May 2013


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Virginia Earns 'A' Grade from Small Businesses for Second Year in a Row


The Hampton Roads Messenger


3


Life-long Dream of Attaining Degree Becomes Reality for Local Cancer Survivor


When Judy Eve


Lawrence-Lamb puts on her cap and gown this month and graduates magna cum laude from Norfolk State University, it will be the culmination of a dream that she has striven toward for 44 years.


Thumbtack.com, in partnership


with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, has released the second-annual Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey showing that Virginia continues to be a top state for small businesses, earning an 'A' grade for the ease of starting a business in the state and an 'A' overall.


The Thumbtack.com Small


Business Friendliness Survey is the only survey to obtain data from an extensive, nationwide universe of job creators and entrepreneurs in order to determine the most bus ines s - f r iendly locations. While there are various “business climate rankings” that rate locations as good or bad for business, there are no others that draw upon considerable


data


from small business owners themselves.


“For the second


year, Virginia set an outstanding example of providing a supportive environment for small business,” said Sander Daniels, co-founder of Thumbtack.com. “Our research with thousands of small businesses points to the importance of clear and consistent regulations and relevant training programs, and these are exactly the areas where Virginia excels.”


Some of the key findings for


Virginia include: Small business owners ranked


Virginia #6 for its overall business friendliness, up from #7 last year. In comparison to Virginia's 'A' grade, Maryland was middle-tier with a 'C'.


The state also received an 'A' grade for its licensing regulations


Your Family's Health Some neighborhoods do not have


FROM PAGE 2


safe playgrounds or sidewalks, so children are forced to spend their free time indoors. Sitting instead of moving makes it that much harder to maintain a healthy weight.


So what can you do to change this? Start by making a list of the


improvements you could make in your community, and then get together with your neighbors and local leaders to discuss how you can make those ideas a reality.


Many communities have started by


improving access to and maintenance of local parks; requesting safe and usable bike paths and sidewalks; asking


and tax codes, as well as an 'A' for its training and networking programs. Additionally, Virginia was ranked #4 for the quality of its online business resources.


Nationally, professional licensing


requirements were more important to small business owners than taxes in determining a state’s overall business- friendliness, confirming the findings from last year’s study.


"The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has been quite helpful, as have the various municipal departments I deal with. Many complain about the personal property taxes here, but it seems to keep other fees down, and I think that helps business overall. It's been a very positive experi- ence running a business in the region." - Builder, Virginia Beach


African-Ameri-


can and Hispanic small business owners were more likely than their white counterparts to encourage others to start a new business.


The top ranking


states overall were Utah, Alabama, New Hampshire, Idaho, and Texas. The lowest rated were Illinois, California, Hawaii, Maine and, in last place, Rhode Island.


cities


Among major nationwide,


the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metro earned an A+ as the #2 city for small business. Richmond also fared well with a B+ overall grade. Washington DC and Baltimore received a 'B' and a 'C' grade, respectively.


Virginia's lowest mark was an A- for its zoning regulations.


“It is critical to the economic


health of every city and state to create an entrepreneur-friendly environment,” said Dane Stangler, director of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation. “Policymakers put themselves in the best position to encourage sustainable growth and long-term prosperity by listening to the voices of small business owners themselves.”


for healthier meals and more physical activity at school; and exploring how to address a lack of nutritious food options and grocery stores.


For other tips on how to live a


healthier lifestyle, go to the We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition)® website: www. wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov. We Can! is a science-based program developed by the National Institutes of Health to provide tools and strategies for parents, caregivers and entire communities to help children—and whole families— maintain a healthy weight.


So, open your eyes to the


possibilities of how even small steps— establishing a community-wide walk-to-school


program, for


example—can make a big difference in your family's and your community's health.


On that day, the 62-year-old Lawrence-Lamb—a daughter, mother, wife, grandmother, great- grandmother, student and two-time cancer survivor— will finally have her college diploma. A diploma that she said is more than a piece of paper to her, it is a living and breathing document that embodies the inspirations and aspirations of her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren and generations yet unborn.


While cloaked in the pride and


joy of her family, Lawrence-Lamb’s day will be even sweeter and more poignant, because her 37-year-old son, Allen L. Boddie-Chapman, a single father of four, will graduate summa cum laude from Norfolk State at that same ceremony. An Honors College Parsons Scholar, Boddie-Chapman will get his degree in political science. She praises her son, whom she said has had his own challenges. “Allen has been able to graduate with honors while setting an example for his children,” she said. “They love and respect him and he has helped me and has been dad to his deceased brother’s children.”


Over the four decades since she


graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk, Lawrence-Lamb tried several times to get her college degree. After high school, she attended Bronx Community College in New York, but dropped out when she married at 19. As the years passed, she attended the Stenography Academy, as a way to provide a better life for her family. But struggle and tragedy seemed to keep her from her dream. Lawrence-Lamb found herself back in Virginia, as a single parent. She attended Paul D. Camp Community College several times, taking a class here and there as often as she could.


Finally in 2009, at 58 years old


and after suffering the death of a son, Lawrence-Lamb set about attaining her dream. “It was no longer about me,” she said. “I decided to do it for


Judy Eve Lawrence-Lamb


my family. As a result of Allen and me returning to college, my daughter and granddaughter have returned to school and are planning to transfer to NSU. Both are maintaining a 4.0,” said Lawrence-Lamb.


But tragedy would strike again


by way of a call from her doctor telling her that she had breast cancer. Through an aggressive treatment and mastectomy to eradicate the cancer, Lawrence-Lamb continued to attend Norfolk State—and miraculously maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She even served as the president of the Golden Key International Honour Society. As she made her way to her final semester, bad news came once again. Her cancer had returned.


Still she kept her resolve to finish,


taking classes online because of her weakened immune system due to intense chemotherapy. Lawrence-Lamb continues to press on, focusing on her future. She is currently attending Norfolk Theological Seminary and College and writing a novel.


She is grateful for the support


that she has found at Norfolk State and especially from Dr. Clarence Coleman, advisor for Golden Key. “Dr. Coleman told me something that I hadn’t heard since my father died. He told me, ‘I believe in you,’” said Lawrence-Lamb. “I found some very good people at Norfolk State that I will never forget. They showed me that they cared about me.”


This Mother’s Day, show her how special she is—


remind mom to schedule a mammogram today.


Breast cancer is a scary topic, but our community health advisors can help break through the confusion. Call 757.493.7943. It’s the gift of life.


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