| Community Organization, Teachers Union and Occupy Movement Take Over Chicago Public Schools Board Meeting Occupy Movements around the country look at this as new strategy for connecting with grassroots communities | | Protesters take over
Chicago School Board meeting  | | Photo by John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times |
BY ROSALIND ROSSI December 14, 2011 A band of screaming protesters took over a Chicago School Board meeting Wednesday with a tag-team of chants that charged the system's school closing policy with failing Chicago's children and producing "chaos.'' After about 20 minutes of protest chants, board members retreated into closed session only to emerge about two hours later and eventually approve, without comment, some of the very programs the protesters were challenging. Twelve new charter campuses were okayed. During the height of the screaming, at least eight of the vocal group members were escorted out of board chambers by security. As each was forced from the chamber, another protester, without missing a beat, popped up in another part of the room to take over the leading of the chants. Adourthus McDowell, a Chicago Public School parent and member of the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, began the takeover by rising from his chair and interrupting a presentation by Chicago Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard on a new $660 million capital construction plan. Using a "mic check" technique borrowed from Occupy Wall Street protestors, McDowell read from a prepared text in short bursts so comrades planted around the room could repeat his words and thereby amplify them for the crowd. "We see through the sounds bites,'' said McDowell, his face twisted with anger. "You have betrayed the public trust. You have failed Chicago's children." Protesters charged that years of school shutdowns, turnarounds and the replacement of neighborhood schools with selective-enrollment or charter schools that admit via lottery had destabilized poor minority communities. School shake-ups have forced children to walk longer distances, through dangerous areas, to new schools that often proved to be low-scoring themselves, protestors said. "Children have died, literally and spiritually, as a result of your policies,'' McDowell told grim-faced board members. "You have produced chaos.'' The group contended that both Brizard and the man who appointed him, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, "should be fired." The tightly-organized protest erupted after some 300 parents, students, teachers and school activists protested outside the board Tuesday night, some even battling rain to stay overnight outside. As a result, Wednesday's meeting was a packed affair and the first since CPS officials announced plans to phase out Dyett and Crane high schools, close four elementary schools, and replace the staffs of 10 other schools during "turnarounds.'' Those actions are up for a February board vote. In a surrealistic scene after board members moved into closed session, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey grabbed the microphone and led the beginning of the public participation section of the meeting to ensure speakers who had been waiting for hours to speak could at least comment on videotape for later viewing by board members. Perhaps absent board members left because they were having a "hard day," Sharkey told the crowd, but as a teacher, "if you have a hard class, you can't just take your ball and go home." Chicago School Board President David Vitale explained later that the board moved into closed session earlier than planned to "cool down'' the situation, but noted that his colleagues did listen to every speaker who was still left by they time they emerged two hours later. Vitale called it "unfortunate'' that "the voice and conduct of a few drowned out those of all others." Wednesday's protest was organized by the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, members of the Chicago Teachers Union and Occupy-Chicago, members of those groups said. The capital construction plan that Brizard was trying to explain Wednesday includes spending $75 million to renovate Chicago Vocational High School, the site of a proposed "turnaround,'' and to focus new construction mostly on schools that are whiter and more affluent than the district average. The South Loop's Jones College Prep would get a $96 million campus; Edison Park Elementary and the Clearing's Hale Elementary would each get a $15 million building; and Bell Elementary in North Center would get a $10 million annex. Plus, a $45 million elementary school is planned for the southeast part of the city. |
"America is now getting out of
the Black people business." Only one out of 4 Black males 16 years old to 24 years old are working in New York City. 60% of Black men are jobless in Detroit. 53% in Milwaukee. More than 50% in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. This is a trend in every major city and rural community in America. What will America do with 36 million Black Americans now that there is no more cotton to pick? | | 
