community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 2-8, 2009 Page A-5
Final 2009 Michigan Chronicle Legacy
Michigan mental
in Motion Award winners announced
The Michigan Chronicle has finalized the importantly, those who
illness health cuts
last of its 2009 Legacy in Motion award win- have fostered the great-
By Mike Scott
cost savings realized by the In addition those mental
ners. The Legacy in Motown in Motion gala est change within our
continues to celebrate Detroit’s own newsmak- community.
First of two parts
cuts. health patients who do have
ers, cover stories, and those who were placed
“above the fold.” The individuals outlined
Each of these men

“If this bill does pass, my
insurance often do not receive
According to Elijah Lyons, question is how they are going
adequate coverage for mental
below in addition to those previously named
faces serious challeng-
voices in his head told him to pay for the cost of medica-
health illnesses, something
are prime examples of the great things we have
es in their respective
to rob two banks and drink tions for tens of thousands of
common among many insur-
to celebrate in 2009 and hope for what is to
roles and the decisions
household cleanser and weed residents around the state,”
ance providers, Sanders said.
come in 2010.
that they make are cru-
killer to end his life. He has said Roberta Sanders, CEO
There is often a lifetime maxi-
cial to the turnaround
been to prison and unable to of New Center Community
mum built into most health in-
Family Spirit
that Detroit so desper-
function in everyday life, but Mental Health Services in De-
surance plans that can quickly
ately needs to make.
know he lives independently troit, a behavioral health orga-
be reached when regular medi-
Our 2009 Family Spirit award goes to the
Facing a budget defi-
with the help of several dif- nization for consumers, staff
cations are needed.
Jenkins Family of Jenkins Construction. Led
cit of $306 million, stu-
ferent psychotropic drugs to and the metro Detroit commu-
by the father, James B. Jenkins Jr., sons James
“If access to medicines
dent enrollment falling
treat his schizophrenia. nity.
III and Rodney, along with daughter, Nieco also
disappears, mental health
Robert Bobb
an alarming rate, and
help guide the company’s operations.
But without those drugs, There is both a financial
patients will still be forced
accountability at an all
Lyons shudders to think and a personal element to
to get treatment from some-
While it is a full service general contracting
time low, many thought
where he would be at today. this issue. Financially cut-
where, Sanders said, and that
and construction management firm, it extends
that the task that lay
And the Detroit resident’s ting costs could mean that
often means more trips to the
beyond construction. Jenkins Construction at-
ahead of newly ap-
ability to get those drugs may patients around the state that
emergency room, community
tempts whenever possible to engage the local
pointed Detroit Public
be impacted in the coming rely on prescription drugs to mental health facilities and
youth via an internship program which pro-
Schools Emergency Fi-
weeks by budget-cutting ac- help treat schizophrenia, bi- other inpatient care. These
vides the opportunity for the youth to learn a
nancial Manager Robert
tions being taken in Lansing. polar or other such mental types of healthcare are signifi-
skilled trade.
Bobb was insurmount-
able. That’s because the status
diseases would not be able to cantly more costly than treat-
In addition to its worksite opportunities, of mental health services in
get any state funding to afford ing mental heath conditions
Jenkins Construction is also supportive of
However, just 275
the state of Michigan may be
the drugs. The monthly cost with the appropriate medica-
many community service organizations.
days into his tenure,
Bobb’s commitment to
adversely and irreversibly im-
of such drugs can range from tions.
pacted if a bill that would cut
$600 to 1,500, Sanders said.
The challenges for health-
Company of the Year
turning DPS around has
already begun to show
state funding of mental health Lyons estimates the care providers who predict
Fifth Third Bank Southeastern Michigan has its fruits. The start of
services by $600 million is monthly costs of his drugs to a statewide disaster if such
been named the 2009 Legacy in Motion Com- the school year saw
passed by the state legisla- be more than $700.
funding is cut off is that it is
Dave Bing
pany of the Year. some of the district’s
ture.
