caw 48 - the light of mandela’s legacy for world leaders

The Light of Mandela’sLegacy for World Leaders

continued on page 8

BY DR ISAAC NEWTON

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

Children Demand Immigration Reform ...see page 11

BY VANDELL PARK.

continued on page 12

Holiday Special:

FREE LegalConsultations

See back page for gift voucher

When a Stepparent Enters thePicture ...see page 7

Tessanne Chin does Jamaica &Caribbean Proud ...see CV1

Peter Fontanes & Frank Garcia

Nelson Mandela

CALL 718-834-0916PERSONAL ATTENTION, REASONABLE FEES

QESTATE LITIGATION

QMEDICAID PLANNINGQESTATE PLANNINGQPROBATE

QPOWERS OF ATTORNEY

QWILLSQTRUSTSQDEED TRANSFERS

HOME & HOSPITAL VISITS AVAILABLE

26 COURT STREET, SUITE 701BROOKLYN, NY 11242

TAKE 4 OR 5 TRAINS TO BOROUGH HALLOR 2 OR 3 TRAINS TO COURT STREET

ESTATE LAW

CALL NOWFOR A FREE

CONSULTATION

DIVORCE - CUSTODY - SUPPORTAGGRESSIVE, SENSITIVE ATTORNEYS

WITH THE BEST EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD

l DIVORCE/SEPARATION l CUSTODY VISITATION l PARENTS’ RIGHTSl PATERNITY l ABUSE/ NEGLECTl PRE- & POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENTSl ORDERS OF PROTECTIONl CHILD & SPOUSAL SUPPORTl ALL OTHER FAMILY COURT MATTERSl ABUSE SPOUSE PETITIONS

PERSONAL ATTENTION, AFFORDABLE FEES

GET MONEYFOR YOURINJURIES

THE LAW OFFICEOF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

lMEDICAL MALPRACTICE lAUTO & PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTSlBIRTH INJURIES & BRAIN DAMAGElLEAD POISONINGlSLIP & FALLlDEFECTIVE & DANGEROUS

PRODUCTS

FREE CONSULTATION 718 834 0916NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR NEW YORK’S INJURED

26 COURT STREET, SUITE 701, BROOKLYN, NY 11242

NO FEE UNLESSYOU COLLECT

Website www.figeroux.com Email: [email protected]

BENEFIT FROM OVER 10 YEARS

OF COMBINEDEXPERIENCE

Figeroux & Associates26 Court Street, Suite 701

Brooklyn, NY 11242

The Fight Against Apartheid in the DR ...see page 6

Fighting for Contracts forMinority Entrepreneurs

Mortgage Forgiveness & DebtCancellation ...see page 9

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.CAWNYC.COM TO ADVERTISE IN OUR PUBLICATION CALL 718-771-0988

FREE A D.B.A. OF I.Q. INC. ISSUE 48 VOLUME 11

John Liu Proposes MarijuanaLegalization ...see page 19

Obama Speaks on Nelson Mandela...see page 10

Nelson Mandela transcendsdeath at 95. Between blessingand benediction, there is heart

-broken sorrow. But this is joyful sad-ness. There is irony too. The mar-velous dignity with which death tip-toed in lingering leniency around hisfragile health before it robbed us of hisabiding presence and radiant smilespotlights indisputable reflection fartoo inadequate for celebration or cri-tique.

His is a story of vivid pain and tri-umph, a quarter century of imprison-ment and bubbling hope, and mostadmirably, an unpretentious humani-

ty— plagued by admitted flaws and anunquenchable desire to overcomebones chilling weaknesses withoutoffsetting his ethical authority.

I was introduced to Mandela by thelate Tim Hector while I was still inhigh school in the small twin islandstate of Antigua and Barbuda. Timcommissioned me to dissect his strug-gles for political freedom. I was alsotasked with analyzing the price he waspaying behind bars to usher in a stablemultiracial democracy for SouthAfrica.

I later studied Madiba’s leadershippotency in a development and leader-

Small businesses, called the “drivers andengines of growth” by President BarackObama, attracted about $98.2 billion in

government awards last year, according to datacompiled by Bloomberg. Hispanic-owned compa-nies won about 8.4% of that total, or $8.21 billion,while black-operated small businesses won about7.2 %, or $7.1 billion. About 17 % of the U.S.population is Hispanic, and 13 percent is black. Infederal small-business contracting, award ratios

CARIBBEAN NEWSBRIEFS2Caribbean Consulates

Anguilla845 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-745-0277

Antigua & Barbuda610 Fifth Avenue, Suite 311New York, N.Y. 10020Tel: 212-541-4117

The Bahamas231 East 46th StreetNew York, N.Y. 10020Tel: 212-421-6420

Barbados820 Second Avenue, 5th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-551-4325

Belize675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911New York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-949-1240

Dominica800 Second Avenue, Suite 400HNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-949-0853

Dominican Republic1500 Broadway, Suite 410New York, N.Y. 10036Tel: 212-768-2480

Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400KNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-599-0301

Guyana 370 Seventh Avenue, 4th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10001Tel: 212-947-5110

Haiti 271 Madison Avenue, 17th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10016Tel: 212-697-9767

Jamaica 767 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-935-9000

Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-838-6887

Montserrat845 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-745-0200

Panama1212 Avenue of the Americas, 6th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10036Tel: 212-840-2450

St. Kitts & Nevis414 East 75th Street, 5th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10021Tel: 212-535-5521

St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10007Tel: 212-697-9360

St. Maarten675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807New York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 800-786-2278

St. Vincent & The Grenadines801 Second Avenue, 21st FloorNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-687-4981

Trinidad & Tobago125 Maiden LaneNew York, N.Y. 10038Tel: 212-682-7272

For more Consulate information go towww.cawnyc.com/directory

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

Canadian-based Company to Invest US$238 Million in Guyana’s Mining Sector

The Canada-based Guyana Gold-fields says it is investing US$238million in the Aurora Gold Project

as the government said it was looking for-ward to large scale gold production by thecompany during the first quarter of 2015.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, welcom-ing the second largest investment in themining sector, said as a country, “we haveto open to the world…we have to partnerwith the world,” particularly given thepotential size of the multimillion-dollarinvestment.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. focuses on theexploration and development of golddeposits here and Hinds said that the expe-

rience, expertise and technologies whichthe investors were bringing into the coun-try would have been difficult sourcelocally.

“Our challenge is to develop partner-ships with the world… we have to developthe ability to recognize who we coulddevelop good partnerships with,” he said,acknowledging that while the investmentwas “somewhat risky” he was looking for-ward to its success.

Natural Resources and EnvironmentMinister Robert Persaud, who also sup-ported the investment, said it would bringtremendous benefits to the Guyana.l

The St. Kitts-Nevis government saysit is pleased with the growth of thelocal economy despite mixed global

developments that continue to take a tollon developing countries.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance,Dr. Denzil Douglas said that the twin-island federation continues to show signsof an easing in its economic situation asevidenced by a slowing of the contractionin economic output to 0.9 per cent last year

Hon. Samuel Hinds

Hon. Dr. DenzilDouglas

when compared to an average decline of3.2 per cent during the period 2009 to2011.

“This can be attributed to positivegrowth in the manufacturing and tourismsectors which expanded by 10.2 and 2.4per cent respectively,” he said, noting thatin June this year, preliminary estimatesindicated that the economy had expandedby two per cent during the first sixmonths.l

St Kitts-Nevis Pleased with Economic Recovery

Jamaica Urged to Hold Trinidad Accountable to Regional Commitments

that the Trinidadian government doesn’tseem to know what the left hand is doingfrom the right hand. What I find is thatit’s a little upsetting in what has beensaid. Trinidad has signed onto the treatyjust like the other CARICOM countriesand they must adhere to the laws of theCARICOM treaty of Chaguaramus."

Azan said he found the statement from

Former President of the JamaicaManufacturers Association (JMA)Omar Azan has urged the Portia

Simpson Miller led administration tohold Trinidad and Tobago to commit-ments made to the region as outlined inthe Treaty of Chaguaramus.

According to Azan, Trinidad’s NationalSecurity Minister Gary Griffith has sent adisjointed message about the stancebeing taken by the twin island republic asit relates to immigration procedures.

Griffith's declaration came despite apromise by his parliamentary colleague,Foreign Affairs Minister WinstonDookeran, of free travel betweenJamaica and Trinidad when he met withhis Jamaican counterpart for bilateraltalks on immigration issues.

“I find it quite strange and it is obvious

Griffith to be strange since a team wasdispatched from Trinidad’s Ministry ofNational Security for the bi-lateral talks.He said the utterances from the NationalSecurity Minister show an obvious polit-ical immaturity and he should be reined-in by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar.

He indicated that if the impasse contin-ues, Jamaica could be forced to “hit theTrinidadians where it hurts”.“The Jamaican people are not fools andthe Jamaican people realize what’s hap-pening …the Jamaican people are themost powerful set of people in theCaribbean. The Jamaican people under-stand what is going on and I’m sure thatthey will act and do what is necessary toprove how important we are to the CARI-COM market,” Azan said.l

Omar Azan


ABOUT US 3CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN

WEEKLY TEAM

PublisherI.Q. INC.

Managing Editor & Editor-in-ChiefPearl Phillip

Senior EditorsColin Moore, Esq.Randall Toure, Esq.

Legal AdvisorBrian Figeroux, Esq.

Assistant EditorMarilyn Silverman

Graphic & Website DesignersPraim SamsoondarSamantha RoseroLana DelgadilloShaquana Folks

ContributorsDr Isaac NewtonVandell ParkTIffany ThomasNatale GorielB. Painter/AllRecipes.comNinaj RaoulAmanda Peterson BeadleEliot TebowJoseph “Joey” JattanZakeia Tyson

[email protected]

My people are destroyed forlack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6

Visitwww.cawnyc.com

For Caribbean News & Updates

Take your business to the next level!

Become a member ofNACC, AAICC and

HAICC! Visitwww.mynacc.org today

and sign up!

IN THE COMMUNITY4


Nightingales for Trinidad &Tobago

Nurses are a special group byvirtue of their profession. To be anurse, working long hours and

still volunteer your time to help yourcommunity is commendable. Forty-fiveyears and going strong, is the Trinidadand Tobago Nurses Association ofAmerica doing just that. Their ultimategoal in America and the twin-islandrepublic is to build professionals whowill impact the world and future nurses. The organization was formed in Trinidadand Tobago by a group of nurses in the60’s. Their mission was to build anorganization that gave back to the com-munity, specifically aspiring nurses. Tobe considered for a scholarship, the nurs-ing student must maintain a grade pointaverage of 3.0 or higher and be born inTrinidad and Tobago or is a descendantof Trinidadian parent(s).

