Links:
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Black Star Journal:
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|  Philly Closes 23 Public Schools, Generously Builds $400 Million Prison Where Kids Can Hang Instead Priorities are out of whack in Pennsylvania. Kristen Gwynne is an associate editor and drug policy reporter June 7, 2013 Philadelphia is so broke the city is closing 23 public schools, never mind that it (Pennsylvania) has the cash to build a $400 million prison. Construction on the penitentiary said to be "the second-most expensive state project ever" began just days after the Pennsylvania School Reform Commission voted down a plan to close only four of the 27 schools scheduled to die.
The penitentiary, which is technically two facilities, will supplement at least two existing jails, the Western Penitentiary at Pittsburgh and Fayette County Jail. Pittsburgh's Western Penitentiary was built in 2003 with the original intention of replacing Fayette County Jail, but the prison has struggled with lawsuits claiming widespread physical and sexual abuse of prisoners.
Scheduled to be completed in 2015, the new prison's cell blocks and classroom will be capable of housing almost 5,000 inmates. Officials said there will be buildings for female inmates, the mentally ill and a death row population. The youths of color disproportionately affected by school closings can just hang out there. |
| Chicago to Close 50 Public Schools While Spending $100 Million on Basketball Arena  vs  Two months ago, the city of Chicago enraged progressives by unveiling plans to close over 50 schools, mostly in the poorest African-American areas, in order to make up for a budget shortfall caused by the Bush Recession and their bloated corporate welfare system. Yes, you've read that correctly: The city cares more about collegiate sports than they do about educating already-struggling African-American youth. The city's plan sparked fierce opposition from the people, culminating in last week's massive protests on the streets of downtown. The protesters made the argument that the school closings would put children at risk by forcing them to travel further to overcrowded schools, making their already deplorable educational situation even worse. The rallies and marches were organized by a coalition including the Chicago Teachers Union, which emphasized the point that the school closures were targeted at predominantly poor and African-American school districts. |
| The Black Star Project supports Occupy The Streets of Chicago with Father Michael Pfleger and the Faith Community of Saint Sabina Friday, June 21, 2013 7:00 pm - 500 free t-shirts at 6:00 pm 78th Place and Throop (1250 west) Chicago, Illinois We invite people throughout Chicago to stand up and declare their commitment to occupy our streets this summer to bring about Peace! Call St. Sabina at 773.483.4300 Call The Black Star Project at 773.285.9600 |
| "Are All Americans Criminals Because of the Way We Treat Black Men in America?" "This speech by Professor Michelle Alexander is one of the best speeches of the 21st century. This speech is in the dynamic tradition of speeches by Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela and President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. This is a speech that should be studied by every student in America for content, form, delivery, historical research and political veracity. Additionally, Professor Alexander's book is a bible for understanding the actions and policies of America in relationship to race and incarceration over the past 50 years. Every high school and college student in America must read the great American book--The New Jim Crow! And every adult in America should watch this video!! Michelle Alexander reminds us of "Harriet Tubman, Ella Baker and Ida B. Wells"! She is a freedom fighter and a movement builder! Watch this video and then call The Black Star Project (773.285.9600) to do something." Phillip Jackson The Black Star Project Please click here to see and hear Professor Michelle Alexander speaking on "The New Jim Crow"! Click here to purchase and read her book, "The New Jim Crow' |
| Chicago's Harlan High School Students 
asha bandele, an award-winning author and nationally known activist, spoke to Harlan High School students in Chicago about her life and their lives. Although accomplished in several genres, bandele says, poetry underscores all of her writing. bandele began her career by following in the rich heritage of writers like Sonia Sanchez, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin and June Jordan. Whether writing poetry, fiction or non-fiction bandele embraces the Morrison ethic that "if the work isn't about the village, the community or you, then it isn't about anything. I am not interested in indulging myself in some private act of my imagination, which is to say that, yes, the work is political."
bandele's speaking was part of a program, Harlan Rising, created by Susan Taylor of the National Cares Mentoring Movement, designed to transform the lives of high school students. Educators, a spoken word artist and vocalist were all part of this program to inspire and guide African American high school students towards success and positive outcomes for their lives.
asha bandele earned her Bachelors degree from the New School and her MFA from Bennington College. She has lectured about social issues and performed her poetry across the United States, Europe and southern Africa. She is currently finishing a Revson fellowship at Columbia University and working on a second memoir. A member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, she lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with her daughter Nisa. bandele says, "Nisa is the world I live in every minute, the world I treasure."