With No More Cotton To Pick, What Will America Do With 36 Million Black People? By Phillip Jackson What will America do with 36 million Black Americans now that there is no more cotton to pick? Even in states like Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, Black people are not involved in the planting, growing or harvesting of cotton. This is now done by White and Latino men and women who drive machines that plant and pick the cotton, as millions of Black men of working age stand idle on street corners. For Black people in America, there is no more cotton to pick. Black people were brought to America as slaves to pick cotton, tobacco and sugar cane. America's dilemma today is: what to do with 36 million Black American descendants of slaves who were shipped to American shores 400 years ago for their economic value yet whose heirs today have lost that value? While America might have once considered shipping Black Americans back to Africa, that is no longer a practical or palatable option. So America has a serious problem that demands a solution. What will America do with 36 million Black Americans who have lost their value to the American economy? As the world moves towards science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM), fewer than fifty percent of Black boys graduate from high school in the United States. Many of those who graduate are given diplomas that qualify them for low-wage jobs or no jobs at all, street-corner hustling, incarceration and violent death. At best, the majority of Black students in America get an education that prepares them to only pick cotton - if there were cotton for them to pick. According to an October 2010 Research Update to The Crisis Deepens 2009, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development, the Black male (ages 16 to 64) joblessness rate (53.3%) is the highest ever recorded among working-age black males in Milwaukee - the second highest American city jobless rate after Detroit (59.5%). Other metropolitan cities at incomprehensible levels include Buffalo, 52.3%; Cleveland, 52.3%; Chicago, 50.3% and Pittsburgh, 50.3%. Additionally, a December 2010 policy brief, Unemployment in New York City During the Recession and Early Recovery: Young Black Men Hit the Hardest by Community Service Society of New York shows only 25% of young Black men in New York City between 16 and 24 years of age have a job. While Black America laments the disastrously low employment rate of Black males, hundreds of thousands of foreign H-1B Visa workers (primarily but not exclusively in the high-tech industry) are imported to the U.S. to take jobs paying $100,000 a year and more. At the same time, many Black males in America who want to work will not be able to get jobs sweeping streets, cleaning toilets or picking cotton. Our Northern cities have tired of their Black populations, and America is now "getting out of the Black people business." Neighborhoods that used to be "Black Belts," like Harlem in New York City, Bronzeville in Chicago and much of Washington, D.C., have gone upscale, and, as a result, most Blacks cannot afford to live there. So it is back to the South for many of them. This time, however, they will not be allowed to even pick cotton because there's no more cotton for Black Americans to pick. If Black America is to survive (and there is no assurance), these are the five keys to fixing our economic and social problems:
1) Rebuild the Black family. Every major problem in the Black community, including poor education, massive unemployment, senseless violence, hyper-incarceration, lost spirituality, low-quality housing options and high mortality rates, can be traced to the disintegration of the Black family.
2) Provide Black boys with strong, positive Black men as mentors, role models and, particularly, a connection to their fathers. Black boys, like any other children, will imitate and become what they see. It is critical that Black children see strong, positive Black men.
3) Control the negative peer culture and electronic media that mold many Black boys and men into violent, irresponsible and uncaring human beings. Either Black people will control the media that we consume or the media will control us.
4) Understand that for the rest of our existence, Black people will live in a "STEMM" world, a world based on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM). If we are to survive, it will be because we understand and master "STEMM." We must teach Black children accordingly.
5) Control our economic fate by mastering the principles of entrepreneurship, business, management, finance, accounting, manufacturing, saving, investing, banking and tithing, and by teaching these principles to our children.
This is the way, and the only way, to solve the problems of Black people in America. Unless we, Black people, quickly respond to the changes in our world, even our cousins on the continent of Africa will not want us. And we will truly be "a lost tribe" wandering the world without a home. We must realize that we live in an "Educate or Die" society and an "Educate or Die" world! There is no middle ground. There is no more cotton to pick! Phillip Jackson, Founder and Director The Black Star Project 773/285-9600 or email at blackstar1000@ameritech.net
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In Chicago, 50 organizations will have Black men mentor Black boys and young men in January 2012. Join them. | | | Join the Black Male Achievement Movement during National Mentor Month, January 2012, as we mentor tens of thousands of Black boys and young men across America. The Chicago organizing meeting will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at The Black Star Project 3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B Chicago, Illinois 11:00 am to 12: 30 pm  | | This is what happens when Black men mentor. We mentor! Do you? |
