An advocate for our Community: Jonathan MacArthur by Joseph Abraham

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Jonathan MacArthur: Candidate for Justice of the Peace in the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Why is it significant that an African American be elected to the bench in North Las Vegas?

North Las Vegas is the most culturally diverse working class and predominantly Democratic area of the Las Vegas Valley. The 2010 U.S. Census was revealing. Even though 19% of the demographic is and has been African American, and over 37% of population is now Latino, there has never been an African American or Latino judge elected or appointed to the North Las Vegas courts. This fact includes both the municipal and county court systems. The majority of defendants who appear in North Las Vegas courtrooms every day are black or Latino.

Judges decide cases that involve very personal issues. These issues are often decided by a combination of law, facts and values. Values do not exist in a vacuum, but rather should reflect community values. In North Las Vegas, over half of the population is completely unrepresented in the administration of justice. Those same communities often complain that they feel confused, fearful or abused when they come into contact with law enforcement or the courts; and there has been a lack of sensitivity to the people who make up our city because the leadership does not share their culture, their experiences or even their desire to participate in the civic affairs of the urban core.

Justice requires that judges, and the structure of the bench as a whole, be impartial. Judges with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints reduce the likelihood that only one perspective controls the final outcome. Respect in government for the voices of all of the various groups who make up our community is an idea whose time is long overdue.

Walk me through the average day for Jonathan MacArthur, an attorney, a candidate, a big brother.

I suppose my day is not that different from those of many other people, except for the political campaigning portion of my day. Monday through Friday, I go to work representing clients in the criminal courts of the Clark County Regional Justice Center from 7:30 AM until midday if I’m not in trial. I talk shop with my peers at lunch and prepare my calendar for the next day until about 6 PM. In the evening, I call the homes of voters from my office phone and introduce myself, asking for their vote. Or, I call other attorneys in my field and ask if they would make a donation to support my campaign to improve the justice system.

On Wednesday nights, I learn sign language, relax with friends, and forget about the worries of daily campaigning. My little brother, Joseph (18), wants to become a certified sign language interpreter after he graduates from Las Vegas High School this year, so I take him with me. Joe is also my most tireless volunteer. When it’s time to knock on doors on Saturday morning or catch movie on Sunday, he’s always there. We’re tight like that.

How did your military service prepare you to serve as Justice of the Peace in North Las Vegas?

Serving in the military reinforced my already deep respect for the differences between people that are part of what makes this country great. Being part of a unit often means taking actions that will likely place you in harm’s way for the benefit of the mission or your squad. You don’t act hoping that you might get a medal. You act knowing it’s for the greater good. In a perfect world, elected officials should think the same way. Matters of conscience sometimes require putting one’s own safety and comfort on the line for the preservation of justice and democracy.

I was the beneficiary of a system that was demanding, but also structured to encourage each member to succeed. Justice for everyone, everyday can be a system that helps people by ensuring a fair and timely process, acquitting the innocent and punishing the guilty while encouraging those that can be rehabilitated onto a better path in life.

The vast majority of sitting judges in Clark County served as prosecutors before taking the bench. Explain how, as a career defender, your perspective may be different than their perspectives?

There are two sides to justice, right? There is punishing the guilty, but there is also protection of the innocent. We should work to protect our citizens from crime, rehabilitating those we can save and incarcerating those we can’t. But in doing so, we must also guarantee the due process rights of the accused.

To bring balance to the bench, you want jurists that come from both sides of the aisle. When judges are discussing matters in chambers amongst each other, they all benefit from a variety of perspectives. From a defense point of view, one is more likely to hear arguments that support civil liberties, arguments that hold government accountable, or arguments that test whether a police officer’s conduct is appropriate. Without balance, the underrepresented are quickly disadvantaged. Racial minorities, women, and the poor are quite familiar with what can go wrong in the justice system when the deck is stacked on one side. Courts must ensure that the laws are abided by both the individual and the government. Therefore, we must remain vigilant that the people don’t fall through the cracks of our society, overlooked and subsequently forgotten.

What did your experience in the 2008 campaign teach you that will benefit your race this cycle?

I learned a couple of things. First, I learned that you can’t take anything in a political campaign for granted. While we live in a democracy, it’s the candidate’s job to go out into the community and meet the people, explaining to them why they should vote for him/her. Doing that takes a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money. Many voters have been disappointed so often that they no longer believe that going to the polls is worthwhile. My job is to bring them back into the fold.

