January 2009 Archive

Yep! If you don’t know by now - change has come. And it’s happening everywhere. Several years ago we realized the Internet would promote change in the newspaper business. Read the article below, “New Blend Of Media Expands Free Speech, Press” by Gene Policinski from the First Amendment Center. He captures it well and explains the direction the media is taking. So the time has come to hustle and flow. Hustle to provide to you, our readers, with what you want and need and to flow with the times of this fast-paced technological world...

Celebrating what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 80th birthday, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves highlights a weekend celebration of activities in a concert of spirituals, art songs and other music performed in collaboration with The Spirituals Project Choir at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2009, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The Dream Concert, presented by MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation, will feature acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves in a solo recital to honor Dr. King’s legacy and to mark the 80th anniversary of his birth. The 70-member, multiracial, multigenerational Spirituals Project Choir will also perform a number of pieces alongside Graves.

The chance to live a dream, have independence and control over one’s own images, to bring cultures together, and be the...

Y.I.M.B.Y. Yes In My Back Yard. The new agenda for affordable housing is to convince people that housing is not a luxury but a right, and that housing of mixed incomes and uses is desirable for more efficient economies. Everyone has a place called home. This premise is a far cry from the protectionist presumptions of many owners of real estate. For them, the practice of sharing their neighborhoods is 'N.O.P.E. (Not on Planet Earth).’ This is a long-term strategy of gated communities, to sell only to specific income levels and to protect the size and nature of their neighbor's parcels. The problem with these exclusive communities, as Douglas and Arapahoe Counties discovered, is there is no one to provide basic services. Why is it that in Boulder County they devised a means to offer inclusionary zoning in all communities? Do you think that they foresaw the housing crisis would impact all of the people living in Boulder County and not merely the lower tier of the economy?

The revitalization of the Five Points historic district is now a priority for Denver's Office of Economic Development, the African-American community and business and proprerty owners in the area. Last year the Welton Street Corrider (between 20th and 30th Streets) was selected by the City of Denver's Office of Economic Development (OED) to be a pilot district to Denver' Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative (DNMI). This is a new program designed to strengthen business districts and their surrounding neighborhoods citywide. Through a series of meetings, OED has begun to present the DNMI to business and property owners and residents in the Five Points area.

“5-4-3-2-1 Happy New Year!” It’s a New Year, a time when we make New Year’s resolutions. We’ve all been there before; promises of weight loss. Starting an exercise program and dieting all start off with good intentions but can quickly fade as fast as the holiday season. What’s the secret to sticking to these resolutions? The following tips can help you stick to your healthy goals:

The 2009 Trumpet Awards promises to be among the best of the best in the exceptional Trumpet Awards tradition. The 17th Annual Trumpet Awards black-tie ceremony, sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. with hosts Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View” and Anthony Anderson, star of “Law and Order,” will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m.

The Denver Foundation announced that it has mobilized its Critical Needs Fund to support food pantries in early 2009. As the economic crisis continues, metro area food pantries are seeing sharply increased need coupled with “flat” or declining donations. The Colorado Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Donnell Initiative Fund and numerous Denver Foundation donor-advised fundholders have contributed to the Critical Needs Fund to address hunger this winter.

In recent times President-elect Barak Obama has worked towards establishing his administrative cabinet and making arrangements for his upcoming inauguration. In working towards these ends Obama has made some decisions that have caused controversy and have unsettled portions of his base. Obama’s selection of former political rival Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State along with his request to have evangelist Rick Warren perform the invocation during his installation exercise have provoked ruminations in relation to the charismatic leader’s reasoning.

In spite of snow and frigid temperatures, over 650 were in attendance for the Asfaw Family Foundation International’s (AFFI) 3rd Annual Arches of Hope Bicycle Give-A-Way. One hundred and fifty 5th and 6th grade students were presented with new bikes, helmets and bags filed with goodies at Denver Manual High School’s Thunderdome gymnasium last month on December 14.

The year 2008 will be remembered as filled with economic woes as the recession took hold. Many Americans lost their jobs, homes or savings to poor financial decisions that originated for the most part on Wall Street and trickled down to Main Street America, where the lives of all social classes continue to be affected.

In celebration of its 150th birthday on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, the City and County of Denver selected 150 of its citizens to honor as “unsung heroes” – ordinary people who have done extraordinary things to help make the city a better one for this and future generations. A special ceremony honoring the 150 was held at the Colorado History Museum, and concluded with a tour of the new exhibit “Imagine a Great City: Denver at 150.” Each honoree received an award, a gift bag and took a photo with Mayor Hickenlooper during the celebration.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Celebration “Remember! Celebrate! Act”! “TIL’ VICTORY IS WON” 2009 Schedule of Events (All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.)