The only way you can get this....  | | This is what happens when Black men mentor. We mentor! Do you? |
....is with this! To become one of the the Servant Leaders in your city planning and directing this effort, please call 773.285.9600. We will provide you with an organizing kit that will help you step-by-step in creating an outstanding mentoring program in your city. We will also provide technical assistance and ongoing support. Schools, faith-based organizations, fraternities, Masonic organizations, veterans associations, community-based organizations, military service personnel, social service agencies, companies and corporations will participate in this effort. Most mentoring events will occur on January 31, 2012. Please see cities that are expected to participate as of December 8, 2011: Albany, New York
Atlanta Georgia.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Blandensburg, Maryland Boston, Massachusettes Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Detroit, Michigan
Denver, Colorado East Chicago, Indiana Hillside, Illinois Houston, Texas
Irvington, New Jersey
Jackson, Mississippi
Kandsd City, Missouri Los Angeles, California
Louisville, Kentucky
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
New York City, New York - Manhattan New York City, New York - The Bronx New York City, New York - Brooklyn
Newark, New Jersey
Omaha, Nebraska
Peoria, Illinois
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
San Bernardino, California
Shelbyville, Indiana
St. Louis, Missouri
Tshwane, Botswana
Washington DC
White Plains, New York This event was inspired by the life and life principles of Muhammad Ali (Rumble Young Man Rumble!). The Black Male Achievement Movement was born in Louisville, Kentucky in September 2011. Guidance, support and encouragement for this movement is provided by Open Society Foundations' Campaign for Black Male Achievement. The National CARES Mentoring Movement and Mentoring U.S.A have signed on as national supporters. For more information, please call 773.285.9600. |
| 200-Plus College Scholarship Opportunities for African American Students | |  African American Scholarships Opportunities
 African American scholarships are out there, as are African American college grants. A college education isn't confined to what is contained in your textbook or how much extra credit you can get for completing side projects or doing research for a professor. A postsecondary education allows students to step out of their hometown comfort zone and to develop relationships they may not have otherwise developed. You could learn a lot from someone who comes from a different culture, a different background. This experience can be as valuable as the academic knowledge and career preparation and training you had in mind when you enrolled. This is one of the reasons why colleges offer financial aid packages designed to fill campuses with students of different cultures, economic backgrounds and life experiences. Like students who belong to other minority groups, African American students can benefit from this search for diversity. Numerous scholarships for minorities exist, and many more scholarship awards are available specifically for African American students seeking a postsecondary degree.  Check out some of the awards below for information about a few of the many African American scholarships that may be found at Scholarships.com. Mind you, there are often other criteria, in addition to ethnicity, for qualifying for these and most other scholarships, which is why you should conduct a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com to get a list of scholarship opportunities tailored to your specific situation and qualifications. This will save time searching so you can spend that time applying for and, hopefully, winning scholarships! Click Here to find 200-plus College Scholarship Opportunities for African American Students. |
| Pray the Devil Back To Hell!!! Help end the war of youth violence that is killing thousands of our children in the streets of America. If the women of Liberia can end violence by praying and acting, so can we. | | | Join the women of Chicago as they pray the devil of violence in Chicago back to hell. Join us for the film -- Pray The Devil Back to Hell! on Monday, December 19 and 26, 2011 Film: 6:30 pm Discussion and Prayer: 7:30 pm at The Black Star Project 3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B Chicago, Illinois $5.00 for members - $10:00 for non-members. Space is limited. You must RSVP and arrive at least 10 minutes before film time to be guaranteed your seat. All seats will be sold starting 10 minutes before film time. Please call 773.285.9600 to RSVP your seat. Being sick and tire of being sick and tired is not enough! You must pray and you must act. On Monday, December 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2011, the women of Chicago will gather to see the powerful movement and documentary of women that brought peace to war torn Liberia, Pray the Devil Back to Hell. And the women of Chicago will work to pray the devil of violence and despair that is in Chicago back to Hell! Join them.