Second, I’ve learned that there are always people who are invested in the system continuing “as is”. You can expect push back if your trajectory promises to change the status quo, so you’ll need a tough skin, the support of your community, and the knowledge that you’re becoming the change you want to see.

How can members of the Community support your campaign?

There are a lot of ways. Financial support is always welcome. Supporters can make donations via my campaign website at www.JonathanMacArthur.com. Even small donations add up. That money will go to get the word out on campaign signs, mailers, etc.

They can also “like” my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JonathanMacArthurNLV and via my campaign website. (Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way and talk to your friends and neighbors.) Next, volunteers are greatly appreciated for phone banking on Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5 – 8pm, or for neighborhood canvassing on Saturday mornings, 10am – 1pm. For additional information, please call (702) 868-2724. Lastly, please vote in the primary election on June 12th. Early voting begins May 26th.

New Appointment to the NNPA Board of Directors

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by Ron Busby, Sr. of the U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has been representing the Black Press for nearly 70 years. Today, more than 200 newspapers serving Black communities across the country take part in the organization. As the newly appointed member of the Board of Directors, I am honored to be a part of a vital organization that has done so much to serve the African American community in America.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association came together in 1940 when John H. Sengstacke requested a meeting with other Black newspaper publishers in Chicago. The plan was to discuss advertising and editorial problems as well as the ever-present racial difficulties they all faced. The goal was to help organize a path to success for black publishers in America.

The first newspaper in America published by African Americans was Freedom’s Journal back in 1827. The editors were two free African American citizens: Rev. Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm. In the first issue of their publication, the editors proclaimed, “Too long have others spoken for us…We wish to plead our own cause.”

This proclamation is one that we all should keep in our hearts. We cannot sit by and let others do all the talking for us. It is time to stand up and prepare to speak on our own behalf, because that is how we reach the path of success.

In the USBC, one of our Five Pillars of Service is Advocacy. We fight for legislation that will enable the growth of Black-owned businesses and tackle the challenges that we face as minority business owners. We must reach out to our fellows across the country and the most effective way to do that is through the Black Press.

With this new appointment to the Board of Directors, it will be easier to convey our message to African American communities through the more than 200 Black newspapers in publication. Issues that concern the whole of our community can be discussed over a wider audience. This will only help us to better serve the business community at large.

It is important for African Americans to see that our news is still relevant to the country. Through the news, we can create a wider network for entrepreneurs. People holding onto the dream of business ownership can connect with each other and find the resources they need to make those dreams a reality. In fact, the upcoming NNPA Mid-Winter Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 18th – 21st, 2012 is the perfect opportunity to make some lifelong connections. We hope to see you there!
It is an honor to work with a man of character and integrity. Cloves Campbell is a proven policy maker and a pillar in the Black community. He truly understands the importance of boosting Black businesses and I am looking forward to supporting him. Together, we will strive to bring NNPA up to date and into the 21st century with technology and the world of social media.

With his guidance, we can be assured of making a mark in Washington, D.C. as well as the history of this country. It is my hope that, in this new role, I will be able to garner the influence needed to improve the role of Black businesses in our country.
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About the U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.: The U.S. Black Chamber, Inc. (USBC) provides committed, visionary leadership and advocacy in the realization of Black economic empowerment. Through the creation of resources, education, and initiatives, we support Black chambers of commerce and business leagues in their work to develop and grow Black enterprises. We are an economic force and represent a powerful constituency. There are 1.9 million privately held Black-owned businesses across every industry sector in the United States. We employ over 921,032 persons, and generate $137.5 billion in annual revenue.

To learn more about the USBC, our advocacy agenda, and our national network of Black chambers, please visit www.usbci.org.

Wrapping up 2011 and Kicking Off 2012

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by Yvette Williams, Caucus Chair/Founder

Happy New Year, Nevada!

What an exciting end to 2011!  First, the Clark County Democratic Black Caucus honored Commissioner Lawrence Weekly for his service to the community at the Second Annual Obama Brunch on October 1 along with recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their sustained commitment to community service.

Honorees receiving a gold designation included Sammie Armstrong, Loretta Harper, Janet Hurd, Katherine Joseph, Roosevelt Thompson, Shawina Tims, Dave Washington, and Andrea Woods.

Silver designation included Maurlin Hampton, Maurice Page, Judge Frank Sullivan, and Tyrone Thompson.

Bronze designation included Patricia Grimes Davis, Ardeller E. Roberts, and Juanita Simpson.

