PGA Exhibit Honors Pioneer Black Golfers
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Global News
Lee Elder (4 PGA Tour wins) the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.
History buffs and golf aficionados can delve into the history of African-American golf at “Celebrating African-American Golf Pioneers,” an exhibit at the CNN Center Atrium, in Atlanta, through Aug. 31.
The 18-by-10-foot exhibit chronicles the accomplishments of African-Americans, both nationally and in the metro Atlanta community in conjunction with the playing of the 93rd PGA Championship in Johns Creek.
Golfer Calvin Peete in 1986 the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods. Photo Ted Van Pelt
It is hosted by PGA of America and the United States Golf Association and includes video tributes to Black golf pioneers as well as a golf club used by Ted Rhodes, one of the standout performers of the United Golfers Association, which conducted tournaments for Black golfers for decades in the 1900s.
Allen Wronowski, PGA of America’s president, said that across the game of golf, they are dedicated to showcasing the storied history of African-Americans in golf and the paths to equal rights they blazed along the way.
“We are proud to partner with the USGA in bringing the citizens of Atlanta an exhibit that pays tribute to the significant and heroic contributions made by individuals to build avenues of diversity in the game,” he said.
Tiger Woods 71 PGA Tour wins . Photo Molly A. Burgess
The exhibit, which is free to see, spans the achievements of James Shippen, the first African-American to play in a U.S. Open in 1896; Lee Elder, the first black golfer in the Masters in 1975; Bill Powell, the only African-American to design, build, own and operate a golf course; boxing legend Joe Louis, who became the first African-American to play in a PGA Tour event; Tiger Woods, the first African-American to win a major golf championship, at the 1997 Masters, and the first to win the 1999 PGA Championship.
It also acknowledges PGA pro William Lewis, the men’s golf coach at Morehouse College, and Jeff Dunovant, PGA director of instruction at the First Tee at East Lake, vice president of development of Sydmar Golf Inc., and board chairman/president of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Dunovant and his father, the late Harold Dunovant, are the only Black father and son Class A professional members of the PGA of America to date.
Dunovant called the exhibit a powerful tribute that supports the impact of diversity in golf. “It is particularly exciting to see the exhibit honor our contributions as it runs parallel to the 93rd PGA Championship.”
Special to the NNPA from the CrossRoads News
Civic Leaders Honored For Diversity
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Community Focus
(L to R) Celebration of Diversity Dinner Honorees were Former House of Representative, Attorney Paul Williams; Melinda Kelly, Executive Director, Chatham Business Association; Jerry Reinsdorf, Esq, Chairman of the Chicago White Sox and Owner of the Chicago Bulls. (Photo Credit: Steve Feferman Photography)
by Thelma Sardin
On Aug. 23, Melinda Kelly, executive director, Chatham Business Association (CBA), Jerry Reinsdorf, Esq., chairman of the Chicago White Sox and owner of the Chicago Bulls and former State Rep. Paul Williams were honored during Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s 2nd Annual Celebration of Diversity. The dinner and awards program was held at the Union League Club of Chicago.
The Celebration of Diversity brought together legal and business leaders who are steadfast in making the Chicago legal and business community the most diverse in the country.
The event is the brainchild of Barnes & Thornberg partner, Richard Boykin. Boykin recently told the Chicago Citizen how the idea was conceived for the dinner. “We decided to do it as a way to honor trailblazers in Chicago. As a law firm we take interest in making sure that we not only state that diversity is important but we do it in a tangible way of identifying people like Melinda Kelly, Jerry Reinsdorf [and] Paul Williams who have made significant contributions to diversity,” he said.
The honorees are selected by a committee consisting of Boykin, his assistant and a representative from the firm’s marketing department. “We come up with a list of names we think have done some tremendous things and we weigh that list to determine who we are going to go for,” he said.
The dinner’s sponsors included: The American Dietetic Association, Best Buy, Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, Crown Imports LLC, Northstar Lottery Group and the Office of Congressman Danny Davis.
James Ryan, executive vice president, Crown Imports LLC explained his company’s involvement in the firm’s celebration.
