Lawmakers need to make sure that they include a broadband policy that guarantees no American is stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Billionaire Robert F. Smith and Other Corporate Leaders Mount Campaign to Close the Digital DivideGroup Aims to Ensure Racial Equity by Expanding Internet AccessBy Jose MarquezWith protests having erupted in cities across the country over police violence targeting Black men and women, the civil rights and social justice movements have shot to the forefront of U.S. politics in a way not seen since the 1960s.While much of the conversation rightly has centered on police brutality and the role law enforcement plays in American society, communities of color also are discriminated against in numerous other ways. Many Black Americans, Latinos and other people of color are given substandard educational opportunities, lack avenues to workforce training and advancement and, arguably most important in today’s tech-driven world, face a dearth of access to reliable, affordable broadband internet.Congress made a good first step in ameliorating this dire situation when it passed President Biden’s infrastructure bill, but the $65 billion allocation in broadband for all is hardly enough to close the digital divide.The gap in digital access is particularly wide in communities of color, where one in three families with children lack a high-speed internet connection at home — a rate of disconnection more than 50 percent higher than that of white families. The problem is exacerbated in areas across the South from Atlanta to Houston where 35 percent of Black adults lack any access to broadband at home.The private sector is already doing this with a little-known but ambitious effort like the Southern Communities Initiative. It is seeking to address the socio-economic challenges that African Americans face throughout the region. And among the goals of this partnership is to expand broadband access across six metro areas throughout the South: Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans. The effort has the backing of some of the most powerful individuals in corporate America, including PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, Vista CEO Robert F. Smith and BCG CEO Rich Lesser.We are not too late to bridge the digital divide, and the Southern Communities Initiative will almost certainly play an important role in helping accomplish that in communities like my hometown of Atlanta. But this important work cannot be left to private individuals and organizations alone. Lawmakers must do their part to ensure that high-speed internet is available and affordable to every American, no matter where in the country they live.While policymakers in Washington have focused on getting broadband access to rural areas, we must also make sure that urban areas are not overlooked. Census data has shown that while there are approximately 5 million rural households without broadband access, this problem is three times as large in urban areas—with around 15 million urban or metro households without broadband.Affordable and ubiquitous access to high-speed internet, however, is just the starting point. We also must expand access to the hardware and software people need to take full advantage of all the internet has to offer and maintain an ecosystem of digital educators, repair workers, designers and other tech specialists who can keep improvements going long into the future.Guaranteeing that all Americans have broadband access would not only help close the digital divide but would also give the United States an edge in global competitiveness as it would bring millions of people more fully into the digital economy. One study from last year found that only about 30 percent of African Americans had access to broadband compared with about 60 percent of whites.There is a broad consensus from civil rights leaders to corporate heads to policymakers inside the Washington Beltway that broadband access is a right of every American. Lawmakers must take note and ensure that all Americans have the ability to log on.Jose Marquez is the national President and CEO of TechLatino: Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA).
MHSI will host community-based conquer COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday, Nov 19, 2021
WHAT: Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. will be hosting community-based Conquer COVID-19 vaccination clinic for anyone 12 years of age or older. Pfizer is available, and there is no out-of-pocket cost. Both uninsured and insured are welcome. Picture ID is mandatory; no appointment is necessary. Participants will receive COVID-19 safety kit and $25 gift card while supplies last. Mask and social distancing enforced. For more information call 414-372-8080 or www.mhsi.org.
WHERE: ISAAC COGGS HERITAGE HEALTH CENTER
WHEN: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2021
10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Heavy Starch Clothing: The New Kid on the Block for The Holidays
Right on time for the holiday season comes a brand new addition to the fashion industry!
Heavy Starch Apparel is a Black owned online boutique started by a young, hungry young man with a dream of bringing endless high end fashion to Milwaukee. With a wide array of uni-sex clothing styles such as hoodies, joggers, and customized t-shirts, this fresh face on the block is sure to be a winner this upcoming Winter with everyone hoping to stay as warm as possible.