Youth recipients all received gold designation and included Isaac Myles, Shavon Turner, Alyse Williams, and Dominique Bordeaux Williams. A special group award was presented to BCON Baccalaureate Graduation Program for their volunteer service to our graduating seniors. Congratulations to all of the award recipients for this national honor.

The community joined us at our Fourth Annual Kwanzaa Dinner Gala and Dance on December 30 to end the year in African-American tradition with a delicious soul food buffet, fantastic drummers and entertainment, and a wonderful Kwanzaa ceremony where everyone participated.  Our “Warrior Award” was presented to Assemblyman Joe Hogan for his continued leadership and commitment to equality and justice for everyone, and in particular for his work with the CCDBC on NDOT’s Diversity Pilot Program.  City Councilman William Robinson was honored with a special award for his 28 years of service to the City of North Las Vegas.

To kick off the New Year, we hope the community will join us at the M.L. King, Jr.  “Family Resource Fair” on Saturday, January 14 from 11:00am to  2:00pm at the Clark County Government Center.  This FREE event is an “official” M.L. King Week event, and is sponsored by NV Black Caucus Foundation in association with Department of Family Services and hosted by Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani.  Community partners include Clark County Democratic Black Caucus, Courts Catalyzing Change, C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster youth), Metro, Clark County Fire Department, The Ministers’ Alliance, Churches of Southern Nevada, and the Eighth District Court Family Division (sponsoring the Kid’s Zone).

More than 50 family resource agencies will provide resources that families need, as well as information and education on what’s available in the community to assist families.  Featured attractions will include free hot dogs and drinks, Bounce House, Slide and a Fun Kid Zone, the Fire Department’s “Smokehouse,” free legal advice, musical performance by Equality (featured on X-Factor), and door prizes.  Bring the family for this free event.

January brings us another presidential election year, and Nevada remains an early voting state.  This year the Nevada Democratic Party will host precinct caucuses on January 21, with the Republican Party following suit on February 4. Registered Nevada voters can participate, but only within their stated party affiliation. However, same-day registration is available to those seeking to participate in the Nevada Democratic Party Caucus. Although some rules may vary depending on party affiliation, the voting process is very similar. Precinct voting is a very informal proceeding, in which neighbors living in the same precinct gather to discuss and vote for the candidates of their choice. For more information or to register to vote online, go to http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote

Although Nevadans have long held caucuses as part of the presidential nominating process, it was in 2008 that the state became a focal point with its new designation as an “early state” caucus, due in large part to the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford; both lobbied on the growing and increasingly diverse population that made Nevada the best choice to represent the West.

Unlike the 2008 presidential caucus, the Democratic Party has one candidate in 2012.  President Barack Obama is running for re-election, so when you caucus you’ll show your support for his candidacy as the Democratic nominee.  And although it’s possible to lose the precinct caucus and still win the state delegates (as witnessed in 2008 when Barack Obama pulled out a victory with 1,365 delegates or 55.04% of the support vs. Hillary Clinton with 1,112 delegates or (44.84%), we want to have a good showing from our community.  For more information or to locate your Democratic caucus location, go to http://pledgetocaucus.com/

Meetings are underway to establish the African American 2012 Platform that the CCDBC will lobby to include in the Nevada Democratic Party Platform at the state convention, and we hope African-Americans that are members of the Nevada Republican party will do the same.  An African-American Platform should represent the concerns and issues important to the local community.  During the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the Clark County Democratic Black Caucus was honored to be recognized as a contributor in the national platform adopted at the DNCC.  If you’re interested in providing input please contact Yvette Williams at (702) 596-2559.

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The CCDBC is the largest political organization in Nevada focusing on effective representation in government and advocacy for positive policy impacting the African-American community.  The CCDBC meets the third Monday of each month at the Alexander Library located at 1755 Alexander Rd., NLV. To contact Yvette Williams directly call (702) 596-2559 or email ccblackcaucus@gmail.com.  Voter registration is always available to the public at ALL CCDBC meetings and events.

 

Health Advocate Awards Recognize Unsung Heroes in the Field of Health

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by Kathi Thomas-Gibson

For Community Partners for Better Health

Each year Community Partners for Better Health hosts its annual “Health Advocate Awards” luncheon; it is a great opportunity to recognize “unsung heroes” within the community who give of themselves in ways that impact the lives of underserved groups, individuals, businesses, and the overall well being of the community.  Proceeds are committed to support prevention programs for chronic disease, and eliminating health disparities through education and other prevention initiatives.