With their mission to build a communi-ty, “Everyone come together to makesure we are active in the community hereand in Trinidad” said Pamela Charles,the public relations officer for the organ-ization. “What we are here for, is to helpthe people in the community” she said. In2010, they were able to donate six elec-trocardiogram machines to the Ministryof Health in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 40 active members are dedicated tothe idea of giving back to both nursing

students and medical institutions inTrinidad and Tobago. The NursesAssociation has joined forces withCaribbean American Nurses Association(CANA), and Trinidad and TobagoAlliance, an umbrella of various organi-zations.

In order to reach out the community,the association usually host healthforums every two years. They also join

forces with other networks and hosthealth fairs. This is their fourth year ofhosting health fairs in New York.

To raise money for scholarships and tosupport their liaison in Trinidad andTobago, the association organizes gospelbrunches and concerts. With their busyschedules, the members are dedicated togiving back in their spare time. Charlesbelieves that “It is not about us, we are

How to Become a LicensedChildcare Provider

Join us for a comprehensive overview of the financing, plan-ning, application and start-up procedures to become a licensedchildcare provider. Topics include operating costs, programplanning, insurance, contracts, licensing and, fire and safetystandards.

lApplication & Registration ProcesslHealth Statement & Safety TraininglHome Inspection & Background CheckslGrants & Business LoanslBookkeeping Tax & Workers’ Compensation IssueslMarketing Your Daycare

For dates and registrationdetails:

Call: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

This seminar is designedspecifically for anyone who

wants to start a daycare or make their business

more profitable.

Become a Chamber member today. Visit www.mynacc.org

FREE to attend!

BY TIFFANY THOMAS

Seated In Front L-R: Valerie Rawlins & Pamela CharlesStanding: TTRNA & TTNA of Amer Inc & RHA Representatives

not doing it for self-gratification, but weare doing it for our community so they inturn can help another.”

The association is looking to increasetheir membership, looking for more nurs-es with the heart of giving. “There is aneed for service; if you can, provide it,”said Charles. Working endlessly in thisassociation requires patience. Charlesthinks that once you are in such a posi-tion, “You become the people’s onlyhope.”

At their yearly celebration event, anannual scholarship grant is awarded. OnSeptember 15th, 2013, the associationhosted their 24th scholarship grant cere-mony and celebrated their 45th anniver-sary in Queens, New York. At theanniversary luncheon celebration, Le-June Sealy-Horsford and ElizabethBurnette were the recipients of theTrinidad and Tobago Nurses Associationof America Scholarship Award.

In order to build a community of pro-fessionals, the association is looking forenthusiastic people who are willing togive their free time to help someone inneed of assistance. Also, to be active intheir community, every fourthWednesday, the association meets at Dr.Susan Smith Mc Kinney Nursing andRehabilitation Center to discuss andorganize plans and ideas to reach theirultimate goal.l


New York-based Jamaican entre-preneur and businessman, NeilCurtis, is on a mission to put

Jamaicans back into the farming busi-ness, primarily to stem the importation ofnon-organic foods into the country fromthe American market. Curtis says theeconomic policies of the Jamaican gov-ernment; imposed upon them by theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF)agreement over the past 20 years, hasforced Jamaicans off of their farms, andto rely on imported foods that are scien-tifically produced at a cheaper cost. Hecontend that his program is designed tostop the hemorrhaging of local jobs theJamaican agricultural sector providedand at the same time encourage morehealthy foods on the Jamaican market.

In a recent interview with CaribbeanAmerican Weekly, Curtis talked about hisinitiative called “Farm Up Jamaica”:“Farm up Jamaica is a non-profit organ-ization formed to help reduce the impor-tation of foreign foods into Jamaicathrough sustainable non GMO (geneti-cally modified organism) organic farm-ing. We are against that type of food,though not against the companies thatproduced these kinds of foods, but whenit comes to our Jamaican people, wehave to stem the use of these kinds offoods for various reasons. We basically

IN THE COMMUNITY 5Farm Up Jamaica: Going Back to the Land

A Special Invitation

to all faith-basedleaders to empower their

congregation and membership

from the IJLEF, Inc.,a 501(c)(3) approved

not-for-profit organization offering

FREE IMMIGRATION SEMINARS/

PRESENTATIONS & CONSULTATION CARDS

($100 VALUE) ON THE DAY OF THE PRESENTATION

Call 718-243-9431 to schedule a presentation

BY VANDELL PARK

will be moving back to organic produc-tion of food, the way it was done whenGod created the earth and what we inJamaica are accustomed to.”

According to Curtis, the project has athree-pronged benefit for Jamaicans. Itwill put people back to work in the coun-try, stem the continuing devaluation ofthe Jamaican dollar, and ensure thelongevity of the health of the nation.Curtis says Farm Up Jamaica waslaunched at the end of September 2013,and has already begun capturing theinterest of Jamaican businesses and cor-porations both in Jamaica and the UnitedStates: “Our launch attracted many largeorganizations and companies that dis-tribute food and since the launch we

realize that many people are interested inJamaican products and want to havethem here in the States and in Londonand elsewhere, but due the inconsistencyof agriculture in Jamaica, they are notable get produce as they would like, soFarm up Jamaica is set up to also to fillthat market as well on a consistentbasis.”

While Curtis was not willing to discloseas yet how the Farm Up Jamaica initia-tive is funded, he pointed out that theorganization is equipped to provide theneeded assistance to as many farmersacross Jamaica who is willing to partici-pate in the program: “What Farm upJamaica does is to help farmers by pro-viding seeds, irrigation, and manual

labor. Let’s say you need a hundred peo-ple to farm your plot of land, we will takefifty percent of the workforce from thatfarming community, twenty-five percentfrom students attending agricultural edu-cation institutions in the country and theother twenty-five percent from the innercity who claim that they have nothing todo, and need something to do we providework. Once we get everybody on board,we bring in international people to over-see that the farming initiative takes placefrom start to end. We also have a marketready for the crops produced, the prod-ucts are sold, the farmers are paid, andFarm Up Jamaica gets back the money itputs out. That money goes back into afund to continue helping more farmers.”

Curtis says the Jamaica AgriculturalMinistry in on board with the programalong with other key farmers associationsin the country. Farm Up Jamaica com-menced its initiative with a five acre plotof onions, in the parish of Manchester.urtis says this pilot project once success-ful, will expand to other crops on a larg-er scale. He is hoping that the some 3.3millions of Jamaicans living in London,Canada, the United States and elsewhere,will significantly contribute towards thesuccess of the program so as to putJamaica back into the export market forits agricultural produce.l

Vacancies!Bookkeeping,Payroll,

Pay Receiver and Auditing Clerks:Access our statewide or regionaloccupation report for more information about wages,employment outlooks, skills,

trainingprograms,related occupations, and more.

Interested candidates shouldemail a Cover Letter and Resume

with references to:[email protected],

and include subject line: "Payroll/Pay

Receiver Candidate".

We are accepting applicationsnow and will conduct

interviews until position is filled.

Program begins Tuesday, March 4, 2014

For programschedule and to

register, please visit

www.mynacc.org

NEWS CARIBBEAN STAR6


Sonia Pierre’s Legacy: The Fight AgainstApartheid in the Dominican Republic

The late Sonia Pierre (1963-2011),a Dominican born human rightsadvocate, dedicated her life to end

anti-Haitianism in the DominicanRepublic. We first met Sonia in 1994 ata Haitian Women’s' Conference in aworkshop concerning Haitian Refugees,only two years after Haitian Women forHaitian Refugees (HWHR) was estab-lished. She had co-founded Movimientode Mujeres Dominico HaitianasMUDHA in 1983 with other women whoare Dominicans of Haitian descent, tocombat the disparities which they face ona daily basis in the Dominican Republic.Over the years, both HWHR andMUDHA collaborated on various disas-ter relief efforts, dignity and birthrightscampaign, and the fight against wrongfuldeportations.

We are fortunate to have known such agreat woman, as a comrade, sister, friendand mentor. Sonia was a tremendousleader. We are eternally grateful for theopportunity to have participated in manyjourneys with Sonia and for her unwaver-ing vision that drove so many of us in thesocial justice movement. Sonia has beena source of strength and inspiration, anda powerful model of what it takes tobuild a movement. Her life exemplifies

that the causes of justice are alwaysworth our arduous efforts. Sonia foughtfearlessly to the end, despite the numer-ous life threats from racist Dominicannationalists, especially in her finalweeks. Her human example and workfor justice for so many are now a perma-nent legacy. Those of us who knew andloved her must carry forward her passionfor justice and the fight for dignity for all,and her advocacy for birthrights forDominicans of Haitian ancestry. That’s

the best tribute we can give her.This human rights movement against

apartheid in the Dominican Republic hasbeen revived in recent months, due to ablatantly discriminatory decision by theDominican Republic’s highest court. OnSeptember 23, 2013, the DominicanRepublic Constitutional Court ruled thatchildren born of undocumented immi-grant parents after 1929 are no longerDominican citizens. This decision stripsfour generations of Dominican of theirmost basic human rights, their birthrightand their nationality, which basically ren-ders them stateless. While the law iswritten to affect all immigrant groups,this decision directly targets Dominicansof Haitian ancestry.

For many years, Dominican officialshave practiced the most brutal forms ofdeportation against Haitians andDominicans of Haitian descent. Theseracist practices have resulted in rape, tor-ture, and even murder. TheConstitutional Court decision now givesthe Dominican officials legal ground tocontinue wrongful deportation ofHaitians and Dominicans of Haitiandescent.

For a long time, the Dominican econo-my has benefited from the exploitation ofstateless workers in the agricultural andconstruction sectors.

Haitian and non-Haitian organizationsin Haiti and throughout the Diasporas,are taking a stand against this apartheidin the Dominican Republic and theexploitation of Haitians and their descen-dants with protests outside of Dominicanembassies and consulate offices. Manyorganizations have signed on to theInternational Campaign AgainstApartheid in the Dominican Republic,and vow to join forces until theDominican government ends the legalracism and discrimination againstHaitians and Dominicans of Haitiandescent. Some of the organizations aredoing awareness campaigns, and gather-ing signatures for petitions, while someare participating in boycotts on tourism,since the Dominican has the largesttourism market in the Caribbean. Someorganizations have gone as far as callingfor a total boycott of all Dominican prod-ucts and businesses, and are runningPSAs on local radio stations.Participating organizations include:Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees,Lakou New York, Flanbwayan-HaitianLiteracy Project, CADNOH, Radyo PaNou, Groupe Tayno, Haiti Edu-Action(New Jersey), Haitian Americans forProgress (Miami), the December 12thMovement, and the Lanbi Center.l

BY NINAJ RAOUL

FREE LegalConsultations forSpousal AbusePetitions.

