Priceless Vol 6 Number 11
SunTrust Bank Sponsors Small Business Workshop
Page 8
Senator Yvonne Miller Leaves Behind a Legacy of Dedication
Senator Yvonne
B. Miller, an African American trailblazer in the Virginia General Assembly, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. Born in Edenton, North Carolina on July 4, 1934, she was educated at Norfolk Division of Virginia State College; Virginia State University (B.S.); Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A.); and the University of Pittsburgh (Ph.D.). A career educator, Senator Miller began her teaching at Young’s Park Elementary School. She then taught as a professor of early childhood education at Norfolk State University and later retired as Professor Emeritus in 2000.
Personal and Professional Empowerment
www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com
Serving Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach since 2006
Kaine Shares Economic Vision with Women
Page 2
Music Mogul Empowers Industry Dreams for Youth
Alisha Brooks launches a music and entertainment community for kids VIRGINIA BEACH, VA –
Current Virginia Beach resident, Alisha Brooks is not your typical next door neighbor. Standing six feet tall with dreadlocks, oversized jeans and a simple black t-shirt bearing the words ‘What’s Your Dream?’ across the front, has compelled many to quickly pass judgment on Brooks for her looks alone. However, Brooks is the CEO of a local music and entertainment organization for kids in Virginia Beach as well as a platinum- selling songwriter most known for penning “Pon de Replay,” the song that landed pop superstar, Rihanna her record deal in 2005.
Growing up in Newark, New Senator Yvonne B. Miller As a political leader, Senator
Miller has been at the forefront of the fight to make Virginia a better place for children and their families. She has championed programs to address a variety of societal ills; created services to help prevent youth suicide; care for children who were exposed to drugs prenatally; intervened in the support of handicapped infants and toddlers; secured health insurance for the uninsured; strengthened the kinship care principles related to foster care; and restoration of voting rights for ex-felons. She was first elected in 1984 to serve in the House of Delegates
and was elected to the Senate in 1988, becoming the first woman to chair a Senate committee. Finally, she is the longest serving woman in the Senate where she has served since 1988 and the longest serving female in the legislature.
Senator Miller is a Life
Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Member of the National Education Association; National Black Caucus of State Legislators; Council of State Governments; Public Safety and Justice Task Force; Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability;
Youth
Commission; Labor, Military and Veterans’ Affairs Policy Committee; and Criminal Justice Services Board. She is survived by her sisters, Elsie B. Lewis and Rosa Bond both of Norfolk; six brothers, James Bond (Paulette)
LEGACY OF DEDICATION PAGE 14 THIS EDITION’S HIGHLIGHTS
Your Opinion Editorial Career Opportunities Hampton Roads Upcoming Events Scholarships Watch
Combating Federal, State and Local Budget Woes Landmark Victory for Minority Health
Cox is Hiring! TowneBank Wins Community Steward Award Task Force Meeting for Norfolk Neighborhoods National All-Around Student Scholarship
5 4
10 12 13 11
Jersey, Brooks had always been a fan of music, but after giving birth to her son at only 15 years old she became even more involved with melodies and rhyme. Through hard work and determination, Brooks was connected and inspired by industry heavyweight, Vada Nobles and wrote “Song Pon de Replay”. Several months later and only 24 years old, Brooks received a call while working as a server, that Jay-z had signed a Barbados singer and her first single was entitled “Pon De Replay.” Reaching number 2 on the billboard charts within weeks, Brooks and Rihanna reached a major turning point in their careers.
Bryant & Stratton College’s Graduation
Free July 2012
Page 9
Alisha Brooks Photo by Belladonna Reese
Alongside writing for other artists
including Victoria Beckham and Melanie Fiona, Brooks parted from mainstream industry for a few years and returned with a unique vision and the idea for Dream Little Dreamer evolved in 2008. The company is a safe opportunity for kids and teenagers to learn how to be superstar
MUSIC MOGUL PAGE 6
Advocates Hail Supreme Court Decision-- Worry at Law’s Shortcomings
BY PAUL KLEYMAN Initial reactions to the U.S.
Supreme Court’s general upholding of the health care reform law Thursday ranged from the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) heralding the decision to conservative groups, such as the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, decrying it as “a victory for those who want the Federal government to micromanage your life and medical care.”
Buzzing beneath the first bluster
of reactions, though, advocates for uninsured or underinsured Americans are raising concerns about the impact — if any — of limitations on the high court’s decision.
Chief Justice’s Surprise Swing Vote First, here’s what the court decided: The
200-plus-page judgment breaks down into two major parts. In a 5-4 majority opinion written by conservative stalwart Chief Justice John Roberts, who became the surprise swing vote,
the court upheld the law’s provision mandating that individuals have insurance or pay a penalty.
The decision states, “The Affordable
Care Act’s [ACA] requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax.”
Roberts thus accepted the Obama admin- istration’s secondary argument that compelling
COURT DECISION PAGE 11
Grassroots activists gathered at the Supreme Court. Photo courtesy of the National Committee to Save Social Security and Medicare
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16