This issue of The Crystal News is dedicated to my cousin, Esther Mason Davis, and to her son, Kevin Mason. Cousin Esther was the kind of take no mess, heart of gold, organ playing, 'church lady' that made you want to be right with God. In my childhood, I was a frequent visitor to her kitchen where there seemed always to be a delicious, freshly baked cake, which Cousin Esther was quick to offer saying, 'Don't be bashful.' Kevin... was not so much a church goer, but lived a righteous life. Loved by everyone who met him, he kept up with people better than anyone I've known, and taught his sons to do so, by example. Cousin Esther passed away last spring and Kevin followed less than a month later, but we carry with us our loved ones who have gone... When my bashfulness attempts to overtake me, I let Cousin Esther's words push me gently forward. When I am thinking of someone, but think I don't have time to reach out to them, a little voice asks, "What would Kevin do?" and gratefully, I respond.
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All of my siblings are awesome, but this month, I give a special shout out to two of my brothers. First, congratulations to my big brother Billy Jon McCombs, for standing up for his son, my nephew, Jonathon McCombs. Jonathon, who has Down syndrome, lives in a home in Springfield. IL that the city recently threatened to shut down. Billy Jon is fighting to keep Jonathon where he is. Moving him from a place where he is happy and functioning would be very disturbing. What's more, the rule of having not more than one group home for disabled people within a designated area is discriminatory. There is no such 'density' rule for people who are not disabled. To learn more read Mary Hanson's article in the State Journal Register, http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170114/city-accused-of-discrimination-in-group-home-lawsuit
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Congratulations also to my big brother, Brigadier General William Walker.. With the recent stepping down of Major General Errol R. Schwartz, Walker, who is the District of Columbia National Guard Land Component Commander and the Commander of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia, is now Acting Commander of the District of Columbia Army National Guard. A decorated, career service man, General Walker is also a retired DEA agent whose service therein was also exemplary. To learn more, check out the WUSA 9 coverage of the story: www.wusa9.com/news/local/commander-of-dc-national-guard-to-step-down-during-inauguration/385984018
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I had the honor of contributing to two wonderful books recently. In one I describe a dream dinner with historical figures with whom I would love to have been able to share a meal: Dining with the Ancestors: When Heroes Come to Dinner, A Black History Coffee Table Book (by multiple Emmy Award winning journalist Dr. Eric J. Chambers) www.DiningWithTheAncestors.com. In the other, I describe one of my first experiences at Florida A & M University while still a Business major, but in the theater where I would come to spend the bulk of my time on the hill: HBCU Experience - The Book www.BlackCollegeBook.com; Co-edited by Black college alumni Dr. Tia Tyree and Christopher D. Cathcart, HBCU Experience - The Book
celebrates the rich legacy and experiences of those who attended HBCUs.
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I Can Fly International Founder Sha' Givens, has completed her second "Butterfly House," an additional school building that allows her to rescue more young girls from being sold into unwanted marriages, and to provide food, shelter and an education to more young people in Kenya (icanflyinternational.org). She still needs additional funds to continue the life saving work she is doing. To help, visit https://www.gofundme.com/butterflyhouse.
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Kudos to: I Can Fly International Founder Sha' Givens, who recently completed her newest "Butterfly House," an additional school building that allows her to rescue more young girls from being sold into unwanted marriages, and to provide food, shelter and an education to more young people in Kenya (icanflyinternational.org) and to ; veteran journalist Soledad O'Brien on tackling important issues of the day as she hosts her new political news magazine show, "Matter of Fact" www.MatterofFact.tv;" former Weirton, WV police officer Stephen Mader who was fired because, when called out on a domestic violence dispute, encountered a Black man with a gun, assessed the situation using his military and police training... and DID NOT shoot the armed Black man (sadly, he was rewarded for his excellent police work by being fired... for not shooting the man; humanitarian Mary Yokem (pictured with legendary television personality Merri Dee) on being the East Central Governor's Service Award Winner for the Illinois senior corps division; writer Dahleen Glanton on her article comparing the response to the heroin epidemic in the suburbs of Chicago to the violence epidemic in the city (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-violence-mothers-glanton-20160912-column.html); Olympic darlings Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, the only two American all-around champions to win multiple gold medals in a single Olympic Games; legendary South African actor Arthur Molepo on his return to the stage in a special performance of the internationally successful show Sophiatown, celebrating the cultural mecca on which the show is based. http://rekordeast.co.za/90765/sophiatown-returns-to-stage/; Inglewood Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., on their successful production of An Evening of Legacy, honoring Black women throughout history; HistoryMaker Carla Hayden, president of the American Library Association, on being confirmed as the 14th Librarian of Congress. She is the first African American and the first female to serve since 1802; Wanjiru Kinyanjui on the UDADA International Women's Film Festival in Kenya; Stage Aurora Theatrical Company on winning 2016 SPARK and NEA Grants and Art Ventures award for Darryl Reuben Hall's Drawn from the Water (https://www.jaxcf.org/file/2015/news-release/Art-Ventures-Individual-Artists_2015.pdf); The Postal Service for honoring trailblazing civil rights and gender equality champion Dr. Dorothy Irene Height with the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage series; and Romarilyn Ralston on her new job offer as Program Coordinator for Project Rebound, at CalState Fullerton. (http://news.fullerton.edu/2016sp/projectrebound.aspx) http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-wknd-et-1023-project-rebound-cal-state-fullerton-20161112-story.html Go on woman!!!
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