The village green has grown to include the village screen. The 21st century dynamics of free press and free speech are an intriguing blend of traditional news media, new technology, personal messages and even entertainment programming. And, considering the success of President-elect Barack Obama’s use of e-mail, text messages and social-networking sites like facebook.com in his campaign, First Amendment scholars may be revising contemporary definitions of assembly and petition as well. Consider these post-Election Day observations, based on reports from colleagues at the Newseum in Washington, D.C, and news reports elsewhere:

This winter, the South Gallery in the Lakewood Civic Center will host a unique exhibit that illustrates how traditional elements of African art are reflected in the contemporary quilts of local African-American quilters. Quilters of diverse backgrounds were invited to submit their interpretations of “Fabric as Story: African Influences on Contemporary Quilts,” an exhibit conceived by returning curator and artist Helen Littlejohn. The show will pair traditional African fabrics and textiles with contemporary quilts, as well as traditional statuary from the collection of Dr. Paul Hamilton. Vintage and contemporary textiles from Denver’s Africa Direct will also be featured.

Nearly $600 Million Meant For Affordable Housing Diverted To Port Expansion Project The Mississippi State Conference NAACP, Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center and several individual residents have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington, D.C. against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The suit challenges HUDs approval of a plan submitted by the State to divert $600 million of federal hurricane recovery funds designated for affordable housing to finance the expansion of the Port of Gulfport.

On December 6, 2008, we lost a special person from our community and our world. Ms. Kathy Hill-Young was struck by a vehicle in a hit and run accident after she had just finished performing one of her acts of kindness by hosting a fundraiser to benefit families in need of Christmas gifts in northeast Denver. Kathy was the founder and executive director of the Lowry Family Center, with offices in Montbello and North Aurora. The Lowry Family Center provides support to a large community that would otherwise go without such services as financial crisis support, a summer camp, courtroom advocacy, foster and kinship recruitment and classes, parenting classes, counseling, fatherhood support and much more. She worked night and day to treat each client with excellent service and preferential treatment. Her staff revered her as a compassionate, selfless, determined and profound leader. Now she is gone and I for one will do what I can to ensure that she is not forgotten!

In this first of a two-part series, the Denver Urban Spectrum explores what many see as taboo subjects in faith communities--domestic violence and sexual assault. In this article, we explore the challenges faced by victims of domestic violence and sexual assault when seeking help and support from leaders in faith communities. Next month, in part two of the series, the Urban Spectrum reaches out to 13 local pastors and other spiritual leaders to speak on spiritual solutions to violence and what they see as effective responses to a dangerous and growing problem within religious organizations.

City Smarts: With a spectacular natural setting, thriving urban centers, vibrant neighborhoods, and a globally-competitive economy, Seattle is an outstanding place to live, visit and to do business. Some of the world’s most recognizable and successful businesses are located in Seattle and the surrounding four-county Puget Sound region: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon.com, Costco, Paccar, Weyerhaeuser, WaMU and Nordstrom.

Ask Deanna! is an advice column known for its fearless approach to reality-based subjects. Ask Deanna! can be heard every Sunday on KTYM AM 1460 at 3 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA.

Real Men Cook Kicks Off 19th Annual Father's Day Celebration Chicago -- Real Men Cook, America's premiere urban Father's Day family tradition that pays tribute to the family, will be held in 11 cities on Father’s Day, June 15

Well, it’s finally here and none too soon to enjoy the many summer events happening in the Mile High City.

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Welcome to the new America. I’m not talking about a blue America or a red America. I’m talking about a 21st century America – a nation of many colors, cultures and faiths. Barack Obama’s election as the first African-American president symbolizes what we have known for some time, but often fail to acknowledge: The United States has become one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse societies on Earth...

The holiday season is here again. But amidst the hustle and bustle of gift-giving and family get-togethers, seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D should carve out time to consider whether they want to stay with their current prescription drug plan...

Nov. 5, 2008 Dear Brother Obama, You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us.You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear...

"Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the quintessential messenger of peace and tolerance," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. He introduced Tutu at the inaugural lecture of the Insight Speaker Series which was held recently at the Wells Fargo Theater in the Convention Center. Tutu is the renowned South African Episcopal prelate and anti-apartheid activist, whose work earned him the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize...

More than 250,000 people gathered at Chicago's Grant Park along the Lake Michigan shoreline to celebrate the victory of Barack Obama. Following are remarks by President-Elect Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2008, Chicago, IL...