“What you will see is that
difficult to quantify the costs
schools exceeding en-
Healthcare providers from such a move could force a phy-
of these patients being treated
This award celebrates the company that has rollment expectations,
around the state are rallying sician and the patient to con-
at a higher level of the health-
demonstrated excellence within its industry in November voters ap-
against House Bill 248, which sider other products that the
care continuum, Sanders
based on numerous factors including overall proved a $500.5 million
could have a disastrous impact state defines as preferred,” Re-
said.
market potential for the company’s products capital improvement
on the treating of mental instein said. Preferred drugs
and/or services and the organization’s commu- program to rebuild or
“Treating these illnesses
health illnesses around the are generally recommended by
nity-facing initiatives. completely renovate 18
with newer medications that
state. While the intent of the an advisory board established
are proven to help patients is
The recognition of Fifth Third Bank is testa-
schools as part of the
bill is to cut costs from a state by the governor called the
the cheapest, most preventa-
ment to the company’s consistent support in
district’s mission to
budget that has been forced Pharmacy and Therapeutics
tive way to handle this situa-
various community initiatives and the encour-
create Centers of Excel-
to undergo massive changes, committee. That committee
tion,” Sanders said.
agement it gives its employees to participate in
lence in every school
those against the bill say the then communicates those rec-
community service work.
in every neighborhood,
financial and personal impact ommendations to the Michi-
and the audits and fi-
To Be Continued...
on mental health patients will gan Department of Community
Executive of the Year
nancial reviews ordered
by Bobb have saved the
far outweigh any estimated Health, Reinstein said.
Our Executive of the Year award celebrates
Anthony F. Earley
district nearly $20 mil-
an individual who has demonstrated outstand- lion.
ing professional achievement and through out-
standing leadership and community service has
Bobb, who came to Detroit with more than 30
significantly enhanced or improved the lives of
years of executive management experience in
others.
the private and public sectors, has demonstrat-
ed a passion for not only tackling the financial
Tony (Thomas K.) Brown, is a shining exam-
woes of the district but improving all aspects of
ple.
the academic experience for DPS students. It is
for this passion and an unwavering dedication
Brown, who is group vice president of global
to seeing what’s right get done for the students
purchasing for Ford Motor Company, is respon-
of Detroit that Robert Bobb has been named as
sible for approximately $90 billion of produc-
a 2009 Newsmaker of the Year.
tion and non-production procurement for Ford
operations worldwide. In addition to his corpo-
Since first taking office as mayor if the city of
rate responsibilities, Brown is active with sev-
Detroit, Dave Bing’s popularity has ebbed and
eral community betterment organizations.
flowed based upon the decisions he’s made.
But the one thing that remains consistent is
Sam Logan Lifetime
his commitment to improving the city’s bottom
line. Bing remains steadfast in doing what is
Achievement Award necessary to for the city to recover.
Named for the Michigan Chronicle’s publish- Mayor Bing has often said that he is not a
er, the Sam Logan Lifetime Achievement award politician but a man driven to public service for
commemorates a person whose achievements love of a city he’s invested in for more than 30
have impacted their industry, their community years and despite any challenges faced, he will
and those around them over a breadth of time, not rest until Detroit is on the right path.
as well as in 2009.
“The Legacy in Motion awards process is not
This year’s award goes to Anthony F. Earley,
one taken lightly,” said Sam Logan, publisher,
chairman and chief executive officer of DTE
Michigan Chronicle. “The individuals that are
Energy.
chosen for the Legacy in Motion awards are
beacons for our entire community and it is
Earley has been in his current post since with the utmost care that we make these selec-
Michigan Historical Board Commissioners
1998 and has an impressive career of accom- tions.”
plishment within the energy sector. As a
The Michigan Historical Board Commissioners. Pictured (front row, from left) are Thomas
former chair of the Nuclear Energy Institute,
The Michigan Chronicle will celebrate its
Truscott, James McConnell, Edward Surovell and Thomas Farrell. Back row (from left): John
he has played an active role in revitalizing the
2009 Legacy in Motion honorees at its annual
Dempsey, Michael Ranville, Samuel Logan Jr., Sandra Clark and Lamont Corbin.
