The Political Agitator

Dancy Communications Network – The DCN Blog/Internet TV

At War With Statistics Series – Rural Teens and Drug Addiction by Quenesha McNair beGlobal

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 10, 2009

—– Original Message —–

From: Quenesha McNair

To: Quenesha McNair

Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:36 AM

Subject: beGlobal Alert | Second Column from the At War with Statistics Series | Rural Teens and Drug Addiction

Greetings,

First of all, thank you for all of your support!  I have included the link to my most recent column discussing how teens in rural communities perceive value in drug addiction prior to understanding the value of an education.  I hope you enjoy!

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/opinion/quenesha-mcnair-rural-teens-and-drug-addiction-927374.html

Please comment on the site once read to provide us with your feedback!!

We are also launching a "Groceries on the Go" campaign and would love your support!  More information forthcoming!

Best Regards,
Quenesha McNair

Founder, beGlobal
www.teensbeglobal.com

See related:

beGlobal

Posted in beGlobal Quenesha McNair | Leave a Comment »

Young Leadership City Wide Town Hall Meeting To Be Held In Rocky Mount NC

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 10, 2009

Young Leadership City Wide Town Hall Meeting Wed, Nov 18 from 6-8 pm. 3rd floor city council chambers at City Hall. Councilpersons & our Mayor will be present to ask & answer questions that concern our city.

Posted in Announcement, Rocky Mount Human Relations Commission, Rocky Mount NC City Council, Soul Survivors Inc. | Leave a Comment »

Legislative Briefing in Fayetteville Tuesday

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 9, 2009

Having trouble reading this? Click here.

Legislative Briefing in Fayetteville Tuesday
It’s not too late to RSVP!

Durham on Thursday, Raleigh next Monday

An Overview of the North Carolina State Budget,
Economic Forecast, and Issues Affecting Your Community

Presented by the North Carolina Justice Center and United Way of North Carolina

GET READY FOR 2010 at a legislative briefing by local legislators and staff from the NC Budget & Tax Center, NC Justice Center and United Way of North Carolina. They will discuss top issues in state public policy such as:

  • Impacts of current economic conditions on working families and the state budget
  • Updates on key public efforts that support low-income workers and their families, such as the EITC, child-care subsidies, children’s health insurance and affordable housing
  • Implementation and use of federal economic recovery funds

City/Date/Time

Host

Location

RSVP

Fayetteville
November 10
8 am-10:30 am
United Way of Cumberland County

Fayetteville State Univ.
Lyons Science Annex
Room 121

Ashley Smith
910-438-1179
acsmith@unitedway-cc.org

Durham
November 12
8:30 – 10:30 am
United Way of the Greater Triangle

Durham County Cooperative Extension
721 Foster Street

Nate Goetz
ngoetz@unitedwaytriangle.org
919-463-5002

Raleigh
November 16
1 pm – 3 pm
NC Justice Center
Covenant for NC Children
United Way of NC

NCAE Headquarters
700 South Salisbury Street

www.unitywaync.org/calendar

Wilmington
November 17
9 am – 11:30 am

Cape Fear Area United Way
Warwick Center at UNC Wilmington
liveunited@cfauw.org

Rocky Mount
November 18
9 am – 11:30 am
United Way Tar River Region
RBC Bank Campus
1515 Centura Hwy.
Bldg #2

Annette Mills
(252) 937-2213, x-102
annettemills@
rockymountnc.com

Hickory
November 30
2 pm – 4 pm

United Way of Catawba County
Catawba Valley Community College Dunbar Bldg, Rm 345
www.unitywaync.org/calendar

Asheville
December 1
8:30 – 10:30 am

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe Co.
AB Tech Enka Campus
Haynes Building
Ron.Katz@unitedwayabc.org
(828) 255-0696

Triad Area
December 8
8:30 – 11 am

Posted in Announcement | Leave a Comment »

Football Friday Playoff Game Week 1 West Stanly vs SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars in Pinetops NC

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 9, 2009

Edgecombe Count Public Schools
Game time: Friday, November 13, 2009 7:30 PM

West Stanly (15) at SouthWest (2) in Pinetops NC.

