State Of The Black World Conference Planned For November
First Black Post-Election Gathering to Develop Policy Proposals for New Administration

The Grand Rapids Times
9-5-2008

New Orleans, LA (BlackNews.com) - A group of national and local African American leaders gathered at the Ashe Cultural Center recently, to announce plans to hold the State of the Black World Conference (SOBWC), November 19-23 in New Orleans.
 
The conference, anchored by the New York-based Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), is centered on the theme: “Return to the Source, Restoring Family, Rebuilding Community, Renewing the Struggle.”

A major goal of the conference is to focus national and international attention on the continuing struggle for fair and equitable recovery in New Orleans and the Gulf.

“We come to New Orleans with a mission: to help rebuild New Orleans; to express our resolve in helping in any way we can,” said veteran activist and IBW President Dr. Ron Daniels. “We understand that rebuilding New Orleans is an important part of what we must do to rebuild our cities and to rebuild America.”

SOBWC will be the first major gathering in Black America after this historic presidential election.

As a result, the conference is organized as a kind of post-election political convention where a policy agenda for revitalizing Black communities in the U.S., the Caribbean and Africa will be developed to present to the new Administration.

“Because it is after the election, we recognize it is not a time to relax but a time to go to work,” said Dr. Daniels. “We will be leaving here with specific proposals and specific models for action because we are about solutions. We will learn from each other and gain ideas and specific tools to take back to our local communities to make a difference.”

IBW has already begun its policy effort with an innovative anti-violence initiative, Community in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity (CAN DO) designed by Kenneth E. Barnes, founder and President of ROOTS, Inc. of Washington D.C.

Barnes, whose son was murdered, described the legislation as “a comprehensive approach to saving lives – not the band-aid approach.”

The effort has gained the support of US Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Chicago), who will be introducing the CAN DO legislation in the next session of Congress.

SOBWC will also feature a “who’s who” of Black America ranging from elected officials to hip hop.

New Orleanian hip hop activist and CEO of Nothing but Fire Records, was on hand to express his support for the gathering and welcomed the focus on New Orleans.

“Hip Hop is an integral part of the State of the Black World Conference. It is an integral part of Black politics and revolution,” said Dr. Daniels. “Malcolm came through this kind of ‘realness’ to become one of the most important revolutionaries that ever lived. There are many, many hip hop artists that come out of that tradition of commitment and uplifting our people.”

Among other confirmed participants are actor and humanitarian Danny Glover; syndicated talk show host Bev Smith; Rev. Al Sharpton, President, National Action Network; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College; Marc Morial, President/ CEO, National Urban League; Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, President, National Rainbow/ Push Coalition; Dr. Elsie Scott, President/ CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Susan Taylor, former Editorial Director, Essence Magazine; Dr. Maulana Karenga, Creator of Kwanzaa and Professor of Africana Studies and Chairman of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach; Dr. Haki Madhubuti, author, poet and Distinguished Professor, Chicago State University; Sonia Sanchez, internationally acclaimed author and poet; and Dr. Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law Professor.

For information about attending, please contact (888) 774-2921 or log on to website, www.stateoftheblackworld.org

By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Editor-in-Chief

Commission’s Night Out Meeting

The City of Grand Rapids will conduct a neighborhood City Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafetorium of Creston High School, 1720 Plainfield Avenue NE.

This includes an informal discussion session before and after the official city Commission meeting.
Citizens will have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with the Mayor, City Commissioners and City Manager.

All residents are welcome!

Grand Rapids, Pilot City For $1 Coin

The Grand Rapids Times
9-5-2008

[To read this article, click here to download page 9 from this week's edition of the GR Times]

NKFM Offers Help To Parents Whose Children Are Frequent Bed-Wetters

Ann Arbor, MI - Is a child in your care a bed wetter?

According to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, an estimated five to seven million children wet their beds regularly.

Bedwetting may be considered a problem if a child is 6-7 years old and has never been able to stay dry overnight.

With school starting, the Kidney Foundation is offering help to parents whose children are frequent bed-wetters.

A new school year can bring excitement and anxiety.

For children who wet the bed, the anxiety often outweighs the excitement.

The embarrassment and teasing brought on by bed-wetting can affect a child’s self-image and confidence.

If a child is a frequent bed-wetter it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with their kidneys.
In most cases, no physical problems are found.

Bed-wetting is a common problem and is usually outgrown.

There are things parents can do to help curb bed-wetting, some include:

• Limiting the amount of fluid consumed before bedtime
• Waking the child to remind them to use the bathroom
• Using a device called a “moisture alarm”
• Special exercises
• Medicines

For a free copy of the National Kidney Foundation’s publication on bedwetting, call 800-482-1455.

Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Pleads Guilty, Resigns

By Corey Williams and Ed White

Detroit (AP) – Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to felony charges Thursday in a sex scandal and will step down after months of defiantly holding onto his job leading the nation’s 11th-largest city.
He was ordered jailed for four months and fined $1 million.

The plea deal brings to an end a seven-months-long ordeal that led to felony charges against Kilpatrick and plunged the city, region and state into political chaos.

“I lied under oath,” Kilpatrick said in court.

As part of the deal, the 38-year-old Democrat is to serve four months in jail and five years of probation.
He also would pay the $1 million in restitution over the five-year probationary period.

During a separate hearing moments after Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner accepted the mayor’s plea.

Kilpatrick offered a no contest plea in an assault case.

The judge also accepted that plea, which called for Kilpatrick to serve a four-month jail sentence that would run at the same time.

Kilpatrick had faced 10 felony counts in the two separate criminal cases.

Groner asked Kilpatrick if he understood he was giving up the right to be innocent until proven guilty.
“I gave that up a long time ago,” Kilpatrick replied.

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