Click Here to Purchase Her Book, The Prisoner's Wife Click Here to purchase Her book, Something Like Beautiful Click Here to Purchase Her Book, Absence in the Palms of My HandsClick Here to Purchase Her Book, The Subtle Art of Breathing |
TEAMDAD Launches An Indiegogo Campaign Entitled: The Father Factor May 28, 2013 Barrington, IL -
WHAT - TEAMDAD launches The Father Factor Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to put proven fatherhood resources into public schools around Illinois and across the nation. "Perks" range in price from $2 to $5,000. The three year goal is to provide 500,000 dads of students in public schools, with proven fatherhood resources. Every $100 raised puts a Great Dad Starter Kit, which provide five dads with copies of:
- the award winning, national best-seller Be A Better Dad Today!
by The Honorable Gregory W. Slayton,
- the What My Father Means To Me guide including 24 essays
and the 7 session ICAN's framework (Involvement, Consistency,
Awareness, and Nurturance),
- the TEAMDAD Self Assessment Tool worksheet to provide some
immediate feedback on four areas of fathering: Financial, Physical,
Emotional and Spiritual, and
- the TEAMDAD Great Dad's Coin, which can be carried daily or displayed
at work or home to serve as a 24-7 reminder about being a great dad.
WHEN - starting today and through Saturday, June 22, 2013
WHERE - at www.indiegogo.com then proceed to The Father Factor page.
WHY - Research shows 4 out of 10 or and estimated 24,000,000 children are growing up today in father-absent homes. Children from fatherless homes are more likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, use/abuse drugs and alcohol, become teen parents commit suicide, commit crimes and become incarcerated.
TEAMDAD - is a social business venture with a double bottom line. The first is to have a social impact as noted above. The second is to be a successful self-sustaining business. Peggy Hirsch is president of TEAMDAD LLC, a woman-owned social business venture, whose primary purpose is to inspire and equip men to be great dads. "We believe every child needs a dad they can count on. The research is clear: children thrive when they have an involved father-someone who is present financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually." said Peggy, "We inspire and equip men to be more involved fathers and father figures."
For More Information- go to www.teamdad.com
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| All of the Nation Should See... ...the African Drums Leading Some of the Most Powerful Black Men in America in "The March of The Elders" into Chicago State University as They Guide 500 Young Black Male Graduates to Manhood on Saturday, June 29, 2013, in the Mass Black Male Graduation Ceremony with a Dynamic and Hopeful Keynote by Lupe Fiasco Every young Black man in America should be at this ceremony. Young Black men must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, teacher, pastor or mentor. Every adult must bring a young Black man, or a group of young Black men, to gain admission to this event. Chicago State University is the place to be for young Black men on June 29, 2013. All young Black men attending should wear a shirt and tie. Dress to excel!!! Admission by free ticket only. You must RSVP for tickets. Please call 773.285.9600 to RSVP or for more information. |
| Summer Saturday University This summer, ensure that your children excel in their learning at a Saturday University. Saturday University is one of the newest and most effective educational concepts in America for educating students of color. It is family- and community-driven education at its best. As many/most Black children in American schools are failing academically, the only way to successfully educate them is with the support and actions of their parents, families and communities. Register now for one of our 20 free Chicago-area Saturday Universities beginning now. Please Call 773.285.9600 to register. |
| This Summer, One Million Young Black Men in the United States Need Meaningful Work. Please Support 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working In Your Community You cannot fix the problems of young Black men if they don't have meaningful work.  | | Churches can change this... |
In times of economic strain, our whole community suffers from the complications of unemployment. In an effort to develop a new model of community outreach and economic sustainability, The Black Star Project is launching the 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working program. These are the employment facts for young Black men in America: - Young Black men have the highest unemployment rate of any group in the country.
- Unofficially, some academics believe that only 14 out of 100 young Black men have jobs.
- White adult felons are more likely to have jobs than young Black men without criminal records.
- Upper-middle class Black youth are less likely to have jobs than low-income White youth.
The Black Star Project is offering the opportunity for these faith organizations and faith organizations across America to participate in this program. During this summer, for five or six weeks, each faith organzation will: - Take up a special collection of $200.00 per week
- Hired a young, African American male to work in the church, temple synagogue or mosque for 20 hours per week, or
- Refer the young man to a local not-for-profit or business to work
- Pay the young man minimum wage to $10.00 per hour for 20 hours per week
- Ensure that each young man gains valuable work experience
- Ensure that each young man has valuable mentoring experience
To get your church involved in 1 Church, 1 Job, 1 Young Black Man Working or for more information about this program, please call 773.285.9600. |
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