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Martin Luther King, Jr., Redeeming the Prophetic Vision Interfaith Gathering

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Sunday, January 19, 2020 will mark the 14th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Redeeming the Prophetic Vision, an annual, all volunteer-organized, interfaith community event. It seeks to honor Dr. King’s radical call for peace and justice for ALL people by helping our community to shine the light of his vision on our current local, national, and global situation; re-imagine unity across difference; renew our shared commitment to the path of social justice; and reconnect with peace and justice activists and advocates across our community.

This inspiring event is produced by The Conversation in partnership with Associated Ministries and Urban Grace Church. Come and hear Dr. Dexter Gordon’s keynote address, and see a dramatic production written and directed by C. Rosalind Bell.

After the main program, come downstairs for light refreshments, conversation, and networking. Over 25 community organizations will be on hand to chat about their programs.

Join The Conversation, Urban Grace Church, and Associated Ministries at Redeeming the Prophetic Vision 2019.  Bring your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:30pm to Urban Grace Church (corner of 9th & Market) in downtown Tacoma.  Plan to “fill a row” at Urban Grace!

Coming Together to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Expresses Solidarity With Black Americans Across the Nation

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National Sikh Campaign Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Expresses Solidarity With Black Americans Across the Nation

Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day taking place on Monday, January 20, the National Sikh Campaign issued the following statement: 

“Martin Luther King Jr.’s work paved the way for Black Americans, marginalized people, and allies everywhere to stand up for dignity, understanding, and freedom,” said Anjleen Kaur Gumer, Executive Director of the National Sikh Campaign. “Now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate the progress we’ve made while acknowledging the fight isn’t over. We must continue working against racism and discrimination to create a world where everyone is treated with respect.

“Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak, began his work in the 1500s by speaking out against discrimination of women and the poor — a fight for justice that mirrors Dr. King’s hundreds of years later. Sikhs hold Guru Nanak’s values of equality closely, and believe that everyone has access to God, regardless of their background. For this reason, Sikh Americans are honored to stand with our Black neighbors in celebration and solidarity.”

In Remembrance Of Fitzgerald Redd Beaver , Gone But Never Forgotten.

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“I shall pass this way but once; therefore any good that I can do or any kindness that I may show let me do it now. For I shall not pass this way again.”
Fitzgerald Beaver – Founder THE FACTS NEWSPAPER
Photo History : Charlie James interviewing Fitzgerald Beaver at THE FACTS NEWSPAPER OFFICE on Empire Way (Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and Cherry

Forever In Our Hearts.

 

FITZGERALD REDD BEAVER (FITZ) (1922–1992)

Fitzgerald Beaver , Photo History: Friday, Aug3, 1962 News clipping photo of “From My Pen” Beavers Weekly Editorial

Fitzgerald Beaver was born January 18, 1922, in Martinsville, Virginia. He graduated from high school in Martinsville and then attended North Carolina A & T College in Greensboro, North Carolina in the late 1930s.  Beaver left college without graduating and worked as a railroad porteracross the United States. By the beginning of World War II he had arrived in the Pacific Northwest and was living in the city of Portland, Oregon.

During the war “Fitz” Beaver, as he was now known, worked briefly for the U.S. Army as a civilian employee and then was hired by the Kaiser Company in Portland as a shipyard worker. After the war he briefly resided in North Bend, Oregon where he worked at a local radio station.  Finding a career he liked, he moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue radio and public relations training.

“Eager Beaver” Fitzgerald Beaver Photo History : In 1955, Fitzgerald returned to Portland and at the age of 33 became a local radio personality known as “Eager Beaver.”

In 1955, he returned to Portland and at the age of 33 became a local radio personality known as “Eager Beaver.”  In 1961, Beaver moved to Seattle, Washington to manage radio station KZAM-FM, the first black-owned radio station in the Pacific Northwest. He stayed at the station only a few months before launching The FACTS newspaper on September 7, 1961.

