One In Four Young Black Men in New York Have A Job

With 75% of young Black men in New York City unemployed, some pray that they don't develop a political consciouness -- they would become dangerous!!! Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee are just as bad or worse! Without direct, swift and positive action, in so many words, the U.S. is telling young Black men, "Be poor, uneducated, unemployed, over-incarcerated, non-violent and happy!"  How will young Black men respond to this request?

Only One In Four Young Black Men in New York Have A Job: Study   Young Black men are in trouble in the United States and very little help is coming! December 14, 2010  A new study paints a bleak portrait of the unemployment landscape faced by young black men in New York City. The headline of the report, filed by the Community Service Society of New York reads, "Only One in Four Young Black Men in New York City Have a Job." The study finds that the unemployment rate for African-American men in New York, between the ages of 16 and 24, was 33.5 percent from January 2009 through June 2010. By comparison, the jobless rate amongst all New Yorkers in that age range was 24.6 percent. But the real startling figure is that employment-population ratio, the percentage of working-age population who have a job, for young black men decreased from 29% in 2006-2007 to 25% in 2009-2010, meaning that one in four black men were employed. For those without a high school diploma, the numbers spiked alarmingly -- this group's unemployment rate was 52%, with 86% percent of these men out of the labor force (essentially that 1 in 10 were employed in 2009-2010). From the New York Times: "The recession has created a landscape of the unemployed and underemployed with particular catastrophic consequences for young African-American men," said David R. Jones, president of the Community Service Society, an advocacy group for New York's low-income residents. "Now young black men between 16 and 24 years have become the banner of hopelessness, particularly here in New York City." The Times also notes that close to 40 percent of black New Yorkers who had held a job previously were unemployed for more than 12 months during the recession and early part of the recovery. That compared with 24 percent for whites, 27 percent for Latinos and 26 percent for Asians.

Troy will die on September 21

Troy Davis has 10 days to live before he is executed by the State of Georgia. But 7 witnesses say Troy is innocent, and that another man committed the crime for which he will be killed.

With just days left to save Troy’s life, his sister Kim Davis started a petition on Change.org asking the Georgia Parole Board to stop his execution. Please add your name to Kim’s petition now and save her brother’s life.

Evidence presented at Troy’s trial was considered shaky at the time. Since then, seven witnesses have recanted their testimony, many saying they were pressured by police into false testimony.

There’s no physical evidence Troy committed the crime. And, according to Amnesty International, nine people have signed affidavits implicating another man.

 Georgia’s Board of Parole and Pardons has said there should be "no doubt" about a person’s guilt before he is executed. You can tell the Board there’s simply too much doubt about Troy’s guilt to kill him next week.

Please click here to add your name to Kim Davis' petition asking the Georgia Parole Board to stop her brother’s execution, then forward this email to everyone you know:

http://www.change.org/petitions/chairman-state-of-georgia-board-of-pardons-and-paroles-grant-clemency-to-my-brother-troy-davis

William H. McDonald

ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE

Dads take a child to school 2011 flyer and program

    ''DAD'S TAKE A CHILD BACK TO SCHOOL''

                                  SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
                              Men make the difference!!!
     
We are calling all fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles, brothers, significant male caregivers, next door neighbors, mentors, ministers, pastors, deacons,  trustees and other men to:  ''Take A Child to School on Tuesday, September 20, 2011''
                                     
It is said that Men are not involved in their children's education. Last year that myth
was dispelled. On the first day of school in New York City we are asking Men to start the school year off right by participating in this event. On the first day of school let's see a Million Men escorting the children back to school.

This year Community District Education Council 29 will be looking to take this effort to the next  level. We will be calling on Men to have a more active role in supporting the education of the children.  There are many ways this can be done. It will not take a lot of time, but it will be time well spent.  As we all know the most important investment that we will make in our lives, will be the investment that we make in our children. This year we will supply them with the tools that they need to compete in the global economy. This year we will strive for College and Career readiness!!!

Please mark your Calendars,
Let's have a good turnout!!!

Date:         September 20, 2011
Place:       Your child's school 
Address:  
Time:        

We will be having other events throughout the year, if you or your  school/org. would like to participate,  send your name, school/ orgs. Name and Contact info. to the email address below.

Thank you for supporting the Children,
William H. McDonald
CDEC 29, MALE  INITIATIVE  COMMITTEE

                   ''Dads Take A Child To School'' 

            Program overview & suggestions:

• Dads/Males bring the children to school on the designated day.

• PTA / Parent coordinator / Staff- invites school/local vendors, elected officials, Civics and other community orgs.  to welcome Dads and children back to school. Have handouts and other info. Dads will need to assist in their child's education.    

• Some schools combine this with a ''Back to School, Stay in School'' program.  

• Sign-in sheets provides for outreach to Dads in the future. ( a must have ).

• Dads take a child to school is a step towards getting dads involved. Schools should be arranging events during the year targeting Dads and Male care givers.

 Exp:  Dads Brunch,  Dads Basketball game, Dads Mentoring young males,  Dads night out, Daddy Daughter Dance etc.

• Data shows having a strong presence of Dads/Males involved in the education of their children makes a huge difference in closing the achievement gap. Dads take a child to school, founded in Chicago is part of the ''Million Man March''. It is a nationwide effort and the goal is to have over a million men bringing their children to school on the first day and beyond. Remember the key goal is to increase the involvement of Dads/Males in the education of their children.

Take plenty of pictures!!!

This year the official kick off day for ''Dads Take a Child to School'' in New York City is  Tuesday, September 20, 2011. We have the support of the Mayors office, the NYC Dept. of Education and many civic and community organizations.

To register, just reply to this email your school and contact info.

Good luck,
William H. McDonald
CDEC-29 Male Initiative Committee 

The United Black Men of Queens County Inc.

PS 15Q ''Dads Take A Child Back To School''

Community Education Councils, parents meet at UFT

Standing up for kids

PUBLISHED JUNE 23, 2011

Miller PhotographyAmong those to turn out for the meeting are (from left) George E.M. Gibson, the president of the NAACP - Corona East-Elmhurst; T. Elzora Cleveland, president of the District 2 CEC; Denise Sullivan of the Citywide Education Council on High Schools; Almeta Trammel of CEC District 7; and William McDonald of the NAACP, and (seated) Bronx parent Constance Asiedu.

The mayor’s proposed teacher layoffs and the recent UFT, NAACP and parent lawsuit against the Department of Education for closing schools and inequitable co-locations were among the hot topics discussed by parent leaders at a May 23 meeting at UFT headquarters. Members of the city’s 32 Community Education Councils, the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council and the four Citywide Education Councils that advocate on behalf of high schools, English language learners and special education students came to discuss their local issues and citywide policies with each other and union leaders during the meeting.

Miller PhotographyJaya Bea Smalley, co-chair of the Citywide Education Council on Special Education, makes a point.

UFT Director of Parent and Community Outreach Anthony Harmon welcomed the parent leaders to the meeting and thanked them for their involvement in public education. UFT President Michael Mulgrew provided perspective on the union’s fight against the unnecessary, politically motivated layoffs.

If those layoffs were to happen, parents agreed, it would devastate schools throughout the city, as class sizes are already at the breaking point.

Mulgrew and Harmon said they appreciated the cooperation and collaboration of parent leaders in standing up for what’s right for children in their districts and regions and discussed upcoming opportunities to work together for the good of schoolchildren throughout the five boroughs.

Read more: Around the UFT articles

Bobby Humpfrey, Jean Cahn Brookville Park 9-3-11

Rosedale Jets Parade 2011