Call 718-222-3155.

Protestors in the streets of the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy HWHR

Ninaj Raoul, Executive Director of HWHR with Sonia Pierre

FAMILY MATTERS 7


BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

uContested &

Uncontested Divorces

uSeparation & Prenuptial

Agreements

uBusiness & Degree

Evaluations

uSpousal Maintenance

uCustody/Visitation

uPaternity

uBank & Asset Searches

uWire Transfers

uAlimony Reduction

uCo-habitation

Investigation

uDivorce/Dating/Fraud

uInternet Dating/Fraud

uVideo Surveillance

uRelocation

uChild Support

uAbuse/Neglect

uRestraining &

Protective Orders

uModification of Previous

Orders & Awards

Family Law PracticeSummarized

MatrimonialInvestigations

The lawyer you hire does make a difference!Has your spouse disappeared?

We can find your spouse!

nDIVORCE nSEPARATION nSUPPORT nCUSTODY

NEW YORK IS NOW A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE

When a Stepparent Enters the PictureIn some families, new adults and kids

seem to slip in effortlessly, as thoughthey have been there all along.

Everyone gets along well — one big happyfamily, just like on "The Brady Bunch."

But some families brought togetherthrough marriage can be so different thatthe best everyone can do is grit their teethand work extremely hard to get through aweekend together.

Building a relationship with a stepparentcan be quite different from building othernew relationships. After all, when youmeet a new friend or love interest, you arethe one deciding if that person will have arole in your life. You get to introduce thesenew people into your life gradually, takingtime to decide how they fit in and how youreally feel about them.

A stepparent is different; he or she issomeone your mom or dad has invited intothe family. Sometimes a stepparent can feellike a stranger who is suddenly insertedinto the most personal aspects of your life.The pressure to get along can be intense.

Because everyone's situation is different,there are no easy answers to accepting astepparent. Some people find themselveswith new stepparents after a parent hasdied, others after parents have divorced.Some parents take years to meet and marryother people; some remarry almost imme-diately.

When a parent remarries, you may findyourself with an instant family of stepsib-lings or, eventually, with younger half-brothers or half-sisters.

Although every family is different, thereare some things that can help you deal witha new stepparent.

Dealing with FeelingsOne of the most important things you cando for yourself is to recognize that you'llhave plenty of feelings about your new sit-uation, and some of these may conflict. Forexample, even when someone likes a newstepparent, it's natural to feel some pangsthat this new person is "replacing" abeloved parent in some way.

Change — good or bad — is difficult.Even if you don't have negative feelingsabout the new person in your family, youmay have very strong feelings about thechanges a stepparent is creating.

At some point, you're probably going tofeel confused, conflicted about your loyal-ties, angry, and possibly sad.

If your parent seems overly involved inthe new relationship and you don't feelcomfortable talking to him or her, thenlook for a group at school or in your com-munity where you can vent. Or talk to ateacher or a guidance counselor aboutwhat's going on in your life. Enteringa stepparent situation can be particularlychallenging for teens. Feeling like yourfamily life has been disrupted can be espe-cially difficult because of all the otherchanges that take place during the teenageyears — everything from the emotionalgrowth involved in becoming an adult, tothe hormonal changes triggered by puberty.If you find that your new situation has leftyou feeling sad most of the time or you justcan't shake the blues, you may want to talkto a doctor or therapist.

Facing the RealitiesSo what can you do to adjust to the dailyrealities of living with a stepparent?Instead of worrying about the "what ifs"and the inevitable changes, talk to yourmom or dad about what to expect beforeyour new stepparent joins the family. Thatway, you can be prepared for what liesahead. For example, figure out ahead oftime what to call your stepparent. Askabout stepsiblings and things like if youhave to share a room now. Ask about holi-day plans and who's giving presents towhom. If your house is about to explodewith new people, find out how this affectsyou and that spare room where you listento music.

Don't be afraid to ask questions as theycome to mind. Your parents and new step-parent might not have thought about thethings you're asking either, so there's anopportunity to explore options together.And if there's something you absolutelydon't want to change, try to negotiate. Forexample, if you and your dad always gofishing over Thanksgiving but your mommade plans for you to spend the holidaywith her new husband's family, she mightnot realize how important the fishing trip isto you.

What about those times when you flat outdisagree with a stepparent? You'll have abetter chance of getting what you want ifyou disagree without disrespect.

Explain your feelings calmly and ration-ally. For example, if you have a new half-brother or -sister and you feel like you'reconstantly being expected to babysit at the

last minute, talk it over with your steppar-ent before the situation gets to the stagewhere you feel taken advantage of. Presentyour side — maybe you have to study for atest or you already made plans with friendsand they're relying on you. Then listen tothe other person's perspective. Include yourparent in the discussion, too.

If you're particularly mad about some-thing, it can feel hard not to lose control.But managing your anger and taking extracare to choose respectful language willhelp your stepparent see you for the matureperson you are, not as a child.

Find a way to get to know the new step-parent in your life. Suggest a bike ride orgo to a movie together. It may not be easy,but you can use the same relationship andcommunication skills you would use tomake anyone feel welcome. It may help toremember that your stepparent is walkinginto a new situation, too. He or she couldfeel just as nervous and confused as youdo.

Expect some rough spots. You know thatestablishing a good relationship takes time.Your new life won't always be smooth, sobe ready to make some compromises. Thegood thing is, the ups and downs of adjust-ing to a new family situation can offersome really great life lessons. Many peoplelook back on their experiences getting toknow new family members and realizethey learned some great relationship (andnegotiating!) skills in the process.

Remind yourself that every situation isdifferent. There's no real script for a newfamily that's being pulled together from allsorts of directions. Be open to lots of pos-sibilities. And savor the good moments.Although change is often difficult, it can begood, too.l

1995- 2013. The NemoursFoundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted withpermission. Reviewed by Jennifer ShroffPendley, PhD

COVER STORY 8


Restaurant Management &Start-Up Issues for New

Restaurants

To run a successful restaurant you must know how to manage your employeesand expenses, as well as which licenses you may need. This workshop will helpyou understand all of the basic requirements to get your business up and run-ning. You will learn about:

nHow to avoid large fines by knowing the laws regarding minimumwage, overtime vs. shift pay, uniforms, worker’s compensation, discrimination, health and sanitation, and other common issuesnWhat to know to apply for right licenses and permits correctlyn How to use a new online license information system, Business ExpressnBusiness structures and partnershipnCommercial leasing/location scoutingnPurchasing/selling existing restaurantsnLiquor licenses, restaurant insurancenDepartment of Health's new letter grading systemnBookkeeping, tax preparation & IRS audit issues for restaurants

Learn NYC’s restaurant laws and regulations

For dates and registration details:Call: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

FREE toattend!

ship class at Harvard Kennedy School ofGovernment. Of all the world leadersProfessor Robert I. Rotberg encouragedus to review; Mandela’s story was mostinspiring. I grappled with the spiritualanchors that embraced his moral outlookwhile trying to grasp the consistent prag-matism that animated his quest fordemocracy. Although I didn’t thinkabout it then, I see three lessons CARI-COM and world leaders could gleanfrom Mandela’s leadership.

Lesson One. He had an intuitive senseof history and a strategic selection of theright moment. He knew instinctivelywhen to act, when to hold back, and mostimportantly, when to leave the seat ofpower. He did not allow himself to bedoomed by the trappings of the office orto fall prey to short-term group-thinkabout when is the best time to retire.Instead, he chose to be flexible to chang-ing circumstances rather than be sweptaway by short-term interests. Nothing orno one could have prevented Mandelafrom dying in office if he wanted too,especially after he led South Africa into ahistoric multiracial democracy in 1994.But because he was more concernedabout a vision of national developmentbigger than himself, he opened the doorfor the younger generation to lead the

country to an inclusive economic pros-perity for all South Africans.

Lesson Two. He governed with anabounding national vision rooted in for-giveness and love. Mandela did not wantthe promise of a harmonious SouthAfrica to be destroyed by the practice oftribal interests and partisan thinking.That’s why he did not permit his moralconscience to reward friends and punishenemies. Finger-pointing blame andvendetta politics were absence from hisuse of power. It was more important toembrace the enemy through reconciliato-ry methods than humiliate the adversaryby inflicting an unending cycle of vio-lence and counter violence. Mandelagave birth to an adorable social experi-ment where power and compassion wereto cement a multiracial South Africa. Infact, his evolving collective sense ofSouth African’s identity was illustratedwhen he used rugby— a symbol of

hatred— to unify the country. Mandelaoperated with an all-embracing generosi-ty. He sacrificed self-enrichment fornational advancement.

Lesson Three. He embodied self-denialpar excellence. Madiba gave up his ownwants and managed personal impulsesfor the sake of the masses. By tradingself-recognition for excellence in nation-al progress, he crafted an environment ofmutual trust, fearless self-control andselfless goodwill. It’s not coincidentalthat on the brink of Christmas—a seasonthat reminds us of the greatest sacrificeever made in human history by Jesus—Mandela’s incredible self-sacrificialpractices leap over the boundaries of thiscentury into our eternal memories.During his anti-apartheid struggle, 27years of Robben Island Prison, and hispresidency, Mandela demonstrated stun-ning self-mastery. Perhaps this was mostacutely felt in the sacrificial offering of

his family to the cause of freedom andthe benevolence which he mirrored to hisprison guards. With inspired conviction,Mandela showed that it is possible totransform cutthroat politics with charm-ing humility and still deliver superlativeoutcomes.

I admire Mandela’s decency of consoli-dating power by finding commonground. Both his abiding faith in thehuman spirit, and a synergistic relation-ship between setback and struggles touchme profoundly.

No wonder stardom statesmanship isbeing bestowed upon this internationalfigure of peace. Indeed, he is a gamechanging freedom fighter. If his legacy isto remain a rallying source of inspiration,it requires nerves and commitment toapply. Ultimately, no meaningful strate-gies for endurable social change could beachieved in CARICOM and the world,without a full-blown embrace of authen-tic moral leadership!l

Dr. Isaac Newton is an InternationalLeadership and Change ManagementConsultant and Political Adviser. He spe-cializes in Government and BusinessRelations, and Sustainable DevelopmentProjects. Dr. Newton works extensively, inWest Africa, the Caribbean and LatinAmerica and is a graduate of OakwoodCollege, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia.He has published several books on personaldevelopment and written many articles oneconomics, education, leadership, political,social, and faith based issues.

Mandela:“A fundamental concern

for others in our individual and community

lives would go a long way inmaking the world the

better place we so passionately dreamt of.”

The Light of Mandela’sLegacy for World Leaders/continued from page 1

Fight unemployment - start a business today!