You are invited to join us at this year’s celebration on Wednesday February 22, 11:30am at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Rd. CPBH is very grateful to Geoff Johnson, Proprietor, Outback Steakhouse, 7380 S. Las Vegas Boulevard who has graciously partnered with CPBH as the Sponsor of our lunch each year. Geoff’s concern for the health of the underserved community is evident in his conversation and action. Please patronize his fine establishment whenever you are dining out.

The annual awards honor professionals, citizens, faith community organizations, and individuals who are committed, and indeed work tirelessly, in their pursuit for excellence. We are celebrating those who have positively impacted lives through their unwavering and persistent work in the area of health with in the Southern Nevada Community. Nominees will be selected in the following categories: Educator, Health Agency, Faith Community, and Community Citizen, plus special recognition for some pioneers in health awareness, education and prevention.  Feel free to nominate those you know who labor among us and are deserving of recognition in the field of health care, health services, health education or some form of health outreach.

February being Black History Month, the luncheon will also feature a segment of entertainment dedicated to commemorating black history.

Award Criteria

Eligibility – Educator

Be an educator who, through his work, has made an exemplary contribution to improving the health status and well-being of people in Southern Nevada.

Eligibility-Health Agency

Be an organization based and operating in Southern Nevada that has made a significant dedication of time and resources to working with communities in southern Nevada – particularly communities of color – in addressing and solving health issues in the community.

Eligibility-Faith Community

Be an individual or church health ministry who, through their efforts, has made a substantial contribution to its faith community by implementing programs that provide health disparity awareness, and healthy living education.

Eligibility-Community Citizen:

Be an individual who, through his efforts, has made a substantial contribution to improving the health of the Southern Nevada community – particularly communities of color.

Eligibility-Special Achievement 

An individual, group, or organization who, through their efforts, has made a unique, outstanding contribution toward prevention and/or improving health that does not fit into one of the above categories but is worthy of recognition.

Eligibility-Health Advocate Pioneer

An individual who, through his efforts, has made ground-breaking contributions that in some way lay a foundation  in the health arena upon which those to come will/or can build upon for disease prevention, improve health outcomes, contribute to healthy lifestyles or perhaps great strides toward eliminating health disparities.

Supporting Documents

Nomination Forms can be obtained through Community Partners for Better Health’s website: cpbhlv.org. Along with this form you may submit pertinent documents for review by the selection committee in selecting the recipients of the 2012 CPBH Health Advocate Awards. Please include activities, accomplishments, and contributions which demonstrate a consistent and passionate effort that goes “above and beyond” the standard call of duty.  Explain, where applicable, the results and impact of the nominee’s effort. Include such detail as what, when, and where such situations/incidents occurred. Please attach the candidate’s bio, or resume, and other germane supporting documents, i.e., letters of recommendation, or commendations, news articles and/or any supporting information or honor they have received.

Mail To:

Community Partners for Better Health

Attn: Awards Selection Committee

700 Lola Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89032 

About Us:

Community Partners for Better Health, Inc. (CPBH) is a diverse, membership-based collaborative non-profit comprised of health care providers, health care professionals, faith community members, and other citizens united in a common cause.  Community Partners for Better Health, Inc. serves to ensure equal access to health opportunities and care for people of color in Southern Nevada. The mission of CPBH is:  “To empower people and the community with the necessary knowledge and tools to improve health, quality of life, and eliminate health disparities.”

CPBH is structured as a coalition with collaborative partnerships among community stakeholders and at all levels of the healthcare industry. The Community Partners for Better Health niche is the community of faith. Our extensive and strong relationship with large communities of faith ensures that we are the bridge for our social service, for-profit and health care service providers to reach targeted, underserved communities. Many mainstream health organizations increase the success of their outreach and education programs by partnering with Community Partners for Better Health.  We all work together to reduce health disparities in communities of color.

What is “health disparity” you may ask?  Answering that question and addressing this issue is the primary reason Community Partners for Better Health exists. The first attempt at an official definition for “health disparities” was developed in September, 1999 in response to a White House initiative. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the direction of then-director Dr. Harold Varmus, convened an NIH-wide working group charged with developing a strategic plan for reducing health disparities. That group developed the first NIH definition of “health disparities”: Some definitions include: “Differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.” – National Institutes of Health, 1999

“A population is a health disparity population if there is significant disparity in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival rates in the population as compared to the health status of the general population”. – Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act, United States Public Law 106-525 (2000)

Communities of color suffer disproportionately from diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, strokes, infant mortality, and several other chronic disease categories. We must take a very proactive approach to dealing with our health.

