12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 8 Number 12


August 2014 Around Hampton Roads


Justice Department Settles Discrimination Lawsuit Against the


Chesapeake Police Department WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced recently that it has reached an agreement with the City of Chesapeake, Va. regarding an employment discrimination lawsuit filed in 2006. Pending court approval, the consent decree will settle the government’s lawsuit that alleged that the city’s hiring practices for entry-level police officers have an unlawful disparate impact on African-American and Hispanic applicants, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000 et sec.


“Any test used to select public safety officers must select the best and most qualified candidates without unfairly screening out qualified candidates,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We are pleased that the City of Chesapeake has taken steps to ensure that its hiring practices comply with the requirements of Title VII.”


The consent decree was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title VII’s prohibitions extend to neutral hiring or employment practices that result in a disparate or unequal impact on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and that are not “job-related” as defined by law.


The complaint alleged that the City of Chesapeake violated Title VII by using a mathematics test as a pass/fail screening device in its selection process for entry-level police officers. According to the complaint, the city’s pass/fail use of the mathematics test was not job-related because it did not predict whether an applicant was able to successfully perform the job of police officer. The city’s use of the test, however, resulted in a disparate impact on African-American or Hispanic job applicants. The Justice Department did not challenge any other parts of the police department’s entry-level police officer selection process.


Under the terms of the proposed consent decree, the City of Chesapeake will create a fund to provide back pay to African-American and Hispanic applicants who were denied employment solely because of the city’s use of the math test as a pass/fail screening device. The city also will provide priority job offers for African-American and Hispanic applicants who are currently qualified for the entry-level police officer job but were screened out solely because of their performance on the math test. The city will provide retroactive seniority to such hires when they complete the training academy. In addition, the city agreed that, while it will still use scores on the mathematics test in combination with applicants’ scores on other tests, it will not prospectively use the mathematics test as a stand alone pass/fail screening device.


The continued enforcement of Title VII is a priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt/.


HU Journalism Educator Retools


Skills in the Newsroom Hampton University’s B. DaVida Plummer is working with CNBC this summer as a part of the International Center for Journalists' (ICFJ) “Back in the Newsroom Fellowship.”


Plummer, director of the HU William R. Harvey Leadership Institute and an assistant professor in the HU Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, is one of five educators from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) selected to participate in the program.


"In many cases, newsrooms have changed more rapidly than journalism education," said ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan. "This program will help schools keep up with the technological transformations redefining the news industry."


“The fellowship draws educators out from behind the walls of their institutions of higher learning and pushes them into the open universe of digital content generation,” said Plummer. “This program forces educators to rethink and retool their teaching strategies and course design. In doing so, fellows are becoming catalysts for change in academia, armed with newly acquired skills, practical experience and a renewed focus.”


The program provides HBCU educators the tools and opportunities to learn and explore new ways of journalism through media’s natural evolution. Educators are able to share their new techniques and experiences with students, further preparing students for such a competitive industry that is lacking newsroom diversity.


Last month Plummer wrote the most engaged story on CNBC.com, “Debt addiction: Red is not the new black.”


“If you love the craft of journalism, college educators may have to learn to love how the business of media has evolved too,” said Plummer.


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Asset Based Community Development Training in


Newport News Build Community Leaders and Transform Your Neighborhoods


Do you see things in your neighborhood that you would like to see changed but don’t know who is a neighborhood leader that can help you? You can BE that neighborhood leader.


On Friday, August 8, 2014, 6-9 pm and Saturday, August 9, 2014, 8 am-1 pm a free, two-day workshop will help you to develop the neighborhood leader skills needed to promote that change. The two-day workshop will be held at the Warwick Memorial UMC, 38 Hoopes Road in Newport News.


Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a powerful and inclusive approach to community development.


Learn how to focus your efforts on discovering and mobilizing the resources that are already present in your community.


When people become more productive together - they exercise their power to address problems and realize dreams!


The interactive dialogue and introductory training combines theology, theory and practical tools and skills around engaging our communities. The training will provide guidance into how to discover your city faith, how to look for the assets and signs of hope in your neighborhood, how to be a champion for the people in it and how to be a catalyst of hope and transformation in your community. Professionals and community workers are also invited to attend to learn about the ABCD model and how to become involved in the ongoing work.


Norfolk Health Dept. Offers Free


“Back to School” Dental Screenings Norfolk, VA – Just in time for the new school year, the Norfolk Department of Public Health is currently offering free “Back to School” dental screenings at the Little Creek Dental Clinic, 207 East Little Creek Road, Norfolk, VA 23505. These free dental screenings are available to young people between the ages of 1 and 20 years and are offered Monday through Friday mornings, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For additional information, call the Norfolk Public Health Dental Clinic at 757-531-2133.


No registration or appointment is needed to be screened. Patients can simply walk into the Little Creek Dental Clinic during the specified hours.


Seeking Nominations for the 22nd Annual Gladstone M. Hill Friend of


the Arts & Humanities Award Portsmouth, VA - The Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission seeks nominations for the 22nd annual Gladstone Hill Friend of the Arts Award. The nominee should meet the following criteria: Nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to the arts and humanities in Portsmouth through advocacy/appreciation, volunteerism, cash and/or in- kind contributions, membership in cultural organizations, purchase of art, attendance at performances and exhibitions in the community.


Your letter should include ways that the nominee meets the criteria and why the nominee is deserving of receiving this award. The deadline for submission is August 8, 2014. For more information, call 757-484-7449. To see a list of past winners please visit www.childrensmuseumva.com/ portsmouth-fine-arts-commission.html.


Please send your nomination letter to:


Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission 521 Middle Street Portsmouth, VA 23704


TowneBank to Acquire Franklin


Financial Corporation Suffolk & Richmond, Va.– Hampton Roads-based TowneBank (NASDAQ: TOWN) and Richmond-based Franklin Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FRNK) announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which TowneBank will acquire Franklin.


“Our Towne family is humbled and excited to join hands with a legendary company that has served the greater Richmond community for over 80 years,” said G. Robert Aston, Jr., Chairman and CEO of TowneBank. “Since the founding of Towne in my home garage fifteen years ago, we have built our company around the values of “serving others and enriching lives” while striving to build a great community asset. We consider it a wonderful privilege to expand our business to Richmond and we are grateful to Rick Wheeler and our friends at Franklin for the invitation to join with them.”


Based on financials reported on March 31, 2014, the combined companies would have total assets of $5.9 billion, deposits of $4.1 billion and loans of $3.8 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, common shareholders


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