MONEY MATTERS 9


If you owe a debt to someone else andthey cancel or forgive that debt, thecanceled amount may be taxable. The

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of2007 generally allows taxpayers toexclude income from the discharge of debton their principal residence. Debt reducedthrough mortgage restructuring, as well asmortgage debt forgiven in connection witha foreclosure, qualifies for the relief.

This provision applies to debt forgivenin calendar years 2007 through 2012. Upto $2 million of forgiven debt is eligiblefor this exclusion ($1 million if marriedfiling separately). The exclusion does notapply if the discharge is due to servicesperformed for the lender or any other rea-son not directly related to a decline in thehome’s value or the taxpayer’s financialcondition.

The following are the most commonlyasked questions and answers about theMortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Actand debt cancellation:

What is Cancellation of Debt?If you borrow money from a commercial

lender and the lender later cancels or for-gives the debt, you may have to includethe cancelled amount in income for taxpurposes, depending on the circum-stances. When you borrowed the money

you were not required to include the loanproceeds in income, because you had anobligation to repay the lender. When thatobligation is subsequently forgiven, theamount you received as loan proceeds isnormally reportable as income becauseyou no longer have an obligation to repaythe lender. The lender is usually requiredto report the amount of the canceled debtto you and the IRS on Form 1099-C,Cancellation of Debt.

Here’s a very simplified example. Youborrow $10,000 and default on the loanafter paying back $2,000. If the lender isunable to collect the remaining debt fromyou, there is a cancellation of debt of$8,000, which generally is taxable incometo you.

Is Cancellation of Debt income alwaystaxable?Not always. There are some exceptions.

The most common situations when cancel-lation of debt income is not taxableinvolve:

Qualified principal residence indebted-ness: This is the exception created by theMortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 andapplies to most homeowners.

Bankruptcy: Debts discharged throughbankruptcy are not considered taxableincome.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt ReliefAct and Debt Cancellation

Insolvency: If you are insolvent when thedebt is cancelled, some or all of the can-celled debt may not be taxable to you. Youare insolvent when your total debts aremore than the fair market value of yourtotal assets. Certain farm debts: If you incurred the

debt directly in operation of a farm, morethan half your income from the prior threeyears was from farming, and the loan wasowed to a person or agency regularlyengaged in lending, your cancelled debt isgenerally not considered taxable income. Non-recourse loans: A non-recourse loan

is a loan for which the lender’s only rem-edy in case of default is to repossess theproperty being financed or used as collat-eral. That is, the lender cannot pursue youpersonally in case of default. Forgivenessof a non-recourse loan resulting from a

foreclosure does not result in cancellationof debt income. However, it may result inother tax consequences.

Does the Mortgage Forgiveness DebtRelief Act apply to all forgiven or can-celled debts?No. The Act applies only to forgiven or

cancelled debt used to buy, build or sub-stantially improve your principal resi-dence, or to refinance debt incurred forthose purposes. In addition, the debt mustbe secured by the home. This is known asqualified principal residence indebted-ness. The maximum amount you can treatas qualified principal residence indebted-ness is $2 million or $1 million if marriedand filing separately.l

Source: www.irs.gov

FREE BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION

Documents Required:*List of debts*Your most recent tax returns*Correspondence from creditors*Lawsuit documents*Social Security and ID*List of assets

Collection Harassment:*Profane or Abusive Language*Threats/Yelling*Family or Neighbors Called?

Save Your:*Home*Business*Car*Health*Peace of Mind/Health*Marriage/Relationship

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or13 bankruptcy may be

your only choice!

STOPCreditors’Harassment!

STOPLawsuits!

STOPForeclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-834-0190!

For a FREE CONSULTATION call the Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates

Visit www.figeroux.com26 Court Street, Suite 701Brooklyn, NY 11242 Tel: 718-834-0190

People who have lost their homes through

foreclosure or who haverestructured their

mortgage loans, may qualify for tax relief underthe Mortgage Forgiveness

Debt Relief Act.


OBAMA ADMINISTRATION10

BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

We Will Never See the Likes of NelsonMandela Again

At his trial in 1964, NelsonMandela closed his statementfrom the dock saying, “I have

fought against white domination, and Ihave fought against black domination. Ihave cherished the ideal of a democraticand free society in which all persons livetogether in harmony and with equalopportunities. It is an ideal which I hopeto live for and to achieve. But if needsbe, it is an ideal for which I am preparedto die.”

And Nelson Mandela lived for thatideal, and he made it real. He achievedmore than could be expected of any man.Today, he has gone home. And we havelost one of the most influential, coura-geous, and profoundly good humanbeings that any of us will share time withon this Earth. He no longer belongs to us-- he belongs to the ages.

Through his fierce dignity and unbend-ing will to sacrifice his own freedom forthe freedom of others, Madiba trans-formed South Africa — and moved all ofus. His journey from a prisoner to a pres-ident embodied the promise that humanbeings — and countries — can changefor the better. His commitment to trans-fer power and reconcile with those whojailed him set an example that all human-

ity should aspire to, whether in the livesof nations or our own personal lives.And the fact that he did it all with graceand good humor, and an ability toacknowledge his own imperfections,only makes the man that much moreremarkable. As he once said, “I am not asaint, unless you think of a saint as a sin-ner who keeps on trying.”

I am one of the countless millions whodrew inspiration from Nelson Mandela'slife. My very first political action, thefirst thing I ever did that involved anissue or a policy or politics, was a protestagainst apartheid. I studied his wordsand his writings. The day that he wasreleased from prison gave me a sense ofwhat human beings can do when they’reguided by their hopes and not by theirfears. And like so many around theglobe, I cannot fully imagine my own lifewithout the example that NelsonMandela set, and so long as I live I willdo what I can to learn from him.

To Graça Machel and his family,Michelle and I extend our deepest sym-pathy and gratitude for sharing thisextraordinary man with us. His life’swork meant long days away from thosewho loved him the most. And I onlyhope that the time spent with him theselast few weeks brought peace and com-fort to his family.

To the people of South Africa, we drawstrength from the example of renewal,and reconciliation, and resilience thatyou made real. A free South Africa atpeace with itself — that’s an example tothe world, and that’s Madiba’s legacy tothe nation he loved.

We will not likely see the likes ofNelson Mandela again. So it falls to usas best we can to forward the examplethat he set: to make decisions guided not

by hate, but by love; to never discountthe difference that one person can make;to strive for a future that is worthy of hissacrifice.

For now, let us pause and give thanksfor the fact that Nelson Mandela lived —a man who took history in his hands, andbent the arc of the moral universe towardjustice. May God Bless his memory andkeep him in peace.l

“I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set,and so long as I live I will do what I can to learn from him...”

IMMIGRATION 11


From the Mouths of Babes: ChildrenDemand Immigration Reform BY AMANDA PETERSON BEADLE

Families across the U.S. are facingthe holidays separated from moth-ers, fathers, and siblings due to

deportations and years-long waits forvisas. Children—some of whose parentsare undocumented immigrants—havetaken to the halls of Congress recently togo to congressional offices, meet withmembers, and ask them to support immi-gration reform so that their familieswon’t be separated.

The protests and meetings are part ofthe Fair Immigration ReformMovement’s (FIRM) Youth in Actioncampaign to bring children toWashington, D.C. to share their stories.Eleven-year-old Esteban Verdugo toldRep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), for example,that the holidays are hard for him sincehis father was deported. “I’m scared thatmy stepdad could be next. It’s Christmastime and while most families are togeth-er, immigrant families like mine continueto be separated,” Verdugo said, accord-ing to FIRM. “We need to pass immigra-tion reform now.”

Along with meeting with members,they have gathered in front of HouseSpeaker John Boehner’s office to askhim to bring an immigration bill to the

floor for a vote. According to theHuffington Post, a Capitol police officeryelled at the children and advocates forsinging in hallway outside of Boehner’soffice: “We’re not going to have singingin my building,” the officer said, whichcan be seen in a video posted byKFTStories. “We’re not going to have it.Warning number one, okay? That’s allyou get. This is getting old real fast,okay? I’m not going to tolerate it. This isa place of business, and we do not sing inthe hallway.” “Comprende?” he asked,raising his voice.

The children and their families also

staged a protest during the CapitolChristmas tree’s lighting. They held pic-tures of family members and signs askingfor “Immigration reform now!” andchanted, “All I want for Christmas isreform,” as Boehner began the tree light-ing ceremony. And in November, twoimmigrant teenagers—Carmen Lima, 13,and Jennifer Martinez, 16—approachedBoehner at a diner as he was eatingbreakfast to explain how their parentswere at risk of deportation because of theHouse’s inaction on immigration reform.After Lima asked the speaker to supportimmigration reform, he said, “I’m trying

ALL IMMIGRATION MATTERS

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

CALL 718-834-019026 Court Street, Suite 701

Brooklyn, NY 11242

lPERSONAL INJURYlACCIDENTSlFAMILY LAWlPOLICE BRUTALITYlCRIMINAL LAWlCIVIL LITIGATIONlBANKRUPTCY

lREAL ESTATE

Visit our website at:www.figeroux.com

lGET THE FACTS lBE SMART lMAKE THE RIGHT DECISION lBEWARE OF IMMIGRATION FRAUD

uHealth Care (RN/OT/PT/TSHH/SLP’S

& IT Cases)

uExtension of Status & Visa Renewals

uWork Authorization

uH-IB Professional Workers

uF-1 Students

uJ-1 Exchange Visitor Trainees

uO-1 Extraordinary Ability

uR-1 Religious Workers

uU.S. Citizenship

uFamily-sponsored Permanent Residence

uGreen Cards/Labor Certification (RIR)

uImmigration Visa Petitions:Employment Based

uTemporary Work Visas

uNaturalization Derivative Petitions

uLabor Certifications

uApplication for Asylum

uPetitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus

uAppeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals

uLawsuits involving Eligibility and Processing for

Citizenship

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190

to find a way to get this thing done. It’s,as you know, not easy. It’s not going to bean easy path forward, but I’ve made itclear since the day after the election thatit’s time to get this done.”

Despite telling the two teenagers inNovember that he’s trying to work onimmigration reform, Boehner also hasinsisted the House has no intention oftaking up S. 744, the immigration bill theSenate already passed with a wide major-ity. And while House Republicans delayon putting forward a plan or consideringone of the immigration measures lan-guishing in committee, the children’s sto-ries highlight the growing number offamilies who are hurt by the wait forimmigration reform. That is why 29House members sent a letter to PresidentObama this week asking him to use hisauthority to suspend deportations of peo-ple who would qualify for a path to citi-zenship under pending immigrationreform legislation. “Our efforts inCongress will only be helped by the sen-sible and moral step of stopping deporta-tions,” the letter states. “We cannot con-tinue to witness potential citizens in ourdistricts go through the anguish ofdeportation when legalization could bejust around the corner for them.”l

Photo: Olivia Chow

NEWS SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS12

Starting a Successful Construction BusinessAre you seriously thinking about starting a contracting

business in the construction industry? Then, attend our 2-part seminar and learn:

Part OnelSetting up Your BusinesslLicences & InsurancelStart-up Finance & Lines of CreditlMarketing Your BusinesslLegal Issues

Part TwolProject ManagementlPreparing A Contract BidlMinority Certification & Procurement OpportunitieslTips on Negotiating Contracts

For dates and registration details:

Call: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mynacc.org

FREE to attend!