Newport Croatan (11) at Tarboro (6) in Tarboro NC.

Columbia (10) at North Edgecombe (7) in Leggett NC.

Shaun Draughn UNC Tarheel and former Tarboro High Viking will be out for the rest of the season due to a broke shoulder.

Neighboring Schools

South Central (9) at Rocky Mount (8)

Greenville Rose (10) at Southeast Raleigh (7)

Southern Nash (11) at Erwin Triton ( 6)

Wilson Beddingfield (14) at Reidsville (3)

Farmville Central (10) at Whiteville (7)

See related:

Football Friday: SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars Defeated Tarboro High Vikings During Senior Night As Around 4200 People Watched

 

Posted in Football Friday Playoff 2009, SouthWest Edgecombe Football 2009-10, SouthWest Edgecombe Football vs Tarboro High Vikings | Leave a Comment »

The Governor of Connecticut—–Decriminalize marijuana – allow for medicinal purposes and collect taxes on it purchase.

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 9, 2009

Look at what the Governor is proposing for next year.

http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=1719&Q=431586

January 9, 2009 – Budget Suggestions

  • Eliminate bonuses for management and get rid of Rowland/Rell appointees to jobs lost by layoffs in 2003.

  • Close up the Governor’s mansion and get rid of the Governor’s driver.

  • Stop hiring so many consultants – cost more to do the same work done by state employees.

  • Allow for Sunday and/or holiday liquor sales and extending hours beyond 9 pm (to 12 am) to increase sales and liquor tax revenue for the state. Also allow casinos to sell alcohol on premises 24 hours and 7 days a week.

  • Reduce the deficit by allowing massage therapists to do 15 minute chair massages for employees on their breaks and during lunch – give a portion of the money collected to the state to help with the deficit. Beyond helping with the deficit, this would help the under-employed (massage therapists) and provide workers with a relaxing massage.

  • Eliminate longevity payments and freeze salaries for the next 3 years.

  • Give all government workers an extra 2 days off every month with no pay.

  • Decriminalize marijuana – allow for medicinal purposes and collect taxes on it purchase. Create a tax stamp for these packages – anyone caught with a bag of marijuana without the stamp should face harsher penalties than someone caught with a bag with a stamp.

  • Garnish the wages of prisoners to have them pay for their crime.

  • Enforce online sales taxes more aggressively.

  • Increase tax credits for incoming businesses – one of the best ways to attract new commercial industries to the state. Also, increase the tax credits for the film industry.

  • Switch to a 4-day work week.

  • Reconsider the artificial turf project costing $500,000 – makes no logical sense in this economy.

  • Change the sales tax from 6 to 7% – there are already food and clothing exemptions to protect lower income people from having to pay more for necessities. For those with disposal income – a 1% increase in the sales tax is not going to change their spending habits.

  • Bring a low cost airline (AirTran or Southwest) to Bradley to help drive costs down for businesses in CT.

  • Have schools throughout the state utilize a common set of technology/software for posting homework and assignments, communication with teachers, grades, etc. Enhance classroom learning with the use of technology our youth will need for future jobs. It is not cost effective to having every system utilizing different technologies.

  • Freeze longevity payments until the state budget is no longer in crisis – this alone would save millions. Use money saved to help employees keep their jobs.

  • Pass a law that allows police to question all out of state drivers waiting for school buses where they live – the law should allow the police to issue a summons to the driver, requiring that individual to appear at the local DMV to justify their registration, or register in CT. If their children are attending CT schools then the parents should be paying CT taxes.