The FACTS quickly became a major media presence in black Seattle. The paper’s mission stated:  “We try to pick up where the daily papers leave off” meaning the paper would focus on stories not covered by the major daily newspapers but which were of particular interest to black Seattleites.  He gave the paper a distinctive “pink” color to separate it from its competitors. By the late 1960s, Beaver authored a popular column called “Right On!” that discussed local and regional issues.

Beaver was an eclectic personality who often clashed with other black journalists over news related to African Americans such as coverage of the race riots in Seattle and across the nation in the late 1960s.  His FACTS newspaper also became a community icon.  Its office, on the corner of Cherry Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, was a familiar landmark in Seattle’s Central District with an old truck situated on top of the slanted roof and a large reader board.

Fitzgerald Beaver – Founder of THE FACTS NEWSPAPER Photo History: Mr Beaver built The FACTS to quickly became a major media presence in black Seattle. The paper’s mission stated: “We try to pick up where the daily papers leave off”

 

Despite his clashes with other black journalists Beaver also hired numerous young black journalists who went on to other newspapers.  Chris Bennett, owner and publisher of a competing African American weekly newspaper, The Medium, and Ernie Foster, publisher of The Skanner newspaper in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, were aided by Beaver when they established their respective new

An ardent golfer, Beaver was a founding member of the predominantly African American Fir State Golf Club. He also served as president of the Boys and Girls Club in Seattle and worked with the Army, Navy and Coast Guard in minority recruiting programs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Fitzgerald “Fitz” Beaver died on
New Year’s Day, 1992 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 69. 

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, Dennis, Marla, and LaVonne Beaver who are the current publishers of the newspaper.

 

Join Us In Honoring The Memory of  Fitzgerald Redd Beaver.

Please Sign, Leave a Comment or Memory for the family and Community to cherish

Black women call on Supreme Court to uphold Reproductive Justice

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Amicus brief outlines devastating consequences for women of color, lesbian and transgender Louisianans

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda joined partner organization Women With a Vision and other reproductive justice advocates from across the nation in filing an amicus brief in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee, which challenges Louisiana’s law requiring abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. If allowed to take effect, Louisiana’s Act 620 would leave only one doctor to provide abortion care in the entire state. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda founder and President, Marcela Howell, issued the following statement:

 

“Black women are strong, resilient and ready to fight against this latest attack on our most basic human right to reproductive autonomy. We saw the writing on the wall with Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s egregious nomination and angry confirmation hearing — our civil rights are up for debate by lawmakers more interested in defending white, male patriarchy than protecting women of color and the LGBTQ+ communities’ health and safety.
“Reproductive Justice demands that we have the right to control our bodies, our sexuality, our gender, our work and our reproduction. Systemic racism and sexism have presented enormous barriers for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people, and youth to safe, affordable healthcare access. As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a case already decided with Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt three years ago, we call on the justices to uphold precedent and protect the right to abortion for all Louisianans.”

 

About the case:

June Medical Services sued the state of Louisiana to challenge the constitutionality of a Louisiana law that requires doctors providing abortions in the state to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the place where the doctor provides abortion care. The federal district court ruled for the abortion providers, finding that the law is unconstitutional, however, the federal appeals court reversed, finding that the law is constitutional. The Supreme Court subsequently granted June Medical Services’ request to review the Louisiana law, with oral arguments scheduled on March 4, 2020. As noted in the amici filed before the court:
“Act 620 will impose on marginalized populations in Louisiana, who ‒ because of structural racism, discrimination and economic disadvantage, among other factors ‒ have been denied access to necessary reproductive healthcare services. These communities already experience disproportionately high maternal mortality rates and other adverse reproductive health outcomes. Act 620 will effectively cut off access to abortion services and related health services in Louisiana for marginalized populations in violation of their human rights.”