Become a Chamber member today. Visit www.mynacc.org

the single digits. In New York thingshaven’t fared better and there are move-ments challenging the awarding of con-tracts to Hispanics, blacks and otherminority groups. One such movement isbeing led by the New York StateCoalition of Hispanic Chambers ofCommerce (NYSCHCC).

Frank Garcia, Chair of NYSCHCC, hasmoved to the courts to prevent theenforcement of Local Law 1 recentlypassed by the New York City Council toreplace Local Law 129. Garcia says thenew law discriminates against minority-owned businesses seeking contracts withthe city administration. He added that thenew law limits the percentage of jobscontracted out to African-American,Hispanic, Caribbean-American andAsian-owned businesses here in NewYork City and will severely impact theeconomic position of minority communi-ties. According to Garcia, the passage ofLocal Law 1 is a deliberate effort by theBloomberg administration to frustrateminorities and to weaken their economicability in New York City: “As the Lawcurrently stands, African-Americans areonly allowed 9% of contracts, Hispanics4%, Asians are given 7% while it has dis-placed Caribbean American businessesand put them under Hispanics thus mak-ing them entitled to only 4% of contractJobs with the city, while this same lawgives to White women a whopping 37 %contract jobs with the City. This is a bla-

tant case of discrimination, and that iswhy we have moved to the courts to stopthe implementation of this aspect of LocalLaw 1, or Intro 911 as it is officiallynamed. The case has been brought beforea judge in the Bronx Supreme Court andthe coalition of chambers is representedby Attorney at Law Damien Carter, theonly lawyer who has won several casesagainst Mayor Michael Bloomberg.”

Garcia says that initially, under LocalLaw 129 passed by the Bloombergadministration in 2005, the percentage ofcontracts allocated to minorities wasmuch higher but was significantlyreduced in Local Law 1 or Intro 911.Garcia says a ruling on the case is pend-ing since the judge requested time tostudy the law in order to effectivelyadminister a ruling that is fair and reason-able. Meanwhile, the coalition of cham-

ber members are calling on minoritybusinesses to step up support for the fightagainst the enforcement of the law as it iscurrently written. Another leader repre-senting the Hispanic community PeterFontanes, says: “Look, they are trying todupe us and think that we are stupid, butwe are not. We are not walking away fromthis; we have gotten a lot smarter and alot angrier, therefore we have becomemore astute in fighting the administrationwhen it tries to fool us, and that is why wehave taken the case to the Supreme courtin the Bronx to get an injunction andhopefully we will get a fair decision.Nobody thought that we were going totake them to court on this issue.”

Fontanes says the injunction was soughtprimarily because the city administrationis pushing to enact the law, expecting thatonce it is enacted, judges may not want to

take the case. He added that theinequitable distribution of city contractsto minorities must come to an end.Fontanes says the Supreme Court,through its ruling on affirmative action,dictates that a disparity study be carriedout to ensure an equitable distribution ofCity contracts. He stressed that in orderto correct these ills and injustices withcity contract allocations to minorities,there must be an independent disparitystudy done and its findings be acted uponin a fair and responsible manner by thecity administration.

However, the disparity in the procure-ment procedures in New York City isindicative of a national problem.According to a report on the award offederal contracts to Blacks and Hispanicsthe figure is dismal. Hispanics representabout 17% of the U.S. population whileBlacks is about 13%, yet federal smallbusiness contracting allocated to thesegroups are in the single digits. Of the$98.2 billion of the federal governmentawards in 2012, Hispanics received $8.21billion or 8.4%, while blacks received$7.1 billion or 7.2%. Despite the nationalfigures on the allocation of contracts tominority small businesses, Fontanesbelieves that the policy of New York City,requiring small business owners to sub-mit their ethnic origin in order to be cer-tified to receive procurement contractswith the city is a discriminatory one andthat all New Yorkers should be allowed toapply based on the criteria of being alegal New York City resident and not onrace or ethnic background.l

Fighting for Contracts forMinority Entrepreneurs/continued from page 1

Taking a stand for Hispanic and other minority entrepreneurs

MulticulturalBusiness ExpoEarly Bird

Special

Exhibitor’s Table Regular - $1250 (includes 6x6 skirted table, 1 ticket to VIP Welcome Breakfast

and 2 tickets to Cocktail Reception & Pillar of the Community Awards)

Early-Bird Special: $1000(includes 6x6 skirted table, 1 ticket to VIP Welcome Breakfast

and 2 tickets to Cocktail Reception & Pillar of the Community Awards)

Past Exhibitors: Get an extra 10% OFF.

Special $695*: Exhibiting table only*. *Conditions apply. Limited quantity.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to market and brand your business at our Multicultural Business Expo on THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 at the Brooklyn Marriott

Special ends February 28, 2014Call 718-722-9217 ext 112 to secure your table or

for sponsorship opportunities. Expo Kit is available at www.mynacc.org

There's a popular age-old saying, "theearly bird catches the worm." In the

nature of our fine-feathered friends, here isan early bird special to save you money!

EXPO PRESENTED BY NACC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AAICC, HAICC & NYSCHCC

ONE DAY. ONE LOCATION. ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES.20+ Empowering Seminars. VIP Welcome Breakfast.

Cocktail & Pillar of Communitty Awards.


NEWS CARE ON MANDELA14

Prisoner 46664Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – was

more than the western hemisphere’srecreated idol and poster boy for the

success in being black and obedient. He wasa freedom fighter, and a man of quiet digni-ty. Mr. Mandela passed away on December5th 2013 leaving a blanket of temperate sor-row across South Africa. “Madiba” (his clanname) will be truly missed.

As the world continues to idolize Mr.Mandela and “white-wash” his existence,Concerned Americans for Racial Equality(CARE) will share a more relatable and real-istic story of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela andApartheid, with its related effects and lastingimpressions.

Mandela once said, “ I am not a saint,unless you think of a saint as a sinner whokeeps on trying.” This is the truth of anyauthentic leader, because admitting that oneis susceptible to frailties of human naturejust like everyone else is the foundation ofleadership.

Nelson Mandela was born on the18th ofJuly in 1918 in the small village in the for-mer black homeland Transkei in theRepublic of South Africa. Mandela wasnamed “Rolihlahla” at birth, which prophet-ically means troublemaker. The nameNelson, was given to him when he enteredthe South African education system as achild. Black Africans customarily adopted“Western/European” names to enableWhites to easily address them outside oftheir village.Mandela studied law. By day he practiced asan attorney in Johannesburg. By night he

planned sabotage undermining the apartheidregime through the African NationalCongress (ANC), which he co-founded. In1964 while on trial, as his opening defensehe explained; “I planned it as a result of acalm and sober assessment of the politicalsituation that had arisen after many years oftyranny, exploitation, and oppression of mypeople by the Whites.” He was prepared todie for the liberation of South Africa.

During apartheid Black poverty was ram-pant and made worse by South Africa’sinternal war. The government continuouslytried to drive Blacks away from the citywhere work was available which wasreserved for Whites by tearing down shanty-towns and nearby villages erected in closeproximity to the cities. Working Black SouthAfricans exercised the only political powerthey had, by organizing protests and refusingto work hoping to impact the economy,which evidently created more hardship andworsened their situation. Many were tor-tured and imprisoned and thousands diedfighting against this unjust system thatdenied the black majority basic freedomssuch as the power to vote as well as the abil-ity to move and live freely within their owncountry.

The failing economy incited white laborunions to become increasingly violentagainst South African blacks. In the early20th century American president RonaldReagan maintained a close alliance with theSouth African government demonizingopponents of apartheid as dangerous andpro-communist. Reagan even vetoed a bill toimpose sanctions on South Africa althoughCongress eventually overruled the veto.

Reagan continued to support the apartheidgovernment under the guise of the policy of“constructive engagement” which held.President Ronald Regan supported a bloodyand drawn-out affair in which thousandsdied fighting.

The “dying days” commonly known as thetime between Nelson Mandela’s releasefrom imprisonment and the Black majorityrule in 1994 was a desperate time for thenation. The power struggle encompassedwhite supremacists determined to hang ontotheir power, tribal rivals competing for polit-ical influence, and the South African gov-ernment, which was publicly negotiatingreform and privately provoking violence.Black poverty was rampant and made worseby South Africa’s internal war. The govern-ment continuously tried to drive Blacksaway from the city where work was avail-able which was reserved for Whites by tear-ing down shantytowns and nearby villageserected in close proximity to the cities.

Working Black South Africans exercised theonly political power they had, by organizingprotests and refusing to work hoping toimpact the economy, which evidently creat-ed more hardship and worsened their situa-tion. Many were tortured and imprisonedand thousands died fighting against thisunjust system that denied the black majoritybasic freedoms such as the power to vote aswell as the ability to move and live freelywithin their own country.

Mandela, although imprisoned, continuedto lead the fight against apartheid. It was for-bidden to advertise the revolution by quotingInmate No. 46664 or to publish his pictureunder the suppression of Communism Act,he and other incarcerated members of theANC smuggled out messages of directionand hope to the anti-apartheid movement.The first major blow against apartheid wasto the military. The armed division of theANC tore it apart from within. The secondblow, delivered in 1988 during the Battle ofCuito Cunavale by Cuban troops, Angolans,Namibians, and South Africans endedApartheid. After more than 25 years ofimprisonment Mandela, Inmate No. 46664was finally released. He became the firstblack president of South Africa.

Although as president for just five yearsone term he was unable to rectify all the illsrelating to the long term systematic impov-erishment and oppression of Blacks includ-ing poverty, unemployment numbers, hous-ing, and the AIDS epidemic that hit thecountry. Mandela and the other unnamedfighters freed the people and brought truedemocracy to South Africa. Madiba hasmoved on. But he left a world where manymore Madibas’ in South Africa and aroundthe world who know that they can fight inthe name of justice and make a differencebecause of freedom! l

BY DIANDRA ARCHIBALD

Economic Deprivation Think Tank Conference

A CARE Juneteenth Project

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery

and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome anderadicated by the actions of human beings.

Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great.YOU can be that great generation.

Let your greatness blossom.”

