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Jacqueline Carlisle
Rev. Ronald V. Myers
Barbara Lee
Ciara
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Business World Index
---Campaign to help homeowners facing foreclosure---
In response to the threat of millions of additional homeowners losing their homes due to foreclosure, a national African American agency, working in partnership with the Obama administration, is offering free counseling in cities throughout the country. In a recently launched Home Save campaign, NID-Housing Counseling Agency (NID-HCA) is one of 23 HUD-approved National Intermediary Housing Counseling Agencies with funding from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program to provide free foreclosure prevention counseling and legal assistance to distressed homeowners across the country. Jacqueline Carlisle, Executive Director of NID-HCA, said, “We are pleased to work in partnership with President Barack Obama’s administration to help homeowners to refinance or avoid foreclosure of their homes. We know that housing counseling works and that the needs of many communities are overlooked.” For more information about NID-HCA’s Foreclosure Prevention Home Save campaign and local counseling centers, please call the Help Line at 877.964.3422 or visit the NID-HCA website at www.MakingYourHomeAffordable.org.
---Kansas becomes the 31st state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday---
Kansas is now the 31st state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance. The Kansas State Senate passed S.R. 1888, sponsored by State Senator David Haley, recognizing the annual observance of Juneteenth Day in the state. "Kansas will join Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington State, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska and the District of Columbia in recognizing the end of enslavement in America," states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign. "We especially appreciate the efforts of State Sen. David Haley, the great nephew of "Roots" author Alex Haley, for sponsoring legislation that has made all of this possible," states Sonny Scoggins, longtime Kansas community activist.
---Barbara Lee Introduces Caribbean American Heritage Month Resolution---
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a resolution that would recognize June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. “Americans of Caribbean ancestry reside in every part of the country,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Millions have emigrated from the Caribbean to the United States since before our nation’s founding. Throughout our history, Caribbean-Americans have served our country and contributed to the heritage of the United States through the arts, science, education, business, sports, military and government. This resolution will allow Congress to continue recognizing the important contributions of Caribbean-Americans to our nation’s history.” In June 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Con. Res. 71, authored by Congresswoman Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. On February 14, 2006, the resolution similarly passed the Senate, culminating a two-year, bipartisan and bicameral effort. Since the resolution’s passage, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
---Closing the Achievement Gap---
In a U.S. House of Representatives' Education and Labor Committee hearing, "America's Competitiveness through High School Reform," the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) pointed to specific actions Congress must take to close the achievement gap in high schools nationwide. In his testimony, Michael Wotorson, executive director of CHSE, illustrated the realities of the education crisis as it affects students of color and low-income students in particular. Research shows that of incoming 9th graders in the U.S., one-third will drop out of school, and another third will graduate lacking college- and work-readiness skills -- the majority of which are students of color. While the average graduation rate is higher than 70 percent nationally, only six out of every 10 African-American, Latino or Native American students graduate from high school with a regular diploma each year, and inconsistent data reporting makes graduation rates for Asian American students unclear. CHSE is a coalition of leading civil rights organizations focused on high school reform.
---Ciara a new CD---
There’s always been something special about R&B crooner Ciara. Whether it’s her slick dance moves, sultry voice or sassy lyrics, Ciara has definitely held her own as she shares in JET magazine. With her newly released CD, "Fantasy Ride," gaining buzz, the 23-year-old says her newfound confidence has allowed her to have more fun and take risks with her music like never before. “A lot of things that I used to probably sweat about when I was younger, I won’t sweat anymore,” she said. “The ultimate goal for me is to share the many different sides of me that I haven’t shared.” (p. 35) This issue of JET hits stands nationwide May 18.. |