“…Crown Imports was thrilled to be able to join with Barnes and Thornburg and other companies and organizations to sponsor the 2nd Annual Celebration of Diversity dinner. We are proud to be able to honor individuals like Melinda Kelly, Jerry Reinsdorf and the Honorable Paul Williams, who have worked so hard to make Chicago a better place for all of us to live, work, and raise our families. The message delivered at this event was powerful… Diversity is part of our culture and must continue to be part of our future…”
Jack Stonebraker, Community Relationship Program Manager, Best Buy also weighed in on the mega retailer’s participation.
“We are proud to be able to partner with all of the organizations and individuals that support the Celebration of Diversity dinner to recognize the outstanding achievements of 3 leaders that have dedicated themselves to embrace the unique needs of the diverse communities we serve and are committed to taking the small steps to make a difference!!”
Williams was instrumental in creating legislation that expanded the Cook County judicial circuits which opened doors for more minority judges in Cook County. An attorney by profession, Williams is proud to have been honored for implementing diversity throughout his career. During the time Williams sponsored the legislation, he said there were only 22 black judges in Cook County and now there are more than 200. He has worked tirelessly for more diversity in the legal field which included paving the way for more Black lawyers.
Williams added that during his career, he has always worked to be mindful of diversity.
“In anything, I do I [try] to make sure there are opportunities for all people,” she said.
Reinsdorf has encouraged diversity throughout his entire career. He was active in the development of the Diverse Business Partners program (DBP) in 1998. Subsequently, Major League Baseball and its clubs have purchased hundreds of millions of dollars in goods and services from minority and women-owned businesses. The White Sox annually rank among baseball’s leaders in the DBP.
Reinsdorf is honored to be recognized for diversity in his career but says it is something everyone should strive for.
“It is a tremendous honor, but as I often say, I don’t understand why we should be honored for doing what’s in our own selfish best interest. Whether it’s the Chicago White Sox or Chicago Bulls, we want our front office, vendors, staff, players, customers and fans to be as diverse as possible. It’s just good business. The larger the pool of candidates in any field, the better the people you are going to identify and hire. Ultimately, you will become an even better and stronger organization as a result,” he said.
Kelly is humbled and honored to be recognized by Barnes and Thornburg. In her role with the CBA, she works to ensure the social, political and economic growth within Chatham, and its surrounding communities.
“The Celebration of Diversity dinner provided me the opportunity to be honored for the collective efforts of my fellow community and corporate trailblazing partners as we embrace the same mission of ensuring economic equality for those we have the privilege of serving and/or representing,” she said.
According to Kelly, diversity plays an important part in the workforce and economy. She said minorities will soon be the majority in the country but have not been allowed to make their proportional contribution to the U.S. Economy. “It is imperative that minority businesses be successful so that we [U.S.] can preserve our position in this increasingly competitive global market.” Kelly added that a strategy must be in place that ensures minorities are successful not only in the City of Chicago but globally. “It is equally important that minorities are successful in increasing their economic participation in the economy to maintain our national competitive edge in the face of increasingly fierce competition from rival economies,” she said.
On Friday, Sep. 16, the CBA will host its 39th Annual Awards Gala. The organization will be celebrating its many years of community service. The occasion will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel will serve as Honorary Chair and Mr. Michael Henry, External Affairs Manager for ComEd will serve as 2011 Gala Chair. Tickets can be purchased via the CBA website at CBAWorks.org or by calling 773.994.5006.
Black US Scientists Lag Whites In Funding
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Global News
A study found a 10 percentage point gap between black and white researchers in winning the most common type of NIH grant. Photo US Army .
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Black scientists are less likely than whites to win research dollars from the National Institutes of Health, says a study released Thursday that is prompting changes at the premier U.S. science agency.
“This situation is not acceptable,” declared NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, who announced steps to better train young scientists in seeking the highly competitive grants and appointed a high-level task force to explore other actions.
Increasing diversity in science, to better reflect the U.S. population and its health problems, is a big concern. While women have made gains over the past few decades, minorities, especially blacks and Hispanics, still make up a small proportion of the nation’s doctors, medical school faculty and biomedical researchers.
The NIH has long run diversity programs but suspected they weren’t working well and thus commissioned the study, published by the journal Science.