As mentioned above, Heavy Starch Apparel can be located amongst various social media sites (see down below) as well as it’s official website that can be accessed here, https://www.489strch.com/
So if you’re into high end fashion, please be sure to visit Heavy Starch Apparel this season to get exactly what you need right when you want it!
A Block Watch Can Save Your Neighborhood
A block watch can be particularly important in the fight against crime in our neighborhoods. When you have an effective, well-organized block watch it is something to behold. Let us first look at how do you form one from the beginning. I was a member of the MPD crime prevention division in the mid-eighties and one of my tasks was to help form a block watch on the northside of the city. I started out knocking on the doors of the various neighbors asking would you like to form a block watch. Many were hesitant to state they did not know their neighbors and did not trust them coming into their homes. I advised that was one of the good things about forming a block watch was getting to know your neighbors. It turns out it is also a safety issue as you know who belong on your block and who does not fit in.
It took me several months to convince enough neighbors to finally come together and have a meeting. We had the first meeting on the front lawn of one of the neighbors. It went good with about half the neighbors on the block attending. After several weeks more neighbors started to attend, and the meeting were held at the school on the corner. This block became a lot safer because everyone knew each other. The neighbors exchanged telephone numbers and would call each other about what was going on in the neighborhood. MPD passed out block watch signs to put in your window. The signs stated if I do not call the police, my neighbor will. We advised everyone to turn on their front porch light at night. Criminals like the dark so they will go somewhere else if they see a block all lite up.
This turned out to be one of the best neighborhoods in the whole district for quite a while. It takes time and effort to keep a good block watch going but it is worth it. Hopefully the new MPD administration will look closely into forming good, concrete block watches. It will help the neighborhoods plus help the police control crime in some areas.
With Higher Heating Bills on the Way, Take Steps to Winterize Your Home Now
Homeowners in the Milwaukee area can expect to pay a lot more on their heating bills this winter as prices surge worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels. The U.S. government recently announced it expects households to see their heating bills jump by as much as 54 percent compared to last winter.
The biggest reason for this winter’s higher heating bills is the recent increase in prices for energy commodities after they dropped to multi-year lows in 2020. U.S. natural gas has climbed to its highest price since 2014 and is up roughly 90 percent over the last year. The wholesale price of heating oil has more than doubled in the last 12 months.
Now that the start of November is here and temperatures are dropping, this is the time that residents need to start preparing their homes for winter. A local indoor air quality expert with AdvantaClean in can provide tips to keep their homes properly insulated and lower their heating bills this winter.
We can set up an interview for you with an air quality expert via Zoom or at a local home, where they can show your reporter areas of the home to inspect prior to winter.
Top 5 Tips to Cut Costs and Winterize Your Home
Windows – Check for leaks around the edges where the window is hinged, slides or meets another unit. Clean the tracks of any debris that might be interfering with seals. Lock windows once winter sets in and apply a quality exterior caulk to seal any leaks.
Doors – Feel around the perimeter of the door for any cooler air coming in. Check the weatherstripping around the door, including the door sweep attached to the bottom. Apply exterior-grade caulking to seal gaps if necessary.
Attics, Basements and Crawlspaces – Leaky ductwork is a primary escape route for warm air, so inspect all visible ductwork openings that can be easily accessed. Check for any holes that go through the main floor to the basement or attic, for small openings in the ductwork, electrical or plumbing connection. Caulk or foam around them or use foil tape or mastic to seal any leaks.
Pipes – Disconnect, drain and store any garden hoses as the weather turns cold. Any exposed water pipes in uninsulated spaces such as in a crawlspace, attic, or exterior wall should be protected with foam insulating sleeves. Burst pipes from freezing can cause some of the most expensive repairs in the home.
HVAC – Change air filters on a regular basis. Operate the system on the “auto” fan setting on the thermostat. Ensure proper airflow by inspecting ducts for dust buildup and obstructions. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, HVAC preventative maintenance can help save homeowners up to 25-percent in energy cost.
Dropping Temperatures, Rising Costs
- This winter is forecast to be slightly colder across the country than last year.
