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AKA To Host School Board Candidates Forum At GVSU |
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By Dawn Hudson
For The Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008 Grand Rapids – The upcoming Grand
Rapids Public Schools Board of Education Election Forum will give
Grand Rapids residents an opportunity to take a closer look at the
candidates next week.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is hosting the forum Thursday,
March 27, at 7 p.m. at the Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Campus of
Grand Valley State University.
“I hope that this event will encourage the community to take a more
active role in community decisions and hope that getting Grand
Rapids involved in the voting process for the local school board
election will spark their interest in the National Election in
November as well,” said Sara Hill, the organization’s public policy
committee chair. “This is a pivotal and critical time in not just
America, but in Michigan and for Grand Rapids. Changes are coming
quickly...it’s better to be pro-active than reactive.”
[read more in the print edition of the Grand Rapids Times or click
here to log in if you have a subscription or want to buy a
subscription] |
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A More Perfect Union: Barack Obama’s Speech on Race |
 The
Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008
Editor' Note: Below is the text of the speech that presidential
candidate, Senator Barack H. Obama delivered, March 18, 2008, in
Philadelphia. As a presidential candidate, he is responding to the
controversy sparked by remarks made by one of his – now former –
campaign advisers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor at the church Obama
attended.
A More Perfect Union
By Senator Barack H. Obama (D-IL)
“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union ...” — 221
years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of
men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America’s
improbable experiment in democracy.
Farmers and scholars, statesmen and patriots who had traveled across
an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their
declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted
through the spring of 1787.
The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately
unfinished.
It was stained by this nation’s original sin of slavery, a question
that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate
until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at
least 20 more years, and to leave any final resolution to future
generations.
Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded
within our Constitution — a Constitution that had at is very core
the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that
promised its people liberty and justice and a union that could be
and should be perfected over time.
And yet, words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves
from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed
their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States.
What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who
were willing to do their part — through protests and struggles, on
the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil
disobedience, and always at great risk — to narrow that gap between
the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time.
This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this
presidential campaign — to continue the long march of those who came
before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more
caring and more prosperous America.
I chose to run for president at this moment in history because...
 [click
here to read Obama's speech in its entirety] |
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Students in the News |
The Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008
One Up On Literacy
An innovative way to review history was front and center at GRPS
Park School, earlier this month. Principal, Ms. Sharon Patterson,
staff and volunteers held a quiz bowl, covering the histories of the
three dominant ethnic groups among the school’s students. The MC
could hardly ask the questions before buzzers were going off. The
winning team received trophies and had their pictures taken.
Students are looking forward to two upcoming events: Parents to the
Third Power, Reading Stools with Home Depot, April 2 and the Park
School Spelling Bee, May 23.
To read more about local and area students, click here to download a
pdf. |
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Terri Needs
Our Help |
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The Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008
From Chakenya L.
DeGrate Blakely
 Terri
Gates - Sheard, of Grand Rapids, is suffering from kidney failure.
Terri’s blood type is O Positive. She has found difficulty with a
match within her small family. Currently, she has one operable
kidney sustained through daily dialysis.
I am asking schools, businesses, churches and places of work to post
fliers, make announcements in bulletins or in-house newsletter, or
use any other means to help find potential kidney donors for this
lady of integrity.
At this time, I am reminded of the biblical question: Am I my
brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9). My response would be, “Yes I am.”
This matter is very near and dear to me as this lady has been a very
positive fixture in the Grand Rapids area, helping all who were in
need of her assistance in any means of her availability.
I was a beneficiary of her benevolence as a child when I struggled
with learning disabilities. She was an advocate for me in every
definition of the word.
She helped me through the struggles, and I came out victoriously.
Because of her diligence and compassion, she helped me to rise from
special needs student to honor roll student.
Now, as she has a special need, I am compelled to be as strong of an
advocate for her as she was for me.
I ask that others will join me in efforts to help her regain
strength, hope and independence.
Serious responders, please contact me with any questions, comments
or suggestions by calling (616) 308-3107.
Chakenya Blakely, local business owner, is also president of Moise’s
Minds, an educational empowerment, scholarship, mental and physical
well-being program. |
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Family Can
Use Your Help |
The Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008
From T.A. El Amin
On Behalf Of The Givens Family
 Grand
Rapids, MI – Wanyae “Duke” Givens was severely injured in a car
accident on 28th St., a few weeks ago.
He suffered a spinal cord injury, and after several surgeries, was
sent to Ann Arbor for rehab.
Upon his arrival, medical staff noticed swelling in one eye and
conducted a CAT-scan. They found fluid on his brain and had my niece
sign for another emergency surgery.
