Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE AS

Rep. Davis presses Bush on Black male commission

By JAMES WRIGHTS Sptcial to tho NNPA From tho Afro Nowtpapors WASHINGTON (NNPA) — Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., has issued a call for President Bush to launch a national commission to study the problems of the AfricanAmerican male. Davis says that a commission is needed because of concerns that were raised at the recent Status of the African American Male ^Initiative that was held in

• Washington.

Based upon statistical

^data, it is my contention that :conditions relating to Afri-

r can-American males are ‘continuing to decline and J thereby require intervenvtion,” the letter said. ‘Tor

I example, the unemployment i rate among African-Ameri- \ can males is approximately ) 31.9 percent, which is triple ; the national average. Afri- ; can-American males make

up 6 percent of the total population and account for • 48 percent of the prison

• population.

\ "According to the Census ’ Bureau, 30 percent of Afri-can-American males under 18 live below the poverty

line.”

Marc Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, noted j at the initiative event that J "Black men lead every negajtive aspect of almost any •statistics compiled.” Black • men earn less, are deeper in (debt, save less, are less ! educated, and tend to lack • employable job skills, he

J said.

J Morial’s solution was for »the government and the ► private sector to come together to solve these prob-

• lems.

In the letter, Davis urged Bush to charge the commission to look at disparities in the health system, criminal justice system, school dropout rates, economic opportunities and cultural trends. Davis said, "It is our hope that the commission will identify causes and recommend both short-term and long-range policy and programmatic directions for positive change.” A commission to study the problems of Black men is not new on the state and local level. Washington has a commission to study the problems of Black men and boys in the city that was set up by D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, and is set to issue a report in 2004. Indiana, led by Jose Evans, established a commission several years ago, and has become a model for others to follow. For example, in Indiana, each major city has a commission of activists and concerned citizens set to monitor the progress of Black men in employment, the criminal justice system and education. BRIEFS ► Continued from Page 1 County Council for the first time since it was created in 1970, Marion County GOP Chairman John Keeler is stepping down, the Associated Press reported. Since the Nov. 4 election, Keeler had faced mounting pressure to step aside from conservative Republicans who said he was not aggressive enough in taking on Democrats. Keeler, whose resignation is effective Jan. 10, said he decided to resign so the party could prepare for a 2004 election season that includes races for president, governor, the General Assembly and several county offices.

With the support of the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP, National Urban • League, the Association of Black Psychologists, the National Organization of Concerned Black Men and the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Davis has organized a group of cities where discussions will be taking place, at various times, regarding the status of Black men. The cities are Los Angeles, New York. Chicago, Houston, Memphis, Miami, . Detroit and Atlanta. After the discussions, the CBC will issue a final report on the problems of Black men and urge the government to take steps. Davis said that this is the only way to make Black males’ lives in America more pleasant. "We are losing far too many African-American males to drugs, gangs, homicides and an overall sense of helplessness and hopelessness. If we are to reverse these trends, special efforts must be put forth and we believe that a national look at these issues and problems could provide realistic problem-solving approaches,” said Davis.

National Urban Fellows program ^eeks women and minority professionals for masters degree program

Over 3 million in HUD grants to aid homeless in Indianapolis

Special to the Recorder The National Urban Fellows (NUF) program is seeking minority professionals for its 34th annual fellowship class. National Urban Fellows is a rigorous, full-time graduate program comprised of two semesters of academic course work and a nine-month mentorship , leading to a master of public administration (MPA) degree from Bernard M. Baruch College, School of Public Affairs, City University of New York. Corporations nationwide match the funding for the program as well as offer a mentorship opportunity. During the mentorship, fellows complete course work via distance learning. A MPA degree is awarded to fellows upon completion of all academic and program requirements. NUF Fellowship Award and Benefits include: • $25,000 stipend over 14 months. • Full payment of tuition. • $500 relocation allow-

ance.

Reimbursement for pro-

gram travel. • $500 book allowance. General requirements for the program are: • U.S. citizenship • Bachelor’s degree • Demonstrated leadership abilities • Meet admissions requirements of Baruch College • High standard of integrity and work ethic •Possess self-discipline, interpersonal and problem solving skills • 3-5 years work experience • Willingness to relocate Local meetings for the National Urban Fellows will be conducted through February 2004. Meetings dates will be continuously scheduled. Applications are due Feb. 27Upcoming meetings include: Jan. 26 - 6:30-8 p.m.. Urban League, 777 Indiana Ave. Feb. 9 - 6-8 p.m., CityCounty Building, 200 E. Washington St. For more information on National Urban Fellows, and newly scheduled information sessions, call the Indiana office at (317) 2,91- 6046 or (317) 955-9436 ext 2.

Congresswoman Julia Carson Special to The Recorder Congresswoman Julia Carson announced the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $3,234,786 in federal funding for programs to help the homeless in Indianapolis. The funds, provided under the terms of the McKinley-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, consist of $840,000 for the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues and $2,394,786 for the City of Indianapolis, which will, in turn, make them available to diverse projects and programs in support of the Mayor’s Blueprint to End Homelessness. The Supportive Housing

Program assists homeless providers to acquire, build, renovate and operate facilities to serve homeless families and individuals and offer homeless people the housing and supportive services they need to move out of homelessness and achieve independent living. The $840,()()() granted to the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues is a new grant for supportive housing under this program and the balance of the funding renews previous grants, with the exception of new Shelter Plus Care Program funding. The Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental assistance to disabled homeless persons through one of the following programs: tenant-based assistance, sponsor-based assistance, project-based assistance, and single room occupancy assistance. Grantees must match the rental assistance with an equal dollar amount of supportive services. $738,000 of the money is for new shelter plus care programming while $41,328 is shelter plus care renewal funding.

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Prices on items below valid through Wednesday, January 1,2004.

All 6-Pack Coke Products 24-Ounce Bottles, Limit 4

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Hostess Snack Cakes select varieties 199

Whole Boneless Pork Loin 7 To 9-lb avg (Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops. $1.97 lb)