- Natural Gas – Nearly half the homes in the US use natural gas for heat, and they could pay an average $746 this winter, 30 percent more than a year ago. This could be the most expensive winter for natural gas heated homes since 2008-2009.
- Electricity – The second-most used heating source for homes is electricity, making up 41 percent of the country, and those households could see a more modest 6 percent increase to $1,268.
- Heating Oil – Homes using heating oil, which make up 4 percent of the country, could see a 43 percent increase – more than $500 – to $1,734.
- Propane – The sharpest increases will probably be for homes that use propane, which account for five percent of US households.
Downtown Milwaukee’s holiday lights go bright Thursday
Milwaukee’s downtown will illuminate the city with more than 500,000 lights and dozens of animated displays during the 23rd annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group, Nov. 18 – Jan. 1. The celebration will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 18 with a holiday broadcast on WISN 12 at 6:30 p.m., which will feature a sampling of downtown’s holiday shows and an all-new finale to signal the start of the holiday season in Milwaukee.
The annual display of lights, coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, will transform three downtown parks into winter wonderland scenes – “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park, “HiBEARnation Station” at Pere Marquette Park and “Home is Where the Hearth is powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square – as well as illuminate three downtown thoroughfares, including an 18-block stretch of lights along Wisconsin Avenue.
Festival-goers can experience the lights by car, on foot or by jumping on The Hop streetcar. A Jingle Bus podcast, available in English and Spanish, will highlight must-see scenes and acclimate visitors with nearby attractions. The free, self-guided audio tour will be available beginning Nov. 18 on the iHeartRadio app or anywhere where podcasts are hosted by searching “MKE Jingle Bus Tour.”
On select Friday and Saturday nights in December (Dec. 3 – 18), families can swing through the Jingle Joy drive-thru at Zeidler Union Square for a snack. Featuring gourmet treats from local businesses that are handpicked by Milwaukee Food & City Tours, Jingle Joy bags are $15 and can be pre-ordered at www.milwaukeefoodtours.com or purchased day of, while supplies last. The Jingle Joy drive-thru will operate from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cash and credit will be accepted.
“Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park will continue the tradition of hosting a direct connection to the North Pole. Santa’s Mailbox presented by Educators Credit Union, Serving Older Adults and National Association of Letter Carriers Pioneer Branch 2, returns Nov. 18 – Dec. 12. As part of the magic of the season, children who drop their letters into Santa’s Mailbox will receive a personalized reply in the mail, provided they include a return address. Best of all, no postage is required.
Ideal Property Management will return to Pere Marquette Park with a pop-up tree lot. Guests can choose from a wide selection of fresh Wisconsin trees, handmade wreaths and Christmas décor from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 23 – Dec. 24. Also returning to the tree lot is an ice carving demonstration on Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a live reindeer visit on Dec. 12 from 1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Festival’s ornament series returns to highlight downtown’s distinguishable icons. Hand-carved by local artist Andrew Schumann, this year’s edition features the Warner marquee at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s new home, the Bradley Symphony Center. The 2021 ornament is available for $19.95 plus shipping and handling at shop.milwaukeedowntown.com. A limited number of past editions are available for $24.95 plus shipping and handling.
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival will continue to package the variety of activities taking place in downtown Milwaukee over the holiday season into a comprehensive brochure. Covering events, dining, nightlife, hotel accommodations and retail destinations, the brochure is available at www.milwaukeeholidaylights.com.
Oil & Natural Gas Industry Engineering Successful Opportunities for People of Color, and Women
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Amanda Eversole spent 13 years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., where she cemented a legacy of leadership and innovation before joining JP Morgan Chase, where she created a framework for the firm’s philanthropic approach.
Now, as executive vice president and chief operating officer at the American Petroleum Institute (API), Eversole has the monumental task of leading efforts to integrate the trade association’s diverse functions and develop and implement a strategic plan for the natural gas and oil industry.
Eversole, a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, now puts her strong track record of driving consensus and winning strategies to the test as API and all-in oil and natural gas wrestles with ensuring people of color and women are a large part of the lucrative industry.