Responses of African-American Women to Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave Program

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EOI conducted listening sessions with African-American women. Many expressed apprehension about taking a full 12 or more weeks of leave because of workplace prejudice against Black workers.
PFML has the potential to boost health and economic security for all families and to greatly reduce health and other disparities by race, gender, and income. These positive impacts could be especially beneficial for African-American and other communities of color.
African-American and Native American women experience much higher rates of pregnancy-related health complications and maternal mortality than women of most other racial groups, and their children have higher rates of preterm birth and infant mortality. Black women and children also are more likely to live in or near poverty than their White counterparts.
However, PFML alone is unlikely to completely eliminate race-related differences in outcomes. Lower incomes and lack of assets among Black Americans compared to other racial groups are rooted in a long history of structural and institutional racism, including in access to employment and workplace opportunities.
Moreover, adverse health effects are not based solely on socioeconomic factors. The daily experience of discrimination and structural racism – including receiving poorer quality health care – and associated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, likely also contribute.

Debt-Free Degree how parents and students can get through college without racking up thousands in debt

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National bestselling author, Dave Ramsey personality, YouTube sensation, speaker and financial expert Anthony ONeal has a new book called Debt-Free Degree that outlines how parents and students can get through college without racking up thousands in debt and does it in a fun way people understand.

Debt-Free Degree reached #1 on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers for Hardcover Business List and #7 on the Nonfiction List.
As the current $1.5 trillion student loan debt crisis becomes more widespread in the media, Anthony continues to shine a light on the possibility of college without student loans.
Debt-Free Degree shows you how to cash flow your kid’s college education and what to do at each stage from middle school to high school. It also teaches readers about scholarships, grants and free community colleges. Included are topics like:
  • How to prepare for College as early as the Middle School years
  • Which classes should be taken in High School
  • When to take the SAT and/or ACT exams
  • How to do college visits the right way
  • Why it’s important to choose a major
  • Dipping into retirement funds to pay for your kid’s college
Check out Anthony on Good Morning America here!
Anthony Oneal encourages teens and young adults to make smart decisions with their lives and start off right. At age 19, ONeal was deep in debt and short on hope with no direction of where his life was headed. But after hitting rock bottom, he turned his life around and committed to helping students find and pursue their passions. https://www.anthonyoneal.com/

Since 2003, ONeal has helped hundreds of thousands of students make good decisions with their money, relationships and education to live a well-balanced life. He’s the National Best-Selling Author of Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make in College, and travels the country spreading his encouraging message to help teens and young adults transition into the real world. He has appeared as a guest expert on CNN, FOX News, TBN, The Dave Ramsey Show and more.

Navigating the pathway to college graduation successfully requires hard work, sacrifice and resources. It also takes a community.

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Nyomi Bennett (Cohort 18) was this year’s recipient of the Frederick Douglass award

At Rainier Scholars, we recruit fourth-graders into a cohort, so that students belong to a community of highly motivated students who share a vision of college success.  The initial phase of our program is the 14-month Academic Enrichment Phase (AEP), which begins the summer before the start of fifth grade and continues twice weekly during the school year. During this phase, scholars develop the skills needed to thrive in college preparatory settings. We honor the completion of AEP with a Rites of Passage ceremony, celebrating our scholars’ accomplishments and hard work.

Nyomi Bennett (Cohort 18) was this year’s recipient of the Frederick Douglass award, in recognition of her dedication to her own and her classmates’ education, as well her willingness to fight through obstacles with grace, wisdom and maturity. After completing 14 months of academic enrichment, Nyomi is now a sixth-grader at Seattle Girls’ School.

 

Ford Fund Teams Up with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum to Kick-off Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge  

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  • The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge invites community-focused barbershops
    in the Tacoma area to submit innovative community program proposals supporting
    why their location should be selected as a Men of Courage barbershop

 

  • Two barbershops will be selected as finalists and compete for a grant of $10,000
    to activate community engagement programs at their shops

 

  • Challenge runner-up to receive $5000 for their favorite nonprofit organization

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is joining forces with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum (WSHM) to offer motivated barbershops in Tacoma an opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grant to support programs they create to educate and empower African American men in their community. Additionally, the runner up in the challenge is eligible to select a local non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant.

