. Sparks’ Republican opponent will be determined by a run-off. Davis,
who spent $2.5 million on his
campaign compared to Sparks’
$1.8 million, was defeated so
soundly that he announced that
he is retiring from politics.
“I have no interest in
running for political office
again,” Davis told the Birmingham News. “The voters spoke
in a very decisive way across
every sector and in every section
of the state. A candidate that fails
across-the-board like that obviously needs to find something
else productive to do with his
life.”
Davis’ decision to run for
governor 47 years after Gov.
George C. Wallace made his famous “Stand in the School house
Door” at the University of Alabama in support of racial segregation was anything but productive for the four-term congressman, who went to Washington in 2002 after defeating
incumbent Earl Hilliard.
Sparks outpolled Davis in 61 of
Alabama’s 67 counties, including 10 of the 12 counties that
make up his 7th Congressional
District.
He even failed to carry his
own polling place, Southtown
Housing Community Center in
Birmingham.
Amazingly,
Sparks defeated Davis in predominantly Black counties
throughout the state. He got
more than half of the AfricanAmerican vote in Dallas, Pickens
and Macon counties; more than
60 percent in Lowndes, Hale,
Greene and Marengo counties;
and more than 70 percent in
Wilcox and Perry counties, in
Alabama’s soil-rich Black Belt
region.
In an interview, Hank Sanders, a Black state senator and president emeritus of the Alabama New
South Coalition, said: “[Davis]
made some serious miscalculations. He just felt that Black folks
somehow were going to vote for
him just because he’s Black and he
could vote anyway and do any-
thing he wanted.”
Davis, whose enrollment
in Harvard Law School overlapped Obama’s by one year, led
in the polls by as much as 30
percent at the beginning of the
year. Weeks before the June 1
election, that lead had been
sliced to 10 percent. Still, the
former prosecutor expressed a
confidence that some say bordered on arrogance. Davis
gambled that increasingly voting with Alabama’s ultra-conservative congressional delegation would attract enough white
voters to propel him into the
governor’s office. It was a huge
gamble that resulted in a huge
loss.
Davis had already irked
some of his base by voting with
the GOP in the waning days of
the George W. Bush administration. Clearly, many Black voters
never got past the idea that a congressman representing one of
the poorest districts in the nation
would cast a vote against healthcare reform, especially since it
was such a high priority of the
nation’s first Black president. In
Alabama, Obama had won 98
percent of the Black vote.
In a calculated move to bolster
his standing with Whites, Davis
skipped the endorsement screening process of the four most
powerful Black political organizations in the state: the Alabama
Democratic Conference, the Alabama New South Coalition,
New Jefferson County Citizens
Coalition and the Jefferson
County Progressive Council.
Not only was he the
first Democrat, Black or white,
to ignore the groups, he drew
added attention to his decision
by issuing a press release about
it. Some GOP candidates failed
to appear before the organizations, but they never publicized
their decision for fear of antagonizing Black voters. Subsequently, all four organizations
endorsed Sparks.
Referring to the longtime
chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, Davis declared, “Joe Reed’s opposition
to my candidacy is old news –
but the day of Joe Reed and a
few other power brokers in
Montgomery deciding who
speaks for Alabama Democrats
is over.”
Reed, in an interview
with the Associated Press, said,
“We’ve never had someone to
tell Black folks I don’t want your
vote.”
Blacks make up 26.3 percent of the state’s population, 25.6
percent of the registered voters
in Alabama and nearly half of
voters in the Democratic primary.
“Black voters deserted
him in droves after he deserted
them,” the Montgomery Advertiser editorialized. “It’s called
political payback. Even a rookie
politician should know that.”
State Sen. Sanders said, “To win
any election, you often have to
go beyond your base. It’s important that you stand on your base
so that you can reach higher and
see farther. Instead of standing
on his base, he started kicking
his base. He decided that it didn’t
matter what his base wanted or
what was important to his base.
What was important, it seems to
me, was him.”