The study found a 10 percentage point gap between black and white researchers in winning the most common type of NIH grant _ even though all held doctorate degrees and had similar research experience. Between 2000 and 2006, about 27 percent of white applicants won funding compared with about 17 percent of blacks.
A smaller gap with Asian applicants disappeared when researchers weeded out those who weren’t U.S. citizens and presumably had more language difficulties in crafting their applications. The study found no Hispanic gap, although Collins urged closer examination.
Also of concern, minorities were less likely to apply for NIH grants. Just 1.5 percent of applicants were black, even though they make up about 12 percent of the population.
“All of this should worry scientists and worry the American people at large,” said Grinnell College President Dr. Raynard Kington, a former deputy director of NIH who is black. “The American people may not be reaping the benefit of having the best minds and the best ideas being supported to go out and solve our major health problems.”
No one is blaming overt racism. Race and ethnicity information is stripped from applications before they go to the “peer review” committees that evaluate and grade the funding requests.
It’s not clear what’s causing the gap, said University of Kansas economist Donna Ginther, who led the study of more than 83,000 grant applications. One possibility, she said, is that white scientists accumulate more advantages earlier in their careers, such as mentoring, that help them formulate better proposals in what is a fierce competition for scarce research dollars.
But Collins said peer reviewers may guess race from biographical information, and said NIH will study if “an insidious form of bias” may be playing a role.
There was no racial gap among the highest-scoring applications. But when applications were rejected, black researchers were less likely than whites to revise their work and try again, which Ginther _ who had to resubmit several times before winning her own first NIH grant _ said suggests a lack of mentoring.
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Online:
Science: http://www.sciencemag.org/
2011 Chicago Football Classic Kick-Off
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in News
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his support of the 14th Chicago Football Classic on Tuesday morning during a press conference. (L to R Everett Rand, Mayor Emanuel and Larry Huggins)(Photo by Thelma Sardin)
by Thelma Sardin
On Tuesday morning, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his support of the 14th Chicago Football Classic (CFC) to be held Sep. 3 at Soldier Field. A kick-off press conference was held Aug. 23 at the Nike Factory Store in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood. Each year the event encourages higher education among youth and the eradication of senseless violence.
Several aldermen, business leaders and community residents were present for the announcement. The event’s co-founders Larry Huggins and Everett Rand hosted the press conference. Events for the CFC will span Labor Day weekend. The event’s mission is to bring awareness to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and to expose aspects of the college experience to Chicago youth.
Introduced by Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), Mayor Emanuel called the classic a “great sporting event.”
“[The CFC exposes] our children not just to a college education but most importantly [to] the role historically black colleges and universities has played in the African American community.” The mayor added that HBCUs anchor youth “intellectually, culturally and spiritually.”
Huggins explained to reporters the classic’s purpose.
“The reason that we do this is to make sure all the young kids get an opportunity to experience what it means to go to college. This game has always been about promoting higher education,” he said.
Huggins also discussed the necessity of the classic’s corporate sponsorships.
“For seven years Nike has been our title sponsor,” he said. In addition, the CFC’s relationship with Nike had afforded the other sponsorships for the event.
Walgreens is also a sponsor of the classic. Darren Benton, district manager, Walgreens also gave remarks at the conference.
“We strongly believe in the Chicago Football Classic to give our youth an opportunity to engage in productivity and proactive programs. We know that the positive images and reinforcements are the key to our kids’ success,” said Benton.
Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) said the CFC is important for youth. Sawyer, who is the son of late Chicago mayor Eugene Sawyer, said attending the CFC since his father’s passing in 2008 has been difficult.
“With the exception of one game, I have been to every classic. It’s a little melancholy because I have been to all of them with my father. It is a great cause. I encourage everyone to support this classic; it’s important for the children,” he said.
This year’s CFC will feature Alabama A & M Bulldogs and the Hampton University Pirates. For more information please log on to www.chicagofootballclassic.biz. Tickets are $15, $25, $30 and $40 and can be purchased at Midway Wholesalers (773-874-8000 ext. 4025), Riteway-Huggins Construction (773-734-1600) and Ticketmaster.
Chicago must hire 111 black firefighters
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in News
The city of Chicago must hire 111 of the applicants and provide $30 million in back pay to the others. The new hires are expected to enter the Chicago Fire Training Academy by the end of March 2012.