“Every day, we get up and say what we’re going to do to make sure that we are giving people opportunities to interact with this industry, and it changes people’s lives,” Eversole told NNPA Newswire.
API states that about half of new industry-related job opportunities through 2040 are projected to be filled by African Americans, Hispanic, Asians, and women.
Eversole remarked that talk isn’t good enough.
“The default narrative that the industry is old, dirty, and predominately white male is not true anymore, and the way we prove that is not by statistics,” Eversole exclaimed.
“It is by standing up and doing the work that we’re doing and showing people by opportunities and not by talking points.”
Eversole reiterated that API possesses a strong belief that educational opportunities remain critical to successful employment.
Backing that belief are programs like the organization’s Minority Serving Institution Initiative, where API has partnered with Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to provide students free access to the trade association’s world-class standards.
API also has joined Discovery Education’s STEM Careers Coalition where a coalition of industry partners joined to nurture a diverse culture of STEM education in K-12 schools nationwide.
In five years, that program aims at impacting 10 million students at 5,000 schools.
“There’s this common thread of opportunity, and I had not worked with an industry like oil and natural gas where the constant focus is on improvement and optimization,” Eversole asserted.
“There are career opportunities that can last an entire lifetime, and there’s a sense of intergenerational opportunities through education to children with STEM skillsets.”
Eversole continued:
“When I talk about the opportunities we have in the industry, I step back and say, ‘How does API, which represents more than 600 members, figure out how to accelerate the journey we’re on together in America understanding and acknowledging those suffering and working through racial inequities?’ I’m proud to say that we have a lot to show for our work.”
API is also building a job readiness training program through API’s Global Industry Services platform that facilitates baseline industry knowledge and skills, leading to entry-level operational roles across the industry.
API is partnering with Opportunity@Work in Houston, the world’s energy capital, where it’s estimated to have proportionally more rising STARS – Skilled-Through-Alternative-Routes.
“What API is trying to do is expand our networks to people we haven’t always included,” Eversole reminded.
“It’s a journey. When you think about long term workforce programs and when I think about STEM education and some of the internship programs – in terms of how to get that pipeline ready – we’re evaluating points of continuum and figuring out where some of those barriers are and why we are not seeing proportionality within the overall workforce.”
Eversole said the oil and natural gas industry “can do better.”
“We will do better,” she declared. “I’m encouraged that there’s a building sense of momentum.”
Officials can further recognize that momentum on the supplier diversity side where they share best practices and practical advice among API members to advance the demand for supplier diversity.
Among the accomplishments on the demand side is completing a benchmark survey that pinpoints where the industry stands. They’ve also launched a Diversity Matters webinar series and a supplier diversity program.
On the supply side, industry officials are scoping out short-and-long-term opportunities to develop minority-owned businesses.
Eversole said partnerships represent a crucial component of the DE&I approach and learning that should lead to success.
API’s long-established diverse external stakeholder program, Energy Action Alliance (EAA), counts as a critical component to industry goals.
“What we want to do is help people see other people from their communities in roles that are paying almost 80 percent higher than the average wage, and some that don’t require a four-year degree like others,” Eversole stated.
“I’m three years in, and I’m so positive about the opportunities that we have going forward, and I’m looking forward to the future. There’s a commitment, a desire, and mentality on figuring out how to get it done.”
My favorite superhero
Hello, my name is Joshua Jackson and my favorite superhero of all time is Spider-Man. When I was younger I always have loved this character and I feel like I can relate to this character a lot. This week I have been watching multiple Spider-Man films and I notice how Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, how both of our lives are very identical in my opinion. For example I have never really had a dad who has been there in my life but I would say that my fatherly figure would be my PaPa. Peter’s fatherly figure was his Uncle Ben who helped raise him.
My PaPa died near the end of my graduation and I felt like I had nobody to compare myself with, until I watched the first Spider-Man movie made in 2003 featuring Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. All my life I have felt like to have a father, they have to be your biological father and when I compare myself to this character I don’t feel bad about calling somebody my father because to Peter his Uncle Ben was like a Father to him.