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

“The Men of Courage program is designed to uplift and celebrate the many contributions of African American men to our world,” said Pamela Alexander, director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund.“We are excited to bring this program and the associated barbershop challenge to Tacoma.”

The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge is an expansion of the Men of Courage (MOC) grassroots program that launched in 2015. Its intent is to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling. The MOC initiative has included several activations that include community outreach, education programs and toolkits for conversation starters.

Over the past three years, curated forums have been held in Detroit, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles with national stakeholders such as activist Shaka Senghor, former Detroit mayor and NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing, and NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis participating. With nearly 200 community leaders serving as mentors and engaging in hours of storytelling, vision boarding and solution mapping with young men in the community, the work has resulted in more than 2,000 toolkits downloaded in 34 cities around the country. Additionally, the theme of the 2016 Ford Freedom Award, which celebrated and recognized achievements of lasting and positive impact for African Americans, highlights the pivotal work of the Men of Courage program.

“In helping African American men tap into powerful community conversations through this new program, we are making a statement,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “We are saying that their ideas matter and can, in fact, profoundly shape the evolution of African American male identity in this country.”

The Tacoma MOC Barbershop Challenge seeks state-certified barbershop owners ages 18 and up to submit innovative applications that state why their barbershop should be distinguished as a Ford Fund Men of Courage shop and what that would mean for their community. Two finalists will be selected to compete by developing community engagement programming for adults and youth that focus on education, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Ford will support their efforts leveraging partnerships such as the Washington State History Museum and Microsoft to facilitate fun and engaging activities such as coding workshops, Xbox Game Nights and amplifying a job search with LinkedIn.

“We are proud to partner with the Ford Motor Company Fund in bringing their innovative Barber Shop Challenge to the Tacoma area. We look forward to experiencing the impact of the fun and meaningful activities that will come out of the challenge,” said Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society. “Men of Courage is the perfect companion program to the Men of Change exhibition. The Washington State History Museum is honored to host that exhibition this winter and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to see it here.”

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

The Men of Courage program serves as a complimentary grassroots activation to the Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. exhibition at WSHM December 21 – March 15, 2020. Created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), Men of Change is made possible through the support of Ford Motor Company Fund and highlights revolutionary men—including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. Du Bois and Kendrick Lamar— whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. Cincinnati’s Freedom Center was the first stop of the national three-year tour. For more information visit sites.si.edu.

For more information on programs that support the African American community, go to http://fgb.life .

About Ford Motor Company Fund

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Twitter.

About Men of Courage

Ford Motor Company’s Men of Courage (MOC) initiative launched in 2015 as a grassroots program designed to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling, intergenerational forums, and community programs. Since its inception, MOC has hosted forums in the five cities and reported more than 2,000 toolkit downloads across 34 cities throughout the US.

About Washington State History Museum

The Washington State Historical Society partners with communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society’s most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum is located in Tacoma’s downtown core along Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington’s past, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society’s collections and dynamic traveling exhibitions.

Next year is going to be a game-changing year for the Black community

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National Voter Registration Day, so there’s no better time to ensure you’re registered to vote and mobilize your networks to do the same. We all have the power to make a difference in 2020, but the work has to begin now.

Next year is going to be a game-changing year for the Black community and we are shaping a new culture of voting by bringing the Black community together as a potent political force. Hundreds of elected officials, activists, and public figures have already joined our campaign, including Actor, Director and Activist, Larenz Tate.

Supporters like you are critical to helping us maintain our momentum on the ground. We’re asking you to use your power to mobilize at least five African Americans to vote and participate in the Census in 2020.

List your five here.

We’re counting on you to be an advocate for democracy and social change. You have the power, claim it! Visit our website to mobilize your five people today.

Fighting forward,