We invite you to participate in our First Annual Think Tank Conference on Economic Deprivation, in partnership with NACC,AAICC, HAICC, NAACP, NYCHA & IJLEF at the Annual NACC Multicultural Business Conference, scheduled for

Thursday, June 19, 2014, at the New York Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York.

TRACKS:Track I: Economic Deprivation & CrimeTrack II: Developing Human CapitalTrack III: Tax Policy, Poverty & Inequality Track IV: Economic Deprivation: The role of Faith-Based Organizations as advocates for Affordable Housing

To register as a participant of the conference, go to www.mynacc.org


NEWS CV1

nHEALTH nENTERTAINMENT nRELATIONSHIPS nRECIPES nSPORTS nHOROSCOPE

Caribbean Kitchen Corner

"Satisfy your soul with pineapple,coconut, dried cherries, and atouch of rum, mon!" — B. Painter

Ingredients3 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon dark rum1/2 cup milk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups canned crushed pineapple,drained 1/2 cup dried cherries 1 1/3 cups toasted coconut

Directions1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Lightly greasetwo 9x5 inch loaf pans.

2.Beat together eggs, oil, rum, andmilk in a bowl. Sift together flour,sugar, baking powder, baking soda,nutmeg, and salt in a separate

Visit www.cawnyc.com for the latest Caribbeannews, sports, information and more!

SUBMITTED BY B. PAINTERALLRECIPIES.COM

Christmas in TheIslands Bread

bowl. Mix the flour into theeggs until just moistened.Gently fold in the pineapple,cherries, and coconut. Pour intoprepared pans.

3.Bake in a preheated ovenuntil a toothpick inserted intothe center comes out clean,about 40 to 45 minutes. Letcool in pan for 10 minutesbefore removing to cool on awire rack.l

• PREP 20 mins • COOK 45 mins • READY IN 1 hr, 5 mins

5 Tips to Avoid HolidayWeight GainWho doesn't love the smell of a

warm kitchen during the holi-days? They're designed around

food and bringing family, old friends andnew friends together. However, holidayscan also be detrimental to your healthylifestyle and cause you to lose your focusthrough the end of the year. But they don'thave to be. "Think of fall as the perfect timeto reassess the state of your health and prepfor the challenges of the holiday season,"says Alicia Rodriguez, a registered dieti-cian. "When it comes to nutrition andavoiding weight gain, my motto is, keep itsimple and easy." Here are some tips to helpyou do the same.

Bulk up your plate with protein and veg-etablesThe side dishes at most holiday meals areoften as good as the turkey or ham, butstuffing and mashed potatoes aren't the bestway to fill your plate. One way to avoid-weight gain is to build your plate withprotein. This should be easy since holidaydinners revolve around meat. Second, fillyour plate with side dishes that include veg-etables. You may have a little spot left onyour plate— use this space for your "indul-gence." When you look at your plate, thegoal is that the food is still providing youwith good nutrients and reduced carbohy-drates.

Use the "fork" trickMany of us go back for seconds, and eventhird helpings at holiday meals. This year,focus on asking yourself if you're enjoyingyour food. To help you answer this question,use the fork trick. Once you take a bite offood, place your fork down on the plate andlet it go. Chew your food, swallow and then

pick it up again. The key to this trick is letting go of the fork.This will remind you to slow down, enjoy your food and con-verse with friends and family.

Avoid the clean plate clubGrowing up, many of us were always told, "You can't leave thetable until you finish everything on your plate" and inevitably,we spent many nights sitting alone at the dinner table. Thesedays, Rodriguez advises her clients to eat until they are full and,if their plate is not clean, it's OK. Focus on one plate of food,slow down and be careful not to overeat. Overfeeding is neverreally a healthy thing to do.

Share your dessert with a loved oneAfter a satisfying meal, it is hard to avoid the sweet smells ofpumpkin—or warm apple pie. If you choose not to skip dessert,share a small slice with a loved one or new friend. If you arehosting, designate one family member to bring dessert, to limitthe endless selection of pies and reduce the urge to overindulge.

Make like a turkey and trot out the doorStart your holiday with a new tradition this year and gather thefamily to do something active. Take a walk to a local park, puttogether a family friendly flag football game, rake the leaves upin the yard and jump into them.

Holidays are a time to be thankful for family, friends andeverything in between. Savor the moment, really take time totaste your food, get out and have some fun, and avoid the-holi-day weight gain.(BPT) l

Tessanne Chin Makes Us Proud

Jamaican songstress, Tessanne Chin, who auditioned forThe Voice and now finds herself as one of the finalthree, has made Jamaicans as well as the whole

Caribbean proud. Apart from wowing the judges and theaudience across American and the world, with her amazingtalent, she has carried herself with a quiet dignity and anirresistible effervescence. Her performance on the wholeand especially her rendition of Bob Marley, her home coun-try icon and hero’s song, Redemption Song, has proven thatwin or lose, she is destined to be a star. We wish Tessanne good luck, not just on final night, but for

her career. May you continue to shine bright like a diamondin the sky!l


NEWS HEALTHCV2

At six, I was diagnosed withJuvenile (Type 1) Diabetes.Suddenly, my universe went

from waiting for the ice cream truck, toasking questions about life, death, andillness.

In 1977, the emotional aspects ofchronic diseases were very much underthe rug. My doctors encouraged me to“tough it out.” In my teens, I translatedthat nebulous instruction into a life adriftbetween blood sugar levels and corre-sponding emotional extremes .

There are over 27 million people in theU.S. with diabetes. The disease triggers alifestyle transformation; it requires 24/7vigilance and monitoring. When you’re stuck in a depressive rut or

are just feeling “foggy,” it’s not you—it’syour body's chemistry. Low blood sugarreduces the glucose in your brain, lead-ing to poor memory and difficulty learn-ing. High blood sugar is no picnic, either;it causes the blood to thicken and oxygenlevels to be decreased. This mental fogcan create a vicious cycle—sicknessleads to depression, which leads to apa-thy and denial. Without proper manage-ment, these symptoms only grow worse.

I’ve seen people lift their spirits and

gain their energy back, simply by gettinga handle on their blood sugar levels.Conversely, I’ve seen people destroytheir lives and relationships by lettingthings go unchecked. The result?Resentment, denial and low self-worth.

A diabetes diagnosis can place strain oneven the happiest relationship, but itdoesn’t have to end it. While it’s naturalto not want to burden your loved ones,you must remember to:•Inform the people in your life when yourblood sugar is high or low and tell themthat is why your behavior might be off orodd •Express your limitations, so your part-

ner knows to be patient, •Discuss the emotional symptoms of dia-betes with people you care about•Take blood tests often, and share theresults with your partner•Wait until blood sugars return to normalbefore eating. •Commit to a handful of simple, low-pressure tasks, and follow through evenif you’re feeling sad or foggy•Seek professional guidance if your emo-tions are interfering with your daily life •Thank people if they come up to youand ask if you are okay and check yourblood sugars•Always have the proper food available

Diabetes and Relationships: Tools forCoping This Holiday Season and Beyond

as well as your fast-acting insulin in caseyour blood sugar is high•Don’t end up in a stressful situationwhere your friends, family members oryou are angry or frustrated.

Mental illness and diabetes tend to be apackage deal. But the story doesn’t haveto end there—mine didn’t. I’m thankfulevery day for my mother’s decision tosend me to psychotherapy. I can’t stressenough the importance of seeking coun-seling, cognitive behavioral psychothera-py or a certified diabetic educator as partof your diabetes care.While it may seem that constantly mon-

itoring what you put in your body is moretrouble than it’s worth, these relativelysimple changes make returning to yourold life possible.

A diabetes diagnosis brings a slew ofemotional issues. When your diabetes ismanaged well, the emotional issuesbecome manageable, too. That’s where Icome in. As a veteran Type I diabetic,I’ve dedicated my life to helping otherpeople with diabetes in the New YorkMetro area. For me, the most importantpiece of my health care puzzle was emo-tional health and support. And I’vehelped hundreds of people with diabetesfind the same relief. l

BY ELIOT LEBOW

Real Estate Transactions forBuyers & Sellers, ForeclosureInoculation & Financing YourBusiness through Home

Ownership

Visit www.mynacc.org to register today!

Call 718-722-9217 or visitwww.mynacc.org for date.

Buying a home is an excitingexperience, but it can also be over-whelming if you don’t understandthe entire process. Knowing whatto expect will help you make theright decisions about your homepurchase. So, whether you are con-sidering homeownership for thefirst time or currently own a homeand need help with your mortgage,or interested in building a realestate portfolio, this seminar pro-vides you with the important toolsand resources you need today.

RSVP:Telephone: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, downtown BrooklynSpace is limited.

Must register to attend.


LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS CV3

Engagement season is officiallyhere, with couples around thecountry saying "yes" to proposals

and starting to plan their weddings. Infact, 39 percent of marriage proposalshappen between Thanksgiving andValentine's Day, according toWeddingChannel.com. While immediatediscussions with your partner might befocused on the ceremony venue or hon-eymoon location, there's another impor-tant consideration before saying "I do"having the "finance talk."

Joining your lives through marriagealso means joining your lives financially.Having a solid understanding aboutmoney, which includes insurance, willhelp ensure a marriage remains stronglong after the honeymoon is over.

However, the reality is that many cou-ples are skipping important conversa-tions. While 71 percent of newly marriedcouples acknowledge the importance ofsharing beneficiary designations beforemarrying, almost half never got aroundto addressing their life insurance needsprior to the wedding, according to a sur-vey by the National Association ofInsurance Commissioners (NAIC). Andit's not just young couples who are skip-ping the conversation — newlywed cou-ples age 55 and older are more likely tohave discussed their household entertain-

ment budget than their life insurancecoverage.

Talking about combining finances andfuture insurance needs can be difficult,but it doesn't have to be. Avoid misunder-standings and help ensure your marriageremains strong by having a talk aboutthese matters as soon as possible.

Well before the big day, couples shouldschedule a pre-wedding discussion todirectly address auto, home, health andlife insurance needs. Here are some ques-tions to get the conversation started:

Home * Do we plan on renovating our currenthome?

* If we both own homes, should we rentor sell the other home once we move intogether?

Keep in mind, a renovation investment of$5,000 or more could change yourhome's replacement value and insuranceneeds. Additionally, switching a propertyfrom being a homestead to a rental willrequire you to carry different insurance.

Health * Which health plan should we keep? * Should we each be on the same plan,

or maintain individual plans? * What is the best approach for insuring

our children, or stepchildren?

Having health insurance isn't only impor-tant for each person in a marriage, butstarting in 2014, it is subject to consider-able changes in law. When analyzingplans, remember the lowest premiumisn't the only consideration. Review allplan elements, including deductibles andco-pays. Most couples have the opportu-nity to combine plans, but only after theyare legally married and not before.