For more information about the Awards Luncheon or CPBH programs, call (702) 256-2724 or fax to (702) 256 -2470.  Tickets can be purchased from Community Partners for Better Health, 700 Lola Street, Las Vegas, NV 89030. You may also visit our website at www.cpbhlv.org.

 

Letter to the Membership: Is Capitalism Out of Time?

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by Frank Hawkins, Jr., President

Definition of ‘capitalism’: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.

I saw a movie this week (In Time) which used time instead of money to show the greed and lack of compassion and empathy for other human beings that capitalism has created. It was amazing how the rich could never amass enough time and the poor lived from hour to hour trying to survive. In the movie, when you run out of time you would die. The plot of the movie centered on the poor kid who converted the rich girl, and they spent their time trying to give time (life) to poor people to keep them alive. The moral of the story:  Even when you have a century of time it’s not enough for some people. Too many people want everything including the ability to live forever at anyone and everyone else’s expense; others just want to survive the day.

America defines success as the acquisition of personal wealth.  This philosophy teaches men and women to compete for themselves rather than cooperate for the good of the family and community.

NEGATIVES OF CAPITALISM

Capitalism teaches individualism, “Help yourself, not others.”

-          Breaks down your self-esteem by color, hair texture, weight, height, money, job, car you drive, neighborhood you live in, size of your house, and the type of clothes you wear.

-          Conditions people through TV, Radio and Advertisement EVERYDAY.

-          Debt is acceptable . . .  You deserve it, you are an American.

-          The top 500 largest companies in U.S. spend billions of dollars to influence elected officials, Congress, Senate and the President to protect their profits.

-          It’s only about the money – Profit, Profit, Profit.

-          Capitalism teaches Private Profit – Socialize Risk.

Capitalism without the ability to fail isn’t capitalism; it is too big to fail.

“Silent No Longer” on equity and justice for all people.

Setting Your Sights Higher

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by Gerald Curry

We are fortunate to reach another year and to be living in the times that we are.  We have more social conveniences and technological apparatus that are designed to make our life easier than ever before.  At the end of each year, several television networks take inventory of those who have passed on, and the many significant events that occurred during the previous year.  With all the news on economic trouble and unemployment in our country, it is hard to see any progress that has been made.  I am going to ask you to take a moment to personally reflect on your personal status and decide where you are.  While you are reflecting, take an honest review of your friends, relatives, co-workers, and people in your inner circle to see if they are a help or hindrance.

Start this year by ridding yourself of toxic things and people.  Work hard to have better thoughts, actions and deeds. Developing your thinking requires a lot of work and consistent practice.  One exercise I do daily is find a quiet place to pause, for no more than five to ten minutes, and to purposefully focus on all the things and people in my life I should be thankful for.  I call this my gratitude moment. Many times while doing this I reflect back to when I was a child and times were spent without responsibility.  After completing this task, I begin to think about what task needs to be accomplished, and who I need to assist in getting those things done.  This focused approach allows me to see the path I need to take, and the people who can keep me on track, a little clearer.

When people interrupt me during my daily pursuits, I never deny my undivided attention from them, I just limit the interruption.  I also let them know that there is something I am working on and, while I respect their desires, I really need to get back to my work.  Please understand that if it is a person who has authority and someone you respect, like a guardian, teacher, spouse, a child or other person near and dear to you, then you must sacrifice your time and cater to their demand.  Always pick up where you left off on the task and completely finish what you started.  If you do not have time to finish it on the day you started, take a note and complete it on the next day.

I have decided to make 2012 a banner year by increasing the number of things I am going to complete, and I am going to improve the quality of my progress by holding myself accountable.  Being accountable is one of the most critical elements of successful living.  You may be able to fool a lot of people, but you can never fool yourself.  I can recall having a conversation with a colleague a few years ago and complaining about a current situation, and my colleague commented, “Stop complaining because you are where you want to be!”  I was initially stunned and upset with his assessment, but after deeply thinking about it, he was right.  Had I done what I needed to do years and months prior to that event, a different outcome surely would have unfolded.

I was directly responsible for that current situation and my colleague’s comments reminded me that “failing to prepare is preparing to fail!”  This principle is very important when trying to set your sights higher, especially when trying to complete personal and professional promises you make, both to yourself and others.  Taking an honest assessment of your current situation is vital to knowing where you are and determining where you want to be.

