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The last two of several
posted DPS jobs I offered (fruitlessly) to do for free were the ombudsman job (never filled) and the job coordinating alumni relations which Gloria Cunningham now finally holds again. Gloria worked with me as a fellow teacher and admin- istrator at Finney High School between 2003 and 2008. Earli- er, when I was DPS’ executive director of community affairs (before CEO Ken Burnley’s then-chief of staff fired me for whistle-blowing), I had worked with Gloria in her capacity of coordinator of alumni rela- tions.
In an unusual twist during
my subsequent interview for that job, I actually recommend- ed Gloria for it even though we both were applicants, because I knew that Gloria was a natu- ral for the position. Now that she has that alumni job, big things are going to happen in the department of alumni rela- tions. Under her leadership and with financial manager Robert Bobb’s full support, DPS has already begun to har- ness the efforts of its alumni to help raise academic achieve- ment and have an overall posi- tive impact on students.
Gloria’s goal is to create
alumni associations in schools that don’t have them and co- ordinate the disparate fund- raising enterprises in various schools by reaching out to alumni, community groups, the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, and non-prof- its such as the Detroit Track Old-Timers (DTOT), which I co-founded in 1992 with Col. Aaron Gordon. Our 267 mem-
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
DPS, DTOT seek community help for programs
(DTOT’s new president) and WSU governors Richard Bern- stein and Gary Pollard support the concept.
WSU plans to restore its
Telford’s
Telescope
By John Telford
bers are mostly former PSL athletes.
One enterprise where Glo-
ria’s department can become involved is in DTOT’s push to get a fieldhouse built in the city, predominately for track. Detroit is the only city our size east of the Mississippi River that doesn’t have one.
We would love to see DPS
and WSU and their administra- tive and alumni leaders, Mayor Dave Bing, Wayne County Ex- ecutive Robert Ficano and the commissioners, WCCCD and representatives from local pro- fessional teams and other cor- porations get around a table and devise a way to collabo- rate to make that fieldhouse a reality.
When I delivered the toast
for the fiftieth reunion of my 1958 WSU class, I mentioned this collaborative concept to WSU president Jay Noren, and he found it intriguing. County commissioner Keith Williams
track program, WCCCD needs to institute a program, and DPS is improving its high school and middle school programs under vibrant new athletic di- rector Alvin Ward. All of these entities — plus the age-group boys and girls programs DTOT supports — could share the fieldhouse. Detroit has been a hotbed of sprinters since the Eddie Tolan and Henry Carr eras.
Three female and thirteen
male sprinters from the PSL competed abroad on U.S. na- tional teams, and all except me were African American. Just think how a fieldhouse would enhance the success of Detroit’s many talented but trouble-bound young speed- sters and keep them running on the track instead of run- ning from the police or run- ning drugs.
Gloria Cunningham and
Alvin Ward are supportive of DTOT initiatives. Now they have an opportunity to foster this one. Gloria will also serve as a strategic liaison between the schools, the thirty al- ready-active DPS alumni asso- ciations and other community groups for the salvation of our youth in many more exciting endeavors yet to come.
Dr. John Telford is the ex-
ecutive director of Team for Justice. Get his revealing memoir on Detroit at Barnes & Noble, or at www.Alifeon- theRUN.com or at Harmonie Park Press at (586) 979-2077.
Detroit teen musicians sought for drunk driving awareness CD
Thirteen-year-old singer/
songwriter Becca Levy has a plan. And so far it seems to be working out.
The Washington, DC native
has just entered her teens a few months ago.
With a mindset and a re-
solve that seldom come at such a young age, Becca turned to the best way she knows how to make a statement: her music.
“I have been lucky enough
to be named national spokes- person for the Stop Drunk Driving Now Kids Saving Kids CD campaign,” she said.
Fourteen-year-old Sug-
arland Texas resident Sean Hardin was recently selected to represent the Houston area.
A total of 30 artists from
across the country will appear on a digitally distributed CD, and the music of these talent- ed young people will be avail- able for free downloading by anyone in America.
When people visit the page
to hear the music, they will see a host of messages — designed by high school and college students — about the brutal costs of drunk driving and prevention messages.