From this I learned that you don’t have to be biologically related to call someone your father or mother. One of my friends I have known for eight years now,and ever since we have met he just feels like a brother to me. I have known him since first grade and I have been cool with him ever since. When people would always ask whether we were brothers or not I would just get nervous cause I felt like I would be lying if I said we were. The one thing that I have learned from my PaPa is that family is someone who loves you unconditionally and supports you even when it’s not easy.
I feel like people don’t talk about these topics much these days because it’s never really brought up. Well, whoever this is, if you’re going through a similar experience I hope you could relate. Most of all stay safe and stay positive.
Motivated Monday: Learning Something New
It’s funny how we hear the term, “You learn something new everyday” and think nothing of it. Like, we hear people say this and think, “oh that’s just a figure of speech.” But what if you really made it your business to learn something new every day? How do you think that would impact your life? Do you personally think learning is important?
As I get older, I begin to realize just how important learning is. Going to school, graduating, and obtaining a degree means absolutely nothing if you don’t keep learning.
Many learned lessons can drift away from the brain if it’s not put to good use. It’s important that we, as people, continue to learn, regardless of our age. We should find things that interest us and commit to learning more about it.
After doing some research online, I found a few reasons we should consider consistent learning throughout our lives.
1. Enhance your quality of life.
Believe it or not, learning provides you with an escape when you need it, knowledge when you seek it, and a great and satisfying pastime. Learning puts value on your time and application makes you better. Looking for a change? Learn your way out!
2. Reduce stress.
Learning can become a happy place. When you’re learning something new, it takes your attention. For instance, a new hobby can be a great stress reliever. It helps us break out of our normal patterns of behaviour. It gives our brains something to think about other than our daily worries. It might be a mere temporary distraction but it shows our mind and body that thinking about something other than stressful things is possible and desirable.
3. Gain confidence.
When we succeed in learning something we feel better, more confident in ourselves and our ability to tackle all sorts of new tasks. Sometimes we feel like we can conquer the world once we learn something. There’s something about having independence and knowing you have the knowledge to accomplish a task at hand.
4. Knowledge is power.
When you have knowledge, you have the power to achieve many things. One of the most crucial reasons to learn something new is that you gain power when you do. This new-found power means you can don’t need someone else to fix, mend or make something in your home or that you own. You are empowered to do it yourself! We were created to create and do, so when we put ourselves in a position to do and do better, we run our world.
5. Improve your mental health.
It feels so good when we take care of our mind. I mean think about it, our mind is a place that travels more often than our body does. We get ourselves in mental places that we don’t need to be. Sometimes we beat ourselves up or allow others to beat us up mentally. But when you decide to educate yourself about different problems and situations, we become more empowered to deal with the problem at hand. Learning about the things that may be bothering you mentally can do wonders. One reason why learning has a positive impact on our mental well-being is that it is often about setting goals or targets and achieving these. This sense of achievement is an important part of ‘doing well’ completing a project is a satisfying way to gain this feeling of accomplishment.
It’s no doubt or secret that learning is different for everyone. People learn in many different ways. But although it may look different from person to person, it can still have the same great qualities for all. Learning is something we should look to do everyday. It does nothing but make us better. Try it and see for yourself how much greater you’ll become as you choose to learn.
Brush Up
Are you brushing up on things that have gathered bits of dust?
Are you painting some new colors on your walls?
Have you purposed to examine some shortcomings you may have?
And to make some slight corrections to your flaws?
Are you happy with the happenings that surround you in your life?
Are you in the grip of grace or chasing tails?
Could it be that your sweet splendor has been covered and concealed,
and that somehow your sweet journey’s been derailed?
Does it seem to you that life is just a string of urgent “musts”—
Composed of “things” that “just demand your time!”
That where there once was such a flow, now has an “I don’t know!”
And your heart is grabbing straws or grabbing twine?
Perhaps it’s time to shift, or to find a brand new slant.
Perhaps it’s time to give your life fresh hue.
To paint some vibrant colors on the “wanting walls” of life—
Through pursuits, and gifts, and flairs uniquely YOU.
Artwork and Poem by Jean Dewitt