Set your sights higher so your tomorrow is better than your today.  Hold yourself and others accountable for what needs to be done.  Stop making and accepting excuses for things and people when things go wrong, and start accepting that things are the way they are because you need to insert more judgment, time, resources, and make better decisions.  You may not be able to change the world, but you can surely change and improve the way you see things.  We tend to judge things from our own limited perspective, and as we learn more, and gain more exposure, our perspective grows.

Take time now by becoming a better you!  Figure out where you want to be, and start surrounding yourself with people with similar ideas, and equip yourself with the necessary resources required to accomplish your goal.  The world is waiting on you to unleash your power and improve your inner circle by setting your sights a little higher.  Break from the norm and become a better you!

 

I won’t stop working for a brighter future For Nevada’s African-American community.

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by US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

For most of us, the last few years have been difficult. They have required all of our might just to keep our jobs, stay in our homes, and weather the tough economic times that we’re slowly putting behind us.  In times like these, we rely heavily on our family and friends for their support as we hope for better days ahead.

Recently, we lost a friend, an advocate and a pioneer who did everything he could to support the people he served as the first African-American Clark County Commissioner.  I was saddened to hear that Aaron Williams had passed because he helped shape Nevada through his tireless work for our community.

Our communities will only become stronger if we create opportunities to work. My number-one priority remains job creation, especially for the African-American community, and helping grow small businesses, many of which are led by African-American owners.  We all know the unemployment rate is too high, but it’s significantly—and unacceptably—higher for African-Americans.

Just a few months ago, President Obama proposed a jobs plan that the NAACP strongly supported.  Called The American Jobs Act, the President’s plan would have created thousands of jobs by revitalizing schools, infrastructure and neighborhoods and would have prohibited employers from discriminating against unemployed workers.  It would have targeted funding at the lowest income school districts and prevented layoffs of public school teachers.  Yet, when I proposed this plan in the Senate, Republicans blocked it from even being debated.  Never mind voting on this plan, we couldn’t even debate it.

Despite strong Republican opposition over the last few years, Democrats and President Obama have been able to extend unemployment benefits for more than 2.8 million African-Americans so that they may keep feeding their families and paying their bills. These benefits have helped families keep food on the table and pay their bills but I will not rest until every Nevadan who wants a job has one. No family, especially not young children, should go hungry or without a bed to sleep in because greed on Wall Street wreaked havoc on our state’s economy.

The fact remains, though, that more than one-third of African-American children live in poverty. One way for these children to enjoy a better quality of life is through education, which is why I’ve been an ardent supporter of Federal Pell Grants.  Some in Washington, as recently as last summer, attempted to cut these education grants that nearly half of all African-American students rely on to fund their schooling.  We thwarted these efforts and actually increased Pell Grant funding to make them available to 800,000 more students.

While we’re seeing some signs of an improving economy in our state, we still have a ways to go.  The decisions we make this November will have long-lasting consequences for our economic and overall well-being for many years to come, so we must remember those people who, like Aaron Williams, will keep fighting for middle-class Nevadans.  I too will continue working to put Nevadans back to work to ensure a brighter future for the African-American community in our state.

The Role of the African-American Church In Today’s Civil Rights Campaign

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by Pastor Darren Thames

In the 21st Century the most pressing problem in the black community is the fact that three out of every four black children are born to single and unwed mothers. Due to the absence of fathers in lives of black children, gangs have become the substitute for a father’s guidance and discipline. The dependence on welfare, lack of educational foundations, and violence are on the rampage in black communities. In my opinion, the role of the African-American church in today’s civil rights campaign is to mobilize black churches and communities to develop a strategic plan of action. Our voice must be heard, so civic leaders will require black church leaders to come to the table and give direction, provide answers regarding funding community projects, and lead African-Americans into a more spiritual way of life.

No longer are we fighting for the right to vote, eat in the same area as whites, or the right to sit in the front of the bus. Today we are marching for jobs, better education for our children, better living conditions, empowering our families, helping fathers understand the importance of their role in their children’s lives, and the prevention of teen pregnancies.

The black church must use that same spirit of social change and mobilization from the 1950’s and 1960’s to take a stand for the problems facing our community today. It does not rest on an individual black church to fight in solving these pressing problems; it is the collective that must stand for change. Isaiah 30:17 part “a” states:  “One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee.” NLT. We must remember that past black leaders paved the way, and we as leaders must continue where they left off…fighting for equality and liberation.

Supporting those who support our Community

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by Joseph C. Abraham

I am writing to you today because Dina Titus is a friend and a strong ally of the African- American community and we need to send her back to Congress.

