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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Our Children Still Can't Read

Let’s Read America!

Show”   Our Children Reading

“Our people perish for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6. 

     Though wisdom comes from God and understanding comes by experience, knowledge comes from books.  Children mimic what they see.  Encourage your child to read by example. Purchase a book today for you and your child.  Start being a good example and read.  “Show” your child how important it is to read!

promises-from-god-to-parents.jpg“ 

         Promises From God For Parents by Jakes T D is filled with  inspirational Bible verses and passages, as well as his own personal understanding and insight, Bishop T.D. Jakes guides mothers and fathers through the challenges and rewards of being a parent-along the way illustrating how every family can achieve a stronger relationship with God. Filled with Bishop Jakes’s wisdom on such important topics as self-control, patience, tough love, respect, and forgiveness, this is an essential tool for navigating the emotional and complex path of parenthood in today’s ever-changing world.  Show your child that reading is an activity  to be enjoyed!   

Click here to order:  http://www.empowerachildbookstore.30fold.com/

 

A Nation At-Risk- Our Children Still Can't Read

          The term literacy has become a favorite topic for educators and politicians. “Literacy is an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English; compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society; to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential.” (NIFL, April 2000) Close to thirty percent of the American population over age sixteen have profound literacy deficiencies. This means millions of people lack adequate reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary for proper survival.

          According to the National Institute for Literacy, poverty and literacy are directly linked. Statistics show that more lower income level students drop out of school than students of higher income levels. Additionally, the reading and writing levels of young people is closely related to the educational levels of parents. Literacy has also been linked to increased civil behavior and the inability to formulate higher levels of thought in problem solving skills and knowledge that creates resources necessary for civil obedience.  It is 2007, and nothing has changed.  As a matter of fact when you read the news and examine grades and tests scores of our youth people,  it seems as though it has gotten worse. 

           High school dropouts of families who have not endeavored to improve their economic status are typically children of parents who dropped out as well. It is conceivable that these families were key in creating inadequate literate behavior in their children. Without further education and training these parents become rooted in their own deficiencies and poverty stricken lifestyle that they are not able to address the growing needs of their children. Therefore the cycle of illiteracy is more difficult to break.  Adolescence is a terrible time to get  become trapped in hopelessness. 

          According to a 2005 drop out report, in the state of Illinois alone, approximately 12,871 students between the ages of 13-21 dropped out of school.  We clearly have a problem!  All of us!

          The solution is simple, families must encourage reading in the home and school administrations must allow teachers to encourage reading in the classroom instead of tests, tests, and more tests. 

Works Cited

The NIFL responds to the findings of the Reading Literacy Study, highlighting the importance of parents’ education to children’s school achievement. National Institute for Literacy. Government Printing Office. April 2000. http:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tell us what you think.