Auto* How's your driving history? * Do you have any accidents or viola-

tions?

Getting married may have a positiveeffect when you combine your autoinsurance plan, but a lower rate isdependent on both you and your spouse'sdriving records. If you married a speeddemon, it might not make sense to com-bine policies even after you say "I do."Have the talk and do your research.

Life * Do you currently have life insurance? * How much life insurance is enough?

Now that "I" means "we," couplesshould ask these questions now to avoidproblems in the future.l(BPT)

Recently Engaged? Critical Financial Questionsto Ask Before You Say “I Do”

GREEN CARD SLAVERY?Don’t put up with ABUSE anymore! We can get a Green

Card for you and your children PLUS a divorce. Call 718-222-3155 now for a FREE consultation!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Research shows disconnectbetween what couples sayand do when it comes tofinancial conversationsbefore marriage


SHOOTING FROM THE HIPS, NOT THE LIPSCV4

Before the start of the officialNational Basketball Association(NBA), there was much talk

about a rivalry and about who was thebest basketball team in New York: theNew York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets.It seems such a riot, the ever-meddling,Commissioner even called a meeting ofsorts, asking the teams to play nice. Canyou beleive that? That’s another story.Considering all this and more, didn’t we

expect better results from both New Yorkbasketball teams with the 2013-2014 sea-son barely two months upon us?

Let’s start with the New York Knickswith a record of 5 and 15. Due to theKnicks’ internal problems, they aren’tgoing anywhere. I will give you a break-down of the problems that are preventingthe Knicks from being successful: Firstand foremost, the firing of DonnieWalsh; giving J.R. Smith’s youngerbrother a contract at the start of the 2013-2014 season; the long history of horrifictrades, the looming Carmelo Anthonyfree agency as a distraction to the team;and the effect of trade rumors on ImanShumpert’s play. The face of thefranchise, Carmelo Anthony has statedthat the “Knicks are the laughing stock ofthe NBA.” Well, at least we know the firststep to change is admittance.MaybeMike Woodson should shave his eye-

The State of Basketball in New York

Call 718-771-0988 ext 112for registration information.

brows. That might ignite a fire and effortin both his coaching and players.

No one should blame injuries for theKnicks early season failure. The EasternConference has a number of poor teamsand the Knicks, with high-priced talent,should win some of these games.Additionally, it is absurd to think thatAlan Houston, Steve Mills or IsiahThomas would do a better job thanWoodson. In the end, Jim Dolan shouldjust keep playing his lead guitar and letthe organization bring back DonnieWalsh.

The Brooklyn Nets having a betterrecord the Knicks is surprising, consider-ing the injuries to Deron Williams, JasonTerry and Andre Kirilenko. For the

Brooklyn Nets to be effective, PaulPierce and Kevin Garnett must not beoverworked during the regular season sothey can be ready for the playoffs. Thereassigning of Lawrence Frank had to bedone; hiring him in the first place was amistake because he wanted to be the headcoach. This severely undermined JasonKidd’s ability to be the “head” coach.Kidd is not without blame either. Hecleary looks clueless on the sidelines,resorting to a trick of a spilled drink.Hey, got to give him credit for beinginnovative. There is a major difference inbeing in a huddle offering suggestionsand being the man running the huddle.Perhaps, he should have learned to crawlbefore he walked; meaning, he shouldhave started as an asssistant before

becoming the head coach of a veteranteam with contending aspirations. Canone really blame him for jumping at theopportunity? I believe the Brooklyn Netsare a serious threat because a healthyBrook Lopez can take the Brooklyn Netsa long way. A healthy starting five willbe the key to the Brooklyn Nets success.

With the Knicks having lost ChrisCopeland and Steve Novak who werekey role players on the team, it didn’tmake sense to make bring in players whodo not fit as role players. Even with theBrooklyn Nets having traded their roleplayers Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphriesand Marshon Brooks for all-star players,they still had quality role players, glueguys and players with intangibles. In theend the Atlantic Division is up for grabs.

Even though the 2014 NBA Draft classis loaded with potential stars like AndrewWiggins, Jabari Parker, Alex Gordon andJulius Randle, the New York teams hav-ing such terrible records will only helpthe teams that already traded away theirfuture draft picks too. As we see withPortland leading the WesternConference, trading with the New Yorkteams will significantly improve yourfranchise.

However, at the end of the season, theBrooklyn Nets will have a better recordthan the New York Knicks. In the endJim Dolan will just be playing on his leadguitar, “What did I do?”l

“BY JOSEPH “JOEY’ JATTAN

Will Carmelo Anthony jump from the sinkingKnicks “Titanic” ship?

Deron WIlliams must be asking himself, when is it going to get better?


NEWSHOT TOPIC 19

Legalization of Marijuna in New York?

New York City Comptroller JohnLiu is proposing the legalizationof marijuana for personal and

medical use here in New York City. Thecomptroller says regulating the use ofmarijuana stands to provide a huge eco-nomic boost to the city and at the sametime substantially reduce money used bythe city administration to combat a crimethat is considered a recreational hobby:“New York City’s misguided war on mar-ijuana has failed, and its enforcementhas damaged far too many lives, espe-cially in minority communities; it’s timefor us to implement a responsible alter-native. Regulating marijuana would keepthousands of New Yorkers out of thecriminal justice system, offer relief tothose suffering from a wide range ofpainful medical conditions, and makeour streets safer by snapping the danger-ous underground market that targets ourchildren…”

The Comptroller’s Office estimates,based on current records of marijuanause in New York City, an annual revenueof $400 million. can be earned for thecity should the drug be legitimized andtaxed at the city’s current total sales taxrate of 8. 875 percent. A report from theComptroller’s Office outlines the break-down of marijuana use in the city thatallows for its estimate of $400 million in

revenue: “Based on a recent report by theSubstance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration, we estimate that10.4 percent of New York, Northern NewJersey, and Long Island residents usedmarijuana in the past year, an incidenceof use which is lower than that of NewYork State (12.2 percent) and of theUnited States (10.7 percent). We make noattempt to correct for survey respon-dents’ tendency to under- report theirmarijuana use, but note that such a cor-rection would push our estimates of mar-ijuana users, and our estimates of thesize of the total market, higher. Taking10.4 percent of the population of 8.0 mil-lion New York City residents and com-muter household adults yields an esti-

mate of roughly 830,000 primary NewYork City marijuana consumers. If mari-juana were sold legally, tourists wouldprobably contribute to local marijuanademand more than they currently do.With approximately 90,000 hotel roomsin the city, an average occupancy rate ofabout 85 percent, and approximately 1.5adults per occupied hotel room, there areabout 115,000 adult tourists and otherovernight travelers in the city on a givenday. Approximately half of the overnightstays are made by domestic travelers, theother half by international visitors. It canbe assumed that the frequency of mari-juana use among domestic visitors toNew York City is similar to the nationalrate. Approximately half of international

visitors to New York City are fromCanada, Australia, or Europe, wheremarijuana consumption appears to besimilar to or slightly less than in the U.S.The other half mostly visit from countrieswhere marijuana use is significantly lesscommon. Based on these considerations,we estimate that overnight travelerswould add the equivalent of 10,000 resi-dent marijuana consumers.”

Comptroller John Liu says the rev-enues collected from the legal sale ofmarijuana can be used to reduce CUNYtuition by about 50% for New York Cityresidents and this would help youth in apositive way, by investing in theirfutures. In addition, Liu says that regulat-ing the drug as alcohol is regulated, willalso aid in reducing the number of arrestsamong the minority population in NewYork City and provide them with a clear-er record for their future. He noted thatthe current policy of arresting young peo-ple for the use of small amounts of mari-juana damages people’s charactersunnecessarily. He added that the step oflegalizing the drug is even more com-pelling because of its discriminatingeffects: “Because of stop and frisk,minority communities disproportionatelybear the consequences for employment,postsecondary education, and housing.Combined, blacks and Hispanics makeup 45 percent of marijuana users in NewYork City, but account for 6 percent ofpossession arrests. By contrast, whitesand Asians constitute 55 percent of usersbut only 14 percent of arrests. In 2012, 1out of 627 white New Yorkers was arrest-ed for misdemeanor marijuana posses-sion, compared to 1 out of 175 forHispanics, and 1 out of 94 African-Americans. More than half (56 percent)of marijuana possession arrests in NewYork City are of those age 25 and under-a group for whom the negative effects ofan arrest or criminal record is especiallyacute. Convictions can affect people’seligibility for federal student loans andNYCHA housing, and a history of arrestcan bar them from many jobs. Low-levelmarijuana arrests have skyrocketed dur-ing Mayor Bloomberg’s administrationand are directly related to the NYPD’sstop and frisk strategy. Since Bloombergtook office in 2002, there have beenalmost 460,000 misdemeanor marijuanaarrests. The number of these arrests is ontrack to reach 37, 000 in 2013 alone.”

However, in spite of the statistics pro-vided by the comptroller, there are manyNew Yorkers, including medical practi-tioners who are against the legalizationand regulation of the use of marijuana,claiming that it will be abused and createa graver social problem for the city. Yetthere are those who believe that thereshould be no arrests for the personal useof marijuana. Liu’s announcement comeson the heels of U.S. Attorney GeneralEric Holder’s announcement that hisadministration would overhaul the feder-al sentencing guidelines to eliminatemandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders.l

BY VANDELL PARK

How to Choose aCareer that’sBest for You

At this seminar, we will featurebusinesses with marketing

positions. Bring your resumes forradio & newspaper marketing,

real estate sales and careers withMarket America and

other networking companies.

For dates and registration details:

Call: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

FREE toattend!

IN TROUBLE WITHTHE LAW?

PUT YOUR FUTURE IN OURHANDS. WE CAN HELP.

CALL NOW. 718-834-0190.

Remember the lawyer youhire, does make a diference!


NEWS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS20

Barneys New York was accused ofracially profiling 19-year-oldTrayon Christian, an engineering

student fromQueens, and 21-year-old nurs-ing student and Brooklyn native KaylaPhillps who alleged that they were harassedby undercover cops after purchasing mer-chandise. Christian, said that he knewexactly what he wanted before steppingfoot into the upscale retailer on April 29.He coveted a Ferragamo belt with a silverbuckle and reversible black-and-whitestrap, which was seen being worn by popu-lar hip hop rapper, “Juelz Santana. Twomonths prior, Phillips was approached byundercover officers after purchasing at$2500 orange suede Céline handbag.