Our country is at a crossroads. Social and economic disparities are widening. Too many people are out of work with no job prospects. They are falling through the cracks and their needs are not being met. Our youth are dropping out of school, our families are losing their homes, and our seniors cannot afford their medicine. This is an unacceptable situation and we cannot stand by and let it continue.

We must make our voices ‘be heard.’

There is only one solution to this situation. We need to register to vote and on Election Day, go out there and vote for candidates who care about us. We need to support candidates who have a history of fighting for our community. Promises are not enough. We need candidates who have a proven track record of standing up for the African American community.

One of these candidates is Dina Titus.

Dina is running for Congress in the First Congressional District and has been a strong ally for more than two decades. She fought for us as a State Senator in Carson City, as a Representative in the 111th Congress, and as a member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission appointed by Senator Harry Reid.

As a member of the Nevada Senate, Dina Titus supported legislation prohibiting racial profiling in traffic stops. She sponsored legislation, SB360, requiring a state study of whether racial profiling was still occurring, as well as requiring training of law enforcement officers to deter racial profiling.

She also supported legislation requiring each local juvenile probation department to determine whether children of racial or ethnic minorities or children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds were receiving unequal treatment in the juvenile justice system, and supported an appropriation to fund the Commission on Racial and Economic Bias to investigate similar issues in the criminal justice system as a whole.

Dina supported an appropriation to create the Office of Minority Health within the Nevada Department of Human Resources in order for the state to better serve the health needs of minority Nevadans. She helped former Governor Bob Miller establish the Nevada Check-Up program, which has provided health insurance coverage for thousands of disadvantaged children, many of them from the minority community.  And as an educator herself, she always fought for better access to learning for all children.

In Congress, Dina voted for the federal stimulus package and advocated for Nevada to receive a waiver making the state eligible for extra education funding, including expanded funding for Title I programs that serve the needs of minority children.

She proposed a $375,000 appropriation for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy Classroom Technology Integration program to implement a virtual computing environment, giving minority students more access to technology in the classroom.

Dina sponsored the Weekends without Hunger Act in order to keep children from going hungry when they are not in school. It would establish a five-year pilot program to provide nutritious food to at-risk school children over the weekend and school holidays.

Dina also supported President Obama’s healthcare bill, reform of Wall Street, and expanding the GI bill. Her office helped thousands with foreclosure problems, veterans’ benefits, and social security issues. Constituent service was a priority because she believes in helping people every day.

On the Civil Rights Commission, Dina participated in hearings on disparities in the discipline of minority children and their impact on the academic record, personal confidence, and societal success of students. The Commission also focused on the bullying of minority students in public schools by peers, by faculty, and by administrators.

These were just some of the many things Dina Titus has done for the African-American community and just some of the reasons I am supporting her for Congress. She doesn’t just talk the talk. She has a proven record and the experience to get things done.

We cannot remain silent as our community continues to suffer. We must go out there, register, and vote. We must fight for the candidates who will fight for us.

We must make our voices ‘be heard.’ 

I hope you will join me in speaking out and supporting Dina Titus because she will continue her fight for our community.

For more information on Dina Titus, visit: http://www.facebook.com/titusforcongress

The Queen of Talk Radio

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by Joseph C. Abraham

“The undeniable Queen of Talk, Patricia Cunningham has tenacity that measures far beyond her Saturday morning radio shows. As her daughter, I am proud to be a part of the legacy that she has given our family and to Las Vegas. As a proud grandmother of five and mother of three, my Mom has never been too busy to advocate social justice and community empowerment. As her best friend/fan, I am proud to say she is the voice of our community,” states Anika Jones, daughter of a Las Vegas Broadcasting legend.

Her voice familiar to those who listen in on Saturday mornings at 11AM (KCEP Power 88.1FM www.power88lv.com),  Patricia Cunningham has kept the community abreast of relevant issues, engaging her listeners with thought provoking and debate inducing topics of discussion.

You and I have held this conversation privately on more than one occasion.  As representatives of mass media, how can we encourage the African-American community to become engaged in the political process? 

How to get and keep the African American community politically active is a question I have pondered for twenty years. The first thing that always comes to mind is convincing people that their voice matters and that they can make a difference.

People all over the nation have become disillusioned with the political process. It is evident by the low eight percent approval rating of Congress. The African-American and Latino communities, who are disproportionately underserved, have even less confidence in politicians and often believe the system is rigged and stacked against them. I would be inclined to agree but I do have hope and I do believe together we can make a change.