Women across America can join this movement to Pray the Devil (of violence) Back to Hell in your city or town by calling 773.285.9600. |
| In South Carolina, Black men teachers are needed to make state and America stronger
Fewer than 2 out of 100 teachers in America are Black Men | |  African American male teacher shortage & programs fixing the problem By Bryan G Nelson
Tuesday, 2011-09-27 It's a nationwide problem, the shortage of black male teachers. Only two-percent of the nation's nearly five million teachers are African American. Twenty-eight-year-old Craig King has taught third grade at Whittaker Elementary School for six years. His students say there's never a dull moment in Mr. King's class, also known as "The Kingdom." For him, the decision to go into education came easy. King says, "I come from a family filled with teachers, so educating is in my blood." Teachers like Mr. King are rare. In South Carolina, there are more than 49-thousand teachers, more than 8-thousand of them are men, and of that number just over a thousand are black men. King calls it a national epidemic. He says some young men think about salary first when it comes to teaching, but says the rewards are priceless. Craig King says, "It's one of the best feelings in the world to educate. The rewards are far greater than anything monetary. The rewards I get everyday looking in my student's faces and teaching them. Teaching has gotten this stigma of not being a masculine profession. I think it's the most masculine professions out. Because you're serving as a father figure in many instances. You have the uncanning ability to affect so many children who don't have a male role model at home or in their community. I look at it as a right and a must to have male teachers in education." King says he's concerned about the shortage of black male teachers. "It concerns me a lot. Education is the catalyst to change the world. Education is what we need, and we need more African American males." There are programs, like "Call Me Mister," that are hoping to bring changes to classrooms. The program started ten years ago at Clemson University to address the shortage of black male teachers in classrooms, and is now at 14 colleges and universities throughout the state. Dr. Roy Jones is executive director of the Call Me mister Program at Clemson University. He says, "We don't stand alone in this crisis, this challenge, there are coast to coast, states, colleges, universities, school districts faced with the same challenges. We think that by placing African American men in the classroom is extremely critical because we're losing so many black males in the school district in school system. In fact, more than half of our children don't make it through high school. That's an alarming statistic." Call Me Mister offers 8-thousand-dollars in tuition assistance and other support services per "Mister" per year. In exchange, the student must agree to teach a year for every year they received support. Dr. Jones says, "We started out recruiting, developing, training if you will, and certifying and placing African American men into teaching positions throughout the state of South Carolina public schools. We've graduated more than 60 to date that are currently teaching in elementary public schools in South Carolina. We have about 150 enrolled among our partner colleges throughout the state." 19-year-old Codarrio Butler, a freshman at South Carolina State University is one of those young men. He says, "I believe that I can be a positive mentor and positive role model." Codarrio is in the Call Me Mister program at South Carolina State University. Codarrio says he always wanted to be a teacher, to make a difference. He says, "In middle school, I only had one male teacher, high school, one male teacher. I decided I wanted to be a male teacher. I wanted to be someone that males can look up to and they can see doing positive things." Craig King says, "Whenever I have a chance to talk to any African American male or male in general about coming into the fold of education, I take that and jump on it. I explain the rewards I receive daily, and when I say daily, I mean daily of inspiring the youth of tomorrow. It's just a great feeling. I can't see myself doing anything else, anything else at all." Dr. Jones says, "What we're trying to do is be that call, be that rallying call that says, we need master teachers, more than master line backers and point guards, not that we criticize that at all. We want success and excellence at every level, but until we make becoming a master teacher something that is a priority in the community and among our profession, we're going to have a tough time attracting these young guys to go in to the profession." The Call Me Mister program is now licensed in six other states. There will be a state-wide Call Me Mister Summit in Charleston at the College of Charleston, April 10th at 10am. For more information on the Call Me Mister program, click here: http://www.clemson.edu/hehd/departments/education/research-service/callmemister/ Here's a look at the numbers of black male teachers in local school districts: Berkeley County - 31 Charleston County - 82 Dorchester District 2 - 25 Dorchester District 4 - 13 Colleton County - 10 Georgetown County - 28 Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5- 70 Williamsburg County - 25 Local school districts say they are working to recruit diverse staff. Charleston County School District, the second largest district in the state says they have a partnership with the College of Charleston and other collaborators to address this issue and diversify as a priority. |
| The Black Star Project needs your support to continue our work. | | 
Our fundraising goal for this membership drive is $50,000 by January 31, 2012.
All of the funds raised will go toward supporting the Saturday University and our programs to support Black men and boys. These initiatives need your support as a community of concerned citizens to continue this important work.
If you value our efforts to reduce violence, rebuild families, and improve academic achievement, will you become a member today? Or you may send contributions/investments to: The Black Star Project, Suite 2B 3509 South King Drive Chicago, Illinois - For each $100 contribution/investment, we will send you an Educate or Die T-Shirt
- For each $200 contribution/investment, we will send you 1) a copy of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, 2) a copy of a DVD of Professor Alexander speaking in Chicago and 3) an Educate or Die T-Shirt.
Please call 773.285.9600 for more information.
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