By KAREN HAWKINS
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) _ Some 6,000 African Americans who passed a Chicago Fire Department entrance exam nearly 16 years ago will walk away with either jobs or cash under a federal court order entered Wednesday.
The city of Chicago must hire 111 of the applicants and provide $30 million in back pay to the others. The new hires are expected to enter the Chicago Fire Training Academy by the end of March 2012.
The court order stems from a firefighting entrance exam given in 1995 that was later found to be discriminatory against black candidates.
Anyone who scored 64 or below on the test was deemed not qualified, but officials told those who scored above that number that while they passed, they would randomly hire the top 1,800 who scored 89 or better. Because only 11 percent of the African Americans scored 89 or better, the overwhelming number of applicants hired from that test were white.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the test was discriminatory because there was no evidence that the applicant who scored 89 or better would be a better firefighter than another who scored a 64. In 2005, a federal judge agreed, saying in her ruling that the city knew the cutoff point was meaningless and would disproportionately exclude African Americans from the pool of candidates most likely to be hired.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the candidates did not wait too long to sue the city.
The fire department will hire 111 of the black applicants who scored between 65 and 88 on the test, and their pensions will be adjusted to include back contributions. Before being hired, they must pass the physical abilities test, background check, drug test and medical exam. Applicants who still aren’t hired will receive a monetary award.
The rest of the 6,000 applicants will split the $30 million in back pay, receiving about $5,000 each.
The physical test should begin being administered in October, said Chicago spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle.
She said the city is working as quickly as possible to comply with the order and has made initial strides toward contacting the 6,000 applicants.
The plaintiffs and their attorneys are “pleased and relieved that it is finally going to end,” said attorney Matthew Piers. “The outcome is a very good one for the class members.”
Piers called the order a significant addition toward the goal of integrating the Chicago Fire Department.
He said applicants’ interest in the case hasn’t diminished over the years, and he expected his firm to get several dozen calls from them Wednesday.
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Google’s Patent Play: $12.5B For Motorola Mobility
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Bill's Business
Motorola patents would help Google defend Android, its operating system for mobile devices, against a litany of lawsuits alleging that Google and its partners pilfered the innovations of other companies. Graphic courtesy Google
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and PETER SVENSSON
AP Technology Writers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ It may be the boldest move yet by a company known for being audacious: Google is spending $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. But the big prize isn’t Motorola’s lineup of cellphones, computer tablets and cable set-top boxes.
It’s Motorola’s more than 17,000 patents _ a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and Oracle to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
If approved by federal regulators, the deal announced Monday could also trigger more multibillion-dollar buyouts. Nokia Corp., another cellphone manufacturer, and Research In Motion Ltd., which makes the BlackBerry, loom as prime targets.
The patents would help Google defend Android, its operating system for mobile devices, against a litany of lawsuits alleging that Google and its partners pilfered the innovations of other companies.
In addition to the existing trove of patents that attracted Google’s interest, Motorola, which introduced its first cellphone nearly 30 years ago, has 7,500 others awaiting approval.
Phone makers and software companies are engaged in all-out combat over patents for mobile devices. The tussle has been egged on by the U.S. patent system, which makes it possible to patent any number of phone features.
Patents can cover the smallest detail, such as the way icons are positioned on a smartphone’s screen. Companies can own intellectual-property rights to the finger swipes that allow you to switch between applications or scroll through displayed text.
Apple, for example, has patented the way an application expands to fill the screen when its icon is tapped. The maker of the iPhone sued Taiwan’s HTC Corp. because it makes Android phones that employ a similar visual gimmick.
The iPhone’s success triggered the patent showdown. Apple’s handset revolutionized the way people interact with phones and led to copycat attempts, most of which relied on the free Android software that Google introduced in 2008.
Android revolves around open-source coding that can be tweaked to suit the needs of different vendors. That flexibility and Android’s growing popularity have fueled the legal attacks. About 550,000 devices running the software are activated each day.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Emanuel Favors Settling Police Torture Lawsuits
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in News
Mayor Rahm Emanuel. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
CHICAGO (AP) _ Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he’s working toward settling a series of civil lawsuits filed over decades-old allegations of torture by Chicago police.