I believe keeping the community informed is essential, but knowing how the process works is key. Our people can no longer afford the luxury of having our elected officials think for us, speak for us, or tell us how to vote. We can no longer remain politically naïve. The community unfamiliar with the process will often have unrealistic expectations of their elected officials resulting in constant complaints. We ignore public announcements, town hall meetings and remain uninterested in procedural matters such as Bill Draft Proposals.

At the same time we continue to ask…why weren’t we informed? There should never be an issue so disturbing that we cannot talk about it. It is never in the best interest of the people to keep them in the dark. It is vitally important to demand transparency and accountability from our elected officials. Without it we do them a disservice and we sell ourselves short. Elected officials need our help and support. They don’t want to do it for us, they want to do it with us. Without transparency and accountability, we set the stage for back room deals, rumors and false accusations.

Honest, open dialogue is what I strive for on my political talk show. I don’t believe in the parental-style of community activism where we assume to know what is best for the community as though our people are incapable of deciding for themselves. Getting people to listen and consider all sides of an issue, examining  the facts and drawing their own conclusions is the first step in political engagement. After all, a democracy is a consensus of the people. I don’t want the audience to agree with me, I want them to ignore the media and think for themselves.

My job is not to have all the answers…it’s to ask the right questions……

After being selected as the Co-Grand Marshall of the Martin Luther King Festivities in Las Vegas, you broadcast the idea of creating The Oscar Cunningham African-American Sports Museum.  Please tell our readers more…

The inspiration for the Oscar Cunningham African-American Sports Museum takes me back to a phone call to my home in 1983. A group of my Dad’s friends, former baseball players, were planning a reunion and wanted him to attend. He told them he would let them know. After several calls and attempts to talk him into it they solicited my help. My husband tried to convince him to go and I will never forget Dad’s words. He said, “Tony these guys are good guys and we have a lot of great memories but when you’ve been around as long as I have, this is what is most important”. He was pointing at our three children playing on the floor.

He continued, “I have traveled all of my adult life and I am going to stay right here and enjoy these kids”. He was 83 years old and died shortly afterwards. He never knew he missed the first reunion and the formation of the Negro Baseball League. Many years later as I attempted to document and record his history most of Dad’s former “Barnstormin’” traveling buddies and teammates had passed on. Although I have newspaper articles, momentos and yearbooks from his days at Ohio State University, Loyola University (Marymount) and others as trainer, coach, athletic director and talent scout, I have not been able to find box scores or roosters from Negro League games in the 20’s and 30’s that include his name. I continue to receive emails and phone calls from former professional, high school, and youth athletes whose lives he touched.

I approached Gene Collins about sponsoring a youth baseball team in his memory and he loved the idea. I wanted to call them the Dayton Marcos after the team we believe Dad played for. We tossed the idea around over a couple of seasons and after talking to Mario’s, I decided to sponsor a baseball scoreboard at Doolittle instead. Mario believed it would mean a lot to the kids.

After Gene and I were named Co-Grand Marshalls I suggested to Wendell Williams that we launch the scoreboard idea during King week and start a tradition of Grand Marshalls committing to a year-long project. But Gene Collins had a better idea. He suggested we open an African-American Sports Museum instead and name it in honor of my Dad.  I am thrilled and amazed that this has come full circle. I have known Gene Collins since I was 15 years old. What are the chances we would have been named Co-Chairs? Who better to partner with than someone whose youth coaching career mirrors my Father’s and has touched so many young lives.

Yvette Williams, Chair of the Clark County Democratic Black Caucus, offers: “We congratulate our friend and queen of talk show radio, Ms. Patricia Cunningham for her selection as Parade Marshall at the M.L. King Day Parade. She is truly deserving of this honor on the 30th Anniversary of this special event, and we thank her for the sustained commitment to educating and informing us on the issues impacting our community each Saturday morning.”

In selecting Patricia Cunningham as the Co-Grand Marshal of the King Week Festivities, former State Assemblyman Wendell P. Williams states, “Patricia Cunningham’s passion for community and life, has been relentless, consistent and powerful. She is the voice of our struggle.”

But perhaps Patricia’s son Che said it best: “Las Vegas’ youth, the elderly, the voiceless, the black community as a whole, has Patricia Cunningham as its guardian angel. As a hand needs a thumb to function effectively, Patricia Cunningham is without a doubt Las Vegas’ thumb!”

For more information on The Patricia Cunningham Show, visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Patricia-Cunningham-Show/300763996615957