U.S. nuclear industry. Currently, he is also
newsmakers gala on Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. at the
chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI),
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit. The
the trade association of investor utilities. He
annual celebration is presented by the Michi-
serves on the board of directors of many promi-
gan Chronicle and its parent company Real
The final word on
nent organizations.
Times Media. This year’s gala is sponsored
by St. John Health System, MGM Grand De-
Newsmakers of the Year
troit, Good People Popcorn, Jackets for Jobs,
Marygrove College, and DTE. being ‘thankful’
The Michigan Chronicle is proud to an-
Individual tickets can be purchased for
nounce that it has named Detroit Mayor Dave
$200 each or $350 per couple and includes a
By Dr. Chad Audi
in somewhere, in a cabin, re-
Bing and Detroit Public Schools Emergency
six-month digital subscription to the Michigan
solved to spend his last days
Financial Manager Robert Bobb as our 2009
Chronicle. Table and event sponsorships are
The last report on the na-
eking out an existence, and
Newsmakers of the Year. Our Newsmaker of the
also available. Visit www.michronicle.com or
tion’s employment status by
living on capital previously
Year awards celebrates not just the individuals
call (313) 963-8100 to purchase tickets or for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics
collected, the loss of some of
who have dominated the headlines but more
more information.
shows Michigan leading the
his stores by plunder would
nation again in unemploy-
probably have worried him
almost to death.”
Why you should care about a
ment rates, with a rate at 15.3
percent in November 2009.
How we respond to “losing”
There is no one in Michi-
some of our resources for
pending FCC rule change
gan who hasn’t been impacted
God’s work depends upon
by the realities of Michigan’s
whether we are on the move or
status as the hardest hit state
waiting for our last stand.
By Karen A. Love
unavailable or prohibitively Universal Broadband: Flex-
in the union.
CHRONICLE COO
expensive. That isn’t to say ible Broadband Pricing and
Some of us at this time
that African-Americans aren’t the Digital Divide,” by Robert
Families with employed
have been blessed with more
In Washington, the Federal
using broadband. A Pew In- Shapiro and Kevin Hassett, in-
wage-earners continue to
than enough to meet our daily
Communications Commis-
ternet study found that 48 dicates that broadband pricing
wonder if they will remain em-
needs. Why not think about
sion is considering a rule that
percent of African-Americans models that make those who
ployed, those on unemploy-
whether holding tightly to
could make it more expensive
have used the Internet on a use the most bandwidth pay
ment wonder if unemployment
Dr. Chad Audi
what you have today can pos-
for you and your neighbors
handheld device and that Af- more could help the U.S. reach
benefits will be extended long
thanks. sibly benefit you some distant
to get broadband Internet
rican-Americans are now 70 its universal broadband goal
enough for them to find anoth-
Thomas Hearne of Dorset,
tomorrow.
access at home. It might keep
percent more likely than White sooner. The consumption-
er job, and tens of thousands
England was considered one If you share, you will give
broadband out of your neigh-
Americans to access the Inter- based pricing model would
of families have lost jobs and
of his school’s least intelligent others around you a reason to
borhood. Now, you might not
net using a wireless device. also make it easier for price-
unemployment benefits in the
students. He became a hero thank.
think that’s important, but it But wireless broadband
sensitive consumers to afford
last month alone.
of Arctic exploration when
is and here’s why. isn’t enough. You can’t do
broadband Internet services.
Thanks to funds received
These are hard times.
he reached the Arctic Ocean
Net neutrality would eliminate
recently from the United
by land, making an extraor-
Broadband Internet access
homework, apply for a grant,
consumption-based pricing.