“This is another weapon in
our drunk driving prevention arsenal,” said Ronald Bellanti, president of Boston-based Illu- mina Records and the founder of the Kids Saving Kids pro- gram. “The earlier we start kids thinking about not get- ting behind the wheel drunk, the better.”
The artists that appear on
the CD will all be under the age of 18. That means that the music will not only be created by young artists but geared to young listeners — the very people we need to start soak- ing in these messages.
“I am very excited to join
forces with Detroit’s many tal- ented young performers,” said Becca. “This is a great way for kids from across America to work together and save lives. To be able to achieve that through our music is amaz- ing.”
The uniqueness of this op-
portunity is not lost on the artists.
“What better way to use my music than to save other kids’ lives?” Beccaq said. “Drunk driving affects every- one regardless of his or her age. I hope you will join me in this fight. Together we can all make a difference.”
To submit your music for con- sideration you must submit a MP3 or a WAV file of one of your songs. Also include your age, hometown, and your par- ents’ contact information. You must be 18 years old or young- er and must have at least one recorded original song to submit. You can submit your music at: ksksubmit@stop-
ddnow.com
You can learn more about Becca Levy and hear her music
now
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at www.beccalevy.com You can see more on the
Kids Saving Kids requirements at www.myspace.com/ksk01.
March 24-30, 2010
Page D-9
AARP: African Americans Age 45+ hit particularly hard by economic recession
By Thomas E. Kimble
While millions of Ameri-
cans have experienced hard times during the economic re- cession, the environment for many African Americans age 45 and over and their families is particularly difficult, accord- ing to a new survey by AARP.
The survey, which is part of
AARP’s continued look at how Americans age 45 and over are faring in this economy, found that over the past 12 months, a third (33 percent) of African Americans age 45 and over had problems paying rent or their mortgage payment, and 44 per- cent had problems paying for essential items, such as food and utilities. Nearly twice as many African Americans age 45 and over lost a job than the general population (18 percent vs. 10 percent), and almost one in four (23 percent) lost their employer-sponsored health insurance.
We have seen the devastat-
ing impact that this economic recession has had on the Af- rican-American community – lack of job prospects, prob- lems paying for basic needs including medical care, and families struggling to make ends meet.
African Americans have
taken some positive steps to lessen the sting of the reces- sion. Half of those postponed plans to travel and two-thirds (67 percent) cut entertainment expenses. Even in the tough employment environment, 12 percent of African Americans age 65 and over returned to the workforce from retire- ment, while 19 percent of Afri- can Americans age 45 to 64 in-
family members about financ- es. Eighteen percent had a child move in for financial rea- sons, and 44 percent helped a child pay bills or expenses. Almost one in five (18 percent) helped a parent pay for basic necessities. African Ameri- cans age 45 and over were more than twice as likely as all Americans age 45 and over to seek financial assistance from family, friends, charities and churches (28 percent vs. 13 percent).
This survey shows that
Thomas E. Kimble
creased the number of hours worked and 12 percent took a second job.
The recession has driven
many African Americans to make hard choices now that may lead to serious problems down the road. Raiding your nest egg or ending contribu- tions, even in the short-term, will have long-term conse- quences because you will have less time to make up the losses. Cutting back on your health care can compromise your health now and lead to higher health care costs as you age.
Faced with the extraordi-
nary impact of this economy, African Americans age 45 and over are more likely to turn to family or the community for assistance, and are more likely to help family members and friends cope with financial hardships.
About one in five African
Americans age 45 and over (22 percent) consulted friends or
people are managing as best they can in this economy and reaching out for assistance from family and friends. Mil- lions of Americans are hurt- ing today. The good news is that there are many resources available to help people get back on track, and to help families make the best deci- sions for their health and eco- nomic future.
AARP offers free online re-
sources, publications and in- formation on events to help Americans cope in this econ- omy, available at www.aarp. org/realrelief. These include AARP Real Relief, which offers a wide range of tools to help people look for work, manage finances and find public ben- efits; financial tip sheets that help people save and plan for retirement; and the 2010 AARP Financial Freedom Tour, which features workshops and financial advice clinics for Af- rican American and Hispanic communities in particular.
Thomas E. Kimble is an ex-
ecutive council volunteer for economic security and work for AARP Michigan.
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