They placed a tube inside his head and ran it down to his stomach to
drain. That was February 27th. He is in for a long recovery; and
we’re hopeful for a return to his fun-loving, friendly, self.
If you know of any prayer groups, please ask that his name, Wanyae
“Duke” Givens, be included. He has a CarePage at
www.carepages.com
and his page is WarriorDuke.
The family attends Revolution Ministries Church in Grand Rapids.
They are also in need of any financial assistance that’s available.
My niece, Raketa Givens, Christine Drake Givens’ oldest child, is a
single mom, raising three children, and was 2 days short of having
one year on her job. She has applied for an extended leave, so she
can be at her son’s bedside to help him through this tragedy, and
will have to find ways to keep her household running.
Her monthly expenses are estimated at $1,400 and we are trying to
raise some, or all, of that amount on a continuing basis to help
sustain herself and her two daughters. To-date, we have raised
$1,025 and we thank everyone who has and will contribute.
An account has been set-up in Wanyae Givens’ name at LMCU (Lake
Michigan Credit Union,
www.LMCC.org, 1- 800 -242 -9790) in Grand Rapids, MI.
We appreciate all prayers and contributions. If you know of any
groups, or individuals we can contact for support, we would greatly
appreciate your sharing this information with them, or sending their
contact information to my attention by e-mail:
taelamin@yahoo.com or by
mail to: P.O. Box 6001, Grand Rapids, MI 49516. |
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Don’t Get
Buried When It’s Time To Pay: Plan To Attend Free Workshops By
Gillespie’s On Ups, Downs Of Planning Ahead For Burial Services |
The Grand Rapids Times
3-21-2008
Grand Rapids, MI – “Planning ahead for burial services
usually is something most families do not want to deal with,” says
Christal Whittington, Funeral Director at Gillespie Memorial Chapel.
“Too many times, families wait until the services are needed. It can
make their grieving period more difficult if they are short on
resources to cover the costs of services for their loved one.”
This is the primary reason that staff at the memorial chapel have
organized free workshops to provide information and present
advantages of making pre-need arrangements.
The next session will be held Saturday, March 29th, from 2 to 4 p.m.
at Messiah Baptist Church, 513 Henry Street, S.E. It is free and
open to the public.
Among the topics to be covered are: “Insurance: Understanding The
Difference Between Whole Life And Term Life Policies”, “Designating
Beneficiaries” and “Advantages Of Pre-Paid Arrangements.”
Based on their recent experience, Avon Wilson and his wife suggest
that people learn more about the advantages of pre-paid
arrangements.
“When my daughter was killed in an accident, I learned that people
who don’t have money are in trouble. They can’t get the grave dug,
and it goes on from there to not being able to pay the preacher for
the funeral,” said Mr. Wilson, a recent Gillespie client.
He suggests that people pre-pay for burial services or at least have
the money when it’s time.
His daughter had insurance and had named her two children as
beneficiaries, but he still had to cover the costs for her
arrangements.
The Wilson’s daughter was in her mid-30’s, at an age when she was
expecting to go on living.
“Everything fell on me,” he said. It was a blessing that I could
afford to pay to cover expenses. I was angry at first. My daughter
had a job; she had good insurance, but we couldn’t touch it because
the children are minors.
Whittington told The Grand Rapids Times, “The family could not use
the money from the insurance because the State of Michigan does not
allow that,” Christal said. “It used to be that $1,000 of the
benefits to children could be used for burial expenses. Some of our
clients come in thinking that it’s still that way, but it’ not
anymore.”
The family of Winifred Bannister, had a different experience from
the Wilsons.
“We had pre-paid for services about 6 months before my mother – in -
law’s passing,” said Kenny Wesley.
Kenny said that his wife, Valerie, and her sister, Kathy Hart, made
the decision to pre-pay upon the suggestion of their brother Mark.
“It was a great advantage,” Kenny said. “Everything was taken care
of. It was not a headache. All we had to do was take care of costs
for the church service and limo.”
Pre-paid arrangements are not the only concern. Other topics to be
covered at the workshop by representatives from various agencies, as
well as a pastor include: “Social Security Benefits for Spouses and
Dependent Children”;“ DHS Emergency Burial Assistance”; “Bank
Accounts and Probate Court”; “Wills and Trusts”, “Assistance for
Families of Crime Victims”; “Hospice and Free Services”, and “The
Church’s Role”.
“It’s information that people don’t like to talk about, but it is
helpful to know,” Whittington said. |
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Eastern SE - Grand Rapids, Ml 49507 or P.O. Box 7258 - Grand Rapids MI
49510
Phone: (616) 245-8737 - FAX (616) 245-1026 - e-mail:
staff@grtimes.com
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