Efficacy
PO Box 1234
860 657 8438
Hartford, CT 06143
efficacy@msn.com
www.Efficacy-online.org
"THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON"

Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax deductible

See related:

The War on Drugs

Posted in Drug War (Efficacy) Clifford Thornton | Leave a Comment »

CARY KWANZAA: Theme “Bridging the Cultural Education Divide

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 8, 2009

Happy Kwanzaa!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARY KWANZAA: Theme “Bridging the Cultural Education Divide”

CARY, NC – The Fifteenth Annual Cary Kwanzaa Celebration will take place on Saturday, December 26, 2009 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Herb Young Community Center, 404 N Academy Street, downtown Cary, NC.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Bridging the Cultural Education Divide”. The celebration includes fun for the whole family with vendor market and craft activities for children. Kwanzaa is a community cultural celebration that highlights African-American heritage and family through seven values – unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

This year’s event features: Bradley Simmons musical director at Duke University in Durham, NC, where he teaches West African Music and History, Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble, the cultural arm of Black Workers for Justice, The Magic of African Rhythm (TMOAR) is a pillar in the bridge that connects us to our African heritage across the ocean. Si Jo Pastor Reginald Mosley, Jee Yao Bok Gik Martial Arts Instructor, will have his adolescent boys to perform some of the latest martial arts move for the audience and “Sacred Fire, Phillis Wheatley and Her Friends," is a dramatization of the life of the first published African American poet. Kidnapped from her family in Africa at the age of seven, the little girl arrived in Boston Harbor on a slaver, and was purchased by the Wheatley family who named her after the schooner that had transported the child from her native land. Phillis quickly learned to speak and read English, and with incredible swiftness was writing the poems that would be published all over the colonies, and in Europe. In this play for Readers’ Theatre, by award-winning playwright, Rudy Wallace, we learn about the revolutionary poet’s life in the words of the African friends who knew her.

The Town of Cary co-sponsors the Kwanzaa Celebration through the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department with The Ujima Group, Inc., a non-profit 501© community based organization that promotes cultural diversity through educational programs and the arts. For more information, please call Lester Thomas, 919 380-7020, email:leslthm@aol.com or The Cultural Arts Program Specialist, (919) 462-3963 or visit the Town’s website at www.townofcary.org.

Posted in Announcement, Kwanzaa | Leave a Comment »

Speaking Truth To Power – CEASE AND DESIST CHALLENGES TO RANGEL’S CHAIRMANSHIP by William Reed Columnist

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 8, 2009

Is race related to rancor to remove Charles Rangel from his seat at the head of the House Ways and Means Committee?  Black Americans leaders have reasons to think so.

Charles Bernard Rangel is an African-American icon deserving respect and retention of his office.  His office as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee represents a watershed achievement for Blacks.  Rangel has rose in rank and clout in the Congress, but at the same time, represented Blacks’ issues.   Rangel was the first African American on the Ways and Means Committee and has represented Blacks’ issues on the Committee since 1983.  Before and after becoming Chairman in 2007, Rangel has recorded an astute body of work.  In recognition of those works, the baying of partisans and mainstream media for his ousting should cease until the US House Ethics Committee concludes investigations on the matters.

Black leaders are leery of machinations to remove Rangel.  The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) recently sent House Speaker Pelosi “a Letter of Support for Rangel” arguing “no decision should be made in regards to Rangel’s chairmanship until the House ethics committee inquiry is complete”.  Established Black leadership is lining up behind Rangel and the CBC.   National Newspaper Publishers Association head Danny Bakewell and Harlem Republican businessman, Dr. Eugene Webb, also contacted Speaker Pelosi that Rangel retain his position until the House Ethics Committee says otherwise.   Chairman Rangel has been subjected to repeated attacks and allegations that he committed errors in complex financial disclosure and tax filings. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is conducting a review of any possible errors and will present findings when completed.  Presuming him guilty before investigation is complete violates a core American principle of “presumption of innocence”. The sensationalists on cable networks can’t help but distract “The Chairman” from important work he is doing to fix the economy, put Americans back to work and improve health care access.

The political drama being played out to strip Rangel of his chairmanship should be viewed in its historical context.  Rangel is not the first Black Chair of a powerful Congressional Committee to be removed from his position by peers.  Rangel’s treatment is remnant of procedures put in play 50 years ago when a racially-motivated Congress ousted his Harlem District predecessor, Adam Clayton Powell, from his chairmanship of the House Education and Labor Committee.  History has set the mark in this matter.  Both of Harlem’s congressmen have used political acumen to break down barriers and bridge divides on behalf of Blacks.