Davis was buoyed by polling data leading up to the election. One poll showed him with
a 2-1 favorable rating among
Whites. A poll taken last year
showed that he would run even
with or ahead of the expected Republican candidates for governor. Significantly, 51 percent of
Whites polled said Alabama was
ready to elect a Black governor.
The Davis camp, however, failed
to realize other factors made
Davis’ election as the Democratic
nominee unlikely.
First, there’s “the Bradley
effect,” named after former Los
Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. In
his 1982 bid for governor of California, polls leading up to the
election showed Bradley winning by double-digits. But Bradley lost to Republican George
Deukmejian. Experts attributed
the loss to Whites who falsely
stated they were voting for Bradley so that they would not appear to be bigots. L. Douglas
Wilder had a similar experience
in 1989 when he became the first
African-American elected governor of Virginia. Although polls
also showed him with a doubledigit lead, he won by only onetenth of a percent.
Second, no African-American has ever been elected statewide in Alabama without first
being appointed to that position.
Davis thought he could buck that
trend. But marketing himself as
“the next Barack Obama” was
not a good comparison to make
in Alabama, a state carried by the
Republican candidates for president in eight straight elections.
No Democrat has carried the
state since Jimmy Carter, a
Southerner,
in
1976.
Only 10 percent of Whites in Alabama voted for Obama in 2008,
the lowest percentage in the nation. Nationally, Obama won 43
percent of the White vote.
Political scientist Ron Walters
observed: “Davis should have
taken a lesson from the campaigns of David Dinkins or
Harold Washington or Doug
Wilder’s election as governor of
Virginia and other Blacks who
ran for citywide or statewide offices where Blacks were in the
minority. They also had the necessity to build outward from
their base to achieve interracial
political coalitions but did not
decide to junk the Black vote in
the process and go for the White
vote hoping that some Blacks
would follow and build a coalition.”
In the aftermath of Davis’
fall from front-runner to humiliated loser, political autopsies are
being performed by political experts
and
the
media.
In an editorial, the Birmingham
News stated, “There is reliable
data to make the case that Blacks
did indeed abandon Davis for the
more progressive Sparks, who
campaigned on instituting a state
lottery and said he would have
voted for health-care reform had
he been in Congress. … If nothing else, those results show the
Black vote cannot be taken for
granted anymore in Alabama.
Just ask Rep. Artur Davis.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
DISADVANTAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
Capital Metro hereby announces its Fiscal Year 2011 – 2013
goal of twenty-three percent(23%) for Disadvantaged Business
Enterprises (DBE) participation in federally fundedcontracts.
A description of how this goal was established is available
for public inspection Mondaythrough Friday from 9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. at the Capital Metro Offices located at 323 Congress
Avenue, Austin, Texas for forty-five (45) days following this notice.
Capital Metro will accept informational comments for a period of thirty (30) daysfollowing the date of this notice. Address
comments to: Capital Metro DBE Officer, 323 Congress Avenue,
Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78701, Dated: June 3, 2010
Page 8/THE VILLAGER/June 18, 2010
Villager Sportsville
Boxers Display Skills in Matches at Givens Center
By George Hardin
SportsBeat
Joe Hodge of The KO!
Experience staged a boxing
show Saturday, June 12, at
Givens Recreation Center.
More than 50 boxers from
about 16 clubs throughout
Central Texas took part in a
series of matches than ran
from 1 p.m. to about 6 p.m.
Individual bouts were all
two minutes or less. Boxing
categories included smaller
kids in the 64-pound weight
group all the way up to
youth weighing in at 198
pounds.
Hodge said the event
was sanctioned by USA
boxing and the South Texas
Amateur Boxing Association. “We’re just giving kids
an opportunity to showcase
their talents,” he said. “A lot
of people see boxing as a
physical and brute-force
type of skill, but basically
it’s a game of discipline
where we teach kids to stay
Mile Station (Color)
HEB (color)
focused. Don’t let your feelings and your emotions take
over your actions [we tell
them]. We want to give them
an opportunity to compete
against each other in a
sportsman-like manner.
“This is the second
year that we’ve had this
event, Hodge said. “We’re
going to continue to do it as
long as we can help kids
out.”