New York City’s black community andleaders are in an uproar over the recent alle-gations against Barneys. And there is a firestorm of verbal attacks against Hip Hopmogul Jay-Z, who’s seeking to launch aholiday apparel collection in a philanthrop-ic effort to support under-served studentswho desire a higher education. Jay-Z statedthat he was waiting to hear and receivemore facts about the case before takingaction, and doesn’t understand why he isbeing “demonized” for doing so. As discus-sions take center stage around the mostrecent actions surrounding racial profiling,people of color are being prompted to takeimmediate action by community leaders to

Is There A Problem? Racial Profile Cases TakeCenter Stage in the City of New York

not only voice their concerns, but to stoppatronizing retailers who frequently violatetheir human rights.

The world of hip hop has not onlyimmensely contributed to popular streetvernacular and music, but also fashion.Most of the hip hop fashion trends aresparked by artists including brand names intheir songs. For example, Kanye West stat-ed on Rymefest’s song “Brand New” that“Ralph Lauren was boring before I worethem” which may have popularized thebrand amongst young black women andmen. The hip hop industry may have influ-enced the black community obsession withhigh end fashion goods, which are hugelydominated by big corporate conglomeratesand main stream media.

As a youth growing up in Harlem, NY inthe early 90s, I was frequently bombardedby my peers conversation over “whosewearing the latest Jordan sneakers” or“whose getting the new 8 Ball leather jack-et”. The cost of both items could rangebetween $100 and $500+. A negative out-come of purchasing expensive parapherna-lia were the frequent thefts and neighbor-hood violence that would arise within theblack communities from those who couldnot afford luxury goods. Perhaps social andeconomic acceptances are among manyreasons for spending on high-end merchan-dise by young black men and women.

Ray Fishman, a contributor of Slate.comstates that our need for high-end merchan-

dise is based on our desire to “revel pros-perity to others as wealth signals”.Meaning, if you are able to acquire popularand expensive merchandise, you are betterthan those who are not. He also asserts thatwhites are less likely to spend money onthings they cannot afford than blacks are,and that they’re less interested in compar-ing the assumption of “wealth” with theirneighbors unlike their black counterparts.

A flurry of demeaning comments floatedacross social media about Christian andPhillips’ choice to purchase high-end prod-ucts from the luxury retailer — when theyhave yet to fully acquire economic stabilitythemselves. Whether folks agree with theirwishes to purchase or not, obtaining retailproducts should not impede on their rightsas human beings. Reverend Al Sharptonand other community leaders think that allpeople should have the right to make pur-chases from their preferred retailer and notbe harassed or discriminated against basedon race or perceived economic status.Reverend Sharpton was quoted saying,“We’ve gone from stop and frisk to shopand frisk, and we are not going to take it,”which has compelled a call for action toboycott Barneys New York, until a reviewand change of the current employee andcustomer policy is made. The actress and songstress, Queen Latifah,

was quoted on the recent Barneys debacleas saying, “We’ve been going through thisfor a long time. We know that this is some-

thing that has been continuous in our com-munity for us when we go into variousstores. I like Barneys and I’d hate to haveto boycott them!” The phenomenon ofactive community engagement on issuesaround race and equality is an ongoing bat-tle within communities of color. We aremoved to voice our concerns, and createpetitions and organize marches, but whenthe stories age and fizzes out as new issuesarise, most of us either forget or are unin-terested in pushing to change the status quoon racial profiling. I think it’s important forus to continue to be vigilant and proactivein our quest for equality.

Racial profiling has been an ongoingissue for many communities of color.Young black women’s and men’s desires toacquire luxury items may be based on thecurrent trends of popular hip hop artist andmoguls, or an outcry for acceptance withintheir own communities; however, no oneshould be dehumanized or discarded forattempting or making purchases from aretailer. It’s important that we not onlyvoice our concerns to community leaders,local politicians and media outlets, but con-tinue to take action on what is most impor-tant to us and our communities in the pur-suit of equality for all.l

Reprinted with the kind permission of TheOpportunity Agenda.

BY ZAKEIA TYSON

NEWS DIASPORA CONCERNS22

How to Open and Manage a Salon or Day Spa

From trendy hair salons to corner barber shops, this seminar will showyou how to start and manage the salon or day spa, you’ve always

dreamed about. This seminar will discuss: Operations, Types of SalonServices, Marketing, Location, Personnel and Resources such as

associations, beauty institutes and publications.

Salon: lDo you provide initial consultations? Is there a charge?lCan you give me the same hairstyle as (name of celebrity)?lAre your stylists experienced? Where did they study/train?lWhat do your services cost?lSo you sell gift certificates?lWhat hair care product lines do you carry?lWhich credit/debit cards do you accept?lWhere are you located?lWhat are your hours?lHow can I reach you?

Spa:lAre your spa employees licensed?lAre you masseuses male or female?lAre hydro treatments better than massage?lHow do you sanitize your equipment?lHow long will my treatment take?lHow much do you charge?lMay I take a tour of your facility?

For dates and registration details:Call: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

FREE toattend!

While Comprehensive ImmigrationReform (CIR) legislation is pend-ing in Washington, D.C. many

undocumented immigrants continue to suf-fer here in the United States. Little do theyrealize that there are legitimate ways tolegalize their status outside of the CIR leg-islation that is now an issue of debate andtussle before Congress. Here in Brooklyn,there is an organization called theImmigrant’s Journal Legal and EducationalFund (IJLEF) that provides services that canassist undocumented as well as documentedimmigrants solve a number of their immi-gration issues. IJLEF Executive Director,Diandra Archibald, in an interview, dis-cussed how IJLEF serves the immigrantcommunity across the tri-state area, and thebenefits that could be derived as a result ofbecoming a member of the organization.Archibald says that as soon as one becomesa member of IJLEF, there is immediaterelief from their immigration problems.“The Immigrant’s Journal Legal andEducational Fund has a plethora of memberbenefits. One of our benefits is our member-ship ID; it has information on it like the per-son’s address, name, picture and all of theinformation that you will find on a govern-ment identification card and that’s greatbecause who wants to carry around impor-tant documents like their passport all thetime? We’ve actually had members whothanked us for the ID, whether they’ve been

pulled over on the Greyhound bus and wereasked for an ID…or if they wereapproached by the Immigration and CustomEnforcement (ICE) representatives; oncethey presented the identification card, theywere told they were on the right path andwere allowed to go.”

She pointed out the importance of havingan ID to travel around with since it is a legalrequirement of this country to always havesome sort of identification or else you canbe stopped and arrested. However, shenoted that “While the ID is not a state- orgovernment-issued document and cannot beused officially to transact government orstate businesses, it is recognized by lawenforcement officials because of the legalaffiliation with the Immigrant’s Journal.Other benefits of IJLEF are tax returnsassistance so as to obtain a tax ID, and helpwith citizenship applications. Taxes helpbuild a good moral character. There’s alsofree consultations for legal problems suchas marital issues, businesses, home ownersproblems, and bankruptcy issues.”

The IJLEF Executive Director stressed theimportance of the immigrant communitybeing informed as to how they can legallyand legitimately access information andassistance with their immigration problems.She noted that a number of individuals fromtime to time take advantage of undocument-ed immigrants, in particular, by defraudingthem and by using the information such asthe deferred action passed by executiveorder from the president, and even the now

debated Gang of Eight immigration reformproposed bill she says, provides accurateinformation on these issues and lets peopleknow their rights and what they need to doin order to be legally assisted in regards totheir immigration status. The organization,she says, is prepared to educate all thosewho take advantage of its services as theytravel along the right path to legalizingone’s status here in the United States.IJLEF holds seminars in churches and atother community events so as to informpeople of the various options available tothem and the process required to legalizetheir status. Should the CIR bill be approvedby Congress, IJLEF is prepared to educatepeoples on how to obtain their change ofstatus: “We, at the Immigrant’s Journal,really care about the immigrant communityacross the tri-state area and elsewhere, nomatter which country you are from. Our aimis to provide assistance and relief to immi-grants in a legitimate way. We have all inone way or the other, passed through thepains of immigration in this country andthat is why the Immigrant’s Journal is hereto help people avoid the pitfalls of thosewho came before. Through our legal advi-sor, Brian Figeroux and Associates, we canassist them legally to prepare all documentsrequired as well as help them with thepreparation of the documents for the finesand other financial penalties that may resultfrom the CIR legislation, all this of courseat a fraction of the costs other attorneysmay charge, all because you are a member

of the IJLEF.”In the event the CIR legislation is not

passed by Washington as did other attemptsin 2006, and at other times, IJLEF saysthere are ways outside of that bill throughwhich many undocumented here, can bene-fit from the current immigration process.Archibald explains: “We have to informpeople what they can do in case it doesn’tpass. You have the Violence AgainstWomen’s Act. If you have been abused, be ita man or woman, by your spouse or fiancé,you can get your documents through thatmeans; then you have I-130 petitions, thefamily preference petitions category, alsothe diversity visa lottery. There are so manyavenues that are available to legally obtainyour status; IJLEF will help you once youtake advantage of its services.”

The Executive Director of IJLEF is call-ing on the immigrant community to seizethe opportunities presented to them by theorganization, simply by signing up tobecome a member. Membership with IJLEFallows for one year of free legal consulta-tions in areas such as immigration, criminalissues, matrimonial problems, auto acci-dents, landlord and tenants matters, bank-ruptcy and foreclosures, as well as assis-tance to open a bank account, membershippicture ID and a host of other matters thatmay be affecting both undocumented anddocumented immigrants.

To become a member, call DiandraArchibald at 718-243-9431 or go to thewww.ijlef.org for additional information.l

Help Is Available for UndocumentedImmigrantsBY VANDELL PARK


DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IRS?

FREE CONSULTATION WITH THIS AD!lTax Preparation ( Individual & Business)lIRS & NY Audit RepresentationlOffers in CompromiselMultiple Year Non-FilerslAmended Returns

lExtensionslLater FilingslSales Tax FilingslTax ID/W7 Assistance

We’ve all heard that deathand taxes are inevitable.

Well death may be inevitable,but taxes are not. With sometax planning, you can loseless money to the IRS at the

end of the year.All States prepared! Year-round!

This gift voucher is valid for a consultation on any legalissue. Call 718-834-0190 and schedule a consultationtoday on any of the following:

lDivorce/SeparationlPre & Post-NuptitallImmigrationlLead PoisoninglSlip & FalllPaternitylChild Support & AlimonylAbuse/NeglectlBankruptcylOrders of ProtectionlMedical MalpracticelLandlord & TenantlReal EstatelWills & Estate PlanninglContracts ReviewlAuto & Pedestrian AccidentslBirth Injuries & Brain DamagelDefective & Dangerous ProductslSmall Business Solutions ... and more!

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Telephone:___________________________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________________________________

Remember, the lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

Please bring the following applicable documents: W2, 1099, 1098, Interest Statement, Dividend Statement, Mortgage Statement, K1 Schedule (business owners), Social SecurityStatement, Retirement Statement.