Like Powell, Rangel too has remained representative of his roots.  Both of Harlem’s Black Representatives have used their Congressional clout to move urban Americans’ issues to the forefront of Washington policy-making.  Rangel’s advocating for, and funding of, Empowerment Zone programs provides $3.5 billion for urban and rural development.   Empowerment Zone programs from Rangel are driving a Harlem economic renaissance with business development, jobs, educational and health programs, and social services.  Rangel has secured increases in funding for AIDS research and treatment in Africa and the Caribbean; and money to establish a Howard University program that prepares minorities to compete for careers in American Foreign Service.

Blacks have historically been shut out of divvying the federal government’s multi-trillion-dollar budget.  Blacks want Charlie Rangel to continue as “chairman of the nation’s money”, where he is making decisions to impact the nation’s budget, economic development, Social Security and Medicare.  In comparison to those grousing against him continuing his chairmanship, Blacks believe Rangel can be counted on to keep our interests on the table and remains an African American role model: A decorated Korean War veteran; Rangel is a high-school drop out who rose to become a lawyer, and represent the neighborhood of his youth.  Chairman Rangel’s political savvy and knowledge of the issues facing his Committee is important to retain at this time.  Never again should what happened to the first Black to chair a powerful House Committee be repeated.   It’s not time to usurp the congressional ethics process.  Call the Speaker at (202) 225-0100 and tell her that.

(William Reed – www.BlackPressInternational.com)

Posted in Speaking Truth to Power, William Reed Columnist | Leave a Comment »

Edgecombe County Public Schools Board of Education Monthly Meeting Agenda For Monday November 9, 2009

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 8, 2009

Regular Meeting of the Edgecombe County Board of Education

Edgecombe County Board Rooms

412 Pearl Street

Tarboro, NC 27886

November 9, 2009

AGENDA

6:30 P.M. (OPEN SESSION)

(1) Call to Order of Regular Meeting of the Board

(1.1) Pledge of Allegiance

(2) Recognition

(3) Public Comments

(This time for public comments has been established for citizens who desire to address the board and who register prior to the start of the meeting. The Board has established a 3-minute time limitation for comments to be taken into consideration by the Board. Public comments must relate to items on the agenda. Feedback will not be given during the Board Session. If a response is necessary, the Board will respond within ten working days. Thank you. [Edgecombe County Board of Education Policy 2210])

(4) Approval of Agenda

(5) Approval of Open Session Minutes

(6) Items for Information

(6.1) Saint Augustine’s College Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound

Programs

(7) Committee Reports

(7.1) Policy Committee

1120 Board Member Development – Revised

4170 Attendance – Revised

4315 Anti-Harassment Anti-Bullying and Anti-Discrimination – Revised

5465 Substitute Teachers: Recruitment and Qualifications – Revised

(8)A. Consent Items (One Motion Approval)

(8.1.A) Approval of Field Trips

(8)B. Items for Action

(8.1.B) Approval of Contract with Select Physical Therapy for Exceptional Children’s

Program

(8.2.B) Approval of Safe and Drug Free Schools & Communities Act Grant Proposal

(8.3.B) Approval of Strategic Planning for Identified Schools

(8.4.B) Approval of Purchase for Computers

Board Agenda November 9, 2009

Page 2

Motion Required: I make a motion under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law, Sections 143-318.11 (a) (1), (a) (3), and (a) (6), to go into Closed Session to consider personnel matters, to consult with the attorney to preserve attorney-client privileged information, and to prevent the disclosure of student records rendered confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and the disclosure of personnel records rendered confidential under G.S. 115C-319 through 321.

CLOSED SESSION:

(9.1) Personnel Management

(9.1.1) Listed Personnel (Contracted, New Hires, Resignations, Retirements, Substitutes, Transfers, Leave Requests, etc.)