Hodge said, “I
trained with Ann Wolfe
and Pops Billingsley in
East Austin. I had dreams
and aspirations of becoming a pro boxer, but I suffered an eye injury that
could have left me blind. I
had to give it up, but my
heart was still in boxing so
I decided to create an avenue for kids. I have a passion for working with kids;
I love boxing so I just
wanted to mix the two.”
He teaches boxing and
martial arts at local schools
and also conducts personal
training classes at St. James
Missionary Baptist Church.
He said the martial arts instruction is designed “more
to defend yourself than be
the aggressor.”
Ann Wolfe, a longtime
Austin boxer and trainer
and Hodge’s mentor, said
she had two entrants from
her organization, By
AnnBETSY
Wolfe BLANEY, Associated Press Writer
Boxing and Fitness Gym,
boxing on the card Saturday—Greg Gutierrez and
Robert Gutierrez. Wolfe is
one of the few females in the
nation who has had significant success in training male
boxers.
One of Wolfe’s boxers
present for Saturday’s event
but not participating was
Kurtiss Colvin. He said, “My
pro record in 2-0—two firstround knockouts. As an
amateur I was on the Olympic committee.
I was on a U.S. boxing
team. I was ranked third in
America and I was No. 1 in
Texas for like three years. I
turned pro because I
couldn’t travel the country
like I wanted to.”
Colvin is among a
number of boxers who will
be taking part in a series of
matches sponsored by Wolfe
Pack Productions Saturday,
July 10, at 7:30 p.m., at the
MIXING IT UP==Fernando Andrade and Greg Gutierrez go after each other at Givens RecreAustin Music Hall.
ation Center in a match sponsored by The KO! Experience. Photo by George E. Hardin
The event is billed as
“The Next Generation” and
will feature Ann Wolfe’s
daughter, Jennifer Wolfe, as
well as such boxers as
Calvin Shepherd, Johnny
Arelllano, Trey Romero and
By George Hardin
Van Ro. Live music will be
SportsBeat
provided by Patrice Wilson
and the Ben Burgess Band.
More than 300 kids
Camp Aids Kids’ Success
in Football and in Life
(TOP) TIPS FROM THE EXPERT—Girls as well as boys are
welcome at Chris Houston’s Football Camp. Houston gives pointers to two young participants. (BOTTOM) SHOWING THEIR
STUFF—Two football campers are put through drills under the
watchful eye of Chris Houston, left rear, as others observe the
action. Photos by George E. Hardin
had a busy day of learning
drills and techniques to help
them become better at their
game at the Chris Houston
Football Camp Saturday,
June 12, at Lyndon B.
Johnson High. The camp is
similar to many others held
throughout Central Texas
except instead of costing
participants it is free. Houston is a former running back
and cornerback at LBJ. As a
senior he made six touchdowns and rushed for 426
yards.
He operates the camp
under a group called Athletes Achieving Moral Excellence. Helping out are
volunteer coaches, including Demo Odems, head
coach at LBJ, counselors,
parents, teachers and others. The aim is to help the
children “grow spiritually,
mentally, athletically and
athletically,” Houston said.
“This benefits the kids that
might not have the funds to
pay for a camp. I was one of
those kids so I’ve gathered
them all here and we’re basically taking them through
the drills of offense and defense and individual drills.
We also give them a talk
about the things they have
to do if they want to be something in life.” Houston, 25,
said, “I got a handful of
scholarship offers my 11thand 12th-grade years: Oklahoma, LSU, Arkansas, and
Texas recruited me. But a I
chose Arkansas because of
the recruiting coach.” Houston played collegiate football at the University of Arkansas from 2003 to 2006.
As a junior he was a Pro
Football Weekly All-American and won honorable
mention in the All-Southeastern Conference second
team. He entered the NFL
draft after his junior year
and was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the Round
2, 41st Pick. As a defensive
back he was traded to the
Detroit Lions on March 8. In
his non-football activities, a
cookie was recently named
for him at Gooden Sweet
Gourmet Treats.