“I know we can settle _ and we’re working towards that,” Emanuel told the Chicago Sun-Times for a story published previously (http://bit.ly/oQaj4E ). “Settlement is a possibility.”
At least six lawsuits are pending that accuse former Chicago Police Lt. Jon Burge or his officers of beating, kicking and shocking suspects _ almost all of them black or Latino_ into giving confessions from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Burge was convicted last year of lying about whether he’d ever seen or participated in torture. He’s serving a 41/2-year sentence at Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina.
Attorneys say 15 men with torture claims against Burge or his officers are still incarcerated, and several others have been released from prison and exonerated.
Burge-related cases have cost the city an estimated $43 million and counting, including a nearly $20 million settlement for four alleged torture victims. The lawsuits typically name Burge, the city and the police department, among others, and taxpayers are funding the defense.
The city’s law department has said an appeals court ruling mandates that Burge’s legal fees be covered because he was working for the city when the alleged misconduct occurred.
Burge was fired from the police department in 1993 over the 1982 beating and burning of Andrew Wilson, a suspect later convicted of killing two police officers. Burge has never faced criminal charges for abuse.
Emanuel said he’s looking at building the city’s future, not settling its past.
“How old is this now _ 30 years old? … It is time we end it,” he said.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Libyan Rebels Capture Major Base Defending Capital
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Global News
By DARIO LOPEZ and KARIN LAUB and BEN HUBBARD
Associated Press
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) _ Libyan rebels captured a major military base that defends Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold of Tripoli as clashes and protests raged in the streets of the capital on Sunday. The tide of the 6-month-old civil war appeared to be turning quickly against the leader of more than four decades.
As Associated Press reporter with the rebels rapidly advancing toward Tripoli saw them take over the base of the Khamis Brigade, 16 miles west of the capital. After a brief gunbattle, Gadhafi’s forces fled what was once a major symbol of the regime’s power.
Gadhafi’s 27-year-old son Khamis commands the 32nd Brigade, also known simply as the Khamis Brigade, one of the best trained and equipped units in the Libyan military.
Inside the base, hundreds of rebels cheered wildly and danced, raising the rebel flag on the front gate of a large, gray wall enclosing the compound. They seized large stores of weapons, driving away with truckloads of whatever arms they could get their hands on. One of the rebels carried off a tube of grenades, while another carted off two mortars.
Ahmed al-Ajdal, 27, a fighter from Tripoli, was loading up a truck with ammunition.
“This is the wealth of the Libyan people that he was using against us,” he said, pointing to his haul. “Now we will use it against him and any other dictator who goes against the Libyan people.”
Mahmoud al-Ghwei, 20 and unarmed, aid he had just came along with a friend for the ride into Tripoli with the advancing force.
“It’s a great feeling. For all these years, we wanted freedom and Gadhafi kept it from us. Now we’re going to get rid of Gadhafi and get our freedom,” he said.
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Laub reported from Zawiya. Hadeel Al-Shalchi in Cairo and Slobodan Lekic in Brussels contributed to this report.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
General Dynamics Buying Vangent For $960M
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia (AP) _ Defense contractor General Dynamics said Tuesday it will expand its health care information technology business by buying Vangent Holding Corp. for about $960 million in cash.
Vangent primarily works with U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, State, and Defense. It provides a health information exchange, electronic health records and data analytics. The business has more than 7,500 employees.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
JetBlue Offering More Unlimited Flight Passes
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
By SAMANTHA BOMKAMP
AP Airlines Writer
NEW YORK (AP) _ JetBlue is offering more of its new unlimited flight pass from Boston after the original batch sold out in just one week.
The pass costs $1,999 and is one of three options the New York airline offered last month for three months of unlimited travel starting Monday. It’s the most expensive option of the three, but it includes flights from Boston to any city JetBlue serves. The other pass available from Boston costs $1,499 and offers fliers unlimited travel to 13 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The third option, costing $1,299, allows for travel between Long Beach and nine Western cities.
The offer, which JetBlue Airways Corp. calls “BluePass,” is a more focused version of its All-You-Can-Jet plan, announced in 2009.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