(9.1.2) Non-Instructional/Extra-Curricular Personnel

(9.2) Student Management

(9.2.1) Student Transfers

(9.3) Review of Closed Session Minutes

OPEN SESSION:

(10) Approval of Closed Session Items:

- (10.1) Personnel

- (10.2) Closed Session Minutes

(11) Board Correspondence

(12) Items Brought by Board Members or Superintendent for Consideration/Discussion

(13) Adjourn

See related:

Edgecombe County Citizens For Equality Education Group Formed To Assist With Education Issues

Posted in Announcement, Education Edgecombe County Public Schools | Leave a Comment »

Repost – Rocky Mount NC – Lynching in North Carolina presentation by Dr. Vann Newkirk was awesome

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 8, 2009

2009-11-08_09-32-30-117

Click on the picture to see more pictures by The DCN.

Saturday was my first time attending a book signing so I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was just that, a book signing and I did not know the author would do a presentation.

The presentation by Dr. Vann Newkirk about his book “Lynching in North Carolina” was awesome. Although I missed a portion of his presentation, the rest was very interesting. It was real interesting because he spoke about cases with connections to towns that I can relate to such as Macclesfield, Pinetops and Tarboro.

I can’t wait for the next book signing that will be held in the near future at another Rocky Mount location.  I think everyone was like me hungry for more. I plan to arrive early the next time to capture this historic moment.

See related:

Video:

American Lynching A Documentary

Note: Originally posted on March 23, 2009. The book signing was held at Mt. Pisgah Church in Rocky Mount NC.

Posted in Dr. Vann Newkirk Author, Lynching, Lynching in North Carolina, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Brenda Flowers Richardson Mother Who Lost 2 Children In The Flood Died On Saturday

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 8, 2009

2009-11-08_00-58-10-165R.I.P. Brenda Flowers Richardson expired today. Brenda is the mother of 2 children Cabriao Devette Flowers and Destiny De’na Flowers who expired during Hurricane Floyd 10 years ago. See the children’s names on the memorial. Featured in this picture is Congressman G.K. Butterfield NC and Wanda Mayo the daughter of Ben and Vivian Mayo.

See related:

Hurricane Floyd 10 – Year Commemoration Sponsored By The Bynum Mill Road Community Club Pinetops NC

Posted in Flood Floyd | Leave a Comment »

Mildred Council Lost Her Seat On The Greenville NC City Council

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 4, 2009

Mildred Council lost her seat to Kandie Smith by 10 votes.

I attended a get out the vote rally Monday night in Greenville. After talking to some folks from Greenville before and after the meeting I felt strongly Smith was going to defeat Council. Sometimes you can wear out your welcome.

I will be watching this race closely to see if the counts changes. If nothing changes then Smith will get the opportunity to serve the people of Pitt County for (4) years.

Minnie Johnson-Anderson tried to unseat the current Mayor Pat Dunn. Johnson-Anderson was seeking to become the 1st black female mayor.

Posted in Greenville City Council | Leave a Comment »

Tarboro NC Town Council Have Three New Members, Made History With Two Women

Posted by curmilusdancyii on November 4, 2009

Roy Gray received (136) votes and lost his seat to Taro Knight (140) his former campaign manager. I said that I felt they were both equal and which ever candidate took the most voters to the polls that would vote for them would win.

Buck Price received (64) votes and lost his seat to Gerrelene M. Walker (117). John Wooten (46) a black male ran in this majority white ward.

John L. Jenkins II received (110) votes and lost his seat to Candis B. Owens (138). If Jenkins had received Ervin (Dickie) Guill (10) and Raymond (Ray) Parrisher (12) votes he still would not have defeated Owens.

Walker and Owens both made history because this is the first time a woman has been elected to the council.

My opinion: It is going to be interesting to see how this council move forward. It is going to be interesting to see how the only two blacks on the council Melvin Muhammad and Taro Knight will operate.

See related:

Candidates Forum Featuring Princeville and Tarboro

Posted in Tarboro NC Town Council, Tarboro Town Council Candidiates Debate, Tarboro Ward 7 Candidates Forum | 1 Comment »