As so many face this un-
Way of Southeastern Michi-
dinary 1,300 mile trek into
at home can improve your life.
or take distance learning
certainty and hard times, we
gan through federal recovery
It can connect you to train-
classes on a phone. You need In the absence of net neu-
the frozen wastes of north-
recently enjoyed the holiday
act funds, DRMM will be in-
ing, education, health care,
broadband Internet access at trality, private companies have
ern Canada. Employed by the
designed to give us a chance
terviewing people who have
and community news in ways
home to do many of the things poured resources into the ex-
Hudson’s Bay Company, there
to offer up our reasons to give
become recently unemployed
nothing else can. More than
that make broadband so valu- pansion of broadband avail-
was a time when he was hunt-
thanks. For many, it is a time
for their eligibility to receive
two-thirds of Americans think
able. ability. The roughly 1,400 U.S.
ing for copper and the fabled
to gather with family and enjoy
food baskets during the next
broadband is an important tool The Obama administration
broadband service providers
North West Passage between
a meal. For others, it is a time
six weeks. Call (313) 993-4700
for finding out what is going has made universal broad-
have invested about $120 bil-
the Atlantic and Pacific. With
to turn to God in heaven and
for Temporary Unemployment
on in their communities, ac- band access a priority, and the
lion in communications net-
the help of guides, and carry-
say thanks for all the good
Food Benefits.
cording to the Pew Internet American Recovery and Rein-
works in the last two years, ac-
ing a 60 pound pack on his
that happened and perhaps
and American Life Project. vestment Act of 2009 directed
cording to a study by Empiris.
back, as well as heavy survey-
for all the bad that did not
You need broadband if you’re the FCC to develop a national
Net neutrality would curtail
ing instruments, he eventually
happen. The holidays remind
going to remain competitive broadband plan that speeds
that investment. According
found and followed the Cop-
us of what we have and that
with people who use it to find the deployment and adoption
to an FCC estimate, it could
permine River until he finally
those things did not come to
and apply for the jobs you of broadband. Regrettably, the
cost $350 billion to build out
stood on the shore of the par-
us by our own hands, but from
want, to do the homework that FCC is considering applying
high-speed fiber broadband
tially frozen sea in July 1771.
God. The real act of Thanks-
gets them ready for college, so-called net neutrality regu-
throughout the United States.
He told how a few days after
giving takes our mind off our
they had started on their expe-
to find out about colleges and lations to wireless broadband. All Americans deserve to
wants and focuses them on
dition, most of their supplies
apply for admission, to apply The regulations would slow experience the economic,
our blessings. It allows us to
were stolen. His comment on
for loans, to talk with their private investment in broad- educational and social ben-
recognize the many blessings
the apparent misfortune was,
Visit our website
doctors, or to get the latest band infrastructure and raise efits that come from a broad-
that come our way each and
“The weight of our baggage
news about polling places on the cost of both wireless and band connection. And the FCC
every day.
for more stories
being so much lightened, our
election day. wired broadband for consum- should focus on increasing
The word “thank” came next day’s journey was more
and articles
But too many Americans —
ers, pushing it out of the reach broadband deployment and
to those who speak English, swift and pleasant.”
throughout the
especially in communities of
of more Americans. adoption. Now is not the time
German and Danish from an
color — have been left behind. Net neutrality would pre-
to apply net neutrality to wire-
How is it possible for some-
old English word that means
week!
In poor urban neighborhoods vent service providers from
less broadband and widen the
one to take an attitude like
“think.” The power of the
and low-income rural areas in charging Internet users for
divide between those have
that in the face of loss?
mind that we have been given
particular, broadband Inter- the amount of bandwidth they
routine access to broadband
by God is that by thinking, we
Lloyd C. Douglas, writing
net access at home is often use. A recent study, “Towards
at home and those who don’t.
can truly become people of
about Hearne’s experience,
www.michronicleonline.com
said, “Had Hearne been holed
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